A/N: Hi guys! Sorry I haven't been uploading chappies lately, I've been busy. I have a treat for you guys, though, because I haven't been as quick about uploading chappies as I should have, I worked hard, and made another chappie, so, happy reading my fellow fanfiction adicts! ;)
He's my team mate… my friend…I care about him…because I love him... the voice floated in and out of Neji's mind as he struggled to conciousness. He knew that voice… he had heard it so many times, not only on the training grounds, but in his dreams as well. His eyes opened only to be temporarily blinded by white lights. He shut them, and put a hand to his aching head, and tried to remember what had happened. Suddenly, memories came rushing back to him; the Akatsuki… one followed Tenten, but she was alright, wasn't she? Yes. She had made it to the hokage… he tried in vain to recollect anything from his fight with the two ninja, but could only bring up memories full of smoke, suffocation, and pain.
"Up already?" Someone was in his room, but could tell that it wasn't Tenten.
"What happened?" he asked, opening his eyes to see Tsunade at the doorway.
"You and Tenten were both attacked by the Akatsuki ninja. Tenten made it safely to me, and told me what happened. She went back to where she left you, and discovered that you weren't there. She reported back to me, and told me that she'd search for you herself,"
Tsunade watched as Neji's eyes darkened. However, she had no time to deal with a teenager's hormonal emotions, and pressed on. (A/N: sorry, I just had to put that in :> )
"She said that she found you unconcious in the forest, and," she pulled out the small shuriken, now clean of poison, out of her pocket. "found this in you." She handed it to Neji who picked it up, examining it. It was small; small enough to penetrate his heart without any trouble at all. Neji supposed that it was fate that had caused it to pierce his heart that shallow.
"And…" Neji said slowly, "Tenten is…"
"She had to go home," Tsunade cut him off, and stood up to leave. "She looked as though she wanted to stay, but said she was exhausted, and had to be getting home. You'd better get some rest, Neji. You'll be out of here tomorrow morning, so sleep." Neji nodded, and sat back, putting the shuriken on his nightstand table. He lay there in the darkness for a few minutes, thinking about Tenten. Something was amiss, but what? Try as he might, Neji could not keep his eyes open for long, and drifted into an uneasy sleep.
K, one chappie down, one to go. :)