Please see first chapter for disclaimer, ratings, warnings, pairings, etc.

Special Thanks: goes out to DarkAnonymous324, Celtic-Memories, and rao hyuga 18 for your lovely reviews, and those who have added this story to their favorite and alert lists!

Author's Note: I am so sorry for this semi-late update! But it's still Sunday somewhere...right? But, in this chapter, I promise that - if you look closely - you get to see your first glimpse of Neji! His first official appearance is coming in the next two chapters, though. Until next update, thank you so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

*~Chapter VI~*

~Summer Rain~

Wednesday dawned dark and rainy, matching the heavy gloom in Itachi's heart. Temari's introductory week in Konoha was half over, and she was nearly as much of a stranger to him as when she'd first arrived. He thought that inside her tough, prickly exterior lived an entirely different woman. Or perhaps he only hoped so; he'd not seen any real evidence of it in the time they'd spent together, just ephemeral hints such a person might exist, all of which had come when she'd been talking with Mikoto. But then of course, his mother effortlessly got along with everyone: Witness the fact she was still married - to all appearances happily - to his father.

Despite his efforts to present a bland, pleasant front, some of his inner turmoil must have shown; because when Temari excused herself from the breakfast table to "freshen up" before their interview with Naruto, leaving Itachi and Mikoto alone, his mother reached over to rub a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Give her time, my son," she said softly. "She is proud, and as angry as you are about having your future arranged for you in this way." Mikoto stood, then bent to brush a strand of hair from his cheek, her lips curving in a sweet, loving smile. "But she will respond to your kind heart and gentle spirit. How could she not? I hope your interview goes well, dear." With that, she also left the room.

Itachi gazed sightlessly after her for a moment before sighing and getting to his feet. That blasted interview! But Uchiha did not go back on their given word. If the wind-swept sheets of rain weren't enough to keep Uzumaki at home, he would have to go through with it as promised.

When he got to the small, oldfashioned audience room where the interview was to take place, he found Temari already there, standing in front of a window watching the rainfall while gently fanning herself. She glanced around when he entered, then turned to face him. Instead of the casual yukata she'd worn to breakfast, he saw she'd changed into an outfit similar to what she'd worn when first arriving in Konoha: a straight, dark rusty red sheath that came to just above her ankles; and over it a slightly shorter sleeveless ivory robe with a matching scarf wrapped in a deep swath around her neck and across her shoulders.

"So, this reporter kid is a friend of your brother's, right?" she asked as she moved to sink down onto one of two cushions placed side by side on the tatami facing a third.

Itachi chuckled wryly as he crossed the room and knelt next to her. "He was a classmate of Sasuke's at the Academy," he corrected her, "and definitely the class clown. 'That hyperactive, knuckle-headed Naruto' was Sasuke's favorite way of describing him."

"Hmph. An apt description." She folded her fan, as though preparing to smack Naruto over the head with it again. "He probably won't have the sense to stay in out of the rain."

Sure enough, only a few minutes later a servant escorted Uzumaki into the room. As the reporter took his place on the cushion across from them and bowed, thanking them for granting him this interview, Itachi blinked rapidly several times. Clad once again in bright orange jacket and pants, with his spiky chromium yellow hair and electric blue eyes, the younger man was an eye-jolting riot of brilliant color. Evidently Temari shared his reaction. Cutting across what sounded like a carefully rehearsed speech, she said, "Is that the only color you own? What are you, color blind?"

The question seemed to take Naruto by surprise, since he sat there for a moment with his vivid blue eyes open wide, his jaw hanging open slightly. Then, shaking himself out of it, he rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and laughed, his eyes squinting nearly shut. "Hey, Lady Temari, I thought I was supposed to be asking the questions!" he exclaimed. Still grinning broadly he went on, "Heh heh heh! I just really like this color. On grey gloomy days like this, it perks me right up! And on sunny days, it energizes me and helps me believe there isn't anything I can't accomplish if I try hard enough! Anything else you want to ask me before we get started?"

Well said, Naruto! Itachi thought, amused and even a little impressed by his response. He flickered a glance down at his own charcoal grey shirt and loose black pants. And you might have a point about colors and moods, even if you seem to take it to an extreme.

Beside him Temari unexpectedly laughed, a more relaxed and carefree sound than he'd ever heard from her. Itachi felt a sudden shocking twinge of some hot emotion zing through him as she replied, "Not at the moment, but I'll keep it in mind." Opening her fan with a flick of her wrist, she swept it in an elegant gesture. "So, kid, what's your first question?"

Naruto pulled a notebook and pen from an inner pocket of his jacket. Flipping it open, he said, "Well, one of the things everyone wants to know the most is, when is the wedding going to be?" He looked from one to the other of them, his pen poised expectantly.

Temari went back to waving her fan lazily back and forth in front of her face as she slanted a look at Itachi. Locking that away that brief yet totally disturbing feeling for later analysis Itachi said, "No date has been set as yet. Lady Temari and I are still getting acquainted with each other. She must return to Suna at the end of the week, but has invited me to visit her in a couple of weeks. And before you ask, yes, I'm looking forward very much to spending time with her in her own village. Also," he added with a hint of a smile, "I've already spoken with Asuma about it so no, Naruto, you won't be coming with me to cover the visit."

The reporter shrugged and grinned widely as he jotted down Itachi's answer. "Aw, well, it was worth a try. I've never been to Suna before. Okay, the next questions are for Lady Temari: What do you think of Konoha, and how do you think you'll like living here?"

Temari tipped her head to one side and touched her fan briefly to her lips. "Konoha is beautiful, almost overwhelmingly beautiful - even if also very humid!" She fluttered her fan dramatically. "The sunsets in Suna are more spectacular due to all the dust in the air, as I hope to prove to Lord Itachi when he comes to visit." She slanted him a look from the corners of her eyes. "But in all seriousness, what I find to be the most impressive feature of Konoha is her people. I can never adequately express my gratitude to everyone who's gone out of their way to make me feel welcome not just as a guest in the village, but as a future resident. I will like living in Konoha very, very much."

Naruto scribbled furiously, even as he looked more than a little dazzled by Temari's startling metamorphosis into the epitome of a charismatic, diplomatic, perfect princess. Itachi admired the performance, even as he experienced a tiny, internal wrenching over what she hadn't said: That she would like living in Konoha with him very, very much.

"Okay!" The blond reporter looked up from his notebook again. "So, how do you both feel about your upcoming marriage?"

...And that was the one question Itachi had been hoping Naruto wouldn't ask. Behind that polished facade he sensed how Temari's sudden tense inner stillness mirrored his own. For the briefest of moments her fan paused: he dropped his gaze to his hands where they rested on top of his thighs as his fingers went rigid. The topic remained so extremely sensitive for them, they still instinctively avoided even oblique references to it. He knew their hesitation would be sending all kinds of signals to Uzumaki. But really, what could either one of them say? "Sorry, kid, but we haven't talked about it"? Especially with his betrothed sitting right next to him, obviously waiting for him to come up with an answer.

Clearing his throat, Itachi drew a deep breath and looked up to meet Naruto's expectant blue gaze. "Sometimes one has to look beyond oneself and see the needs of the many instead of the one. While it is true Lady Temari and I are marrying for the welfare of our villages and our clans, we enter this marriage holding the utmost respect for each other. I think I also speak for both of us when I say I honestly hope that, one day, we will be blessed with love in our lives together."

Only when Naruto bent his head to record Itachi's answer did he dare to turn his head slightly to look at Temari and found her watching him over her fan from the corner of her eye. What thoughts passed behind those unreadable turquoise eyes? he wondered. Had he won her approval with his words? Or had he doomed any chance they might ever have had for happiness in the future? She looked away, her fan resuming its slow, hypnotic back and forth motion.

The rest of the interview went fairly smoothly - and quickly - after that. Naruto bowed deeply to them again with profuse thanks for the interview. Once he'd been ushered out, Itachi sat lost in his own thoughts, Temari evidently occupied in the same activity. When she snapped her fan shut he actually jumped slightly. As he quickly looked up she rose to her feet and took several swift steps toward the window. Standing as well he said, "Temari?" catching himself up just short of adding, "What's wrong?" - which would, he acknowledged ruefully, have been the ultimate stupid question. Everything about this whole miserable situation was wrong.

She didn't look around at him but said pensively, "All this water, falling down so freely from the sky. Suna does have a brief rainy season during the winter, but it's just chilly and damp and uncomfortable. This is so different from anything I've ever experienced." She hesitated, then turned to face him, "Itachi, would you - go walking in the rain with me?"

Itachi did his best to conceal his startlement at her unexpected request. "Of course I will," he responded, promptly going to slide open the door to the verandah so she could pass through ahead of him. "Would you like for me to fetch an umbrella?"

She shook her head. "Thank you, no." As she went out in front of him she added while she stepped into one of the pairs of geta lined up to one side of the door, "That would be defeating the purpose of the expedition," but she sounded shy rather than sarcastic.

Side by side they descended the steps. When she paused on the gravel path at the bottom and looked around at the puddle-pocked, dripping courtyard, he instantly halted as well. "Is there anywhere in particular you'd like to go?" he asked, inwardly glad the earlier gusty downpour had slackened into a gentle if steady rain.

"The gardens, please," Temari immediately replied. He saw her cheeks turn slightly pink beneath their normal tan. "You probably think I'm crazy, but I - I've been hoping it would rain ever since I arrived in Konoha."

Greatly daring, Itachi brushed his fingertips quickly and lightly across the back of the hand still gripping her fan. "No, I don't," he said very gently. "In fact, I greatly admire your spirit of adventure. I promise you, I can't think of a single girl I attended the Academy with who wouldn't be worrying about her hair, or her clothes, or her makeup right now. So, shall we go?"

Neither spoke again as they strolled along the gravel walkway. Before long, water was dripping from the ends of Itachi's hair into his face and down his back, and his shirt was starting to cling to him. But he barely noticed, absorbed instead in watching Temari hold out her hands to catch raindrops in her palms; or lift her face to the sky, blinking and gasping when drops landed in her eyes; or touch water-laden blossoms to create miniature waterfalls as they wandered through the gardens.

Just before reaching the point where they would have to turn around and head back to the house, Temari stopped beneath the carefully trained umbrella of a mimosa tree and turned to look up at him, aqua eyes curious. "Did you mean what you said?" she asked.

Itachi arched one eyebrow. "Just as you, I told nothing but the truth during the interview," he said.

She shook her head impatiently, droplets flying from her soaked ponytails. "That isn't what I asked. Did you really mean what you said about - about our being blessed with love in this arranged marriage."

The air around them was heavy with the scent of jasmine - the same scent as her perfume. He subtly inhaled it as he gazed down at her, remembering that short fierce stab of emotion he'd felt earlier. Had it been because on some unrealized level, he'd already begun to think of her as being his? "Yes," he said simply, with all the sincerity within him. "I did. Our marriage might have been arranged for political purposes, but I pray to the ancestors daily that rather than merely being content with tolerating each other, we will learn to love each other, genuinely and truly."

Temari silently searched his eyes for a long moment. When she resumed her leisurely walk, however, he saw the faintest hint of a smile on her face. Perhaps - just perhaps - his hope might yet become reality.

Tenten sat staring speculatively out into the rain as Hinata read a book and fanned herself. At breakfast that morning, Kakashi hadn't said much. She got the feeling that he was worried about something, which had her on high alert. Kakashi possessed a sixth sense about danger, and when that sense quivered, she made sure she got ready for whatever it might be. Should Hinata require her protection, Tenten would be there to defend her life.

Sighing loudly, Hinata set aside her book and came to stand next to Tenten. "I love the rain, b-but I had hoped that it would b-be pretty outside today. I wanted to show you m-more of the g-gardens."

"And maybe get in a little more weapons-throwing practice," Tenten teased. Hinata's quiet giggle confirmed her suspicion. One thing Tenten truly appreciated about her new workplace was the expansive gardens. Even though she'd been on several walks with Hinata, the heiress had told her that she'd only seen a fraction of what was really there. If what she hadn't seen was anything like what she had, she seriously looked forward to the rest of the tour.

"It would have b-been nice, now that you m-mention it." Hinata tapped her index fingertips together lightly, something she rarely did around Tenten anymore. "I-I d-do seem to be g-good at it, d-don't I?"

"The best student I've ever had!" Tenten confirmed cheerfully, and laughed openly when her mistress gave her a speaking look: I'm the only student you've ever had! "We'll have plenty of other days to practice. Anyway the last place Kakashi and I worked was Suna, which was so hot and dry, it makes me appreciate the rain here."

Hinata smiled shyly as she lowered herself to sit next to her friend. "When I was a little g-girl, I used to sneak out of the house and g-go running through the rain with-" Her smile vanished, replaced with a look so full of pain and sadness it startled Tenten. The other girl quickly looked down and drew a visibly deep breath, then seemed to force the smile back on her face. "Anyway, I used t-to l-love t-to run in the rain. I still l-like t-to d-dance in it. If the rain l-lessens later w-would you l-like to d-do that with m-me?"

Hmmmmm.

Tenten felt herself go into a state of heightened alertness. Who had Hinata gone running through the rain with? Not her sister Hanabi: there would be no need for the heiress to be secretive about that, quite aside from the fact Tenten didn't think they'd ever been that close. With a father like Hyuuga Hiashi, she totally understood why Hinata might develop a secretive streak. If Kakashi had been like that with her, she would feel no compunction about keeping secrets from her brother! But, she thought with a little bit of hurt, surely she realized by now that anything she told Tenten would be kept between them. Beyond being entrusted with this girl's life, Tenten had long ago learned that keeping secrets put both a bodyguard and his or her charge in danger - mortal danger, sometimes.

However, now didn't seem like the right time to pursue it. She would just wait for the pale-eyed girl to tell her why she'd broken off so abruptly. Instead, Tenten ducked her head and confessed, "Um, that would be fun, if I, ah, knew how to dance." She shrugged her shoulders as Hinata's face fell the least bit, feeling a touch of embarrassment. "Dancing isn't really a part of a bodyguard's skillset. Well," she raised one hand to her mouth and giggled as she suddenly remembered something, "not unless you're a woman of this one certain village in the Land of Earth, where females are expected to be just as educated in fighting as the men; in case they have to protect their homes and children from attack while the menfolk are away. While we were there, the women taught me one of their dances. Tell you what, Hinata: You teach me to dance the way you do, and I'll teach you the dance I learned from them! Pinky promise!"

Hinata's expression brightened again, both young women sharing a laugh as they sealed the childish promise. For a few minutes more, the two women sat in companionable silence, watching the blowing downpour. Hinata eventually stood and drifted away, tilting her head as she ran her fingers along the spines of the books on the shelves lining half of one wall at the back of the room. Tenten continued to watch the rain, gazing through the curtain of water with sharp eyes that promised to catch and then quickly analyze any movement not caused by the storm. Things seemed quiet, since most people had enough sense to stay in out of the rain-

-But what was that? Squinting, Tenten leaned forward a little as she yanked her knife out of the sheath hidden beneath the leg of her loose pants. Shifting into a crouch, she looked a little closer at the area where she'd seen the movement, waiting for another flash of fluttering darkness to present itself.

Nothing. Perhaps it had been only her imagination, then, or something blown from outside the estate by the wind, which was gusting quite strongly. However, she couldn't quite shake off her bad feeling, brought on by her brother's quiet, troubled thoughtfulness earlier that morning. That, plus the general feel of the Hyuuga estate left her constantly on edge, an expectation of something disastrous happening at any moment. In a house as old as this, tragedies would have had to have occurred. Maybe the atmosphere in his home left behind by those tragedies made Hyuuga Hiashi so paranoid all the time...? Really, it didn't seem like such a far-fetched theory to her.

Regardless of whether or not she'd seen something earlier, there was nothing untoward to be seen in the rainswept garden now. Easing back into her relaxed posture, Tenten returned her knife to its sheath, though she didn't ease her vigilance. Maybe it's the weather that's making me jumpy. Or the atmosphere of this place. Or it could be a combination of both. And then there's Hinata's jumpiness... Glancing over her shoulder, she realized with relief that Hinata hadn't noticed Tenten's brief, tense moment.

To her startlement, the door into the suite suddenly slammed open. Tenten leaped to her feet, drawing her knife again as she hurtled across the room to stand protectively in front of Hinata.

"Hinata, how did you ever stand him?"

Tenten blinked. Instead of some black-masked assassin or huge, muscular attacker, she faced a girl no older than thirteen, arms crossed petulantly, lower lip stuck out in a pout, one lock of her dark brown hair falling over one of her familiarly pale eyes. Who is this?

A gentle hand touched Tenten's shoulder, and Hinata leaned around her. "Hanabi, don't do that!" she admonished. "Next time, p-please knock before you c-come barging in."

The girl, Hanabi, slammed the door shut behind her before going to slump onto the cushion Hinata had abanoned. "I've never had to knock before," she said sulkily. "I shouldn't have to just because she's here now." She pointed to Tenten.

This time Hinata interposed herself between Hanabi and Tenten. "Except n-now your b-behavior is n-not only rude, b-but also d-dangerous. Tenten c-could hurt herself trying t-to stop herself f-from hurting you b-by mistake." She turned then and said somewhat unnecessarily, "Tenten, meet my younger sister, Hanabi."

Feeling sheepish, Tenten resheathed her knife and bowed. "Lady Hanabi," she said deferentially. And I was surprised by the difference between Hinata and Ino? That difference is nothing compared to soft-spoken Hinata and spoiled Hanabi! What a brat!

Hanabi sighed theatrically and wandered over to the table, where she picked up her older sister's abandoned fan. Snapping it open, she lazily drifted it back and forth in front of her face. "As I was saying, how did you ever put up with Iruka-sensei? He's the most boring tutor I've ever had in my life!"

"Hanabi!" Hinata admonished again. "D-Don't say that about Iruka-sensei. He is a g-good man: humble, p-polite, and a skilled instructor. Most of what I know right n-now, I l-learned from him."

"Yeah, yeah." Hanabi waved off her sister's words with the delicate fan. "And you're boring, too, Hinata. But since you're the only company I have in this place, I put up with you."

Tenten bit back a gasp at the young girl's audacity, only to find out that she wasn't even finished.

"I'm thinking about asking Father to find me a new tutor. One that's not so stuffy and boring. He's all about the rules, and the history, and every little thing has to be perfect." She rolled her pale lilac eyes eloquently. "It's ridiculous."

Hinata stiffened. "Iruka-sensei g-gave up his p-position at the Acadamy to t-tutor you and me. I suggest you b-be a little more appreciative of him, no m-matter what you think. F-Father thinks very highly of him as well. Say to him what you've j-just said to me, and you'll b-be sent b-back to Anko-sensei for further training in d-decorum, and won't b-be allowed to attend his next g-gathering."

Another sigh heaved its way out of Hanabi's lips. "You're the one who's so interested with life outside, going to the Academy and all that. If you ask me, you're so caught up in it that you're completely missing what you've got here." Slapping the fan closed, she set it down, then stood and headed for the door. Before she opened it, she glanced over her shoulder and delivered one last sentence. "You know, if you weren't so obsessed with putting yourself in danger all the time, maybe you wouldn't even need her." She left.

Shaking her head, Hinata covered her face and turned away. "I am so sorry about that," she whispered. Letting out her breath, she turned back, her face bright red. "My sister is so spoiled. Father favors her and gives her whatever she w-wants." Her head bowed slightly, and the sad look returned to her face. "But she was especially b-bad today. I apologize on her behalf."

Tenten shrugged. "It's not your fault, Hinata," she said. "I'm used to people, no matter where I go, seeing me differently. Women in my line of work are rare, to say the least. Kakashi tells me I'm intimidating, so people are uncomfortable around me, which makes it hard for them to like me. But I have my brother, and a friend in you, now, so I can't let what people think get inside my head." She'd learned that lesson the hard way a long time ago.

"I wish I c-could be that confident," Hinata sighed. "Father hired Iruka-sensei's wife to try to teach me to b-be less timid and nervous, as well as all the rules of etiquette we must f-follow. She has the same c-confidence in herself as you, and tried so hard to t-teach me how to be that way, too. Obviously, it d-didn't work." Smiling sadly, she looked past Tenten to the half-open outer door. "Oh! It's nearly stopped raining." Turning, she moved toward the door. "Come, and we'll walk in the g-gardens. B-but I think we'll leave the d-dancing for another day."

Heart hurting for her friend, Tenten followed. Hinata was such a sweet, compassionate, gentle girl, she couldn't understand why anyone would have such a low opinion of her - especially her own sister. Resolving to make sure to avoid Hanabi in the future, she trailed along after Hinata, picking up an umbrella along the way, just in case.

After all, it was her job to be ready for anything.

*~To Be Continued~*

Author's Ending Notes: So, your first (teeny although it was) glimpse of Neji! And, once more, I'm so very sorry for this semi-late update. I promise to try to do better next week. Until then, thank you so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!