Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

The Arrangement

By Reverse

Pretense: Time has gone by and Neji and Tenten have become closer, completely comfortable with one another. Both are Jonin with Neji under review for ANBU. They are around sixteen.

Part I

So cry if you want to
Yeah, you can come undone
But you've got to have a heart to have a broken one
(Broken One – Luke Doucet

I suppose that morning could have gone over a lot better if I had eaten breakfast. I was annoyed at Neji for the late training session, I was angry to be walking down the hall to the Konoha Hokage's office. And to top it off, I was hungry.

There was nobody around me that I knew, none of the ninja's I was usually partnered with. Long past were the days were I was a genin on a semi-permanent team. I was Jonin now, partnered with anybody who could get the job done, but often enough standing alone.

I knocked on Tsunade's door; the sound hollow and ominous to my ears. No, I wasn't scared. I was, however, tense. As far as I knew; Neji was still not back from the mission he was supposed to have returned from yesterday. Something or other about infiltration, I suppose. He was good at that; just as I was generally requested for assassinations. Part of it was probably his bloodline.

I really was Neji's best friend, even if I wasn't the only one anymore. I was nervous because this was how Tsunade would tell somebody that their precious person wasn't coming back. The same way the Hokage told me at six that my shinobi father 'wasn't coming back.' Same way he told me that my kuniochi mother 'had decided not to come back.'

She couldn't live for me; she could only live for my father. It was made an accident, but it was completely on purpose. A suicide of guilt; a guilt that blinded even the strongest.

Shizune opened the door, sliding the panel to allow me access.

"Tsunade-sama?" I questioned.

She looked at me with pity in her eyes. I hated that look. "Is Neji-kun okay?" Damn! I was not thinking about what I was saying! I never called him that; it would probably either enflame his ego or annoy him. I didn't want to be around to find out which either.

"Neji-kun?" She asked with particular emphasis on my slip-up.

I emitted a noise that could be deciphered as a squeak; accept for the small fact that I do not squeak.

She waved it aside. "Tenten, I found a document that binds you to one of the son's of the Inuzuka family. Inuzuka Kiba's cousin, I believe."

"What exactly are you trying to say?" I blurted, I didn't get this at all.

She reread the document in her hands, completely serious. I never thought I'd wish that it was just a jutsu of Naruto's that would start screaming about 'the look on my face, dattebayo!'

"It's a marriage agreement; from when you were age five." she said simply.

"Hokage?" Shizune rang in the background; I barely heard her or the door over my shock. My tongue betrayed me as I blurted out; "I'm engaged!"

"Hn?" I heard. I slowly turned around, recognizing the owner of that particular voice.

Neji stood, looking half-amused and a little sick. There was a long cut on his arm and I wondered if that weren't part of it.

"Is there any way I can possibly get out of this?!" I demanded, deciding to ignore Neji for the moment. My palms went flat on the table as I placed them there. I was very angry.

Tsunade looked from me to Neji, her light brown eyes interested. "I can give you three weeks to marry whomever you feel. After that, I will have to remind the Inuzuka's. You understand right?"

Three weeks; I had to marry somebody whether I chose them or not. This was just damn fine! I did not need this; I was a full-fledged ninja, I did not need a husband. I was not just another woman to be bought and traded like freaking property.

"I'm not anybody's property!" I half-yelled before recomposing myself.

I looked down, ashamed of my outburst. "Sorry…"

She nodded to show that it was fine, as Shizune came to show me out. I guess with a temper like Tsunade's my outburst was only amusing.

I took one last glance at Neji before I left. He caught my arm; his fingers leaving a trace of gooseflesh when he abruptly let go. "I'll see you at the usual place in an hour."

I nodded before taking my leave; Neji turned to the Hokage, no doubt to tell her about whatever had held him up on his mission. He wasn't the type to be late. And that also meant when he said to meet him in an hour, he'd be there in an hour.

Unlike the other girls around Konoha, the only thing I needed was my scrolls, and I was never without them. My kunai pouch, my senbon in my hair, and my scrolls; no makeup or special clothes. My outfit hadn't altered much, a white, red-edged shirt over a pair of black slightly-baggy capri's.

My hair? Still up in my odango style. Neji also hadn't changed, maybe his hair was a little longer, but he had been a Jonin for a lot longer than me, he still wore the Hyuuga robes.

The usual place was the place we had trained together for all the years since the graduation at the academy. Since Neji and I were put on a team with two lunatics wearing enough green to shame a leprechaun; sanity was worth clinging to.

By the time I got there; in all my musing and distraction, an hour had already passed.

In the middle of the clearing sat Neji, meditating.

I sat down right across from him, settling easily. I knew better than to interrupt, and my own mind was not exactly at rest. So I too tried to settle my rebellious mind; reliving the events of this morning while noting it was already afternoon.

In three weeks time I would be getting married to somebody I would have to choose and ask. Or in the same three weeks I would have to marry a cousin of Kiba's. I didn't even know said cousin's name. This was not helping! I could feel my hands clench and I stood up abruptly. In my haste I didn't notice Neji's eyes open, him watching me. I found a tree that looked, for lack of better words, inviting. It looked like it might hold up a little.

With flat hits that made the bark chip and fly, I struck all my anger and frustration against the tree. Even my chakra agreed as it laced my fingers to maximize the damage.

Against my will my eyes started to blur. I had no choice, no choice in my emotions. A kuniochi, a ninja must always have control of their emotions. A ninja has no choice of their missions, but to get married?! To be fucking married off like some breeding bitch is chosen for a dog, it's unspeakable! It shouldn't happen to me!

"That's not going to help." A calm voice spoke behind me; I turned to flip a kunai at him. He caught it smoothly, gracefully plucking it from the air. I hated him! I wanted to see him suffer.

"It's a cage! There's no way out for me!" I screamed. I fell to my knees, angered and torn. He took a step closer and I threw a few half-hearted shuriken at him, He didn't even falter in his step as he tossed them aside.

"There are many cages." He replied distantly; standing in front of me. I looked up at him and he unconsciously reached for the curse mark on his forehead. His cage, a mark that sold his childhood for fear and determination. A world that's literal to the saying "only the strong survive."

"Sorry, I…" I trailed off, it was a little sad to admit. "I forgot about that."

He raised his eyebrow in question. I sighed and began to explain. It wasn't something anybody else was likely to forget.

"When you were younger, it caused you much more grief than now, it made you believe you couldn't change, so you believed others couldn't either. But you fought fate anyway. You weren't without hope; I knew that, even if you didn't want to acknowledge it."

My pretense was of what he already knew. "I guess it's as much a part of you as your byakugan or chakra; just as real. But it doesn't make you, Neji."

I gave a small nervous laugh. "But marriage?" He asked, never one for words. I took it that he agreed with what I just said, but was still unclear on that one part. The part where I had compared his curse; albeit unknowingly, to my hated and upcoming nuptial arrangement.

"You're still Neji. But I won't be Tenten, will I? I mean, just Tenten, weapons mistress of Konoha. I'll be the Inuzuka weapons mistress. It's like I won't be my own person."

He nodded, understanding. "What if it was to somebody you liked?"

"That wouldn't be so bad, I guess. It would feel like I chose it." I shuddered, mentally ticking off the list of Konoha's male-and-available population. There was Lee, who was unacceptable. Naruto; who was out of the question. Kiba; whom I was opposed, and his teammate Shino, who was a little on the strange side. Plus, that trait of Shino's with the bugs… Not exactly a major turn on for me. Sasuke was, of course, completely inconsiderable, the gossip was that he had killed Orochimaru and was using his powers to track his brother. His old Team Seven were still on edge whenever sent on a mission that they may come across him. Everybody was younger than me anyway. Other than that, there was, well, Neji.

Neji was… as much as I hate to admit it; acceptable. I sort-of liked him. Actually, I really liked him, and that was the problem. I trusted him completely, maybe I even loved him. Knowing I liked Neji like that just made my arranged marriage that much more unbearable.

"Tenten?" He spoke, his voice drawing me from my reverie. I looked up, meeting his pale lilac eyes. He had beautiful eyes, I noticed, they paled my plain brown ones in comparison. I believe my expression was interested, but not betraying anything about how I felt. I might have been wrong though. "You're hopeful even though you're trapped in this situation."

I was surprised, they were my words to him, but they were just as powerful second hand. "Anybody you take the name of will become a part of you. But you're still you."

A small smile crossed my face in light of the situation. Neji lifted me with a hand, my fingers curled around his as he pulled me up.

"I want to show you something." He stated calmly.

His face remained low in expression, but after all the years I had spent depending on him, I recognized a slight version of a frown. He was a little torn between decisions, but he had made his. And just because he was Neji, any decision he made, he would break before he didn't carry it through.

"Okay…" My voice was unsure, this was a new development. Neji rarely offered to teach anybody anything, though he would supply advice quite readily; and often sarcastically.

The edges of his eyes crinkled up in slight amusement. "You should know what you want."

"I want you to show me what you were going to show me." I stated blankly, trying to hitch an annoyed tone to the sound of my voice.

He might have smiled for a second, but I didn't see. "That's better."

Neji turned and stood behind me. "Follow me." He didn't even have to say it, and he knew it too. I was completely trusting of him.

His hands gripped my elbows from behind and slid down to cover my hands. I could feel a rising (but suppressed) blush at his proximity, my skin flaming with an icy burn were our bodies touched.

My stomach muscles tightened at the awareness. I let out a breath that I hadn't realized I was holding.

"I want you to let me move your hands. So relax… don't resist." He whispered.

I nodded lightly; I knew he could feel the movement.

His hands covered mine perfectly as he started to move them in separated strokes. He created a pattern of strikes. "If you focus your chakra into your hands, you can use the gentle fist style."

I copied the pattern even when he stepped away. "Try it on me. I'll block."

I was startled that he would say that. It wasn't something that he'd ordinarily bother to do. Neji usually wouldn't bother to teach me anything, especially so close to his bloodline. The gentle fist style was strictly Hyuuga.

I nodded in affirmation and started the working of the pattern, lacing my attacks with chakra that sparked blue residue. Neji blocked expertly, not even fazed or challenged.

He didn't look bored and if I didn't know better I would say he actually looked a little proud, but not of himself. It fazed me and I stopped fighting suddenly; my arms limply falling to my sides.

His gaze was curious; even if his voice did not convey it.

"I was wondering; what brought this on?" I asked; my tone filled with innocence, Neji knew me well enough to see through my pretense.

He raised an eyebrow, requesting an explanation, though not demanding one. I don't know where he developed his patience, but for a hasty enemy, it was a weapon unto itself.

I thought of a believable explanation. I took a step closer, warning him with my eyes. My fingers reached up to trace the band of his headband where the bandages and the curse would lie beneath. The green brand, maybe there forever, the bandages however, were ever changing. It was unsanitary to leave them unattended for long.

My hand wasn't even shaking as I traced were I knew the mark would be. The fact he even allowed me this close, spoke his trust of me.

"Teaching me something like this…" I trailed off, unable to find the words. My hand fell with my gaze. Both; reaching towards the grass and dirt that littered the clearing.

His eyes were closed when I looked up again. "It is not something I should do, but the times are changing."

He spoke of Hinata's growing involvement. The gap was beginning to close, but there was one thing she would never get rid of as long as her father's peers and elder's ruled council in the Hyuuga family. The curse of the branch line was not to be done away with. The main house had tasted the power and they would not yield so easily.

"What would happen if…" I trailed off, afraid for once in a long time.

"We can't." He spoke, cutting me off. "You know we can't."

"Then its set in stone, you know I'd never ask anybody else to even bother." He knew I was speaking of my marriage. The arrangement of it; I hated! But I would not beg for a difference, I would not run away. If this were my downfall, my depression and repression, I would face it. And even if I couldn't fight it; I'd put up one hell of a challenge for it.

He frowned for a moment, a rare movement of expression so open that it shocked me. "That's not it." He looked down. Again Neji was caught in the rare and surprising show of intense emotion; even if his voice remained hard. "Do you know what they would do to you if I took you as my wife?!"

His demands were met with my defiant stare, brown eyes open and rebellious; daring him to oppose me in my unspoken proposal.

"They would cage you worse than any arrangement. You'd be tied to me by marriage and you'd be caged to the Hyuuga household by the curse. They'd curse you to be with me." I wasn't satisfied. I wanted to know why he couldn't just be selfish. At the same time; I knew Neji was a true shinobi, entirely selfless.

"I don't want to see that mark on you." He said simply. I knew he understood that his fathers sacrifice was not the result of a curse, but of a choice. Inside, he still believed that it would never have happened if it hadn't been a factor. Secretly I agreed; if the Hyuuga clan wasn't so divided, they would be stronger. But I wasn't even part of a clan. I was just a daughter to two long dead and forgotten ninja's who had cursed me with an arranged marriage.

And to hell and beyond, it was painful. It was just as painful to see Neji leave as the sun crashed with the horizon. A bloody sky enfolded me.

#&#

I didn't realize that I was still standing there when my knees gave way. My legs crashed into the dirt and I didn't even try to fight my fall. My upper body followed with my head hitting the earth. The ground smelled damp. Maybe it was dew, I had no idea. But my body refused to fight anymore and my eyes began to cloud.

Though I was completely alone I felt safe, my weary, traumatized mind and body fading. I knew this place. Neji and I had come here to spar for years. Everything pivotal in our lives between us had happened here.

There was our first match, his learning of the kaiten. Telling me the blind spot of the byakugan; everything was here! With that thought the world slowly faded into the darkness of sweet unconsciousness.

#&#

My eyelids fluttered open as I tried to wake up. I heard a moan from my throat but had trouble associating it with me. There was no dirt and grass beneath my head. It was something warm. Instinctively I snuggled towards the warmth, trying to burry myself further.

"Where were you last nig-Oh…" I heard a sweet female voice ask. The sounds of footsteps seemed to multiply. My eyes drifted shut again.

#&#

The next time I awoke, I was defiantly more alert. This was my apartment, the navy sheets and the smell of honey was all mine. The voices that I could hear from the living room however, were not.

I knew it was Neji who spoke. "Should I go wake her up?"

A moment later the sliding door was forced open to reveal a Hyuuga; but not Neji. It was Hinata.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" She asked, still a little shy around people.

I groaned. "No." I stated.

She nodded slightly; a little taken aback by my plain answer, I wasn't usually one to deny simple information. "It's too painful to recall."

The Hyuuga Hinata actually looked annoyed, yes it's possible. I have to admit, I was impressed. "It's about Neji-niisan isn't it?"

I was surprised; it wasn't about Neji at all. He was only trying to do what he believed was right. "It's about my fucking arranged marriage!" I struggled with myself, my voice coming out in tones that could only convey agitation and bitterness.

"W-what?!" She squeaked, no longer on smooth footing.

I could hear footsteps as she left the room and dragged Neji back in.

"You are an idiot Neji-niisan, did you know that?" Then she stared directly and painfully at him. I swear the byakugan was beginning to take affect. "You already gave up before the fight."

Hinata swept the room full of self-confidence and I openly stared before falling back onto the mattress of my bed. "It is too early in the morning for this." I groaned.

"She's right," Neji stated in disbelief. "You were right too, Tenten. I'm sorry."

Hinata gave a nod of approval before leaving the room.

"You don't need to apologize." I stated. I was struggling to keep up with all these sudden developments.

He stared at the ground. "Tenten, will you help me with something? I have an idea."

"Can you explain it to me?" I asked; a little blunt. Being a genius and prodigy and all I'm sure he could just spurt out ideas even this early. But me? No way.

He climbed over my body to look me straight in the eye. He leaned down and I couldn't think, I could barely remember to breath.

Neji's lips met mine with a hurricane of emotion. Heat spread across my face and made my limbs limp; unable to fight against the current underlying the kiss. It was sweet and terrifying at the same time.

It was chaste for a moment as I caught my breath; I wasn't the bold one in this situation.

His tongue ran along my lower lip as he deepened the movement, tilting his head and bringing a hand up to cup my face. I instinctively allowed him entrance as we let whatever had just happened unfold. His tongue swept my mouth as I pushed up against him. My own initiative taken to fight his dominance.

He pulled away, his eyes deadly serious under the musty haze I would come to know as lust. "I want to find a way to neutralize the curse."

This was the Neji I knew, fighting what he didn't want to accept and it made me overzealous as I boldly reached up to claim his mouth. His lips parted at my request and this time I was dominant, though he fought me in a dance that was extremely enjoyable.

Small shivers racked my body as I realized our compromising position. I pressed against him as I kissed him; finally falling back into the comfort of my pillow as my body protested my need to breath.

"I think I like that reaction." He whispered in my ear. I kissed his shoulder lightly, my lips grazing the surface of the skin. "I bet you do."

I was scared to say the next few words; but I never did have any regrets. "I think I might love you."

He didn't stiffen; he bent down to kiss my neck lightly. I knew that was as far as we would go today. Even though I was the only one who could get close to him in anyway, a physical relationship… One beyond the best friends we had been till yesterday; would take time. Everything Neji did, he took his time; he took his time so he got it right. He didn't push himself relentlessly like Lee and Naruto and even I was guilty of. He took his time to examine his limits and strengths; he always got it right, because he was always well prepared. A simple task may take him longer to start than anybody else I know. But he always gets it right.

I've never seen him mess up completely.

"I don't know how I feel. But you're precious to me." He replied. That was enough for now. That was his comfort zone and I wouldn't push it.

"You really should get out of bed," He observed, he got off me to stand beside the bed.

In response I just gave him a look and rolled to the side of the bed furthest away from him. "Hn." I heard, he used to use that syllable all the time, but more recently it had been replaced with more actual words.

I felt the covers shift and the mattress sink as he crawled in beside me. I rolled over to settle into his chest, his arms coming to rest around me. "What time is it?" I murmured, my words muffled in his Hyuuga robes.

"Noon. You fell asleep in the clearing and I was worried so I found you and brought you back to your home." Neji's voice was never soft, but it sounded pleasant. Less businesslike, I finally decided.

"Sorry." I mumbled. He didn't say anything and we both drifted off to sleep, a peaceful sleep. It felt good, balanced. I had hope.

I had hope that my arranged marriage wouldn't happen. That I could spend it with Neji, because as much as we still didn't feel about each other, as much as we didn't know. There was potential. And there was trust.

And somehow, it made my dreams decisively more pleasant.

#&#

A soft unsure voice woke me up. "Neji? Tenten?"

I opened my eyes and moved back to examine my position. There was no way I could get out with Neji so close to me, I was cuddled close to his chest, our legs entwined.

"Yes Hinata?" I asked. Neji really needed to wake up now. I was certain that our position was incriminatingly suggestive.

My lips brushed Neji's in a one sided kiss; it was bold but I felt it wouldn't be minded. His eyes started to open, half-lidded and decisively sexy. He flipped us so that I was lying beneath him, completely unobservant to our surroundings. Neji leaned over and kissed me properly. I heard a clicking noise but it didn't register.

"Good evening." I mumbled.

"I'm just going to l-leave now…" I heard from the doorway. "I'll be in the other room."

The figure above me sighed and stood up. I too moved from the bed, straightening my clothes and finger combing my loose hair. That must have been Neji's doing, it wasn't loose when I crashed from trauma in the clearing. For once in my life I felt rested, it was a good feeling.

His look was plain, even though the change of expression was minimal, I had been around him long enough to read his expression. Neji was asking me if I was okay with this development, the kissing and the closeness. He almost always knew what I felt, but I think he felt it was polite to make sure misunderstandings were not formed.

It scared me, how much I enjoyed what I had spent a lifetime chaffing, a girl with a strong dependency on a boy. I had always put dependency and Neji in the same sentence; but this was an intimate dependency. It was a little unnerving after it happened though it had felt too good to argue when it happened. I was just so jaded.

"I think I'm insane. I must be sick." I said in response to his unspoken question. "I don't know what the hell I'm doing. What are we doing?"

"I," He started; I waited for him to finish. "…don't really know."

It was terribly alien for him to say that, Neji who was so full of self-confidence. He was assured and ascertain of everything he did. He was decisive.

"Why is this so hard?!" I demanded, my voice threatening to crack. "Why does everything have to change?!"

I was jealous of our old relationship; I realized. The certainty of the situation then was what I wanted now.

"What do you want?" Neji asked. It was his way of asking me first, he wanted to know, he would never take the fall; he'd just hold me up or carry me home as I took it for him.

I had to make my answer true, he'd know I was lying before I opened my mouth, he knew me too well. Maybe even better that I knew myself… "I want…" I thought, sweet shivers running down my spine as I opened my figurative eyes to what I wanted. I wanted him to just be there, and not leave. I wanted him to kiss me and just hold me and tell me he'd save me from this fall too.

"I see." He stated. I blushed wildly as I realized that I had stated it all aloud.

He turned to face me, sitting on the edge of the bed while I stood in from of him. He spoke out. "I want you to agree to marry me."

I finally recognized the emotion hidden within his deep voice. It was jealousy.

"But you said…" God this sounded to cliché! "Are you just doing this because you don't want me to marry the Inuzuka?" I demanded.

His eyes widened slightly in real shock. Maybe he hadn't expected that reaction. "No. I'm just afraid that you won't be free."

Right, the caged bird. Unable to fly freely and released only as death set in. I still felt trapped; faintly oxygen deprived, unable to fully breathe.

"Hinata?" He called out, his voice sounding uncommonly beaten. "Your answer?" He asked to me as his cousin entered the door.

"Yes." I said; taking the one change I had in this situation for happiness. Neji was the one person I was completely comfortable with and I wanted this.

His look told me to revisit my doubts. I admonished all of them by thinking about Neji, selfless in suffering, and Neji only. He was decisive about this, and the kisses spoke for themselves. There was a trust and an attraction. We could build something from this.

I stared him right in the eye just like I had in the clearing, telling him that I too was certain. Just like then, he was making a surprising turn in our relationship. Still he had the grace to allow me to choose. With him, I was free, free to do anything and free to back out.

"I'll marry you."

My voice was simple and controlled, but inside I was rejoicing and excited.

He kissed me chastely and stood up. "Hinata," He addressed to figure in the doorway whom looked like she might either scream or faint. "Do you know how to bestow the curse on somebody?"

"Y-yes… but…" She was confused. She had just witnessed the shattering of any arranged marriage on my part.

He bowed his head; and I spoke for him, I suddenly came to the realization I knew him well enough to understand him. I had taken this for granted before, but it made me feel comfortable. "Can you help us neutralize it?"

She looked up, shocked for a moment, but she recovered without to much time passing. "I know how. I l-l-learned because I was a-afraid they'd use it on me…"

I recognized the fear, she was always called weak, and since Hanabi hadn't been sent to become a ninja away from the family, and was the obvious favorite… Well, Hinata had often been afraid she would become a branch member for her weakness. Just as Neji's father had been chosen for such a fate…

"You knew how?!" Neji looked up, genuinely surprised. Anger traced beneath his voice, I reached out to touch his arm.

Hinata nodded twice, her eyes a little fearful and a little determined. "But it's painful, and I don't k-know… …It w-would be d-dangerous."

Neji understood what she was saying and why she hadn't hold him till now. But still, he was angry. The muscles of his arm were tense under my hand despite the outward expressionless mask.

"Do you need anything?" His tone sounded forced.

She looked down and studied the floor, shaking her head. "It's a separate s-seal. I can use i-t-t on you b-but I d-don't know if it'll w-work."

Her stutter returned when she was stressed, I noticed. She worked so hard to be brave and even telling Neji something like this after all he had lived through, had to count for something.

"Right now?" I questioned, more than a little worried.

She looked up, looking a little more certain. "Tomorrow."

And within the fear and anticipation of tomorrow, she left the apartment to me and Neji.

I got off the bed and realized how hungry I was. In my small kitchen I found some sagashimi, I had made it to eat after training with Neji, so that would be yesterday. Only a day or two had gone by since I learned of my matrimonial arrangement.

I knew that if Hinata knew how to neutralize the curse, while still leaving the eerie green mark and whatever residue the byakugan saw, Neji would marry me. It was his promise.

If it didn't work; whatever cousin of Kiba's that I had been promised to would be informed of the marriage and I would be shackled. Chains that I didn't want to see would be forced upon me. I didn't want to look down the growing belly of a pregnancy at any point; I didn't want to be a housewife like my mother had maybe wanted. I wanted to be a kuniochi, I was a kuniochi, and with Neji I wouldn't have to give that up. Besides that; I really did want to be with him.

"Tenten?" He asked as I handed him some of the food too, sharing what I had, I could feel a real smile creeping up to grace my expression.

He sighed, a fascinating release of breath. "Thank you."

Tomorrow would be a decision that he would align to fate, it could make us or break us. Right now we were scared to take this any farther. We didn't want to move forward till we knew for sure we wouldn't have to move back.

Because I didn't want to have him to give him up; and I believed that he didn't want to say it a cage me when he knew here was no salvation.

Maybe we were entirely selfish after all.