"Good morning."

"Oh, Neji! I was just brushing up on my shuriken training," The brunette released her chakra strings with a clean flick. She straightened her posture. "I'm glad you made it."

"What could possibly keep me from showing up ten minutes early?" He crossed his arms, as if they were talking about basic human decency. "you ask that we meet here at 6:20, right before our training is set to begin. Is there a reason you wanted to speak with me privately?"

Tenten could feel her heart constrict when he said all of that in his factual monotone. "I just wanted to talk to you. I feel like I hardly ever see you any more—since your promotion, I mean."

"It's unlike you to whine over such things, Tenten," The Hyūga deadpanned, "you must've known I would become preoccupied. The same goes for Lee." She usually reserved her concern for their other companions. She tried to remind herself that kindness almost always soared right over his genius. He was supposed to be a fucking genius, right..?

"It isn't that.." She was trying to get through to him. Today would be the day he would listen to her, as more than a teammate.. he would hear her as an equal. "am I wrong to think of us as friends? How is it so weird that I would want to talk to you alone? I can't believe you treat it like such an inconvenience! I didn't realize you were too cool for that."

Neji seemed to get uncomfortably wary following her outburst, "Of course, we are friends. I just thought it was a little out of the ordinary." He also never said it was any inconvenience, but he figured that might be a poor choice of words. He could sense that she was amped about something.. hopefully unrelated.

'Neji.. if only you understood. How I'd like to be more than friends.. If you only knew how I felt about you.'

She just couldn't bear the thought of an outright rejection. The last thing she wanted was to risk their friendship. Her previous nerve died down. Anyway, she had ruined the ideal chance.

Tenten also couldn't bear the thought of throwing herself at a guy, no matter how much she liked him. And unfortunately,—for her—Neji showed no signs of reciprocating her feelings. Not that she wasn't a victim to her own cowardice. She inhaled sharply—being far too afraid to act on any of these urges. 'You sound so pathetic, Tenten..'

Why was he so blind? How come he didn't seem the least bit interested in her? She could never tell, with that unreadable persona of his. She hated that he never shared much of anything with his team. Although knowing her standards were impossible to meet, she had another wish that was often overlooked.

She wanted them all to treat her more like a girl and less like one of the guys.

"Well, maybe if you'd stop over-analyzing every little fucking thing, you would get it."

"Tenten.." The stunned look on his face hinted toward clear confusion. She could see his formality wavering, at last.

"I'm so sorry, Neji," She couldn't hold the stance a moment longer; her words had been hasty and cruel. "I'm just really freaked out about this war. I.. kind of have a bad feeling about it.. I just... don't know what to expect. 'Ya know? But it's not an excuse. I should've known better than to take it out on you. Please, accept my apology."

A more understanding look crossed over his prominent features—he had never seen Tenten so anxious. It was like someone had flipped a switch. "I see. It's alright, then."

"Aren't.. are you not even a little afraid?"

"I believe we are all afraid.." Neji looked down at a target, "but we must focus on other things. This may turn out to be bigger than all of us. We cannot be certain of what lies ahead.. but we must be there to lend Naruto our support."

"But none of us are even on the same roster! How are we going to show off our best skills without our teammates?! I can't believe I got stuck on the lame First Division and have to stockpile weapons for the next century."

"You're best suited for the job," His pearl-colored eyes were stone set and calculating. They never broke their gaze. "trust those around you. Remember that Hiashi will be on the First as well. He is an elite and capable ninja.."

"To protect me?" Tenten jumped back on defensive. For whatever reason, she hated relying on others to save her; Neji's opinion of her especially mattered. She wanted him to respect, trust, and have confidence in her ability. "are you really questioning my skills, after all this time?"

"That isn't what I meant," He scoffed tediously, turning to face her. "I know that you can handle yourself at war, Tenten. You are a durable kunoichi who's undoubtedly a valuable asset. I know it won't be easy—but I must fight on Hinata's behalf. The bottom line is Naruto's safety. We owe this to him.. I owe this to him."

She was hopeful he hadn't noticed how her cheeks glowed at the unexpected compliment. "Oh, come on. I wouldn't blame you for admitting out loud—if you were.. I just think we should be extra cautious. Since we won't be able to watch each others' backs."

"I agree, but we will put our faith in each other, for now." He finally broke eye-contact. "we must protect our comrades and end this war quickly. It's what we are meant to do, as ninja."

His strong belief in them eased some of her worries. The sound of his voice—it was calming. She was already longing for a time when their sacrifices paid off. "And then.."

"And then what?" Neji repeated, "and then this will be over. We can move on and finally rebuild the village."

"You're saying.. Everything will go back to normal, right?"

"Yes. Normal."

Against her better conscience, Tenten believed the words of reassurance he offered her. It was all she really wanted. For things to return to normal.. her normal.

With their team intact, no outside threats, the village's security.. As long as she had that.. She would never take it for granted again. Considering the times, it was a lot to ask for. She could barely manage the thought of having to lose anyone from Konoha Eleven. Each and every one had grown very special to her.

She had failed again. She still wasn't able to admit how she felt about him. It was disheartening, but she knew forcing a confession would only lead to extreme awkwardness, no matter how it played out.

Tenten sighed through her defeat. 'There'll be other chances..'

"Neji, listen," She almost pleaded with him, as though begging him to see something that was in plain sight. "be careful out there. If it gets too bad... Don't try to be a hero. Please.."

"When have you ever had to worry about me doing anything stupid?"

"Oh. I guess.. you're right. What was I thinking?" Tenten didn't say anything more to him; two figures in the distance came into view, punctually arriving to the training grounds with their usual peskiness.

It was refreshing to speak to another rational human being who saw eye to eye with her on most things. She loved Lee and Guy to death, but they could get so painfully annoying.

It took a lot from her to stay optimistic during their situation. Separated, fighting to the death, not knowing for sure if the other was okay.. it scared the hell out of her.

She pushed these thoughts to the back of her mind like advised, counting on Neji to be someone who would not let her down.

Flowers. Flowers. Flowers.. and more fucking flowers. Was that all this village was?

He hated the lavish displays that coated the Leaf—from the weird ninja down to the pushy tourists. He could feel the hatred he had for humanity rise to a boil inside of him.

'Come on, man. This can't be you.. letting some broad get under your skin like this. 'Gimme a damn break.'

What was wrong with him?

He was regretting the impulsive gesture. He wondered if she got them already. What she would think of them.. if he shouldn't have gone down an entirely different route. Maybe it was a bad move.

"That's it," Suigetsu halted abruptly, gathering his bearings. 'I'll just go over there, see if they're delivered, and take them back.. hopefully she hasn't seen them yet.'

When he reached the perimeter of her shop, he peered around the corner to make sure the coast was clear. He had to be sneaky about this.. as long as he could keep his presence weak, he should have been able to pass through undetected. Easy enough..

"Um, what do you think you're doing?"

Suigetsu froze in place, embarrassed and horrified that he was discovered so soon. There was no mistaking that voice.

"Ugh! Why don't you stop following me around the Leaf, it's really pathetic. You honestly don't have anything better to do? On second thought, I'd believe it."

"Are you serious? I have way better things to do than follow in your path of destruction. By the way, Ino told me about the stunt you and your new little friend pulled the other day. You better stop being such a pest, or else I'm going to look bad, too. Don't you think you've gotten yourself into enough trouble over the last few days?"

"Like you need my help to look bad," He spoke up against better judgment, mocking her serious tone. "why don't you quit sticking your nose in my business? Are you here to buy pity flowers for yourself? Aww, I bet Sasuke turned you down again, didn't he?"

"That's it!" Karin screeched, punching a watery form. "You're gonna pay for that, you son of a bitch!"

Although it wouldn't take much for him to piss Karin off more, he was trying to be secretive. He couldn't believe she had crept up on him like that.. she was always a thorn in his side, regardless of where he went. What did she care, anyway?

"Karin, are you alright?" Ino stuck her head out of the greenhouse doors, "oh, you're back already? Did she like them or love them? Don't worry, I'm sure she loved them! Yamanaka Flowers never disappoints!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Karin was utterly clueless. She couldn't have been talking about Suigetsu and nice gestures in the same sentence.

He felt himself become immediately overwhelmed, skeptical of getting anyone else involved. He shifted uncomfortably. "Uhmm—no, don't worry about it. That's not why I'm here."

"Huh?" Ino approached violently, clenching him by the straps on his chest. "what do you mean?! You're not even going to give me the rightfully earned gratification? Don't you appreciate good service?"

Suigetsu really didn't feel like wasting time on explanations. He had to get out of there. His cover had already been blown.

Karin was beyond lost, not sure if she should talk Ino down or try to piece together what was happening. "I don't sense any others nearby. Why else would you be here?"

"Maybe she's not there," The Yamanaka sulked in disappointment, contemplating if she should save them. "that's no good. They'll wilt!"

Meanwhile, he began looking for a way to ditch both girls, who seemed incapable of talking at a reasonable volume. He wasn't any closer to carrying out his plan. And now—he had two crazy and very scary women standing in his way. They were so different compared to Tenten. She was a girl he could actually hang around.

"Fuck, who cares? I was just passing through—"

"You were totally sneaking," The redhead said accusingly, "are you really going to lie?"

"I was not! And if I was, what's it to you?" He was white-hot with anger by then, riddled with impatience and a growing frustration. "you're really getting on my nerves, Karin."

"Don't turn this around on me," She stood toe-to-toe with him, per usual. He wasn't going to make her look like some fool. If his behavior was to reflect on her, she couldn't allow any of his screw-ups. They were probably already perceived as criminals. Either way, it was too soon to be making names for themselves.

He suppressed the urge to slash her in two. "You have two seconds to move."

It was no longer about what he was doing there. It was about Karin always being an unnecessary obstacle in his life.

"Are you threatening me?" The redhead singed him with looks alone. "Like I'm scared of you."

"Now, now, boys and girls," Ino ran interference between them. "no need to get so heated. This is nothing to fight about! This is concern for love. Not hate!"

"Suigetsu? Love? Get real." Karin tried not to laugh.

'I don't have time for this shit,' Suigetsu shyed away from them, his head pounding. 'Aw, shit, did she have to say love? Again with this, for Christ's sake?' He was growing more dehydrated by the second, fingers itching their way toward a water source.

He felt his joints stiffen. 'Why didn't I notice these were empty? So.. Annoying.'

"Just come out with it," Karin claimed spiritedly, "you might as well just come forward with your annoying antics now. Stop causing trouble for everyone!"

Causing them trouble? The only one being caused trouble here is me! You have got to be fucking joking..' It was too much. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't move. His mind was somewhere far away. Everything going on around him—it felt like a boulder crushing his chest, following a numbness spreading throughout his body. Their voices faded in and out, his thoughts swam, and he could've sworn there was a pressure inside his head—one that he'd never felt before. He fought hard, whatever it was. 'What is this feeling?' He asked nobody, somehow taken over by a crippling weight; he couldn't remember the last time he felt this drained by anything.

He sank to the floor as a last-ditch effort, finally gaining some relief from the damn spell. It was like a genjutsu with no escape. Suigetsu didn't want to be present for it any longer. He wanted to be—anywhere else.

"Suigetsu!"

"He doesn't look so good."

The next thing he knew.. his vision focused in and out. Wait. 'What's happening to me?', Suigetsu frantically tried to stay conscious at first, struggling against an unknown power. It was surreal—but he decided to give in as quickly as he decided to fight it.

"What—?" He sat up on a familiar riverbank, feeling like he had just slipped out of a knockout round. "what happened? Where am I? What is this...?"

Suigetsu flinched away from a cool hand running down the side of his face. "Oh, you're finally awake. You dozed off for a while."

"Tenten?" He couldn't remember what he was doing there, much less falling asleep. Was he on the other side? "so that must mean.. we're talking again?"

"That was sure a lot of questions," Her face broke out into a radiant smile. "I don't know what you're saying, Suigetsu. Like—when did we quit talking?" She looked at him like he had a lapse in memory. "did you dream?"

"I don't really know.. Maybe."

"Just out of curiosity.. what is your biggest dream, anyways?"

"I would probably—" His breath caught in his throat, noticeably hesitating, "my dream is to collect all of the Seven Ninja Swordsman blades, and then I'll.."

"You'll what?" She anticipated the ambitious response he would give. He dreamed so vividly about things she would never even think possible.

"Hey, wait a second." It seemed weird for him to be talking to her so breezily; had they really put that disagreement behind them already? "Did you get the flowers?"

"What flowers? You never sent me flowers," Tenten tilted her head, "are you okay? You sound confused. I'm worried about you."

"I'm not confused," He persisted, "You're the one who's confused."

"You're wrong," She swept him up in her gaze, reaching out to stroke his features. "I want this to work."

He couldn't stand feeling that crazy. This wasn't really happening, was it? It seemed too good to be true.

"Are you saying—that—you want.. me?" His guard struggled to stay up when she came at him like that. When she looked at him—like he actually meant something. Suigetsu just had to know for certain.

Tenten nodded slightly, bangs blowing gently sideways in the wind. "I said—I'm sure."

"Really? Wow, I was starting to think you didn't like me any more," He felt a wave of tension release from his neck, "I guess—it's fine. Things never go this well for me."

The kunoichi eased toward him, gliding both hands over his shoulders as she lured him deeper into her eyes. "Everything must be going your way, then."

More perfectly than Sugietsu could have ever imagined it. Yes, he was positively trapped in a web of her making. She could do whatever she wanted with him. And he would love every second of it..

Despite there being no wildness to her beauty, he couldn't quit admiring her. She was outstanding in her beauty. In a way that was impeccably graceful, raw, and purely unfiltered.. He had never met anyone so naturally empathic.. she was extraordinary. He appreciated her ability to be open with who she was. How she didn't hide anything. Behind those eyes, he could see so many emotions. They were more telling than any he'd ever seen. Of a love—for life. That was what he wanted... 'Please—don't ever let this end..', he prayed to the gods. It was the kind of moment he never thought he'd share with somebody.

Suigetsu jerked awake when something cold assaulted his face. He was choked by his own coughs, jolting forward with a start.

He was propped up against a wall in the backroom—and, once again, surrounded by flowers.

"It actually worked!"

He came to with mad confusion, clutching his head with one hand. "What the hell.." He felt completely robbed of his fantasy, selfishly taken away from his treasured desires. He blamed them.

Ino stood from her kneeling position. "I totally panicked. I'm glad you were here, Karin."

'Did I really get taken out by these two girly girls?' He winced as he tried to push himself off the ground. "Alright, someone start talkin'."

"You passed out, dumbfuck," Karin emerged from the doorway, carrying another large vase of water. "care to tell us what that was about?"

"You need to rest!" The blonde lectured, trying to make him sit back down. "this is your body saying you need a break!"

'I don't have time to take a break,' Suigetsu refused to take the advice. "Oh please, I'm fine. How long was I out?"

"A few minutes, I don't know?" Karin barked, eyeing him suspiciously. "You're just lucky you collapsed around two highly-skilled medical ninja."

Was that right? From what he could recollect, all they did was throw water on him. What the fuck ever.

He rolled his eyes, reaching behind him to make sure his sword was still there. "I must have drank too much."

"You've been drinking?" Ino crossed her arms. "no wonder you blacked out. That must've been why you were wandering aimlessly?"

"Yeah, well.. I know we're all underage, but hey.. it's not gonna stop everyone."

"I was going to say you should have a proper medical evaluation, but instead, you should focus on re-hydrating. You should also be preparing to deal with a well-deserved hangover!"

He and Ino squabbled back and forth for a minute or two, while Karin stayed uncharacteristically quiet. She folded her arms, watching them fail to have a sensible conversation.

"I'll just be heading out," Suigetsu loudly announced, subconsciously thanking them for the unnecessary headache. Finally, he could slip away and go about his true business. Chicks were so annoying.

He always found his mind on Tenten—the one who didn't make him want to commit homicide. He missed talking to her. He missed her indiscriminate nature, as much as he hated to admit it. He missed having somebody who actually wanted to get to know him. He even missed the way she asked him too many questions—although he obviously went of his way to dodge them. She knew more about him than anyone, excluding his ex-teammates.

"What an idiot."

A/N;; I am so so sorry for this embarrassingly late update. I've been writing stories sporadically and delaying progress. Work sucks; I'm at a job I hate and trying to find another. Again, I apologize for procrastinating but do wanna know what everyone thinks. Thanks for the support, it means a lot. :)