Part 8

Sasuke and Shino were in the changing room trying on kimonos that Ame had picked for them. Neji stood with her looking through the beautiful traditional robes. He seemed to have loosened up since they left the house. "Neji, why did you come to the party? You don't seem like the party type,"

Neji tensed and answered, "I came to protect and serve Hinata. It is my duty as a branch member." He resumed his search and tried to end the conversation. Ame was confused. She had never heard of this kind of thing before.

In Suna there weren't situations like this, and in the short month since she's moved to Konoha, it hasn't come up. Maybe it wasn't that common, "Excuse me, but what do you mean?"

He sighed and lifted his blue hitai-ate to reveal his curse mark. "It it the branch family's duty to serve and protect the main branch. This is the mark we are branded with to remind us, and it was the cause of my father's death. I watch specifically over Hinata. Her father ordered me to join her at the party and keep watch." Neji glared at his reflection in the mirror.

Ame reached out and gently touched the mark then removed her own pure white hitai-ate from her left arm revealing an ornate marking, the kanji meaning 'protect' was imprinted on her skin in black. "I understand. I was chosen to protect a boy from Suna. His father decided I wasn't needed anymore and sent my family to Konoha."

Neji asked, "Wait, I thought you weren't a ninja and can he do that?"

Ame shrugged, "I'm not anymore, I failed at my duty and my asthma really kicked in. Yes, he can, he is the Kazekage." Neji was about to ask her another question, but Sasuke finally decided to brave the torment and walked out to join Ame. "You are adorable! You have to get that one! Shino get out here!" Ame gushed over how adorable the two were.

The boys rolled their eyes and went to pay for their kimonos, and Ame added, "You know just because you were forced to attend doesnt meant you cant have fun." Neji looked at her in surprise as she walked towards the tea shop.

*AT THE TEA SHOP*

Ame smiled at the beautiful, dark-haired waitress that had come to take their orders, "Hi, my name is Kiki. What can I get you?" Ame had never seen her before, but this was her first time at this shop. The boys shook their heads, not interested in tea.

"Do you have Blueberry tea?" Ame asked politely. When the girl nodded, she added, "I haven't seen you around, but I don't really have any life outside of work. I'm Ame."

"I'm Kiki and I recently moved here from the Sunagakure. This is my first day here. I'll get your orders." Kiki walked into the kitchen and Ame stared after her stunned. There was no way this girl was from Suna. Ame knew close to everyone in her old village.

"Guys, I'll be right back. I need to use the restroom." She got up without waiting for an answer and headed to the kitchen to get some answers.