The next morning found Neji alone on the training grounds. He didn't particularly feel like exercising, but he had to get out of that house. Today,
he felt like a prisoner being able to escape for just a short while, to taste the outside world and then leave it again. He sighed and stared at the
horizon. By his clock at home, it was just about time for his teammates to arrive. He was right. The ever-exuberant Gai and Lee nearly skipped
into their training grounds, eager to grow stronger. Tenten followed slowly behind, sleepy. But, when she saw Neji, for whom they usually had to
wait, she started to run. He stood from his seat on the roots of a giant tree and greeted her. She kissed him quickly on the cheek and smiled.
"Wow, you're early." she said. "Yeah." "So, what's up?" He looked around, trying to think of what to say. Then he pulled her aside. "Tenten,
when you left last night, were you crying because…you knew?" "Knew what?" she started to ask, but Lee interrupted her. "You cried?" he asked,
surprised. "Yeah. I guess I was stressed or something." She turned back to Neji. "What's wrong?" He sighed and started sliding down that tree
again. The team followed suit. "I need to talk to you all." "All right," said Gai. "You know you can tell us anything."
"Yeah…I'm getting married."
"You're what?" exclaimed Tenten. Perhaps he could have phrased that a bit better. "No, it's not my fault," he said, in a soft monotone. "The clan is forcing me."
"Forcing…y--?" Tenten repeated, understanding. "They're making you marry somebody? They can't do that!" "Yes, surely some law
prevents that. Your family can't rob you of your rights." objected Gai.
"I know this seems crazy to you, but the Hyuga clan can do whatever it wants, and the government has little say in the matter." "That's
ridiculous! I say we march up to Lady Tsunade and have her decide!" said Tenten. "Well, I have no objection to that." chucked Neji darkly. "I don't
know what I'm going to do." Tenten laid a gentle, comforting hand on his arm. He stretched his arm loosely around her shoulders. "Who is she?"
Tenten whispered. Neji hesitated, because he really didn't want to tell her. "Ino." Tenten's eyes widened and threatened to tear. "Wow. Of all the
girls in the village." Neji understood, because Tenten and Ino were very close friends. She clung to him tightly, fiercely suppressing the urge to
cry. "Are you alright?" he whispered lowly. "Yeah," she said, rising. "I'll be fine. Let's go see Lady Tsunade." "Alright. Thanks, you all. You could be
training." "No problem!" said Gai, as they walked. "You are of much more importance than that, Neji." said Lee. He kept a slow pace beside Neji
and Tenten, who were holding hands. "Excuse me," he said. "May I speak with Neji alone for a minute?" Tenten nodded. "Sure, I guess." She
found it odd that Lee would care to talk with him, but didn't mind. She hurried forward to strike up a conversation with their sensei. "I know that
we are not very close," began Lee. "but I want to let you know that I am sorry about what has happened, and I will help in any way possible."
"Well, thanks. If this doesn't work, at least she'll have you. I know you've admired her for some time now." "Oh, no. It is not like that at all!
Tenten is my best friend, too, but nothing more. I have Sakura, remember?" He grinned. "All these years and I haven't left her side. That's
dedication." Neji turned quickly to stare at Lee, a troubled look in his pale eyes. "I was sure you felt that way." "It is okay," Lee comforted. "We all
make mistakes." "No, that's not it." said Neji. "Do you realize that as long as I've known Tenten, she hasn't found another guy? I thought she'd at
least have you. When I leave, she'll be alone, too." "She will never be alone. We will always be there for the both of you," said Lee, speaking for
himself and Gai. "Yes, well, it's not fair." "Do not worry. It all may work out in your favor. None of us knows what will happen yet." After a
comfortable silence, he asked hopefully, "So was the thinking that I like Tenten the reason that you dislike me?" "I don't like you because you
annoy me." Neji said simply. "Nothing personal." Lee nodded, having expected as much, and switched places with Tenten. She took Neji's hand
and squeezed, offering him a brave smile. Could he ever find this with Ino? "Oh, hello, Gai. Here for a mission?" Tsunade said, a lollipop hanging
out of her mouth. "No, milady," he said, using a name for her that no one else did. "We have a political issue to clear up." "A political issue?" She
raised her eyebrows.
"Like what?" "In young Neji here's clan, how does the law work?"
"Well," she said. "I believe the head of the family, Hiashi, has the most authority and the Elders contribute to making laws or decisions of any
kind. Basically, the clan governs itself. Is that right?" she asked Neji. Solemnly, he nodded. "I believe so."
"Let's say that the head of the family went too far, though." Gai continued. "What then?"
"Well, how far? Like, mass murder? A rampage of some kind?" Amazingly, she was serious. "Not exactly." His smile faded. "I mean, what if he forced
"That's unfortunate for whomever it happens to, but it isn't grounds for my help. It would be out of my
hands completely." She scanned the team.
"Is that the information you need?"
"Yes," said Neji with a bow. "Thank you." And he left.
With more thanks to Lady Tsunade, the team tried to follow him. "Wait!" Tenten called after him. "Where are you going?" She caught up with him, out of breath.
"To Lord Hiashi's house." In his anger, he wouldn't say "home". He looked at her puzzled expression with early regret and suddenly
kissed her passionately. The two others looked on in shock. He backed away from her mouth very slowly and folded his lips inward. He was crying
again, but had an even tone to his voice. "Make no mistake; I love you. But don't expect to see me again." He looked across Gai's and Lee's face
before returning to hers. "Be well." With a last look, he turned and headed home. Tenten couldn't just watch him leave and started after him. "Let
him go." said Lee, with a great sympathy for them both in his eyes. "I can't!" she began to cry, but Gai silenced her with a nod. "I don't know if we
are much better than caged birds in this situation, either." Enough time passed to make it clear that Neji was not returning to his friends on his
own. His uncle had found this to be the perfect opportunity to literally ground him for
life: he was not permitted to leave the property unless otherwise stated by his uncle. It was just as well, as Neji had planned to do himself in
before his uncle could.
His team, who weren't aware of all this, kept hoping to see him again. They practiced together and went on a mission, but never forgot him. He
was, after all, the one with the most natural talent. One morning, the three had had enough. Through the winding staircases and grand rooms of
his house, they roamed, until they reached his bedroom. At first, they thought that he must have been asleep, because he was perfectly still. But
those lavender eyes shone in the Summer light. He was snuggled in between the sheets of his bed, shirtless, watching television. Gai knocked at
the doorframe. "Rise and shine, Neji." A look of complete surprise was on his face. "What are you all doing here?"
"We couldn't let you just give
up," explained Tenten, smiling. "You're not eighteen yet."
"Oh. Well, I'm sorry for leaving you the way I did." "It's okay." Tenten said quickly. "I
know that you needed to be alone. Even if you're here." That hadn't been his exact reason, but he would keep them believing that. "Wait--how
did you get past Lord Hiashi?"
"Simple." Tenten beamed with pride. "I called Hinata and told her to call me back if your uncle ever left. He's buying groceries right now." That
statement gave Neji quite a bit of respect for his cousin. She really did try to help. "Great, thanks. But, what did you guys have in mind for us to
do?"
"I don't know--want to go out for breakfast?" she asked.
"That's exactly what I need at the moment." he smiled. "Thank you." He climbed out of bed, and they all realized that he was nearly naked.
"Um," he scratched the back of his head. "Why don't you guys wait downstairs for me? I'll be ready in a minute." Tenten laughed at how cute he
was when he was embarrassed. So, they left for the first of many forbidden outings. One day, it was eggs and bacon, the next, it was training on
their old grounds. Of course, they were using borrowed time. The wedding was only a few months away. Neji tried to forget about that, and felt
no shame in kissing Tenten. She had thought their last kiss would be their last, after all.
Satisfied, the team thought that, having carried him through the worst of all this, their troubles were over. But Fate left few clues as to what
would happen, and that made it all the more of a surprise.