Neji didn't wait for the servants at the door to open them before he barged in, tearing the doors open by himself with Hinata and Hanabi fast on his trail. Hiashi figured that he would inevitably come as soon as he hears about his lover's arrest and so was waiting for the prince in the throne room.

"Oujiwe!" Neji's voice was something between an exclamation and a yell. "I demand to know what is going on right now. For what reasons do you arrest my right hand, surely you do not this without solid proof of your accusations." Neji's mind was reeling with emotions that almost overwhelmed him but several years of practicing self control as a prince helped him in keeping those emotions in check.

"We have a witness against her." Hiashi pointed out as if it were the most obvious thing. "She would be executed for committing high treason but the ones who she sends messages to have not been discovered."

"Oujiwe please think about this case thoroughly!" Neji exclaimed.

"Silence!" Hiashi slammed his hand on his throne's armrest. "How shameful of you to be caught in a scandalous act such as whoring with a servant, and after your wife has been chosen at that! I am disappointed at you. I can not face the land of snow properly, not after your outrageous acts!"

"Tenten is not a whore." Neji gravely muttered.

"Ah re?!" Hiashi dared him to say that to his face and Neji took the challenge.

"I said Tenten is not a whore! She is the woman I love!" Neji announced loudly, causing a series of gasps and whispers to erupt among the occupants of the throne room. Hinata's eyes widened before softening understandably but Hiashi was a headstrong person who loved things to go his way.

"Outrageous!" Hiashi yelled. "This is completely preposterous! That woman is a criminal and she shall be executed, this is my decree!" Hiashi raged like bulls in a stampede. Sharp inhalations from his daughters reached his ears at his decree.

"Oujiwe!"

"Ouji-sama!"

Neji and the princesses exclaimed at the same time but Hiashi was beginning to rise from his throne. "That is a befitting end for one such as her and as for you Neji, you are marrying lady Shion and until then you are on a lockdown. You are not allowed to step foot outside your quarters." The king made sure to get that decree across to the guards and people in the room. Giving Neji a look of utter disdain, he clicked his tongue and walked out of the throne room.

Palace guards immediately appeared on both of Neji's sides, ready to implement the house arrest when the prince broke free of their clutches and stormed outside. There was nothing he could do against Hiashi's obstinacy. He was completely powerless against the king and Neji hated it. He hated being at the mercy of other people, he hated being so weak, to grovel at anybody's feet. He hated it so much but if it was for Tenten's sake, he would withstand anything.

"Oujiwe!"

Hiashi turned around as the eunuchs behind him parted to create a path for him. His almost white eyes widened to the size of ceramic plates at Neji's next actions. Hinata gasped and Hanabi gaped. Gasps of shock resonated through the place, the loudest of which was Shion's who was watching the scenario from the throne room's doors.

Neji's knees met hard ground and his head bowed, arms folded forward. "Please, your Majesty, please spare Tenten's life. Please tamper justice with mercy. Please, Oujiwe!" Neji begged.

Hiashi's eyes became as steel at the humble state Neji was in. "Pathetic. I am beyond disappointed in you." Hiashi depraved.

Neji didn't think deep into Hiashi's harsh words but begged harder instead. "I shall not rise until you accept my plea!" He declared bravely.

"Is that so?" Hiashi scowled. "Then so be it. No food or water shall be fed you. If any one is found near him, such a person would be sentenced to a hundred beatings!" The king decreed and shock spread through the crowd. The beatings were not whips and crop beatings as one would imagine but far worse than that. The offender is wrapped in a thin straw mat to restrain their moves and then clobbered with a thick branch by two people. At worst, the offender dies due to shock and at best, the offender survives with every bone in their body broken beyond repair.

"How awful!" Moegi exclaimed. She was among the palace maids that were at the door.

"Even the princesses shall not be spared! I want to see how long that attitude would last, pathetic fool." After Hiashi had left, the small crowd that had gathered began to disperse slowly leaving Hinata there alone with Neji.

"Nii-sama." The princess whispered and wiped the tear that streaked down her eye. She left the place sadly.

Tenten heard the news about what happened from the discussions of the guards in charge of the dungeon. They assaulted her for it, calling her names and mock praising her for having the Prince wrapped around her littlest finger but she paid attention to none of them.

Neji

His name kept resounding in her head. What was he thinking?! He couldn't stay outdoors for long hours. He shouldn't be bowing to others, especially not for her. That idiot! He could get hurt or fall ill! Tears streamed down Tenten's face as she thought of the horrors Neji must be facing for her sake.

Neji

She broke into a full sob as his name kept replaying in her head.

Tenten

Neji allowed a tear to drop from his eye. This was nothing compared to the horrors that awaited Tenten in the dungeon. He closed his eyes and prayed hardly for Hiashi to hear his plea. He was prepared for the worst and for Tenten's sake he had to overcome.

Tenten

That name was the only thing that occupied his thoughts. He was worried for her. He worried about the prison cells, about the guards, about the torture methods, about everything.

Both thought deeply about each other, neither caring about their own afflictions for the other came first in priority. Their names echoed in the others' minds, reaching out for each other as they called.

Neji!

Tenten!