Hair Ties

Hey there! Here I am with another chapter of Hair Ties! I literally woke up this morning and was like, I have to do something for Neji's birthday today so I sat and wrote this lil chapter. Hope you enjoy it and happy birthday to Neji Hyuga!

Disclaimer: Naruto doesn't belong to me.

Chapter 9: Do you like your gift?

It was a quiet and sunny morning in the Hidden Leaf Village. The sun had just risen as early morning light filled his bedroom. Neji had just woken up and done his bed. As he was about to leave to take a shower, the calendar caught his eye, a grin on his face when he saw the date.

It was his birthday.

To him it was just another day of the week but to the people in his life it was anything but. Hinata and Tenten especially always went all out to make sure he enjoyed his day. Even though he didn't usually enjoy being the centre of attention, he did very much appreciate all the effort they went to, to make him feel special.

He'd finished showering and dried and combed his hair before tying it in its usual low pony and headed to the kitchen. He could hear shuffling about the room and clanking of dishes and pots. When he entered the kitchen he saw Hinata at the stove and Hanabi setting the table. Hinata closed the lid on the pot and turned to see Neji standing at the entrance.

"Oh Neji you're up already? Good morning." She smiled brightly at him. He greeted her back as well as Hanabi and took a seat at the table which was almost full of food. It looked more like a feast than breakfast.

"Did you make all of this yourself?" he asked

"Yes, I did. I wanted to do something special for you so I woke up early and started cooking." She'd served up the last dish and joined him at the table. "Happy birthday, Neji."

He thanked her and they began eating. The meal tasted a lot better knowing how much work she'd put into everything plus she'd woken up early just for him. He felt really grateful to her.

After breakfast he headed out and not five minutes had passed and Lee had basically ambushed him, and energetically demanded that they spar together on his birthday in a showing of their youthfulness. On normal occasions Neji would usually decline Lee's challenges but he knew Lee was trying to celebrate Neji in his own way so he accepted his challenge.

The two of them sparred for over an hour, the two taijutsu experts going off with their best. The surrounding clearing, unfortunately, was collateral damage as the two of them traded quick punches and kicks, inner gate powered attacks and air palm strikes. Rocks were reduced to rubble, the ground overturned, grass completely removed from its spot and a few trees were uprooted. To anyone passing by it looked like an explosion or violent storm had just passed to cause such large scale destruction as opposed to two shinobi in a sparring match. But that was just a testament to their strength.

At the end of it they were both out of breath but extremely satisfied with the battle they'd just had. Lee was lying on his back on the dirt, where the grass used to be, looking at the sky before turning to Neji.

"You are another year older but your skills are still as formidable as ever, Neji. I have no doubt that you will always be strong." He gave him a thumbs up and a beaming smile.

"Thank you, Lee."

Yes indeed Neji Hyuga had some truly amazing people in his life. Although, the one person he wanted to see most was nowhere in the village. Tenten wasn't home when he went to find her and according to Hinata she was out running an errand, an errand that Hinata said she couldn't reveal to him. That raised some suspicion but he didn't think too much about it.

Xxx

It was mid-afternoon when Neji was meditating in the forest where he and Tenten usually sparred. He was completely calm and enjoyed the cool breeze that swept past him when he suddenly opened his eyes. He'd felt the chakra of someone approaching, it was hers and he couldn't deny that he was happy that she was on her way.

But what he wasn't expecting was for her to run at him at full speed and throw herself into his arms. He wasn't prepared for it so they both fell to the ground but Tenten was laughing the entire time.

"Bet you didn't see that coming, huh?" she asked smugly sitting over him.

"I most certainly didn't. What was that for?" he asked trying to sit up.

"Well I was late to seeing you so I had make an entrance." She giggled and sat in his lap as he sat up. "Sorry I wasn't around for half the day but I was busy getting this." She held up a gift bad and handed it to him.

He opened the small white gift bag and took out two wrapped up presents. The first was a small white box, when he opened it, he saw the pack of black hair ties with metal clasps. The ones he'd always talked about getting.

"I hope this gift means that you'll stop stealing mine now." He said with a teasing smile.

"I don't know what gave you that idea." She teased back. "You've got just as many of my hair ties as I do yours. Now open the next gift." She said excitedly.

And he did as she said and unwrapped the next gift. It was a silver photo locket necklace with a bird with its wings open carved on the outside. She knew how much the symbolism of the bird and freedom meant to him so she'd made sure to incorporate it into the gift. And the surprise didn't stop there, when he opened it up there was a picture of the two of them and not just any picture. It was his favourite picture of them from when they'd decorated each other in sunflowers, they'd had their picture taken as well. He was at a loss for words, this was definitely his favourite gift. So that's why she'd been gone all day.

"I didn't know they sold these in the village."

"They don't. A few weeks back I saw it in a shop near the border when I was on my way back from a mission. I decided to get it for you but I took it one step further and asked the shop owner who'd made it to carve a bird on it as well. It took longer than expected, that's why I was gone for so long today. So do you like your gift?"

He traced his thumb over the carved bird, so much thought and effort went into this. She'd even asked to have it customised just for him, and from how tired she'd been when she first arrived he could tell it had been a long journey but here she was smiling like it was nothing, just happy seeing him happy.

He truly believed he was blessed to have such amazing people in his life and just about the greatest girlfriend who always did so much for him. He was more than happy with the gift, more than grateful for the effort she put in for him. Even if she hadn't gotten him something, he'd have been just as happy spending the day with her.

"I love it, and I love you." He pulled her in for a deep kiss which she immediately retuned and put her arms around him.

"Happy birthday, Neji."

And there you have it, a short lil birthday chapter of Neji being celebrated by his amazing friends in his life and him always being grateful for having them. Hope you enjoyed!

Well that's it from me-

Until the next chapter:

Ketsui Tasogare :-)