Day 1

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Nejiten Month 2021

'That's the third dead dog I've seen on this highway
These treads are wearing thin
When I get back there, baby
I'm gonna make you a home'

- Diving Woman, Japanese Breakfast (2017)

She's trembling a little as she quickly spares a glance at the dead body lying less than a meter from her left side; it was the fifth dead body she had seen in the last hour and her patience was beginning to wear dangerously thin.

Her legs were shaking, although not from fear (she didn't do fear) but instead from the utter fatigue that had been plaguing her body all day. Thanks to the fact that the client she was supposed to be escorting on a simple A-rank to Suna was actually a double agent, the mission had dragged on a week longer than anticipated. The blood and gore that usually excited her was taking a heavy toll on her mental and physical capacities and all she wanted to do was go back home and rest.

''That should be the last of them,'' she stated as she inspected the large pool of blood that was beginning to seep from the man's head and onto the grass, ''so that makes five out of five.''

''Good work, Tenten,'' the male figure replied as he peered at the very precisely thrown kunai, ''right in the carotid artery.''

The weapon, which was precisely lodged in the assailant's throat, was eagerly yanked out by the brown-haired kunoichi with as much force as she put into throwing it ten minutes ago.

A raise of a brow. ''Jeez, something piss you off?''

She wiped the kunai quickly on her already-bloody jacket and shoved it into her pocket with a scowl. ''Don't try me, Nara. This mission has already dragged on longer than it was supposed to.''

She heard an oh-so-familiar 'tch' and something about her mood being 'troublesome' and a vein popped in her temple in frustration. If she wasn't so insistent on getting back to Konoha right this fucking second, she would've taken five minutes out of their journey to give the Nara prodigy a piece of her mind.

After quickly moving the bodies into a shallow ditch, the pair washed all traces of death and murder from their hands and faces in a small pond nearby. Tenten was beyond exhausted - something that probably came with age, she bitterly noted - and took a big gulp from her water flask. According to Shikamaru's calculations, they were around one hour from Konoha.

The journey back was mostly spent in silence. They were too spent to even make small talk (Tenten noted she would treat Shikamaru to yakiniku next week to make up for her current crabby mood and lack of conversation), but the Nara boy was the first to break the silence.

''There she is,'' he stated with the subtle elation that Tenten had learned to pick up over the years. As the gates of Konoha came into focus, Tenten held back a squeak of excitement and opted to give Shikamaru a sudden bear hug instead.

''We're home! We're home!'' she squealed and she latched onto his broad shoulders. She felt him tense momentarily - probably out of shock from her rapid mood swings that would make even his former blonde teammate look emotionally stable - and strong arms wrapped around her waist in response.

''Troublesome,'' he rolled his eyes when she pulled away, ''any reason why you're so desperate to get home?''

They fell back in step beside each other and she shrugged. ''Are you saying you wanted to stay out there any longer?'' She quickly glanced at him and noticed he was staring at her with a raised brow.

A few more seconds of silence passed before he piped up. ''It's because it's Neji's birthday tomorrow, isn't it?''

A small smile slipped passed the weapons mistress' lips and she stared up at the night sky.

''Perhaps.''

''Tch. Troublesome woman.''

Her chocolate eyes focused on the gates ahead of her, which were coming closer and closer like a mirage teasing her aching legs. It had been over two weeks since she last saw him, and she was determined to get back in time for his birthday tomorrow. Although they never really did anything spectacular for his birthdays (the Hyuugas weren't too big on party planning, shock, and they were always on missions anyway, shock again), this year would be special.

It would be his 26th birthday, and Hiashi would be using this occasion to formally appoint Neji as clan leader after years of shadowing and practicing for this moment. He was a distinguished young man and ANBU member in his own right and Tenten's heart swelled just thinking about the feats of her fiancée. She vividly remembered the way he stood his ground and said, no, practically growled that Tenten was the only option for him and that if the clan elders dare push anyone else upon him then he would dessert the clan and elope with her.

Even though she never even hinted at doing something as remotely stupid as that (if it got down to it and the elders refused, she would've just broken up with the man - she had told him very angrily afterwards that he was utterly stupid for doing something like that and that it really wasn't that deep, but he noticed how she said all this with tears of relief in her eyes), she knew she had to be back in time for this momentous occasion.

The gates were so close now...just a few more meters...

The wind was practically knocked out of her as a large figure grabbed her from behind and pinned her against the wall.

''Ow! Shika? What the hell are you-''

''Tenten.''

She stopped struggling and shivers ran down her spine upon the familiar baritone voice calling her name. He called it again, much to her pleasure, and she opened her eyes slowly to find a pair of silver moons scanning her wildly with the byakugan.

''Neji...'' she breathed, unsure whether her earlier musings of the gates being a mirage or not had come to fruition; this was way too much. His touch, slender fingers gripping harshly into her arms, was sending shockwaves through her system and his eyes were wild as he looked her up and down in fear. His lips, oh gods, his lips, were parted in concentration and Tenten found herself involuntarily leaning into his touch...

''Ahem. I'm just going to report into the Hokage's office. I'll let the Hokage know you may be a bit...late in reporting. Tch, troublesome.''

Footsteps came and went, and Tenten was now very aware at the fact she was still pinned against the wall as her fiancée triple, quadruple-checked that she was okay.

''I went to the Hokage every day for updates, he didn't have any,'' he finally stated as he pulled her in tightly.

Tenten winced at the tone of his voice; there was no mistaking the way it subtly trailed off at the end. She had learned to read him too well over the years - like a book weathered from her fingerprints from how much she loved to indulge herself in it - and her chest tightened at the thought of how much worry and fear plagued him over the last few days.

With his chin resting on the top of her head and his arms wrapped tightly around her as though she would disappear any second, she gave a big sigh and stared up at him underneath her long lashes with her big doe eyes.

''I wanted to make it back in time for your birthday,'' she murmured, thankful for the fact she washed all the blood and grime off her before she came back. He would not let her out of his sight for the next few weeks, although he was more than welcome in her showers.

He peered down at her and gently placed a kiss on her forehead. She shivered in delight and thanked the gods they were in the pitch black of the early morning, away from prying eyes and annoying fangirls.

''Happy birthday, Neji.''

The gentlest of smiles, one that many thought the Hyuugas couldn't possibly execute, graced his lips and he closed his eyes.

Her heart was pounding. She had went over his birthday gift speech so many times in her head over the events of the last week, she was worried it was going to come out awkwardly rehearsed.

''For your birthday this year,'' she continued, blood rushing to her head, ''I have a special gift.''

His eyes opened in intrigue and he raised a perfectly arched brow. ''Will it beat last year's bao buns?''

Memories of Neji requesting her homemade bao buns for a month straight after she served them for his birthday dinner popped into her head and she gently giggled, the motion stilling her pounding heart for a moment.

She had never been so sure of anything in her life.

''I'm ready to start a family.''

She felt him freeze.

It was a thought that had been in the back of her mind for a while. Some of their friends had already had children and Tenten knew the elders were putting pressure on Neji for an heir. But Neji, true to the gentleman he was, never raised it with Tenten, for he knew she was focusing on her shinobi life and that she would talk about it when she was ready.

It wasn't until a few days ago when she was on the wet floor, gasping for air with blood all over her hands after very narrowly avoiding a kunai to the stomach that she realised it was now or never.

''I know Hinata and Naruto have little Boruto and Sakura is expecting,'' she explained, ''and it makes sense that the next Hyuuga clan leader has his own...little byakugan babies.'' She inwardly cringed at the term, but the idea of holding a bundle of joy with two silver eyes smiling back at her made her heart pound. ''I know you haven't said anything about wanting kids yet, but I can tell you're ready, Neji.''

She stole a glance at his face and her breathing hitched when she saw his wide eyes, like two silver moons, staring back at her in mild disbelief. She quickly lowered her gaze in embarrassment. ''I...I think I'm going to take some time off from the shinobi lifestyle and truly make you a home.''

A few moments passed before a passionate kiss broke her gaze from the floor. She returned his kiss with a matched fever, a moan escaping her mouth as he bit her lip.

With a wide grin - well, wide for a Hyuuga and slight for literally anyone else - he grabbed her hand and led her to the direction of the Hyuuga compound.

''Let's not waste any time, then.''

A/N: hope you enjoyed! I always pictured Tenten enjoying motherhood, although I feel it would've been a tough call for her to put her shinobi activities on hiatus. That being said, I imagine the 'talk' between Neji and Tenten would be the cutest thing ever.