Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Photograph ❯ Forever ( Chapter 29 )

Theme 29: the sound of waves

 

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After Temari's wedding, Gaara and Lee thought they were ready for their own. The fates had other ideas.

 

The Council demanded that it be held in Suna. The Hokage insisted that it be held in Konoha. Neither side would budge. When asked for his opinion, Kankuro had mumbled something about his family's obsession with Konoha-nins and had marched out without answering. Gaara looked perplexed, but Lee hid a smile. The puppet-nin was probably looking forward to seeing a certain heiress again.

 

The ANBU insisted that it be a select guest list. Lee wanted all of his friends to be present at this joyous event. He was shocked when he realized just how many of his friends were in the bingo books and were considered dangerous. The argument for Naruto alone had lasted hours.

 

Packages were pouring into Suna from all five countries. Gai sent a new mission as a present, which had made Lee blush vividly. Kakashi sent them a gift as well. It still sat on the kitchen table, unopened. Neither of them felt brave enough to deal with it.

 

Sakura wanted to throw an elegant bridal shower. Naruto wanted to throw the bachelor's party to end all bachelors' parties. Neither could figure out which man to invite. Sakura asked Lee, and the jounin discovered he was not too sure himself who was the bride and who was the groom. Everyone decided to just wing it.

 

Ino wanted to know about colors. Chouji wanted to know about the menu. Both sent messages to Gaara, and he promptly responded with a message that Lee never got to read. Things were suddenly rather quiet on both subjects.

 

The soon-to-be married couple started avoiding certain groups of people. Lee's devoted students were pulled into the fray, since they were still allowed to visit the Kazekage's residence. Temari was being hounded in Konoha. The students opted for stealth, hiding from the roving bands of wedding planners, while the wind master blasted some busy bodies into the river that would around the Hidden Leaf village.

 

Lee and Gaara sat in the kitchen late at night and wondered what all the fuss was about.

 

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“And the Land of Waves, from henceforth referred to as Party A, has called upon the Land of Wind, henceforth referred to as Party B, to observe not only the letter, but also the intent of the Trade Treaty signed by the second Kazekage, henceforth referred to as the Agreement and the Negotiator, respectively, and . . .”

 

Gaara had come to the conclusion that the man speaking never needed to breathe. And if he never heard the sound of Waves' representative again, it would be a cause for celebration.

 

“And, in light of the pending nuptials of the Kazekage to the Konoha shinobi, it would be expected that an entourage from Party A would be in attendance, and at such time there will be the need to . . . “

 

A chair clattered to the ground, startling the councilor. Gaara walked around the table, grabbing the head of Suna's council. Without a word, he called up the sand and they both disappeared. When the sand fell away, he was standing on the training field, staring at Lee and his students. “Lee.”

 

“Gaara-kun!” Lee jogged over, smiling brighter then the sun. “Hello, Councilor Isamu. How are you?”

 

“Better after I figure out why the hell I'm here!” The old man glared at the Kazekage. “What is the meaning of this, Gaara-sama?”

 

“Marry us. Now.”

 

Lee's students were suddenly very, very quiet.

 

“Gaara-kun? What is going on?”

 

“I will not marry you in front of a room full of people I do not know or like.” Gaara grabbed Lee by the elbow, dragging him closer. “You can have your reception, but I will marry you now.”

 

The councilor Gaara had stolen was sputtering. “This is most irregular, Kazekage-sama.”

 

Gaara turned a dark glare on the already overwhelmed man.

 

“You need witnesses!”

 

“We can do it!” Ami waved her hand in the air while her two teammates tried to hush her.

 

The Kazekage looked at the three chunin for a moment before nodding. The three teenagers came at a run, grinning.

 

“Fine, if you are so set on doing it this way.” The councilor grumbled under his breath as he shook his head. “Face each other and hold hands.”

 

And so Gaara of the Desert, Kazekage of Suna, married Rock Lee, a jounin from Konoha, while standing in the middle of a desolate training field with only a chunin team as witnesses to the event.

 

As Lee lowered his head to kiss his husband, he could not help but think that this was exactly how it was supposed to be.