She hammered on the door again.

"Ino! Hurry up! I don't have time for this!" the door swung open dramatically to reveal Ino lounging against the frame, hand against her forehead in mock distress.

"Yes?"

"I need your help! Please Ino." Ino switched positions so quickly Sakura missed it and blinked as Ino's finger hovered inches away from her nose.

"Begging are we? Pathetic." She chose that moment to prod and then strutted back into the depths of her apartment. Sakura new this was indication that she had now been sufficiently greeted and was allowed to enter. "So, what is it? Finally want to get some advice on quality surgeons for the removal of the big forehead?" Sakura tried not to retaliate. Ino was just being affectionate and she didn't need to risk a bitch fight induced black eye for tonight.

"I need you to help me and come shopping." Ino spun around letting her loose hair flick Sakura's face.

"I'm not helping you grovel around in the bargain bins. I have a reputation." She explained as she examined her nails.

"I know, you look...beautiful. That's why I need your help. I need an outfit for dinner tonight."

"Where are you going? The ramen place?"

"No, the Hyuuga's, it's for a formal dinner. Can you help?" Ino laughed loudly and Sakura blushed.

"Why don't we just get you a Wedding Kimono and get it over with!" Ino snorted dispelling the illusion of grace and charm she had been trying to present since Sakura had entered the building.

"Ino...Don't be ridiculous."

"You're right, you couldn't afford it. But you will need something...I'm not lending you money." She stuck her nose up in the air to such an extreme Sakura was almost worried her head would fall of backwards.

"Like you have it to lend...Besides..." she began to empty her purse onto the table. "Will this be okay?" She was able to leap in front of it just in time to prevent Ino from pouncing on Neji's money. "Inooooo..." She growled in a tone of voice she had learnt from Neji. Ino straightened herself.

"I know the owner of a nice boutique. Let me get my coat."

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"Neji!" Neji jerked out of his musings with shock as Hinata finally resorted to un-characteristically shouting in his ear. He glared automatically but he couldn't help but let it slide away when he saw Hinata's nervous glances.

"Do you require anything at present?" To his surprise she sat down beside him on the edge of the bench.

"Neji, you don't need to be this formal all the time...I...Just wanted to know if anything was wrong."

"Thank you for your concern and trouble. I am well." She began to shuffle her feet.

"I asked them to be nice tonight...Our family."

"Your family." He corrected quickly.

"Our family. They don't mean to upset you anymore. They want you to be happy..."

"I don't care what they want or if it involves me!" He snarled but hurriedly regained his manner "Forgive me, I forgot my place." She sighed.

"You have a right to be angry Neji."

"I'm surprised I have a right to anything even if it is only an emotion and not the permission to express it."

"Express it? You shouted at my father!" Her voice raised in volume, squeaking slightly.

"There are a lot of less verbal ways I could have done it." To his surprise Hinata was glaring at him.

"Just remember this Neji, you may have not been happy about Sakura taking that test but she failed practically the entire thing and yet no action has been taken to prevent you from seeing her. You think about that before you show your own Uncle disrespect through your assumptions of imprisonment and his thoughts and feelings." She stood up. "Neji, you could have been married off to another bloodlines child and producing branch house offspring for our benefit by now. Just note that you're not." She stared at him for a moment. He kept his face blank. "I'm sorry; I don't know how to make you listen to me..." She began to shuffle her feet again returning to her shy self. "You should go and get ready before you have to meet Sakura..." She skittered back inside.

Naruto was a bad influence.

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Sakura smoothed her hair nervously. Was she anywhere close to any standards she had to retain for that night? Ino had been confident in her choices even if Sakura had not, having few experiences in the realm of traditional garb. Even now she had little idea of what she was wearing as Ino had rambled on about 'Colours for the season' and 'Floral accessories'. All she knew was that it was difficult to walk and she felt like she could have been wearing a four person tent to have the same weight of cloth hanging off her body.

Nervously she made her way to her bedroom door. Ino was outside now entertaining Neji and if she wanted to be able to converse with him tonight she would have to rescue him now before his mood was worsened. She stepped out and let the door close with a quiet click. They both turned around.

"Is it okay?"

"Sakura! You've destroyed your hair already!" Ino rushed over pulling emergency pins from her bag. Neji followed her and stood before Sakura in his entire ceremonial garb. She couldn't help but wonder if he knew how ominous he looked like that or how inferior she suddenly felt. He had probably done this so many times before and she was still struggling to walk without tripping and didn't know how Ino had tied the Obi. Ino prodded her scalp with a final pin.

"There you go, I will leave you two love birds to it." She winked and strutted back down the hall.

"Thank you..." Sakura was surprised she was able to speak at all. She heard the front door slam and gazed down at her feet avoiding Neji's gaze. He said nothing and she pulled at her own fingers understanding why Hinata had a similar habit; it was almost stress relieving...To her annoyance and surprise Neji reached out and took both of them in his own.

"You look beautiful Sakura." He breathed.

"I don't know what to do." She whispered back. Sakura had no idea why she was so nervous but she felt like crying. He pulled her towards him but stopped before he embraced her properly.

"I'll be there remember...I don't want to crumple you outfit." He added explaining the lack of contact.

"I don't care." Sakura mumbled though she had already answered, clutching him possessively at the same time. "I know how important these are for your family but I don't like this at all. I'm sorry Neji, I'm not good at this...I don't want to go."

"Neither do I. I...Didn't know it would upset you this much. Please don't feel pressured to attend."

"But you have to go." He nodded and she felt his chin brush the top of her head.

"I would rather stay here with you." She looked up suddenly startling him as he pulled his head back to avoid hers from hitting him. She missed narrowly and only their noses brushed together.

"I will come to accompany you, even if it's just because I don't want you wandering around in the dark by yourself." The tiniest of smiles crept onto his face.

"Thank you." Neji wasn't a romantic person but apparently he still felt the need to kiss her then. She allowed herself to enjoy the moment and it was only when he began to explore the rest of her face that she pulled back and glanced at the clock behind him.

"You're going to make us late." She knew she was smiling too much to sound concerned.

"Now I don't care." He rested his forehead against hers.

"I don't believe you ever did." He leaned towards her again.

"Sakura?" He sounded worried.

"What?"

"Neji! If you smudge her make-up I really will kill you!" Sakura tried to stumble backwards in embarrassment but Neji held onto her. "Didn't mean literally get 'to it' the second I left…really..." Ino collected the bag she had left behind. "You guys are late by the way."

A/N: That wasn't too much of a wait I hope. And I hope it was worth it also, this chapter should have a bit for the fluff seekers but action lovers…um….later…or maybe not. This stories coming to the point where it's to close to finishing to have any hurriedly inserted action sorry (and another sequel would be a little too much I think). Still, fluff! Yay! Um…and did you notice how many '…' there were in this chapter or was it just me?

Well, big thank you to those who have reviewed, faved and alerted this. It's had a bit of a popularity boom lately so thank you all. But please, if you like it well, it would be nice for you to review…just to show you care and spread a little love…

Also, those of you who were worried about Neji being an arrogant pig in a few of the previous chapters don't worry, that's who he is. Remember? It doesn't mean he's going to jeopardise everything…yet…joking….or maybe not….but I am….but how can you know that…so maybe he will….but I doubt it….but do you…/is knocked out with pot plant/

Now, go check out CloeyMarie, Strawberrielvr, lilmisssushi and Mirei Nochi who I know personally to be excellent writers. And also Stargate fans (there has to be a few of you Naruto readers out there) Nut1 has a nice little collection going…

Oh, and I'm sorry I didn't go into detail with clothing, not in the mood. Don't like going on about that sort of thing but if you want some next chapter for...visualization reasons, feel free to inform me as much in a review or pm.

Thank you once again!

Nut2