'Family Engagement' Ch.9

Neji woke up with the feeling of bright light in front of his closed eyes, and a warm body in front of his relaxed one.

"Hinata..." Neji said quietly looking down at his fiancé and fellow shinobi.

"Neji?" Hinata asked sleepily as she looked around to face him.

"Sorry, did I wake you?"

"No, I just...I think I had a dream about you."

"Oh, really...?" Neji said with a surprised expression on his face.

"Yeah, I dreamed that...wait"

"What is it Hinata?"

"It wasn't a dream, was it?"

"I don't know, was it?"

Hinata couldn't help but smile as she lay in Neji's arms and said, "No, it wasn't a dream, because you really did tell me you loved me."

"Hinata...ski da yo."

"Dido" Hinata said smiling shyly while cuddling closer to her fiancé's chest.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"Neji-kun!" Tenten shouted in greeting as she saw Neji coming towards the clump of trees where she was currently resting, "How are you? I haven't seen you in a while."

"Hello Tenten." Neji said in return to his former teammates greeting, "I'm fine, and I was training with you only a few days ago."

"Yeah well, I guess I forgot." Tenten answered awkwardly. That's not what I meant. "So Neji-kun, are you here training?"

"Sort of, I just finished my warm up and I was going back to the compound and train with Hinata." Neji answered, "Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering because I was just about to do some training and I was going to ask if wanted to join me." Tenten explained, "Though I guess you're busy..."

"Yeah, sorry Tenten, I'll see later though. Maybe we can train together tomorrow or something." Neji answered apologetically, "I have to go, Hinata's probably waiting for me; I said I wouldn't be long."

With that said Neji turned on his heel and started heading off towards the compound when Tenten stopped him.

"Neji-kun, wait!"

"Yes, what is it Tenten?"

"There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it Tenten." Neji said looking concerned; why is Tenten acting like this?

"Neji-kun, are you happy?"

"What do you mean Tenten?"

"Are you happy with Hinata as your fiancé?"

"Tenten..."

"Please just answer me...I need to know."

Neji could that Tenten was serious and upset, so he told her the truth...

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Where's Neji? He isn't usually late. Maybe he forgot about sparing with me? Maybe he's hurt? Maybe I should go see how he's doing; I mean I don't think he would just forget, would he?

As Hinata continued her internal debate, she headed off in the direction of Neji's usual training grounds.

"I hope I can find him." I hope he's alright...

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"I am happy, Tenten" Neji answered her simply and truthfully.

"Neji...does this... does this mean you mean you love her?" Tenten asked dreading the answer.

"Yes Tenten I do." Neji answered truthfully. She deserves to know the truth, though I don't really know why she wants to...

"Neji-kun..." Tenten couldn't, and didn't want to, believe what Neji told her. How can he love her...he...he...didn't used to and he's her cousin.

"Tenten, are you okay? I-" Neji tried to ask Tenten before she stopped him.

"Do want to be with? Do you want to marry her?" Tenten asked painfully as she tried to stop the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.

"I want to be with her, and I will marry her. After all we are engaged."

"You...you can't!" Tenten couldn't hold back anymore. Tears rolled down her face as she threw herself into Neji's arms.

"Tenten!" Neji said surprised by his friend's behaviour and at the same time feeling for her as she cried.

"You can't Neji, because you didn't want this, and you didn't love her!"

"I guess things changed." Neji answered not really knowing what to say.

"Neji...you can't...you." Tenten tried to say through her tears. "I...love you."

"Tenten..." Neji said hugging her gently, "Gomenasai."

"Neji-kun..." Tenten said softly hugging him back gratefully. She was grateful for being kind to her, though...

Tenten looked up at him and smiled through her tears. She leaned forward so she was close enough to see the surprised look in his eyes, then she kissed him. It was a gentle and short kiss, but she hoped it would be enough.

"Tenten, what are you-?" Neji said sounding shocked while at the same slightly angry. Before Neji could finish his sentence he was interrupted by a high pitched gasp.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Hinata ran through the woods near Neji's usual training grounds, looking for her newly beloved fiancé. She thought she heard something so she headed in the direction of the sound. The sight she saw next was something she couldn't understand, and didn't want to see.

Neji...why?! Neji, her fiancé, the man that had just told her that he loved her, was kissing his teammate, Tenten. She saw them break apart and she saw Neji's lips move in speech and then before she could stop herself, she let a gasp of confusion and pain escape her lips.

"Hinata!" Neji shouted in surprise when he saw her standing behind him.

"Neji, I-I thought..." Hinata stammered quietly before she turned tail and ran back the way she came.

"Hinata!" Neji yelled at her retreating back as she began to disappear from sight.

Neji ran after Hinata before Tenten could say more than, "Neji, wait!"

Neji ran, he ran and tried to catch up to Hinata. She was meters ahead of him and he yelled, "Hinata, wait!" She didn't wait.

"Hinata!" He said as he finally got in arms reach of her. He grabbed on to her hand in an effort to stop her.

"Why did you follow me? Why don't you just go back to Tenten..." She said shakily, trying to fight back tears.

"Hinata please let me explain.

"Why, so you can tell me that you don't want-"

"No, so I can tell you that I didn't want to kiss Tenten." Neji said while wiping tears from her face, "Tenten..." I won't tell Hinata that just now; I don't want her to be upset over Tenten's words again. "Tenten kissed me and I didn't know what to do about, and then I saw you and I hoped you would forgive me."

"Neji..." Hinata said looking up at Neji smiling, "I-I- should have realized... and you don't need to apologize if you aren't guilty."

"Arigatou Hinata-chan." Neji said with a soft smile on his face.

Hinata tears were gone, and her heart was free. She kissed her fiancé with fresh hope and happiness; she believed him, and she didn't care why any of it had happened. I do still wonder why Tenten kissed him though...does she like him, does she love him? Either way, she won't get him.

Tenten felt the tears run anew as she watched the man she loved and cared for kissing his true love, and fiancé. Why did he chase her? Why did he choose her? Why does he love her....? Tenten sighed and turned away from her love and walked back the way she had come. I know I've lost. I knew I would lose. I just didn't want it to be so soon; I don't want to give up.

"Neji, let's go home." Hinata said as she and Neji left in the opposite direction that Tenten did; towards their home.

(Neji and Hinata are congratulated and people start to talk about the wedding)

(Wedding plans begin?)