Let me take a moment and tell you how this one-shot happened.

I was out of town this weekend because I went to a wedding. The first of my immediate cousins got married yesterday. :D It was a fabulous event (though quite rainy) and everything was just beautifully magnificent. :D The bride looked amazing and so did my dear cousin. :D Well, anyway, once the wedding was over, the reception followed. Apparently, there weren't enough seats in the reception hall for quite a few guests, so me, my dad, my sister, and several groomsmen (also cousins) chose to sit outside under the tent where the wedding was held. We had the best seats ever! It was really, really neat and there was music playing. . . It was just really, really great. :D And then, as I'm sitting there eating cake, this one shot occurs to me. :D I had to write it.

So that's basically the story of how this came to be.

The best of well-wishes to Joseph and Katie. :D

Those luckies. . . They got to go to Jamaica. XD

TwilightRaver: 'Kay. Thanks. Good luck with finals!

lovelysakura99: Haha. I swear I didn't plagiarize!

Cam: Hehe. . . *Evil laughter*

e1nav57: Tut, dear. ;D I haven't seen Rent, but I probably should, ya?

rain-of-the-soul: Well, by the time you read this, it probably will be Monday. :D Remember, these are one-shots. They're all separate short stories. Don't link them, sweet. Yeah. . . I got a bit too OOC with that one. XD

StrawberrySmoothie99: It's in May. . . At least in the U.S., though I'm not sure if that makes a difference. My BFF hates them. It makes life very hard. ;)

'Kay. I'm going to bed before my mother warns me again. XD

Disclaimer: I'm "borrowing" the copyrights to Naruto. Deal with it.


Jazz.

Neji Hyuga was not accustomed to weddings.

They were quite tiring, in his opinion, and even then drastically overdone.

White was everywhere, bouquets of expensive flowers, and ridiculous amounts of champagne and happy tears lingered over ever surface.

It was oppressing.

In contrast, however, was Neji's teammate.

TenTen loved weddings.

She reveled in the bright, pretty lights and the intriguing music.

It was her excuse to wear flattering makeup and a dress.

Neji had to admit, if only to himself, she looked extraordinary.

-

The ceremony was lovely, as expected; Ino Yamanaka wasn't abiding in her reputation if she did not flaunt at her own wedding.

Neji and TenTen sat on an aisle near the back, choosing to sit away from their friends.

Flowers surrounded every notable surface, even the chairs in which the guests occupied, where rosebuds were attached to sheer ribbon on the backs of the chairs.

"Ino really outdid herself," TenTen whispered in Neji's ear as the minister began the service.

Neji did not respond, though he agreed with her.

Minutes later, Ino became Shikamaru Nara's wife and the guests were dismissed to retrieve food for their empty stomachs.

Neji and TenTen did not rush, bringing up the rear of the crowded line.

Neji guided TenTen past the many trinkets and artwork so she wouldn't get distracted.

TenTen permitted him to lead her through, undaunted, and somehow corralling him into mindless diversions.

"Look! That's stained glass!"

Neji quickly threw a glance over his shoulder, following TenTen's extended finger.

Neji squinted at it, trying to make out the picture.

"It's a mermaid," clarified TenTen, tracing the patterns in the air with her fingers. "There are the waves. . . a rock. . ."

Neji cocked his head at the picture, analyzing.

"You like it?" she inquired of him.

Neji quirked his mouth into a slight frown.

"I suppose," was his short answer.

TenTen grimaced at him in disappointment as he once again led her back to the tables filled with food.

They retrieved their delicacies and Neji sped off, back out to the white canopy where the ceremony had been held.

"Stop hurrying!" she called after him. "We're at a wedding, for Kami's sakes!"

Neji sat back in a chair, ignoring TenTen's fussing.

"By the way," she began as she sat a chair down from him, putting her plate between them, "why did you want to sit out here? The reception's in that building out there."

She waved airily behind her in a general direction.

Neji looked past her to see warm light spilling out of two double doors.

"Too crowded," he replied primly, sipping his drink.

"That's the whole part of it!" exclaimed TenTen, popping an olive into her mouth. "Weddings are supposed to be crowded and loud and fun. Besides, we have to go in there eventually."

"Why?"

TenTen rolled her eyes at him.

"The first dance, idiot."

Neji sighed noisily.

Yes, he'd be avoiding dancing altogether, no matter who did it or in what shape or form it came in.

They sat quietly for several moments, listening to the soft twinkly jazz music echoing from the speakers all over the grounds.

"The food's good," commented TenTen.

Neji nodded in accord.

He stopped eating briefly to say, "You look very nice."

TenTen sent him a smile.

"Thank you. Did your uncle lend you the formal Hyuga robes?"

"No. These were my father's."

"Oh."

An awkward moment passed through, resembling the breeze that blew into the large tent, catching unbound strands of hair.

Neji watched TenTen stand, gathering her plate and drink in hand.

Her neat plait swept over her bare shoulder.

Neji caught himself smiling slightly.

"You want cake?" she asked him, her gaze meeting his as she reached for his plate also, piling it on top of hers.

"Please," murmured Neji, not withdrawing his eyes.

TenTen nodded and set off back towards the main house.

Neji consulted with himself for a few seconds, resolving not to allow any more smiles to leave his mouth.

TenTen returned in no time, handing Neji his cake.

"I got you the groom's cake, but if you want to try Ino's, you can."

She gestured to her own cake, that was white and had half of a flower clinging to it.

"All right."

"Did you enjoy the wedding?" TenTen asked, spooning some cake into her open mouth.

"Yes. Ino put too many flowers out though."

TenTen thoughtfully scanned the area, noting the multitude of various orange blossoms and forget-me-nots.(1)

"I think they're nice. They're different from the other weddings," she finally responded.

It was at this time, Neji noticed TenTen eyeing his cake.

Found out, TenTen quickly questioned, "Hey, Neji, can I try your cake?"

He stared at her flatly.

"If I give you some, you'll steal it and eat the rest that's left."

TenTen glared at her white-eyed friend.

"I will not!" she scoffed.

Neji glanced at his cake and shoved it into TenTen's lap.

"Take it," insisted Neji.

TenTen's arms were crossed in defiance.

"No thanks; I'm not hungry anymore."

"Stop acting like a toddler and just eat the damn cake, TenTen," said Neji tonelessly.

TenTen glowered at him, but did as she was told.

"I swear," he muttered, "you're so difficult sometimes."

TenTen watched him silently, masticating.(2)

"Well, if I'm such a toddler why do you put up with me all the time?" TenTen retorted, placing the plates aside with a clatter.

Neji dismissed the anger in her voice.

"You're not a child all the time," he declared. "Most of the time, you're better than most."

TenTen stared at him, unsure of his meaning.

The jazz on the speakers mulled.(3)

Neji watched as the frustration slipped from TenTen's face, her warm brown eyes adapting to beatific.

Neji swallowed at the stars in her eyes, becoming inexplicably nervous.

"Dance with me," demanded TenTen, standing to her feet and taking hold of Neji's wrist to make him join her.

Neji flinched.

"I can't dance," he stammered.

TenTen shook her head endearingly.

"Silly, it's easy."

"No, thank you," refused Neji.

"Neji, stop being stupid. You can't not dance to this song. It's perfect."

Neji believed her, he really did. But, if he were to admit it, he was scared to dance with her.

Something as simple as dancing should not have been so terrifying in the Hyuga's mind, but considering his obvious feelings for her, dancing would not be a wise choice.

TenTen adopted her annoyed expression.

"Come on! Please? I love this song and it's almost over!" complained the kunoichi.

Neji blinked a few times, glimpsing TenTen's distressed and impatient face.

"Please?"

This last request came out lower than a whisper and it was the overwhelming longing and sweetness that convinced Neji to dance with her.

He stood and felt his insides squirm at the sight of TenTen's delighted grin.

"Okay," said TenTen breathlessly, arranging their hands in the correct positions.

Ever since Neji had begun to view his teammate more than what her position was, he had grown weary of being in physical closeness to her.

Neji did not like the way his body responded to her touch, and right now, in such proximity, Neji coveted distance.

"TenTen, maybe—!" he began.

"Shh," interrupted TenTen, her eyes closed as she listened to the ariose jazz.

Neji shifted, swaying with her.

The dulcet notes were soothing and quiet in the night air, the crickets adding along their strings and harmonies.

Neji absentmindedly dropped TenTen's hand, accompanying his left appendage around her waist.

Neji caught the low murmurings of TenTen humming, leaned into the curve of his chest.

He breathed out slowly, tapping his fingers against her spine.

A blast of upbeat music resounded from the reception walls, disrupting Neji and TenTen's dance.

TenTen removed her head from Neji's chest, seeming dazed by the interruption.

Her eyes smiled at Neji, good natured.

"I guess Ino's ready to party."

Neji smiled wanly, internally bitter about the interfering commotion.

The last of the notes from the song dripped away.

TenTen frowned.

"Oh, well," she said, a little sad at the lost opportunity.

TenTen focused in on Neji's eyes.

"Thank you for dancing with me, Neji," imparted TenTen graciously, sincerely.

Neji brushed off her appreciation.

"TenTen! Neji!" came a shout a yard or so away.

The two teammates snapped their heads to the caller.

Hinata waved at them desperately, Kiba lingering by her side.

"Come on! They want pictures with all the Konoha 11!"

TenTen glanced at Neji, a coy smile on her lips as she grasped for his hand and pulled him along.

"Coming!" TenTen answered back.

They entered the brightly lit reception hall, where tables were crowded in, and music bounded across the floor and walls.

As the Konoha 11 gathered in their various spots, arranging into poses with their friends, Neji slipped behind TenTen, the top of her head level with his nose.

He huffed in exasperation as the photographer fiddled with the camera, counting down.

"Don't worry," whispered TenTen out of the corner of her mouth, letting the words float up to Neji's ear. "We'll have time to make out later."

Months later, many would complain, most of all Ino, that Neji's face in the Konoha 11 picture was bad enough to ruin the entire shot.

Neji neither explained nor apologized for his expression, only revealing a few words for the disheartened guests:

"A lovely little bird was whispering my ear. I couldn't even begin to ignore her if I tried."


(1) Orange blossoms mean innocence, eternal love, marriage and fruitfulness. Forget-me-nots mean true love and memories. :D

(2) Masticating equals chewing.

(3) I'm using mulled in a context of sweetening. Like mulled cider is sweetened cider. Just thought I'd clear that up.

Hehe. :D I liked this a lot.

Okay. So, goodnight everyone. Have a gorgeous Monday. Mine will be rainy. XD Ugh. Rain. I'm sick of you, go away.

Review, please!