Withering Flowers

Chapter 4 To Meet

Asura and her teammates were having breakfast in their newly rented apartment. Asura and Sou were eating sushi while Tamaru was wolfing down his king sized dumplings. When the team was finished the boys changed in the bedroom while Asura brushed her teeth in the bathroom. (They already live together; that was a major damage to their privacy so they should at least have some privacy when they change or go to the bathroom). Asura finished then went outside. She walked into a clearing in a forest, not the same one she went to the night before. She looked around; just in case. She started to practice her taijutsu first. She ran toward a tree, kicked back and did a back flip in mid air then landed. She put one hand in front of her, her palm facing outwards and the other hand on the side of her forehead palm facing outwards. A kunai was flying in her direction. She noticed it kicked it away when it was close enough to kick. She looked at the direction where the kunai came from, "come out" she ordered. A figure appeared among the trees, it was laughing. 'Tenten' Asura thought as the figure became clearer.

"You're sharp" Tenten complimented Asura.

"Thank you. You were the one who threw the kunai am I right?" Asura asked.

"Yeah, I was training alone then I saw someone in the next area so I got close up and it was you. I wanted to see how good you are so I threw it." Tenten said, "hey lets train together".

"What about your teammates?" Asura asked.

"Oh, Neji hurt his back and has to lay in bed all day and I don't want to train with Gai sensei and Lee 'cuz they take it too the extreme." She replied.

Asura thought about Neji's back. She felt sorry for him.

"Well, what do you say?" Tenten asked.

"Yeah sure that would be great" Asura replied.

"Let's start with taijutsu" Tenten suggested.

Asura nodded.

Tenten did a stance, so did Asura.

They ran toward each other. Tenten threw a fist at her partner, Asura tilted her head and dogged the punch. Asura proceeded with an upper cut, Tenten jumped back then had to jump up because Asura almost kicked her side. She landed on distant right of Asura. Asura turned to her side to face her partner. Tenten ran to Asura with a fist ready at her side, when she was close enough she threw the fist but it was blocked by Asura's arm. Asura used her free hand to punch Tenten but failed because Tenten held her fist with her other hand. Asura kicked Tenten's fore arm which made her lose grip of Asura's fist. Then in a swift second Asura kicked Tenten's side but was blocked with a kick to her own leg from Tenten. They both jumped back and did their fighting stances. They were panting and looking at each other. Tenten looked at her red-headed opponent impressed. Asura was looking at the twin bunned brunette in front of her, she thought that Konohagakures didn't use every advantage they get when they fight and thought that she shouldn't either.

They kept fighting like that, punching and kicking but being dodged or blocked. An hour passed and both of them were tired. Tenten said, "let's take a break". "Hai" Asura replied then they both collapsed on the ground panting.

"You're pretty good" Tenten complimented Asura.

"Thank you, you're pretty tough too" Asura said.

They both sat there for 10 minutes or so then got up, "how about we get some tea" Tenten suggested. Asura nodded.

Asura and Tenten were in a tea house sipping green tea.

"So far what do you think of Konoha?" Tenten asked.

"So far so good. I admire the sculpted boulder of the hokages" Asura replied.

"It is cool isn't it?" Tenten said then sort of giggled.

"What's so funny?" Asura asked.

"No, it's just that it's nice to talk to a girl like this" she said, "I don't really talk the girls in Konoha because I don't have time to do so, but talking to you is nice."

"I enjoy talking to you as well. I mostly train and don't have time to talk to them and I don't know them at all" Asura said, and sometimes they're too busy chasing guys".

"Sounds like Ino" remarked Tenten.

"Who?" Asura asked.

"Oh yeah you didn't meet the other ninjas have you?" asked Tenten.

"No, no I didn't" Asura replied.

"Well" Tenten said as she stood up, "I'll introduce you to them" she then grabbed Asura's wrist, smacked money on the table and pulled her new friend out the door.

They were in front of a ramen shop called, 'Ichiraku'. Asura saw a spiky blond haired boy eating a bowl of ramen like he hadn't eaten anything for months. "Oi Naruto, say hi to our new colleague" Tenten ordered. The so called Naruto turned around and with a few noodles dangling out of his mouth. He looked at Tenten then at the girl beside her. Naruto examined the girl from her feet to her head. She was wearing a gray tank top, a bluish-gray un-buttoned plaid shirt and black shorts with a pair of black ninja shoes. His eyes widened and his mouth slightly opened at seeing the girl's long bare legs. Tenten traced the direction the student of a perverted sannin was looking at then closed her eyes tolerantly when she saw what he was looking at, "say hi to her not her legs" she said tolerantly. Naruto looked at the girl's face then stood up. He did a thumbs up and smiled with his teeth showing, "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, the future hokage of the Hidden leaf village" he said, "but to become the hokage I must first fill my stomach so if you'll excuse me" he then turned and continued eating his ramen. "o- okay" Asura replied a little surprised at the confidence of the blondie. "Oi-oi" Tenten exclaimed, "you didn't even got to know her name." "I'm soshrory, I'm to bizhhy eehting" Naruto said with a mouth full of ramen. "Well her name's Asura so at least remember that" Tenten nagged, "c'mon Asura". They both walked away with Tenten leading the way and Asura following her. They went into a flower shop. "Ino! I have someone to introduce to you!" Tenten yelled. "Who?" A girl with platinum blonde girl behind the counter asked. "This Asura, Sanei Asura." Tenten said while gesturing her hand at Asura. "Ohio" Asura greeted. "Ohio. I'm Yamanaka Ino" Ino introduced herself.

"Asura's a transfer ninja, she came a few days ago" Tenten added.

"A transfer ninja huh? Where were you transferred from?" asked Ino.

"Tayomaro" replied Asura.

"Oh yeah, since we're here let's get some flowers for Neji." Tenten said.

"What kind of flowers would you like?" Ino asked. She looked pretty knowledgeable about flowers.

"Uhmm… How 'bout a flower that says get better" Tenten said. She didn't know anything about flowers except that they were pretty.

"White daisies" said Asura and Ino at the same time.

"Oh, so you know something about flowers" said Ino

"I studied about them a long time ago" said Asura.

"Glad to see you both have something in common already" Tenten said with a smile, "white daisies it is".

They went out the shop with a bouquet of white daisies in Tenten's arms. Asura was so caught up in talking to the girls that she forgot that they we're heading for Neji's. She only realized it after she looked at the flowers in Tenten's arms. 'Shit' she cursed to herself.

"It's going to be your first time going to Neji's" said Tenten.

It so wasn't but Asura lied, "yeah it will".

They arrived at the Hyuuga estate. "Hold this" Tenten gave the bouquet to Asura then knocked the gate. A servant opened the gate, "We're friends of Neji" Tenten said. The servant nodded and let them in. They were led to door which was supposed to be Neji's. "Thanks" thanked Tenten with a smile the servant slightly bowed and left them. Asura saw Tenten raise her arm to knock, 'this is it' she thought, I shouldn't be the one freaking out. Act like nothing happened between us'. Tenten knocked. "Come in" they heard Neji's voice and went in. "Neji it's me and Asura!" Tenten said as she walked toward his bed.

Neji saw Tenten then looked at the Asura who closed the door behind her and walked towards his bed. He stopped looking at her then concentrated on Tenten. "I thought that the great Hyuuga Neji wouldn't get hurt by just being bumped by someone" gloated Tenten. Neji stared at Tenten then looked at Asura. Asura looked away and held the back of her neck. Asura walked closer to Neji, "here, I hope you get better" Neji handed the bouquet of white daisies to the victim of her attack. Neji stared at the bouquet then took it; his and Asura's fingers brushing against each other while the exchange took place. They didn't flinch.

"Ah! Neji you must be thirsty from being bored all day I'll go get some tea" Tenten Announced then went out the door. Asura watched the door close, 'damn' she thought. She then looked at Neji from the corner of her eyes. Neji looked out the window. Asura looked at the floor. The silence was loud very loud. It was more silent than being in an empty room. Then Neji broke the silence, "I'm sorry" he apologized still looking out the window. Asura looked at Neji with confusion. "What for?" she asked. Neji looked at Asura sheepishly, never has he felt sheepish. He didn't say anything for a while then he finally spoke very quietly; almost like a whisper, "about the kiss". Asura after hearing what he said immediately looked away from him and fell silent. Neji was expecting that, I mean he was just as embarrassed by it as much as her. Asura spoke without looking at him, "well I enjoyed it". The hole of shock sucked Neji into it. Neji's eyes widened and his mouth slightly opened after hearing the sound that just came out of the red-headed woman who was standing near his bed. Asura immediately said, "I just spoke out my mind that's all" she spoke with panic and while holding her neck. Neji turned his to the window just like a rusted robot would. "I enjoyed your kiss as well" said Neji then blushed. A bridge made out of a blush was built on the bridge of Asura's nose. She started blinking excessively.

Thank goodness Tenten arrived to break off the atmosphere. "I got the tea!" she said cheerfully. She set the tray down on Neji's desk, poured tea into three cups and distributed it to each of them. Asura and Neji didn't look at each other or couldn't.

"So who was the person who bumped into you?" Tenten took a sip from her cup.

"Just Kiba" Neji looked out the window while sipping his tea.

"I see" Tenten looked at Neji, Neji didn't look back.

Asura dared not to join the conversation and just stood there drinking tea. After they finished their tea Tenten said cheerfully, "Asura let's get going, we don't want to disturb Neji." "Hai" Asura replied. "See ya Neji, get better soon" Tenten waved while walking out the door. "I hope you get better" Asura said quietly thinking that it would be rude to leave without saying something. Neji just looked out the window.

Neji heard the door close then thought to himself, 'she enjoyed it'.