Arriving at the inn Lee spotted a lovely young woman with mahogany brown hair bound up into two buns and matching cinnamon colored eyes standing at the entryway waiting. Immediately noticing it was his beloved wife he ran to her and lifted her into the air twirling her around while laughing joyously at being with her again. Putting her down he kissed her sweetly on the lips before addressing her.

"My darling Tenten! You don't know how ecstatic I am to see you! You look as beautiful as always! How have you been, my love? Are you ready to go to the palace with me to meet the king? Where are your things?" he shot off a mile a minute

"Hahaha! I'm happy to see you too love. And I can tell how happy you are to see me as well." she said kissing his nose and lips before continuing, "To answer your questions: I've been well, I am ready to go with you and meet our leader, and my things are in the carriage."

"Oh okay, well then let's go!" He shouted out excitedly grabbing her hand and pulling her along with him to their carriage. She only smiled in adoration at his behavior.

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"These negotiations seem to be getting us nowhere and the so called 'Festival for Peace' coming will be in vain at this point. Can we not come to an agreement on this King Neji?" Itachi asked exasperatedly

"I believe we can if only you'd just change a few stipulations. Have you not heard of a compromise? We simply ask this of you and all will be well."

"Yes I understand that but the adjustments you ask us to make aren't possible, so we're at an impasse here."

"It would seem so." Neji stated pointedly from all the frustration

There was a knock to the office door that interrupted their tiresome ordeal for the moment. The distraction was more than welcome on both their ends.

"Who is it?" Neji called out

"Sorry to interrupt anything my Lord but it is I, Lee, and I have come to introduce you to my wife like you wanted me to, for when she arrived." the young captain responded

"Ah! Come in, come in! You don't mind it do you Prince Uchiha?" he asked giving Itachi a sideways glance to acknowledge him

"Not at all. We can discuss this later." he told him as he bowed out

Opening the door he saw Lee standing there holding the hand of a very pretty young woman with brunette locks and matching brown eyes. She was wearing a pale green dress with a white shawl around her shoulders. She had a necklace with a princess cut ruby pendant dangling from her neck and you could see the large diamond wedding band on her left ring finger shining brightly.

Giving Lee and his wife a nod he walked passed them to go to the royal library and read. Once Itachi left Neji came up to greet them both enthusiastically.

"Hello Lee and hello to you too fair maiden. I'm King Neji and it is a pleasure and an honor to meet my closest friend's wife. What is your name madam?" Neji smiled while taking her hand and leaving a soft kiss on the back of it. No one could really tell but Neji seemed to be very enamored with this woman and he hid his desire for her well.

"The honor is all mine your grace. My name is Tenten." she told him as she curtsied, she too seemed very taken with the young king

"Well Lee you don't mind if I have a talk with your wife do you?" he turned to look at Lee

"Not at all! I have to get back to my rounds anyway so it's alright but I should be back in time to escort her to our room." he answered although deep down he was suspicious of the king

"Don't worry about that. I'll be sure to send her there myself. You go on back to work." he told him

Nodding to his king he left to do his job while constantly thinking in the back of his mind that he'll need to tell his wife to be careful around the king. He trusted her completely, it's Neji and his promiscuous ways that he doesn't trust especially around his Tenten.

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"So this festival, is it a one-day thing? Because I think taking a month to prepare is a bit long, if it is." Sasuke said while sipping the green tea Hinata made for him

"No, actually it's a week long event. So that's why it's taken so long to get it ready." she replied

"This tea is rather good."

"Thank you." she smiled shyly with an accompanying blush at the compliment

"So… would you like to play a game?" Hinata asked hopefully

"Um, sure. What kind of game?" he replied skeptically

"It's a question game. I ask you questions, you ask me some and we answer them. No matter what you have to answer them truthfully. If I remember it's called 20 questions. I want to play because I hardly know anything about you."

"Alright. Who goes first?"

"Me unless you would like to."

"No, ladies first. Ask away."

"Okay. Um… what's your age?"

"21. My turn. What's your favorite flowers?"

"Gardenias and purple roses. Favorite colors?"

"Red and black. Do you have a middle name?"

"No. Favorite thing to do?"

"Spend time with you." he said with a sincere grin as a carnation pink rose upon her cheeks, "What's your favorite colors?"

"Any kind of blue and purple. What're your biggest dislikes?"

"Annoying fangirls and people that judge me without knowing the real me. What're your biggest likes?"

"Gardening and believe it or not, archery."

"Really?"

"Mhmm. Are you known to be a heartbreaker?"

"I used to be but not anymore, at least not recently. When's your birthday?"

"December 27th. When's yours?"

"July 24th. How old are you?"

"You shouldn't ask a woman that, you know." he grinned at that, "But if you must know I'm 21. Are you married?"

"No I am not. Since we're getting personal here, what type of man do you like?"

"What do you mean?"

"Who's your type? The kind of guy you'd be attracted to." he clarified the previous inquiry

"Oh! Well I'd have to say, he'd have to be mysterious, charming, caring and strong. He doesn't have to be handsome but it is a nice feature and he has to be passionate about whatever he truly believes in, not fickle."

"So he has to be strong, sure of himself, mysterious, caring, and handsome. Did I miss anything?"

"Well handsome isn't necessary but you missed passionate. And it would be nice to be able to trust him."

"Oh, okay. I think I got it." he said while mentally ticking off in his head to see if he had those qualities

"So what's your kind of girl?" she asked full of curiosity and no small amount of hope that she fits his description

"Well…" he drawled out slowly to tease her some since he noticed how anxious she was to hear what his answer would be, "My type would be a woman that is… beautiful on the inside and out and is modest. She has to be loyal and kind-hearted and have a very loving, gentle and friendly nature. She has to be intelligent and able to hold a good conversation with me. And of course she has to have a smile that lights up my world." he said describing her to a tee, "I mustn't forget that she needs to excite me and keep me interested. I need a woman that I will always desire to be with no matter what for the rest of my life. That way I'll never fall out of love with her. Plus I want children, so she needs to have good motherly instincts and needs to want and love our children."

She realized that most of the qualities he described were indeed traits that she herself possessed. She was loving, kind-hearted, gentle, modest, and friendly, not to mention intelligent. He seemed to stay interested in her and they always shared a good talk together. And she loves children and would love to have many someday. She just wasn't sure about her beauty and if he desired her the way he says he'd want his ideal match.

"Well it seems you have high standards Prince Sasuke. For someone so picky do you believe you'll find the perfect woman for you?"

"I believe so." he said thinking to himself that he already did find his perfect match, "That was two questions in a row by the way. So I get to ask two of my own."

"Alright, go right ahead."

"Do you love your husband now and what do you think of me?" he went straight in for the kill

"To be honest, no I don't love Neji. I am miserable with him. He treats me like property and not like a person. But if I don't act like I at least care for him he might get abusive, so I have to play my part as a loving wife. It's all for appearances sake." she said sadly while looking to the ground to hide her tear-filled eyes from him

Sasuke noticed this and immediately got up and held her in his arms to comfort her, despite the immense anger he felt towards Neji and Fate at the moment. He held her tightly and closely while he rubbed her back soothingly and kissed her hair. He knew she needed him right then so he'd put his own emotions aside for now to be there for the woman that has captured his heart.

As he rocked her back and forth she began to feel better until she was able to look him in the eye again. When she looked up into his face all she saw was love and concern for her there. Giving him a small smile of gratitude she leaned up and left a chaste kiss on his cheek, causing a fierce blush to rise on her cheeks and leaving Sasuke in a daze.

Staring into her milky depths Sasuke began to lose himself to the overpowering haze of desire. He slowly tilted his head downwards to kiss her sweet lips and it seemed as if she was going to meet him halfway when she came back to her senses. Shaking her head she gently placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back slightly effectively snapping him out of his stupor.

Clearing his throat as if to appear as if nothing was about to happen between them he reminded them both of their game that was temporarily postponed due to obvious reasons.

"And uh… you didn't answer my second question your grace." he got out with much difficulty

"Uh… yes! The second q-question! What w-was it again?" she asked sheepishly

"What do you think of me?"

"How? Do mean as a friend, a royal, or something else?"

"As a man."

"Oh. Well," she started off nervously but decided that the truth would be the best answer to give, "as a man I find you very attractive. Your ebony colored hair and ivory skin make the best contrast I've ever seen in a man. Your body is built like that of Adonis and is as hard as marble. Your mind is stronger than most and is far more intelligent than any other man I've ever met. It's so clever and cunning that you can easily be considered a genius and you make for great conversation." she smiled but she wasn't finished

"Overall though, I find you to be a mystery Prince Uchiha. I've told you so much about myself and yet I know very little of you. Your eyes are mysterious and as dark as the abyss that I can't begin to fathom what they hide in their depths or how deep they run. Your soul is so well hidden that I have no inkling to what kind of man you truly are. But you know what intrigues me the most, young Prince?"

"No. What intrigues you the most?"

"What those lips of yours taste like. That has to be the biggest mystery that I have yet to solve. They're so tantalizing and they tease me to kiss them every time they're near but I know that I cannot. Those soft pink lips of yours are like some forbidden fruit I want nothing more but to taste. You seem so much like a dream Uchiha and it captivates me everyday when I watch you. My eyes never seem to stray elsewhere when you're around. This is what I think of you as a man." she ended with a fierce blush and shy, embarrassed smile before leaving the gardens

Sasuke just sat there totally stunned and speechless. He couldn't believe that his love thought that about him. He was so shocked that all he could do was gape at her wide-eyed and slack-jawed while a bright red blush of his own painted his cheeks. It didn't occur to him to respond to her confession and by the time that it did she had already gone to avoid the embarrassment any longer.

"She didn't ask me another question." was all he could say as he sat alone in the gardens

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"Well, Lady Tenten, how did you come to be with Lee?" Neji asked as they wandered the halls of the castle

"I met Lee about 2 years ago out in the countryside. You see, I was just a simple farm girl and I was out tending the fields one day when he came." she told him as her mind flashed back to the day she met her husband

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Flashback (Tenten's POV)

I was out in the vegetable fields around the evening because it was cooler than earlier in the day to work. While I was outside some men came to the house where my family and I stayed.

"Ah, excuse me little girl but you wouldn't happen to have a vacancy would you? My men and I are but weary travelers and we need a place to stay for the night." an older looking gentleman asked politely on behalf of his party

It wasn't uncommon for men to travel these paths and ask for room and board for a night or two, so I immediately told them that we did and went inside to get the rooms ready. What I didn't know was that these men were bandits and that they were hiding out for the night. It was a grave mistake on my part but I truly hadn't the slightest clue that they were from my first impression of them. They seemed almost noble.

After preparing their rooms my mother and I fixed them a nice dinner while father played the host. As I was serving them I didn't notice some of the men staring rather lecherously at my mother and I. I had a feeling of being watched but shook it off as my nerves around strangers getting the better of me. Dinner was pleasant enough and they seemed well-mannered. Soon everyone went off to bed.

In the middle of the night I awoke to the sounds of fighting and screaming. In my panic I hurriedly ran out to see what the commotion was only to see the men beating my father harshly as he fought to protect my mother from them.

"You know this wouldn't be so bad if you'd simply stay down old man." the leader spoke calmly as if to mock his futile attempts to fight back

"Why are you doing this?!" Tenten's father yelled as he was held down

"Why you say? We're doing this because you're uncooperative. If only your wife wasn't so… stubborn and instead chose to please my men like a good hostess should none of this would happen. But now that I think about it, didn't you have a pretty daughter?" My father's eyes widened significantly as mother whimpered from pain and fear.

"Ah, yes now I remember. Brown hair and brown eyes. She's a pretty little thing isn't she men?" getting murmurs of agreement the leader's gaze turned cruel as a malicious smirk crossed his features, "Bring her here. If her bitch of a mother won't do her duty than it shall fall upon their daughter."

Hearing a howl of excitement from the lot accompanied by laughter, one of them decided to take the task upon themselves and marched right to the stairs to get me. I immediately ran to my room and locked the door as I looked for another means of escape. Seeing my open window I ran to it and prayed to the gods that I'd make it as I jumped down into the nearby corn stalks. Right before I leapt I heard him break the door down and yell out to the others that I was getting away.

Running through the stalks in the middle of the night, I tried to go as quickly as I could to get some help. I made it out to the road and saw some other travelers on horseback nearing me so I called out as loudly as I could for assistance. I'm sure one of them had heard me because he stopped his horse and called back. His lantern was the last thing I saw before my abductor grabbed me and dragged me back to the house.

Tossing me near my mother they began taunting us and some even tried to tear our clothes off. We fought them off as best we could but only ended up being hit for it. They were going to rape us and there was nothing we could do about it as they held my father down to make him watch. But with his last bit of strength he pushed the ones holding him down off of himself and tried to get to us, only to be killed by the leader. He ran my father through with his sword, tainting the blade with his blood. He then laughed and told his men to have fun with us.

As we cried out the door to our once peaceful home was kicked in and standing there was Lee and the royal brigade behind him. "What is the meaning of this?! It's you! Let's get them men! We've been after these bastards for so long and now we'll bring them to justice! Prepare to die scum!"

That was the first time I laid eyes on him as he and his men dispatched the criminals quickly. He then came and helped my mother and I while the other guards cleaned and carried my father's body outside.

They buried him honorably that night and told us that they'd look after us and that we would return to the capital city with them. Lee was a hero and my savior in my eyes. And no matter what I tried I couldn't get the image of him coming to our rescue in all his glory out of my head, nor did I want to.

"You can stay with me and my mother as long as you'd like until you're able to get back on your feet, ladies." Lee told us kindly

He took us in at his family's home where his mother was staying with him at the time. We were treated as welcomed guests and never once were we expected to pay him back for his hospitality. Over the course of our stay Lee and I grew close, very close. For a year we stayed and during that year Lee had courted me and soon asked for my hand in marriage.

"Tenten darling, I may not seem like the best man there is but I promise to love, cherish, and protect you. I'll take care of you and I'll always be there for you as long as you swear to be by my side. What I'm trying to ask you is, will you do me the greatest honor of being my wedded wife?" he asked while getting on one knee before her, in front of everyone in the estate

"Of course my love! And you are the best ever!" I instantly answered with tears of joy running down my cheeks

He was so happy that he grabbed me and twirled me around as we both laughed and shared sweet kisses. "Now I know why you decided to throw a sudden dinner party." I laughed out as I kissed him again, I simply couldn't get enough of him.

End Flashback

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"And we've been together ever since. I thank the gods for Lee finding me that night. As much as I regret everything that took place, I never regretted meeting my beloved. He's the best thing that's ever happened to me." she finished with a smile

"That sounded lovely and I'm sorry for the loss of your father."

"Thank you and it's alright now because I know he's smiling down on me and mother now."

"Whatever happened to your farm? Wasn't it part of your family for a long time?"

"Yes. I was born and raised there. And I never wanted to part with it but the last memory there will always haunt me. I've done my best to move passed that memory and with his help I was able to. And since Lee knew how much I cherished that place, he bought it and now it's a summer home for our family." she informed him with a whimsical and serene smile on her face, the sight of which unwittingly caught Neji's gaze and held it

"He is a great man."

"Yes. That he is, one of the best if not the best that I know." she said softly, sincerely

"Ah, here we are. This is Lee's room and it is where you'll be staying for the festival. Good night Lady Tenten." He said suavely while placing another charming kiss on the back of her hand and leaving. That act alone made Tenten's heart flutter from excitement but she ignored the sensations and stepped into the room to wait for her husband to come to bed with her.