Tenten sighed audibly as she reached into her pouch, searching for a kunai to play with. She had just left Hokage's office after failing to persuade Tsunade to assign her to a mission. Her childhood idol had raised an eyebrow when she'd begged for a mission, saying there was no mission suitable for her today and that she'd better enjoy her day off while she could.

Normally, shinobi requested a mission on their free day only when running out of money. Or things like that. This time, however, Tenten was bored to death and wanted to do something.

The moment she'd opened her eyes that morning, she'd known it was going to be another bad day. Waking up three hours later than usual was honestly a quite bad sign. Since her first years of being a kunoichi, she had always woken up early—except if she had just come back from a long mission the night before. If one of his students woke up late, Gai would reprimand them for being unyouthful and lacking morning stamina. Neji, too, had always liked to train with her before sunrise.

Tenten almost rolled her eyes at herself. That name again.

She didn't usually ask Lee to spar, but when she'd asked him that afternoon, he'd politely and formally declined because Hokage had just called him and Gai for an unexpected mission. Tenten had left him sulkily, ignoring her hyperactive teammate's cries of apology.

It was already evening and she hadn't even done anything productive today. She hadn't even thought about how much she actually missed sparring with Neji before this. Losing him meant she lost not only a lover, but also a training partner. Falling in love with her best friend, Tenten thought, perhaps was a mistake.

"Tenten-san!"

Tenten stopped walking upon hearing a soft voice from behind. She turned around and met a pair of familiar pale eyes—only they were gentler this time. "Oh, hello Hinata."

The two were on good terms even if they only met when assigned to the same mission or when Ino and Sakura invited them to go out. Knowing that Hinata had supported her relationship with Neji from the start, Tenten wondered if she had found out about their breakup. The girl wouldn't know, though, unless she was happened to notice that they stopped training together, and that Neji never spent time at her apartment again. Neji, after all, had never liked to share his personal matters with people no matter how close he was to them.

"Um…" Hinata suddenly blushed, her expression bright and hopeful. "When do you plan to come, Tenten-san?"

"What?" Tenten blinked.

White eyes similar to Neji's widened in surprise. "H-he hasn't told you yet?"

"Told me what?" The Weapon Mistress asked back in confusion. It had been three days since she'd met him that evening, and she could still hear his words echoing in her head. Your forced marriage isn't my business anymore.

"Uh…" Staring at the ground, the younger kunoichi started to poke her two fingers together nervously, a habit she had never left since her childhood. "I-it's nothing."

Hinata was never good at lying, Tenten remembered. She just had to push her a little bit more. "Are you sure? What do you mean by Neji hasn't told me something?"

The long haired girl finally looked up. "I-I'm not supposed to tell you, Tenten-san. I thought Neji-nii-san would…"

Tenten sighed again, inwardly this time, having a feeling that something wasn't right. A quick glance around reminded her that they were standing practically in front of Hokage's office gate, not a perfect place to have a long talk. She wore her best smile and linked her arm through Hinata's. "It's probably been a year since we had tea together. What do you think?"

Sitting down with two steaming cups of tea and some dango didn't seem to ease Hinata's nervousness. Tenten sipped her tea in silence, waiting patiently for her friend to say something first.

"I'm glad you returned, Tenten-san."

Brown eyes shifted from a painting on the wall to Hinata. Smiling, she wrapped her fingers around the warm cup. "Thanks."

"I've never seen him mourning like that before." Hinata said softly before quickly adding. "S-since his father's death."

Tenten forced a soft laugh to come out. "I shouldn't have made him struggling with grief for the second time." I've been giving him hard times only, she mused, deciding to not voice that out.

The Hyuuga heiress shook her head. "N-no. I don't think he would ever blame you."

Yes, but he did blame Lee. It was even worse, she thought. "You said he hasn't told me something. What is that?"

Crimson streaked across pale cheeks as Hinata sank into her chair. "He wouldn't be happy if I told you first."

"Did something happen to him?" Tenten asked again. She couldn't help but hate the fact that she could still feel concerned about him despite everything, despite all that he had said.

"Y-yes. Nothing is bad, actually."

"What is that?"

Hinata took a deep breath as if preparing herself. "In four months, he will be the clan head, Tenten-san."

Tenten almost gasped. The information was too shocking for her to process.

"You can't be serious," she whispered.

"I-I'm not lying." Neji's cousin shook her head in panic. "T-the council announced this in a meeting two days ago."

Various questions swirled in Tenten's head. He was a Branch member, bearing the curse seal that told him he couldn't escape his fate as a subordinate no matter how strong he was. How could they accept him and choose him as the next clan leader?

"I know it's surprising," Hinata said softly, "but my father and the Elders have always had their eyes on him since the past few years."

"But you're the heiress." Tenten stated, hiding the slight bitterness as she remembered how unfair it was that Neji and his father were to serve Hinata and her father, all just because Neji's father was born a couple minutes after his twin. "You also have a sister."

The Byakugan wielder looked away and murmured. "Yes, but… neither of us actually wants this position."

The older kunoichi swallowed.

"I-it's not easy living as the heiress of the clan. My sister and I have to live up to Father's expectation, follow every strict rule, being the person they want us to be… while in fact we have never asked for this in the first place."

Being an orphan that she was, Tenten had never thought Hinata actually lived with heavy burdens too. She realized then that high status, money, people's respect, prestige, things like that weren't that important. Not that she would ever have them in her life like Hinata, anyway.

"And… and then there's Neji-nii." The Hyuuga's lips formed a small smile. "He has potential and the will to make our clan better. I-it's not that we don't want to do anything for Hyuuga, but my sister and I think he will make the best head in the end. We will help and support him fully. As Father told us yesterday, we both would be Neji-nii-san's advisers."

Neji.

"I don't think I give up on anything. I'm still trying to become stronger, Tenten-san." Hinata stared into her teacup, sighing quietly. "It's just that I believe Hyuuga will be better in his hands."

There was a silence before Tenten spoke. "But Neji is still very young. Your father, too, as long as I know doesn't look like he needs to retire soon."

"It doesn't matter." The Hyuuga girl shook her head with a small smile, voice firm and confident this time. "Neji-nii-san deserves this freedom as soon as possible."

Tenten didn't know why she could suddenly hear her own heartbeat. "Do you mean…"

"Yes, Tenten-san. His curse seal will be removed."

This was like a dream.

Neji had never told her he wanted to be the clan leader, but having the green mark on his forehead erased would definitely be the best thing ever happened to him. Becoming the Hyuuga head also meant the Elders believed in him and his strength; he was finally able to prove them that he could soar higher than those in Main Family, escaping the limits they had put on him as a Branch member.

She felt so happy for him that she could almost feel her body shaking. Neji would be free. The strong, beautiful bird would finally be free.

God, she wanted to cry.

"He didn't believe it at first, too," Hinata giggled. "But of course the leader doesn't bear the mark. He's going to rule the whole family after all."

"Right." Tenten chuckled even though her mind was still somewhere. Not just that, she thought. Knowing Neji, he wouldn't think of himself only; he wouldn't let other branded members keep suffering throughout their lives. "Of course."

"Why hasn't Neji-nii-san told you about this? I thought…"

Tenten lifted a brow. "Why does it have something to do with me?"

Hinata almost choked on her tea, cheeks red again and pearlescent eyes wide with embarrassment. "I-it's n-not something I should tell you, Tenten-san. N-Neji-nii-san would be mad at me and—"

"Who cares about him?" Tenten rolled her eyes playfully. "Believe me, Hinata, I wouldn't tell him that you revealed it first."

"P-promise?"

"Yes," she answered firmly, making a mental note to keep it this time. The last time she'd promised Lee the same thing, she'd ended up breaking it—which led to her fight with Neji.

"But…" the white eyed girl gulped, still looked hesitant and afraid. "You probably would rather have him telling you instead of me."

Tenten laughed. "He will tell me later anyway. Come on, Hinata, you've already made me curious. This isn't nice."

There was a long pause that felt like forever, until Hinata looked at her with a nervous smile. "According to our tradition, Tenten-san," she said, "the new clan head is required to marry before the ceremony."

It was almost late at night and Neji was standing in front of her apartment like a fool.

The certainty that she was still mad at him didn't stop him from going. He probably was stupid and weak when it came to Tenten, but even with that knowledge, he still found himself knocking on her door.

Tenten appeared in her plain T-shirt and shorts, chestnut hair in a messy bun—she was probably getting ready for bed. Chocolate brown eyes stared at him silently and he knew she was recalling the words he had said that evening. If anything, Tenten was always good with memory.

"Can I help you?"

She was probably disgusted at him. He knew, really, he knew he had acted like a selfish bastard who deserved a good punch, but that was the reason why he was here in the first place.

He noticed how she gripped the doorknob tighter than necessary when he didn't even respond. "If you're going to stand there like a statue, I'll just—"

"I'm sorry." The two little words rolled off his tongue so easily that it even surprised him.

Tenten, however, kept her face solemn and crossed her arms over her chest. "I thought nothing about me was your business anymore?"

Neji couldn't help it. With a shinobi's speed he pushed her back into her apartment with his arms around her and lips pressed forcefully against hers. He knew he didn't deserve this, but he needed to apologize to her in every way he could. He didn't expect her to forgive him this soon, but he needed to try.

He felt slightly better when she didn't push him away, or worse, stabbing him in the chest with a kunai she hid somewhere. A moment later he pulled away and took a step back, extinguishing the fire in his own stomach—just because he needed to say it again. "I'm sorry."

Tenten inhaled deeply as if trying to find her voice. "Explain."

Neji closed his eyes. "I know this isn't the right time for me to ask something from you, but…"

"What else do you want?" Tenten asked and he almost winced at the disdain he noted in her voice. "You asked for time, Neji, and I gave you time. I didn't even try to stop you that morning."

The way she spoke was enough to shut him up.

"Then you said that nothing about me was your business anymore. Correction, you said that my forced marriage wasn't your business anymore. Wait, what's exactly the difference?"

Neji had had enough. He needed to tell her before she refused to listen to him.

"They told me to find a wife before I could become the clan head," he said, voice barely above a whisper. "And do you really think I could think of someone else?"

Tenten didn't look surprised, only squeezing her eyes shut as if in pain.

"I know I hurt you by leaving when you needed me after you returned. I know I angered you with what I said that evening. I'm here…" he paused for a while, "because I realized I was wrong."

Unexpectedly, fury flashed through chocolate eyes after she opened them again. "You're still heartless as ever," she snapped. "Who do you think I am, a weak girl who will always say yes to you and forgive all of your mistakes that easily?"

A pause while she was taking a deep breath. "You come back to me just because you need a wife to become Hyuuga leader. Do you know how selfish it sounds?"

He had expected this from her. It did make him look selfish, he knew, it was as if he only came to her when he needed something. Yet the truth was he didn't come here just to ask her to become his wife. He wanted to fix everything. And he needed her to understand that without him having to say it out loud because he just wasn't good with words.

"Remember the reason you left, Neji," she said, eyes darkening and fists clenching. "We are warriors, this kind of feeling is useless in battlefields. Dating, relationship, marriage, children. Many of us shinobi don't think we need them, and I understand that. But you said then that you wanted to learn to deal with emotions and to become stronger and braver for me. The question is, Neji, have you become stronger?"

"No." He answered—without thinking, for he had prepared this answer since he'd started to change his mind. "Because I was wrong. I couldn't become strong without you."

Silence.

"I was losing my mind at that time. I was too… angry at the situation and the fact that I couldn't protect you. At that time, you reminded me of…"

She raised an eyebrow, demanding him to continue. Neji knew he didn't usually say things like this; he rarely spoke about his feelings even to her.

The blurred image of Hyuuga Hizashi, with the unspoken understanding in his colorless orbs and the warmth in his smile flashed through his mind.

Only Tenten possessed the same understanding, warmth and comfort he had once found in his father. "Of my father."

Because Hyuuga Neji was not as tough as people thought when it came to emotions, and he needed her to know that. He needed her to know the real him behind his strong facade.

"I was being stupid. I thought that if we stopped, I wouldn't…" He paused and shook his head once. "I wouldn't have to suffer anymore and I would become stronger. But I was wrong."

Tenten let out a long breath, not quite hiding the exhaustion and storm raging in her eyes, reminding him that weapon mistress or not, she could still feel hurt too. He was responsible for this; he'd been giving her hard times only. Nevertheless, he was just glad she didn't shed any tear. She was still Tenten after all.

"What do you want me to do?"

"I do understand that you can't just forgive and trust me again easily." Neji took a step back, eyes never leaving hers. "I'll do anything you want me to do. Just please know that I'm sorry." I'm sorry, too, that I'm never good with words.

He was stupid and weak when it came to Tenten—the same way he was when it came to his father, he realized, and for that reason alone he decided to leave now. He wanted to give her time to think, to cool down, and finally, to forgive him. Neji turned around and walked to the door, pausing once he was outside.

"You remember the last words I said that morning?"

She ignored his question. She remembered, he was sure.

Neji finally looked at her over his shoulder. "I won't be with someone else."

Brown orbs widened in surprise and his all-seeing eyes caught the barely suppressed hope in them, almost enough to make him spin around to kiss her again—to convince her, to erase the last doubts in her. Yet, he still wanted to give her a little time; rushing would only make everything worse.

Tearing his gaze from hers, Neji shut the door behind him slowly.

(A/N): Thank you for the reviews so far, and as always, I hope you still want to read more!