For the past few days, Neji found himself not acting like he is supposed to normally act. There were…things. Things that are bothering his mind and haunting him in his sleep. Complicated things… that he just can't explain using even the most intricate of words.
Neji sighed unhappily. He wasn't the type of person who would actually take the time and think about these… things. Frankly speaking, these things only lead him to an afternoon full of headache and a trip to the hospital.
Wait, what are these things anyway?
His inner voice, something that has been constantly popping out at the most inopportune moments lately, smiled slyly. Whatever those things are, I'm sure they involve HER.
Block out those thoughts, Neji! Don't let your innocent mind be contaminated!
He felt a sudden pain on his back, and it was only then that Neji realized that he had been in his meditation pose for about 2 hours straight. He slowly opened his eyes. And saw his bun-haired teammate looking at him quizzically.
Neji exhaled sharply, hiding his initial surprise that it was Tenten which was the first thing he saw after his relaxing meditation. "What do you want?"
"Oi, you okay Neji?" Tenten asked, ignoring Neji. She placed a hand on his forehead, only to have it slapped away by the Hyuuga genius. "Hey, I was just concerned!"
"I don't need your concern," Neji grumbled irately, which was unusual since he usually displays a cool and collected exterior around those who surround him.
"Fine, suit yourself," The girl shrugged, and Neji unintentionally noticed the way her sensuous mouth pouted as she said this. At the thought of this, Neji fought the urge to punch himself in the head. "I was just worried. You know, since you've been meditating for a long time I thought you would've been numb. But anyway…" Tenten turned on her heel. "I guess you are fine, Neji, if you have the strength to snap at me like that."
"Hn." He closed his eyes again as he heard Tenten's footsteps disappearing.
Neji then opened his eyes again and risked taking a glance at Tenten who had already vanished out of sight. He cursed himself and returned to his meditation pose.
An uneasy feeling suddenly settled in the pit of his stomach.
Ooh, weetle Neji has a crush on Tenten! The inner something teased candidly.
Oh, shut up, Neji mumbled, squashing his churning stomach – and the inner something—with one hand. Stupid butterflies. Hyuuga Neji: Denial Royalty
If ever the world has voted who would be Denial King, the first place would certainly go to Neji. And why not, since he can't even admit his feelings for Tenten to himself. But with the help of his Inner Self, will all that change? A three-chappie fluffy NejiTen!
Woohoo! I'm back from outer space! dances the Macarena I dedicate this to all of the solid NejiTen fans! Basically, this is about Neji being in denial and all and questioning himself if he really has some feelings for Tenten. Characters are kinda OOC, be warned. This fic is supposed to be a SasuSaku but I just can't resist myself into turning it into a NejiTen when I was typing this fic. Sorry SasuSaku fans! Maybe next time! gets chased by hardcore SasuSaku fans with various pointy objects
DISCLAIMER: If you want to own Naruto, start by asking for ownership of the world.
P.S. Read and review PLEASE! When I looked at the stats of my other fic, it had about 1108 hits but only 20 reviews! What's up with that?
"Lee," The taijutsu master turned to Neji at the sound of his name. "You. Me. Sparring."
At this, Lee bounced up and down, eyes shining "Oh Neji! You have finally accepted that my amazing prowess is equally comparable to yours! YOSH! I won't let you down! With the best of my abilities, I would show you my flaming youth power!"
"Whatever," Neji slipped into his offensive stance. "Let's begin."
At the other side of their training grounds, Gai was rambling how proud he is that Neji already recognized his student's youthful power.
"Like a mother bird," Gai-sensei sniffed, crying in joy. "who has watched her sons and daughters grow up and mature… And then finally seeing them sprout wings and fly high… How my heart swells in pride that the very rival my student chose for himself has accepted Lee's abilities and skills, even going as far as to challenge Lee to a fight himself!"
Tenten, who was handing Gai a bunch of Kleenex tissues, only smiled even though she doesn't even know what the heck her deranged sensei is talking about.
"Anyway," The Green Beast of Konoha shifted his attention to Tenten. " what about you, dear flower of our youthful team? Are you worried that if this keeps up, my Lee would replace you as Neji's sparring partner?"
The weapon mistress scratched her head and answered, "Gee, I haven't thought of that."
"Well then, worry no more! I shall gladly substitute as your training power to help you improve greatly on your skills!" Gai declared, flashing another blinding smile.
CRASH! BOOM! THUD!
The two saw Neji blasting Lee away with his Hands of Hakke, sending the poor boy crashing on a large boulder.
"Gai-sensei, I… I have failed you." These were the last words of the Taijutsu master before completely going unconscious. Gai bawled and cried loudly, shaking his student forcefully to wake him up.
Tenten approached her teammate, "Er, Neji? Didn't you overdo it? I mean, beating Lee is one thing, but beating him up is another."
"It's just fine. He'll be alright." Neji stated, walking away.
"Okay then… Whatever you say…" Tenten trailed off and after a minute, caught up with Neji. "Hey Neji! Wait up!"
"Yes?" Neji turned around, an annoyed expression evidently sketched on his handsome face.
'You want to go and spar with me?" The girl, oblivious that the Hyuuga genius is getting irritated, asked innocently. "I have a new move to show you. I think that it'll be enough to break your absolute defense. Hey!" Neji started walking away again. "Wait! Where are you going?"
"Training," she heard Neji say. "From now on, I won't spar with you anymore, Tenten. Goodbye."
Tenten could feel her mouth fall open, "What?"
Good, Neji thought to himself, nodding in satisfaction. Push her away and she'll leave your mind for good!
Neji was practicing the Gentle Fist all alone in a forest near their training grounds. He punched the air, sweat trickling down his chin.
But, Neji groaned when he heard the inner voice—that little devil, he liked to call it— butt in again. You're only making it harder for yourself! Think, genius! If you won't see her, it'll be up to your imagination to think of her. Every. Waking. Hour. What a dilemma you have. You can't even sort out your feelings for her!
The little devil voice chuckled as he watched Neji clutch his head in confusion, I don't have feelings!
Neji kicked a tree trunk forcefully as the inner voice continued, So you're going all Uchiha Sasuke on me, huh? Well it won't work! If he and Sakura became a couple, why can't you and Tenten be one?
The Hyuuga genius stopped, panting, Tenten and I? A couple? He repeated, sounding unconvinced. Impossible!
It's possible! Highly possible! The inner something insisted, circling Neji's head.
But… Neji searched his soul for any excuse. It's absurd! We're teammates! Besides, if we get together, we'll be dubbed the most dysfunctional pair ever! A tomboy who has adores sharp and pointy objects and a Hyuuga prodigy obsessed with destiny with the most beautiful hair equals-
The perfect couple.
No, you mean a match made in hell, Neji grumbled.
The inner voice shook his head tiredly, You are in denial.
No, I am sensible. Besides, romance would get in the way and distract me from getting stronger. If I get distracted, I might not be able to challenge Naruto for a rematch. Reasoned Neji as patiently as possible to his inner self.
Aha! There! That's you proof!
Neji sighed. What proof?
Wait, just rewind what you just said a while ago and I'll show you proof beyond reasonable doubt. The inner voice confidently said.
Okay, okay… Neji sat on the ground. What did I say? Wait… I said that romance would get in the way and that I want to challenge Naruto for a rematch.
Neji's inner self danced in victory, Yep, the evidence that you like Tenten is all there!
What evidence? Neji growled, massaging his aching forehead.
You said that romance would distract you.
Neji raised his eyebrows. So?
It just means that you're already romantically and emotionally attached to Tenten but because this is distracting you, you are pushing all thoughts of her away!
You have a twisted sense of logic, Neji commented, feeling a little stupid talking to his pesky inner self.
Number two, The inner something continued, You want to challenge Naruto for a rematch. That just proves that you really, really like Tenten!
What the hell does Tenten and Naruto have in common, huh? Demanded Neji angrily. When you look at it in every angle, it just doesn't make any sense!
But when you look at it from MY point of view, it makes perfect sense, Neji's sly inner voice said sagely. You, who has accepted, Naruto as an individual who is not only strong physically but also emotionally, wants to challenge Naruto to another match even though you know that the rematch would be pretty pointless. But that's not the point. The point is that Naruto is Hinata's boyfriend. You are chagrined by the fact that a simpleminded guy like Naruto can get a girlfriend when you, a genius with good looks to boot, can't even admit to yourself how much you love your teammate!
That's bu-
Don't say bad words, Neji.
And Neji cursed the inner something instead.
Tenten had never been the aggressive one. In fact, Tenten is more of a "think first while acting it out" person. In Gai's team though, she's the one most likely to result in using diplomacy instead of utilizing violence.
So imagine Neji's surprise when a week after he had declared Tenten as an unsuitable partner for him, he had caught the young kunoichi glaring, glaring ang glaring at him some more when they coincidentally went home at the same time taking the same path home. So maybe he shouldn't be surprised. After all, if Tenten was the one who had blown her off, then maybe he would feel also feel what she felt: surprise, disappointment and anger. And it's not like it's his fault that he's ignoring her. Any man with good common sense would just ignore the girl he feels for.
Neji stopped in his tracks and groaned. Okay, forget about the last part. And maybe ignoring is actually what a girl would do in his situation. Man, he's turning girly!
Anyway, the point is, it isn't his fault. No, of course not.
"Hyuuga…"
Neji cringed. Tenten had never called him that.
The weapon mistress didn't notice Neji's stunned reaction when she called him by his surname, "How is your training going?"
"Good…" responded Neji slowly. What he said was a big, fat lie. Unless of course if you call talking to yourself when alone in the middle of a forest training.
"Okay then," Tenten nodded. "I look forward to kicking your butt by the next time I get the opportunity to spar with you."
Neji's eyes absolutely widened. He opened his mouth, and then closed it again.
"I'm becoming more proficient with a senbon now. And the fuuma shuriken is a breeze to handle," mused the weapon mistress. She then glanced at Neji. "Hey, if you've been working hard, you might dodge the thousands of shurikens I have in store for our next battle.
Neji looked at her funny. "You know I have my absolute defense." He said matter-of-factly.
Tenten shrugged. "Yeah, of course I do. That's why all of those shurikens have explosive tags. And the explosive tags I used were the ones I specially made myself. The ones with thrice the impact of a firework."
"Why are you telling me this?" Neji asked, losing his unruffled demeanor. "Aren't you afraid that now that I found out about this, I would use this to my advantage and be on my guard the next time we spar?"
"The next time we spar will be for a long time, Hyuuga. You said it yourself," Tenten wagged a finger at Neji. "And besides, I have a lot more surprises waiting for you."
Neji could tell that she was hiding her anger at him and decided to ask bluntly, "Are you angry?"
Tenten blinked, and then snorted loudly, as if amused by the question he had posed on her, "Why should I be?"
"Because you- " His sentence was cut off when hundreds, no, thousands of shurikens came flying at his direction. "Oh crap."
