Naruto

Ambitions and Issues

Chapter 9

Step Eight: Make a Move

"I don't understand why I have to come along," Matsuri asked again.

"You're my assistant," Tenten repeated, not slowing down her pace.

"Yes, I'm aware of that," Matsuri hasten her step to chase after the practically running Tenten, "But I don't see why I have to go along with you for your yearly friend gathering. I'm going to be a third wheel."

"Six wheel-no wait, 12, wait 13, I think Temari wasn't planning on coming, then it would be twelve. Basically there will be too many people there for anyone to care. Besides, you'd keep Gaara from getting bored and killing Lee."

That statement had Matsuri stopping in her tracks, "Killing?"

"Metaphorically," Tenten absently-mindedly said, not noticing her assistant had stopped, "Unless someone spikes Lee's drink, then probably literally."

Now was a good time to think of an excuse, "I think I suddenly forgot to turn off my stove," Matsuri stuttered feet moving away as her brain tried to create some excuse that didn't sound too far fetched, "I'd better get back to turn it off before my cat jumps on the stove and fries to death." Not far fetched at all.

Tenten had heard every wild excuse (mostly from her odd assortment of friends) and knew the process of escaping and how to stop it.

It was a bad day for Matsuri to be wearing a scarf for her favorite accessory became her ultimate enemy, the leash.

"Tenten has arrived!" Tenten waved to the crowd as she entered, still dragging along Matsuri, who at this point was starting to look blue for all the wrong reasons, not that there was any right way to look blue.

"Glad to see you showed up this time," Temari, who apparently decided to come, smirked, "Who you dragging there?"

"My assistant," Tenten proudly announced, not so gracefully flinging Matsuri around by the scarf to the ground in front of her, "Isn't she great?"

Hinata, fully aware of Tenten's methods, instantly got up to help the rather strangled Matsuri.

"Nice to see you haven't been power corrupted," Shikamaru dryly commented, "Nothing like physical abuse over verbal abuse."

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," Tenten chirped, wedging in next to Sakura, even though there was a perfectly empty one next to Neji, who had yet to take his eyes off of her.

"Not all of us agree with that," Ino rolled her eyes, "Seriously, don't torture the poor girl."

"Is she the one who's helping planning my trip?" Sasuke asked, raising an eye towards the bathroom where she was currently.

"Also our trip as well," Gaara answered, "I find her amusing, like a tiny puppy you can't help but want to kick."

It became silent.

Shikamaru became the one to break the silence, "Well now I feel sorry for that girl."

"Sorry for who?" Hinata's voice came from behind them. Matsuri was just a step behind with the evil scarf off and away, all left of the torture were scarf burns on her neck. Since no one looked like they were going to give an answer, Hinata pushed Matsuri forward, "Introduce yourself."

Matsuri instantly went into a deep bow, "Matsuri. I work with Tenten at Yume Co. Travel Agency."

"How old?"

"23," Matsuri instantly answered while she sent confused look at Temari, who had asked the question.

"Blood Type?"

"O," this time it was from Ino.

"Birthday?"

"Umm…" Matsuri looked at Hinata pleafully. Hinata seemed to be the only savior in the group, which was odd since she was pregnant and supposed to be hormonal, "Is this some kind of test?"

Ino shrugged, "Not really. Is that your real hair color?"

"My grandmother was Greek."

Sakura got into the game, "How about your eye color?"

"Yes," Matsuri shrank under all the eyes and drilling.

"Chocolate or Vanilla?"

All eyes darted to Tenten, who had asked the question. She appeared serious in her question. She soon realized the incredulous looks she was getting and became defensive, "What? It shows a lot about a person."

That didn't stop the staring, though Matsuri was personally relieved to have the attention off of her.

"Have a seat." And all of a sudden she wished someone was paying attention to save her.

Gaara patted the seat next to him with a clearly devious expression.

Sadly everyone else that seemed like lifesavers were too distracted by Tenten leaving only a rather mean looking blond and a guy with makeup who looked rather devious themselves, who watched her with blantant interest. Gaara raised an eye, "Well?"

It appeared she had no choice. May her cat not fry on the stove.

With Tenten, it wasn't entirely a party as well. Halfway through, she found herself somehow next to Neji, though she had yet to move. The energy of the party was high with everyone enjoying themselves, all expect her (and Matsuri, but Tenten was obvious to the tortures of her lowers). Her private space was slowly and slowly disappearing. The only thing left to seal the deal was to strip naked and they'd be done with it. Neji had yet to stop touching her somewhere and yes that sounded perverted as it actually was.

She pinched at his crawling arm, "What do you think your doing?" she hissed not trying to attract anymore attention than needed.

"Can't a boyfriend touch their girlfriend?"

She was about to automatically correct him until she remember their bet and only frowned, "Well, keep it PG."

"I hate to tell you but this is PG."

"In whose dictionary?" She reddened at his smirk understanding what he was thinking. She was not so hung up on him that she gave up on guys. She had experience. Not always good ones, but experience. Screw him. Then the thought came to her.

Neji was enjoying himself immensly. The only thing that could make this better was if Tenten let down her hair, so he could play with it. Then he stiffened. The witch. She had more skills up her hand than he thought. Though that thought of how she came to those skills should have made him jealous, he was too distracted by other matters at hand, literally. The girl just knew the spots.

Tenten was enjoying herself immensly. The only thing that could make this better was if Neji totally embarrased himself. Then she squealed, like a little girl.

"What the heck?" She pounded her fist into Neji's back, "Put me down this instant!"

"You asked for it," he serious said. He juggled their stuff and her with ease and without looking at the others headed straight for the door, "Sorry, but we're checking out early."

When the dust settled, a single common thought came to mind.

"Hey! He was supposed to pay the bill this time!"

The quick calculative minds of the group (read evil) quickly settled to a solution.

Ino smiled widely, flashing her special salesman smile, "Hey…"

"-And that's the specialty, if you sign up now, you can get a discount on the deal. I can even toss in a seasonal special discount."

The old couple across the desk had the "gotcha" look plastered all over their face. The deal was sealed.

"We also have another great trip that's connected to yours. It's just right next to it, a great compliment to your current trip. Can go to Italy without atleast seeing Sicily, they say the wine rivals the Italians. As great wine tasters, maybe you can settle the debate yourselves. Also there's-"

The knock interrupted her. Just as she was getting on the roll. She plastered on a mild smile that read 'It looks like I'm being nice, but I'm not and only you know it since you've done the exact smile to some poor saps.' "Yes?"

She forced her smile to a concrete state, "Mr. Hyuga, what a surprise. I'm in an imporant meeting. Can this wait?"

"Afraid not," Neji leaned against the wall, "I only have a little time before my lunch break is over."

"It's 3:30."

"Again, lunch break."

With a mental sigh, she turned to the couple and gave a small bow of apology, "I'm sorry. Would you mind just waiting a minute? Here a some booklets about the trip I was talking about. Sorry again."

Once the door was shut behind her, she grabbed him by his collar into the employee office and looked the door. When she turned around to face him, the smile had dropped leaving only a dark expression that would spark fear in all creatures, living and dead, "What the hell do you want?"

Neji didn't flinch at the expression or the tone. He mockingly pouted, "How come you didn't act all professional when I was here?"

"You're not a real client."

"Excuse me?" The insult wasn't fake, "I just contributed about 32% of your companies yearly earnings. I am a real bonnified client."

"I've seen you in a bunny outfit and through your emo stage. You are not a real client. What the hell do you want?"

"Is that how you talk to someone you just had a passionful night with?" Neji leaned in, "I better remind you how it went in case you forgot."

A firm hand cut him off. "I remember, but that's not the point. What do you want? And make it quick. In about nine more minutes, they're going to come to their senses and I'll lose a double whammy."

"I didn't know that business talk could turn me on," an arm wrapped around her waist, "Say some more."

"Cut it out mister," she tried not to blush and the close proximity, even though they had been closer, "Serious. I need to get back to the meeting."

"Fine then. How about we have dinner tonight to continue the nice development? I'll pick you up after you're off?"

After a slight pause, she finally sighed and complied, "Fine, but-"

Neji cut her off with a kiss, "Great. By the way, I like this new bold you. It's the first move you've made. I like it." With his misson completed, he left with a cocky smirk.

It took her a minute to compute everything, but when she was done, one thought stuck. How did he know when she got off?

It has been a while since I updated. I am sorry for that. Things have been pilling up with school and this got the short stick. But I'm happy that someone likes this story enough to ask me to update (Thanks ChibiNinjaGirl). Since summer is coming, hopefully I will have more time to do so.

One thing that I've forgotten since the last update was how annoying it is to try to put some kind of paragraphs in. Why won't they let me put indents! (sorry for the minirant)

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks for reading.

NinjaPower