This is sort of a deep filler but...
it's kind of not because it sets up nicely for the next chapter THAT IS NOT A FILLER!
Lol I thought it was needed to say.
Oh well I hope you guys like it!
Thanks to my reviewers: e1nav57, tenten2295, xmarachanx, Herrblade, MitsukoMiyuki, Pyromaniac-Girl, Aya-Chan101, Sand-Jounin-Temari, Musical Demon Obsessed Girl88, Tentenperson-Shikamarugal,Deyanira-chan. You guys are awesome!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Protection

Chapter 7

By: turtlechick

- Neji

Today was the day that we were all waiting for. The day that all of our hard work led up to. The day when our progress would finally be tested. Today was the day of Tenten's math test. Of course I had to take it as well but, I wasn't being tutored. We had crammed the night before until I thought she was ready. It was only a small quiz but this would show if she was truly getting better. We sat on different sides of the room and I could still tell that she was nervous. She kept looking down at her desk, checking her notes one last time before the Mrs. Yuuhi passed out the quiz. She looked up at me when they were passed out, I only nodded, she was ready.

:::

Mrs. Yuuhi graded the papers before we left class and distributed them back out to us before she left. She gave me mine first, I had aced it. I couldn't help but watch as she walked around the room until she finally gave her paper to Tenten. She stopped and talked to Tenten for a moment and I couldn't tell if it was a good or bad thing. Finally, she stepped out of the way and the room was filled with Tenten's high pitched scream. Did she pass? Then I saw her clutching the paper to her chest, she must have done well. I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. I had no doubt that Tenten would do well but the waiting almost killed me.

She rushed over to me and shoved the paper in my face. "Look Neji! I passed!." There on the top of Tenten's paper written in red ink was a rather large 'B.' "Neji, thank you so much! I can't wait to show Temari and Shikamaru! This is going on our fridge!" And I thought that she could smile before. Tenten left the room quickly and immediately went to find Temari. I felt a sense of accomplishment. Maybe I could do more than just the mission this time.

I found them later in the cafeteria, sitting by the window, Shikamaru sitting with them. It was extremely hot today so most of the students were fanning themselves off or drinking something cold. Tenten still had that smile on her face.

"So Neji you did it. And here I thought that it wasn't possibly." Temari said laughing at her own joke. I shrugged my shoulders, not wanting to take the glory out of Tenten's moment. Today was about her and no one was going to take that away from her. "Well since smiley here did so well I saw we celebrate and cool down at the same time."

"How the hell are we going to do that?" Shikamaru never took to the heat very well. The weather always weighed down on him making him even more lazy.

"I forgot. I guess we don't tell you two anything. There's a private pool on the top of the apartments. Ooh this will be so much fun we can invite everyone just to celebrate little Tennie." Temari hugged Tenten tightly.

"Private as in?" Shikamaru inquired.

"Yes, Shikamaru, private as in we get to use it at our discretion." Temari replied. Shikamaru let out a dramatic sigh of relief. The weather had always affected his mood as well. Extreme heat and cold made him cranky, while temperatures in the middle of things were just right.

:::

-Shikamaru

I knew that once Temari said the word 'pool,' that Neji wouldn't be up for it. Temari had called everyone from the party for Sakura the other day and most of them were up for it. Temari and Tenten were both really excited. Tenten was still excited for her passing grade and Temari was happy that she got to throw a party. She said she lived for this sort of thing.

"Grab your trunks boys! We're going up!" Temari yelled from the kitchen. I grabbed my swimming trunks a little too eagerly, because I knew that Neji felt left out even though he would never admit it and I knew he would never admit to Tenten and Temari but I felt like they had a right to know. I knew that if they asked about Neji then it my job to tell them. "Hurry up!" Temari yelled.

:::

"Wow." This roof was amazing. Not only was there a pool, but a diving board and lounge chairs lined the outside of the area. Tenten ran from behind us and straight into the pool. She was so small that she hardly made a splash. Temari was a little more subtle when she entered the pool. She took her time, walking around the perimeter of the pool until she reached the steps. She stuck one foot in and then the other and finally joined Tenten in the middle. I followed Temari's lead, but stopped at the stairs. This was the life. Neji sat on a lounge chair mediated in the sun.

After a while everyone else started to show up. I was glad to see Chouji, he seemed like the only sane one out of this bunch. Most of the girls were playing with Akamaru in the water while Naruto and Sasuke raced across the pool to see who was fastest, it was tie every time. Temari, Sakura and Ino were now working on their tans, while Tenten and Matsuri were having a water fight with Kiba and Kankerou. It was only our second time with these people and yet I didn't feel as left out.

:::

The party was dying down and most everyone had left. Neji still sat on the edge of the pool, alone. Temari were floating near the edge of the pool when they called me over. I went over and waited for them to say something.

"Shikamaru why did Neji never get in the pool today? It's not like you too aren't fit, the two of you combined probably have muscles for days." I fought back a blush from the comment.

I sighed, getting ready for my explanation. "Neji has been in the military for a long time, longer than I have. He's been through a lot of tough times. Let's just say that wars don't just ware less on the mind and more on the body for Neji. He's had it pretty rough. He's pretty self conscious about his scars." Before I could say anymore, Tenten had gotten out of the pool and was sitting with Neji on the lounge chair next to him.

"I would have never guessed. Is it really that bad?" Temari asked.

"They're aren't horrible. They just remind him of bad times that he wouldn't like to think about anymore. He's come a long way actually."

"Huh, well Neji's a good person. This whole experience is probably a good thing for him. This way he doesn't have to deal with all of that stuff, at least for a little while." Well at least Temari had realized that Neji and I weren't going to be here forever. I don't know if Tenten had caught on yet.

"Neji and I are going to study for our next math test." Tenten said waving as she and Neji entered the elevator.

"Yeah, we should probably call it a day too." Temari said helping me out of the pool. My thoughts of these two changed a lot since Neji and I first got here. Those first couple of days were hell, but after a while we had become friends. Tenten was no longer the immature smiley girl, but now she was the person who might be able to make Neji come out his shell. And Temari… no matter how loud or troublesome she is, she's always a good person to talk to and someone who will always listen, even when I didn't want to talk.

When Temari and I entered the apartment, there on the refrigerator was Tenten's B with Neji's A right next to it.


That wasn't so bad, and look on the bright side the next chapter won't be a filler!
It'll be full of actioney goodness. lol ...kind of.
I hope you all liked it! :)

Please review and even if you don't check out my other stories. XD

turtlechick...out