A/N: hey guys!!!!!! A thousand apologies for not getting this updated sooner!!! I'm very sorry!!! I tried 2 make it good, so I hope u like it!!! Enjoy the last chappie to babysitting!!! -cries-
Tenten was able to check out of the hospital in the evening, though not before promising Tsunade that she wouldn't train for a few days at least so she could wait for her wounds to heal a little more.
She got to the training grounds while it was still light out, watching as the first stars made their appearances in the sky. Peering into the semi- darkness, she saw a shadow lying against a small tree. Smiling, she discovered a sleeping Neji.
She tiptoed toward him, making sure to be absolutely silent, so as not to wake him. As he slept, she studied him- the way his chest moved up and down rhythmaticly, the slightest quivering of his eyelashes as he breathed in and out, and the passiveness of his face.
It was rare that she saw him this relaxed and at peace. Hesitantly, she put a hand up to his face, and, barely touching it, cupped it with her hand. She pulled her hand away quickly as his eyes fluttered open, revealing his pale, moon- like eyes.
"Um... hey Neji!" Neji bolted upright, unaware of the fact that he had dozed off. Whoa. That was a little too close…Tenten thought to herself.
"Well?" Neji stated getting to his feet. Tenten looked at him, trying to hide the blush in her cheeks.
"Well what?"
"Are we going to train, or are you going to keep staring at me like that all day?" Neji asked impatiently. Tenten narrowed her eyes as her cheeks flushed red. She didn't stare at him like that all the time… did she? And what was more- she was just in the hospital! Couldn't he give her a break once in a while, and be nice? Oh wait; this is Hyuga Neji we're talking about here… Tenten thought.
"Tsunade- sama said that I should lay off the training for a few days so that my injuries will get a chance to heal." Neji growled in frustration at the fact that the only person who was willing to train at this hour was unable to do so. He closed his eyes, putting a hand to his head, shut them tightly taking a deep breath, and opened them again, exhaling, this time looking more patient and understanding.
"Fine, but what should we do for the next two hours? I told my uncle I wouldn't be home until ten tonight," Tenten put a finger to her lips, narrowing her eyes.
"I know!" she said suddenly, "why don't we watch the stars come out?" Neji shrugged, and sat down next to his team mate. The two lay sprawled in the soft grass as the sky grew darker.
A chilly wind blew through the training grounds, making the trees shudder, and the dust on the ground whirl up. Tenten sat up, hugging her knees, inhaling the fresh new air.
"Did you know," she began "that overnight, nature makes the air fresher?" Neji propped himself up on his elbows, and shook his head.
"The night is sort of like a time for nature to refresh itself from all of the human activity in the daytime. My dad told me that once. I can't believe I still remember it. It feels like such a long time ago…" Neji nodded. He too could remember a time when he and his father would have talks like that…. Now that he thought about it, Tenten was probably the only person he talked to that also shared part of his pain as far as parental figures were concerned.
"Why do you like watching the stars, Neji?" Tenten asked, breaking the silence, and disturbing his thoughts. Neji stayed silent for a few moments, contemplating his answer.
"I don't know… do you really need a reason to like things like that?" Tenten looked at him and smiled, shaking her head no. Now, diamond like stars were visible by the thousands, making the battle scarred grounds look like a smooth glassy surface.
"Why?" Neji looked to Tenten.
"Why what?" Tenten asked, confused.
"Why do you like them… the stars, I mean," Tenten smiled, a pink tinge appearing in her cheeks.
"Well, um… this is gonna sound kinda dumb, but they kind of remind me of… you." Neji raised an eyebrow.
"How so?"
"Well, after my parents died, I used to look up at the stars when I missed my mom and dad. For some reason, the stars were the only things that could bring me comfort and give me strength. When I look at you, it's like… all of my troubles vanish, and I forget them for a while." She stopped there, and looked at him. There was a faint blush creeping into his cheeks, but his eyes were steady. Not hardened, but concentrating, as though she had given him something to really think about.
"Neji?" Tenten said after about five starlit minutes passed by, "Are you gonna miss those kids?"
"Hn." was his non emotional reply. Tenten smiled at him through the darkness.
"I'll take that as a yes." Neji turned his head toward her, and spoke softly, saying:
"Tenten? Do you love me?" Tenten's eyes widened and her eyebrows flew up at the forwardness of the question, and the expectancy of the answer. Hesitantly, she leaned forward, and captured his lips with hers, their tongues interlocking in a state of grace and shock. They broke apart after a few moments, gasping breath into each other's mouths.
"I'll take that as a yes," Neji said, smirking.
A/N: yeah. I know. Sucky ending to a super sucky story- listen, I don't blame u if u hate this story, just plz review and tell me y. I think that this will b one of the stories that, if my reviewers wish, I will redo it. There are some things that I think I would change, but if you guys like it the way it is, then I'll leave it be. Oh, and one more thing; these are the people who I would like to thank so very very very much for being so nice to me in their reviews- ( I apologize for any misspellings, and if i missed anyone)
Cliff Hanger and Pluki-kun
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Neji's fangirl