Part 37 The Wedding

"Oi wake up lazy ass it's your wedding!" Makaiko wrenched the sheets off of me. Gaara had already gone and not wanted to disturb my much needed sleep (I was starting to look like the grudge.) I showered and slipped in to a robe at top speed then Makaiko and I hurtled down the corridor to the brides designated room and entered. Everyone turned at my entry and it was like vultures everyone was dragging me over to have my make-up and hair done. I was sat down in a chair Makaiko had been carried off by another crowd. My hair was washed, dried, straightened, curled, crimped, pimped and plastered. I had to keep my eyes closed because my precious eyes were in danger of been gouged out by deadly weapons of beauty and violently attacking torturous instruments of make-up. After my head and nails had been preened beyond perfection I had to be wrapped up in my wedding kimono, this felt like it took several hours with all the layers on it. But eventually the over all look was perfect. The kimono was pure white incredibly fine silk which had a long train at the back; patterns of nature were woven in to it so that they glimmered when they caught the light. Everyone had decided not to go for the hood but instead a tiara encrusted with diamonds, rubies and sapphires, clips adorned with diamonds were also pinned in to my hair making it glitter. I turned around from looking in to the mirror to see everyone beaming at me and Makaiko and Temari hurried over to me (or as quickly as you can in those shoes and a kimono) they each wore a sweeping red kimonos with black seems, the fabric was patterned with black, blue and gold birds and trees. Makaiko's hair was pinned up at the back with pearl encrusted chopsticks with some of her hair down at the front. Temari had hers down and styled so that she had a fringe and the rest flicked outwards. Makaiko linked my arm so that I wouldn't fall over and Temari held the train up as our team escorted us to the entrance of the Kazekage manor. Gaara was already down there as I walked down the staircase. Gaara was in a long male black kimono with a white underneath the lack material had his family crest on the back and the Kazekage symbol was woven in blue. He turned around and after that he did not move he just stared as I walked down the staircase and up next to him.
"You look handsome," I said smiling from ear to ear, he seemed blown over by my appearance and Kankuro gave him a sharp nudge with his elbow.
"Y-Y-You look like the most stunning thing I have ever laid my eyes upon." I blushed.
"Thanks erm shall we go then?"
"Yeah," he said rather breathlessly.

We stepped out and a white carriage with gold patterns pulled by two horses which were decorated with white and gold as well with their manes and tails braided. I was helped in to the carriage by Gaara and the bride's maids and the best man and others were to follow in carriages behind us. As soon as the carriage rounded the corner the streets were packed at the sides with people cheering and waving, flowers were being thrown and I was amazed to see people acting like this and packing the streets right up till the shrine where we were to tie the knot. I waved to everyone I could see beaming at them all. I had a really good uplifting feeling that I would never forget this day because I was one of the happiest people alive in the world. There was music playing as well which I could barely hear above the cheers and noise of the people. The ANBU opened the carriage door and I stepped down and Gaara behind me, Makaiko walked beside me as was tradition and Temari carried the train the priest behind us as we walked a slow procession in to the shrine. We walked through the entrance and I was bowled over at the grandness of the shrine. There were lights, lanterns and decorations of flowers everywhere. We stopped and the priest drew a head of us and the bridesmaids stepped back and the music of the wooden flutes stopped.
"You are all here to witness the bonding of two souls in this life and that they may live a fruitful and well lived life until the next and that they together be at peace with the earth and natures almighty power. Do you Sabaku no Gaara promise no to commit acts of evil?"
"I promise," Gaara said to the priest as the purification began.
"Do you promise not to sin against the earth, yourself or your fellows?"
"I promise." The priest nodded and I beamed at him.
"Yanagi Keitii do you promise no to commit acts of evil?"
"I promise," I said.
"Do you promise not to sin against the earth, yourself or your fellows?"
"I promise."
"Very well then repeat after me may a radiant light blaze forth from my body after enlightenment,
"May a radiant light blaze forth from my body after enlightenment,"
"Brightening countless realms, and may all beings have perfect physical form,"
"Brightening countless realms, and may all beings have perfect physical form,"
"May my body be pure radiant, with a radiance more brilliant than the sun and moon,"
"May my body be pure radiant, with a radiance more brilliant than the sun and moon." I turned to Gaara and smiled which he returned more sweetly than he'd ever done.

"Sabaku no Gaara repeat after me I Sabaku no Gaara," We turned in to each other and Gaara lifted my hands in to his and looked deep in to my eyes like he could see my very soul.
"I Sabaku no Gaara,"
"Promise to you Yanagi Keitii,"
"Promise to you Yanagi Keitii." There was only me and him on this planet at the moment him saying words I could not understand but yet did.
"That I will care for you,"
"That I will care for you."
"That I will protect you,"
"That I will protect you,"
"That I will share my life and soul with you."
"That I will share my life and soul with you."
"I will love you faithfully in good times in bad, in sickness and in health."
"I will love you faithfully in good times in bad, in sickness and in health."
"Regardless of obstacles we may face."
"Regardless of obstacles we may face."
"I will laugh with you and cry with you, I give you my hand, my heart,"
"I will laugh with you and cry with you, I give you my hand, my heart,"
"And my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."
"And my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."
"I, Sabaku no Gaara, choose you Yanagi Keitii to be my wife, to respect you in your successes and in your failures,"
"I, Sabaku no Gaara, choose you Yanagi Keitii to be my wife, to respect you in your successes and in your failures,"
"I now would like to take your hand in marriage if you are so willing having made the vows in front of these witnesses." I smiled it almost sounded like a murder case.
"I now would like to take your hand in marriage if you are so willing having made the vows in front of these witnesses."

"Yanagi Keitii repeat after me I Yanagi Keitii," I wondered how many times I would have to say my full name.
"I Yanagi Keitii,"
"Promise to you Sabaku no Gaara,"
"Promise to you Sabaku no Gaara."
"That I will care for you,"
"That I will care for you."
"That I will protect you,"
"That I will protect you,"
"That I will share my life and soul with you."
"That I will share my life and soul with you."
"I will love you faithfully in good times in bad, in sickness and in health."
"I will love you faithfully in good times in bad, in sickness and in health."
"Regardless of obstacles we may face."
"Regardless of obstacles we may face."
"I will laugh with you and cry with you, I give you my hand, my heart,"
"I will laugh with you and cry with you, I give you my hand, my heart," I certainly would give anything to be with him, I would give my life, the universe.
"And my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."
"And my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."
"I, Yanagi Keitii, choose you Sabaku no Gaara to be my husband, to respect you in your successes and in your failures,"
"I, Yanagi Keitii, choose you Sabaku no Gaara to be my husband, to respect you in your successes and in your failures,"
"I now would like to take your hand in marriage if you are so willing having made the vows in front of these witnesses." It still sounded like a murder inquiry.
"I now would like to take your hand in marriage if you are so willing having made the vows in front of these witnesses." Gaara smiled showing his teeth this time. We both turned back to the priest, these vows were indeed some that Gaara's spin doctors had cooked up. My heart was still beating like a humming bird and I felt as light as air as happy as Larry (by the way I would love to know who this jolly chap Larry is so I can shoot him).
"Do you Sabaku no Gaara take Yanagi Keitii to be your wife?"
"I do."
"In sickness and in health, for richer for poorer for better for worse?" I doubted we'd ever be poor.
"I do."
"Do you Yanagi Keitii take Sabaku no Gaara to be your husband?"
"I do."
"In sickness and in health, for richer for poorer for better for worse?"
"I do."
"Then if anyone has a reason why these two souls should not bond together let them speak now." I held my breath hoping that the saying it was too good to be true was wrong. After about 10 seconds I let it out and the priest continued and turned around and blessed two cups of sake and handed them to each of us finally alcohol! We exchanged the golden goblets and drank as the priest spoke. "With the exchanging of this wine the souls are brought closer together." The goblets were handed back and the priest returned them to the shelf. "Then let the rings be brought forward." Gaara and I turned around; I saw that Kankuro and Naruto stood on Gaara's side. Kankuro got up and handed Makaiko a ring, Makaiko grinned at me and gave me the ring. I felt its surprising warmth of the metal sheen in my palm. "With the exchanging of these rings we bond these two souls in holy matrimony." Gaara and I turned to face each other, I was the happiest I had been in my entire life and expected to wake up and it was all a dream but it was certainly reality. "Sabaku no Gaara repeat after me, I give you this ring."
"I give you this ring."
"As a symbol of our marriage."
"As a symbol of our marriage." I held out my hand as he gently slid the ring on to my finger.
"Yanagi Keitii repeat after me, I give you this ring."
"I give you this ring."
"As a symbol of our marriage."
"As a symbol of our marriage." I slipped the ring on to his finger and then looked in to his eyes knowing what came next I grinned.
"Sabaku no Gaara, Yanagi Keitii I pronounce you husband and wife you may now kiss the bride!" Gaara swept me close to him and lifted my face with a single finger but I needed no guidance. Our lips met. In those movies when the girl and boy kiss and fireworks explode all around? Well it was like Deidara with fireworks. I was in heaven, on top of the world. I never wanted this moment, this happiness to end. The kiss was filled to the brim with passion and tenderness. We broke apart and the smile almost ripped my face in two. Temari and Makaiko were beaming at us both. Kankuro and Naruto well... they broke down completely crying and hugging each other, I laughed and so did Gaara, his laugh filled me with joy and a brightness. We linked arms as Temari held the train and Makaiko skipped in front throwing flower petals and blossom, pink cherry blossom, (thankfully the scene was void of beef burgers.)

We walked through the doors; the whole thing had been showed on massive screens outside so everyone could see. Imagine Deidara's explosions and his firework display times by ten and that was the kind of cheering and noise we walked out to. We stood on the steps smiling and waving at the crowd. We were hurried in to the carriage, Gaara and I sitting side by side, hand in hand travelling passed cheers garlands of herbs, flowers, confetti and material were being thrown at us. I turned back and kissed Gaara again there were great cheers and wolf whistles. We reached the Kazekage manor and Gaara helped me down then pick me up in his arms and carried me over the threshold. Incidentally I have always wondered what would happen if the guy weighed less and wasn't particularly athletic. He set me down and he pulled me in to a tight embrace before we were both swept away by the wedding teams. We were to change in to a more comfortable attire which I wasn't going to complain about cbecause these bloody shoes were killing me. My hair and Make-up were totally redone taking about an hour which is also so that the guests could make their way to the banqueting hall. I came out dressed in a black silk kimono patterned with pink cherry blossom, my hair was down with the tiara still in and the kimono covered the normal flat black shoes. Makaiko and Temari accompanied me down the flights of stairs to Gaara and the now not so sobbing Kankuro and Naruto. We walked down the streets greeting people and accepting bunches of flowers and teddies the teddies were useful for the new baby in any case. We were led in through a side entrance and we were announced before we walked in, Kankuro walked out to do this.
"May I introduce my brother the Kazekage and his wife Keitii the new happy couple!" I held on to Gaara's arm as we entered to a standing crowd who were applauding, they all went silent and bowed as one. Gaara and I bowed back then went to sit down. Naruto remained standing and after everyone had settled down he spoke.
"Lets hear it again for the new happy couple!" Everyone applauded; I was surprised their palms weren't raw. "I met Gaara just before the chunin exams because his brother Kankuro was having a run in with one of my erm little followers and Sasuke stopped that but anyhow Gaara appeared out of nowhere showing his expertise at a young age. I remember those chunin exams were eventful and with more added risks never the less Gaara and I found a connection and I am glad to say that has remained strong!" He grinned at everyone. "I heard he'd been appointed as Kazekage which was nothing less than what I expected and I see that he has done a fine job. I first met this lovely young alcoholic of a girl on a mission to retrieve the Hoshikage's daughter after the attack on Iwagakure although many believed she was dead."
"That reminds me Naruto where's that drink you owe me?" I said everyone laughed.
"Anyway she showed grit and determination just like Gaara here and upon him entering the room she changed from a loud foul mouthed fiery tempered red head to a timid mouse. She needless to say did not return back to Hoshigakure the next time that I encountered her stubbornness was when Gaara told me that she had run after him when he was captured even though she was being watched by guards and was forbidden to leave. She never the less did return and so I hear these two love birds finally admitted their feelings which was about time. Keitii was sent to Konoha where she was to over see the chunin exams but when she was injured after a battle with a fierce Akatsuki member Gaara was terribly worried but when she was healed I was there when it did happen Gaara final popped the question and proposed in the Hokage's office. The rest well the result is here and I am very glad to have known these two and seen their love grow as I'm sure it will over the next years." He sat down and everyone applauded again.

Makaiko then proceeded to make a speech she cleared her throat.
"I have known Keitii ever since before she drank alcohol I know that was a long time ago," I laughed, "Her family took me in as a second daughter and she was too popular for her own good, her team mates told her not to mix with me but she ignored them and we became best friends going out drinking and to festivals. This girl has had more tragedy than most and I am so glad to finally see her happy with the person she loves the most. When I arrived in Suna first off she came back after talking to Gaara and I noticed that she'd known him a few weeks and she already called me Gaara but I did not pursue it as there was an interesting wrestling match on at the time. I received a letter from her and let me say those carrier birds are lethal; the letter said that her and Gaara were now together and I just hoped that this wasn't another thing about to go wrong for her. The second I received was that her and Gaara were engaged, this was definitely serious business and I actually did work hard to get to Suna and I think we should al raise a toast to Keitii and Gaara!"
"Keitii and Gaara," everyone said raising their glasses.

I then got up as I was due to make a speech but I had memorised it.
"Well what a year it has been for me why I wouldn't have dreamed back in Hoshigakure that in a few months time I would have moved to Sunagakure, been chosen by the sacred bird of Suna and married the Kazekage to boot." I smiled surveying the room. "Well I first came here I wasn't very taken with this young Kazekage and it seemed like clash of the titans due to the presence of Kotaro the bird. I felt the young Kazekage grow on me but I would not admit it to his face. But then something happened Gaara was taken by the Akatsuki and I realised how much I did actually love him. Well as you've been told I spent some time away from Suna but came back, shortly afterwards Gaara and I were officially an item. But then something more shocking came to light I would have to marry him almost straight away. Well he did get down and propose and made me the happiest I'd been in a long time by marrying me. I am so lucky to have someone like him to love and I know that he's as good a husband as he is Kazekage." I sat down and Gaara smiled at me then he stood up the final speech and everyone went deadly quiet his authority asserted.

"A few months in to my appointment as Kazekage a young girl was thrust in front of me from Hoshigakure, she was sharp and had no trouble standing up for herself. Well this girl was more trouble to me than I had first thought as I took her down the corridor with her and the bird doing a mission impossible sequence which I wasn't the least bit impressed by. When I told her that she had to stay in the confines of a room she was quick to act and commanded the bird in certain ways that we had to get her to cooperate and keep her happy, I was impressed. The next trouble I had was when the bird was taken and Keitii disobeyed my orders and went after the captor who was trying to lure her back to her village and she knew it. She fought like a true shinobi of the highest quality. The next incident we had grown a little closer and every time I saw her I felt warm and slightly more hopeful but I did not know what this was and just assumed stress and the heat of the day were to blame, anyway her father had sent a fair few more people to bring her back this time and she fought fiercely with them determined to remain in Suna. That night the news of her father being killed had reached us and that night I over heard her and her ex-team mate arguing and I was stunned but said nothing. Over the next few days trying to ask her about it was harder than taming the Shukaku. I was kidnapped by the Akatsuki and all that time I was fighting against the Akatsuki member I was fighting for the safety of her when I heard her shouts. Upon returning back to Sunagakure I found that she'd been lost in a sandstorm attempting to follow me and I prayed that she was still alive. She did return and shortly afterwards I told her my feelings but by then I had already signed her name down to over see the chunin exams and I felt for her safety. But I had to follow her because I missed her far too much and I had a question to ask her. I proposed and well the next as has been said is history. She has changed me and turned my life around which I will never forget. A toast then to our marriage."
"To your marriage." Gaara sat down and waiters and waitresses flooded in. After the banquet was over there was the cutting of the cake which was almost as tall as me! There were photos and celebrations which went on late in to the night.

It was midnight or somewhere around then and yes I was completely sober! There had been a dance after some other celebrations. Over the microphone Kankuro said,
"This is the last dance dedicated to the happy couple." The lights turned blue like moonlight and I twirled my fingers around Gaara's. I held one of our hands in between us as I rested my head on his shoulder as a slow waltz tune started up. I smiled to myself finally I was safe in the knowledge that I now had a new family, home and soon to be a mother. I smiled looking out at the moon's pale powder white face and I had just wished that Sachiyo had been there because I knew that he'd always wanted to see that day come. All the people who were dead seemed to stand like ghosts at the opposite side of the room pale, silvery and translucent. My mother was smiling and letting tears of joy run down her face, Sachiyo beaming giving me a thumbs up but for once silvery tears streaked down his face. Katsou and Amaterasu their arms around each other smiling at me. Raiden-sensei was standing at the end of the line looking on at his student he'd trained to be a fighter. They all faded and I didn't know if the had been there or not. I closed my eyes as tears ran down my face but I was happy yet sad also as I danced with Gaara in to the moonlit star filled night.