The amber met the white, which became down cast as they regarded the amber, no longer able to hold gaze with the person the amber eyes belonged to. It felt like an eternity until her honeysuckle voice inquired, "why do we perform Konso on earth bound spirits?"

"To help them enter soul society and remove attachments from their prior life. It reduces their risk of hollowfying once they're in soul society," Neji replied.

"But the Konso is ineffective on someone with your genetic makeup," Chiaki stated as she took his hand into hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. He returned the gesture and met her eyes again as he admitted, "there's times I wish it was effective. I'd readily accept it, if it would work."

"I can't imagine how difficult it is for you. Wanting them to know how things have changed for you here, but knowing that, if you do, you'll be breaking the rules in place to allow humans to mourn," she offered.

He gave a small nod as he stated, "I know. Although I still wonder, would it be so bad if they didn't know I was there?"

Chiaki's eyes widened a little and it was her turn for her eyes to become downcast as she inquired, "you told me about what Pain did to Konoha—we were alerted of that incident here as well. Naruto saved the entire village by talking Pain down and getting him to reverse what he did. We were about to dispatch two cells to guide the souls here to prevent them from hollowfying when it was reversed. The mission was called off."

She met his eyes again and inquired, "you could see and hear me without your Byakugan after you nearly died in your fight against Kidomaru. Do you truly believe there won't be others in your village who gained the same ability after such an event? It's a risk that cannot be taken."

Her eyes came back up to his with a glimmer of joy to them as she continued, "but—there might be one way we can make it happen. We'd have to be pretty discreet about it. However, my Dad might not object to Hikari meeting your Uncle and cousins. Emphasis on 'might not', I'm not guaranteeing anything here."

"Understood," Neji replied, he maintained his composure but felt a little relief at the idea that an effort could be made to see his old friends again, if only briefly to introduce them to Hikari. He smiled at the idea of seeing Hinata and Hanabi once again. Perhaps he'd even have a chance to have a friendly fight with Lord Hiashi. He'd have to refrain from using any of the combat techniques he'd learned since he began studying at the academy. He heard a slight giggle from across the table and glanced up at her.

She smiled as she inquired, "How long do you think before you graduate?"

Neji thought momentarily before admitting, "I'm uncertain. You said you graduated in three years?"

She nodded in agreement, before adding, "Captain Hitsugaya graduated in a year. Before him, former third squad Captain Gin Ichimaru graduated in two years."

He gained a cheeky smirk as he hinted, "maybe I should make eighteen months my goal."

Chikai gave a hearty laugh as she stood up from the table. She shook her head, still smiling as she teased, "Always competing, Neji Hyuga."

Neji chuckled as he retorted, "you love it."

"I do, or I wouldn't stick around," Chiaki acknowledged as she headed towards the kitchen. Neji smiled as he picked up one of the books and concluded his review of the days lessons. He then packed up his books to prepare for the next day. Once he'd cleaned up he headed off to find the girls, and found them in their bedroom, Suzume laying next to a sleeping Hikari who had a hold of her big sister's kosode. Suzume looked over at the door and smiled when she saw Neji.

"Dad, look," she whispered, nodding to Hikari.

"She loves you, and idolizes you," Neji replied as he knelt down next to Suzume. The raven-haired girl sweat dropped at the idea and admitted, "that's a bit nerve wracking. If I make a mistake, is she gonna copy that mistake?"

"Perhaps, or maybe she'll learn from observing you," Neji suggested. At this Suzume's tensed shoulders relaxed a little. He smiled at the reaction and realized that at least one of his elder daughter's greatest fears about being a big sister was somehow negatively impacting Hikari. He could understand that reasoning, Hikari adored Suzume to the point of having a tantrum because she couldn't walk like the rest of them, but as soon as Suzume crawled around on all fours along with her, Hikari had calmed down. Now the baby slept with her tiny fist clutching the fabric of her sister's kosode, as if fearful of her sister leaving her side. Hanabi had once been the same way with Hinata, and also himself. He smiled at the sight and advised Suzume, "in many ways the way you're growing up isn't so dissimilar to my own childhood. I lived in the family home with my Father, Aunt, Uncle, and younger cousins. Hinata was a year younger than myself, and Hanabi was five years younger than Hinata. My father died before Hanabi was born. The ages are different for you, Testuya and Hikari but we all had a sort of sibling bond between us. Much the same as you three are forming."

At first Suzume smiled, but slowly that smile faded, and she gained tears in her eyes as she pointed out, "You died during a war in your original world, right?"

"I did indeed, protecting my friend Naruto and as it would happen, Hinata as well," Neji confirmed.

Suzume bit her lip slightly then inquired, "What happened to Hinata and Hanabi?"

What did happen? That was a question that weighed on him heavily at times. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply through his nose, slowly exhaling from his nose as well to avoid alerting Suzume. He ensured his own serenity before replying, "I'm uncertain. Once I died, I passed over fairly quickly. Chiaki helped with that aspect. But when I last saw her, Hinata was alive and fighting alongside our comrades. Hanabi was not on the front lines. She held back with a token force from our clan house to help get the villagers to the hidden tunnels for their own safety. I don't know for certain that she was unharmed, however, she is the future head of the Hyuga clan in Konoha. I'm confident she'd be alright."

Suzume smiled a little and nodded. Then an idea came to Neji, and he asked her, "would you like to meet them sometime?"

Suzume's eyes seemed to light up as she smiled and excitedly replied, "can I?"

"Perhaps it could be possible. We're looking into going back to introduce my Uncle and cousins to Hikari. I see no reason why you and Tetsuya shouldn't join us. Especially since, if I'm honest, I'm hoping to make the trip a Yuinou."

AN: A Yuinou is a traditional Japanese Engagement ceremony. It traditionally occurs before the betrothed couple are engaged. It was more commonplace when arranged marriages were commonplace in Japan, but some still prefer the ceremony before the engagement as a means of wishing the couple wealth, happiness, and longevity in their marriage.