Disclaimer: Not even the trees. All copyright to Kishimoto Masashi. This disclaimer is for all chapters. There's no point suing me.

Notes (must read if you want to understand the plot): There's no problem with the Hyuuga family. Neji is the eldest, so he's the main head. There's ninja stuff, but just some people have access to it. Maybe some OOC-ness from characters (note it's a semi-AU). Some facts might be spoiled for the anime/manga if you haven't seen. Maids are just for important family. Some words will have japanese influence, if you don't know what it means, read the bottom; there's an explanation. After the line separator; Tenten's POV.

Step by Step

By: Manuca

"Yes, it's ready. It's in the back." The blacksmith of the town replied to the personal advisor for the Hyuuga's. Blacksmith Tenten was actually a woman with nineteen years old with two messed Chinese buns in a pink Chinese shirt and black pants. She was known best with weapons and making them, making her second best after medic-nin Tsunade-hime (Godaime) who is also great with weapons and strength.

Tenten would continue with mastering the weapons if it wasn't for the fact that the Hyuuga's were in a fight with several countries, even villages neighbors. That leads to the fact that she serves the Hyuuga's, so she has to prepare those weapons. If only they were more reasonable! They should listen to the villagers. All those wars were a mistake. If they forget about their almighty ego and listen…Or at least pay her more.

The wars are taking long enough. It's been two years that they made it official, but in reality it's been four years with those surprise attacks and her making all types of weapons for the army to use. It was a tiring job.

So solve the problem, her friends would always meet and plan something so she could have a vacation. Well, not only her but also who worked hard for the Hyuuga's. Today was the day of the month for a meeting, were she would disappear for a week or two, if the excuse is good enough.

She closed the house after the advisor left with a bunch of weapons and left for their meeting. She walked in the street greeting everyone she knows. Today the meeting would happen in the ramen bar, place chosen by Chouji. It's more normal to se friends gathered in a restaurant than in a house.

When arriving there, she sat and ordered a normal ramen. She chooses the back with plenty of seats were nobody could eavesdrop. After her, came Nara Shikamaru; Prince Uzumaki Naruto's advisor and friend. Then Akimichi Chouji came; he's Hyuuga's information gatherer. After a while came Haruno Sakura; pupil of Tsunade-hime and medic-nin supervising injured people who came back from battles or missions with Yamanaka Ino; specialist is hiding bombs in flowers and also an information gatherer... Like nothing was going on came Rock Lee with Inuzuka Kiba and his dog, Akamaru, both being soldiers.

"Yo!" Kiba greeted with two bowls of ramen. They just nodded. After a while, Shikamaru started talking. "It's planed. This time, some will be able to stay two weeks away," he looked at everyone, "but some might not." We all nodded urging him to continue. "It's like this; I talked to his highness Naruto," sarcasm here, "and he talked to Princess Hinata. This time, the girls will have two weeks being disappeared." The girls cheered.

"We all know that this disappearance isn't for relaxing but its better than continue with our jobs," Shikamaru continued, "Tenten will be princess Hinata's maid. I'll explain her things first, because it was a troublesome job." He waited for the approval. "Naruto and Hinata-sama agreed that in the first week you'll 'work' for her and in the second week, she'll leave for Naruto's place so you can be a normal maid and enjoy." He told her. She just nodded. Maid wasn't something she liked much, but better than nothing.

"When you disappear, I'll leave a note saying you were captured by some village and make it seems I want and exchange in order to give you back. You will be only addressed as 'maid', because your name is fairly known in the Hyuuga's ground. You leave tomorrow at five. Hinata-sama will be waiting for you in the gates with clothes. And take your weapons, just in case." He had finished with her. Tenten paid the ramen and left. It worked like this; the less you know; the safer you are.

---

The sun isn't out and I'm already awake, my feet taking me to a path almost unknown; the Hyuuga grounds. I took weapons I could hide; kunai, shuriken and poisoned senbon. I was in a dark blue kimono (only because maids use kimono) and my hair in buns. Maybe I should braid or have just one bun…But the again, I like two buns.

As I reached the gate, there was Hinata-hime with a worried face. When I appeared she sighed in relief. I just nodded to her. She let me in and took me to the kitchen. There she, in a whisper like, talked to me. "T-tenten-san, I'm g-glad you c-could make it. I thought y-you wouldn't come, as s-seeing it was just a quick plan when Naruto-kun and S-shikamaru-san talked about y-you coming."

"I would come even if Shikamaru-san told me later. It's always better to breath properly some times." I answered her. She's pretty shy for someone who owns maybe half of Konoha. "I see…Shikamaru-san told me to call you only maid, but I call the other maids by their names. S-so, I wanted to c-call you f-for some n-name, p-please." She was walking and talking to me. So she's shy to ask something, when making it an order or when she's nervous.

"I was thinking, maybe you could call me Ne-kun. I noticed you add suffix to names, but in my case it's appropriated to call me '-kun'," I replied putting my stuff in the table. "Because, when adding '-chan' in it, it would seem like you are calling older sister, so maybe '-kun', is better." I said sitting after she nodded. "Then, Ne-kun, I'll tell you the rules. You will learn them quick." She smiled to me.

"First of all, w-when someone besides m-me order you're a-around, don't listen. I'm s-superior here, besides Neji-niisan and my f-father. But they're a-always away," she started, "You must be up at four. And you serve me breakfast at seven. When I don't request you with me, you can walk around, just not in the rooms. I sleep early so you can sleep as well or stay until ten. I arranged this as simple as possible. I h-hope you don't m-mind." I'm getting a little nervous with her stuttering, can't she talk normal? "Also, you'd want to leave the weapons in your room. We can sense that kind of weapons."

"I see. I didn't know Byakugan was that powerful… As seeing the sun up, I think its past six. Go to your room and I'll wait you here so I can serve you breakfast, Hinata-hime-sama." I bowed and left to where she showed my 'room' (it's just a bed, a table and a little wooden wardrobe). There I fixed my buns, placed the weapons under the bed and left to the kitchen. I needed to know how to serve!

Arriving there, the kitchen was filled! And so many people working like that, I got lost. I was looking for someone unavailable to help me. "Oh! You must be Hinata-hime new maid! I'm Ayame, I prepare lunch. She told me to advice you." The Ayame girl smiled at me. "I'm Ne-kun. And yes, I need some help." I was following Ayame-girl.

"First, as seeing you work for Hime herself, you'll be there ten minutes before everyone is up and when she sit; you must stay by her side, but in the back. When she asks for something, you must go and grab it, ignoring glances. After breakfast, when Hime is dismissed, you follow her after a little bow. You don't bow to someone, just bow. You must stay quiet whenever you are in the presence of other people besides Hime." Ayame would tell me while showing rooms where the Hime would send me to pick something for her. "You must answer when Hiashi-sama and Neji-sama asks you something. They are above Hime." She told me when we got in the serving room. "Hiashi-sama seats here," she pointed to the chair in the end of the huge table, "and one seat from the right is Neji-sama," she pointed to the second seat in the right, "and here seats Hime." She showed the second seat to the left. "And who seats in the firsts seats?"

"In the right, it was Hizashi-sama, Neji-sama's father and in the left was Hime's mother. Both deceased from an unknown disease." Ayame-girl told me. "Now, you wait here, head down, while we, maids, get the stuff ready. They are almost coming down." And before she left, she turned, "You are the only personal maid here, so don't worry if they look at you strange or in a disapproving manner." Just what I needed…I took my place and was looking at the dullest floor ever.

I heard someone seating and had the urge to look. Tenten, concentrate on the floor…The floor…Th- "You are Hinata-sama new maid." I was holding the urge to roll my eyes to who stated the obvious. When I looked meet those emotionless eyes seated in the second right seat I shivered and became afraid. Didn't Hinata-hime tell me Neji-sama wasn't around?

"Answer maid!" Neji-sama talked to me again, or better; ordered me. I looked down and nodded. "Then grab me water, I'm thirty." Lazy bum, why can't he go and grab himself? Oh yeah, he's Hyuuga Neji. I rolled my eyes in my mind, bowed and left to get the water which was just two seats from him! Man, I hope in his next life he works the triple we do!

I got the vessel of water and went to serve him. "Half glass." He told me. I hope he chokes. I'm pretty pissed. I think I'd rather make double of weapons than serve his almighty. After I served him, I put the vessel in its place and returned to mine's. Hinata-hime was already seated, half served. I'm her maid and she can serve herself, while Baka-sama (a.k.a Neji-sama) needs to be served. She knows how to serve…

"Neji-niisan, I s-see you c-came early…" Hinata-hime told the cold jerk after she ate half of her breakfast. "I managed to solve the problems earlier. Not pleasant to see me here?" Baka-sama answered with a powerful aura surrounding him. No wonder Hime-sama is nervous. "N-no, Neji-niisan, I'm g-glad you came safely." If you really mean that, I'm the fairy godmother.

Baka-sama was telling Hinata about her last personal maid, complimenting the other while ignoring the fact that I'm listening. One…two…three…my kunai is there…four…poisoned senbon can change everything...five…six…surprise shuriken in his arms…seven…eight…I can ask Ino for bombs…nine…

"Good breakfast, Neji-niisan." Hinata-hime bowed and was leaving and I thank God she did. I did a little bow and left eyes on the floor and a grin on my face. After we reached in the garden she sat and motioned for me to seat as well. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't know Neji-niisan returned early." Hinata is apologizing for something she didn't do. I feel guilty.

"It's not your fault. Besides, he can only bother me in the meals. I'll survive." I winked at her and she gave me a smile. I'm glad she's not sad anymore. I feel like I won a little sister. "But, Tenten-san I-" She never finished; I gave her a sharp glance. "S-sorry, I f-forgot…" She looked like crying.

"I'm sorry Hime, I never meat to be rude. When no one is listening, you can call me that." I bowed in respect and then gave her a huge smile. "I'm g-glad." We sat there, thinking. "I wonder…Why Neji-niisan was so interested in you…" Hinata started. "What do you mean interested?" I asked looking confused, "The guy was practically saying my faults."

"He never mentioned about other maids. He also wouldn't ask to be served because he doesn't like maid." She told me that with the greatest amusement in her life. "Maybe…Umh…He was stressed because of his problems and tired that he couldn't be served." I needed to defend my position as maid! And stop thinking something like that! Tenten, focus!

"I doubt that. When he came really injured from a fight, he wouldn't even allow the maid to enter his room to give him food." Ok, I feel my checks are burning. I'm so not blushing! "A-and? Maybe he really doesn't like me at all…" I was looking for anything that wasn't Hinata's face. If I did, I'd remember Baka-sama. "I see…" We stayed in silence for a while.

"Why did you choose to go to Uzumaki-sama feud instead of the Sand feud?" I asked her. "I'm engaged to him, but..." she had this sad expression, "We are engaged by 'destiny'. When I was born, I was destined to him. But when I'm there, he's always talking about medic-nin, Haruno Sakura. It's as if he doesn't realize we are to marry just months from now."

"You really like him?" I asked not meaning to be rude. "Y-yes…A-and it h-hurts seeing him h-happy if the s-someone he's thinking i-its not y-you." She broke down. She's officially crying. What I need o do? Don't panic in front of her…"Y-you must think I-I'm being s-silly, right?" She choked the words. I gave her a serene smile. "When my mom was with me, she used to tell me men weren't worth all the pain they gave us, but…" I closed my eyes and quoted what she said, "You must make your sacrifices and let him go. If he's happy, then I'm happy too." I told her almost crying. But I'm strong and I don't cry.

"Men, in general, can hurt you and break your heart thousand of times and you can't even repair it. But, when they appreciate all the things we, women, offer, they are sweet and attentions. Like soul mates." I hugged her. Her sobbing was stopping. "Do you believe in soul mates, Ne-kun?" She asked me with those intense eyes. Man, I'm sounding girly. "I honestly don't…I don't work together, I'm on my own. But for you, who found love, I think it's possible. Just make your presence noticeable." I smiled at her. I'd gladly give her advices, but someone interrupted us.

"Hinata-hime-sama!" Someone was yelling hyper loud. We looked to who was shouting and saw no other than Lee. When he stood in front of us, he flashed his 'ping-grin' and a thumb-up. "Yosh! I finally found hime-sama and shall take her highness to Neji-sama! Yoshhhh!" He started dragging Hinata, with me following her.

"L-lee-san? Neji-niisan is calling for me?" Hinata-hime asked while running. "YES! I was personally in charge of this task! Yosh! I shall run more to keep my youth!" We run until we reached inside. There, Lee waved goodbye, saying he needed to run more.

"Must I follow you, Hinata-hime, or should I wait outside?" I asked while we stood in front of the door where Baka-sama was waiting. "I prefer you to wait. Go eat breakfast and then we shall meet in the garden." She told me. I bowed and left. Truth to be told, I was rather hungry.

I went to the kitchen and there were all the workers, eating rather quietly. I noticed there wasn't that amount of people from the morning. I was searching for Ayame-girl when she found me. "Do you want lunch, Ne-kun? Go to your room and I'll serve you." She told me pushing to my room. There I relaxed a little. I'd later check my weapons. "Here!" Ayame-girl gave me some food. I thanked her and then ate. We were talking when some cook told me lunch would be served to the royal family. There I go…

I was looking at the old boring floor when I heard footsteps. It must be someone really important, caring that super aura around him or her. Tenten…You. floor, the floor, the flo- "Are you Hinata's new maid?" The person, or rather men, asked me. I looked and saw an old man who looked almost like Neji, but older. "Yes, sir" I shyly answered. "Then I must request you to follow me." He then left with me following confused.

Did they discover my facade? Did I do something wrong to Hime? What if Baka-sama did something wrong with her? If only Shikamaru was here, he could solve everything… "You mustn't doubt yourself. You need to hide your vibrations. They are easy to read." The man told me while walking ahead. I could only nod. Was I that transparent?

When we reached the door I left Hinata, I just knew right now and there that something was wrong. The man opened the door and entered. I entered and bowed to who was inside. It was Baka-sama, Hinata, the old man and me. "N-ne-kun…There is a c-change of p-plans…" Hinata told me. "I'll leave for c-courting this a-afternoon, because of some i-issues, a-and now you'll s-serve Neji-niisan." She finished looking down.

I'm so in trouble.

A/N: There! What do you guys think? It was quick but well... To the japanese translation:

hime: princess. ex.: Tsunade-hime, Hinata-hime.

Godaime: Fifth (as to the Fifth Hokage).

-sama/-kun/-chan: honorific suffix/lower people or closest friends.

kunai, shuriken and poisoned senbon: ninja weapons (go to www. narutofan. com delete the spaces and there's explanation to each weapon).

Ne-chan instead of ne-kun: Ne-chan is older sister (onee-chan), so if Hinata called her that would seem that Tenten was superior to Hinata. Whenadding '-kun', is to imply lower position.

Byakugan: Hyuuga family bloog-line. Like sharingan, but better. It can see the chakra path.

There! If you need to know mroe, please ask! Or visit www-narutofan-com (change - for .). Review!