A/N: Welcome to my morning from hell. Anyway, continuing the habit making…

View the Puppet Master
By: Reggie

Chapter 11

A half-hour later, Neji knew exactly what Ino had meant by fabrics.

Inoichi looked about as disgruntled as Neji felt to have most of the living part of his house filled with bolts of shimmering fabric. If Hinata hadn't already profusely apologized for the inconvience, and explained the necessity of doing this somewhere other than the Hyuuga compound, Neji would have done so.

Hinata was just better at apologizing than he was, anyway.

Ino, on the other hand, looked to be in seventh heaven. She was exclaiming over this pattern or that color or the quality of the cloth. She kept shooting sideways glances over at her father, who was steadfastly ignoring her.

TenTen, on the other hand, looked like she'd just been forced to taste some of Guy-sensei's cooking.

The seamstress, a cheerful looking woman Neji didn't remember having met before, waved at them all enthusiastically. "Now, which of you young ladies was lucky enough to snag a date with a Hyuuga boy?"

She better not have been including him in that young ladies statement. There would be nothing to stop him bringing down her wrath on her if she was. And what did she mean lucky? As far as Neji was concerned, there were very few things that should be considered less fortunate. Even the horrible experience of seeing Guy-sensei in a Speedo was better, in some cases.

Hinata giggled behind her hand, shooting him a look he couldn't read.

"I guess that's me," TenTen muttered, raising her hand. She looked miserable, and Neji stopped blaming her for it a few seconds later as the seamstress attacked.

She pulled and pinched every part of TenTen she could reach, exclaiming over her—now an inch shorter—hair, her lovely eyes, pale skin, and how this young man must have seen something really special in her, she was a very lucky young lady.

"No, I…it's not like…" TenTen looked at him helplessly, and Neji could only shrug. He was doing his best to remain hidden so the seamstress wouldn't realize this 'handsome devil' she kept talking about was standing right there. The day was awkward enough without that, thank you very much.

Although that did sort of confirm he'd been included in the young ladies category, which Neji couldn't help scowling at. He did NOT look like a woman!

"Well, dear, Hinata-sama gave me some suggestions and I broght the finest fabrics I have that fit that description. Pick what ever one you like for your kimonos." The seamstress said.

TenTen blanched, turning to face them all again. "Hinata, I appreciate it but I really can't…I don't have the money to…"

"I'll buy it for you." Neji decided it was an odd experience, having words you hadn't even thought yet come flying out your mouth. "As an early New Year's present."

All three girls stared at him, wide-eyed. So was the seamstress, but he was hoping that was because she'd finally realized he was a man.

"Neji," TenTen's breathless voice was back, and Neji swallowed hard against the sudden constricting of his throat. "No, I-I couldn't. It's too much. I'd never be able to…"

"Are you insane," Neji heard Ino hiss to her. "This isn't an offer you'll get every day! Take it."

"I insist." He knew he had the funds. Everything he needed was taken care of by the clan, so almost all his earnings from missions were just sitting in a bank. And he liked the idea of spending some of that on TenTen. She'd fought hard and worked hard with him over the last few years; she deserved something nice as a reward.

"Well I…" TenTen still looked uncomfortable, but there was a tiny trace of a smile on her face now. "Thank you."

Neji just nodded in response. The warm feeling was back, starting in his stomach and spreading out until he was unnaturally warm all over. It wasn't unpleasant, exactly, but there was no reason for it and that bothered him.

"I was going to pay for them," Hinata whispered beside him, her face clearly showing her amusement.

"I know." He'd guessed that much. It wasn't in Hinata's nature to expect something like that from a friend, and she'd probably already guessed that TenTen didn't have extra money. Certainly not in this amount. His cousin saw more than she let anyone guess. Probably more than she was aware of herself.

Ino had seized the moment to continue admiring the work of each bolt under the guise of showing them all to TenTen and 'educating' her on the meaning of each plant, the fabric type, the proper care of each one…

It made Neji feel just a little dizzy. He had a couple of Kimono's, with different levels of formality, but they had been chosen for him by Hiashi-sama. This suited Neji just fine, as he and his Uncle seemed to have a similar love of simplicity. He hadn't realized before that there were quite so many things one needed to know just about what was on the kimono.

"I should probably help her," Hinata murmured, more to herself than to Neji. "Ino's going to overwhelm her in a minute."

If she hadn't already, which Neji doubted.

Hinata was just starting to make her way over there when TenTen whirled to face him, clasping her hands together in front of her face. "Which do you like, Neji?"

It was like someone had flipped on a spot-light and directed it at him. He was supposed to have an opinion, all of the sudden?

He decided to delay momentarily, under the guise of surveying the fabrics. Oh, he was looking at them, but not nearly as intently as he was sure he looked.

How was he supposed to know what the right answer was? He didn't have any idea what TenTen's tastes were. He didn't even have anything to base a guess on. He knew she liked things that were functional, as was appropriate for a kunoichi, but there was nothing at all functional about a long cut of fabric that hadn't been shaped into anything yet.

The only real experience with a women's kimono that Neji had was when he was very small, and his mother had been dressing for a formal party. He could blurrily remember her laughing as she slowly spun for him, showing all aspects of the white dress, while explaining what the pattern meant. Three-year-old Neji had thought it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, and even now he'd never seen a girl in one he liked better.

Then his father had come in, dressed to match her, and Neji had thought then that they looked perfect.

The corner of Neji's mouth twitched as his eyes landed on the bolt next to his hand. He had a kimono almost identical to that, of the appropriate formality to wear to Hinata's party. It was so perfect it was as if someone had planned it.

Fate had a name, and her name was Hinata-sama.

"This one," he motioned to the correct piece. "You should have one made from this one for the party."

He caught Hinata's smile out of the corner of his eye, confirming his suspicions that that was exactly what she'd meant to happen.

Now, if only he could figure out why.

Ino looked over, still holding on to TenTen's elbow, and nodded. "That one is nice, and winter appropriate."

"A-and I think this one ought to be the other," Hinata motioned to a piece that Neji could not see. From the way TenTen was craning her neck, she couldn't see it either.

The seamstress nodded, moving to gather up both bolts. Hinata's choice still remained hidden, but Neji didn't mind so much. His cousin obviously had a plan, it was probably best just to go with it.

"Lovely choices," the lady whispered. "Just lovely. Beautiful. I should have picked them myself. Of course Hyuuga's would have such refined taste."

Neji decided right then and there that he didn't like that woman in the slightest.

TenTen had finally escaped Ino's clutches and come over to him. "It's really nice of you to get these for me, Neji. It's really too much. I can't possibly make it up to you."

"Stop it. I want to do this for you; you deserve it." And he meant it, it was obvious to him. So why was TenTen gazing at him in such confusion.