Kakashi and Sakura stopped in the hotel room they had reserved above their reception hall to change, quiet rippling outwards between them.
Married. Sakura was married to Hatake Kakashi, for good or for worse, and sickness and in health. She wondered if this was a fever dream.
She wondered if she'd been hit on the head by the intruder in her house that first time he'd broken in, and this had all been a coma hallucination.
She looked down at the band on her finger, a dead match for the one on his. She'd slipped the engagement ring on top of it. Tied together for the foreseeable future. Sakura could practically feel a tiny thread, stretching from her soul, out of the closet she was standing in, and attached to his. Like she could feel him. She wondered if she could test that feeling by walking down the street or driving across the country.
Married. She had gotten what she wanted.
What was the cost?
She buttoned herself into her dress until she could no longer reach, forced by her physical limits, her short arms, to seek Kakashi in the main part of the hotel suite and have him finish buttoning her up.
As she stepped out of the closet, she drank in the sight of him sitting on the edge of the bed in his tux, his eyes fixed on his ring.
She cleared her throat, urging him to look up, and he did, slowly, his eyes raising to her in the white gown, which draped over her curves and had a train trailing behind her. It was a vintage gown in a trumpet silhouette, with long sleeves and a modest neckline, lace at all of the edges, but otherwise unadorned.
Kakashi swallowed audibly. "You look lovely," his voice sounded a little hoarse.
"Thank you," She demurred, a slight blush rising unbidden to her cheeks. "I need you to finish buttoning the top," She explained, turning at the waist to show him her back, the sliver of skin visible where the buttons remained undone. Her hair remained up in the style it had been for the ceremony, leaving her neck bare.
He rose from his spot, his height towering over her, and stepped behind her to do as she had asked. It occurred to her belatedly that she hadn't asked or said please. That was probably a bad habit to take into marriage.
His fingers barely brushed her as he swiftly did up the buttons, his hands pausing a moment on her shoulders as he finished. He brushed a kiss to the back of her exposed beck, sending goosebumps over her skin.
"Thank you," She breathed as he stepped away. "I have something for you," she said, straightening the cuffs of her sleeves.
Kakashi's face was carefully blank. "Oh?"
Sakura grinned at him, just a little. "I was told that you're supposed to get a wedding gift for your, uh, spouse."
One silver eyebrow, the scarred one, lifted, as much intrigue as he'd show. "Were you now?"
Sakura went to her overnight bag and unzipped it, lifting the top to reveal a rectangular package, wrapped in white paper, and tied with a green ribbon, the color of her eyes. She lifted it out and offered it to him, feeling very pleased with herself for it.
Kakashi looked at the misshapen square in her hands, eyebrow still raised. Sakura was fully smiling now, excited. She absolutely loved giving gifts, despite her own selfishness, and she had a particular talent for it. Even her other wealthy friends, who could get themselves anything they wanted, she always managed to find a gift that made them extremely happy. She'd once found a guitar for Naruto that he'd had as a child and sold and had always regretted selling. He still crooned about that guitar to this day.
She pressed it into his hands and watched expectantly, eyes practically glowing. She knew, realistically, that he wasn't likely to react much, it wasn't his way, but it didn't matter. He may have been lying to her face for over three years about his purposes, but not even that could ruin her love for a perfect gift.
Cautiously, Kakashi tugged on the bow and undid the ribbon, then slit open the wrapping paper along one seam, like an envelope. The paper fell away with hardly a tear, an impressive feat, and Kakashi stared down at the stacks of paper left behind, split up into separate bunches by thick notebook bindings.
"What are these?" He asked in a way that said he knew the answer. She told him anyway.
"Those are the original, uncut versions of all your Icha Icha novels. No scene too raunchy." Kakashi's eyes lit from within, though his face didn't change much. "Now look at the one on the bottom of the stack," She prompted, too impatient to let him get there on his own.
Slowly, he pulled the bottom volume out, and looked at the cover. "You didn't," That was as close to a gasp as she'd ever heard him come. She laughed. "This hasn't been published yet, you can't even pre-order it," His eyes devoured the title page of the manuscript of the latest book in the series, which was signed and had a personal note from Jiraiya himself.
"He happens to be a friend of Tsunade's," Sakura said with a shrug, trying for casualness and failing horribly. Kakashi had seen Jiraiya before at Sakura's functions, had even spoken to him, but she didn't think he'd ever dreamed of trying to get the manuscripts before.
Kakashi looked like a child on Christmas, and she knew if given the chance he'd sit down right on the carpet and begin reading.
Kakashi put the stack of volumes down on the armoire beside the bed with incredible care, then turned to her with the green wrapping ribbon held between his hands. "I didn't know I was supposed to get you something." He almost sounded guilty, his eyes on the ribbon.
Sakura pulled their folded marriage license from the pocket of her wedding dress and waved it at him like a flag, triumphant.
"Oh, but Kakashi, you have already given me the only thing I wanted that I couldn't buy myself." She gave him a smug, self satisfied look, her lips curling impishly at the corners, more devilish than her smile from a moment before. "Maybe I should have it framed? The priest already sent the photocopy off with a currier." She looked admiringly at the piece of paper that was her freedom, then back up at the man who had gifted it to her. Kakashi chuckled in the low, slow way of his.
He stepped up to her, close enough to taste the air leaving his lungs, and took her free hand in his, pulling it up between them like he had when he'd slid on her wedding band. She watched curiously as he wrapped the ribbon around her slim wrist and tied a neat, even pretty, bow. He lifted her hand higher and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it, sending zings up her arm and right into her chest. The speed of her heart kicked up several gears, aflame in her chest.
He stepped back.
Pulling herself together, Sakura replaced the license and held a hand out expectantly for him to take.
"Shall we go take some photos?" She asked, one eyebrow up in question.
"Of course, Mrs. Hatake," He replied, lacing her fingers with his and opening the hotel door. Sakura's heart skipped a beat at the name, and she couldn't help but smile at him like a fox in the hen house.
They descended down to a conference room on the ground floor of the hotel, which had been taken over by Senju's photography department. One wall had a lovely white backdrop hung on it, and props sat about the room while the director and photographer buzzed about. Just two people. Not too many to keep Kakashi a secret. All of the areas that their wedding would touch had be cordoned off, private event signs and ropes keeping prying eyes away. And she knew Shikamaru had already collected NDA's from every person who would interact with them tonight, staff and friends alike.
Kakashi was as patient as he could be throughout the process, moving and posing however he was instructed during his solo photos and their couple shots. When it was time for Sakura to do her solo photos, he slunk away with a sigh of relief. Sakura snickered at his back as she accepted a bouquet from an assistant.
The only photos they would release to the public would be Sakura's solo shots, and the shots that hid Kakashi's telling traits, like zoomed in shots of their hands, or a shot of a recreation of their kiss behind the fan.
She peered over the director's shoulder at his screen, watching as he tapped through the shots. Seeing the little green ribbon on her wrist in the photos made her giddy.
"Stop," Sakura ordered the director, her mind snagging on an image as he flashed by it. "Go back two,"
The man obliged, clicking back the according two photos. Sakura and Kakashi appeared on the screen. Kakashi was holding Sakura bridal style, and she was laughing at something, though she couldn't remember what, her face flushed. Kakashi's eyes sparkled-sparkled-at her, a humorous expression on what was visible of his face.
"I want that one on a giant canvas, and delivered to my house." She said with conviction. She glanced at her husband over her shoulder. He nodded confirmation. "The rest you can put in a book."
The director clicked the little star icon at the top of the image, marking it as the one to send. Sakura let Kakashi pick the photos of her for the release, content to let him decide. She looked fabulous in every one, so it wasn't like there was a bad choice.
The vineyard of the hotel was glittering with candles and strings of lights, a glamorous reception for a glamorous couple, which Kakashi was now a part of. The hotel was owned by Tsunade, of course, and was over the top luxurious, like most things Sakura chose for herself. The courtyard wasn't overly packed with people, maybe 40 or 50, who all ceased talking as they entered through a space in the hedges, Sakura's hand now wrapped around Kakashi's bicep in a lady-like manner.
A cheer went up, started by Naruto, as they were welcomed to their own party. A DJ-a big name DJ of course-was set up against one row of hedges, his sound system as impressive as anything you'd find at one of FireDrive's concerts, and a buffet from Chouji's faced off against it on the opposite side.
They passed a table with a guest book, which she noticed was also an NDA (Shikamaru was really out doing himself, the man needed a Xanax) and a wall of glittering champagne glasses.
Sakura released a laugh at the sight of the reception. They had done it, they had pulled it off! And now a night of dancing and singing, surrounded by the most important people to her in the world. The vast majority of whom didn't need an NDA to keep her secrets.
In response to her peeling laughter, Kakashi himself chuckled lowly, before releasing her to her friends, clearly eager to be out of the limelight. Her girls were all dressed to the nines, looking smug and delighted by her tying the knot. She watched him be engulfed into a circle of her own guards; Genma, Izumo, Kotetsu, Guy and Asuma, along with others she didn't recognize but who she would talk to before the night was out.
It didn't take long for her to be pushed back to her groom, the crowd urging them together, though Kakashi looked uncomfortable with the attention. She was sure he would have preferred a small party, but this was as small as she could manage while still including those she cared about. The list had been longer than she anticipated when she'd actually counted up all of her friends.
They were entwined once more, the crowd pushing for a kiss, which they delivered through his mask, to endless groans and disappointment. She wasn't going to share his face with anyone, ever.
Together, they greeted their guests, all of Sakura's friends and family, and Kakashi's friends in an endless blur of faces. All of them congratulating the couple and beaming. Naruto and Sasuke had both clapped Kakashi on the back unnecessarily hard, though Kakashi didn't even flinch. While most well-wishers moved off, her girls remained close by with their own dates, sipping champagne and trying not to look too much like they were eavesdropping. The ruse came to an end though, when a particular long haired indie artist made her way to them, her movements graceful in a way not even Sakura could master. Sakura was graceful like a ballerina, but this woman was graceful the way leaves falling gently were.
Her female friends fell conspicuously quiet around her. Kakashi stepped from her side to greet Hanare, his eyes crinkled. She hadn't known until recently that he was friends with her, had been surprised to see her name on the guest list. But Sakura didn't really know anything about her, so she had no objections. She wouldn't have objected anyway, she told herself. Kakashi was allowed to invite his own friends. She was, after all, claiming his first marriage for herself.
Hanare slipped her slender arms around Kakashi-Sakura's Kakashi-and hugged him tightly, nearly bouncing up and down in her excitement, her breasts pushed to his chest. Sakura carefully avoided rolling her eyes, but she heard Temari make a small noise. It sounded an awful lot like Oh, hell no. Sakura took a long pull from her champagne glass. To Kakashi's credit, he didn't look ecstatic about being hugged like that. He didn't exactly look repulsed, either, which would have been good for Sakura's self-esteem.
Hanare turned her attention to Sakura, her face alight with a smile. Her lips were painted red, which matched her bold red eyeliner. She was dressed in a boho style wrap dress, which was doing wonders for her modest-but-bigger-than-Sakura's breasts.
The other woman wrapped her in a hug that was even more enthusiastic than the one she'd given Kakashi, all but drowning Sakura in sugary affection.
"You're so stunning! Kakashi is so lucky to have you!" She gushed into her ear, her voice a little too loud.
Ino was suddenly beside Sakura, like she'd stepped from thin air, a smile on her face that could only be described as violent.
Hanare looked to Kakashi as she released Sakura. "And you! Who knew you like them so young?" The 30-year-old woman smacked his arm affectionately.
Kakashi laughed a bit, the majority of the party continuing on oblivious. But Sakura's friends were hounds on the scent, girl's girls, sharks who detected blood in the water.
Men never understood, were incapable of picking up on the undercurrents of the way women interacted. But the women who circled Sakura now, they were well read in cattiness, Ino especially.
Yamanaka Ino invented the mean girl trope. Directors didn't hire Ino to play the mean girl, producers wrote the characters for her. The blonde could make crowds hate her just as much as love her, with a skill that bewildered many around her. Her talent in the perfect levels of sweetness hiding venom were unparalleled. She and Sakura didn't always get along the best, but Sakura was grateful for her terrifying friend as she watched the bitch-face descend on her, as she watched the change in the very way she held herself. Ino wasn't going to let that slight go. Sakura was very glad she was not on the receiving end of that look.
Ino leaned in, her superior chest pushing out like a barrier between Sakura and Hanare. "Well, can you ever blame men for wanting something young and exciting?" She said it with venom hidden under sugar, a light barb that was hiding a dagger.
Hanare nodded sagely, smiling as Kakashi watched on, his face bored and attention already fixed elsewhere. For a man trained to detect danger, he was missing the threat before him, a white tiger and a black panther circling in a subtle way.
"We'll have to be careful no one calls her a child bride- people can be so cruel!" She pressed a hand to her chest as she laughed, the sound like bells. Sakura hated being called childish, more than anything.
She squared her shoulders, the insult rolling over her like a wave. This, apparently, alerted Kakashi, because he inclined his head at her, a question. She grit her teeth and smiled at him. He narrowed his eyes, his brow furrowing, but said nothing and instead turned to chat with Minato, most likely swapping war stories.
Ino's smile bordered on a sneer. "I would not want to be the person who calls Sakura a child bride. But who cares, since Kakashi does seem to like them younger." Hanare tilted her head with a pleasant expression and laughed again. Hinata, bless her and her soft ladylike ways, chose to chime in.
"And Kakashi is so lucky! There's no one in the world like her," Hinata meant this genuinely, not just as a hit back at the other woman, and it warmed Sakura from the inside.
Not ones to let a moment to strike back pass by, Temari and TenTen both leaned into the little circle of subtly bristling women.
"And no one else is gonna rock his world-" TenTen said over her champagne glass, gesturing to the groom.
"-like Sakura is going to tonight!" Temari declared in a low purr, her eyes harder than steel.
"Oh, I'm sure! Kakashi is so lucky!" Hanare gushed. Sakura didn't like her tone, or the look in her eyes as she glanced from Kakashi to Sakura.
Before the situation could devolve further, Sakura took Hanare's hand and gave it a squeeze. Kakashi cared about this woman, and she clearly cared about Kakashi. Sakura did not want to start any problems, provoked or otherwise. She was a grown woman, and it was her wedding day. She could afford a little grace to Hanare. Even if the brunette believed they were competing or that she had some sort of claim on Kakashi, Sakura was his wife- for the next 2 years at least. Even if it would have been entertaining in a petty way to have a full-blown row.
"We're so glad you could come," she said with as much sincerity as she could muster. Kill them with kindness, Selena Gomez said. Sakura's girlfriends all relaxed, immediately picking up on Sakura's desire to stand down, though Ino still looked like if Sakura just gave the signal, she'd take her earrings out and get into an all out brawl. Sakura released Hanare and turned away to greet Tsunade, whose face was a little red, and her eyes looked like they may flood with tears at any moment. She'd seen her boss approaching from the corner of her eye.
The older woman folded Sakura into her chest like she wanted to suffocate her, making a happy noise in the back of her throat and rocking them side to side. Sakura tapped her hand against Tsunade's bicep, unable to breathe.
When Sakura managed to pull back and suck in air, she pursed her lips a bit at her boss. She didn't understand why the woman was being so gushy when she knew full well that this was an arrangement for convenience, on both the bride and grooms' parts. Tsunade just beamed at her in way that that suggested she was a proud parent, then she turned and half hugged Kakashi. The silver haired man looked a little alarmed, but allowed the action nonetheless.
The endless greeting of guests continued.
The dancing started after what felt like an endless period, and Sakura was grateful to be able to stop talking to absolutely everyone (especially Omoi, who had wished them well against all the things that could go wrong in a marriage, which he had begun to list out. He also needed a Xanax).
She and Kakashi had their first dance to Can't Help Falling in Love. As they had on Friday night, before everything went to shit, they waltzed, but this time Kakashi spun her and dipped her, making her head go light and fuzzy. His eyes were intense on her face, but if he was trying to convey a silent message to her, she didn't understand, only felt like a deer in the headlights under his gunmetal gaze.
The lyrics and Elvis's deep voice washed over them, and goose bumps rose on Sakura's skin. She felt like she was burning in his arms. She existed nowhere but right there. It felt like it only lasted a moment before Kakashi was releasing her, stepping back while his gaze lingered.
She danced with her father next, her back stiff and smile tight. Fortunately, it was a short song, and then it was supposed to be time for a mother-son dance, which Kakashi dismissed with a pained look, encouraging the DJ to begin the dance-y, pumping music. Sakura cursed herself for not telling the DJ before hand that there would be no mother-son dance. She was an absolute idiot, especially after his moment at the temple.
Sakura danced in the center of the floor, laughing and trying to avoid getting too sweaty, while Kakashi went to raid the buffet table. He disappeared for a brief time after filling his plate, likely going to hide his face so that he could eat. Him and that mask. In consideration for Kakashi's privacy, they had cupcakes for their guests for dessert, and Choji had prepared a small wedding cake for them to cut alone in their hotel suite, that way they wouldn't have to hide to cut the cake, not really, and it saved Kakashi from getting frosting on his mask in case Sakura wanted to swipe some at his face.
Sakura could see Ino across the dance floor, pinned between Sai and Genma, and looking exceptionally pleased with herself. Sakura had no doubts that she would be hearing all about Genma's dick in short order, judging from the way his mouth was moving up the column of Ino's throat.
Her groom reappeared beside her as the song changed from fast to slow, catching her by the waist and pulling her in to him. She looked up at him, her face flushed from strawberry to cherry, some loose hairs sticking to her lipstick. His dark grey eyes drank her in, flicking from her own spring colored ones to her lips and down her body. He lifted his fingers to brush aside the hair caught on her lips, gently tucking them back behind her ears, before sliding his hands down her sides to rest them on her hips, holding her to him. The heat of his fingers seared through her dress, so hot that she could feel each individual place his digits were making contact with her.
Kakashi spun them slowly across the dance floor, carefully avoiding other couples, his eyes never leaving her face. He said nothing, only looked at her.
She smirked at him. "Struck silent?" she teased.
The corners of his eyes wrinkled as he smiled. "Absolutely. Now if only that would happen to you, I could have some peace," He said pleasantly. Sakura smacked his shoulder and he pretended to be hurt, wincing dramatically and she could swear he was pouting under his mask.
She would have begun to take his peace away with a snide comment, but suddenly her groom was bodily bumped out of the way, leaving her staring at Ino, who was grinning like a fucking fiend as Kakashi stumbled to keep himself upright.
"Ino, what fresh hell is this?" Sakura asked lightly. Her blonde friend grabbed her wrists, took a step back, and swung Sakura in a circle, aggressively clearing space on the floor because if people didn't move, they were going to be flattened by the bride. Sakura quickly recovered from the loss of Kakashi, though a small part of her was sad. Sad, why? She had him for a good long while.
"Let's goooooo!" Ino cheered, and Sakura only then realized the song had changed, becoming Taylor Swift's 'Our Song', which was supposed to be romantic, but years ago Ino had decided it was her and Sakura's song.
Sakura laughed and fell into twirling with her friend, the lyrics belting from her lungs at top volume. TenTen, Hinata, and Temari were summoned from the sidelines like crows to a corpse, flocking in and dancing around them, their dates forgotten.
Not to be outdone, Naruto began to belt the lyrics as well, and Sasuke played air drums behind him, looking more than a little intoxicated. Sakura didn't blame him.
Kakashi's friends and Sakura parents watched from just off the dance floor, expressions ranging from mildly entertained to straight up perplexed. Asuma's wife was laughing where she watched from a chair, an adorable baby girl held in her arms.
This may not have been her absolute dream wedding, it may have been put together in a week, her groom may not love her-which hurt more than it had any right to-she may not have had the most matrimonial intentions, but she was happy. It was perfect exactly as it was.
Sakura tipped her head back and let the moment sweep her away.