I return! Sorry about the wait.. I was busy writing my original story... while I had the ideas! So while I struggle with writers block for that, I shall return to this ^-^

Cold

We had just completed a mission in another village and were heading back home. Our mission was to see what trouble had erupted in the village and calm everything down. It wasn't too bad so we were away from Konoha for just over a week, and in true typical style, the day we travel home the heavens open. The last few days had been cool with sunshine so I was looking forward to a nice gentle stroll home. Well, I say stroll, more like a sprinted marathon. Gai sensei and Lee wanted to run either faster to try and spend less time in the rain, but this meant the rain pounded my face harder than usual. My bangs started sticking to my face and my buns were coming loose. It took us just over five hours to get back and Gai sensei had ordered us to go back to our places and dry off to ensure we didn't catch a cold. I gladly obliged and ran a hot bath to soak in. While I allowed my hair to dry, I changed into my comfy pyjama's and made myself a hot chocolate with mini marshmallows on top. As I held the mug in my hands to warm them up, the mini marshmallows starting melting and becoming gooey, just the way I like. I didn't do much afterwards, I was so worn out from the journey that I instantly fell asleep on my bed.

Gai sensei always gave us the next day off to rest and relax and the first thing I did was go and buy a punch of fresh food. My cupboards were bare after throwing out the last of the out of date products. As I walked up and down the isle's I couldn't really decide what I wanted. All I knew is that I really wanted some leeks to make leek soup.

When I had finished shopping, my arms felt like they were about to fall off from the amount of bags I had. I seemed to have bought everything as I didn't know what took my fancy. That and I may have bought a few new weapons. They were new in and the shop keeper saw me as I was walking home and he couldn't wait to show me. I put all my shopping away and spent the remainder of the day marvelling my newest weapons.

The next day Gai sensei had arranged a training session. My body had just about recovered from our mission. I was on time and was the first person to show up. I sat up against the tree and awaited my team mates. I stared up at the sky and watched the clouds as they floated past. I must have been too distracted to notice Lee and Gai sensei appear. They had caught me off guard and made me jump out of my skin.

"Oh hey guys." I said getting to my feet.

"Hi Tenten." Lee replied. "Is Neji not here yet?"

"Not yet."

"Ok then we shall start without him." Gai sensei instructed.

We had begun training but in my head I kept wondering where Neji was. He was never late for training and he never missed them. Time kept passing and Neji still didn't show up. Gai sensei had ended training early and I decided to go to the Hyuga compound and check on him.

The compound was on the other side of where I lived. I knocked loudly at the entrance and waited for a face to appear. Luckily for me it was Hinata.

"Hey Hinata, is Neji in?" I asked.

"Oh hi Tenten. Neji is ill at the moment." She replied.

"Ill, what's wrong with him?"

"He has a cold."

"I bet he got it from the trip back from the mission. Is it possible to see him?"

Hinata gave me a nod and parted the door further to allow me in. I followed her down the stretches of corridors and eventually lead to Neji's room. I gently tapped at the door and waited a moment before entering. As I quietly swung the door open, Neji was lying in his bed. A wet flannel over his forehead to try and keep him cool. I walked further into the room to see that he was fast asleep. Hinata had shut the door and I was left watching Neji while he slept. I touched the flannel and it was almost dry. I slowly removed it from Neji's head and went to drench it in cold water. As I returned I placed it back over his head, but he must have felt the temperature change. He opened his eyes and quietly spoke my name.

"Tenten? What are you doing here?" He said.

"I came to check on you as you didn't show up for practice." I told him.

"I'm sorry. I caught a cold."

"Probably because you ignored Gai Sensei's advice after returning from our mission as everyone else is fine."

"I can't believe I'm ill."

"Even the strong get sick. Now all you have to worry about is getting better as I don't know how much training I can take if I'm stuck with just Gai Sensei and Lee. They might even get me into one of those green suits." I shivered at the thought of me matching Gai and Lee. Neji gave a small chuckle.

"I will make sure I'm better soon. I don't suit being sick."

"Then I shall help you get better."

I stayed with Neji for the rest of the day. I brought him soup and made sure he was kept cool and comfy. I started making my way home at about ten in the evening. No one was about so I had the streets to myself, which was comforting. I could take a long stroll and take in the night sky.

When I had reached my apartment, I fell face first onto my bed. It didn't take me long to fall asleep.

I awoke the next morning and my head felt like it weighed three times the size. My nose was bunged up and my throat felt like someone had shoved some sand paper down it.

"Thanks Neji."