Note from the Author: My prompts are random – we have come to expect this, no? I haven't written a NejiHina in a while – I missed them.
Guardian of Atlantis: Ah! Sorry, and thank you!
Naash: It's not a pairing I've ever tried before, so I'm glad you liked it!
CaveDwellers: I don't like SasuTen either, but it was a request – and I'm always open for random crack pairings.
Ravensbff: You're uber special!
Amaterasu-chan: -.- KakaTen. That is a very intimidating pairing.
Shikamaru's Hot Honey: O.O
Ribbon
"TenTen, what is that?" Neji wouldn't usually bother asking, but with the way she kept flipping her hand as she lifted her teacup, it sparkled in the sunlight that peered through the window, annoying his keen eyes.
"Oh," she laughed lightly, holding her left arm out for him, brandishing the glittering green ribbon that was tied in a bow around her thin wrist. "I guess Lee realized that Sakura will never like him as anything more than a friend." Her smile was soft as her fingers ran over the gift, drawing it back toward her. "At the same time, I guess he noticed me."
"What's that have to do with the ribbon?"
"He gave it to me to symbolize our 'undying love.'" She giggled, signifying that those were his words. "He said that it was an old tradition that he read about. A man would give the woman he loved a ribbon to show the world that she was his, and as long as the ribbon didn't break, their love was true." She paused to sip her tea, then, swallowing, continued, "While I disagree with the anti-feminism of that, it's kind of a sweet gesture."
Her companion didn't answer, and she shrugged, figuring the subject dropped, and they finished their tea in silence.
0
Neji paused to bow to his cousin, who was perched on the front steps of the Hyuuga compound's main house. She smiled fondly, inclining her head in acknowledgment before laying her hand on the step beside her, inviting him to join her. His sandal was careful to avoid her small fingers as it spun to let him rest on the step above her.
"How was tea with TenTen-san?" Her tone, always politely interested, was warm, and Neji could never pretend he hated her when she spoke like that.
"It was lovely, thank you." He found that his words were softer when he was answering Hinata.
Her white eyes focused on the setting sun, reflecting the colors as if they were mirrors. "I'm glad." Her gaze shifted to him again when he lifted her hand from its position on the stone, settling it on his knee. She stared at his fingers as they died a black ribbon around her wrist, her lips parted in confusion, like she was on the verge of questioning him.
The bow was lop-sided, drooping against her pale skin, but she found it adorably sentimental. She lifted her head to look at him. His hair was hanging loose, tumbling forward as he fought to avoid her eyes. "I'll find you a prettier one soon." His voice was barely about a whisper, obviously trying to hide his embarrassment.
"No, it's lovely." Her hand was soft as it brushed the dark strands away from his face. "I love it." Her fingers found his, intertwining them, and he squeezed hers gently, as if he was afraid to break her.
"Promise you'll never take it off."
She smiled, admiring the ribbon for its simplicity, the loving way it hugged her wrist, and wondered how he thought she would ever be able to. "You don't even need to ask."