Awkward

"Tenten what the hell is your problem?"

"Don't you dare be pissed at me. Don't you dare blame me for losing your precious mission cause we both know it's not my fault."

"If you didn't collapse our team would be on it now instead of Hinata."

"Cut the shit, you know she'll be fine. She's gotten so much stronger and her team would all rather die then let anything happen to her. That's more than I can say for you. The only things you care about are missions, Hyuugas, and your hair."

Neji's eyes flashed and I found my back trying to become one with the tree in a very real sense. His fingers bruised my wrists where they turned into shackles. His lips pressed together in a solid and thin white line; his eyes held the same anger they did when the main Branch was mentioned 3 years ago. My heart beat frantically and I wondered for a moment if he would try to kill me. The thought dissolved quickly as my fury ignited.

"Get the hell off me."

"Never. Never accuse me of not caring for you, for my team. Do you have any idea what I, we all thought when you couldn't be found? Meanwhile you were out, whoring with some guys 20 years older than you. Not only that but you straight out lied to me when I asked what your job entitled, I quote, "It's just a waitressing job, don't worry about it." I have damn good reasons to be more than pissed right now. This isn't about the freaking mission, it's about you being a fucking idiot. Why didn't you just stay with one of us? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Do you think you're that easy to approach? I was in over my head before our first chuunin exams started, do you forget how you used to be? You would've told me that I was fate for me to be there. What else was I going to do but lie about it? And there was now way I could ask Lee or Gai-sensei. Tell you? Are you kidding I hate what I've had to do, it makes me sick to think about. How could I tell anyone, especially you?"

The two us glared at each other, me breathing faster than normal. Suddenly I was freed of Neji's body to be left staring at his back. I heard him let out a sigh and saw him bring a hand up to massage his forehead.

"I should go back and see how Christine is doing. Bye."

"Wait."

Surprised I actually did what he said. Neji's fists clenched before turning to face me.

"Perhaps we should discuss this more rationally."

"I agree, so where do you want to start?"

"Will you quit?"

Neji's voice sounded slightly strangled as he asked. I flinched, looking intently at the ground.

"I don't know."

Two weeks later Team Gai was back to almost complete normalcy. Training resumed, and we got sent on a C-ranked mission. I told Alexa what happened, and she moved me to a later shift so they wouldn't suspect I still worked there. I really didn't want everyone in the village to think badly of me. I knew my friends wouldn't believe her, but I didn't interact with most people. They might actually trust her word and then… well then life would suck. And it wasn't like I could just kill her, unless I wanted to be a missing-nin it was unwise to just go around killing people I disliked.

I watched as the clock hit 10:30 and jumped out of bed. I applied make up and fixed my hair, but just kept the other clothes in a bag. I really didn't want to jump through the streets wearing a slut outfit.

I made my way silently through the barely lit streets cautiously. I slipped through the door on the side. I changed quickly before going onto the dance floor. My outfit tonight turned to be a red tube that stopped an inch below my breasts and short silver shorts. I nodded to Alexa who nodded back signaling she saw me. I painted my fake smile on, sealing away my emotions.

A arm wrapping itself around my bare stomach pulled me towards a hard body. I looked up, about to say something but lost my voice. Holding me was my stoic team mate in jeans a white t-shirt. My jaw dropped for a second before I turned away.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to find you. What's wrong with that?"

"Just let me continue working."

"Tenten stop this."

"Can't we discuss this tomorrow?"

Without waiting for an answer, I pushed myself out of his grasp moving away. I spotted a man heading my way. I gave him an alluring gaze and he smirked. Inwardly I screamed, not wanting Neji to witness any of this.

The man walking towards looked to be in his early 20's and pretty good looking too. I saw another girl who worked upstairs approach him, but he just made his way past her. That was odd, usually the guys just go up with whoever gets near to them first.

"Hey beautiful, would like to be my girl tonight?"

"Only if you play by the rules."

"Hm? And what are they?"

"Oh you know, hey!"

Evidently Neji decided to be protective tonight, how annoying. I stepped on his foot with my high-heeled shoes, but his grip around my stomach didn't lessen. I gave a dazzling smile to the guy in front of me.

"Could you excuse me for just a minute?"

"Uh sure."

"Thanks so much."

I led Neji to the corner next to the front entrance. Dropping the act I glared at him and put my hands on my hips.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"What are you so mad about?"

I let out a sigh, trying to recompose myself before I started a scene. Subconsciously I tucked my hair behind my right ear.

"Listen this is my job. You can't just stop me from working by showing up here. You can't stop me from getting customers. I need the money Neji."

"If you need money, you could stay with Hinata and I. Does she even know about this?"

"No and you won't tell her because I don't want her to find out that her best friend is a prostitute. Besides I can take care of myself."

"Obviously."

"You know what Neji? Just leave. I need to get back to my job."

"Tenten wait, please."

I spun, now on guard. I studied him harshly.

"Since when does the great Hyuuga Neji say please?"

"Shut it and just listen to me. The reason I came is because I thought if it was me who went uh… upstairs with you, well everyone would be happy."

I stared at him wondering what the hell he meant by that. Was that some really weird way of him telling me he wanted to have sex with me?

"What?"

His eyes widened as he realized what that sounded like probably because of the very weird stare I gave him.

"I didn't mean it like that. What I meant is that we could just hang out upstairs, so you don't have to do anything."

"That's… actually really sweet, but I can't ask you to do that. The way we get paid is through the guys we take up's own money."

"That's fine."

"You better get home Neji."

"Tenten!"

I ignored him making my way back into the crowd, surprised to see the man still there. I walked over to him, tapping his shoulder.

"I'm surprised to see you still here. I would've thought that you would have gone with another girl."

"Let's just say I find your beauty unique."

'There's something not right about this guy.' "Thanks, what do you say we see how beautiful you think I am?" 'Translation just go upstairs so I get paid'

The guy attempted to smile, trying to keep up his gentleman act but it came out looking like a smirk just like the rest of them. No type of gentleman would step near this place, well unless they were Neji. Besides he didn't even count, he's a prodigy which means he's beyond the limits of normal men.

And that little thought sent my mind reeling in the gutter as a stranger led me to worn bed. A stranger that didn't act normal to the point of almost being a stalker, while I could feel lavender eyes watching us ascend the stairs.

'This is going to be one of those nights that Quen is going to help me forget'