xxx
Even if I
repeated love's name
forever,
could outward life match
the intensity of our hearts?
- Izumi Shikibu
Chapter 9 – Worth Something
Gai, Lee, Sakura and Tenten had finished eating their pieces of chocolate cake. Well, all of them except Lee. He was taking an unbelievably long time to eat his piece.
Tenten clasped and unclasped her hands nervously. "Well, I, uh, have to be somewhere now—Gai-sensei, I'm going to go find Neji and give him his cake . . . so I guess I'll see you guys later?"
All of them waved as she disappeared out the door with a plate. Gai was the first to break the silence. "Ah, the spring of youth . . . how long do you guys think it will take for the two of them to confess their love to each other?"
Lee choked. "Wh-what? You mean—"
Gai rolled his eyes. "Yes, I mean Neji and Tenten. Don't give me that look—I've known about their mutual crushes on each other for time beyond measure!"
Sakura's mouth fell open. "How on earth . . ."
Gai got up and walked to the door. "Well, I'll leave you two lovebirds to yourselves now! See you later!" He gave them a grin and a thumbs-up before walking away.
Lee turned to Sakura after shaking himself thoroughly. "How the hell does he know about that?"
The female ninja shrugged, shaking her head. "I honestly don't know. Teachers scare me sometimes!"
Lee nodded and took a bite of his cake. "Oh, that's too bad . . ." he muttered, looking down at his now empty plate. "I finished my chocolate cake already!"
Sakura turned to him. Her eyebrow twitched. "Wait—you've got a smudge of chocolate on your chin."
She leaned over and licked it off him. He blinked in shock. "S-sakura-chan?"
"What?"
Lee looked down at his plate and then back at his girlfriend. "Uh . . . so do I have any more chocolate on my face?" He sounded almost hopeful.
Sakura considered him for a minute. "Hn, I think I see some next to your mouth . . ." she murmured, leaning in and reaching out her tongue. Lee blushed furiously as he felt her warm breath on his skin.
"Sakura-ch-chan, you . . . uh . . ."
"Yes?"
"I think you mighthave some chocolate at the corner of your mouth." Lee winked.
"Oh, thank you for pointing that out, Lee," the pink-haired ninja said brightly. "Would you be so kind as to lick it off for me?"
Lee was only too happy to oblige.
xxx
Shikamaru followed Hinata out onto the banks of the small river. "See, Shikamaru-k-kun? Isn't it beautiful?"
The dark-haired ninja nodded in appreciation, closing his eyes as he breathed in the cool, clear air. He sighed. "You couldn't have picked a better spot! Do you come here often?"
The Hyuuga nodded, looking down at her feet. "Y-yes . . . it's especially pretty at night when moonlight shines on the water, and the fireflies come out . . . but of course that's only in the summer-time . . ."
Shikamaru smiled. He felt at peace in the middle of the woods, with the tall, strong trunks of the trees receding into the blue air overhead.
The dark-haired ninja hopped onto a rock that stood above the rushing water of the stream and sat down cross-legged, a contented smile on his face. "This is nice . . ." he sighed to himself, closing his eyes again and letting the sounds of the water fill his ears. Hinata smiled at him from the bank of the river and sat down on a rock herself, relaxing, letting the sunlight fall over her and warm her skin.
Suddenly she looked up, her gaze unfaltering and resolute. "Sh-shikamaru-kun?"
"Yes?"
"Do you promise that we'll be friends?"
Shikamaru grinned and reached out across the narrow band of water between them. Hinata clasped hands with him. The two ninja smiled. "Friends," they whispered to each other. It was a promise.
xxx
Neji slumped down under a tree outside the village of Konoha. He leaned back and sighed. He just couldn't face Tenten, no matter what he did, no matter how he much courage he summed up. It was too scary to think about—the idea of telling her how he felt.
The Hyuuga looked up at the sky, blue and filled with white fluffy clouds. It was unfair that everything looked so beautiful when he felt so down! It wasn't a feeling of sorrow or grief or despair—it wasn't like he was depressed—not at all. It was merely a feeling that he couldn't do anything and just wasn't worth anyone's time.
She's so friendly and fun to be around . . . and I must seem so dark and so serious, just some destiny-obsessed show-off. The only thing she could admire about me is my skill as a ninja, but when it comes down to it, that won't even really matter to her! What matters is if I can make her laugh, make her feel happy, be friendly and just be plain normal around her . . . instead of freezing up every time I see her face.
Neji closed his eyes, sighing for a second time. Valentine's Day of all days to feel this-
"Hn?" The Hyuuga had opened his eyes as he felt a shadow fall across him. He looked up at the ninja who stood in front of him.
The ninja offered a plate. "I baked this cake for our team but I didn't get to give it to you earlier. I hope you like it!"
Neji's eyes widened. She had come all the way out here . . . for him? That small detail, insignificant as it seemed, warmed the Hyuuga's heart.
"Thank you, Tenten." He took the plate from her hands and attempted a polite smile.
"Is there anything wrong, Neji?"
The Hyuuga started. "What? N-no!" He looked down at his hands and then back up at Tenten. "I guess I just need to ask you something."
What has gotten into me . . . Neji thought to himself. I really shouldn't do this, I really shouldn't . . .
He looked up at Tenten, who looked slightly confused and very curious. "What is it?" she prompted.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" the Hyuuga gritted out between his teeth. He watched as an enormous blush grew on Tenten's cheeks. She nodded wordlessly.
The silence was killing both of them. Tenten was the one to finally break it. "S-so, are you going to eat your cake or do I have to help you?" The female ninja flopped down on her stomach next to him, resting her chin in her hands. She smiled and Neji's stomach flipped. She's so beautiful when she smiles . . .
The Hyuuga shook him self. "Here." He held out the fork. But Tenten merely opened her mouth. "What? Do you want me to feed you?" Neji laughed.
She nodded and tapped her foot impatiently. Neji gave her the first bite, and then took one himself. Tenten raised an eyebrow. "So, you don't mind using the same fork as me?"
The Hyuuga paused with the fork half-way to his mouth. "Erm, no?"
Tenten blushed. "Never mind. I guess it would be weird if it mattered . . . because, well, we are . . ." – she cursed herself for saying anything. This would make it even more awkward – ". . . boyfriend and girlfriend . . ."
Neji turned red and swallowed. "Yeah, uh, because, I mean, we're going to kiss eventually . . ." – his mind screamed at him to stop, but he kept on going – "so it doesn't matter, does it?"
Tenten blushed even harder and shook her head quickly, looking everywhere but at the Hyuuga in front of her.
This time it was Neji who broke the silence. "Would you let me . . . um . . ."
Tenten looked back up at him as she felt his hands move out to unfasten her hair. It fell out of its tight buns and uncoiled over her shoulders in dark brown waves. Neji ran his fingers threw it slowly, face unreadable, grey eyes avoiding her gaze. His hands finally dropped to her shoulders and he looked at her.
Tenten stared into his eyes. "Yes?" she answered, partly to his unfinished question, and partly to the expectant silence.
We're going to kiss eventually . . . so it doesn't matter, does it?
Because, well, we are boyfriend and girlfriend . . .
His face was so close she could feel his breath, and hear his chest rising and falling rapidly. He was kneeling in front of her, dark hair falling forwards into his face. She slowly got up off her stomach and crouched in front of him, moving a bit closer and placing her hands around his neck.
Tenten brought her lips nearer to his and paused, waiting to see what he would do. The Hyuuga's eyes were still unreadable and his face was composed, but his hands trembled ever so slightly. Suddenly, Tenten kissed him, wrapping her arms farther around him and letting all the tension in her body go. Neji seemed to melt in her arms.
The kiss was gentle and soft, but it held all the things they'd wished they could say, all the things that it was impossible to say. When they pulled apart, the awkwardness of the past silence was forgotten.
"I love you."
"I love you."
Neji pulled Tenten closer and ran his fingers threw her hair, smiling slightly. "So will you help me finish my cake?"
"Sure . . ." she murmured, grinning.
This was the beginning of everything she'd dreamed about.
xxx
Naruto and Sasuke walked down the street, holding hands, leaning against each other. By this time they were fully clothed, of course. They had decided that it was about time to go and eat something.
"Ramen?"
"Of course," Sasuke smirked, moving closer to Naruto and tousling his yellow hair. "My little idiot."
Naruto grinned, his heart warming. They continued walking down the street. Both boys' minds were focused on the same thought, one that filled them both with immense happiness.
I'm worth something . . . because he loves me.
xxx
