Chapter 3! Thanks to everyone that reviewed last chapter -- sorry for not updating this a lot....DX.... ANYWAY, enjoy ch. 3 and leave me a review!

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Knowing to the heart

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A loud, unhappy groan escaped Tenten's lips as she stared at the palace sitting in front of her. How did this happen again? Oh, she remembered. It was because she chose not to visit the new king when he had told her to. She had thought that he was going to forget about her, though she was wrong. When Shino Aburame, which she had received his name after asking for it a million times during their journey, had told her that she had no other choice but to see the king, she had instantly known that things weren't going to come out so pretty.

While they were leaving the bar, she had noticed everyone's eyes on her. Oh, how she hated that! Why couldn't they just mind their own business? However, she had told herself that if someone else was in her position, she would be staring at that person as well. Lee had asked Shino a batch of times if she was in trouble, and the man had just replied that he had no idea what King Hyuuga's intensions with her were. Naruto and Kiba were then planning ways on "rescuing" her, but Shino had told them that any interference would cause the death of that person.

The large beige-colored gates with dragons printed on them opened, revealing a luxurious garden. Tenten gasped at the neatly set of benches sitting on the side of the narrow pathway that led to the entrance of the palace. It also had dragons and unusual signs printed on them. Tenten told herself that she looked like a poor little mouse compared to the fancy palace in front of her.

Guards, mostly ninjas, stood motionlessly around, watching her and every other person walking around. Maids and servants were seeing cutting some branches from bushes and watering the plants. Even if they were the ones to clean the whole palace, Tenten felt embarrassed at the fact that their clothes were better looking (and probably better quality) than hers.

Tenten turned her head as they all looked at her in surprise. She knew that in their heads they were thinking why she was there and (since it was Shino who was bringing her) the king's intentions with her.

The door slid opened, and Tenten walked inside. A low 'wow' escaped her lips as she, for the first time in her life, she saw the inside of the breath-taking palace. Family portraits of the Hyuuga Clan laid on the light beige colored walls. The portraits were different when coming to size, but they all had a gold outline going around.

"This way," Shino said, breaking her thoughts.

Tenten glanced back at him and followed him through a wide candlelit hallway. After walking through the hallway, Shino halted in front of a door. Before Tenten could've hear Shino's voice for entrance, she heard the king's handsome one.

"Come in, Shino."

Shino slid the door open and walked inside. Gulping, Tenten followed him, however, staying closely behind, hoping that the king would not notice her. However, who was she kidding? The peasant felt her cheeks redden embarrassingly once the king had motioned Shino to move to the side and his pearly white eyes had met hers. Tenten froze on her spot as the king glared at her while he spoke.

"You can leave now, Aburame."

Respectably, Shino bowed to the king and left, leaving them alone inside the fresh-aired room. His glare made her feel uncomfortable, but she couldn't look away. It was as if his eyes were making her come to him. There was an awkward silence before it was broken once King Hyuuga stood up and moved away from his desk. Still, Tenten didn't move as he walked over to her. The door was closed, but the window was opened. Her mind told her to make a run for it and jump out the window, but her legs were nailed to the floor and she felt her guts to do such move go away. In addition, the king halted right in front of her and glared down at her.

Too late… she told herself, looking right into his milky-white eyes.

"You thought that I was going to forget about you?" he asked her, still glaring, "I expect people to do what they were supposed to do."

Tenten gulped again and stared one more time at the opened window.

"…Escaping through the window won't be a great idea, Tenten."

The peasant flinched at the venomous way he said her name.

"I-I wasn't planning on escaping through the window, King Hyuuga." she lied.

"Ahh, so were you planning on escaping through the door?"

"I wasn't planning on escaping at all, sir."

"You lie," he told her and then began to walk around her in a full circle.

Tenten's eyes widened and she turned around to look at him. The newly young king, with his index finger, motioned her forward. Following his instructions, Tenten did but stopped once she noticed that she was about to stand too close to him.

Seeing her stop, the king frowned and grabbed her thin wrist, pulling her abruptly towards him until their bodies almost touched. Tenten's face reddened and she felt his hot breath on her face.

What the hell does he want with me?
she thought.

"I can see that you have many questions to ask me, and I will give you the grant to ask, only if, however, you answer my questions."

Nervously, Tenten nodded.

"We shall speak, however, outside in the garden." he told her, turning around and walking away with her following behind his steps.

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Once again, Tenten enjoyed the loving view of the beautiful garden. But, this time, there was no one outside except them two. She stared at one fountain that had a statue of King Hyuuga's father in the middle. Behind the garden were the woods and she managed to see weapons there, and right away she told herself that King Hyuuga must be a ninja himself.

The two halted and sat down on the edge of a large water fountain. Tenten continued to look around, enjoying the dreaming place. Oh how she wished she had a garden this beautiful on her farm, but she knew that the animals would destroy it.

The two halted and sat down on the edge of a large water fountain. Tenten continued to look around, enjoying the dreaming place. Oh how she wished she had a garden this beautiful on her farm, but she knew that the animals would destroy it.

"Never seen a garden before?" he asked, somewhat amused at her face expression.

"Oh I've seen gardens before, but not a big nor beautiful one like this one. This is bigger than my whole house, including the small farm we have."

"We?" he asked bafflingly.

Tenten turned her head and looked at him. "Sorry, sir, but my father and I."

"Ahh," he said understandingly. "So you must live with your father then?"

"Yes, I do." she replied, feeling awkward about talking to the new king in such way.

"What about your mother?"

At the mention of her mother, Tenten's back shuddered and she lowered her head. Her chest began to ache and she told herself continuously to not cry at all. Nevertheless, her tears paid no attention to her. Immediately, the peasant wiped her tears away before the king could have noticed them.

"She-She's d-dead," she replied, taking a deep breath and calming herself down.

The king looked at her, feeling slightly worried but not showing it.

"Forgive me for asking; I can see that you're upset."

The peasant sighed, looking away. "It's alright."

Neji a slight nod and then asked another question. "How old are you?"

"Seventeen, sir." she replied.

The king nodded once and looked away, thinking to himself. She wasn't that young, so it was alright for him to ask her hand in marriage. However, he didn't want to ask; he wanted to make her his wife. He was beginning to forget about what his father had told him before, but he couldn't help it. He knew that forcing someone to become or do something isn't part of the "monarchy view", but he wanted her.

"You're a peasant, correct?"

Yes, I'm a peasant, sir." she answered, hands on her knees.

"What's your occupation?"

"I don't have one," she replied, swinging her legs back and forth, "My job is to take care of my father's farm and sell some crops and animals so I can pay his hospital bills and buy his medicine."

"Not an easy life,"

"Not at all, sir." she replied.

"What else do you do?"

"Besides watching over my ill father, I sometimes work with my friend at a bar to earn more money."

"Why at a bar?" he inquired, not liking the idea of her working at a bar.

"…Because it's the only place where someone will hire me, even if it's for an hour. My friend actually convinced his boss to let me work there when I have time to. I don't care how much I make, I just want to make something for my father."

"What about yourself?"

"What about myself, sir?"

"You're too busy taking care of your father and earning money only for him that you didn't mention anything about earning some money for yourself."

"Well, I don't really need it. I want my father to be cure; I'm afraid that he'll leave me. I don't want to be alone in this world."

"Didn't you say that you have a friend?"

"Yes, I do, and I have more that I love, but my parents were the ones that I've knowing for my whole entire life. My mom's already gone and I don't want my father to leave too. But, I think he wants to go. I hear him talking to himself sometimes, saying that he wants to die already. I guess it's because he wants to be with my mother…"

"Everything happens for a reason. If your father dies, it's because of a reason. You won't be alone in this world, Tenten." the king said, and then added, "now, it's your turn to ask questions."

A smile appeared on Tenten's lips, and right away, she sat up straight and looked at him as he looked at the flying birds.

"Alright, my first question is why did you want to see me?"

Knowing that she would ask such question, the king turned his head and looked at her.

"I wanted to ask you something."

"…And that was?"

The king grabbed her hand and pulled her closer until their noses touched. Tenten tried to get away, but he had tightened his grip on her hand.

"Will you become my wife?"


I'm done! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please review! Anyone up to date with the manga? Is Kakashi really dead!? That's sad! T.T and KONOHAMARU CAN DO THE RASENGAN STUFF! I got angry at that cuz I really love Naruto and I'm hoping HE becomes Hokage; he deserves it!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

REVIEW!