A/N: I WORKED OVERTIME! I practically slaved over these chapters so I want you guys to read read read and then review. And I'm setting another review challenge, I want 10 more reviews before I post the next chapter. Muah ha! I hope you enjoy the chapter, I think its a lot better this way.
Disclaimer: Naruto is Kishimoto's bitch.

The world was spinning, her palms got sweaty, and she felt like she was going to throw up.

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

Did he really say that? She thought. She looked into his pale lavender eyes, she could tell he was sincere.

"W-what?" she stuttered.

"Tenten," he huffed exasperatedly, "I think…..I think I'm in love with you." He said again. Tenten shifted her gaze away from his.

"But why?" she whimpered, "Why now, all of sudden?" Neji stopped. He hadn't really thought about that. It was more like one day he woke up and Tenten was on his mind. That's how sudden it was. He had started thinking about her a little before their mishap but when they were tangled up he was sure, he was sure that Tenten was the one he loved. He tried to fit that into words.

"Well, do you remember when we were tangled up?" he asked.

"Mhm." Said Tenten on the verge of tears.

"Well, that's when it happened. I just found it so…..nice to be that close to you."

And what was scarier, Tenten felt the exact same way. She started to cry.

A boyfriend was not in the picture.

A boyfriend would mess up her perfectly molded life.

That's what she told herself the last time this happened.

But a little voice at the back of her head screamed and fought. It told her that she shouldn't worry about it, that she should go with Neji. But this little voice was so little and the rest of her mind was so big.

"Tenten," he said wiping a tear from her cheek, "I really mean it. I've never felt this way before and to tell you the truth, I'm scared as hell." He said smiling.

Tenten cried harder.

He's scared too? How is this even possible? Neji Hyuga, scared?

"Tenten," he said grabbing her cheek and forcing her eyes to meet his, "You don't have to cry. This isn't my idea of a joke or something. I'm not lying."

Tenten shut her eyes squeezing out more tears.

Then it happened.

In one movement, Neji had formed a seal with their mouths. He was kissing her.

Tenten stared at him, his eyes were closed. She was so astonished that her lips didn't seem to work. She turned to goo in his arms. Tenten was a useless meat puppet and all she could do was go along with it. She let her eyes close.

Surprisingly it felt good to her, it spread a fire inside her, heating her up even though the rain was freezing. And soon she found she could move her lips back.

At first it was a closed mouth kiss, with their lips just smushed together, but soon she felt that Neji was opening his mouth a little and she felt the flick of his tongue against her firmly shut lips. It sent little electric waves throughout her and left the spot tingly. She softened her lips and allowed him to slip in. He explored the recesses of her mouth slowly, making every little touch count, and as he explored further, she melted further. Then the presence in her mouth was gone and he was right in her face, his nose slightly pressed upon hers.

"Tenten.." he muttered dreamily, stroking her cheek. He leaned in and touched his lips to hers again but this time she pulled back.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered.

"But Tenten!" he grabbed her wrist as she was about to make a get away.

"Why?" he asked.

"I-I can't handle this Neji," she knew she had to say it or he'd never leave her alone, against her will she let the words pour out of her mouth like word-vomit, "I don't love you, and I don't think I ever will." Her stomach turned but he dropped her hand. Tenten ran as far as her bare feet would take her and she finally sat down under the cover of a tree and sobbed.

Neji

I don't love you.

But how? How could she not like him? After what he had just experienced he was sure she felt the same way. But apparently not.

His stomach was in a knot, and it seemed unsettled.

He thought.

How could she just kiss me like that and leave?

Was it gross or something?

He put a hand up to his mouth and breathed into it. His breath wasn't bad.

Maybe she was just….

He gave up. He couldn't think of a single reason that would explain why she said what she did.

Neji felt his insides turn and topple and a wave of nausea washed over him.

"Oh shit…." He muttered running to the edge of the bridge and hanging his head over. The sickening feeling of his lunch shot up from his stomach, and then he could taste it. He opened his mouth and vomited of the side of the bridge.

After the revolting affair had passed he stood up, quite woozy, and wiped off his mouth.

"Ugh." He said. Then it started again. He quickly ran over to the side of the bridge again and leaned over it.

Ugh this feels horrible.

He thought waiting for the puking to start. His vision became fuzzy and the world seemed to be turned upside down. Then the bridge was high above him and he was plummeting towards the water below. The sickening feeling of free fall ended with a SPLASH as Neji hit the cold water and sank down to the river floor where it gradually became very dark and then nothing.

He sputtered and coughed. A bright light was shining in his face. It made it hard to see.

"Turn it off." He groaned.

"S-sorry Neji…." Said a timid voice. He heard small footsteps from across the room and then the light went out. He lifted his head up, it felt like a million pounds.

"Hinata?" he squinted, trying to see if it was really her.

"Y-yes it me." She stuttered tapping her two index fingers together. She was soaking wet.

"Why are you all….. wet?" he asked.

"Well, I, you see, I p-pulled you out of the river, nee-san." She stuttered meeting his eyes for a moment.

"And if she didn't you would've drowned, you idiot." Said a much deeper voice. Neji looked at the door and in it stood none other than Hiashi himself.

"Hiashi-sama."

"Yes, it is me. Seems like you're sick. I read your test papers, you have pneumonia. And you didn't help yourself by running around in the rain." Hiashi sighed and shook his head.

Well that explains the vomiting. Neji thought. He laid his head back onto the thin hospital pillow.

"Can I ask what the hell you were doing running around in the rain?" barked Hiashi.

"Training." Neji lied. Hiashi had no business screwing with his personal affairs.

"Training, hm. Well at least you had good intentions. But you know what they say, the stupidest things start out with good intentions. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go check you out so you can go home and rest." He said disappearing from the doorway leaving Neji and Hinata alone. A silence followed.

"Hinata?" Neji asked breaking the silence.

"Hm?"

"If you see Tenten, tell her I'm sorry too."

"O-ok." She stuttered. Hinata wanted to ask what he was talking about but she knew it would be better if she just agreed. Minutes later Hiashi reappeared.

"All right, let's go." He said. "Hinata," he looked over in her direction, "Help your cousin out of bed."

"Yes sir." She obeyed.

After helping Neji out of his bed, Hinata brought his arm around her neck and supported him the way home.

As for Neji, in his feverish state, he slipped in and out of consciousness, which made Hinata's job a lot harder. When they finally reached the Hyuga compound she escorted him up to his room and settled him into his bed. By that time she looked just as sick as he did.

"Hinata, go change out of those clothes before you catch whatever I do." He commanded, smiling weakly.

"Th-thank you." She said bowing and backing out of his room.

"No, thank you." He whispered letting sleep take over his body.

Hinata hurried to her room and slipped out of her damp clothes. She shivered as the cold air hit her from everywhere. A knock sounded on her door.

"J-j-ust a m-m-minute!" she called , stuttering more than usual. She quickly put on some dry clothes and grudgingly put on her back up jacket and slid her door open. Her father was waiting.

"Hinata, I need you to run and get some medicine from the hospital. I forgot to grab it when we were leaving. Can you do that?" he asked.

"Yes sir." She said.

"Good, take this," he handed her an umbrella, "It might start raining again."

She accepted the umbrella and ran to the door. She put on her shoes and zipped up her jacket and set off back towards the hospital.

She decided to make a detour through town, this way she might beat the rain. Quickening her pace as the sky got darker she successfully made it to the hospital before the rain started. She approached the middle aged medic nin at the counter.

"Um, I n-need the medicine for Hyuga Neji?" she asked.

"Of course, I have it right here." Said the medic nin, rifling around some place she couldn't see, then producing a white bag. "Here, have him take this two times a day." The medic handed the bag to Hinata.

"Thank you." She said bowing.

Hinata hurried out of the hospital as the sky began to spit.

"Oh…" she muttered opening up the umbrella. She was just about to sprint home when she saw a figure tottering a little down the street. She realized it was Tenten. Hinata ran over to her instead, aghast at what she saw. Tenten, usually upbeat and headstrong, looked like she had too just fallen in the river. She was clad in nothing but a tank and shorts, her hair was wet and matted, and her face was red and puffy.

"Um, Tenten?" she squeaked. Seeming not to hear her, Tenten padded along in a daze. It seemed that she also had no shoes on. Hinata grabbed her arm.

"Tenten, w-whats the matter?"

Tenten met her eyes but it seemed as if she wasn't really looking at her. Until she said,

"H-h-h-hinata?" she was shaking violently.

"Yes," said Hinata becoming alarmed, "its me."

"Can you take me home?" asked Tenten smiling feebly.

"Uh-huh." Said Hinata, slinging Tenten's arm over her shoulder and half helping half dragging her home. They came home to her worried parents.

"Tenten!" They yelled as she and Hinata came through the front door. They embraced her for what seemed like forever. They released her. Her father then slapped Tenten across her face.

"What the hell did you were doing! No note, and the door was left wide open, and now almost four hours later you show up like this!"he boomed. Tenten didn't cry, she merely looked at him, holding her stinging cheek. His silent fume was interrupted by Tenten lunging at him and wrapping her arms around his waist.

"I'm so sorry. I really am." She said burying her face in his clean smelling kimono shirt. Her father softened and hugged her back. All the while Hinata stood over in the corner sheepishly not knowing whether she could leave or not.

"All right dear, go up to your room and get some rest." Said her mom. Hinata let out a small hem. They both looked over in her direction.

"Um, if its ok, I have t-to t-tell Tenten something, c-could I go up there, for a minute?" Hinata stammered.

"Sure, but make it quick. She needs her rest."

"Thank you." Said Hinata bowing and going up the stairs. When she reached the top of the staircase she knocked on Tenten's door.

"Tenten? Can I come in, please?" The door opened and Tenten stood in the doorway.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I have a message……….from Neji," she said, "He wanted me to tell yo—

SLAM. Tenten had shut her door in Hinata's face.

"Tenten, just listen ok? Neji says he's sorry."

Hinata waited for a reply.

When it didn't come she sighed in defeat and retreated back down the stairs and out the door.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed! And i hope you guys don't think its as sad as it was, its lightening up. And I strayed from the path and made a Hinata POV. Squee! And yes I want those 10 reviews before I post the next chapter. If i never get them... well... we'll see what happens.
No go!
1,500 plus views! w00t! (throws party for self)