Hi everyone, me again. So it turns out I had some really good momentum going after I edited the last chapter and was able to get another long one going. Hope this answers some of the questions you guys have. Thank you so much for your reviews and messages. I can't wait to hear what you guys think of this next one.
Neji regained consciousness slowly. He felt incredibly well rested but was so warm and comfortable he didn't want to wake up. Through his sleepy daze, he kissed the back of Beki's neck and held her a little closer. Neji's eyes snapped open. Beki.
Beki was still fast asleep, her long blonde braid slung under her neck to be out of his way. She was still completely naked. Her skin was cool and warm at the same time. Now that Neji was paying attention to it, it seemed as if Beki's scent was everywhere. It was in the pillows and the sheets. It was all over him. Her breathing was soft and Neji could feel the slow, steady drum of her heartbeat through her skin, which completely contrasted against the way his heart was pounding in his chest.
What have I done?! Neji's whole body tensed. She's going to think I took advantage of her! I need to get out of here. I'll come see her later and explain it was all just a drunken mistake. She'll hate me, but maybe Beki can find it in her heart to forgive me-
In her sleep, Beki backed up against Neji so their bodies were perfectly aligned. His arm had been casually draped over her waist, but she pulled it up across her chest and hugged it with both arms. It was incredible how quickly he forgot his anxiety, how suddenly he was overwhelmed by the feeling of being wanted. I don't care. I'll take what love I can get while I can. Neji buried his face in her neck and drifted back to a dreamless sleep.
Beki's eyes fluttered. It was still so early. Beki rolled over and laced her leg through Neji's, wrapping her arms around his neck in the process. He seamlessly returned the gesture and pressed his forehead against hers. Beki's eyes snapped open. Neji.
"Oh my god…" Beki groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Neji."
Nothing could have ruined Neji's morning quite like hearing those words. "Beki." He said flat as possible, his muscles tensing. Should I pull away? Or will that make her feel like I'm not happy with this situation? Or would she want me to pull away because she doesn't want to be with me?
"I am so sorry." Beki's voice was muffled by her hands. "It wasn't supposed to be like this."
"What wasn't?" Neji carefully removed his arms but he left their legs intertwined.
Beki pulled down her hands and looked up at him, a comically childish expression of embarrassment on her face. She was adorable: her cheeks were bright pink and her eyes were dewy. Neji wanted to kiss her again but he was too terrified to move. "I just wanted to have a shot or two to have the courage to talk to you and I ended up jumping you like a drunken whore."
"You wanted to talk to me? What were you so scared to talk to me about that you had to drink first?" Neji still hadn't let his guard down. For all he knew, the news could be that Beki was moving back to Getsu and this would all be for naught.
"That I like you, Neji." Beki shook her head. "No. Not that I like you. I'm in love with you."
That was not what he expected to hear. The words seemed to bounce off the walls, morphing and jumbling until he wasn't quite sure he had heard her right. She took his silence as disbelief.
"I know I've been really stupid about realizing it. It wasn't this thing where we looked at each other and I was like, 'That's it, he's the one'. It was more like when you're squeezing honey on a spoon, and you kind of get distracted for a second and you look back and the damn thing is overflowing and making a mess everywhere." Beki explained. "That's what my feelings were. A hot sticky mess that didn't really get where they were supposed to go for a long time. But here we are, and I didn't want to tell you all this embarrassing crap naked."
Beki buried her face in her hands again and let out another frustrated groan.
There is no way I got to sleep with Beki and she told me she loved me the next day. Neji thought somberly. I fell and broke my head open on the pavement and I'm in a coma.
"I was talking to my mom about...stuff," Beki sighed. "And she started pointing out all the things I was doing without realizing it. I thought all the weird emotions I felt when you were with Ren was because of the Burned Maiden but it's because I was jealous. The same thing goes for how lonely I was when you were avoiding me. I know that this whole situation is stupid and I'm really sorry if you don't like me like that and we can just pretend this didn't happen-"
Neji pulled her close and held her tight. "I was lonely too, Beki." She laid in his arms, her muscles tense with apprehension. He ran a hand gingerly along the curve of her back and continued: "There was nothing more I wanted in the world than to be by your side. It hurt too much to be around you because I realized that I love you, too." He had thought about telling her the truth, that he'd been in love with her for years. About how he had tried to make himself stop liking her, to think of her as just a friend. He wanted to tell her that he had wanted her and Gaara to be happy, that the Kazekage was a better man for Beki than he was, but Neji was too selfish to care. Neji kept his mouth shut. This was Beki's moment and she was vulnerable. She had decided to confess to him. Neji decided he was going to keep things simple; the last thing he wanted would be for Beki to think back on everything. They would be doomed from the start if she thought back on everything Neji had ever done and said to see if he had somehow derailed her and the Kazekage.
Beki relaxed somewhat but some her tension remained. "I didn't ever think about getting to this point."
Neji paused. He was so busy getting caught up in the excitement of the moment he nearly missed the glaring problem in the room. "Beki...I'm not a rebound, am I? You and Gaara only just broke up-"
"If we're being honest that relationship had been on its way out for a long time." Beki bit her lip. "If we're being really honest...you might have been part of the problem." Neji gave her an incredulous look. "I might have been subconsciously comparing you two. How much better you treated me, how much more time you spent on me. Looking back, that's where a lot of my dissatisfaction with him came from. He just wasn't you and nothing he could do would fix that. I... I wanted you." An awkward, tentative silence fell between them.
Neji propped himself up on an elbow. It was a complete surprise, a pleasant one at that, that Beki had made her decision to break up with Gaara because of Neji. That took some significant guilt off his chest and replaced it with warm optimism. "So, where do we go from here?"
Beki sputtered as she let out a sigh. "I don't know. I guess neither of us has been in a normal relationship yet." She stared at his chest, her brows knit in concentration. "We might have to get some advice-"
"Hey Beki?" Hinata knocked as she opened the door. The moment she laid her eyes on the pair, Hinata stopped dead.
Neji could feel his hair stand on end. They were covered with a sheet for the most part, but the clothes strewn all over the floor left no doubt as to what was going on. "Lady Hinata-"
"Uhhhh," Beki looked around. "Hi, Hinata."
Hinata's eyes slowly scanned the room, a flush coming into her cheeks as her gaze finally settled back on the pair. She covered her mouth with her hand and backed out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Neji had gone completely rigid, his grip on Beki vicelike. "I don't think I can ever talk to her again after this."
Beki shook her head. "That's what I said the first six times I burst into flames."
It struck Neji again how strange it was to be holding her. What was more peculiar was how physical contact with her seemed to eat up his anxiety. Almost as soon as Hinata had closed the door, Beki's body pressed up against his relaxed the tension in his muscles. Beki propped herself up on an elbow and looked down at him. "Do you want to go get breakfast?"
Neji sat up, reluctant to remove himself from her touch. "Whatever we do, I don't think it's a good idea to hang around here naked all day."
Beki grinned. "Are you so sure about that?"
Neji flushed. "Beki, we aren't alone here."
"Do you know how many times I've stumbled across those two in various compromising positions?" Beki chuckled as she climbed out of bed. The sight of her bare body was exciting. Neji found himself unable to move as he watched her dress. Beki's skin was like fine porcelain and in places the son didn't reach it was milky. Beki's chest was sizeable and perky, but it was her rear that always caught Neji's eye. It was plump and round, thick and supple. Every time he looked at it, Neji was tempted to reach out and grab a handful. When her hands were over her head to pull on her bra, her breasts were perfectly shaped. He remembered how she moaned when he handled them. Neji had to swallow hard and shake his head to dispel the stirring in his pants. Her narrow waist, her broad shoulders…Neji couldn't get enough. In a strange way, he even caught himself admiring her feet. Everything about her was in perfect proportion to each other, strong balanced against delicate, hard opposite soft.
It was still hard for him to believe, that he was here in Beki's bedroom, the focus of all her attention and affection. The moment passed and Neji shook his head to clear his thoughts. He climbed out of bed and began to dress. Beki passed by him on her way to the closet and casually ran a hand across his back as she went. It was almost too much for Neji after spending years so physically starved for her. It was like a switch had been flipped from off to on. Beki was now always there, always in his space, touching him, looking in his eyes, smiling just for him. It took everything he had not to pull her into his arms and smother her with kisses. Neji stopped, mid buckling his pants. Why was he stopping himself? "Beki?"
"Yeah?" She had just finished putting on her socks. He held out his hands and she crossed the small space between them, putting her arms around his waist as he embraced her. Neji was still so unused to her touch. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he leaned in and stole a kiss. It tugged at his heartstrings, feeling the way she kissed him back, the small smile pulling at the corner of her lips. After a moment he pulled away and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"Wanted to try it sober?" Beki grinned. Almost before she could finish her sentence, he had moved in for another kiss. It was sweet the way Neji held her, holding on like he was afraid she was going to float away. He was a surprisingly good kisser when he put his mind to it. It was easy for Beki to close her eyes and float along with it. He still tasted like whiskey. After a few more moments, Neji let her go. They were both panting for breath when Beki let out another laugh.
"Okay, where do you want to go eat-" But he was kissing her again, lacing his fingers through her hair and stirring something deep inside her. It was that longing she had buried for so long clawing its way to the surface. Beki wanted to know every inch of his body, to know the smell of him, to feel his hands everywhere but they had already jumped the gun once. She gently pulled away but Neji kept her close. "Are we ever going to make it out the door or are we just going to live in my bed from now on?"
"I'm sorry," Neji shook his head and released her a bit more, keeping ahold of her arms. "I just...I realized that I can kiss you whenever I want now."
Beki cocked an eyebrow and gave him a wicked grin. "So, what, you're making up for lost time?"
"If you had any idea how many times I've wanted to tell you how I felt, how many times I came so close to taking you in my arms and running away…" Neji shook his head. "We don't have enough time to make up for the past. You really mean it, though? You love me?"
Beki sighed. "Yes. I don't know what I would do without you. The couple of months you avoided me I thought I was going to explode. I need you, I think more than I've needed anyone in my life. That being said we should really talk this out over some food. I'm starving."
Neji nodded. "You're right. Let's go."
Beki peeked out around the door. The coast was clear, so she waved Neji out behind her. They took the stairs as quietly as only shinobi could and found the kitchen empty. The two snuck over to the door and started to put on their shoes. Softly, like the sound of a mouse coughing, someone cleared their throat behind them. Beki and Neji's heads snapped up in unison to find an ill at ease Hinata step out of the laundry room. "So, um," Hinata fidgeted with her hands worse than Beki had seen her in years. "You two are heading out?"
Neji glanced at Beki. "We were going to get breakfast."
"I can understand you two being hungry," Hinata kept her eyes on her feet, her cheeks and the tips of her ears rosy with embarrassment. "I can also understand you two wanting your privacy, but do you think I could talk to Neji for a minute?"
Beki blinked, glanced at a confused Neji and at the top of Hinata's bowed head and shrugged. "Sure. I'll step outside."
Once the door closed behind Beki, Neji immediately threw himself in apology mode. "Lady Hinata, I am so sorry-"
Hinata shook her head. "No, Neji, this isn't your fault. In fact, everything makes more sense now. Months ago, before Naruto got home, I asked you if you would go out with Beki so she would be a part of our family and not ever leave. Your behavior, the slow spiral of Beki's relationship with Gaara…" Hinata looked up at him. "It was your plan all along. I should have trusted you more, brother."
Neji's mouth hung open in surprise. He caught it, clamped it shut, and kept his voice as level as possible: "Lady Hinata, what do you mean?"
"Mission Keep Beki in Konoha looks like it's off to a strong start," Hinata glanced at the window. "Naruto was really upset when he heard Beki dumped Gaara for good. When I asked her why she did it, she eventually confessed that it was because she had fallen in love with someone else. I was very very worried that it was Naruto kun...but it being you makes perfect sense. Naruto probably won't share my understanding but I'll do my best to bring him around." Hinata gave him a determined look. "I'm going to do everything I can to help you two make it. If that means using my house as a love nest, so be it. I gave you this mission, so it's my responsibility to see it through with you, too."
Neji was speechless. It was true they had that conversation so many months ago but Neji had mostly forgotten about it. Had it subconsciously affected him? Neji knew he had been crushing on Beki hard at that point. Neji hadn't even considered how Naruto would take him dating Gaara's girl; that might be an issue with Lee as well. Neji was tempted to groan at the prospect but he caught himself. He nodded. "Thank you, Lady Hinata."
Hinata clapped him on the shoulder. "Go get her, Neji."
He stepped outside, casting a final glance at Hinata, who raised her fist in the air like a call to arms.
"So, uh, are we gonna have to get married this weekend or something?" Beki scratched the back of her head. "Cuz this weekend isn't good for me. My mom would absolutely lose it if she didn't get to plan the whole thing-"
Neji shook his head. "No. Hinata just wanted some clarification on what that was."
Beki blinked. "She needed to check that we were having sex? What did she think it was, naked twister?"
"No. She meant us," Neji gestured to the space between them. "As in, was that a drunken, one-time thing or are we an item."
Beki shook her head. "You know, considering my behavior people don't give me a lot of credit."
"What do you mean?" Neji held open the gate for her as they passed through.
"I mean, I've only had one boyfriend. It's not like I sleep around," Beki rolled her eyes.
"You did literally just break up with your boyfriend of almost three years and were immediately in bed with me, Beki," Neji gave her a slightly scornful look. "I was no secret that I liked you. Hinata was just making sure you didn't seduce me in a moment of weakness."
Beki cleared her throat. "I did kind of jump you."
Neji threw up his hands. "Let the record show I did my best to say 'no'."
Beki laughed. "Like hell you tried that hard."
"I'm a man, Beki, as much as everyone likes to forget it." Neji folded his arms. "And you standing there in your birthday suit telling me you wanted me, touching me…. there aren't a lot of men that would have lasted as long as I did."
"You've seen me naked a million times," Beki gestured at Konoha. "Most of Konoha has seen me starkers."
"Yeah, but you haven't ever turned the vixen on before." Neji shuddered. "You were like a different person…"
Beki hip bumped him. "Don't worry. You'll see her again soon."
Neji gulped. "How soon?"
Beki shrugged and gave him her wickedest grin, channeling Yukihana so flawlessly Neji cringed. "We'll see how today goes."
The pair walked into the diner Beki always went to with Yuki; they arguably had the best coffee in town and Beki was pooped. They seated themselves in a cozy, isolated corner booth. The two of them had been alone together more times than they could count but Beki had butterflies in her stomach. Which was hilarious, because she had literally laid the man only hours before. Neji knew all Beki's secrets, everything about her life, and yet she was feeling...shy around him? His behavior was a little different as well. Neji hardly looked at her. His eyes seemed to be anywhere but her face and he kept adjusting his position in his seat. Grow a pair, Tsukimori.
Beki reached out and took his hand, holding it across the table. Neji almost jumped out of his skin but settled into the contact. He laced his fingers through hers, took a deep breath, and looked at the menu. "I'm guessing you know what you want?"
Beki grinned. "I eat here with mom all the time. You'd probably really like the breakfast special."
Neji glanced at the note on the menu and nodded. "That does sound just about perfect. How's their tea?"
"They're known for their coffee. Tea's just the bag stuff." Beki explained.
"Coffee it is." Neji set the menu aside. At last, Neji met Beki's gaze. Beki gave him her brightest wide tooth grin and he smirked despite himself. "Things are going to be so different now."
Beki shrugged. "I don't think it'll be that different. I mean, what's the difference between what we were before and being a couple?"
"The physical side of things, that's for sure." Neji shook his head slightly at the memories from the night before.
The waitress came up to take their orders. Once they were done, she brought them both their cups of coffee. As Beki stirred in her half and half, her mind couldn't help but wander to a conversation they had what seemed like an eternity ago. "Neji, when you told me you were avoiding me because I was going to leave someday, that was just a cover then? Was it really because you were in love with me and just couldn't find the right way to say it?"
"Yes and no." Neji used half the cream Beki did in his coffee. "It's true, Beki, that you're eventually going to leave Konoha. Before it was going to be with the Kazekage. Now it will be because of your job. I figured that was an issue we could address later, though."
Beki shook her head. "No, we should address that now. I'm not anywhere near as busy as a kage, but you're right. I will have to go back to Getsu from time to time and wherever else I get stationed now that I've formally requested I be dropped from Suna."
Neji's eyes widened. "You put in a formal request?"
Beki nodded with her best attempt at a dead serious look, which still had the ghost of a smile behind it. She was too happy right now to be deadpan. "I meant what I said. We're over. He will literally have no reason to contact me from here on in. I... I had to ask a favor from someone I don't really deserve any favors from."
"Ishida?" Neji asked.
Beki nodded. "He's really put himself out there for me. Went up against years of tradition and a ration of crap from court for keeping me out here instead of bringing me to court, defending my father and my reputation...I really shouldn't dare to ask him for such a thing. I can't go back there, though."
"I would agree with you." Neji set down his cup. "Which begs the inevitable question-"
"How did it happen?" Beki nodded. She noticed Neji's uncomfortable expression and waved dismissively. "I'm not offended. I can't rope you into a relationship in less than 24 hours and be prudish with you. Even if we weren't dating, you're my best friend. I told Hinata and I'll tell you: I dumped him. We'd been heading down that road a long time and the events while I was there made my mind up for me."
"What did he do, try to make you eat nattou?" Neji grinned sheepishly behind his coffee cup.
"No." Beki slapped her hands on the table and leered. "He bought me rocky road ice cream. As an apology!"
Neji cringed. "He should have just handed you a knife. You don't hate anything half as much as freeze dried marshmallows."
"You're the only person who understands!" Beki threw up her hands. "Ice cream is serious business!"
"I think I just understand what that implies," Neji swirled the liquid in his cup. "He probably doesn't know about your gut problems, either."
Beki folded her hands with a small frown. "I don't even need to tell you anything. You already know." She paused for a moment, tapping her fingers on the table. "You know all that stuff, though. About how I avoid greasy food, my favorite ice cream, how I take my coffee…"
Neji shrugged. "I just pay attention is all." Beki gave him a suspicious look and he relented. "I'm in love with you. Even if I didn't think it was ever going to happen between us, I still wanted to make you happy any way I could."
Beki narrowed her eyes. "What's my favorite color?"
Neji smiled. "Trick question. You have lots of favorites." He narrowed his own eyes and smirked. "What's my favorite color?"
Beki could feel the color drain from her face. Neji knew Beki better than she probably knew herself. Did Beki know Neji that well? She felt like she did, or was it in that selfish way kids think they know their parents? Like, that their actual favorite flavor of cake was strawberry but they always got vanilla because it was their kid's favorite?
"Black and white?" Beki's voice almost squeaked. He folded his arms and cocked his head to the side. "What's my favorite food?"
Beki thought back to all the times they went out together, what he always ordered. He always liked going to noodle houses with her. "Soba!" Beki slapped the table and he chuckled. That string of thought led her down a longer path, a sifting of her memories of their time together. Beki loved pumpkin flavored everything. She was a fall baby, so she got pumpkin cookies, scones, and drinks at every chance. Neji wouldn't dare touch it. "And you hate pumpkin flavored stuff and spicy food!"
Neji laughed. "I didn't realize this was a contest, Beki."
Beki grinned broadly. Neji didn't know that it had been a test. Beki did know him, albeit subconsciously. She had been watching him closely, learning his habits, logging it into her memory without realizing it. If he had asked her and Beki had no clue, she would have hated herself for being so selfish.
"Back to before," Neji leaned forward. "You really aren't ever going back to Suna?"
"It's not like I ever liked going there," Beki looked down at their joined hands. "It was a miserable place. If I don't ever have to go there again, I'll be happy."
"I have to admit that makes me feel a little better." Neji reached up and brushed the hair out of her face, his fingers slow to leave her cheek. "I was a worried you would have to go back there for work-"
"And he'd guilt me back into it?" Beki scoffed. "He could offer me all the money, all the diamonds and jewels in the whole world, a private island, and a pack of alpacas and I would still tell him 'pass, thanks'."
Neji's brow furrowed. "Turning down an alpaca pack? You're serious."
Beki nodded. "I burned or sent every letter he ever gave me to Ishida. Other than the emotional scarring, it was like we were never together."
"You say that," Neji smiled. "But I'm probably going to have to fight a kage for your honor."
Beki licked her lips. "Let's avoid that at all costs." Neji gave her a quizzical look. "I've been kind of skirting scandal for as long as I can remember. Stirring up a blood feud between Konoha and Suna sounds like just the thing to drag it all out in the open."
"It was a joke, Beki. Gaara and I should be fine," Neji folded his arms. "There isn't any bad blood between us."
Beki blinked. "How close are you guys?" The thought had never occurred to her that Neji and Gaara knew each other. Something in the way that Neji spoke sounded like they were more than casual acquaintances.
"Well, despite what he did to Lee in the chunin exams, he and his siblings came to our rescue when the Sound Four attacked," Neji explained. "Not to mention the more recent chunin exams we held."
Beki blinked. "When did that happen?"
"It was before Gaara was abducted by the Akatsuki. I think you were off training with your father at the time." Neji explained. "You disappeared a lot less back then. Not like your more recent escapade to murder your uncle with your mother off the books."
"Keep it down about that," Beki folded her arms. "I didn't murder him. I got my ass kicked. If it wasn't for this ronin I keep running into and my mom, I might not have made it out of there."
Neji almost spit his coffee. "You? And a ronin?"
Beki waved dismissively. "Yes, go ahead and laugh at me for having to eat my words about ronin."
Neji watched her carefully before continuing. "Alright. I'll finish my story but then I need to hear about this ronin you're friends with."
"It isn't Sasuke if that's what you're thinking," Beki scoffed. "Although that arguably would solve a lot of everyone's problems."
"Don't you dare think about seducing Sasuke into coming back to the village," Neji stared her down.
"Don't worry about it," Beki grinned. "I'm over the brooding types. Nagging dads only."
Neji frowned. "I don't nag you."
Beki laughed aloud enough to catch the attention of the other guests. "Are you kidding? You've cut me off when I'm having too many treats, when I'm drinking, during festivals you cap my taiyaki-"
"Because you literally gorge yourself if I don't!" Neji hissed. "And that's all I do." Beki stared him down with a smirk and a raised eyebrow and he sighed. "And about the staying out too late. Or up too late. Or not getting enough fresh air." He frowned and looked away. "Okay, maybe I do nag you a lot."
"It's how I know you love me," Beki rubbed her hands together. "But that means I get to nag you now!"
Neji shot her a quizzical look. "Beki, what do you have to nag me about?"
She froze. Neji was perhaps the most put together person she knew. He certainly was more mature and organized than her mother. Thinking back, Beki could never remember him making a bad decision. She opened her mouth, with a grin but then closed it. There was another memory from back with Ren during the chunin exams, so Beki opened her mouth to share, but he had been right then, too. She closed her mouth and folded her arms. "I'll find something. You'll see."
Neji shook his head and chuckled. "So, the chunin exams. Tsunade and Gaara were working together to try to lure out the Akatsuki. We invited all the other villages but they all declined. Several Konoha squads were planted in the chunin exams, including my own. We uncovered a few plots. I might have saved the Kazekage in the process and earned myself a double promotion."
Beki bit her lip. "Dude. I'm breaking up the band."
"What are you talking about?" Neji laughed. "What does that even mean?"
"You guys are all, like, pals and I didn't realize it. I would have never guessed breaking up with Gaara would piss Naruto off." Beki shook her head. "Now I'm putting you in a tough spot between everyone-"
Neji blinked. "Naruto was pissed?"
Beki opened her eyes wide and nodded her head. "I've never seen the guy mad! It was...I don't want to do that again, let's just say that. The Maiden in me did not like it one bit. If it had been earlier in my development, I might have blown up the kitchen subconsciously protecting myself."
Neji nodded. "I'll...I'll talk to him about it."
"So, if you hadn't liked me, Neji, are you saying you would have tried to talk me into staying with Gaara?" Beki asked.
Neji sighed. "Why do you think I kept my feelings to myself for so long, Beki? He's the Kazekage. He comes from an affluent family and I'm some branch family offshoot orphan. You're a really good person, he's a good person...I thought you two deserved each other. I thought he could offer you a life I never could."
Beki shrugged. "Then I guess lucky for you I'm the simple type. I don't need prestige or luxury. Just someone who knows my whole ice cream order by heart and lays me so hard I have trouble walking the next day."
Neji gave her a startled look and she winked just as the waitress came up with their food. "How much of last night do you remember?" Beki asked.
"I didn't have a lot to drink," Neji said before tucking into his food. "I knew exactly what was happening. The only difference between that and being sober was I didn't have my usual resolve."
"I think you'd resolved to…" Beki's voice trailed off until the waitress had passed them by. "Have your way with me."
"You're the one who threw themself at me," Neji hissed under his breath. "Then again, I've always had trouble telling you 'no'."
Beki grinned and opened her mouth but then frowned. "No. That isn't something I want to nag you about. You'll start telling me 'no'."
Neji narrowed his eyes at her. "Maybe I should."
Beki shrugged. "Then I just ask again with less clothes on."
Neji frowned. "I don't know if that's a bad thing."
Lee came bursting into the diner and beelined for their table. "NEJI! You're late for training!"
Neji sighed. "I completely forgot." Beki gave him another suggestive wink and he gave her a sour look.
"Neji was out late last night," Beki teased.
"Training?" Lee asked, bright eyed and bushy tailed.
"Sure," Beki snickered and Neji swatted at her with his napkin.
"Don't corrupt the baby."
Beki waved as they left. "Have fun!"
…
"Kakashi, this is humiliating." Yuki folded her arms and pouted.
"The matching shirts are too much?" Kakashi held up the hangers. "What if they had puppies on them?'
"Puppies?" Yuki's resolve almost broke. "No. We're...we're grownups, Kakashi. We can't wear matching puppy shirts."
"Are you a matching tattoo kind of girl, then?" Kakashi blinked.
Yuki furrowed her brows. "I was a priestess, Kakashi."
"So, yes?" Kakashi grinned. "Because you're a rebel?"
Yuki frowned. "I... you've got me in a box."
"Tattoos it is." Kakashi chucked her chin affectionately.
"I don't want matching tattoos, Kakashi. Can we pick something less permanent? You are waaaaay too eager to commit." Yuki sighed, her exasperation plain.
"I said puppy t-shirts, but you were all 'noooo we're grownups and can't have any fun waaaaah,'" Kakashi elbowed her gently.
Yuki groaned. "How about keychains with our names on them? Is that a fair compromise?"
Kakashi was silent for a moment. "Can they have puppies on them?"
"Yes." Yuki sighed with relief. "They can have puppies on them."
Beki was walking through town, enjoying what had to be the most beautiful day in history, when she passed by the obnoxious couple store ™. It was the place that all the thirteen-year-olds went on their first date to buy cheesy teddy bears with hearts, two halves of a heart necklaces, and a surprising variety of cool shoelaces. Not that many people in Konoha wore shoes with laces. The only time it was publicly acceptable for anyone over thirteen to be seen in the place was around Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. Beki always liked to poke her nose in there when she passed by to see which of the recent academy grads were in there getting matching bracelets. When she peeked in today and saw her mother in there with Kakashi, she burst out laughing. "And I'm the nerd?!"
"I'm in here against my will!" Yuki stomped her foot. "Don't you dare laugh at me!" She chased Beki as she took off down the street.
"But Yuki, which one did you want?" Kakashi called after her.
"The Pomeranian!" Yuki yelled over her shoulder as she ran Beki down. Normally, Yuki had no trouble catching her daughter. Beki was big and muscular, so her run could normally be described as "lumbering". Wearing the armor all the time must have been thinning her out, though, because the girl was getting fast. Yuki started to skate, forming ice under her feet, and sliding on it. Within moments, Yuki closed the gap and tackled Beki onto the grassy clearing beyond. "YOU SAW NOTHING!"
"I SAW EVERYTHING!" Beki laughed. "You two are like twelve-year-olds! I LOVE IT!"
Yuki play smothered Beki with the sweater she had wrapped around her waist. "I have to silence you now! No one can know my shame!"
"Nooooo…." Beki's flailing weakened, and with a loud "Blurgh" noise Beki "died". Yuki removed the sweater but kept Beki pinned. Beki raised her head with a massive grin that tempted Yuki to smother her again. "So, I take it you confessed?"
Yuki groaned. "Yes. And I've regretted every moment since!"
"Well apparently confessing popped the cork on that dorky side you told me about," Beki laughed as she looked down the street. "I would have never taken Kakashi for the 'matching' type."
"Tattoos were on the table for a few minutes there," Yuki laughed and Beki spat.
"I can't ever see you getting a tattoo."
Yuki shook her head. "I, uh, believe it or not have a thing about needles."
Beki blinked. "But your ears a pierced."
"Reika did it while I was sleeping." Yuki pouted. "I didn't talk to her for a week. But then she bought me cute earrings and I was like, thirteen, so I got over it."
"What did they look like?" Beki had played in her mother's jewelry box as a child. She'd had to do it in secret; it would have terrified Seiichiro that she would lose something.
"Little plum blossoms," Yuki ruffled Beki's hair. "So. What about you? Did you confess?"
"Yeah." Beki shrugged. "It went okay."
"Okay?!" Yuki squinted her eyes and looked around. "That's funny, because…" Yuki sniffed the air exaggeratedly, slowly working her way over until she sniffed Beki's neck. "You smell like Neji's cologne!"
Beki flushed. "Well, I, um, we-"
Yuki leaned in close, a vulpine smile twisting her features. "You banged."
"I got drunk and jumped him," Beki pulled her shirt up over her head, her voice barely loud enough to hear.
Yuki inhaled sharply. "You just got back! You harlot!"
"I know!" Beki groaned. "I was just going to confess but I got drunk and he took me home."
"What did I tell you?!" Yuki grinned. "I told you all you had to do was ask! He was behind the gate waiting for the starting gun to go off." She sobered a bit, letting Beki up into a sitting position. "So? Did you guys talk at all or was it, you know, just animal grunts?"
Beki gagged. "I really don't want to talk about that with you. We did talk. We went to breakfast this morning. He laid out his concerns on the table and I did my best to address them."
"You told him you aren't going to work with Gaara anymore?" Yuki asked.
Beki nodded. "Yeah. That was a big worry for him."
Yuki shook her head. "I can't believe you banged and then confessed and I confessed and things have stayed celibate."
Beki looked at Yuki in shock. "What?!"
"He told me that now that we're 'official' he wants to take things slow." Yuki rolled her eyes. "So that means cuddling, matching keychains, and taking a million polaroids together."
"He sounds really excited," Beki smiled. "Which is huge for him. I can tell you've lived here almost three years and I think I've seen him make two expressions: bored and annoyed."
Yuki sighed. "Are you happy, though? Is this what you thought it would be?"
"You were right, Mom." Beki flushed a little, bringing color into her chronically pale flesh. "The moment we were finally together I wondered why I kept this from myself for so long. I'm so happy I could burst."
"Well just, you know," Yuki reached down and pat Beki's belly. "Don't end up bursting with child, okay? I'm too young and sexy to be a grandma. Because the second I become a grandma that's going to become my entire life and I'm not ready to quit miniskirts yet."
Beki stuck out her tongue but retracted it before Yuki could grab it. "You're getting too fast, Beks."
She shrugged. "Just trying to keep up."
…
In between sets, Tenten reached over and nudged Neji. "So, I heard you and Beki went out for breakfast this morning?"
"Yes," Neji adjusted his headband.
"Does that mean you told her?" Tenten leaned in conspiratorially.
Neji tried not to smile but he couldn't help himself. "Yes. I actually...Beki told me she loved me first."
Tenten clapped and gasped happily. "That's awesome, Neji! Congratulation- wasn't she dating Gaara?" Tenten had lost all color as the realization hit her. "Oh God...we're going to have to fight the Sand siblings."
"No," Neji sighed. Tenten secretly harbored a fear of ever having to fight Temari again. Tenten considered the fight in the chunin exams one of her greatest personal failures. "Beki broke up with Gaara first."
"Thank God," Tenten heaved a sigh. "That's a huge relief. I was going to have to start really hitting the weights if we were."
Neji reached out and pat her shoulder. "Don't worry, Tenten. If we did have to fight them, we'd make sure you got Kankuro."
"I knew we were friends for a reason." Tenten blinked. "So, Lee would fight Gaara again and you would take Temari?"
"If it was over Beki, out of principle I would have to fight Gaara," Neji shook his head. "We're getting ahead of ourselves. This is never going to happen, Tenten."
"I don't know," Tenten smiled affectionately at Lee as he bolted past. "I think he'd give Gaara a real run for his money."
"Let's hope it never comes to that." Neji's smile skewed somewhat. This was a real mess he was getting himself into and the longer he was in it, the more of a disaster he realized it could become.
…
Later that day, when Neji got out of training, his mind spun. A problem solver at heart, Neji kept stewing on all the issues his relationship with Beki might cause between Neji, his friends, his family, and potentially for the village. Not advertising the relationship might help for a time, slowly letting word spread that they were together rather than announcing it. Then again, that might seem like they were hiding it, which in turn could raise the question of if Beki had been cheating on Gaara.
"Hey!"
Neji snapped to attention and saw Beki bounding down the road toward him. The sight of her pulled an involuntary smile across his face. "Hi, Beki."
Without hesitation, Beki fell in beside him and ducked under his arm so it was around her neck. "You aren't shy at all, are you?"
Beki shook her head. "How was training?"
"It was fine." Neji sighed. "I mean, its training with Gai so it's always intense. Today was a little less strenuous than normal."
"I caught up on some paperwork." Beki rested her head on him. "So, do you have plans for the night?"
Neji looked down at her. "Isn't this a little excessive, Beki? We just started dating today and we've already had breakfast together."
"Yesterday, actually. We started dating yesterday." Beki corrected.
"I'm not counting it until after you told me you loved me," Neji gave her a stern look. "You only told me you liked me when we...you know."
"You're going to have to get a lot less shy about this," Beki laughed. "I think I know a way."
Neji raised an eyebrow. "What do you have in mind?"
"Well, you stink. We should do something about that." Beki grinned.
"Are you asking to take a shower with me?" Neji could feel a flush come into his cheeks. "I swear, the nerve on you…"
"Hey, this is an important relationship step!" Beki punched the air. "I mean, you and I are basically skipping like, half of dating. We were already best friends. The only thing we really need to work on is the, well, sexy stuff."
Neji hated to admit it but she was right. "Dating" seemed silly when the two of them had literally been going out as friends for years. "It's just hard for me, Beki. I've gone so long trying to stay proper around you and now suddenly you want us to be physical."
"The shower doesn't have to be sexy, Neji." Beki explained. "It's just us getting used to being around each other as a couple."
Neji sighed and nodded. "Just let me grab a change of clothes from my room."
"I've never been to your room, Neji." Beki nudged him. "Can I come with?"
He shrugged. "I don't see why not."
…
Neji's room was simple, exactly how Beki would have expected. There was a picture here and there of his team or of his family. It was impeccably neat. Beki could have run her hands over any surface in the room and would have come up without a speck of dust on it.
"Not much to see, I know," Neji said, the I-told-you-so implied.
"It smells like you in here," Beki laughed. "It feels like you in here. Very calm, clean, organized. You could show me a hundred rooms just like it and I would know this was yours."
"Boring is that loud, huh?" Neji smiled.
"You aren't boring," Beki rolled her eyes. "You're stable. That's worth more than anything in the life of a shinobi."
As he fished out a clean set of clothes, trying ridiculously to be as mysterious about it as possible, Beki's eyes roved the room. On top of his dresser, beside a picture of Neji's dad, was a familiar looking shape. Beki reached over and picked up the small charred starfish. Neji's head shot up and he gave her a concerned look. Beki had a dreamy faraway look on her face as she turned the starfish over in her hand. "I really liked that comb."
Neji watched her carefully and kept his voice level. "I'll get you another one."
"I never thanked you for that day, did I?" Beki's fingers traced the broken starfish's arm, ran her thumb over the rough surface. "I thought I was going to die. I wanted...I didn't see a reason to live after that. Then you swooped in and saved me."
"It was nothing, Beki," Neji said humbly. "It's my job."
She looked up at him, her expression unreadable. "Really?"
Neji slowly shook his head. "No. I came along because I was worried sick."
"What did it look like to you?" Beki asked. "When you found me?"
"We opened the door and smoke came billowing out. It was black and thick...and there was this horrible, acrid smell. I've never smelled anything like it." Neji explained.
"Burned human flesh. And hair." Beki frowned. "I barely notice it anymore."
Neji stayed silent for a moment before continuing. "You were slumped in this corner, naked, covered in soot and ashes…. you weren't moving. My heart almost stopped. I had to remember that there could be enemy ninja there," He gave a humorless laugh. "I forgot to be quiet and careful. I guess I didn't care. I just needed to know if you were safe. I rolled you over and you looked up at me and said something about the comb. There were bodies in that room with you, bits of them at least, and I knew I had to get you out."
"You wrapped me in your shirt." Beki recalled.
Neji was silent. "They wouldn't let me stay with you at the hospital."
"This should have happened a lot sooner, shouldn't it?" Beki looked up at him.
Neji shook his head. "Things never happen until the time is right, Beki. If you had tried to confess to me too early, I would have shot you down. Even if I liked you, I wouldn't have thought it proper for me to date my family's charge. And if I had confessed to you before you'd sorted out your feelings, or while you were still with Gaara, you either would have had to reject me or put yourself in a bad ethical position."
"If I have to go back to Getsu, I want you to come with me," Beki looked up at him with a shy smile. "If I can't, like let's say Tsunade says 'no' or your family won't allow it…" Beki looked down at her feet. "I can't go on living with Naruto and Hinata forever. Maybe if we're at that point we should get our own place."
Neji laughed. "You can't help yourself, can you? It's still technically day one and you want to move in together?"
Beki set the starfish down and bat her eyelashes at him. "I haven't asked you to marry me yet."
"Haha, yet." Neji came over and kissed her nose. "That's my job."
"Would it be better for us to shower here?" Beki glanced at Neji's small bathroom.
"The question you need to be asking is who is better to piss off, Hiashi or Naruto?" Neji gave her an inquisitive look.
After a moment of silence, Beki nodded. "Hinata's place it is. I'll take my chance with the ninetails."
"You're sounding like a regular Hyuga," Neji smirked. Beki turned to the door and he swatted her rear before they entered the common areas where he would have to control himself. They walked up the path to Hinata's house and came in the front door to find Naruto and Hinata mid conversation in the kitchen. Most people would have called what they found an argument: Naruto with his features twisted in almost comedic childish anger, his shoulders hunched forward and his arms folded and Hinata trying to talk him through it. Beki knew better; the pair never really argued. Naruto turned his laser beams on the pair of them and his jaw dropped, his brows knitting even further. "You're kidding?!"
Hinata looked up at the pair apologetically. "I was just getting to this part."
Naruto gestured to Beki, then to Neji, then to Beki. "So this?! This is what was what was really going on?! Are you just going to go through all of my friends, Beki?!"
Beki used all of her discipline to keep her eyes from rolling. "That isn't true, Naruto. To date I've only dated two of them."
"Psh," Naruto rolled his eyes. "How am I supposed to know that? I wasn't here for half of your stay and Hinata is too innocent to know if you're prowling! Thank God Sasuke isn't here, cuz you would try to seduce him, too! Are you just some foreign ninja plant sent here to tear apart the Leaf from the inside?!"
"That wasn't nice, Naruto," Hinata chided.
Naruto sighed. "You're right. That wasn't fair." He glared Beki down. "Because Sasuke wouldn't fall for her!"
Neji glanced at Beki and turned his attention back to Naruto. "I broke them up, Naruto."
"Oh no, don't 'nice guy' your way through this!" Naruto pointed at Beki accusingly. "This is all her!"
Beki gave him an exhausted look. "Naruto, how many months have we been living together?"
Naruto was silent as he counted. "…A while."
"Have I ever made a pass at you?" Beki asked, Hinata's muscles tensing not escaping her notice.
Naruto pouted. "No. But I could have just been too dumb to know it was a pass."
Neji let out a chuckle. "Believe me, you would know. She's, um, pretty direct about it." Beki elbowed him and he stifled his laughter.
Naruto gestured at Neji but his eyes stayed on Beki. "You're asking me to choose between my friends. You're also asking me to lie for you. Because you running away from your job or whatever, I'm still going to have to see Gaara. AND I LIVE WITH YOU. He's going to ask me questions! I can't lie!" Naruto held his head in his hands, his eyes filling with tears of frustration. "Then he's going to be pissed and want to come fight Neji, and his team is going to get involved and Gaara's siblings will get involved…"
Hinata rose and walked over to Naruto, wrapping an arm around him comfortingly. "Come on, Naruto. Let's go upstairs and talk about this." He nodded slowly and the pair headed up the stairs. Beki and Neji stood in the kitchen awkwardly until the door closed.
"That…didn't go as well as I expected." Neji sighed. "I really thought Naruto would be neutral about this."
"I don't think he's mad at any of us," Beki folded her arms. "I think he's just worried about what might happen because of this."
Neji nodded. "I agree, maybe-" The sound of the floorboards creaking overhead stole the words from his mouth. He stood there, his mouth hanging open, as the realization dawned on him of what he was hearing. "Are they…having make up sex?"
Beki chuckled. "I mean technically speaking, Hinata never lets the fight get far enough that they need to make up."
Neji shook his head with a sour expression. "Too much information."
Beki took ahold of his hand and led Neji upstairs. "We're just going to proceed as planned?" Neji asked. "Even after that fight?"
Beki nodded. "We'll work it out. We're all friends…and mostly family, right?"
Neji shrugged. "I suppose, if you count their engagement as binding."
Neji closed the bedroom door and followed Beki into the bathroom. He set his clean clothes on the counter and started to strip down. Beki reached out and started to help him, the feeling of her fingers against his skin stirring his longing. Neji helped her out of her shirt and kissed her while her arms were still over her head. Beki laughed and struggled as he kept her pinned. Neji stared her down. "8 trigram….64 kisses!"
"No!" Beki squealed, squirming half heartedly against the onslaught of his affection. He kissed her on her face, neck, arms, and tickled her with his free hand. Beki laughed so hard she snorted. Neji stopped, a smirk twisting his face. "Did you just…?"
Beki shook her head. "No!"
Neji laughed. "You just snorted like a little piglet!"
Beki pulled her shirt back on. "No! No sexy shower now."
Neji shook his head. "Oh no, you don't act all cute and then expect me to let you go."
He play wrestled with her, pulling the last of her clothes off in the process. "You're lucky you're so cute when you smile," Beki frowned. "Otherwise I wouldn't let you get away with anything."
"Still not buying it," Neji grinned as he followed her into the shower. "Coming from the girl who threw herself at me."
"Drunk me had certain ideas," Beki explained. "She doesn't get out much so I kind of let her do what she wants."
"Which was me," Neji twisted his hair and tied it up in a knot to keep it out of the water. Beki gave him a confused look and attempted to imitate the movement.
"How did…where…?"
Neji chuckled and tied up her hair for her. "That's your problem. You don't have enough."
"You do know it intimidates me how much prettier your hair is, right?" Beki pouted.
"Do you know how jealous I am of your jaw?" Neji smirked and she swatted him. He reached out and caressed her hip as they stood there under the hot water, looking at his options. "So I guess I should have grabbed my soap."
"What," Beki held up her bottle of body wash. "You don't want to smell like Pink Champagne Sparkle?"
"What does that even smell like?" Neji took the bottle and sniffed. "Strawberry? You usually use vanilla, though."
Beki narrowed her eyes. "How do you know that?"
"I just-" Neji sighed, giving up on keeping up pretenses. "I let you borrow my stuff all the time so it would smell like you after."
"That's…creepy." Beki shuddered.
"It was creepy a few days ago. Now I'm your boyfriend so that's 'cute'." Neji grinned.
"Just don't ever let me catch you watching me sleep." Beki shook her head. "That'll get you a busted lip."
Neji reached out and touched her face, holding her chin in his hand. "I'm really happy when I'm with you."
Beki gave him a sly smile. "How about a kiss, then, stud?"
Neji shook his head with a matching grin and leaned in. "You're so greedy."
"Only for you."
When he kissed her, Beki's body pressed against his. The two were getting to know each other's faces a little more, learning each other's movements. Beki was impressed with how much the kissing had improved compared to earlier that day. As fun as this was, Beki was curious about Neji's resolve. He claimed that if he had been sober last night, he might have held up against her. Well, he was sober now. Beki kissed him hard, the pull of her kisses increasing in intensity. She ran her hands over his body, raking her nails over his sides, thighs, and arms. Neji shuddered in response. He pulled her closer and Beki felt his excitement grow. She reached down to grab it but Neji dropped his hand to meet hers.
"What are you trying to do here?" Neji gave her a smoldering look.
Beki grinned. "Seeing how headstrong you are sober."
Neji kissed her. "If that's what you want, we should get in the bed. You don't have a mat in here and I don't feel like explaining how we cracked our heads open in here."
Beki kissed his nose. "We won't get hurt if we're careful."
Neji gave a pseudo sigh of frustration. "If you say so."
…
Neji was finishing showering when Beki climbed out, dizzy but satisfied, and toweled off. "I'm going to grab some water," Beki said. "Do you want some?"
"Yes, thanks," Neji replied.
Beki stuck her nose out in the hallway. She was overheating and the idea of even a robe for decency was unbearable. There were no sounds coming from the kitchen or the bedroom. Hinata and Naruto must be asleep. Beki crept out into the hallway and down the stairs. Before she stepped in the kitchen, though, she heard someone clearing their throat. She looked up in shock to see Naruto in his underwear with a glass of water in his hand.
"Oh, uh, hey," Beki scratched the back of her head.
"So," Naruto leaned on the counter and took a sip of his water. "When are you moving out?"