Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.


Hey, this is Ino. I am busy right now, so please be a sweetheart and leave a message after the beep.

Beep!

"Hey, are you still mad at me? Come on, talk to me already… I'm really sorry. Please, just please; call me back when you get this, bye." Tenten downheartedly watched her phone.

It has been a week since the incident. And no matter how sorry she was; Ino can't just let it go. Her profession as a stylist is so significant to her that she was horrified her clients might get the wrong idea about her being jailed.

"She didn't have to ignore me this long…" Tenten breathed out and dumped her phone back on her pocket. Glancing at the clock, she doubled back to work, noting that she had used too much of a 'break' already.

With a pen and a pad paper in hand, she swiftly went to the newly arrived customers.

"Can I take your order?" She began casually, not forgetting the verity that she had to greet customers with a cheerful act. Becoming a waitress is not really Tenten's dream job, but since it pays her minimum wage, then it's better than staying unemployed.

She wasn't sure of these girls weirdly staring at her, "Our barbecue burger is extremely good. It's usually what people order a lot." Considering that maybe the customers were just having a hard time deciding on what to choose.

As if caught up with something, the girl with pretty blue-black hair plunged her face into the menu. "Umm… Yes, we would love to try that. Two orders please…" Her shy, quiet voice was audible enough for Tenten to hear.

"Alright, two barbecue burgers coming right up. It may take a while." She hurriedly scribbled their orders, desperate to get away from them. She was beginning to feel self-conscious. Was there something on her face? The pretty girl on her left was having quite a hard time looking at her directly, while the one on her right looked as though she can't take her eyes off of her.

"Oh my gosh…" The young girl suddenly spoke, stopping Tenten on her tracks. She slowly turned her attention back to them, giving the girl a questioning look. The girl had on an expression Tenten couldn't reasonably distinguish.

"Is there anything else, ma'am?" The feeling of familiarity unpleasantly crept up on her. And then it hit her.

"You're that freak from Neji's wedding!" Bullseye. She got her right on the spot.

"Hanabi…" said the girl's companion gently, showing signs of discomfort.

"What? Come on, Hinata…it's HER!" Hanabi declared, all thrilled as she turned her attention back to Tenten. "What happened to you that time? Are you always a paranoid? I have always wanted to officially meet you." She blurted out with her eyes wide in excitement. She moved her hands animatedly as she continued, "You and Blondie were just awesome. I mean, her strangling Sakura to death, you wrecking Neji's day plus vomiting on his suit, not to mention pissing off my father… it was epic!"

"Hanabi…" Hinata softly warned her, shaking her head ever so slightly.

Hanabi didn't even mind Hinata when she stood up to shake Tenten's hand "I hate those people," She paused and placed a hand on her chest, instantly showing a grateful expression, "And that was just the happiest day of my life! I will always cherish that moment until I die."

Tenten just stood there all frozen. She can't even form a word. This trouble she got herself into is continuing to haunt her. She may never live a peaceful life ever again.

"Err… yeah… that was… that… you … you see….that… was…just…just…" She cleared her throat and continued in a shaky voice, "I better go place your order."

"Wait!" Hinata called out. "I'm really sorry about this." She gave Tenten a sympathetic look, "I am Hinata by the way." She smiled offering her hand in a friendly manner.

"Tenten." Tenten shook it, looking a little downcast and not herself, "I should be the one saying sorry, what I did was really awful and I really hope you guys can forgive me."

"It's fiiiiiiine, don't worry. You only made my father go all warped up, but it's not a big deal!" Hanabi said, giving Tenten her assurance.

"She's right, there's nothing to worry about. I'm sure you didn't mean for it to happen." Hinata smiled, "This is my sister, Hanabi. Neji's our cousin."

"Thanks," She hesitated for a moment; it might be too much for her to ask, but "Is there any way for me to apologize to Neji formally?"

"I don't really know. Neji's always busy as you can see, he's always demanded around the company." Hinata explained.

"Company? What company?"

"The Keycity Company. It's that sky rise building, about two blocks from here?" Tenten almost fainted the minute Hanabi dropped the info.

"P-Please be generous on the tip…" She blurted out.

Hinata timidly covered her mouth and giggled. "It's with a couple of shareholders." She thought for a moment, "How about this," She paused, considering the odds once more, "I'll ask Neji's Secretary Kin, if he's going to have any free time this weekend. I'll just stop by here and inform you on when you'll meet."

"Thank you, Hinata. That's really nice of you," Tenten couldn't be any more grateful to them, it's like there tamed lions, so much different from the wild ones. Neji brutally made it clear to her how he's on top of the food chain.

Crumpling the paper she was holding, Tenten remembered what she's standing there for, "I really have to go place your order now, my boss might get mad at me for chatting with customers this long…" She smiled sheepishly, thanking them once more and headed to the counter.


Tenten gaped at the tall building. She'd be living under a rock if she didn't know how powerful the company is. Sitting like a queen in a coffee shop just across the street, she examined the package a dear friend gave her. On the box it says:

'Just sharing a glimpse on the things I like to do.'

She opened the box and found a note. And just as she suspected, it was the longer version of the teaser he wrote on the box.

How else would you spend your free time if it is not on crafts and such?

Just wanted to remind you that anything you do with this gift would be meaningless if it doesn't come with a boom!

-Deidara

And inside it was a ball of clay. Tenten sighed, she knew better than expecting to get a puppy from an art dealer. She took a sip of her coffee and observed the building once more. The security is kind of tight, so she can't just gatecrash. She felt a little restless all at once, unable to refrain herself any longer. Waiting isn't really something she'd like to give a chance, but she also doesn't feel like striking unarmed. She considered Hinata's offer again and coerced herself to leave.


Tenten's eyes remained on the building as she sauntered down the road at a snail's pace. She was as dispirited as a child who didn't get a balloon.

Her childish concerns were interrupted when she bumped someone off with a crash.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Tenten said; as they managed the things they dropped. As she bent down to pick up her package, she caught site of the lady's ID. It was some sort of a 'visitor's pass-to the building she's dying to get in.

The lady fanned her face. "Its fine, it's fine. I'm sorry too; I wasn't paying too much attention to the surroundings." And then she laughed nervously.

"Are you okay?" She looked really awful to Tenten. She had on a mental note to quickly ask the girl how she got the ID pass before she would disappear.

"Not really, it must be that weird beef we had," She clutched her stomach, "And to think I have an appointment with Mr. Neji Hyuuga in about thirty minutes…"

Upon hearing that, a wild thought dawned on Tenten. She looked at the box she's holding, and then at the girl, "Oh, it's you! I was expecting you," So much for a desperate act.

"Excuse me?" the lady asked.

"I am Mr. Hyuuga's secretary, Kin." It is a very good thing she forgot to bring a pair of pants; her waitress skirt is formal enough for this deception. "I can postpone your appointment later on if you want."

"Really, then what are you doing out here?" The lady gave her a once-over. Tenten smiled at her inquisitive query, "I picked up this package for him." She then drew her eyebrows together and looked over her shoulders. She moved closer to the lady and whispered, "Don't mention a word to him about this… this package is top secret and you already knew too much." Tenten contemplated at her gravely and stepped back.

"You sounded different on the phone…" Tenten suppressed a groan. Fooling this lady is harder then she thought.

"I had a sore throat back then. I usually have this tiny voice…" She reasoned. "And I'm also a nurse." She added almost too quickly, "I suggest you go to the hospital right now, the symptoms you're showing me are that of a very serious ailment."

"What?" This made the lady panic, "Okay, okay. I'll just give you a call to follow up on my meeting with Mr. Hyuuga, alright?" She then dashed to her car.

"Wait!" Tenten yelled, running after her, "Let me hold your ID pass for you, I know you are going to vomit and we wouldn't want splash backs on it. Trust me Mr. Hyuuga isn't very nice on dealing with stuff like that…I found out the hard way…"

The lady nodded and gave Tenten her ID. Tenten thanked the heavens for her luck and bounded for the building.


Tenten looked at the ID pass, she was glad it doesn't require any picture on it. When she got to the main entrance, she flashed the guards her sweetest smile, "Hi, I am Shiori Tono; I am here for an appointment with Mr. Neji Hyuuga." She showed them the ID pass, but they didn't let her in yet, "What's inside the package miss?" asked the one nearest to the door.

"This is what we are going to discuss, sir. I'm afraid this is no longer your business." She snapped. The guards looked at each other, and then let her in.

The place was huge and she certainly doesn't have enough time to play hide and seek with Neji's office. She took off Shiori's ID and went to the elevators. She got in with a woman who was about 5 years older than her.

"Hello ma'am, I am an intern here. I was asked by my superior to deliver this package to Mr. Neji Hyuuga's office. As you can see, I am quite lost. Could you somehow tell me the directions as to where I should be?" She politely asked, giving the lithe woman a fond smile.

"It's the whole 75th floor." She answered.

"Ah!" Tenten said, "Thank you so much ma'am."


Tenten got off the elevator. That woman was flattering herself too much.

She was met with an office and to the right of that was a double door interior. The office door was ajar, so she slowly peered at it.

"I'm sorry but Mr. Hyuuga is still at a meeting right now. You might want to call again later, say, 10 minutes or so? The meeting's almost over, and I believe it would be enough time before Mr. Hyuuga's next appointment…" She overheard Kin, talking to the phone. "Yes? Who's there?" She demanded.

"There's a woman down the lobby, claiming she knows you. The guards are trying to keep her down, so she offered a strip tease for them…You might wanna check it out, maybe you do know her. " This is the first time Tenten met this… thing and she already had the impulse to kill her.

"Then why are you up here? They could get me with a phone call." She raised a thin eyebrow and crossed her arms in the process.

"I'm an intern; first day…they're trying to keep me busy." Tenten replied in her flattest tone. She wanted to cross her arms too but she's carrying this handy prop.

"Busy? I see… use the stairs on your way down then. I'll be back" she started for the elevator, then stopped, "Don't touch anything, if the phone rings, leave it. And DON'T let Mr. Hyuuga see you here! Am I making myself clear, intern?" She said.

"Crystal," Tenten assured her, "I'll be going down anyway…" she added gesturing to the stairs. Bitch!

Kin gave her a snobby look. The moment the elevator doors closed, Tenten went inside Neji's office at full tilt. She surveyed the vast room. Now where would she hide so that Kin won't find her? She can't afford to be kicked out after all she has done. She panicked the second she heard footsteps. Like blazes, she hid under Neji's desk.

She heard the doors open. It's like one of those suspense movies, where all she could do was say 'almost there' as the footsteps came closer…and closer…and closer…

"Yes, I am fully aware of that matter…Yes…I'll call you back when I receive it. Thank you for your time Mr. Aburame."

The chair swiveled just as Neji sat on it. He prodded himself closer to his desk and was alarmed when he felt his knees brushing on to something. He crouched down to take a look.

"I love the view from up here…" Tenten said the moment she got caught.