Seven: Neji's got some news. Big news. Real big news. And Tenten isn't happy. Or is she?

Ideas happily accepted. SERIOUSLY.

Warning: Somewhat based off of the book Wicked, which I don't own.


Hyuuga Compound

Wednesday

10:30 P.M.

"Nice to meet you, love. My name is Meiriitsu Honokari. I am the daughter of Meiriitsu Akiyama, feudal lord of the Grass Village."

"The pleasure is all mine." But there was no pleasure in Neji's voice.

Akiyama smiled proudly, shipping off his daughter to some wealthy man in a marriage sure to end in homicide was an awesome idea.

"I imagine the next few days will be quite enjoyable, love." Honokari said, smiling.

This 'love' thing she was doing wasn't cool. Neji knew that if Tenten said 'love' after every sentence he wouldn't mind much. Hell, if anyone besides Honokari did it, he wouldn't give a flying fish about it.

"Yes, well…I will retire for the night. Excuse me, Hiashi-sama, Honokari-san, Akiyama-san." Neji wheeled around and quickly departed, leaving the Meiriitsus and Hiashi in the parlor.


Training Grounds

Thursday

6:00 A.M.

"So Neji, you wanna go help me clear my temple, after training? Oh! Then we could give an offering to Aphrodite!" Tenten suggested, jogging next to Neji.

As absurd as the request was, Neji would usually help out with Tenten's Greek rituals. But not today…

"Uh, no… I can't help you out. I've got some errands to, uh…run."

"What are you hiding from me?" Tenten said sharply.

"What? NO! I hide nothing." Neji replied quickly.

"When Neji says 'Uh…' he lies." Tenten said. She got a deep probing look in her eyes, as if she were delving into his mind and switching the books on his proverbial bookshelf.

"Okay! Okay…Tenten…I'm getting married."

"Oh. That's a good reason to miss a ritual with your girlfriend. That's a very good reason." Tenten said, scarily serene.

"Tenten, I didn't know until now. I'm just as surprised… Are you going to kill me?"

"Yes, Neji, I'm going to kill you. Just for a different reason that I planned. But anyway-may I meet your bride? I mean…me and you Neji-kun, best friends! We'll be seeing each other more often." Tenten said decisively, ripping any traces of boyfriend from the sentence.

"Tenten…Not a good idea. Not a good idea." Neji said, but to no avail, Tenten had already jogged ahead.

Training had ended, and Lee and Gai were on a camping excursion for the weekend. Tenten glided gracefully towards Neji and wrapped an arm around him, securing him in her grasp.

"Neji! I'm completely ecstatic to meet your girl! She must be so polite, so wonderful, lovely too?" Tenten cried daintily, clasping her hands together near her face.

Neji was as tense as ever. In a sense it was the same feeling he got before he played Duck Duck Goose with the team, or the first time he and Tenten made out.

Honokari stood at the gates, fully expecting Neji, but not the woman with him.

Neji sounded as if his voice had been pulled away from him. "Honokari-san, meet my esteemed teammate, Tenten. We'll go have that picnic now. Let's depart."

Tenten surreptitiously sized Honokari up. Her hair was an amazing shade of teal. She was flat and flexible, wearing clothes that Tenten would never wear -take your pick of unwearable clothes- She wore no makeup, and brushed her hair into the straightest style.

Their eyes met and Tenten glanced away, finding Neji more interesting.

"Nice to meet you…Tenten. I imagine we will have a grand time, love." And with that, Honokari picked up a basket and brushed the dirt off of her skirt. She scurried ahead to talk to Neji.

"Honokari will get nothing but the best from Neji's best friend." Tenten muttered, sashaying to Neji and Honokari.


Izakari Field, near the Timberline of Izakari Mountain.

Thursday

2:30 P.M.

"So, what is your opinion on law-based propaganda?" Honokari inquired, daintily eating a finger sandwich.

"I believe it is an unfair but necessary part of society." Neji said.

Tenten kept quiet, picking a Mountain Pea out of the grass. She ripped the head off of it, smirking.

"…Tenten?" Honokari called.

"Hmm?" She replied lazily.

"Your opinion. Your opinion on growing orchids?" Honokari said, smiling.

"Err; I believe orchids are a very finicky breed of plants. Hard to take care of…I think that they're very hard to take care of. But, uh, very beautiful." Tenten stammered, throwing the stem of the decapitated Mountain Pea behind her.

"Yes. I agree, love." Honokari said.

There was a long silence.

Neji looked at Tenten and suggested, "Tenten-chan, tell Honokari about your Tarot Cards."

Tenten shot a look of anger towards Neji, but he wasn't visibly affected by the glare.

"Um, well…I have the Major Arcana…They're very useful though." said Tenten.

"For what? Divination, love? Some other poppycock?" Honokari cried, laughing.

Tenten was visibly shaken by Honokari's debunking of Tarot Cards.

Tenten pinched Neji's hand and twisted the skin cruelly. Neji glanced at Tenten but made no outcry of pain.

"Yes, but…" Tenten trailed off angrily. She let go of Neji's pinch and snaked her fingers around his lovingly, obviously. "Oh, my dear Neji…married life will be wonderful! I'm so happy for you. I'm so happy."

"Yes, but the wedding is God-knows-when. We aren't sure." Neji said, referring to himself and Honokari. He pulled his fingers away to disengage, but it felt as if to say, "You can touch my hands later…" Tenten let him go.

"Yeah! Well, I can't wait until you meet Lee and Gai-sensei! Both cards, one of a kind!" Tenten suggested, smiling at the thought of Honokari getting heat stroke from too many push-ups on a 105 degree day.

"I'm sure it'll be a wonderful time, assured, love." Honokari said.

A long silence joined them at the picnic. "So…what's your favorite flower?"

Neji said, "I enjoy Hibiscus, though I do like Encyclia Orchids."

Tenten said, "Hawaiian Plumeria and Bergamot are quite fragranced."

Honokari said, "I enjoy Cestrum Nocturnum; Night Blooming Jasmine…or maybe Jasminum adenophyllum; Princess Jasmine? Or, or Beaumontia grandiflora, very rare! What about…Allamanda Cherry Jubilee? All very nice, love!"

"Hmm, good choices…" Neji muttered, not even close to knowing what a Beaumony-brandy-floor was.

Another awkward conversation was about to be engaged when a noise startled them.

"Let us continue our hike, Gai-sensei!"

"Yes indeed, Lee!"

Neji and Tenten rolled their eyes. Honokari looked up in surprise at the voices.

Two green clad men popped out of some bushes. "Neji! Tenten!" Lee froze. "You…" He began. Lee bent down and kissed Honokari's hand. "My beautiful flower, tell me, you haven't graced me with your presence before?" Lee cried.

"No, I'm afraid not, love." Honokari said blushing lightly, which looked like a guillotine's outpour of blood hitting a white poster board.

"Oh, well, that will just have to change! Why don't you and I go and get some ice cream?" Lee suggested.

Honokari glanced at Neji and Tenten. "Err, sure, love! I'd love to join you…Lee." Honokari futilely said, being pulled away by Lee.

Gai stood in Lee's wake, grinning.

"Oh, young love! It's so nice to see the flowers of youth just blooming in you kids!" Gai began, and Tenten put her hand on her lap instead of anywhere remotely near Neji's. "Our trip wasn't over yet, but I'll just have to go challenge Kakashi to a Styrofoam cup eating contest! Good day!" Gai cried, disappearing in a poof of smoke.

"Wow…um…now what? Your fiancé's gone off with Lee, Sensei's going to kill himself eating Styrofoam, and we're here." Tenten said slowly.

"Well, I'm starting by telling you about how we'll always be together, no matter what." Neji replied monotonously.

"You're trying to sound cool; Neji, but I can hear the sweetness in your voice." Tenten giggled, poking his nose.

"Well…" He began.

"Nah, don't say anything." Tenten whispered, grinning. With that, she pulled him close and kissed him.


Big long wait, huh? So…not my best, but…just writing.

Besides, isn't this what this is all about, getting better at oneshots?

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