A/N: Late? Hehe…I spent the weekend at my sis's and had lots of fun. I even bought manga! I'm so happy! But I promise to update this every weekend…
MisSs005: I'll continue until I complete this fic…Or until I get tired. Thanks for the review!
harukakanataTenten will 'lecture' Neji little by little, just like a mother would do to her son. I like to make them improve in their relationship. Thankies for the review!
RedLotusNin and IceHunterNinHaha Thankies! I'd die to have Neji shitless in front of me…Or even a picture! Don't worry, thanks for offering help anyways. I need to improve on my grammar. Thanks for the review!
FireDragonBL: Same here…It's hard to make Tenten serve neji, that's wy I always make it short when she needs to serve him. I updated! Thankies for the review!
Krissel Himura(): Thankies so much! I adore this couple and love Tenten. Too bad her role in the series isn't big. I'll try my best in every chapter. Thanks again for the review!
Snow Wind: Thanks for the review! I continued!
misumi-sanHere, updated!Thanks for the review!
03: Broken Rules
I woke in the middle of the night with my stomach aching. I was so hungry that I couldn't even think straight. My head is also aching. Maybe it's the effect for not eating after lunch?
I tiptoed to the kitchen as silent as I could (but every time I stepped in the wooden floor wrongly, it made noise). I searched for something to eat. Hopefully they won't think I'm a thief.
I found leftovers from dinner and sat. I started eating when I sensed someone outside. What if there was a real thief? I ate some more then left, cursing for the stupid fact of forgetting my weapons in the garden, were, supposedly, they are.
As I walked, I fixed my kimono and the prepared for a fight with whomever was there. I noticed the thief wasn't moving and was just outside. What if he was just guarding when another one was inside? I panicked and launched to the thief. I was to hit him from behind when the thief dodged easily. A ninja?
I calculated the distance between him (or her) and I then launched again. I'll make sure this time this ninja/thief won't avoid. When the guy dodged again I decided that violence wasn't working. Better go to the talking.
"Who are you?" I defensively asked. "…Why are you out, Ne-kun?" I heard the thief… "Neji…-sama?" I asked confused. Then remembered that could be a ninja illusory technique. "…I asked first, Ne-kun," Neji told me. I soon relaxed and breathed. I was holding my breath without realizing…
"I…Uh…I was eating when I sensed you here and thought it was a thief…" I told him ashamed. It was the second time I couldn't sense him clearly. "You can't sense properly. We need to fix that," He told me. I nodded. Yeah right, fix that…I was in the ninja academy for six years and I was (am) the last person to sense someone. Then I remembered.
"What are you doing here when your highness should be sleeping?" I asked. "I couldn't sleep," he calmly answered. "You couldn't sleep? You were sleeping in the fire room. You must be tired," I insisted. He slept two times when I was with him. What's with the 'couldn't sleep'?
"I have trouble sleeping alone…" He told me frankly. I blinked twice. "Eh? But you were sleeping with me…" I remembered him. "It must be because you, being a woman, I could feel protected." My eyes widened. "Neji, you are not in a good state (aka OOC)," I told him. Then I smiled tenderly and completed my phrase, "I'll stay in your room until your sleep. Maybe that will help…" He just nodded.
While walking to his room I was wondering how he managed to work, train and rule the Hyuuga state when he couldn't sleep…And, how he managed to stay with the eyes without rings under it.
I woke startled. I looked around and found myself in my room like I left when I found Neji outside…Was that a dream? I need to forget about it then… It's the best, right?
I looked and noticed it was sunrise. Man…I couldn't rest too much. Too bad…Might as well wake up. I took another kimono and went to seek for Ayame. The kitchen, as usual, was all packed. I saw Ayame seated sewing some clothes. I waved while she just nodded. "Ayame…Do you have some hair products so I could wash them?" I asked her. She looked shocked and then slowly nodded pointing at something in the cupboard. I thanked her then left.
While arriving in the state river I saw there were only a few outside. I was thinking about Ayame's reacting every time I told her I wanted to bath or to use hair product. She was making such a deal out of it. Was it wrong to ask for things like that?
I went to a more isolated part. This time I could take the kimono and bathe properly. I was quick but the worse was when I had to wash my hair again. I hurried to the kitchen when I finished. I quickly got it in two buns and then went to the kitchen. Ayame served me breakfast, mentioning that it was illegal sneaking in the kitchen at night. "I tried to be silent…I swear it wasn't my intention to wake you guys up…" I lamely apologized. "I know, but its illegal. But we won't say a word because last night you didn't eat and all. Just this time," she winked. I smiled gratefully.
Ayame told me it was time to serve breakfast. I sighed and went to the serving room. This time the room was packed. From where did all they came from? I quickly made my way behind Neji, waiting for some order. I soon understood what was happening: Hyuuga Hiashi arrived from his hunt. I bowed when he passed in front of me. I think he glanced at me.
This breakfast Neji sure didn't excuse anything so he could order me around. It was from a glass of water to some dust in his food (and there wasn't any in there). I sure felt tired when breakfast was finished. When Neji left, I quickly bowed and then left behind Neji as quietly as I could.
Neji was in the room walking around and then looking at the door. Suddenly he stopped. "Go find Lee and tell him I request his presence here," He ordered. What happened so he could be in this mood? I nodded and left to find Lee.
As I walked to the kitchen so I could ask Ayame where Lee could be, I was soon stopped by a guard. I followed the guard into a room in the second floor. What is happening here? Soon, I was face-to-face with Hyuuga ruler; Hyuuga Hiashi. I could only stand while his highness looked at me and motioned for me to come closer. I stood in front of him.
"So you are the famous Ne-kun…" He stated. I nodded slowly. "I see Neji got attached to you," he continued. I blinked. "Hinata as well…" I looked questioning how he knew that. He wasn't here yesterday…Was he?
"Before everything I wanted to intensify the rules…" He looked straight at me, "One; you can only bath one day a week, Two; washing your hair one time in a month, Three; no getting food after midnight. Four; no caring weapons if you are not a guard. I think that ends it. In a day you broke four rules and I don't want them to repeat," He told me. How he knew that is out of my comprehension. I nodded.
"You may leave," he said waving his hand in annoyance. I bowed and left. I had to go and find Lee before I request to be a kitchen helper and leave the post of Neji's maid. It was such a headache. Hopefully Hinata has more luck with Naruto.
Later, Neji explained that Hiashi returned earlier form his hunt because he had the need to come back. Hiashi wasn't very pleased to know that Hinata left for courting. It seemed like Hiashi-sama was very possessive of his daughter…Or the fact that she was going to make the Hyuuga heir.
Neji gave me a little apology for the way Hiashi talked to me (the way he found out I don't know) and asked for a spare. I remembered what Hiashi-sama told me and refused. But after being told I was a coward, I quickly told him I'd kick his sorry ass. I asked for fighting clothes again and soon Neji and I were in the garden, ready to fight.
I was really unfocused. What if Hiashi-sama saw this and prohibited our sparing? If he does that…Maybe he'll send me to the kitchen…or 'fire' me. And here I wanted to get away from making weapons for at least a week.
I took my kunai and threw at Neji. He easily dodged it. I was thinking of doing the Rising Twin dragons but remembered his spinning technique. Maybe combat would deal with Neji? I remembered that he can easily stop my punches. Sigh, what can I do?
I decided to use Taijutsu. I went forward with a punch, aiming his face, he stopped. Then I was to kick him when he easily caught my leg and blocked it. I'm getting irritated. I remembered Lee's fighting style and tried making myself similar to his.
Ok, so it didn't work as well. After I tried more stuff, I think Neji got impatient because he then launched a punch that hit me square in the face. And it hurt!
Maybe Neji forgot I'm a lady and punched me. Was that all his forces? I was caressing my cheek and glaring at Neji. I don't think he noticed that his punch hurt me. Neji glared back at me.
"Now you know…Women can't be paired as equal with men," Neji said then turned and left. The nerve of him! I quickly hand-sealed the Rising Twin dragons and aimed at him. I threw it with full impact. I don't know how, but Neji quickly turned around and spin, dodging my weapons.
He smirked at me and I felt myself getting angrier at him. I tried again to see if he could dodge but again he made sure to come unharmed. I was going to shout at him, I knew.
"First…Don't let your enemy get you mad. Keep control of your emotions," Neji said while positioning himself. "Second, don't be confused to what the enemy is saying. Even if you are, don't let it show…" He said running toward me. "Third, sense when you are being attacked and try blocking it!" He said punching me.
I was hit plenty of times. Neji did that twice and in the third time I was dodging some of his attacks.
We stayed sparring like that until evening when we were all tired. I left to prepare Neji's bath, dreaming of a bath myself (but rules are rules), I left Neji, going for dinner before serving him.
It is the second time a guard stops in front of me and order me to follow him. The second time I'm in front of Hiashi-sama. Second time in the same day that I'm being lectured by him.
He was telling me that a maid shouldn't wear boy's clothes. Nor spare with his ruler. Nor wonder in the corridors, nor eat before they do and blah blah. I just thought of eating and he's already telling me it's not allowed. Does he read mind?
"Ne-kun…I must say you look very familiar," Hiashi-sama spoke to me. I was startled. He knew me? From where, when and how? I don't remember him in my store! I panicked fully.
"I think I know from where…" He told me eyeing me suspicious as trying to remember me. I was praying really hard to the heavens. "Guards, leave." He ordered to the five guards that were in the room. Oh my God! Will he kill me and throw my body from the window?
…Don't be stupid Tenten! Think straight. This is Hiashi-sama. He wouldn't do the dirty work.
…
Don't think at all now. It's better.
"Now…Must I know why my blacksmith is here…As a maid?" He asked, his silver-white eyes piercing mine. I audibly gulped. "Eh…You see, Hiashi-sama…I…Uh-" I started to think and answer. What now? Where is Shikamaru when I need him?
"I was tired of working so hard. I wanted a vacation. My friend got me a place here as a maid. Hinata's maid. Then, Hinata left to the Uzumaki state. Now I serve Neji," I said unblinking. Yay! Heavens are with me! Go Tenten!
"For how long?" He asked. "For two weeks since yesterday," I answered. Man...if in just a week two people already know who I am…I wonder how will it be after a week? "And what was the excuse for leaving…Does Neji knows Tenten isn't there?" he asked. My life is impossible.
"He knows Tenten is missing by a invented enemy. He wants to bring Tenten back as soon as possible," I said biting my lips. I forgot all about that… "Hn" Was all he said but then asked another thing. "How will you leave after the two weeks?"
I didn't answer that question. I didn't know how to. I never thought about that. If Hinata was here, I was going to be fired because I was not in the maid role…But with Neji, everything got different.
He asked how Neji kept around me. I told him about Neji's problem of sleeping and that I can't get throw his spinning barrier. He got impressed to the fact that he was sparing with me. He got quite impressed to the fact when I told him Neji scowled me for bathing at night. I don't know what is in his head but I'm sure it's something I don't like.
I stayed there answering some more and we negotiated that after I spared with Neji, I could got and bathe myself but I was only going to wash my hair next week. I felt glad. Hiashi-sama offered me a better room. I argued it was no need but he insisted because I was Neji's maid. I remembered him I was Ne-kun; a maid.
I wonder how I forget that those people I'm arguing with are higher people that me. That can easily banish me from their state. I need to know where my place is. I'm one step behind them.
I ate dinner then left to serve Neji. I felt the urge to smile at Hiashi-sama but remembered what I thought earlier: I'm behind them. Always behind…Meanwhile, I was eavesdropping their conversation. They were talking bout something I started to blush madly: marriage and heirs.
"It's almost time, Neji. You need to marry soon and take control of this state, Hinata's courting and maybe a son," Hiashi was telling Neji the great advantage because he'd be remembered as the State Rule father. That he will get to teach his son how to fight and how to deal with women.
Son this and son that. What if Neji got a daughter? Would they dishonor her just because she's a female? How disgusting. We are humans. We are equal…in that part, at least. I felt disrespect coming in sense when they kept talking as males were above females.
"Neji…coming to important matters," Hiashi-sama started business-like. "I want to tell you to forget the blacksmith's kidnapping for a while…" He told Neji. I saw Neji getting started (similar to my reaction). "Maybe if we wait for some time, the kidnapper will realize that we aren't very worried about her."
I noticed Neji was clenching fists but just nodded. Aw…Was he worried?
A/N: Heyas! Lame final but you see…I just wanted to post this us! I really appreciate the review! I feel honored D Thankies so much! Heyas! final but you see…I just wanted to post this us! I really appreciate the review! I feel honored D Thankies so much!
About Hiashi-sama: OOC? I agree. But think of him after Neji fought with Naruto and all. He's a good person, right? Besides…He gave Tenten's security in the palace. Also…don't you guys want to know who's telling Hiashi-sama what's happening in his state?
Hope you guys ok, ja!
Manuca