POV: Tenten. Tenten is a junior who double majors in Spanish and psychology. She's fluent in several languages. She plays softball and field hockey and is dating Rock Lee. Her roommate is her friend Hinata and she is also good friends with fellow teammate Temari and Hinata's cousin Neji.

Rating: K/K+

Genre: Romance (established relationship), sports, worry. Cute and very light dramatic reflection.

It's the bottom of the first inning, and I am ready to win.

The Konoha University softball team is playing against the Amegakure college team, and it's going to be a good game. I can feel it.

I'm extra pumped today and I'm not in a good mood, so instead of being sad and letting my team down I'm using my anger to fuel my pitching.

You see, my boyfriend Rock Lee and I got into a fight last night. I don't even remember what it was about but it seemed big because we don't fight that often. I ended up telling him to come to the game if he wanted to fix things, and if he didn't show then I knew it was over. I know it's a bit much but I was mad and we all say things we regret when we're angry.

I'm on the pitcher's mound and I know everyone is watching me and the batter. Amegakure already has two outs and they're about to get this third out as soon as I'm done with this girl. I tighten my grip on the hard ball and let out a deep calm breath. My team is counting on me.

I wind up and let the ball fly. The girl swings the bat and misses by a long shot. It lands in the catcher's mitt with a satisfying 'thump.'

"Strike one!" The umpire cries.

Fans of the Konoha team cheer and clap, and though I hear them I still can't help but wonder if Lee's out there.

I don't want to end it with him, so I'm really hoping he shows up. He usually comes to my games anyways, so it's not like I asked too much of him. I know he enjoys sports as much as I do. He's on the men's soccer team and the track and field team as well.

But usually I can see him in the stands or something. He's gotten into the habit of holding up large poster board signs with my name written on them. It's not hard to miss him. He has shiny black hair that's trimmed into a bowl cut and large round-ish eyes. He's also lean and muscular and has the sweetest temperament. He's very enthusiastic and determined and has an amazing sense of self-discipline. You can just tell when he's here.

I wind up and throw a fast pitch. The batter stands there and doesn't even swing as the ball sails by and into the catcher's mitt with another satisfying 'smack.' She looks dumbfounded.

"Strike two!"

The crowd cheers and I feel a surge of adrenaline. This is exhilarating. I only have to throw one more strike and then it'll be Konoha up to bat again.

I wind up and throw the ball, the motion of my wrist adding spin to it. I watch in eager anticipation as the ball flies by the batter. She swings but it curves just out of the way of the bat.

"Strike three!"

The crowd goes wild and we all start to jog into the dugout. I feel a few of the girls on my team pat me on the back and say things like "great job!"

...

I wish it felt great. It's now the bottom of the last inning and I'm still pitching. By this point, my arm is getting sore and I'm not sure why coach hasn't swapped me out for another pitcher yet. It's a little too late now, and all I have to do is get the next two girls out. I'm so close to throwing a no-hitter, so I should be excited about this, right?

I'm not. The pressure is huge and I know my whole team is counting on me. My arm is tired and I'm not sure how good my throws are going to be.

I also haven't seen any sign of Lee. I guess we're really over.

I wish I hadn't given him that ultimatum. I wish I had kept my mouth shut when we fought. I want him back.

I know we're not supposed to carry our emotions onto the field, but I thought I was fine until now.

How can I pitch a perfect no-hitter while I'm this distressed? My heart is hammering away in my ribcage, an uneasy anxiety crawling up my throat.

The girl up to bat is large and muscular. I can tell that she's a power hitter, so I really need to watch out for this one. I can't let her get a hit or she'll knock it out of the park.

My fingers tighten on the ball and, with a well-practiced motion, I wind up and pitch it. My shoulder aches from going through the same motion so many times. I know I need a rest but if I can just stick it out with these last two, I'll be free.

The ball sails by the girl's bat, narrowly going over the top.

"Strike one!"

The rising tension from the stands is palpable out here on the field. The crowd's screams are getting louder and more excited.

I know I can't let them down, but I don't know if I can do any more of this today. I feel nervous to find out whether Lee was here or not. I haven't seen him and the confirmation of my fear that he wasn't watching is going to kill me.

I really thought we were a good couple. We both play sports so we're always busy, but at the end of the day we always have time for each other. We love as hard as we play, and there's no better feeling than coming back from practice and having him waiting for me. I don't know what I'm going to do without him.

Not now. I can't focus on that now. I need to stay focused on the game. I can cry and go through the heartbreak later, after this is all over.

I choke back my urge to cry and throw another pitch.

The girl's bat makes good contact with the ball and I feel my heart sink.

Well there goes every hope I had of throwing a no-hitter.

The ball sails into the outfield and one of the girls frantically runs to get it. She reaches her glove up to catch it in midair and it bounces out.

I slump a little. We almost got her.

This girl is a power hitter, but she's no runner. She's near first base and looks like she's going to try for second, but she's slow.

The girl in the outfield winds up and throws the ball to Temari on second.

She catches it and turns to face the runner. She's already back on first, safe for now.

Temari gives a dramatic roll of the eyes and tosses the ball back to me.

I catch it and start to feel nervous again as I turn around and face the batter.

This time there's a thin, short girl up to bat. She looks like a fast runner, but not a long-distance hitter. This'll probably be a ground ball or something, and if we play this right, we can get both players out and win the game! Ame has a score of zero; Konoha has one.

I feel the excitement and adrenaline pumping through my veins. I know that it's risky, but I'm going to let this girl get a hit. She's not going to make it very far, and we could get both girls out in one play.

I hope my executive decision doesn't let the team down.

It's not hard to throw a weak pitch; my arm and shoulder are killing me at this point. I'm going to need ice it when this is all over.

Her bat makes direct but not good contact with the ball and, as predicted, it only flies a few feet before rolling along the ground at high speeds.

I dive for the ball and stop it as it passes the pitcher's mound.

I've got it.

My head is throbbing and my ears are ringing, the adrenaline completely taking over my body. I turn onto my side and hastily toss the ball to Temari on second.

She catches it, gets the muscular girl out, and then whips it to first.

The girl on first is crouched, her glove open and ready.

The runner is speedy and this is getting so close that I can barely stand it. My heart is beating wildly and I'm nervous for the player on first base. The whole game is riding on her shoulders now.

Temari's throw makes its way into her glove and she turns to tag the runner.

The small girl slides, kicking up a huge cloud of dust. I strain to see what's happening, the anticipation making my stomach do flips.

The dust cloud slowly dissipates, and... Wait. Wait.

Our first base-player is touching the girl with the ball. Her leg is extended but fell just short of getting to the base in time.

She's out. She's out!

We won!

"Konoha University wins!" The announcer cries, his excitement audible.

It's hard to contain my squeal of joy, so I don't hold back. I run over to first base with the rest of the Konoha team, cheering loudly.

The audience is going absolutely wild and their cheers have grown to a deafening roar. Pretty impressive for a small crowd, if you ask me.

The whole team is hugging the girl and cheering and I join in. The happiness is short-lived, and though I'm ecstatic that we won, I can't help but feel nervous to confront this relationship issue.

If Lee is out there watching, then that means we're not over yet and we'll need to work things out. I can deal with that. I'm afraid to look because I don't want to find out that he's not there.

The team goes to the dugout and begins packing up their equipment. They'll probably want to go get a celebration dinner, but I'm not in the mood anymore.

I'm glad my relationship anxiety waited until after the game to fully catch up with me.

Now I'm shaking, trying to put my things in my bag without outwardly showing how upset and nervous I am. I'm failing miserably at hiding it. I know you can see the distress written all over my face.

I don't say anything else to my teammates because I don't trust myself to keep a steady voice. I pick up my bag and leave the dugout. This is the moment of truth and I know I have to look at the stands. If Lee came to the game, then he'll be there waiting for me.

I sigh and turn to look, my eyes scouring the stands in hope.

I want to see his goofy haircut and his dark eyes looking out at me. I want to see that horrible green track suit and those orange leg warmers that he sometimes wears.

But I see nothing but empty stands.

He isn't here.

My heart sinks and I feel sick. Well, clearly he made his mind up about us.

Tears well up in the corners of my eyes, a heavy guilty pang in my chest. Our fight was stupid and insignificant and I shouldn't have blown up on him like that. I want him back, I want him by my side. I don't care about whatever made me mad because the fear of losing him is so much greater.

I sniffle and attempt to keep the tears from leaking out of my eyes. I can't cry yet; not until I get back to my room. I turn and walk away, covering my face with my hands.

"Why are you crying, beautiful?"

I look up, my heart beating ten times faster than before. That voice...

My eyes widen at the sight.

It's Lee, standing there in a green Konoha University t-shirt and a pair of shorts. He looks concerned.

"Lee..." I cry breathlessly, launching myself at him. I nearly knock him over with the force of my embrace, but he stands his ground and puts an arm around me and begins rubbing my back softly.

My tears spill out and over my cheeks, leaving wet spots on the shoulder of his shirt. I clutch him close, grabbing fistfuls of his shirt.

"You made it..." I whisper, my voice full of relief. It feels unreal that he just appeared there, but I won't question it. He's here and I'm in his arms and that's all I care about right now.

"Did you really think I would miss your game?" He asks, resting a cheek against my head. He's taller than I am, but not by a whole lot. When I hug him like this, the top of my head meets him about mid-cheek. I'm at eye level with his neck.

I pull back and look at him. It's hard to see him through the haze of tears. "Well, after what I said to you..." I say.

He pulls away from the hug and gives me a sad, serious look. "You mean far too much to me, Tenten," he says. He's had one hand hidden behind his back this entire time and he's just now bringing it forward.

My eyes widen at the sight.

Flowers. He brought me flowers.

I'm not usually one for sappy romantic things, and Lee loves doing cheesy things for me. I am more than willing to forgive him for it this time.

"You're the best, Lee."

He pulls me into another hug and I just know that everything is okay.

Next one up is chapter 11: Neji. I should be updating as soon as possible! I know you guys haven't heard much from Neji yet, and like in the real series, he's often busy with his responsibilities.

-Gallade