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.

Not many people reviewed. I guess I expect too much.

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Sick

I didn't see Neji very often from then.

He was fairly rude, I must say.

He was never at home when I requested from him, Hinata never saw him, he wasn't around the shops, near the tower and only rarely did someone see him.

I was sitting at the lakeside area, pondering, thinking. And just plain bored.

Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bo-re

Snore.

o.o.o.o.o

Neji's POV

When Tenten fell asleep, I instantly felt a sense of relief.

I know that stalking isn't a good thing and I know that I was going to stay away, but, once again, I just... can't.

It's a strange thing, love.

It makes you feel a pull towards your subject. An strong steel cable holding you in place, not allowing you to move away. It makes you feel protective of your subject too. And defensive.

... To hell with love.

I stepped out of the shadows.

I guess what I am at the moment is kind of pathetic. I've been avoiding my friends, my family, basically anyone that I knew. I hardly ate, couldn't sleep. I was constantly distracted by memories. One good memory actually. The one time that Tenten and I sparred with no hatred, anger, or any negativity. It was, for once, fun.

"Gee Neji, why is it that I always find you here when you go missing?"

I snapped out of my reverie, the sense of a strange rejection springing to life inside of me.

She sighed, "what am I ever going to do with you?"

I looked down.

"Now why're you avoiding everyone?"

"I... don't know."

"If you don't know, then stop avoiding! Everyone is worried. Hinata, Sakura, Naruto, possibly Sasuke-"

She continued to rattle the names of the rookie 9 and the teachers.

"- and Kakashi-sensei!"

Aaand she missed the only name that I wanted to hear the most. Her own.

"-Oh and me."

... well, that was said like an afterthought so I'm not sure wether I should feel happy or not.

She smiled.

I... blushed?

I turned around.

"Neji?"

"Down!" I ordered the blood pooling to my face. Obviously, it didn't diminish. There was a dull ringing in the back of my head. It then turned into a loud clanging. The view in front of me started swaying, blurring and my face was hotter than it was before. The feeling was like a drill, digging deep into my skull. Then all the pain vanished, everything went black...

And I collapsed.

"Hang in there, Neji. I'll go call for help."

o.o.o.o.o

Tenten's POV

It was startling really. Very sudden.

I knew that he was hardly eating by the looks of him. I mean he still looked kinda... hot when he was all pale and burning up. It also seemed like he lost a lot of weight as well.

I carried him back to my home. He had a very high temperature...

The doctor I found said that he should be in bed for a week or so. I don't think that Neji would be quite happy staying inside my small apartment.

1. He's used to his huge mansion of a room which was probably the size of 2 of my apartments.

2. He's independent and doesn't like relying on others.

The look on his face would be priceless.

The time until then would be fairly long...

"Don't... leave... father," Neji mumbled.

Eh? He talks in his sleep?

Neji rolled over, "Please... don't..." He rolled over again, "No..." He stopped moving.

Something about his father leaving?

He started to move again.

"Mother... father... why? Why did you do... what you did?"

I am so totally confused right at this moment.

Neji then started shouting in his sleep.

"Go away! Don't come near me! D-Don't!" He went limp again, breathing heavily.

"Shame... you're a shame... to this family... You can't.. even beat someone as inferior as me..."

I caught up at once.

He was reliving his memories and the last one was at the Chuunin exams against Hinata.

"Why... why're you like this?... No, don't turn your back! No..."

"Ten...ten..."

"Neji? Are you awake now?"

"- I'm sorry... I don't know what... I did..."

"What are you talking about?"

"Why? Why is it that no one cares?"

And now I guessed that he was still in nightmare mode.

"Please.. come back... I don't want another person close to me to.. leave..."

Close to him?

"It hurts..."

Now I'm confused again.

"It's painful... Please come back..."

He continued to plead for some time.

---

"Why?" he said for the umpteenth time.

I checked his forehead. His fever wasn't going down.

He looked similar to a little child. Similar to the him that he was before all the ninja nonsense was around. He was cool, calm and collected even back then, but less stressed out and negative.

"Ten... ten?"

"You awake now?"

"I guess..."

He sat up slowly, rubbing his head.

"I feel like I had a hangover."

"You... had a hangover before?"

"No, but it's just like how people describe it as."

"You were drunk?"

"No."

"Hm."

"Anyway.. where am I?"

"My home... you can go if you like."

He looked strangely alarmed then.

"No... I'll stay.."

"You weirdo."

"How is that weird?"

"I thought you were more independent than that."

"I have my reasons."

"That sounds more like you, Neji."

"Hn."

I smiled.

He did as well...

Wait, Hyuuga Neji smiled?

"Ah I'm blessed."

"What?" his smile dropped almost immediately.

"Oh damn."

"And you call me weird."

"Heh."

"I'm sorry.. for before... you know.."

"Yeah, I know."

There was an awkward pause.

"I'll go make some porridge or something. Be right back!"

I left.


Next chapter is going to have Neji's dreeeeam. You curious?

I'll update if I get 7 reviews? 10 is too much to expect for me... sad...

Ah well, no use crying over spilt milk.

Peace guys.

Sky~