As he laid in his cot, Tajek began to wonder how his father would have handled this situation. Tajek could never be the diplomat Danter was, but he always strived to be. There was only the darkness to comfort him now. His father would be just a memory, and he had slowly learned to accept that. He hadn't entered Konoha since that night Danter was murdered. He needed to run, and in that state of mind, he never properly mourned his parent's deaths. But as his father taught him, as a Shinobi, you had to learn how to grieve in a productive manner. The last six months built him over the loss. And as much as he wanted to reunite with them, Tajek wasn't planning on seeing them soon. Not when his village still needed him.

The darkness was interrupted by a break in the tent's flap, and her familiar voice filled the silence. "Glad to see you haven't changed a bit over the past few years."

Tajek pulled his arms back and rested his head on his heads. "Just as lazy as the day you met me.," Tajek grinned, "That's why you have to stay motivated for the both of us."

Akaya met his joke with her own, "You never accepted help before. Maybe you have changed."

Tajek rolled on his side and looked up at his girlfriend. Illuminated by the campfire, the edges of her face were stunning. Her smile brought him some peace. It was now or never. "I need to tell you something before we attack tomorrow."

Akaya immediately got a match and lit their candle lantern and shut their tent. Whatever he had to say shouldn't be broadcast to the rest of the group. She sat across from and acknowledged his request, "Don't tell me that you've changed your mind about our strategy."

Tajek shook his head as she sat up to meet her eyes on him. Ever since she learned how to activate her ability, the golden specks twinkled in her irises. They had a way of cutting out the worry in his life, "No. I'm seeing this all the way through. I'm more concerned about what happens after the fact."

Akaya smiled reassuringly, trying to comfort him, "We'll rebuild. Konoha is stubborn after all. We should know."

Tajek rolled his eyes. "I'm not talking about Konoha, Akaya," He looked at her seriously, "I'm talking about us."

Akaya sat in awe. As straightforward as Tajek tended to be, he generally picked the right timing to bring details like this up. Now seemed like the worst time for Akaya to be considering changes in their relationship. She replied in a shaky tone, "What exactly about us do you want to talk about?"

"Relax, already," Tajek smiled sweetly at her, "I'm talking about what we should do after everything settles down in Konoha."

He paused to think about how he wanted to word his sentences. "Hmm...well..."

Akaya shook her head playfully, "Just spit it out already."

"Okay," Tajek hesitantly said, "When things calm down, and we get everything rebuilt, I want to marry you."

Stunned, Akaya just stared at him. Although, she had imagined them discussing marriage, it was always later in life; not in a tent in the middle of the night. Still, she could tell Tajek thought about how to approach the subject seriously. They would be nineteen by the time. They fixed their home, maybe even older depending on the severity of the damage. It was not uncommon among villagers to marry at that young age, but Shinobi waited; the call of duty overshadowed the importance of the most relationships. Tajek followed up on his proposition.

"I'm not expecting you to settle down and have children right away. I know that's not fair to you." Tajek said, "But if something were to happen to me, I want to make sure you don't have to worry about anything."

Akaya smiled, "So you're acting like this moment is a mission protocol. Can't you just admit that it's because you love me?"

"Absolutely not," Tajek chuckled, "I never like you at all. But seriously, think about it. If you want to wait, I'll wait. I just don't see any reason to."

"As long as you aren't expecting kid for another ten years, I don't see any reason to have to wait either. I'll be the best advisor to a newly-appointed Hokage you'll find on such late notice."

Tajek laid back down on his back, "I never wanted to be Hokage, you know that," Tajek yawned, "But now it's all I am dreaming of."

Akaya let herself emit the joy she felt, "I always wanted a prominent role in Konoha; I evaluated my options before everything happened back ultimate goal was ambassador. To be honest with you, I wanted you to be Hokage."

Tajek closed his eyes as he spoke, "Why do you have so much faith in me?"

Akaya took off her shoes and laid down in her own cot on her back, "Because you've never given me a reason not to. Anyways, I trust you more than anyone."

Tajek smiled as he drifting off to sleep, "I guess I'm grateful for that. Dad was right."

Akaya took Tajek's lead and closed her eyes, "Right about what?"

Sleepily, Tajek replied, "Being together makes things easier."

With that, Tajek fell asleep, dreaming of his father.

()

Tajek sat on the oversized wooden bench outside his father's office. His impatience was growing, and his nerves were creating scenarios in his head as to why Danter had called him here under official Shinobi protocols. After the fiasco in the sewers, there was no way that this meeting was for a good reason. As his thoughts raced, Tajek started tapping his foot without thinking.

As the huge double doors creaked open, Tajek shot up only to stand in front of his father. As Tajek stood up, Danter noted how tall he was getting. It was evident that he was getting taller everyday. Soon, he'd surpass Danter's height, which made the Hokage smile. "You know, son, your poker face is horrible," Danter motioned his son into the Hokage's office. "You need to work on that if you want to be a great Shinobi someday."

Tajek nodded as he entered the massive office. He walked toward the window that overlooked the village. The view of the village always amazed him. He was apart of something special in Konoha. Still, even though this sight normally calmed him, his nerves wouldn't settle this time. "So what did you want to talk about exactly?"

Hokage Danter placed his hand on Tajek's shoulder. "Great view, right?" He laughed with a hearty nature. "Guess that's one advantage to having to deal with non-stop paperwork."

"I know you're mad, dad." Tajek spoke calmly and evenly, disguising his fit of inner panic. "There's tons of damage to the sewers, and there is virtually no threat detected in the follow-ups. And to top it off, the hospital bills we have to cover for a genin."

Danter sighed. "Which one got hurt?"

Tajek looked out to the village streets, trying to get her smile out of his head. Unluckily, she was walking the streets, her arm in a sling. "Akaya did."

"Oh, she's the tough one out of that bunch. She'll be fine." Danter released his grip on his son's shoulder and directed his attention to the mission's assignments lying on his desk. The escort mission needed genin still. He tossed the file to Tajek who easily caught it. "So how about a visit to the Waterfalls?"

Without meaning to, Tajek smirked. He loved the waterfalls, and they were especially beautiful this time of year. At that thought, visions of Akaya's curves and flowing brunette hair caused Tajek to blush, and he hurriedly pushed the thoughts aside. It wouldn't work, not with Shinobi missions like this one in the way. "Sure. I'll go, but who do you plan on sending with me?"

In true Montair fashion, Danter smirked in a particularly playful way. "I wanted Santair to go with you because of his stealth expertise," He paused, allowing Tajek to hang on his words for dramatic effect. "And Akaya will be going as well. She has a level of compassion and intelligence you'll need when dealing with a child."

The color drained from Tajek's face. "Then I can't go."

Danter just smiled at his genin. "I see that mission did damage to more than just the sewers. You let her in, didn't you?"

To anyone else, that would sound like a weird question to ask, but between the two of them, they had an understanding of what "let her in" meant. As Shinobi, it was difficult to get an honest woman to match up with Montairs, and although Tajek was still relatively young, he knew that principle well enough to shut any girl out that ever advanced on him. They were after him for something other than Tajek; however, Akaya never even talked to him much before the sewer mission. She was flirty with him but not in the typical way. She showed how she cared through her actions and not her words. She protected him and helped him complete what he needed to accomplish. She was different from the rest.

"I'm not sure." Tajek shook his head as he spotted her on the streets below, laughing at something Amaya must have said to her. She was so full of life, and it was refreshing to see such a vibrant ninja. She stood out to him even when the rest of the village never noticed her presence. "Maybe."

Danter collapsed into his desk chair. He spun it around to face Tajek's back. It was funny how it seemed like only days ago that Tajek could barely see over the windowsill. Now, he was falling for a girl. "Only one way to know for sure."

When Tajek turned around, he noticed his father pointing at the file Tajek was holding. The young ninja yawned and handed it back to the Hokage. He wasn't going to fight against his father's wishes anymore because it was pointless. "When do we leave?"

"That's the spirit!" Danter's vocal chords were loud and enthusiastic. Tajek had actually motivated himself to take some action in his life. "You and your team leave two weeks from today."

Tajek nodded. No sense in fighting it. He'd have to confront her sooner or later, so why not sooner? He turned around toward the huge double doors as his father tried to reassure him. "You saved her life, ya know? The cement would have cracked her neck like a twig. Akaya seems like she won't forget that favor. She wanted me to thank you since she hasn't been able to run into you in the village, which I personally think you're doing on purpose."

As the genin turned the knob, the Hokage left one sticking message in Tajek's mind. "Sometimes, Shinobi relationships work out, kiddo. They'll see the strengths and weaknesses on the missions. They'll witness each other doing heinous, murderous things, but it will be second nature. Shinobi couples stand by each other, protect each other, and thrive off each other."

Danter paused to get a response from Tajek, but none came. He somewhat expected that. "I know you don't completely believe me, but if you want proof that one can work, just look in the mirror and around you. Your mother and I worked through Shinobi ranks together."

And with that Tajek slipped through the doors and closed it softly. He inhaled and exhaled slowly, controlling his breath. Akaya wasn't who we wanted to fall for. She was stubborn, excitable, a true Shinobi, and above all, she was beautiful.

He shook his head violently but realized he was shit out of luck; he would be following in his father's footsteps forever.

()

The tent flap opened, shining the morning light on Tajek's face. He woke up up from deep slumber ans slowly sat up in his uncomfortable cot. Akaya's bright smile caused him to smirk playfully. She really was special.

"Before you say anything just be grateful I let you sleep for as long as I have, silly."

"Yeah, yeah. You'll be saying that the rest of your life," Tajek said, "You ready?"

Akaya responded energetically, "It's not ready. It's about being prepared. And I wouldn't bet against us right now."