Timing is the Key to Any Heart

All rights of Naruto belong to Masashi Kishimoto

"What is one of the most unspeakable things you want to do before you die?"

I wasn't quite sure who asked that question among us, but it brought us to a complete and utter silence. Looking among the room I quietly tried to piece together the reason for such a question. Why ask a person to answer that, why make such a steady flow of comfort cease… why? Not a second before that question was asked, we were happily enjoying the silence of our own thoughts. Perhaps that was the reason for the question, perhaps we miss calculated the private mind of a single individual, we should have been doing our lesson in silence, but we allowed someone to run off with their thoughts. Don't get me wrong, I've asked thought provoking questions of that sort to myself thousands, no millions of times. But why? Why must you ask this question, as though someone is going to answer?

"I want to tell Neji-san that his hair is like feathers, that he is the most beautiful right before he shifts into a magnificent, soaring bird." blushed Sabaku no Temari.

This brought not only my attention, but also everyone else's to the back corner of our 'Women's History 101' class. Sabaku no Temari has single handedly brought on a speechless astonishment to everyone in the room, just by speaking a single sentence. What was so astonishing was the fact that rebellious Temari could put together an elegantly spoken sentence about perfect Hyuga Neji. Neji kept perfect grades in all of his classes, Temari did not, Neji only spoke when spoken to, Temari made sure to be heard in every conversation, and Neji hated people like Temari who looked as if she slept in her uniform and showed up to school like that. While Temari hated people like Neji who looked as if he just walked off of a runway before he attended school every morning.

"B-but I thought you hated Neji-niisan, Temari-sen…pei?" questioned the shy Hyuga heiress. Hyuga Hinata always spoke like that, she constantly spoke as if she was attending a funeral. My daddy says that is how a woman born in the Hyuga clan were supposed to act or suffer divine retribution from Hinata-san's father himself. Hinata-san's deep green blazer delicately laid across her shoulders, as she nervously awaited for Temari's answer.

"I don't hate him, I just think he can be an arrogant asshole sometimes." grumbled Temari.

"Bull! You are always the one screeching about how he pissed you off somehow or another. You cannot possibly have feelings for him and even if you did there is no way that a magnificent finch like Hyuga Neji would ever give a, desert raised ferret such as yourself, a chance to even wipe the dirt off his feet." snapped Yamanaka Ino. Ino's short green plaid skirt rose another inch or two as she crossed her long tan legs under her desk, waiting for Temari's most likely aggressive comeback. I'm not going to lie, I sucked in my breath a little waiting for the flames that will soon be roasting a Yamanaka pork roast.

" Shut up, stupid little pig." silently whispered Temari, as she looked down at her hands in… defeat?

Ino in shock herself, just looked at Temari in bewilderment. C-could Temari have believed every word that was spoken to her in spite, could Temari not have a shred of confidence in her own ability to catch the prestigious Hyuga, could Sabaku no Temari really believe that she is not worth his attention? I always thought Temari-senpai was amazing, she would always defend herself amongst those who dared showed her disrespect, not just because it was the pride of a Suna born and raised shifter that ran through her veins, but because that is who she was. She never once backed down from anything, whether she challenged Sasori of the Akatsuki to a duel or if she had to suck in her pride and ask the strategic genius Nara Shikamaru for advice. Temari got things done with brute force and confidence. How could she so easily admit defeat?

I allowed my unique hair to cover my eyes in frustration. What is this I am feeling… could I be upset at Temari? Why does it feel as if my stomach was going to leap out of my chest, why do I have this feeling of betrayal trying to leap through my very person and come out like bile across my tongue? I quickly came to an understanding with in myself. I feel this way because Temari truly believed that she was not good enough… Just the thought of something so ridiculous began to boil within my being. How could she? How could such a beautifully explosive person believe in that, where does that leave someone like me? Someone who has a right not to have confidence within herself, someone who will never reach the top, someone who is useless…

"Ho...how could you…" I spoke with venom in my voice. "Why would you believe in such lies, such trash… you are the most confident person I know. How could you believe that you aren't worth it? So what you don't like rules, who cares if you shift into a ferret. who cares if you were born in Suna. As a matter of fact, who gives a damn if Hyuga Neji is a bird, who cares if he is prestigious… who cares! Temari, Neji should feel grateful that he has someone like you to like him in that way. Neji should treat you like a queen, because you are one. You bring courage to those around you and you never give up in anything you do! If Neji cannot see that himself, well then I say you should dump him like the idiot he is! If he cannot see what a beautiful being you are he doesn't deserve you!?" I screamed in frustration, not once looking back at her or anyone else in the room. I shook with the effort of my anger as I silently gathered up my books. God did I want to leave, how I wished, no prayed for the bell to ring so that I could escape this stifling hell that was this classroom.

"Haruno, do I look like an idiot to you, I would never allow Temari to slip past me."

I was sure that was the reason to my pounding headache later in the day, because I remember turning my head so fast towards the exit of the classroom, I felt as if I was about break my own neck. However at that time, I just stared at one of the most unlikely sights to have ever happened in the history of timing. There standing in underneath the rigid entrance of the doorway, stood Hyuga Neji. He held a stack of papers in his arms, not once breaking his stride into the tension filled classroom. He strode over to our teacher's empty desk and deposited his load.

"Yamanaka, I would appreciate it if you kept your mouth shut on the current matters between my girlfriend and I." calmly spoke Neji with a face of stone. He walked towards the exit of the classroom taking his attention off of his surroundings and into making his way steadily out the door.

"Hold it right there Hyuga, who said I was your girlfriend! I have never even recalled being your friend? I mean who do you think you are!" shouted Temari, who at this point in time was standing up from her chair with her hands leaning across the top of her desk. She stood there in shakey defiance, with a blush the color of her younger brother's red hair strained across her face.

Neji stopped his course to the door and rose his eyebrow in question. He looked straight at Temari with his striking white eyes. "Are you dull… I believe you have already established our relationship when you felt the need to comment on my hair and beauty. I cannot have just anyone saying such things about me, it might create unsightly rumors. So I have merely taken the opportunity and removed all doubt of the relationship between us. If you have a problem with that Temari, then you can tell me all about it tonight, when I come to pick you up at 7."