IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Merry Christmas everyone! I am honestly sorry for not having updated this story for almost a year. Life's been busy, and I am actually...still busy. I am going to be at work, yes, on Christmas Day, in less than 6 hours. But I am still updating, because I feel absolutely horrible for not updating this at all. I haven't written any extra chapters for this story, so it is taking awhile for me to type the chapters out. Sorry for this delay and the quality of this chapter. It's really just to get Naruto's wedding out of the way and...well, the ending explains why this chapter is here.
VELVET, Just One Night, and With Just One Touch will be on HIATUS. I'm trying extremely hard to finish A Pretty Still Doll, but with the university schedule I have, it's almost impossible to write anything at all, and I feel terrible to keep you guys hanging on when a new chapter is coming out for any of my stories that I'm not really concentrated on. So, I will just straight out tell you that the three stories mentioned above aside from the fourth one will not be written for a little while...as in about the summer of 2011. If you haven't read A Pretty Still Doll...then, please do so if you have the time. :)
Please leave a review and hope you guys have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Disclaimer: Not owning anything except for the plot of this story.
Chapter 3 - VELVET
The cool night breeze brushed gently through both silver-grey and red hair. They stood atop the entrance gate to Konoha and merely stayed there for minutes; only the scattering of the leaves signalled the traces of their leave.
No lights were lit in Konoha except for the main building of Leaf. They nimbly jumped from roof to roof, their silent footfalls never once faltering. The entirety of Konoha was just like how it was months prior to the invasion by Pain. Shadows casted by the moon made it easier for them to travel unnoticed through the night.
Gaara and Kakashi landed on the Hokage building and waited there, the presence of their chakra clearly detectable by the person below. Seconds passed by before a strong but feminine voice barked out a grant for their admittance.
"––of all the times to come back, you had to choose the middle of the night." Tsunade started even before they appeared.
So much for a heart warming welcome back.
"Good to see you, too, Tsunade-sama." Kakashi calmly said.
"You're leaner than ever, Kakashi. Gaara, I've heard of your many accomplishments as Kazekage, and I am very impressed. For someone as young as you, you know what you are doing."
"Thank you, Godaime." Gaara stoically replied. He withdrew a scroll and a stack of bills from the depths of his robe and handed them to her. "This is a list of all the missions Kakashi has finished within the past 8 months that he has stayed in Suna for and the money for Konoha for his service."
"Thank you, Gaara, but this amount is not needed. Konoha is doing quite well, so I will not accept the funds. Keep it." She pushed the bills back to him.
"I have no use for it."
"I will not take it."
"Then give it to the shinobi and kunoichi of this village." He suggested.
"Here, Kakashi. For your hard work." Tsunade threw the stack at Kakashi and he caught it effortlessly.
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama. I'll use it to treat my old pupils." He nonchalantly said.
"Hmph. What do you two think about it?"
"Just like him." Gaara emotionlessly answered.
"Can't say it better myself." Kakashi chuckled.
Tsunade only smirked. "Interesting. Now, scat, the both of you. I have lots of work to do."
"Residence?" The Jounin asked.
She threw a set of keys at him and pointed in a certain direction.
- Konohagakure -
- The Wedding -
"Sasuke-kun!" She sung out. "We have to go or else we'll be late!"
"Hn. The dobe can wait."
"Would you like him to be late for our wedding, then?"
"…"
"Point taken? I think so. How do I look?" She twirled around in a circle in front of Sasuke and faced him.
Sakura sported a gray-black kimono with a red obi. Her hair was smartly twisted up into a knot and decorated needles secured the mass of hair.
"Hn. Average."
"Average? Is that wh–"
Sasuke cut her off with a quick but deep kiss. Colour rose to her cheeks.
"Beautiful now." He smiled and pulled her into his arms.
"You're despicable." She whispered and playfully punched his chest. Her arms went around his middle.
"Hn."
They stayed in their embrace and said nothing to one another; the silence just equally as comforting as their own words.
"You look really good, Sasuke-kun." She confessed softly, her head nestled just to the right of his chest.
He absentmindedly fingered the embroidery on her obi. "I thought I was despicable." He smirked.
Sakura lifted her head and looked at him. "Just sometimes." She whispered, and pressed her lips to his.
Soft, warm flesh gently moved across his mouth. His eyes fluttered closed as he willingly returned her kiss with a little too much vigour. In turn, she tilted backwards and the two tumbled onto the bed, his hands on her waist. She ran her fingers along his chest, feeling his heart pulse gently beneath them.
His lips left hers to brush lightly across her jaw line and down to her neck. Sasuke buried his head at the junction of her neck and shoulder and listened to her erratic heartbeat. A soft sigh escaped his lips. He only wished that he would always have this effect on her no matter what happens.
Sakura placed her hands atop his head and held him there, her hands providing a sort of protection for him. The silence was comforting. At times like these, she felt that Sasuke would essentially feed her pieces of information regarding himself and that he allowed her to understand him.
This time around, he was worried about something, but he wasn't letting anything on to her. With Sasuke literally on top of her, she noticed that he had lost a little weight. Dark shadows were under his eyes, yet, he had been supposedly getting more sleep than usual. His reflexes also seemed a bit too clumsy for him. Normally, he would tolerate no mistakes and would never execute them. For her, it was normal, but for him to mess up was just…surreal.
She knew that tonight was going to be a bit busier than other nights.
"Hey, Naruto, Hinata! Sorry we're late. We got caught up in something." Sakura apologized and hugged her.
"It's fi–" Hinata started.
"Where the hell were you guys? You were supposed to be here a half hour ago, dattebayo! I don't even know what I'm supposed to be doing!" Naruto pouted.
"Dobe. Hyuuga should have explained everything to you last night." Sasuke scowled.
"Sasuke! Don't be so rude, please." Sakura scolded.
"Hn."
"Blehhhh! You got scolded by Sakura-chan, dattebayo!"
Sasuke retorted by punching him on the top of his head.
"No fair! I'm the groom today!"
"As the groom you are obnoxiously dull."
"Hinata, this is our wedding present. We hope you like it." Sakura smiled at Hinata and handed her a present wrapped in light green paper with a dark green bow. Sasuke wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Thank you, Sakura, Sasuke-san." Hinata smiled. "You look dashing tonight."
"What about me, Hinata-chan?" Naruto bounded into the conversation.
"Yes, yes, Naruto-kun, you too."
"Sasuke-kun, please go tell Naruto what he needs to do tonight." Sakura whispered to him.
He looked at her and reluctantly pulled away, his fingers lingering at her waist. "Come here, dobe. I'll explain."
After the two men were out of earshot, Sakura led Hinata to her chair in front of her bureau and started preparing her things. "How far along are you, Hinata?"
"I believe it has been two and a half months." She quietly confessed.
"How did you find out that you were pregnant?"
"I didn't. Otou-sama did. He wasn't mad or anything, he was j-just surprised Naruto-kun didn't notice at all or even brought up the topic of m-marriage." Hinata stuttered.
Sakura sighed. "He's always like that. Didn't you notice anything from your cases of morning sickness?"
She started applying a light blush to Hinata's pale face.
"I didn't really have them…"
"Come by and have a check-up at the hospital after your honeymoon. If Hiashi-sama has not said anything about it, then your baby should be fine. Just remember to not drink any alcohol tonight." She warmly smiled at her.
"Okay. You will be staying for the whole night, right?"
"I think I'll be leaving sometime around twelve. Everyone should be drunk by then, including Naruto. Even though it is your wedding, you shouldn't stay up so late. Your health is the baby's health. Besides–" Sakura dropped her voice to a low whisper. "–Sasuke-kun seems to be really tired lately and I don't want to make him stay out too late. I'm sorry, Hinata."
"Oh! No, no. Please don't say that, Sakura. I am already very happy you can make it today. It was a rather hurriedly planned wedding, so I feared that many would not have been able to come…"
She laughed. "Are you kidding me, Hinata? Everyone absolutely adores Naruto! No one would miss his wedding for the life of day!"
"I-I know, that's why I invited the w-whole village." Hinata stammered.
Sakura stopped laughing. "The whole village?"
"Well, only the ones who could come, right? Half of them can't come, so really, it's only half the town."
"Gotta hand it to you, Hinata. You host the best parties. No one's ever left out. Now, shall we fit you into the wedding kimono?"
Sakura busied herself with slipping the formal dress out of its bagging while Hinata got up from her chair. She suddenly tipped to the side and before Sakura could even act, Naruto came out of nowhere and caught his soon-to-be wife.
"Oi, Hinata-chan. Sit down. Don't overexert yourself." Naruto said, for once, serious.
Sakura almost swelled with pride for her best friend, until he turned to look at Sasuke.
"Teme! Was that good or what?"
They left an unconscious Naruto on the floor and helped Hinata slip into her wedding garment.
Their hands were linked together as they strolled around in the huge garden. People were happily conversing with one another at their designated tables. Each table was lit with a single lamp that threw everything into soft shadows. Everything was of pure white, and the chairs were covered with the softest fabric.
The lanterns did not obscure too much of the night above them. The sky was clear and an explosion of stars lit up the dark night. Every so often, unsuspecting to every pair of eyes, a shooting star would silently streak across the sky and disappear just as fast as it appeared. Yellow orange pinpricks of light drifted around the grounds, fluttering here and there. Even the fireflies wanted to celebrate on this joyous night.
Sakura lightly rested her head on Sasuke's shoulder as they walked. They still had a little time before the bride and the groom were due to come out. The mood was tranquil, and she felt safe, being able to leisurely walk with him, he supporting her from behind. His solid chest proved to be a great comfort to her. She felt protected, safe…and, happy.
Her eyes fluttered closed just for a second. The warmth that radiated off of him was pulling her under. She never thought that it was possible to fall asleep while walking.
"Tired?" His voice reverberated into her ears.
He let go of her hand and pulled her into a back hug, his arms encircling her waist. She placed her hands over his and leaned into him.
"No, not really." She whispered and closed her eyes.
A chaste kiss grazed her cheek and she turned her head slightly to meet his lips. They touched, and a soft sigh escaped her lips as they broke apart.
"Hn." He smirked.
"Stop smirking, pompous jerk." She half-heartedly reprimanded him.
Sasuke responded by placing a kiss on her ear and released her, her hand in his. She almost stumbled at the sudden move only for him to catch her.
"Don't fall asleep. It's almost time." For once, her lover can actually say something decent.
"Alright, alright. I'm up." She jokingly pouted.
Sasuke led her out of the darker shadows of the garden and into the lighter parts. He grasped her hand lightly; her skin was much too soft to be that of a kunoichi.
"Let's head back to our table, ne?" She smiled at him.
If he were a normal man, he would have paused in his steps from the smile. But, he wasn't. He was Uchiha Sasuke. And that was also another reason why he had Sakura as his woman.
"Hn."
They continued walking until she stopped. He wondered why she stopped until he turned to look at what her eyes were on.
Damn it.
"Kakashi-sensei, Gaara! When did you guys get here?" Sakura warmly waved at her approaching friend and mentor.
"Hello Sakura, Sasuke. We arrived just a few nights ago." Kakashi pleasantly greeted them in return.
"How come you didn't tell us that you were coming home?"
"There wasn't enough time, what with Naruto's spontaneous preparations for his wedding." He smiled.
"How've you been for the past months? You seem a little tanner." She tried to make casual and light conversation.
"I've put him out on missions mostly during the day." Gaara's quiet voice spookily glided out from his silent form.
"Oh."
"You, Sasuke? I take it you're well?" His ex-teacher turned his attention to him.
"Fine."
"I see."
"Will you be sta–" She started.
"Sakura-san, Hinata is in pain. Please, come check on her now!" Neji suddenly appeared and looked ethereally handsome in his hakama, but also quite stressed.
Why, oh why, must something interrupt her while she tried to make conversation with Kakashi? Poor ex-sensei and her frazzled nerves.
"Where is she, the back? Sorry to cut it short, guys, I'll talk to you soon." Sakura rushed off in the direction of the preparation room, leaving the redhead, grey-head, and two dark heads alone.
Neji spoke up once more. "Sasuke, as Naruto's best man, I'd assume you have to be back there quite soon; it'd be wise to follow."
"Hn." Without another look, he swiftly followed his fiancée, padding silently across the darkened grounds that soon swallowed him.
"Hinata, breathe. It'll be okay." Sakura rushed to the bride's side, feeling the paler woman's wrist.
"Oooh, Sakura-chan..." Naruto nervously fidgeted by his future wife's other side.
"S-Sakura, i-is there s-something wrong?" Hinata gasped, a hand yanking the fabric at her abdomen.
"No, nothing's wrong. Here, stop, or else you'll rip the fabric." She gently jerked the white lace from her fists and placed her hands atop her thighs. "You're just nervous, Hinata. The baby's fine, you're fine, just breathe deeply."
"O-Okay."
A few minutes later, Naruto was abruptly shoved out of the room by a flustered Maid of Honour, the door nearly catching the blond's hair.
"Oi, watch it, dattebayo! I don't want to go bald at the age of 23!" The groom yelled out.
"You'll lose a lot more when your baby's born." Sakura laughed, her voice decreasing in volume as she walked to the other side. "Hurry to the altar outside, Naruto. Sasuke should be right behind you waiting to get you out there."
The blond mechanically swung around, almost colliding with the shoulder of a man dressed in navy blue.
"Oi, teme! When'd you get here, dattebayo?"
"I was behind you all along, dobe. Let's go." Sasuke pulled Naruto down the hall by the scruff of his neck, confusion still written across his handsome whiskered face.
Sakura leaned against the door, nodding in approval at the disappearing footsteps. "Come on, Hinata. Let's get the rest of your things on."
"KANPAI!" A unison chorus exploded into the cheery dark night.
"Who knew you would have gotten married so soon, Naruto!" Kiba grabbed him into a headlock, the other hand swishing a glass of beer around, droplets of the substance splattering the blond hair.
"Hey, watch it, Kiba!" Naruto's muffled voice rang out. "I don't want to smell like alcohol!"
"Yo, did you guys hear that? The groom doesn't want to be inebriated at his own wedding!" Kiba barked out.
"I'm supposed to be responsible! I don't want to do more dumb things to Hinata if I get drunk!" He scowled.
The table immediately quieted at Naruto's words, surprised that he would be able to say such embarrassing yet caring words simultaneously. Every pair of eyes regarded him with light amusement, all of them truly realizing that Naruto indeed had grown up within the past years. It was true that the news of Naruto being Namikaze Minato's son was shocking, but the suggestion of Naruto being instated as the sixth Hokage did not take anyone by surprise.
"Hn." The corners of Sasuke's lips turned upwards so slightly that even Sakura could barely catch it.
The pinkette giggled at the cherished blond's honest reaction.
"Nan desu ka? Why is Teme and Sakura-chan laughing at me?" His handsome whiskered face was scrunched cutely into a pout.
"Oh, Naruto. It's just that...when you said something so sensible, it just really took us by surprise is all." She smiled at her ex-teammate, her heart swelling with pride for her loyal friend.
"You never were the brightest of the rest, Naruto. It is...somewhat of a shock to be able to hear you speak such coherent words." Shino piped up, his face half-hidden by the habitual high collar of his hakama.
"Not you too, Shino?"
"I only speak what I believe is the truth." A slender digit propped his sunglasses higher onto his nose.
"Well, the truth is that I believe it's weird for you to be wearing sunglasses so late at night!" Naruto childishly retorted and stood up.
"Maybe he is only acting out his maturity." Kakashi chuckled.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
The table's raucous laughter rang out into the night sky, the twinkling stars above them seemingly celebratory with the group of shinobi below.
The pain increased as the ceremony went on, even the already dim light seeming much too bright for him.
It proved difficult to keep his eyes open instead of having them closed as he stood slightly below the altar with the maid of honour and the bridesmaids. If it were not for the blond's mistake, he would be at home sleeping in the comfort of his fiancée's arms and hoping that the pain would subside by the early morning.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." The hired monk gestured towards Hinata.
As Naruto unveiled the blushing lavender-eyed girl, a sharp pain made him grimace in pain, his grasp on Sakura's hand tightening to an almost painful grip to prevent himself from jerking a hand up to his eyes.
The pinkette looked up to him with slightly wet eyes from what he could only assume was initiated from the dobe's wedding. "Sasuke-kun...?" She murmured into his ear.
"It's nothing." He tersely replied and quickly blinked a few times to try to rid himself of the now throbbing ache situated in his temples.
"Oh, okay." But Sasuke knew that she didn't buy that; the worry and suspicion in her eyes could be seen by no one but him.
And now they sat at the table waiting for everyone to get drunk before they themselves headed home.
It won't be very long until they could go home from what he could see. Hinata was busy taking care of a heavily tipsy husband while Sakura tried to reassure a drunken Ino that Shikamaru would not leave her for that so-called other dirty blonde bitch who sat only a few seats away from her. Kiba was already passed out in his chair, his body somewhat sprawled across the surface of the table whereas the lower half was slipping out of his seat. Shino was already gone with the rest of his family, having disappeared shortly after the first rounds of liquor. Gaara remained stoic at the situation, whereas Temari glowered at Ino's behaviour. Hiashi appeared to be less than pleased and seemed ready to call off the party if not for the respect he had for his older daughter's friends.
"Hehe...Hina-chan!" Naruto slurred. "Let's bang again when we get home, dattebayoooo!"
"N-Naruto-kun. Come on, we should get you to bed so you can rest." Hinata blushed at her new husband's suggestion, a small and timid smile brushing her pale features.
"The wedding's over then, Hinata-chan?" Sakura whispered into the purple-haired woman's ear.
"Y-Yes. I believe so. It would not be healthy for me to stay up late also." She sighed.
"Okay." The pinkette smiled at her friend. "Take care, and Sasuke and I will take our leave. I'm sorry we're leaving you with the rest of these drunken folk." She gestured towards the people sprawled in spontaneous heaps around them. "I would help, except it seems that something's been wrong with Sasuke lately."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not quite sure myself, but I have a slight hunch." The medic frowned.
"Oh, dear."
"I'll see you when you and Naruto get settled down, alright? Goodnight, Hinata-chan." Sakura turned to Sasuke and smiled. "Let's go, Sasuke-kun."
"So soon? Do you not want to stay a little while longer?" He raised a delicate eyebrow at her.
Her heart fluttered even after so long. "No, it's fine. I'm a little tired tonight." She reached for his hand beneath the folds of his hakama.
The raven took it willingly and pulled her to her feet, his warmth spreading into her lightly chilled hand. "We're leaving, minna-san. Thank you for tonight." Sakura smiled and waved to all the inebriated and the conscious ones, glad that the boisterous Ino had fallen asleep in Shikamaru's arms as to not bother the rest of the party. She made sure to clearly wave to Kakashi to assert him that she was not going to ignore him.
"Thank you for coming, Sakura-chan. It means a lot to me." Hinata shyly smiled at her from her chair, trying to keep a restless Naruto suppressed.
"I wouldn't have missed this for anything." She warmly said and smiled before walking over to Naruto. "Now, you be good, mister responsible. Don't do anything stupid."
"Sakura-chan! Hinata's pregnant, did you know that?"
The two women's eyes met before they burst into a fit of giggles. "Take care."
Sasuke gently led Sakura out from the Hyuuga's backyard, leisurely strolling towards the direction of the Uchiha Compounds. The moon was illuminated even more brightly than in the dim garden, casting a pale pathway along the road as to guide their way home. Their linked hands swayed playfully between them, the action caused by Sakura's restless self.
"I'm happy, Sasuke." She softly said.
"I know." His smooth tenor washed over comfortingly.
"I believe everyone should have a happy ending." Sakura continued.
"Hn."
They were at the Uchiha Compounds by this point, their front door looming closer with every step.
Sasuke stopped at the gate at the front of their house, and pulled her into an embrace, his black-blue locks nonchalantly tickling the pinkette's forehead.
"What do you want for your happy ending then?" He quietly asked, a touch of humour in his voice.
"Well..." Sakura lightly fingered his hakama as she relaxed into his embrace. "I want to see us together...with kids...and grandchildren...and the Uchiha Compounds frivolous again one day."
His hold on her suddenly tightened unbearably, and Sakura found herself having difficulty breathing as she tried to pull herself away from Sasuke. A small wet drop fell on her cheek, her hand instinctively reaching up to brush it away. A streak of red highlighted by the moonlight alarmed her and she jerked her head up in worry.
"Sasuke?" Her eyes were wide with fright. "Sasuke, what's wrong?"
"It's...nothing..." He hissed.
Blood simultaneously trickled from his eyes, droplets of it staining her kimono and his hakama.
Calm down, Sakura. Calm down! "Come on, let's get you inside." She calmly said and quickly ushered him into the house, making sure he wouldn't trip on the step up in the front foyer to the hardwood of the house.
She led him to a chair and sat him down as she flicked on the lights. Warm yellow flooded the room, but it seemed as though Sasuke took no notice.
"Sasuke, pull your hands away please." Sakura gently whispered. She coaxed his hands away from his face with her own, shocked at the smears of blood surrounding his eyes.
"Try to open your eyes."
He did as he was told, but he only continued to stare at her.
"Sasuke?"
"Hn."
"What do you see?"
"The room's black." His voice was tight.
Sakura bit back a gasp, her eyes welling with tears at the realization. Everything clicked together now, his fumbles, his unusual careless errors, his unwillingness to read Naruto's letter, and the blood on the hardwood.
"Sakura."
"Y-Yes, Sasuke?" She forced her voice to steady, but it wouldn't heed her demand.
"I'm blind, aren't I." He bluntly stated.
The pinkette could only stand there, finally letting her tears drip noisily in the quiet room onto the floorboards.
So, there you have it guys! The truth that I've built up for two chapters if finally here! I hate leaving the story at this "cliffie" for another half a year, but it'll be worth it, I promise! Please review!
P.S. VELVET, Just One Night, and With Just One Touch are now all on HIATUS. Sorry!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
- Kanryu out 11:51pm 24/12/2010