(A/N): This is going to be boring. Not in a mood to write but feel the need to update somehow.

"That's actually ridiculous."

Tenten stopped sipping hot chocolate from a paper cup in her hands only to glare at him. "I didn't force you to join me."

Neji, who was standing right beside her, didn't respond.

The Weapon Mistress sighed—forming a puff of white in front of her mouth—and looked up at the sky. They were in a secluded place near Konoha boundary that evening, shielded from the village's noises by trees and grasses.

She tightened her grip on the paper cup to relish the warmth. It was the first winter after the Fourth Shinobi World War.

"You know, you could have accepted Lee and Gai-sensei's offer to run twenty laps around the village in this weather instead of following me here."

Neji's eyebrow twitched. "I'd rather come here."

"You have a family meeting in an hour, don't you?"

He merely shrugged. "I still have an hour then."

Tenten smiled. Neji was still Neji even after his temporary death.

She wasn't one to dwell on the past, but when someone or she herself mentioned Neji and death, she felt cold all over her body. It wasn't good, really, so she tried to kick away the unpleasant memory for now. Neji was here after all.

But was he even here? A few minutes had passed and he didn't even try to start a conversation. Tenten let out a sigh again.

"Neji, listen, I know you never say anything unless it's necessary," she said, "but please talk more, will you? I thought you would change a bit after the war?"

Instead of scowling, he smirked at her. "Perhaps I should've died twice?"

She knew he was joking but she didn't take it well. Seriously, he didn't have to make his death sound like it was nothing. She wanted to punch him for thinking so—or hug and yank his hair at the same time because dammit, he had scared her to death; he honestly didn't think she'd been fine that night only because she hadn't mourned over his dead body, or did he?

"I was scared," she said softly. "You idiot."

He stared at her but she refused to meet his eyes. At least, however, he understood what she was talking and it pleased her somehow. "I know. There would be many things I regret if I wasn't resurrected."

Not expecting this answer, Tenten closed her eyes, sighed and lifted her cup to her mouth before the chocolate turned as cold as the weather. "What things?"

"Many," he answered. "You would be one of them."

Tenten missed the cup when she heard this; it never met her lips, causing the drink to spill to her chin and trickle down to her scarf while some in her paper cup splattered onto her fingers.

Cursing herself inaudibly, she was still contemplating about what she could use to dry her chin and fingers, but Neji did it first.

He gently wiped her chin with a clean handkerchief.

Gently.

With his handkerchief.

Tenten forgot about what he had said. So shocked she was that she didn't realize she had dropped the half-empty paper cup in her hand until it met the ground and some of the content spilled to her left shoe. But screw that cup, she didn't even care.

Neji seemed to ignore it either, his eyes focused on her. She could only stare back with wide eyes, heart pounding madly and cheeks warming by each second. This was the real Hyuuga Neji, right?

That smirk of his appeared suddenly and Neji pulled his handkerchief back only to replace it with two fingers—he snapped her jaw shut, which she didn't realize had been hanging open the entire time.

"You look amusing."

She could feel her blush disappear and the butterflies in her stomach die as she swatted his hand and punched his shoulder. "Shut up!"

Neji didn't even wince from her hard punch. "I thought you wanted me to talk more?"

"Did I say I wanted you to embarrass me?" she asked back, glaring at him.

His smirk never faded. "Are you embarrassed?"

"No!" Tenten answered way too quickly. There was no way she would let him know…

The white eyed man shrugged nonchalantly, thrusting his handkerchief into her left hand while gesturing to the right one. "You might want to clean your fingers."

Glancing at him grudgingly, she did as he'd told even if a part of her stupidly wished he had taken her hand and was wiping her fingers deliberately now.

Good. She had officially just turned into one of those fangirls. Best winter ever.

However, Tenten didn't have much time to muse over that because some white flakes started to fall from the sky.

"Snow!" The brunette squealed excitedly and looked up. "Neji, finally!"

She didn't hear his reply until seconds later. "Hn."

"I can't wait until tomorrow comes," she continued, holding out one hand as her brown eyes shone in joy. "This is wonderful."

"You've done that for years?"

"Do what?"

He sounded impatient. "Wishing when snow is falling."

Tenten turned to face him and grinned. "Yes. Since I was six."

"Why snow?"

"Why? Wishing on a shooting star is too common, I guess. I've only seen a shooting star once in my life. But snow, you can see it every year. Besides, I love winter! How about you?"

"I hate winter."

Tenten stared at him in disbelief. "You do?"

"Hn."

"Neji," she giggled. "You can't hate winter! It's equal to hating yourself."

This time he glanced at her incredulously. "What do you mean?"

The bun haired girl shrugged, trying to hide her smile in her scarf. "Winter represents you," she said, "white, grey, cold, and dark."

Because winter always reminded her of him.

He didn't look amused, instead ignoring her and stuffing his hands into his pockets while looking at the sky. Tenten could only stare at him like a fool, hoping she could freeze the image: Neji tilting his head back and letting snowflakes fall onto his bare forehead and gorgeous face and beautiful hair and—

"I will free them someday."

Tenten blinked. "W-what?"

"Branch family," he said quietly. "While I'm happy that I no longer bear the curse seal… I cannot stand seeing other Branch members still struggling with their freedom."

She felt her own eyes soften. "I see."

"I will change everything." She noticed his hands clench tightly. "Somehow, one day, whatever it is I will have to do, I will find a way to change them." His eyebrows drew together. "They will be free just like I am now… but without having to die first."

She was probably being emotional, but tears almost gathered in the corner of her eyes. "I'm here if you need me."

The next second, Tenten regretted her words. How was she supposed to help him change his clan? She was just Hyuuga Neji's teammate, nothing else and nothing more. "I mean," she said quickly, "I support you, Neji."

He finally looked at her and gave her a small smile. "Thank you." He touched his forehead, reminding her of that time years ago after he'd lost to Naruto in Chuunin exam. She'd met him in the recovery room, and he'd told her about his uncle's visit and his new perspective about Hyuuga and freedom.

Until now, Neji didn't know that she was happy for being the first person to hear him admit that he'd made a blind assumption all this time.

"I will be the one to let those birds fly out of their cage." He said softly.

Tenten felt so proud of him and his big heart and his selflessness—he had protected the whole village with his death, he was now free but he still remembered that other birds were still caged, he wanted to free them.

She didn't realize what she was doing then; taking his hand away from his forehead and standing on her tiptoes to kiss him right where the curse seal had once been.

She only caught a glimpse of his eyes when she pulled away and her cheeks were getting warmer already.

"Sorry," she whispered, keeping her eyes downcast. "I've always wanted to do that… when your curse seal was still there."

He didn't say anything and she prayed and prayed, but he kept silent and her heart started breaking.

"I know," Tenten said quietly, nervously squeezing his handkerchief. She was a kunoichi, the Konoha Weapon Mistress and she wouldn't cry like a lovesick girl in front of Hyuuga Neji, the strongest and bravest man she'd ever known, for this ridiculous reason. "I was just being stupid. I'm sorry."

She bit back her disappointment and turned around—

—but Neji was faster and he pulled her arm, spinning her around to face him again and meeting her lips with his.

The last thing she remembered was that she was glad she'd worn some long-lasting candy flavored lip balm before leaving home that evening, or else her lips would've been dry and chapped from the cold when Hyuuga Neji kissed her for the first time. First impressions were the most lasting, right?

But as the Hyuuga prodigy deepened his kiss and wrapped his arms around her neck, Tenten didn't even have any energy to think anymore. Confusion, shock, relief, and happiness blended perfectly, leaving her with pleasant warmth from head to toe.

Neji pulled away right when she thought it was merely a dream and she was going to wake up.

Putting his left hand on her shoulder, he ran his right thumb along her freshly-kissed lips, smirking smugly and elegantly as the action sent a delicious shiver down her spine. Her knees grew weaker under his stare and she was sure she was practically melting like a snowman. Damn Hyuuga Neji for never feeling nervous even in the most embarrassing situations.

After a minute of silence, much to Tenten's disappointment, Neji pulled his hands back.

She licked her lips briefly; they tasted like candy and chocolate and Neji, three things she had never thought would be put in one sentence someday because candy and chocolate were sweet while Neji, Neji was another story.

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

Tenten managed to swallow. "I-I'll wash your handkerchief and give it back tomorrow?"

She cursed the smirk on his face. This man, it was obvious he enjoyed how stupid she looked right now and would probably use this memory to tease her later in the future. "Keep it."

"But," Tenten protested, "you don't give a handkerchief unless you want to say goodbye! That would mean I would have to cry and dry my eyes alone—"

"They say so," he said softly that she wasn't sure she heard him right. "But let's ignore that belief this time."

Perhaps she had to believe in him because this was indeed the start and not the end. Tenten murmured as softly as he'd done, curling her fingers around the handkerchief. "Okay." This time, let's forget everything else.

He gave her a last smile which did nothing but increase her heart rate—and turned around to leave. Only when he had taken a few steps did he suddenly stop. "Tenten."

"Yes?" She responded warily.

"What's your wish?"

Tenten wasn't a girl who wanted to submit all of her to a man she loved, do anything to please him, and fill all her heart and head with everything about him only.

But tonight, she decided she wanted to do him a favor, because he had come back to life and he had saved her by doing so. That, added with the fact that their kiss had changed everything between them for the better.

"My wish this time is your wish." Tenten stated and grinned, knowing that he could see it even if his back was to her. "I want to see you change Hyuuga clan and free your caged family someday."

Neji looked at her over his shoulder, eyes and smile warm in contrast to the weather. "Thank you." The simple word was enough to convey everything that needed to be said. Without another word between them, he began walking away again.

Tenten watched his back and his gorgeous Hyuuga hair slowly disappear into the snowflakes, clutching the handkerchief in her hand to her nose—half to hide her blush and lovestruck grin from the world, half to inhale the mixed scent of chocolate and Neji that lingered on the soft fabric.