Finally an update from me. :) Thanks for being so patient, guys.
Disclaimer: M. Kishimoto owns all characters. The plot is my own.
The Wind royal family arrived in the middle of September, just as the summer heat was beginning to relent into cool, crisp autumn.
Much to TenTen's displeasure, she was ordered to be a part of the welcoming committee that Tsunade had assembled.
Noticeably, the assemblage was mainly comprised of power-players in Fire Country politics, influential individuals in Tsunade's court, and military personnel. Unsurprisingly, both Neji and Ino were present.
Ino smiled and waved at TenTen as she entered the entry hall at the front of the castle. Neji, next to her, frowned.
"Good morning," TenTen greeted them curtly, falling behind them so as not to be noticed as easily.
Ino turned to chat with her.
"Are you excited for the Wind noble's visit, TenTen?"
TenTen grimaced.
"I think it will be easier on everyone once they leave," she replied delicately, casting a swift glance around.
Ino grinned.
"I, for one, am eager to have new people in court for once. It gets dull after a while, conversing with the same people over and over again."
TenTen nodded, barely listening as she glanced at Neji. Aware of her gaze, Neji shifted to study her, an eyebrow raised.
TenTen held his gaze, wondering if their current unspoken truce was still in effect.
At the front of the hall, the doors opened, and three people came in from the sunlight, surrounded by a large entourage.
Tsunade, accompanied by Jiraiya, walked forward to meet them, a smile on her features.
"The Fire Country welcomes you," Tsunade greeted sweepingly.
The Wind visitors bowed in response, and Tsunade ushered them deeper into the foyer.
"I hope your journey was unproblematic," Tsunade directed, managing to phrase it as a question.
"It was," answered a tall man with dark hair.
TenTen shifted forward, next to Ino.
"Which one is the Wind king?" she asked the blonde.
"The small one with the red hair," Ino murmured softly. "The man who just spoke is his brother Kankuro, and the woman behind them is their sister Temari."
TenTen blinked, studying the three siblings.
The Wind king had vibrant red hair, but under his flaming locks, he was pale and sickly-looking. His brother, by comparison, looked far healthier. He carried himself with an air of self-importance, but his dark eyes were lively and intelligent as they roamed the hall. Temari had a haughty visage, her eyes cold.
TenTen sighed. She didn't plan on speaking to any of them, but nonetheless, she felt wary of their presence.
"How do they look to you, Miss Ito?" Ino inquired.
The skin around TenTen's eyes tightened as she answered, "They look like trouble."
Ino hid a smile behind her hand.
Tsunade was still speaking to the visitors, leading them into a large sitting area where a majority of the court lounged during the waking hours.
Tsunade's gathered committee began moving towards the doors to follow them, but TenTen hesitated.
Neji noticed and looked back at her, his eyebrows raised.
"And just what do you think you're doing?" he inquired as the foyer emptied.
"I don't see a real reason for me to go in there," she replied.
Neji narrowed his eyes.
"Didn't Lady Tsunade inform you that she intended to show you off or something like that?"
TenTen scowled.
"Yes," she grudgingly responded.
"And you're trying to run away?"
TenTen flushed, embarrassed and stalked forward, brushing past him to the lounge.
The crowd of people was arranged around the visitors and Tsunade, all attentive.
TenTen felt Neji move closer behind her, and she edged along the outskirts of the group to move away from him.
The action did not go unnoticed by Tsunade.
"TenTen," she called over, a tone of command in her voice.
TenTen grimaced and turned her head to her the queen's call.
"Come here and meet our guests."
TenTen sighed, mentally cursing Neji for causing her to be seen.
She grudgingly glided through the throng, attempting to put a placid expression on her face.
"Your graces," TenTen greeted softly, bowing her head slightly.
"May I introduce TenTen Ito? I'm sure her story has reached even the Wind by now."
The king's brother, Kankuro, inclined his head.
"It has," he answered in an even voice. "The woman soldier, correct?"
Tsunade nodded, smiling.
"TenTen is in charge of training the first group of girl soldiers in Fire country history."
TenTen's cheeks flamed in embarrassment.
Everyone was focused on her, except maybe the Wind king, who was coughing drily.
Kankuro continued to analyze TenTen, as did his sister. Their gazes weighed TenTen down.
"Sit, TenTen," Tsunade instructed.
TenTen obeyed, carefully judging the stares of the audience.
"Miss Ito?"
TenTen looked towards the brusque, mature voice. Temari's dark eyes were fixed on her.
"Do you like women?"
TenTen's eyes widened and a blush descended on her cheeks as she looked at the foreign speaker.
She felt all eyes glued to her face, as if they had been wondering the same thing but had not been brave enough to ask.
TenTen shakily met the inquisitor's dark eyes.
"Pardon?" she asked faintly.
The princess from the allied country rephrased her question, "Do you prefer women to men? I was just curious, considering your abilities and your service in the army. Most women would find it hard to be around men for extended periods of time."
TenTen swallowed, her head beginning to throb.
She had heard that one's romantic preference in the Wind country wasn't as socially binding as it was in the Fire.
"No, I prefer men," TenTen replied diminutively, her flush deepening to crimson.
It was unbearably quiet, with TenTen still as the room's focus.
From a corner wall, Neji watched her with his sharp eyes.
Ino leaned forward in her chair, enthralled.
"So, you're saying, Miss Ito, that the entire time you were at war you didn't pursue anyone at all? Even when you were surrounded by men?"
TenTen sighed, seeing the blonde's incredulity.
"Yes," answered TenTen softly. "I had other things to occupy my thoughts and attention."
The princess cocked her head at TenTen and smiled. Something told TenTen it was a rare gesture.
"Well spoken," she complimented firmly.
TenTen gave a nod of thanks.
A moment later, Tsunade had directed the subject to safer waters, successfully isolating TenTen to her own thoughts.
She watched as Ino engaged Kankuro and Temari, charm and politeness dripping from her lips.
In her peripheral vision, she located Neji, who was standing on the outskirts, his face impassive. Several times, TenTen noted that his gaze passed and lingered on her.
It made her uneasy, like Neji was purposefully keeping tabs on her.
"I'm sure you're all very tired. I'll show you to your rooms so you can rest before dinner," TenTen heard Tsunade say.
The welcoming committee dispersed and dissipated, leaving only a smattering of individuals.
TenTen felt Ino loop her arm through hers.
"I'd say that went well, wouldn't you, TenTen?"
TenTen smiled vaguely, her eyes flitting to the blonde's blue irises.
"If you say so, Lady Yamanaka."
-o-
Despite Tsunade's previous fixation of showing TenTen off, at dinner she all but exiled her to sit in her usual place with her charges.
The girls were notably intrigued by the Wind visitors.
"I heard that women have more freedom there," whispered Moegi from across the table.
Hibari scoffed, and Matsuri interjected, "I heard they're all barbarians."
TenTen treated a stern gaze to this statement, and Matsuri fell silent, pushing around the rice on her plate.
"They're allies with us?" Karin asked TenTen.
"As far as I know," TenTen replied, casting a quick glance to the royals' table.
The redheaded king was again strangely quiet, acknowledging questions with noncommittal shakes of his head. His siblings, in comparison, were livelier. Kankuro was engaging several court women at once, flashing them a roguish smile. Temari was in deep conversation with Jiraiya, with Tsunade looking on.
"The Wind king doesn't seem very interested in anything," commented Futaba, studying the man.
"No, he doesn't. Why do you think that is?" TenTen asked.
Futaba shrugged.
"My ma always said that important men rarely have anything important to say. Maybe the king knows that so he saves his words for really important times."
TenTen smiled at her assessment.
"Indeed," she agreed.
Towards the end of the meal, Lee appeared at TenTen's table and managed to squeeze himself between her and Karin.
"Some interesting news I thought you'd be intrigued to hear," he murmured to TenTen as he sat down.
TenTen raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
"Rumor has it that General Guy has returned early. I was in town and heard some merchants talking about it."
"Where is he?"
"Probably down by the stables. Naturally, he can't come see the queen right now—it'd be too dramatic with the Wind siblings here."
TenTen snuck a quick glance at Tsunade and the persons present at her table. The only person seeming unoccupied was Neji; TenTen could see his pearlescent eyes were glazed over.
Slowly, she nodded to Lee and stood from her chair, keeping her face placid as she edged out of the dining hall. When she knew she was out of sight, TenTen broke into a run for the stables.
A thought had possessed her brain ever since Lee informed her of Guy's projected return—she had no way of knowing Guy's thoughts on her betrayal. If Guy saw her as Neji did, she wanted to do her best to change his opinion. TenTen recognized her need for a high-ranking, supportive figure in her life, and she was determined to make Guy that person.
She strolled into the stables and saw Guy brushing his horse, the stable hand assisting him. TenTen started over to him, trying to squash her nervousness.
Guy looked up when she approached the stall, his face lined with exhaustion and concern.
He stared at her for a second before smiling.
"TenTen, I presume?" he greeted.
TenTen weakly nodded.
Guy left his horse to the stable hand and emerged from the stall to stand in front of her.
He assessed her for several seconds before he reached out and clapped her heavily on the shoulder.
"When Lee wrote me that Tsunade had released you from jail, I must say that I was pleased. It was slightly unfair of Neji to arrest you without asking my opinion first."
"General, I'm so sorry if I offended you—"
Guy shook his head, dismissing the rest of her words.
"It's in the past, my dear. I look forward to hearing your reasons for impersonation in the near future. Now, can you tell me what's going on at the castle? There are horses here that are foreign."
"I guess I thought that Lady Tsunade had told you—the Wind royal family is visiting. They arrived just this morning."
Guy's expression darkened slightly.
"Well, that presents a problem."
"Why? Lee said the same thing, but I don't understand why it should cause anyone trouble that they're here."
Guy sighed and leaned back against his horse's stall. He looked older all of a sudden; the lines in his face deepened.
"Think about it objectively. The Fire country just exited a war, and now we've been having threats from the Lightning country. It doesn't boast well of our stability, and even though the Wind are our allies, they are a proud, clever people. I wouldn't put it past them to try and wrest some land from us too while we're preoccupied."
"Are the threats from the Lightning serious?" TenTen inquired. This was the first she'd heard of any problem where Guy had been patrolling.
"Yes. I assume Lady Tsunade hasn't said anything to you personally?"
TenTen shook her head.
"I thought as much. She's trying to keep from panicking anyone probably. When I was on patrol, the Lightning began showing interest in more of our land. There have been several skirmishes, and tensions are running high. The only reason I left early was because I've heard that the Lightning king is going to involve himself."
TenTen almost paled.
"That sounds very serious," she murmured.
Guy nodded soberly.
"It is, but with the Wind royals being here, it makes everything more complicated." Guy studied her for a second. "Can you do me a favor and dispatch a message to Neji for me?"
TenTen nodded.
"Find Neji and tell him I've arrived. He'll know how to tell Lady Tsunade without letting the Wind siblings know."
"Yes, sir."
TenTen moved to the mouth of the stable, her thoughts swimming.
-o-
Up at the castle, dinner had concluded and slowly everyone was drifting off to retire to bed.
Neji had just finished bidding Ino goodnight when he saw TenTen emerge into the hall.
He had noticed she'd left before dinner was completed, and he was interested to see just what her reasoning was.
He started towards her, expression flat.
"General," TenTen began.
"I guess you decided to run away after all," he said, eyebrows arched.
TenTen's face turned stony and she treated him to a heavy gaze.
"I have a message for you. General Guy has returned."
Neji's forehead creased.
"He's not expected back for another two months," Neji replied slowly.
"He came back early. There are some . . . complications."
Neji met her brown eyes, seeking an answer.
"Where is he?"
"Down at the stables—!"
Neji moved past her, but was surprised to find TenTen trailing behind him a few feet as he maneuvered through the castle.
"What do you want?" he asked, snappish.
TenTen returned a fierce glare.
"I want to know what's going on as much as you do."
Neji barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes.
"You're not entitled to know what's going on."
TenTen did not dignify his remark with a response; she continued to keep pace with him.
Guy was sitting on a stool, eating a plate of food he'd probably had the stable hand sneak from the kitchens.
"General," Neji greeted with a respectful bow of the head.
"Neji," returned Guy, his gaze skipping over the man to linger on TenTen. "Thank you, TenTen."
TenTen nodded easily, and inquired, "General, is it alright if I stay? I want to know what's going on, since everyone here has neglected to inform me."
Guy mulled this over as he chewed a hunk of cheese.
"I don't see why not. Information to a soldier is invaluable."
"General—" Neji began to say.
Guy held up his hand.
"We'll talk about those things later, Neji. Now, the important thing is to discuss what we're going to do.
"King A is getting involved in the situation at the border. Obviously, before now, it was only a few skirmishes we had to contain. But now that the Lightning king is showing interest, we have a problem."
"How has he shown interest?" Neji queried.
Guy reached into his pants pocket and withdrew a letter.
He handed it to Neji as he recited the words.
"'To whom it may concern, it has come to my attention that there is a border dispute taking place between my land and the Fire country's land. This should not be so. The Lightning people are a fierce nation, and we do not take kindly to accusations of deceit. If there continues to be a problem I will personally involve myself. Respectfully signed, A, King of the Lightning Country.'"
Neji sighed as he perused the letter.
"So, what does that mean?" TenTen asked.
"It means that if we don't withdraw our troops from the situation, things are bound to become tricky," Neji answered, his face withdrawn.
Neji glanced at Guy, a question in his eyes.
"I'll need you to come to the border, Neji," Guy clarified. "I know it's not a desirable situation, what with your marriage to Lady Yamanaka so soon, but this can't wait."
Neji nodded dutifully, folding the Lightning king's letter.
TenTen looked between the two men, mouth pursed in thought.
"For now, with the Wind family here, I can't afford to go up to the castle. I'll go home. Tomorrow, Neji, would you explain to Lady Tsunade our predicament? I'll wait until I receive word." Guy stood from the stool, and entered his horse's stall. "As for you, TenTen, I look forward to reacquainting myself with you."
TenTen smiled and nodded in return.
"As am I, General."
"Neji," Guy said in parting as he nudged his horse out of the stall.
A moment later, he rode out and entered the folds of the night.
Next to her, TenTen heard Neji exhale and he drifted over to his horse, running a hand down the animal's long nose.
It was a beautiful gelding, a palomino with a white mane.
"I like your horse."
TenTen flushed as the words left her mouth, embarrassed.
"I got him a few months ago. Shun got sick as the war ended and I had to have her put down," Neji answered softly.(1)
"I'm sorry," TenTen murmured.
Neji shook his head.
"It couldn't be helped."
TenTen moved forward timidly and reached out her hand to the horse.
"May I?" she asked Neji.
He gave her a short nod, pale eyes attentive.
TenTen ran her hand down the horse's long neck as she walked around the big horse.
"What's his name?"
"Kenta."(2)
TenTen patted the horse's flank as she thought, focused on the power in the horse's hindquarters. Neji's eyes followed her every movement, rapt.
"And where is your horse?" he asked. "I remember you having one during the war."
TenTen frowned, discontent.
"I don't know what happened to her. I wasn't exactly given time to arrange another owner for her."
Neji reflected on this as he watched her rub his horse's neck.
"I don't remember you having such a tender soul during the war." Neji barely withheld a grimace as the words exited his mouth, unchecked.
To his surprise, a small smile appeared on TenTen's lips.
"My father used to tease that I had no compassion, but I disagree. I'm not the kind of person who nurtures freely. If I feel for something, I feel it deeply."
"Is that why you gave yourself up to me?"
TenTen nodded slightly.
"More or less. I value honesty, and since we were such close partners, I felt it was my responsibility to tell you."
"If you hadn't told me, you would have been able to go home and see your father prior to his death. In retrospect, do you regret it?"
TenTen took several moments to mull over his question.
She finally decided, "Never. Deceiving you was wrong, and even though it angered you, I no longer had that burden to carry. Besides, everything happens for a reason, doesn't it?"
Neji stared at her, stunned.
"Telling me who you were was more important to you than seeing your father alive one last time?"
TenTen knotted her fingers in the gelding's mane, humming soothingly into the animal's ear.
"Yes. Like I said, I value honesty. And you were so honest and open with me throughout the entire campaign—I felt I had an obligation to tell you the truth."
Neji shook his head at TenTen, entranced.
"You're a very strange woman."
TenTen, for some reason unbeknownst Neji, smiled at this and stepped out of the stall.
"Goodnight, General Hyuga."
-o-
"Ino, please."
TenTen paused at the top of the stairs, confused by the male's voice.
"Shikamaru—don't."
TenTen leaned to view the owners of the hushed voices, which were coming from an alcove a few feet from Ino's room.
"Stop it," said the man's voice, flat and serious. "You know that the only reason I came back here was for you."
TenTen stepped a little closer, eager to hear.
"I know that, but . . . my parents—they already selected a match for me. You know they'll never accept you."
"I'll make them accept me."
"Shikamaru, listen to me. It's out of our hands. I want you, but . . . I'm only me. I can't go against the arrangement. I'll be shamed forever."
"Then forget the arrangement and run away with me."
TenTen raised her eyebrows.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."
"I'm serious, Ino." And from the tone in his voice, TenTen knew he meant it. "I won't be used. It's your decision, but you're going to have to choose what you want—this life, or one with me."
He must have made to leave, because TenTen heard Ino cry out, "Don't leave!"
There was a pause between the two speakers, before TenTen heard Ino say, "I just don't know what to do. I love you, but I'm in an impossible situation."
"Nothing is impossible, Ino."
TenTen blushed as she heard several moans emit from Ino's lips, an indication of more intimate moments. TenTen exhaled and rushed back down the stairs, her mind spinning.
As she stood in the empty indoor courtyard of the castle, she felt the weight of the information she'd just learned settle on her shoulders.
She held a hand to her forehead to try and process the news, but all she could think of was Neji and his horse and just how completely and soberly angry he would be when he found out.
It was true that TenTen had been the first betrayal, but it was certain that Ino, his future wife, would be the second.
(1) Shun was the horse Neji used during the war. Shun is "fast" in Japanese.
(2) Kenta is "strong, thick, big, healthy" in Japanese.
Review, please. :)