Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and its characters; I also don't own His Stand in Bride by Michelle Styles which is the inspiration for this story. This is not Beta'd yet.
Chapter XXII:
Sasuke woke up with a jolt looking around his surrounding noticing that he wasn't in the sand road anymore but in a room and his wife who he remembered he was embracing before losing consciousness was nowhere to be seen. He immediately activated his sharingan and got into defensive mode walking stealthily outside the room to search for Hinata.
"Sasuke kun you are awake finally." A familiar face of the red haired Uzumaki Karin greeted.
Karin ran towards Sasuke with arms wide open but Sasuke extended his hand in front of him stopping the red haired girl.
"Tell me where my wife is and I may let you live." He said in a dangerous tone reserved only to his enemies.
"Wife? I am Karin, Sasuke kun not your enemy." Karin said in a scared voice.
"I know full well who you are but I don't give a damn about you all I need now is my wife where is she?" Sasuke said towering over Karin with his sharingan orbs violently swirling.
"Sasuke…"
"Oi Sasuke you are finally awake, by the way who is the lovely girl you are hugging when we found you?" Suigetsu said with a grin showing his shark like teeth.
With neither Karin nor Suigetsu noticing, Sasuke lunged over Suigetsu gripping his neck tightly with his sharingan starting to change into a mangekyo.
"If you what's best for you, you better show me where my wife is and if I see just as much as a tiny scratch you won't be seeing tomorrow anymore."
"Sasuke kun why are you like this we are your team." Karin pleaded.
"Chill it out Sasuke I didn't do anything on the pretty lady you are hugging and since when did you marry?" Suigetsu said though he was struggling breathing with Sasuke's death grip on his neck.
"For the last time where is she?" Sasuke growled.
"Inside that room." Suigetsu said weakly pointing at the room he came from.
Sasuke let go of Suigetsu and rushed towards the room Suigetsu pointed at seeing another former teammate of his sitting in a chair looking at the sleeping Hinata.
"Sasuke." Juugo said without emotions.
"Juugo leave me and my wife alone." Sasuke said through gritted teeth his eyes still sharingan active.
Juugo nodded and left Sasuke alone with Hinata inside the room closing the door behind him.
"What happened here?" Juugo asked seeing Suigetsu being tended to by Karin.
"Sasuke kun lunged at him and gripped his neck tightly."
"The last time I saw him with that killer intent was when he stormed at the kage meeting to kill Danzo. And then he's married just what in the world happened to him?" Suigetsu said still weak from Sasuke's death grip.
"You are lucky he didn't kill you. We'll just have to wait for him to explain everything how about you prepare tea for us Karin after you are done with Suigetsu." Juugo said calmly.
Inside the room where Hinata was resting
Sasuke tucked a hair behind Hinata's ear that was on her face and held her hand to his face to calm himself and deactivated his sharingan. Hinata slowly stirred from her slumber and opened her eyes seeing Sasuke looking at him holding her hand dearly to his face, she blushed at the sight of seeing a proud man looking vulnerable to her.
"What happened and where are we?" She asked while looking into the handsome face of Sasuke.
Sasuke removed her hand from his face but remained holding it while he placed it on top of his lap, "We both lost consciousness during the sandstorm and apparently my former team Taka rescued us and we are here in their current hideout."
Hinata was aware of Sasuke having an infamous team but she didn't know anything about them and their activities except their assault on the kage meeting and Sasuke killing Danzo prior to the war that labeled Sasuke as an international criminal.
Sasuke saw his wife's sudden downcast eyes when he mentioned his former team which he was yet to open with her.
"I'll introduce you to them can you stand now?" He asked softly.
She nodded not bothering to ask him of his past adventures with the infamous team Taka. Sasuke held her hand as they exited the room and saw his former teammates seated around the table with a tea in front of them, they glanced towards the couple and wore a face of surprise except for Juugo who remained passive.
"Sasuke kun when-"
"Karin it will do you better if you remain seated and wait for Sasuke to speak up." Juugo said cutting off the red haired Uzumaki who have a feeling towards the last Uchiha.
Sasuke and Hinata took their seat before Sasuke talked, "First of all my wife and I appreciate what you did for us during the sandstorm and although this reunion is unexpected I am glad we met again. However I am not sorry for what I did to Suigetsu for you didn't answer my question immediately."
Hinata looked at her husband and to the three people in front of them seeing the white haired man nursing a swollen neck which she deduced as Suigetsu whom her husband attacked earlier which she didn't ask why for he saw the serious look on Sasuke's face.
"But we are teams before and without us you wouldn't accomplish your goal but you instantly throw that aside and attacked me ready to kill me." Suigetsu returned.
Suigetsu maybe a cold blooded killer but he values team Taka especially Sasuke who he follows every order even when he asked him to stop killing but in just an instant Sasuke will kill him without remorse which made him question his leader's action.
"I know and I appreciate it for you helped me in my revenge, but that's all in the past for now I value my wife more than anything that's why former teammate or not whoever hurts my wife will pay dearly to me."
"But how long have you been married? Didn't you always say that love is not in your vocabulary and nothing but a waste of time and sign of weakness that's why you couldn't love me?" Karin whined.
"I know what I said but Hinata chan is different and I will not explain everything about my marriage life if that is what you would like to know and Karin do us both a favor and stop calling me with a kun suffix for my wife solely has the right to call me so and like I always tell you I will never love you. The reason we came here instead of disappearing after my wife gained consciousness is to simply introduce all of you to my wife Hinata chan and if you still value me as your leader and teammate you will respect my wife as well."
Hinata stared at her husband thinking just how rude he was for admitting he didn't regret attacking his former teammate and to coldly dismiss the red haired girl to asking them as their leader to respect her as well.
Suigetsu growled and said, "You are lucky I respect you even if you tried to kill me earlier. My loyalty will always be yours Sasuke and to your wife as well, I am Suigetsu by the way."
"I don't know what you have that made Sasuke k- fall for you but I will respect you as well for his sake, call me Karin." Karin said through her glasses although she was hurt that the love of her life will never be hers.
"My loyalty is still yours even if you are not an active member anymore and it's been a while since we reunited, I am Juugo."
Hinata nodded and smiled at everyone and said, "I am Uchiha Hinata wife of Sasuke and I appreciate all you have done to my husband and your rescue of us earlier and I am sorry for what he did to Suigetsu san."
Sasuke's ears rang when he heard Hinata said her name Uchiha Hinata proudly but rolled his eyes when she asked for forgiveness for what he did to Suigetsu, she's just the forgiving type an atypical character for a strong kunoichi form a strong clan like her. He was also glad that his former team still respects him and now his wife as well.
"Anyway what are you both doing walking along the sand road?" Suigetsu asked changing the topic.
"On our way to our honeymoon." Sasuke simply answered earning a faint blush from Hinata every time she hears the word honeymoon even if it was only a word and they were not essentially doing what couples do during their honeymoon.
"Really where?" Suigetsu followed up.
"Does it matter? It's not like I will allow any one of you to disturb our private time together." Sasuke said in an irritated voice.
"Hn. I would like to be your bodyguard if that's okay after your honeymoon that is." Juugo suddenly said.
Sasuke was taken aback a little from what the big man said.
"We both appreciate it but didn't you like to explore not tied down to only one place?" Hinata asked, from what she learned about Taka their team is known to not stay in one place.
Sasuke wanted to say "Me too until you came in my life." But he refrain his self.
"Hinata chan's right besides we can take care of ourselves." Sasuke said instead.
"But I insist, I will take care of security while you and Hinata san grow your family."
"Is that really you Juugo? Anyway if he wants that I want to be part of your security as well how about you Karin?"
"Of course I'll follow you guys, but don't worry Hinata I will not do anything to take Sasuke away from you since he already chose you."
"That is nice team Taka together again." Suigetsu said sarcastically and wrapped her arms to Karin and Juugo's shoulders much to their dismay.
"If my wife says yes then so be it. What do you say Hinata chan?"
Hinata nodded, "If they want to be with you again then I have no problem with that for they are part of your life."
"Hn. We shall meet again in Konoha 3 weeks from now, until then don't cause any trouble for we are past that now and you are carrying the name of my wife now as well. If you'll excuse us we still have a honeymoon to spend." Sasuke said rising from his seat holding Hinata's hand who followed suit.
"Your things are there." Juugo said pointing at the direction of their bags.
Sasuke and Hinata grabbed their things and left, leaving the rest of team taka alone on their hideout.
"Juugo are you serious? I mean it's not in your character to settle in one place." Suigetsu asked suddenly after Sasuke and Hinata left.
"So is Sasuke and the rest of us but Sasuke really values his wife so much that he was changing for her."
"How can you tell, for all we know he could be only using her to gain favor of his village or what?" Karin asked.
"His eyes tells so, he was different from the last time we met him. He seems happy and content with his wife." Juugo said.
"You are right, gone was the rage in him although he was mad when he attacked me but when we were talking he seems to be calm for his wife."
"Yeah, how I wish he looked at me like that however it was that Hinata who he gave his heart to and married her. I wonder how Sakura reacted with that for she is more possessive than me." Karin asked in wonder.
"Doesn't matter since we are bodyguards to them in Konoha, you can enhance your medical skills by working in the newly established medical center." Juugo said.
"Yeah you are right. Wait is that the reason why you volunteered to work as bodyguard to them?"
"Yes for I know we three won't be disbanded and that by going there you can focus on your medical skills which you fell in love first before you met Sasuke."
Karin nodded and feeling happy that her teammate understood her well for they have been together through thick and thin.
It was nighttime when Sasuke and Hinata arrived at the place Kakashi was referring to. Team Taka's hideout is only a few kilometers away from the private hot spring resort which shortened their travel time.
"Good evening this is the hidden spring resort and we welcome you to our lovely place to relax and enjoy your stay."
Sasuke handed over a pass that was given by Kakashi.
"Follow me to your room." The receptionist said.
The private hot spring resort was traditional in design with the whole hot spring house made from the sturdiest wood in the land. Upon entering the garden can be seen in the middle while walking along the pathway where Sakura trees various bonsai plants and a mini pond with koi fishes can be seen. Along the walls of the resort where hand painted drawing of flowers are hanged, some of them are even made by Sai judging by the way it was painted and his name written on it. At the topmost floor where the vip room is where the receptionist led Sasuke and Hinata.
"Welcome to you room for 7 days inside the cabinet is where your yukatas, kimonos and towels are for your usage." The receptionist said pointing into a large wooden cabinet.
The receptionist led them next to their bathroom, their own sauna room and private hot spring.
"If you have any questions or like to eat or drink anything don't be shy and call us dialing the number 1 button. Our resort owe Kakashi sama a lot that your stay here are on the house, please enjoy your honeymoon." The receptionist said and closed the sliding door behind to leave Sasuke and Hinata alone.
Sasuke dropped their bags near the cabinet and sat at the futon where Hinata was already seated tired from their journey. Sasuke looked at Hinata's eyes full of desire.
"Sasuke kun?"
Sasuke closed his eyes before kissing Hinata passionately and like always Hinata weakens from his kisses and the next thing she knew she was already laying in the futon with Sasuke on top of her tucking hair that were straying on her face behind her ear.
"I'm glad you let my former team in despite our reputation." He suddenly said huskily as he was nuzzling Hinata's neck inhaling her vanilla scent.
Hinata placed her hands around Sasuke's hair ruffling it before facing him to her, "When I said I chose you I meant everything about you even your past although I am hoping you will open them up to me someday so I can know everything about you as much as you will know everything about me."
Sasuke kissed Hinata again passionately letting his tongue caress hers to show how much he truly likes her and how appreciative he was for what she just said while his right hand massages her hair and his left hand running up and down her back, while Hinata held into his head massaging his hair and neck involuntarily pushing his face deeper to hers.
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, follows, favorites. What do you think of this chapter with team Taka reuniting and the warm scene in the end? Anyway I appreciate your reviews for suggestions for the next chapter but no love scene M rating yet because that will only happen when they are already in love with one another and if I have a beta reader. I may be able to update soon this week for I am just in home resting for I had a motorcycle accident last Saturday but that will still depend on the number of reviews I will be receiving. As my previous chapters this again is not beta read and I am terribly sorry for any grammar, spelling mistakes I committed.