In the morning, Team Gai had to leave rather quickly, due to the meeting at brunch. None of them seemed to mind at all, and were contented with strawberries and sugar with toast for breakfast and a quick goodbye. Meanwhile, Neji dressed in his best Hyuga robes, and entered the dining room, in his new position, next to Hiashi. His cup was put before him, and he poured the boiling water and soaked the tea bag. Clanging noises caused by silverware filled the comfortable silence. Then, he used his most distinguished voice to address the group.
"Welcome, everyone. All but two are here, and they are on missions. Is there any clan business any of you need to discuss?" Wandering eyes moved from person to person, waiting for someone to speak. Neji finally did, as he felt that all of those eyes lingered on him.
"I do, Lord Hiashi. If I should be so bold, I'd like to discuss personal matters." "Alright, what is it?" Neji hesitated, because now there wasn't a doubt that all eyes were on him.
"I realize that I've been forbidden from dating...particularly Tenten, because I imagine that you hold prejudice against her, since she has no family, no clan." Hiashi glared, but allowed him to continue. "Well, whatever the reason, I'd like you to reconsider. I want to date her, Lord Hiashi. Please allow me to." The room fell silent, save for a slight grunt that came from Hiashi. Neji knew to recognize these signals, and quickly added, "You have no idea how much we both want this." Hiashi emitted a deep sigh, and clasped his hands at his chin.
"I'm sure you both do, Neji. That's not the issue, and neither is her lineage. The last time, as I see you remember, had nothing to do with anything but the simple fact that I forbade you from seeing her." He raised an eyebrow. "You haven't been, have you?" "No, sir, but I want to! I need to, to the point that it hurts. I can't keep rejecting her; I can't keep pretending that I feel nothing for her, when she's all I have. Please, just listen to what I have to say, for a change. I'm in love with her!"
Hiashi's voice had a cold edge to it. Such was not uncommon, but his words were frightening in their finality. "That may be. You will not date her, though. We'll not have this conversation again, and you'll do as I say. Understand?" Neji's lips were pulled into a straight line, and he muttered, "Yes." Hiashi scanned the rest of the room, and said, "I'm sorry for this, but we all know how this clan operates. The Branch members, no matter their status, are here to protect the Main family, and to serve them, with unquestioning loyalty. None of that should be a surprise to you. Now, anyway--"
"May I leave now?" Neji muttered.
"Sure," Hiashi replied. "Go ahead."

One day passed, then another, and any time that Tenten and Neji spent together was no less awkward. It became unbearable for him, and he spent nearly all of that week alone, training on the Hyuga grounds with Hinata, with whom he wasn't too pleased with at the time. Then, the next day, it seemed like Gai and Lee had lost their minds. "Wake up, sleepyhead! You haven't trained in days! What's wrong; are you sick?" This was the overly enthusiastic babble that woke him up at 5 AM. Tenten was, of course, behind them, saying that they'd promised not to be this hyper. Great. "I'm sorry, we just want to know why we haven't seen you."she said. "Yeah, I know. How about I meet you as soon as I get dressed? For training. You can wait downstairs." They all brightened at the suggestion, and left. There was an ominous feeling in Neji's mind, and not without reason. An hour later, he was left alone with Tenten, while the others sparred.
"Well, this works out," he sighed. "I wanted to talk to you, anyway." "Oh, did you?" she asked, remembering the last time one of them had said that. He understood, guiltily. "Yes, I want you to know something." She waited. He couldn't find any way to express exactly how he felt.
"Tenten, I--" He searched her eyes with considerable emotion. She was vaguely aware of his hand upon her shoulder, as she was trying to decipher his expression. This was difficult, he realized. He lingered on a word, stumbling on the first syllable. She inched closer to him, just a bit, and his eyes wandered to her lips, then back to her own eyes. He closed the remainder of space between them, and tightened his grip on her shoulder. Then, slowly, he brought his lips just under her nose and kept still, simply breathing. She lay one hand on his elbow, and one on his back. So, he pressed his lips lightly against hers, just once, enveloping one of her lips with his. It was enough to colour her cheeks and cause a wide grin to brighten her features.
"I love you, too." he said. "I wish I'd said something when you told me, but I couldn't. Really, I...I want us to be more than friends, too." "Oh, but why didn't you say anything?" "Does it matter?" he asked with a smile. She embraced him, and he gladly returned it. In his arms, he felt her laugh with the sudden joy.