Arriving in Konoha was typically a relief for Beki. Over the last several years of her life, the sight of those gates had meant salvation from disaster. On the surface nothing had changed. The towering trees parted to reveal the great wooden gates, a bright spot in the center of the dense forest. The same birds sang. Beki could smell the familiar rich dirt and sharp scent of the underbrush intermingling with the pine. Yet somehow everything seemed off. There was this hazy, threatening quality that reminded her of the moment in a dream where she realized it was going to be a nightmare.

"You'll stay close to me." The edge in Yuki's voice could have cut glass. "We move quickly through the streets. We hit my apartment, grab my stash, blaze through town for a supply run, and then go to the Hyuga."

"What should I say?" Beki glanced at her. "I'm getting recalled?"

"That's up to you." Yuki rolled her shoulders. "Whatever you feel Hinata will buy the fastest. Don't settle in for a long goodbye. I know it'll be difficult for you. The two of you have been close. But if you really love her, you'll get your shit and go."

"Because the longer I linger, the higher chance of a run in with the new regime?" Beki asked.

Yuki nodded. After a few moments, she let out a sigh and mumbled. "What are the chances I meet two perfect men in my life and lose them both?"

"Things might work out okay for you," Beki couldn't handle Yuki when she was pessimistic. It was the opposite of what she had come to expect from the woman. Her constant boasting and glowing self confidence had become a rock to lean on during hard times. The absence of it, the hopelessness from such a bastion was like watching a dam crumble from the shore. It took active effort for Beki to bolster herself and not give into the urge to go into crisis mode.

"Yeah, maybe when they send the only person I've opened up to in that town to kill me, I can knock him over the head real hard." Yuki rolled her eyes. "He'll forget he's been sent to assassinate me and we can have a nice cottage on the beach somewhere."

Beki gave her an unsure smile. "Hey, stranger things have happened. You came back from the dead after a decade as a human popsicle?"

Yuki clenched her fists, ignoring her daughter as they approached the guards. "Go time."

The pair did their best to act like nothing was amiss. The guards were familiar faces, fortunately, and so making small talk was easy. They were kind enough to give Beki the heads up there was a new Hokage and she should be on call for an audience for him in the near future.

Beki was grateful she wasn't in her armor as they blazed through the streets. The armor was too distinctive, drew too much attention, guaranteed Beki would have run ins with people she knew. Doubly so for any new kage's goonies that may have been on the lookout for her.

Yuki's normally confident, catlike prowl had transformed into a slouching shuffle. Beki imitated the walk. Acting like they weren't worth noticing often had that exact effect on the collective conscious. Once they had transitioned into the residential area where Yuki's apartment was they broke out into a trot. Not fast enough to warrant suspicion but with enough of a hustle that they would be hard to tail as they bobbed and weaved through the alleys and side streets.

When they reached the apartment Yuki had Beki wait outside. It was almost a full minute of strained silence as Beki heard her shuffle around in the darkness.

"It's clear." Yuki's voice called from somewhere in the back.

Beki entered, closing and locking the door behind them.

"Do whatever you need to do." Yuki called out from the bedroom. "Shower, use the bathroom. Leave the stuff you brought to Suna unless it's valuable. If we ever get a chance to come back I'll do some laundry."

She dumped her bag obediently on the table and sorted through its contents. Most of the items were easy to discard, allowing her the luxury of a nearly empty pack. Yuki moved through the apartment like ghost. Beki was vaguely aware of her appearing and disappearing around her, fishing money out of a hidden cache and stowing something else in its place, opening and closing drawers and cabinets. After a few minutes Yuki tossed a bundle at Beki.

"Put that in your bag."

Beki looked down and surveyed the bulky lump. "What's all this?"

"Change of clothes, a few weapons, some money, medicine." Yuki folded her arms. "If we end up getting attacked I need to be as load-free as possible."

Over the months she had known her Beki had noticed Yuki's penchant for traveling light. The woman didn't even wear a kunai pouch, preferring to carry what was needed concealed on her body or to go without entirely. Beki's armor and kanabo made her a beast of burden by default. There was no simple way for her to increase her speed or dexterity. It was simpler for them both to accept themselves as they were: Yuki as the raging demon of speed and Beki as the slow, devastating oni pack mule. Her mother's voice pulled her from her thoughts:

"It would draw too much attention if we went to the Hyuga mansion together." Yuki folded her arms and leaned against the wall. "Your deception skills are enough I can trust sending you in on your own. Remember: in and out. As few interactions as possible. If Hinata isn't home, even better. Leave a note you've been recalled and get the hell out of dodge."

Beki nodded grimly. The thought of leaving without so much as a goodbye created a unique knot in her gut. Guilt, regret, denial, and longing all converged within her to do battle. The Hyuga had been a family to her. Her time under their roof, although rife with conflict and misfortune they played no part in, had been the most stable Beki's life had ever been. The clan went above and beyond the call of duty to keep her in their care. They went out of their way to include her in family functions, to comfort her in times of distress, and celebrate her successes.

When Seiichiro had died, no one in the clan had pressured her. She had felt it from the youngest branch child all the way up to Hiashi himself they had collectively formed a protective wall around her both physically and emotionally. In their hands she had been safe from all threats, be it further assassination attempts or disrupting her grieving process. That alone was enough to make Beki feel like an ungrateful wretch for not formally saying goodbye to the family. She owed them a party, lavish gifts, a tearful speech followed by a thousand meaningful embraces. That didn't even begin to cover what Beki owed Neji, let alone Hinata. By Beki's accounting, she owed Hinata at least a kidney and Neji one question free body disposal.

"I'll do my best," Beki lied. Gaara and her mother could go on all day about her safety and making smart calls. Beki had to live with herself afterwards. After missing out on saying a real goodbye to her father, Beki was never going to let that happen again.

"Alright." Yuki began to stretch her arms. "I'll meet you at our usual training spot outside town. If you're not there by nightfall, I come in claws out."

"If anything happens you'll know before then," Beki pictured pillars of smoke and screaming, her glowing hands splattered with blood.

…

Beki moved through town with purpose. Her senses were on high alert, constantly scanning for anyone watching her or in pursuit. You belong here. She repeated to herself. You know where you're going and you aren't doing anything wrong. Beki mentally tried to project those thoughts out into the world, willing everyone in the vicinity to ignore her.

It worked rather well. Until Konohamaru collided into her from the side as he burst out of an alley.

"Nee san," Konohamaru rubbed his nose, a big toothy grin splitting open his not-so-little face.

"Oh, hey," Beki returned with a genuine smile, despite her subconscious screaming at her that she was a failure as a shinobi. "What's up little man?"

"Weren't you in Suna?" Konohamaru asked. "I asked Neji if you were around and he said you'd be there for another week."

Beki shrugged. "Ambassador stuff came up. I have to go home to Getsu for a while."

"How long is a while?" He pouted. "You're always so busy. I never see you anymore."

He was taller than she was now. Beki remembered when she came to Konoha almost four years before he had barely crested her hip. Konohamaru still had some baby fat on his little cheeks and a gap-toothed smile back then. He was well on his way to being an adult now. How did Beki miss it? It was like the little boy she'd taken under her wing had climbed into a cocoon and emerged with a jaw, adult teeth, shoulders to rival her own, and at least an extra foot in height. It broke her heart. He had grown up in her peripheral and Beki had been so caught up in her own business she'd missed out.

The little boy was still in there, somewhere. Beki could see it in the shameless, manipulative way he pouted at her. She could almost hear him beg and bribe the way he had years ago. Age had brought enough dignity for him to leave all that unsaid but it brought Beki some small comfort to share that silent understanding.

This must be how Yuki feels.

Beki blinked a few times at the crippling sadness that overcame her. She hated how vulnerable it made her feel. It was like a bucket of ice water had been dropped over her head while wearing a white t-shirt. She felt the self-indulgent self-loathing that only came from making an abundantly obvious realization far too late to do anything about it. Konohamaru, for all intents and purposes, had been like a little brother to her. Now as he teetered on the precipice of adulthood, when he would need her most, she was going to vanish.

She pulled him into a tight hug, squishing him as hard as she could. The gesture caught him off guard for a moment. He quickly disregarded any semblance of composure and burrowed into her.

"I don't know when we'll get the chance but we'll catch up as soon as I can." Beki chose her words carefully. It wasn't so much a promise as it was a prayer. She wanted to see him again. Wanted to be there for him, to watch him grow, to see him become Hokage someday. That wasn't in her power, though. Each day that passed made her painfully aware of how little was in her control. All she could do in this moment was try to let Konohamaru know how much she cared and to beg for another chance.

"I love you, Konohamaru. Be good while I'm gone."

"Hey!" Konohamaru pushed her away and stared her down. It was off putting, having to look up at him. Especially with such an uncharacteristic intensity to his gaze. "I don't like this. You make it sound like you're never coming home."

Beki had to force herself to hold eye contact. "I lost my dad traveling on the road to Getsu. I'm just covering my bases, kiddo."

He glowered and folded his arms. "I'll escort you if it's so dangerous. No one's going to get the chance to hurt you if I'm around."

Beki pat his head affectionately. "I can burst into flames, remember? I should be okay."

"I won't forgive you if you do something stupid trying to be a hero." Konohamaru reluctantly disengaged from the coveted head pats. "You promised you'll work with me when I'm Hokage."

"I did. So you have to work hard to get elected." Beki poked his nose. "I'll try to keep my job in the mean time."

He sighed in resignation. "Fine, nee san. I'll let you get going. When you get back I get one whole day with you, and I mean the entire thing. From morning until midnight. And I'm not sharing you with anybody. Not the Kazekage, not Neji, not Hinata, not your creepy mom, no one."

"I'll take you to a nice dinner." Beki prayed again.

"No!" He puffed up. "I'm a real shinobi! I go on missions, too! I'm buying dinner. If you're going to be all pushy about paying for stuff you can get lunch or dessert."

"Or if we go to a movie?" Beki cupped his face in her hands, squishing his cheeks one last time.

Konohamaru blushed despite himself. "You're making it sound like a date."

"That's what it is, right? A date with your nee san," Beki tried not to get choked up. "Someone has to help you practice."

"Ah, um, yeah. Okay." Konohamaru was looking at the ground so intently he was liable to wear a hole in it. "So you'll go out on a date with me when you get back."

Beki nodded. A terrible sinking feeling had come over her. There was no reason for it but she felt herself physically deflate. She chalked it up to all the pent up anxiety and hyper alertness she'd been living with for the last several days taking its toll.

Konohamaru sheepishly held up his fist with a pinky extended. "Promise?"

"I can do better than that." Beki laughed as she took his face in her hands and pulled him down to her level. She planted a quick kiss on his lips and he flailed.

Konohamaru recoiled and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "You do that just to screw with me and it's a jerk move, nee san. Stop messing with me like I'm some little kid."

"I know you aren't. Old habits just die hard." Beki pat his head again. "I'll see you on the other side, Konohamaru."

"Be safe." He said, shoving his hands in his pockets as he tried to be as fixated as possible on a stray piece of paper nearby. As Beki walked away, Konohamaru felt like he should call out to her. He didn't know why or what to say so he stopped himself. There was a knot forming in his gut he only ever felt when they were out in the field. It was that moment of weightlessness at the top of a roller coaster when time stood still. The chill that crept up his spine right before the drop. He felt it whenever something bad was going to happen: Orochimaru's attack on Konoha, Asuma and his grandpa's death, and when Pain attacked. All Konohamaru could hope was that for once his instincts were wrong. Maybe a nasty storm was coming and that was throwing him off.

He shook his head as she moved out of sight and rubbed the back of his neck, still red in the face from the physical affection. Konohamaru always hated to see Beki go and today was no different. That didn't change the fact that seeing her always made him happy. The rest of the day could be shot but as long as he saw his nee san, he went to sleep smiling like an idiot.

…

Blessedly, Beki reached the Hyuga compound without another run in. She greeted familiar faces as she passed through on her way to Hinata's house. As Beki made her way up the path to the house, her legs slowly turned to lead. For the longest continuous stretch of her life this house had been her home. Beki hadn't really taken in the place properly, she realized. Although she knew time was of the essence Beki paused reverently and let her eyes drink the place in. Architecture was hardly her thing, so she focused on the big things rather than the fine details. All of Hinata's flowers in the front. The little tea garden she kept on the side so they could have fresh lavender, peppermint, and chamomile for tea. The porch Beki would use for reading or cleaning, be it a rug or her armor. Big inviting windows that Beki had climbed out of at least once each over the course of her stay. The door where she had greeted and bid farewell to nearly all of her loved ones.

Dammit. Beki slammed a fist into her thigh to center herself. This wasn't her home, it belonged to Naruto and Hinata. A couple generations, a few renovations, and no trace of her ever living here would remain. It was just a building. Walls, a roof, and a floor. She couldn't afford to get choked up over a house. Not with how much worse she had in store for herself.

After a deep breath to steady herself, Beki entered the house. She hesitated in the entryway to listen for signs of life. There was the gentle hum of the running dishwasher and the whirr of fans throughout the house. Beki's heart sunk. Although from her mother's perspective, Hinata's absence was the best possible occurrence, for Beki it was the worst outcome. She took off her shoes out of habit and went up to her bedroom. As quickly as Yuki had taught her, Beki weighed the value of all of her possessions in sweeping glances with as much detachment as possible. A few priceless items made the cut, like her parents' only wedding photo and a small bundle of letters with pictures she'd taken with her friends in Konoha tucked in between. The Asou ancestral kimono was gingerly packed away from anything that might damage it leaving Beki with no space for any other sentimental items.

She changed into her armor and packed a spare change of clothes. As she was doing a final sweep, she heard the door open downstairs.

"Beki?" Hinata's voice drifted uncertainly up from the kitchen.

Beki clutched the strap on her bag as she mustered up all of her courage. She exhaled and headed for the stairs. "Yeah, it's me."

Hinata met her in the living room with a concerned expression. "You're home so early. Is everything okay?"

Beki sized her up. Hinata was pretty as usual. Maybe a little more so. The late afternoon sun made her hair sparkle with a million amethysts wherever it caught her. It brought uncharacteristic warmth to her skin and accentuated her soft feminine features. She had been out running errands from the look of her outfit, or perhaps she was getting ready for a daytime date with Naruto. It was a simple beige A line dress that flattered her hourglass figure. Based on the little white ankle socks, Beki guessed she'd been wearing her cute little brown suede booties to match.

Living together all these years, Beki had looked at Hinata a million times. They'd had sleepovers in the same bed, bathed in the springs, helped each other dress, and done each other's hair and makeup. They were as intimate as family. As Beki took Hinata in, she was slowly crushed by the weight of knowing she would likely never see her best friend- her sister- again. That was Beki's burden, though, not Hinata's. She reached down deep into her reserves of kunoichi training and steeled herself. If she cried now, Hinata would never let her leave until she fixed everything. The situation they were in was outside all of their control, however, so Beki owed it to Hinata to hold it together.

"Yes and no," Beki said at last. "There is a lot happening in the political world right now."

Hinata's jaw set. "Is this because we have a new kage?"

"Partially." Beki folded her arms and leaned against the wall gingerly so as not to scuff it with her plates. "It's not uncommon for ambassadors to get used as leverage during times of political upheaval."

Before Beki could miss a beat, Hinata nodded. "You have to go back to Getsu to stay out of it."

Beki chuckled uncomfortably. "Yes. Especially since I made myself more of a valuable chess piece on accident."

Hinata's brows knit and a small frown formed as she puzzled through Beki's statement. Beki held out her left hand as a response.

Hinata gasped and ran forward, taking Beki's hand in hers to examine the engagement ring. "He proposed?!"

"Yup." Beki felt a flush creeping into her cheeks.

"And you said yes?" Hinata's excitement was quickly giving way to confusion.

"Yup?" Beki scratched the back of her head with her free hand.

Hinata kept ahold of Beki's hand as she shook her head. "I thought you two were having problems. You told me this was a coin toss for staying together or breaking up. Marriage wasn't even on the table."

"I was being noncommittal and he called me on it. I wanted our relationship to be fixed, for him to completely change, and I wasn't putting in a fair share of effort." Beki gave Hinata's hand a squeeze. "I…I really love him, you know? As much as he pisses me off I wasn't communicating with him. Being long distance like we were, it was easy to make him out to be this sociopathic monster."

"Beki, he was a sociopathic monster." Hinata said with a deadpan expression.

Beki waved her hand dismissively. "Aside from the legitimate complaints. These were just me making him out to be the bad guy. Being with him again, I had to own up to my half of the problems."

"This is a big commitment, sweetie." Hinata ran her thumb over the ring. "This is forever."

"I mean, technically yes but technically no." Beki shrugged. "If things really went south we could get a divorce."

Hinata raised an eyebrow, otherwise betraying no other emotion. "You really think you could divorce Gaara and live to tell about it? Even if he spared you, you'd be a kage's ex. You would never have a day of peace or privacy again unless you were willing to abandon everything and be a hermit in the mountains somewhere."

Beki tugged nervously at her hair. "I know, Hinata. My mother already grilled me about this. I've made up my mind. I love him. I really do. As much as I want to pretend there's this switch I can flip and stop caring about people, I can't. Is he the most socially awkward person I've ever known? Yes. Is he married to his job and a little over attached to his family? Definitely. Do I lay up at night wondering what he'd look like with some concealer and drawn in eyebrows? Always."

"Are you getting pressured into this?" Hinata asked. "Or is this what you really want?"

Beki nodded. "He gave me an out. Asked me to marry him and said if I wasn't interested, he would leave me alone, no questions asked. He told me how he feels and clearly spelled out what I would be getting myself into if I said yes. Still, even with all that on the table, I just…It's been good more than it's been bad. And the bad has all been things we could fix if I was fair with my expectations. That and remembering to put on my big girl pants and spell out what I need. I was expecting him to be a mind reader and his closest friends are plants. Stupid plants, Hinata. If cactuses were people they couldn't think their way out of a wet paper bag."

"You don't have to justify your decisions to me. It's not my place to tell you what to do with your life." Hinata explained. "It is my job to make sure they are your decisions, though. If you're happy, I'm happy."

Beki couldn't contain herself anymore. She wrapped her arms around Hinata's neck and breathed deeply, taking in the smell of her hair and skin. Her heartrate instantly dropped and a good chunk of the stress she'd been bottling up began to ebb. Hinata held her back, tight enough for Beki to feel it even through the armor.

"I don't know how things are going to go for a while but you can always come home." Hinata whispered, her voice cracking. "No matter what, I'll be here for you."

Beki wished she could stop time. If only she could slow things down, rewind, remember everything perfectly so she could numb herself to emotionally prepare for this. Hinata had come into Beki's life at what she had thought was a volatile time. In reality, she had joined up at the tail end of Beki's childhood. They had been able to play together like little girls, sharing secrets and swapping clothes. As it slowly snowballed from bad to worse the pair had grown up together. Hinata felt like the last physical representation of her childhood. Of her innocence. Beki had this horrifying sense that the moment she let go and walked out the door, it was all over. It was admitting a death, physically closing the lid of the casket and driving in the nails.

In many ways this was worse than a death. Death had a finality to it, an immutable permanence that facilitated the grieving process. There was no other choice. The person was dead, there was nothing else to do but work towards moving on and accepting that someone had been taken away against their loved one's will. Beki was choosing to leave Hinata. Although circumstances were forcing her hand they were not certain the way death was. There was a temptation to roll the dice. To choose the easy, comfortable path and hope it all worked itself out in the end. A few years ago Beki would have taken that bet.

It was with age and experience Beki had come to realize taking that easy, selfish route ultimately foisted the burden of supporting her on others. Despite the fact that everything might be fine Beki was risking Hinata and the Hyuga. She wasn't just betting everything she had; she was throwing all their chips on the table, too.

Perhaps that was the issue after all. It wasn't that Beki had a choice in the matter, rather, that there was the illusion of choice. Given the circumstances there was truly only one path to take. It was the promise, the potential of that path untraveled that made the whole situation so bittersweet.

"You'll be back when things calm down?" Hinata asked, unable to face Beki.

"I'll do my best." Beki lied as convincingly as possible. She'd told Hinata too much. Lingered longer than she was supposed to.

They separated at last, only for Beki to pull Hinata in for a kiss. "I love you. Tell Naruto if he doesn't treat you right I'm coming for him."

Hinata smiled sadly. "You tell Gaara the same. And that no one would ever believe it was me so I would get away with it."

Beki laughed and gave her a final hug goodbye. Hinata followed her to the door. Beki walked down the path from the house, feeling her feet drag with each step. She slowed and eventually stopped. When she turned, the sadness and longing were plain on her face, despite her desperate attempt at a reassuring smile. Hinata gave her a comforting wave. Once Beki had moved out of view, Hinata brought a hand to her mouth to muffle the sobs that were stealing their way from her throat. She closed the door and barely found the strength to drag herself to the couch before collapsing.

As Hinata indulged in her childlike sobbing fit, she was vaguely aware that the sun had set. A knock at the door registered beneath the sounds of her own pitiful whimpering.

"Come-come in," She squeezed out between breaths.

Neji stepped inside. The moment he laid eyes on Hinata he went on full alarm.

"Hinata?! What's happened?" He rushed over to her side. "Are you hurt?"

"No," Hinata dragged herself up into a sitting position. Her body felt like a sack of concrete. "There's no time. You have to go."

Neji looked at her, confusion plain on his face. "What are you talking about?"

"Beki was here," Hinata took the tissue box he grabbed off the coffee table. "She's headed for Getsu. She isn't coming back."

"What do you mean?" Neji felt himself go stiff. "Why wouldn't she come home?"

"There's a lot going on. I'll explain later." Hinata put her hands on his shoulders and gave him a gentle shove. "If you go now you might still catch her if you want to say goodbye."

Neji rose to his feet robotically. He crossed back into the kitchen, flipped on the light for Hinata, and departed without a word.

"I'm sorry, Neji," Hinata wiped her eyes on a tissue, shaking her head at the misfortune of their circumstances. "This isn't fair for any of us. If I thought it would change anything, I would have stopped her."

She rose slowly and forced herself to mount the steps. The only thing that could possibly make Hinata feel any better was a hot shower, comfortable clothes, and perhaps something a little stronger than normal in her tea.

…

"You're lucky." Yuki rolled off of the tree branch she'd been lounging on and landed gracefully on her feet. "A few more minutes and I was going to create such a surplus of bodies they'd run out of people to donate organs to."

"I got caught a couple times and had to talk my way out." Beki adjusted the kanabo on her shoulder with a shrug. "It happens when you live somewhere for four years."

"The longer we stick around here the sooner someone realizes we're not out here to train." Yuki stretched. "Let's try to make good time. We've still got some daylight left to burn."

Beki nodded and the two took off. The pair didn't do much to conceal their tracks. Anyone in pursuit would know full well where they were headed. The only way Beki and Yuki were going to be successful was if they managed to put enough headway between them that catching up was impossible. Beki resigned herself to a week and a half of barely sleeping, seldom eating, and bathing being out of the question. Such was the life.

They were about twenty minutes into their run when rapid footfalls caught both of their attention. Yuki spun in place and sidestepped, putting herself squarely between Beki and whoever was approaching. They recognized Neji's familiar form. The set look of determination on his face put Yuki's dander up.

Instinctively on spotting Neji, Beki lowered her guard and began to step forward. Yuki clapped a hand on her chest and shoved Beki back in place.

"That's close enough, Hyuga." Yuki called out with no attempt to conceal the threatening edge in her voice.

Neji slowed on his approach but made no effort to stop. He had tunnel vision, eyes locked on to Beki as though Yuki weren't present. The temperature of the air dropped noticeably ten degrees. After a few more feet, the ambient temperature fell another twenty degrees. Neji's breath was now fogging before him.

"I'm here to talk to Beki." He said calmly.

"Talk to her from there." Yuki folded her arms, puffing up her chest as she looked down her nose at him.

Beki tried to walk out from behind her mother again only to be corralled back into place. "Hey, Neji."

The cold was intense enough it hurt when Neji inhaled. It cut through his clothes and set his hair on end, although Yuki's broadcast of her clearly murderous intent was contributing to the goosebumps. Despite her carefree attitude and sense of humor, Neji had been vaguely aware of Yuki's existence as a shinobi of a category all her own. Gai had shared details of the night he and Kakashi had to detain her. With a grave expression and humorless laugh, he said it would have taken them both at full capacity to take her down. That was when she didn't have full control of her powers yet. Orochimaru himself hadn't been able to take her out and here she was. Threatening him.

Neji took another step forward. "Beki, what's going on? You come back early from Suna and now you're leaving?"

"I, well, there's a lot going on-" Beki began.

"Not one. More. Step." Yuki stared him down. She kept her eyes on his hands, the air crackling around her with anticipation.

Neji scoffed, ignoring Yuki. "You're going to have to do better than that, Beki."

Beki inhaled and closed her eyes, rubbing her temples. "There's all kinds of political upheaval. There's the Akatsuki situation, the new Hokage, my own complicated situation with close ties to prominent political figures-"

"So you're running off to Getsu with your tail between your legs?" Neji folded his arms. "When are you coming back to Konoha?"

"I…I don't think I'm coming back." Beki folded her hands in front of her.

"So it is true." Neji blinked and looked at his feet. "You came back, dumped this all on Hinata, and then took off without so much as a goodbye?"

"Who the hell is this Danzo guy, Neji? I leave for the Sand and find out Tsunade's suddenly been ousted by someone I've never heard of! I've been in Konoha how many years? Met all the major players and this rando is suddenly kage after a shadow coup?!" Beki threw up her hands. "It couldn't have been a clean break. Do you know who gets used to cement illegitimate regimes? People like me. Willingly or as hostages. After everything your family has done for me I wasn't going to put you guys in that position."

"We would never just hand you over as a hostage because some kage told us to-" Neji clutched his hands into fists, unable to keep the anger out of his tone.

"You know they would." Beki gave him a sad, pleading look. Inviting him to remember the close personal secret about his father he had shared with her.

Neji clenched his jaw and swallowed hard. She was right and he knew it. "I would not let that happen to you."

"Neji, you wouldn't have a choice." Beki said softly.

"That can't be the only reason." Neji shook his head. "You wouldn't just abandon your friends, your life, your station in Konoha over a local political dispute. I know you're an ambassador but you're a diplomat for the Moon. The new Hokage is going to have much bigger fish to fry than some two-bit newbie politician."

He gave her a searching look. "What else is going on?"

"I may have made myself into a bigger fish," Beki bit her lip. "Thanks to some unfortunate timing."

In response to his confused expression, Beki brought her left hand up into view. Neji's face fell. The color visibly drained from his skin as he felt the clearing begin to spin. Bile rose in his throat and he suppressed the urge to vomit.

"No," He stumbled forward.

Ice blossomed like lotuses tracing the shortest path between Yuki and Neji. His momentum was halted by his legs being encased in solid ice from the knee down. He was so dumbstruck that he could only look at them in confusion and repeat his attempts to stagger on.

"Stop it, Mom," Beki stomped over to Neji. "He clearly isn't here to attack us."

"He could just be the distraction!" Yuki growled, her eyes scanning the tree line.

"If they knew you were with me, don't you think they would send more than one jounin to intercept us?" Beki asked. "Wouldn't you be able to sense that many shinobi close enough to attack?"

Yuki knit her brows and pouted but her eyes never stopped moving. Not sensing anyone within the vicinity of her frost, therefore within the range of imminent danger, she relented. The ice around Neji's legs shattered harmlessly by the time Beki reached him.

"Okay. Now we can talk like normal people-" Beki sighed but was cut off by Neji violently grabbing ahold over hands.

"Beki, no. You can't do this." Neji squeezed her hands so tight it almost hurt. "I know he's made you happy in the past but you were never a good match. There has been nonstop conflict, let alone the threat of physical harm to you, the entire time you've been with the Kazekage."

"There would be conflict in any relationship," Beki shrugged. "I deal with a good amount of danger from holding my position alone."

"This will be worse. You will be isolated there." Neji pleaded. "Any time something has gone wrong, while you have been in Konoha you have had people that loved you and cared enough about you to help. Your parents, Tsunade, our senseis, the Hyuga; all of them had your back."

"I can't live my life hiding behind everyone's skirts, Neji. That's how I got myself into a lot of those messes," Beki explained. "If I had grown a pair earlier I wouldn't have needed anyone to clean up after me. I want to stop running and hiding. I want to stand up and face things head on."

Neji gave her a disgusted look. "You have the audacity to say that to me as I caught you running away?"

"This isn't running away!" Beki stomped her foot. "I'm being smart, dammit! A tactical retreat is not cowardice."

"You are throwing everything away to avoid one risky situation only to throw yourself head over ass into something you know is much worse!" Neji shouted. "Everyone has warned you about Gaara. You've seen it all firsthand and act like it's not a big deal."

Neji pointed off in the approximate direction of Suna. "He's a sociopath, Beki. Everyone wants to just pretend he's okay now but he's a remorseless killer. He doesn't really care about you. You are a novelty to him. He wants a doll to play house with. It's no secret you were going to the Sand to break up, yet somehow you come back with a ring on your finger."

"He likes the idea of having a wife for heirs and someone on his arm at functions. You're in politics, so picking you just made things convenient for him. I bet you could be swapped out for any girl and how he treated them would be exactly the same." Neji glared. "He hasn't been there for you when you're going through hard times. He doesn't know your friends, your family, what music you listen to, your favorite food, how you like your coffee. I bet he didn't even notice when you spent two weeks looking like an idiot while retraining your hair to part it on the opposite side of your head. Or, how you lose weight when you're stressed. He'll never care enough to figure out how to coax you to eat when that happens, let alone nurse you back to health if you're sick!"

"Gaara has never had the chance," Beki offered. "Being in a relationship isn't a quiz show where whoever knows the most trivia wins. I don't know a lot of those facts about Gaara and I know how I feel about him. Committing to this full time is going to help us build up that intimacy. I'm not going to hold it against him that he doesn't know about the time I got into a bidding war over some antique kanzashi, and frankly the less he knows about my unhealthy relationship with taiyaki the better."

Neji's frown deepened. "Gaara is a jerk, Beki. Gaara is too busy. Gaara isn't going to have time for you. Gaara isn't going to take care of you. Gaara-"

"Gaara isn't you." The silvery pools of her eyes flashed with quiet understanding. "That's what you're saying. The reason why he'll never be enough is because he isn't you."

Neji could only look at her hands clutched in his. He chided himself silently for saying too much. For years he had fought to keep his feelings to himself and tripped at the finish line. As carefully as he had spun his web, Neji had laid everything bare without realizing it. He hated himself. For all his talk a few minutes before, every fiber of his being wanted to deny it. To artfully backpedal or misdirect the conversation to return the pair to the status quo.

That would never bring them closure, though. Beki was trying to leave Konoha, and therefore Neji's life, forever. As uncomfortable as this was at least he could tell himself he fought bravely until the end. That determination wasn't enough to give him the strength to meet her intense stare.

"Yes."

"Neji…" Beki squeezed his hands.

"Please don't go." Neji bowed his head. "I won't…I won't bring Lady Hinata or my family's feelings about you into this. I won't say anything about your job, or honor, or that this has any basis other than my own selfish desires. Since the day I met you I understood this day would come. You were just visiting, passing through, and someday I would have to let you go."

Neji hugged her hands to his heart. "I have done everything I could think of to try to avoid this moment and these feelings. I can't do it, Beki. I can't let you go."

Beki felt the urge to comfort him but knew that would only complicate things more. "It's my decision, Neji. I looked down the crossroads of where my life is heading. I realized that I can't live with myself not knowing where this path takes me. For better or worse, I love Gaara. There's nothing you, or my mother, or anyone could do to stop me."

Neji choked as the words I love you caught in his mouth. He had been expecting the worst but that did little to prepare him for the gut punch that came his way. It was suddenly impossible to breathe. He was helpless as the tears fell freely from his eyes, crystallizing in the frigid air the moment they touched the skin of his cheeks. Neji could at least be grateful to Yuki for saving his dignity in such a critical moment. He would never want Beki's last memory of him to be of Neji crying like a kid with a popped balloon.

"…Don't…"

It was all he could force from his lips. That single word held everything he was so desperate to say: Don't leave, don't say any more, don't choose him.

Beki looped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry, Neji."

Neji held her as tight as the armor would allow. He buried his face in her shoulder and felt her hand move to the back of his head. The moment didn't last as long as Neji wished it could. Soon, Beki was disentangling herself with a look that made Neji feel sick to his stomach. Beki felt sorry for him.

"Bye, Neji. Take good care of Hinata for me."

He nodded, his arms now leaden weights hanging uselessly by his side. As Beki began walking on ahead, Yuki reappeared from her nearby perch.

"For what it's worth, thank you for taking such good care of my daughter over the last few years." Yuki offered. "I was rooting for you two."

Neji was too numb to respond. He was vaguely aware of her moving out of range and taking the frost with her. Gradually his breath stopped fogging and the mist cleared. That didn't change the numbing cold Neji felt all over his body. Part of him was convinced that he would never truly feel warm again.