Hey! It's Hikari. SO MUCH HOMEWORK...
It's kind of hard to find time to update. Please R&R

A Forbidden Love:
A forbidden memory

Last time: That voice. I haven't heard that voice in so long. A girl stepped out of the carriage looking curiously at her father. Her hair a chocolate brown fell down in plaits of beautiful colors. Her eyes were serene and also a chocolate color. She was dressed in a dress with small details that made the simple dress extraordinary. But I didn't see any of this. I could only see her. How could she be the princess of rain? How could she be Takako? How could that girl be that girl, when to me and everyone else in Konoha, she was Tenten?

"T…Tenten?" I say tentatively.

I was so sure that it was Tenten. Even Naruto and Kiba turned to look at her. However... the princess... she turned and looked at me with a confused look upon her face.

"Excuse me, sir, but I am not Tenten. I am Princess Takako." Her voice was beautiful.

"Ah, Takako, dear, this are the ninja I hired to protect you." Her father smiled at the girl.

"Of course, father." She turned and looked at us, "We are in your care." She then bowed and smiled at us.

I faltered for a second before bowing and saying, "The pleasure is ours... This is Naruto, Kiba, Akamaru, and I am Neji,"

"Good afternoon, Neji-san, Naruto-san, Kiba-san, and Akamaru-kun," She looked at all of us. She didn't meet my eyes.

"Back to the carriage, dear, we wouldn't want you catching cold," Her father patted her head.

"Yes, father." Takako proceeded to the carriage. Tenten would never act that submissively.

We followed from the treetops, I watched our surrounding using byakugan. I could tell, the other two wanted to talk to me about Tenten. I didn't want to talk to them about it.

"Oi. Neji...Are you sure that was Tenten?" Naruto... He's always first to speak.

"Yes."

"Neji... She never returned from that mission. You could never find her. Even Tsunade said that she was ki-"

"Kiba. I understand your reasoning. But please. Don't talk about Tenten like you knew her."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! LIKE YOU KNEW HER? WHERE IS SHE FROM HUH? WHATS HER LAST NAME? NONE OF US KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TENTEN AND YOU WALK IN HERE CLAIMING YOU KNOW HER? WHATS YOUR PROBLEM HYUGA? HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT TAKAKO THERE IS TENTEN HUH? CAN'T WE SAY THAT ANY BROWN HAIRED CHINESE GIRL IS TENTEN? WHAT MAKES YOU SO SURE HUH?" Naruto is so short-tempered... Is it even possible for him to shout this long? He's very red in the face. Even Kiba looks upset.

"I don't know what Tenten's last name is. She doesn't know herself. I do know where she lived, her culture, her favorite food, weapons, animal, legend, sign, technique, and her dreams. She knows the secrets of my clan and protected it. I can tell who is Tenten and who isn't without using scent, or byakugan. I don't need anything to know that. That girl is Tenten. I don't know what her father has done to her, but that this I know. I will get her memories back and I will bring Tenten back to Konoha." I glare at Naruto.

Silence follows. Naruto doesn't say anything but glances between me and the carriage. Kiba just said, "Let's see how this mission goes okay, Neji, Naruto?"

"Hn."

Three days has past since our arrival. We have seen very little of Tenten. Just a glimpse when she walks around the carriage to stretch her legs before getting back onto the carriage. The king seems very protective of her. Today we will be reaching the Palace of Rain. I have heard that it is hidden so well that even people who live in rain don't know where it is. Only the people who reside in the palace do. The carriage stops. The three of us jump down.

"Suiton: Kaihou"

A massive waterfall that rushed down infront of us suddenly stopped pouring down and an opening was formed within the wall. The perfect defence. Hidden inside a waterfall would require great skill for one to find and open it. The carriage began to move inside. We walk next to the carriage.

We walk through the tunnel. How long I do not know, but it seems about three miles long. Finally we can see light at the end. Gradually we approach it and the light becomes very pronounced. At last light surrounds us as the tunnel falls behind. Although hidden within a waterfall, the palace itself seems to shimmer with a glorious light. The walls surrounding us are covered by massive bonsai trees grown on every little crevice stunning the walls with color. The palace resides on an island in the middle of a clear lake. Inside the lake many fish are swimming peacefully. Very tall trees shade the entrance to the marble path to the palace. The palace itself radiates. Made of an infusion of water, ice, quartz, and marble, a mixture of silver, white, gold, and the purest blue is seen. Undoubtedly, the Palace of Rain lives up to it's name. A small, but constant stream of clear water continuously pours from the two towers; breaking at the point to create a small fountain that shimmers with the rainbow as it falls to the gracefully to the earth.

"Amazing...That's just amazing..." Naruto's eyes are wide with awe. Kiba is just shaking his head as if in denial. Even Akamaru is staring at the castle.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Tenten walks serenly out of the carriage and glances at the palace.

"How do you get to the Village of Akisame?" I query.

"There are many paths leading out of the palace, but only one way in." Tenten proceeds to float among the many flowers that dot the lake's edge, "Will you come inside? We will inform you of all you need to know there."

The inside of the palace was just as grand as the garden. Everything was lit with crystals and everything seemed golden. It's suprising that this palace hasn't been destroyed. The fuedal lord came up to us and led us to a room where there was a desk and some chairs.

"Please, sit down." I obey as to not be rude.

"So...What's this tournament about?" Naruto looks up to the man with a sly grin.

"Naruto." I give him warning.

"Ehehehehe. Sorry Neji," He rubs the back of his head. Old habits never die I guess.

"The tournament is being held for my daughter." The king begins to pace around the room, "My name is Kouu Tetsu. I understand that you are Hyuga Neji, Uzumaki Naruto, and Inuzuka Kiba, yes? This tournament is inviting many heirs to come and compete for the hand of my daughter in marriage. They will fight and compete and whomever is the winner, will win my consent to marry my daughter."

Thoughts are madly rushing through my head. Tenten...geting married? To some random guy that just happens to beat everyone guy in the competition? That's just sick. It's worse than having an arranged marriage.

"YOU'RE GOING TO SELL YOUR DAUGHTER OFF TO SOME OTHER GUY WHO BEATS THE REST? WHAT HAPPENED TO FINDING A GUY WHO WILL PROTECT HER HUH? HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THESE GUYS AREN'T JUST TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU?!!!" Naruto knocked the chair back as he stood up and pointed at Tetsu-san. Kiba stands up and forces Naruto down.

"Naruto, I know this is difficult for you, but we are not the ruler of this land and we are not Te-- Takako's father. We have no say in this matter." Kiba heaves downward and forces Naruto to sit in a chair.

"Father, you did not tell me that this tournament was about winning my hand in marriage." Tenten's voice shakes slightly with suppressed anger. I smirk. Although Tenten would outright deny this, glaring at her father was a step.

"My dear, I told you that I wanted a man who was strong enough to protect you, to marry you and protect this village." Tatsu stoped pacing and looked at his daughter.

"So this whole thing is just to find a strong guy that you can give me away to huh? Fabulous father. I thought you cared more for me," Sarcasm dripped onto her words. Her eyes turned icy and she left the room without another word.

Tatsu sighed, "She always gets like this whenever I mention marriage... I guessed that this was the only way. Your rooms are upstairs to the left and seven doors down. Goodnight." With that he walked out of the room.

Naruto, Kiba, and I looked at each other, "You two go ahead." I need to see Tenten... Naruto and Kiba share a meaningful glance but they don't say anything. The three of us walked up the stairs and parted at the corridor that lead left. I went straight, glancing at some men who were walking down the right corridor. Using byakugan, it was very easy to find Tenten. She was sitting on a bed leading against the wall her face in her hands. Sitting between her was a large stuffed panda. I recognized that panda. I gave that to her three years ago when she looked at it so longingly. Did she take it with her on her mission? I gently knock on her door. A muffled, "Father if that is you, go away." answered.

"I am not your father I assure you," I say to the door. I hear soft movements and then the door opened and Tenten looked at me.

"Neji-san is it? What are you doing here?" Her eyes look a little puffy and her nose seems a little red.

"Tenten, what are you doing here?" I ask her. I know it is wrong to ask, but I need to get something straight.

"My name isn't Tenten as I have told you before." She looks at me with a slight glare.

"Then why do you look, act, smile, laugh like her then? Tenten vanished two years ago on her mission to the land of rain. You were found aroudn that same time and then your father had your memory locked away." I look at her eyes, but she refused to meet mine.

"My father would never do that to me. He said he locked away a small portion of my memory that I would find horrifying and gruesome." She turned away from me crossing her arms.

"He locked away twelve years worth of memories. Twelve years in which you lived in Konoha." Tatsu told us so easily yet lied to his loving daughter? Something's up.

"I don't believe you. I have lived in the Palace of Rain all my life." She's stubborn as always.

"Look at me." Why won't she meet my eyes?

"No." Still stubborn.

"Tenten. Look at me."

"I have told you! My name is Takako." She's still turned away from me.

"And if I refuse to call you Takako?"

"I will continue telling you that I am." Clever.

"Look at me...please...Takako," I am getting desprate.

She smiles and turns around.

Beautiful brown eyes met my lavender ones. Her eyes widen slightly as we look at each other. I see in her eyes, misery, lonliness, a longing for something she doesn't know what, numerous fake smiles, laughs, and pain beyond belief. This Tatsu. He is something to be of concern. A voice breaks my thoughts.

"Neji...kun?" Those brown eyes seem to awaken from a dream as she looks about me.

"Tenten." I answer and smile gently at her. She said two more words and those two...made my life resume again.

"I remember."

Yeah, I kind of wrote this in a rush so...Even though Tenten remembers her memory, the tournament still has to go on. Tell me how it is!

Hikari