Book One: The Wedding Date Chapter 12: 12th Date: Tunneling Down, a naruto fanfic

Author Note:

Disclaimer | I own this story. The title and backline story is from The Wedding Date with Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney. And as stated earlier I do not own the World of Naruto.

Note It takes place in the "World of Naruto" but it is modernized.

Twelfth Date | Tunneling Memories

Sakura huffed out a breath as she placed another shirt back on the rack. "Would you just ask?" She rolled her eyes and continued to focus on the clothing in front of her. What is that? She picked up the floral print with cut-out shoulders and a lace bottom. No.

"Ask what?" Naruto questioned with an innocent blink. Play it cool and never let them see you sweat. It was a motto he tried to play by. It didn't always work with Sakura.

Narrowed green eyes turned to glare at the blonde-haired male. "Really?" She glanced at the clothing once more before shaking her head. Shoes. That would be the best place to shop. Less scary. "You know what I am talking about." Sakura huffed out another breath as she turned down the row that held her size shoes.

Black strappy wedges caught her attention first. A slow smile curled on the edges of her lips. These would go perfectly with that sundress up front. She leaned against Naruto as she slipped off one of her shoes and slipped the heel on. It was a soft two-inch elevation. Not bad. Sakura buckled the straps into place and glanced at Naruto. "I'm waiting."

"What happened?" Naruto questioned. What was the point? Sakura wasn't going to give an inch unless he gave a mile. "What did Mebuki do?"

She heaved a sigh and removed the strappy heel from her foot and placed it back in its box. "Her usual." Sakura's shoulders tensed as she felt the anger rise in her.

"Well, Gaara stood up to Mebuki." There was no use in calling Mebuki her mother. No mother acted like that.

Sakura stopped in her tracks on the way back to the dressing at the front. "He what?" She blinked a few times as she turned to face Naruto. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Naruto smirked. "Being as polite as Gaara can be . . . he nicely told her to shut up." He chuckled at the fish out of water look he received. "And that he was the one marrying you."

Oh. She stood in the middle of the store confused. No one had ever reacted like that to Mebuki. Itachi had certainly never done that. A blush wormed its way across her cheeks as a girlish giggle fell from her lips. Sakura nodded. "Let's grab a drink first." She smiled. "I am craving a strawberry lemonade."

"I haven't thought about this place in a long time." Naruto grinned as he stood in line beside her. "Oh and we should get a blueberry scone.

She grinned. "Yes, I completely agree." Sakura smiled at the male standing behind the little outside vending cart as she told him her order. A wider smile covered her lips as she watched her silver ring glitter as she handed over the money. If Sakura was being honest, she could stare at the ring all day.

"Man, has the lemonade always been this good?" Naruto groaned as he took another sip of his icy beverage.

Sakura groaned as she leaned against him. "It started at the party." Her nose scrunched. "An engagement party of something." She rolled her eyes. "She should never be allowed to drink." Sakura shook her head as the words whispered out over the air. "Also, Gaara holds no punches." A giggle fell from her lips.

"Get in the car." Gaara glared at the pink-haired woman. This was absolutely unbelievable. She was irritating to the highest point. "We are here because of you." He stepped closer. "There is no room left for backing out."

Sakura frowned. "I'm not an opponent in a meeting." Her arms crossed over her chest. "You can't force me."

"I know that Sakura." Gaara took a deep breath and stared at the stubborn woman in front of him. "And yes I can." His voice dropped as his eyes narrowed. "Now get in the damn car."

She shook her head defiantly. "Not happening."

"Fine." Gaara whispered as his shoulders relaxed. He moved forward, staring straight into her emerald eyes while jabbing a finger in her direction. "You made me do this." He leaned forward, closer to her face. "Remember that baby. You made me do this."

She blinked a few times, frozen as she stared into his dark green eyes. Baby. Her mind closed in around that word. Stuck on repeat. Sakura cocked her head to the side as the rest of the sentence surfaced in her foggy mind. You made me do this. She swallowed. Made him do what? A shriek lodged in her throat as she was hoisted into the air.

"Be still baby." Gaara smirked as he patted the back of her thigh. "I don't want to drop you."

Sakura growled quietly and landed one more swift hit to his lower back. Well, one more for good measure. She huffed out a breath and took to glaring at the back of his suit jacket. "Put me down." She demanded as calmly as she could.

"Mhmm," Gaara hummed in agreement. "In a moment." Gaara patted the back of her thigh once more. "We are not at the car yet." Gaara opened the passenger door and placed her inside the car with swift movements. "Watch your head," he murmured.

She sat flustered in the passenger seat as Gaara put her seatbelt into place. He had lifted her. Carried her. And then gently placed her in the car. Sakura might have felt a new appreciation for Gaara's muscles.

"Good?" Gaara questioned as he sat in the driver's seat. He smirked at the pink-haired woman next to him. A chuckle fell from his lips as he stared at the frazzled Sakura who glared at him.

She frowned. He was completely unfazed by what he had done. Sakura bit at her lower lip and chose to keep quiet. Now was not the time to open her mouth and say something stupid.

Sakura groaned as she stepped inside the two-story bar that was housing the engagement party for Itachi and Hinata. "This is not the place I want to be right now." Sakura snorted. "Ever."

"Pinky! Darling!"

Sakura steeled her spine to keep from flinching at the horrid nickname her mother had never allowed her to outgrow. She took a deep breath and glanced at the male beside her. A soft smile covered her lips. Gaara didn't seem deterred by Mebuki at all.

Gaara smiled softly and wrapped an arm around her waist. He placed a chaste kiss on her cheek before winking at the stunning pink-haired woman beside him. "You are fine."

"Hello, Mother." Sakura forced out as she stared back into the green eyes of her mother. The same set she had.

Mebuki smiled and moved closer. "What took so long?" Her dark green eyes roved over the couple. "Did you stop for a quickie?" Her nose scrunched as she took another sip of her drink. "I shouldn't be surprised." Mebuki hissed out a breath. "You never were a proper young lady."

"What are you drinking?" Sakura forged ahead, overlooking the unnecessary jab Mebuki delivered.

Mebuki ignored the looks her daughter gave her. "Did you two sleep well?" She smiled widely and took another sip of her drink. "I need you two to keep hydrated." Mebuki waved at a passerby. "Today is the engagement party." She waved her drink around. "With a round of welcome cocktails – make sure you grab one."

"How many have you had?" Sakura tried again. It was never a good thing when Mebuki Haruno-Kino picked up a drink. It was even worse when she continued to pick up drinks.

She tsked and continued right over her daughter. "We have fittings for dresses tomorrow." Another sip. "On Thursday we have a picnic – close family and friends." Mebuki smiled widely as she glanced around the room, another sip of her drink followed. "A couple of other things in the middle." She let her hand flutter in the air as she took another sip. "Friday will be the rehearsal – you need to be dressed nicely." Mebuki glanced down at the dress Sakura wore. "Something better."

"And then Saturday will be the wedding?" Gaara cut in as he glanced down at Sakura once more.

Mebuki smiled brightly. "It sure is." A blush stained her cheeks as she giggled sweetly, another sip of her drink. "It would have been very nice if you could have been here sooner." She flashed a tight smile at Sakura. "You could have helped out more. Spent time with your sister."

"I came as soon as I got the invitation," Sakura snapped in reply.

Mebuki blinked. "Oh, I see an old friend." She patted Gaara on the shoulder.

"Mother!" Sakura called out in exasperation. She shook her head and took a deep breath. Sakura stared wide-eyed as her mother pranced away to talk to another person.

"Sweetheart?"

A wide smile covered Sakura's lips as she turned around to smile at the man who had called her name. "Hey daddy." She giggled sweetly as she moved into his open arms. A soft sigh fell from her lips as he hugged her tightly.

"I missed you, darling." Rhyuu smiled sweetly and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. "Did you have a safe trip?" He tucked a couple strands of pink hair behind her ear. "You should come home more often flower."

Sakura snorted and rolled her eyes. "I call you almost every day." She shook her head and smiled sweetly at the gentle nickname he had given her when she was little.

"That is not enough." Rhyuu's eyes twinkled. "And you know it." He winked at his daughter before turning to the male that stood beside her. "And who is this?" Rhyuu's calculating eyes stared defiantly at the male beside Sakura. "Mebuki mentioned something about you bringing someone with you." His dark eyes turned back to Sakura. "I figured it was Naruto."

She rolled her eyes. "It's almost enough." Of course, her mother would try to downplay Gaara and who he was supposed to be. "And you want me to be with you so that we can go insane together." A smile covered her lips as she pointed at her father. "I know how your mind works."

"True." Rhyuu smirked. "Hello."

Gaara smiled and held out his hand for a gentleman-like handshake. "Gaara Sabaku."

"Good to meet you."

Sakura jumped slightly as she was barreled into from behind. Arms wrapped tightly around her waist as the unknown assailant squealed.

"I'm getting married!"

Sakura nodded and patted the arms around her waist. "You sure are Hinata." She liked to drink too. However, Sakura chalked some of that up to the fact that Hinata was around Mebuki quite a bit.

"Toast time!"

Sakura took in a deep breath. "Who gave her a mic and amp?" She groaned. "Daddy!" Her eyes were wide as she turned to Rhyuu. "Stop her."

"You know as well as I," Rhyuu shook his head as a chuckle fell from his lips. "That will not work."

Mebuki smiled widely and took another sip of her drink. "Hello!" A frown clawed at her lips as no actual volume escaped from the speaker. "Hello," she tried once more. A smile covered her lips. "Good! Finally working." Mebuki moved to the center of the little stage kept for small bands to perform on. Another sip. "Does everyone have a drink?"

"Stop." Sakura groaned and moved closer to Gaara. "This is horrible."

Mebuki cleared her throat and smiled widely. "I would like to say a few words." Another sip. "First off, Welcome – glad that all of you could be here for this joyous occasion." Mebuki giggled softly. "We are thrilled that Hinata found such a suitable husband. And we are so glad to welcome the Uchihas into our family." She paused for a moment to glance at her daughters.

"Don't!" Sakura pleaded quietly. She flinched as her mother's daunting emerald green eyes landed on her.

Mebuki smiled and took another sip. "It's kind of funny." She giggled to herself. "We had all thought Sakura was going to be the first one to get married." She flashed a wide smile. "And for a while there everything seemed grand."

"Oh," Sakura groaned as she turned towards Gaara. And there it was. The one thing that Mebuki never let her live down. The one moment in her life where she had made the wrong decision according to Mebuki.

She laughed softly. "We had a lot of hope. Sakura had always been popular in school." Another sip. "Can you believe it was Itachi that she had gotten with?" Mebuki waved her hand flippantly. "We all know how that ended don't we." Her eyes were wide "Oh, she has another fiancé', but we aren't crossing our fingers this time." She laughed at her own joke. "At least we got the deposit back."

"Sweet baby cupcakes," Sakura groaned and forced herself to stand tall as eyes shifted to her. She flashed a tight smile and kept her eyes focused on Mebuki. This was why she couldn't call the woman mother. She jumped as the sound of a piano started to play.

All eyes turned towards the sound. Sasuke Uchiha stood tall, smirking as he finished his little song. His dark eyes trained on Sakura as he moved through the crowd. He held up his glass of champagne. "To the future Bride and Groom."

"Oh, yes!" Mebuki raised her glass before bringing it quickly. "To my daughter and future son-in-law." She smiled proudly as she set the mic down and moved off the stage.

Sakura swallowed. "Excuse me." That had been the only time she had ever, and would ever, acknowledge Sasuke. She heaved a small sigh and locked the bathroom door behind her. Sakura just needed a moment. The stinging at the backs of her eyes caught her attention. Was she really that much of a disgrace?

"Saku . . .?"

Sakura frowned. Itachi Uchiha. She swallowed hard.

"PINK!"

Sakura smiled as her old-time friend came into view.

"My word," She whispered. "That man is all male." She whistled as she wrapped an arm around Sakura's waist. "Where did you find such a dangerously sexy man?"

Sakura smiled. "Hello, Akira."

Akira smiled and pushed her dark brown hair over her shoulder. A smirk covered her lips as she looked at the male across from Sakura. "Since there is nothing between the two of you," she started, batting her lashes. "And since you are marrying her sister – you won't mind if I take her. She clearly isn't yours." Akira flashed a wide smile and pulled the other away.

"Seriously?" Sakura shook her head. "That was still sort of rude."

Akira ignored her. "You haven't called." She accused before rambling on. "Glad you are here." Akira smiled widely. "I would have gotten here a little faster but James held my attention." A blush covered her cheeks.

"It's fine." Sakura shrugged. "I figured she would drag me through the mud." She rolled her eyes and let Akira pull her back downstairs. "Where are you taking me?"

Akira smiled. "I left our men together – and I want to get to know Gaara more."