a/n: Hey everyone! Thanks for the lovely reviews! *huggles* Anyways…this is chapter 20, in which everyone gets reunited. Sorry for any mistakes in grammar or spelling (I haven't had too much time to edit) and if you spot any plot holes PLEASE TELL ME! I hate having loose ends Anyways, onwards to chapter 20! (No warnings, disclaimer on my profile…enjoy!)

Chapter 20

Neji frantically rummaged in his closet for suitable clothing the next morning. None of his normal peasant clothing was fancy enough to go reunite with his family, and he most certainly wouldn't be wearing any of Hiashi's wedding gifts for a long while.

Finally, Neji found the dress he'd been looking for: it was low cut lavender with elbow-length sleeves and a white sash. Unfortunately, he didn't have any shoes to wear, but the dress would do. He threw it over his head, brushed out his hair and threw the door open.

Neji flinched at the sight of a tall guard in a hooded cloak standing on the other side of the door. "Um…can I help you?"

"Orders of King Hiashi." The guard leaned back against the doorjamb. "I was supposed to stand guard over your room last night."

Neji's shoulders drooped. "I see," he said quietly. "Has my father sent a summons for me yet?"

The guard pushed his hood back, and Neji nearly cried out when he saw Shusuke's impassive face staring down at him. "No, not yet."

"Shu-nii…" Neji swallowed hard. He hadn't expected to be met with such indifference. "You've gotten taller over the last couple of years."

"Hn."

Neji fiddled with the sleeves of his dress. "So…you got promoted?"

"A lot of things changed while you were gone."

Neji's face fell, and he bit back tears. "I…I can see that," he choked out. He turned and fled back in to the room. He furiously scrubbed the tears from his eyes and took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself. He had nothing to apologize for. He had run away because the marriage was wrong.

If that was true though, then why did he feel so ashamed?

Neji was drawn from his thoughts by a sharp rap on the door. He got up quickly and opened it, and then nearly fainted when he saw Ino standing behind Shusuke.

"Your summons, Princess."

Neji's mouth thinned and his shoulders fell as he quietly scurried past Shusuke to Ino's side before following her out of Itachi's apartments.

Unsurprisingly, Neji found Itachi in his sitting room, seated on the plush couch in front of the fire. Ino bowed low, and Neji followed suit, unable to look Itachi in the eye. He knew it would most likely be the last time he saw him before Hiashi locked him up in a room and then parceled him back off to the Hyuga kingdom, but Neji couldn't help it. He felt horrible about lying to Itachi about his true identity.

"Neji."

Neji jerked in surprise when Itachi addressed him by name. "Yes?"

"I don't hold it against you. Lying, that is."

Neji stared at Itachi in surprise, and then in happiness. Well, at least one person was on his side. "Thank you," he said gratefully.

Ino gently tugged on his sleeve. "We have to go now, Neji. Prince Itachi," she nodded in his direction. Neji quickly followed after her in silence.

However, once they were in the corridor, Ino launched herself on to Neji and smothered him in a fierce hug. "Oh gods, how I missed you!" Ino sobbed in to Neji's shoulder. "I was so scared-I thought you'd died or something horrible happened. I thought you would be so angry with me if you ever returned-"

"Why would I be angry with you?" Neji gently wiped the tears off of Ino's face and hugged her back. "I can never be angry with you for long."

"I don't know," Ino sobbed. "I just-you aren't angry, are you?"

"Of course not! Of all things, I expected you to be angry with me!" Neji exclaimed. He pulled Ino in to another hug.

"I'm not angry with you," Ino sniffled. "I got it after a while. I was just sad that…well, I failed you, didn't I? I know you tried to tell me so many times that you didn't want to marry King Hiashi, but I just didn't listen."

"You never failed me," Neji said fervently. "You always made me smile during that time. I'm not mad at you. I could never ever stay mad at you for long."

Ino sighed, and gave him a teary smile. "I'm glad." Sniffling, she wiped her nose with a handkerchief before standing up straighter and beginning to walk away. "Do you know why King Hiashi called you?"

"Father said that my return had caused some problems, but that he has the perfect solution." Neji shivered slightly; the dress exposed his shoulders, and he'd forgotten to grab a cloak. "I don't know what that means though."

Ino looked over at him. "I think I know what he's talking about." She took Neji's small hand inside her own and squeezed it tightly. "I think you'll like the solution though. When I saw you last night, it was painfully obvious that-" she cut herself off. "Well, if you don't know than I can't tell you. However, I think that things will start looking up for you."

Neji licked his lips nervously, and squeezed back. "Wherever we're going, I hope there's a fire," he muttered.

Ino looked at him in surprise, and then noticed that he didn't have a cloak. "Goodness, Neji! You've gotten prettier since the last time I saw you! Although, you do realize that that dress is made for summer, right?"

"It's the nicest thing I have right now," Neji explained. "And is it even possible for me to get any prettier?"

Ino nodded seriously. "Of course it is. Couldn't you see-" Ino stopped puzzled, and then shook her head. Maybe it had been her imagination. "Well, King Hiashi certainly seemed to think so."

"Did he really?" Neji's heartbeat quickened slightly; did his father still intend to marry him? "I…I was just so panicked last night, I really didn't notice."

"Hm. Well, everyone is glad to see you."

"I wouldn't say that," Neji murmured sadly. "Shu-nii is so terribly angry with me right now."

"Well, you know Shusuke best. I think that once you give him some time, he will forgive you. He was extremely upset when you ran off without telling anyone; he thought that well…he thought that you would have trusted him enough to say something. Just give him time Neji." Ino stopped in front of a stone door and knocked once. "Everyone's waiting for you. Just keep your chin up, no matter what happens."

Neji nodded nervously; who had Hiashi chosen for the delegation? Would they be angry with him as well? How would they react?

The door flew open, and Neji fell over when Hinata launched herself at him.

"Ugh-Hinata-"

"Neji-nii-san!" Hinata beamed down at him. "I-I missed you so much!"

Neji smiled softly; it appeared that with time, Hinata's stutter had virtually vanished. "I'm very happy to see you too, Hinata."

Hinata helped him to his feet, and Neji dusted off his skirt. Ino placed a supportive hand on the small of his back, and together, the trio entered the room.

The room erupted in to a cacophony of shouting and applause. Following Ino's advice, Neji kept his chin up and tried not to flinch away.

Suddenly, Neji found himself separated from Ino and Hinata as a crowd of nobles from the Hyuga kingdom descended on him; one moment Shikamaru was clapping him on the back, next Chouji had lifted him off his feet and twirled him in a circle and even Lord Tokuma was standing there smiling, shaking his head and offering a hand to steady Neji as people all around him jostled each other to put in words of happiness, loss, encouragement and greeting.

Finally, the room settled out and people returned to their seats. Neji bowed low to his father; in response, Hiashi swept him up in to a strong hug that told Neji that Hiashi truly shared no harsh feelings about his running away.

Finally, Hiashi released him and Neji smiled quietly. Surely, Ino had been wrong-he had felt nothing but paternal love and care in the hug.

Neji sat down at his accustomed seat on his father's right and attentively listened as his father began to relate all of the events that had gone down recently and orders of business. After the affairs of the delegation had been resolved, Neji mingled with the others and wallowed in the renewed sense of family surrounding him.

However, his happiness was short lived. "Neji, I would like to speak to you alone." Hiashi cut through the crowd to stand before Neji.

Neji obediently followed. He raised an eyebrow when Hiashi closed the door behind him and leaned against it. His face was weary and grey.

"What is it, father?" Neji cast his eyes around the room, and pulled out a chair from beside a small table. "Sit down. You look like you're about to faint."

Hiashi grimaced, but accepted the proffered seat. "It would seem that your time spent as a servant had an effect on you."

"I was always timid before." Neji frowned.

"You were much more commanding before." Hiashi settled back and steepled his fingers. "Anyways, I'm not saying it's a bad thing. It's just…you've changed. If anything, you've become even more beautiful."

Neji hid his shaking hands. Had Ino been right? "Hardly. I rarely take special pains for my appearance now. I'm not beautiful."

Hiashi's lips quirked upwards. "Many would contest that fact."

Neji's stomach dropped through the ground; Itachi had said the exact same thing to him earlier. What was going on? "Father…"

Hiashi shook himself. "Actually, that wasn't what I wanted to speak to you about."

"Then what did you wish to discuss with me?"

"You…" Hiashi paused, and then started over again. "I told you yesterday that your return had caused a minor problem, but that I had a solution."

Neji nodded cautiously.

"Well, I spoke with Shikamaru this morning, and he agreed with me. You see, the problem is that I have already named Shikamaru and Hinata as the heirs to the throne. Now, you have no power or position in the palace. However, even though you have been absent from the court for the past two years, you are still one of my most valuable assets and diplomats. I need you to continue working for me, but as a princess with no claim to the throne, you will lose all of the power you once had in the court. The country would continue to love you, but you would simply become a patriotic figurehead."

"I see," Neji said frowning. He had been aware that he would lose authority when Hinata and Shikamaru took the throne, but he hadn't been aware as to the entirety of his loss.

"So, Shikamaru and I have come up with a solution to the problem. Yes, it is somewhat drastic, but I believe it is…necessary."

"Father-" Neji started forward in fear.

"Let me finish, Neji." Hiashi's voice took on a steely tone. "Tomorrow, I will offer your hand in marriage to prince Itachi of the Uchiha kingdom. You will continue to retain even more influence than you had before, and you can work to smooth relations over between the Uchiha and Hyuga."

Neji stared in shock. Finally, he mustered his voice in a tiny squeak. "A-are you sending me away?"

"No, I'm not sending you away, Neji. However, this has to be done." Hiashi's expression softened. "I knew you would take it this way, blaming yourself when you did nothing wrong. Neji, I am not angry with you. If I had my way, I would keep you back at home with the rest of our family. However, this problem has been going on for a very long time and you are the perfect solution."

Neji's lips compressed. "I-I understand." It was almost as if everything was happening outside his body again, like the previous night-he heard himself say the words, he saw his lips move, but his mind simply could not comprehend.

"Good." Hiashi paused, and then stood up. "Go on-I'm sure that your friends are waiting for you now."

"Yes." Neji paused just as he was about to exit the room. "Does-does Hinata know?"

"No, she doesn't. No one else is aware that this will happen besides Shikamaru and myself."

"I see." Neji shakily turned the doorknob and fled away from the room. He kept up a cheerful front while Ino and Hinata chattered in to his ears and led him off somewhere, but inside his mind was whirling.

Neji was drawn from his thoughts by Hinata's hand tugging on his sleeve. "Neji, you can just borrow clothes from Ino and me. We're all the same size. And you'll be sharing a room with me too."

Ino beamed at him from his left and nodded before starting to chatter about shoes.

Neji banished all thoughts of Itachi and allowed a small smile to rest on his lips as he tugged his two best friends closer. As long as he had his family, everything would be alright no matter what.

a/n: Aw…and now everyone is back together Thanks for reading, don't forget to review, and I'll see you next chapter!