Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters
So, here's chapter 8. I apologize for the late posting, and happy late thanksgiving? Sorry... :[ Enjoy.
Chapter 8:
They both stood, face to face. Sakura had never seen Sasuke cry before—only when he talked about his deceased parents he would slow his pace in talking, as if avoiding emotional contact with the past. That was the closest she saw him get to crying. But right now, Sakura saw that Uchiha, standing before her, small tears filling up his eyes.
He looked handsome in a suit. It was probably the first time she'd ever seen him get dressed up too. His onyx eyes peered into her own emerald ones. He wasn't smiling on the outside, but his eyes danced in his overflowing feelings. He was happy. She could tell. Her hands were in his hands, which were slowly beginning to tighten in their grip. Yes, he was definitely emotional.
Sakura didn't want to take her eyes off her beloved Uchiha Sasuke—especially because these were the last moments they were sharing before beginning their new life—their married life. But she peered over to their son, Kotaro, who was bouncing up and down on her mother's lap. Her gaze returned to those beloved eyes of Sasuke, who had also taken a moment to glance at Kotaro.
Sasuke saw Sakura; she looked far more beautiful than he had ever seen her before. It was obvious that she was blinking back her tears (much like he was). Her emerald orbs were glossy with her constantly portrayed emotion. Her hair was pinned up, but she still kept those lovely pink bangs hanging in her face—her gorgeous face. Sakura meant more to him than anyone else ever did, and he didn't say "I love you" for no reason. He loved her, and he was willing to give everything he possibly could for her.
Seeing her like this reminded Sasuke of the time they were together, when she was finding her hairstyle for their wedding:
Sakura sat in the seat, texting on her phone while the hairstylist worked at her hair. Sasuke, quite bored, sat beside Sakura on a stool waiting for Kurenai, the hairstylist, to finish her work. He looked over to see who Sakura was texting: Ino. Of course—he should have guessed it.
"Hey! Stop looking at my texts!" She pulled her phone back from his curious eyes. He looked up at her blankly.
"Why? We're going to be married soon—what're you talking about?" She shook her head.
"Nope, I can't tell you. It's not about me, it's about her and our coworker," she giggled.
"Who, Shikamaru?" She gasped as her eyes opened wide. "How'd you know?!" Sasuke laughed and shrugged. He had just seen them walking together the other day.
Finally, Kurenai finished with Sakura's hair. It was stunning, breathtaking—Sasuke was left speechless. Sakura looked just like a porcelain doll; the style complimented her face perfectly. Sasuke said nothing, but he allowed the smile to fill his lips as he looked her over.
"Ino wants me to send her a picture, but I don't like taking pictures by myself," she whined an obvious hint at Sasuke. He grinned; he wanted to take a picture with her anyways. Honestly, he felt quite lucky to be with such a beautiful woman as herself. He snapped the photo on Sakura's phone and returned it to her.
Sakura frowned when she looked at it. She didn't like it. She reprimanded herself for not being photogenic. She was about to insult the picture aloud until she heard Sasuke say: "Beautiful." Her heart jumped. To her, the compliment sounded quite random. What did he possibly see in her? When she looked back at the picture, she didn't see it any differently, but something about how meaningful Sasuke had said "beautiful" made her love the picture. Sasuke certainly looked handsome. She'd have to see how Ino, her maid of honor, liked her hair. She sent the picture, now feeling confident with it.
oOoOo
He smiled at Sakura. She looked even more beautiful now that she was in her dress as well. Her hair looked even more immaculate now that it was completed with every component.
Sakura smiled back, her own memories returning to her. She'd always wanted Sasuke to open up to her about his past; he never talked to anyone about it, and for nine years he suffered alone:
Sasuke prayed at his parent's and his brother's shrine, burying another letter beside their graves. Sakura noticed he wrote a letter at least once a month to his deceased family. She thought that was sweet. He had told her not to disturb him when he was doing so—he must have wanted his space, but something was different in his demeanor today. He looked torn.
Despite Sasuke's practical order for her to not go with him, she went over and knelt beside him at the shrine, giving her respects to his family. When she opened her eyes, Sasuke was looking down at her. He didn't look upset, he looked… touched. "Sakura…" he whispered in a shaky voice.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to disturb you, I just—" he embraced her tightly.
"Thank you," he said, kissing her cheek shortly in gratitude. Sakura was confused. Why had he told her not to come along if he wanted her there so much? She gave him that questioning look, expressing her thoughts perfectly to him. He sighed. "I didn't want you to follow me because… well, it's an Uchiha thing I suppose. Itachi did it with his wife too when he'd go to grandfather's grave.
"I don't want you to see me at a point of weakness… I want to be strong for you, but I guess suffering alone hasn't been doing much for you… has it?" His admittance hurt her. Sakura didn't know that it was a pride struggle as well. She hugged him.
"Sasuke, you'll always be strong… and you know what? There's strength in numbers too… So, let's go together from now on. I'm sure your parents would have wanted to meet me anyways, right?" She smiled up at him, planting a loving kiss on her fiancé's lips.
oOoOo
Sasuke and Sakura voiced their vows one after the other, looking into each other's eyes, meaning every word that was escaping their lips. Sakura tried to control her tears when she heard Sasuke's voice shaking with his overwhelming emotion pouring out of every word. He took breaks in his sentences, trying to control the obvious struggle. Sakura tried to keep her words from sounding like sobs, but Sasuke's ever present smile continued to encourage her.
Finally, it happened: they sealed their vow with a kiss—the most immaculate kiss of their entire relationship. The most love they had ever felt exchanged between the two of them in just one simple kiss. It wasn't long, but it was perfect.
Everyone clapped and cheered as the newlyweds walked down the aisle, hand in hand, smiling into each other's eyes. "You look so gorgeous," Sasuke whispered in her ear as they walked.
"Oh stop!" She laughed. "You're look so sharp in your suit," she teased. Sasuke frowned.
"Don't taunt me; I want to take this thing off; it's uncomfortable," he complained. "And if you can compliment me, I've got to compliment you, Sakura."
Sakura giggled and complied. "Oh and Sasuke?"
"Hn?"
"Let's not be messy with the cake, okay?" She pleaded. Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"What, you plan on reusing that dress or something?"
"I want to look pretty for my pictures!" She argued, smacking his chest when they got into the privacy of a closed door, now waiting to be introduced for their dinner. Sasuke chuckled.
"Okay, okay, I'll be nice…" he promised, kissing her forehead to seal their deal. Sakura smiled and tiptoed, rubbing her nose on his.
"Oh c'mon their calling us! I'm hungry!" She pulled at his arm.
"Relax, baby…!" Sasuke laughed, walking after her.
As promised, Sasuke was nice and didn't smash the cake all over Sakura's face as he had originally intended to. When they sat down to eat at their table, Sasuke of course sat beside Sakura, Ino sat beside Sakura, and Suigetsu, Sasuke's best man, sat beside Sasuke. Karin was standing across the table soon after she finished her plate of food, talking to her fiancé.
"Okay, I'm so happy for you two!" Karin took time to congratulate Sasuke and Sakura with a happy smile. Sasuke just nodded, returning her smile.
"Thank you so much, Karin, really!" Sakura beamed happily at the red head.
"Look at you, all dressed up, Karin. You look like a model," Suigetsu complimented her with a grin. A blush filled her cheeks.
"C'mon don't lie, Sui!" Karin pleaded embarrassedly. Sasuke leaned over to Sakura and whispered in her ear: "They're next, don't you think so…?"
"Oh yeah, definitely," Sakura agreed with a grin. "But look over there—their soon after. Boy, are we gonna be busy in wedding attendance…!" Sakura discretely pointed at Ino and Shikamaru, who were both conversing with beaming smiles.
Sasuke laughed and shook his head. "Let's at least get settled in our own lives first," he smiled.
"Oh will we have time?" Sakura joked.
"No," Suigetsu piped up, joining their conversation. "Because Sasuke's gonna be my best man, aren't you, Sasuke?" He smirked. Sasuke rolled his eyes and groaned.
"I guess I don't have a choice—I'm pretty much you're only friend," Sasuke countered. Suigetsu frowned while everyone laughed at his expense.
"Well, I love you, Sui," Karin winked. Suigetsu's cheery smile returned to him.
Slowly but surely, the wedding came to a close. Sasuke and Sakura left the building sometime before, heading back to their house to prepare for their honeymoon. Sakura let out an exasperated sigh as Sasuke unlocked the front door.
"I'm so… tired!" She whined. Sasuke laughed and wrapped his arm around her waist.
"I am too, but we have a plane to catch, so let's get our suitcases and we'll sleep over there." Sakura frowned and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Are you going to drive?" Sasuke nodded.
"Yeah, I'll drink coffee or something, don't worry about it." Sakura sighed again and shook her head.
"I can't help but worry when I can tell you're falling asleep standing up!"
"Don't worry, baby," he ensured her, gently pushing her through the door. "Go get your suitcase." He smiled. Sakura smiled a tired smile back at him.
"No you get yours, I'm going to go make you coffee!" She skipped inside.
"Make yourself a cup while you're at it!" He called out to her as he strode up the stairs to retrieve their luggage.
Before long, they were both on the road heading over to the airport to catch their plane. Sasuke had the windows open. The air blowing in his face would definitely keep him awake. Sakura groaned.
"If you're speeding, stop…" she mumbled, only half awake, but still fully aware of what her husband was doing. Sasuke sighed and slowed the car down.
"You just go to sleep," he teased.
"If I wake up to sirens, World War III is starting—and you're its first victim," she threatened playfully. Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"It can't be a world war if there's only one crazed pink haired lady running around killing people from the same country," he corrected her imagination.
"Oh whatever…" she whined, cuddling her face back on her car seat, trying to fall back asleep. Sasuke smiled at her. She was so very adorable when she slept. He took another sip at his coffee, trying not to be jealous of his wife. Instead, he pulled up the blanket she had packed to her shoulders, seeing that she was shivering. She hadn't said anything, knowing that the wind blowing into the car was keeping him awake. He knew that, that's why he waited until she fell back asleep to tuck her in. Now, he face filled with a contented smile, which Sasuke thoroughly enjoyed.
He sighed as he stared blankly at the road, continuing their journey to the airport.
oOoOo
And so ends chapter 8... I hope you all enjoyed it. Please R&R. Once I wrap up everything with Truth or Dare, I'm probably going to be done posting things up here, but I have one more story maybe... it depends if you all are interested in the theme. I will be posting a brief description of the possible next story in chapter 9, so stay tuned. Arigatogozaimasu to all you supporters