Authors Note:
Thank you so much for the people who have favorited this story, as well as left reviews. I'm glad you seem to enjoy my stories, and I can't wait to keep continuing. I hope you all enjoy this next chapter, and I wish you all the best!
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Chapter 3: More Than Just Friends
Tenten gasped as Neji's arms tightened around her, and she was able to feel his arm muscles pressing against the sides of her stomach. She groaned softly as she felt his lips brush against the side of her temple, ghosting his lips across her pulse. Tenten was sure he could hear her heart beat by now, forming a rhythm with her rapid breathing. She tensed as his lips slid down the side of her face, and he planted a soft kiss underneath her eye. He moved to press another against her cheek, and Tenten seized her breathing when she caught his cloudy lilac eyes. He was so close that Tenten could smell the intoxicating scent rolling off of his skin, the same mixture of sandalwood, and pine making her senses tingle. She felt dizzy, as if she was becoming drunk just from having him this close.
His lips then firmly pressed against hers, and Tenten let her body take over. She wrapped her hands into his hair, and it was like silk against her finger tips. She allowed her hands to run through his tresses with ease, continuing to move her lips against his. They molded against hers, and they were just as soft as she'd imagined. Tenten allowed her mahogany eyes to flutter closed, and she moaned as she felt his tongue slid against her bottom lip. She opened her mouth without hesitation, and gasped as his tongue explored her mouth. His slick tongue moved against hers softly, exploring her mouth with confidence, but tact. They moved apart for a moment, and Tenten lazily opened her eyes to meet his again.
"You're so beautiful Tenten" Neji murmured, his voice husky with need. Tenten felt her legs shake, and she thought her knees were about to give out. She didn't have to worry about that for long though, because Neji picked her up with ease. She wrapped her legs around his strong stomach and she groaned as she felt the cold wall press against her back. "You have no idea how long I've been holding back Tenten, I'm going to finally make you mine". Neji kissed her hungrily, and all Tenten could do was reciprocate his passion with her own.
Tenten gasped sitting up, her brown waves falling in her face and over her shoulders. She looked around panicked, as the scenes from earlier slowly settled into her mind. Her skin was hot, and Tenten could feel the pressure of passion building in her lower stomach. After a few moments of rapid breathing, she realized it had only been a dream. Tenten let out a sigh that was filled with disappointment, and a bit of relief. She let herself fall into the bed for a second, her brown eyes glancing up at the cream colored ceiling. She bit her bottom lip softly, it was only getting worse, she thought.
She remembered when she first had a dream about Neji, but they had never been quite so….passionate. What was wrong with her? Was it normal to be so possessed by hormones and passions, even though they would never come true? Tenten rolled over and picked up her phone from the ground, pressing the home button. The screen was too bright and displayed 6:00 A.M. She kicked her tan legs over the side of the bed and stood up, stretching. She made her way to the kitchen and turned on her coffee machine, and began making coffee. She then made her way to the fridge and grabbed her carton of eggs, butter, and bacon. She put the ingredients on the counter, and then reached down into one of the cabinets below and grabbed a pan.
She turned up the stove and put the pan on it, before spreading out the butter in the pan. She observed patiently as the butter turned brown and then cracked two eggs into the pan, sunny side up. She hummed softly as she observed the eggs, and put them on a plate when they were a good enough consistency.
She then wiped the pan with a paper towel and put a light coat of vegetable oil in the pan, before putting down four slices of bacon. She turned it over several times and made sure it was crispy, before putting the bacon into the plate as well. She grabbed her cup of coffee and opened her terrace, before taking a seat at the small table out on her terrace. She enjoyed her breakfast, as the slight morning breeze ruffled her wavy brown hair.
She took a few moments to just relax and let the first rays of sunshine warm her tan skin. After about a half an hour she stood up and washed her dishes, and then made her way to the bathroom. She took a quick shower, and put her hair up in its usual buns. She braided her hair at the bottom and slipped into her dress, fishnets, and high heeled boots. She brushed her teeth and put on some deodorant and body spray. She didn't know why she bothered to put herself together so much, after all she was going to be training with Neji.
Her body immediately tensed at the thought of his name, and her thoughts drifted to her dream that occurred earlier. She let out a shaky breath and grabbed her scrolls, putting them on her belt. She fastened the two scrolls around her wrists, and grabbed her key. She made her way out of the house and down the stairs of her apartment, and began heading to the training grounds. It didn't take her long before she arrived in the clearing, and immediately spotted Neji. She took a look at her phone, it was 745 A.M., and then at Neji.
He was currently laying against one of the trees, his long silky brown hair falling over his shoulder. It was fastened at the bottom the way it always was, and Tenten had an immediate urge to run her hands through it. The way she had done in her dream last night… She stopped in front of him, and went into a low crouch. She watched the way his lips parted slightly with every exhale, and the way his eyelids fluttered. His long lashes brushed against his pale cheeks, and Tenten wondered what he was dreaming of. It didn't take her long to continue letting her thoughts drift off, because Neji's lips parted slightly. He let out a soft exhale, before a soft murmur of "Tenten" escaped him. The kunoichi immediately stiffened, and stared at him wide eyed.
Had she heard him correctly? Tenten leaned forward a little bit, hoping he would once again utter her name. She reached up slowly, her stretching out to touch his hair. "Tenten what are you doing?" Tenten fell back with a scream, landing hard on the ground. She winced as pain shot up her back, and her brown eyes glanced up to meet a pair of lilac eyes. Neji's eyes were filled with curiosity, and slight annoyance. Tenten immediately felt her face heat up, and she looked away embarrassed. "There was something in your h-hair" she stuttered, which was totally unbecoming of her. Was she turning into Hinata!?
Tenten covered her mouth, her face turning another shade of red. She glanced up as she heard shifting, and froze. Her brown eyes glanced into Neji's lilac ones, which were far too close. She could practically feel the electricity vibrating off of their bodies, attempting to cling to each other. She watched as Neji's pale hand moved toward her, and rested on her head. Tenten's hands fell to her sides in shock, and she could feel the heat radiating off of his large hand, still on top of her head. She searched his eyes, and after a moment a soft smirk curled on his soft lips.
He moved his hand back, a small stick clutched in between his long fingers. "You actually had something in your hair" he chuckled, and Tenten immediately felt anger consume her. How dare he tease her!? Tenten pushed Neji back with a groan "You're unbelievable, you idiot!" she screamed, only amusing the tall Hyuga further. She got up and turned her back to him, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. Was he aware of what he did to her? It must not be healthy to have your heart rate elevated so much, Tenten thought softly. Tenten glanced around at the grass and trees around her, attempting to calm her nerves. After a few minutes she looked behind her, to see Neji had also stood up. He was currently glancing to his side, the slight October breeze ruffling his hair, and bangs around his face. Neji turned to her, running a pale hand through his bangs. He sent her a soft, warm smile that made Tenten's breath hitch in her throat "Ready Ten?" he asked softly.
Tenten nodded and turned to him. She got herself into position, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened her eyes Neji charger at her, and with a groan she blocked him beginning their fight. They backed up and moved forward again, their bodies and weapons crashing. Tenten blocked Neji's kunai utilizing her own, and moved her body to meet his. She groaned as one of his strikes pushed her back, and she moved to the right in order to avoid his next attack. She pulled out one of her scrolls. Tenten jumped up unfurling her scroll with grace, and spun softly releasing an array of different weapons on Neji from all sides. Neji activated his byakugan and dodged them, Tenten watching in amazement. Their lethal dance continued for a few hours, and Tenten sunk exhausted into the grass, her body and clothes soaked with sweat.
Her hair had come undone at some point, and was falling over her shoulders. Neji was standing in front of her, his body moving up and down with his breathing. A few strands of his hair clung to his forehead, and he moved them with a groan. He let himself fall back into the grass with a soft 'thud' and Tenten glanced at him for a few moments. His long brown hair was around him, and he looked almost like an angel. He was inhumanly beautiful, Tenten realized. The way his pale skin illuminated in the soft light of the slightly cloudy day, his soft lips parting with every breath. Those lilac eyes clouded with memories Tenten was sure were too painful to even comprehend. His strong body, soaked with sweat, making his clothes cling to him. He looked like he was carved out of marble by some expert hand, unable to produce another such master piece. Tenten let out a gasp as Neji pulled her down next to him, and for a moment she laid there stunned. Neji smiled at her, his face angled toward her. She was on his left side, and Neji reached out to run a hand through her hair.
"Sorry I probably smell like shit, and my hair is a mess" she laughed softly, feeling the heat rising to her cheeks. She was trying her best to avoid his eyes, and tried to let herself get distracted by the trees behind them.
"Your hair is beautiful, I think you should wear it open more often", Neji murmured softly. Tenten met his eyes then, wide eyed. "Thank you, it's a hassle since it's so wavy sometimes. I don't like to wear it open during combat because it gets in my way, I don't know how Hinata does it" she said softly. Neji nodded "Same here…it gets on my nerves too, especially since it's so long". "I think your hair is really beautiful, I always have. I was actually kind of envious when we first formed the team. My hair was a lot shorter back then, and somehow a boy managed to grow hair longer and more beautiful than mine" she said with a nervous laugh. "I don't think your hair was ugly back then, I still don't think that. You're a lot more attractive than you give yourself credit for Tenten".
Tenten blushed again, glancing at Neji with soft brown eyes. "Thanks Neji…I'm just not as girly as some of the other kunoichi. I know it's kind of silly to concern myself with how others perceive me but…I can't help but notice how Sakura, Ino, and Hinata get looked at. Men look at them longingly, and some small stupid part of me…wishes someone would look at me that way". Tenten sat up, ashamed. She was sure Neji could care less about her idiotic, emotional, and girly problems. Tenten bit her lip and stiffened when she felt fingers tilt her chin to the right. Neji was so close to her again, his familiar scent rolling off of his skin.
Neji let out a soft chuckle and raised a perfect eyebrow "Tenten I don't think you can even perceive the way men look at you. I think you're all too distracted by the others, to notice the way they pay attention to you" Neji murmured softly. Tenten watched the way his lilac eyes moved down to her lips, and Tenten didn't dare to move a muscle. She gasped as she felt his thumb move across her bottom lip, and involuntarily she parted her lips releasing a shaky breath. Neji's eyes met her own again, and he leaned forward.
Tenten could feel her heart rapidly beating in her chest, and she closed her eyes. Finally, she thoughts softly. After all those years of longing to feel his lips against her own, it would finally happened. However it didn't, and Tenten opened her eyes disappointed. There was Neji Hyuga leaning back on his arms, with a wicked grin on his lips. Tenten groaned pushing him down "I hate you!" she practically screamed, on top of him. Neji laughed whole heartedly, a melodic sound that was music to Tenten's ears. Neji reached up and pulled Tenten against him, and Tenten settled against his chest. She closed her eyes as she listened to the comforting feeling of his beating heart, and began to relax. "You're a mess Ten" he murmured softly, his hands moving through her hear again. Tenten let out a soft moan as his skilled fingers massaging her scalp "that feels amazing", she murmured.
The sound of Neji's deep chuckle resonated through his chest, and vibrated through Tenten's body. "I'm glad my hands aren't just good for combat" he said softly, his voice laced with a bit of humor. "I bet there good at lots of other stuff too" Tenten grinned softly against his chest. "Maybe you should find out" she felt Neji shift under her, and she moved her hands against the ground. She pushed herself up and glanced into his lilac eyes, taken aback at how close they were once again.
He was obviously flirting with her…so what was wrong with initiating? Tenten leaned forward, her nose rubbing against Neji's. She felt the heat radiating off of his body, and she gasped as he pulled her closer against him. Tenten could feel every part of him pressed against her, his body fitting perfectly against hers. Tenten moved her hands up and cupped the side of Neji's face, amazed at how soft his skin was. "You sure this is ok?" she asked softly, her mahogany colored eyes looking into his lilac ones. "More than ok" Neji murmured and leaned forward, completely pressing his lips against hers.
Tenten could feel every single part of her body catch aflame. It felt as if her nerves themselves were going haywire, sending signals of pleasure throughout her system. His lips were softer than she could have ever imagined, and they molded against her with the confidence she had only imagined in her dreams. Was she dreaming again? Tenten groaned as Neji moved her closer against him, her chest pressed against his. Tenten allowed her other hand to snake into his hair, and pulled back a bit so she could get a better angle. The growl that emitted from the Hyuga against her made her stomach tighten, and she moaned as she felt his tongue brush against her bottom lip. She opened her mouth and allowed him to explore her, just as eager as he was. She bit at his bottom lip playfully, and melted against him.
Just then a very audible cough interrupted their make out session. Tenten moved away from Neji wide eyed, to catch the eyes of Hinata Hyuga…who was bright red. Tenten let her head fall against Neji's chest, who was laughing. She was glad he found this situation humorous…
"S-sorry to interrupt you guys. I was just wondering if you guys wanted to come to the surprise party I'm planning for Naruto" she whispered, her voice high pitched and filled with embarrassment. Tenten groaned and moved away from Neji, standing up. Tenten tried to smooth out her dress, "I'll definitely come Hinata" Tenten murmured. Neji got up with a groan, dusting himself off as well. "As will I Hinata, October 10th right?" to which Hinata gave a vigorous nod. "It'll be in two days, on Tuesday" she said softly, twirling her fingers nervously. "I need some help with setting up the hall I'm renting out. I'm thinking we could meet him to get some ramen, and then we'll head to the hall. I already plan to get some karaoke and drinks and stuff'. "Tenten and I will handle the drinks" Neji said softly, taking a look at the still red face kunoichi with a soft smile. Tenten raised an eyebrow at Neji and nodded "Yeah sure, we'll handle the drinks". Hinata grinned widely "wonderful I can't wait….I just don't know what to get him" she exclaimed with a soft sight.
Tenten shrugged "get him some ramen, or food of any sort really. You can't go wrong with food for Naruto" she shrugged. "Maybe you could even make him something he'd like…I'm not sure. Knit him a sweater or something". Neji chuckled "She's not a grandma Tenten…even Naruto deserves a more...adult gift" he said softly. Tenten shrugged "I'm sure you'll figure it out Hinata, you know him better than anyone else". Hinata smiled warmly "thanks you guys, I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually too. Well I'll leave you guys alone to…train then" Hinata said with a blush. Tenten groaned, rubbing the back of her head.
"We just finished…I think I'm just going to head home now". She glanced at Neji who looked at her curiously "I'll walk you home" he exclaimed and began walking toward the direction of the town. Tenten joined him, easily matching his stride despite the fact that he was a head taller than her.
They were quite for most of the journey, and Tenten fell into the familiar rhythm of their silence. It really didn't bother her, in fact it was the opposite. She disliked when people just filled silent space with any small talk, and she preferred the comfortable silence instead. She liked the way Neji only uttered words when he found them appropriate, or important. She looked up at the taller Hyuga, whose eyes were focused forward. "I apologize if I made you uncomfortable earlier…" Neji murmured softly, glancing down at Tenten. Tenten felt herself blush again and shrugged "I was the one who initiated it, I just didn't expect you to reciprocate my feelings is all Neji. You're so…" she began "Serious?" he finished for her. Tenten laughed softly and bit her lip, her words trying to search for the right words.
"Serious yes but…also, out of my league" she said, her voice getting more quiet as the sentence ended. Neji stopped and Tenten glanced back at him, afraid she had offended him. His hand grabbed her arm and pulled her against him, and Tenten gasped. They were in the middle of the street, and Tenten tried to ignore the eyes watching them. "Don't be stupid Ten…I think it is the opposite. I don't have much to offer you besides myself Tenten, you know my standing in my clan. If anything I thought you were out of my league, and I didn't imagine the most skilled kunoichi I know had an interest for such a…waste". Tenten moved back, her eyes furrowing. "Neji Hyuga, they don't call you the prodigy for any reason. You are more skilled than many of the ninja I know, and you worked hard for everything you've learned. I'd much prefer hard work over what was given from birth".
Neji looked down at her so lovingly, Tenten thought her heart would explode in her chest. Neji released her after a small squeeze, and they continued their walk in silence. She arrived at her apartment and walked up the first two stairs, before turning to Neji. She leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, and he glanced at her wide eyed in surprise. She moved one of her strands of hair behind her ear and grinned widely "See you tomorrow Neji" she murmured before walking up the stairs. She took one last glance back at the Hyuga who waved softly at her "see ya".