Hi! I'm pretty much new here, so please don't flame all too much. But they are .. welcomed. I want to know what I am doing wrong and such.

A Week With the Progidy

by iJustu

Chapter 1: Day One

"May I please see him, ma'am?" the green beast asked, with concern in his voice.

"I apologize, Lee. But only one person may stay with..." the nurse paused, tapping her fingers on her desk, trying to remember the name of the one Lee wishes to see,"Ah, Hyuuga Neji, for this week."

"That is why!" Lee persisted, "I am aware of the fact that only one person may stay with him!"

"Then why are two of you here?" she replied back, tilting her head, staying at the two ninjas before her.

Lee sighed, wrapping his arms around his fellow teammate shoulder, Tenten. Tenten didn't seem to mind, for she wanted both her and Lee to see him. The nurse just sighed, standing up to look at them in the eye. Lee and Tenten, too, sighed, knowing where this was going to go. They sat by a nearby chair near the nurse's desk to discuss the issue. However, despite who may stay with him, Lee was focusing on how Neji got into what he is in now. Tenten frowned, at the fact that Lee was feeling bad for something that wasn't his fault.

"How could I have been so...inconsiderate? His stamina was obviously decreasing, yet, I told him to continue to fight..."

"Lee," Tenten said, rather quietly, "Don't be so hard on yourself. It wasn't your fault, you just wanted the best of both you and him."

"But what is 'best', Tenten? What is this 'best' you speak of? I am now clearly not the best because I chose to put my fellow teammate's life at stake for the sake of defeating the enemy.."

"The way you say it, your making it sound like it's a bad thing," Tenten sighed, the huffed, "It was the right choice. We defeated the enemy, we're all okay, and Neji will recover in no time! When a teammate is hurt, Lee, don't think much of it. You'll worry and you may be caught by unexpected encounters."

"But Tenten..."

"No more 'but Tentens'!" she then hugged him, "Everything is going to be okay. Don't regret anything right now."

Lee returned the hug, and took a deep breath. Hesitating, he closed his eyes, and laid one hand on Tenten's shoulder. She looked at him questioningly. After a few seconds of silence, he opened his eyes and smiled a small smile, which was usually not normal for him to most people.

"You stay with him, Tenten."

"Wha-what?"

"You stay with him," Lee repeated, "You seem more of the confident and skilled one than I right now. But do not worry, youthful flower, I will visit everyday for a couple of minutes and help you out as much as I could. And...as I recall, only I know this, and, this is...your last week with us, correct?"

Tenten just blinked, and nodded. One blink, Two blinks, Three blinks. There was a reason why she wanted BOTH her and Lee to watch over Neji: she would have to stay with Neji, alone. Not that she thinks she can't handle it alone, only the thing about her actually being alone with him. Alone with HIM; Hyuuga Neji, the boy, the man, she has been admiring for the longest. And about her last week, she felt that she had to make the best with him. She then shook her head, removing her thoughts and smiled at Lee, agreeing with the process. Lee smiled back, finally with the pinging smile. She giggled and stood up, with Lee following her back to the nurse's desk. The nurse looked up from her work. Tenten sighed.

"I'll be the one staying with him."

Few minutes later...

Lee started to leave as Tenten followed the nurse to where Neji's room is. Her heart kept on skipping a beat from every step she took, getting closer and closer to him, though, she's still so 'far'. They finally reached to the front of door, which was still closed. Nurse Autumn, whose's name was just now notified, gave Tenten a couple of blankets and pillows for her, and for Neji, if needed. A thought once getting the items suddenly came to her head, already figuring out that she has to sleep in the same room as Neji. She rolled her eyes at the thought, "Oh the agony," she thought sarcastically, then laughed, "I slept with Neji and Lee for the longest time as a team. This won't be much as a toughy." Nurse Autumn finally handed her the keys, which was hooked onto a necklace. Tenten thankfully took it and placed it around her neck. Bowing in respect to the nurse, the nurse left, going back to work. Sighing, Tenten turned around and faced the door. Although, there was no movements. She stared at the door knob, with the rapid heartbeats coming back again. She then angrily shook her head.

"Why am I hesitating?" she growled to herself aloud, "I have to do my duty and succeed in it! Even if it is a minor one such as taking care of a teammate."

Taking once last deep breath, she put the key into the keyhole, and turned the knob. First sticking her head in, she looked around, seeing Neji laying upon the bed. His chest was slowly sucking in and out air, so that gave Tenten a positive thought that he was okay and breathing. Slowing entering, she quietly closed the door, and placed the given items on top of the table, far from Neji's bed. After placing down the objects, she turned around to face Neji, and saw a chair, next to the bed which he was laying upon. Tenten chuckled to herself, "That must be my bed," she thought. Settling down her mini-bag that she refuses to call a purse next to the chair, she sat down and faced Neji. His eyes were closed with his long hair blowing across his face from the calm wind. Lee's words suddenly came back.

"But what is 'best', Tenten? What is this 'best' you speak of? I am now clearly not the best because I chose to put my fellow teammate's life at stake for the sake of defeating the enemy.."

Tenten smiled, yet she didn't know why. Was it because she knew Neji was strong? Or was it because she knew Lee was caring for both of them more than he does to himself. Suddenly she heard a sudden noise, a soft noise, like a grunt of some sort. Her heart yet again skipped a beat, as she turned around seeing Neji with his eyes squinting, looking as if he wanted to see who was there. But, knowing him, he'd care less. His eyes slowly opened, with Tenten, for some odd reason, pacing herself. With his eyes still half closed, he looked at her for a moment and took a breath to cure his ... sleepiness.

"Tenten?"

She smiled, greeting him with a soft, simple: "Hello".

"What are you doing here?" he whispered, with his voice still a little dry from his nap. Obviously, Lee nor Gai-sensei must have not told him about the task of them taking care of him. Surprisingly, Tenten found it a little bit difficult to say.

"We-well, Gai-sensei said for Lee and I to watch over you, not saying that you can't take care of yourself, but it was a task and unfortunately, only one person is allowed to stay with a patient, so Lee decided for me to stay. I-I will be staying here with you for a week."

Neji stared at her for a moment, then replied with the usual: "Hnh." Tenten sighed, about to turn away, again heard the sound of his grunting. She quickly turned around to face him again, gasping from seeing him trying to sit up. In a swift motion, she stood up from her chair, and placed her one of her hands on his chest, and the other one on his back. But she then froze, seeing that he was shirtless; and the fact that she suddenly just touched him. She flushed, and shook her head, trying to get herself together. Her serious face then got back.

"You shouldn't try to move your body, Neji," she replied, pushing his chest a little softly while her hand on his back rubbed a little, motioning him to lay back down,"It'll make your condition worse."

Neji laid back down, knowing that trying to sit up won't do any good for both him and Tenten. Tenten sighed and sat back down on her chair, slumping, as she covered her eyes with her hand. She was tired. Before her and Lee came to visit, Gai-sensei had trained them for their next battle, which, Tenten won't have the time to do; what a waste. Neji eyed her, smirking a bit. Tenten felt eyes lying upon her, so she removed her hands from her face and turned her head to look at Neji's eyes. "Same old Neji," she giggled to herself, surprisingly finding herself giggling aloud a bit. Neji raised an eyebrow, but decided not to say anything, for he enjoyed that there was a bit more noise around him. Neji turned his head back to the ceiling and watched the spinning fan spin slowly. Noticing so, Tenten took a deep breath and grinned at him, even though he wasn't looking.

"So...do you...need anything, Neji?"

Neji again turned his head to her.

"I'm fine."

"Surely you need something!" she said, funny how she found herself now laughing, "I just don't want to be a sitting duck all week."

He stayed quiet, the slid himself up a little, so he can view her better. Tenten helped him get into the 'sitting' position he wanted. Once 'comfortable', he stared at her.

"A week, is it?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah."

"Why is it that you chose to stay with me?"

"Huh," she replied, saying it not as a question, or as a statement, "Sounds like you're not happy with my presence."

"Curiosity," he stated simply.

"Well," she started to fidget, kind of reminding Neji of Hinata, "This is my last week and...you know, you're my teammate. And...I wouldn't want anything else but to spend it with you," Tenten then laughed freakishly, for she thought that statement sounded rather odd, "Y'know, like teammate's, like friends!"

He ignored everything she said, but one statement.

"Your last week?"

Tenten blinked in confusion.

"Lee or Gai-sensei hasn't told you?" she asked, and noticing his confused look, she already knew the answer, "Okay uhm..this is my last week with you all because in my family generation, we...are engaged by the age of 16, but marry at 20. Sad thing about it though, once I am engaged, I'm ... stuck with that person until marriage is at state. So...I'm leaving because...I have to unfortunately get engaged now. I know, retarded isn't it?"

Neji had an unreadable expression upon his face, as if nothing was told to him. But, he was still looking at her, straight into her eyes. She gulped.

"How does that make you leave part of the team?" he asked.

"It means that I'm done." she stated, "Me being known as the weapon mistress, is going to be over. Someone will soon take my name."

"Someone will replace you in our team?"

"Obviously."

She looked at him, waiting for his reply. Unfortunately, nothing came out of his mouth, as he moved his head to stare yet again at the ceiling. Tenten felt a sinking in her heart. She put her hand over her chest. "What...what is this feeling?" she thought to herself, startled. Her eyes then again focused on Neji. Deep down inside, she wished for him to say something; to say something that would probably show any emotions of missing her. But nothing came out. Nothing. She sighed, and stared at him with her eyes, her eyes that showed something very new of her. Something she wished she could never show: sadness.

"I'm really going to miss you, Neji."

"Hnh."

That sinking feeling came again in her stomach. She clutched onto her stomach, trying to relax it. Sighing once more, she stood up and started to walked towards the door, notifying to Neji that she'll be back and that she's just going out to get some tea. With his nod, she slowly walked out the door, and closed it, hand still on the knob while looking down at her feet. She was full with hated anger. She hated herself for feeling the emotions she never wished to feel. She hated Neji for causing her to feel the emotion. And she hated herself again for bringing up the topic. That way, Neji wouldn't have caused anything. Releasing her hand from the knob, she walked towards the kitchen which is freakishly in a hotel.

Late at night...

After getting the tea for him, all that happened after was dead silence. Literally dead silence. No words came out of both of their lips; nothing but solid breathing. The clock triked midnight and Tenten's eyes opened from the nap she didn't expect on taking. Rubbing her eyes, she turned to Neji, who was fast asleep. Again, as she stared at him, she found herself smiling unexpectedly. "He looks so .. calm," she thought, "Nothing like a progidy, but just .. Neji." That was a sudden thought, for many times she slept with both Lee and Neji during missions, but never before has she seen Neji's face in the clear. She bent over a little, laying her chin upon his bed, looking at his side view, hearing his soft breathing. She exhaled, and relaxed her eyes, remembering the conversation they had before slumber.

"I'm really going to miss you, Neji."

"Hnh."

She quietly faced her chair towards him, and sat, looking at him once more. She placed her hand upon his hand, laying next to him. Closing her eyes, her eyes shone as she spoke quietly in happiness, and sadness.

"I'm really going to miss you, Neji..."

Removing her hand, she leaned back against her chair, and closed her eyes, ready to go back to sleep.

Hours later, when she was fully asleep, eyes were opened: Neji's. He turned his head to her, and eyed her for a couple of seconds. Sighing, he closed his eyes, facing back to the ceiling.

"I'm going to miss you too."

TBC

you like? oo sorry if It wasn't much of a cliffhanger, but ... I'm trying! Read & Review!