Tenten loved Easter. She loved the bright colours and the warm smiles that were shared during the festive period. She loved the festival that was held every year, the activities you could take part in with friends.
Neji, however, didn't enjoy the holiday. The Hyūga progidy would rather have spent this time training or out on missions. But every year he was forced to participate in the occasion.
Currently, Tenten was dragging him to an easter egg painting stand. Rock Lee and Gai Sensei were currently on an easter egg hunt all over the village.
"Tenten, do we really have to do this?" Neji groaned, stopping in his tracks.
"Yes!" The bun-haired kunoichi exclaimed. "After we paint them we can enter them in the competition!"
He could just rip out of her grip and go home. He could go train. But he decided to stay. He and Tenten had known each other for as long as they both could remember, and not only was she a comrade and opponent, she was also a friend. A very close friend who had been there for him thoughout the hardships he faced involving his clan. If she wanted to celebrate Easter by having some fun at the festival, then so be it.
Tenten forced him into a seat and sat next to him. Picking up an egg and paintbrush, she began to paint.
Neji watched as she painted the egg. Colourful elaborate designs were beginning to coat its pale white surface. The way her hand moved, the way her tongue stuck out at the small details, fascinated Neji. He'd never saw her paint, but he knew she was a keen artist. Now, her true skills were shining through.
"Neji?" He pulled himself out of his trance and focused his gaze on her.
"Aren't you going to paint?" She handed him an egg and paintbrush.
He stared at it for a while, trying to think up a design. Then the perfect one came to mind. He began to paint, very slowly and carefully, his idea.
Tenten continued to paint her egg for the contest, but for Neji this was more than a contest.
"So what're you doing?" Tenten asked, leaning over his shoulder to take a look. He quickly hid the egg behind his back.
"You'll see soon."
The strong weapons mistress wasn't happy at the rejection of seeing his design, but knew there was no arguing with the young Hyūga. She would just have to wait.
Neji continued to carefully paint the twists and turns of the design, even spray-painting a part light pink. Finally, he was done.
Tenten had already entered her design, a pretty array of colour and pattern, and was waiting on her team mate to put in his entry. When he simply walked away with the egg, however, the bun haired kunoichi frowned.
"Aren't you entering your design?" She asked Neji.
"No, this is for someone more important." The white-eyed Hyūga placed the egg in her hand.
When she saw the design she gasped. The egg was beautiful. Fading a light pink from the bottom up, the egg had a small dove flying away, while clutching a red ribbon in its claws. Hanging from the ribbon were two charms. One a kunai, the other a ying yang symbol. To represent the both of them, she guessed. Tenten, the weapons mistress and Neji, the eight trigrams master. Next to the dove and ribbon was an abstract design of swirls, like a large vine winding it's way around the egg.
"Neji..." The usually talkative kunoichi was lost for words.
"Happy Easter, Tenten."
