Tilting At Windmills
Chapter Two

"It's really unfortunate," Ishin-san told her that night as he took her into his daughter's empty room, his dark eyes solemn. He folded his arms into his robes, lost for the moment in memories. "Two days ago I told her of the contract I had signed with the Hizaki family. For her to marry into their clan would bring the village a great deal of protection. The Hizakis are powerful ninjas and I thought it was a stroke of luck that their youngest son agreed to wed Nanabi." A sad exhale left his lips. "She was horrified at the news and angry that I would trade her for the safety of the village. She locked herself in her room and I did not see her, thinking she just needed some time. This morning we found her window open and Nanabi gone as if she had never been here." He closed his eyes briefly, painfully. "If only I had checked on her."

Tenten crossed the darkened room, letting her gaze wander over trinkets and pictures. It was completely different from her own room that practically bristled with weapons, both finished and unfinished. Nanabi's room was… pretty, soft, and very feminine. Tenten knew that if she were to look, the girl's closet would be full of bright dresses and boxes of jewelry. She smiled slightly. This could have been her life if she had not chosen the path of ninja.

"You can't blame yourself, Ishin-san," she said, taking a look at the window. It had not been tampered with since they had found it open and the cold night wind blew through the room, making Nanabi's curtains flutter. The crisp air made Tenten sneeze. Dang it, not now! She leaned out onto the sill, her eyes adjusting to the dark as she searched for signs that someone had forcibly opened it from the outside.

There were none.

Tenten straightened. "You reported that you saw a Rain-nin. Can you describe him?" She watched him carefully as he answered.

"I did not see him, but my younger daughter did. She didn't understand at the time that he was a threat, but she told me that she saw him the night Nanabi disappeared. She said he carried an umbrella and she drew me the symbol on his forehead protector. He was definitely a Rain-nin and he was outside this house. I could only assume he was the one who took her."

"I see," she replied, noncommittally. "Ishin-san, we will find your daughter for you and bring her back safely, but I will need to speak with your youngest. If she could describe him for me, it will be very helpful."

Nanabi's father nodded. "Of course, but I'm afraid she has already been put to bed due to the late hour. Perhaps you could talk with her in the morning. I'm sure that both you and your teammate are tired as well." Tenten bowed in acceptance and Ishin turned, beckoning her. "I will show you where you may sleep."

She followed him to the lower level of the house and blinked at the comfortable room he showed her. There was a single bed with what looked to be the softest sheets she had ever seen, along with a wooden dresser and two chairs that already held their packs…

Their packs.

She felt her breath quicken as she noticed the futon that had been set up on the other side of the bed, a folded blanket and pillow at the bottom. Her eyes widened.

"I hope you and your partner are comfortable here. Please let one of the servants know if you need anything."

"Ah, T..Thank you, Ishin-san," she stammered, off balance. He bowed slightly.

"It is the least I can do for the ninja that will find my daughter."

He took his leave then, wishing her a good night before disappearing and leaving her standing stricken in the doorway, trying to figure out if what she was feeling was terrible or wonderful. She thought it might be a little of both.

What was Neji going to think when he found out they were sharing a room?

Sighing, she stepped inside finally, closing the door behind her. Well, they were at the whim of their host so what could she really do about it? Yes, that was a good argument. She would be sure use it if he gave her trouble. Besides, it wasn't like they hadn't slept near each other before, and in much less hospitable circumstances. Tenten relaxed. Yes, everything was going to be fine. They could handle it.

To distract herself, Tenten decided to get ready for bed as Ishin-san had indicated. She couldn't really do anything more until the morning and she knew that if she didn't get some sort of rest soon, the cold she seemed to be wavering on getting might render her useless to their mission. Besides, Neji had gone out to talk to some of the villagers as well as Nanabi's closest friends to see what they knew about the girl's disappearance so, for the moment, she had some privacy.

She smiled to herself.

Really, she didn't know what Neji was so grumpy about. This mission was turning out rather well already.

He felt her wake the moment he stepped into the room and watched with appreciation as she rolled over in her bed, half-asleep with kunai in hand. He smirked and closed the door.

"It's me."

Her hand dropped and she made some sort of sleepy noise at him which he couldn't translate but found surprisingly endearing nevertheless. He stepped farther into the room as she turned onto her side, eyes closing again, her unbound hair making a fan across her pillow. He wanted to ask her what she had learned from Ishin but decided it could wait. He was too tired to make her get up and the knowledge that she was getting sick still lurked within the corners of his mind. So he would let her sleep and get some rest as well. They could start fresh in the morning.

He took off his shoes and shirt, tucking them back into his pack along with his forehead protector. He took the tie out of his hair as well, letting it fall down his back where it may. Flinging out his blanket, he adjusted his pillow and was preparing to lay down when he heard her voice again, soft and slurred.

"Good night, Neji."

Something about her tone made him turn to look at her, his colorless eyes seeing much even without his Byakugan. Despite himself he went to her side, leaning over the bed to place his palm over her forehead. She watched him complacently, long since having learned to trust him.

"You've got a mild fever," he said quietly after moment, waiting for her reaction. She only smiled.

"Don't worry. I won't let it get in the way," she murmured, still not quite awake. "I won't hinder you."

He stood there a moment, unmoving, struck by something he didn't have a name for. Then he dropped his hand away from her body and went into their bathroom, sticking a washcloth under the cold water and bringing it back to fold across her forehead, placing it there gently enough not to startle her.

She gasped a little at the coldness against her warm skin and her eyes widened but she soon settled as he watched her, his expression solemn.

"You've never hindered me," he told her, wondering if she was aware enough to understand him. Her lips curved and her fingers settled over his, curling into his palm in a gesture that made something crystal-hard ease inside his chest.

She said and did nothing more, already dreaming hazy dreams, but he stayed by her for a long time, still holding her hand and wondering why he felt he shouldn't let go. It came to him as he watched her breathe.

He wanted to be there in case she needed him.

Tenten woke early as she was prone to do, blinking in the semi-darkness of the room, trying to get her bearings. She sat up slightly on her elbows, her legs moving under the covers as she noticed Neji sitting near his futon, legs crossed and eyes closed as he appeared to meditate. For some reason she felt her heart flutter a bit faster as she realized he was shirtless and that his dark hair dripped over his shoulders as free as hers.

And then she saw the curse seal.

There were no bandages or forehead protector to hide it from her. It was simply there, a permanent reminder that Neji's life could be taken at any moment, at any time if the head family felt it was necessary. She had learned about it a long time ago and it never really bothered her unless she saw it. It belongs to him, she thought, and wondered if it was a mental betrayal to think so. Of course she wished he had never had to go through that, but there was also a part of her that, to use Neji's words, knew he was destined to bear it and defeat it. He would be the one to change the Hyuuga clan forever, she believed it.

Lying back down, she hugged her pillow and watched him patiently, not willing to disturb the only serene moment they would probably have all day. When he finally opened his eyes a few minutes later, she smiled at him.

"Good morning, Neji."

He blinked as if she had said something odd before replying. "Aa." His eyes analyzed her and she shifted, wondering what he saw. "Your fever is gone."

She felt her forehead automatically, surprised. "I was sick last night?" She didn't remember being sick. In fact, she didn't even remember Neji coming in.

He stood, barely glancing at her as he grabbed his clothes and headed towards the bathroom. "It's alright. You're well enough this morning." The door closed behind him and she had the sudden urge to throw a pillow at it. She hated it when he didn't tell her things, and obviously something had happened last night. She only hoped it wasn't anything too embarrassing. Oh was she going to let him have it the next time they trained together.

Grumbling to herself, she got out of bed and got dressed, sitting down in front of the dresser mirror in order to tie her hair in her usual buns. Neji came out again when she was halfway done, looking his usual self, and sat down on the edge of her bed, watching her finish as he spoke.

"I spoke to some of that girl's friends last night," he started, and Tenten mentally shook her head in exasperation. Any girl that was not a ninja was spoken of in the same tone, that girl. "They mentioned something about a man she had been seeing by the name of Mikuro."

"Hizaki Mikuro?" she questioned, her words muffled by the hair tie in her mouth.

"No, I think it was Tenma, Tenma Mikuro. I believe her father was unaware of their relationship. If she wanted out of her marriage contract, it's possible she ran away with this boy." He looked disgusted with that thought, and she knew why. Neji didn't like people who ran away from their fate. He liked people who fought it. "What did Ishin tell you?"

She finished her last bun and dropped her arms to find his eyes in the mirror. "That she wasn't very thrilled with marrying into the Hizaki household and locked herself in her room for an entire day. His youngest daughter says she saw a Rain-nin outside the house the night Nanabi disappeared." Tenten frowned. "I'm tempted to believe she ran away with this Mikuro boy as you said, but where does this Rain-nin fall into that? There were no signs of a struggle in the girl's room."

"Can you talk to the girl?" he asked after a moment. "We'll need to know exactly what she saw. If Rain-nin are involved…"

"It could get messy," she finished for him, and nodded. "Ishin-san said I could speak with her this morning."

"Good. Let's split up again. You talk to the little girl. I'm going to take a look outside the house. If a ninja was here recently, the Byakugan will show me." He stood and started towards the door. "Tenten…"

She turned in her chair, instantly alert because he had used her name. "Yes?"

"Watch yourself. It would be inconvenient if you were to get sick again."

She couldn't help but grin at his back, hearing inside his words what he really meant to say. "I'll be careful," she promised and watched him leave soundlessly.

What in the world had happened last night?

"It turns out the girl only got a distant look at him, although she did draw the symbol on his forehead protector again. It was a Rain-nin alright," she told him when she saw him again that afternoon. "He was even carrying an umbrella." She twirled her dinner knife through her fingers idly. They were seated at a local restaurant enjoying a quick lunch before heading out to visit Tenma Mikuro's place together, which was looking more and more like a good hiding place for the missing Nanabi.

"Ah, I thought so," Neji replied, leaning back in his chair. "There wasn't much to see in the woods around the house, but there was definitely someone there the night that girl disappeared. He did not leave many signs, but she was not so careful."

Tenten raised an eyebrow. "So what do we think? That Nanabi's boyfriend, Mikuro, hired a Rain-nin to 'kidnap' her for him?"

"If that's so, then it's important we find Mikuro right away. His house is on the other side of town." He pushed back his chair and rose just as a man approached them, moving with the sure steps of a trained ninja.

"Are you the two ninja Ishin-san hired?" he asked, eyeing them both, especially Tenten. Neji frowned.

"Who are you?" he asked coldly, narrowing colorless eyes. The man gave them an oily smile.

"I am Hizaki Kei, the youngest son of the Hizaki house. Nanabi was promised to me."

Tenten felt herself stiffened at the young man's insolence and she stabbed her knife into the tabletop coolly. "We're here to investigate her kidnapping. What do you want?"

"My, are all female ninja so touchy?" he asked, and had the nerve to reach out and caress the side of her face. "Or just the pretty ones?"

She didn't jerk out of his grasp like any other girl might have, instead she sat perfectly still and smirked at him as if he were a bug beneath her shoe. "I'd advise you not to touch me if you want to keep your arm."

The smug expression left Hizaki's face as he became aware of Neji standing next to him. He was holding up two fingers surrounded by visible chakra, ready to stab them into Hizaki's arm at a moment's notice and render it useless.

Nanabi's fiancée dropped his hand quickly.

"I came to warn you," he said, angry at having been made a fool of. "If you think Nanabi ran away, you're wrong. She was stolen by Tenma Mikuro. He's had a crush on her since they were children and when he heard about her marriage to me, he snapped."

"And you have proof of this?" Tenten asked, doubtfully. Kei looked her directly in the eye.

"Mikuro used to be my best friend. I know him better than anyone else. What do you think?"

"I think you should leave the investigation to us," Neji said firmly, and his tone left no room for argument. Kei shrugged but she could tell he was insulted.

"Fine. Have it your way. But take a look at Tenma Mikuro. You might just find what you're looking for." He turned and strode out of the restaurant and Neji stared after him with the sort of look she knew meant there would be a fight if the two met again.

Tenten shook her head slightly. Boys.

"Neji," she called to him quietly, watching as he finally turned towards her as if waking from dark thoughts. She rose from the table and smiled at him, trying to restore in him the sense of calm she had felt that morning. "Well, shall we go? This Mikuro fellow is getting more and more interesting."

"Aa," he said after a moment, relaxing slightly.

"Well then," she said, and looped an arm through his before he could react, half dragging him out the door as if they were still children in the Academy.

"Don't pull," he grumbled at her, but he didn't try to escape, and for the first time in days, Tenten detected a trace of humor in his features. She smiled inwardly.

It was going to be a good day.

To be continued…