"Where is she?!" Beki had wrung her hands so many times they were turning red. Hanabi rolled her eyes and blew her bangs out of her face as Hinata desperately tried to comfort her friend.
"She'll be here any minute," Hinata took ahold of Beki's hands and held them tightly, preventing her from inflicting further damage. Beki's usual habit of tugging at her hair had been thwarted by the intricate updo Hinata had spent an hour fixing and the white headdress that protected it.
"I can't," Beki shook her head, sending her chandelier earrings dancing. Tears were forming in her eyes and she hiccuped, her lip quivering and hands trembling. At the sight of the tears threatening to ruin Beki's pristine makeup, Hinata's head snapped toward Hanabi.
"Hanabi," Hinata practically hissed. Her sister had been dragging her heels all morning. It had been a fight to get her out of bed and into her dress. On top of the time loss, Hanabi's generally pissy attitude hadn't helped at all. From the moment she got up this morning, Beki was in the worst emotional shape Hinata had ever seen. She was completely vulnerable and scared out of her mind. The least Hanabi could have done was sat quietly and kept the eye rolling to a minimum. The entire time Hinata and Yuki had been getting Beki ready, her sister had let off at least one morose sigh a minute and mumbled something rude.
Hanabi sensed Hinata's quietly mounting ire and rose with visible irritation from her seat. She walked over to the counter, snagged a couple of tissues, and crossed the room to Beki and Hinata. With surprising gentleness and intense concentration, Hanabi delicately dabbed away the tears sitting like morning dew on Beki's inky lashes and the black flecks of mascara that had smudged her skin.
"Thank you," Hinata sighed with relief.
"What time is it?" Beki's hands twitched. Hinata was still restraining them in a vice like grip, so Beki's only way to output anxious energy was to bounce on her heels.
I'm about thirty seconds from blocking her tenketsu, Hinata grimaced.
"We have plenty of time," Hanabi said flatly with a quick glance at the clock on the dresser.
"What's taking her so long?" Beki stared at the door. "Do you think there was an accident? It got ruined somehow and she's trying to find a replacement?"
"Beki," Hinata squeezed her hands reassuringly. "Your mother will be here any second-"
The door opened and Yuki entered, leading with a large white garment box. "I swear to God, every single person on the street felt the need to congratulate me individually," She shook her perfectly coiffed head and set the box on the counter. A quick glance at her anxiously fidgeting daughter and Hinata's strained smile left Yuki chuckling.
"Were you this bad, Hinata?"
"No," Hinata shook her head. "I was a little nervous but nothing like this."
"Me either," Yuki laughed as she opened the box and took out the kimono within. "You would think she's facing execution."
"Everything is going okay?" Beki blinked. She had become eerily still. Instead of a ball ricocheting around the room, she was now a teakettle. The stress was slowly building under the surface and was waiting for an excuse to explode.
"Yes, Beki," Yuki sighed. "Everything is fine."
As Yuki unfolded and held up the kimono, she caught herself sizing it up. It had been a rush job; less than two weeks to go from nothing to finished. There were less than a half dozen professional kimono shops within Konoha or in the vicinity, and the selection that met Yuki's standards was slim indeed. There had only been seven rolls of silk of a high enough quality between them all and only two whose patterns and motifs were worthy of adorning her child. Had this been before the war when the pair were allowed out in the open, or if Yuki had a few months to work with, the kimono her daughter would wear down the aisle would have made the one in her hands look like a dishrag. Yuki tried to tell herself these things didn't matter. Her daughter was marrying the man of her dreams and was happy. That should be all a mother could want on her daughter's wedding day. But to Yuki, it did matter. This was her one and only child, the sole heir to her clan; Tsukimori Haruka was Yuki's little princess. When Beki had been small, Yuki had wanted to give her the world. The tiny, fifteen minute wedding she had with Seiichiro in the main hall of the shrine wasn't good enough for Yuki's daughter. Beki would walk down the aisle adorned in the finest silk, scarlet rose petals crushed under the finest geta, and her hair studded with gold, pearls, and jade. The wedding would be in spring, when the wisteria and peonies were in bloom.
Instead, Beki was being married in muggy, sticky summertime. There were bugs everywhere and half of getting ready was spraying and powdering up enough that their makeup didn't melt and their hair didn't go limp. The building Beki was getting married in was newer but in many ways less opulent than even the Three Maiden's shrine. Hinata had done a pretty job of fixing Beki's hair and the few ornaments she wore were good quality hand me downs from Yuki. It nagged at Yuki that in many respects, this whole ordeal was beneath her daughter.
Although Yuki adored Neji as a mate for her daughter, there was no denying that as a branch family member, Beki would be marrying down. Perhaps that was the factor tugging so hard at Yuki's subconscious; a need to display her daughter's pedigree, to send a message to the family she was joining. Yuki's daughter was a somebody, and just because she was marrying into the branch didn't erase that fact. This was just as much for Beki as it was for the Hyuga. She needed to remember she was someone. It was easy to be swallowed and assimilated, shoved into a station you didn't deserve in the tide of a marriage.
Hinata released Beki after giving her a reassuring hug and walked over to help Yuki with the kimono. It was a warm white, almost a cream, and tiny gold strands were woven into the silk so that it shimmered subtly in the light. With her marriage to Neji, Beki would essentially be "born" in Konoha. The record trail of her new life would begin with the marriage license. Whatever family name she was ascribed on the forgeries that had been planted, they would find out later. Those records would depict Yuki's daughter as an unremarkable nobody, vague descriptions of her service to her country and a common lineage. None of their proud heritage would follow her but Yuki couldn't help herself. When picking the kimono silk and selecting the accessories, she had refrained from anything with a moon motif. "Nobody" Haruka was born and raised in Konoha, not Getsu. However, as she had surveyed the bolts, the Tsukimori family crest had come to mind: the moon and a maple leaf. Nothing would be suspicious about a Konoha baby getting married with a leaf motif. As Hinata and Yuki draped the formal kimono over the under layers Beki had already put on, the metallic red, gold, and ochre leaves caught the light beautifully. Yuki smiled to herself as she observed the way the warm tones livened up her daughter's pale complexion. She would walk out a Hyuga, but even if she couldn't use her name, Beki would walk in a Tsukimori.
Between Hinata and Yuki, finishing dressing Beki only took a few minutes. Hinata and Hanabi finished getting ready as Yuki preened over her daughter, fixing flyaway hairs and smoothing seams. Beki looked up at her with the same frightened deer in headlights look she had given her mother as she dropped her off at the academy for the first time.
"You'll be okay, pumpkin," Yuki tapped her nose gently, her own words echoing in her ears from all those years ago. "I'll be close by."
…
Naruto stood behind Neji at the altar, shifting occasionally from heel to heel or bouncing slightly in place. Lee, on the other hand, was as still as a statue. A look of grim determination set his face in stone. The few times Neji glanced in Lee's direction, he didn't even see the man's chest rise. All Neji could pray was that Lee didn't pass out up at the altar and derail the wedding Neji had waited four years for.
The boys had already walked their respective bridesmaids down the aisle; Lee had escorted Hanabi and Naruto had the honor of bringing his wife down the aisle. Neji had walked a gently sobbing Yuki to her seat and for a moment, Neji had almost thought the woman human. Then, when no one was looking, she slapped his ass as he walked away and Neji remembered Yuki was always a monster.
Now, all that was left was the bride. Neji focused on his breathing: in through the nose, hold for a second, out through the mouth. The music swelled and at last, the moment arrived. The doors opened in the back and all heads in the house turned. Beki stepped into view, one arm looped under Hiashi's for support. The pair were an extreme juxtaposition, Hiashi's somber black apparel and dark hair in extreme contrast to Beki's white and silver. Yet somehow the pair were in perfect balance. Neji was dumbstruck by how beautiful Beki was. He had seen her in a million outfits (and none at all). He already thought he knew her at her prettiest. In this moment, though, she was flawless. He would have never guessed she would wear something so traditional but it suited her. The lines of the kimono softened her broad shoulders. The bright, lively colors in the pattern were festive and bright, warming up her usually cool complexion. Neji thought he was ready but seeing her was more than he bargained for. A gentle tap on his arm drew Neji's attention. He glanced at Naruto, who was subtly offering a handkerchief. Neji's tears had betrayed him; falling completely of their own volition. Neji whispered a soft thank you only to have Lee's antics catch his eye. Tears fell freely down his friend's face. Tenten was dutifully slipping him tissues in the front row and stuffing Lee's used ones in her bag. She only looked slightly frustrated by the whole affair.
Hiashi walked Beki slowly and carefully, subtly checking to make sure she had her footing before proceeding onto the next step. The measured way Beki walked in the geta made it seem like she was floating. At last the pair reached the altar. Hiashi helped her up the step, gave Neji and his daughters a nod, then took his seat. As the ceremony began, it was all the discipline Neji had not to lean over, kiss Beki's temple, and hold her hand. Up close he could see she was trembling ever so slightly and could feel her eyes darting around. If it were any other time, he would tell her everything was fine and hold her. Neji had never known Beki to have stage fright, but the presence of his family and their friends on such a personally important occasion was too much for her. It could have been the anticipation, too. This was a day the pair had waited more than four years for and their entire futures rode on today's coattails. Neji knew that had this happened before the war, he would have been shaking, too. Since then, he had literally had the worst thing that could ever happen to him come to pass and saw it through to the other side. It would take the Ten Tails itself crashing in the room to ruffle his feathers, and even if it did, Neji would never let the past repeat itself.
But what if Beki's behavior has something to do with the baby? Neji stole another glance at his wife to be, at the flush to her flesh and the single bead of sweat as it traced a path down the back of her neck and into her collar. In all the craziness of getting ready, had Beki not had enough to eat or drink? He pictured her fainting at the altar and being rushed out on a stretcher. Neji's hands itched to hold her more than ever. No. Yuki had her all morning. The only person on earth who perhaps could beat Neji on his protective feelings for Beki was her mother. Not only had the woman probably made Beki eat, it was likely to have been plenty fortifying for the day to come. It's just her nerves, Neji. Leave her be.
A small smile broke his stoney facade despite the somber occasion. It was happening. They were finally getting married. All the pain, the fear, the heartache, the stumbling blocks of family and obligation, none of it mattered. From this day on, the pair would be one. She would be his wife. They would have their baby. Something told Neji that there was something special about this union, some kind of divine guarantee, that somehow together Beki and Neji would beat their mutual family's curse of being orphaned young. They would be one big happy healthy family.
Neji stole another glance at Beki. She was so beautiful in her wedding kimono. It was more traditional than he thought she would go, then again Neji was sure Yuki was behind it. Normally Beki looked terrible in warm colors but somehow the balance of her kimono was just right. To him, she was the loveliest girl in the world. On this day, though, in this minute, she was so radiant she was practically glowing. His stolen smile began to grow with his affectionate thoughts only to drop in shock. Beki was actually glowing. It was faint, but the heat she was generating was enough to give off the smell of warm cotton and silk.
"Haruka," He said under his breath and her head snapped to face him. He gestured for her to take a deep breath and she nodded, setting her earrings swaying.
When it came time for their vows, Beki and Neji had to be vague. The ceremony was not a private affair. Extended family members and allies of the Hyuga were in attendance as well as a security detail assigned by the Hokage. The Sixth had said it was just an additional security measure but Neji couldn't shake the feeling it was to test if Yuki and Beki would follow his orders regarding preserving their new identities. It ate at Neji that he couldn't speak from the heart for his vows, but there would be plenty of time for that later. Beki managed to muster up enough courage to deliver her vanilla vows in a sonorous and confident tone. From there the ceremony continued:
"Do you, Neji, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The priest asked.
"I do," Neji smiled at her, giving her hands an affectionate squeeze.
"And do you, Haruka, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" He blinked, as though just noticing the girl was slightly glowing. Assuming it was a trick of the light, the man gave a small shrug and waited for her answer.
"I do," Beki returned Neji's smile. Her eyes were dewy with tears and her hands had finally stopped shaking.
"Then I now pronounce you man and wife." As soon as the priest finished, the room broke out in applause. From there, Neji and Beki were ushered around to take formal wedding portraits and then into the reception. They hardly had a moment alone. Every friend and family member came by to talk to them and offer congratulations. They all meant well but Neji would have killed to get to talk to his wife alone for a minute. After the ceremony, Beki had stopped glowing, but now her color looked bad. She had grown very pale and there was a deadness to her gaze Neji found concerning.
"Hey," He squeezed her hand between well-wishers. "Are you feeling alright?"
Beki gave the tiniest nod, paused, then shrugged with a sigh. "I'm really worn out."
"From all the socializing?" Neji asked.
"Yes, and I'm having trouble with all the layers here. It's hard to move and breathe. Plus I feel like I'm overheating," Beki fanned herself.
"Let me go get you some water," Neji pat her knee and got up from their table. The moment he did, Gai sensei swooped in.
"Congratulations are in order!" Gai beamed.
"Thank you, Gai sensei," Neji bowed. He attempted to walk by but Gai had blocked the path with his chair.
"Now that you're married, there are some important matters we need to discuss," Gai folded his arms somberly. "Things that a father should tell you about what it means to be a man."
Neji clenched his fists behind him. He adored Gai sensei but that was instantly coming into conflict with Neji's insatiable need to take care of his wife. Either he would have to cut off his crippled, golden hearted sensei, or he would be forced to leave Beki teetering on the brink of collapse. As Gai started to speak, Hinata appeared.
"Lady Hinata," Neji grabbed her arm as she passed. "Could you do me a favor?"
"Of course, Neji," Hinata smiled. "What is it?"
"Could you go get Beki some cold water?" He watched as expression darkened into a mirror of his look of concern. "She's feeling overheated in the kimono."
Hinata nodded. "I'll take care of it."
"Thank you," Neji practically sighed with relief but held it together. He let Hinata go knowing she would take just as good of care of Beki as he would.
…
Beki stared out at her wedding with a blank look on her face. A small, polite smile was plastered on her lips but her eyes looked dead. All the voices, the music; it blended together until it was just shapeless noise. It was a surreal experience, almost like she was someone else looking out of her eyes. Beki knew she should be enjoying it. It was her wedding, after all. Everything looked lovely and had gone smoothly since the ceremony started. But somehow Beki just didn't feel right. She wasn't sure if it was the hormones or the heat, but she wanted nothing more than to strip down, take a hot bath, and nap for all eternity.
At that moment something was placed on the back of her neck. It was slightly damp and icy cold. The sensation had a stimulating effect, instantly reviving some of the fatigue and fogginess that had taken over Beki's mind. She looked up to thank her rescuer, expecting Neji, but finding a different set of Hyuga eyes looking down at her.
"Better?" Hinata smiled gently.
Beki nodded and closed her eyes, putting her hand over the cloth. "Thank you. That helps a lot."
Hinata sat in Neji's seat. The pair watched as Neji did his best to keep a straight face while Gai lectured the man at his own wedding. "I bet all you want to do is go home," Hinata laughed softly.
"Yeah," Beki sighed. "This has been nice and all but I'm absolutely pooped."
"All that's really left is cake," Hinata glanced over her. "Then you guys can sneak out and Yuki and I can take care of the rest."
Beki reached over and took her friend's hand. "Thank you, Hinata. I don't know what I would do without you."
"You're welcome," Hinata squeezed back.
"I really mean it, though." Beki tried not to let the emotion crack her voice. The hormones and stress were swirling around and making her feel like an affectionate drunk. "Ever since I came to this town you've taken care of me like a sister."
"Well, after today," Hinata beamed. "We are sisters!"
"In law," Beki specified. "I mean we could get all technical with you guys being cousins but your dads were identical twins so genetically you're half siblings-"
"Shh," Hinata squeezed her hand again. "You're getting carried away. The important thing is, we're officially family now." As she spoke, Beki heard Hinata's voice waver. She glanced over at her friend to see perfect, dewy tears make her eyes glisten. "It's going to be so hard to let you move out."
It was Beki's turn to laugh. "Into Neji's room with him? Like, less than a five minute walk away?"
Hinata let go of Beki's hand to pat away her tears. "I just missed you so much. And now you're back and I was just getting used to things again. Waking up, having breakfast together, going out and running errands…"
"We'll still do all that," Beki smiled. "It'll be a little less convenient, sure, but it'll be better for all of us if we have a little privacy."
"We got over privacy very early in the friendship," Hinata gave her a sideways glance.
"Yeah," Beki tugged at her collar. "But the boys haven't. We do have to consider their feelings sometimes."
"You're right," Hinata smiled as she rose from Neji's seat. "Looks like Neji is finally free."
Neji was doing his best to walk at an easy gait to the table instead of the outright run he wanted to. He reached the girls and the polite mask he was wearing slipped. "Oh my God…"
"How bad was it?" Beki laughed.
Neji shook his head. "I don't know if I'm ready to talk about it yet.
"Now you have to share," Beki grinned.
Neji sighed and closed his eyes. "Basically how it's my responsibility as your husband to provide for you, protect you, and even if you get old and fat, to remain steadfastly faithful."
Beki's eyes grew wide and her lip trembled. "He thinks I'm getting fat?"
Neji practically leaped over the table to wrap his arms around her. "No, honey. No. You aren't getting fat. The weight you're putting on is just the baby. As soon as it's born you'll be back to normal."
"So I'm fat right now but it's okay?!" Beki tried not to yell but she was dangerously close to crying.
"Beki," Neji's voice was dripping with exasperation. "You know that isn't what I mean."
"What you're saying," Beki jabbed her finger into his chest like a knife. "Is that my baby fat is acceptable but if I stay fat you need a man in a wheelchair to guilt trip you into sticking around!"
Neji's jaw dropped. Beki's skin was starting to glow again but it was flickering like a bad lightbulb. It somehow made an already disturbing phenomenon that much more threatening. The man was completely at a loss for what to say and Beki was seconds from either causing a scene or starting a fire. He glanced behind Beki at Hinata for help. Hinata widened her eyes and glanced at something off to the side behind Neji, followed by a subtle head jerk. Neji glanced quickly over his shoulder and spotted Hinata's mark. It was genius. Logic and reason couldn't save them here. The only way out of this situation was shameless distraction and bribery.
"Let's go cut the cake, sweetheart," Neji rubbed her arms. "Then we can go home."
"I'm not going to eat any!" Beki pouted. "Or I'll get even more fat!"
Neji sighed. "Hinata?"
"Beki, its marble," Hinata whispered. "With buttercream and strawberries."
"Your favorite," Neji had begun to slowly force his wife toward the table. Beki's grumbling grew quieter as they approached the tables. Neji was glad he could always count on his wife's love for food to save the day.
…
After what had felt like an eternity in hell, Beki and Neji were on their way home. Once they had finished cutting the cake, Yuki and Hinata had taken Beki into a side room and stripped her down. They packed up her kimono and it's trappings so Beki could change into more comfortable clothes. Neji met her at the back entrance and the two slipped off into the night.
They were barely out of sight when Neji stopped, turned to Beki, and scooped her up in his arms.
"What's this about?" Beki grumbled.
"You're exhausted," Neji adjusted his hold on her and began to walk. "I'm going to carry you home."
Beki sighed. "It's okay, Neji. I can walk."
"No." Neji shook his head. "Not today."
"Really, I'm fine," She protested.
"You've let me carry you home in full armor before but I'm not allowed to carry my wife home on our wedding day?" Neji scoffed. "Sorry. I'm pulling the husband card."
"You just got the husband card-" Beki laughed.
"And I'm already using it, I know," Neji nuzzled her. "I'm just so happy I can't help myself."
Beki looped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder. "It'll be nice to finally be alone."
The pair had been married on a Tuesday, and so by this hour the streets were dead. Despite how busy Konoha had become over the years, weeknights were still echoes of its once sleepy origins. Neji carried his wife home. He simultaneously felt deja vu from all the times he had done this in the past but also a strange, hopefulness that things could always stay this way. Neji was truly happy. There was literally nothing more in the world that he could think to ask for; this was all he needed. But with that joy came a kernel of doubt. His happiness was the most selfish thing he had ever felt and it could be blinding him to the truth. As they passed block after block, the worry nagged at him until at last he spoke:
"Beki, you're happy with all this?"
Beki had slightly dozed off on his shoulder. At the sound of his voice, she stirred and blinked up at him dreamily. "Hn?"
"Marrying me, living with my family…this is what you want?" Neji kicked himself internally. Out loud it was such a stupid thing to ask. They had already gotten married and Beki was carrying his child. Then again, there was some measure of comfort in just hearing words confirmed.
"I mean," Beki rubbed her eyes and stifled a yawn into his shirt. "It's not exactly what I want but it's good enough for me."
Neji's heart sank. That had not been what he was expecting. Fear slithered like snakes through his body, locking up his chest and gripping him in a profound sense of guilt. What had it been, then? In her four years absence, had something Neji done affect how Beki felt about him? Was it all his scars that had turned her off to him? It would make sense. Since she had arrived a litle more than two weeks ago, the pair hadn't had a chance to be intimate since the hotel room. Neji remembered the way Beki had stiffened at feeling his scars, disappointment and concern in her eyes. He was spiraling in the silence.
At the sight of his rapidly deteriorating expression, Beki chuckled. She reached up and chucked his chin with a smile. "Calm down. I don't mean it like that. You're fine just the way you are."
Neji had to force himself to stifle a sigh of relief. "Then what could you mean by 'it's close enough'?"
"If I could have my way, you and I would live off in a little cottage in the woods," Beki snuggled closer. "Just us. That way me and the kids could be loud and boisterous without having to worry about bothering anyone. We could do whatever we wanted with the place, too. There would be a garden, a dog," Beki grinned. "And I wouldn't have to wear pants."
Neji shook his head, a small smirk on his lips. "You never wear pants anyway."
Beki pursed her lips. "I never hear you complain."
"Back before we were dating that made life hard for me," Neji confessed. "Wanting to look but forcing myself not to."
"Did we even date, though?" Beki looked up at the sky, trying to recall their history together. "I seem to remember us being friends one day and a serious couple the next."
"Someone decided to drunkenly assault me," Neji feigned annoyance. "As a gentleman all I could do was accept to protect your honor."
Beki rolled her eyes. "If that's what you have to tell yourself to feel better about putting out on the first date, so be it."
After walking for what felt like an hour, Neji and Beki at last reached the Hyuga compound. It was strange for Beki, passing up the walkway that lead to Hinata's house. If Neji hadn't been carrying her, part of Beki was convinced her feet would have led her there out of habit. They reached Neji's room and he unceremoniously tossed Beki over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Hey, what the hell?" Beki pounded a fist into his back.
"I can't open the door holding you like that," Neji said as he slid open the door to his room. He crossed the threshold and gently set his wife on the floor.
This was the second time Beki had set foot in Neji's room. It was just as she remembered it; sparsely furnished and clean, if not slightly depressing. "Thank God I don't have much," Beki laughed. "We wouldn't have anywhere to put it."
"I know," Neji had taken out his ponytail and was running his fingernails over his scalp to relieve the headache he had developed. "I keep looking around trying to figure out where we're going to put the crib."
Beki shrugged. "Worst case the baby just sleeps with us."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Neji furrowed his brow.
"I mean we could plop it in a basket between us if you're worried." Beki suggested.
It was Neji's turn to shrug. "I guess we'll figure things out as we get closer." He glanced at Beki, his next thought on the tip of his tongue only to lose it. She was viciously stripping. In aggressive tearing and yanking motions, Beki was tearing off her shirt, pants, and underthings, and throwing them across the room as if they somehow offended her. Neji stood transfixed as he watched the whole affair with a growing (and admittedly disturbed) sense of arousal.
"What?!" Beki barked. "I had to wear pants, thirty billion kimono layers, hairspray, and more hair ornaments than you can shake a stick at," She spat indignantly, standing proudly with her hands on her hips wearing nothing but her socks. "I never want to wear clothes again!"
Neji made no attempt to hide where he was staying. "Fine by me."
Beki rolled her eyes. "No, Neji. You're supposed to be like, 'noooo Beki you need to wear clothes and be decent waaaahhh'."
"Are you kidding," Neji laughed. "You're my wife now. A man whose wife walks around their house naked all the time? That's hitting the jackpot."
"But I'm not naked," Beki held up one foot. "I'm wearing socks."
Neji smiled. "In a weird way that makes it even better."
"How?!" Beki laughed. "How is just socks better than full naked?"
Neji shrugged, his grin growing. "I don't know. It's playful and cute."
A moment of silence passed between them before Beki spoke:
"So I can't help but notice you're still dressed."
Neji's eyes went wide. "Oh. I thought you were tired." He immediately began to pull off his clothes. The urgency was the same as Beki's, but it didn't come off quite as spiteful and savage. It was more out of eagerness and desperation that Neji unceremoniously threw his clothes across the room. As soon as he was naked, he turned and barreled toward Beki at full speed. Her confident façade crumbled at the tower of a man racing towards her. Beki squealed as Neji scooped her up and tackled her to the bed. She continued to let out small yelps as Neji forcefully yanked the covers out from underneath her and threw them and the pillows off the bed.
Their lips met and limbs intertwined as they both took fistfuls of each other's hair. They kissed passionately until they were breathless. Their hands roved as they gasped for breaths. Beki shuddered as Neji's fingers traced their way up the inside of her thighs, her breath catching in her throat when they reached the space between her legs. After a few minutes of delicious exploring, Beki pulled Neji's hand away and took ahold of his hips. She guided him above her and adjusted, wrapping her legs around his back.
Neji's hands trembled as he took up the spot above her. As a couple, they hadn't been physically intimate for a long period of time. There was still a novelty to their encounters, the remnants of inexperience with each other slowly being scrubbed away. Excitement mingled with the fear of failure, uncertainty combated with an innate, primal compass for what to do. Neji kissed her again. Beki laced her fingers through his hair and kissed him back. When they began to rock, she moved with him. Their bodies were perfectly proportioned to each other so when their forms intertwined, it felt like puzzle pieces coming together.
It was impossible for them to be completely quiet as their lovemaking dragged on and Neji was left thanking God that the rest of the family was still enjoying themselves at the wedding. After they had finished and he had collected the pillows and blankets for them to snuggle up in, the thought occurred to him again. Neji chuckled and shook his head. Beki cocked an eyebrow, a satisfied smirk on her face and her hair a cotton candy bird's nest.
"What's so funny?"
Neji shook his head. "Just that we slipped out of our own wedding to go have sex."
Beki shook her head and laughed as well. "I guess when you put it like that it does sound pretty bad."
Neji had wrapped an arm around her. He pulled her closer, nestling her up against him so he could lean his head against hers. "I mean, I did marry a nineteen-year-old. I can't be blamed for stooping down to your teenage level."
"You make it sound like I'm a bad influence," Beki smirked. "But I didn't hear you complain once."
"Are you kidding?" Neji kissed her. "We can run away from anything if this is what you want to do."
"So what, should we come up with a code word so you know I want to leave and go have sex?" Beki shook her head. "I've got it. I'll make finger guns at you and go 'bang!'."
Neji raised an eyebrow. "That's a little on the nose."
"Aren't men always complaining about how women aren't clear enough about what they want?" Beki let out a mock sigh of frustration. "Fine. How about I excuse myself to go to the bathroom and come back and slip my underwear in your pocket?"
"Okay, no," Neji threw up his hands. "That's how you get a man in serious trouble in public. The point is to hold out until we get home, Beki. Not pitch a tent in my pants in front of everyone."
"Fine," Beki rolled her eyes, a smile still plastered from ear to ear. "What's your suggestion?"
"Hm," Neji snuggled into her. "How about you squeeze my hand, tell me you love me very much and that I'm incredibly handsome, and that you would like to go home."
"Any other compliments you want to compel me to include?" Beki chuckled.
"No," Neji's hand had traveled down her side, sliding sideways until it was protectively over her belly. He stroked it lovingly as he spoke: "That should be enough."
"So what will you tell me if you want to leave and get some us time?" Beki asked, savoring the warmth of his skin against hers.
"Almost exactly the same thing," Neji explained. "I'll tell you that I love you, you're my light in the darkness, my everything, and I want to be alone with you."
"That's a little heavy babe," Beki pat his cheek affectionately. "Not every booty call has to be a renewal of your confession. Just tell me I have a nice butt."
Neji looked a little conflicted but eventually nodded in agreement. "I can't protest. You do have the best butt."
Beki yawned deeply, her mouth wide like a lion mid-roar. "Our baby is going to be gorgeous."
Neji began to roll to his side, cueing Beki to follow his lead. They spooned, adjusting slightly here and there until they were perfectly aligned. Neji had one leg through Beki's and her bottom pressed perfectly into the nook his legs and torso created. He looped one arm under his pillow and the other he wrapped lovingly around Beki. She tucked her hair under her neck and away, so Neji didn't get a mouthful of it.
"If it's a girl, I'll have to make her wear a parka and men's pants all the time," Neji said flatly.
Beki chuckled in surprise. "What?"
"If she gets the Hyuga chest and your butt," Beki could feel him seething protectively in the darkness. "I would have to blind every young man in this village and I don't want that kind of guilt on my conscience."
Beki's eyes grew wide as the vision dawned on her. "And she could be blonde. With freckles."
"So Shino's parka," Neji nodded. "And we'll raise her to have an unhealthy obsession with anime."
"Oooh that's good," Beki nodded. "It can be all the popular stuff, but she'll have to have all the stats memorized. Like character's birthdays and favorite foods."
"We're making our child dysfunctional and they aren't even here yet," Neji sighed. "We're awful, Beki."
She shrugged. "It'll force them to develop a personality and a sense of humor. God knows with this jaw and my choice in sweaters, that's what I had to do."
A moment of silence passed before Neji spoke again. "If it's a boy we'll need to give him some engrossing hobby, like model building, so he doesn't notice girls for a long time,"
He waited for a response. All Neji received as a reply was the steady rise and fall of Beki's chest. Neji smiled gently and sighed. He closed his eyes and nestled into her, positive he was so happy his poor little heart would give out.
...
Several months later
Neji had gotten up early to go train, careful not to disturb Beki's precious slumber. He remembered thinking it was an absolutely gorgeous day. It was early October but the chill of fall had already set in. The birds hadn't yet left for the year; their happy song filled the early morning, blending with the satisfying crunch of fresh fallen leaves underfoot. The leaves had turned every shade of flame, a constant but pleasant reminder of his wife at home. Lee had taken to these right-at-dawn training sessions to make himself better available for Tenten and baby Metal. He was usually out just after four and back in by eight, right when his family was rising. Beki was due at any time, so Neji had adjusted to Lee's new schedule in an attempt to offer his wife the same courtesy.
The training was physically intense and the conversation consisted mostly of the men discussing their families. Or rather, Neji politely listening to Lee's insane fathering advice. Right as they were finishing up, a figure came running their way.
Lee stared intently at the approaching person. "Neji, is that your mother in law?"
Neji turned his attention to the visitor. "It is Yuki." As the seconds stretched, Neji's eyes grew wide as realization gripped at his spine. "Oh my God. It's happening. It's happening!"
"Hey!" Yuki called out from twenty feet away. "Beks just went into labor."
"What are you doing here?!" Neji practically screamed. "You should be with her!"
Yuki rolled her eyes and gave an impatient puff. "First of all," She bobbed her head and held up a finger advising caution. "If anyone should be stapled to her side, it's you. Second, labor can take up to twenty hours in our family, so really, there's no rush. And third of all, Miki was on her way to pick Beki up."
Neji had begun hyperventilating. "I need to- I- I need to get to her right now!" Neji began to gather his things. He was so distracted he dropped half of what he picked up until Lee clasped a hand on his shoulder. With a thumbs up and a confident look, Lee said:
"I'll take care of everything here. Go and fulfill your destiny!"
"I'll meet you at the orphanage in a bit. I have to go let Kakashi know where I'll be," Yuki said as she turned and headed off for town.
Lee's grip on Neji's shoulder tightened. He looked at his friend only to see a shadow had eclipsed Lee's entire demeanor. "Neji...why are you meeting her at the orphanage?!" Lee upturned his face, revealing dramatic tears streaming down his face. "I'm your friend! You should have asked me for help before resorting to this!"
"No, Lee, it isn't like that," Neji sighed, the strange set of Beki's circumstances rearing their ugly head again. "The doctor that works there, he's the one that saved Beki. With how delicate her health is we thought it better that the doctor that did her surgery be the one to deliver the baby."
Lee gave way to sobs as he strongly embraced Neji. "I'm so relieved!"
Neji sighed and embraced Lee back. If he was ever going to hug him, it would be today. And only today. Lee pulled back slightly at the sudden show of affection, his eyes sparkling with wonder, only to redouble his sobbing and hug Neji even harder.
Never again, Neji thought as Lee threatened to crush his spine. Never. Again.
…
Neji practically staggered into town in the crippling hold of his shock. He was going to be a father. This thought had crossed his mind hundreds of times over the last six months but today it had a completely different meaning. It had been a warm fuzzy in his heart as he held back Beki's hair while she threw up (the morning sickness had been nearly crippling for the better part of her pregnancy). He had made jokes with her about all her strange cravings. In fact, when joking about it with his friends or when he heard Beki talk about it with the other women, her cravings had been in fact on the extremely strange side. To the point Neji had to curb her. Fermented cabbage, red meat so rare it was practically bloody, and an aversion to sweets so strong she almost threw up if someone walked by with a cupcake. All that was going to end. The source of all the excitement, joy, and fear was about to arrive. No more would it be this amorphous, abstract thing. It was going to be a tiny person he could hold in his hands. Hand, actually. If Beki's baby was anything like Metal, Neji would be able to hold the tiny bundle in one hand.
The closer he drew to the orphanage, the more leaden Neji became. The emotions just kept stewing and swirling in his mind to the point of near paralysis. He was sweating despite the chill. He stopped and looked around to get his bearings, realizing he had been wandering off course. He looked at the shops and business and a thought occurred to him: Neji should bring Beki something. His eyes landed on the Yamanaka flower shop and Neji followed.
"Hey Neji," Ino blinked up at him, Inojin in a baby swing behind the counter. To an average customer he would be out of sight, but Neji was just tall enough to spot the blue beanie as it swung in and out of view. "What can I help you with?"
Neji shook his head slowly as he looked for the words. "Beki...she's...she's in labor."
"Congratulations," Ino smiled.
"I wanted to bring her some flowers-" Neji began but Ino cut him off.
"Sorry to stop you there but flowers are the last thing she's going to want," Ino rested a hand on her hip. "It might make her nauseous and be dangerous for the baby. They don't let flowers into the delivery ward at the hospital."
Neji cursed himself for not thinking of that himself. He opened his mouth to apologize for bothering her and excuse himself when Ino held up a finger.
"You want to bring her something, right?" Ino turned and walked into the back room. She emerged a moment later with a bottle that looked like a sports drink. "Give her this." Neji accepted it with a slightly confused expression. "She's going to seriously dehydrate herself. I know they'll have her on close watch but getting some electrolytes back into her system will be a huge relief."
"Thank you, Ino," Neji gave her a small, genuine smile. "I don't know what to say."
"Just tell her she better still be down for that trade off babysitting we talked about," Ino smiled. "I haven't gotten to go on a date with Sai in forever."
The teenage animosity Beki and Ino had shared had been bridged after Beki's return. Ino was just about to give birth and Beki had only been a few months in, so she had approached Ino for some advice. It was an odd and unexpected friendship but proved that the real reason the girls had fought like cats was because they were a tad too similar in a lot of ways.
As Neji prepared to leave, Ino laughed and gestured at the far wall. "Hey, I could send you with a cactus. That would probably be safe."
Neji nearly winced at the suggestion. "No," He raised the bottle. "This is great. Thank you."
He left the shop and stuck the bottle in his pack. His visit with Ino had been helpful in giving Neji a clearer focus. Neji needed to be thinking about taking care of Beki. Was there anything else he could do before he headed out to see her? Yuki had packed a duffle bag with some essentials for if Beki had to stay at the orphanage overnight: a sweater, pajamas, a change of underwear, etc. Magazines? Neji thought as he began to walk slowly down the boulevard. No. She'll be too exhausted to read. He thought about grabbing her some kind of treat on the way, but again Ino's words echoed to him. Beki had been incredibly sensitive to smells during her pregnancy and she might still be that way after the birth. The more Neji considered his options, the more he realized that the best thing he could do was to be there for her. Then, if Beki needed anything, he could go and take care of it for her. It was a silly errand for him to try to psychically determine what she wanted right now. Neji's resolve renewed, he doubled his pace in the direction of the orphanage only to be stopped but an unexpected voice uttering his name.
"Miyu?" Neji turned.
His former fiance stood timidly outside the store she had just left. Miyu was well dressed and had gotten her long hair cut to her shoulders. There was an unsure smile on her face, as if she half expected Neji to yell at her for disrupting his day.
"Hi, Neji," She adjusted the hem of her shirt self-consciously. "How are you?"
Sensing he was disrupting the flow of street traffic, Neji stepped over beside her. For a moment he chastised himself, he needed to get to his wife as soon as possible. Then again, Yuki had said that Beki would probably be in labor for hours yet and it would be rude to snub Miyu after all this time. Either way, by subconsciously moving to meet her, Neji had made his decision. "I'm doing well. I was just on my way to meet my wife; she just went into labor."
Miyu gave a slight start. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I'll let you go-"
Neji shook his head. "It's alright. I have some time to spare. She'll be in labor for a long time."
"Oh," Miyu nodded, an embarrassed flush coming into her cheeks. "Okay."
She reached up to tuck some hair behind her ear when Neji noticed the rings on her left hand. It was a beautiful set: a diamond studded wedding band that wrapped gracefully around a plain band with a massive square cut diamond. Based on the color of the metal, Neji could tell it was platinum. For a moment his stomach sank. He would have loved to get Beki something like that but the two of them struggled to buy groceries every month. It would be a long time- if ever- for Neji to buy Beki a nicer ring. Not that Beki cared, of course. It was just one of those small digs at his manhood he had to take from time to time. Neji had a constant desire to provide (and spoil, if possible) his wife and was consistently unable to do so. Yuki had to buy them their crib and the only baby clothes and supplies they had were gifts from Beki's baby shower. Beki herself had been stuck wearing the same three dresses the last couple months of her pregnancy. Such was their life, though. Neji walked around content with his choice and although he couldn't read Beki's mind, he was sure she felt the same way.
"Miyu, you got married," Neji gestured at the ring. "Congratulations, Mrs... ?"
"Kenji," The words had hardly left Miyu's mouth before Neji's hair stood on end.
"Really," Was all he could manage, the pleasantries he'd been stewing in his mind suddenly nowhere to be found.
"My husband's family reached out to my parents shortly after you and I broke up," Miyu explained. "They've been nice to me. I know their family and your family aren't close anymore, but…" Miyu's voice trailed off for a moment as she chose her words carefully. "I hope we can stay on friendly terms. I...I don't blame you for what happened. I'm not angry. I'll admit I was hurt." After taking the initial step, Miyu began to gain momentum as her confidence grew. "I was upset with you for a while. Since then, I've seen you and Haruka together. You two...I could never make you that happy. You're a good person. You deserve that happiness after all the suffering you went through."
"Thank you, Miyu," Neji said, almost automatically. He was still stuck on "Kenji". "That means a lot. I never mean to hurt you."
Miyu nodded. "I know that. Don't worry about it. I hope that we can be friendly in the future." She paused, her fluster returning. "Not like I'm asking us all to go on a double date or anything. Just...I'd like it if we could say 'hi' if we see each other in the street. That sort of thing."
"Of course, Miyu." Neji gave her a small smile. "So, what about you? Are you happy?"
It took Miyu a moment to respond. When she did, her tone was measured carefully. "I'm lucky. My husband is a busy man, so I have a lot of freedom. I'm still able to work at the hospital as much as I would like and I'm well provided for."
"As long as you're happy Miyu. That's what's important," She looked fine. Her behavior was mostly normal and there were no physical signs of abuse. It didn't sound like the happiest marriage, maybe cold and distant as many arranged marriages were. But it wasn't Neji's place to pry.
"Say hi to your wife for me," Miyu smiled. "And congratulations, Neji. I can't wait to meet the baby."
Neji gave her a small smile in return. "Me too."
…
It hadn't mattered that Neji even came to the orphanage. He mopped Beki's brow and uttered soft words of encouragement, but once the real action started Kabuto and Miki kicked him and Yuki out. It killed him to be away from her at such a critical time but there was something in the way Kabuto told him to get out, a cruel glint in his eye, maybe, that told Neji not to argue. He heard machines beeping aggressively and his wife's muffled groans. Miki and Kabuto's voices were barely mumbles through the door. After nearly an hour, Neji heard the kitten like mewling of a newborn baby. Neji at first felt waves of relief wash over him but then the deathly silence the cries echoed in brought the elation crashing down. Was Beki alright? Miki had warned him that Beki's health was incredibly fragile. Did something go wrong?
Yuki sat passively on the bench beside him. The only indication of her unease was the way she kept bouncing her knee. She stared at the door intently, any attempts at conversation were stifled with Yuki giving a terse "shh". Neji's mind kept stewing, swirling in darkness until the void swallowed him whole. Neji had lost Beki once and it had nearly killed him. What would he do if he had lost her again, this time for good, to raise their baby by himself? It was too much. He didn't care what Kabuto would do to him. Neji could just use his Byakugan to check on her, but Neji wanted Beki to see him. He wanted her to know he loved her and was just within reach. Neji stood and crossed over to the door.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Yuki cautioned but Neji ignored her. He barged in the room with tunnel vision. "Beki!" He cried. His eyes darted around the room, taking in bits and pieces. He caught a glimpse of Miki toweling off a small pink blob. Beki was collapsed onto the table, her arms hanging limply off the sides. Her skin had a deathly pallor, ashen in the cold fluorescent light. Kabuto was threading a needle and glanced with disinterest at Neji. "Chiba." He said, like a command. Suddenly, Neji was grabbed by the waistband and bodily thrown out of the room. Neji landed on the bench across from the door and looked up at his assailant as she slammed the door shut. A little girl, about the size of a kindergartener was standing with her hands on her hips. Puffed up to her full height she stood as the world's tiniest bouncer in front of the operating room. "They told you to stay out," Chiba gave him a wide, unsettlingly toothy grin. "Beki will be just fine. You have to let momma and Kabuto work. If you interrupt them and Beki dies, then it's your fault for distracting them."
Neji's face twisted in confusion. His response had less to do with her words and more to do with the shock to his system. How could someone so small be so strong? Neji considered that perhaps in his desperation his footing was weak and she may have just carried him with his own momentum. Then again, he didn't even see the girl move. She had been a tiny flash. Ren had been an incredibly small adult. Maybe this girl was the same. Perhaps she just looked like a child but was actually older, closer to genin age? Her aura was ominous, almost threatening. It set Neji's already frayed nerves on edge. "Excuse me?"
Chiba nodded. "You heard me."
"Your form is getting good, Chiba," Yuki offered.
"Thank you, Yuki hime," Chiba grinned. "I've been working hard."
"So, is everything going okay in there so far?" Yuki asked as casually as if she hadn't seen her son in law tossed across the room by the world's smallest genin.
Chiba nodded. "She's weak and she tore. She lost some blood but she'll be okay."
"H-how much blood?" Neji's mind flashed back to Beki's blue gray flesh. "Does she need a transfusion?"
Chiba nodded. "Momma is type O negative. She had a bag of it on standby. Kabuto is gonna use it."
"How do we know she's not going to have a bad reaction? Isn't her health really delicate?" Neji looked at Yuki, desperate for someone to be as concerned as he was. Instead, Yuki appeared completely calm. She shook her head as she spoke:
"Whose blood do you think they used after Beks came back from the dead? Beki already has a pint of Miki running through her veins. If she didn't react badly to that amount, I doubt a bag more will make a difference."
"It's not hard this time," Chiba nodded. "Saving her before was a lot harder."
It dawned on Neji that he was the only person in this building that hadn't been present for Beki's revival. It even seemed this small girl had been involved. Their perspective kept them mellowed out in the face of one of Neji's greatest fears. To them, if Beki had pulled through that massive surgery, delivering the baby was a cake walk. Before he could stew further, the door opened a sliver. Miki's bright green eye swept the hall before she opened the door. Chiba stepped aside as her mother emerged holding an impossibly small bundle. Her face was drawn with concern as she crossed over to Neji.
"Beki needs a little longer," Miki said softly. "I figured you would want to meet your son in the meantime."
Neji felt lightheaded as he slowly rose to his feet. His legs went numb and his hands trembled as he took the blanket from her hands. It was cream colored and incredibly soft. Beki and Yuki had picked it out for its pattern. On the surface, it seemed harmless. Cute woodland animals pranced through forest scenes, but if you looked closer, you would notice mythical creatures hiding in their midst. The clouds over the moon looked like a rabbit. A kitsune could be seen weaving between the trees. A tanuki peeked out of the hole in a tree and a nekomata could be seen behind a bush. It was that Getsu morbidity rearing its ugly head. Neji didn't like it at all, but he supposed Beki and Yuki meant it as a ward against ill omens. An acknowledgement that these dangers existed and were out there, that they respected and feared them, and prayed the spirits would pass their family by. Such profound gestures seemed silly when applied to the pink baby in Neji's hands. He was tiny, smaller than Neji had expected. Neji held onto the bundle with both arms, securing the baby safely against his chest.
"He's a little underweight," Miki offered as if sensing Neji's thoughts. "Nothing serious. Barely under seven pounds."
"Is he okay, though?" Neji looked up at her with concern. "He's healthy?"
Miki nodded. "We were worried, of course, because of this little guy's checkered past. We had no idea what being locked in the ice and having to survive his mother's surgery would do to him. But here he is, with a set of pipes on him, too." Miki grinned reassuringly. "I think he gets that from his mother."
Neji laughed involuntarily. He was surprised when he felt tears fall on his cheeks. His smile twitched in confusion as he looked back down at the baby in his arms. His son. This was his boy. Neji rocked his baby gently, tears of joy splattering the blanket. Yuki had risen and come to his side so quietly Neji hardly noticed. She reached down and laced her finger through the impossibly small hand. "He's exhausted," Yuki said as she looked her grandson over. "Hey," She said as she came around Neji's other side and began fiddling with the blanket. "Let me see his feet."
"Why?" Neji furrowed his brow, shrugging her off protectively. Yuki scoffed and exposed a little foot to the air.
"Look at these things! He's a freaking kangaroo already," Yuki smiled approvingly. "He's going to be tall."
Again, as Neji looked at his son, it was hard to imagine him as anything but exactly what he was: Neji and Beki's entire life in one tiny, perfect package. Neji didn't care if the boy would be tall or strong, just that he was healthy and that he was finally here. A small cough caught all their attention. Kabuto stood in the doorway, wiping his hands on a hot towel. "She's awake. I imagine she would like to see what she endured thirty-two stitches for."
Neji winced and nodded. Kabuto stepped aside as Neji entered the room. Yuki respectfully remained outside, allowing the couple their first moment of joy as parents. Neji saw some of Beki's color had come back but her face was haggard. Bruise-like bags were forming under her eyes and her entire body glistened with sweat. Her platinum hair was plastered to her forehead in patches, but when she looked up at Neji and the baby, her smile could have lit up a room.
"Hey," He said softly.
"Hi," Beki replied as she opened her arms to him. Neji leaned in and kissed her gently, tasting salt as he pulled away. "Are you ready to meet our boy?"
Beki nodded. Neji gently held out the bundle to her. Beki wrapped her arms around the blanket and brought the baby to her chest. "You counted?"
Neji nodded. "All ten toes, all ten fingers. Your mom says he's going to be tall."
Beki laughed. "I would hope so with you for a dad and my dad for a grandfather."
Neji stroked her head, snuggling up against her as they looked lovingly upon their son.
"So," Neji smiled gently. "Does he look more like a Satoru or a Hikaru to you?"
Beki surveyed the sleeping boy in her arms for a moment. She ran her fingers over his head, then his little arms and fingers. "Satoru. Definitely Satoru."
"Hyuga Satoru it is, then," Neji wrapped an arm around her shoulder lovingly. "I love you so much, Beki."
"I love you, too," Beki nestled her head into Neji's neck, the three of them snuggled up in a perfect bubble of familial joy. The baby stirred, his little mouth opening in a yawn. Suddenly, Beki's mind was forcefully pulled back to the battlefield, another mouth gaping wide. It was gasping for breath as blood bubbled like fine foam from her lips.
"Curse you," The Burned Maiden's voice was deeper, louder than it had been in life. The room seemed to grow darker. Beki wasn't sure if she imagined it, but the fluorescent lights began to flicker. Her hair stood on end. The familiar chill of her body warning Beki against impending danger washed over her.
"Your children," The voice rang in Beki's ears as she clutched her son more tightly, hands trembling.
As if compelled by an unseen force, Beki spoke the last word of the curse aloud. It was barely above a whisper as the dead Maiden bellowed in her head:
"Madness."
This is it, the final chapter for Tale of the Three Maidens. This has been quite a journey we've gone on together and I'm grateful to each and every one of you who has supported me through this process. I still think I'm fairly green as a writer but I've built up a lot of confidence. It's become part of my lifestyle at this point.
I got so used to thinking up new ideas and exploring relationships/fun situations for these characters. I think that's why it's been emotionally difficult to write this last piece. There were several times during the draft I did my little "I have an idea" gasp and started typing, only to pause and erase what I had written. Is this a perfect ending? No. There are probably questions some of you still have, things that I didn't answer in this last stretch. That was intentional. If I do end up writing a Gaiden or a sequel, I need to have some threads to pull from. Nothing feels worse than a second installment that feels stapled onto the end of the last one.
That being said, I haven't gotten a lot of responses on continuing this story in either a short form piece or a full sequel, which is fine. I never thought ToTM would get the kind of attention it has. It was just some stupid spinoff piece full of bit jokes about a valley girl kunoichi I developed to get Tallman laughing and interested in writing again. It developed a lot from there, but at its core, this wasn't ever about me. It was getting the most special, talented person I have ever known back in the saddle. I know a lot of you are writers and have experienced that crippling writer's block; even more so when you have a fan base clamoring to get your attention and demanding updates you just aren't ready or able to write. It's been a slow process but Tallman is writing again and that's enough for me.
I would say overall this little experiment has been a success. I finally finished something I wrote, got a lot of great constructive feedback, and I think the quality was consistent throughout. That's why I'm okay if ToTM is both my debut and my swan song. I've neglected some of my other hobbies in the fever pitch of cranking this out in two years so I have some catching up to do. If I do end up writing more, it won't be for some time. Before I published the first chapter of ToTM, I had 70 pages of content built up. That's how I would do it again.
Now that my story is over I probably won't be checking in on fanfiction as often. If you have a burning question/need feedback/curious about updates or just want to talk, Tallman and I are on the discord I posted in the last chapter. I think that just about covers everything. As Seiichiro and Beki used to say, "See you on the other side."
Poncho