The next day Asuka eagerly ran to meet her father at a nearby park. The energy she had right now made her feel like she did when her mom was still alive; like she was a little girl eager to please her parents. When she arrived, her father was already waiting under her favorite tree in the park.

"So what did you want to show me?" Masato asked.

"It's not here, follow me." Asuka said and darted off.

Masato followed her easily until she finally stopped in front of her new home.

"What do you think?" Asuka asked.

"Well I don't know yet I haven't seen the inside."

"Then allow me to give you the tour."

Asuka took him inside and showed him around they ended their tour in the living room and sat down.

"You said that you didn't want to live in my tiny place and I wanted to own my own place anyway so I bought this place."

"It is a nice place."

"What's wrong?" Asuka asked knowing something was wrong.

"Is it really a good idea to be so close to the Hyuga boy?"

"Seriously? You just come back into my life and you're already trying to tell me who I can't date!"

"Do you blame me? I wasn't able to be there when you were little so I'm allowed to have concerns about who you're dating."

"Dad I promise you that there is nothing to worry about! Neji is a complete gentleman. Get to know him and you'll see what I mean."

"Have you two slept together?"

"What?! No! Just because we're in love doesn't mean we've slept together! I can't believe you would think mom wouldn't have raised me properly!"

Asuka ran out the door slamming it behind her.

What kind of a woman does he think I am? He doesn't even know Neji and he barely knows me! How could he ask something like that without getting to know us first! At the very least he should have known mom well enough to know that she would teach me the reasons why it's better to wait for that sort of thing! Dad why do you have to be so aggravating?!

Asuka was so upset she was mumbling her thoughts underneath her breath.

"Is everything okay Asuka?" Ino asked keeping pace.

"Dads." Asuka growled.

"Listen, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to but I was just going to meet Sakura at the bath house why don't you join us."

Asuka let out a big sigh, "Okay."

So they power walked all the way to the bath house. By this time Asuka had burnt most of her anger energy out and was starting to feel better. Once her and Ino were soaking in the water Asuka finally felt ready to open up.

"My dad is being ridiculous." Asuka huffed.

"It speaks!" Ino teased.

"Ino! That's not very nice." Sakura defended.

"Its okay Sakura, when she ran into me I was so mad all I could say was 'dads'."

"So what did your dad do to make you so mad?" Ino asked.

"He basically said that he didn't like how close my new place was to Neji and he thought we had slept together." Asuka explained.

"I guess I could see that. I mean most girls now don't think about the consequences of stuff like that." Sakura said.

"Are you taking his side?" Asuka asked angrily.

"No, I'm just saying that your dad doesn't know what kind of woman you are yet so it's natural for him to be at least a little concerned." Sakura explained.

"Especially with your little 'habit'." Ino added.

"Oh crap!" Asuka sunk into the water.

"He doesn't know about it yet?" Sakura asked.

"No, I got so used to everyone knowing thanks to Naruto and his big mouth. I didn't even think about it. If he finds out about it now I'm not sure how he's going to take it."

"Did you want us to come with you to tell him?" Ino asked.

"Thanks for the offer but I think I can manage. Besides I'm probably better off telling him than him finding out. I doubt my dad will have the same response Kakashi Sensei had."

Ino and Sakura nodded their heads in agreement.

After a few more minutes of soaking Asuka got out, dressed and headed back home. When she arrived back at home she was surprised that Masato was still there. He was in the kitchen making some lunch.

"Feeling better?" he asked kindly.

"I think so. I'm sorry for freaking out. I guess you do have some reasons to be worried, but I need you to understand something."

"What's that?" Masato turned and gave Asuka his full attention.

"I am not the kind of woman that is going to sleep around because it's cool or just because I want to. Mom taught me that sex is precious and is to be shared with someone you love. Even then I've taken it upon myself to wait till I'm married."

"Okay then, I'm sorry I made assumptions. Forgive me?"

"I guess so." Asuka said with a smile. "Why did you stick around? You hadn't decide to move in yet."

"You are so much like your mother. Whenever she would blow her top she just needed space then she would come back and talk."

"Really? Am I that much like mom?"

"I'd say you're the mirror image of her."

Asuka smiled.

"I made lunch if you would like some." Masato said.

"I think lunch sound wonderful."

The two of them chatted as they ate lunch. Once they had finished, Asuka decided now would be the best time.

"Dad I have something I need to tell you."

"Oh?"

"Just remember what I said earlier."

Masato gave her a serious look.

"As I'm sure you know, mom had some unique training ideas. Well one of those ways was to strip down and train in the snow."

Masato smacked his hand to his forehead.

"Tell me she didn't." he groaned.

Asuka laughed out loud. "I take it you know about it then."

"Know about it! I taught it to her!"

Asuka's mouth dropped.

"I wasn't the gentleman you claim Neji is. I originally intended it to get her out of her clothes. Who knew it would actually turn into a legit training method." Masato confessed.

Asuka burst into an uncontrollable laughter.

"It's not that funny."

"Thanks to that same technique I became friends with Naruto and Master Jiraiya." Asuka said starting to finally settle down.

"That's how you met Jiraiya Sensei?"

"Yeah."

Masato sat down completely dumb struck about everything that had happened because of the training he intended to get Katsumi out of her clothes.

"Well I guess as a student of Jiraiya's that's to be expected." Asuka teased.

"Hey now, Jiraiya Sensei taught me everything I know."

"I guess that includes spying on girls."

"I hope he learned more from me than that." Came Jiraiya's voice.

Asuka and Masato turned to see him standing in the doorway of the kitchen/dinning room.

"I heard that you were home so I let myself in, I hope that's okay."

"Of coarse Sensei." Masato said.

"You are always welcome Master Jiraiya."

"So you came clean and told her the truth." Jiraiya directed to Masato.

"Yes I did. Did you know it was my daughter when you met her?"

"I thought it might be that's why I was watching her in the first place if you can believe it. Then once I saw what she did I knew it had to be."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Asuka asked.

"Well I hadn't talked to your father in some time so I didn't know if he had contacted you or if you didn't want anything to do with him."

"I guess it doesn't matter now. We're a family and that's what matters." Asuka concluded.

"Yes. Now that we got through our first fight as father and daughter I guess I would be crazy to not move in." Masato said.

"Yay!"

"I have one condition." Masato said firmly.

"What's that?" Asuka asked.

"I want to be properly introduced to Neji."

"I don't think you have anything to worry about there Masato." Jiraiya interjected.

"Nevertheless, if there is a possibility of a future with him then I would like to meet him and get to know him a little bit."

"Okay I'll bring him over for dinner tomorrow." Asuka agreed. "May I go tell him now?"

"Yeah just let him know there is no getting out of it."

"Will do Dad!" Asuka said as she headed out the door and went right over to Neji's place.

When she arrived however she was told that his was over at the Main House training with Hinata so she headed there. Once there it was Hiashi Hyuga who answered the door.

"Greetings Mr. Hiashi, I'm looking for Neji." Asuka said as she gave a respectful bow.

Hiashi studied her.

"So you're Asuka Nakamura. The girl that has Neji wrapped around her finger."

"Yes sir and no sir."

"Pardon me?"

"I don't have Neji wrapped around my finger, I don't believe controlling people is right." Asuka answered feeling a bit on trial.

Hiashi gave a relaxed smiled, "That's good to hear, follow me."

Asuka did as she was told. In the middle of their walk Hiashi stopped and turned back to Asuka.

"I take it you are aware of the Byakugan and it's abilities."

"Yes sir."

"You should know, as well, that there are many who desire it and would risk their lives to get it."

"Yes I am aware." Asuka responded respectfully.

"So you understand then why, as the head of the family, we need to be wary of anyone who wants to marry into the family."

"Of coarse sir, but Neji and I aren't there yet." Asuka said humbly.

"But you are headed there. So I must ask you: what would you do with the power of the byakugan?"

"I don't know..."

"I see." Hiashi frowned.

"Sir, you didn't let me finish. I don't know because I don't see myself ever possessing the byakugan. Even if it were gifted, unless they were special circumstances, I would not accept it because it belongs to the Hyuga. I was not born a Hyuga so I see no reason as to why I should possess it."

Hiashi's frown disappeared, "Very well put Asuka. If you and Neji do end up married then it would be a pleasure to welcome you into the family."

They then continued their walk to where Neji was. I guess the conversation about marriage reached him somehow, but still, that was intense!

"Here he is." Hiashi said.

"Thank you sir," Asuka gave a bow and then headed over to Neji.

"Let's take a break Lady Hinata." Neji said.

"Okay, take as long as you want Neji." Hinata replied.

"Well now that I've just been grilled by your uncle, its time for you to get grilled by my dad." Asuka said.

"What do you mean?" Neji asked giving Asuka a quizzical look.

"Yeah Mr. Hiashi just basically asked me if I was controlling you and if I was after the power of the byakugan." Asuka clarified.

"He what?!" Neji said getting angry.

"It's fine Neji, it's to be expected now that we've been together a while."

"Very well." Neji took in a deep breath and settled down. "Now what was this business with your father? Is everything going alright?"

"Everything is fine but my dad wants you over for dinner tomorrow and he says there's no getting out of it."

"Are you ready for me to meet him?" Neji asked.

"I think I'm as ready as I will be. I don't think it could be much worse than him asking me out right if we've slept together."

"Did he really think that?" Neji asked with alarm and concern in his voice.

"It's okay I set him straight. I'm sure it will be fine."

"What time should I be there?"

"Let's say five."

"Alright then I will see you tomorrow." Neji said.

"Sounds good, I'll let you get back to training." Asuka said and showed herself out and headed home.

The next day flew by and before Asuka knew it, it was time for dinner and she was setting the table. Her father was a surprisingly good cook. She was amazed as she watched him work his magic in the kitchen. Five o'clock on the dot there was a knock on the door.

"That will be Neji, I'll go let him in." Asuka said.

When she opened the door there was Neji with a single red rose.

"Hi, you're right on time, dinner is just about ready." Asuka said letting Neji in.

"I thought I would bring you a flower to make up for Lord Hiashi grilling you yesterday." Neji said as he offered the rose.

"Thank you Neji," Asuka accepted graciously.

The two entered the dinning room/kitchen just as Masato finished setting the food on the table.

"Mr. Nakamura it's nice to meet you." Neji greeted with a bow.

"Likewise Neji, I hope you enjoy dinner."

"I'm sure it will be delicious." Neji replied.

The three all sat down and began to dish up.

"So I've heard you're already a jonin." Masato prodded.

"Yes sir, the Kazekage left the final ranking of the participants of the chunin exams up to the respected leaders. Lady Hokage thought it fit to put me to the rank of jonin." Neji answered.

"Have you done any training with Asuka?"

Oh no... are we seriously going down this road?

"I'm helping her with her taijutsu."

"Have you done any winter training with her?"

Yupp we're going there.

"A few times."

"So you've seen her take her clothes off." Masato accused.

"Dad!" Asuka shouted.

"Yes, but to be honest it was her idea."

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Dad! So not okay!" Asuka shouted trying to get this torture to stop. But alas they continued on as if she said nothing.

"You're daughter is in great shape but I would never do anything outside of her wishes." Neji answered as he continued to remain calm through interrogation.

"So what are your intentions with my daughter?" Masato asked suspiciously.

Asuka sunk into her chair.

That's a trap question if I ever heard one. This is a disaster.

"I want be with her for about a year then, if she'll have me, I would like to marry her."

Asuka sat back up.

Neji looked lovingly at her.

"Well Neji it looks like my daughter was right about you. You are a gentleman."

"Thank you sir."

"Dad that was so not cool. What are you thinking going off on Neji like that?! He came here so you could get to know him not accuse him of being a pervert!"

"I wanted to know what his answer was. Sometimes the only way to get a true answer is to put the pressure on."

"I still can't believe you would be so rude about it! Honestly after the conversation we had yesterday I would have thought that you would have been better than this but I guess I was wrong." Asuka ran up to her room with tears in her eyes. She flopped on her bed and just cried. Why does he have to be so intrusive into my life? I don't get dads at all.

After a little while there was a knock on her bedroom door. She sat up and saw both Neji and Masato standing in her doorway.

"May we come in?" Masato asked.

Asuka wiped her tears away and nodded.

Masato sat on her bed beside her and Neji sat on the floor in front of them.

"I'm sorry about my behavior. I've always thought about how it would be with you if we were ever reunited. Now here we are and I'm not doing anything the way I had planned it." Masato explained.

"Really?" Asuka asked still a little sniffly.

"Really. I wanted to be the dad that would be happy about another man in your life, but I guess since I've out of your life for so long I kinda went overboard a bit." Masato admitted.

"A bit?" Asuka said with a little giggle.

"Okay a LOT overboard." Masato corrected.

"But how were you able to be so calm Neji?" Asuka asked turning her attention to him.

"When you told me about what Masato had already assumed about us I figured I'd better prepare for the kind of questions he would ask."

"After you ran up here, I also apologized to Neji. I misjudged him, he's a good man."

"Thanks dad."

"Now I'll give you guys a little time alone," Masato said as he stood up and left the room.

"I wasn't sure how tonight was going to go but I wanted to show your father how serious I was about what I said."

"You mean about the marriage thing?" Asuka clarified.

"Exactly, so I bought this." Neji pulled out a beautiful silver ring with a love knot and a tiny diamond at the center.

Asuka gasped.

"It's a promise ring. It signifies that I intend on marrying you when the time is right. If you don't feel ready to accept it then don't."

"Of coarse I'll accept it! I love you Neji."

Neji took the ring and placed it on her finger.

"I love you too, Asuka."

Neji then placed a well timed kiss on her lips.