DISCLAIMER: I do not own any characters from Naruto.
Author's Note: This story has been stuck in my mind for years and I'm still not quite satisfied with the ending but it will have to do for now. I'm not even happy about the title. Ha! On a brighter note, this is my first Neji and Tenten fanfic and hopefully it won't be my last.
Tenten's Evening
Lavender tinted orbs followed her figured through the crowded place. She moved gracefully, weaving her way pass people, tables, and bar stools. The atmosphere was not her element but no one could ever tell by the serene smile on her face. The smile met her eyes as she locked her gaze with his.
"Hey," she exhaled, her voice barely audible from the blaring music. He nodded his head just a tad, his lips rested against his intertwined hands while his elbows sat upon the surface of the bar. "I was looking for you." She took a seat on the empty bar stool beside him. She peeked at him from the corner of her eyes and pouted slightly at his stoic behavior. "You could at least pretend you're enjoying yourself. It is my birthday."
Her words earned his gaze. He tilted his head towards her. "Who said I'm not enjoying myself?"
"Neji," her sweet voice sighed as she rolled her eyes, a small smile slipped her lips.
"Tenten, this is hardly an environment that either of us enjoys," Neji seriously explained, apparently not pleased at the given predicament.
Tenten glanced behind her at the crowd and place. "I know but could you really expect me to tell everyone "no" when they had asked?"
"Yes," he answered as she groaned at his response.
"Neji, please, you know that I had not envisioned spending my birthday here either but being new to the ANBU team—how could I decline?" Tenten softly explained, desperately wanting his support. She did not want him disappearing on her. "I just wanted to make a good impression."
"Your skill during missions and training practice is a good impression enough," Neji responded, earning a thoughtful smile from his partner.
Joining ANBU had been a big accomplishment for her at the start of the New Year. Neji had joined the team six months prior to her acceptance. He moved up ranks with ease, which was no surprise to the former members of Team Gai. She simply did not want to disappoint anyone; she was known to be his sparring partner.
"Thanks," Tenten softly whispered with a small smile. Neji smirked from behind his hands, noticing the slight blush that tinted her cheeks. He lifted an eyebrow as he watched her remove her scarlet red scarf, draping it on stool beside her. Tenten smiled sheepishly as she shrugged her shoulders, "It's hot in here."
Before Neji could even comment a voice called from over the music. "Oy! Tenten!"
The two friends looked over their shoulders to see the dark hair shinobi making his way towards them. Neji narrowed his eyes. Kano Takashi was the reason they were there. It was the senior ANBU member that had suggested they go to the local bar to celebrate her birthday.
Kano stopped a few feet in front of Tenten and smiled, "Hey Tenten. I was looking all over for you." Kano was known in ANBU for being skilled in taijutsu but his attitude annoyed Neji from the start. While the Hyuuga was raised to always be humble, Kano was overly confident in everything he did.
"Hey Kano," Tenten greeted with a small smile. Neji narrowed his eyes, as green ones looked over the figure of the kounichi beside him.
"Have you had a drink yet?" asked Kano, as he ran his right hand through his spiky dark hair.
Tenten shifted a bit uncomfortably in her seat at the question. "Uh—no."
"Great!" Kano interjected before Tenten could say another one. "Let me buy you one." He stepped towards her and stood on the other side of her, so that he could order.
"Actually, Kano, you don't—," Tenten quickly replied, as she turned to face him.
"Nonsense, you turned 21. It would be wrong not to have a drink," interrupted Kano as he tried to gain the attention of the bartender. "I'll even get one for Neji. What will it be Neji?" Kano looked passed Tenten, finally acknowledging his presence.
Tenten glanced back at her sparring partner. "Um, Neji is not 21 yet."
Kano threw the Hyuuga an obnoxious smile, "Too bad Hyuuga." Neji just glared while Kano ignored the cold look and turned his attention back to Tenten. "Guess that leaves just you and me."
"Kano, I don't really want a drink," Tenten once again voiced in all honesty. She did not quite trust whatever reaction might arise from the foreign substance and did not want to find out at a club of all places.
"But—"
"She said she doesn't want a drink," Neji finally voiced. It was deep and clearly upset, Tenten glanced back with a thankful smile while the 22 year old frowned.
"How about a dance instead then," Kano suggested, determined to get some time with the beautiful kounichi.
Tenten let out a laugh, "Gomen Kano. I don't dance."
Bewildered green eyes stared at her. "You don't dance?"
"I spar. I don't dance," Tenten explained with a small smile. Her mind recalled all the times Temari attempted to drag her to a club to dance. She had told the Suna nin that grinding against people was not something she would enjoy. Temari simply laughed and said something along the lines that the Weapons Mistress was missing out.
"Well, I guess we have to spar one of these days then," Kano grinned, causing brown eyes to turn away. Tenten could feel the cold look Neji was now sending toward Kano. She never trained alone with anyone else besides her former team. It was awkward to have someone invite her to, especially in front of her primary training partner. "You can't deny me on both offers. At least have a drink or dance with me?"
Tenten rubbed the back of her neck, a bit unsure on what to say. She threw a look at Neji, who seem displeased at the direction of the conservation. "Sure," she found herself saying out of guilt.
"With?" Kano pressed, flashing a wide grin at her acceptance.
"A dance I guess," shrugged Tenten, thinking that being sober was far better than getting intoxicated any day even if it meant dancing. "But just one."
"Awesome. I'm going to talk to the DJ. Meet me on the dance floor," Kano called over his shoulder, as he rushed off but not before throwing a boisterous smile at Neji.
Tenten rubbed the back of her neck, as she watched Kano disappear within the crowd. "You should have just said no," Neji voiced, breaking through her thoughts. She nearly forgot he was right beside her.
"I tried," Tenten muttered, noticing the icy tone in his voice. He was clearly not happy with the outcome. She smiled weakly toward him, hoping to break his brewing. "Come on Neji, don't be jealous."
Neji snorted at her comment. "I am not jealous."
Tenten giggled softly, as his lavender tinted orbs met her chocolate brown ones. "Don't worry, Neji. I'll save my first drink for your birthday." She watched as he rolled his eyes at her teasing. Just then the tempo of the music changed, indicating the start of the next song. "Mind as well get this over with. Watch my scarf, alright?" With those words, she rose from the stool and tossed her scarf at him.
Neji caught the scarlet fabric, instantly smelling her sweet scent of lavender. He pulled his gaze from her scarf and searched for her figure on the dance floor. It took him just a few seconds before his eyes locked on her. A frowned appeared on his face as he listened to the song Erotic City echo through the club.
He turned his attention back to the Weapons Mistress and lifted an eyebrow out of surprise. For someone who claimed not knowing how to dance, she sure did not look the part. The movement of her body matched the flow of the music and for the second time that night, Neji mentally complimented her gracefulness. His thoughts of her were broken however as Kano came into view, blocking her from his sight. Narrowing his eyes, Neji watched at Kano circled around Tenten all the while obviously reading every curve of her body. Neji felt his hand tightly grip the scarf, as Kano stopped behind Tenten.
The brunette glanced behind her, noticing that Kano had disappeared from her view. He flashed a grin as she noticed his hands about to grab her waist. Quickly turning around to face him, Tenten threw him an innocent smile, making sure she took a step back as she turned. Screw being polite, there was no way she was going to grind up against this guy. Despite his charming looks, he was way to egotistic for her taste.
Neji continued to watch as Tenten skillfully kept her distance away from Kano, all the while keeping in rhythm to the beat. He noted that the ANBU uniform did nothing to hide her curves and cursed her for leaving her scarf behind. It took a while until he felt heat rise in his cheeks, at the realization that he was very well checking out his teammate. Tearing his gaze for the first time since she stepped foot on the dance floor, he was relieved to hear the song coming to an end.
Neji spun back around to face the bar, pretending his attention was elsewhere and not on her. It would be embarrassing if she knew he was gazing at her the entire time. Even through the music, he could hear her footsteps and sense her chakra.
Sweat glistened her face and a slight smile played on her lips when she returned by his side. She noticed how he avoided her gaze, earning her curiosity on his sudden behavior. Slowly taking hold of his glass of water, she watched him carefully in attempts to read him. Letting out a quiet sigh of defeat, Tenten turned her attention to the drink and took a sip of the refreshing liquid.
"Neh, Neji," Tenten replied after feeling his eyes on her. "Let's go home?"
"Hn. What about the team?"
Tenten glanced over her shoulder at their teammates, clearly caught up in the dancing and drinking. "They seemed to be having a good time."
"I thought you wanted to make a good impression," he teased, a smirk slipped passed his stone look.
She rolled her eyes before replying, "With all the dancing and alcohol, I think they can spare our presence now." Not waiting for his answer, Tenten rose from her seat.
A warm arm slipped through his. Drawing his attention, the Hyuuga Prodigy felt a gentle tug and was quickly pulled off the stool. Planting his feet on the ground, Neji glanced down at the Weapons Mistress, who threw him a sweet smile,
Standing on her tip toes, so that he could hear, she loudly whispered, "Come on. I could use the fresh air."
Neji watched her from the corner of his eyes as they walked through the dimly lit streets of Konoha. Her gaze was towards the sky, her own eyes twinkling with the stars. He mentally noted that Tenten had yet to remove her arm from his own, but appreciated the warm contact nonetheless.
"Neh. Arigato Neji for coming tonight," Tenten whispered through the quiet streets.
"Hn." It was an evening filled with unexpected events. He had assumed it would be a calm night considering their former sensei and his apprentice were on a mission, unable to celebrate with them. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
The brunette hummed quietly in thought. "I suppose. It was different. Did you have fun?" She asked teasingly but he could tell by her voice that she was curious on his response.
"Hn." He knew better than to give her a verbal truth. She weakly smiled at his answer. He was sparing her the criticism to avoid spoiling her evening.
The remainder of the walk home was filled with a comfortable silence. Once they reached her front door, Tenten slowly pulled her arm from his. Before Neji could take a step back to bid her 'goodnight', he found her burying her face into his chest and her arms tightly wrapped around him.
"Arigato, Neji," Tenten thanked. Her face still pressed against his chest, slightly embarrassed by her actions. It was not in their friendship to be so affectionate, they left that department to Lee.
But Neji smiled. It took just a split second to comprehend what had just happened before he instantly wrapped his arms around her. "Happy Birthday Tenten."
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the story. Still musing over a birthday story for Neji. In the meantime, leave me a review please? But no flames please. Thank You!