12: Their Mission Wasn't Over but Would Soon Be

∆ (Next Day) ∆ (Neji)

I woke up to see Tenten sitting in the windowsill. "Morning Tenten," I said she turned around and I smiled. She smiled as well I was glad she was happy.

"Neji, thank you," She said giving me the most sincere smile I had ever seen, not only from her but anyone in my life.

"Can you see yet?" She nodded and walked over to him.

"I owe you so much." She said smiling.

"Just promise me you won't run off again when you aren't sure what's going on and you could endanger yourself in anyway." Neji said.

"You know that that's hard since I have to do things for the better of the mission."

"No offense but I'm not going to let you lead very many missions yourself."

"Why?"

"Because you jump to do things to quickly, run of leaving me to guard Gaara and Kankuro; you could have been killed, it could have been a trap, who knows what could have happened?"

In this instant, she would usually say that it turned out fine in the end didn't it. But she couldn't say that; she had almost been rapped because of her mistake. If she would have defended those two first and both she and Neji had been there, nothing at all would have happened. Also, Tamari returning on her own, that endangered the mission. She messed up but it was still not over yet, she had to continue on.

"I missed up; this mission is not going to be completed."

"Why not,"

"What can I do there is still a war going on out there; how do I stop it?" She asked.

"You'll find a way, I know it." He said leaning against the wall next to her.

"It's so hard; someone in Gaara's family has to do it. Kankuro refuses; they won't accept a female as Kazekage without a husband which she would never agree to, what do we do?"

"What about Gaara?" Neji asked.

"No offense Neji but they see Gaara as a demon who wants to kill them, and that's partially true." Tenten said.

"Yes but let's just talk it over with Gaara."

She jumped up and jumped out the open window but was stopped by a hand on her wrist. "That isn't very smart Tenten, one, you have no weapons, two, all people are our enemies here, three, were outsiders." He handed Tenten her other scroll of weapons and then a few shuriken and a dozen kunai. She kissed his cheek and pulled him out the window they ran side by side from roof to roof into the forest where Neji transported them to the spot they left the Sabaku Trio.

"There you guys are. it's been almost a day since you left. What happened while I we were here?" Tamari asked Neji and Tenten.

"We don't wish to talk about it." Neji said being protective of the saddened Tenten.

"I see, well should we continue on as planned?" Gaara asked.

"Of course we will this is a mission that must be completed, no matter what; it's the reward that is quite important." Neji said thinking about how important this mission was to Tenten.

"Okay, let's go, everything is packed up." Kankuro said.

"Then let's set off." Neji said still having his arm wrapped around Tenten's waist protectively.

They traveled for hours until they reached the internal city. "It's those traitors from before!" Yelled a man, Tenten took a step forward but she was wobbling, and Neji was worried, she was having a flashback, but fighting it.

"Attack," yelled another man.

"Don't move." Tenten yelled the man stopped dead in his tracks.

"Who are you?" The man asked.

"Tenten Hyuuga Hoshi," She recited exactly in full.

"You're here to regain the peace," the man ran over to her and bowed down, many did as he did and soon the whole city was bowing to her.

"So what do you need?" She asked.

"You have brought the peace with you; we want you to lead us." Tenten jumped but then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see Neji. He nodded.

"Okay I accept taking over as Kazekage until I appoint a new one, but only until then, understand?" She said.

"Yes, the peace wasn't brought until you came." He said dancing around.

"Also, you are not to bother, Gaara or his sister, Tamari or his brother, Kankuro; understand?" She commanded.

"Yes mam, we will guide you to the Kazekage's house and office." He said walking and Neji secured his arms making her relax and follow behind him.

∆ (Kazekage House) ∆

"Okay, this is the master bedroom; this is where you two will sleep." The man pointed into a large fancy room.

"Where are Gaara, Tamari, and Kankuro?" Tenten asked.

"And are they safe?" Neji asked.

"Gaara, Tamari and Kankuro are all located down the hall and completely safe, so you have no need to worry." He said leaving.

"Thanks, good-night," Tenten said to the man and sat down on the bed.

"Something's bothering you, isn't it Tenten?" Neji asked. She knew she wouldn't ever be allowed to lie again, at least not when it was Neji.

"This city scares me so much, I have a sense that horrible thing happened to me because of the accident with Gaara." 'Accident…ha. You did that completely on purpose.' He thought.

"Yeah, but relax; you're fine, and on a mission you're alright?" He said holding her girl in his arms. He positioned himself resting against the back of the bed and pulled her close to him. She rested her head on his chest resting, he wrapped his arms around her and she smiled.

"Thank you Neji,"

"It's nothing, I love you and if you need to be protected is it not my job to be the one to protect you that is the mission correct?" She nodded and kissed him causing him to be flustered.

"The mission doesn't include anything intimate, you know that. This is completely out of pure kindness of your heart."

"Yes it is, I love you and I'd do anything for you, this is but something small." He said smiling and putting her to rest in his arms.

"Can I ask you something Tenten?" Neji asked.

"Of course Neji," She replied.

"Hinata-sama has told me many times that I deny my feelings for people." He paused.

"Which you do, on most occasions,"

"And it upset most people; they say that I really don't care about them which I do. They get angry at me and usually don't talk to be. I've treated you like you were just a person, not even a friend at most times; why do you like me?"

She smiled and kissed his cheek. "That is the easiest question you've ever asked me, because I know what you have to do to be a ninja, I can read your emotions and I know how you conduct yourself."

"So you don't care if I don't show emotions to you all the time."

"I would like you to show them to me but I understand you, so it's okay." She said. "I except you and understand you; so whatever you do it's fine with me."

"Okay, now let's get some sleep you have a long day of decisions ahead of you." He said.

"Thanks Neji, thanks for everything." Tenten said resting her head against his chest. 'I feel so safe and protect and tranquil being here in his arms, resting on him. He's so warm and inviting. I enjoy sitting next to him and being so happy.'

She fell asleep in his arms and he just looked at her. 'How could I not love her?' He thought. 'She's so beautiful, gently, sweet and kind hearted. She's everything I'd want in any girl especially my fiancée and a friend. She's amazing and so talented. She's so happy.'

(Dream) ∞

"Tenten, you and your husband are required to take over for the Hokage for two weeks; is that a possibility for you two?" A man who she guessed was a ninja asked her.

"Sure, it's no problem; I'll go get Neji." She said. He nodded and she ran to a large house in the middle of the city and opened and ran up to a large gym.

"Hey Tenten, what did Miki need?" Neji asked working with a punching bag.

"He needs us to cover for the hokage for two weeks, the details aren't sure but they need our services." Neji sighed and walked over to her.

"I guess it wouldn't be a very good service if we turned down such a major job, would it?"

"No, we need to help anyone who asks for us. That's what pays the bills, right?" She answered.

"That and our Class S Rank missions, right?" He asked smiling.

"Yep, so take anything you'll need for the next two weeks." She advised.

"Thanks Tenten, see you there." Neji said kissing his wife on the lips and walking out the door with her stuff to go finish the paperwork for their stay there.

(Dream Over) ∞

Tenten awoke and thought how great a life it would be if she was to live life like that. Just her and Neji; she'd be fine because they both seemed particularly busy with work and everything. They wouldn't really have a family other than each other but nothing about them, besides their physical appearance had changed.

Tenten got up and started on all the paperwork, and soon she was asked to go out into public and they'd ask a question, she'd answer. It was quite a bore.

"So what do you think will happen to those who fought?" A man in the crowd said.

"I don't very well plan to punish 230 thousand people. I do however from this day forward demand respect toward all people in this city in others, and there will be no excuse for not having this done." She commanded.

"Thank you for your kind mercy, Kazekage Tenten." The man said, Neji rolled his eyes, what kind of ruling were thy under if mercy is being kind to a mass percent of the people, it was quite sad, he thought.

"What time would you like dinners served?" A lady in a maid's uniform asked.

"Um, I plan on making myself, and Neji dinner and probably Gaara, Tamari and Kankuro food as well."

"Now, the Kazekage can't make food for herself, or for others; it's a rule." The same man in the crowd corrected her.

"Fine, we'll eat dinner at promptly 6 o'clock if it makes you people happy." Tenten said after a long sigh; poor pathetic excuses for people are what she meant.

"Your not enjoying leading anymore are you Tenten?" Neji said being extremely cruel.

"Don't make me hurt you, Neji."

"Someone looks tired," He said walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her. "You feeling alright, you look a bit pale."

"Yeah I'm fine; it's just the weather here. It's really messing me up." She said.

"I hope that's all it is, because you've been a bit lacking in your defenses, and all around you're not doing very well."

"So basically, you're worried." Tenten easily summarized.

"Yes, I'm worried about my friend and fiancée." Neji said, rolling his eyes. "I want you to go to sleep, and I'll take care of everything for the rest of today, got it."

"You can't boss me around." She argued.

"Rules in leading a mission, when a member of your team finds you unable or unfitting to do your job, they can take over for health reasons," Neji quoted.

"You can't honestly whole heartedly say to anyone that you find me unable nor unfitting to do this, can you?" She asked.

"Yes I can, I see it very unfitting that you are going to do all the work as a Kazekage if suspect you are sick." Neji answered which surprised her.

"You can't do this to me Neji." She said angrily. "You just can't."

"I'm doing this because I can and am. You have to understand Tenten, I love you and I want you to be happy but not at the risk of your life." Neji held the upset Tenten and picked her off the ground and carried her bridal style into their room and set her on the bed.

"Neji?" She said.

"Yeah," He said smiling at her.

"This mission isn't over."

"Yeah, I know it isn't; if it was then we could return home, happily." He answered.

He left her to rest so she fell asleep in the bed feeling quite lonely. After a while she awoke again sensing high chakra energy around her. Her first suspicion was Neji but she knew his very well, and this was not his. Neji's energy wouldn't have woken her up, his energy soothed her not caused her body to be alert.

She heard a knock at the door. "Come in," She yelled.

"It's me, Gaara; Neji asked someone to bring you dinner so here it is." She smiled and nodded.

"Thank you." Gaara started to leave. "Gaara what would you say to becoming Kazekage?" Tenten asked.

"I don't know Tenten, the people they don't really like me."

"You aren't very fond of them yourself are you?" She answered him.

"Well just think about it, they listen and live on my every word so if I say your best for them, then you are, right?" He grinned and walked away.

"You're a smart girl Tenten, keep it that way." He answered scaring Tenten a bit but she ate the food and then relaxed. She had gotten the nerve to ask; now all she needed was his answer.

(Meeting Room) ∆

"She wants me to be Kazekage." Gaara announced to his brother and sister.

"So isn't this what you've always wanted?" Kankuro asked.

"Yeah Gaara, to rule our home land to destroy it for what it did to you and mom?" Tamari asked.

"No, not destroy. I want to make the place better; now that I couldn't take it over as an enemy of Konoha then them only safe way to go is to alliance with it; to better the city." Gaara argued.

"So you're being nice?" Kankuro asked.

"No, I'm not going to disrespect the sacrifice Tenten gave to us, she risked a lot for this city and she deserves for it to go right, no matter what; got that. Never, and I mean never mistake my agreement of equal terms and kindness, got that." He yelled.

"We got it Gaara, but what did she sacrifice for us?" Kankuro asked.

"She sacrificed something that none of still have to give up, she has a lot more to spar and give up than us, but it's still important that she sacrificed it for us, not her own nation, not even a true ally but us." Tamari said.

"Then you know what she gave up?" Kankuro asked Tamari.

"Of course I do, anyone with half a brain knows; right Gaara."

"Yeah, of course; that's how we see it. It's obvious." Gaara said to her.

"But I want to know how she could give up so much yet, I don't know what it is." Kankuro complained.

"We will not outright tell you Kankuro; even Tenten herself is denying it. Neji is just trying to accept this fact right now. Just make no mistake to trust her every judgment, and believe her in what she says; for she has done things that don't need to go mention to save us." Tamari explained.

"If you don't do everything you can to help her both of you; I'll kill you." Gaara threatened.

"Fine, fine, I'll leave it be, but I'll find out and put it up to your face that I know." He said.

"Whatever, if she tells you then she is an extremely different person than I have met." Gaara said.

"Her sacrifice was for us, and it would complete the mission." He answered to her.

"The mission isn't over until: a Kazekage is in place, the papers are filed, the people are secure, sand is allied, the city has a stable ninja system and everything is well."

"Well then we have to make them out of our city easier, what can we do to help everything through?" Kankuro asked.

"The only thing that would help is that Gaara accepts the place of Kazekage," Tamari said with a smirk.

"You want me to be the Kazekage, Tamari."

"I never said that, I just said was that was the only way to get them out of here." Tamari answered Gaara.

"Well then I'll accept it, and we can get them out of here."

"It's not that easy Gaara; they have a lot to do before they can leave." Kankuro said.

"I know but it's a start. We'd be one step closer to their mission being over." Gaara said.

"Then that's what we'll do so they can leave." Tamari decided.

"Fine, go bring them here." Gaara demanded.

"I'll get Tenten," Tamari volunteered.

"I'll get Neji," Kankuro said not happy about it.

The Reason Why… The Mission isn't over; but it soon will be:

Reward is quite important

the peace wasn't brought until they came

The people were dependent on them.

they aren't use to kindness

the people survived because of the Kazekage

the people were poor and pathetic

if it was over, they would be home and happy

Tenten sacrificed for it to be only closer to being over

To be it needs a Kazekage in place.

Needs the papers filed

needs the people secure

sand needs to allied with Konoha

needs stable ninja system

everything has to be well

A/N: Sorry it was late as I've said before, I had a football game on Saturday so this was put off, then I went shopping with one of my guy friends for an mp3 and I only got a tiny bit done lately as well as I had a fever and literally fell asleep at the computer.