Did I say 2017? I meant 2024…..

The Mechanics of Law
Chapter Six: Ad idem

ad idem: 'to the same thing.' In agreement.

-Part One: Cherry-
Slang. Implies a car in excellent condition, often new or old but well-maintained

Tenten was elated.

The trip had been so much better than she could have anticipated. Considering she had faced a horde of Hyūgas and business people, and far too many others to remember, she expected to be drained and want to hole up in her shop for a month

As it was, she was happily humming to herself as she did a routine check on Gai's van at the garage. Her thoughts kept drifting to Hinata – she had been an absolute doll and every bit as kind and compassionate as Neji told her – and far more than any human had a right to be. Learning she was moving to Konoha was exciting, and made Tenten feel like maybe she had one more ally in this strange crossing of worlds.

However, by far her favorite part of her time away had been when Neji had seen her in the dress Ino and Hanabi had picked. Tenten silently sent up a thank you to her friends as he beamed at her in his own Neji way. He had just looked so proud of her – like he was seeing her as part of his world while still embracing who she was. In those few seconds she felt so close to him – so connected. Almost as much as when he had expressed his pride in her in whispers across her skin for some hours after her dress had been replaced on its hanger, and her hair was free of the pins that held it in check.

She stood and wiped her hands on a cloth, smiling at her completed job. She glanced at the clock and kept smiling. 8:00 am. She'd come in early to work alone, and now she was going to take the car by Gai's, and meet Lee for brunch.

Luckily, Gai was not at home, because she was certain that Lee could read her happiness all over her face, even as he sat behind the wheel.

To his credit, he just raised his eyebrows and said "So?"

"It was amazing," she beamed.

Lee gave her a dazzling smile.

"Tell. Me. Everything."

-Part Two: Amicus curae-
'Friend of the court.' A person who offers information to a court regarding a case before it.

Neji had been swamped since the trip, but had been so quietly smug that even Hinata was beginning to question him.

"I guess the conference was a success?" she asked one morning over coffee.

"Resounding," Neji smiled into his cup, and his cousin blinked twice to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

"That sounds… promising?"

"It is," he nodded. "A few pieces fell into place that were unexpected, including several internship and work-abroad prospects."

"You are still looking to work abroad, then?"

"That has never truly changed – even if I have more… personal ties to Konoha than I did before."

"I quite enjoyed meeting your personal ties," Hinata teased lightly. "She is as wonderful as I had heard, and then some."

"It means a great deal to me that you think so," he met her eyes. "Tenten has become… quite important to me."

Hinata felt a quickening in her chest, but answered with a composed, "Oh?"

"I was beginning to wonder how to… reframe my future outlook, but I think now I have a very clear picture of what things might look like between now and graduation… and beyond."

"Oh," Hinata's breath escaped on a whoosh of air, and Neji smiled wryly.

"Oh."

"Does she know?"

"She knows how much I care about her. We've talked about the immediate future, but not too much beyond that – our lives are too busy to do too much speculating. However," he laced his fingers around his mug, "I hope we can have the conversation soon. Perhaps leading up to the Winter Gala – or at New Year's."

"Not the Winter Gala," Hinata said definitively. "The event is important to her, and her family, and we will be unveiling the new center. Let that be about them… if you can wait that long."

Hinata's smile was something Neji could only call cheeky.

"Fair point."

"And anyway," she continued innocently. "There is time between the Gala and New Year's, if you do get impatient."

"And what of you," he narrowed his eyes. "Hanabi tells me you have someone you dated in Suna but were very secretive about."

Hinata flushed.

"I have good reason to keep my personal life quiet."

"Well, certainly you do," he allowed almost too generously. "But surely you would let us know if it is anything serious."

Neji let the teasing hover between them, but Hinata swallowed.

"It… It is serious. And you'll meet him soon. I promise."

It was Neji's turn to blink.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Oh."

"Well then," he raised his mug to her. "I can only wish you the best."

She raised hers. "Same to you."

The cousins spent the rest of their time together, in the quiet commiseration that comes with shared cups of tea, and hopeful outlooks.