Title: Talk on Corners

Characters: Tenten, Hyuuga Neji, Rock Lee, Maito Gai

Special Guests: Hyuuga Kou

Summary: Tenten went out on her first date when she was seventeen years old.

Hyuuga Kou

Tenten went out on her first date when she was seventeen years old.

She went out with a Hyuuga.

The wrong Hyuuga.

i.

It was the Fire daimyo's birthday.

Although nobody was quite sure how old he really was.

He ordered a big celebration, and all shinobi from the Country of Fire were required to attend, minus the ones who were on missions.

(Tenten was a little excited about it, because it meant a break from all the rigorous training she and the rest of Team Gai usually do. Neji, she knew, would find the entire thing ridiculous, and a terrible waste of time. She also knew Lee and Gai were more excited about it than she would ever be.)

ii.

"Yosh! I promise to ask Sakura-san to the daimyo's ball by the end of the day!" Lee exclaimed, pumping his fist up in the air. "If I don't, I'll do one hundred pushups, two hundred squats, and five hundred laps around the village!"

They were in their usual training grounds, she and Lee and Neji, all waiting for Gai to appear so they could discuss their plans for the rest of the day. Tenten guessed she was going to end up sparring with Neji (they almost always end up training together), while Lee would train with Gai in an off-location site, away from the squirrels. As expected, Lee was the one who opened up the topic of the ball, because Neji would definitely not mention it out of his own accord, and Tenten felt that it would be pointless to discuss it with two guys who knew nothing about proper social interactions.

"That's great, Lee," Tenten said absentmindedly, twirling her favorite kunai around her left index finger. Her mind was on a new weapon on display in her favorite shop, and she was trying to compute in her head how much of her daily allowance she had to save so she could buy it by the end of the week.

All of a sudden, Lee asked, "Who's your date to the ball, Tenten?"

The kunoichi stopped twirling the kunai and blinked at Lee's direction. "Huh?"

"Your date," Lee replied, as if he found nothing wrong with his question. "Who will be your date to the daimyo's ball?"

"Date?" Tenten blinked again. "Do we need a date to go to the party?" She felt a bit of a panic at the thought; she didn't have anyone, and she really wanted to go there, because the minute Neji realized she was not going, he was going to force her to train with him instead.

Lee shook his head. "No, but Gai-sensei said it would be more fun if you have a date with you."

Ah. Figures.

"So?" Lee pressed on. "Who's your date for the ball?"

Tenten shook her head and chuckled uncomfortably. "I don't have one, Lee." She tried to twirl the kunai again, but it slipped out of her reach and spiraled a few inches away from where Neji was sitting. "Oops, sorry," she chuckled, rubbing the back of her head and picking up the weapon.

Neji regarded her with expressionless eyes.

"How about you, Neji?"

Both Tenten and the Hyuuga turned to the taijutsu expert, who was currently doing push-ups using only his left thumbs.

"Who's your date for the ball?"

(Neji said dates were an unnecessary bother. Lee said he was being unyouthful. Tenten was quietly relieved and disappointed at the same time, for a reason she couldn't explain.)

iii.

Then something weird happened when she got home.

(Something really weird.)

iv.

"Neji," Tenten started, throwing a variety of shurikens and senbons at the Hyuuga. "What can you say about Kou-san?"

The Hyuuga avoided her last senbon and paused long enough to consider the question. "He's Hinata-sama's personal bodyguard," he answered, and then began his attack.

Tenten didn't have time to roll her eyes. "I already know that," she answered, avoiding Neji's Gentle Fist. "I mean, what is he like?"

Tenten could see Neji's eyebrows meet. "He's dedicated to his job. And loyal to Hinata-sama." He stopped his attacks and regarded his sparring partner warily. "Why the sudden interest?"

Tenten felt her cheeks burn and chuckled nervously. "Oh, just curious," she answered. Then, summoning a tonfa, she said, "Again?"

They sparred for a couple more minutes before taking a quick break.

Then, out of nowhere, "What else can you say about Kou-san?"

Neji stopped packing his things and stared suspiciously at his friend. "He's serious and mature for his age, and has great self-control."

Tenten chuckled. "That's like describing half of your clan," she said, before noticing Neji that was looking at her in a peculiar manner. "Sorry," she grinned.

"Tenten," Neji said, suddenly holding Tenten's wrist. It came to her more of a shock than anything else, because Neji was someone who avoids physical contact as much as possible. That, and ever since he told her that she was beautiful a couple of weeks ago, she'd been having those weird fuzzy bunnies in her chest whenever he would come five feet of her.

"Huh?"

"Why are you so interested in Kou-san?"

"Oh." For the second time that day, Tenten found her cheeks burning pink. "Well, just . . . curious?"

The Hyuuga was not convinced. "Tenten."

Tenten gulped. "He, uh, asked me to be his date for the ball?"

("Tenten-san."

Tenten stared at the person standing in front of her little apartment. It took her a couple of seconds to recognize him.

"Oh! Kou-san!"

She watched as the older Hyuuga smiled, and she quickly approached him. "How are you?"

"Good," Kou answered, his smile growing wider than Tenten had ever seen any other Hyuuga make.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" the kunoichi asked, summoning her keys and opening her door. "Would you like to come in?"

Kou raised his right hand to indicate that he has to refuse the offer. "I'm afraid I have to be back to our compound before dark," he explained. "Hiashi-sama will expect me to be there during Hinata-sama's evening training."

"Oh, okay," Tenten answered, her hand on the knob, her eyes fixed on her companion. "So what can I do for you?"

Tenten watched as Kou's cheeks turned a distinct shade of red. "Kou-san?"

"Did Neji-kun ask you out for the daimyo's ball?"

It was Tenten's turn to blush. "N-no!" she almost shrieked. Then, more calmly, "No, he didn't." Then, as an afterthought, perhaps because she remembered her earlier conversation with Lee, "No one's asked me, really."

The Hyuuga appeared relieved. And then nervous all over again.

"Kou-san?" Tenten asked, wondering what's wrong. "Are you okay?"

Kou smiled again, and somehow, Tenten was reminded of the fact that she hadn't really seen Neji smile like that before.

"I now am.")

v.

Tenten did not see Neji until the evening of the ball.

(Or, to be more specific about it, an hour before her date picked her up.)

vi.

When she heard the knock, she was still in the middle of putting on her jade earrings, one of the few precious jewelries she owned—a gift that Ino, Sakura and Hinata had pooled money for her sixteenth birthday.

Hurrying to the door, she was expecting to see Hyuuga Kou in formal attire, ready to pick her up for the party.

She saw a Hyuuga in formal attire, all right, but this particular Hyuuga was of leaner built, of longer hair, and of more serious demeanor.

"Neji?"

If Neji was embarrassed from the sudden intrusion, he hid it well. Still, Tenten had to ask what he was doing there.

She was answered with silence.

"Well, come in," she said, a little uncertainly. Closing the door behind them, she signaled for him to sit down on her small couch while she slipped into the adjacent chair and picked up one of her black sandals. Neji watched her silently, until Tenten felt uncomfortable under his stare.

That, and the fuzzy wuzzy bunnies were back.

"So," she said, in way of conversation, "what are you doing here?"

Neji merely looked away.

Tenten shook her head and sighed. "Well, as much as I want to babysit you," she pointed to the clock with her head, "Kou-san will be here any minute. And you should be going to the ball, too."

Finally, "Tenten?"

For a second Tenten's mind blanked out. Why did Neji sound so uncertain of himself? It was almost as if he was . . . remorseful for something he has, or has not, done.

"Yes?"

The fuzzy wuzzy bunnies multiplied threefolds.

"I'm . . ."

A sudden knock on the door ruined the moment, although Tenten wasn't sure there was a moment to begin with. Embarrassed, she quickly stood up, leaving Neji on the couch. "I'll be right there," she said, throwing Neji an apologetic look as she hurried to the door.

Hyuuga Kou was standing on her front steps, with a beautiful bouquet of tulips in his hands.

"Oh," Tenten gasped. "They're beautiful!"

Kou smiled. "I'm glad you liked them," he said. "Sorry I was a little late. I had to make sure Hinata-sama was picked up by her date before I could leave the compound."

Tenten grinned. "Don't worry about it," she answered. "Let me put these in, then we can go." She suddenly stopped, remembering that she had left someone in her living room. "Oh, by the way . . . " she started, half-turning around to indicate that Neji was there, but found out that he was nowhere in sight. Frowning a little, she turned back to her date, and flashed him an all-too-wide smile. "Uh, nevermind, give me a second."

They were off in one minute flat.

For some weird reason she could not explain, Tenten left her lights on.

(The reason would come to her much later.)

vii.

To say that she was distracted was a grave understatement.

She realized that when Kou asked her for a dance and she handed him her glass, thinking he was asking for water.

"You're looking for him."

Tenten turned to her date and frowned. "Huh?"

Kou's wide, happy smile was nowhere in sight; in its place was a small, almost sad smile. "You're looking for Neji-kun."

"N-no!" Tenten lied, although she wasn't really aware that she was lying. "I couldn't care less if he's not here."

Kou's small, sad smile didn't leave. "Would you care for a dance, Tenten-san?"

This time the kunoichi understood the request, and gladly accepted the invitation. They walked to the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by other dancing couples. Tenten spotted Hinata dancing with Kiba, Ino with Sai, and Sakura with Lee. She grinned at the thought that her friend actually succeeded in getting Sakura to agree to be his date. But with Sasuke gone rogue, and Naruto in a week-long mission, Tenten figured Lee was the only logical choice left for the pink-haired kunoichi. She felt a stab of sadness all of a sudden, because she was reminded of the fact that Lee could never really top the other two shinobi in Sakura's heart.

"Tenten-san?" Kou said, as he wrapped an arm around Tenten's waist. "Can I ask you something personal?"

"I guess," the kunoichi answered, resting a hand on Kou's shoulder. "I mean, I don't think I have any secrets, anyway."

"Do you like Neji-san?"

Tenten would have broken the heel of her shoe, except that she was wearing flat sandals. So she settled for a slight stumble instead. "W-what?" she stuttered when she recovered. "What are you talking about?"

Kou's small smile was back. "Do you know when I started noticing you?"

Tenten shot her partner a questioning look.

"Back when we had to rescue Hinata-sama, during the Chunnin exams." Tenten still remembered what happened that day. Amid the confusion, two Cloud nin kidnapped an unconscious Hinata, forcing Tenten, Neji, and Kiba to chase them in an attempt of a rescue. Tenten offered to stay behind to hold off a pack of mud wolves. It was Hyuuga Kou who came to her rescue, at just the right time, when her arsenal was almost depleted.

"I was rushing to get to Hinata-sama when I saw you executing your twin rising dragons. For a split second, I forgot about everything else."

Tenten blinked. He was watching her then?

"It was . . . magical."

(They spent the rest of the evening dancing. Tenten's feet hurt, she felt tiny needles pricking her arms, and her eyes half-drooped from exhaustion.

Still, she danced with Kou until the very last song.

She even saw Lee silently giving her a thumbs up.

She gave him a silent wink in return.)

viii.

"Well, that was fun," she said, as they stood in front of her little apartment. "Thank you for asking me out to the ball, Kou-san."

"It was my pleasure, Tenten-san," Kou replied, taking Tenten's right hand and kissing it lightly.

Tenten hid her blush with a chuckle. "Well, do you want to come in for some tea?"

Kou's small smile returned. "I would have loved to, but I'm afraid you have another visitor waiting for you inside."

Tenten frowned. "A visitor?"

"It was nice spending the evening with you, Tenten-san," Kou said, and his happy, wide smile made a reappearance.

Tenten blinked and watched as the older shinobi left. Finally, she went in, and locked the door behind her.

She almost gave a yelp when she saw Neji standing in the middle of her living room.

"Neji?" she gasped. "What are you still doing here?" Rushing up to him, hands on hips, she continued, "And why weren't you in the ball?"

"I didn't have a date."

Tenten stared at her friend for a very long time before she could say anything. "What?" When Neji merely shrugged and looked away, Tenten felt the need to smack him on the head—which, of course, she didn't literally do. "You didn't go to the ball because you didn't have a date?" A pause. "I thought you said dates were an unnecessary bother!"

"They are."

Tenten threw her hands up in exasperation. "I seriously cannot understand you," she said, flopping down her couch. Removing her left sandal, she sighed. "You should have been there," she whispered, working on her right sandal next. "Lee was absolutely beaming with happiness."

Neji looked down at her, a faint smile in his lips. "Did you enjoy your night?"

Tenten nodded. "Kou-san was amazing," she murmured, a light smile gracing her lips as she rubbed her tired soles. "Still, it would have been nice if you were there to dance with me." She wasn't sure why she said it, but that was one of the reasons why she was so distracted during the party. To cover up, she continued, "I mean, even Lee danced two songs with me. And I wasn't his date either."

When she looked up, Neji had a hand extended to her.

Tenten frowned. "What?"

"Would you like to dance with me then?"

"Eh?" A pause. "But there's no music?"

Neji shrugged. "Who needs one?"

Tenten chuckled, and accepted Neji's hand. "I seriously cannot understand you," she said, grinning from ear to ear. The Hyuuga pulled her up, and as if it was the most normal thing in the world, they put their arms around each other and swayed in the silence.

"I still wish you were there," she whispered as she buried her face in the crook of Neji's neck, her eyes closed, her tired body relaxing in the arms of someone so familiar and so unfamiliar at the same time. Neji's hold on her tightened a bit, as if he was trying to hold her against him as close as he could.

(She was already half-asleep, still in his arms, when she heard him whisper back:

"Forgive me.")

Thank you to everyone who left a kind word in the previous chapters. I also saw some familiar names, which made me nostalgic about the good ol' days of my NejiTen fangirling.