Nine pages!!! Heck yes!!!!!

:D

Also, majority rules on the season predicament: It's winter. Late November, actually.

Thanks to all of you who offered your advice on that particular problem. I really appreciate it. :)

beckylovesgigs: Kakashi? NARUTO!!!!! :D

bright-rebellious: Thanks so much! :)

KMU: Thank you, dear! :D

Devil'sLittleBabyGirl: You can't rush these things. ;D I . . . kind of satisfied your need for blood? Eh. You'll see for yourself. Sorry if it isn't enough. You made me laugh at the parasite thing. Genius. :D Please do!

10TeNjI10: She's gotten better. I wouldn't dare call her good yet. Everyone else is so much better than her. :D

uchihaxchick: PB&J FOR THE WIN!!!! I had PB&J for lunch today. Yummy! :D Thankies!

By the way, by the next chapter EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU had better have watched Never Back Down. It's an amazing fighting movie (way better than Fight Club) and it really, really shaped this chapter. Like, by a lot. :D So watch it. It's great. Good music too.

Disclaimer: Mizukage's creepy, but I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the new characters, Kishie!!! I'm not mad at you anymore about Danzo. You totally made it up to me. :D


Twelve.

Weather did not usually affect me, unless it was winter.

And winter was coming fast, shaking the leaves loose of their trees and making the sky look brittle and stormily white all the time.

I dressed warmly, pulling on a thick hoodie over my tee shirt.

Cora had been the forefront problem in my mind; curfew in the dorms was at nine on weekdays.

But I shouldn't have worried; Cora was pulling an all-nighter in the library for her upcoming English exam, intending to charm the librarian enough to let her stay past curfew.

So, by the time Cora would get in, either I'd be back, or I wouldn't and Cora wouldn't care less because she'd be so tired.

It was the best opportunity I'd had for a sneak out in a while.

When I stepped out of the building, cold attacked me and I shivered, immediately crossing my arms for some sort of warmth.

Maybe winter was already here and I just hadn't been paying attention.

By the time I reached our practice edifice, I was freezing my ass off.

The wind makes everything worse, I thought murderously as I pushed open the door, it slamming loudly behind me.

The lights were on, and I could see several figures sitting on the couch.

I could make them out the closer I got, noting Naruto's loud and boisterous laugh.

Sakura sat next to him, her eyes closed with a slight smile on her face.

Neji faced them, occupying a tartan high-backed chair.

His eyes drifted and found me as I emerged closer toward them.

He smirked and turned back to Naruto, intent on what he was saying.

". . . So, I see the guy, right? Totally operating in the corner on some Goth thirteen-year-olds. I walk over, tap him on the shoulder. He turns around, obviously sees my black eye and I see something in his eye click."

Neji raised an eyebrow at Naruto's story.

"And then what did you do?"

Naruto laughed shortly.

"I broke his nose? What the hell was I supposed to do?" Naruto said satisfactorily.

"Leave him alone like a smart person," Sakura commented in a murmur.

"Baby, you know that never works," Naruto assured, leaning down to kiss her.

I averted my eyes politely, glancing around at the huge room.

Neji cleared his throat loudly, jolting Naruto and Sakura out of their intimacy.

Sakura caught my eye and rolled her eyes.

I chuckled.

"Let's get going," Naruto said, pulling Sakura off the couch.

"Where is it?" I asked, following them out of the practice building.

"Only a few blocks or so," answered Sakura, lacing her fingers with Naruto's.

I heard Neji behind me, his tennis shoes echoing loudly in the night around us.

The walk was mainly silent, save for Naruto and Sakura's soft whispering.

We turned a corner at the end of five blocks, and I realized this was the site.

It was a rundown piece of street, the kind that no one drives on anymore because it was littered with debris and potholes.

There were a bunch of people too, hanging out outside closed businesses and milling around.

"Why are there so many guys here? It's a girl's fight," I murmured as we passed a group of skeezes.

I shuddered, ignoring the looks our company was getting.

Neji glanced at me.

"It's the common attraction," he said, his tone bitter and sarcastic, "girl on girl fighting? These assholes kill for it."

I swallowed, flinching some.

Sakura and Neji left Naruto and I at the ring, which was basically this circle comprised of thick cord and stolen traffic cones.

I saw Naruto watch Sakura and Neji make their way to another rundown building where bright light was shining.

"Are all of the fights like this? On some street?"

Naruto shrugged.

"Eh. Sometimes, but it really just depends. Neji and I are privileged enough to be able to fight in air conditioning though."

He showed me a broad grin.

"Jerk," I muttered lowly.

Naruto clapped me on the shoulder, good-natured.

"So. . . is Neji really as good as everybody says?"

Naruto mulled it over, his blue eyes roving over Sakura's competition as she entered the makeshift ring.

"I don't know how to explain how good he actually is unless you see it yourself. But, Neji's right to not let you see before you're ready. It's brutal. . . Crazy, really, how hard he can hit."

"Could he beat you?"

Naruto laughed, eyes following Sakura as she entered the ring with Neji, mouth guard in, hair tied back, and her forearms to her knuckles covered in hand wraps.

"Neji could definitely beat me. . . He has way more passion for it than I do. To me, it's just a hobby. . . for Neji it's more like a lifestyle."

"Getting beaten up is a lifestyle?" I asked, skeptical.

Naruto nodded surely.

"Yep. Besides, it's not like Neji has the same life like we do. . . I mean, his uncle practically hates him. That's why he sleeps in that room in the practice building and doesn't stay in the dorms."

I thought this over, not even noticing as the announcer came to stand in the middle of the ring.

"The rules are this: The participants fight until one verbally gives up or taps out, or when one passes out. Also, this particular fight will not allow head butts, kicks at the lower abdomen (though kicks at the legs are allowable), and no scratching, i.e. no gouging out someone's eyes. Ladies, you hear me?"

The announcer smirked at his small joke.

I winced at the image of Sakura tearing her opponent's eyes out, disgusted.

"Our competitors this evening," he introduced loudly from the ring.

He gestured towards Sakura.

"Sakura Haruno, found by the amazing Neji Hyuga himself."

"'Found'?" I prompted Naruto.

"Yep. Neji recruited all of us."

I frowned.

"You make it sound like the Army," I scoffed, crossing my arms.

Naruto snickered.

"Well, in a way, it probably is. But without all of the guns and shooting."

I made a discontented noise in the back of my throat.

"And over here," continued the announcer, "is Tayuya, badmouth of the Sound tribe."(1)

My eyes swivelled over to a shorter girl with orange hair.

"Is she any good? The Sound girl?"

Naruto quirked his mouth.

"Yeah, but she'll never go as far as Sakura or anyone else in our group. She'll always be on amateur level. You see, the Sounds are basically just brute strength. They're good, but if you can't think for yourself, you won't get far in this profession."

Content with this knowledge, I turned my eyes back to the ring, where the fight had just begun.

Sakura stayed back, waiting for Tayuya to come to her.

"See, what Sakura's doing is baiting her. Rule number one of fighting: make your opponent come to you. Patience is the key. Then, when Tayuya gets near enough. . ."

Tayuya moved forward, jabbing at Sakura's head.

Sakura bobbed and quickly socked Tayuya in the gut.

Tayuya sucked in a breath, and Sakura continued relentlessly.

"Rising knee-strike," commentated Naruto as Sakura jammed her knee into Tayuya's stomach, forcing her head down.

"Cover-up!" Neji shouted from the corner, eyes darting around the two.

"Why did he—?"

Tayuya stepped back and retaliated with her own kick.

"Crescent kick," Naruto said approvingly as Tayuya swung her leg up.

The way Sakura's hands were covering her face, the kick was blocked by her arm.

"Oh," I replied, answering my own question.

"How did Neji know Tayuya was going to throw that kick?"

Naruto shrugged.

"I have no idea, I guess all of his experience helps him to read these things pretty quickly. That's what makes him such a good coach; he knows how to read people."

My eyes flickered over to Neji, who was still intent on Sakura and Tayuya's fight.

I considered him for several seconds, before looking back to Sakura.

It was obvious she was the dominant one, overpowering Tayuya in skill easily.

"And the finish. . ." trailed Naruto, eyes sparkling as Sakura swung her leg with power, her foot connecting with Tayuya's face.

Tayuya flew back, the force of Sakura's kick sending Tayuya landing on her back.

Tayuya spat blood out of her mouth and glared up at Sakura, who appeared menacing.

Sakura stepped around to where she was at Tayuya's side.

"It's over," I heard Naruto murmur.

Sakura nodded in a swift move, as if she'd heard him, and lifted her foot.

It was quick as hell, and if I hadn't been watching, I wouldn't have believed it.

Sakura brought her foot down hard on the exact place where Tayuya's ribs were.

I detected a distinct snap.

Tayuya gasped, coughing.

Sakura leaned down and whispered to her.(1)

Tayuya squinted up at her before closing her dark eyes, banging her fist on the street twice.

"Give," she croaked out in a tired voice.

"Tayuya gives! Haruno wins!"

Sakura stepped back, pushing back some of her hair that had fallen loose.

Neji clapped her on the shoulder, obviously pleased as he shepherded her back to the bright building a few yards away.

I sighed.

Naruto glanced at me.

"Did you enjoy the fight?" he inquired.

I shrugged.

"It was alright. . . I guess."

He smiled.

"Yeah, you just wait. You'll get immersed into this world soon enough. It just takes some getting used to."

"Yeah, no kidding. And I thought I was badass."

Naruto laughed shortly.

"Oh, you haven't seen nothing yet, TenTen. You just wait. . ."

Sakura and Neji arrived minutes later; Sakura had shrugged on a cot over her tank top, though I was sure she was still freezing because of her shorts.

Naruto grinned at her, fluidly leaning down to kiss her cheek, swinging his arm around her waist.

Neji glanced at me.

"So, what'd you think?" he queried, starting to follow Naruto and Sakura.

I fell into step beside him.

"Um. . . it was a little . . ."

"Crazy?" Neji offered.

I smirked.

"Exactly. It's very . . . fast-paced."

Neji nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Yeah. It gets even crazier, the further you go."

"Is. . . Is it always that . . . cruel?" I asked.

"You're talking about when Sakura cracked her ribs?"

I nodded.

Neji sighed, the noise sounding loud in the dark.

"All I can say is that it's a lot worse. What you saw tonight wasn't even a dent."

"Great," I muttered.

Encouragingly, Neji clutched my shoulder.

I bit my lip and changed the subject.

"What are you going to teach me tonight?"

"Basics."

I grimaced, impatient as ever.

Neji smiled.


Naruto and Sakura left us at the practice building, continuing on back to the school.

For some reason, I was nervous about being alone with Neji.

I had been by myself with him before, of course, but since our little heart-to-heart in his room the other night, things between us had been awkward.

Well, at least to me, they had been.

Neji ordered me upstairs to the roof while he busied himself getting some things from downstairs.

My teeth were almost to the point of chattering when he showed up, wearing less layers and carrying two chairs.

I couldn't stop the disappointment from showing on my face, but I sat down anyway, drawing my knees into my body.

Neji sat across from me, noting my expression.

"Are you cold?" he asked suspiciously.

"Very," I muttered, shuddering as a cold spell ran down my spine.

"We can go back inside, if you want."

The thought was very tempting, but I figured if we were going to fight some, we should stay up there where we couldn't knock anything over.

"No, this is fine."

"All right. . ." Neji said, sounding unsure.

I nodded to further make up his mind.

Neji leaned back in his chair and began his speech.

"The type of fighting we do marries kickboxing and martial arts."

"I haven't taken martial arts," I interrupted.

"You don't need to," Neji assured with a nod.

I raised an eyebrow in disagreement, but let him continue.

"In kickboxing, there are four common types of punches. The jab, the straight hook, the hook, and the uppercut."

"Should I be taking notes?"

Neji smiled, but ignored my question.

"The jab," Neji illustrated, keeping one hand guarding his face while the other one hit empty air swiftly.

Neji explained the four and showed me what they were.

"Actually, I think I've been using those. . . I just didn't know what they were," I slowly said.

"Well, it's a good thing I explained them. We don't need you going crazy on the street."

I snorted.

"Four basic kicks: Front kick, side kick, semi-circular kick, and roundhouse kick."

Neji faced forward, kicking his left leg out to an imaginary person. He turned his body again, kicking out sideways this time. Again, Neji faced forward, switching his footwork as he brought his right leg up to a kneeing position then swung it out, turning his body some as he did so. And then the final kick, Neji smoothly maneuvered into a turn, flinging his leg out as he came to face me again.

"Kneeing: Straight knee-thrust, rising knee-strike, diagonal knee-kick, jumping knee-kick."

"That rising knee-strike? That's what that Tayuya girl used in her fight, isn't it?"

Neji nodded.

"Now get up."

I warily looked at him.

He rolled his eyes and gestured for me to stand up.

"Come on. I gotta make sure you're getting it."

I grudgingly stepped towards him.

"Okay. Start with the punches."

I quirked my mouth and jabbed my right fist at Neji's face.

"Alright," he approved. "But, keep your other hand up to your face."

Neji lightly grasped my wrist, absently curling my fingers into a fist as he moved my hand to shield my face.

"Try it again."

I did, keeping my hand guarding my face.

Neji nodded.

"Straight punch?" I queried.

"Yeah."

I waited for Neji to punch me and then moved out, thrusting my arm and fist past his body, grazing his cheek.

"You already know how to do a hook. Just remember to arc your arm. Uppercut?"

I shifted my foot forward and angled my arm up, hitting Neji's jaw.

He rubbed it, wiping away the soreness.

"Do the kicks the now. Front kick first."

I kept my fists around my face, kicking out to where my foot flatly hit Neji's stomach.

His expression was puzzled.

"What? I did it right!" I exclaimed defensively.

"No, it's not that. You're not breathing right."

I raised my eyebrows.

"What?"

"You're not breathing from your diaphragm. You're gonna pass out eventually if you don't breathe right, especially when you're throwing hard kicks and punches. Breathe from here."(3)

Neji touched my stomach gently, and I could barely detect it through my hoodie.

Still, my skin prickled.

He paused for a second, seemingly forgetting what he had been saying.

"Side kick," I reminded him throatily.

"Right."

I turned and sucked in a breath, feeling my stomach tighten as I kicked with the side of my foot.

When I got to the roundhouse kick, I was excited, and put a little too much vitality into it, causing Neji to bend over.

"Sorry! Sorry!" I rushed to help him, crouching. "Are you okay?"

Neji was laughing.

"I'm fine. You just knocked the wind out of me," he murmured.

I bit my lip, embarrassed.

Neji stood up, clutching my neck.

I stared at him, confused.

Neji forced my head down, and the next second I knew, Neji's knee was in my gut.

"Don't let your guard down. Always anticipate the next move and block or counter it."

I grunted, sucking in air.

"Breathe from the diaphragm," Neji called out, sweeping his leg at my side.

I stumbled out of his range.

Neji moved forward again, intending to use a high-kick on my head.

I blocked, my arm jarring with the force of the kick.

"Good," Neji said. "You're thinking about it. . ."

I did not answer, moving forward delivering a side-kick.

Neji dodged, retaliating with an uppercut punch.

He caught my chin, sending my head back uncomfortably.

My neck protested, a kink throbbing painfully in one of the cervix of my spine.

I glared at Neji and did a back handspring toward him, ending it with a quick jab in the stomach.

Neji nodded, kneading his gut.

"Alright, then," he said, amused, as he tightened his hand wraps, "let's see what you got, kid."

I raised my eyebrows and charged toward him.


There was no way I could walk back to the dorms.

No fracking way.

I could barely stumble down the stairs after we were done, later on that evening.

Neji thought it was funny.

"I told you," he smirked, supporting my weight with his hand around my waist.

"Shut up," I grumbled.

Everything hurt; my legs, arms, and feet were screaming for some sort of relief.

I had a black eye and more than enough developing bruises, plus a severely bloody nose.

Neji looked better than I did, which made me feel worse.

"It'll be fine," he murmured, as if he knew what I was thinking. "You can beat me up all you want when you win your first fight. Promise."

I disbelieved him, but didn't say anything to protest; I was too tired.

Neji helped me to a room next to his, where there was an old stereo system in one corner.

Neji insistently lied me down on a makeshift bed of two mattresses on top of each other.

"I'll be right back," he said as he left the room.

I sat up, aching, as I glanced around the small room.

It looked less lived-in than the other room I'd occupied when Neji had beaten me to the pulp.

But it had a dresser and a small lamp on the floor beside the mattresses.

Neji returned a few moments later, throwing a pillow at me.

When I didn't catch it, the pillow hit me square in the face, making my nose burn.

I glowered at him, saying in a polite voice, "You suck."

Neji smiled and flipped the lights on, causing me to squint.

"So," I started as I laid down, arranging the pillow behind my head, "why do you stay here all by yourself?"

Usually I wasn't as nosy, but I was curious and maybe even a little bit delirious, and the words were already out of my mouth.

Neji took my question easier than I expected him to.

He began to clean up my nose and calmly stated, "My uncle and I don't get along."

"Why not?"

Neji sat back on his heels from across me, thoughtful.

"We just don't. We don't agree on anything. The fighting thing really makes him mad. . . That's why he kicked me out of the house a year or two ago."

I watched Neji levelly as he continued to clean up my nose.

"I'm sorry," I said honestly.

Neji met my eyes.

"Don't be," he said simply, shrugging limply. "It was the best decision he ever made concerning my well-being."

"But . . . you're here all the time, by yourself. Why didn't you just move into the dorms?"

Neji smirked, applying a bandage to my raw red cheek.

"I don't do curfews," Neji released quietly.

I smiled in return, my cheek feeling blistered.

I winced.

Neji snickered.

"Anything else bleeding?" queried Neji, as he turned away from me, sifting through the bandages he'd brought.

I sighed.

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Good."

Neji stood up from the bed, walking out the door again.

I heard a few clatters from Sakura's medical section, and a faucet running.

He returned with a bottle of painkillers and a glass of water.

"You'll need this in the morning too," claimed Neji knowingly.

"Does that mean I'm not going to school tomorrow?" I asked, not a little hopeful.

"That's exactly what it means. You'll be hurting too much to move tomorrow, let alone go to school."

I smiled, thankful.

"Thanks, Neji."

He raised his eyebrows.

"You won't be thanking me tomorrow. Just wait. You're gonna be hurting so bad."

I rolled my eyes.

"Thanks for the encouragement!" I called out to him as he left the room.

Neji ignored me, going into his room the next door.

Seconds later, I heard a radio flare to life, some ancient rock-and-roll station.

I fell asleep to the sound of Billy Fury crooning about his girlfriend's arms.(4)


(1) This had originally been Hana Inuzuka, but then I was like, "Oh, crap, I can't do that! Kiba's in the dang Hyuga club. Shoot. . ." But I needed a new girl, so I scanned my little Naruto character sheet and chose Tayuya in Hana's stead. :D

(2) She said, "Want me to crack the other ones too?"

(3) This is very important for singing also. If you don't sing from your diaphragm, you don't get enough breath for long notes and such. And you can get very light-headed too, if you don't breathe right.

(4) Listen to "Wondrous Place" by Billy Fury. You'll get what I'm talking about. Billy Fury was a British pop star during the late 50s and throughout the 60s. You can read more about his life and success as a singer on wikipedia.

You know, now that I think about it, I probably should've introduced this fighting knowledge earlier in the story. XD Shoot.

I like Neji's music choices. Expect more in the future. *cackles evilly*

:D

Alright, kids.

Do me a favor and review.