twenty minutes

coming to terms with it

"You were great in there."

The words are simple, spoken without admiration or indeed any kind of appreciation. They merely are the truth.

Neji sighs and drags a hand over his face, the gesture conveying a tiredness that is at odds with the firm way he holds himself.

"Council sessions are always tiring. I didn't like them when I was not –" He stops, seems to consider. "And now I like them even less. It does not help that Hiashi-sama has been holding back recently."

"Yes, I noticed. What was that about?" Despite her gloominess, Sakura can't help but feel the slightest bit of curiosity. Neji huffs.

"I wouldn't know," he answers even as he walks her up the stairs to the door of her apartment. "He never shared his reasoning."

Fishing around in her obi for her keys, Sakura looks up at him thoughtfully. "Maybe it's a test, to see how well you can keep up against the pressure of your family."

He glowers. "I do not enjoy being tested or paraded around." Sakura merely shrugs as she unlocks her door.

"Nevertheless, you did good."

Stepping into her apartment, she toes off her geta before turning around to look up at him.

"You know," she begins. "Thank you, for what you did in there. I realise you are facing down your clan in order to make things easier for me."

"I try," he sighs. "I am simply glad I managed to bully them out of a traditional ceremony. If it were up to me, it would only be the two of us and the wedding administrator."

"If it were up to me, we would not get married at all," Sakura smiles wryly. "But still – I'm glad it's you, if anyone. Just imagine the same thing had happened with Kiba, or Shikamaru. God knows what a disaster that would be."

He gives her a little smile in return, although it seems sad. "I never took you for such a romantic."

"Oh haha," she quips and shuts the door in his face. Before it closes all the way, she peers up at him and gives him a tired smile. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

He nods. "Yes. Same time."

Sakura sighs. "Great. More clan meetings."
The door shuts with a quiet click.

A/N: –