Pairing(s)/fandom: Nejiten
Word count: 553
Prompt(s) used: V-Day/Chinese New Year
WARNINGS: none
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto!
The darkness of the night of the new moon, made the brightness of the stars that much more beautiful-shining like diamonds on the velvety sky.
On the Earth--in the village hidden in the leaves--there was excitement all around.
Tonight the village was celebrating the lunar New Year. But tonight was truly special because this year the New Year had fallen on February the fourteenth.
The custom of Valentine's Day was relatively new-having been brought over by travelers and immigrants about a generation or two ago-but a lot of couples young and old; newly confessed, dating, or married were celebrating.
Yes, tonight was truly the magic night to do the things you wanted and have your wishes come true.
"C'mon Neji!" Tenten called out "Or we'll be late to see the fireworks!"
"Coming." Neji replied. "Haah" he sighed to himself. His teammate had been riled up for days leading up to tonight. When she wasn't training or working on missions she was busy cleaning and preparing her home for New Year's Day or chattering energetically about the fireworks display that would go off that evening. However…she also didn't seem to have been making anything special for Valentine's Day.
'It's okay if she forgot. I shouldn't expect her to remember.' Neji thought 'I mean Valentine's Day isn't that widely celebrated around here. And besides…even when she does remember Valentine's Day she makes treats for everyone in Team Gai-not just me…'
The white eyed boy knew from experience that when expectations were great there would be disappointment in the end…but then again sometimes it was good to be wrong-Naruto had (quite literally) beaten that sense into him a little over a year ago.
"Hey, Neji…" Tenten said coming close to him "Is everything okay? You seem kind of down."
"Hn." Neji looked his teammate. She had taken her hair out of its usual buns and it fell over the kimono she wore for the occasion and across her shoulders in dark brown waves. 'So beautiful' he thought. Neji Hyuuga--said to be one of the greatest ninja of his generation--and yet he couldn't get the courage to tell his own teammate and friend (and maybe more) how much she meant to him. "I'm fine." Neji reassured her.
Knowing her teammate to be of few words, Tenten didn't pry anymore and accepted his answer. "By the way before I forget, I wanted to give you this." She said taking a wrapped package from a pouch she was carrying. Neji took the small box and unwrapped it. Inside was a small confection with stripes in the shape of a tiger.
"Happy New Year's Neji." Tenten said grinning at him. A gift for New Years then...but if she was happy it was all right with him. They had gotten to the viewing grounds where the best sight of the fireworks would be where they would meet their team later.
"Also here's something special….Just for you." Tenten added and then she lightly kissed his lips. "Happy Valentine's Day too." She said with a wink and a smile before running off to find their sensei and other teammate.
'Now I have to think of a good return gift for white day I guess' Neji thought
Ah, Yes. Tonight was the perfect night for love…and of new beginnings.
A/N : This is my first story (that I have ever bothered to complete). This idea came to me when I realized that the Chinese New Year (this year 2010 is the year of the tiger) that follows the lunar new year (that changes every year unlike the standard western solar calendar) fell on Valentine's Day. Since Tenten (and Team Gai in general) has a lot of Chinese influence in the character design I thought that this would make a good topic for a story.