1 MONTH LATER

"And do you, Akira Saito, take Naruto Uzumaki to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love and to hold? To have and to cherish until the end of time?"

"I do," Akira said. She was crying, her eyes on the man in front of her. Tears of joy, and hope.

"Then you may now kiss the bride."

The fox leaned in and kissed Naruto gently, her lips caressing his. She pulled away, her eyes searching his bright blue ones. She smiled warmly, at his sheepish smile, and took his erupted throughout the audience as the couple started down the stairs and headed towards the crowd to mingle and commence the reception party. Kyuubi glared at the trail of her gown as it got caught on the chairs, and seriously considered ripping it off, but figured offending Tsunade would not be a good decision. Things had been hectic in the village for the past month. Echoes of the marriage of Naruto Uzumaki filled every corner, until people that even Naruto had never met, were coming to congratulate him. The Fifth had been very generous, offering to pay for the wedding herself. It had been under the condition that she, and Shizune get to pick out her dress, which she had readily agreed to.

And yet among all this happiness, she could not help but feel a drop of remorse.

Yuki should be here.

"I know, Kyuu-koi. She would have wanted us to be happy," he replied. His eyes misted up, and he rubbed them away with the back of his hand. Nowadays, the couple didn't have to speak for one to know what was on the other's mind. She smiled and kissed her husband on the cheek, as Ino and Hinata came to speak with her. That day had killed him. She'd had to hold him, as he sobbed. He was barely his own self, due to the loss of so much. But she would stay because she loved him, greater than anything she'd ever loved. As much as she had cared for Yuki, she had always loved Naruto more. And NOTHING, would keep her from his side. She'd protect him every moment of every day.

"So...Mrs Uzumaki," Ino said, hugging her. They beamed at her, and sat down next to her.

"Thanks, Ino-chan. Hey, Hinata. You ok?" she asked.

"I-umm-Well, I had w-w-wanted to be with Naruto-kun. I've al-always loved him."

The kitsune sympathized. It was never that easy to give up the person you loved. And here Hinata had to watch him get married in front of her eyes.

"Tell ya what. You can have the first dance and tell him yourself. He'll understand. More than you might realize." The kitsune's ears perked up at the sound of commotion towards the back of the reception area.

The demon looked to Naruto and couldn't find him, only to see him. A hand drew back slowly to punch her lover.

The kitsune was there in a moment, pushing Naruto aside, and blocking the attack.

"This is why you weren't invited to my wedding," Akira growled, the pink haired girl's fist in her hand. She clenched down on it with her anger.

"Shut up, bitch. I'm here to congratulate Naruto. There is nothing you or anybody can do. So step aside," Sakura retorted.

"Sakura!" Tsunade called.

Akira let go of the girl, and watched as her demeanor changed. The Chunin was afraid of her sensei, but today it seemed that she wasn't leaving without inflicting some pain.

"I'm glad she died."

The words stung, and Akira felt her pain return in a wave. The desperation. The denial. Her knees started to give out, and tears sprung to her eyes.

"Akira. Come here..."her husband called, grabbing her hand. She wanted to run away. She felt him pull hard, but remained rooted to where she was standing.

"At least that little whore got what she deserved. And Naruto is coming back to our squad where he belongs," she continued, her words slurring.

She's drunk.

She glanced at the Fifth Hokage, who grabbed Sakura, only to be punched in her gut.

"Fuck you," she said, walking towards Naruto.

"I'm warning you, she hissed, her anger and protective nature kicking in.

"What are you gonna do?" the girl jeered, throwing another punch. The fox avoided it easily, and teleported her and Sakura out of the area to a secluded hilltop.

"What I'm going to do is leave you here," she said, turning her back on the girl. It was over four hundred thousand miles away from the village, so it would take the girl a day to get back. By then the reception would be over, and there would be no trouble to be had.

"I bet she begged for her life."

Before either could react, Kyuubi smacked the girl hard, digging her claws into the flesh.

"I swear...if it weren't for the fact, that my HUSBAND, doesn't want to hurt you, I'd kill Sasuke Uchiha in front of you," she growled.

The younger woman's eyes widened.

"Oh, I know quite a few ways to kill him. But I will not allow you to hurt the one thing that matters to me. He's been through enough. Stay away," she finished, kicking the woman away, returning to the village in a flash.

She took a moment to recompose herself, before she teleported to the reception. As she landed, she smiled at the sight of an open dance floor, with Naruto and Hinata swaying back and forth. The guests had settled down, which gave Akira the moment to slip away. She sat down in a corner, only for a man to stand at her table.

"She really wanted this day to come...she'd already prepared this," he spoke, gently. She glanced up to see his eyes were holding two small packages. She took them into her shaking hands gently, and sniffed the wrapping. It still smelled like her, and it caused her heart to ache for what she'd lost. She opened the ribbon on the first gently. Inside lay two necklaces. On the end of each silver chain, lay a half of a heart. They were clear, and inside pink mist swirled around. She touched one of the charms. A small fog poured off of each, and it was icy cold. She licked a little moisture off the tip of her finger.

Water? It's actual ice!

"I figured that I would deliver her final wishes for you two, personally. She really cared. More than you realize."

Inside the second one, were keys. Her memory returned to the beautiful cottage inside the village, that the girl had recently purchased for herself. Or so she had thought.

Tears sprang to her eyes, and this time she failed to contain them, watching as they fell down her face.

"Come on. The bride needs to dance with an old man," he finished, with a beaming smile. He seemed kind of uncomfortable in his kimono but was genuinely happy. A week ago, he had received the news of her true nature, and though shocked, he'd remained composed. In fact, he'd been happy for the couple. He had stated it was "only natural."

Akira followed him to the dance floor, her arms wrapping around his waist. She swayed with the music, putting her head into his shoulder.

"It's gonna be alright. I promise," she heard him murmur. She nodded, and glanced up into his Sharingan, with a small smile.

"May I?" Naruto asked, his dance with Hinata over.

"Certainly."

As the two broke the embrace, Akira followed Naruto through the crowd, enjoying his company.

"You ok?"

"I miss her," she whispered, placing a hand on his chest.

"I love you," he replied, urgently.

"I love you too," she said, reverently.

"This will pass. Eventually. We will survive," he said.

Akira laid her head on his chest, listening to his heart's rhythm and wondering...

When will it stop beating? And how long do I have with him?

MEANWHILE

Pain stood over a body, and glared. It'd be another half a year before he would get another chance at the Nine tails Jinchuuriki. To top it, he'd lost his Deva Path. The body was beyond repair. Once the girl had severed the spinal cord, he'd lost all contact with it. He sighed, as they inserted another chakra rod into the body before him. It had been a little harder to dig up and vanish with the corpse, but at least he had a new Deva. His plans could continue without a hitch.

At least she'd pay him back...by being his puppet a while.