Tumblr prompt: Tenten is Neji's hired bodyguard.

Pairings: NejixTenten

All the signs were there.

The eyes. The hair. The 180-degree posture. The billboards.

She was, ironically, too unobservant to connect the blinking red dots and see the reality lying before her. Trained since she could talk, Tenten could hold her breath underwater for five whole minutes, and sprint over a tightrope suspended 500 yards above the ground while holding a screaming baby. But, she could not - for the life of her - realise that Neji Hyuga was in fact her client, and not the blind date that Temari had set up for her.

Unfortunately, Tenten found that out the hard way.

Sunday, June 26. 8:56 AM

From: Konoha Intelligence Agency

To: Agent 02

Re: Your new assignment

Report to HQ by exactly 1400 hours. Do not be late.

Classified

June 26| 1359 UTC

Tenten pushed open the doors to Agent 00's office, and was immediately greeted by a bright, blinding light that folded over her line of sight. She briefly paused at the doorway to readjust her vision, then strode towards her boss as she returned his customary blink of acknowledgement with a smile.

"Agent Two," he removed his chin from the dip in his folded hands, welcoming her into the seat opposite his desk. Tenten took it graciously. "Punctual, as always."

Sasuke Uchiha wasn't the type of person who wasted more than three seconds on "trivial" things like niceties and social etiquette, unless it was for a meeting with potential connections, or a dinner with Sakura's parents. The moment Tenten opened her mouth to greet him formally, he slid a thick manila folder over and said, authoritatively, "You know the drill; memorise every letter, of every word, of every line. Ensure that you do not leave a single page unturned or unread."

Unperturbed by his blunt orders, Tenten heaved the folder onto her lap, opened it up, and hooked a finger over the first sheet of paper she encountered: her client's profile.

"Hyuga, Neji," she whistled, impressed. "But, uh," Sasuke's right eyebrow rose inquisitively, "There's no picture of him."

He coughed. "Do you read tabloid magazines, Agent Two?"

"No?" Tenten was a little affronted by the sudden topic shift; she hadn't taken Sasuke as the kind of man who would spend his days rifling through gossip columns with avid enthusiasm. "Do you?"

"Of course not," he shifted in his seat, "However, considering your client... I would deem it wise to brush up on your knowledge of the world around you."

Tenten didn't know what to say, because one simply didn't work for an intelligence agency for a little over five years without knowing anything about the world around them. She didn't vocalise her concerns, of course; nobody spoke their mind to Sasuke Uchiha unless they wanted out, or they were his wife. "With all due respect, sir, gossip magazines tend to present a rather...sensationalist interpretation of our world." He narrowed his eyes at her, as if daring her to further protest against and disobey his commands. She decided, to Hell with it, and continued, "I don't believe that reading tabloids will be wholly necessary to my client's protection."

Tenten bit her tongue when his glare deepened. "Please pardon me, I j-"

He held up a hand, stare unwavering. "Conceded. You may leave."

After years of being accustomed to Sasuke's curt mannerisms, she didn't think twice about his brusque dismissal; if anything, he was being nicer than usual. She nodded, standing up from her seat before making a beeline towards the door.

It was only after she stepped out of the office that she finally deigned to look at the nearby news-stand's pile of OK Konoha prints, all stacked on top of each other, ready to sell like hotcakes, and headlined with an emboldened "Hyuga Harlot Strikes Again!". A flurry of hands flew past her, making grabs for the magazines like no tomorrow.

"Another one. Lovely," a sneering woman with bright, red hair was flipping through some of the pages in front of her, "This guy seriously needs to keep his pants together."

Tenten huffed, deeming her brief detour a useless venture, then made her way to the cabs parked down the street. Regardless of Neji Hyuga's reputation, being his bodyguard meant standing behind him as his shadow, no questions asked, no judgement passed unnecessarily. When the time called for it, Tenten was a professional.

That, and the paycheck would be her salvation from taxes for months.

Sunday, June 26. 10:00 AM

From: tampon

If you ditch this blind date again, I swear to Kami that you will regret it. Be at the Tavern at 6pm tonight; he'll be the guy waiting for you at the bar. Love you! xx

Sunday, June 26. 6:30 PM

From: Konoha Intelligence Agency

To: Agent 02

Re: Assignment details

Ensure that the integrity of your files are not compromised. Should such an event occur, we will take appropriate action.

Your assignment begins on Monday, at precisely 0900 hours. Behave accordingly.

The Tavern

June 26| 1900 UTC

It was a conspiracy.

Her friends were trying to set her up with the biggest snob in history as payback for filling their shampoo bottles with mayonnaise, because this guy, this guy, was a grade-A asshole.

"Hi! I'm Tenten. You must be Temari's friend." She forced a cheerful smile onto her brusquely made-up face, and refrained from slapping the guy when he took in her attire with a look of utter scorn. Admittedly, black, office-standard heels, hastily pulled-back chignon buns, and a scrunched-up black dress weren't exactly suitable for any date of any kind, but it wasn't like he was even trying either. No self-respecting gentleman wore a business suit to a blind date and ordered a shot of vodka without asking his date if she wanted a drink, too.

As it happened, Tenten really did want a drink, because work. And, stress-inducing friends.

She looked back down at the text to make sure she wasn't getting any information wrong. She was at the Tavern on High Street, the one near Hyuga Industries that they always frequented on Fridays, after Hinata stepped out of her gruelling office job. Tenten inwardly hoped that her blind date had gotten sick of her an hour ago, when she was sleeping instead of keeping her promise, and ditched the bar, because this particular man's judgemental stare was getting on her nerves. If he denied any associations with Temari, then Tenten was free. If not-

"Temari no Sabaku?" He asked, in his annoyingly smooth voice. Also, damn her. Tenten nodded, hiding the grimace that was starting to make its way onto her face.

"Yeah, that's her." She settled herself into the barstool two places away from him.

"Ah."

There were other things that Tenten could be doing, like going through the files she left in her safe at home, or re-organising the home-desk that she'd been piling files onto for half a year. Call her a work-a-holic, but rent never payed itself, and Tenten wasn't all too fond of wasting her time in a pub next to an icicle with a superiority complex.

She hummed, surmising that Temari wasn't exactly spying on her, so there was no need to actually do anything on the date. For all Tenten cared, they could just sit at the bar for the entire night, absorbed in their own little worlds, and no one would be the wiser except the sleepy-eyed bartender and possibly the drunk, unconscious man lying a few seats away.

Reaching a pleasing conclusion, Tenten signalled the barman over for a shot of whisky, then sighed. Just one night of procrastination wouldn't hurt. She had enough time for a couple of drinks before heading home and getting all her research done for her new client.

Yes, that was a viable plan. She sipped at the glass contemplatively, before a sudden buzzing sound at her side pulled her away from her blissful self-indulgence. It was Temari.

"Hey, girl."

"What are you doing?" Temari's voice was calm, placid, and that was scary.

"I'm at the Tavern, like you said. I mean," Tenten snuck a quick glance at her date, who was as caught up in his own thoughts as she had been. "Nothing much is happening, aside from the drinking."

Her friend let out a pained groan. "Have you at least said hi? Is he even the correct person?"

Tenten shrugged. "I've introduced myself, I guess. He seems to know who you are, so I'm assuming he's the right guy." Her date's attention suddenly shifted over to her, brilliant grey eyes observing the conversation attentively. She opted for a friendly approach and sent him a toothy grin.

"You're hopeless," Temari dead panned. "I see why Sakura stopped trying to set you up in highschool now. Kami forbid if you ever had to speak to a male."

"Don't be silly," she paused, downing the rest of drinking without batting an eyelash. From the corner of her vision, she saw The Date smirk. "I talk to plenty of guys."

"Your workmates don't count, and neither do Lee and Gai. Those two are on a class of their own."

"My boys," Tenten wiped an invisible tear away from her eye, "How they make me smile."

From the other end, she could imagine Temari pulling a face, and giggled. "Anyway, you may have some hope yet. Stick it out with this guy; trust me, he's a good one."

"We'll see." The line disconnected seconds later, after which Tenten leapt off her seat and started to head towards the door. She was tipsy, but drunk-Tenten who normally took risks or did as Temari wished without question was dormant today. Today, she had work to do.

Well, had, before a warm hand cupped itself around her shoulder and stopped her in her tracks. She automatically twirled herself out of the stranger's grasp, pressing her thumb deep into the pulse point on their wrist, and twisted the arm elbow-up so that their back was hunched over towards her.

It was The Date, hissing in pain.

"Oh, sorry!" Tenten released her hold at once, then watched him hug his arm to his chest and turn around to glare at her. She grinned again, but sheepishly. "Knee-jerk reaction. I seriously did not mean to hurt you. Cross my heart."

The guy grimaced; something akin to approval, mixed with fascination, flashed in his eyes. "No harm done," he grumbled back, "If anything, I'm impressed. And, incredibly surprised."

"Oh." Tenten stared at him blankly, "Thank you?"

Her Date nodded imperceptibly, then coughed and moved himself into a more dignified stance, as though he hadn't had his ass handed to him seconds before.

"Did you need something?" She queried, having remembered that he probably grabbed her shoulder for a reason.

"Yes," he tilted his chin towards the bartender, whose sleepy eyes were slanted at her ominously. "You didn't pay for your drink."

Right. She grinned at the barman sheepishly, then pulled out a few notes and pressed them into his hand. "Sorry about that."

Tenten turned towards the man and gave him her default, polite smile. She had a tactic that she used whenever Temari tried to set her up: apologise, reach a false compromise, point to thin air, leave. And, as luck would have it, there was a lady in the corner booth making sultry eyes at her Date. "I'll be leaving now, sorry for being so terrible, but that woman over there seems to have her eye on you - who knows? Maybe you two are soulmates."

Predictably, the man's head swivelled around to the corner booth, successfully allowing Tenten to dash out of the Tavern and into an awaiting cab.

Score.

Alarm

6:00 AM

Rise and shine, meathead.

Trending!

Neji Hyuga; one night, two women?

Hyuga Industries

June 27| 0830 UTC

"Hello, may I help you?"

Tenten smiled sweetly, eyes scrutinising the sleek, marbled floors and shiny, glass windows from behind her shades. She counted twelve security cameras in total: two behind the receptionist's desk, and ten encircling the foyer. She tilted her head to the left ever so slightly. There was an extravagant fountain situated on the wall adjacent from her, spewing out water from the mouth of a golden lion. Its pupils flashed green every now and then; bingo, two more cameras.

"Do you need any assistance?" The receptionist repeated, smile stiffly plastered onto her face.

"Yes. I have an appointment with Mr Hiashi Hyuga at nine today."

She nodded, fingers clicking on the keys in front of her immediately. "Name?"

"Tenten."

Another nod. "Level thirty-six. I'll let the staff upstairs know about your arrival. Have a good day!"

Tenten thanked her quickly as she headed towards the nearest lift and punched in a pristine '36' button. She took a deep breath, flying through the information she'd crammed into her head the night before. Neji Hyuga, famed Hyuga Industries ambassador; new, right-hand man of heir Hinata Hyuga; and, if the magazines had taught her anything yesterday, a flesh-pleasuring man. It made Tenten realise that in all her years of knowing Hinata, she hadn't once mentioned a famous cousin or relative - then again, Tenten never had asked about Hinata's family.

The elevator decelerated to a stop a level before her destination, doors sliding open with a smooth, whooshing sound. She impatiently tapped her foot against the floor, silently begging a giggling couple to hasten their entry into the lift. Her eyes rolled to the side as they finally stepped in.

"Oh!" A sultry voice exclaimed beside her, "Looks like we won't be having any fun for now."

Gross. Tenten ignored the woman's heavy breathing, and did her best not to cringe when she witnessed the barnacle-like determination with which the woman held on to the man's arm.

His voice, somewhat detached, was - for lack of a better word - reassuring for the lady. "Lunch, then. The place from yesterday."

Tenten risked a glance backwards at the embracing duo, who were now in the midst of a heated tongue battle, then doubled back in shock before facing forwards again. It was The Date, having clearly taken her advice and moved on to the woman at the corner booth. Level thirty-six couldn't have arrived any sooner.

She strode out hurriedly, then winced when the man detangled himself from the corner-booth woman's arms followed her. Kami, whoever this guy was, she'd definitely be seeing him more often from now on, if he was working on this level. Thankfully, he didn't seem to have recognised her sans-buns and with sunglasses. Feeling a little less chagrined, Tenten parroted out the words she'd said to the office lady downstairs, then followed this one to an ebony-wood door labelled 'CEO HIASHI HYUGA'.

"He'll be with you in a moment," the bubbly woman informed, then walked back to her desk with a slight bounce in her step. Strange, she'd gotten the impression that Hyuga Industries employees were all rigid and conservative, but clearly Tenten was mistaken. Breathing in and out once again, Tenten gave the door a firm knock.

Immediately, "Come in." Twisting the doorknob open with sure hands, she entered an enormous, sun-lit office in which a man with stress lines all over his face, was reclining against his Corinthian-leather, Emperor chair. "Tenten." He greeted her, stood up from his chair, and gave her a quick handshake, which she reciprocated kindly. There were no exchanges of polite smiles, or pleasant grins, but the fact that Hinata's father remembered her well enough to be comfortable with shaking her hand was a major achievement. "I appreciate your willingness to take on my nephew as your client. I fear his safety will be compromised with his appointment as Hinata's second-in-command. Rest assured, I am confident that you will perform your task expertly."

"Thank you, sir."

The buzzer rang. Hiashi pressed down on it. "Yamanaka, please tell my nephew to enter within the next twenty seconds. He is late."

The chipper voice from before echoed through the speaker. "Sure thing, sir."

When indicated, Tenten seated herself in an armchair, removed her sunglasses, and readjusted her eyes to the new wave of light as she awaited the arrival of Neji Hyuga. The wall-clock ticked.

Suddenly, "Sorry, Uncle. I had some prior business to handle." The door clicked shut, which evidently shocked the both of them, as they leapt out of their chairs to greet Neji. For the second time that day, Tenten doubled back.

Her words flew out of her mouth before she could clamp it shut. "You're Hyuga Neji?"

The Date, the billionaire, the mastermind, the perpetually-horny playboy, was her client. Sasuke's earlier warnings rang through her head as she stared at Neji Hyuga, dumbstruck.

Do you read tabloid magazines, Agent Two?

She sure as Hell wished she had.

~ Daily Horoscope ~

Don't mix business with pleasure!