Tenten stumbled as she helped Neji home.

"Let me walk." Neji said quickly, but Tenten kept her warm around his waist and he kept her right arm over her shoulder. She stopped to shift more of his weight onto her hip before continuing towards his estate.

"I got you." Neji looked away from her. Even at nineteen, he still depended on her to help him home when he pushed too harder or, in this case, when she accidentally hit his blind spot. In all the years they've trained together, Tenten had knowingly hit his blind spot only twice and unintentionally only once. This was the first time.

Tenten's legs buckled once again under his weight, and he quickly lifted himself away from her, only to hiss as his beyond sore back and leg muscles locked. She caught him before he fell onto his knees and inhaled, "Almost there." They trudged on and did not look at each other, as usual. Both were exhausted and sore, and both tried to hide it. Tonight, Neji stole a glance at Tenten's profile before quickly averting his eyes.

It was on these nights that he admired her the most.

They made it to the outside gates of the Hyuuga estate, where Neji leaned against the metal as soon as Tenten allowed him to do so. She looked past the fence, "Can you make it inside?"

"Yes. Thank you." Instead of leaving, they continued to stand outside. Tenten stared at the ground while Neji watched the lone lighted window inside the estate. He knew what awaited him inside, and was sure that Tenten knew as well.

"I'm sorry." He only looked at her in surprise because of the crack in her voice. Still staring at the ground, Tenten pushed her palms into her eyes, but tears still leaked out of the corners. "I didn't…" He could only watch as Tenten continued to cry quietly, her chest occasionally heaving from inward cries. She had no reason to cry; she had missed any vital organs and tendons.

"I'm fine, Tenten." Sure the kunai had pierced his back deeply, but she had removed it and bandaged the wound. The shuriken would only paralyze his right leg for a few hours and she had the antidote for the poison that the spearhead injected into his calf. There was no real harm done. Even so, she continued to cry and Neji was forced to do something that he had only thought of. He carefully wrapped an arm around her shoulders and brought her to his chest.

She stopped crying after a few minutes and hurriedly wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I didn't mean to…I didn't even think about it." He removed his arm from her and she stepped back. She inhaled and calmed herself down to almost normal. "It's the first and last time."

"As long as you don't cry, I don't mind it." Neji said quietly but honestly. She stared at him and he realized what he had said. He looked away, "I don't have time to always comfort you." She relaxed and wiped a final tear away.

"You're right. Don't worry, this is the first and last time you'll see me crying." She glanced at the estate, "It looks like someone is waiting up for you." Neji did not have to look.

"Goodnight." Tenten smiled and waved before leaving. Neji watched her back for a few moments before entering the estate and using the high stone wall surrounding the area to support his weight as he walked to his room. He did not even pass the lighted room before he was spotted.

"Neji, sit." Neji held Hiashi's gaze as he slowly entered the now familiar bedroom and sat on a cushion opposite of Hiashi. Hiashi observed his nephew closely before closing his eyes, "We've had this talk many of times, Neji. Yet, I've never waited this long for you to come in." He opened his eyes narrowly, "This is becoming a hassle for me."

"I'm sorry, Hiashi-sama." Hiashi sighed.

"No, you aren't. If you were sorry as you continue to say you are, we wouldn't be having the same conversation over and over again."

"I'm--"

"I'm forced to do this, Neji. I will have to inform the gate guards that she is no longer allowed on the premises." Neji's shoulders stiffened. "I will not tolerate this outright disobedience from you. I have told you countless times to not be involved with that girl, and yet almost every night you bring her to the gates. I was forced to tell the elders that she is a beggar whom you take pity on."

"She's my teammate." Neji softly interjected, "Tell them the truth." Hiashi chuckled.

"Do you really expect them to believe that? Teammates do not spend as much time together as you two do."

"She's a friend."

"What about Lee? Naruto? Shikamaru? You hardly spend as much time with them as you do with her." Neji backed down and lowered his eyes.

"That's because…She's my friend and teammate—" His tongue was tied.

"Isn't Lee your friend and teammate?"

"Yes, but—"

"You want me to tell the elders the truth, but you can't even acknowledge what it is yourself." Neji inhaled through his nose and closed his eyes while his hands formed fists.

"Tenten is my companion." Hiashi blinked. "I admire her and have great respect for her." Neji stood the soreness in his muscles now gone. "With all due respect Hiashi-sama, I will continue to see Tenten as much as I please. Give the elders my regards." Hiashi lowered his head and furrowed his brow as Neji walked to the door.

"…Next time, just begin with that statement. This conversation was much too long."

"Yes, Hiashi-sama."

"You say the same thing every time, Neji."

"As do you, Hiashi-sama." Neji slid the door open, "Goodnight, Hiashi-sama." Hiashi remained seated and closed his eyes.

"Goodnight."


A few weeks passed and Neji pushed himself to the breaking point yet again. He collapsed on the grass and lay there as Tenten ran over. "Neji!"

He ignored her and instead stared up at the sky. The setting sun painted the sky with pastel oranges and pinks. What made the sky truly beautiful was the addition of Tenten's face as she hovered over him. Neji mentally saved the image of her concerned face with the setting sun background before looking at her. There was dirt on her cheek, and he subconsciously wiped it away with his thumb before letting his arm fall by his head. "I think that's enough for today."

"Here, I'll help you home." He shook his head and remained on his back.

"I want to stay here." Tenten frowned.

"For the whole night?"

"Yes."

"Why?" He did not answer because he was afraid of her reaction. She waited for a few minutes before sighing and sitting next to him. "I'll just have to stay with you then." She leaned back on her hands and stared straight up at the sky while he watched.

"Promise me," She looked down when he spoke, "that on nights like these, you won't try to make me go to the estate." She laughed.

"Like I could make you do anything." He looked up at her and her smile faded. She turned away, "I promise." He watched her profile for a moment before looking back up at the sky.

'If this is how I have to live...'

He sat up.

'Hiding from my own blood and facing disownment…'

She glanced at him and noticed his gaze. They slowly leaned forward at the exact same moment.

'Just to be with you…'

Their foreheads touched and he stared, eyes half-lidded, at her while she shyly looked at the ground. Carefully, she moved her head towards him, then back again, unsure. He remained still and only moved to finally press his lips against hers when she moved back in.

'Then I'm perfectly content.'