Hi everyone, here's the next chapter. By the way, when I said I was neglecting my adult responsibilities, I was making a joke (like I was letting the laundry and dishes pile up a bit. I'm eating fine and getting enough sleep. I promise. :D). Thank you for your concern. I'm glad you're all enjoying the chapters but just as a heads up, we're kind of moving into the final few arcs. I have written a lot of the dating stuff up to this point so there may be little jump arounds (like cutting to the next day or two later between two chapters ago and last chapter) just because you guys get it, Beki and Neji are together and they have a great relationship, etc. I have certain scenes I would like to do to depict the growth of their relationship, but seeing as they were best damned friends there isn't a lot they need to develop. I'm trying to stick to a certain timeline that prevents me from dawdling (cough cough the five kage summit has already started and the fourth shinobi war is starting soon cough cough). I've been so happy to hear from you all and I look forward to hearing what you think of the next chapter.

Yuki stood outside the gates of the Hyuuga compound with her head high. The case she had built for her daughter was a solid one. Although Hiashi had come off as the formidable type the last time they had met as allies, Yuki felt more than prepared to meet him head to head. He was the head of the prestigious Hyuuga clan and Yuki would be meeting him as the head of the Asou, widow of Seiichiro of the great Tsukimori clan. Although she wasn't local, Beki's pedigree trounced two of the candidates into the dirt. Her bloodline went back hundreds of years, before the founding of Getsu itself. One of the other candidates was merchant stock, recent wealth and a family that had only within the last few generations rose out of the rabble. The problem with families that had only recently come into prominence is that they had no staying power; in one generation, a bad crop or a fleet of ships sunk in the ocean, out the next. The Hyuuga weren't risk takers, which meant: one candidate down.

The second candidate came from old enough stock to be considered respectable. She herself was the studious type, educated in the arts of war as well as more delicate areas of study like poetry and flower arranging. There she had Beki beat. Unfortunately for candidate #2, her grandfather had been a playboy and had blown through much of the family's fortune on his mistresses and covering up for various scandals he was involved in. Delicate and ladylike though she was, candidate #2 would come to the Hyuuga a pauper. Not that the Hyuuga were preoccupied with money, their fortunes could sustain them well enough. But Neji was a prodigy, the best man of their stock. If they married him off to a girl without two coppers to rub together, they could expect less worthy offers for future matches. Two candidates down.

That meant the only candidate Yuki had to worry about was the girl from an offshoot of the Hyuuga clan. She had the pedigree, she had a decent financial backing, and the union of the two would reunite her family with the main clan. In tremulous times, nothing was more appealing than circling the wagons. They would throw together their resources, add onto each other's strength, and mutually prosper. The family had several techniques they had developed in their time away from the clan proper, but they were not yet so far removed that the gene for the Byakugan was completely absent. Reinforcing the possibility that Neji's children would inherit the Byakugan sounded much more appealing than the instability with Beki's kekke genkai. Then again, Beki had proven herself a good conduit for kekke genkai. Really, the pair were toe to toe in terms of assets. It really came down to personality and Yuki knew that as affectionate as the Hyuuga were of Beki, she wasn't their kind of person. Knowing this, Yuki had a backup plan.

Ultimately, the goal was to communicate that Beki was a suitable candidate for Neji and should at least be in the running. Yuki, as the head of her clan, would be representing her daughter. She would play up all Beki's strengths without bringing up the unsuitability of the other candidates. It would be rude of her to come in and trash a bunch of other clans' perfect little princesses. Yuki knew when it was in her best interest to play nice and she knew Hyuuga Hiashi was not one to be intimidated.

At last, Yuki was let inside and led to his office. For the meeting, she'd opted for a muted indigo and white yukata. She'd kept herself relatively unadorned as well, only opting for a carved bone hair comb and pearl earrings. Again, this wasn't a time to flaunt but she needed to look put together. Hiashi greeted her formally at the door to his office and invited her inside. It was sparse but tasteful, free of distractions. Yuki squared her shoulders and took a seat on the offered cushion in front of his desk.

"Would you like some tea?" He asked.

Yuki nodded. "Yes, please." No matter how sour this meeting turned out, at least she knew that she was going to get some grade A tea while she was here.

"Hanabi," Hiashi called. The door to his office slid open and his younger daughter walked in with a tray stacked with cups and a steaming cast iron teapot. Hanabi set down the tray on her father's desk and began to pour them each a cup. Good form, Yuki thought to herself and immediately caught herself wondering if Beki knew how to properly serve tea. That seemed like the sort of thing Seiichiro would have taught Beki. Then again, if she was terrible at it Seiichiro wasn't one to press. Here I am, trying to sell my daughter as a good future bride and I don't even know if she can serve tea. Yuki internally screamed. If this falls apart I only have myself to blame for letting her be so uncultured. "What a lovely daughter you have, Hiashi," Yuki gave Hanabi a friendly smile. "Both your girls are so charming. You must be very proud."

Hiashi gave Hanabi an approving nod but his eyes were on Yuki. She was behaving downright civilized. It was suspicious to say the least and concerning at worst. "I wasn't expecting a visit from you, Lady Asou."

Yuki covered her mouth and laughed politely. "It's my silly mistake, really. I'm afraid I've been so distracted by other family matters that this simply slipped my mind."

"What can I help you with, then?" Hiashi asked. "Is it regarding having Haruka come to live with you?"

Yuki shook her head. "I overheard….somewhere that your nephew is formally entering the marriage market."

Hiashi nodded. "He's nineteen, nearly twenty. He's established in his career and has a fine reputation. There are several interested families."

Yuki nodded. "Yes, that's precisely why I'm here. I would like to request that you consider my Haruka as a candidate."

"Lady Asou," Hiashi kept his voice polite and level as he spoke. "I understand your daughter is comfortable with our family and she has developed a strong friendship with Neji. I'm sure you understand that the affections of our youth don't often come to bear fruit. Neji has a bright, promising future in the Leaf. With the right arrangement, he could look forward to many opportunities in his career and a comfortable life for himself and his future family."

"I think Haruka would be an excellent person to consider in that regard," Yuki explained. "Although we aren't well known in Konoha, my clan, as well as her father's, predate Getsugakure. We were both well respected as shinobi and as spiritual leaders in the Land of the Moon. As for more recent matters, her father was the ambassador and Haruka has succeeded him. She has extensive political connections."

"Although Haruka has lived with my daughter for several years, the fact of the matter that her ties to home are too strong." Hiashi said. "With her position, she would need to potentially return to Getsugakure or to another shinobi village for an indefinite period. Were she married to Neji, the expectation for him and any children they had to follow her is not something we are willing to accept.

"Family is always a priority," Yuki could feel the sweat forming on her back as her mind raced for counterpoints. "Haruka would retire early as ambassador and rescind her citizenship to Getsu, as is customary. She would be marrying into your family, so with your family she would stay."

Hiashi watched her carefully. "From her time with us, and after speaking with her father previously, it was my understanding that Haruka was raised to withstand the rigors of the life of a shinobi and an ambassador alone with her father for most of her formative years. I admit I find myself concerned about her ability to withstand the very different burdens that a mother and matriarch would be expected to carry in this family."

I would have been able to better prepare her if your village was a little less enabling of certain ronin, Yuki thought but held her tongue. "I understand those concerns, but my daughter was able to almost seamlessly transition into her father's position in a matter of weeks. With the support and gentle guidance of existing Hyuuga matriarchs, I'm certain my daughter would thrive."

Hiashi fell silent for some time, stewing on her worlds. When at last he spoke, Yuki didn't like his sympathetic tone one bit. It sounded far too much like rejection. "As a parent, I can understand wanting the best for your daughter. For many young people, marriage is about love and happiness. In clans such as this, it is about security and the mutual benefit and support of both families. It would be a disservice to Neji, in the blindness of his youth, to allow him to throw away an opportunity like this one for his future success."

"Are any of the candidates orphans?" Yuki sipped her tea.

Hiashi shook his head. "Each of the young ladies is fortunate enough to have both of their parents."

"As ladies of birth, I'm assuming they have land, shares in businesses, those sorts of assets, yes?" Yuki kept her face deadpan. It took all her strength to suppress the fox like grin tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"As Neji deserves." Hiashi watched her carefully, unsure of her game.

"This is quite a bit of to do about a branch family member, wouldn't you say?" Yuki cocked her head and narrowed her eyes. "I understand he's a prodigy, but such a fuss seems a bit out of place considering other arrangements made by your family recently."

Hiashi's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "What would you be referring to?"

"Your eldest daughter, the clan heiress." Yuki's smile broke free. "Uzumaki Naruto is a clanless orphan living off nothing more than the sweat of his back and a dream."

A shadow crossed Hiashi's face. "Make your point."

"I'm assuming that you, as a parent, ultimately decided that he was a better choice than more 'traditional' candidates your daughter would have been presented. That's your prerogative as a father, to make sure your daughter ends up with a good man," Yuki set down her cup. "That's what I'm doing here. I'm advocating for my daughter's happiness, her safety, and her security. Neji certainly seems fond of her. As his closest surviving relative, shouldn't you be advocating for him the way you did your daughter?"

"The situation is very different," Hiashi began but Yuki dared to interrupt him.

"We aren't so different, you and I," Yuki stared him dead in the eye. "We're both widowed, bereaved of both our partners and oddly enough, our twins. I won't pretend to know what your brother would say in this situation. In his absence, though, I ask that you remember that when you make this decision, not only are you making it for Neji and your clan, you're making it for your brother as well."

"Is that all?" Hiashi asked, an edge in his tone.

Yuki nodded and sighed. "Yes. I've used enough of your time." She bowed politely. "I'll see myself out, thank you." Hiashi allowed her to walk to the door on her own, where she paused. "I'll understand if you don't decide on their marriage. If I found out the reason is a stupid one, rest assured my next action will be to make it my life's work to completely destroy Neji's reputation so no one will touch him."

"There's the Yukihana I've come to expect," Hiashi glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes.

"I played nice as long as I could," Yuki shrugged. "But this is my bear cub I'm protecting."

Yuki let herself out. Hiashi waited until Yukihana's footsteps had died out to finally exhale. He pressed his temples with his fingers and took a deep breath. He lowered his hands and looked at the door. "Hanabi?"

Hanabi stepped inside. "Yes, father?"

"How much did you hear?" Hiashi asked.

Hanabi looked at her feet. "More or less all of it."

"That wasn't your business." Hiashi gave her a tired look. "Why were you eavesdropping?"

Hanabi shrugged. "Beki's mom never comes around, especially dressed like that. I was curious."

"Keep this to yourself, please." Hiashi stared down at his desk. "This is going to be an interesting next couple of months."

…

Training with Team Gai always made Beki feel like she was being productive. Gai had never minded Beki tagging along, in fact he seemed to enjoy having another person to play with the dynamic of his team during the different techniques he tested on them. If he noticed that Beki had been coming along more frequently than less, he didn't say anything. Neither did Tenten or Lee. They were always just as happy to see her. Tenten liked having another girl around and Lee was just...well, Lee.

Beki had sat down on a rock after Gai had run off to go grab heavier weights for them to work with. No one had struggled enough under the ones he had brought. Gai would never stand for such a lightweight workout and headed off for home immediately. Beki was convinced that Might Gai's house looked like a body building gym. She wondered if he even had a bed. Somehow it was just easier to picture him dozing on a lifting bench.

Tenten, Lee, and Neji had been talking but Neji had wandered off somewhere, leaving the pair alone. Beki smirked to herself as she watched Lee and Tenten talk. It was obvious Tenten liked him just in the way that she looked at him. It was so obvious; why hadn't Beki noticed it before? I should talk to her about it sometime, Beki smiled. In her own way I bet Tenten was trying to help me and Neji along. Maybe there's something I can do to help.

Was this how Yuki had felt, watching Neji and Beki circle each other for months? She just wanted to yell "Kiss him already!" or lock them in a closet together to figure things out. Beki blanched at the thought. Yukihana was really rubbing off on her.

There was a sudden blow on her back, lurching Beki forward onto the grass. She caught herself with her hands and knees and looked at her assailant with a surprised expression.

Stepping up onto the rock, blocking out the sun, was Neji. "I'm King of the Rock."

Beki jumped up with surprising speed considering the armor strapped to her body. "I didn't even know we were playing! That isn't fair!"

Neji cocked his head. "Oh, it isn't fair is it? Go on. Try to defend your title, then."

Beki dropped low and circled him. The cocky bastard didn't even bother looking at her when she was behind him. Beki knew he was baiting her, though. She'd spent enough time with Hyuugas to know that they were always aware. The only thing she could do was to move faster than he could react. Beki leapt-

"ROTATION!"

Beki was blasted backwards, flew three feet in the air and slammed on the ground, knocking the air out of her chest. "No fair." She wheezed.

"Oh, and you using Watery Grave on the beach was fair?!" Neji called out. "Concede!"

Beki threw herself at him a few more times only to be rotationed right back onto her rear. "Okay, fine. Long live the king."

Neji looked around and pointed at a slightly smaller rock. "There. You can go be queen of that rock."

Beki stuck out her tongue. "I won't take your pity title. I'll just train that much harder to dethrone you.

"I would like to see you try," Neji grinned arrogantly.

"Sneaky ass Hyuugas," Beki grumbled as she got up. "Always blitzing me when we aren't even playing!"

Neji winced although Beki didn't see it. It was eating at him, knowing about the betrothal and keeping it to himself. He had told himself to take a week, just enjoy being together without having another drama to worry about. Yuki had told him she would take care of it. Maybe she had told Beki about it. Then again, if she had, Beki would have surely come and talked to him, either to bring him in on the plan or more likely to freak out about the problem. Why was Yukihana keeping it from Beki? Was she afraid there would be some part of her scheme Beki could mess up?

"Beki?" He asked from atop his mount. "Obviously not right now, but would you want to marry me in the future?"

Beki sat quietly on the grass with her hands folded in her lap. "Yeah. I want to get married. I want to have kids, all that stuff I never got to have. I don't…I don't want to be a stay at home mom, though. I mean, I could, if that's the way it needed to be." Beki looked up at him. "I've had to kind of sit around my whole life. It's been waiting for my dad to get out of meetings, waiting in Konoha, waiting for Gaara…I hate waiting. I'm sick of waiting. Being a housewife, you're waiting for the kids to get home, you're waiting for your husband to get home. I just think I've run out of patience."

"So, you'll want to keep working," Neji folded his arms. "I think the only way that can't work is if only one of us is on active duty. That way the kids couldn't get orphaned if we fell during missions."

"I could take a desk job," Beki nodded. "I could even volunteer at a school or something."

"You just want to be busy," Neji offered and Beki smiled.

"You get it." Beki looked off toward Lee and Tenten again. "After training, what do you want to do?"

Neji shrugged. "Get something to eat, go home and shower, maybe read for a bit, and go to sleep together."

Beki cocked her head. "Maybe you should sleep in your room tonight."

Neji gave her an offended look. "A few days in and you already want your space?"

"No, dummy," Beki laughed. "I just think we might be making things a bit too obvious. Suddenly, you're sleeping over at your cousin's house every night? People aren't stupid."

Neji nodded. "You're right. It…it's just going to be hard falling asleep without you."

"You just said yourself, its only been a few days." Beki laughed. "Don't tell me you're that used to it already?"

Neji sighed. "Is it so bad that I want to be with you?"

Beki rested her chin on her hand. "It is a little puppy dog-ish, but I don't mind the attention, really."

Neji fell silent. "If I have to sleep alone, can I at least shower with you again?"

Beki grinned. "Sure, handsome."

…

It had been a week since Hiashi had broken the bad news to Neji. He had put off telling Beki, partly out of fear and partly for his own selfish need to have one drama free week with her. Now that the week was up, he planned to keep his word and telling her the truth. Based on her behavior, Yuki had never told Beki the news, meaning the burden fell on Neji. Beki, I'm so sorry but they're arranging my marriage. I really love you and want to be with you but there's nothing I can do if I'm given an order. Would Beki be angry? Would she ask him to run away with her? Neji shook his head. That would never happen. His fate was sealed. It was follow his family's will or die.

Neji left his room early and headed towards Hinata's house.

"Hey!"

Neji looked up to see Hanabi waving him over. "What is it, Hanabi?"

She jerked her head in the direction of Hiashi's office. "Father wants to talk to you."

Neji blinked in surprise. Has he come to a decision so soon? "Thank you." He nodded to Hanabi and walked towards the office. Anxiety built in his chest with every step, dragging his feet like he was moving through high water. I won't get another chance to be with Beki. This week was all we were ever going to have. The thought tugged at his heart and stung in his throat. All we ever wanted, gone. How sad is the bird that tries to soar only to remember it's in a cage?

Neji knocked on Hiashi's door and heard him beckon from within: "Come in."

Neji opened the door with his face completely neutral, lest he betray his disappointment. As soon as he did, his eyes widened in shock. "Beki?"

Beki looked at him like a deer in headlights and shook her head as if to say, "I don't know why I'm here either."

Neji tentatively took up the space beside Beki, so they were shoulder to shoulder as they faced Hiashi.

"Haruka, you have probably been unaware that we have been in the process of arranging a suitable marriage for Neji." Hiashi spoke and Beki blanched.

"I... I was unaware."

Hiashi nodded. "I have spoken with the clan elders. There were many promising candidates, all of whom would have made excellent brides. It was a difficult decision and took several days of deliberation, but we have made our decision."

The silence that followed was deafening. It seemed to stretch eons, distorting not only time but space. Neji felt like an island; if he had reached out for Beki he was certain he'd be unable to physically reach her even though she was right beside him.

"Tsukimori Haruka," Hiashi looked at her. "I have spoken with your mother. If you are willing to surrender your Getsugakure citizenship and resign as ambassador, you have our blessing to marry."

Neji felt the weight of the world lift off his shoulders. He turned to Beki, a smile on his face that quickly disappeared. Beki had no idea about any of this. To call her expression "shocked" would be an understatement. Beki looked downright blindsided.

"I…." She shook her head and took a deep breath, trying to recover some measure of her composure. "I'm honored."

There was a ghost of a "but" at the end of her sentence that turned Neji's stomach to knots. This was never part of the conversation. Beki thought she was going to keep being ambassador. She fought for that job, bled for it, suffered to finish her father's work. Without any warning, Hiashi was asking her to throw it all away to be with Neji. I could never ask her to do that. Neji felt pressure building in his chest. He opened his mouth to protest but Beki had already started talking again.

"Please understand that the nature of my position is a delicate one," Beki spoke in a measured tone, slowly, more for herself than for her audience. "It will take some time for me to make the arrangements for my replacement."

"So, you're accepting the arrangement, then?" Hiashi asked.

Beki nodded. "Yes."

Neji could have kissed her at once but he held himself back. She's picking me. Everything Beki has ever worked for, all her hopes and dreams, and she's betting all her chips on us.

Hiashi nodded. "I understand it will take several months to resign and file for a change in citizenship. Within that period, you are welcome to remain living with my daughter while we work on securing you and Neji your own living arrangements. Your mother insisted she be involved in the process, both in planning the wedding and in seeing the two of you provided for when you move in together."

Beki was doing a good job keeping it together for appearance's sake but Neji could practically hear her internal screams. Unable to contain himself, he reached out and took her hand. Beki gladly accepted it, giving it a vicelike squeeze in a desperate plea for reassurance.

"Thank you," Was all Neji could manage to his uncle. Never once had he mentioned Beki was a candidate. Yukihana must have done something to convince Hiashi. He had no idea what, but he was eternally grateful to them both. Not only had he finally gotten to have a relationship with Beki but now it was all but ensured for the rest of their lives. "May we be excused? We have a lot to discuss."

Hiashi nodded. "Welcome to the family," He said as Beki passed. She paused, gave a polite bow, and followed Neji out. They closed the door and walked away, their footfalls quick in their retreat. Hiashi looked off onto the wall at an old picture of him and Hizashi. Hiashi had been so focused on the benefit of the family, to ask Neji to sacrifice, that he nearly forgot what the boy had already lost. Life was short and could be torn away unexpectedly at any time. Neji had worked hard his whole life for the glory of his family. The least Hiashi could do was guarantee him this small measure of happiness, the way his father would have if he had lived to see the boy grow.

…

As soon as they were far enough away, Neji scooped Beki up in his arms and swung her. She clutched on until he let her slide back down to earth. Neji tried to have her face him but Beki buried her face in his chest and let out a bellow like a cow in distress. He stroked her hair. "I was going to tell you-"

Beki shook her head. "Neji, that was worse than any meeting I have ever been in. And I've been in meetings where there were fistfights and broken glass."

"I'm surprised your mother didn't say anything." Neji shook his head. "She's a confusing person."

"So, you knew about this and mom knew about this, but no one told me?" Beki sighed and shook her head, slowly burrowing herself further into Neji's shirt. "I guess you guys figured you had it under control. It would have been nice for me to know I was going to get put on the spot like that."

"Beki," Neji held her tight. "You really meant it? You'll give up everything you have and marry me?"

"If we're being honest," Beki emerged from her safety pocket to look at him. "You've been better than everything I've ever had. It's scary, yes, to let go of everything, but I haven't been to Getsu in years. I hardly had friends there, and I had to take my dad's job because he was murdered for it. Ishida is going to kill me when I break the news to him."

"Shame there isn't a way for you to yank that old request and just tell him you're quitting, huh?" Neji pet her.

Beki shrugged. "Whatever. When it's all over, it's all over, right?"

Neji took her face in his hands and kissed her. It was a long kiss, but it was sweet, absent any carnal desire. "I honestly can't believe this is happening. We're going to get married, Beki. We're going to live together-"

Beki put a finger over his lips. "I get that you're excited and all this is just...wow, really a lot, but could we maybe not talk about it for a bit? I'm going to have, you know, there will be a lot of thingsI'm going to have to do to figure all this out and Ren is going to kill me for not telling her sooner and she's going to absolutely DEMAND to be my maid of honor but then Hinata's going to expect it because I freaking live with her and I'm marrying her cousin slash genetic half-brother-"

"Whoooooa girl," Neji hugged her head to his chest, effectively muzzling her. "Deep breaths."

Beki pouted and let out a half cry. "Can we go get ice cream?"

"Yes, my love," Neji kissed the top of her head. "My fiancé." He tasted the word in his mouth and smiled. "We'll get you some ice cream."

Beki reached up and plopped her left hand against his face even though she was still muzzled. "Didn't you say you were going to propose? Where's the ring then?"

"I didn't know I was marrying you until today!" Neji sighed with exasperation. "Give me a little time! I have to figure out what kind of budget I'm working with-"

Beki growled, and he pet her hair again. "Let's...let's talk about this after the ice cream." Neji laughed. "You're impossible to talk to when you're hangry."

…

Beki was halfway through her sundae when her mother came bursting through the door. "Did he tell you?!" Yuki practically screamed.

"Yes," Beki said through a wad of cookie dough. "Thanks, by the way, for letting me know-"

Yuki threw her arms around Beki and squeezed, squealing and bouncing excitedly. "Please tell me you had more composure with Hiashi?" Beki grumbled and Yuki sobered, dropping her daughter back in her seat. She straightened her shirt and cleared her throat. Neji's eyes widened and he shook his head.

"You didn't."

"So apparently no one has ever girlishly squealed and hugged Hiashi ever," Yuki stared at her feet. "That was, um, new for him. He informed me it was completely unprofessional, so I reminded him I was family now and it might have taken me twenty minutes to reconvince him to allow the marriage."

Neji looked at Beki. "He was baiting you to see if you would do the same thing. That's why he kept looking at you so weird."

"Thanks, Mom, for putting another obstacle in front of me," Beki sighed. "Okay, go ahead, I know there's a million things-"

Yuki dragged up a seat and plopped down beside her. "So, I don't know if you want to use an antique or have a new kimono made; either is fine with me. I just need to know because I'll either need to have the antique cleaned and restored or we'll need someone out here to get your measurements. There will be swatches of silk patterns for us to go through-"

"Okay," Beki sighed.

"I was going to ask Ishida to walk you down the aisle, you know, because he was your dad's best friend and we've kind of um, ruined all our relations with your father's brothers," Yuki spewed. "And then Neji, if it's okay with you, I wanted you to walk me down the aisle-" She inhaled sharply. "What should you call me now?!"

Neji winced. "Isn't 'Yuki' okay?"

"No," Yuki swatted his arm. "You're marrying my daughter and you don't have a mom. That makes me 'mom' at least by default!"

Neji winced and Beki chuckled behind her spoon. "Welcome to my hell, Neji."

He shrugged. "Okay mom." It was like pulling teeth, but Yuki looked satisfied.

"You guys are probably really overwhelmed," Yuki sputtered. "I'll leave you be to...whatever this is. Have you told all your friends yet?"

Beki shook her head. "I've got to start writing letters tonight."

Neji paled. "Can... can we keep this a secret from my team for a while?"

Beki furrowed her brows. "Why?"

"I... Lee is going to want to plan my bachelor party and I think someone more reasonable should do it first," Neji explained. "You know, so they can include him, but he can't be in charge."

Beki blinked. "Who would be better than Lee?"

"Anybody," Neji took a bite of the ice cream. "He'd have us go on some ten-day hike through the wilderness with no gear with the premise that bringing me close to death will solidify my commitment or some such nonsense."

Beki nodded. "We'll probably just do the hot springs, honestly."

"See, everything is so much easier with girls," Neji shook his head. "They're going to expect me to get wasted and go to a strip club-"

Yuki smacked the table with an evil smile and the two jumped, having forgotten her for a moment. "I'll call some of my old friends!"

"Please, no," Neji sighed.

Yuki ran out the door. "Nope! It's happening now!"

"If it makes you feel any better, we usually get into massive splash fights and/or try to drown each other," Beki shrugged. "Then we try to smack each other's boobs or butts in the shower…"

Neji frowned. "I want to go to your party."

"Nope," Beki ate another bite. "Girls only. You can just go hang out with your guy friends and cry."

Neji gave her a tired look. "You remember I can see through walls, right?"

Beki shrugged. "I can't stop you. I can just tell everyone else so they'll all come beat the crap out of you."

Neji frowned. "Fair point."

…

When Neji walked Beki back to Hinata's house, they opened the door and Hinata immediately threw herself on Beki. "Congratulations!"

Beki smiled and hugged her back, rocking her. "It's pretty great. There's a lot we're going to have to do before hand, but I think it won't be too much trouble."

In the kitchen beyond, standing with a face wrought with conflicting emotions was Naruto. Hinata had baked Beki and Neji a cake, the happy little rosettes a strong contrast to the frowning man beside it.

Neji sighed. "Okay, Naruto. We know you aren't happy."

"It's not that I'm unhappy," Naruto grimaced. "Its just that this is going to be a mess."

"Remember back in the Sand when I told you I liked Beki and you told me I should just tell her? Well I did. And this is what happened." Neji folded his arms. "Sorry I followed your advice."

Naruto threw up his hands. "Neji, I'm not a smart guy. I'm big enough to admit that. Sometimes when I say things I haven't thought it through all the way. I don't understand the blowback until after it's happened."

Beki blinked at him through Hinata's hair. "How are you going to be Hokage?"

Naruto shrugged. "I was thinking I would just hire Shikamaru to do all the heavy thinking for me."

"Well, he's thinking like a kage," Beki shrugged. "Delegate away all the responsibility till you're just muscles in a hat."

"Enough bickering," Hinata sighed. "Who wants cake?"