The next morning I woke to the insistent sound of rain pelting the window. Before bed, Hinata had poulticed and irrigated the stripes that were too deep to be mere welts. I'd slept well with another morphine half-dose chaser on a delicious dinner. I peeled off a bandage, there were less of them than there were yesterday, and looked at one of the worst cuts on my chest. It was more itchy now than anything, so I patted the bandage back into place.

Neji was stirring already, I could hear water running in the kitchen. I stretched but felt no immediate pain, so got out of bed very carefully. Although I was still sore, I wasn't going to have to medicate to try and get back into my daily routine.

I started in the bathroom, then moved to join Neji in the kitchen where he was pulling down big glazed mugs. "Morning."

"What's for breakfast?"

Neji shook his head, "Just call down to the house and tell Hinata you're up. She'll bring enough for all of us."

"You don't cook either?"

"I could say the same for you." He poured the tea that he'd been brewing, "Sugar?"

I shook my head and he handed me a mug. "I'm an invalid. Besides, I get paid a big salary so that I can just go out anytime I want."

Neji laughed, a once-rare occurrence, and veered into the living room. He came back with a cordless handset and dialed a number, handing it to me. I spoke to a man I hadn't met yet, and he'd handed me over to Hinata.

"Are you up?"

"I was just getting into the bath, are you looking for breakfast? I know there isn't much for you there."

I chuckled softly, "I'm still healing. I need food."

She returned the laughter as Neji rolled his eyes at me, "I'll ring the kitchen and take a quick shower. I will bring you some breakfast." She paused, "Sweetie?"

I stilled, I wasn't play-acting, I need to remember she wasn't either, "We'll have to talk about that. Baby? No. Um, mon petit chou?" I had a real fear that Neji's eyes may roll right onto the floor.

"French? Well, I know what to ask for your breakfast. I'll be there shortly." She hung up, and I returned the handset to Neji.

"She's taking a shower and bringing the food."

The other man gave a short nod, "No problem." He sat his cup down, staring into the depths of the tea, "Tell me what's been happening, and how I can help."

A short half-hour later Hinata turned up with Hanabi in tow. Hinata was wearing blue scrubs and sandals. Hanabi was in another short kimono haori set in green today. They set down trays and we all dug in and talked about the day's plans. Hinata was starting her rotation at the hospital, and would be out until around three. Hanabi had agreed to get a job as my currier, and the youngest Hyuga gleefully ate a pile of French toast dusted with powdered sugar.

"And what about me? I don't want to just sit around and watch Kakashi heal."

"How are you with computers? I'll call down and get a tech to come in and set me up here. I have a literal ton of work that needed done yesterday." I ate my own slice, my toast sprinkled with lemon.

He waggled his hand to show a middling talent, "I'm better with a weapon, but I can learn."

"Fine. Currier, when you finish stuffing yourself, I need you to run down to the old ANBU offices. I will call Inuzuka-san and she'll have the paperwork and hopefully the tech we need to get a remote office set up here."

She saluted, and slurped her tea.

Hinata beamed at all of us, cutting her breakfast into small pieces. "What are you doing with Neji-nii? He can't exactly be seen."

I regarded him, I'd worked with him more than once, and knew he was adept at masking his chakra. "If there's any problem, I'll cast a genjutsu on him. Otherwise, he can just hide in the other room and read a book."

We all tucked in, the serious stuff out of the way, and chatted. Over breakfast. It was…outside my normal experience. I realized I could get used to having all these people in my life. If anything else came out of this marriage, at the very least I wouldn't be alone in it.

Before Hinata left, she and I stood in the master bedroom and she checked me over. Her sure fingers had a feather light touch that was raising gooseflesh over my whole body.

"They're looking much better. By tomorrow.." She brought her hands close to her body, but didn't do her nervous finger habit. Instead she smiled, "You are healing well. After your meeting with the Hokage, I recommend you go and get fully healed. I wouldn't want our date marred by you walking around like an old man."

"Our date?" I tugged my shirt back into place, "Old man? Ha. I could run you into the ground right now." She snorted so softly even my ears nearly missed it, "If I had to."

"Right. Of course you could." She giggled at me and I couldn't help being affected by her mood. "I have to go. Have Neji show you the onsen. Your hair is looking a little flat." I huffed indignantly and she continued, "And we have an appointment tomorrow evening to measure us."

"Measure? What? Why?"

Her brows rose, "Did you forget that we're getting married?"

"How could I? But I have a hakama. I was going to wear that on Saturday."

She shook her head, "I will not share my wedding day with the whole village. Friday."

I blinked. She was perfectly serious, "Are you positive?"

"Have you changed your mind?" Her big eyes suddenly seemed to bore into me, "It's not too late. If you don't want to be married by our customs, I will not hold you to it."

I took her hands, gazing at the slim digits before meeting her eyes just as firmly, "You may feel differently once Naturo and the rest are back. I am an old man. Fourteen years lie between us."

"I think about this nearly non-stop." Her grip tightened, "I will; I want to! hold to our agreement. Maybe this will sound strange, but I'm actually starting to look forward to it. Our date, eating meals with you." Her pearlized eyes were shy as she continued, "Making you smile; you have a lovely smile." I ducked my head at her compliments, "And you will be wearing a new hakama, and I'll be fitted to my mother's hikifurisode."

I lifted one hand to my lips, "As you say." she blushed prettily pink. "Have a good day. I'll see you later. And plan a date."

"Okay." She pressed the hand I'd kissed to her chest, "You too." She left as quickly as she'd come.

I went to find the cordless and phone Hana. It was imperative that I check in with them, who knows what kind of mischief the chiefs would cause in my absence. It turns out that I was right.

"We have a huge problem, Kakashi." Hana sounded on the verge of a breakdown though it was not even nine. I heard her chair squeak and I knew she had her back to the rest of the room, "There are a bunch of people who don't want to get married to people of the opposite sex. Here. Now."

"Well." I hadn't planned for this eventuality, though I cannot tell you how I missed it. Except that I was under enormous strain when I put the proposal together. "Okay. I'm sending Hyuga Hanabi-chan to you. I need a computer set up and a tech to install everything I'm going to need to work here."

"Kakashi."

"And all my papers, family lists, whatever I have waiting for me on my desk sent here as well."

"The gays, Kakashi." Delicate as ever.

"Tell them to find a beard. I'm sorry, that's the best I can come up with." I let Hana grind her teeth, "The same goes for you. Tell one of them you'll help out, and if you know of anyone else like you, to add their names to a list. Everyone gets matched. Everyone can hear you, so be smart."

I hope that I'd reminded Hana that our lines were monitored, and that she was going to have a problem if she didn't start using her head. "Getting married or approved for an adoption ahead of time might help. When I checked on Friday, the orphanage has twelve children under the age of 15 that need placing. Married people are exempted. Unmarried couples with a child are exempted. I did not differentiate, so tell any that have a stable relationship about the provisions. Some may be widows. It happens. Try to be diplomatic. Any that have further objections can see me for office hours on Tuesday afternoon. By Wednesday, though, these discussions will be over. Thursday, everyone who has not submitted their claims and exemptions will be matched and expected to turn up on Saturday for their big day."

Hana sighed, "Alright. Kamis know what they're going to say." She hung up, and I sent Hanabi out on her run.

"I'm going to try and shower. Don't answer the door."

Neji swung his feet up onto the couch, "Yes, mother."

It took long enough for me to peel off all my bandages and take a shower that I could hear Hanabi talking to a voice I didn't recognize when I emerged. I sighed and wiped the steamed mirror. Unfortunately, that also meant that Neji was in the master bedroom, and probably wouldn't be pleased to see the great copy nin dripping wet and stark naked.

I opened a couple of cabinets to find a towel and patted myself dry as carefully as I could. The shower had left me feeling clean but sore. I checked myself in the mirror, my injuries seemed alright, but I would never be able to rebandage the cuts on my back by myself. I needed the antiseptic and the bandaging in the other room. I wrapped my midsection and prepared to ask Neji for help.

When he saw me, Neji sucked air through his teeth. I mutely pointed at the bandages and medicines on the dresser and Neji wasted no time. I must look even worse than I think I do. Neji is no Hinata, but the job was done efficiently, and I shooed him into the bath to wait for me to get dressed.

I heard Hanabi send the tech out, and I hoped that she'd thought to pump him for as much information as she could think of. I tied on a yukata and my hitai-ate slanting it to cover my sharingan. Neji emerged as I wrapped my head with the mask.

"Even if I hadn't just patched you up, I peeked years ago."

"You did?" I chuckled, "You didn't help any of them cheat, did you?"

Neji shook his head, his long hair rocking to and fro behind him, "Your secret is safe with me. But you should take it off here. Besides, we all watched you eat last night and again this morning."

"Yare, yare." I unwound the cloth, "That is true. Well, let's get you set up with a computer."

Neji and I worked, collating lists and answering departmental emails. Hanabi declared that unless I needed her, she was going to train, and Neji watched her with naked avarice. Too bad. If I was typing, so would he be.

Hinata came home just after three and spent an hour with us before she left again to get ingredients for dinner and food for Neji and I to eat so we weren't always calling the main house. Exposing Neji would be a crime on so many levels. He'd undersold his facility with computers. Or at least being very methodical and goal oriented.

After another dinner, and another patch job, I dropped into bed. I was dreading my interview with Danzo tomorrow morning, but knowing that I would be pain free sooner rather than later put me out like a light.

In the morning I dressed carefully and brewed tea for Neji and I. The younger man pulled open the fridge, and brought out grilled saury and leftover rice. He pulled down two plates and heaped rice and fish on them before popping them in the microwave.

"You have the day off. Since the computers have a keylogger, I can't have work being done that I am not there to do."

Neji hid a yawn behind a fist, "I've been thinking about the jail break." He put the plates on the table along with chopsticks. "If we plan to meet the exiles, sooner is better. Especially with the added trouble of the jail break."

"Would tomorrow work for you?"

Neji startled, "I suppose, I was thinking more about Thursday, though."

I shook my head, "I'm taking Hinata for a date. We can act as a diversion. I'm going to do some unusual things."

"Unusual?" Neji's eyes were suddenly narrow, "How?"

"Oh, nothing perverse," I watched him, and decided he wasn't going to hit me, yet. "I believe you can teleport to Sai's apartment around 4 or so. And he and you can move on to the rest of what needs doing while Hinata and I enjoy ourselves. Loudly." I smiled, showing teeth.

Neji shook his head, "I can't figure this out. Why are you marrying her? What do you get out of it?"

I stood, "I get a wife." Neji looked disbelieving, and I wondered if that was only a concern for an old man. "Maybe you don't think that's enough, or maybe you expected something different. But I promise you this: I will treat her with dignity and honor." I glanced out toward where I knew she was getting ready for her day as well. "I've given her every chance to run."

"I…" Neji rolled his tea between his hands, "You're right. I didn't expect that, but I can't fault it. Please make her happy. She's the best of us."

I left to dress and to think about a warm tingle in my stomach. I hadn't even had breakfast.

When I reached the Hokage's office at the stroke of nine, his secretary opened the door and announced me. I bowed my way in, straightening despite the lingering pain in my chest and back without a single facial tic or awkward breath. Danzo was seated this time, the sleeves of his kimono arranged just so as he worked his stamp on a set of papers.

When he lifted his one dark eye to me he spoke, "So here you are. I've heard that you've been busy, doing your work from the Hyuga compound."

"I can't fall behind, your proposal is too important." I thought about laying it on; telling him that Hinata had worked herself to the bone, and bound my stripes with her tears, but I'm positive he would take me seriously.

He nodded impatiently, he hadn't cared what I'd been doing, just that I'd followed orders. "I checked in with your section chiefs, and they report that a few groups of people have come in to…" his mouth twisted sourly, "complain."

"Uh, yes." Of couse the man did not tolerate same-sex couples. Gay did not exist in his world view. "Yes, I've given Inuzuka-san instructions to disperse them and to reiterate that they should read the announcement carefully and make some decisions."

"Good." He actually managed to smile, "You may withdraw. I am glad that we're working together so well, Hatake."

"As you say, Danzo-sama."

I bowed, and backed until I was close enough to the door to open it. His secretary glanced at me but spoke to Danzo, "My lord Hokage, a representative from Cloud has arrived."

"Please show him in."

I looked up to see a voluptuous woman wrapped in a grey gi belted tightly over a darker skirt.

"I was told to meet with Lady…" The door slammed shut.

My interest was through the roof. Sai was reading a book in the corner under my personal favorite view of Konoha. I rolled my eye to the door. I had needed to speak to him before, but it was now imperative. He snapped the volume shut but otherwise silently flanked me all the way from the hokage's tower.

"Captain."

I slapped his shoulder, "Sai, how are you?"

He shrugged, "No one seems to care about my comings and goings except my shadow." He glanced to his right, and I wondered if mine had just been waiting outside the compound all weekend. Served him right.

"That's good." I didn't lower my voice, "I think it looks like you may be coming down with a fever. I would report to the Hokage that you aren't feeling well and rest at home tomorrow."

He nodded, "I haven't been feeling well. Thank you, I will take your advice."

"What about the Cloud?"

"She was not overjoyed at having to wait," Sai slowed. "There were three, but the other two were younger, and they mentioned Sasuke. They left when the ambassador was told to wait." My ears went to points, "She asked for Lady Tsunade to come to a five Kage summit."

I almost stopped cold, "Did you hear when?"

"No," he shook his head.

"Feel better soon."

Sai peeled away, giving me a small wave before disappearing into the morning shopping crowd that surrounded the food stalls and shops that lined the road between the Tower and the Hospital. I thought about my missed breakfast, but decided to just go and get healed instead. I had a lot more work to do today.

Hana had, less than dutifully, made sure I would have appointments when I got into the office. For all the ANBU headquarters used to be both secret and hidden, a surprising number of people filled all the seats we'd been forced to acquire when Danzo had turned us into bureaucrats. I sighed, picked a citizen at random, and motioned them toward my desk.

So things went. Hana would send someone back, I would spout propaganda at them, with the occasional computer break.

At lunch I called down to the main house and tried to locate my currier. I needed to get someone to find that Cloud team, and she was by far my best choice. Then I called the hospital and had them track down Hinata. She'd been assisting Shizune with a surgery when I went for healing earlier, and I wanted to keep our promise and have meals with her. She agreed to meet, and we had a whirlwind lunch where I steered conversation away from anything that might be considered a sensitive subject.

It was shaping up to be an extraordinarily long day. By the time my office hours were up and Hana was flicking off computers and locking the doors, it was already full dark, and the rain had returned. I walked out of the office and headed home.

Home. That elusive word again. Once it had meant an empty apartment, where my only company was a cactus that Sakura had named Ukki-san. Now it meant a garden. A private onsen I had not even had time to visit. And a family.

AN/ A hikifurisode is a long-sleeved kimono with a stuffed, trailing hem. It's not traditional to be married in one, but nowadays if you're looking for a traditional wedding without the three(! I read they can be as high as five!) costume changes, this is the way to go. (Monday/Tuesday just in case you need a time table. God knows I did.)