Hi everyone! It's been a while. Tallman and I were busy with family and friends visiting over the holiday and all the aftermath that follows. I was writing consistently during my small bits of free time here and there but I had no time to edit. This is good news in that although I haven't put anything up in a while, I have about 35+ pages of content waiting to be edited and posted. Thank you so much for your patience and I hope you all had a happy new year. One more plug before I go- Tallman is going to be working on two projects from now on. Ever since Naruto and Hinata got married in the canon, its been hard for him to write Love, Hinata. It kind of felt like a pointless exercise for him to write a cutesy love story when people can just watch the movie. He's not going to abandon the project but he's thinking about updating the premise. He's considering making it more of an adult content story featuring their dating life, which is not covered in the canon. If you have any thoughts on it, go ahead and head over to his page. He put up a post about it. Feel free to PM him your thoughts on this new direction. While he's collecting the feedback and working on the first few chapters of the new and improved Love, Hinata, Tallman will also be working on a side project called the Song of the Sound. This one is an OC based story set in the same universe as Love, Hinata. This story gives Tallman more chances to be creative with his writing because he doesn't have as much canon to worry about and to play with adult themes. So this is the part where I would usually ask you to review and PM me on your thoughts about my story (which you are always still welcome to do and I've got a reputation for replying quickly because I have no life, hahaha). Instead I would encourage you to go check out his new story and give him some support. People love Tallman's work so much that writing has almost become an obligation for him. He's really starting to get back into it, but like I know thanks to all your love and support through my development as a new writer, a little encouragement goes a long way. So please, head over to Tallman0029's story and show him he still has people that like his work as a writer. Thank you! Love, Ponchoninja x3

Yuki walked towards the checkout at the drug store she'd stumbled into. She'd picked out bandages, sterilizing wipes, mild painkillers, and salve. Near the counter they had a fridge with a clear door full of all different kinds of novelty beverages. Yuki recognized one of the bottles as a hangover recovery drink the girls at the strip club used to use. She shrugged and threw a couple of the dragon fruit flavored ones in her basket. Being physically beaten up and an adrenaline crash felt surprisingly similar to a traditional hangover. There were a few people in front of her but they blessedly spared her no looks. Yuki's clothes were battle worn, although to a passerby it might look like she'd just come off a night working her corner. The mesh of her blouse was sliced open in several places, the blades having grazed her skin as well. There was a deep rip up the side of her already scandalous skirt and her hair was an absolute mess. She checked her reflection in the mirror above the register. Yuki couldn't help but repress a small smile; her efforts had paid off. Her worn in makeup did make her look like a dead hooker extra. As Yuki's eyes wandered from her own visage in the mirror to her surroundings, she caught a hooded black eye staring at her.

The moment their eyes locked, Kakashi spoke. "Are you breaking up another crime ring or did the cash get a little tight so you fell back to stripping?"

"Nope," Yuki grinned. "Hooking this time."

"I don't smell enough desperation on you." Kakashi sniffed, then coughed. "Good God, did someone try to burn you for a witch? You reek of smoke."

"Shhhhh," Yuki looked around. "There was a big fire last night. Everyone around here probably smells like smoke."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "You were working again."

"Well, what about you? What are you doing here?" Yuki blinked innocently. "This is a little far from Konoha, isn't it?"

"I was here for a book signing, which was summarily canceled thanks to the fire that almost swallowed a whole city block last night." Kakashi looked at the contents of her basket. "Which you of course would know nothing about?"

"Can we talk about this later? I uh…" Yuki dropped her voice. "I kind of left Beki by herself. I need to get her some clothes."

"Of course. Where there's smoke, there's a girl that spontaneously bursts into flames." Kakashi sighed. "I'll keep it to myself."

"I owe you one," Yuki grinned as she stepped up to the counter.

…

Yuki came down the hill and through the reeds looking like a godsend. She had changed into more comfortable looking travel clothes: a baby blue fleece pullover, gray leggings, and pewter hiking boots. There were a couple of large paper bags from a clothing store on her arm, followed by a couple of smaller ones from a drug store, and balled up in her hand was a rolled-up paper bag with food. Beki could smell something sweet in there and realized how horribly hungry she was. But the real prize was in Yuki's other hand: a drink caddy with huge steaming travel cups of coffee. Beki hopped up on her feet and started taking bags from Yuki and setting them in the boat. Once her burden had been lifted, Yuki took up a seat at the prow. Miki sat quietly observing.

As Beki went through the bags it was obvious Yuki had separated them out by person. Beki handed the drug store bag with burn cream and the clothes bag with smaller clothes to Miki. Beki wasn't as curvy as Miki but her shoulders were broader and she was taller. That being said, Beki was going to have to see Miki squeeze into a pair of medium sized pants to believe it.

Miki stripped off the remnants of her fishnet stockings and started to clean herself off with the baby wipes Yuki had thrown in. It wasn't an ideal medically sterile environment to be working in but Miki had dealt with far worse. Once her wound was properly attended to, Miki took out the clothes Yuki had bought her. To her surprise, one of the first things she saw was a backpack stocked with rations, water, and a few spare pairs of socks and underwear.

"I figure you aren't planning on coming home with us," Yuki sipped her coffee. "I don't know how far you have to go and I don't want to know. Regardless, that'll start you off."

"Thank you," Miki furrowed her brow. "You didn't have to-"

"You would never think it but I am a responsible parent," Yuki cocked her head. "My daughter burned your leg and now you have to walk home on it. The least I can do is make your journey a little more comfortable."

Miki didn't mention Nakano's ledger tucked safely in the back of the backpack. That secret was between her and Yuki, and as promised Beki's mother had kept her end of the deal. It was a courtesy Miki wasn't accustomed to. Beki had already begun to change, out in the open, with no regard for modesty. Miki supposed that when your clothes burned off on a regular basis you would have to get over any modesty you had. She shrugged, figuring she was amongst other women. She laid out the contents of the clothes bag. First, she tugged off what was left of her uniform and stuffed it in the empty clothes bag. Miki had to wear that dress so tightly she couldn't wear a bra. The second her large breasts were exposed to the air Yuki swore.

"They're real!"

Miki looked up and sighed. "Yes. Unfortunately."

"I swore you must've had a box of tissues under each of them but sure as shit they're real." Yuki shook her head. "Some girls get all the luck."

"If by luck you mean your career as an infiltrator destroyed, yes, I was lucky." Miki said as she pulled a sports bra over her head and unceremoniously stuffed her breasts up inside it one at a time. "I used to be a twig. I could slip in and out of anywhere unnoticed, a scrawny girl hardly catches any attention. But these bastards…" Miki sighed. "They've brought me nothing but grief."

"So, you're reduced to cocktail waitressing for Orochimaru," Yuki sipped her coffee. "At least you've got that on lock. He doesn't have a lot of good looking people working for him. I've killed enough of his employees to know that's the general rule and you're the exception."

Miki shrugged. "Thanks. I guess." Yuki had smartly grabbed a large sports bra for Miki. It was on the small size, compressing her breasts almost as much as her bindings usually did. It was funny to Miki, how her body's natural state was so uncomfortable for her. She was so used to what she looked like, bound up and packed in, that seeing her body's curves always made her feel like a freak. Even stuffed away, her breasts drew unwanted attention and a lot of it. Then there were her wide hips. The way they forced her to walk, especially in heels, had dropped jaws since puberty hit her like a dump truck. Being naked around people, seeing the way they reacted to her body made her sick. Part of her had always hoped working for Orochimaru they would put her under the knife, strip her body of all its excesses and render her small and unnoticeable again. That was all Miki wanted. To go back to being invisible. A wallflower made a good shinobi, a pinup model did not.

Miki sighed and pulled on a gray long sleeve shirt and then swapped out her old underwear for a fresh new pair. Next was the black cargo pants and blessedly, fresh socks. Miki paused when she reached the boots. Yuki was right on their size, too. Miki shrugged and pulled them on. She had probably checked Miki's heels while she was unconscious. Miki hoped that was all Yuki had checked.

To keep the boat from rocking, Beki had paused her own dressing to wait for Miki to finish. Once she was dressed, Miki picked up the bag with her old clothes and stepped out of the boat. "Wait a second," Yuki held out a cup of coffee to her and fished a bear claw out of the rolled-up paper bag. Miki paused, battling against her trust issues until she finally caved and accepted them with a sigh. "Thank you. I would say, 'see you around', but that's not something we ever hope for, right?"

Yuki shrugged. "See you or not, it doesn't matter. As long as you aren't out to get us we won't have a problem."

Beki grinned, oblivious to her naked state. Miki tried not to stare at how freakishly babylike Beki's hairless, smooth skin looked. She couldn't help but compare, though. Miki saw other women's bodies all the time in the clubs she worked at, but most of those were artificially enhanced. Beki's broad shoulders and narrow waist gave her upper body the triangular proportions of a tortilla chip. Her hips were narrower than her shoulders, too, almost giving Beki a boyish figure. If Beki really wanted to, she could disappear in a crowd. Her problem was her personality was so loud. Beki's voice pulled Miki from her thoughts: "I don't know for sure, but I kind of feel like we keep bumping into each other for a reason, you know? After last night, I don't think either of us would have gotten out of that alive if we hadn't had each other's help."

Miki bit her lip and thought about it. Finally, she gave a small shrug. "You've got a point."

"By the way," Beki said as Miki started to climb onto shore. "You promised me you would teach me medical ninjutsu."

Miki sighed. "Did I agree to this while I was delirious?"

"Yes!" Beki pointed at her. "But a promise is a promise!"

"You do realize most of what I know you would be branded a criminal for using, right?" Miki cocked her head. "A lot of the medical techniques we learn in the Sound aren't exactly…humane."

"But they're effective, right?" Beki asked. "Its unfortunate how they came about, but you've changed my mind about a lot of that stuff. You work for Orochimaru but you aren't a bad person. I'm sure you'd save someone's life with those medical techniques. If the powers are being used for good, I think I can live with knowing where it came from."

Miki shrugged. "Suit yourself. If I'm ever free, I'll let you know."

Without another look behind her, Miki set off down the road. Beki finished getting dressed. Her mother had decided that they would be twinning on the way home. The outfit Yuki had bought Beki was identical to her own, the exception being Beki's sweater was a dusty shade of rose. Beki instantly was grateful she had waited to put her clothes on until Miki left. It was less awkward for her to be naked around her than to be a grown woman matching her unnaturally young mom. Her negative thoughts towards Yuki instantly dissipated the moment she received her coffee and bear claw, however. They headed up the hill wordlessly and out along the road that would bring them back to Konoha.

"So, what did you think of Miki?" Beki looked at her mother.

Yuki shrugged. "She seems nice enough. You know, for a ronin." Yuki sipped at her coffee. "I have to admit I'm impressed that she was able to evade me in that base. I was really on the warpath." She laughed, which Beki found unsettling considering the woman was talking about slaughtering almost a hundred people. "I was literally dragging people out of cabinets and out from under beds, Beks. Huge tits or not, Miki's a talented shinobi."

Beki nodded in agreement. "Its weird I'm friends with her."

Yuki shrugged. "I was friends with people who are internationally wanted criminals, now."

Beki blinked. "Oh, that's right! That whole thing with the shark guy!"

Yuki furrowed her brow. "Shark guy…shark guy…are you talking about Zabuza?"

"No," Beki shook her head. "Kisame? I think that was his name."

"Oh yeah…" Yuki nodded. "That was a while ago. Not who I was thinking of, but good example."

"Why was he so obsessed with you?" Beki cocked her head. "You guys didn't like, date or anything, did you?"

Yuki laughed. "Uh, no. I don't do the sharpened teeth thing. That limits your options in the bedroom."

"Ew," Beki wrinkled her nose. "Still not ready to talk to you about sex."

"Did you ever talk to your dad about it?" Yuki asked.

"Dad tried to sit me down once. It was probably the most awkward conversation we ever had. It was all, 'There's going to be a day when you meet someone, and you'll really like them and want to do….things…and then, you know…things will happen, and just make sure you're safe. And don't ever let someone do anything you aren't comfortable with. And you can always come talk to me and if you're ever scared I'll take care of it.'" Beki shook her head. "I was twelve. There was so many euphemisms I had no idea what he was talking about till much later."

"That's so weird to me." Yuki sighed. "Then again, that should have been my job in the first place. Poor Seii…"

Exhausted by the events of their mission, Yuki and Beki spent most of the trip back to Konoha in silence. Even though they had technically dispensed an illegal form of vigilante justice, both women slept much better knowing Seiichiro's killer had gotten what was coming to him. Yuki opted not to share with Beki the gruesome details of his demise. It was her private joy knowing Yasahiro had been taken down like the weak, pathetic animal he was.

…

Yukihana sat on a park bench, paper in hand and steaming travel mug of tea at her side. It was a nice day; it was a little on the cold side, but the sun was shining bright and there was no wind. Yuki was perfectly comfortable basking there, listening to the happy birdsong in the woods behind her. Hearing the coo of the doves and the songbirds chittering away reminded her of her childhood. The path the bench was set on was a popular one. Mothers pushing strollers, groups of kids, and solitary walkers passed her frequently. Konoha was safe enough that Yuki could almost fully engross herself in the paper and let her senses go numb. There was a part of her shinobi brain she could never turn off, however. Anytime a person was in a position where they were being hunted flicked a switch in their mind forever. When they reached that level of alertness, watching, listening, and moving as if their lives depended on it, it was like they grew an invisible antenna. Yuki's was always up, even when she was asleep, watching and listening for potential threats. That's why she could sense the subtle difference between the people passing her by and someone who was on the approach. In fact, the approach was so different, it was distinct. Yuki already knew who it was and looked up with a smile.

"Look at you, out in broad daylight and fully dressed." Kakashi cocked his head. "I guess you're not working today?"

"Haha, very funny." Yuki's grin broadened. "Ever wonder if I act the way I do because it's the only way to pull your attention from those trashy novels you've always got your nose buried in?"

"If I believed you I would take that as a compliment." Kakashi walked over to the free spot on the bench and sat down beside her. Yuki folded up her paper and turned to face him, her elbow resting on the back of the bench and her chin in her hand.

"Sooo?" Yuki bat her eyelashes. "To what do I owe the honor of your visit?"

"I thought you were planning on explaining why you were dressed like a beaten hooker in a drugstore after you started a fire?" Kakashi stayed facing forward, occasionally breaking his vacant stare towards the horizon to shoot her a suspicious glance.

"Oh, that," Yuki laughed dismissively. "I was just setting an old score. Nothing that scandalous."

"What was Beki doing helping you settle a score, then?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Was she running around dressed like a hooker, too?"

"Yes, but she was always supervised." Yuki shook her head. "You make it sound like I'm an irresponsible parent, endangering my child."

Kakashi was quiet for a moment. "It was Yasahiro, wasn't it?"

"You hit the nail on the head." Yuki stopped to watch some kids go running by. They were about ten, that awkward age where half of them is grown up and the other half is still a kid. Chubby faces on long slender limbs, big teeth and ears on little heads. Bad haircuts, acne, and body odor. One of the girls had her long silky mocha colored hair dancing behind her in a pretty braid. Yuki felt a brief pang at the sight of her, a reminder of how she'd missed that phase with Beki.

"So you're all done with that then," Kakashi's voice snapped her back to the present. "Your ledger's clean?"

Yuki kicked at the loose gravel on the pathway. "There's always another score to settle." There was a small twitch in the space between them, a cord being pulled, tension building between them. "But," Yuki sighed. "I think I can let the others go. Years ago, I know for sure that revenge would have been the driving force behind it. I would have wanted to exact my own justice for my husband's murder. I can still pretend that's what it was, that I wanted to hurt people because they hurt me." Yuki looked at Kakashi, sensing the tension slowly relaxing, and playfully kicked his shoe. "Did they hurt me? Yes. Did they kill my husband? Yes. The result of this was that Beki became all I had in the world and they had tried to kill her, too. The people I took out in Getsu, the shinobi I hunted down in Konoha...it was because they came after my kid. If I let them live, that would give them another chance to come after her. I couldn't let that happen."

Yuki looked at her feet. "Don't tell anyone I'm afraid of losing people. It'll kill my carefully cultivated 'aloof bad girl' image."

Kakashi inhaled sharply and shook his head. "See that's the thing. You told me such a dark secret there. I'm just itching to tell everyone that your femme fatale persona has a soft, gooey marshmallow center." Kakashi shrugged. "I guess you're going to have to buy my silence somehow."

Yuki threw up her hands. "You're really putting me in a box here. Let's see, I've got probably about three dollars and a half-eaten box of mints in my purse."

"I'm in the Bingo Book. That means I'm a celebrity, Yuki. You can't buy off a celebrity with your tin of breath mints." Kakashi's voice didn't betray how hard he was trying not to laugh but Yuki could see the ghost a smirk pulling at his mask.

"Shoot, you're right. What was I thinking?" Yuki sighed. "Well, there's this movie I want to go see but Beki won't go with me. Is that okay? Or did you have something else in mind?" Yuki flirtatiously started to raise the hem of her shirt. Kakashi reached over and swatted her hands down before the shirt got anywhere interesting.

"A movie is a good start, but I was thinking you would come meet my dogs." Yuki snorted and Kakashi gave her an incredulous look. "Laugh if you want but I'm the one who has to explain myself every time I come home smelling like you."

"Do I have to bribe your hounds, too?" Yuki laughed. "This is getting expensive. Maybe I should just let my reputation get ruined." She started to rise, pretending to run away.

"Oh no," Kakashi caught the waistband of her pants and pulled her back onto the bench, much closer to him this time. "I've named my price and I'm being more than reasonable. So, when can we get this taken care of?"

Yuki wrinkled her nose. "Friday work for you?"

"Sure." Kakashi put an arm around her shoulder. "My one request is that you don't look like a hooker at the end of the night again. A fresh hooker is fine, or your usual stripper getup. Just remember I have my own reputation to maintain. I work with children, Yuki."

Yuki laughed and leaned into him. "Fiiiine. Take all the fun out of it for me. I didn't even get a chance to do my makeup to look like a had two black eyes."

"If you show up with two black eyes, I don't know you." Kakashi shook his head. "Not taking that heat, even as a joke, Yuki."

"You're no fun." Yuki pouted, contrary to how she felt. It had been a perfect day so far but somehow Kakashi's arm around her made it a little better. Kakashi was the whipped cream on a piece of pie, or the hot fudge in a sundae: he took something that was great on its own and took it to the next level.

…

Beki sat tapping her pen on the table as she read the letter. Hinata watched her friend's face as she progressed through the letter, her expression becoming more intense with every passing moment. She had learned over the years this had nothing to do with the content of the correspondence; that was just Beki's thinking face. Hinata imagined the face would have been even funnier on a younger Beki, with her nose wrinkled and eyes laser focused, a small frown pulling at the corners of her mouth. Someone would have to tell her about it, eventually. Hinata had conspired that it would never be her, otherwise she might miss the spectacle.

Instead, Hinata quietly snuck into the kitchen and began to boil some water for tea. She heard Beki grumbling to herself in the other room for a prolonged period. Ever since Beki started working as the ambassador, she had started to do that a lot. More than once Hinata thought Beki was talking to her and peeked her head in from the other room, only to find Beki deep in thought as she went over some paperwork from Ishida. Hinata finished preparing the tea and stepped over to the table, softly setting a cup beside her friend as she took the seat across from her.

"Interesting news?" Hinata asked.

"Yes," Beki rubbed her eyes and looked up from the letter, finally noticing the tea. "Oh, thank you."

Hinata gave a small dismissive wave.

"It's from Gaara," Beki rested her chin on her hand as she glanced over the neat writing. "You know how I told you we're trying to work stuff out? We've been trying to set up a time for me to stay in Suna for a week so we can finally get some quality time together. It's taken a couple of months, but Gaara finally gave me some dates where he thinks the load will be smaller."

"So, he'll be able to take a week off?" Hinata smiled. "That will be so nice, Beki."

Beki shook her head. "He won't be able to get the week off. He'll still go into the office every day for a few hours just to keep things running smoothly. I don't mind that so much. I know it would be selfish of me to ask him to put his village on the backburner like that. I don't know how to explain this but," Beki sighed. "I feel like this is our last shot. Things between us always seem to go wrong. Lately, in our letters back and forth there's this cold detached silence between us where we can almost forget we're dating, where we get swept up in the work. Then when we manage to get some time together it always goes south. There's usually an obvious culprit: something pops up at his job. This is it. If we can't over the course of a week figure out how to coexist…" Beki looked up at Hinata with a grim and guilty determination on her face. "When we first got together, I had never been in love like that before. I felt like I needed to hold on tight to that love, even when it jerked so hard I had to dig my nails into my palms till I bled. I feel like I've kept making excuses and sacrificing for so long that I've forgotten what it was like to not fight. This is going to sound awful but I'm going to let go."

Hinata brushed Beki's hair back behind her ear. It was clear Beki was feeling tortured by the whole situation, but she also looked exhausted, buried in piles of mail and paperwork. Hinata was immediately pulled into thoughts of Naruto and whether his dreams of becoming the Hokage would affect them in this way. Would she be like Beki, furiously juggling all the facets of her life to try to spend time with her beloved? Would Hinata have to keep a schedule with her husband? As her brows began to knit with worry, she recalled how when Naruto was on his mission, he had sent his clone ahead to comfort her. All her worries disappeared. Naruto may become incredibly busy but he would always be Naruto. He would always find a way to let Hinata know he loved her and to be there for her whenever he could. That realization drew a large amount of sympathy for Beki, however. Hinata could be confident that although Naruto may become busy, she would always have his heart. It was hard watching Beki scramble to hold on to the rope slipping through her hands, desperately struggling against time and distance to bail out a sinking ship. Hinata bit her lip and took her empty teacup into the kitchen. It wasn't her place to say anything but things couldn't go on the way they were. For better or worse, the saga would have to reach its climax. Beki would have to go to Suna and face the Kazekage once and for all. In the meantime, Beki would be tearing herself apart with anxiety over the encounter. Hinata hated watching her friend suffer. There was nothing Hinata could do to help but let Beki know that she cared. She walked back in the room, gave Beki a big hug and a kiss on top of her head.

"I love you, Beki."

Beki turned and hugged Hinata around her waist. "I love you too, Hina chan. You heading out?"

Hinata nodded. "I have to go train with Kiba and Shino today. Will you be home later?"

"I might run to the aviary at some point but yes, I'll be home. Want me to make dinner tonight?" Beki asked.

"That would be nice," Hinata smiled. "Chef's choice."

"Alright," Beki looked at the kitchen. "I'll think of something. Say hi to Akamaru for me."

Hinata gave a soft laugh. "Still haven't warmed up to Shino or Kiba yet?"

Beki shrugged. "We have a truce. I'm not getting peed on or swarmed by bugs, so I can't complain."

Hinata shook her head and put on her shoes. As she walked out the door she cast one last glance at her friend. Beki had reabsorbed herself into her papers. Hinata could almost see her inner light dimming as the smile faded from Beki's face. Hinata sighed, knowing Beki had to go at this alone, and closed the door.

…

Beki felt better after talking everything out with Hinata. Her friend was a good listener but was also the best compass Beki had ever had. If Beki was too far off in her thinking, Hinata had a gentle way of guiding her back on course. Her plans now set, Beki headed to her mother's apartment to start finalizing them. It was later in the afternoon, nearing nightfall, but Beki knew she would be home. Fridays were usually the nights her mother stayed in and read or did calligraphy. When she knocked on the door and Yuki answered, Beki's jaw dropped.

Instead of a towel wrapped head wreathing a facial mask covered face and a bathrobe clad body, Yuki was fully dressed and was wearing skillfully applied makeup. Her clothes weren't fancy, just slightly better than what Yuki would wear to run errands. The makeup job was masterful, too. It managed to enhance Yuki's features without having her look "done up". Her face had a healthy glow, the freckles still front and center attention wise. Yuki's eyeshadow gave her eyes a subtle pearlescence and her long black eyelashes looked longer and blacker than was humanly possible. The loudest, most obvious aspect was the rosy lip gloss. Beki could smell the cherry flavoring from a foot away. There was a soft curl to her hair too, although it was still in its usual ponytail. Yukihana was trying very hard not to look like she was trying very hard. Her whole appearance was carefully cultivated to seem casual but at the same time fully heighten her beauty.

Yuki blinked in surprise at her daughter's flabbergasted expression. "What's with the face?"

"Am I interrupting something?" Beki leaned to the side, peering past her mother into the empty apartment.

"No," Yuki stepped aside and allowed Beki past her. "I'm going out tonight."

Beki gave her a suspicious look. "You don't look like you're working."

Yuki let out a frustrated sigh. "For the last time, I don't strip anymore. I'm just going to the movies."

"To see that stupid drama?" Beki narrowed her eyes. "Who agreed to go see that garbage with you?"

Yuki bit her lip. Her knee jerk response was that it was none of Beki's business, but then again it was. She was Yuki's daughter for one, and if Yuki wasn't comfortable telling Beki about going out with Kakashi that was not a good sign. Secrecy in relationships usually meant shame.

"Kakashi, because unlike you he isn't selfish and cares about my needs as a human being." Yuki folded her arms.

"What are you talking about," Beki rolled her eyes. "We always go where you want to eat and get coffee from your favorite place, not mine."

"That's because you don't appreciate a really good cup of coffee." Yuki scoffed.

"If by 'appreciate' you mean I'm not willing to fork over six dollars for something that should maybe be two, yes, you're right. I don't appreciate it." Beki sighed and waved her hand dismissively in the air, as if warding off the fight. "Never mind. That isn't why I'm here."

Yuki glanced at the clock and nodded. "Alright, what's up, Beks?"

"Before you roll your eyes," Beki held up her hands. "I'm trying one last thing with Gaara. A make it or break it trip to Suna."

Yuki tensed, physically trying to repress the urge building in her eyeballs. "Ahuh."

"I'm going to spend a week in Suna with him. If we can't make this work with me physically being there 24/7, then it's never going to work." Beki took a deep breath. Just talking about it was starting to stress her out.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Yuki scratched her chin thoughtfully. "Do you want me to come along and hang out around town while you're there?"

Beki made an obvious show of looking her mother up and down. "Do you have somewhere better to be?"

Yuki finally let herself enjoy the sweet release of a good eye roll. "No, I just really hate being in Suna. That place is a dead zone for me. It would be like you having to fight in Burned Maiden mode in the middle of a swimming pool."

Beki shrugged. "I don't imagine there will be much fighting."

Yuki raised an eyebrow. "So, is this going to be like last time?"

"If it is," Beki sighed. "Then we go home. And we don't go back."

Yuki raised her hands in a gesture of submission. "Whatever you want. I'll go to support you. To be honest, I don't have much on the calendar."

Before the conversation had a chance to continue, there was a knock at the door. Yuki glanced at Beki as she walked to the door. Beki shot her a sour look in passing.

"We're just friends going to a movie, Beki." Yuki whispered, then opened the door. The second she saw him, Beki laughed. It looked like Kakashi was going for the "not trying to hard" look as well. He wore a turtleneck shirt and a blazer over a pair of jeans. He wasn't wearing his headband pulled down over his left eye like he usually did. Its absence revealed a vertical scar right down the center of his eye. That wasn't the most distracting part of his appearance: that award went to the bouquet of white flowers he seemed just as surprised about as Yuki.

It was Beki's turn to roll her eyes. "Who brings flowers to go to the movies with a friend?"

Kakashi stepped inside as Yuki took the flowers to the kitchen to find a vase. "I was raised to always bring a lady flowers when you take her out." Kakashi stuffed his hands in his jacket pocket and stared Beki down. There was an odd tension building in the room that Beki didn't quite understand but she could feel rising. Her mission accomplished, and her company no longer needed, Beki shrugged and headed for the still open door. "I'll see you later, Mom. You guys have fun." Her mother called out a quick goodbye before Beki shut the door.

Kakashi watched the closed door for a moment before speaking. "Do you think Beki is uncomfortable with us going out together?"

Yuki paused halfway through arranging the flowers. "She didn't seem upset. That's just her sense of humor. She grew up with just her dad, so Beki plays a little rough."

"You aren't uncomfortable with this, are you?" Yuki could feel Kakashi's eyes on her as she finished.

"No," Yuki shook her head. "I would be lying if I said I didn't think about it a lot. I'm always happy that I did spend time with you in the end, though, no matter what I was stewing about beforehand."

Kakashi sighed. "That's a relief to hear."

Yuki laughed as she stepped out of the kitchen. "Sounds like you're the uncomfortable one."

"You have to admit your situation is a tricky one to navigate." Kakashi opened the door for her as Yuki fished her keys out of her bag.

Yuki gave him a wink. "Smooth seas never made a skilled sailor."