Book One: The Wedding Date Chapter 17: 17th Date: Disgracing Intentions, 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.

Chapter Seventeen | Disgracing Intentions

"I don't want to be here." Sakura frowned in distaste as she looked at the wedding party. She did her best to keep her features smooth. Just because she didn't like them didn't mean she should be completely rude.

Gaara smirked. "And exactly why is that?"

"Itachi and Hinata are getting married." Her nose scrunched. "Sasuke is the supposed best man." She rolled her eyes. "Hanabi and Rin - bridesmaids - used to be bullies in school." Sakura still couldn't believe her sister had chosen them! "Sarada, Shisui, and Naka are Uchihas - so they are classified as ugh because of relation." She summed for the man that stood next to her.

He blinked a few times before chuckling quietly. "Well, that's a good list of reasons." He wrapped his arm around her waist and tucked her against her side. "But I will be right there."

"And so will we!" Naruto cheered as he and Ino stepped up beside the couple. "Hinata is here." He shrugged. "She told me that she was sorry that there wasn't enough room for everyone - but she squished some stuff around and made room for two more people."

Sakura froze. "What?" She made room?

"Yeah," Naruto whispered as he stepped closer to the pink haired woman. "I think she was late because she was trying to get more tables and chairs for us." He shrugged. "She didn't actually say that, but the way she spoke . . ."

She frowned and glanced around for her sister. "Go ahead, I'll meet you out there." She twisted around back towards the house in search of her little sister. Had she really tried to do that? "Hina?"

Hinata glanced up before a wide smile over took her features. It had been a while since Sakura had called her that. "Hey sis," she swallowed hard. "Look I'm sorry that you had too . . ." She twisted her fingers as nervousness filled her. "Mom shouldn't have made you."

"Hey," Sakura broke in, a soft smile on her features. "I'm happy to help in any way for my little sister's big day." She wrapped her sister into a tight hug. "And thank you for making room for Ino and Naruto. It means a lot."

She nodded and tucked a couple of strands behind her ear. "It was the least I could do." She chewed on her lower lip. "I know you aren't a fan of the Wedding Party."

"Oh," Sakura blinked. She hadn't expected her sister to . . . well, to care about that.

Hinata forced a soft smile. "I figured the least I could do was surround you by friends." She chewed on her lower lip. "Would you really do anything?" Her voice was petal soft as she glanced up at the other woman. "Really?"

"Of course!" Sakura smiled widely, a real smile.

"Even the getaway car?" Hinata's voice trembled as she spoke; her eyes were glassy as she looked up at her big sister.

"There you are!" Mebuki exclaimed. "Where were you?" Her brows furrowed as she forced her way between the two girls and grabbed a hold of Hinata's arm. "You need to change." She tsked softly as she pulled Hinata towards the stairs. She fussed over the girl and pushed up the stairs.

Sakura stood there blinking, completely stunned. The getaway car? Her brows pulled low as she turned around and made her way towards Gaara out on the pergola. Was her sister really unhappy? Had she misjudged a lot?

She placed a hand over her stomach as she traveled through the living room area and towards the side of the house where the pergola had been added on. Her stomach was unsettled. Something was bound to go wrong today. This entire wedding . . . nothing was turning out like what Sakura had thought it would be. Could she have really been that wrong about everything? Well, Mebuki didn't count.

Her eyebrow arched as she came face to face with a pleading Gaara. A smirk covered her lips as she glanced at the person across form him trying to keep his attention. Hanabi. She always had been a man-stealer.

"So Gaara where are you from?"

Sakura took her seat between Naruto and Gaara. "The same place as his fiancee." She smiled widely and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Right?" She cocked her head to the side and giggled as Gaara gave her a beaming smile.

"Most definitely." He placed a kiss on the crown of her head and wrapped an arm around the back of her chair. An absolute angel. Because truthfully, Gaara was ready to snap at Hanabi. She was too forceful. She was supposed to be trying to flirt - not close a business deal. Unclassy. Besides, she wasn't Sakura.

Hanabi's head tilted to the side as she kept her smile in place. "Hello Sakura, and where is that?"

"Sunagakura." Sakura snapped in reply. She wasn't taking a hint. So she wasn't going to be nice. She turned back to Gaara and leaned towards his right ear - letting his face shield her mouth as she whispered. "Something is wrong with Hina."

Gaara pulled back with a frown, studying her face. Wrong with her sister? "What?"

"We were talking," She leaned closer and settled against his warmth. "She asked if I would drive the getaway car." Her brows furrowed. "I don't get why."

Hanabi frowned. "I heard that was a great area for shopping." She smiled sweetly as Gaara glanced in her direction. "I've always wanted to travel there."

"I don't shop." His sentence was short as he tuned her out and focused on Sakura. "Should we be worried?"

Sakura bit at her lower lip. "I think we should." Her shoulders sagged. "What if she's a pawn for Mebuki too?" She leaned back in her seat and reached for her glass of water. In all of her years . . . she'd never really thought of Hina like that. A victim. She had always seen her as an accomplice. But the look on her face. It was not one that Sakura would forget. She'd seen that look and felt the emotions that brought about that look. Sakura had seen that look many times in the mirror.

"I'm feeling left out over here." Naruto pouted and poked at Sakura's side. "If this is how you are going to treat me, I'm going eat with the others." He sniffled sadly.

She snorted and twisted away from Gaara. "I'm sorry sweetie. We had someone being a bother - had to deal with that first." Her words were calm as she spoke loud enough for Hanabi to hear. Not that she would get the drift.

Hanabi frowned. Well, two can play. She slipped her heeled shoe off and moved her leg forward.

Gaara frowned "Blossom, would you ignore me in favor of him?" He kept his face neutral as bile rose in the back of his throat. His right hand moved under the table and gripped the foot that was trying to edge of the inside of his leg. Now that was distasteful. Gaara glared at the smirking Hanabi, he squeezed cruelly. A smirk clawed onto his lips as he watched her nurse her hurt foot.

"Do I want to know?" Sakura whispered as she leaned over to Gaara.

He chuckled. "I promise to tell you late." He looked down at the pink-haired woman as a hand roamed over his chest in plain sight. He clasped the hand and laced their fingers together. "You are not playing nice," Gaara murmured softly for only her to hear.

"Neither was she." Sakura winked and placed a kiss on the side of his lips.

Gaara's eyes heated as he stared down at the tease in his arms. "Careful Flower, you might get plucked if you keep this up." His voice had dropped an octave as he stared at her.

"Oh really?" She giggled at the cheesiness of the statement. A slight shiver coursed through her. Whether it was because of the cool breeze or the look in Gaara's eyes . . . Sakura wasn't going to tell. Another shiver swam through her system as goosebumps rose.

Gaara frowned.

That second shiver wasn't because of him. He watched as the trees swayed in the background. It was windy. Was she cold? He looked down at the sundress she was wearing. She was cold. Gaara pulled away and slid his jacket off. With a gentleman like smile he placed the jacket around her shoulders and buttoned it in front for her. "That warmer flower?" He cooed softly.

Sakura nodded. She brought the jacket closer and breathed in deeply. It smelled just like him. Sakura relaxed completely.

Okay, maybe today wasn't that bad.

. .

Hinata smiled sweetly as she glanced at her sister once she had taken her seat next to Itachi. Her sister seemed happy. Hinata couldn't even recall that look when she was with Itachi. And that was good. It meant she had moved on. That she was happy.

She glanced at Itachi and kept her smile in place. It was hard to do sometimes. She wasn't a complete idiot. She knew Itachi didn't love her. It was plain to see . . . But every time she tried to question him, mother would step in. She swallowed hard and looked away from Itachi - who stared at Sakura.

She'd messed up. Hinata had asked Sakura to drive the getaway car. The words had slipped from between her lips without her consent. And before she could take them back or make it out as a joke - mother had shown up. Hinata had seen the look on Sakura's face. Her sister knew it wasn't a joke. Knew that when Hinata had said it - she really meant it. And that wasn't good. If word got back to mother . . . Her shoulders dropped. She really was tired of this.

"You weren't at rehearsal," Itachi whispered as he turned to the woman beside him.

Hinata shrugged. What was the point of conversation? It was a pretense to please her mother. She'd learned that too. Itachi seemed to do a lot to please her mother. "Sorry."

"Your mother taped it for us," Itachi murmured softly as he studied the woman before him. Something had happened. Something had changed. And he wasn't entirely sure how to fix it. He could tell Hinata no longer seemed to be under the illusion that he loved her.

But he didn't know how to tell her. Know how to fix it. If it could be fixed. The illusion that had wrapped around both of them seemed to have completely left. But Itachi still wasn't sure exactly what she knew. Or if she knew anything. He swallowed hard, if she didn't know and he said something . . .

Hinata turned the plate in front of her. "I can figure out how to walk down the aisle without a video - it's not rocket science." She did her best to keep the snap out of her voice but judging by his flinch, she didn't do too well. Her eyes narrowed as she glanced at Hanabi. Was she seriously flirting with Gaara?

"A- are you okay?" Itachi frowned. She had never used that tone before.

She ignored him. What was the point - he didn't really care. It was a show for her mother.

"Hina?" Itachi tried again.

Her brows furrowed as she turned to him. "Don't call me that." He didn't have a right to use that name.

"Oh," His back straightened, spine straightened. There was that tone again. His eyes narrowed as he studied her. Something was definitely different.

. .

Sakura heaved a small sigh. Okay, so lunch wasn't exactly that bad. Yes, there was alcohol, but there was no amp. So that was a plus. They were drinking wine. But because of the food and the all-around chatter. Only a light buzz filtered through the people.

Sakura smiled. She stood lightly. She clutched Gaara jacket in the process. Sakura smiled. "I'm going to grab a bottle of Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast."

Rhyuu smiled. "I kept a bottle, especially for you. It's down in the cellar."

"Really?" Sakura smiled widely. "Thanks Dad."

Rhyuu smiled.

"I'll be back." Sakura moved towards the greenhouse cellar. The wine cellar was below it. Sakura hummed softly. She was happy. Sakura was actually, truly happy. She giggled to herself.

Gaara cleared his throat and stood. "I'll go get the vegetable tray for you, Mrs. Haruno."

Mebuki smiled. "Thank you, Gaara." Her eyes connected with Hanabi's for a moment before signaling the girl to follow.

Hanabi smirked. She folded her napkin on the table and excused herself to the bathroom. Her heels clacked against the tile flooring as she walked into the kitchen. "Hello Gaara." She cooed softly. "So do you have any suggestions on places I should visit in Suna?"

Seriously? Gaara held back a snort. "I do not."

"Nothing at all?" Hanabi egged. Her shoulders straightened as she stared at the man before her. "Look Mebuki already filled me in." She smiled and stepped closer, her hand reached out to touch his arm. "You don't have to pretend with me."

Gaara turned to face the child, tray in hand. "She told you?" He kept his voice light as he spoke to her. What exactly had Mebuki said now?

"Yes," Hanabi smiled and nodded. "It was sweet of you to accompany your little sister's friend for this type of event." She tucked a couple stands of hair behind her ear and played coy. "But you don't have to keep up that silly facade for me."

He nodded. "It's good to know I don't have to fake anything around you." He smiled widely. "So when I tell you Mebuki has lied to you and I am marrying Sakura," He paused as he stared at her. "It's nice to know you will know I'm telling the truth." Gaara stepped around the stunned child and made his way back to the pergola.