Summary: Tenten, Neji. Neji, Tenten. They are enemies by nature and lovers by heart. Neither knows of their feelings, let alone the feelings of the other. This is their story.
I JUST LOST ALL THE STUFF I WROTE FOR THIS. I REALLY WANT TO SWEAR MY HEAD OFF.
Now to try and re-write it.
Enjoy.
Ouch
"You ok, Neji?"
"... do you think so?"
"Well, do you want any ice or something?"
Neji looked at her weirdly.
"Just asking..."
"It doesn't really hurt you know." Neji was obviously lying.
"Really?" Tenten said, "that's good then."
"Hn."
"Sorry."
"I should be the one who's sorry," Neji whispered, "I'm the one who could've caught you. I was thinking of something else."
Wait... THE Neji Hyuuga was taking the blame for something that she had clearly done? "I've always thought of you to be a heartless, cold, stick-up-your-ass kind of jerk. Seems like I have another reason to be sorry for."
"Who are you and what have you done with the Neji I know?"
"..."
"Just joking."
"Hn."
"Let's keep training then."
"What time is it?"
"A bit past twelve."
"You can go eat."
Now Tenten was sure that there was something wrong with him.
"NOW YOU LOOK HERE BUSTER. You're NOT like the Neji I know at all. YOU'RE coming with me to Ichirakus and I'm gonna ask everyone there to see if they think that you are you or if you have to go to some mental centre."
"... I'll go, but not for that."
"Good."
The two of them made their way to Ichirakus."
o.o.o.o.o
Neji's POV
"TENTENNN!" Sakura squealed, hugging the person beside me, "It's been ages."
"It's only been a few days." (A/N: This is the same conversation that I had with one of my friends.)
Sakura let go, pouted and sat down in a seat.
"TENNY-CHAN! SIT NEXT TO MEE!" A certain blonde haired ninja shouted before turning to the owner of the stand and requesting a bowl of beef ramen.
"Kay."
I seem invisible don't I?
"Hey Sasuke," Tenten said with a cheery smile.
"Hn."
I felt reluctant at the fact that Sasuke, who was more anti-social than me was greeted more warmly than I would ever be. Well, EVERYONE was greeted more warmly than me.
"Hey Neji, when'd you get here?" Sakura asked.
So I am invisible.
"I was just passing through."
Well, I wished I said that. Instead, I just nodded and walked away.
o.o.o.o.o
I made my way back to the training grounds, finding the onigiri that Hinata packed earlier and taking a bite.
I sat down near a tree to finish off the rice.
The food suddenly tasted like dirt in my mouth. I stared at the spot in front of me. It was the place.
I picked up a kunai that was discarded on the floor and stared at it.
"I HATE YOU!"
Did she hate me as much as she did before?
I wanted to know. I needed to know.
She was much more warm to people that weren't me. Anyone who wasn't me, she was warm to.
I wanted, needed.
My emotions were extremely raw then. Unprotected, vulnerable.
I had felt something else just then. Hopelessness.
No matter how much I needed, I would never have. She wasn't mine. I doubt she would ever want me either.
Even if I gave up my life to her, she'll never think of me the same way I think of her.
"Neji, you ok?"
Great, the person I least wanted to see.
"I'm fine."
"Why are you staring at the kunai? You're not gonna kill yourself are you?"
"I'm not."
"I'm sorry for back there..."
"It wasn't your fault."
"I dragged you there."
"I went voluntarily."
"You don't really want to talk do you?"
"Not really."
"I'll leave you alone then."
She turned to leave.
"Wait, Tenten."
This is the point when my brain disconnected from my body. I grasped onto the edge of her clothing.
"What?"
I couldn't think. I couldn't do anything that I wanted to. I just looked at her. Silently pleading.
"You're scaring me, Neji."
I dropped my hand, still looking at her. I stood up.
"N-Neji?"
"Tenten."
"What?"
"What do you think of me as?"
"A good friend."
"Do you hate me?"
"Why would you think that?"
I pointed at the spot behind me, not breaking eye contact. Her eyes widened when she remembered.
"Why do you hate me?"
"I don't right now."
I still wasn't thinking. I was drinking in the sight of her face, her body, her.
"Neji, you're scaring me again."
No, I didn't want that. I didn't want to scare her. I wanted what was best for her. Even if I had to distance myself again.
I took one step back, breaking eye contact. Then, collapsed to the ground.
"Why do you hate me?"
"Because of what you did to Hinata at the Chuunin exams."
"She thought she could beat me. Because of her and her side of the Hyuuga family, I am bound as a servant. To die for her. I'm inferior."
"Hinata actually thinks highly of you. She admires you."
"THERE IS NO REASON TO BACK HER UP!"
"There's no need to yell as well."
"All of you comforted her after that. I was alone. I was always alone. My father died because of that side. I never even knew my mother, who probably died for the Main Branch's sake as well. I won't make that my fate. Friends, family, they all prefer the people who are more superior. I'm boring, cold, almost emotionless."
"What are you saying, Neji?"
"I'M SAYING THAT NO ONE CARES. NO ONE CARES AT ALL."
"We do, Neji."
"Then explain why no one even looked at me without the disgust written clearly in their features."
"I can't. It's probably because you never cared for anyone before."
She thought that I didn't care.
"I have and I still do."
"You tell me who you've ever cared for then."
"I... can't."
"Because there is no one, right?"
She truly believes that I'm that heartless. That I'm emotionless. That I'm just an empty shell.
If she thinks that, I'll show that then.
"Never you mind. After all, I'm a cold, unfeeling bastard, aren't I?"
"I never said that."
"I can tell that you wanted to."
With that, I left.
I returned when it was dark, to collect my stuff.
o.o.o.o.o
No POV
A 5 metre deep crater was found embedded into the ground the next morning.
Dooone.
Thanks to all you people who reviewed! I'll update when I get.... 10 reviews. :D
Peace.
Sky~