The day of the art gallery has finally come. [Name] places the dangling pearl earrings into her ears. These earrings have been passed down through her family. Her mother didn't have much before she passed, but she didn't forget to give away those earrings to her only daughter.

She looks herself over in the mirror. Kushina advised her to wear something with color.

"All the women and men will be wearing red, black, and white. So make yourself stand out a little. Wear something with color. Pink, perhaps?"

The words echo inside her mind, and although she doesn't pick a pink dress, she does accentuate the dress with a sakura pink brooch.

The dress [Name] chooses is an elegant sage green. The floral accents of the long, slim ruffle skirt complemented the brooch nicely; accompanied with the off-shoulder bishop sleeves, the dress made her look like a fairy.

All that is left to do of her 3-hour 'I'm almost ready' trek is to put on lipstick. [Name] picks a deep red, nearly black lipstick to enhance the light green color.

She isn't an artist for nothing.

...

"Did you want to come?" Sasuke asks as Sakura fixes his tie.

"No, no. You enjoy your day away from me," she jokes, and Sasuke smiles tiredly. She brushes some dust off his shoulder. "Plus, high-class stuff like art galleries isn't really my thing. Too stuffy."

"Thought it would be a good excuse for you to dress up." Sakura kisses his cheek, placing her hands on his chest.

"Hmm. Maybe I'll be dressed up when you get back." Her voice dips an octave. The sultry noise makes a chill run through Sasuke's spine.

His hands find her waist. Thoughts of her in that red lingerie she bought a while ago run through his mind. She wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him into a sensual, deep kiss.

Sasuke feels nothing.

When Sakura pulls away, wiping her gloss from his lips with a satisfied smirk, she says, "Come back soon, okay?"

...

Naruto rushes from one side of his room to another. He was never the best at these kinds of things. So used to making sure Sasuke's ready first, he procrastinated until the last hour to prepare.

A twenty-minute shower, a ten-minute dress-up, and the rest of the time, he's trying to knot up his tie. He even brings up a video tutorial on how to do it.

Sasuke's usually better at these, Naruto dwells as he observes the woman instruct in a robotic tone. He follows along, and although his tie is a little lopsided, it's finished by the end of the video.

Naruto stands, looking himself over in the mirror. His suits are notoriously strange. This time around, he wears a white suit with an orange button-up and a white tie.

He always wants to stand out. It's just his personality.

Standing out is just who he is.

...

[Name] is nervous. The Uzumaki family has yet to show up, but all her paintings are up in the gallery, along with many others.

So many people, she thinks, looking around. So many people are here.

Rich people. All fancy in one way or another. The women in their sleek dresses, allowing designer clothes huge every curve. Muffin top or not, they all appear stunning. Their little clutch purses elegantly wrapped up in their hands. Nails masterfully done, making [Name] wonder who their nail technician could possibly be. Their lips and faces perfectly sculpted, fake or not, [Name] agrees these women are hot.

Men, in their simple tuxedos, looked, well, simple. But that doesn't stop them from flashing their golden watches, pristine cufflinks, and using any type of flirty language they picked up from spy movies. Witty quips, tantalizing touches, and quick flirty winks---straight out of a movie.

[Name] continues to walk around. Picking up a cocktail and a little snack on the trays. She eats and drinks, avoiding most people, except those who wave and voice their weird little rich people greetings.

"This one is so colorful."

[Name] turns to the voice and sees a man. Yes, he's wearing a tuxedo, but the lavender tie seems to match the color of his eyes. His long brown hair frames his face perfectly, and when he catches her eye, he smiles.

She still doesn't know whether he's talking to her or not. Nonetheless, he continues.

"It's more lively than the others that are here, yeah?"

[Name] looks around, making sure no one is behind her.

"Yes, yes," he says, mirth ringing in his voice. "I'm talking to you. You are the artist, right?"

She looks back at him, and he's pointing to her picture next to the blurb she wrote for this piece. She looks up at the colorful ballerina girl she painted and that Sasuke eagerly bought.

"Oh, right," she says. A nervousness builds inside of her. "Yes, I am the artist."

He chuckles, reaching his hand out to her. "Neji Hyuga."

She takes his hand, giving it a firm shake. "[Name], but I'm sure you knew that."

Neji brings her hand to his lips, gently kissing her knuckles. "Walk and talk with me."

She agrees, hooking her arm into his. He asks her to explain her pieces, and she does. Some of them don't have any meaning. Some have too much.

"This one," she points at an abstract piece, "I did when I wanted to try a new style. It didn't come out right, but Mrs. Uzumaki loved it. Something about the primary colors scratches the primal monkey brain or something like that."

Neji stifles a laugh with an elegant hand over his mouth. "Oh really?"

"I mean, she said it. Not me."

While Neji admires the piece, she takes a real good look at him. His style is sharp and perfect. Everything about him seemed disciplined and superior. Yet the way he holds her, his facial expressions, they're all soft, gentle, as if to humble himself in the presence of someone he cares for.

He's a perfect blend of femininity and masculinity. Balanced.

A perfect work of art.

"You've never been to one of these before, have you?" He asks, meeting her eye for the second time.

[Name] shakes her head. "No."

"I could tell." He guides her through crowds of people and finally to a bench for them to sit. "You don't belong here, but like in a good way."

"A good way?"

"You're not stuffy. Don't have a stick up your ass." Even the way he curses is proper. "Like Naruto, but prettier."

"You know Naruto?"

Neji nods. "We've been friends ever since I was young."

She hums, wanting to know more. "Is that why you're here? To see him?"

Neji shakes his head. "No." He straightens his back, guiding her to sit properly as well. "Three days out of the week, I teach yoga. Thought some art would look nice in the dojo. But that colorful one isn't for sale."

"Ah, yes, Sasuke bought that one a while ago," she says, looking back at the painting. Two couples look at it and discuss it heavily while sipping their drinks. Unconsciously, she sips on hers as well. [Name] returns her gaze to Neji. "What do you do the other four days?"

"I teach self-defense. Hyugan martial arts called Gentle Fist."

"Yooo," she covers her mouth. Amusement dances in her eyes. "That's so cool. Holy shit. I mean... Excuse my language."

"Pfft. Okay." He laughs, trying his best to stifle it. "I can teach you sometime." He pulls out a business card from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. His name and contact information is all laid out before her.

She takes it, scanning it over. "I hope this is a professional way of saying call me sometime?"

"Oh, it most definitely is," he says, playing into the joke. "I'll even make sure to give you private lessons. Only the best for my best clients."

...

A/N: I'm not in the mood to make a 3000-word chapter that isn't smut. Yes, Neji and MC are flirting. She's on her pimp shit, got Sasuke, Naruto, AND NEJI wrapped around her fingers.
Leave her alone. She's playing the field with THREE RICH DUDES. I wish I was her irl.
Btw, Naruto in tuxs is my new kink.
I love you 💕 bye-bye.