A/N: Chapter 3 is up! I hope you all will enjoy it and that it lives up to your expectations!
I apologize for any grammar errors /spelling mistakes there may or might be. I try my best to avoid as many as possible.
Main pairing: Nejiten
Side pairing(s): Naruhina and possible others
Warning(s): Possible OOCness, medieval era
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto!
A Sense of Duty
Chapter 3: A Sense of Emotions
"Neji, when I told you to go and relax I was not expecting you to bring home a prostitute" Neji's uncle explained with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Neji, when I told you to go and relax I was not expecting you to bring home a prostitute"
Tenten's mind froze and a sudden anger began to rise inside of her. Her blood started to boil, her limps started to twitch and every muscles in her body became tense. She lowered her head slightly, letting her bangs cover her eyes and bit her own lower lip. Her hands tightened into clenched fists before folding out like claws.
"So," Tenten spoke in a ghostly tone, "This is how the rich and wealthy greet their guests" Tenten bit her lip harder as she lifted her head up and looked at Neji's uncle with a look that could burn, "LIKE I WOULD EVER LOWER MYSELF TO SELL MYSELF OF TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER! EVEN IF I WAS SELLING MY BODY I WOULD NEVER LET ANY ONE OF YOU SELFISH, ARROUGANT PIGS TOUCH ME! NOT IN A MILLION YEARS!"
Tenten moved her right hand down to her exposed left leg and took out the dagger she had hiding on her left thigh. With the dagger tightly in her hand she marched forward with burning, brown eyes.
She was ready to kill in order to redeem herself!
"Tenten, wait!" Neji called out after her and tried to desperately to block her way towards his uncle.
"Move it, Hero, this old geezer deserves to have his head cut off for insulting me in such a manner!" Tenten angrily yelled at Neji while she tried to force herself passed Neji.
"Please Tenten, my uncle did not mean to offend you! He was merely being sarcastic" Neji tried to reason with Tenten.
Tenten bit her own lip even harder, drawing blood while she tightened her grip on the dagger and tried to bypass Neji, but Neji would let her.
"Let me through! He deserves to be punished!" Tenten loudly exclaimed, but Neji had taken a stand and refused to let her passed him.
"Be reasonable, Tenten, my uncle meant no harm in what he said, he just made a wrong assumption" Neji hopelessly tried to calm Tenten down, but the angry brunette seemed to be so determined in punishing his uncle that she did not listen to a single word he said.
"I want him to die, die, die!" Tenten shouted out loudly while she started to hit Neji's chest and shoulders. Thankfully, Neji was only hit with Tenten's fists and the blunt side of her dagger, not the blade of her dagger.
"Ow, Tenten, hitting me will not help you get your revenge!" Neji loudly explained while he bit his own lip to keep his focus away from the actual pain.
"It will once you give up trying to protect an old, disrespectful man, who deserves to have his head cut off!" Tenten ranted as she continued to hit Neji.
Neji sighed out.
"Seemed like I have no choice, but to stop her using force" Neji thought to himself as he lifted his hands up and seized both of Tenten's wrists.
"Let me go!" Tenten yelled as she tried desperately to wriggle her wrists free from his grip.
"I will not let go of you until you have calmed down and dropped your weapon!" Neji firmly demanded as he tightened his grip a little. Tenten bit her lip and shock her head to the side in frustration as she continued to struggle.
"No!" Tenten hissed with closed eyes.
"Tenten" Neji spoke in a warning tone. After a while of struggling Tenten's struggling suddenly ceased and her dagger slipped out her grip.
The sounds of metal hitting the floor echoed in the room as the dagger hit the floor beneath them.
".." Tenten did not say a word as she released her bloody lower lip while she held her head low, refusing to look Neji in the eyes.
"Tenten, are you-" A sudden outburst of laughter made Neji stop speaking. Both he and Tenten looked over towards the source.
His uncle was the one laughing!
Both Neji and Tenten stared dumbfoundedly at Neji's uncle, who was laughing. Tenten grew annoyed by it and uttered out with red cheeks:
"What is so funny, old man? Once Neji releases me I shall give you something to laugh about, your head on a stick!" Tenten began struggling in Neji's grip again, but once Neji had tightened his hold once again she stopped moving and sighed out in frustration.
"Tenten" Neji looked at Tenten, who flushes as she stared at him with an angry and annoyed look.
"You sure are one angry, little miss" Hiashi chuckled.
"I shall give you angry, little miss!" Tenten sneered as she looked at Hiashi with angry, brown eyes, "Let me go, Neji!" Tenten looked at Neji while she struggled to free herself from his fierce grip.
Hiashi merely chuckled at her while Neji was forced to tighten his hold on Tenten's wrists to keep her in place, much to Tenten's annoyance.
"Tenten, give it up! My uncle meant no harm in what he said, he was only being sarcastic" Neji tried to calm Tenten down once again.
"Sarcastic my bottom!" Tenten cursed out at Neji in anger.
"Neji, there is no need for you to defend me, you can let her go" Hiashi assured his nephew.
"Really?" Tenten looked surprised at Hiashi while Neji looked at his uncle in shock.
"But uncle-" Hiashi cut his nephew off and said:
"Neji, let her go," His uncle gave him a serious look and Neji released Tenten's wrists, "Now, young lady, tell me the reason behind your angry reaction"
Tenten looked at Neji's uncle with an unsure expression, how could a man she had just threatened act so calm and, dare she say, humble?
After a short moment Tenten looked at Neji before she took a step forward and answered Hiashi's question:
"My reasons are quite simple. I loathe being referred by my gender and to be looked upon as a submissive, lowlife woman, who would give herself willingly to the masculine gender. I am no one's property, but my own" Tenten finished firmly.
Both Neji and Hiashi looked at Tenten for awhile, neither of them said anything. Tenten felt somehow proud, thinking she had left them speechless, but then Hiashi spoke out:
"So if you are not a prostitute, then you are my nephew's lover? It was also about time he brought someone home, I was starting to get worried that-"
"Hold up, old man! His lover? As if I would ever be with someone as feminine looking as him!" Tenten pointed at Neji and took a step backwards.
"I will have to agree with her, I could never picture myself being with someone as rude and arrogant as her" Neji explained. Tenten looked at him annoyingly.
"Like you are any better, Mister 'stick-up-the-ass'!" Tenten exclaimed harshly at him. Neji and Tenten looked at each other with angry eyes before they turned their faces away from one another.
"You two even act like a married couple, fighting over nothing of importance," Hiashi chuckled, "Young love is such a beautiful thing, I think I better go tell the maids that they need to make room for a guest" With that Hiashi left his study leaving Tenten and Neji behind with dumbfounded expressions.
"How did my uncle.." Neji looked at Tenten, who returned Neji's confused expression.
…
"I know! Your uncle is a psychic!"
Hinata opened her eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling above her.
"Where am I?" She mumbled confusedly as she looked around her.
"In your chambers, Milady" A soft, familiar female voice replied. Hinata lifted her body up and looked at the female before.
"Ino, what are you doing here?" Hinata asked her handmaiden, who went over to her with a wet napkin.
"I am doing my job, taking care of you, Lady Hinata" Ino replied while she ran the wet napkin over Hinata's face.
"What happened?" Hinata looked at Ino with a lost look on her face. Ino sighed out:
"Naruto happened" Hinata blinked at her and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
"Na-na-ruto? Did something happen? Is he hurt?" Hinata asked with a worried look on her face.
Ino looked at her master with an annoyed look and sighed deeply.
"Lady Hinata, will you please calm down. Naruto is just fine, he is actually the reason why you are here" Ino pointed out.
"Thank God, he is alright" Hinata breathed out in relief. Ino looked at Hinata with a sincere look on her face.
"I cannot help, but feel sorry for her. She is so hopelessly in love with that idiot Naruto and he is just so clueless about it! My poor Milady!" Ino thought to herself as she looked at her master with a hopeless expression.
"HINATA!" A very familiar voice echoed through the room. Both Ino and Hinata were startled by it.
"Lady Hinata, I believe your father is looking for you" Ino assumed.
"Yeah, I believe so too, I wonder why," Hinata sighed,"Well… I better go" Hinata walked out of her chambers leaving her handmaiden, Ino, behind.
"I wish Lord Hiashi would act a little more like a father to Lady Hinata, she needs some fatherly love and guidance" Ino thought to herself sympathetic as she watched Hinata leave the room.
"He wants me to WHAT?" Tenten looked at the maids, who stood before her, with an outrageous expression on her face.
"Umm Lord Hiashi told us to give you a bath and to fix your clothes" One of the maid replied with a nervous expression on her face. Neji looked at the maid with a pitiful look and sighed to himself:
"I really cannot blame her for being nervous. Tenten is literally trying to burn holes in her skull. I feel sorry for those girls, having to deal with that devil of a woman"
Instead of saying anything and by doing that joining the conversation between Tenten and the maids, Neji decided to mind his own business and just observe from the sidelines.
"I heard you the first time, I was just surprise" Tenten explained with a much calmer expression on her face.
"Surprised?" One of the maids blinked, "Why?" She cocked her head to the side.
Tenten posed triumphantly, but did not answer the maid's question. Instead Tenten said with a proud grin on her face:
"Now show me the way to bathroom so I can please your dear master"
"Of course, this way" Another maid answered as they showed Tenten the way leaving Neji behind.
As they walked Tenten could not help herself, but to ask the maids a question she had longed to ask:
"It is possible to get lost in this house?"
The maids stopped walking and turned to look at her.
"Of course, it is possible" One maid said to Tenten.
"But once you know the house" Another maid continued.
"It is impossible to ever get lost again" The third maid finished. Before Tenten could even respond the maids turned and began walking again. Tenten sighed to herself:
"These maids are quite creepy, the way they finish each other's sentences. It gives me the chills!"
"We are here, Miss Tenten" The first maid told Tenten as she opened the door in front of them. Tenten walked inside and was amazed by the sight before her. The bathroom literally shined! Like a beautiful paradise of white, gold and silver. It was like heaven!
"If there is a heaven that is" Tenten thought to herself.
"This is beautif-"
"Strip!" Tenten was startled by the sudden order by one of the maids.
"Huh? Excuse me?" Tenten looked at the maids with a raised eyebrow.
"Take off your clothes and get in the water tub" The other maid explained. Tenten stared at the maid with an annoyed expression, but did as they told her and took off her clothes.
After stripping off her clothes she got into the wooded water tub and looked at the maids with a questioning expression. The water tub was lacking something, very important.
"Okay, now wha- By God's arm it is cold!" Tenten yelled out loud as a bucket of very cold water was poured over her head.
"Emi, you take Miss Tenten's clothes and fix it while Ami and I bathe Miss Tenten" The maid, who had just poured water over Tenten's head, ordered with a soft-spoken voice.
"Understood, Yumi, I return the clothes once it has been fixed" The other maid bowed down and took most of Tenten's clothes except for her corset, her thigh holster with her dagger, her shoes and her underpants.
"Ami, hand over the soap and a sponge" The maid, Yumi, commanded the other maid, Ami, while she rubbed Tenten's head in a quite violent manner.
"Ow, be careful! My air is very sensitive and so is my skin!" Tenten managed hiss out before the two maids lifted her arms up and rubbed her armholes roughly with the sponge.
"I think my skin is going to be rubbed off if this continues" Tenten thought herself while she tried not to wince in pain from the somewhat rough treatment.
"If this is how rich people normally take bathes then I am happy not to be one of them!" Tenten proclaimed to herself.
Ino watched as her master, Hinata, walked back into the room with a lost look on her face.
"So," Ino started, "What did your father, Lord Hiashi, want?" She asked out of both concern and curiosity.
Hinata looked down at her hands and spoke with a somewhat mumbling voice:
"Well my father told me that my cousin Neji has invited someone over to join us for dinner this afternoon"
"Okay and your father needed you because?" Ino looked at Hinata with a questioning look.
"Well my father needed me because… well he asked me if I would mind borrowing some of my clothes" Hinata replied.
"I am sorry, Lady Hinata, but I do not get it" Ino admitted, "Borrowing clothes? Why and to whom?" Ino asked with a skeptic look on her face.
"Well it is because Neji's guest is a woman" Hinata clarified. Ino's reaction resembled her own when her father had told her about her cousin bringing home a woman.
FLASHBACK
Hinata hurried from her chambers to her father's while she wondered to herself; why he had called after her?
"Father rarely yells, so it must be important" Hinata assumed.
Once she had finally reached her father's chambers she paused for a moment, trying to catch her breath and keep her nerves under control. Her father always managed to get on her nerves, she did not know why. Maybe it was because of how he always acted so cold when he spoke to her, like he did not see her as a worthy heiress and daughter.
Hinata swallowed.
"Now is not the time to get emotional, you know how much father hate people who shows weakness" Hinata told herself before she took a deep breath and pushed the door open while she softly said:
"Father, you called"
Hinata walked inside of the chamber and looked straight at her father, who was sitting down on a big red chair. He was facing her and a small smile appeared on his cold face as he recognized his elder daughter. He laid down the book he had been reading and stood up.
"Hinata," He spoke out with a calm voice,"I am glad you could come in such a hurry"
"Of course, father, "Hinata bowed politely, "What did you want to speak to me about?" Hinata asked.
"I have a favor to ask of you" Hinata blinked shockingly at what her father had just said.
"A Favor?" She asked herself uncertain.
"A favor, father?" Hinata replied with a questioning look on her pale face.
"Yes, a favor," Hiashi smiled softly at his daughter's surprised look, "Do not look so surprised, dear, even I need help from others sometime, it is what that makes us all human after all" He explained.
Hinata blinked and nodded her head slowly while she said:
"I guess you are right, it is just… the first time you have ever asked for… my help" Hinata lowered her head, afraid to meet her father's judging eyes.
"Hinata, look at me when I speak to you. You are a Hyuuga, not a servant!" Her father's voice was harsh, but it was also strangely comforting in Hinata's ears.
Hinata lifted her head to meet her father's glance while she folded her dress nervously.
"Now, the favor," Her father began as if everything he previously had said meant nothing, "Would you mind borrowing some of your clothes to a guest?" He asked Hinata with a serious expression.
"A guest?" Hinata blinked confusedly at her father.
"Yes, a guest," Her father nodded to her," Your cousin, Neji, has invited a girl to eat dinner with us and she is in the need of some temporary clothes to wear while the maids fixes her own clothes" Hinata's father finished.
Hinata stared at her father in disbelieve. Her cousin had invited a girl over for dinner? Her cousin, as in her 'my duty is my life'-cousin? The same cousin, who has never really spoken to any girls, aside from his relatives, had a girl over?
"This is just unbelievable! So cousin Neji has a heart after all?" Hinata thought to herself while she began to wonder who the girl might be.
"Hinata" Her father called out after her, trying to regain her attention.
"Huh?" Hinata responded as she broke out of her own thoughts.
"Are you even listening to what I just told you?" Hinata's father asked with an impatient look on his face.
"I am! My apologies, father, I was just shocked by what you just told me" Hinata admitted. Her father looked at her and asked:
"About your cousin having a girl over?"
Hinata nodded her head and said:
"Yeah, Cousin Neji has always said that he was married to his duty and not to his heart, so it surprises me that he has found love"
"He has not" Her father stated out quickly. Hinata looked at her father confusedly while she blinked and uttered out:
"B-but you just told me he had a brought a girl over for dinner?"
"Yes, I did, but I never said he was in love with her. In fact, she seems to annoy him to know end and became rather angry at me when I thought her to be a prostitute" He pointed out.
Hinata stared at her father before uttered out:
"Father I cannot believed you called cousin Neji's gir-female companion a prostitute!" Hinata looked at her father with a shameful look.
"Hinata, will you be so kind and answer my question? Would you mind borrowing some of your clothes to your cousin's female guest?" Hiashi once again asked, completely ignoring his daughter's reaction to his previous confession.
Hinata looked at father for a moment, angry at him for ignoring her, before she sighed out:
"Fine, father, I will see what I can find for cousin Neji's guest" Hinata left immediately afterwards. She wondered once again to herself.
"Who could this gir- woman be?"
END OF FLASHBACK
Ino stared at Hinata for a moment before she blinked her eyes.
"I am sorry, Milady, but did you just tell me that your cousin, the one who says he is married to his duty, has found love?" A shocked Ino asked.
Hinata rubbed her cheek with a finger in a nervous manner while she admitted:
"Actually… according to my father cousin Neji is not in love with the girl and the girl is not in love with him either"
"When why has he invited her over for dinner?" Ino demandingly asked Hinata, who looked at her handmaiden with an awkward smile on her face while she said:
"I do not know"
Ino looked at her master with big, haunting eyes while she spoke:
"And you did not ask! Shame on you, Milady!"
"It is not like I did not try to ask, my father just ignored all my questions," Hinata crossed her arms over her chest, "The only thing he cared about was me answering his question, everything else I had to say meant nothing to him" Hinata looked down with an annoyed, yet sad expression.
"The one about borrowing your clothes, right?" Hinata nodded to Ino's question, but did not look up at all.
Ino sighed to herself:
"Poor Milady, she just wants her father's acknowledge so bad that she feels sad whenever her father ignores her. Curse you, Lord Hiashi, for being so heartless" Ino looked at Hinata for awhile before she decided to change the topic and hopefully cheer up her master.
"So Lady Hinata, shall we find some clothes to this friend of your cousin?" Ino looked at her master as she asked, hoping for a respond.
Hinata closed her eyes and took a breath before she opened them while she lifted her head and looked at Ino.
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea" Hinata agreed.
The two girls then began looking through Hinata's closet in search for some spare clothes for Neji's female friend.
Neji was sitting impatient in his chambers. He wondered what had made him go after this arrogant and hotheaded woman in the first place and why he was being so generous to her. He could just have left her in that ally!
To him she was very hard to read, extremely unpredictable and she had an ego bigger than the entire Konoha Kingdom, but a part of him was fascinated by how strong-willed and brave she was. He could not help, but admire her.
"She is so different from me while I am bound to my duty as a swordsman. She is not bound to anything, she is… free!" Neji thought to himself while he took a deep breath and stood up.
He felt somehow uneasy, like there was something is should be aware of. Question was just: What should he be aware of?
Neji blinked.
"Tenten!"
Neji hurried out of his room moments afterwards.
"How can I just sit in my room and let the maids handle Tenten? That crazy woman even took her dagger with her, what if one of the maids pisses her off? I should have confiscated that dagger! That woman has a temper worse than a dragon!" Neji grinded his teeth together as he hurried towards the bathroom where Tenten was supposed to be bathed in.
Without warning Neji forcefully opened the door to the bathroom and walked in only to freeze at a sight he had not expected to be greeted with.
Right in front of him stood…
A half-naked Tenten!
To be continued…
A/N: Well, well Neji is such an unlucky guy! xD I love torturing him way too much!
Yep, Ino is Hinata's handmaiden (A personal maid). You can say that Ino is kinda a mother figure to Hinata ^^
Longer than the previously chapter, but no worries the chapters will get longer as the story unfolds!
Thank you for reading, leave a review and tell me what you think :)
The next chapter might not be up as fast as this one because I will have my first school day this Monday! Beginning on a new education (Higher education) and new school, I am quite existed and nervous ^^'
Multimedia Designer education here I come! :D