The Girl With Two Buns. A NejiTen Fanfic

21

"What?!" Shion clenched her teacup. She had just received word from her spy about Neji and what she found out certainly displeased her. "So that is why that wench had the guts to talk back to me! So this is why that foolish prince rejected my hand in marriage!! Those lowly creatures!" Shion raged and smashed her teacup against the floor.

"Shion-sama please calm down!" Her personal guard placated. Shion did with her breaths short and heavy with rage and envy. She fisted her hands so hard that her nails dug into her palms and it bled as the ugly emotions swirled through her head, that was until a nasty idea entered her head and she grinned like a thief who was successful in his haul.

"So te[1] I shall withdraw from this marriage proposal with a parting gift for them both, no?" Shion chuckled and went into her chambers to fix herself up for a meeting with the king.

King Hiashi was seated in the meeting room with Shion few feet away from the screen that separated them both. The screen was raised so that they could see each other and the meeting commenced.

Shion bowed herself to the floor in respect. "Hiashi-sama, may your reign in the kingdom last long."

"Lady Shion, what brings you to meet with me?" Hiashi asked.

"I have come regarding the matter of his Highness the crown prince, your Majesty." Shion appealed.

"Speak." Hiashi commanded.

"The prince has rejected my hand in marriage, Hiashi-sama." Shion announced.

"That impudent boy!" Hiashi growled angrily. He clearly told Neji that there was no backing out in this marriage proposal but he still had the nerve to reject it?!

"It seems to me that there is a distraction keeping him from assuming his royal duties as soon to be king." Shion spoke, barely hiding a grin.

"Distraction?"

"Hai. A palace maid whom goes by the name Tenten."

"Tenten? Who is out there?" He called and a guard opened the paper door, bowing in the presence of his superiors. "Is there a servant in this palace who is named Tenten?" Hiashi asked the guard.

"Yes your Majesty. She is Neji-sama's personal maid and right hand." The guard answered and was dismissed.

"She has seduced the Prince into forgetting his duties. Hiashi-sama, this could be dangerous to the kingdom for she is a spy in disguise for a group planning a coup d'etat to overthrow. I have had a guard follow her movement because I did not trust her and lo, she left the palace last week for reasons we do not understand. After all, you are not aware of her employment. It is best you lock her up and make an example off her." Shion lied through her teeth and Hiashi being oblivious to her ill contempt believed her words.

The king sent guards to arrest the assailant while Shion grinned maniacally, hiding the evil smile behind her fan.

~ x ~

Tenten handed the farm tools to the farmer with a smile on her face, waving as the man left with his tools. The smile on her face broke as her bracelet suddenly slipped from her wrist and fell.

"Hmm, that is a sign of bad luck. Perhaps something ominous would happen to your lover?" Anko commented upon seeing the loose bracelet on the floor. Tenten picked it up with a frown. It was firm on her hand just seconds before, how come it came loose?

"The palace guards are in the village!" Lee suddenly burst in, announcing the big news.

"What? Is there an offender?" Gai asked above the iron he was beating but was not given the chance to speak more as two palace guards and a man Tenten recognized as Shion's guard barged into the smithery.