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" Neji-san..." Kagome sighed, watching her cousin named Tenten try to impress the stoic Hyuuga. The two were sparring-and Kagome,the ever-concered medic, had tagged along.

Her heart hurt though, with every attack Tenten threw at her male team mate, and she knew why. A wry smile twisted her lips as she watched the fierce determination flash on Tenten's face.

She loved the Hyuuga as well.

The thought caused her more pain, and she closed her eyes and kept her chakra from fluctuating, even as tears shimmered behind her eye-lids. She loved him, plain and simple.

But she'd never tell him- Tenten deserved him. She'd met him first, known him longer, went on missions with him, and the list goes on and on...

Besides, she was wary of love-especially since her long-ago love of Inuyasha, a chuunin from Tsubasagakure, resulted in his betrayal.

' Why do I always fall in love with the males that already have someone? First Inuyasha, now Neji...' She thought despairingly.

Jumping to a higher branch on the tree she occupied, she dodged a stray kunai, the weapon embedding into the tree where her leg used to be-even though it was clumsily thrown. Below her, Tenten panted, her less-than-average chakra store pitifully empty as she fell forward in a chakra-exhausted faint.

Quickly, she jumped down, healing what injuries there were before turning to Neji with a blink of her eyes.

" Do you need to be healed, Neji-san?"

He shook his head, a small smirk on his face as he strode toward her. She blinked again, apprehension growing inside her as she backed up just as quickly as he was striding toward her.

In less than a minute he had her pinned against a tree trunk, chests crushed together with his lips claiming hers.

Surprised, but pleased and embarrassed all the same, Kagome kissed back, opening her mouth and moaning at a touch from the male's tongue to hers.

A few moments later, he pulled back, his smirk wider, and his eyes filled with possessive, masculine pride as he looked her up and down.

" N-Neji-s-...Neji-k-kun...." She whispered, blushing as her lips tingled. With one more quick, hard kiss, the jounin pulled back, his right thumb tracing her full bottom lip sensually.

" Kagome, I don't have anyone."

She blinked in confusion, causing him to chuckle again and pull her into another quick, sweet kiss.

' Wow...who knew Neji could be so sweet?' Kagome thought, hands fisting his top and bunching the material in her fists.

" I mean that I'm single-unless you say otherwise, Kagome."

She froze, after all-he didn't know about her feelings...did he? He continued.

" You see, I know that Tenten has some...feelings for me, but I only see her as a team mate, nothing more."

She inwardly jumped for joy.

" However," She froze at this. " I feel different about you."

He took a short breath, and, with one more peck on the lips, continued.

" I want you to be mine."

She beamed at him happily before yanking him into a passionate, loving kiss.

A few minutes later, they remembered Tenten and pulled away with smiles on their faces.

As they walked toward Tenten a few yards away, Neji chuckled again and kissed the nape of her neck, making her shiver.

" Kagome?"

She looked at him to show she was listening as she laced their fingers together.

"...You were thinking out loud."