Perfectly Imperfect Love

Heartbreak

This couldn't take any longer.

He wanted this to be over with. He wanted to go home, eat a tub of icecream, and cry himself to sleep.

But Naruto Uzumaki wouldn't. He had to stick to his guns. Never give up, never back down, don't run away. His nindo was his life.

"I do."

The words rang in his head, repeating like a mantra. The words shattered his heart, yet the smile she was gracing him with taped the broken pieces together like a child would fix a toy. Broken. That's what he was.

He has a sinking feeling, ever since the war began and ended two years ago, that this would happen. Sakura Haruno would never choose him. Not him, never him. That night...I guess it really was nothing to her.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Their lips connected, and Naruto forced himself to look away. He could already feel the tears welling up in his dull, cerulean orbs. But he wouldn't let them fall.

This was her wedding day. The beginning of her own happiness. And, selfishly, the end of his own.

"Speech, speech, speech!" The crowd called to him. Oh that's right. I'm the fucking best man.

"Staple your sack together, kit. You can do this. Then we can go to the training grounds, miles away from this damn village, and blow each other up. How does that sound?"Kurama said from within his mind. Their mental link was strong, and it was because of their bond as comrades and friends that they could maintain it. Though Naruto still wasn't fond with the brunt cursing and terminology the demon fox had picked up over the years.

Alright, Kurama. But don't think you're going easy on me. I feel like dying right now.

"Wouldn't have it any other way."

Naruto shakily walked up to the microphone, avoiding everyone's gazes. A few knew of his true feelings, and they felt a pang of hopelessness in their hearts, mirrored by Naruto's own.

He was wearing a dark blue tuxedo that complimented his eyes; his hair, now longer, drooped onto his forehead, caressing his eyebrows.

He cleared his throat, and began the speech. His voice cracked a few times as he went over their genin days, he just about burst into tears when he talked about Sakura's feelings towards the Uchiha even then, and after skipping over the war and Sasuke's betrayal, talked about their relationship. The relationship he should have had- No. I was never in the picture.

After finishing with a ramen analogy, and how even in the coldest of bowls you can still find the delicious flavor, he stepped back. No one but the Nara genius, Shikamaru, noticed his clenched fists and the small trails of blood leaking from his palms.

The guests erupted into applause, and he got a few claps on the backs from his fellow groomsmen. He got a smirk from Sasuke, and Sakura smiled warmly at him. He forced, forced a grin onto his face, because damn it, he wasn't going to ruin her day because he was feeling a little heart broken.

Sasuke was wearing a formal pitch black suit and tie, and it had the Uchiha emblem on the back. Sakura was donned in a tight fitting, light pink wedding dress that hugged her body and accented it perfectly.

"More like your heart has been vaporized. Don't you hate people who lie to themselves, kit? I can feel your negative emotions. It's feels EXACTLY like dying."The Kyuubi remarked slyly. Naruto gave him the mental equivalent of a glare, and shut him out for the time being as he sat down near the punch bowls, next to Kakashi and Yamato.