The dinner was over and Tenten was the last servant left cleaning up. She sighed in contentment as she wiped the counter. I can't stand this job she thought to herself.

"You still here?" She smiled to herself before turning to face her boss.

"I decided to stay and clean up and let everyone else go home. I wanted to nice and not an ass like someone." She gave him a playful smirk.

"You still think I'm an ass?" He walked over to her and trapped her to the counter with his arms on both sides of her. She raised an eyebrow at his behavior.

"This is unlike you sir. Are you feeling okay?" She asked as she put a hand on his forehead jokingly.

"Cut it out Tenten." He pressed his body closer to hers and leaned his mouth towards her ear. "You know you want me." Tenten shoved him off and turned back to her work.

"I have to get to work. I would prefer if you didn't distract me." Neji turned her around to face him.

"So you admit I distract you?" He gave her a smirk which she replied with a glare.

"As an annoyance." Turned her back to him again and continued wiping down the counter. Stupid hunky idiot she thought to herself. Of course he distracts me she added.

"Why are you such a pain?" He pouted. He pressed his chest to her back and put his hand over hers. Tenten stopped working and froze. He was in her personal bubble too many times tonight and she didn't like it. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her even closer.

"Neji what are you doing?" Tenten asked quietly.

"I don't know, but for some unknown reason I like you. You intrigue me and are very beautiful." Tenten turned in his arms and gave him a sad face, but with a cute blush on her cheeks.

"How can you like me? I'm a peasant. You hate peasants." Tenten wasn't looking at him as she said that. Neji grabbed her chin and made her look at him.

"Will you forget about social status for once? I don't care that you're a peasant. I like you. I can't get you off my mind. I spent the whole dinner thinking about you. All I dreamt about this past week was you. I am crazy just because of you. You're like a drug to me." He let go of her chin and placed his hand on her cheek. Tenten moved her hands to his shoulders and pulled herself up to reach his lips.

The kiss started out sweet and gentle, but turned needy. Neji's hands moved to behind Tenten's head and pulled her closer. Tenten licked Neji's bottom lip practically begging for entrance. He opened his mouth slightly and stuck his tongue out to meet Tenten's. Tenten tangled her hands into Neji's hair, which soon became messy. Tenten pulled back for breath. Both her and Neji were panting hard and Tenten's face was slightly pink.

"I like you too Neji. I don't care that you're a pompous jackass. I think you can actually be nice and caring sometimes and you're very handsome. For some reason I love being around you. I think I've gone crazy because I can't stand you yet I can't stand to be away from you. I must really like you." Tenten let out a laugh and smiled up at Neji. He smiled back as he picked Tenten up by her waist and placed a quick kiss on her lips.

"Neji!" Someone called from outside the kitchen. Tenten and Neji immediately parted as Lee came running in. He hurriedly caught his breath. "Neji. I'm glad I found you. What are you doing in here?" He asked as he noticed only Tenten and that both of them were breathing harder than normal.

"I had to make sure Tenten was doing her job. I was about to go to bed for the night. What did you need Lee?" He asked slightly annoyed at the interruption.

"There is threat of war with another kingdom. The Emperor wants your advice on some ways to avoid it at best. He also wants some war tactics just in case war does break out." Lee said in one breath. Neji pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in annoyance.

"Why doesn't he consult Shikamaru, our war tactician?" Neji asked.

"He is on a trip to visit Suna's Emperor Gaara to see if they can strengthen our countries' alliance. He is unavailable at this time." Neji sighed, but reluctantly agreed.

"I will be there soon Lee." Lee nodded and left immediately. Neji turned to Tenten. "I will see you tomorrow Tenten." He took her hand and kissed it. "Until then." He turned to leave.

"Wait!" Neji halted and turned back to Tenten. "You're going to leave me without a kiss? What if we won't have a chance to be alone for a while. Will you leave me so dissatisfied?" She gave him a playful smirk as he walked back to her and gave her another needy kiss like earlier.

"Goodnight Neji." She gave him a big hug.

"Goodnight Tenten." He kissed her head before departing.


"Good morning Tenten." Sakura said. Her and Tenten were the only ones up since Ino and Temari didn't have to wake up early for their jobs. Tenten gave her a huge smile.

"Good morning Sakura. Isn't today amazing?" Tenten sighed happily before grabbing her bag.

"You're in a good mood this morning. Did you actually wake up on the right side of the bed?" Sakura said jokingly. Tenten just laughed.

"Bye Sakura. Got to get to work!" With that Tenten hurriedly left the house. Temari walked in half asleep.

"Was that Tenten actually excited about going to work with her ass of a boss?" Temari yawned.

"Yeah. She is being weird, but she may actually like her job now." Sakura said as she handed Temari a piece of bread.

"Yeah like that'll happen. She can't stand her boss. The only way she'd like her job is if she fell in love with Neji, but that'd never happen." Temari tore off a piece of bread and chewed it noisily.

"That is impossible." Sakura and Temari burst into laughter over the ridiculous thought.


"Good morning Neji." Tenten said cheerily as she walked into his office. "How did it go last night with-" Tenten stopped mid-sentence as she spotted another person in the room. "I'm sorry sir. I didn't realize you were busy." Tenten blushed. Of course I can't just barge into his office. I'm so stupid she thought.

"Yes I'm busy at the moment. So busy I haven't had breakfast. Would you bring me some?" He tried to make eye contact, but Tenten was looking at the ground, obviously embarrassed.

"Yes sir." She bowed an hurriedly left his office.

Neji turned to the other man. "Is that all you needed Kiba?" Kiba wasn't paying attention to Neji. He was staring at the that Tenten exited out of.

"Who was that? She is fucking hot!" Kiba said turning around to face Neji. Neji kept up a stoic face as he straightened the papers on his desk.

"She is my servant and I would appreciate if you didn't degrade my servants like that." Kiba just shrugged his shoulders.

"I just speak my mind and right now my mind is telling me that she is hot, but another part of me is saying that I want to fuck-"

"Kiba! Enough of that! If you are done reporting I will ask you to leave before I kick you out." Kiba nodded and left. When he shut the door he turned and almost ran into Tenten.

"Oh sorry sir. My bad." She bowed her head.

"Please call me Kiba. Sir is too formal and I don't want to be formal with you." He gave her a wolfish grin.

"It's nice to meet you sir. I must be getting this food to Neji." She stepped past him and knocked on Neji's door. Kiba leaned closer to her.

"If you ever need to have some fun let me know." With that he slapped her ass and walked off. Tenten hurriedly opened the door and gave Neji the tray of food.

"Thank you Tenten. Earlier wasn't your fault." Tenten nodded and kept avoiding his eyes. "What's wrong?" Tenten shook her head and turned to leave. "As your master I order you to tell me." He said sternly.

"You're going to start pulling that master crap again?" Tenten scoffed. "And I actually thought you weren't an ass." She mumbled to herself.

"Tenten." Neji said so softly Tenten looked at him in curiosity. "Please tell me what's wrong. I want to know." Tenten sighed and sat at the chair from across Neji's desk.

"It's nothing. Kiba was just hitting on me and slapped my ass." She said quickly. "That's it." Neji glared at her.

"That's not nothing. I'm tired of Kiba hitting on my servants. It's unacceptable." Tenten glared back at him.

"So I'm just another servant again. Okay master. What do you need me to do?" She stood up and went into a deep bow to hide her sad face.

"Tenten stop it. You know you're not just a servant." Neji walked around his desk and to Tenten. He took her shoulders and stood her up. Her eyes were glossy with tears. Neji pulled her into a hug. "Don't ever think you're just some servant." Tenten nodded.

"I'm fine Neji." She pushed him away. He tried to pull her back, but she rejected him. "Someone could come in and see us. I don't want you to get in trouble." Neji nodded and Tenten left his office quickly. Neji groaned and slapped his forehead.

"Damn it. I messed up." He complained to himself.

"Neji you are needed by the Emperor." Neji thanked the servant and left quickly. He reached his Uncle's office and knocked.

"Come in." Neji slid the door open and stepped inside.

"You called for me Uncle?" Neji bowed.

"Yes. Since we are having threats of war I want you to travel to these friends of mine and give them a peace gift to persuade them to help us in the war."

"If they are our friends then why do we have to persuade them?" Neji took a seat and leaned in closely to get the details.

"Although they are good friends of mine, a war is a war. If they believe war would help them then they will seek it. That's the way they follow. They are Diamyos and are very influential people. They can help us if we get them on our side." Neji nodded in understanding. "Please take Lee for protection and to drive the carriage. And if you need the help you may take that new servant of yours." Neji smiled inwardly, but kept up the stoic facade.

"Yes sir." He stood and bowed. "If that is all I will take my leave." He turned to leave, but Hiashi stopped him.

"Neji I want to know why you were late to the dinner yesterday." Hiashi folded his hands together and place his chin on them.

"I had to tend to some business." Neji said confidently. There was no way Neji was going to let his uncle know about him and Tenten or even have a faint idea.

"Okay Neji. I'll take that excuse or now. I just want you to know if you want to follow your heart do what you have to do. Just a piece of advise." Neji nodded and left the room. After he shut the door he leaned against the opposite wall. Does Hiashi know? No he can't. Then why did he tell me that. Follow my heart. Why would I do that if I don't even love Tenten. It's just a passing attraction right? Neji groaned as his mind raced with many questions.

Neji ordered a passing servant to find Lee and Tenten and sed them to his office. The servant went off on his task as Neji slowly made his way to his office, his mind still whirling with questions.

"You asked to see us sir?" Lee asked as he and Tenten walked in and up to his desk.

"My uncle- the Emperor I mean, has asked me to travel to this Diamyo and give him a peace gift. It is very important so I want only those I trust along with me." Lee and Tenten nodded in understanding. "Tenten I need you to pack my clothes and other important things I will need for a month." Tenten nodded and Neji looked at Lee. "Once she is finished you will pack the luggage onto the carriage. I will get other servants to get some clothes together for you two. You're dismissed." Lee turned to leave. Tenten stayed and looked at the ground.

"Sir?" She asked timidly.

"Yes Tenten?" Neji gave her his undivided attention. She had that power on him.

"I was wondering if I could quickly go home and say goodbye to my friends." Neji was taken aback.

"Of course Tenten. I don't mind. I'll get a servant to start packing for you." Tenten smiled at him happily.

"Thank you Neji." She ran over and gave him a kiss on the nose. "I'll be back soon." After that she ran out of the door as fast as possible.


"I'm home." She yelled happily as she opened her front door.

"Tenten!" Sakura squealed as she enveloped Tenten in a air-depriving bear hug. "You're home early." Tenten wrapped her arms around Sakura.

"Yeah. About that. I have to go on a trip with Neji that'll last a month." Sakura squeezed her tighter.

"I'm going to miss you." Tenten stepped back and smiled at Sakura. She spotted Temari leaning on the wall past Sakura's shoulder.

"You have to go on a trip with him?" Temari asked in disgust. Tenten's smiled was wiped off her face. I can't let them know what is really going on, Tenten thought to herself.

"Yea." Tenten groaned. "It's apart of my job so I have to endure it. I came home to say goodbye." Tenten walked up to Temari expectantly. Temari sighed and wrapped her arms around Tenten's petite waist.

"Tenten I have to tell you something." Temari put Tenten at arms length and stared at her in the eyes. "My brother has sent me a letter requesting that I come home. He said that he wanted me to marry this guy for strengthening our bond with Konoha. I don't know if I would be able to come and visit y'all. I'm sorry Tenten." Temari tried to hide her tears, but she shed them anyways.

"You do what you must. I will miss you Temari. You're like an older sister to me. I love you." Tenten shed a few tears as Temari wiped them away.

"I love you too. Take care of yourself. Make sure to have that demon feed you. You're getting thin." Temari joked around.

"Oh be quiet. I may be small, but I can kick your ass." Tenten said as she put her hands on her waist proudly.

"Where's my hug?" Tenten turned around and smiled at Ino. They hugged and said a quick goodbye. "Have fun with that hunky man." Ino gave Tenten a wink before laughing. Tenten blushed slightly.

"Bye Ino." Tenten said. She gave everybody a sad smile before leaving.


"Lee hurry up and put those bags on the carriage. We have to leave as soon as possible." Lee hauled ten bags onto the carriage and tied them down.

"We're ready to leave when you are sir." Neji nodded and looked down the road. Where was Tenten. He spotted her running down the street.

"Sorry I'm late Neji." She wiped her eyes quickly. "I had to grab something and tell my friends goodbye." Tenten threw the article of clothing into the carriage.

"Are you crying Tenten?" Lee asked as he spotted her rubbing her eyes.

"No Lee. Some dirt got into my eyes as I ran here. No big." Lee nor Neji didn't believe her, but let it slide.

"Alright. Lee get ready to drive. Tenten you can ride in it with me." Lee nodded and pulled himself up onto the driver seat. Neji and Tenten climbed into the carriage. Neji closed the doors and the curtains. He turned to look at Tenten.

"What's wrong?" He grabbed her hands in his. She looked down at their linked hands. A tear rolled off her cheek and hit their hands.

"Temari is moving back home. She is like a sister to me and I won't be able to see her." Neji reached up and wiped away the tear. She moved to sit next to him and placed her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Tenten. I wish I could do something." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Let's get moving Lee." With that the carriage lurched forward and their trip began.