It was late at night at the bar. TenTen slammed her empty glass shot on the wooden surface with such force it cracked. She opened her hand releasing the shards, sighing her discontent. Just when she was about to raise her arm to ask for another round, a bigger hand gripped her forearm and softly stopped the motion. Neji Hyuuga, her former team mate, ocuppied the stall next to her.

- I think maybe you should slow down. - He said softly but firmly.

She signed again - I hate when you are right - she grumbled ruefully

- Then you hate too often - he smirked

- I live hating, yes, thanks to you.

He laughed quietly. He ordered a scotch and a beer, handing the bottle to her. She accepted it, it was not like the tekila she've been downing all night but at least it wasn't water. Tonight she didn't feel like drinking water.

- So, what's the matter? - he inquired.

She didn't try to deny something happened. He always knew, since they were genin. It was as if nothing scaped those ivory eyes.

- Mission. - she answered. - Seduction mission - she said, nearly spatting the word 'seduction'.

He nodded, understanding and sharing her discomfort. TenTen hated seduction missions. She executed them and was in fact fairly good at them, but it angered her. She didn't like to be touched, she wasn't an easy smiler, she hated playing cute or weak. She always came back feeling dirty.

He didn't like it either, to be honest. He had inwardly accepted that he had feelings for her long ago. He wasn't a fool and knew himself perfectly. He knew he loved her as a friend, liked her as a woman and respected her as a shinobi. If all those things combined to say he was in love for her, he didn't know yet. But he did know that everytime he knew she was on a mission, he worried. Even knowing she was a capable ninja, just like him. And he did realise long ago that everytime it was a seduction mission his guts twisted in a different way. Just like they were twisting while she was talking about how it went.

- I absolutely hate it, Neji - she was saying miserably, with a hand covering her eyes - The way I have to smile when a bastard looks at me with... with filth. Because that's not desire, you know? That's not healthy and playful or devouring desire, that's filth. They are picturing what they would do TO me, not WITH me. It's sickening - she finished with a shiver.

He placed a sympathetic hand on her back, knowing he was one of the few people she didn't flinch on contact. - I know how much you hate it and I am sorry.

She looked at him and casted a lopsided smile - Yeah, thank you. She pressed her hands against her face and released a huge sigh. She remove her hands and smile a little more - I just had to take it out of my system. It's been a month with too many of those.

Neji took away his hand from her back and grasped his scotch, frowning. - How come so? - he enquired.

- Well, I am the only kunoichi of my age frame suitable to do them - she shrugged.

Neji opened his eyes in desbelief. -That can't be true. I can think at least another six kunoichi around your age in active duty.

- Yes, but they are either married or with a stable relationship.

- So?

- So if there are single kunoichi they are first choice for these missions. We suffer the same but at least it doesn't endanger any relationship - she shrugged again.

Now Neji was genuinely gaping. - I didn't knew at all.

- Neither did I until I was assigned to the third in a row and I asked why.

He was speechless. He was furious. It was totally unfair. The wheels on his head were turning like crazy. Why don't... Would he dare...

- So - she smiled again trying to make a joke - you don't have a single friend you could set me up, right?

- Be my girlfriend.