Hi everyone, here's the next installment. I've loved hearing from all of you and I hope you will enjoy this arc as much as you have the others. If you have any questions/comments/etc, you can PM or review and I'll try to clear up what I can. This next arc is taking a lot of research and development, so the next few chapters might come a little more slowly than normal. I have a lot I would like to get in, so the good news in all this is that the chapters will probably be on the long side (as these last few have tended to be). So, all that said, enjoy this next chapter and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

At long last, Beki received her response from Ishida. It was a small, unassuming scroll. As Beki walked down the steps from the aviary, she unfolded the officially sealed message to read six words that would change the rest of her life:

WAR IS COMING. GET HOME NOW.

A chill went down her spine as the adrenaline kicked in. Beki looked around at everyone going about their lives: people laughing, children playing, couples bickering. No one knew. Beki rolled up the scroll and stuffed it into her kunai pouch, walking with purpose to her mother's apartment. She did her best to keep her face expressionless. It wasn't her business to tell the people of Konoha. Beki was still technically an ambassador and the responsibility of bearing this burden was hers. Let them have a few more days of peace, she thought. Some of these people will never come home. They deserve a chance to leave some happy memories behind them.

Beki's resolve broke when she reached Yuki's apartment building. She raced up the stairs two at a time, ran to the door, and pounded on it. Within moments, Yuki opened the door with an annoyed look on her face. The second her eyes landed on Beki, the expression evaporated. Beki fished out the letter and handed it to her. Yuki unfurled the scroll. Her eyes roved the paper, her jaw squared, and she yanked her daughter inside the apartment. As soon as the door closed, Yuki swore.

"No one knows, right?"

Beki shook her head. "I figured they'll find out when they're supposed to."

Yuki nodded and started gathering her belongings. "We need to go as soon as possible."

Beki stood there feeling helpless. "I have to go say goodbye to everybody."

"Yes, you do." Yuki walked over and took her daughter's face in her hands. "You make sure it's a good one. You tell every single person you love them. Spell out exactly what they mean to you. Shinobi wars are no joke, Beki. Entire villages have been wiped out before. There's a chance that when all this is over, the only thing walking these streets will be ghosts."

Yuki pulled her daughter into a tight hug to still Beki's shaking. "It's okay. I'm going to watch out for you. You will be just fine."

Beki nodded and headed for the door. "We'll head out at dusk," Yuki called out. "If anyone asks, we have a family emergency back in Getsu."

Beki walked out the door and headed down the stairs.

War is coming.

Trained to be soldiers from a young age, shinobi were hardened to face death every time they were deployed. Deaths happened in the exams, lives were lost in training accidents. Beki had killed and seen the life flicker out of someone's eyes before. Those instances were very rare. The nightmares occasionally came, bodies reaching out to her from the void, their raspy voices cursing her name. Ever since she had awakened the Burned Maiden, the number of hands had nearly doubled, the new limbs clawing for her were mangled, bubbly skinned or blackened by flames, missing fingers, and peeling flesh. It was something they all dealt with. Beki had been taught to justify the body count: for King and country, for her friends, for her family, for the mission, for her own survival, those deaths had been necessary.

Seiichiro had been in the Third Shinobi World War. Beki had come home from the academy one day, full of a bunch of watered down generalizations and glossed over historical facts about the war. When she came home and told her dad about it, Seiichiro had sat her down and told her the ugliest stories she ever heard. Constant warfare on the mainland, the great nations up against an unending tide against each other and the smaller nations around them. Seiichiro described the horrible smell of bodies rotting in the sun, seeing friends and enemies die in the most painful, traumatizing ways, and how the conflict lasted so long the nations began to run out of shinobi. Seiichiro described the way the combatants became younger, less experienced, children barely out of the academy throwing themselves into the fray. It was the reason her mother was admitted into the ranks; Yuki had killed raiders in Getsu so efficiently that the King and court had decided her to be a valuable albeit disposable asset in a war where it looked like the person with the last living soul on the field would be the victor. A shadow crossed over his face as Seiichiro shared some of his worst memories. The one that stuck with Beki was towards the end of the war, Seiichiro was exhausted beyond reason. Everyone else on his team had been killed except for Yukihana. It was hard for the two of them to keep watch at night on their way back to camp and their supplies were completely depleted. Yuki was filling up their canteens in a stream while Seiichiro kept watch behind the tree line a several feet away. It was a new moon, so when Seiichiro saw the shinobi throw himself at Yuki he reacted without hesitation. Yuki was grappling with the body, trying to fend them off, and Seiichiro saw the faint glint of a kunai in the lowlight. He grabbed ahold of the figure and threw them away as hard as he could. The body collided with a tree and then collapsed on the ground. When Seiichiro approached to confirm the kill, his body had gone cold. It was a genin, no older than twelve. The boy looked like he was starving, his body and clothes were filthy. In his kunai pouch, he was carrying the headbands of his fallen squad mates and a picture of his mother. Yuki tried to convince him that the kid had been dying anyway, that he wouldn't have made it through the week, but Seiichiro had wept bitterly.

Would Beki have tiny, helpless hands reaching out to her in her nightmares, too?

When she walked through the gates to the Hyuga compound, Beki beelined for Hinata's house. Beki let herself in through the kitchen door and called out Hinata's name. Hinata stuck her nose out of the laundry room with a confused expression. "What's going on, Beki?"

Beki took a deep breath and kept her voice low. "This doesn't leave the room, okay?"

There was a soft knock at the kitchen door. "Come in," Hinata blinked in confusion, her afternoon clearly thrown off. Neji came through the door, smiling. "Beki, I saw you heading up and I thought-" His voice trailed off when he saw the look on Beki's face. "What's wrong?"

"War is coming." Beki folded her arms. It was hard to stay calm. Her skin felt like electricity was dancing across it, her mind racing at all the possibilities. "I don't think they've started mobilizing here, but I've been called back to Getsu."

Hinata's eyes widened in terror. "Naruto's at the summit!"

Beki shook her head. "He should be fine. That's where this information is coming from. It must have been sent to the leadership of allied villages."

Neji shook his head. "It goes without saying your resignation didn't come up."

Beki gave a humorless laugh. "I think they need me more than ever, unfortunately."

Hinata nodded. "Beki, I don't mean to put you in this position, but do you think I could talk to my father about this?"

Beki heaved a sigh. "You know what? Yeah. Go ahead. Your family has put me up. I owe you all the truth. It's not like you won't find out anyway."

Hinata headed for the kitchen door and glanced at the pair. "I'm sure you have some things to discuss, anyway."

The door closed behind her and Neji looked at Beki. "Beki…"

Beki shook her head and ran to him. Neji embraced her, his limbs stiff with shock. "I never would have thought we would live to see a war."

"No one does," Beki closed her eyes tight. "No one wants to see the signs. I guess in retrospect it's been building up to this."

Neji pet her hair and gently pulled her towards the stairs. "Come on." Beki let him lead her until they were in her room, where they wordlessly climbed into bed. Neji held her close, stroking her face and watching her carefully. "Are you worried?"

"I'm scared, Neji," Beki furrowed her brows, her lower lip sticking out. "The last couple of weeks have been the best in my life. It's been like a dream, being with you, making plans for our wedding…"

"I know," Neji frowned. "I understand that loss is part of our job and death is something we face all the time-"

"I don't know what I'm going to do if I lose you, Neji." Beki's voice was trembling, her lip quivering as she held back tears.

"Shh," Neji held her head to his chest and embraced her tightly to still her shaking.

"I hate to admit it, but I am seriously losing it over this," Beki whispered. "Everything is just going so wrong suddenly. Forget worrying about our wedding and all that, everyone we know could die- "

Neji squeezed her. "It's all going to work itself out, Beki. This would be the Fourth Shinobi World War. People survived three of them. People will survive this one. There will be losses, but we have to stay positive- "

"What if we all turn on each other? What if this starts out as an Akatsuki thing and then turns into a grab for power and all the villages turn on each other," Beki was nearly hyperventilating. "What if we have to fight each other, Neji?!"

Neji buried her face in his neck to calm her. "Beki, I know this is going to sound out place, but do you think making out for a while would make you feel better?"

Beki looked up at him, her brows furrowed and her jaw set. "Are you trying to be funny, Neji? Now is obviously not the time- "

He landed three blows to her back before Beki could even register what had happened. The effects of the attack, however, were unlike anything the gentle fist had done to her before. Beki narrowed her eyes. "Neji, why am I suddenly horny?"

Neji chuckled and kissed her forehead. "I opened your tenketsu flow."

"That works both ways?" Beki asked. "Then why have you guys just constantly tried to incap me with it?!"

"We couldn't let you know all the family secrets, Beki." Neji smiled and Beki felt a tug of longing inside her. "We shouldn't waste this time together. There's no telling when we'll get to see each other again."

Beki pouted but snuggled closer. "You're right. It just isn't fair you just get what you want when you want it." He attempted to let her go, as if to say "well, if you don't want to", but Beki kissed him. Neji kissed her back with a small smile and rocked her gently. Neji nibbled on her neck as he worked her shirt up around her shoulders, then over her head. Beki unbuttoned his shirt and Neji shrugged it off his shoulders. There was some awkward stumbling as they both stepped out of their pants and then their underwear, hardly ever breaking away from their kisses. Beki had been overwhelmed with a physical desire, a need for Neji. She didn't just want him for the physical satisfaction of the act but also for the emotional comfort; the two of them coming together and being one person.

That's why even though they were both ready to go after they climbed into bed, Beki and Neji spent some time holding each other. Beki laid on top of him, running her hands over his chest, up his neck and into his hair, settling on holding his face in her hands as they kissed. Neji held her close, his hands caressing her up and down her back. When they finally did make love, it was a slow, gentle, loving thing. Much of the kissing and holding remained throughout the process. Once they were finished, they snuggled up under the covers with their limbs intertwined. Neji kissed her temple and gave her a relaxed smile. "Feeling better?"

"Yes," Beki puffed up her cheeks. "Jerk."

"You weren't calling me jerk ten minutes ago."

"You aren't a jerk because you got your way," Beki pouted. "You're a jerk because you're always right."

Neji sighed, his tone one of mock martyrdom. "It's my burden to bear, I'm afraid."

Beki reached over and took his hand. "I'm not freaking out anymore but I am still worried, Neji. What's going to happen to us, Neji?"

Neji kissed her shoulder and squeezed her hand. "I think we're going to be okay, Beki. I don't think we would have fought this hard to get here for us to just lose it all."

"If I died, you would still have your friends and your family," Beki's voice was muffled by his shirt. "I would have my mom and my job. I would never be happy again, Neji. I wouldn't have anything to look forward to if you were gone."

"Do you think it would be any different for me?" Neji ran his fingers through her hair comfortingly. "To wake up each day, realizing that you were gone...it would be a world without color, or music, or reason. I would exist, Beki, and that would be it."

"Even if we make it out, can you imagine our wedding? We couldn't even have one. We would just have to go down to the courthouse and sign the papers because there would be nothing and no one to celebrate." Beki groaned.

Neji shook his head. "None of my friends would feel that way. They're all the exact kind of people that they would want us to be happy, to have a wedding, to carry on for them."

"I know you're right, but I would still feel terrible, running around eating cake and opening presents," Beki sat up. "I... I have to start packing. You don't have to leave. I would like it if you stayed and kept me company."

Neji kissed her hand, looking into her eyes with nothing but the deepest love and affection. "Tsukimori Haruka, you are my one, my only. I never knew love before you and if I lose you I will never know it again."

Beki smiled sadly. "Hyuga Neji, you are everything I ever wanted, ever needed, and could ever pray for. I'm lost without you."

Neji gave her a weak grin. "We should write those down. They would make pretty good vows."

Beki let out a small laugh and started to pack her things. It was odd. For all the years she had lived there, Beki had come and gone as she pleased. Packing up her belongings this time, she was forced to think in the long term. How many months would the war last? How much of this would she really need while she was gone? Most of it seemed unnecessary now, her jewelry, her everyday clothes, headbands, and hair clips.

Neji watched her quietly, consciously trying to memorize everything about Beki: the faces she made, the way she walked, the way that the light reflected off her hair. As she dressed, he paid special attention to the curve of the small of her back, the shape of her breasts, the way her legs became her rear. How long would it be until he saw her again? Would they somehow run into each other during the conflict? For years, Neji had been by her side in almost all things. They had trained together, run errands together, and more recently they had been sleeping together. It was the best rest of Neji's life. Waking up to see her face in the morning still sent a thrill through him. Now, nearly as quickly as they had come together, they were being torn apart by duty. Neji got up and put his clothes back on, the sounds of his dressing blending in with Beki's packing.

"Beki…?" Neji had felt the silence creeping in and with it, his mind was running away with every terrible thing that could happen. He was picturing Beki with amputations, crutches, burned and scarred skin, sightless eyes, and a broken nose. Beki's smile dispelled the phantoms.

"What's up?"

"I know we haven't really had a big fight yet," Neji folded his hands. "But it will happen."

Beki cocked an eyebrow. "You feel like we need to start one before we go? Let's see, you don't ever…." Beki furrowed her brows and frowned. "No. Can't think of anything to fight with you about. Usually going after being smelly with a boy is a safe bet but you're even too clean for that."

Neji shook his head. "That isn't what I was going to say. You know how couples when they get in a bad fight, someone goes and sleeps on the couch?"

Beki nodded. "That's pretty standard."

"Let's not ever do that, okay?" Neji pleaded. "I don't care how mad you are at me or how angry I am with you. I want to always wake up next to you when I'm home."

"That seems fair," Beki agreed. "Should we get it in writing or is this a gentleman's agreement?"

"You aren't a gentleman." Neji narrowed his eyes.

Beki puffed up her chest. "Why, sir, I am most certainly a gentleman!"

Neji watched her, a retort on the tip of his tongue, but he instead stood and hugged her tight. "I don't know how I am going to get by without you for so long."

Beki gave a sad smile and hugged him back. "I'm going to have a hard time without you, too."

Neji reached into his back pocket and pulled out a palm sized box. Beki blinked in surprise as he held it out to her. "That's an awful big box for a ring, Neji."

"It isn't a ring," Neji opened the box. The comb overall was plain, made from unadorned metal and cast in the shape of a butterfly. The wings were the best part. Delicate veins were etched into the metal so realistically Beki half expected it to fly away. She looked up at him and Neji gave a sly smile. "When I went to the jeweler and told him I needed a comb for the girl who caught fire all the time, this is what he made."

Beki took the comb out of the box and walked over to her mirror. She spent a few moments adjusting the heavy piece until it was placed and supported just right. "I really like this one. I'm guessing I can't melt it?"

Neji nodded. "That was the idea. We talked about painting it or putting stones on…"

"But the stones would crack and the paint melt off," Beki smiled. "This is much smarter."

"Do you really like it?" Neji took her hand.

"Yes," Beki smiled at him in the mirror. "It'll be my good luck charm." Her expression darkened playfully. "But next time you show me a jewelry box it had better have a ring in it."

"Point taken." Neji kissed her temple. "Let's get you packed up."

…

Beki walked downstairs, her bag slung across her shoulders. Hinata looked up at her friend, dressed in ancestral armor and yet so completely natural in a modern home. The thinly veiled concern on her face tugged at the knot forming in Hinata's stomach. We're all thinking the same thing. This could be the end.

"What did your dad say?" Beki asked.

"He didn't say much. He told me to thank you and then excused himself to start preparing the family," Hinata fidgeted nervously. "Are you heading back to Getsu now?"

Beki nodded. "Mom wanted us on the road at dusk." She looked off towards the door. "I don't know how she can stay so level headed."

"She doesn't have a choice," Hinata said. "We'll be in that same spot someday, having to be brave for others even if we're scared."

"I hope I can do it," Beki sighed. "I mean, I've stared down death before. We all have. This is just...different, somehow. Akatsuki attacking jinchuuriki, the villages all coming together for once; it's spooky. I can't help but feel like there's something big, seething out there under the surface waiting to break free."

"Maybe that's just the war," Hinata offered. "I can't imagine it just snaps, from zero to conflict. It's been gathering for a long time, like a thunderstorm."

"I guess that could be it," Beki shrugged. She gave Hinata a sad smile. "I really should get going."

Hinata opened her arms and Beki met her with an embrace. She squeezed Hinata so tight that she could feel the armor digging into her skin. "I love you, Hinata," Beki said. "You're the sister I never had."

"I love you too, Beki," Hinata ignored the pain and squeezed Beki back. "Be careful out there."

"No promises," Beki grinned. "You all keep showing me up, being all heroic all the time. I might just have to do something rash."

Hinata swatted at her. "Don't you dare!"

Beki laughed. "Alright, I'll be careful." She kissed Hinata on the corner of the mouth and headed out the door. Neji followed her, staying close until Beki reached the gates. They shared one more long, sweet, and sad kiss, said their final goodbyes, and Neji watched her walk out the gates. His eyes followed her long after she went out of sight as he said a silent prayer that they would get to see each other again.

…

Beki and Yuki had slipped out of Konoha without incident. They traveled at full speed, hardly taking notice of the scenery shifting around them. Long periods of silence stretched between them, broken only by the occasional random thoughts Yuki blurted out. Ever since they had left Konoha, Beki had been stewing on her thoughts of war, family, love, and loss.

"You were in the last war," Beki glanced at her mother. "Dad didn't like to talk about it, but I remember him mentioning the two of you went in together."

Yuki was unfazed by the sudden outburst and simply nodded. "It was an experience…" Her voice trailed off and her expression twisted with discomfort.

"What was it like?" Beki asked and Yuki immediately sighed.

"It," Yuki took a deep breath. "It was fun. For me, anyway." Yuki swallowed and kept her eyes off her daughter. "I was going through some complicated changes in my life. Having failed as a priestess, I got to shine as a shinobi. I felt powerful, in control. Your father and I as a team, Beki, it must have been terrifying. I can't tell you how many shinobi tried to take us down. We moved like clockwork, mowing through flesh and armor, crushing plate, shattering limbs...It was a mean, wicked event. I can't lie and say it doesn't feel good to beat the mean and wicked at their own game. There's a gratification in being the baddest. Your father and I weren't the worst, that's for sure, but baddest would be a safe claim."

Beki paused, unsure of how to process those remarks. Her father had talked about the war like it was hell, a torturous and agonizing experience that haunted his nightmares. Yuki described the same scenario but sounded proud of the havoc she had wrought. It was a hard moral battle, judging her parents against each other. They committed the same acts but for different reasons. Did that really make one so much worse than the other? Beki thought back to her own satisfaction at ending the lives of the ronin who had helped kill her father, to hear their screams and know they were no longer in the world. That realization made her sick and took away her power to judge Yuki. In her own way, in her own time, Beki was guilty of the same sin: self-righteous pride.

The two traveled in silence for some time. At about midday, the pair stepped off the road a bit and settled into a clearing to rest. Up on the path above them, Beki spotted a cloaked figure traveling by. He seemed to take no notice of them, and although Beki always found black-cloaked figures a tad creepy, he didn't seem like a threat. Yuki ignored him as well, sipping out of her canteen as casually as if they were on vacation and not on their way to war.

"You know who I had a dream about?" Yuki stretched. "Your little ronin buddy."

"Miki?" Beki blinked. "Since when do you care about her?"

Yuki shrugged. "I don't get to decide what I dream about, Beki. The dreams just come."

"So, what happened in your dream?" Beki asked.

Yuki rubbed her chin. "That was the thing, it was Miki, but it wasn't Miki. It was clearly her face, her body...I could even sense her presence-"

Beki wrinkled her nose. "What do you mean, her presence?"

Yuki returned Beki's confused look. "You can't recognize people by their…? I don't know, they give off, like, a vibe," Yuki gestured her hand in a circle. "I could always do this thing, where I could sense your dad in the dark versus an enemy shinobi just by… feeling it." She snapped her fingers as she looked for the word then gave up. "Whatever, anyway, it was Miki. No mistaking her. I was seeing her through the eyes of an old man. He was worried about her; she was wounded, bleeding, shaking in the cold. Her clothes were torn up and her eyes were glazed over with fever. He asked her who she was and Miki just kept saying, 'I'm don't know, I'm lost'."

Beki adjusted the kanabo across her shoulders and shook her head. "I really hope she's okay. I haven't heard anything about the Sound Village in a long time."

Yuki cracked her knuckles. "Her hair had been hacked off."

Beki pouted. "I really hope that wasn't true."

"I don't know," Yuki shook her head. "When I have these dreams, it doesn't always make sense. There were...other things. Flashes of images, sensations, fears...In parts I felt like I was Miki, other parts I was the old man...then there…" Yuki shook her head. "Like I said, very little of it makes sense."

"So, the only part that made sense was the part with the old man?" Beki blinked, thinking back on all her conversations with Miki. "Tell me what else you saw. Maybe I could make some sense out of it."

Yuki closed her eyes slowly and took a deep breath. "A sense of freedom. I felt hopeful, for the first time in what felt like forever. Then feathers, falling from the sky. Things getting dark, a figure, somewhere in front of me sheds their skin revealing a great white snake. I can feel it, that we're both starving in this wasteland. Only one of us is going to make it..."

There was something in Yuki's tone that was different than Beki had ever heard it. It was close to how sometimes her mother got "weird feelings" about something. Once in a while, when they were out on the road or in town, her mother would grab her arm and say "not that way" and yank her down a different path. Hardly ever did Beki ever hear that some ill fortune had just missed them. That didn't stop her from heeding that low, cautious tone her mother spoke with. Beki heard it in her voice now but it was more detached, almost disembodied, like it wasn't Yuki anymore. Yuki was just delivering a message. A chill crept down Beki's spine, her hair slowly raising on end. Beki had no idea what Yuki was talking about but somehow, she was just as certain that what she spoke was true. Her friend was in terrible danger. Beki had hardly noticed that Yuki had fallen silent, as if in a trance, trying to recall all the details.

"Then what happens?" A strange male voice behind them nearly caused Beki to leap out of her skin. She turned and looked up to see the black cloaked figure from before hovering a respectful distance away.

"Can we help you?" Beki asked cautiously.

"I overheard your tale," He glanced at Yuki, who was still staring blankly ahead. "I couldn't walk away with a cliffhanger like that lingering in the air."

Beki's eyes switched back and forth between her mother and the cloaked man. Beki could barely see any of his face. His skin was pale and it looked unhealthy. Scaly, like he had a skin condition.

"You ate her." Yuki looked up at the cloaked figure as if she knew him. "You consumed her and she let it happen because she loved you. Miki didn't want you to starve."

Both the man in black and Beki jumped. Yuki slowly stood, never taking her eyes off him. "I remember you." Yuki smiled, that dangerous, vulpine grin Beki only ever saw her use when she was hunting. A predator's smile. "I never saw your face but I could feel you, Soundling."

Beki rose to her feet, completing the triangle. Her gaze turned to the man in black. "So, it's true then. You knew Miki. Where is she? What did you do to her?"

He dipped his head and Beki saw his face break into a humorless smile. "She's out of the picture."

His sickening smile, the dismissive way he talked about Miki, the fact that he had hurt her friend all stirred up the fire within her. "You bastard!" Beki's skin went white hot, sizzling her clothes as she stepped toward him. Yuki held up a hand for her daughter to stop, keeping her eyes on the man in black: "You're different." He gave no reply, but Beki saw stirring inside his cloak. It was disturbing, the unnatural wriggling movements in places there should have been no movement. "You walk away, we walk away," Yuki offered. "Never saw each other."

"We might be past that," The man said, his words more chilling thanks to the friendly tone in which he shared them.

Yuki shook her head. "You have more important places to be. So do we."

He bowed his head and leapt out of sight. Beki's heart was racing, her system rushed with adrenaline. She looked at her mother, tears of rage in her eyes. "Why did you let him go?! He hurt Miki!"

Yuki shook her head, her eyes still locked on the path. "She's alive, Beki. And probably safer for it, to be honest."

"You said he ate her!" Beki hissed.

"I told you, Beki, it isn't always so easy to figure out what all this shit means," Yuki stole a glance at her. "Besides, I'm not worried. He's getting what'll come to him."

Beki blinked away the tears. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"The last thing I saw before I woke up," Yuki grinned. "Was a crow feasting on a dead snake."

…

The remainder of the journey to Getsu was uneventful. Yuki hardly rested on the trip, growing more restless the closer they came to home. More than once, when it was Beki's turn to keep watch, she had seen her mother stirring in her sleep. Yuki tossed and turned for hours until at last, she sat bolt upright, her eyes wide and full of fear, gasping for breath. When Beki asked her what was wrong, all Yuki would say was she had a nightmare. At that point, she would either rise and tell Beki to go to sleep or ask for them to set out. From there, Beki would overhear her praying softly to herself, muttering things about hands, hair, teeth, and horns. Bloody lips and the blank, lifeless eyes of a corpse. It creeped Beki out but she kept it to herself. For all she could tell her mother was just having nightmares about the last war.

They arrived in Getsugakure in record time, only having spent a week on the road. To their surprise, they found the town still about its normal business. Confused, Yuki and Beki headed to Seiichiro's old office to find Ishida. When they arrived, the office was a mess, it's lone occupant up to his nose in paperwork and haggard as a cadaver.

"Ishida?" Beki knocked softly on the ajar door. He stood bolt upright, his eyes full of fear for a moment until he recognized her.

"I'm sorry," He shook his head and heaved a sigh. "I think I had dozed off."

Beki walked over. "So, have they not made the announcement yet?"

Ishida shook his head. "No. The king will be making an address in two days' time."

"So, what can I do to help?" Beki looked around the familiar space, lovingly untouched since her father's passing. Ishida had kept everything almost exactly the same, the exceptions being her father's ashtray was absent and he had opted for a smaller chair to fit his frame.

"First off," He looked at Yukihana. "I have a favor to ask of you."

Yuki raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Me? You're trusting me with something?"

"You're sort of the only man for the job," Ishida adjusted his askew glasses and tugged at his wrinkled shirt. "I need you to go to the Village of Gods and Demons and deliver the summons to the shinobi who live there," Ishida sorted through his desk drawers until he found an official looking decree. "Your people aren't especially keen on the capital types. My logic was they would take the news much better from one of their own."

"I've been dead to them for twelve years," Yuki cocked her head.

Ishida looked Yuki dead in the eye. "I wasn't really that surprised you crawled back out of hell. Your old neighbors will be less so."

Yuki nodded. "Fair point. So, you'll be nanny goat to Beks in the meantime?"

"Haruka can help me get a handle on this," Ishida gestured frustratedly to the office.

"While you go take a shower upstairs and steal a couple of hours sleep," Beki gave him a concerned look. "And brush your teeth while you're at it."

Ishida breathed into his hand to check his breath and swore. Both girls jumped at the sound and he leered at them. "What?!"

"You never cuss," Yuki teased. "Seiichiro's office is wearing off on you."

"To hell with that," Ishida growled. "You have no idea what a pit of vipers this hell hole has been the last few months. Everyone debating on whether or not we should help the five nations, whether we should ask to be paid by the other daimyo to help…Greedy little bastards." He shook his head and then his expression softened. "I guess you're right. I am starting to sound like Seiichiro."

"The five o'clock shadow helps," Yuki tapped his chin with the summons and he swatted her away.

"You go and take care of that little errand," Ishida pointed at her. "And Haruka...you're right. I'm going to go upstairs and practice some decent hygiene."

"Please and thank you," Beki gave him a sympathetic smile. "I'll order some food for you in a bit. I bet you haven't had a decent meal in a while, either."

Ishida sighed and shook his head. "No. And I have to admit that sounds amazing."

Beki waved him away and he clopped up the steep stairs to the suite above. Yuki looked around the office and let out a soft sigh. "It still kind of smells like him, huh?"

"I know, I didn't think Ishida was capable of sweat but it's like…seeped into the place." Beki stuck out her tongue.

Yuki shook her head. "No, dummy, your dad."

Beki paused and sniffed the air. "I mean, yes. Old wood, leather, and cigar smoke."

Yuki felt a pang in her heart being in that room, surrounded by reminders of her husband. It wasn't the old throbbing ache she used to get, but instead a bitter sweetness. She smiled, shook her head, and reached for the door. "I'll be back in a couple of days. Ishida may be a shinobi, but it is only in the most rudimentary of senses. While I'm gone, you're holding down the fort."

Beki saluted. "Aye aye." Her sudden movement upturned a half full coffee mug that had been sitting on the desk for days. Beki gasped and desperately began mopping it up. Yuki chuckled at the armored warrior before her reduced to secretarial duties and ducked outside.

…

Later that night, Beki called in an order at a nearby diner for enough food to feed five people. Ishida was probably starving and Beki was still famished from the trip to Getsu. An hour later, when there was a knock at the door, Beki opened it expecting the delivery boy. Instead, she found Daiske.

"Daidai!" Beki squealed and threw her arms around him. Daiske grinned and returned the bear hug.

"I missed you, Beki," Daiske grinned. "I'm friends with some of the guys at port. They told me you came into town with some hot chick?"

"My mother," Beki explained and Daiske visibly winced. He dropped his voice, his eyes darting about suspiciously.

"She isn't here, is she?" He hissed.

Beki laughed. "No. She's headed back to our hometown."

Daiske blinked. "Without you? Why?"

"There's big news on the horizon and Ishida wanted mom to be the one to deliver it to the yokels." Beki waved him inside. "Come on in. I've made it mildly hospitable in here."

Daiske looked around. "It's different than when your dad worked here but not much." He looked at the steep stairs at the back of the room. "You almost expect him to come plodding down any minute."

Beki nodded. "Yeah, I feel him, too."

In the hours Ishida had been sleeping, Beki had done her best to organize the paperwork and then clean. She tossed out trash, wiped down surfaces, and sterilized where necessary. The kitchenette hidden from the view of the office front proper, for instance. Or the bathroom. The bathroom had taken Beki awhile. If it hadn't been for all her years on the road, Beki might have fainted at the grubbiness of it all.

Her hard work rewarded her with a couple of couches and a coffee table for them to visit at. Daiske plopped down across from her with an expectant smile on his face. "So, what brings you home?"

"It isn't good news I'm afraid," Beki frowned. Before she could continue, the pair overheard Ishida coming down the stairs. He had showered and shaved, the few hours sleep under his belt reviving his appearance somewhat.

"Before we get into why you're here," Ishida said as he walked over to the coffeemaker. "I'm going to need you to explain what happened with Suna."

Daiske glanced at Beki. "Did something happen between you and the Kazekage?" He set his jaw and glowered. "Am I going to have to kick his ass?"

"No, Daiske," Beki sighed. "I broke up with him."

"You shouldn't have been dating him in the first place. I spoke with your father about it a year ago," Ishida sighed and shook his head. "But what do I know? I don't have any children. All my experience in politics can't hold a candle to that- "

"Are you going to let me talk, Ishida, or am I supposed to just nod and agree with everything you say?" Beki gave him an impatient look. Ishida sighed and spread his arms.

"You have the floor, Lady Ambassador."

"It was a natural parting of the ways," Beki picked at her pants. "Our jobs just made it impossible for the relationship to work."

"So why can't you work with him anymore?" Ishida asked as he tapped ground coffee beans into the coffeemaker.

Beki shook her head. "Gaara is a fixer. I don't think he would ever be able to fully accept the relationship is over."

"What I'm confused about was the subsequent resignation request I received," Ishida spoke without looking at her. "With the current political atmosphere, I obviously can't grant your request."

Beki furrowed her brow. "If you're implying I cheated on Gaara, you're wrong. Part of the reason I broke up with him was I realized I had developed feelings for someone else."

"Someone you immediately formed an arranged marriage with, without consulting me, your direct superior?" Ishida turned around and folded his arms. It made Beki a little uncomfortable, seeing Ishida staring her down the way her father would have.

"The arrangement was something my mother struck up with his family-" Beki began but Daiske's expression of confusion was so exaggerated it was enough to stop her mid-sentence. "What, Daiske?"

"You're engaged?! It's clearly not to the Kazekage, so who is it?!"

"Hyuga Neji," Beki said softly.

Daiske shook his head slowly. "What? I thought him and Ren liked each other- "

"It was a ploy they came up with to make me jealous. I guess Neji had liked me for a long time and Ren was trying to help him." Beki explained.

"That right there is why I never had children." Ishida sighed. "Your behavior makes no sense, any of you."

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of dinner. After Beki had paid and brought it inside, she looked at Ishida as he loaded his plate. "So, does that mean you won't walk me down the aisle?"

Ishida furrowed his brow as he brought a wad of noodles to his mouth. He chewed for a while in silence, never taking his cutting gaze off her. "It would be my pleasure."