"I had a great time tonight," Tenten said sweetly, both she and Neji a safe distance from his doorstep.
"So did I," he replied. His fingers were intertwined with hers, and night was already fallen around them. As peaceful as this time of day was, it

signaled the end of their time together. "I should probably head on to the house, before Lord Hiashi suspects." "Right. Well, good night." She

smiled broadly and looked into his eyes, angling her neck just so. He pressed his lips against hers.

"See you tomorrow." He spoke in a low voice.

"Bright and early," was her quiet reply. He seemed to disappear into the dark night after this, once he'd turned away. She sighed at the sudden
chill of the night, a change in temperature not caused by the weather. All his life, he'd had a hard time, and only she was close enough to him to

really know. Now, she was disobeying his uncle in secret, which meant no consequence for her. Then again, she couldn't think of anything more

that he wanted. Tenten began to leave in the usual direction, to the left of the house, when she saw him nearly at the front door. Answering

some strange impulse, she got his attention under the streetlight. "I love you!"

"Love you, too." he called back, a surprised smile brightening his features. This, Hinata heard. The door opened slightly, and she urged him inside.
"Neji, thank goodness. You're not late, but you need to hurry if you're going to make it to the family meeting!" But, he caught a glimmer of what

must have been tears on Tenten's face. Confused, he lingered at the door, hardly feeling his cousin's light taps on his shoulder. She wiped her

eyes and just turned away, leaving him standing puzzled until Hinata spoke his name. "I'm coming." His shoes off and best clothes on, he sat in

one of two empty seats, across from Ino and in front of Hiashi. The fact that the Yamanaka clan joined the Hyuga was no surprise, because this

was common. Hiashi was fond of the nobles of Konoha.

"Glad you could join us, Neji," said he. "The meeting wouldn't be much without you." He glanced around the half-circle with a steely glare. "This is
because there is big news to be shared tonight. Life-changing, really. Please bear in mind, though, that it's all for the good of the clan." As the

last sentence was uttered, his eyes focused on Neji. "Now. Although I've forbidden you from dating temporarily, I won't be angry if you did. So, have you?"

"No, sir." He stole a quick glance at Hinata, who now looked afraid. "Well, good! Good." Somewhere in the pause that followed, his voice

became serious again. "I've been conversing regularly with the head of the Yamanaka for quite awhile now, trying to figure out how to keep our

clans strong. Most of us are aware that marriage is the best way to accomplish that." A few nodded. "Between us, our status and genes would

mix beautifully. Neji, Ino, I'm sorry to say that, without your consent, you'll be used to meet that end." Used.

"You can't do that!" Ino screeched. "You really want me to marry him? Dad, you can't be serious…" Neji regarded his apparent fiancé and

responded. "Please, Lord Hiashi don't tell me you're forcing a marriage."

"I'm afraid so. You'll be married in the summer. Seventeen is one year behind the intended age, but the date is flexible. Until then, you two are

betrothed."
"Sir, there must be another way." Hiashi raised an eyebrow. "Um, could I--could I leave?" A pause.

"Yes. Of course." He stood in the silence, face reddening, and rushed to his bedroom. All he could see were the smudged colours of his house

until he reached his warm bed. Finally resting there, he could realize what had just happened and settle his racing heart, if but a little. He did cry

a bit while coming to terms with the fact that he was now to marry his girlfriend's friend. It wasn't a far stretch to call them best friends, with all

the sleepovers they had. But, now what? He held power over precious few things in this world, having a relationship one of them, with Tenten.

She would still be his escape in marriage. So, he would lose her in that way. This was his life. Unless ended prematurely, here was his future,

played out before him. A bleak wasteland. Yet again, credit was due his uncle. It wasn't even a full way out that Neji had found, but he couldn't be
allowed even that. Naruto had always said that our lives were formed by our choices. What on Earth could he have done to deserve this?

"Neji." In the doorway stood the person who topped the list of those he didn't want to see at the moment. Hiashi had a knack for that.

"I'm sorry that I ran out of the meeting like that," he said again, drying his cheeks stiffly. "It was inappropriate."

He shook his head. "I'm not angry; I expected you'd like to be alone in such a situation. I'm just here to invite you to dinner."

"If you know, then why keep doing this? Does it really make a difference to the Byakugan's power? The clan was strong under the Elders' rules before you."

"And so we'll remain," he replied, sustained. "When you're older, you'll understand."

"In two years, I'll be an adult. Will this make sense then, when I'm married?"

"That doesn't concern me. Being stubborn won't change what happened tonight. I'll answer whatever questions you still have, but let's not argue
about this, alright? If you'd like anything to eat, you're welcome to. Good night."

"Lord Hiashi?" called Neji as he turned to leave.
"Yes?"
"Was your marriage arranged by your family?" He examined Neji, only part of his stern expression illumined. "Yes." And he left.

Quiet tears, along with hunger and fatigue lulled him into a fitful slumber, his last thought a desperate prayer: "Oh, God, not her, too. Don't let the clan take her away from me, too."