The two walked back to Neji's place as the sun was setting over Konoha. As they approached his door, he asked, "Will you come in for a while?"
"No," Tenten answered after a moment. "I've got some things to take care of." Neji nodded and did not pry. Tenten could tell his request was merely out of politeness. He seemed troubled, and he wasn't the kind to turn to others for advice. Neji was more the 'suffer in silence' type.
"Good evening, then," he said. Bowing politely, he retreated into his home. Tenten lingered for a moment, deciding what to do next, then headed in the direction of Sakura's house. Shortly after, Hinata left the Hyuuga estate. Sitting on the cool floor with his back pressed against the wall, Hyuuga Neji watched both of them leave by way of the Byakugan.
He rose slowly to his feet and walked in complete darkness toward his bedroom, one hand trailing on the wall.
***Flashback
A thunderous banging woke him with a jolt. "Dah?" Neji stood in his crib, clinging to the smooth wooden bars. "Daaah?" It was completely dark. Then, a flash of light, which illuminated the room, and more banging! It was like massive cooking pots being dropped on the kitchen floor. Yawning, a huge figure entered through the doorway as the flash disappeared, and approached the crib. It was a frightening apparition, in the dark, and Neji whimpered and shrunk away from it. "No!" he exclaimed, covering his tear streaked face with one chubby hand and thrusting the other towards his attacker, to push him away. More lightning lit the room. He felt its touch as the banging commenced; warm and smooth. He cringed, wailing helplessly. "Neji-chan? It's me; it's Tou-chan. It's all right. It's just a thunderstorm. You'll be alright." Hizashi lifted his son from the crib and patted his back. Neji, realizing that it was his father and not some frightening creature, cried and clung to the material of his father's shirt until Hizashi's words and presence quieted him. Together, they waited out the thunderstorm, until it was only a dull rumble in the distance. "Dah," Neji said, softly. He closed his eyes. Hizashi lay him back in his crib as the world turned black.
End Flashback***
Neji closed his eyes midway down the hallway and shook his head to rid himself of the memory. "Now is no time for nostalgia," he murmured. He turned into his room, dropped onto the bed, and welcomed the blackness of sleep.
At Sakura's
Hinata, Tenten, Sakura, and Ino sat with their legs folded under them on the floor of Sakura's bedroom, sipping delicately from mugs of hot cocoa. "So what's your concern?" Ino asked, always eager for a new piece of information.
"Well," Tenten began, "Neji seemed a bit out of it this afternoon."
"Isn't he always like that?" Ino asked, rudely.
"No, Tenten's right," Hinata cut in. "Neji might prefer solitude, but he was shutting everyone out today. He wasn't even paying attention. It looked as though he were thinking about something very deeply."
"You're right," Sakura said. "It just looked unnatural."
"Maybe he needs a little comfort," Ino suggested, looking meaningfully at Tenten, who blushed.
"We're not like that," she said, raising her hands as though to physically block the idea. "Neji and I are teammates, but we could never be…together…"
"If you say so…" Ino grumbled. She rolled her eyes.
Sakura looked thoughtful. "Maybe you should offer to spend some more time with him, you know…as friends. Hanging out with friends is always comforting. And since, as you put it, you're not like that, there's no way he could get the wrong idea!"
"Well…Neji's not like that and I know we're not like that, but I don't know what he thinks, you know? Besides, we're already together all the time." Tenten reasoned.
"But that's as teammates," Ino pointed out.
"She's right, you know," Sakura said. "Being together as teammates is mandatory. You're like co-workers. But friends and colleagues are on whole different levels."
"I know," Tenten sighed. "I just feel like it would be awkward."
"It's only awkward if you make it that way," Ino said, brightly.
"I think Sakura is right," Hinata voiced. "Neji could use a little companionship now and again. He doesn't show it, but sometimes I feel like he must get lonely. After all, he did work so hard to separate himself from the rest of the family for such a long time. It would be good for him," she concluded.
"Alright, you guys win," Tenten said in defeat. "I'll ask Neji to Ichiraku's for lunch tomorrow."
The other three grinned in approval. What Tenten didn't know was this: Operation, 'Hook up the Hyuuga and the Weapons Mistress'had commenced.
