SailorStar9: This is Chapter 3 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny.

Chapter 3: Approval

"Otori Kyoya," the aged Uzumaki swords-master greeted his visitor. "Why do I own this pleasure of a visit?" as Kyoya prostrated before Uzumaki Saisui, the current Uzumaki clan head.

"Lord Uzumaki," Kyoya started. "I love Ami with all of my heart. She is more precious to me than my own life. I would always do everything possible to make sure that she was happy and secure. I would treasure her and place her before all else in my life. I present myself before you to formally ask for your granddaughter's hand in marriage."

Saisui chuckled, "Very well, we will need to sign the marriage contracts and perform the betrothal ceremony. Let us take care of all of this now and then the two of you shall be formally betrothed. And do not worry, my boy," he gave Kyoya a grandfatherly smile. "I'll smooth things over with your father. I may be old," he gave a playful wink. "But I still have a couple of tricks up my sleeve."

"What sleeve, grandfather?" Ami joked.

"Figure of speech, my dear." Saisui chuckled. "Figure of speech."

"Oh grandfather..." Ami giggled.

"Now, get out, the two of you." Saisui shooed the couple out of the meeting room.

"Grandfather never changes." Ami chuckled. "Even after all these years."

"So," Kyoya gave his fiancee's traditional Uzumaki kimono an appreciative look. "Is this normal?"

"It's tradition." Ami kissed him briefly on the cheek. "Always has been ever since grandfather started my kenjutsu training; since mother showed little to no interest in taking up the arts of swordsmanship and grandfather wasn't about to let the Uzumaki techniques die off..."

"You ended up being the 'voluntary' next-in-line." Kyoya finished.

"Well, I certainly don't regret it." Ami admitted, resting her head on his chest as the couple watched the sunset in the gardens. "Grandfather has always drilled it in my head that deception is the way of the shinobi, and it is deception that allowed me to differentiate between ally and foe."

"You mean the girls?" Kyoya guessed.

Ami merely smiled, not agreeing or disagreeing with him. "Not here, love." she moaned, Kyoya giving her a passionate kiss, his hand sliding under her kimono. "My room." she broke off. "I have silencing and time-delaying seals in place."

Kyoya merely smirked and carried her bridal-style back into her room.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.