The 'Happy' Day

Hinata sat on the edge of her bed, shivering slightly in the cold of the morning. The sunlight shone through her window weakly, and was no comfort at all as she slowly got dressed. Kiba had left her in the early hours of the morning, after Neji had come to collect him. He had not wanted to leave, especially not with Neji, but the cousins had explained that it was no-one's choice but Hiashi's, and that there was nothing either of them could do.
The ninja brushed her hair slowly at her bedside table, staring dully at her reflection. Today was the day she married Neji.
It had all happened so fast.
Her father had been so angry that she'd refused, that he had gone to great lengths to organise a wedding in a day. The caterers were booked, as was the Hokage to hold the ceremony, and even the temple had agreed to lend it's use at such short notice. The whole village had bent over backwards for the Hyuugas. Hinata had been told all this last night, before she had fled to her room, screaming Kiba's name into her pillow for hours, until he arrived in the middle of the night…
There was a light knock on her door, and she rose unhurriedly to answer it. Tenten stood in her doorway, eyes red from crying. Before Hinata could react, Tenten had raised a hand and slapped her clean across the face.
"Congratulations." She muttered, and stormed out of the room.
Hinata held a hand to her stinging cheek. Obviously Neji had told Tenten what had happened, and she hadn't taken the news as well as Kiba. Hinata almost smiled as she remembered how noble he had been last night, how he had held her and told her that things would be fine, that he loved her, that it wasn't her fault, or Neji's fault. That he would find some way to help her. Hinata sniffed and closed the door, taking a deep breath before she approached her wardrobe.
Last night, one of the maids had entered her room as she cried, and placed something in her wardrobe. She hadn't looked in it yet. She knew exactly what it would be.
Opening the doors, she gasped. No matter how distraught she was; she couldn't deny how beautiful this wedding dress was.
A simple, white, silk wrap-dress hung in the wardrobe, with minute silver stitching along the hem and the straps. Its neckline plunged quite low, but not indecently. Next to the dress hung a throw of soft white wool, to be worn over the dress. She felt tears well up again, and quickly closed the doors, nausea replacing her sadness now as reality kicked in viciously.

*

Another knock on her door, and the heat of the sun on her back told her she'd been on the floor for over an hour. She dragged herself up and tried to compose herself as she answered the door. Her younger sister smiled weakly at her from the doorway.
"Father told me to come and make sure you were nearly ready. But obviously you're not." Hanabi said, looking her sister up and down.
"I don't know wh-where to begin…" Hinata gulped, forcing herself not to cry again.
"I can help you." Her sister replied, edging closer, and closing the door behind her.

Neji stood in front of his mirror, staring at his reflection. His hair had been washed with rose water and brushed straight. It hung loose around his shoulders. His wedding suit felt tight and restricting, although he couldn't work out whether it was really too small, or the feeling was psychological. He took a deep breath and walked over to the dresser, where a small box lay and opened it slowly, gasping at the beautiful ring he found there. White gold, with a single, tiny diamond in it: it had belonged to Hinata's mother. The box was snapped closed, and replaced by the ninja's shaking hands, as he ran to the toilet to be sick.

*

Kiba awoke suddenly, sweating and crying out. Akamaru jumped up onto the bed beside him, whining and pawing at him.
"Akamaru. The girl I love is being forced to marry someone else today. I have to do something…"
His dog agreed, and ran to the door, scratching at the wood and whining even more. Kiba hurriedly got dressed and left his house, not forgetting all his ninja weapons.

The temple was almost empty. Hinata wept as she imagined the wedding she'd always dreamed of. All her friends and family, music, laughter. Kiba waiting for her at the end of the aisle. Hiashi gripped her arm and span her around to face him.
"Hinata! This is about honour. This is about the Hyuuga family. This is about carrying on our legacy. I am not young anymore, and I had no sons. My brother, however, had an incredibly talented son. What more do we have to continue our great clan, than the Hyuuga heir, and the Hyuuga genius?"
Hinata nodded, and wiped away the tears. This has to be done, and so it shall be done.
Neji stood at the alter, Tsunade on the alter itself. Her face was set in a grim expression as Hinata approached her future husband slowly. Although she had tried to remain composed, tears still slid down the girl's porcelain cheeks as she smiled weakly.
Neji turned to look upon his bride, and blinked widely. She looked amazing, her hair shining, her eyes wide, her dress extremely figure-hugging. Then he caught sight of a group of people at the entrance. Hinata saw his gaze, and turned to see who it was.
Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke had entered the temple, swiftly followed by Tenten and Lee, then Ino, Choji and Shikamaru. All the friends walked to the very front, and sat on the mats right by the alter. Tenten was crying silently onto Lee's shoulder. All the ninja wore expressions only ever seen at funerals.
"Please, Tsunade-sama, continue the ceremony." Hiashi called from the back of the room.
Hinata began to walk again, each footstep heavy with dread. Her heart was in her mouth, and beating so loud she knew everyone must be able to hear it. Then it happened.

"HINATA! HINATA-CHAN!"

Kiba came running down the aisle, after fighting off numerous Hyuuga guards outside. Hiashi had not even noticed the Inuzuka, as his full attention had been on the wedding, and the continuation of his clan.
Akamaru ran alongside his master, howling loudly.
"Tsunade-sama!" Kiba panted as he reached the alter, kneeling down in front of the Hokage, "please, stop this wedding. I am in love with Hyuuga Hinata."
Hinata blushed deeply, and found her voice.
"And I am in love with Inuzuka Kiba." She said, quietly.
Hiashi stormed up the aisle, his anger at boiling point.
"How dare you interrupt this noble Hyuuga wedding!? This ceremony will continue, Hokage-sama! I demand that this insolent boy be removed at once."
Akamaru growled at Hiashi, fur standing on end, teeth bared.
At that moment, Temari ran into the temple, followed swiftly by a recently returned Shino.
"The village is under attack!" The sand ninja cried, "Gaara is fighting, but he can't take on everything himself!"
The Konoha ninja all rose, forgetting what was happening here. Their village need them, and so they would come to its aid.

Kiba grabbed Hinata as she was about to go.
"Nata…I want you to have this." He untied a necklace from around his neck.
It was the fang of a dog, on a leather string.
"Akamaru's first baby tooth. It's my lucky charm. I love you."
He kissed her, held her close, and then ran with the others, to battle whatever foe it was.
Hinata stood alone in the temple for a few minutes, unsure of what to do, holding the necklace in her hands.

"Ah, hello…Hyuuga heir." A silvery voice came from the entrance.