Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any characters from Naruto.

"How long will you need me here?" Neji asked. Amaku looked at him for a long moment before he finally answered.

"Until I take her for her Wedding."

Tenten studied the ground as her Father said this to Neji, she still didn't like it when the subject came up. But deep down, it didn't matter. Because Neji would be staying here, with her, and she could still spend time with him. 'Yes! You can win him over! And then he'll run away with you and you won't marry a stranger!' She thought but laughed at herself. Neji would never run away with anyone, ever. Besides, she was already promised to another.

Amaku sighed and stood up. Rumiko looked concerned but at the same time seemed happy about how things had worked out. "I need to go back and take care of a few things as Tenkage," Amaku began and looked at Tenten seriously. "You should come with me."

Tenten looked up at Amaku, unsure of how to react. Neji was sitting next to her, watching her indifferently, and her Mother made no effort to help. "Why?" Tenten finally asked.

"I have a meeting with your fiancé," He said and Tenten's stomach dropped. She would be eighteen in a week, and she had a bad feeling the plans were being made for her Wedding already.

"We had plans for today, and I need her at the Hyuuga Estate," Neji spoke up. It was Tenten's turn to stare at him. 'Is he standing up for me?' She wondered.

"I suppose it can't be helped then, go on. I will be back in a few days," Amaku went towards the door and Tenten ran over to give him a hug. He seemed surprised by this display of affection, but was happy all the same. As he set out on his trip back, Neji and Tenten made their way to the Hyuuga Estate.

"Neji…Thank you for back there, um…I appreciate it," Tenten said, feeling embarrassed.

"It's nothing," He replied placidly. "I really do need you at home."

"Why?"

"I have to explain why I'm your bodyguard now and not Hinata's," Neji looked back at her meaningfully. "If you're not there it looks like I'm lying."

"Oh…" Tenten trailed off. "Why would you want to be my bodyguard anyway?"

Neji winced inwardly, he was afraid she was going to ask that. 'Because I feel for anyone else who'd have to be stuck with you, I know what you're capable of,' He thought, 'And, I wouldn't trust anyone else to do the job.' But what he actually told her was: "Because I know you."

Tenten seemed satisfied by this, and Neji let her feel that way. They walked together in silence. Thinking nearly the same thing and not knowing it. Both were wondering what the meeting with Tenten's fiancé would be about.

Takashi Amaku sat down with his daughter's fiancé with a grim look on his face. Even a single glance told him that he would not make Tenten happy, even with as little as he knew about her. The first hint was the drained look in the boy's face, and a touch of pain. Amaku sighed quietly, he knew Tenten wanted to be with that other boy. The Hyuuga. It was clear from the way she looked at him, even if that look was now tainted with this deal made by the previous Tenkage. Amaku straightened himself and put on a relaxed face for the meeting, all along still wondering if there was a way out for his daughter.

Tenten and Neji arrived at the Estate and found it very quiet. It was huge and Tenten made sure she never once lost Neji or she was sure she never would have come back out. The first person they came in contact with was Hinata, who politely greeted Neji but smiled timidly at Tenten. 'Oh joy, she's heard too,' Tenten thought but was nice to Hinata all the same.

Neji made his way towards the center of the Estate and Tenten was following quietly. They reached the main room where Hiashi spent most of his time, and Neji entered after taking a deep breath. He had a bad feeling that Hiashi was not going to like this one bit.

They found him sitting on a mat in the center of the room. Tenten said nothing, but tried to admire the size and decorations of the room without distracting anyone. It appeared to be an indoor garden, complete with a fountain and a pond with three koi swimming around.

Neji and Tenten bowed to Hiashi, who returned this with only a nod. Neji pulled out his copy of the tabloid with Tenten's picture and thrust it to Hiashi who appeared not to care. As he read, Neji began telling him of the new job he would be doing.

"Hiashi-sama, I have been asked to be the bodyguard for Tenten until her Wedding," Neji said plainly. Tenten just remained quiet, unsure of what to do. Hiashi looked up at them, and activated byakuugan. Tenten had no idea how to react to this, but tried to stay as calm as Neji looked.

"You volunteered. You would leave us here and help this girl instead," Hiashi spoke and Neji's face began to contort in pain. Tenten flashed upon his match with Naruto in the exam, and realized that Hiashi was doing this with the seal.

"No…That's not it, it would be temporary…"Neji strained to say the words. Tenten panicked when she saw the feeling of pain on his face increase, she'd never seen him in so much pain.

"And what about your cousins Hinata and Hanabi? Do they not need you?" The pain was enough to make Neji squeeze his eyes shut, his hands balled into fists and he began to shake.

"Neji! Neji, are you okay?" Tenten was worried, she didn't like seeing him this way. She grabbed one of his shoulders, and could feel how tense he was. "Stop it! Don't do this!" She started yelling at Hiashi and at the same time tried to relax Neji somehow.

Without warning, Hiashi let go of the seal and Neji gasped. He fell into Tenten, panting from the pain that had coursed throughout his body. She knew it was more than physical as well, he had seen his Father go through the same ordeal and was just as helpless. Tenten held him against her shoulder, where he'd landed, and gently rubbed his back like her Mother did for her when she was younger.

Hiashi watched the scene before him calmly. He had not anticipated just how good of friends these two were, and he could tell that Neji had only the best intentions at heart. Hiashi felt for these two, recalling a similar situation in his youth… But that made no difference now.

"You may go, but come back once every Wednesday," Hiashi stated. Neji managed to straighten himself and bowed slightly to Hiashi.

"Thank you, Hiashi-sama," Neji was still out of breath, but rose and started to leave the room with Tenten close on his heels.

"Neji! Stop this, you need to rest a minute," Tenten tugged at his sleeve once they were out of the room and he stopped in the hallway. She watched him anxiously, and he leaned his back against a wall. He looked over at her once, and she could not read the look in his eyes. It was mix of sadness, a feeling of being weak, confusion and wanting.