A/n: Sorry for the long update, my arms have been taking computer overload from speed typing in my new elective (keyboarding). Yesterday when I finished my hands were shaking I'd been typing so freakin fast. So, here's chapter 5! And for those of you who are wondering, chapter 15 of Cherry Blossom should be coming out soon. I need to do some other stuff first.

FYI;;;;;;;; They are all about 17-18ish in this story…

Chapter 5: Mission

It was a gloomy Friday morning as TenTen awoke; it seemed as if the day itself was just as depressed as she over her mistreatment. She moved slowly as she got dressed and grabbed the things she would need for their B-rank mission. Really it was more of a A-rank, but if Lee found out, he'd get over excited and most likely hyperventilate.

She picked up her back pack and made her way slowly to the gates. As she was walking she looked up at the dark sky, its many layers and ripples shivering, wanting to burst. A large roll of thunder came across it from a black cloud. She looked back at the quiet street before her. Anyone who didn't have to be out--wasn't. She let her feet guide her to a small shop on a side street and stood for a few moments before the entrance. There was a sign with large writing on it announcing, 'Kyo's Dresses—The Finest in Konoha!' above the door.

TenTen sighed and opened the door. She looked around for a moment to see if her order was anywhere in sight.

"Oi, TenTen! Good morning, how are you this dark and dismal day?" Kyo, the shop owner exclaimed cheerfully as he gave her a hug. "Well, I have got a perfect dress for that new mission of yours! I know you have that plain black dress on hand in the back, but girl, come on. I have got an amazing dress for you. You've go to try it on. Please!" Kyo begged.

"Whatever, I'll try it on. Let me see it." TenTen mumbled. Kyo's jaw dropped wide open. She never gave in to trying on dresses that easy.

"Ten-chan! What's a matter with you? Is it that boy, the Hyuuga? Is he being a jerk again?" Kyo asked, holding her shoulders and leading her over to the counter.

He bent down and picked up a long, skinny box. He handed it to her with great care. He nodded and pointed to the dressing rooms. She walked over and carefully took her clothes off, setting them in a neat pile on the floor. She took the lid off the box and gasped in awe at the beauty of it.

TenTen carefully pulled it over her head, making sure she didn't mess her hair up and slid the thin strap around her throat. She fixed the ruffed edges and ran her slender fingers over the smooth fabric.

"So, how does it fit? Come out here and let me look at it!" Kyo inquired. He almost fell over in a faint as TenTen walked out in her stunning, form fitting dress of a beautiful silk-like material. He let out a girlish scream and began to jump up and down as he put his hands to his face. "Oh, Ten-chan, do you like it? You look absolutely beautiful in it! You need that dress! It's free! Take good care of it now!" Kyo exclaimed so very happy to see his little doll showing closer to her full potential.

TenTen smiled as she went back into the dressing room and changed back into her normal attire. She walked out onto the store floor, box in hand as she placed it in her bag. "Thank you so much, Kyo!" She exclaimed as she waved goodbye over her shoulder.

She walked back outside and made her way back down the street, heading faster for the gates. She'd have to miss the full briefing and get it again from Lee or Gai. As she jogged the rain began to come down. It was slow intervals at first then it rapidly grew faster and harder.

When she reached the gate, now soaking wet, she stood under a ledge coming off the large gate. She waited for her teammates as she watched the silver looking mist rising from the pavement. She sighed as she sat down, pulling out a kunai and shaping a figure on a twig lying next to her.

She used extreme care as she made each line and curve, forming a little TenTen on the wood's surface. When she finished she placed both items in her pocket just as her team was arriving. Her hand quickly darted back into her pocket, removing the kunai and placing it in a holster attached to her leg.

"Hey, TenTen-chan; Where were you? You never miss a briefing, Tsunade-sama won't be happy when we get back." Lee informed her as they picked up their bags. "You are not going to like this mission TenTen-chan." Lee whispered to her when Gai and Neji where turned around. TenTen gave a frustrated grunt as she pulled the heavy bag onto her shoulders. "Really?" She asked as Lee nodded.

"TenTen, it's about we caught up with you, now here's what you missed…" Gai filled her in with unimportant details, she'd honestly tried to focus on what he was saying, and just that thought of his bitterness kept creeping back into her mind.

She didn't dare to look over her shoulder to see what he was doing, 'probably glaring holes through my head', she mussed unenthusiastically.

Lee caught up to her steady pace quickly as he looked over at her cautiously, careful not to make eye contact. She stared at the dirt road in front of her the entire time, wondering if what she did had been the right thing to do…

'What was I thinking? I should have known this would've happened.' TenTen thought as she walked. She kicked a pebble on the path and lifted her head as she glanced over at Lee, taking in his expression.

…concern…worry…fear…

She felt a sudden pang of guilt as she realized that her attitude had not gone unnoticed by Gai and himself, others had noticed too. She wished that she wasn't causing them to feel this way. She jumped into the trees as the others followed. She picked up the pace and allowed the others to pass her. Neji hung in the back.

As they neared the meeting location they saw their target. He was a middle-aged man with hair ready to become a dull shade of silver. He was large, but not fat. He had the look of a snake. His beady little eyes darting back and forth as he studied a road sign, trying to make his way to Sunni, a small port village a while away. He mumbled unintelligent things under his rough breath. He picked up his bundle and suitcase and started walking.

They watched in silence as they quietly followed the man, a Mr. Rynoko, a wealthy trader in the illegal stock markets between villages. He was going to be attending a celebration for a client's daughter. There, he would retrieve an item for another man as he dropped off one of his own items. The only thing wrong with the situation; the item was a scroll containing forbidden justus and the like of a nearby village allied with Konoha.

They had been sent to intercept him and make sure some rouge ninjas didn't get a hold of that scroll. If Mr. Rynoko was killed and the scroll was stolen, a lot of trouble would be caused.

A few hours later, they all arrived still following the man they let him get about a quarter of a mile away before they all hopped down and changed into their disguises. Neji had to wear contacts to hide his Byakugan eyes. TenTen put her hair into a high bun with small ornament dangling off of them. Lee and Gai slipped into their yukatas and the group started walking together.

Lee and Gai would be a father and son and Neji would be posing as a family friend with his fiancé, TenTen. This was going to be a nightmare. They had to share a room together to make everyone believe they really were engaged.

When they got to the hotel, Gai walked up to the front desk and asked for their rooms and directions to the party that evening.

"Excuse me, sir, may I help you?" The lady asked, reaching for the reservation book.

"Yes, I need to check in, we have two rooms reserved." Gai smiled at her as she opened the black book.

"Name please, sir." She asked, waiting to hand them the appropriate room keys.

"Tarkio Yakima; and my friend here; Fuji Harkaru." He replied waving his hand toward Neji, who was fake-smiling in the corner holding the bags, his free hand around TenTen's small waist. Lee was holding onto the rest of the luggage.

TenTen inwardly groaned. Would he kill her in her sleep? She could only hope. They finished checking in and went up to their rooms. Gai handed Neji their room key, conjoining with their own and walked inside.

They placed their things down on the beds as the two of them settled in. Neji regained his moody composure and stalked over to the conjoining room to talk with Lee. TenTen sat down on the bed as soon as she was out of hearing range, and cried silent tears.

A/n: Sorry, but I couldn't think of anything else right now. Funny, as short as it is, it took about 7-8 weeks to write….. Anyway, hope you liked it! If you didn't, well, that's your problem…Review please!

VOTING!!!

If you want TenTen to be stuck alone with Mr. Rynoko, vote in your review for OPP. 1

If you want something bad to happen to TenTen or Neji, vote in your review for OPP. 2

If you want something else, vote OPP. 3 and give me your ideas!!!

Thank you, CherryBlossom2