Promises Remembered

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Sakura

Two-hundred and twenty days in the past

Yanking her left hand back, Sakura covered her ears and winced. "Aiko, please! It's too early," she whined at her friend who was busy squealing and excitedly wringing her hands. As soon as she saw Sakura that morning, Aiko cornered her and snatched her hand. Genma had told her about Kakashi's little shopping trip in Suna, apparently.

"But I'm just so happy! It's so beautiful and perfect for you. You won't have to worry about it getting caught on things while working but it's still so lovely. He did such a good job." She clapped her hands in front of her chest, her grin looking painfully wide. "It's so exciting!"

Agreeing, a matching grin slid across Sakura's face too. "I know!" Maybe it was silly, but she hadn't been able to stop staring at it either. It was beautiful, but mostly, it just made it real. She was going to marry Kakashi.

He's mine.

It was bittersweet, knowing it would end all too soon, but in that moment all she allowed herself to feel was giddy excitement. She had gone to the temple and arranged things while he'd been away, so they'd be married in a month. Their requests for leave had already been approved, and that morning, Kakashi had casually mentioned looking at apartments while he was home that week. They didn't need to move, but the idea of starting their married life in the apartment she knew he'd lived in with Kazuki made her strangely happy. It, unlike their current apartment, was in the part of the original village that would survive Pain's attack.

"So, do you have a date set? Do you need any help with anything? Are you going with a traditional ceremony or a modern one?"

Sakura smiled at her friend as they headed towards the classrooms. "Yes, the end of the month. Traditional, just our closest friends—simple, small. And yes, I do need help." Sakura had considered inviting her parents, since they were ostensibly family, but they had only spoken once. Not having her mother there made her a little sad. "Would you be willing to help me get ready on the day? Since I don't have any female family and you're my best friend..."

Another ear splitting shriek assaulted Sakura's senses before her friend was hugging her tightly around her neck. "Yes! I'd love to!" Very suddenly and immediately Aiko sobered, leaning back to look her in the eyes. "I mean, it should be your mother or some other close family. But, since you don't have any here, I am honored that you'd ask me, Hana." Eyes watering, she let her forehead drop against Sakura's. "Neither of you do. But you should know, even if he doesn't realize it, Kakashi has friends that love him like family, and so do you."

Sniffling and blinking away the burn in her own eyes, Sakura hugged her friend back tightly. "I know. And hopefully, someday he'll understand too."

<KSK>

Two-hundred and twenty-one days into the past

Walking hand in hand towards the restaurant that had fast become a regular destination for them, Sakura noticed something about the street that she somehow hadn't before. It caught her so off guard, she stopped midstep, Kakashi barely managing not to trip as he looked back at her in confusion.

"Everything OK, Sakura?"

This street was part of the town that survived Pein's attack. In fact, the apartment they were going to let was only a block away.

How had she not noticed before?

"Um... yes. Everything is fine. Sorry, just... I think I know where we'll find our new place."