The Girl With Two Buns. A NejiTen Fanfic

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Tenten wore a dark green quipao on a wine coloured pair of trousers and her chestnut brown hair was braided neatly and wrapped around her head in two buns just the way she liked it. The outfit was her late mother's. She wore it as a good luck charm and prayed that she would find the Prince's favour.

Anko had been taken to her master's place the day before and was left in the good, albeit boisterous and over enthusiastic, hands of Maito Gai. The self proclaimed handsome green beast of Konoha was Tenten's boss at work, and the father of her best friend, Lee.

The man along with his adopted son was loud, over dramatic and hyperactive. They both said the word 'youth' one too many times that murder was considered an option to get them to stop what had now become a verbal tic for them.

The two wore ridiculous green spandex which nobody could ever change their minds about (it was ludicrous and absolutely ridiculous but they just loved the spandex) and loved to cry especially at sunset.  With their matching shiny black hair styled in bowl cuts, thick brows and the whitest set of teeth, one would mistake them for a real father and child at first glance.

However, despite how rambunctious the pair was, they never stereotyped women to belong in the kitchen and take care of children. They believed in what they called the youthfulness of blossoming flowers (women in the Gai and Lee language) and accepted Tenten as a black smith in their workshop. Tenten was worried for Anko but she knew that despite how disaster prone the two were, her guardian was in good hands.

"Mother, father, please watch over me. Kami-sama please let me receive the crown Prince's favour." Tenten muttered a short prayer and left for the palace. Being a maid was not her forte but she figured that she could do it since she had been taking care of Anko for so long.

Upon getting to the giant gates of the palace, Tenten's mouth dropped open. The place was fenced with stone walls and the width and breath of it alone made Tenten feel like a drop in the ocean. The buildings were made of stones and decorative jewels, and it had lush fields. It was beautiful. Servants in their blue and white kimonos were scattered round the place doing their respective works and guards were in strategic positions, keeping an eye out for any suspicious things or movements.

Tenten stood in awe of the palace for a few moments before shaking her head to clear her thoughts. Looking around, she spotted a servant and asked for directions to the interview location. She had never been more nervous in her life, and that was coming from a confident woman such as herself. Her legs shook as she walked to the place, praying repeatedly for favour. Her hopes, however, shattered when she saw Ino close to tears and emerging from the building. "I-Ino!" She called out to her blond friend.

"Tenten!" Ino wailed once she saw her friend and ran towards the brown haired girl for a hug. "He rejected me! He Said m-my scent is too strong!" She sobbed, oblivious to her choking friend.

'Too much...perfume!' Tenten choked on the strong floral scent that emanated from her friend. She still managed to give Ino a comforting pat on the back though.

"On the bright side, I can take care of Anko-san if you are chosen! Sai has no competition for my love anymore." Ino's personality did a quick 180 degrees change. The blond girl wiped her eyes and adjusted her make up before skipping away, leaving her friend really confused.

Shrugging, Tenten continued her journey with renewed hope and like the previous one, her hope was shattered when she saw the forlorn look on the son of her boss' face. Not Lee, but Kiba. She wondered what he was doing looking for a job when his family was well to do. The fellow brunet raised his head up and spotted her at once. "Tenten-san." Kiba acknowledged grimly.

"Kiba-san. Why are you here?" The woman asked curiously.

"Well..." Kiba trailed off, absently scratching the red triangular tribal mark on one of his cheeks, a nervous habit, and smiled awkwardly. "I gambled away mother's money and mother threatened to sell Akamaru to the pounds if I didn't refund it." He explained sheepishly and Tenten anime fell.