A/N~ Hey there! Alright, so I'll update again :D Hope that makes you guys happy! I know it makes me happy.. Anyways.. I'm done O_O Enjoy, darlings!
Neji's POV.
Flying, soaring through the air. I was so light, I could feel the slight breeze tugging at me.
My wings, white and large, tried to maneuver their way to safety.
Suddenly, my body felt very heavy, and the calm wind, turned into a storm.
A storm I couldn't get out of. The crazy gusts carried me to a precipice, surrounding by a lot more cliffs. My wings were too sore from fighting with the wind.
I could feel myself slipping closer, and closer to the edge. My feathered body was too sore, and numb to feel anything, but pain.
"Neji.. you're going to be okay.." I head a sweet, soothing voice from afar. It broke at the last word.
Tenten's voice.
The wind was fiercer. I couldn't fight against it.
It was like fate.
Yes, it's true. You can change your fate, but with actions, come consequences. Those consequences are inevitable.
Except.. what had been my action?
"Neji.." Tenten's soft, soothing voice said again.
I felt myself getting closer, and closer to the edge of the cliff.
I couldn't see a thing. My vision was clouded with, what seemed to be, a thick, glass-like veil.
No.. it was more like a wall.
A wall I couldn't see through.
It was annoying. I tried to activate my Byakugan, but it didn't work.
I didn't have enough energy.. not enough chakra.
I head a sigh, closer to my ears.
The edge of the cliff was dangerously closer.
So close in fact, that I could see all the way down.
But, there wasn't a bottom. It looked dark, and cold.
My wings flapped in protest to the strong gusts.
But, I lost my balance, and started falling.
I was free again.
My first reaction was, to flap my wings. To use them to fly up to the sky, and feel the freedom sweep through me, once again.
But they were paralyzed. I couldn't move them.
What is going on? I wondered.
"Neji.." Tenten whispered.
I wanted to reply to her sweet, soothing voice, but I couldn't find my own. I couldn't even find my mouth.
Suddenly, I was falling faster, and faster.
Panic soared through me, as the darkness of the bottom of the cliff moved closer, and closer. I closed my eyes, trying not to think of the impact my skull would go through. (I was falling head-fist.) It was impossible. I opened my eyes, only to hope the opposite.
The darkness came unbelievably closer.
I grimaced, and waited for the harsh impact.
"I love you." was the last thing I heard, before the dark absorbed me.
My eyes flew open, and I gasped, jumping up into a sitting position. Someone close to my head gasped as well.
"N-Neji?" I looked over -too stunned to notice where I was at the moment- to see Tenten sitting on a chair closer to the bed I was lying in.
"Tenten?" My voice was husky, and my vision was still somewhat clouded.
"Neji!" she threw her arms around my shoulders.
I stiffened immediately. She noticed, and let go.
"..Sorry." she blushed.
"Hn." I muttered. I then felt a sharp pang of pain at the nape of my neck.
No.. more like I noticed it.
"..What happened, and where are we, Tenten?" I asked quietly after a minute.
Tenten's face darkened up. "It was a one-man ambush. He threw a poisoned kunai at your neck." she said quietly.
"Poisoned? But.. it took effect so quickly.. it must've been a very powerful kind of poison.."
"Yes. I took a closer look at it, and with the training I received from Lady Tsunade, was able to find that the poison used on the kunai was a stronger, more fierce, and more lethal version of my own, in which I dip my Katana in." she said with a sigh. Then, she frowned. "Neji.. I'm sorry."
She was sorry? But why?
She's always looking out for your blind spot..
Yes, but she's not committed to. She only does that because wants to.
That's true, but she feels guilty nonetheless.
Sigh..
"It's alright, Tenten. It is not your duty to look out for me."
She shook her head, and buried her face in her hands. "No.. I was careless.. It's my fault you got hit." she said quietly. Her voice broke at the last 3 words.
"No, it's not. If it's anyone's fault, than it's mine. You did nothing wrong." I said sternly.
"But, I distracted you! I made you look up when I screamed!" she said, looking at me, with bloodshot chocolate eyes.
"Tenten, this isn't your fault. Stop it." I said slowly.
She sighed. I knew she was done listening to me.
"So, where are we? You never answered my second question."
"We're in that little town you mentioned before. It's more like a very small village, rather than town." she muttered, looking at the ground. "At the hospital, to be exact."
"How long have I been unconscious?" I hadn't thought about that.
"About a day and a half."
I nodded. "What happened after I got hit? Tell me everything."
She sighed, but nodded nonetheless. "You blacked out, and fell head-first to the ground. You got a concussion. The guy tried to go for the kill, but," she looked up. "I stopped him." She said, sounding proud.
"You don't say." I smirked. She smiled playfully.
"Yup! Then, after that, Gai and Lee took care of him. I was the one who brought you all the way over here." It was her turn to smirk.
"...Why didn't you let Gai or Lee do so?" I asked, after a minute, and after I felt sure that the heat in my cheeks was all, but gone.
"Because, if I hadn't done anything, I would've died of guilt." she said sheepishly.
I sighed.
Tenten will be Tenten.
"Besides, it's Gai and Lee. You would've killed me if you found out it was one of them that carried you." she raised an eyebrow.
She has a point.
...Yes, she does.
I sighed. "Well, you're right." I turned to look at her. "Thank you." I smirked.
She blushed, and looked down to her hands.
Pretty color..
"Don't mention it. I would do it any day. Specially for you." she said, and bit her slip, smiling.
I blushed a little bit this time. She smirked.
I cleared my throat, and looked around the room. I noticed some things were missing. I couldn't quite put my finger on it though.
I then remembered, that the names of those things, were Gai ad Lee.
"Speaking of which, where are those two?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She seemed to know what I was talking about. She sighed. "Training. That's why I'm here."
"I see."
She nodded once.
A nice, but long silence followed after.
I wanted to hear her voice.. but I didn't want to speak. Not yet, anyway.
"So.." she spoke up. I was glad for that.
"Yes?"
She cleared her throat. "How are you feeling?" She bit her lip, and lifted her head to the side, looking very cute, in the process.
I shrugged. "Not too terrible. Just sore." I said, looking at her.
She raised an eyebrow, as if she didn't believe me.
"..Are you sure you're not in any pain? She asked, narrowing her eyes.
"...Do I really look that bad?" I asked, smirking, and raised an eyebrow.
She smiled, and laughed. "No.. but I know you, Neji." she paused. Her face was serious., but her eyes and voice were soft. "You downplay this kind of stuff. You're independent, and don't like it when people pity you." she said quietly.
"..Yes, you are right," I started to say slowly. "But I'm fine. I told you. I'm only a bit sore."
"A bit?" she raised both her eyebrows.
"Yes, only a bit. I'm not a wuss, you know." I muttered.
She chuckled. "No, of course not. I never said that. I'm just saying you downplay your emotions most of the time."
I grimaced. She had no idea how true that was..
NOW IS THE TIME!
...To tell her I-
Yes!
...What about my pride?
To hell with pride!
But you said-
Forget what I said. You'll never get a chance like this! Gai and Lee are always around, and they never leave you two alone!
...They go train all the time, usually by themselves.
..Not the point. Just do it. You'll feel relieved after!
...
..But stupid Inner's got a point.. If I don't get this out soon, my mind and chest will blow off..
I sighed. She looked at me, then looked down.
..Might as well get it over with.
"Tenten.." I whispered.
"Neji.." she started to say at the same time, looking at her hands. A blush arose on her cheeks.
"..Yes?" I asked. She looked up.
"You were going to say something.. I'm sorry. Continue, please." she said politely.
"No. I insist on you saying whatever you have to say first." I said stubbornly.
She looked at me in the eyes, sighed, and nodded. "Alright.. I just wanted to let you know that I-"
"YOSH! I see that our youthful teammate Neji, is awake!" Lee burst in through the window, thus breaking it.
Tenten jumped out of her seat, startled. I glared at Lee.
"Lee! Look what you've done! This isn't our place to destroy!" Tenten reminded him with a scowl.
"I am sorry! I will run 600 laps around the village f-"
Tenten threw a chair at him. He was almost too late in his dodging. "No way in hell you're doing that. Instead you're going to repair the broken window!" she paused to catch her breath. "Got it?"
Lee nodded. His eyes looked bigger than usual.
"Lee!" Gai appeared out of nowhere.
"Gai-Sensei!" Lee exclaimed.
Tenten's eyebrow was twitching with anger.
She threw another chair was was close to the bed as well, but this time, it was aimed at Gai.
He dodged neatly. "What is it, Tenten? Something the matter?" he grinned at her, which only enraged her more.
"..Just.. ugh!" she buried her face in her hands. "..Nevermind.." she muttered miserably.
Tenten throwing chairs? Now, that was out of character for her. She's always so calm and collected.
I then remembered our conversation before Green Thing #1, and Green Thing #2 butted in.
I felt my annoyance reach a point I didn't even know existed.
I growled unconsciously. Everyone's attention was on me. "I just woke up.. not even 20 minutes ago, and you barge in here, breaking a window in the process, and yelling?" my voice was colder than usual.
"We are sorry, Neji! But we were worried about you!" Lee said
"Leave." I said coldly. Gai sighed.
"Alright. If that's what you want, we shall leave." he turned to look at his '#1 star pupil'. "Lee." he said with his shiny smile.
"Gai-sensei! We shall go train!" Lee said excitedly.
Tenten narrowed her eyes. "No. Broken window. Go find the supplies you need to fix it." she said.
"..Right! Onward with the power of youth!" Gai shouted, making me grimace.
"Leave. Now." I muttered annoyed.
"Yosh! Goodbye, youthful Neji! And goodbye to you too, beautiful youthful lotus blossom!" Lee said, and with that, he and Gai were out the window again.
Tenten sighed. "Those two.." She mumbled, and then shook her head. "No matter.. Well," she turned around to look at me. "I better go check on them.. don't want them breaking other windows." she sighed again.
"...You don't have to go.." I mumbled incoherently.
"What?" she raised an eyebrow, and for a second, I thought she had heard me.
"Huh?" I said, with an innocent expression.
"Nothing.." she half smiled, and started to walk away.
I reached for her wrist, before she could get away.
"Huh?"
"..Thank you, Tenten." I whispered huskily.
She turned to look at me, and took a few steps closer to the bed. She bit her lip, and then smiled.
I smiled a small smile.
She seemed to think about something for a second, then, smiled again, and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. My eyes widened.
"I said it once, and I'll say it again." she said, her voice softened, and her hold on me tightened. "Don't mention it. I would do it any day. Specially for you."
My arms, unconsciously, snaked their way to her hips, to hold her close.
"But.. why?" I felt obliged to ask.
She swallowed. Her hold on my shoulders loosened. I didn't let her go.
"..Because.. because you're my friend." she said quietly.
I felt a pang of disappointment.
Friend? I'm only a friend to her?
Don't jump to conclusions too fast. She only said that, because that's all you've let yourselves be.
..What do you mean?
Look at your behavior. Is it of someone who is deeply in love? No. It's not. It is of friendship, and partnership. Yes, it's possible that she may love you, but your actions chase her to believe that you only see her as a friend, and comrade.
..So, what should I do?
...Make your attraction to her obvious. She'll know what you intentions are, and you two will end up happily ever after.
...what if she doesn't love me? What if I make myself look like an idiot?
Love is a human emotion. It is not a sin to love, but the opposite. It is a blessing. If she doesn't understand this, then she is the idiot here.
...Right.
Well, all I can do now, is hope for the best.
A/N~ horrible ending, I know.. but oh well. Be happy I updated twice in a row! O: That's like, a freakin' record for me.
Anyways, I'm really happy I got this out. :D I really am. Relieves some of my stress D: Stress is no good . anyways. Hope you enjoyed!
Thanks to Midnight Insomniac, for all the support! Love you, girl! :D
And thanks to everyone who reviews, and that good stuff. I really DO APPRECIATE IT!
Anyways.. after this super gift from me, you guys wont get another update until I get a fair amount of reviews.. besides, I've got to update my other stories. Hahah.
Mmk. Hope you liked it! R&R! Until next time, my darlings, with much love,
~AliceOtaku
