Chapter 6: Uchiha Sakura

The months after Sakura and Sasuke's engagement passed in a blur of weddings, wedding planning, dress shopping, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and work. In the process, Sakura found herself slowly moving into Sasuke's apartment.

It first started when she started keeping a spare toothbrush in his bathroom, and then he gave her a drawer to keep some spare clothes, until he finally gave her a key. Before Sakura knew it, all of her belongings, besides her furniture, were in Sasuke's apartment. Since, they were to be married anyways, Sakura saw no problem in terminating her lease early.

Once Sakura moved in, Sasuke had no way of escaping from wedding planning sessions with Sakura and Ino. When not at work, the two kunoichi were often seen in the living room going over every meticulous detail of the wedding—from the flowers to the seating chart, to the time breakdown, to the dresses. Sasuke could not make sense of anything and tried to avoid making as many decisions as possible. In fact, the only decision he did make during the wedding process was the date and the size of the wedding. Sakura and Sasuke had decided on a small, intimate wedding during the Cherry Blossom season. The idea for a spring wedding was Sasuke's; Sakura originally wanted to opt for a summer wedding, before Sasuke convinced her otherwise. Not only were cherry blossoms a symbol of Sakura herself, but it was also a symbol of the beauty of life—the new life they would share together as a family.

Wedding planning, much to Sasuke's dismay, never stopped.

It was the night before the wedding and Ino had decided to stay over at Sakura and Sasuke's apartment in order to help Sakura prepare for the wedding first thing in the morning. It was her duty as maid of honor to make sure the bride was in tip-top shape for her wedding. Plus, she needed to make sure Sakura and Sasuke didn't fool around the night before the wedding. It would be bad luck.

"I still can't believe you kicked Sasuke out the night before our wedding," Sakura exasperated as she jumped on the queen sized bed she shared with Sasuke, and who she was sharing with Ino for that night.

"He'll get over it. It's bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other the night before the wedding. I'm doing both of you a favor. Speaking of the little devil, I still can't believe you're getting married to Sasuke. I don't know what kind of weird voodoo magic you did, but it worked. You managed the melt the block of ice," Ino said as she lay down next to Sakura.

"You're starting to sound like a broken record, Pig. You've been saying the same thing, everyday, since I told you we were getting married. And, for the last time, I'll tell you that it was clear from the beginning that I had no competition for Sasuke's heart."

Ino grabbed one of her pillows and threw it playful at Sakura's face. "Hey! Watch the face! I don't want to get a black eye the night before my wedding," Sakura exclaimed.

Ino laughed. "That's total bullshit and you know it."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Let's go to sleep. I have a wedding tomorrow, remember?"

"And that's bullshit too. You know you're not sleeping. Heck, I didn't sleep for days before my wedding. I kept having this reoccurring nightmare that everything was going to go wrong last minute."

"Fuck Ino. I wasn't even thinking that. Thanks a lot."

"You're welcome."

"Worst maid of honor, ever."

"DO YOU ACTUALLY WANT A BLACK EYE FOREHEAD?"

xxx

Surprisingly, Sakura managed to get a few hours of sleep that night, after bickering with Ino for half of it.

The pair woke up bright and early and immediately began preparations for the day. Tsunade and a few genins were handling the overall wedding set up, Mrs. Yamanaka was in charge of setting up the flowers, Teuchi and Ayame, from Ichiraku's, were doing the catering for the reception, and Ino was in charge of making sure Sakura, and all the other bridesmaids, were primped and polished for the wedding.

Sakura was not sure whether it was just her imagination, but that morning, even with all the hustle and bustle, seemed to be more beautiful than any other spring morning. The sun seemed to shine brighter, the pale pink petals of the cherry blossoms seemed to glimmer, and the grass seemed to be much greener. A perfect day for an outdoor wedding.

At 11:30AM, after all the girls had finished getting ready in Sakura's apartment, they began heading to the wedding venue—the Lake of the old Uchiha complex.

Sasuke had told Sakura about the lake one night after their engagement. He told her stories about how he used to practice his Katon with his father, and sometimes, with his brother. Sakura could tell from the way Sasuke told the story that the lake was somewhere precious for him and asked him to take her there one day.

He did. During the late fall, Sakura and Sasuke visited the lake. The lake was located on the east side of the Uchiha complex, close to where Sasuke grew up. The land around the lake was surrounded by trees, which were losing their leaves due to the eminent winter. It was a breathtaking sight and at that moment, under the falling leaves and in Sasuke's warm embrace, she decided that it would be their wedding venue.

Sakura smiled at the memory, as she made her way with her bridesmaids towards the complex. The villagers cleared the path as they admired the beauty of the new blushing bride. Sakura was wearing a pure silk shiromuku, with a lace overlay detail. Her hair was done up with lose curled pieces in the front to frame her face. Over her head, she wore the traditional shiromuku hat. Her make up was simple; light blush, lip-gloss and waterproof mascara. Sakura was already a natural beauty and could have easily gone without makeup, but Ino insisted.

The wedding party reached the shrine by the lake, where Sakura and Sasuke were to be married. If Ino had planned everything correctly, all the guests should have been already waiting in their seats, while Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi waited by the alter.

Sakura took a deep breath as Kizashi made his way towards his daughter.

"You look beautiful," Kizashi admired. His only child was about to get married and although Sakura had long been out of the nest, he felt a pang of emptiness in his heart. His little girl was all grown up.

"Thank you, papa."

Kizashi wiped the tears that were forming in the corner of his eyes and took Sakura by his harm. "Just know, I could not have parted with you to anyone less worthy."

Sakura beamed. "I know."

xxx

Sasuke was never the type to get nervous. Nervousness was a sign of weakness. Yet, when it came to Sakura, everything he used to think of as weak, became a strength.

Kizashi had stepped out moments ago, meaning that Sakura was just on the side of the shrine, waiting to down the aisle, towards their future together.

"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled.

Sasuke snapped out of his reverie and glared at the blond headed, newly appointed Hokage. "What?"

"If you keep tapping your foot at the pace you're at, you're going to end up making a hole in the ground," Naruto explained, pointing at the patch of ground where there was once grass.

"Tch."

The sound of the violist placing his bow on the string scaught Sasuke's attention. Sakura was here.

The gentle sound of the violin playing Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" filled the air. Sakura appeared from the inside of the shrine and made her way down the steps towards the wedding party- Kizashi at her arm, and her wedding party trailing close behind.

Sasuke was at a lost for words. His mouth was left a gape as he watched his soon to be wife make her way down the aisle.

Sakura had always been beautiful to him, but on that day, and on that moment, she was the most beautiful he had ever seen her.

Sakura made her way towards the end of the aisle. Kizashi grabbed Sakura's right arm and Sasuke's left arm and placed them on top of each other. "Take care of her."

Sasuke nodded and Kizashi made his way to his seat, next to his wife, Mebuki.

Sakura and Sasuke turned their backs to their guest and kneeled down in front of Kakashi, who would officiate their marriage.

"Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to witness the union of Sasuke and Sakura, in holy matrimony…" Kakashi began. After that, everything seemed to pass in a blur.

"Do you, Uchiha Sasuke, take Haruno Sakura to be your lawfully wedded wife? Through sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, 'til death you do part?"

"I do."

"And do you, Haruno Sakura, take Uchiha Sasuke to be your lawfully wedded husband? Through sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, 'til death do you part?

"I do."

"You may now exchange rings."

Naruto hands Sasuke the wedding ring he had kept safe for him in his pocket.

"Sakura, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. With this ring, I thee wed," Sasuke vowed as he placed the ring on Sakura's delicate finger.

Sakura smiled brightly as the wedding band found its place next to her engagement ring. She turned to Ino, who, liked Naruto, kept Sasuke wedding ring during the ceremony.

"Sasuke, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. With this ring, I thee wed."

"By the power invested in me by the Fire Country, I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride," Kakashi proclaimed.

Sasuke immediately grabbed Sakura by the hips and placed a deep, passionate kiss on her lips. He didn't care if everyone was watching them. He loved that woman and he was happy.

Incandescently happy.

xxx

"I'd like to make a toast," Naruto exclaimed during the middle of the wedding reception. Everyone in the room immediately quieted down and paid close attention to the new Hokage.

"Twelve years ago, I was just a lonely, trouble-making kid. I didn't have a family to come home to every day; the villagers were afraid of me and exiled me. The closest thing I had to a family prior to graduating the academy was Iruka-sensei, but even I was selfish. I wanted more. I wanted a real family and that's what Team 7 became to me, my family. Although we aren't blood related, our experiences connected us in a way that no one could understand. We laughed, we cried, we argued, we fought. There were good times and there were bad times, but regardless, we still managed to break through them. Sakura, I know at first you hated my guts but you became the sister I never had. And Sasuke, we might have had our differences, but we have an unbreakable bond. I'm so glad to have both of you in my life and even more glad that you two ended up together. Even when I had a crush on Sakura, I knew that you too had a connection."

"But, mark my words, if you ever make Sakura-chan cry for something other than happiness, I will personally beat you to a pulp, got it?"

Sakura and Sasuke grimaced at Naruto's speech. He had to ruin it by ending it with a threat, the newlyweds thought.

"To the Uchiha's!" Naruto said raising his glass of champagne.

"To the Uchiha's!" everyone chanted in unison.

xxx

After the wedding ceremony and reception, Sakura and Sasuke returned to their apartment.

They had decided not go on an official honeymoon. Instead, they opted to post-pone their honeymoon trip for the summer. Since they already had sex and have travelled together, they saw no practicality in going away.

Sasuke, carried Sakura to their room in bridal style, and laid her down on the mattress. He placed a chaste kiss on her lips before he made his way to the dresser to grab something.

"I have a surprise for you," Sasuke said. He walked over to Sakura who was now sitting on their bed and handed her an envelope.

"What's this?" She asked.

"Open it."

Sakura did as she was told and opened the small envelope. In it was a couple of brass keys. Sakura looked up at Sasuke quizzically

"What are these for?"

"Our home."

"Our…home?"

"The house is officially done. Well, its been done but I decided to wait until now to tell you."

Sakura jumped into Sasuke's arms and kissed him hard on the lips. "Best wedding gift ever."

Sasuke's eyes darkened, his sharp gaze instantly captured Sakura's, "I could think of one other thing that would be better…"

Sakura eyes fluttered, she bit her lower lip and puffed out her chest seductively. "And what could that be?" She asked. Sasuke pushed her onto the bed and pinned her. His long locks brushed her face as he leaned in towards her ear.

"Well, Mrs. Uchiha. If you want to know, your real gift is hidden somewhere…in my pants." He nibbled on her ear and made his way down her neck. Sakura tangled her fingers in his hair and let out a breathy moan.

"S-sasuke-kun."

"My, Mrs. Uchiha, you must be awfully uncomfortable in this dress, how about I get you out of it?"

Sasuke pulled out a kunai and went to cut through the delicate, white fabric of Sakura's dress. Suddenly, Sakura grabbed him by the wrist and flipped him to where she was on top of him.

"We wouldn't want destroy such a beautiful dress, would we, Sa-su-ke-kun? I mean, who knows, I could get married again in the future…"

Sasuke flipped her over again, "More the reason to destroy it." His voice dripped of possession, and Sakura would not allow him the satisfaction.

Once again, Sakura flipped him and took the kunai out of his hand and placed it close to his neck, near his jugular. "Listen to me. This dress took me forever to find. I will not have it destroyed. It'll be a family heirloom. Our daughter will wear this and her daughter will wear this and so on…"

"I like the sound of that. Our daughter. Lets make her happen." Sasuke sat up with Sakura still on top of him. Her grabbed her by the hips and kissed her firmly on the lips. She tasted so sweet.

While he drowned her in kisses, he began undoing the corset of her dress, which Sakura had changed into after the wedding ceremony.

He pulled the silk ribbon and the tight corset began to loosen. Sakura let out a breath. The corset had been so tight, that breathing had become difficult, especially under the circumstances she was in.

Sakura wrapped herself around Sasuke, as she took in all of his nips, tugs and kisses. She was so happy and in love, she felt like she was going to faint.

"I love you, Sasuke-kun," Sakura managed to breath out.

"I love you more."

xxx

Well, it has been a while since I updated and I apologize for that. I got caught up with Winter Break and before I knew it, the semester had started again.

I've also been working on other projects, like my YouTube channel (ChelseaAsterisk) and I kind of let this story go in the back burner of my priorities.

Sorry for the short chapter, but I figured, I wanted to get something out while I still had the chance.

I hope you guys will forgive me and that, even with the short chapter, you managed to enjoy it.

Thank you for all the love,

Chelsea

PS. I will try to update sooner next time.