"Focus, Hinata!" growled Neji as his cousin tried once again to block his advances. They had been training for the last two hours solid and keeping up with him was starting to wear her down. She kicked out at him once more, attempting to distract him while simultaneously blocking his chakra enhanced blows with her own.

Neji could feel Hinata beginning to tire, and after the next set of movements held up a hand to halt her.

"Break," he commanded gently before moving away to sip from his water. She had improved considerably since they first began this weekly sparring session, though Neji had not lost to her yet. Hinata sat down a few feet away with her own water and looked furtively at him before turning back to sit against the wall of the dojo.

"Perhaps we could talk to Father," she ventured quietly, refusing to make contact with his eyes.

"About what?" Neji answered. He had no idea what Hinata was talking about. Generally he tried not to talk much to his uncle, not necessarily because he didn't trust him - their relationship had become closer than when he was genin and Neji considered Hiashi almost a true father figure these days. That being said, he still preferred to keep his business to himself rather than divulge it to his uncle and he had the feeling Hinata was talking about something personal. She turned to look at him then, determination shining in her lavender eyes.

"Tenten. You know this cannot keep forever, Neji. Maybe if we spoke to father he would be able to sort something out, speak to the Elders…" she was interrupted as Neji sprang to his feet and fixed her with a withering glare.

"No," he growled in quiet fury. How could she even consider discussing such a topic within the walls of the compound? You could never be sure who was listening and it was so incredibly dangerous for him if someone should happen to overhear them,

"You will say nothing to anyone about her," he continued in a whisper, starting toward her as she stood.

"But…"

"But nothing. The Elders will never approve, regardless of what Lord Hiashi does." He looked almost pleadingly at her and the pain in his voice forced a twinge of guilt in Hinata for even mentioning it,

"If they find out, we know what they will do to me, but there is no telling what they might do to Tenten. Please," he finished quietly.

Hinata nodded slowly and reached out a hand to rest on his forearm, "I am sorry, I didn't mean to upset you and I promise not to tell anyone."

Neji felt his anger wane somewhat at her apology, he knew that she meant well even though it sparked an intense fear and anger inside him. He stepped back and turned to get his training bag,

"We are finished for today."

Hinata watched as he stalked silently back towards his quarters, carefully noting to avoid the subject in future.

Neji slammed his bag down on his bed before heading for the shower. He was angry with Hinata for bringing up the mere idea of confessing his relationship to his uncle, but even more so, he was angry with himself for not having ever discussed with Tenten where they were going with this dangerous affair. He flipped the shower on and stripped off his training clothes while considering the situation. This had never been something he had intended to happen - Neji had never really considered his romantic future much, especially after he became a jounin.

He stepped into the shower and let the hot water burn away his anger, leaving only concern and frustration. Tenten had been his best friend for nearly as long as the two had known each other. There was no one he trusted more, both personally and professionally, but he had never been more than curiously attracted to her before that undercover mission. She was beautiful, intelligent, warm and an extremely talented kunoichi, despite the fact that she generally underestimated her own skills. Sometimes Neji wondered whether they would have developed a romantic interest in each other, if they hadn't been partnered together on that mission. Tenten had clearly not been concerned about becoming involved with Neji when she dated civilians from the village. Nor had she said she wanted a relationship when they began sleeping together. In fact, if he was honest with himself, Tenten had never actually said that she wanted any kind of official relationship with him at all.

Neji sighed as he dropped his head under the spray of water - they had just fallen into a routine in the same way they did for training. As a jounin, Neji had spent more time on missions than at home, and even less with his old teammates. Lee had once mentioned Tenten's previous partner while Neji was sparring with him in her absence. He realised now that what he thought at the time was a sense of protectiveness, had been more along the lines of jealousy, but it also seemed clear that he was in love with her even then, though had been unable to either accept or understand it. He had thought that with his promotion to ANBU, which had pleased the Elders immensely, he would simply continue on as he had - married to his work and completely disinterested in a romantic entanglement. The Elders had made it especially clear for many years, that while there was an expectation that he one day marry and produce children to carry on his prodigious talent, there was to be no distraction from his career as a result of pointless romantic interest in any woman who was not approved by the Council and Lord Hiashi.

Neji had not really considered it again until the morning he woke up in Tenten's apartment, just before dawn, to find her splayed out beside him on her stomach, hair splashed across the pillow and the sheets pulled down to her hips and up to her knees. Ordinarily, that was his cue to leave, to gather his discarded clothes and sneak out the window before she woke up and considered trying to change his mind. Not that she had ever tried. That morning had been different though, and instead of sliding out of the bed, he slid a leg over hers, using his foot to catch the sheet and tug it down over her exposed legs. When Tenten didn't wake, he reached over to pull the top of the sheet up her right side to cover her partially exposed breast, tucking it under her but allowing it to remain low across her back, where his hand settled automatically. That was when it had truly begun. Maybe he should have left, but he didn't, and he wasn't interested in leaving now unless she asked him to.

Turning off the shower and reaching for a towel, Neji considered the option that they just continue on as they were. Clearly it could be done, and neither of them were upset with the arrangement. At the same time, it could not go unnoticed if Neji failed to live up to the Clan's expectations and marry a woman from a good family, nor would Ino and Sakura fail for much longer to notice Tenten's long stint of singledom since the eviction of the last man to share her bed. Neji cringed at that thought, he did not like the idea that anyone had even stepped foot in that bedroom before him, much less the bed. Regardless, he was getting the distinct feeling that secrecy would not be achievable for much longer, and he had better have a plan ready by the time that day came.

"I can't believe you found out first!" Ino screeched loud enough for everyone in the noodle bar to hear. After finishing her training with Neji, Hinata had gone in search of Sakura, thinking to tell her about her teammate's engagement as she left the hospital after her shift finished. As it turned out, Ino had been at the hospital delivering some flowers and the three women had decided to stop at a nearby noodle bar for lunch. On the way, Sakura had bumped into Tenten exiting the local blacksmith's workshop and thus the four women were now sitting down to lunch while Ino bemoaned her late notification.

"She was on her way home from dinner and my apartment is nearby," Tenten explained reasonably, then added teasingly, "plus I'm more special than you."

Hinata hid a grin at Tenten's childish display of one-upmanship and turned to placate Ino, "That is not true, Ino. I promise it was just that I saw Tenten first."

"That doesn't matter now," interrupted Sakura while waving her ands dismissively, "we have so much to discuss. Have you set a date yet?"

The four women began discussing all the details that would have to be ironed out for the wedding as well as a few ideas, mostly from Ino, on possible pre-wedding girls nights. Hinata was fairly keen for a low-key event, especially given that the Elders would have to be consulted on many aspects of the actual wedding. Tenten listened attentively to the dress, hair and makeup ideas Sakura and Ino were debating while wondering if it was the wedding talk or the noodles that were making her feel sick in the stomach. The feeling got even worse when Ino suddenly asked, "So Hinata is bringing Naruto, obviously, but what about the three of us?"

"You mean dates?" Tenten clarified carefully. Hinata glanced over at her but remained silent. They both knew that Sakura and Ino could wrangle a date with almost anyone they wanted in the village, but Tenten's situation was a bit more complicated.

"Yeah, I mean how is all that going to work?" Ino looked over to Hinata, who took a moment to consider the question before smiling.

"Actually," she responded excitedly, "you might not need to consider the date issue. You are my three closest girlfriends and I would really love it if you could be involved in the ceremony. I was thinking something a little traditional to please the Elders, but also a bit more contemporary."

"Naruto will like contemporary," Sakura agreed thoughtfully, "he has never been a big fan of rules or tradition."

Ino and Tenten nodded, and Hinata continued with a smile, "I was thinking the same thing. I was also thinking then, that the three of you could be my bridesmaids." She looked from face to face and grinned when she got excited responses from all three.

"Definitely," answered Sakura.

"Oh, how exciting!" squealed Ino, clapping her hands, "Tenten isn't it exciting?"

Tenten smiled warmly at them all, trust Hinata to find a way to make everyone happy. The sick feeling in her stomach was suddenly gone at the thought of not having to worry about bringing a date.

"It's a great idea, Hinata. I would be honoured."

After finishing their noodles, the four women stood to leave, but Tenten caught Hinata's arm on the way out the door.

"Thank you, Hinata. I hope you didn't do that just for me." She knew that being bridesmaids would result in the three of them being partnered with groomsmen selected by Naruto, rather than choose between attending alone or with a date.

"Not at all," she smiled in a mischievous manner something akin to Ino's favourite expression, "I meant every word I said - it would mean a lot to me for you all to be involved."

With that she left Tenten standing mute in the doorway with a sudden appreciation of the innate Hyuuga ability to problem-solve.