'So what are we going to do Neji?'

'There's nothing much we can do. But there is something I can do.'

Blackness. Why can't I see?

'You do not seriously think you are going there by yourself, do you?'

'Well you can't come with me; you have Sakura to care for.'

Oh. My eyes are closed. Why does it hurt so much?

'There is nothing you can do, Lee.'

That's right. We've just been in a fight. "A medical ninja needs to be able to evade enemy attacks." Thanks for the tip, Lady Tsunade. I'll be sure to remember it.

I opened my eyes painfully. I was lying on something soft and all I could see was a colourful blur. My hand moved to my forehead and I groaned.

'Sakura?' That voice sounded familiar. 'Are you alright?'

'What hit me?' I asked dumbly, attempting to sit up. My head span instantly and I flopped back down. A bandaged hand pressed down on my forehead. Lee. Of course. My eyesight focused more and a worried looking, upside down Lee came into view. Suddenly, I realized I was lying on his lap.

'Try 50 volts to your chest. That's enough to kill you or fibrillate the heart,' another solemn voice replied. My…chest? I looked down. Bloody bandages were wrapped around the outside of my kimono, underneath the Chunin vest I was wearing. So that's where the pain was coming from.

'Oh right. I'll fix it then…' I mumbled. My hands glowed a steady green colour. A warm, tickling sensation filled my chest as my injuries knitted together neatly. My vision became less impaired. A scared Lee and an unnerved Neji came into a clear focus.

Wait. Neji unnerved? Something must be wrong. I sat up again hastily, this time I didn't fall back on Lee's knees. Looking around, I noticed something was missing.

Tenten.

Where's Tenten.

'Oh. My. God. What happened while I was out?' I searched frantically, just incase she was away somewhere.

'Erm…' Lee scratched his head. His eyes were glassy, as if he was close to tears. Oh no, I thought. This is bad. The shinobi shook his head viciously, pushing back his desire to cry and put on a brave face.

'When you were knocked out, some of the lightning was conducted off Tenten's weapons, which in turn knocked her out.' He paused, breathing jaggedly. 'Then…then that Hizakari woman grabbed her and is currently using her as a hostage.' Lee began shivering. I don't think it had anything to do with the cold.

I couldn't believe it. No. I wouldn't. Tenten is much better than that. She couldn't be gone. It wasn't possible.

I stared down at my shoes, giving Lee the dignity to cry in privacy.

'Why? Why did she take her?' I choked, pulling my knees under my chin.

'That is my fault,' Neji answered blankly. I looked up at him. This wasn't the same emotionless Neji I knew. At a first glance he'd look the same, but his eyes. They were filled with so much emotion. Pain. Regret. Anger. Suffering. It was a whole new Neji. A Neji I was unaccustomed to. A Neji I did not like.

Neji…

'That…woman was after my Byakugan,' he said angrily, folding his arms. His eyes closed as though trying to erase themselves from existence. 'It is not the first time the Hidden Cloud village has betrayed Konoha to get their hands on the Hyuga Kekkei Genkai. She took Tenten as bait. So now…I have to choose.' He re-opened his eyes and gazed down at Lee and me.

'Choose?'

Neji's fell limply by his side. 'Yes. Choose. Between a friend and my duty as a cadet member of the Hyuga household.'

Neji's fists clenched angrily. He turned away from us in an attempt to disguise the emotion he was beaten for showing. His pale hand felt beneath his headband, running against the faded-green mark which symbolized his pain, his suffering, his lack of choice.

So that was what it was to be a cadet member of the Hyuga household. To have to hide all emotion. To serve unquestioningly. To have to revolve your choices around your destiny.

'What is our plan of action then Neji?' I asked, getting to my feet shakily. He spun to face me. He had a confused look etched on his unmarked face. 'You are our leader aren't you? What are we going to do about the situation?' I demanded.

'Plan?' He raised an eyebrow. Evidently, the boys haven't thought this far ahead. It was time for a good old fashioned rallying speech to get them in the mood, Sakura style!

'Tenten is a comrade: a friend. This is the time she needs us most and no stupid mark on your forehead is going to stop me going, even if you two are too cowardly to go,' I said forcefully, jabbing my finger on his headband. Lee stood up.

'Yes Neji, what is our plan?' he asked, smiling. All traces of previous emotions were eradicated from his face and a brave, determined expression had replaced it. Neji's face began to contort with the pressure. One more push would sort his mind out.

'Come on Neji. Some prodigy you are. You're gonna let a spandex wearing helmet head (no offence Lee) and a kunoichi with no talent whatsoever stroll into enemy territory and rescue the person under your command?' I sneered. He glared at me, slightly taken aback.

'Certainly not.'

'So hurry up and tell us the plan!'

We leaned in, listening intently, working out each possibly outcome and how to overcome it, not once mentioning the chance that Tenten may possibly already be dead.

The Cloud 'shinobi' informed Neji and Lee before she took her leave that she would be found in three days time on a bridge to the south of the hidden village. This description was pretty vague, but it was all we had to lead us to Tenten. It also helped that Neji's shoe-seeking Byakugan could also help us find her.

Neji activated his all seeing eye and spend several minutes concentrating on the country around him. It was amazing that such a beautiful place can host such evil as that woman.

Whilst Neji was preoccupied, I slumped against a tree. We had been hiking for two days straight and frankly, I was knackered. Lee sat next to me delicately. He hasn't left my side since I woke up on his lap, nor would he talk to me. This time I understood. He felt bad. I could see it in his dark eyes. He thinks he's a failure.

Lee stared at a point on the dirt path we had been following, clearly deep in thought, just like that night when he was on watch. He turned to look at me with those sorrowful eyes. I looked back at him. We sat in silence till Lee looked away.

'I thought I lost you.'

I didn't reply. What could I say?

Lee pulled a knee under his chin and wrapped his arms round his leg. His eyes looked glassy. I sighed. Shuffling closer to him, I lay my head on his shoulder. Lee began to shake; I had the strong suspicion that he had started crying. I put an arm around him. It felt oh so familiar. What cheered him up then?

'You are such a dork,' I said, stroking his side gently. He let out a laugh that sounded a lot like a sob. 'You shouldn't cry Lee. Tears are for the weak. You aren't weak.'

He promptly wiped his face. 'Sorry,' he muttered with a slight smile.

'It's ok,' I replied, glancing at Neji. 'I think Neji's waiting on us.' I picked myself up, leaving the warmness that was Lee. We walked up to the smiling Hyuga.

'Found her.'

A/N

I was in an extremely pleasent mood today, then I went on my reviews and it just got better XD. I'd like to thank everyone who's been so supportive while I've been writing this! This chapters for you!