A/N: Hello my lovely readers! I'm sorry I haven't updated in like a month. Life is getting hectic as fall season designs must come out. Enjoy this chappie though~

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did, I'd want to draw faster so adoring fans can read more.

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Silk

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"Dammit Tenten! Come back here!" screamed Ino. "I need you measurements for the dress!"

Tenten pranced out of her reach in a lacy camisole and a pair of capris. She bellowed back, "Nobody told you strip me! Especially in front of everyone!"

"It's just your jacket! How should I know you just wore a cami underneath? Besides, it's JUST a cami!"

~Flashback~

"See, isn't it pretty?" Ino cooed as she spread out several glossy photos on Tenten's glass PA desk."

Tenten muttered, "I suppose. And I still haven't gotten over the fact that everyone works in the same building."

The pink-haired Sakura was sitting on the edge of Tenten's desk. "Well, the band likes big buildings and since they can't use all of the room, each level has areas for recording and modeling, photo-shoots and such. They hire all those people so they have access to it anytime, and people like us, " Sakura gestured to herself and Ino, "Take advantage of the area and make ourselves famous thataway."

Ino chirped brightly, "We even have all the camera stuff, a stadium for performances and fashion shows, and a bunch of stage sets for actors like Hinata, Naruto, Kiba and some other people."

Temari smirked at Tenten's "O_O" reaction. "Isn't it great? I mean the band is basically the boss of the whole place. It's almost like a music company, but with more stuff and the band manages most the stuff. Tsunade may be the manager of us all, but she spends little time controlling the actors, singers and models. She's always busy scheduling our photo-shoots, performances and stuff."

"Seems busy." Tenten said. "I still don't get how the band can be rich enough to do this. I know Neji and Sasuke and Shikamaru and Naruto and Gaara are like the co-bosses of this place…but everyone else…it's all so confusing."

Ino sighed. "You'll understand with time, Tennie. Back to the design. Like it or no? I need to take your measurements if you're going to model."

Tenten smiled lightly, "Well, it is very nice. Do you have a sample?"

Ino tsked. "Come on. I'll take you there. We can go get Hinata too before lunch."

Sakura and Temari were already halfway out the door before Ino dragged Tenten along. "Come on, Tennie!"

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"Alright, here is Ino-pig's lovely design!" announced Sakura.

On a female mannequin, Ino had produced a fine silk qipao look-alike. The crimson silk dress was sleeveless, tight and embroidered with a signature phoenix in glimmering gold thread. It had a mandarin collar and gold fastenings.

Ino smiled proudly, "It come in black and green and blue and pink and light blue and a lot of other colors too, but I think red and black and maybe green will be best for the shoot. It even comes with a matching paper umbrella for a really Chineseish feel."

"Chineseish isn't a word, Ino-pig."

"Shaddup, Forehead." Ino snapped. "Anyway, Tenten, it also comes with knee length, ankle-length or tunic-length. These ones are based on the Qing dynasty stuff. The knee-length one has two slits up the thigh; the ankle-length has one long slit; and the tunic-style one has slits, but you probably should wear pants underneath. I also have several longer dresses based on the fashions from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Tang dynasties. Like prom or white-tie event dresses."

"Right…So what?" Tenten asked.

"Pick, dur." Ino replied.

"No preference?" Tenten said.

Temari rolled her aqua eyes. "Red and black silk, knee and ankle length. Suits her perfectly."

Sakura nodded. "True. Now let's go find Hinata."

Ino crossed her arms, "Doesn't anyone care about my designs here?"

"Not at the moment, no." replied Sakura. "Food, Ino. I'm hungry!"

Suddenly, Matsuri stuck her head in. "Did I hear the proper order for Tennie?"

"Yurp!" Ino twittered back.

"Kami-sama, you've picked up on Tenten's nonsense." Sakura muttered.

"Whatever, Forehead."

As Matsuri withdrew her head, Hinata glided in gracefully with a placid smile. "Hello Sakura, Ino, Temari, Tenten. I just finished my shoot. I can go for lunch now."

"Right on time, Hinata." Temari said.

Matsuri rejoined the group of girls shortly. "Any ideas for lunch, gals?" asked Sakura brightly.

"Italian!" Matsuri shouted gleefully.

Ino wrinkled her nose and said, "Too much meat. Try salad."

"Boring," Temari interjected. "Not everyone eats only vegetables. I say we go get subs and soup."

"Seconded." Tenten said.

Hinata nodded. "I wanted some warm soup. My throat was getting pretty dry from the lines. I forgot my water."

"Done. Subs and soup." Sakura said. "Food Court floor. We can go the Café."

"Tenten gaped. "I food court?" she said weakly. "Here?"

"Yes, Tenten. Surely you'd figure that if we have runways and photo shoots and sets, we would have a food court as well. Famous people can't get out and not get mauled that easily." Sakura remarked with an amused grin.

Arriving at the court, the gang ordered their soups and sandwiches from a friendly teenage girl with black hair. Hinata took the waiting number from the girl and sat down at an elegant glass table with several chairs with silk pillows under a fake tree.

"Since when do you eat onions, Hinata?" asked Tenten.

Hinata smiled, "Since always, Tenten. This place has the most delicious French Onion soup."

"Really? Their Irish Potato chowder looked good too." Tenten said. "The onion soup I always had was way to salty."

"This place is delicately seasoned. It rivals the food at the Hyuuga complex." Hinata replied. "Except for the Minestrone. Hanabi can cook Minestrone soup only surprising well."

"Hanabi can cook?" Temari questioned while laughing. "Didn't she burn the pot she cooked with last time?"

Hinata giggled. "Bad pot. Hanabi was trying to deep-fry in a non-stick wok. The Teflon melted."

Sakura sighed. "I remember that. I hosed it down from the garden."

"Onee-chan, what are you gossiping about now?" Hinata's younger sister said coolly. She was holding a tray of sushi rolls with a narrowed teasing glare.

"Merely your wok incident."

Hanabi grinned. "It wasn't my fault the stupid pan wasn't iron or steel."

"You could have checked." Ino said dryly. "Oh, our food is done."

Tenten rose to fetch the food. She walked back with neat, even steps and set down the minestrone, onion, Irish potato, consommé split pea and vegetable soup along with a platter of finger sandwiches.

"She has a natural catwalk, Ino." Sakura pointed out. "Can you walk like that in stilettos?"

"I highly doubt it," Tenten responded. "I prefer my ankles to be intact. NO CATWALKS. I only said I'd do the shoot."

"Fine, fine…" Ino held up her hands in defeat. "I won't ask for you to catwalk the designs. I'll need your measurements for alterations and a later meeting for take-ins and let-outs."

"Whatever."

"Damn you, Tenten, for making everything so complicated."

-Insert Tenten's satisfied smirk here-

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Tenten threw her jacket back on irritably. "Screw you, Ino."

Ino rolled her eyes and continued listing numbers for Matsuri to record. "The dresses will be completed today. Final fitting today at 6."

"Kay, whatever, piggy." Tenten mock-curtsied and stalked from Ino's measuring room back to the elevator with Neji following close behind.

Tenten's boss smirked as the pair entered the glass elevator. "You don't seem like one to wear lace."

"Shut up" Tenten muttered as she pulled her jacket around her shoulders tighter.

"Don't be so rude, Tenshi-chan."

"Who gave you permission to call me that?"

"I gave myself permission." Neji lessened the space between them and rested his hands on Tenten's waist. She glared at him from under her long dark lashes and gently shook his hands off.

"No touching me. Sexual harassment isn't good for you."

Neji stared down at her for a long time. Then he tilted her chin up with one finger and pressed his mouth to hers with little hesitation.

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TBC

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Hmm...I don't think I built much suspense to my fail cliffhanger. Review what you thought!

~Flurryfox