If I had known I was going to wake up at a normal time that morning, I would have reveled in my good luck just a bit more. No one was in the room, and it was eerily quiet, even for the standards this house set. I had to investigate what the heck was going on.

Something inside of me should have reminded me that wandering out of the room when there was a strange silence, but nothing. As I got closer to the door, I noted that the hall was a lot darker than it normally would be at this time of day. Then the realization kind of sunk in. There was a wall, one without a door. I figured there was another way in through the new part of the house, but, all I was sure of was that the way to the kitchen was blocked.

"A wall!" I shouted, not sure of what else to do. "Can someone please explain to me why there's a wall here?"

"Because we're officially separating from the rest of the family." Neji came up behind me and draped his arm over my shoulder. "I told you last night, we're making this serious."

I tried to shrug him off, but he was pushing down with a lot more force than I could counter with without hurting someone. "And serious means you have to build a wall blocking me from getting something to eat? I'm going to starve if I have to cook."

"We'd both starve. That's why I've invited Ino over. She's making something for today, then she's going to have some 'helpful' reminders scattered around for you whenever you're stuck cooking." I was still trying to get him off, and that made me want him off even more.

"I'm not incompetent. And she's not so good either. But if it's what you want, then I guess that's what it will be." I sniffled, but I knew he didn't care. "Sometimes, I think you only married me because you needed to marry someone."

"We've gone over that before, Ten. I originally got engaged to you because of that. I married you because I love you. Even if you were being sarcastic, I want you to remember that."

I laughed and snuggled into his chest. "I do remember. I love you too, so it's not like I'm here just because you say so and because the law has us legally bound together." He stroked my hair, and we walked into the new part of the house intertwined.

"You two look so cute together!" Ino squealed, grabbing her coat. "Everything's in there, all set up. I've got to go take care of some business with the flower shop. Stay lovely, guys!" With that, she ran out the "front" door.

"Do you want to see what she did?" I stated it like a question, but it was more of a command than a suggestion. He liked the idea, so we peeked in the new kitchen. I was very surprised at how nice it looked, with all the necessary appliances, counter space, and even a little table with two chairs in the corner. "Wow, it's definitely cozy."

He let go of me and turned so he was staring me directly in the eyes. "Do you like it?"

"It makes me think of a normal house, where a normal family would live. But we're 'upper class' so we shouldn't have a normal kitchen."

"Is there something wrong with you?" he asked suddenly. "You seem a bit off. Here," he pulled out one of the chairs, "sit down and I'll get you something."

I was confused, but I sat in the chair, which was extremely sturdy and nothing like what I had expected. "I'm fine, Neji. What in the world made you freak out like that?"

"It was nothing, honey," he said through his teeth, and I knew he was lying. "Nothing at all."

"No, it was definitely something. Did I insult all your work? I'm sorry if I did. I was just making a point that I'd never expect to see something this simple in a house like this." I rested my elbow on the table and put my head on my hand. "But it's cool, it really is."

"Do you have a headache, dear?"

I sort of glared at how stupid of a question that was. "If I did, I'd probably be complaining about it. Just like every time I'm sick or something. Or whenever I get up in the middle of the night and just lay there. I complain about that a lot."

"I guess I haven't spent enough time with you lately to pick up on all of this."

"Yeah, that could be it."I sat up straight and stretched. "Oh, by the way, do you know what was up with Hanabi? She was snooping through my clothes, took a bunch, then bought me a whole bunch of new stuff. I think it's weird."

He had been leaning against the counter, but he jumped when I said that. "Did you, by any chance, ask her why she did that?"

"Yes, but it's not like she gave me a straight answer." I saw that I had made him start thinking when I said that, so I smiled. "What? You guys hiding something from me?"

"Ten, you do remember Hiashi's talk, don't you?"

I blinked. "Yeah." How could I have forgotten it? "What about it? I obviously haven't gotten my notebook back, so I know nothing is going on."

"He did give you the speech about actions, right? The one where it's said that people do weird things, ones that are out of the ordinary?"

"Yeah, but those were spoken things..." I froze. "Wait, are you saying that what Hanabi did was directly related to this?"

His eyes darted side to side, as if checking for someone spying on us. "I, in fact, am saying just that." He focused on me as I just sat there, realizing exactly what he was meaning.

But I wasn't that stupid, was I? Surely I would have picked up on something before he had to explain it. "Okay, so what if that's the case?" I didn't want to say exactly what was on my mind, even though I was sure he'd be telling me it.

"What if? Then we'd be separated from everyone else in the family."

"Which we are," I mumbled, before jumping up. "We are! Did you plan that the way you did, or did it just happen?"

He smiled. "Product of circumstance." When I gave him a confused look, he explained: "Hinata wanted us away from them, the 'real main' part of the family. Hiashi agreed with her, but what he wants really doesn't matter anymore. Hanabi was a bit angry about this, but she decided she did her good for us already."

"And when did this go on?"

"Last night after you had gone to bed. But, there's one thing missing, and I know it. The notebook."

"Because that was supposed to be what told me, right?" I asked, not thinking that it was that serious. But he nodded. "Oh. Well. Uhm..."

We got really quiet, because I wasn't sure what to say and he was looking at me like he was waiting for something. So, due to my inability to formulate words that weren't noises, we just stood there looking at each other. That went on for quite some time until he broke the silence with, "You do know what that all means, right?"

"That we aren't eating our meals with them."

"Close, but you've missed the point of almost everything we just talked about."

I didn't want to hurt his feelings by admitting that I didn't like what he had said, so I continued to play stupid. "Then you'll just have to explain it to me again later," I said, "because I don't feel like listening right now."

Truth was, I hadn't wanted him to talk to me about this so soon. Yeah, it meant I would get to live with him for the rest of forever, but it meant we were succumbing to the wishes of Hiashi without any real struggle.

Life did make more sense, though, and it would definitely explain my good luck that morning. But, later, as I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, how long would it last? I was gazing at my reflection, looking at the pretty woman staring back at me. How long would it be until I wouldn't want to see myself?

Was love really worth going to the edge?