Intrigue
By Tanya Lilac
Chapter Seven
The sun was slow to rise the next morning. Tenten woke with sore eyes and stiff limbs, and groaned. Sadako laughed and brought her breakfast to her chambers. Tenten sighed as she nibbled mechanically on a slice of apple.
"I do not want to do anything today," she said, leaning back on her pillows. "Between this, skating and dancing, I would rather lie here and go... senile."
Sadako smiled. "What is this? A fearless knight of Konoha, backing down?"
"Hush!" Tenten replied, her eyes shutting as she ignored the sudden, sharp thud of her heart. "It just feels like one of those days... You can have a ... rest day today."
The Hyuuga grinned. "Servants do not get rest days."
"Servants do not sleep in their mistress' beds, from what I gather," Tenten said drily. "I shall be fine on my own."
"Either way, Hanako is coming by with your dress today for a fitting. I will be back in two hours. You had better not be wearing your nightgown when I get back, or else Hanako will murder me."
Tenten laughed. "I do not understand why you insist that I wear this thing anyway!"
When Sadako left, Tenten felt suddenly relieved by the solitude. However, it did not ease the two things that were currently plaguing her mind. Firstly, impersonating a knight was a serious offense in Konoha – Sadako's reminder had brought on the beginnings of an incurable anxiety that she knew she would have to deal with, sooner or later. Secondly... well, she as much as she hated admitting it to herself, knowing that there was a woman (and a beautiful one, at that) currently lying in bed with Neji, probably having a leisurely breakfast, was making her... more than a bit irritated.
She looked down at the fresh fruit Sadako had brought her and her appetite left her. She sipped the coffee, but found it tasteless – betraying its rich aroma. No, it was not tasteless... she was just lacklustre.
Jealous, a part of her corrected. Tenten scoffed. "I do not feel that way, least of all about someone like him."
She slipped out of the bed and pulled the nightgown over her head, and donned a linen shirt and dark breeches before pulling on her boots. Sadako had put her knives, and various swords in a chest, and she turned to them for comfort. Stepping out onto the balcony, she knew immediately it would be a poor day for a hunt. The forest lay to the east, and the wind would carry her scent forward. Sighing, she drew her sword, relishing in its telltale ring, and spun it in her hands, the hilt smooth and familiar in her grasp as she began to move through familiar stances, the fatigue in her muscles slowly draining away.
She almost dropped the blade fifteen minutes later, when Neji emerged from his chambers, coming onto the balcony wearing similar clothes. He did not bother with the usual courtesies and drew his sword. Her sword.
His footsteps were silent, his movements fluid. He met her gaze with eyes that were cold, unflinching, and Tenten wondered for an instant what had happened. Of course, all thoughts vanished from her mind the moment Neji swung the sword in a smooth arc, and Tenten blocked the swipe, the shock barely registering in her arm. The wind tore at her clothes and her hair whipped around her face. Cursing, Tenten wondered for an instant why she had not bothered to tie her hair back.
Neji nodded. "You have a strong arm, and good reflexes for a woman. Your footwork needs improvement."
Tenten sighed and lunged at him with a snarl. "Save your breath Hyuuga."
"Stay calm." He sidestepped her as the momentum carried her forward. He tapped her on the small of her back and she frowned, whirling around. The wind tore his words to pieces after brushing the shell of her ear, feather light, and she shivered.
"When you get angry, you become reckless – and your attacks are easier to read and block." He smirked. "Besides, I think that is enough of a sign that you are far from ready."
"What?" she fumed. He simply sheathed the sword and grabbed her by the arm, leading her back to her rooms. Pushing her towards the fireplace, he let go of her to shut the door.
"What were you thinking, going outside dressed like that? Hitomi would kill me in the most publicly humiliating manner possible if you were to catch cold, so soon after recovering from Hiro's... attack." He cast his eyes around her room and spotted the tray of unfinished breakfast on her bed, then held out his hand. "Sit."
Tenten sheathed her sword and handed it reluctantly to Neji before sitting obediently in front of the fire. She took off her boots and shook out her hair, running a hand through her windswept locks. Neji placed the swords in the open chest, and Tenten sighed.
"I told you that you could keep it," she said, bringing her knees to her chin. "It is only once in a blue moon that I ever find a sword that I like. It must be even rarer for you."
He nodded, and placed the sword on top of the now closed chest and came over with the tray. He sat opposite her and handed her a cup of coffee. It did not surprise her that it was still piping hot – magic had apparently intertwined its way into the everyday lives of the Hyuuga – but she smiled at its rich taste. Neji eyed her suspiciously as he threw a log onto the fire.
"What is that look for?"
"You... are acting strangely," he replied, reaching for a slice of soft peach, thanking whoever had thought of building a hothouse for growing unseasonable fruits.
"You hardly know me." She took another sip of coffee, the warmth slipping through her limbs.
His eyes danced with bemusement. "We could change that."
Tenten leaned forward and refilled the cup before handing it to him. "That is true." Neji's heart thumped particularly hard as her fingers brushed his. In fact, this entire morning had been full of surprises. The best one, by far, had been seeing Tenten practicing on the balcony, her movements sure and her hair carelessly teased by the wind. He had been instantly reminded of when he had first met her, her lips unpainted and her scent unmasked by perfume. He hoped (how rare!) that all of the pampering and dance lessons in the world wouldn't change this Tenten. She seemed far too...
"Why are you here?" Tenten's voice cut through his somewhat uncharacteristic thoughts.
"Excuse me?" Neji watched as she bit into a strawberry, his mouth drying as the juice dripped down her chin. He hadn't realised he had leaned over until Tenten frowned. Reaching forward with his hand, he brushed his thumb against her jaw. He licked his lips subconsciously as he saw the juice that stained her lips, and drew back before his body betrayed him once more.
Clearly struck by the noble's intimate gesture, she stammered before repeating her question. "Y-you... I thought that you would be with Hana." She ran a tongue over her lips, and finding them sweet, blushed and looked away as she realised what Neji had been thinking.
Neji leaned back in the chair and crossed his legs, enjoying the coffee as he contemplated answering. Tenten tore up the bread roll and busied herself with the butter. The knife almost slipped through her fingers, and she failed magnificently to fight the colour that was rising in her cheeks.
"She is a heavy sleeper." His voice, for some reason, was as cold as the wind. "I left her in my room. She is probably still sleeping."
Like many things today, Tenten had difficulty swallowing. "Do you...l-"
"I like her well enough," Neji interrupted her, pouring another cup of coffee. He leaned forward and she accepted it with a small smile. "But she is clingy, insufferably so."
"That is..." Tenten couldn't find a way to finish her sentence.
"None of your concern." Neji said. "She's inconsequential."
"And is that what you thought that I would want to hear? Or is that how you regard all of your 'conquests', my lord?" she simpered. "For all your scorn, you are a spitting image of that pig, Uchiha Sasuke."
"I was merely stating the truth, Tenten." He smirked. "Or would you rather I falsely proclaim my undying love and complete and utter devotion to her entire, divine being? She... nor anyone here desires me for life."
The coffee cooled in Tenten's hands and it took all of her strength to keep his gaze.
"My only duty is to give the Head family what they desire. Everything else is irrelevant."
Tenten set the cup on the table between them and stared into the flames. "What is it that you desire, Neji? Does that not matter?"
The pot of coffee was empty – perhaps their time was over, too.
"So eager to know, are we?" He smirked, and she blushed, looking away. A slice of peach passed her lips and she absentmindedly ran her fingers through her hair once more. She froze when he uttered a single word.
"Vengeance." He glanced at her, and she stared back. "I am sure Sadako has told you about my father."
Tenten slid off her chair and knelt at his side. "It... it is not my place, but surely... you know that revenge..."
"Is the path taken by the low?"
"Revenge... is only able to destroy. It cannot bring back what you lost. The only thing it is able to create is an endless circle of hatred."
He could not see her face, but her voice trembled. "You are quite right, Tenten." He placed a heavy hand on her head, and she stared up at him with surprise. His hand cupped her cheek and he looked down at her with shadowed eyes. "It is not your place."
It was as if someone had taken a shard of ice and forced it into her chest, constricting her breath. She shut her eyes. It would be easy to succumb to the cold, but the fire that ran deep in her blood refused to back down. Perhaps something else within her refused to accept that this was the true Neji. Something had broken his heart many years ago – someone would have to fix it.
Neji was taken aback when she opened her eyes. Instead of the hurt he had been expecting, the anger they held was enough to scorch him.
"I refuse to believe-"
The door opened without warning, and Hanako burst into the room with her servant in tow. The seamstress quickly took in the unmade bed, their informal attire, the empty plates and cup on the table between them and their somewhat compromising position and scoffed before shutting the door promptly.
She shook his hand away and stood, walking over to the balcony door, picking up the sword on the way. "I will see you at two o'clock, like I promised you yesterday." She held the door open, and Neji wordlessly left her, ignoring the offered sword.
He returned to an empty room and an empty bed. Hana, contrary to Tenten's assumption, had not been granted her wish, turned away in the dark of the night.
"That explains why Sadako was running her own errands at this time of day, I assume," the seamstress said dryly.
"It was not what it appeared to be, Hanako!" Tenten protested
"Hibi here can tell you what she saw with her own eyes, Tenten. Your bed was unmade, and both pillows had an imprint upon them –"
"Sadako was sleeping there moments ago!"
"Your clothes? Your hair?"
"I am not a lady of the court. I should think that I can choose to leave my hair as I wish and wear what I like when I am alone -"
"Or with your lover," Hanako added.
"Exactly!" Tenten sighed, and blushed as she realised what she had said. "Neji is not my lover!"
"Then explain, in detail, how you ended up on your knees in front of him, with eyes that were clearly blazing with passionate emotion. His hand was upon your cheek, and your expression was mirrored in his gaze."
He was... angry?
Tenten sighed, her posture dropping. "I... It was nothing to do with passion." Her mind wandered, but she was brought swiftly back to the present. "Ouch!"
"I told you to stay still!" Hanako finished pinning the silk and took a step back. "You have lost weight."
"I was ill."
Hanako laughed. "I heard, girl. You made quite a fuss at the dinner table, if Sadako is to be believed."
There was a knock on the door, and Hibi left to let Sadako in.
"Tenten, I-"
"Hanako –"
Both Sadako and Neji stopped and stared.
Tenten's hair had been casually pinned up, exposing her neck. Lengthy strands of hair fell into her face and flowed over her skin, onto pink silk. Her shoulders were bare, and her skin was glowing from the exercise she'd had earlier. The bodice was tight, accentuating her soft curves, and the coral embroidery spiralled up her body and Neji was suddenly struck by the thought of pulling her close to him with a sudden ferocity; he would smell her hair, taste her skin as she melted against him, her eyes burning, burning...
"Beautiful..." Sadako breathed. "That looks spectacular, Hanako. It is absolutely perfect for her. The colour and the cut of the fabric – do you not agree, Neji?"
Sadako glanced at the young man, who still seemed lost in his own thoughts as his eyes studied her. She elbowed him playfully.
"Neji is lost for words. He must approve."
"Hnn," Tenten could hardly form words in her current state, mortified and secretly pleased that Neji had been reduced to... a mere man – he was no longer the cold being he had been two hours ago.
"Hanako," Sadako curtseyed belatedly. "Forgive me for being so late. I had believed you would be here later, and Tenten was feeling lethargic, so she let me-"
"Is 'lethargic' what you are calling it these days? I cannot understand young people," Hanako said mildly.
"I do not quite understand... what happened?" Sadako looked expectantly at Neji. "What happened – and why are you here?"
Neji cleared his throat. "I... wanted to remind Tenten to meet me at the lake this afternoon." Without another word, he turned on his heel and left taking with him the apology he had planned to give to her.
Tenten stared at the noble's retreating back, and gave a small smile.
"So... why is everyone spouting euphemisms?" Sadako looked at the five other dresses Hanako had brought with her – two were brand new, and three were altered.
"Hibi and I walked in on this one and Neji having-"
"A conversation, before she misleads you any further," Tenten interrupted the woman.
"A conversation," Sadako echoed with a gleeful cackle. "Your denial only implicates you more!"
Tenten cursed inwardly as she hurried through the castle on her own.
"He is going to stab me. I told him I would meet him on time, and he even came to tell me to meet him..." she muttered. "And then I forgot the stupid ice skates and Sadako refused to help me out of apparent mirth..."
"Tenten!" someone called imperiously.
Words could not express how much she hated that light, melodic voice. She would rather sit through another fitting with Hanako the seamstress than spend a minute in this one's company.
"Hanako," Tenten greeted the noble with a bow.
"Tenten, I was looking for you everywhere! That blue eyed girl of yours- sorude, too! – told me that you had gone for a walk unattended! Of course, I thought she was making a strange joke, but I suppose knights, however do not need…" She took a deep breath and smiled. "In any case," she continued lightly, "I was wondering if you would care to join me and some of the other ladies; we're having tea in my private garden."
"I am actually late for a lesson in –"
"Ice skating, I can tell!" Hanako took the ice skates out of Tenten's hands and passed them to her servant. "Do not fret, dearling! Neji, believe it or not, is of a sweet and precious kind. He won't be too mad at you if I escort you myself when we finish having tea. He will understand."
There was no way out. She was no longer sick; "chest colds", as most of the castle had been informed, could not keep her away from the woman for the entire winter, and it was clear that Hanako would not let her use her beloved Neji as an excuse. She put on a smile (the ironic one she reserved for Neji when he smirked at her) and inclined her head. "I would be honoured," she replied through gritted teeth and a forced smile.
Hanako took Tenten ever so gracefully by the arm and led her through the hallways, keeping faithfully to the corridors. It seemed that some regarded secret passages a privilege to be enjoyed only by family members- not its guests, no matter how "esteemed".
"Tenten, how are you faring today?"
"I am well, thank you, Hanako." Truthfully, Tenten hated meaningless and empty conversations. However, Hanako would get to the point soon enough- she did not have a grasp of true patience.
"And how are you finding the Hyuuga Castle?"
"It's beautiful and awing… I feel humbled when I walk through its halls. Everyone is so generous; I do not think I could ever repay your family for your hospitality."
Hanako laughed. It was high, clear and tinkling like a small silver bell.
"Tenten, you really are too precious. Where ever did Neji find you?"
The former knight stiffened at the sudden change – she knew it was supposed to be belittling, not endearing. It was information that Hanako was after.
"In any case, dearling, you must have female companionship." Hanako smiled prettily. "And you cannot say you can count little Sadako adequate. She's a dearheart, surely, but one cannot blame her for being so … let me find the word – uncultured."
It was a short walk, but by the time they had reached Hanako's private garden, Tenten was livid with rage, though she kept her face was politely blank. Of course, the situation was not to be made any better. Seated in eight elegant chairs were eight – as Sadako had once put it – "unfairly graceful" women, each possessing that same effortless and ethereal beauty as Hanako.
"Good morning, ladies. As you know, this is our delightful guest, Tenten. Tenten, this is Haruka, Ayumi, Asuka, Hotanu, Michiko, Etsuko, Minako and Aiko." The eight women stood and curtseyed in turn, and Tenten and Hanako finally took their seats. It became obvious that these women did not like to waste time.
"Tenten, how lovely for you to join us," turned quickly to, "How are you feeling today? I heard you had fallen rather ill the other evening at dinner," and, "Everyone has been dying to know how you met Neji. He is determined to remain as tight as a clam, and refuses to say a word, even to me."
Tenten smiled inwardly. So, Neji could ignore Hanako's charms. At the same time, the young warrior knew all about court life – and its pointless gossip circles. If there was one rule to live by, it would have to be withhold the truth for as long as you could, for the truth itself could be a shield from harm … and a dangerous weapon.
"Everyone thought that he had stolen away in the middle of the night, on some grand adventure. When he did not return… we all believed him to be dead." Hanako's act was well masked, but her eyes were too calculating. She knew exactly what had happened. She offered a way out of the entangled web, but Tenten knew better than to take the easy path, giving Hanako power.
So, she did what anyone else would have in her situation. She lied.
"Neji and I met in the deeply forested outskirts of Konoha." Tenten inwardly sighed. Neji had better appreciate her efforts. "I had been enjoying the last few days of spring before we were snowed in for winter until I heard the sounds of a struggle between man and beast – a wolf, to be exact. To be honest, it looked more like a man in a fur coat."
The women laughed politely and Tenten kept repeating the words she had said in her mind. She was slightly ashamed to admit that she had taken to doing the same thing in Hitomi's presence. Hanako's lips curved in a strange smile, too intent on the story.
"Of course, I saw it was my duty to help him when I saw he was struggling... and he was very reluctant to accept it," she finished lamely. "When I asked him where he was bound, he merely said, 'home'. I said I would escort him in case of the wolves, but even I know not where he had been, before I had met him."
"So he has not even told you, his rescuer, what he has been up to?" Hanako offered her a cup of tea, and she accepted the drink, but did not raise it to her lips.
"He has not breathed a word," she replied solemnly.
At this point, Ayumi, Asuka and Hotanu broke into a fit of ladylike giggles. Hanako's eyes snapped to them, and Tenten set the cup on the table, still untouched, with the excuse it was still too hot to drink.
"It is just that... we heard that Hana stayed up all night waiting for Neji yesterday." Askua hid her mirth behind a lace fan.
"Her efforts were poorly rewarded-"
"And it serves her right, the hag!" Ayumi and Hotanu chimed together.
A shot in the dark, surely...? Still, their words made Tenten feel strangely breathless and... oddly relieved.
"I would appreciate it very much if you did not keep me waiting all afternoon."
Everyone in the room stilled.
Tenten stood abruptly at the sound of Neji's voice and turned to face the door, where the young man stood, with a pair of ice skates slung around his neck, and a second pair – hers – tucked under his arm.
"Neji!" Hanako curtseyed, once again, placing herself almost upon the floor.
Neji's eyes were warm as he smirked and bowed back. "Hanako. Forgive me for the intrusion, but I am going to have to ask that you allow me to take Tenten away for the rest of the afternoon."
"Has Neji found an interest in our Tenten?" The question was Haruka's, and laced with an underlying, albeit incredibly polite, threat.
Neji smirked and Tenten glanced at him, confused.
"Only as much as she will permit me," he replied cryptically, finding only titular laughter from the other women. Tenten stood and bowed and left the room swiftly, following Neji on unsure legs.
"How did you find me?"
They passed through a tapestry and came out on the western wing of the castle, and Tenten found her bearings as she recognised the lake beyond the large windows.
"You were late, so I figured that you and Sadako were arguing about something. I went to find you, but Sadako was quite distressed, saying that Hanako had come past, asking after your whereabouts. And, since you only know one way to get down to the lake, and I hadn't passed you... I knew that Hanako had caught up with you." He handed her the ice skates and she clutched them awkwardly to her stomach.
"She just..."
He chuckled as she trailed off. "I know, Tenten."
"Neji?" She stopped walking and he turned to face her. She raised her eyes from the ground, and he knew exactly what she was trying to say.
"You're welcome, Tenten." The corner of his mouth upturned in a small smile – one she tentatively returned – before he turned around and walked out into the cold afternoon.
That afternoon, as they ambled back up to the castle, Neji surprised her with an apology.
"I hope... that you can forgive me for my conduct this morning. It was highly inappropriate... and ungrateful of me."
"The fault is mine." She tripped, and grabbed Neji's arm for support.
He scoffed, and she blushed. "You should get more rest."
"You keep dragging me around from lesson to lesson – it is not a surprise that I am all but sleep walking."
"Still," he murmured, "the apology is yours, whether or not you will accept it."
They kept walking side by side, Neji holding the skates in his left hand, and Tenten holding hers in her right. They did not speak, but it seemed like he was telling her so much more every time his slender fingers brushed against the back of her hand.