Because my older cousin, KissNorma, brought up wanting to see how Neji would react with his own daughter going out with someone; Shikadai to be exact. And then this was born. Enjoy.

Only Tonight

By: Jaylonni Love

Part Three

"No."

TenTen sighed, massaging her temples. Her husband was at it yet again. Of course she understood where he was coming from. This was their sixteen year old daughter that they were talking about here. But Shikadai was a nice boy, very respectful (his mother must have instilled the fear of God in him), and was the son of Shikamaru and Temari. What would be the harm in letting her go to the festival with him?

"Neji," TenTen said gently as she placed her hand on her husband's tense shoulder. "I know you don't like the idea of our daughter growing up, I don't either. But she's not a child anymore. She is a respected kunoichi, and Shikadai is a nice boy. Let them go to the festival together, you know it only comes around once a year."

Neji glared at his wife. She was doing it again. If he said no to something, she would do everything within her power to make him say yes. Well it wasn't going to work this time; over his dead body would he let Shikadai take his daughter out no matter what TenTen did.

"Neji," TenTen started again. "Let Hitomi go with him. I highly doubt he would do anything to hurt her. Hitomi is far too skilled with weapons so he wouldn't get away with it."

Hitomi snorted from behind her father, "I am my mother's daughter."

"And she'd likely Gentle Fist the hell out of him if he did anything inappropriate," TenTen continued. "So you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Right, Shikadai?"

The young Nara gulped. He probably should have thought about it a little more when he decided that he would ask Hitomi to the festival. The things her mother said she would possibly do scared him half to death. Probably because he'd seen what the Gentle Fist technique could do from the Chunin exams a few years ago when he and Hitomi got promoted. She had taken out her opponent with ease. And if she could do that to someone as burly as that guy was, he had no chance in hell. But he liked her. She wasn't as troublesome as most females their age. So he nodded before speaking, "Right, Hyūga-san."

"See," TenTen beamed at her husband. "Now let those kids go have some fun."

"Fine," Neji finally relented. Damn that woman and that silver tongue of hers for convincing him. She always, always found a way to manipulate him into agreeing to whatever she said. He'd have to learn to stick to his guns one of these days and continue to say no until she gave up. "But only tonight."

"That's my Neji," TenTen repeated a phrase she had constantly used over the years before turning to her daughter, "Hit the road you two and have fun."

"Thanks Mom," Hitomi said smiling brightly.

Placing a quick kiss on her father's cheek, she walked from behind him, sending a smiling wink at her mother before grabbing Shikadai's hand and heading out the door. She'd have to thank her mother by treating her to an outing or something one of these days. It couldn't be easy to convince her father. He was a man that was very set in his ways. So to hear him actually agree took her by surprise.

TenTen smiled as she watched the two young ones leave before turning to find her husband glaring at her again, "What?"

"You did it again," Neji said; pale eyes narrowed at her as he folded his arms over his chest. "You did it again and you know you did."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Neji," TenTen said innocently as she walked away.

"You manipulated me into saying yes, again," Neji said following close behind her.

TenTen laughed as she resumed her spot in the kitchen, continuing to mince the vegetables that were laid out she had abandoned when she heard her daughter asking to go out with Shikadai.

"You know you said the exact same thing to them that you said to Hinata and Naruto eighteen years ago," TenTen recalled; a smile on her face as she dumped a pile of mixed vegetables into the pot on the burner. "And look where they are now. Married with two children. Gotta love the way the world works."

Neji, however, didn't say anything as he thought back to that night eighteen years ago. Then he turned on his heel and made a beeline for the front door. "Hitomi!"

Clearly Neji is not a fan of any female family member of his going out with anyone. First Hinata, now his own daughter. He can't win for losing with TenTen.