I know it's been a while. This update is long overdue.

So, let's just get into it. Enjoy

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and or the cover art.

Chapter 11

Today was one hell of a day. All Neji wanted was - to go home. And if time allowed it, spend some time with Tenten. But on the flip side, he was also - leery about going home. Because after this morning, he knew not, what he could or would walk into.

Earlier he had been in a great mood despite the diner party the night before. The Hyuuga prodigy rolled out his bed feeling like a millions bucks. Being the princely character he was, He decided to cook breakfast for him and Tenten. Eggs, coffee, you know - the works. He set the table, all before going to retrieve Tenten.

Unfortunately, He learned of Tenten current sleeping arrangement. She'd had been sharing her bed with the Uchiha. He might have been able to overlook this little tidbit of information, had he not found the young man pressed up against her. His lanky milk colored arms latch on to Tenten petite waist.

Neji found solace in the fact that Tenten jolted from her bed. Shock etched in every layer of her face. But still Neji was skeptical. Was the shock due to the fact, she's had been caught? Or was it because of Sasuke presences or something else entirely.

Just thinking about it, gave him a massive headache. Neji didn't know how much more of this he could take. And there was Shikahara and her family. They were another story all together.

The noises she informed him about came from her young brother Daisuke. He'd been training to hone his skills as a shinobi. At least one issue was solved. And Neji was now faced with the opportunity to solve yet another mystery -The death threats.

All the clues pointed to Shinjiro Honjo, his instinct hinting towards Shinjiro Honjo. Shinjiro Honjo would have pointed at himself in the same predicament. Neji saw him around the Shikahara complex more times than he can remember. And even before Midori, revealed her rendezvous with him, Neji though something was off with the man.

Truthfully, he was close enough to family not to cause alarms. At one time, he and Midori were engaged to be married. That would be a valid reason to seek revenge. So Neji requested for a private audience with Shinjiro.

oo0oo

The door opened to the conference room aka the make shift interrogation room for intensive purposes. Shinjiro Honjo, 24 years old, medium build, medium height and short auburn colored hair. Broad shoulders, chiseled chin and sapphire colored eyes.

Neji greeted him before gesturing towards the designated seat. Shinjiro complied displaying the etiquette of royalty.

"Shinjiro San, Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice. I was hoping you could answer a few questions for me. We'll keep matters confidential of course."

Neji reached into his rob and pulled out a few pieces of folded paper. Neji unfolded them and laid them out across the table.

"What can you tell me about these?" Neji tapped two fingers on the table signaling what he was talking about.

Shinjiro leaned forward and examined each letter before turning his attention back to Neji.

"Where do you get these from?"

"Lady Midori, so let's try this again. Tell me what you know"

"Your guess is as good as mines" Shinjiro sat back crossed his armed.

Neji nodded, and decided to take a different approach.

"Now for the real reason you're here. You and Midori San are close? What can you tell me about her?"

"This is true. We were engaged once. But I feel like you already knew that"

"You are also correct" Neji would take his act. One step further.

"Well we're soon to be married; I know close to nothing about her. She's very guarded you see"

Shinjiro stoked his scruffy chin clearly pondering whether he should help or not.

"She's one of the most self-less person I've even met. While she is very accustom to the living a lavish lifestyle, she fines joy in the simple things. Those moments are what she cherishes most. Star gazing, drinking tea by the pond. Or even watching the kids in town play with one another. I watched her, literally give someone the clothes off her back. When our village was destroyed and under attack, unlike most of our nobility, she was in town helping with the evacuation"

Neji nodded

"Well, what are some of her likes and dislikes? Or tells of her mood" Neji probed the man

"I think I provided you with more than enough information. If you want any more information. I'll need something in return.

"Name it"

"Promise me, I'll still be allowed to see her" desperation lay in his icy eyes.

"Done, but answer me this- why?"

Shinjiro stared at Neji awkwardly and utterly confused.

"Excuse me"

"Anyone can see how much you care but why you would threaten her life?"

Shinjiro took an abnormally deep breathe. He exhaled before speaking.

"So you've figured it out. So what now"

"Explain yourself"

"I'm going away for this, so why does it matter?"

"Because I believe you maybe covering for someone. Are you okay with Midori San thinking you were behind this? She would be devastated. " Neji added 7

"We can't be together. So it will be better this way"

"Who are you protecting?" Neji was slowly losing his patience with the other man.

"Her" Shinjiro revealed

"I received a letter saying they cannot allow Midori san to gain control. If necessary, they would go as far as taking her life. The counsel ruled our engagement invalid. They forced me into sending these letters or they would make good on their promise to kill her. One by One, The betroth list pretty began nonexistent. Then the blackmailer vanished without a trace. Until now"

"Do you know who is behind this" Neji asked, leaning in very closely

"Shinobu Kenta"

Oo0oo

Tenten rolled off the couch-alert- in response to a banging sound that erupted through her current home. She fished out a kunai from under the pillow. The banging sound started again, this time registering in her brain as the front door. Tenten grabbed a favorite hoody off the couch pulling it over her head before heading towards the door. Stashed her kunai in her bun just in case before heading for the door.

Tenten unlocked the front door and was met with raindrops carried in the wind. Her visitor was none other than Kankuro. Panicking, Tenten tried to slam the door shut but was evaded by Kankuro foot in the door.

"I just wanna talk" spoke through the crack in the door.

"Well, what If I don't want too"

Kankuro huffed, hanging his head low.

"I deserved that. But could we go grab coffee or something?"

"No, I don't want too"

"I missed you. All I'm asking for is a few minutes. So here me out"

Tenten grabbed the door and pulled it open, being greeted with a toothy grin. Kankuro received the door and removed his foot. Just in case she decided to try and shut him out again. Tenten closed her eyes and crossed her arms.

"It's raining out. Let me come in until it slows down." He pressed his hands together and begged her.

Tenten just started with folded arms. Not bothering to hide her distaste with him.

"Come on Tenten. 10 minutes"

She leveled him with a gaze. Her resolve dwindled; she still had a soft spot of him

"10 minutes, that's all you get" Kankuro wiggled his way in.

Tenten shut the door behind him and accepted his dripping umbrella. She wrapped it up and sat it in the umbrella stand. She grabbed his attention and signaled him to follow her. She led him into the kitchen after considering their history. Nothing soft would due. She didn't want to give him the wrong idea.

"Sit" She pointed to one dining table.

She filled the tea kettle with water and set it up on the burner to be heated up. Even though she was angry with him, this still felt familiar, warm. She still felt inclined to care for him. And this sickened her and at the same time she relished it. Not once has his eye left her figure. The puppeteer's peepers matched her every movement, from retrieving two tea cups and matching saucers to set administering the teabags. Tenten made one final stretch to the refrigerator to retrieve and snack of some sorts. She placed them on the table before Kankuro before putting some distance in between them once again.

"So, what's up" asked Tenten

"I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I was out of line but I had a pretty rough day and seeing you with hugged up with Uchiha Sasuke- bothered me"

Tenten heart skipped.

"Thank you for that but you didn't trudge all away over here in the rain just to apologize"

"Well, I wanted to talk about last time"

"Look I'm not mad anymore"

"No hear me out"

"It's fine"

"No, it's not. I did that because I thought that would be the extra push you needed"

Tenten eyes brows furrowed.

"No, this isn't my fault. You ended things remember?" Tenten corrected the audacity of this clown.

"I just wanted to be closer to you. Can you blame me for that?"

"No but I was perfectly fine with how things were."

"I never meant to hurt-" his eyes confirmed his trust.

Kankuro was cut of the screeching whistling of the tea kettle. Tenten turned the burner off and poured the scotching water into both tea cups. Tenten grabbed the two cups and brought them to the table.

"I wasn't trying to shoo you away Tenten"

Tenten removed the tea bag from his cup and added milk. She poured honey and stirred the tea gently before pushing it back in front of him. She was greeted with a smile. Tenten turned herself back to her cup of tea and just added honey.

"Okay, what's your point?"

"Let's start over" Tenten spilled tea from her cup. She sat it on the table before answering.

"What?"

"Me and you, I'll get a transfer to Konoha. We can do it right this time"

Tenten shook her head

"Why not? I love you"

"You hurt me. Had we meet again few weeks back I would have gladly taken you back. But"

"Is there someone else?" Kankuro asked finally sipping on of his tea. Smile creeping on his face

"NO, it's like this, I still care for you but – I can't anymore- things are better this way."

Kankuro nodded in understanding.

"You know, this is my favorite blend. " he nursed the lukewarm tea some more

"Are you really that surprised? Of course, how could I forget?"

He smirked in response.

"I have something for you" he reached into his jacket pocket pulled out something.

"My mother gave this to me before she passed away. And, I want you to have it"

Tenten opened her palm, received a ring with a chain attached to it. Kankuro

"Kuro, I can't accept this" Tenten closed her hand, trying to ignore the familiar heat of Kankuro.

Tenten bit down on her lip, feeling her resolve slipping even further. Kankuro has closed the gap between them, now mere inches away.

"She said to give it to someone I love. Even if were not together anymore. I want you to have it"

Kankuro ran an unsteady hand through her disheveled hair. Tenten now became aware of her jumbled appearance. A baggy hoodie, wrinkled sweatpants from napping on the couch and her hair was all over the place.

"I forgot how pretty you really" He smiled, Tenten blushed

Kankuro cupped her face and leaned every so slow. Now, a breathe air away. Tenten couldn't help but lick her lips nervously- lubricate dry throat but at the same time it felt like something was lodged there.

"Princess, what do you think you're doing?"

Both Tenten and Kankuro turned towards the foreboding voice coming from the kitchen entrance.. Tenten gladly, but some distance between them. She was so relieved.

"I give you some space. And this is how you treat me." He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked over the table.

Someone unfamiliar with the Uchiha wouldn't have noticed but he actually sounded disappointed.

"Puppet boy, are you really pushing up on my woman?"

Kankuro eyed stared the other male and back at Tenten.

"Your woman, Is this true?" He asked, eyes wide, as if he's been betrayed.

Sasuke leaned over to examine Tenten. "Are you okay?"

Tenten nodded, more so answering Sasuke but

"Okay, I see what's going on here" Kankuro stood up, and stormed

"Mind explaining, what that was all about?" Asked Sasuke

"Nothing to worry, yourself over"

"This is my business; your fling effects my position too. Spill woman" Sasuke, sit down in the chair that Kankuro previously occupied

"I use to mess with him but we broke it off a few months ago"

"You seem far more invested then you let on princess. That doesn't explain why he was just here"

"He gave me an ultimatum. And apparently he wasn't satisfied with the results"

"Ultimatum being what exactly"

"He wanted me to drop everything and move to Suna. And when I wouldn't my only option was to break ties. But now he wants to get back together"

"What you choose to do on your personal time is none of my business but this I can't allow."

Tenten looked at him shocked

"For work related purposes, stupid. Now go get ready. We have guest"

Thank you for passing through. So what did you think? Let me know. I hope it was enjoyable. I would like to dedicate this chapter to my buddies princesshyuuga01 and Miko Sayuri aka the fanfiction trinity. LOL

Fic Recommendations: Unfaithfully yours by Miko Sayuri unPrized Uchiha by princesshyuuga01 and my new fic Homecoming.

S. Hollyhood 11/18/2015