A/N: Alright, well, we're at the third kiss. I don't expect updating to usually be this irregular, so I do apologize. By the way, if you google the meaning of Tenten's fake name, you might find it interesting when considered with the plot. Please review! :)

"Neji, Tenten, though it may not seem like it, this is a very important mission," Tsunade told them. "I need you to be at this party, protecting Ruya-san, but you cannot be obvious about it. Therefore, you must go undercover. Shizune has made you fake identities and I have already had your attire for the night sent to Gai. Are you ready to take this on?"

"Of course, Tsunade-sama," Tenten replied. "We won't let you down."

Neji nodded his agreement.

"You are dismissed," Tsunade told them. "Good luck."

Shizune handed them two folders with their temporary identities before they left.

Once they were outside, Neji gently took Tenten's hand.

"We should probably start looking at who we're supposed to be," he suggested.

"Yeah, let's get some ramen or something," Tenten nodded.

"Oh, I don't have my wallet," Neji shrugged. "We can just sit down somewhere."

The brown haired girl rolled her eyes.

"I have money, Neji," she told him. "It's okay."

"I don't have money," Neji replied. "The man pays."

Tenten blinked a few times, unsure of how to deal with his attitude. Neji didn't pick up on her discomfort so he resumed walking. After taking a few paces, he noticed that Tenten wasn't walking with him. The long haired man was not prepared for what was coming when he turned around.

"YOU ARE A SEXIST PIG!" Tenten exclaimed.

Neji stared at her for a long moment. Even if she had said 'sexiest', there was still the matter of the atrocious grammatical structure of the sentence, and, of course, the word 'pig'.

Her hands rolled up into tight fists, Tenten glared at him.

"I'm going to talk to Gai-sensei," she told him.

Neji at least had the common sense not to go with her at this time.

"I'll go talk to him later," he said slowly.

"You're damn right you will," Tenten muttered. "Thinks I can't take care of myself…"

She stomped off in the direction of the training grounds, still angry.

"It would seem that Tenten-san is not happy with you."

Neji nearly groaned. The one person he didn't need to talk to had shown up: Sai.

"I would assume so," Neji agreed. "Anyway, I'll see–"

"Would you like to talk about your altercation?" Sai smiled. "I have often read that talking about your problems is good for you."

Neji sighed. He was about to tell Sai that he had an urgent errand to run but, hell, he didn't really have anyone else to talk to. Lee and Gai would probably break down crying, Hiashi wouldn't know what to say, and Naruto was, well, Naruto.

"Okay," Neji replied. "So, Tenten and I were walking, just hanging out before our mission later tonight. And I said that we should just sit down somewhere, because I didn't have my wallet. She then insisted that she had money and that we didn't need to just sit. When I said that the man should pay, she got all angry and started yelling at me."

"I do not understand," Sai shrugged. "She had money, why didn't you let her pay? You are a couple and I have heard that couples share everything. Why not money?"

Neji opened his mouth and closed it again within a few seconds. Really, there was no reason. Tenten was his equal and there was no reason that she shouldn't pay. Perhaps he could make it to Gai before Tenten left, to apologize. His inner manly pride was hurt, sure, but an angry Tenten was not good for anybody, especially the one who made her angry.

"You were helpful, Sai," Neji said hurriedly. "Goodbye."

Sai smiled as Neji started in the direction of the training grounds.

"Ugly will be surprised," Sai said, to nobody in particular. "I helped somebody."

While Neji at least got someone mildly normal to talk to, Tenten was stuck with Gai.

"And, Tenten, while you're in this flame of youth, the passion can be too much!" Gai explained fervently. "And that is why fights may happen. Still, you must persevere to save your youthful love! Because if you lose it now, you may never have the chance to get it back!"

Tenten groaned loudly.

"Gai-sensei, I just want the details for the mission," she told him for the fifth time. "I don't need advice on how to run my relationship with the sexist pig."

"You are missing the point!" Gai exclaimed. "You must learn to quell the fire with gentle streams of love."

Neji nodded serenely.

"I agree," he said seriously. "Tenten, you really must learn to quell the fire with gentle streams of love."

Tenten nearly screamed; she hadn't noticed him there. Gai merely smiled at his two students.

"You are to meet Ruya-san in an hour at this location," he told them. "Tenten, this is your dress."

Tenten stared on, horrified, as Gai pulled a tiny red dress out of a bag. It was strapless and sparkly and Tenten didn't even want to think about putting it on. All she could think about was the smirk that was surely on Neji's face now, and how ridiculously beautiful that smirk was.

"Neji, you will wear a suit," Gai continued. "I have received one in your size; I hope it's okay. You will be posing as a married couple, Sato Kaiyo and Sato Hideo. Tenten, Kaiyo is a designer who is in the high fashion world. Neji, Hideo is a businessman involved in many companies. Go forth and succeed youthfully, my pupils!"

"Thank you, Gai-sensei," Neji said. "Tenten and I will go prepare ourselves."

Neji casually put an arm around the still horrified Tenten, grabbed the clothes, and started walking toward Tenten's house.

"Excuse me, just what do you think you're doing?" Tenten asked.

Evidently, the shock was gone. Tenten had always known she'd have to wear something like this at some point.

"Get your hand off of me before I tear it off, Hyuga," she told him.

Neji removed his hand slowly, sighing.

"Tenten, I want–" he began.

"I don't want to hear it right now," Tenten interrupted. "I spent fifteen minutes listening to Gai-sensei go on about some crap about the flames of love, and I do not want to listen to you. We can settle this ridiculous sexist issue of yours after our mission. I will see you here in fifty five minutes."

She grabbed the dress from his hands and walked away again, rolling her eyes.

Neji shrugged, going toward his own home. After all, he had to try on the suit. He didn't want to be wearing an ill fitting suit when attempting to apologize to Tenten…

Fifty minutes later, Tenten was waiting at the training field. Hinata had done her makeup and it wasn't overdone, but it assured that Tenten would fit in at the high status party. The red dress was hugging curves that she wasn't quite comfortable with, but she would have to deal with it.

"You look nice."

Tenten's heart nearly skipped a beat as she turned to look at the source of the compliment. Neji's suit was tailored and, oh, he looked like nothing Tenten should ever have been angry with. Still, she couldn't back down just because he looked heavenly. She just wouldn't let him know how nice he looked.

"Thank you," Tenten said curtly. "Your suit is nice as well."

Any lesser man would've cringed at the mere amount of venom she had injected into the seeming compliment. Neji was not, however, a lesser man, so he managed to ignore it.

"There's Ruya-san," Tenten pointed out suddenly.

A red haired woman dressed in a purple dress more revealing than Tenten's had just descended from a carriage and was walking toward them.

"Hello, Ruya-san," Tenten greeted her. "I'm Tenten, and this is Neji. We will be your protection for the night."

"Oh, darling, you are looking too gorgeous!" Ruya told her. "Perhaps you could do me a favor and not walk in with me. God knows you would outshine me."

"Uh, thank you, Ruya-san," Tenten replied. "We are ready to leave whenever you are."

"Of course, of course," Ruya said airily. "Let's go. There is a Cinderella theme apparently, so I got my own carriage out. It will be an hour's ride and I would love to hear about your undercover personas so I can pretend to know the hottest couple at the party."

Tenten's cheeks turned a faint pink color; Neji didn't say anything.

Once they were settled inside, Ruya turned to them with a wide grin.

"So, all you need to know about me is that I'm Ruya," she shrugged. "I'm not the best dancer so, please, stop me if you see me inching toward the dance floor. I'm very used to these parties and will move about rather quickly, like a butterfly, so keep track. Now, your identities?"

"We are a married couple, of course," Neji replied. "I am Sato Hideo, a successful businessman, and she is my wife, Kaiyo, a high fashion designer. We are new in town and want to get into the party scene, so we've decided to attend the party tonight."

"Wonderful, wonderful!" Ruya beamed. "I trust you will not get distracted by this high class function. It's all a load of nonsense, really. Why else would I be targeted there?"

It was the first time she had mentioned her possible assassination all night and Tenten was surprised by how easy it was for her to talk about it.

"Anyway, it must be really awkward for you guys, huh?" Ruya asked. "Pretending to be a couple."

Tenten laughed uneasily and Neji kept his mouth shut.

"Oh, I see," Ruya grinned. "Interesting, very interesting."

Their arrival saved Neji and Tenten from having to say anything more.

"Stay close, shinobi," Ruya said softly.

And with that, she was out of the carriage and giving air kisses to the first person she saw.

"She's fascinating," Tenten remarked.

"Sure," Neji grunted. "Fascinating."

Keeping an eye on Ruya, they made their way through the people, stopping to chat every now and then.

"Oh, yes, I have seen your label! Kaiyo-san, you are too talented!"

"I'm sure Hideo-san has no problem buying you nice things, Kaiyo-san!"

"Could be the other way around too. Who's more successful?"

"You are simply going to love it here! We throw the best parties!"

"Kaiyo-san, did you design your own dress? It's simply beautiful!"

"Oh, Hideo-san, you have the loveliest hair. Please do share your secret!"

"And how did you two meet?"

Tenten sat on a stool next to the bar, exhausted. She felt like the people here were sucking all the energy out of her.

"Kaiyo, are you okay?" Neji asked, concerned.

"I'm fine, sweetheart," Tenten assured him, through gritted teeth. "How could I not be when I have such a wonderful husband?"

She was sure that if they had been with the people they had been talking with earlier, they would have declared that they were just "too adorable!"

"You have a point," Neji smirked. "How about a dance, darling?"

She started to protest but he shook his head.

"I could always call over a few of our new friends and take a vote," he suggested.

"Idiot," Tenten muttered. "I'll get you back for this."

"Come now, love," Neji chuckled. "I know slow dances are your favorite."

She allowed Neji to slowly pull her onto the dance floor. Once she caught sight of Ruya, Tenten stopped him and put her arms around his neck. His hands came to rest on her hips and they started to sway to the music, carefully watching Ruya at the same time.

"I'm sorry," Neji murmured, pulling Tenten closer. "I shouldn't have had that attitude."

Tenten, who had been playing with Neji's oh so soft hair, was jerked out of her daydream by his apology.

"That's good," she replied absentmindedly. "Promise not to be such an idiot about women paying?"

Neji smiled and leaned forward to capture her lips with his own. Tenten could feel the stares, so she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him more fervently. Her body nearly melted into his and, for a moment, they were one. The kiss was interrupted when both of them felt that there was something wrong.

They broke apart at the same time. Neji immediately activated his Byakugan and Tenten whipped out kunai and shuriken. About thirty feet away from Ruya, Neji found the man they had been looking for. The five kunai were already halfway toward her. He looked at Tenten for a split second and they both nodded.

Tenten shot her kunai and shuriken into the air, sending the other kunai clattering uselessly to the floor. Neji went after the assailant, easily weaving through the crowd to reach him. The man tried to run but the Hyuga jumped right over him and landed in front of him.

With one powerful strike to the chest, the man shot to the floor, landing with a hollow thud. He had been unconscious since the moment Neji had struck him.

"I guess we just take him along for interrogation?" Tenten guessed.

"Probably," Neji shrugged.

"Kaiyo-san, Hideo-san!" Ruya exclaimed. "You saved my life!"

The crowd burst into applause. Tenten and Neji exchanged swift glances and pulled Ruya over to the scene.

"Do you know this man?" Neji asked seriously.

Ruya took one look at him and shrieked.

"Ruya-san, please calm down," Tenten told her. "Who is he?"

"He's my b-boyfriend," Ruya explained. "Ex-boyfriend. We broke up a few months ago. My friends had told me that he was trying to get to me for…"

"Neji, Tenten, well done!" Gai's voice exclaimed over their headsets.

They winced; Gai still hadn't gotten the hang of using the electronics.

"Gai, give me that headset!"

They were given some relief as Tsunade took over the communications.

"Shizune's research points to him being the only assailant. We have extra shinobi outside. You will create a scene if you remain there, so you are done. Nice job."

Neji and Tenten didn't reply but turned to Ruya and smiled.

"It was nice doing a mission for you, Ruya-san," Tenten told her. "I hope we can meet again some time."

"Darling, I hope you wear that dress again!" Ruya exclaimed. "You look stunning! And Hideo-san knows it too."

She winked at Neji in an overly obvious manner.

Neji grimaced.

"I hope you remain safe, Ruya-san," he said. "Goodbye."

The socialites were so busy talking among themselves that Neji and Tenten were able to slip out without making a huge uproar. Once outside, Tenten took a deep breath.

"Too bad that kiss got cut off," she remarked casually.

"Too bad," Neji agreed.

"Well, we should probably start getting back to Konoha," Tenten suggested.

They started walking, hand in hand. They were in no great hurry to return; after all, it wasn't even midnight.

They didn't complete three steps before Tenten pulled on Neji's hand and closed the space between their bodies. It was as if they had never separated; the harmony of the last kiss was unbroken.

"Think of it as a continuation of the last one," Tenten shrugged, grinning.

Neji smiled back, his eyes twinkling.