Possibly Perfect

NejiXTenten. It was the wrong place, the wrong time, the wrong reasons… and the right pair.

The italicized part is a flashback.

I don't own Naruto.

-------------

Chapter Nine: The Fire Starter

Tenten sat beside him after placing a tray of food- consisting of sandwiches and a glass of orange juice on the bed. He was starving but he wasn't in the mood to eat. Tenten had ordered food to go and ate while he drove. She enjoyed her meal, completely ignoring his sulking.

"Are you alright?" She asked as she gently pressed the cold compress on his cheekbone.

The cold stung on his contused skin, prompting him to pull away upon contact.

"Who's that guy?" He demanded.

"That… guy…?"

"That guy with the giddy smile on his face!"

Tenten's expression switched from wonder to irritation at the increase of his volume.

"Don't shout at me! I don't know who that guy is, what is your problem with him anyway?" Tenten slammed the cold pack on his face, earning a grimace from him. "At least he and his date were able to have a nice dinner! They were on the table beside ours, you know, I watched their whole proposal ritual while you're in a brawl!"

"TENTEN!" He yelped when she pressed the compress harder.

"Why on earth are you asking me about that guy? What do I have to do with him?You're so weird!"

He took the cold pack from her, realizing he could end up in more pain if she continued the 'first aid treatment'. So that was the guy on the next table. And he was proposing. That explained him looking flushed and damn- what was I thinking, he thought.

"You're not with him?" He asked one last time, just in case.

"Am I on mute? Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"I did."

"So what do you think?"

"Guess not."

Tenten smiled sarcastically.

"Change your clothes when your face is feeling better!" She said as she went to the bathroom. "And eat those sandwiches! I made them so don't waste them or you're really going to get it!" She glanced back at him.

He obediently took a bite from the first sandwich.

---------

Shikamaru coughed, obviously todisguise his laughter. Neji sighed, leaning back after signing all the papers before him. Why did he even bother telling that story to him? It wouldn't be of help anyway. He knew all he would be getting was either a lazy sigh or a teasing laughter. Perhaps he was just looking for someone who would agree with him that girls are frighteningly dangerous when angered.

"So you got distracted by a guy whom you thought was with Tenten, who turned out to be on a date of his own." Shikamaru narrated. "In other words, your imagination had been working overtime."

"Amusing, isn't it?"

"If you see her standing beside a stray dog, I bet you'll get jealous as well."

"I'm weird, I know."

Sakura opened the door and hurriedly walked in, slamming the door after her.

"Sakura-chan, that could've cut my fingers off, you know…" Naruto complained as he followed her.

"I told you not to come after me!" She gnarled irritatingly.

"Alright, you two, cut it out." Neji sighed. "Sakura, you have something for me?"

Sakura was all business when dealing with him in the office. She wouldn't be barging in just to let him hear her word war with Naruto. She had a worried look on her face when she turned to him, showing him a page of the daily newspaper- CEO and Front man take heated row on the road- it read.

"It's not really a big deal. I mean, they write all sorts of stuff."

"He dragged you in that mess."

"People don't even believe half of what they put in there."

"Unlike you, Sasuke has no reputation whatsoever."

"Naruto! Stop egging him on!"

"Egging me on? That's not necessary." Neji smirked. "I've already decided that I'm going to destroy him. I'm going to make sure no one buys that emo album of his."

"That will be troublesome since you just signed these papers." Shikamaru said.

"Or how about making a commemorative album, like the finale of Uchiha Sasuke's life and career?"

"You must be kidding, right?" Sakura laughed a little.

"I'm saying tragedy sells well."

"And I could use a part time job! I've always picked the assassin character from that game!"

"NARUTO!" Sakura scolded.

"Call his agency. I want to show him where exactly his place is."

"Actually… he's supposed to be here… but… well…"

"But he got kayoed by Sakura-chan so he's ashamed to show his face!" Naruto laughed.

"Don't you ever mention that in front of him again! I acted out of impulse, alright? I wasn't thinking straight!"

"I'm telling you…" Naruto turned to Neji. "That bruise doesn't compare to his! Sakura-chan has the strength of ten horses!"

"Why, thank you, that's very flattering." Sakura folded her arms across her chest to stop herself from strangling the blond.

"That's it. That's enough. Get out. Leave me alone."

"You heard him." Shikamaru shrugged.

"You have a meeting later, do you want to borrow my concealer?" Sakura asked.

"No, all I want right now is to hand out termination papers."

The three rushed out of his office.

---------

She didn't mean to come so early. She did tell Hinata that she would be meeting up Lee first. And she did. But she was too jittery to concentrate on something else aside from the scheduled dinner. She went on to the restaurant where she was supposed to meet Neji- way ahead of time.

She had checked her phone several times. No message or missed call. It was to be expected since she arrived even before sunset. She felt really stupid for doing so. The lights of the cars passing by her made her mood sullen. What if he doesn't come? What reason would he have then?

The rolling thunder caught her attention. She looked up at the sky, patched with red clouds. She quickly glanced at her watch- a little less than thirty minutes before their so-called date. Already, she could feel her heartbeat fluttering.She was a bit annoyed at herself for such an unnecessary excitement.

"If it rains, I'm dead." She said, talking to herself.

She couldn't and wouldn't dare enter that posh restaurant- where everyone who walked in was stared at from head to foot as if being judged in a contest. Why on earth did he pick that place? She looked around for a fast food or any place where she can run for shelter in case it pours.

---------

A minute, she thought. She managed to wait a couple of hours, why is one minute dragging like forever. The skies were still threatening to rain. She was getting frustrated. Could it be that he was caught up in something again? She didn't want to call him though. She didn't want him to know that she had been waiting. Should I leave when he's not here in a minute? Or should I wait? For how long? The questions were useless because she already knew the answer. She wanted to stay there.

As the last few seconds ticked, she went back to staring at the cars passing by- somewhat saddened. It wasn't like him to be late after all. And when she had a glimpse of the other side of the busy road, her lips curved to a relieved smile.

"I couldn't find a parking space." He said when he came to her.

"You're almost late."

"No, I'm right on time." He paused. "You're too early."

"What? What are you talking about? Stop assuming things! I just came here!"

He laughed a little and gave her the pretty bunch of flowers that he had with him. Sure, she rolled her eyes at similar scenes she had seen in the movies. Back then perhaps, she just didn't understand what that scene felt like. So what if flowers wither in such a short time? In an even shorter time- the moment it left his hands and went to hers- it was so special. Before that, she never knew, even someone like her wanted to be treated in that special way.

At that point, she knew that it was uselessto deny her feelings. She really, really liked him. He wasn't the first guy to be that nice to her. It was just that, he was the first one whom she responded to. He didn't fit the category of family or friends. He was somewhere else- somewhere equally special. It was beautiful and frightening at the same time. She had never felt so defenseless before but right then, he could say anything and she would agree. He could do anything and she wouldn't mind.

"Come…?" She looked up at him nervously- fearing that her thoughts had reached him. He had been talking and although she seemed like she was all ears on him, she was actually staring blankly at his face. She had said the same thing when she first saw him. He was oddly attractive. But 'oddly' back then and 'oddly' at that time were different. She found herself just oddly attached to him- never wanting to let go. "Where… are we going?"

"Aren't we having dinner?"

"Oh, yea…" What the hell, these flowers must be drugged. She wanted to kick herself.

He placed an arm around her shoulders as they crossed the street. Fair enough. She liked the idea of never letting go.

---------

"Just how do you differentiate a skirt and a strip of cloth?"

"Huh?" Neji looked at her.

They were being ushered to their reserved table but she was busy staring at the young lady whose style was basically screaming 'look at me!' and it seemed like she was approaching them. The way her hips swayed as she walked was jaw dropping to probably the entire male population in the restaurant- either hair pulling or curse inducing to the rest.

"Why do we have to eat dinner in a strip club?" Tenten asked.

"I didn't expect you to be here!"The shapely lady said as sheflipped her long platinum blond hair, revealing a shimmering diamond on hear ear. "And with a girl…"

"How often do you go here, huh? You must be a regular customer!"

"Tenten, this is Yamanaka Ino." Neji said, ignoring Tenten's queries.

"Oh so you're Tenten!" Their cheeks touched in greeting.

Yamanaka Ino smelled of something expensive.

"And she's not a stripper." Neji whispered to her.

Stripper or not stripper, she didn't feel too good about meeting this one. A quiet dinner with Neji- just with Neji- was that too much to ask for? She sighed in disbelief.

-------------

I am so delayed in updating. I apologize.

I'm so addicted with Death Note and this Matsuyama Ken'ichi guy just won't leave my thoughts in peace lol.

So... thank you for all your comments! Much love to all of you!