Chapter Fourty Two

"You said that you'd stop smoking." Temari said to Shikamaru while he stood at the lakeshore. As he inhaled the substance, she watched his hardened eyes as they stared at the moon.

"This is the only thing keeping me sane right now." He said quietly, trying not to feel the pain from his bruising chin. "For being as scrawny as he is, Sai sure can throw a fucking punch."

Shika joked while pulling his hand from his pocket, and bringing it to his throbbing face. Before he put it back in his pocket, he felt Temari's hand as she reached into his pocket, and pulled out his pack of cigarettes.

Pulling one out, he raised an eyebrow at her, "What are you doing?" She giggled a little, "Have you never seem a woman smoke a cigarette before?"

Her question brought a small smirk to his face, and he placed his hand on her waist to bring her closer. Leaning forward, he lit her cigarette with the end of his, and when he saw how the flame made her beautiful green eyes stand out underneath the moonlight, he sighed in content.

Deciding that it was now or never, Shikamaru said to his girlfriend, "I love you, Temari." He wasn't sure what to expect, but when she giggled cutely while exhaling smoke, it made him blush. "It took me smoking with you for you to finally say it? How troublesome." He laughed a little, "But I love you too."

She said with a blush on her own face, making him smile to himself, while looking up at the full moon. Temari watched him for a moment, admiring his handsome face, all while pondering a question. Feeling her gaze, Shika glanced at her from the corner of his eye, "What?"

He asked, and she immediately said what she was thinking. "Was that why you guys spent the weekend together all those months ago?" A sigh left his lips, "Yeah, it was."

She nodded, "I know that I used to be jealous of you guys, but I'm really glad that you decided to step up, and be there for her, Shika. I-I can't imagine how that must've been for her."

Temari said with tears coming to her eyes, feeling bad for her friend, but also hating the fact that she subconsciously hated her for something so stupid. The way her unoccupied hand grasped the gold necklace around her neck, while she stared off into space made Shika grab her hand. "I'm sorry if I'm being dramatic."

He shook his head, "You're not, you just care about our friend." His hand let go of her hand, and caressed her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "And honestly? I don't know how she did it either, but she's so strong."

Temari nodded in agreement, "She is, and she's such a great friend. It sucks that she never told Sai, finding out in front of everyone had to be the worst." Shika shrugged, still agitated with Sai. "He overreacted."

She rolled her eyes, "Oh shut up, no he didn't. The only reason I'm not upset, is because we weren't together. With them it's different." He rolled his eyes, "They weren't even dating."

"But you're his friend, Shikamaru." She said, making him sigh deeply. "No, I know, and I felt horrible after it happened, but it was like after a while we just stopped caring. But then they started dating again, and well you know she kinda just tossed me to the side." Shika said with a laugh, but Temari didn't laugh.

"I never understood why you'd actually put yourself through that, but now I do. You must really love her." He shook his head, while putting out his cigarette. "I did, Temari, but I love you now."

"N-no, I know you do." She said with a smile, as she put her cigarette out. When her eyes peered back up into his, he stood in front of her, and smiled at her beautiful face.

"Do you?" He asked her, with his thumb caressing her cheek delicately. "Would it kill you to prove it a little more?" She teased him, making him chuckle a little. "I'm sorry, Temari. I'll change that." A smile came to her lips, as he kissed her sweetly.

With their eyelids closed, and their hands against each other's faces, they finally knew what it meant to be peacefully in love. God knows they needed it. As they kissed, Hinata ran into the arms of her fiancé, as he walked up the driveway with his friends. She was yelling out, "Let's get married, what are we waiting for?"

Only it sounded like gibberish. "Slow down, Princess." Naruto said, while laughing a little and placing his hands on either side of her gorgeous face. "What are we waiting for? I want to marry you, Naruto. Right here, right now." His eyebrows rose in surprise, alongside Sasuke who stood by him. 

"L-like tonight? W-we don't even have our-" She cut him off, "I don't care, we have each other, and that's enough. I want this to happen now, Naruto. Tomorrow is our last night here, and it just feels right, you know?"

The look in her eyes convinced him, and he laughed while bending down to kiss her lips. Pulling away, they both had smiles on their faces, "Okay, let's do it." Hinata smiled brightly, and wrapped her arms around him.

Their hearts both beat with anticipation, and as she hugged him so tightly, she genuinely knew that she was making the right decision. "Okay! Let's tell everyone, and then go from there?" She asked with excitement written all over her beautiful face.

The moment they walked inside, they were met with chaos as Ino paced back and forth while trying to get a hold of Sai. Hinata made eye contact with Sakura, and waved her over.

Once she told her the plan, a smile came to her face. "Okay, let's do this. Hinata, we'll get you prepared, and head over to the resort. I'll have Neji make a few calls, and we'll get everything done. Naruto, take Sasuke, and try to convince Sai to talk to her, because she's a drunken mess. Once that's handled, they'll make up, and there won't be any fighting at the ceremony."

She quickly instructed, making them both nod with a smile. "Okay, I think we can do that." Naruto said, making her nod while patting his shoulder, "Okay, Great, get going." Sakura said with a smile, before taking her friends hand, and dragging her off towards her bedroom.

"Ah! I'm so excited." Hinata said with a bright smile on her beautiful face, as they stood at the bottom of the staircase. "For?" TenTen asked, while standing in the kitchen, pouring herself some water. "I'm getting married tonight." She announced, making her raise her eyebrows in sheer surprise.

"O-okay, what can I do?" She asked, just as Neji came up the stairs from the basement. "TenTen? What's taking you so lo-" He stopped talking when he saw Hinata and Sakura. "O-oh, hey."

Their was a blush on his handsome face, before a look of surprise overcame him as Hinata told him the big news, and Sakura reiterated the plan. "Okay, I'll get right on that." He said, before rushing back downstairs to get his phone, while Sakura and Hinata went upstairs to their rooms, and TenTen started her duties. "You guys, come!" She yelled from the back porch, as she saw the young couple kissing each other sweetly. ~   "I don't know what she expects me to say." Naruto said while they walked to the resort that was a few minutes away. "You are somewhat of a motivational speaker." Sasuke said with a shrug, making him chuckle as he sighed deeply.

"Remember when we worked there?" Naruto asked, making him glance in the direction of the country clubs restaurant. "I hated that job." He muttered, "It wasn't that bad."

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke said, "Well of course you would think that, I was always doing your job for you." Naruto threw his arm over his best friends shoulders, "And I never thanked you for that, did I?" He teased, making him gently push him off of him.

"Shut up, we're almost there, figure out what you're gonna say to him, because Sakura will be on my ass if you mess this up." Naruto laughed, "Why does she care? It's my wedding." Sasuke shrugged his shoulders, "No idea, she's been like this all day really." His friend nodded while saying. "Just wait till it's your turn, I bet she's gonna turn into bridezilla."

Sasuke laughed, knowing that he was right. "I wouldn't even mind." He admitted, hardly containing his smile as he naively could picture his beautiful ex-girlfriend, marrying him.

Shaking his head, they walked into the hotel and Sasuke nodded at the open bar. "Go." With a sigh leaving his lips, he did as he was instructed, and found his friend sitting alone at the countertop. "Sai?" He said, while sitting down next to him.

  "Look, Dude, I know you're upset, but I'm getting married in an hour and I really want you there." Sai just rolled his eyes at Naruto, "We're hardly friends, Naruto." Bringing his hand to the back of his neck, he scratched it and chuckled a little, "Yeah, I guess you're right, but honestly? I think that you're a good guy, and I know you're upset with Ino, but come on. That's like me being mad at Hinata because of what happened with Kiba, you guys were broken up."

A sigh left the young man's lips and he gave Naruto a pointed look, "So you mean to tell me, that if while you guys were broken up, she got pregnant with Kiba's baby, and then kissed him all while dating you, you wouldn't be upset?" Naruto thought for a moment, and a sigh left his own lips. "Can I be honest with you?"

A small smile came to Sai's face, "I have a feeling that you'll tell me regardless of what I say." Naruto laughed, and sat on the barstool next to Sai. "You're right." Naruto ordered a drink, while talking to Sai. "I honestly think we were just too late." He said making Sai laugh while sipping his own drink.

"Yeah, it sucks." Naruto nodded in agreement, "It does. Like I know she loves me, but sometimes when he's around, I just can't help but wonder if she really meant it when she said she was over him, you know?" Sai nodded in agreement, "And I know I shouldn't, but it's like I can't help it. It drives me insane sometimes, so I get why you're upset, Sai."

"Really?" Sai asked, and Naruto nodded. "I really do, but all I know is Ino is up in my suite, crying to my fiancée. And I'm not telling you that because I want you to feel bad, but because I want you to know that she really loves you, Sai. I know that you love her too."

His words were actually insightful, and it made Sai have a change of heart, even though he didn't express it. "Can I tell you something, Naruto?" Sai asked his friend, making him nod before sipping his drink.

"I sometimes just watch people subconsciously. The way Hinata looks at you, and smiles at just the mere mention of your name, shows everyone that she loves you. I know, because it's the same look that Ino gives me." A sigh left Naruto's lips as he thought about her. Like anyone, he was filled with anxiety about his upcoming wedding, and all of his doubts seemingly rushed him at once.

"I know that she loves me, and I love her. I also know that she loves Shikamaru, and though it used to upset me; Like you said, we're late. I wouldn't ever make her choose, and I know you wouldn't do that to Hinata either. But if I can offer you some free advice, I want you to know that the way they love them, isn't the same as the way they love us, and it does get easier."

Honestly, he didn't know if it really got better, but after years of practicing when and when not to be blunt, he knew that it wasn't the time to let his doubts about his own relationship affect his friends upcoming marriage.

"Promise? Because I'm about to marry the girl of my dreams, and I just hope that I'm enough." Naruto said, smiling at just the thought of her. Sai laughed, "I say this calls for a toast." Bringing their glasses together, they clinked them and said in unison with small smiles, "To women being troublesome."

After they drank their drinks, Sai asked, "Should I apologize to Shika?" Naruto shrugged his shoulders, "I wouldn't, it was a nice shot." He complimented, making Sai chuckle again.

"Alright, looks like you guys made up, now come on, we have to get dressed." Sasuke said while approaching them at the bar. "You sound like Sakura." Naruto mumbled, "She's on my ass." Sasuke muttered, just as he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. "Speak of the devil?" Sai teased as they got up from their seats.

"Yes?" He asked while answering her call. "Hi, so everything is all squared away here. We're getting Hinata ready, are you guys doing the same? How's Sai?"

"Everything's fine, and we're heading up to our suite now. You don't have to worry, Sakura. I got it." He reassured, while snapping his fingers at his friends, telling them to hurry up, as he stood on the elevator. "Y-yeah I know, I'm sorry if I'm being bitchy, I just want this all to be right. They deserve a beautiful wedding."

He nodded in agreement as if she could see him, "And they'll get that, in an hour and a half, okay?" Sakura nodded too with a smile on her face, "Okay." A smile came to his handsome face while he said, "Okay, now I'll see you later. Bye, I lov-"

He started, before noticing the surprised look he got from Naruto. "S-sorry, hard habit to break." A cute giggle left her lips, though she had a deep red blush to her cheeks, "B-bye, Sasuke." As he hung up, his friends gave him a look of confusion, making him smack his teeth. "Shut up."

They both laughed, while Naruto patted his back. "It's okay, we're all in love here, no judgement." He said, making Sasuke chuckle as he mumbled. "Yeah, whatever." His friend sighed deeply, "It sucks. Loving someone so much. To the point where you see their flaws, and you only see the beauty in them."

Sai said in his normal soft tone, making them nod in agreement, although Naruto couldn't think of a single flaw in his soon-to-be wife. Sure, they had their fair share of arguments, and screw ups, but he didn't see them as flaws themselves, rather just mistakes that everyone makes.

"I know you guys will just think I'm blinded by love, but genuinely, I can't think of any flaws when I think of Hinata. Like I know we've had our fair share of fights, and arguments, but we always can come to a compromise."

"You can't think of anything she does that annoys you?" Sai asked, and Naruto shook his head. "Even a little? Things you've overlooked?"

"Maybe in the beginning? She used to avoid me when she was nervous about something, but now I like to think that she's pretty up front about whatever she's feeling." He said, making them roll their eyes. "Maybe you've just found the perfect woman." Sai with a shrug of his shoulders, making them all laugh.

"I mean yeah, not to brag or anything." He said with a stupid grin as they walked into their hotel room, to see Neji with rented tux for all of them, while Lee helped Kiba tie his tie. "Took you guys long enough."

"Where's Shika?" Neji asked them, making them all shrug. "Our job was Sai." Naruto said, making him sigh deeply, before grabbing his phone, and leaving the room. Before leaving he warned them, "Hurry up, we have a little over an hour. I'm gonna be right back, and when he comes back, play nice."

The moment he left, they all joked about his seriousness, but obeyed his commands. "Oh, hey, how's it going in there?" TenTen asked Neji while he walked out from the hotel room just across the hall from her's. "Good, I just have to find Shika and everything will be fine." She nodded, and grabbed his hand as she saw that he was stressed, "I'll help."

While they searched the country club, Hinata and her friends helped her prepare her vows for the wedding. "God, I don't know how these things start, what do I say? He already knows how much I love him." She complained, while facepalming, as her friend styled her hair into an updo, while Ino tried to finish her makeup.

"Stop, you're smudging the powder!" She exclaimed, "Sorry." She mumbled, while staring down at the notepad in front of her. "You guys are no help, Temari and TenTen just had to go get my something borrowed."

"Okay, I'll help." Sakura started, "Um start it like, my dearest Naruto, as I stand here before you today, about to become your wife, I find myself in a state of complete euphoria." She copied her words down on the paper, while Ino tried not to think of Sai as she spoke so lovingly.

"God, that's amazing, Sakura." Hinata complimented as she wrote down everything as she finished, "You were thinking about Sasuke, huh?" That question made her roll her eyes, and shake her head, although she was.

"Sorry for getting married on your birthday. I know that I made today all about me, and I'm sorry." Hinata said to her friend, as she curled sections of her long hair. "Don't be sorry, Hinata, I'm happy to share this day with you." She said with a genuine smile, making her smile too, "Okay, thank you for everything, by the way. Both of you, really, you guys are life savers."

Ino smiled while saying, "It's no problem, this is the highlight of my day honestly." Though she wasn't sure where her relationship with Sai stood, she knew that her friend was finally in a happy relationship, and about to embark on an incredible journey.

"Mine too, it's gonna be incredible." Sakura said with a smile, as she pinned her hair up the way she wanted it. "Does it look okay?" She asked, "Perfect." Hinata answered, while looking at herself through the vanity mirror.

As she stared into her unique eyes, time seemed to pause for a moment. In that moment, she felt her heartbeat start to quicken, and she was filled with the only doubt in her mind. "My Dad is going to kill me."