A Rose With Thorns Still Smells Sweet
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Naruto
Summary: AU NejiTen Neji discovers that not all of the ladies at court are the same, and that not all changes in custom are bad.
Chapter 3
She heard the door open but continued to survey the sheet in front of her. She waited for the impatient interruption that she'd experienced several times that day already, but none came.
Good. This one had at least an ounce of patience.
Finally, she gave the person at the door her attention.
"Forgive me for not acknowledging you earlier; I was just reviewing your application… Lady Tian of Wakahisa I presume?"
"Yes, my lady," was the response, accompanied by a small curtsey.
"Please take a seat, and we can begin."
Another quick curtsey and the girl took a seat.
Shizune observed the applicant with a critical eye. Her dress was practical, but still managed to accentuate both her figure and her personality. She seemed to avoid the more demure, pale colours that a lot of women at court preferred. Today was no exception to that – the embroidery on the bodice of her dress was a vibrant blue whilst the rest was a deep purple.
She was bold, yet sensible.
The girl's jaw was set with stubborn determination, her eyes flashed with a hidden, yet controlled passion. She had an easy smile too – one that others would not express quite so freely.
Interesting.
Shizune glanced at her sheet, saying "Clearly you are literate; your age and marital status are both suitable and you appear to be at the peak of your health. The core requirements are met."
Indeed, Tian's arms were well toned and her hands, though dainty, were not fragile. These points would certainly work to her favour.
"If I decide that you may have the potential to be a Royal Lady, your reflexes, riding, skill with a bow and so on, will be assessed. If proved to be satisfactory, you will serve Her Majesty Queen Tsunade."
The mention of physical exertion did not phase Tian – another good sign. Too many times had maidens recoiled when Shizune had painstakingly explained that the Royal Ladies were expected to fight, and no, you didn't 'just wait on the Queen'.
Scanning over the form again, Shizune frowned slightly.
"You were not educated at a convent… Yet it seems that you so know the arts taught at one. It should not cause any problems, but I will look into the matter just in case."
"My Lady," Shizune glanced up. "If it is a requirement, I will fill any gaps in my knowledge. My adoptive father, Sir Gai, has taught me all he knows-"
Shuzune interrupted, "There may be no such need. If need be, however, I will inform you myself, though as Sir Gai teaches a number of these things to the pages, I can't imagine you needing anything extra."
Tian seemed polite enough and her choice of wording was diplomatic. Ok, next question.
"Am I correct in saying that you were not born in Konoha?"
Tian nodded curtly.
"Why then, may I ask do you wish to serve this country in stead of your native one?"
"Lady Shizune, what better way to live life than to serve my home?"
Shizune was a little impressed. Though she didn't want to, she pressed the girl further, "Do you not consider your birthplace as home?"
"No," was the firm response she received. "I have no family there now."
"I see." Shizune's tone softened from insistent to kind. "Well, that will be all for now. I will be in touch."
Tian understood the dismissal and rose from her chair carefully. She gave a curtsey and made for the door. Then she turned back.
Shizune watched, fascinated.
"My Lady, I want to be able to protect the ones I love, as Her Majesty protects Konoha. But I also hope to protect the place that accepted me with but a few questions. It would be an honour to serve under Queen Tsunade." Raw emotion and enthusiasm had fuelled the little outburst. Realising that she may have sounded impudent for speaking out of turn, she gave another hurried curtsey before she exited through the door whilst trying not to trip in her haste.
Shizune definitely saw potential, but of course, the decision was not to be taken form the interview alone; there was still the physical aspect of the assessment to complete and the choice for the final shortlist was not hers to make – the Queen would pick her ladies herself.
x X x
As Tenten wondered through the maze of halls that was the Royal Palace, she tried not to analyse the interview that she had been to earlier that day; Lady Shizune had said that she would be in touch – possibly a positive sign…
Her musings were cut short by the arrival of an idle squire who insisted on escorting her on a tour of the palace. Though admittedly, Tenten offered little resistance – she had not yet had the chance to take a look around her idol's (not so) private domain.
After being guided to the main attractions, (galleries, throne rooms, etc.) the squire enquired whether there was anywhere else that she would like to visit.
"Actually…"
"Yes, My Lady?"
"I would like very much to visit the training grounds."
"My Lady," the squire seemed to hesitate, "the training grounds would hold no interest to you, I'm sure…"
"Humour me," she quipped, her lively eyes sparkling.
As the teen lead the way, he cheerfully recounted his many misadventures as a page, though after some prodding.
Once they arrived at the practise courts, his previous reservations aside, the squire pointed out exactly what each part was used for (with an amusing anecdote to go with each section) and as some of the pages went through their drills, the squire identified specific boys by their mannerisms or notable incidents in which they partook.
After one unfortunate, mishappen page was knocked over the head due to careless footwork, a group of third year squires were ushered into the stables by an ever enthusiastic Gai. Not wanting to distract him from his teaching, Tenten thanked her squire guide, gave him a coin for trouble and courtesy before excusing herself.
x X x
Steadying his lance, Neji applied a little pressure to his horse's sides. The mare began at a trot before being gently urged into a steady gallop. Equally sure of himself, Neji rose in his stirrups and took aim. The lance flew straight and true, striking the centre of the willow disk hard enough to snap the cord that held it suspended.
Taking a jump off of his noble steed, he picked the disk up. Returning to his mare's side, he gave her a pat as he led her back to the other side of the tilting field. As he approached his starting point, his lips twitched up (an act that seemed to be occurring more frequently, recently) when he noticed someone observing from behind the fence, with their hair in the distinctive style of two buns atop her head.
Surveying his audience coolly, he said "Why am I not surprised to find you here?"
Tenten gave him a lopsided grin as she continued to appraise him. Suddenly her hand shot out and she remarked, "So this is a knight's lance. May I have a look?"
Seeing no harm in the request, Neji shrugged and surrendered the weapon. He gave the girl no warning of the weight to expect, wanting to gauge her reaction.
Tenten gripped the lance firmly, skimming experienced fingers over the smooth metal; admiring the craftsmanship and testing the heaviness. She did not seem particularly surprised by it.
As her face tilted up slightly to look him in the eye again, Neji knew immediately that her next utterance would probably throw him off balance, and more so than she had in their previous two encounters.
The tell-tale signs were already present; the small twinkling of those amber eyes accompanied by the calculating curve of her lip.
All he could do, he supposed, was wait for her next words to come.
He did not have to wait long.
"Teach me how to use it."
Her demand was frank and blunt, in the same manner as everything else that she said. Whether she was unable or merely unwilling to dance around her requests (as others at court seemed to deem necessary) was another matter entirely, but it was not her to-the-point manner that had thrown Neji.
Queen Tsunade had made many changes after ascending to the Konohan throne, many of which had made the country a fairer to women and extended their freedom of choice.
Neji did not dispute this in any way as he did not oppose the idea – women should not be oppressed because of their gender.
Even when women were allowed to fight for the country, he had no problem. After all, Konoha was their home as much as it was his own.
And yet...
Neji could not -no- would not bring himself to be able to share this weapon, the lance, with the fairer sex.
The lance had always been the tool of knights; tilting the art practised by them alone. And although Neji was fairly certain that at some point, the Queen had probably attempted to make the title 'knight' a unisex one, the court of elders would have overruled this, stating "This goes too far."
And Neji would have to agree.
Glancing at her briefly, Neji realised that the excuse of inappropriate clothing would be of absolutely no use to him at the moment: clad in loose long green breeches and a light pink shirt that hinted that she wasn't a native resident of Konoha, her attire was actually quite practical. Had she worn a frivolous dress, his refusal would be much easier.
As it was, with no reason that would seem acceptable to her, Neji settled for a simple "No."
Instead of the indignant outburst that he was expecting, Tenten merely tilted her head to the side and enquired "Why?"
His response was both terse and calm.
"You are not a knight."
She bristled at this remark.
"Because I'm not a knight," she repeated. "I'm not a knight because I am not a man."
She continued to glare heatedly at him, yet it seemed as though her calmer, more rational side was trying to take control of her tongue.
It probably did no good to the Lady's temper that Neji looked so highly amused. But he just couldn't help it! It was the first time that anyone had had the nerve to scowl at him so openly.
After mastering herself, Tenten steadily questioned, "Perhaps it is believed, still, that men have superior skill and strength and therefore women must not be able to attain as high a title as that of a knight. So be it. However, if I can best you in, say, a competition of archery, there should be no harm in you teaching me to use the lance. After all, I have no intention of trying to snatch your title from you; the weapon is all that interests me."
Neji mulled over what she had said - to refuse such a bold challenge would make him seem both like a coward and a chauvinist. Plus, he was fairly convinced that he would not be beaten.
As if trying to seal the deal, Tenten proposed "You may choose the target, the bows and the arrows."
She hadn't even blinked whilst voicing the suggestion.
From what Neji had seen of the Lady so far, he knew that having to utter something as self-derogatory as this would cause the proud girl to ball her fists and grit her teeth. Yet the words flowed from her lips with an almost practised ease.
So, she had bested men before who had later accused her of participating with dishonesty.
Considering the proposal for only a moment longer, Neji consented. He was reasonably confident that he would triumph and the thought of a challenge invigorated him.
Tenten's eyes lit up at this. She reached forwards over the fence that separated them and cheerfully stroked the mare beside Neji on the nose. In return the mare butted her hand affectionately as Tenten observed "She's quite a beauty… What is her name?"
Slightly startled by the sudden change of topic, Neji replied "Her name is Fuu."
"Well, Fuu deserves your full attention after the work out you both had. After you finish tending to her, shall we head over to the archery courts? I would rather that this be decided sooner rather than later."
Glad that she thought practically and did not try to push him straight into this 'contest', Neji gave another small nod. Taking Fuu by the reins, he led her back towards the palace stables. He was slightly startled when Tenten approached the mare on the other side and continued the ministrations on the horse's nose.
Evidently, Fuu had taken a liking to the girl. Her master also had to agree.
-Hollyrose-
