Chapter 7: Love

By Alicia Hamilton

Tenten knew she was running out of time. Neji would be here at any second to save her and she knew the Akatsuki was ready with an ambush. They were never planning to let her go, they only planned to use her to lure Neji to where they were. Tenten struggled with the ropes binding her to the chair. Deidara was sitting not far away sipping a cup of coffee and reading a newspaper. She knew this was her only chance, her only chance to escape alive. Tenten took a minute to think, to study her surroundings and judge what to do next, that is what she was trained to do, she was a ninja and ninja's were skilled in figuring out how to succeed in their missions. Tenten's mission was simple escape. At least it sounded easy there were seven Akatsuki members that she would have to outwit and she knew getting past Deidara would be hard enough, even if he was reading he could still hear what she was doing at any minute. Tenten knew where the exit was but she knew she couldn't take that route, the Akatsuki would be all gathered there waiting for Neji to fall into their hands and this time Neji wouldn't escape, this time they had bait, they had her. Tenten loved Neji and she wondered if Neji loved her would she ever know? She decided to put the thought to the back of her mind as she finally decided carefully and slowly to untie herself. The knots were tight and it was taking longer than she had wanted but finally the ropes slid off her hands. She wrapped them in her fist and looked to Deidara who was busy reading. This was her chance. She stood up silently and used a jutsu to make herself invisible. She walked slowly by Deidara and he hadn't even looked her way. Tenten followed the walls to a secret back entrance where Itachi was standing. Tenten couldn't risk going the other way so she did what she could. She hid herself behind a corner and performed a shadow clone Tenten that went right past Itachi and Itachi raced after the fake Tenten. Tenten walked out and no one else was there she was still invisible and she raced out of the area as fast as her legs would carry her. She went to the village she knew Neji was on his way to the Akatsuki hideout she had to tell the others she was safe so they could stop the Akatsuki once and for all. Tenten was panting by the time she made it into the village and there Jiriaya was with Naruto.

"Naruto, help Neji please." panted Tenten as she tried to catch her breath. Without a single word Jiriaya and Naruto were off. Sakura came up from behind them with Hinata beside her.

"Tenten are you okay?" asked Hinata.

"Yeah, I'm fine but Neji is still in danger." panted Tenten. Sakura had Tenten sit down to make sure she was okay.

"Everything appears to be normal minus your breathing but you ran all the way here right?" asked Sakura.

"As fast as I could." smiled Tenten.

"I'm sorry." whispered Hinata.

"It's not your fault." said Tenten. She knew Kisame had been after Hinata to begin with but Hinata was not to blame it was the Akatsuki that was the problem. She could only hope Naruto and Jiriaya would get there in time before Neji fell into their hands once again.

"It's the byakugan they want, it's me they wanted from the beginning." muttered Hinata.

"Hinata it's the Akatsuki that's too blame you aren't the problem. We don't want anyone to lose their byakugan. We don't want the byakugan to be stolen." said Tenten with pride.

Neji followed Kisame as they made their way towards the Akatsuki hideout. Neji had to decide how soon he was going to disappear or how he was going to get Tenten out without the Akatsuki noticing. Kisame kept walking, kept looking back to make sure Neji was the only one following. Their trap was set and the byakugan was about to become theirs. Finally after months of planning they would have both the sharingan and the byakugan. It was like a dream come true soon no obstacle would stand between them and destroying the leaf village not even Naruto with the power of the fox could be able to stop them for long. That was another goal to steal the fox from Naruto just as they had Gaara's.

Neji was more worried then he thought he should be, the Akatsuki hideout was within stepping stones of where they were and Neji still didn't have a plan. This was bad, Neji had rushed in thinking of Tenten's safely and now he wasn't sure either of them would leave alive. Just when Neji was about to bolt for the hideout and risk it all he heard Naruto in the distance.

"Neji stop!" shouted Naruto as Jiriaya held up Kisame.

"Don't try to save her only Neji can donate his byakugan. You alone Jiriaya cannot beat seven men." said Kisame with pride.

"I don't need to fight any of you. Tenten is safe." said Jiriaya. Neji looked at Jiriaya as he said that.

"But how?" asked Neji.

"Same way you escaped trickery." said Jiriaya. Neji took a deep breath he was relieved and Kisame was pissed. Kisame tried to steal Neji while he was taking that single breath but Jiriaya was there.

"Naruto get Neji back to the village. I will be right behind you." said Jiriaya.

"No problem." smiled Naruto and he grabbed Neji's hand and they ran off into the distance. Neji freed his hand as he ran beside Naruto.

"She truly is safe?" asked Neji.

"Yeah Jiriaya and I were just about to go out and help you when she showed up." smiled Naruto.

"I have to see her I have to tell her I love her." said Neji to himself but Naruto had heard him.

"What your in love Neji? Wow." laughed Naruto as he patted him on the back.

"You know Naruto you have someone waiting for you." said Neji smiling back.

"Who Sakura? I'm pretty sure she still wants Sasuke. Girls." sighed Naruto. Neji just nodded his head that no not Sakura.

"Then who?" asked Naruto.'

"You truly are oblivious to it aren't you?" asked Neji.

"I have no idea who you are talking about." said Naruto.

"My cousin, Hinata loves you and you don't even notice it." said Neji as he left Naruto to think about what he said.

"Hinata in love with me?" asked Naruto putting to himself. Neji was gone but Naruto knew he would have said yes.

Neji found Tenten by Sakura and Hinata at the entrance to the village. Neji went to her and embraced her like he never had before.

"Tenten, I'm so glad you're alive." said Neji.

"Me too." whispered Tenten. Sakura saw Naruto and she and Hinata went to greet him.

"Welcome back Naruto." blushed Hinata.

"Hinata do you like me?" asked Naruto.

"Um….um….I…." muttered Hinata.

"Hey Neji are you sure?" asked Naruto.

"Yes she likes you she's just shy. Speaking of liking people, Tenten about your confession, I love you too." said Neji.

"Really?" asked Tenten. Neji nodded and kissed her on the lips for the first time just a light brushing of lips against the others but it was a kiss like no other it was a kiss of understanding, a kiss that from now on things would be different. Neji know knew just how much Tenten meant to him and he promised with this kiss that she would never again be kidnapped, never again be alone. They were more than just partners, more than just friends, with this kiss they were a couple.

Jiriaya came back to the village no long after and everyone reported up to Tsunade's tower. Tsunade came to Tenten and embraced her.

"I'm glad you are safe. Mission success. Neji, Hinata and Naruto would you speak with me for a little on how we can stop the Akatsuki from trying this again.

"It's simple we go after them and defeat them once and for all." Jiriaya said.

"Most of our skilled ninjas are on missions right now. I don't want to send any team without a proper sensei." said Tsunade.

"I'll go with them." Jiriaya said.

"Don't you have research to do?" asked Tsunade.

"I just finished my latest novel so I'm not busy." said Jiriaya.

"The people that read that stuff, they must be crazy." said Tsunade silently to herself.

"My work is a masterpiece read it yourself and you will see just what I mean." smiled Jiriaya.

"I'd rather do all these papers then read one of your books." said Tsunade.

"You don't know what your missing." smiled Jiriaya.

"Actually I think I do and I would prefer to keep it that way." said Tsunade. "Everyone is dismissed."

"Thank you Tsunade." they all replied at once. Naruto stayed in with Jiriaya and Tsunade.

"Has there been any word of Sasuke's location?" asked Naruto.

"Yes there has been but Naruto you will need to settle matters with him at some later point. The Akatsuki is our main concern, stopping them is crucial." said Tsunade.

"All right just tell me who I'm with and I'll go and take care of the Akatsuki and save Sasuke." said Naruto with confidence.

"I haven't decided on a team yet. Wait for further introductions tomorrow morning. Today has been a long day." groaned Tsunade.

"Yeah, I guess so. I'm bushed." said Naruto handing out of the hokage's mansion and to his favorite place of all, the ramen shop.

It was getting late and Neji was heading home but he wasn't alone, Tenten was with him holding his hand. Neji wasn't taking any chances. Tenten would be staying with him until the mess with the Akatsuki was over. He didn't want them to have the byakugan and they certainly wouldn't be using Tenten as bait ever again.

"Neji." whispered Tenten as they entered the mansion.

"Yes?" asked Neji.

"Try not to worry too much. Please let's just try to relax." said Tenten.

"I'm not going to stop worrying until the Akatsuki give up. Look at this." he said and held up the lock or hair, her headband and the piece of paper with her blood on it.

"When Kisame showed me this I thought I was going to lose my mind and kill him right there. No one and I mean no one is allowed to do that to you ever again and until this is over I'm not taking my eyes off you. I don't want you or anyone else to suffer because of the curse that is my seal." said Neji.

"It's your seal that saved the byakugan don't forget that so easily Neji." Hisashi said from the living room.

"Yes I know." Neji shouted back. "Let's go to bed I'm tired. Neji showed Tenten to his room.

"Shouldn't I have my own room?" asked Tenten.

"I told you I'm not going to stop worrying until this mess is over so your going to sleep with me." smiled Neji.

"Oh." said Tenten. Tenten and Neji laid down beside each other fully dressed as Neji hit the lights.

"I love you Tenten." smiled Neji as he put his arm around her waist.

"I love you too Neji, goodnight." whispered Tenten and with that they fell asleep.

Tenten dreamt she dreamt of Neji and it almost felt too real to be true. It was a wedding their wedding and Tenten shook herself awake. Neji opened his eyes instantly worried for Tenten's safely when she whispered.

"It was just a dream." said Tenten.

"I hear something. Shh.." said Neji and he did hear someone moving about the mansion looking for Hinata, Hisashi or him. Hinata was staying with Sakura. Neji got out of bed and used his byakugan to discover it was Itachi and Kisame.

"Blast where is the girl?" asked Kisame in a whisper.

"She's not here we should have known better." said Itachi.

"What about the old man should we take him?" asked Kisame.

"No, Pein has asked for the girl this time. The girl or nothing he said." said Itachi.

"Where do you think they're hiding her?" asked Kisame.

"At someone else's house. Let's try back tomorrow night. Oh and were being watched so don't be so loud." said Itachi.

"By who? Hisashi is snoring." said Kisame.

"It's the boy, Neji is watching us. Let us leave." said Itachi and with that they were gone. Neji knew what they wanted. He knew it was late but he went to where he knew Tsunade stayed and knocked.

"What is it?" Shizune asked so tired you could tell it had been not only a long day for Tsunade but for her too.

"Itachi and Kisame are in the village." said Neji.

"Hold on I'll wake Tsunade." she said. Not even five minutes later Tsunade allowed them in.

"Tell me everything." she said. Neji and Tenten told her all they knew of Itachi's plan and that Hinata was their only target.

"I see. They are planning to come back tomorrow night. Hinata will not be safe in anyone's home. Send a letter to the sand that we are sending them Hinata for the time being.

"We'll never get there in a day." said Neji.

"I know but Hinata will not be safe anywhere in the village. She will be safer outside of the village on her way to the sand. Itachi and Kisame will be back and we will have every ninja available on watch. Neji, Tenten and Naruto you guys will take Hinata to the sand for the time until this matter is solved. The Akatsuki must be dealt with seriously or we will lose the byakugan and that's a chance I don't wish to take." said Tsunade.

"We understand." said Neji and with that Tenten and him returned to their mansion to Neji's room. Neji looked at Tenten as he locked the door.

"Tenten I love you and I want to show you how much." said Neji as he tossed off his shirt and it fell to the floor.

"Neji…so soon." whispered Tenten.

"I don't want to lose you Tenten. I don't know when we will get to be alone like this again, there is so much going on. I want to show you that when I said I loved you I meant it." said Neji as he went and kissed her tenderly.

"Neji…." whispered Tenten as he slid his hands up her back and undid her brad straps as the clothes came off one by one. Then Neji and Tenten held each other naked. Held each other because they knew there was danger still ahead of them but they would get through it together. There was no more confusion no more words, this was their love.

Neji didn't waste any time and stood overtop of Tenten's body he slid his manhood into her and she had to hold her breath as it hurt a little because Neji was not small and it was Tenten's first time. Neji took it in slowly and out slowly as Tenten got used to the rhythm so Neji went faster and Tenten had to keep her mouth shut not to moan or make any noises to let anyone else now what they were doing. Neji came after fifteen minutes and embraced Tenten while his manhood was still inside her. Then he laid down beside her and they kissed, not a chaste kiss this time, this time they lunged their tongues into each other's mouth and really kissed. With that first kiss they promised each other safely but with this kiss they promised more. They promised no one would break them apart, they promised to be more than a couple more than just boyfriend and girlfriend with this kiss everything was promised everything was on the line and they would face it all together.

Author's Note: Hey it's been forever right? I certainly know it has but after a long wait and lots of patience of my reader's parts Chapter 7 is up and I must admit it should have been up sooner so I promise for Chapter 8 to be up before Christmas so keep this bookmarked for next time Chapter 8: To the sands of time. Oh and once again thanks for all your comments and especially your patience.