Show and Tell2: Neji's Return

I don’t own Naruto, any of it’s characters nor do I profit from my fics…

“Hinata! Hinata! Come in here. I need help moving the punch and the crystal!” Hinata’s mother called to her. The Hyuuga family was running around like crazy trying to prepare for the party. Neji and Hiashi were out in the courtyard setting up tables and covering them all in the white linen tablecloths that Neji had picked up at the cleaners earlier. These tablesloths were used only two times: at the annual party or at weddings.

“Mom, mom I need you to come in here.” Hanabi called from the bathroom.

“I can’t come in there right now baby. Hold on!” she called back to Hanabi. Hinata followed her mother around with the punch…it wasn’t time to set the punch out…it was time to spike it and then allow it to chill.

“Really? The whole bottle? Hinata asked as she opened up a bottle of plum sake.

“Yes, sweetheart, pour the whole bottle in. We need more crystal, I have to get to the top shelf.” Hinata’s mother said half thinking out loud.

“Be careful mom.” Hinata said as she began pouring an entire bottle of plum sake into the punch. It was going to be strong…but delicious. “Mom, how many gallons of the punch do we have pre made? Like how many need sake added to them?’ Hinata asked. Hinata’s mother climbed down from the kitchen counter with her hands full of crystal cups.

“Well, there are seven more gallons tat need sake added, so go ahead and get seven more bottles out of the cabinet.” Her mother said.

“Mom! Can you come in here?” Hanabi called again.

“Baby, I’m busy!” she called back. Hinata left and went to the sake cabinet and returned with three bottles of plum sake, she went back and got four more bottles. “Hinata, can you go see what your sister needs? She’s in the bathroom.” Her mother said. Hinata left the sake and went to the bathroom to see what Hanabi was up to.

“Hinata…I need to ask you something…close the door.” 13 year old Hanabi said. Hinata closed the door, Hanabi seemed to panic. “Hinata there’s something wrong with me…I’m bleeding.” Hinata smiled.

“There’s nothing wrong with you. You’ve gotten your period. It will happen every month now until you’re about 50.” Hinata scared searching through the bathroom cubbard.

“What?” Hanabi sounded scared.

“It’s okay Hanabi, it’s supposed to happen. I’ll let mom explain everything to you later, all you need to know for now is that it happens to every woman, it even happens to me and it happens to Ten Ten. Hinata mentioned Ten Ten because Hanabi liked her. It’s okay, here, you have to wear this anytime you start bleeding.” Hinata managed to take care of the disaster in the bathroom and she returned to her mother.

“What was wrong with her?” her mother asked.

“Hanabi got her period today of all days.”

“Oh god…I’ll have to take her before the council of elders for her ‘initiation’.” She said.

“Yeah, but you should talk to her first, like you did me and like Hiashi did with Neji.” Hinata said pouring sake into one of the pre missed gallons.

“Yes you are indeed correct.” Her mother said pulling more crystal down from the shelves to take outside.

“Neji, let’s put these two tables together.” Hiashi said to his nephew referring to two long tables where all the food would go. Neji grabbed one end and Hiashi was on the other end of a table, the readjusted and cinched the tablecloth to it. Fortunately, there was a breeze moving and it was supposed to continue throughout the evening.

“Neji, are you okay?” Hiashi asked him.

“Yeah…yeah I’ll be fine.” Neji said nervously.

“Don’t worry Neji, it’ll be okay. You’ve got to relax, we still have a lot of work to do today and you’re already sidetracked.” Hiashi said.

“I know, I know. I’m sorry Hiashi-sama.” Neji said. They went to retrieve more tables to set up in the courtyard and get set up the torches that would light the courtyard that evening. Neji and Hiashi kept arranging and rearranging tales. They wanted the courtyard to be well balanced and every time they set up a table, they ended up moving it elsewhere. They hadn’t even gotten chairs out yet because they couldn’t’ decide where to put the tables.

“How many is expected tonight?” Neji asked.

“Well, it started out as 40 but we’re planning for 60.” Hiashi answered. Neither Hiashi or Neji saw a party for 60 people as a stressful event or as something highly unusual. The only thing they did was wait until the last minute to set up.

“Okay, Neji the caterers are going to be here in just a few hours and so we need to have all the tables up so they can set up the food platters and the place settings.” Hiashi said.

“We’ll have everything set up, besides it we start getting short on time, I’ll stake the torches and you can finish up the tables and chairs.” Neji suggested.

Meanwhile, at Ten Ten’s home she was beside herself that today was the day she would wear her radiant viridian dress. She couldn’t wait to put it on, for she had never owned anything that beautiful before. Even her mother was anxious to see Ten Ten in the brilliant green dress. It was surprising because Ten Ten was certain her mother would think the dress to mature or too suggestive. Her mother had surprised her on lots of things lately.

By 5:00 that night everyone in the Hyuuga residence had started getting dressed. They had one hour before the party started and the Hyuuga courtyard looked beautiful. The caterers had arrived and were setting up food for the guests as well as putting place settings on the tables. Neji had changed clothes at least 10 times…it was unlike him…yet it was typical of him. He always looked sexy but tonight was different. Hinata was in her room fuming over what to wear and whispering on the phone to Naruto…she was making big plans to leave the party early that night and slip over to Naruto’s after her parents were drunk and shoving their tongues down each other’s throat. Besides, Neji and Ten Ten would cover for her before they went to Neji’s room to have a good time.

Ten Ten was in front of the mirror at her house putting the finishing touches on her luscious auburn hair by 5:40. She had already slipped into the viridian halter dress and she was truly a stunning sight. She had never before looked so grown up, so womanly, so sophisticated.

“Ten Ten, look at you baby! You’re so beautiful!” Ten Ten’s mother remarked fingering the chiffon overlay on her dress. Her mother was so proud of her little girl. Soon, Ten Ten left her home and headed for the Hyuuga manor.

It was the perfect evening for a party, the breeze still hung in the air and the evening was the ideal temperature, not too hot and not too cool. Ten Ten approached the Hyuuga home only to see a lot of very nicely dressed guests arriving. She walked through the gates, Neji must have been waiting for her arrival because he spotted her and quickly made his way through the courtyard towards her.

“Te…Ten Ten…” He was left a little speechless. Ten Ten smiled like the angel that she was.

“Hi Neji.” She answered.

“You look….so…gorgeous.” Neji swallowed hard and felt his mouth go dry. He had never seen his girlfriend look like this before and he was definitely not prepared for it. The fact that she looked so amazing didn’t help his nerves.
“Thanks Neji.” Ten Ten said smiling. Neji reached out and took her hand.

“Come with me. I have something for you.” Ten Ten noticed Neji’s palms were sweating and he was walking really fast with her trailing along.

“Neji, are you okay? You seem a little nervous.” Ten Ten asked gripping his hand a little tighter.

“Oh…I’m fine Ten Ten.” He led her through a cluster of guests and into the Hyuuga home. He continued with her through the house until he had her in his bedroom. He closed the door behind them. He didn’t want anyone...anyone at all ruining this moment for him. Ten Ten wasn’t certain why he led her into his room. She knew they wouldn’t get busy yet. “Sss…Sit down Ten Ten.” Neji said motioning her to his bed. Ten Ten sat down, her green dress spreading out on both sides of her. Neji gazed at her a moment. “God…you’re…really unbelievable.” Neji said his voice soft and tentative.

“Neji, are you sure you’re okay? What’s wrong? Ten Ten reached out to put her arms around him. She was concerned because she had never seen him act this way. Neji grabbed both of her hands and squeezed them.

“Ten Ten, I love you. You’ve been my friend for many years and…well…now you’re my friend…my best friend…and much more than that…I know you have said that you’re a ninja…but tonight…you’re an angel.” Neji let out a long nervous breath. He reached a hand into his pocket. “This is for you…and I’m praying to every god in the universe that…well…this is for you…okay close your eyes.” Ten Ten was puzzled but she did exactly as she was instructed, she knew Neji must have his reasons for being the way that he was. Neji pulled a small box out of his pocket and took something out of it. “Okay, open your eyes again.” Ten Ten indeed opened her eyes….as wide as the moon was round. She watched as Neji very slowly slipped a solid band of jade around her finger.

“Nnn…Nnne…Neji…” Ten Ten whispered. Neji checked her tiny finger to see how it fit her…he had done an excellent job sizing her.

“I can’t marry you now Ten Ten. But I can someday sooner than later. If you wear this, then no one else can claim you but me. I love you, Ten Ten.” Neji put his arms around her shoulders and looked at the jade that now adorned her. This was exactly why Hinata was ordered to dress Ten Ten in green.

“Neji…I’ve never had anything like this in my life. You know no one else could ever claim me but you.” She threw her arms around him and let her lips sink into his.

“So you like it, baby.” Neji asked her pushing strands of hair out of her face.

“I love it. But you know, you didn’t have to get me a ring to glue me to you, I kind of already am.” Ten Ten laughed. She managed to get Neji to smile.

“I know, but you needed this because now look at you, you’re complete.” Neji held her body into his. Ten Ten looked at her hand again, it was indeed a fine piece of jewelry. Neji pulled Ten Ten up from his bed and wrapped her up in his arms again. “Okay, we should go eat and get some sake before my aunt and uncle drinks it all. But first, what are you wearing underneath this dress?” Neji asked her, that smirk that she loved to hate creeping across his face. Ten Ten giggled.

“Why don’t you put your hands up my dress and find out.” She actually made Neji blush, but nonetheless, he reached his hands under the numerous layers of fabric and inched his way up her thighs.

“Oooooh….god ooooooh….you’re.” Neji was interrupted by Ten Ten’s adorable laughter and the fact that she had pulled his body closer into hers. She could feel him already growing underneath his long, elegant robe. She wasn’t wearing anything under her dress.

“Maybe, I’ll wear only the ring for you later.” She whispered to him, licking his ear in the process. It was going to be on hell of a party that night.