DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in Naruto.

A/N: Been musing to write but have been facing a lot of writing blocks. This was a quick attempt to set a story in motion and hopefully start jump a muse to continue my other stories.

Please review! I have yet to build a good standing as a Neji/Tenten writer and hoping that in time I can. But please no flames, this is the first story I ever written and published in 3 hours. Anyways, hope you like the story.

Blessed Curse

Chocolate brown orbs peered carefully at the disheveled form. His breath was erratic and sweat dripped alongside his face. Eyes clenched shut as he rested against the tree trunk. She understood it very well, he was at a very vulnerable moment. It took her a minute to realize what had happened.

It was like any other day. They were training and right in the middle of his kaiten the prodigy collapsed to his knees. She called out his name as she descended from the sky. Her mind raced-what happened? Had she hit his blind spot? She shook the thought away. She had not missed a target since their academy days. Her feet hit the ground and just before she was about to sprint towards him, the weapons mistress froze.

His hands clutched his head and he cried out in anguish. His knees seem to buckle beneath him and his entire body fell to the ground. Another cry filled the training field. She knew at that moment that it was the cursed seal of the branch family that was causing him pain.

Tenten remained watchful the entire time, unsure on whether to approach him or not. The cursed seal was a taboo subject with Neji and she knew that witnessing him bow down to it hurt his pride. Yet, she was rather concern.

"Neji," Tenten quietly called as she took a careful step forward. He did nothing to acknowledge her. Biting her bottom lip nervously, she took another step towards him.

Before the kounichi could strategize her next action, the Hyuuga cried out again and doubled over. It was sheer reflex that she rushed to him.

His upper body fell into her arms before he could hit the ground. His head rested against her shoulder and Tenten released a breath she did not know she was holding.

"Oh, Neji" she whispered as she smoothed his hair down. Her hand eventually running down his back for comfort. Neji groaned once again from pain and she tightened her arms around him.

It took a while until she felt his breathing begin to regulate. Tenten loosened her hold and carefully eased his body away from hers. His head hunched forward and eyes still tightly shut. She lowered his head onto her lap. The tips of her figures lightly traced the Konoha symbol on his forehead.

"Ten-," Neji winced not finishing her name. He instantly grabbed her hand as if to stop her. His voice was rough and he seemed to tighten his grasp.

"Neji," she gasped, startled by his sudden movements and slightly embarrassed by her actions. "Are you-are you alright?"

"It burns-" Neji said through clenched teeth. His eyes shut once again as he tightly squeezed her hand.

Tenten felt a sense of panic. She was no medical nin and she was beginning to wonder if she should leave him to find one. But the more she watched him in such agony the harder it became for her to leave his side.

"Neji" Tenten whispered but received no response.

Pulling her hand from him. She decided to remove his forehead protector, in hopes to alleviate any pain. Her usual steady hands were now shaky. Just as the curse seal was taboo to talk about, it was forbidden to be seen. The one time she did was during the chunin exams.

Pushing the thoughts aside Tenten slipped the forehead protector off exposing the cursed seal to the world around them. Just as she traced the Konoha symbol, Tenten founder herself tentatively tracing the marks of the seal with her fingers.

Neji was right, his forehead was burning. Chocolate orbs observed his expression carefully as she ran her fingers across his forehead. She did not want to do anything that would bring her partner more discomfort.

Placing her palm over his forehead, Tenten winced slightly from the contact. She felt as if her hand was on fire. Just as she was about to pull her hand away, she felt Neji lean into her touch. His breath was calm and his face relax. Tenten slowly pulled her hand away. She closed her hand into a fist as she tried to shake the tingling feeling in her palm.

A groan pulled her attention back, and the weapons mistress immediately stroked his forehead. The contact seem to instantly bring him comfort.

Flexing her hand, she carefully laid her palm over the cursed seal. His forehead still felt like an inferno, but if having her hand on his head ease the suffering Tenten realized she would gladly sacrifice.

Tenten was unsure how long they remained in the training grounds, unmoved. His head upon her lap and her hand against his head. His forehead no longer burned as hot but her hand still tingled. The sun began to set and she felt her eyes grow heavy. She should not feel so exhausted but she did. So she allowed her eyes to close for a moment.

"Tenten," a voice called out to her. Tenten opened her eyes and weakly smiled as she saw lavender orbs staring at her.

"Are you feeling better Neji?" He simply nodded his head, earning a brighter smile from the weapons mistress. "I'm glad." There was a pause as she closed her eyes and reopened them. "Gomen, Neji. I'm so tired-" She felt her voice trailing and could do nothing as she felt herself falling into darkness.

-END-

A/N: Surprisingly enough the ending was not I had envisioned when I started but it did plant an idea for a possible second chapter or third chapter. I was thinking of writing a second chapter focusing on Neji's take on the entire situation. What do you think?