A/N: Tsuno Kakushi is the traditional head covering that a Japanese bride wears to cover her kanzashi ornaments, or "horns" and to show obedience to her new husband. Thanks to this story, I now know quite a bit about Japanese wedding traditions, thank gawd for my story's sake, some couples westernize them a bit.
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone/thing in this story except for a few random OCs, but I did have a wedding once...
Chapter 1: Determination
Her hand trembled as she placed it on his arm. Well, that had certainly never happened before. His tough-as-nails sister was shaking like a leaf...literally. He smirked as he took in her proud bearing despite the eyes wide with panic.
"You know, Onee-chan, you really don't have to go through with this," Kankuro whispered. "Really, I give Gaara the signal, he Ryusa Bakuryu's everything and we go home with no one the wiser."
Tenten, Temari's lone bridesmaid threw Kankuro a dirty look that made Temari laugh.
It was a sign of how close they'd become as a family that they could joke about Gaara performing Ryusa Bakuryu. Temari patted her brother's arm.
"As much as I appreciate the thought, this is something I really want to do."
The music began, and Tenten spared one last sour glance at the puppeteer before beginning the long walk down the aisle.
Brother and sister were left to regard eachother. Kankuro had left off his hood today, but not his paint. Temari, with the help of some of their older servants had been able to hunt down the box containing her mother's uchikake gown and wedding kimono. But she had outright refused to wear the tsuno kakushi. Nara knew damn good and well that she would never be obediant.
"Last chance..." he grinned.
"No way baka."
They walked slowly. They didn't notice the guests stares, but as he passed his date, Ichiraku Ayame, Kankuro turned and winked. She blushed while her father glared. Kankuro briefly wondered if the old man would ever trust him. A nudge to the ribs from his sister brought him back to the present. They'd stopped. He was supposed to give her hand to Shikamaru, but his momentary distraction had caused a delay.
He smiled at Shikamaru as he put Temari's hand in her groom's.
"Remember," he whispered, "we Sabaku's are a package deal."
Temari rolled her eyes .
"Go eat ramen," Shikamaru smirked.
Grinning, Kankuro kissed his sister's cheek and went to join the Ichirakus.
Ayame beamed at him as he sat down, and took his hand.
"Your sister looks so happy," she whispered putting her head on his shoulder.
"Ayame," Ichiraku Teuchi growled. "This is not the time."
Sighing, she sat up and they directed their attention to the ceremony that was taking place.
o-o-o
At the reception, there was the usual wedding chatter, though most people had something to say about the couple's kiss. Inuzuka Kiba claimed he clocked it at one minute, forty seconds. Kankuro laughed when he heard that. Shikamaru and Temari were good, but there was no way they were that good. He and Ayame were seated with friends, while Teuchi was at a table with some of Konoha's merchants. Kankuro smirked with satisfaction to see the ramen cook was being forced to look through Miyako-san's extensive photo album featuring her granddaughter.
"What's so funny?" Ayame nudged him.
"I'm watching your father face his greatest fear."
"Aya?"
Kankuro pointed over to where Teuchi was looking gray faced at yet another photograph.
"Grandchildren."
Ayame laughed.
"So Kankuro-san, how are you and Gaara-sama going to deal with having your sister in Konoha permanently?" Rock Lee asked, sniffing his glass to make sure it really was only water.
"Oh Lee-kun, didn't you know that it was part of the marriage agreement that Temari is to serve as Konoha's Ambassador to Suna now?" Sakura answered for him.
"Hai," Kankuro nodded. "Gaara would have never agreed otherwise. Which just means the wedding would have still happened but without all the foreign dignitaries," He shrugged.
"Your sister knows what she wants and she gets it, no matter what," Ayame smiled.
"What about me?" Kankuro turned to his girlfriend, "do you know what it was like living with the Naras all that time just so I could date you?"
She laughed, "determination like that must run in the family."
They got up to dance. As they walked towards the dance floor, Lee turned to Aburame Shino.
"Weddings are the perfect place to find youth in full bloom."
Shino considered Lee's statement for a moment, then rose from his seat, walked over to where the wedding party was sitting and offered his hand to Tenten.
o-o-o
Kankuro led Ayame to the middle of the dance floor, as far away from her father's prying eyes as they could get. She looked gorgeous in her light blue kimono. Her hair was in a low bun and a few strands had come loose around her face. He caught one between his fingers and ran the back of his hand along her cheek. She closed her eyes and he kissed her softly on the lips. Ayame welcomed the kiss and deepened it, taking over as she sighed into his mouth.
Teuchi had escaped the onslaught of baby pictures and was standing next to the bar with Ino-Shika-Cho, the original version, when he caught sight of his daughter and her boyfriend.
"Shikkari shiro," Shikaku said following Teuchi's gaze while handing him a sake.
"They've been together for what, a year now?" Inoichi asked, and Teuchi nodded.
"Almost."
"If after that long, all they're doing is kissing you should consider yourself lucky," Chouza laughed.
Teuchi's face turned a disturbing shade of green and he took a quick swallow of sake.
"Welcome to the club..." Inoichi muttered grimly.
o-o-o
When they finally broke apart, Ayame smiled up at her boyfriend.
"I get what I want too."