Crystal Inferno: Oh my gosh! I got so many reviews! Thank you all! You made my heart skip with joy! You don't know how much it means to me when someone writes to me! It makes my whole heart swell with love and tears ( :
Kiba: Maybe you're overreacting…
CI: No I'm not…
Shino: He's got a point, they are just reviewing…
CI: But I love them for that! Like you guys love Hinata for what she does to you!
Both: …I guess
CI: Well, anyways, thank you all for the wonderful reviews and reading this fan fiction! I feel so loved (although I am so unworthy!)
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Neji was staring into the sky, his white eyes glazing over in a dazed daydream. He saw in the clouds his beloved, her long hair shifting through the breeze, her warm smile gently placed upon her lips, and her eyes joyfully gazing at the world. How he wished she were here…
"Neji, stop moping around!" a certain yelp came from a certain Hyugga. "We haven't had are sparring match of the day!"
Neji stopped his daydreams of his Hinata and looked into the direction of the voice. Of course, it was her little sister, Hanabi. She had been complaining all day for a spar. But since Tenten had left with Naruto, he just felt empty.
"I already sparred today…" he trailed off, just wanting to sleep. When was Hinata coming back?
"You idiot! That was with Tenten! When Tenten was here, you were happy and everything! But when she left, you just started off into this depressed mood! Wait…" Hanabi went off into her thoughts "Don't tell me…she's not a replacement is she?"
Neji raised a questionable eyebrow "What?"
"I mean, is Tenten your replacement for Hinata?" Hanabi asked, in a more serious tone.
"You can't be serious, why would you think that? Hinata has no replacement!" He was becoming angry with her. Sure, he had his mind off Hinata when Tenten's pretty face was here, but she could never be in the same limelight as his wide-eyed goddess.
"You just like Tenten because she takes her mind off of Hinata!" Hanabi said, fury in her voice. "Have you noticed she looks at you with love struck eyes! She loves you Neji! And you play games with her! You are nothing but an arrogant, dry, selfish jerk!" she screamed, and for some reasons tears were streaming down her eyes. "I don't want my friends hurt, don't hurt Tenten, and if you ever wish to court Hinata, you must tell Tenten how you feel!"
Neji didn't know what to say. Hanabi was crying for her friend. He didn't even know that Hanabi and Tenten were friends. Yet, he knew also, that Hanabi was most indefinitely right. Tenten did admire Neji, and she perhaps loved him the same way he loved Hinata. He had to tell Tenten, or risk losing one of his best friends forever. He never wanted to hurt Tenten, but he would try to bring her down as gently as the genius ever could.
"Well…I'm off" Neji said rather coolly, passing Hanabi with a certain aura. He placed his hand on her shoulder and nodded. "Don't worry," he reassured "I will not hurt her, as she is my best friend."
Hanabi only smirked with a bittersweet cringe "You better not Neji-kun, or you will have to face my wrath!" she added playfully, and ran off through the grass fields to train with others.
Neji merely smiled at her retreating figure and ran off as well…to find Tenten.
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(To all who despise Tenten…why the hell would you? Anyways, this is her point of view for a short while.)
Tenten was having a nice relaxing walk at the moment with two very contrasting people, both in personality and physically. Naruto Uzumaki and Shino Aburame were walking on either side of her. Naruto had just come back from his training with the Legendary Jiraya. He was significantly stronger; she could feel it in his confident laugh and posture, and just in his aura. His presence was refreshing to that of the stoic Neji's or the flamboyant and over-the-top attitude of Lee. He also had grown taller, and he was, indeed taller than her (although, not a lot.) Tenten was a bit surprised by his flirtatious attitude with her and he had even added the 'chan' to her name. Tenten couldn't help but begin to like Naruto, although she did have feelings for a certain Hyugga…
Neji…her thoughts wandered to the white-eyed boy. With his cold personality unexpectedly thawing out about everyday, she couldn't help to wander if he had fell in love. All people change when that overwhelming, confusing emotion rushes through them and they must think of whom they truly are inside. Still, she knew very well, he had not fallen in love with her, simply because his attitude had not changed with her, and that made it quite easy to assume that he merely considered her a friend, not a potential girlfriend.
"Hey, Tenten, you got something on your mind?" Naruto asked, interrupting her uneasy thoughts. She smiled at her growing crush.
"No, I'm fine Naruto…" she trailed off, and then, inspiration flowing through her, she stated "Naruto…how can you ask Sakura over and over to go out with you when you know you'll just be rejected?"
Naruto looked upon Tenten's serious face. Realizing she meant her words. "Well…" he started, trying to say what he wanted correctly, "I ask her because I believe the next time will be different; that she will want to go out, that she has changed her mind of who I really am, and give me a shot. That's why I ask."
"Aren't you afraid?" Tenten questioned, as she was struggling to find the meaning between his words. Before Naruto could reply, Shino's voice rose above, surprising both the blonde and brunette.
"It may seem difficult to understand the motives of people." Shino said, complete certainty within his voice "But, if you are able and willing to accept your fate the gods have handed to you, than maybe…" his voice backed away. He took a shuddering breath, almost as though he was trying to fight off emotions peculiar to himself. He continued however, "Maybe you will live a life of peace and happiness rather than one of regret and doubt."
As Shino's words took in their full effect, Tenten smiled at his simplistic statement. He was right, after all. She could not doubt herself; she would certainly regret it if Neji we were to perhaps like her, but uncertain himself he would move on to another, and both would be lost in regret until their lives reached their limits. She would not live in regret, she would live with fulfillment and joy, just as Shino had (perhaps) promised.
No more living in fear! Tenten exclaimed within her mind Perhaps he doesn't love me, but I must know! I must find out! He is my best friend, along with Lee, and if he has a girl on his mind, I will help him claim her! I will not regret! I will move on and live life to the fullest!
She smiled at her thoughts. She looked at the two boys on her sides and cheerfully stated: "Shino, Naruto, thank you both so very much. I now know what I need to do. I'll see you two around!" As she was about to walk to the Hyugga compartments, white eyes met her chocolate ones closely. Deadly close.
Heat rose to her cheeks as she realized it was none other than Neji, her life long crush. Remember your vow…do not regret! She chanted in her mind once more, giving her a certain boost of confidence, yet, she took a step back, fearing she would lunge forward in an awkward kiss.
"Hi…Neji" Tenten strained the words, unable to speak due to the strain. "What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk, Tenten." Neji spoke with a rather impatient tone, clearly in some type of mental struggle. "Alone," he noted, the other two surprised, yet obviously expecting the statement from the cocky Hyugga.
"Sure…let's go to the usual training grounds." She stated, more determined than ever. I need to tell him! As they were about to leave, Naruto's voice stopped them momentarily.
"Hey, Tenten!" Naruto yelled as Tenten turned around, "If you're not doing anything tomorrow night, I would like it a lot if you could meet at the ramen stand. I haven't had a bite there in ages!" Tenten lightly blushed at his response but merely nodded her head
"Sure, Naruto!" she responded. I guess he wastes no time deciding what he wants. He has no doubts, as I will have none. And with her final thought, she left the two boys behind and ran along Neji to the training grounds.
When they finally reached the usual training grounds, Tenten looked at the features of her four-year teammate. He had a look of ferocious seriousness that she had seen only in battle; why was he so determined.
Well, maybe it involves the team, but I have to tell him my secret, it's the only way I will be able to live with myself! As she was about to speak, her white-eyed companion beat her to it.
"Tenten, I have a confession to make," his statement was quite abrupt and straight to the point. Confession?
I can't get any ideas…it probably isn't about me. He loves another I know he does. But even if that is correct, I will confess either way. I cannot keep the burden any longer. Thus, she spoke, "Well, what is it, Neji?"
"Tenten I like someone…no like isn't a strong enough of a word." He spoke at her with extreme intensity. Tenten was quite puzzled, yet, she wanted to know, she needed to know his deepest secret: the one he loved, "Once, I liked another…you were that other…yet as the months rolled by, I felt my attraction pulling to one I had detested all my life, and realized I loved that beautiful, innocent girl. That girl was and still is Hinata."
Tenten felt her heart crush. It was though a black hole was pulling on her very existence. He had once liked her, but it had faded. No, she would not regret; she would speak the truth and move along. But what if she couldn't move along? She was heartbroken at the moment, tears on the brink of pouring out of her eyes. She was too late to receive his affections. Once they had liked one another, but now…
NO! Tenten screamed in the walls of her mind, I will stay strong! Regret nothing! That, is my way of the ninja, and it is my way now in love!
"Neji, I liked and still you like you, perhaps I may even love you," she started. She stared into his eyes, and obviously, he was not surprised. "You probably already knew. However, my affections will probably fade, and new love will blossom for me. I don't want my affections getting in the way of our friendship, as we are the best of friends. I will do everything I can to win your beloved's heart! I will move along in my life and hope to make the best of it. Hey, I even have a date tomorrow!" A few tears wee sprinkled among her cheeks, but she couldn't stop them. This was such a bittersweet moment. He had liked her, only it was gone. Now, he loved another, but she could only do what she could to make him happy.
"Thank you…Tenten," Neji said as he wiped the tears away from her eyes. He had to admit, she was beautiful…but beauty was not enough. "For understanding."
"N-n-no pro-oblem," Tenten stuttered, shaking from her tears "That's what friends are for right? Now, I have to tell you how to win Hinata's heart right?"
"I suppose that would help…" he said, uneasy around his crying friend/secret admirer.
"Well…will have to start off with cutting your hair." She grinned lightly. At least…I'll get some pay for this shattering soul.
"What!" he yelped, obviously shocked by her response, "What do you mean, Tenten?"
"What I mean is, Hinata likes boys with shorter hair. Te only way you'll win her heart if you look like the man she wants to be with forever!" Tenten exclaimed, excited by the event that was going to occur. She took out a handy-dandy kunai knife…
"Wait! Tenten…let's talk about this first…" his voice trailed as her kunai was inches from his hair…
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Neji was not pissed as he walked through the moonlit night. Actually, he was kind of happy. Not only did he look good with short hair (it resembles that of Zaku's haircut, only a little shorter) but he had fun revealing what Tenten looked with her hair down. Needless to say, she was a goddess. Beside the point, he couldn't wait to see how Hinata's reaction when she saw his deadly good looks. Oh yes, he was arrogant about his handsome assets, but only because they had been enhanced.
"Yes, Hinata, you will fall head over heels. Prepare to meet your lover…" he trailed, to engrossed in the fact of Hinata finally becoming his one and only.
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Crystal Inferno: So, that was the chapter. Sorry if Neji is a bit OOC at the end, but come on, guys, any guy would feel sexy after realizing how they look with short hair! What do you think Neji?
Neji: I look damn good!
Kiba: Finally the sissy boy decided to stop looking like a girl.
Neji: Hmm…complain all you want! You know I'm going to get the girl in the end!
Shino: No you're not.
Kiba and Neji: How so
Shino: Because, once she reads my letter and I reveal the full extent of my sexy eyes, there is no way in Hell, you jerk offs are going to win her heart!
Both: Whoa! That was so OOC I don't even know how to describe it!
Shino:…
C.I.: Okay, that was just a little weird, but I'm deciding that it's because of the sugar. Yeah, brown sugar. So anyways, please review! You will be most appreciated. Yet, thank you all for reading. (Anime style eyes) I love you!
All three: She's so OOC right now…
