Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

A/N: Because I'm freakishly insane, having spent days organizing my prompt list for the "10 for NejiTen" challenge, only to completely disregard it when I decided to start on number 10, thus ensuring the complete randomness of my prompts… here's

PROMPT NUMBER 1

DEDICATION – I dedicate this one-shot to all of you lovely reviewers… there's way too many to list now, but each and every one of you is immensely special and wonderful and near and dear to my heart because thanks to all of you, this story has officially hit the ONE THOUSAND review mark… wow… who would have thought a simple birthday story for Neji would turn out this awesome. XD

THANK YOU ALL YOU AWESOME REVIEWERS!!
(check out my profile for my official thank you fanart XD)

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SOUNDLESS MELODY
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.:..:..:..:.There comes a time, when every lonely little boy must learn to dance.:..:..:..:.

DONG DONG DONG

Neji stared, frustrated, at the plain white ceiling above him, as the antique grandfather clock in the main house family room echoed three consecutive chimes through the compound.

Three o'clock.

He had been lying in bed for the past few hours, beckoning slumber to claim his restless spirit. But sleep would not come.

Neji had tired everything. From drinking warm milk, which he didn't particular like, as it left him with an unpleasantly thick and creaming taste in his mouth; to counting an endless array of wooly mammals in his imagination. But nothing seemed to work.

Were it a one time occurrence, Neji probably would not have cared either way. He would have remained in bed, meditating in order to relax his body; it was better than nothing. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time this had happened.

For months, Neji had begun to find it more and more difficult to sleep. The restless nights had yet to affect his performance, thanks to the fact that Neji's regular meditation at least provided him with some rejuvenating rest. However, it was only a matter of time before Neji's insomnia would begin taking its toll on him

Sitting up on his tussled bed, Neji looked around the room. In the far corner, resting on his immaculacy clean desk, he found what he was looking for.

Earlier that day Neji had gone to the village library to check out some medical texts. He had read that insomnia was often caused due to prolonged uses of stimulants, changes in one's daily schedule, excessive or unpleasant noises, uncomfortable room temperature, depression, lack of exercise to rid one's self of excess energy, or some recent stressful situation in ones life. The first one could easily be ruled out. He didn't take any stimulants; even avoided coffee. So it couldn't be that.

The second one also seemed unlikely, as Neji's lived his life on a routine schedule; even with his current bad sleeping habits, he had not changed a single thing.

5:00 am - He woke up.

5:17 am - Breakfast.

5:40 am - Heads to training field.

5:50 am - Arrives at training field.

6:02 am - Tenten arrives.

6:15 am - Sparring begins

11:00 am - Lunch break.

11:30 am - More sparring.

5:00 pm - End of training

5:15 pm - Meditation

6:00 pm - Head back to Hyuga compound.

7:00 pm - Dinner.

9:00 pm - Finds Tenten for night training.

11:00pm - Returns to Hyuga compound.

It was the same thing every day; unless missions, or some other situation, called for a difference. But even then, Neji had his routine set for those occasions as well.

"Can't be that." Neji decided.

The third and fourth options seemed possible, given the recent unseasonably hot and humid summer Konoha was currently experiencing; making even the well ventilated rooms in the Hyuga compound slightly warmer than usual. But it didn't seem likely, since sleeping in boxer-shorts and a white muscle shirt, proved to be enough to keep the prodigy cool at night. As far as the noises; it was true that the clicking sounds of the grandfather clock a few rooms away, was slowing beginning to eat at his sanity, but Neji doubted the clock was really all that loud. It was more likely that he was merely too aware of his surroundings, that the slightest sound was audible to him.

As for the fifth option, that one could also be ruled out. Neji didn't feel particularly depressed, and in fact, recently others had commented on his more cheerful demeanor. Of course that was before his sleeping problems which resulted in Neji taking on a more agitated temperament than his previous one.

The sixth option also seemed unlikely, since his routine was basically all training; all day. There was no way that he wasn't getting enough exercise. And as far as Neji knew, there was no reason for him to suddenly have an increase in his energy levels that his normal routine training regimen would not be enough to rid him of any excess energy. That, therefore, really only left the last option.

Stress.

But Neji could not think of anything in his daily life that could possibly cause his mind so much unrest.

"Maybe a jog will help to clear my head." Neji once again voiced his thoughts.

Quickly, the Hyuga rose off his bed, pulled some sweats over his boxers, and headed out for a run.

.:..:..:..:. .:..:..:..:. .:..:..:..:.

It didn't seem to be working. Neji had been running for over an hour already, and still was not feeling any more tired than he had previously been. What's more, soon, Neji would have to start getting ready for his day; leaving only an hour for sleep before he had to start getting ready to make it back to his training field and spar with Tenten.

"Hn." Neji creased his brow for a moment, wondering why he suddenly felt the urge to go to their training field. (1)

Slowly taking his time to walk to the clearing where he and the bun-haired kunoichi usually trained, Neji silently came to a stop a few yards away. For a moment he was confused; wondering if he had actually been out jogging longer than he had pervious believed.

Looking out into the clearing; still hidden from sight, Neji spotted the kunoichi in question, standing bizarrely in the middle of a field of weapons.

It wasn't the weapons he found unusual; those were something Neji was very accustomed to seeing around the kunoichi. Rather, it was the unknown stance the girl was taking that caught Neji's attention.

Instead of her usual Soshoryu pose, where she held out her scrolls before releasing them into the air, Tenten was standing with her back arched into an almost crescent shaped bend. Her legs were spread far apart; the front one resting at the ninety degree angle, while the back one extended straight out. Her right hand was supporting her weight on the back leg, as the left arm extended upward, and her face gazed toward that hand.

It was an awkward pose, but for some reason it seemed completely natural on the kunoichi. Knowing he had never seen whatever jutsu Tenten was about to perform, Neji decided to remain hidden in the shadows and observe her solitary training for a while.

Jumping up into a low branch of the tall forest trees, Neji watched as the girl swiftly stepped out of her strange post into a series of movements he had never seen before. Many of her motions and angles appeared unnatural for any human body to be capable of performing, yet Tenten made them seem effortless.

Her long and lean muscles smoothly carried her across the field as Tenten leap, turned, jumped, and flipped gracefully through the air. Her every move, almost artistic in nature, as she combined the elegance of a ballet with the athleticism of an acrobatic show. And that's what it was, a show; a performance.

Not just any performance; it was a dance. But a dance unlike any Neji had ever before seen.

It was almost as if a silent melody were playing in the kunoichi's heart as she skillfully maneuvered her body into twists and turns; some even in mid-air. Every wave of her arm and brush of her fingertips exuded unspoken emotions, as if her body were being used to convey a story to an audience of trees.

But what was that story?

An emotional one, Neji surmised, from the tender gaze of the kunoichi as she twirled flawlessly through the trees; using her weapons in the process of her dance.

The dance was completely Tenten. Her soul manifested in a silent melody that flowed through her body as it preformed her story, floating through the air in long, slow leaps; almost as if she were ignoring the very laws of gravity that applied to the rest of humanity.

But not to her.

Tenten was special. She always had been special. Neji knew that, though he had never before now realized it. But he knew it. That was the reason he had chosen her as his sparring partner.

Contrary to popular belief, the two had not become sparring partners merely because Neji didn't want to train with their bizarre teammate or sensei, but rather because Neji had seen in the kunoichi something truly amazing. Not just her potential for tremendous growth; which of course, had been an accurate deduction by the prodigy. It as the brightness of her sprit that had memorized Neji. Her strength was breathtaking; and not just her physical strength, but her emotional and mental strength as well.

She was stronger and more determined than anyone Neji had ever met. Even Lee or Gai's overly enthusiastic approach to training, and optimistic outlook on life didn't compare to Tenten's silent determination and strength.

There she was, four o'clock in the morning, two hours until she had to face twelve hours of training with him, and Tenten was still trying her hardest to improve what unmistakably appeared to be a routine she had been working on for a long time. It was clear from the power of her movements, and the elegance of her steps, that Tenten had poured all her heart into her dance; into her story.

And that was just like Tenten.

She never did anything half-heartedly.

Her story, if Neji were forced to describe in words, would be one of perseverance and hard-work. She was undeniably determined. Her story, Neji was certain, would prove to be as beautiful and amazing as the dance she was gracefully performing before him.

Tenten's elegant movements captivated the Hyuga, as Neji wondered what it might be like to be by her side; following into step, as they often did during their sparring sessions. He could not imagine performing the movements she so effortlessly flowed into, but nonetheless, Neji felt a strong urge and desire to be a part of her story.

He didn't know how the story would end, or what his longing to be a part of it meant, but deep within him, Neji wished he could hear the soundless melody playing in her soul, so he too could share in the purity of the emotions that drove her.

He wanted to join in her dance.

.:..:..:..:. .:..:..:..:. .:..:..:..:.

"Neji." A soft voice called out to him. "Neji."

"Hn." The prodigy moaned; slowly opening his heavy eye lids, as they met with the blind light of a midday sun.

He looked around, finding himself pressed against the hard bark of a tree trunk. Tenten was sitting calmly beside him; clearly having been waiting for some time now.

"Tenten." Neji sleepily called out; confused as to where he was and what he was doing there.

"Yes?" She looked at the well-rested prodigy expectantly; wondering what he might say.

Slowly, it all came rushing back at Neji. Where he was, what he'd been doing; his insomnia-driven jog through the village; coming across Tenten; watching her glide through the clearing like a prima ballerina.

"Next time," He suppressed a content yawn, as he began regain awareness of the waking world.

"Yeah Neji?" Tenten patiently waited for him to continue.

"May I dance with you?"

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THE END
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A/N: eeh… I'm not so sure about the ending… maybe the fact that it's nearly 2am and I exerted all my creative strength in the "dancing"… but I sort of feel the end wasn't as fluffy as I could have made it (no, not a kiss… I would have needed much more lead in to get a kiss in… it would have been unnatural and clumsy to stick and kiss in there… plus this was a somewhat introspective piece for Neji… so a kiss really isn't fitting…) but yeah… we'll see… I might continue it using another one of the prompts… but don't hold your breath... plus I'm still working/focusing entirely on FIVE NOBLE CLANS (no worries for those of you who are reading that story, I will likely update that one tomorrow)… I really only updated this one because I was feeling very guilty that I initiated the "10 for NejiTen" challenge and yet, I only had ONE of the prompts done (but it's likely going to be a while before my next update here)… XP… oh yeah, and I wanted to say THANK YOU to the reviews for getting this story to it's ONE THOUSANDTH review… love you all!

FOOTNOTES:
(1) So totally random… blame MY insomnia… XP