A/N: I'm not really on any set schedule in terms of updating. I just write and post whenever I feel inspired. My overall aim is to make sure I keep the characters in character and that means being brutally honest with how I believe each character will respond in a situation. That doesn't always jive with what I want personally it makes some chapters harder to write. I'm enjoying this process so far so I don't foresee stopping anytime soon. Thank you for your reviews and support!

Pretty: Part III

"So what do you think," Genma asked the next day. They were at the man's apartment again sitting around the dining room table.

"He's very cautious, as you say," Neji replied succinctly, "but not without vulnerabilities." He showed the senior jounin the picture. "What do we know of his past lovers?

"He has been with both men and women but mostly men. The younger the better."

"Does he always have a lover?"

"No, he'll abstain for an indiscriminate amount of time and then randomly take a lover."

"Nothing is ever random," Neji corrected. "People act in predictable behavioral patterns. One merely has to identify the cues."

"Is that so," Genma replied, studying the young man busily sorting through the report. "So what are Imani's cues?"

"I don't know yet. I'll need time to go through the transcripts."

Genma nodded thoughtfully. "What is your pattern of behavior, Neji?"

Neji looked up at him with some apprehension.

"When do you take a lover?"

The young jounin blushed a scarlet red. "I-I…I don't."

"You're a virgin then."

Neji scowled and started turning the pages of the report. "Yes."

Genma arched an eyebrow and crossed his arms as he sat back in his chair. "Is that going to be a problem?"

"No! I fully understand what is being asked of me!"

"Are you sure?" Genma shot back, "because while your level of assessment is amazing, you have shown visible discomfort whenever the subject of sex comes up. How are you going to get close to and seduce someone like Imani when you're wound up so tight!? I need a whore not an analyst for this mission!"

The bluntness unnerved Neji, despite his efforts to not make it obvious. His aristocratic upbringing—even Branch members need to know how to conduct themselves in proper society—and his natural reticence was proving to be a disadvantage. "I just need time," he said quietly.

"You have 21 days," Genma said shortly, clearly doubtful the Hyuga can pull it off.

0

When it comes to reading micro expressions, Neji made it his business to be better than most. He had found the skill to be a valuable asset on missions and over the years had come to recognize when someone was lying, afraid or angry amongst other things.

However, the first time he saw lust he honestly didn't know what to make of it because he wasn't prepared for it to be directed at him. He was sixteen and accompanying Tenten to a local weapon's shop while returning from a mission. She just had to go into the store and his lectures on punctuality and overall protests went unheeded. The shopkeeper was very knowledgeable and looked as though he had seen his share of war. And when he wasn't showing Tenten what he had in stock he was looking at Neji.

Such a direct gaze would have made anyone uncomfortable and the way it carefully roamed over his body did not help matters. To this day he wonders with dread if Tenten even noticed, so open and obvious was the man's intent.

"Is there anything I can help you with, young man?" the shopkeeper asked when he had finally cornered Neji in the knife section. The question was asked with just enough innuendo to leave one guessing.

"I am fine, thank you," he managed to say politely. But it was becoming unbearable; bordering on rude and because he was never one to draw attention to himself, he opted to wait for Tenten outside, reminding her shortly that they were on a schedule. He could still feel the man's eyes on his back even as he left the store and he absolutely refused to think on what those micro expressions meant.

0

Three years later, he's able to process it logically and accept that it is an emotion like any other that could be manipulated if the situation called for it.

He just never thought he would be the one to do it.

Rumor had it, Yamanaka Ino had taken on many missions similar to this one but Neji simply hated that woman and couldn't imagine talking with her about something so…personal. Hanuro Sakura and Tenten may or may not have taken on special missions but he didn't want to ask. They would think he was a pervert or worse, figure out the reason why he was inquiring. He was more than confident that by Lord Hiashi's influence, Hinata would never have to face this task and he could never bring himself to tell her some of the ideas he had in mind to make the mission work.

After all, he still wanted her respect when this whole thing was over.

~ TBC ~