Holy Matrimony

Part Two of Two

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The day had arrived finally, full of happiness, anticipation, nervousness and slight self-reproach; weeks and months of tedious planning and near feudal family wars over decorations and cake trimmings, everything was ready; elegant sheer hangings lined the seats of the garden wedding. Trimmed with silk ribbons and beaded pearl assortments, bouquets and tufts of lilies and roses all in white hung and sat situated precisely to every surface, it was breathtaking and a wonderland of beauty and grace.

Such beauty and effort had been put in for naught, Sakura thought; the dreaded feelings of guilt and pain surfaced as she was fitted into her chiffon and lace strapless mermaid tail gown; an embittered half shell smile stretching across her rogued cheeks. It was a beautiful dress in an off white colour that complemented her rosy complexion with ease, her pink straight hair had been twisted and pinned up into an elegant bun adorned with pearled embellishments and diamante beads topped with a sheer chiffon veil that had lace trimmings; it was beyond and above stunning both visual and physically but it held no emotional prowess or heroics.

The poignant deal that came with this dress was hard to forget and even hard to digest, the customary feelings of beauty and elation that every bride should feel were absent as she watched her assigned bridesmaids all dressed brilliantly in a mix of lavender pastel and crème white. Her equally stunning mother and mother to be dressed in a similar royal blue dress, a stark contrast to her bridal party and self; a bold statement and proclamation of their hierarchy their respected families.

"Oh dear look at the time!" Mikoto cried in slight surprise, her delicate hands flailing about as she began ushering the bridesmaids. Sakura could feel the weight of the ring on her ring finger, the white banded ring line on Mikoto's hand serving to emphasize the depth of this all.

The bridal party had consisted of a few girls she hadn't ever recalled knowing better than to say a brief hello to, smiled and giggled mercilessly. They were all stunningly beautiful and elegant looking, handpicked obviously to further the grandeur and surreal beauty this wedding was.

Spectacular and stunning, primped and primed to the perfection of their mothers taste's; Mikoto ushered the row of girls out of the room to align themselves in rehearsed structure they had spent weeks remembering.

Lifting the light weight and breezy lace of her dress a little Sakura shuffled out, barely taking calculated steps in the 5 inches of satin and diamante incrusted shoes that she would need simply to be able to reach the tower six feet of height that Sasuke was. More hands reached out to fluff her about, smoothing out the invisible wrinkles and adjusting the bodice to sit nicer, she was led down the hallway behindher bridesmaids.

Deep breathing and clenching and unclenching fingers manicured and tipped with fine white glitter twisted in the masses of ribbon twirled around the handle of her flowers; white roses and lilies that spilt nicely down the front of her dress. Sakura's sweet honeyed breath blew painstakingly in and out, drying her painted red lips slightly. The tightening in her chest proved to be difficult as she allowed her mother in law to direct her through the winding and long hallways.

A sophisticated looking Haruno patriarch stood proudly, his red hair slicked back and a smart Armani tux fitted to his body, an his arm extended with a smile that could out shine the sun with it's brightness, as he waited for his only daughter to latch on to his arm. Smiling as fake and as shortly as she could through the masses of emotions threatening to rip from her throat, Sakura offered her best to her father, allowing a fraction of her fake happiness over take her as she sanctioned him to lead her forward once the music had started.

Roses Theme by Enya, a beautifully written piece of classical music erupted softly from the grand white and gold trimmed piano situated to the left of the oncoming doors, a greying woman dressed to overly in a dress made of sequined excellence drawled her fingers over the ivory keys. Impressive oak and mahogany carved doors opened off to the balcony she would walk down; the striking structure of the building was breathtaking and no less than fit to host the wedding of the century.

Faceless people she barely recognised and could never remember even meeting stared at her, a solid collection of shock, happiness and proud marring each and every one of their faces. Standing to their feet they pivoted their bodies to accustom her entrance as per tradition. Flashes of cameras and murmured comments broke the strong aura of happiness.

Misgiving and trepidation pulled viciously at her tightly wound insides, concentrating solely on the unstable ground she walked on, Sakura's heart pained sufficiently as she looked past her groom and the blond man beside him.

More Gasps, camera flashes and a few tears littering faces erupted within the crowd as she turned her immaculate and feigning smile on, it was fake and counterfeit but nobody would notice. Stepping up the three small steps of the balcony she began her walk of shame to the small artificial alter where her groom stood, polished and fancy and small fake smile of his own for her.

Though his looked more like a grimace to her and she could sympathise.

Her black rounded and immensely painted eyes shifted to the tuft of blonde peering just over Sasuke's shoulder, the exotic and thoroughly entrancing sea blue eyes belonging to Naruto looked at her with a mix of sadness and envy as if to say he should be the one in her place and she couldn't have agreed more.

The grin that he wore didn't quite reach his eyes made her falter in her steps.

Sasuke looked absolutely dashing in his flat black suit, fixed with a white tie and silver cuff links that had been a family heirloom, passed down through his fathers side, looked immaculate and business professional. But Naruto, oh god how had she ever thought she'd have a chance? The man looked beautiful, blonde sunny hair brushed messily but stylishly, a healthy clear complexion unlike her own make covered one and oh so distractingly good looking like a blond Adonis.

Images of the ugly duckling in reverse flooded her mind.

Hurt for herself and for him gripped her heart tightly, digging its claws in like a vice. Sakura's feet met resistance and she knew her father was trying to drag her the few more feet to no avail, hushed mutters and voices whispered over the crowd of people. Trying to be conspicuous in his attempts, her father tugged her arm in warning but she hadn't felt it her eyes never left Naruto's broken and hurt filled eyes that made her stop altogether.

"I cannot do this father, I won't do it." The words spilled from her red lips like a confession to god. Gasps of shock and fury erupted around her, cries of scandal and outrage came around her and her father spat angry words in her ear.

"Sakura you speak foolishness, you will –"Her father tried to reason through gritted teeth, obviously embarrassed and appalled at the display.

Pulling her pale arm from his suit clad one she looked at Naruto and Sasuke again, a mix of shock and disbelief marred each of their beautiful face's "I can't do this, I-I don't love him." She diverted her eyes to the ground, tears pooling hotly in the corners before she raised her head high and moved closer to them.

Stumbling a little, Sakura kicked of the expensive pair of shoes that cost more than her wage in a month, bring her height down considerably to Sasuke's collar bone. More shocked gasp's rung around in distaste as she side stepped the Uchiha heir and pulled Naruto into a tight embrace.

"I won't do this to you; I'm sorry for all the pain and hurt." Sakura let the words tumble from her mouth into his ear before she pulled away from the gobsmacked blonde to turn to her now ex finance.

"Everyone deserves their fairy tale ending, this wasn't meant to be mine; I love you Sasuke but not in the way I need to." Tears of running make up and saltiness trickled down her face as she smiled honestly at him, the first honest emotion she had ever given him.

"I'm sorry but I won't do it." The words felt like poison on her tongue as she turned away from the elated couple, faces of shock, anger, embarrassment and more anger met hers before she stepped down.

Hurrying past her bridesmaids and other shocked guest who had stood in their anger, Sakura lifted her dress from the ground avoiding a tear of damage to the beautiful dress. Pushing back through the oak and mahogany doors, her bare feet met with cold tile as she moved towards the room she had gotten dressed in.

Hot tears of both bittersweet love and resentment fell as she pushed through the door and towards her dressing room, a weight lifted from her heart and feeling of contentment. She hadn't needed to see the grateful and loving look she had received from both men as she moved away, removing Sasuke's mothers ring from her finger.

Sakura had lived solely on the dream of fairy tales and undying love stories her entire life, it wasn't surprising that it had turned out this way; fairy tales were concocted to be made. The whole time she had been focused on her fairy tale ending that she hadn't seen the true love right before her eyes; it may not have been her true love but it had been just as pure and unrequited.

This wasn't her fairy tale ending, no hers was yet to come and all she could hope for was one as perfect as theirs.

•••

I am so sorry for deleting this, as I explained in the last chapter, I deleted a few of my stories and this one got caught in the cross fire. Though I'm slightly grateful since I've had a chance to edit a few things.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed on the previous version, I am sorry for this.