Haurutsuki: Melting of Beautiful Snow

7. It's Almost Time!

"A wedding song?" Kakashi asked from his desk. "Not just any wedding song. It's a Haurutsuki tradition to have a band sing at the wedding of fellow members. We already have a song. All we need is a band, stage, instruments, and your permission, of course." Ryuu said charismatically. "Well sure, I would love to see you all perform. I didn't know you could sing, Miyuki." Kakashi teased. She stood beside Ryuu with folded arms, closed eyes and an irk tick pulsing from her forehead. "Don't make fun. It's embarrassing enough as it is." She said, itching with frustration. He chuckled at her expression, finding it cute.

"Since we have your permission... What about the stage and band? We will also need to rent equipment, Lord Kakashi." Katsu interrupted. He cleared his throat, "Yes. I'll have Yamato prepare a stage at the venue, as well as see to the specified equipment arrangements. However, with regards to the band, I'm afraid I'm not sure what you'd be looking for. Perhaps you should ask someone more up-to-date with these types of things." He humbly explained. "So, what now?" Ryuu asked his siblings. "Don't look at me, Miyuki is the one who listens to radio music all day." Katsu innocently shrugged. Her eyebrow twitched, "I'll ask Ino or Ten-Ten then." She lowly said, in annoyance. 'She's so cute when she's angry like that.' Kakashi thought with an eyes-closed smiled.

Just then, Lady Shizune burst through the door, "Lord Kakashi, the Kazekage, Temari and Kankuro are about to arrive." The trio's eyes widened, "Kazekage?" Ryuu wondered aloud. Kakashi got up from his chair, "Well, duty calls. Just let me know who you've chosen, and feel free to use the reception venue for practice. I'll have Shizune draw up the paperwork for permission. Right now, I need to welcome some old friends." He eyes-closed smiled. The trio bowed in gratitude and exited his office to begin their search for a band and rental instruments.

They managed to order all the equipment in record time and headed out the store in search of Ten-Ten at the training grounds. "Good morning, Guy." Katsu greeted as they walked up to him. He was doing hand stands. He then flipped up, landing in a seated position in his wheelchair. "Good morning indeed, Katsu. You three come to train? I haven't seen you around much lately." The three apologetically smiled. It had been drilled into them to train, and when they first recovered from being frozen, they resumed that habit. It was how they met Guy, Ten-Ten and Lee three months prior. Ryuu sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry, Guy. We've been kind of busy." He said, feeling guilty. "I see... Well, that's no excuse! A shinobi's training is never truly done, even in early retirement. Do not allow the burning youths that triumphantly melted your ice prisons to die out! Why, me and Rock-Lee don't plan on slacking off at the wedding reception either." Guy confidently gleamed. "Oh gees." Miyuki worriedly thought aloud.

"So, what brings you three youths here if not to bask in the glory of your Keihatsugan training?" He inquired. "We're looking for Ten-Ten. Have you seen her?" Katsu asked. "I thought she'd be here by now." She said, looking around. "Today, she and Lee have embarked on the serious task of watching over the Kazekage during his visit to the Leaf Village. I'm afraid she is not here. But she will return with the promise to work double time!" He confidently declared. The three sweat-dropped. "Well, thanks anyway, Guy." She waved as they began to walk away. "We'll be back to training sometime after the wedding!" Ryuu called back. "Good luck in your quest to regain your fading youths my faithful peers!" Guy waved back from his wheelchair. He then flipped off from it to the grass on his hands and resumed his hand stand training.

Miyuki sighed as they walked the streets. "Ino is too busy with inventory at the flower shop today. It's best we just go home. I can ask her tomorrow." Just then, Katsu picked up something and halted. "Hey, wait. I sense Ten-Ten and Lee nearby." He said. "Really? Where?" He gestured up ahead. Just then, they appeared to round a corner at the end of the road. "Hey, you're right... Hey Lee! Ten-Ten!" Ryuu said, jogging over to them.