Tenten was in her room looking at the dress she had received from Lady Hinata two days ago. She turns back to the mirror, staring at her reflection. Her long brown hair that was out of its usual buns cascaded down her back. From the reflection in the mirror, she sees Shizune walk into the room. Tenten takes a moment to observe her appearance. Shoulderless aqua blue dress, black designs that wrapped around her waist of the corset part of the dress, and black glitter on the shirt part of the dress to match its top part. She had her bangs out while the rest of her hair was in a bun.
"Aren't you going to get ready?"
"Yeah,"
Shizune walks towards her, taking a seat on her bed, "Come on now. You will have fun, your friends are going to be there with you."
Tenten smiles causing the older woman to do the same. Shizune gets up, heading to the door, "I'm going to go on ahead. Remember to have fun, it's a ball after all. What's the worst possible thing that can happen," She takes her leave, closing the door behind her. Once alone Tenten sighed thinking of a few things that could happen.
Tenten then sighed once she was alone again, thinking of a few things that could happen.
When Tenten was finally finished getting ready she made her way downstairs but stopped when she saw Temari waiting for her. Temari's medium length hair was out of its usual four ponytails and was in one high ponytail while she left her bangs out, untouched. And of course, she was wearing the dress that she had gotten from Lady Hinata.
"I figured you could use the company, Ino and Sakura already went ahead,"
"Thank you, Temari," She links arms with the blond. Together they made their way out of the medical chamber, and downstairs to the grand hall where the ball was taking place.
As they made their way inside of the grand hall, whispers of compliments were coming at them from left and right. They took a seat at one of the tables, they watched from a distance as everyone was enjoying themselves. Every once in a while, they could see Ino and Sakura dancing with some of the men. There were lots of people there, standing around, dancing, drinking or listening to the wonderful music that was playing.
Tenten was mostly paying attention to Neji, who was playing the piano with the rest of the orchestra.
Hinata, followed by a man, made their way out of the crowd to their table.
Hinata had her long hair tied in a side loose fishtail braid. She wore a lavender dress that had a silver lining that created a two-way fork from the end of the corset through the skirt of the dress.
"My lady," Tenten and Temari greeted.
"Tenten, Temari. This is Naruto Uzumaki, son of Minato and Kushina, from the Land of Whirlpools,"
"Temari, only daughter of Rasa from the Land of Wind," Temari introduces herself properly.
Naruto gives a quick bow at the fellow royal.
"I trust that you have heard of our marriage,"
"Yes, and you have my approval, I trust you to not break our lady's heart," Naruto smiles at this.
"As a very close friend of Princess Hinata, and someone who does not get impressed easily. I do not,"
"Challenge accepted," Naruto chuckles then turns to Hinata, "May I have this dance, my lady,"
"You may," The two royals made their way back to the center of the hall.
"Tenten..."
"I like him, he's nice and I can tell he is a good person. I just don't want to give my answer right away,"
"Understandable," Temari looks up giving a quick frown. "Kai's coming,"
Tenten smiles sweetly, mentally preparing herself. "Great, only if there was something like hole underneath that can swallow me,"
Kai walks towards them giving a smile, "Hello ladies,"
"Hello my lord," they bowed.
"Excuse me," Shikamaru comes up to them and bows.
"May I have this dance?" Shikamaru held out his hand to Temari.
"Um," Temari nodded and took his hand. She looks back at Tenten sending her an apologetic look.
Tenten sent a look back before quickly composing her.
"My, you look beautiful,"
"Thank you my lord, but please it was all Hinata's doing,"
"Of course, I shouldn't surprised of my talented cousin. How about that dance?"
Tenten locked arms with Kai and walks to the center. Together they faced each other, Kai's hands on Tenten's waist and hand. While her's were on his shoulder and hand. Together they dance to the rhythm of the music playing. It was slow, sweet and to anyone else's eyes, romantic.
Tenten wanted this to end soon. It wasn't that Kai was a terrible dancer, no, or she was simply embarrassed by the amount of attention that she was currently receiving. She couldn't deny that she may feel something for Kai, which explains why her heart felt as if it was going to jump out of her chest at any moment.
After a few minutes, the music started to change and the center was clearing.
"Thank you for the dance,"
"Your welcome, my lord," Tenten bowed as Kai walked away.
Tenten sighed, relieved that it was over. As she makes her way back to tables someone taps her shoulder.
Tenten turns around to see Neji.
"Hello," he smiles.
"Hello, my lord," She returns the smile even though she was secretly freaking out on the inside.
"Are you enjoying yourself so far?"
"Yes and the music was wonderful,"
"I'm glad,"
As they watched the other dancers still in the center dancing to one of the slow songs. Tenten was secretly praying that Neji wouldn't ask her to dance.
"Tenten would you like to dance," Neji brought out his hand.
Tenten didn't say anything and just took his hand without hesitation. Neji rests one hand on her waist and the other clasping her hand while her free hand was clasp on his shoulder.
As they begin to dance, quickly getting into the rhythm of the music Tenten caught sight of Hiashi looking at them from a distance, "Neji,"
"Yes,"
"Is your uncle staring or glaring at us?"
Neji looks at his uncle then back to Tenten, "I would have to say starting but it looks more like a glare, honestly I can't tell the difference between the two,"
"Is there something wrong?"
"I think he doesn't like the fact that I'm dancing with another girl since I'm betrothed..."
"Ah,"
"...Or he knows that I am just doing this to piss him off,"
"Not nice my lord,"
As the two continued to dance, they ignored the look from Neji's uncle. Tenten began to get nervous under the king's stare. It was as if Tenten's prayers were answered. Hinata went to her father with Naruto right behind her. She began talking with father, taking his attention away from them and to her.
Tenten sighed in relief. "Hinata is a savior,"
"I don't think it was that bad,"
"Do you know how intense your uncle's look is my lord?"
Neji smirked, "I've learned and mastered the ways of annoying and ignoring my uncle,"
"Of course,"
"You dance very well,"
"My mother taught me to dance when I was young,"
"Yes, I remember,"
"She is a noble, unlike my father,"
"No wonder you dance so well, and you're friends..."
"My brother and I taught them, except for Temari. As you know, she is the only daughter of the current ruler of the Land of Wind,"
"Yes, of course." He then leans closer and whispers, "You know Kai is starting at us,"
Neji suddenly twirls Tenten, allowing her to catch a glance of Kai in the crowd.
"So he is," She says once they were back face to face.
"Is there something going on between you two,"
"Oh no, it's just... Kai seems to flatter me,"
"Ah, well I'm not surprised."
"Wha-"
"You're beautiful, funny, and I can tell you're smart."
She rolls her eyes, "Oh please stop,"
He lets out a chuckle, "What, it's obvious what your good qualities are. And Kai makes it more obvious that he is attracted to you,"
The music came to a slow stop and they broke apart, giving each other a bow.
"Thank you for the dance,"
"Thank you, my lord,"
Tenten walks back to the table where Temari was joined with Sakura.
"The dance with Shikamaru went well,"
"I'm happy for you Temari," Tenten takes a seat next to her. "How was your evening, Sakura,"
"Besides dancing with Sasuke, and a few other nobles it went quite fine. May I ask of yours?"
"I've danced with Kai,"
"So I've heard,"
"And with Lord Neji,"
"Yes, I saw." Sakura puts her drink down, "So if you had to choose one..."
"Oh please, not this again. I'm already going through this with Lady Hinata," Temari and Sakura giggled.
"Shall we take our leave," Temari notices that a few nobles were taking their leave from the hall.
Sakura stands up, "Yes, I'll go get Ino."
Once Sakura was gone, Tenten turns to Temari. "Have you made your decision in returning to the Land of Wind,"
"Of course not," The two ladies flash a smile at a few passing by nobles, "The reason why I came to the Land of Fire because I was sick of the fighting between our two kingdoms, and my father is too stubborn to admit his mistakes,"
Temari and Tenten stand as Sakura comes back with Ino. Together the four ladies made their way out of the castle, taking their time walking to Ino's house.
"Do you know how many compliments I got because of how beautiful I looked," Ino says, giving a twirl as her long hair follows behind.
"Ino, all of us got compliments. You're not the only one," Sakura told.
Tenten let out a yawn. Ino stopped, smiling at the two medical apprentices, "Why don't you two head back to the castle, Temari and I can head home just fine,"
"Alright then, have a goodnight," Sakura links her arm with Tenten's as they turn around to walk back to the castle.
"I am so tired," Tenten jumps on her bed when she was back in her room.
"Ten-" Shizune stops seeing her apprentice fast asleep, still in the dress that Hinata had made for her. Shizune smiles making her way over to her, "Tenten, you must change. You wouldn't want to ruin the dress that Lady Hinata made you,"
Tenten lets out a groan but slowly gets up. After changing into her nightgown Tenten goes back on the bed, falling right back asleep.
Shizune blows out the candles on her way out.
The next chapter I will try to make it focus more on Tenten and Neji.
