[I might be adding nejiten photos up here from now on since the book is slowly coming to an end. Some pictures wont even be related to the story, just cute nejiten overloads ^_^ Thanks for the idea @idekilikeanime]
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Neji was used to serious thinking. He'd sit alone in perfect stillness for hours doing nothing but, well, thinking seriously. It was how he functioned. He liked to process each thought and question through his mind so he could analyse it and know everything about it. One could not be in full control unless one knew all facets of one's thoughts and actions.

However, he was quickly discovering that love was illogical, irrational and unpredictable. It was the most infuriating, frustrating emotion he had ever experienced. He couldn't just sit down and think love through. He could try, as he had for the past three hours, but he always failed because there were no whys and wherefores. Love just was and would forever be.

It was infuriating because that meant he couldn't get rid of it. With every other unwanted emotion he felt, all he had to do was discover its source and deal with it accordingly. Once the source was gone, so was the emotion. It had worked splendidly so far.

However, his love's source was Tenten. Availing himself of Tenten was simple enough. Was that not what he had been trying to do with the month-long mission? But love did not depart with her absence. It dug its claws in deeper, ripped his logic apart, transformed from a burning flame into a blazing inferno and now, no matter how hard he tried, he could not seem to extinguish the fire…

...Was not sure he wanted to.

He felt more liberated than he had in years. There was no duty or obligation, just possibility - endless possibility. The hope that filled his heart warmed his soul. It was as though he were finally his own person. It was as though he had found himself in Tenten.

He did not want to let her go.

But he would, for her sake. He would find a way to extinguish this flame so she would not have to be unwittingly burned by it. The fire did not burn in her heart, so there was nothing else to do but either pine away or conquer. He chose to conquer, obviously.

Then it became infuriating again because he doubted his decision. He never doubted his own decisions! He made a decision and stood by it, stood through it, regardless of the outcome. However, now he was second-guessing himself and his own conclusions.

What if she did actually feel something?

His mind rejected the possibility of something so ludicrous. Who could want someone owned by someone else? Who could love a man who was not his own? He certainly didn't expect her to, certainly would never ask her to.

But his heart was alive with a foolish hope that maybe she did anyway. Maybe. Maybe.

It was that maybe that was keeping him up at night. It was that maybe that made him reluctant to let his love for her go.

But even if the impossible happened and she did somehow love him, it could only amount to nothing. Theirs would be a relationship of which his clan would never approve. They had far too many hopes for him in the breeding department. It would be too much of a waste for them to let him procreate with a commonerof unsubstantial bloodlines.

He forced himself to push down the overwhelming bitterness towards them, bitterness he hadn't felt for years. It was the bitterness he'd felt when he'd thought he'd had no choice, but such feelings were erroneous because he did have a choice. Correction – he'd had a choice and this life was what he'd chosen. The elders could pair with him who they wished.

And then his heart started beating fast with hope again. They could pair him with who they wished, but what if they did not have a particular wish? What if they actually did not care? Of course, this was all futile if Tenten did not even love him, but would it not be good to have the option, just in case?

He rebuked himself for such wishful thinking, but could not seem to help himself nonetheless. It was pitiful and yet the thought of the possibility, however slight, kept turning over in his mind.

"Neji."

Neji turned, startled at the deep, commanding voice that interrupted his foolish thoughts - the voice that belonged to his uncle.

Neji stood and bowed formally. "Lord Hiashi."

Hiashi laughed. "You know you do not need to be so formal with me when we are alone, my nephew. In the presence of others I am your Lord, in the presence of only us, I am your uncle."

Hiashi sat and Neji followed suit. Over the years since that fateful day at Neji's first chunin exams, Hiashi had been decidedly less severe with clan matters concerning him. He was still the only man Neji knew who could intimidate him, though. He wouldn't daredisobey Hiashi. Hiashi was ruthless and unfeeling in practically all matters. He had to be. A leader had to be partial in all matters, not letting his emotions cloud his judgment. Neji had always thought he would be up to the task, until now.

"Tell me what is on your mind, Neji. You were so deep in thought you did not even hear me approach. That is unlike you."

Neji didn't want to tell him that he had been doing many things unlike himself lately. Or perhaps, his actions actually were in concurrence to his nature, but he just hadn't had the chance to express that facet of his character until now.

"I was thinking on a great deal of subjects."

"Such as…"

Hiashi had that tone he used when he wanted an answer and would not accept 'no'. Neji recognized part of himself in such assertiveness, so knew better than to try to avoid giving an acceptable answer.

Then again, why shouldn't he just speak about what weighed heavily on his mind? Who better to speak of clan matters with than the leader of it? Hiashi needn't know who he was in love with necessarily. Neji doubted even Hiashi would figure it out.

"Marriage."

"Marriage?"

In all his years, Neji had never seen Hiashi so shocked and then so pleased.

"Well, Neji, I must admit I thought we'd have to force someone on you with the amount of interest you showed in interacting with the opposite sex. I cannot express how pleased I am that you are taking the initiative on your own. It shows maturity."

Neji hated to disappoint him, but... "I was not talking of my marriage, necessarily."

Hiashi's disappointment was palpable. "Then whose?"

"No one's in particular. Just marriage, what it entails, and to whom."

"Ah, so you want to know how people know who they are supposed to marry." Hiashi was pleased again. Did they really want him to marry that much? This did not bode well.

"Not necessarily. I was thinking more along the lines of clan marriage. How does it work?" He was finding it difficult to smooth into the topic in such a way as to ensure Hiashi would not be suspicious of his true motives.

"It works like any other marriage."

This was not working. "I am referring to one's choice of partner in the clan. Is it exclusive to clan members only, or is one permitted to marriage outside the clan?"

Hiashi raised a brow in apparent suspicion. Wonderful.

"It depends on who is requesting permission to marry outside the clan."

So he'd have to request permission to pursue a relationship with Tenten? Excellent. That would go down so well.

"It would also depend on whom the clan member wanted to marry."

It just kept getting better.

"So it is selective then?" Neji asked.

"Quite. While it is not forbidden to marry outside the clan, we as the clan must be certain that the clan member is not of particular use to us or that the outsider in question is worthy of becoming a member of the clan. Even if they are not Hyuga, they must have reputable bloodlines and heritage."

Neji felt his stomach drop. "Is that not a bit harsh?"

"Perhaps, but there is a reason for such severity. The Hyuga are the most prestigious clan in Konoha and that is because of such guidelines. These guidelines have preserved the status of the clan and have worked thus far; therefore I see no reason to change them."

In other words, a relationship between him and Tenten would be hopeless, it would never be allowed. It was obvious that the clan had particular use for him and he could not see how Tenten would be of any use to the clan. He thought she was a brave, honourable, and skilled kunoichi who would benefit any family she joined. However, the Hyuga would not. They were all about bloodlines.

"I see. That makes sense." It was logical. That's how the Hyuga functioned – through logic. That was how he had always functioned until now - until Tenten.

Suddenly logic wasn't enough anymore, but he was trapped by it nevertheless.
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*Hiashis mind if anyone is confused*

Hiashi narrowed his eyes as he watched his nephew walk back to the compound with heavy movements…and a heavy heart, no doubt. He knew not who Neji was in love with, but it was obvious that he had been inquiring for himself because this woman was not of the clan.

It was unfortunate that Neji should encounter such ill-fated luck. Fate had not been kind to his nephew. Just when Hiashi thought Neji was beginning to be happy and satisfied, he received another blow to the heart.

But there was nothing to be done for it. Neji had made his choice years ago and he would stand by it. He had to.

Hiashi would make sure of it.