Hair Ties

Hello! I'm back with another fic for my fave ship NejiTen! I've been in my NejiTen feels for like the past two weeks and I'd been thinking writing yet another story and here I am. Gosh Neji deserved but anyways...Usually my fic chapters are a bit longer but this time I decided to try writing chapters as small moments from their lives. I recently read a beautiful NejiTen drabbles fic and it inspired me to see if I could try it too, a new shorter refreshing take with hair ties as a main theme. Anyways that's enough talk from me, let's get to the story.

Disclaimer: Naruto doesn't belong to me

Chapter one: Meeting

It was winter time in Konoha, the snowfall had been continuous. The village was blanketed in snow but it was just above ankle deep. An eight year old Neji Hyuuga sat cross-legged on the wooden flooring outside watching the snowfall. He was wearing his training outfit, his hair tied back in his usual low ponytail and his curse mark hidden behind his head wrappings. Memories played in his head of the times he'd enjoyed the snow with his father, watching it fall together or even a snowball fight. Simpler times, before he knew of family politics and what fate lay ahead of him. Wanting to clear his head he decided to take a walk. He left the compound, zipped up in a warm jacket and headed in whichever direction felt right to him, with no destination in mind. Despite the cold weather there were quite a few villagers out and about: shopping and going to restaurants and stalls for hot meals, the smell of hearty meals carrying in the air, Neji took it all in as he passed by.

Eventually he'd ended up at a clearing near the training grounds, the area looked like a white lake the way the snow was layered and mostly undisturbed. Something further ahead of him caught his attention, a small mound of snow that had been deliberately shaped. The closer he got he realised it was an incomplete snowman. Someone was still busy with it, only the bottom tier had been complete. He looked around and didn't see anyone around and decided to continue it. He scooped up some snow, his fingers numbing at the freezing cold. A small smile sat on his face the more snow he added on, remembering how fun it was doing this with his father. He was so wrapped up in it that he hadn't noticed someone approaching.

"Woah you already added a second layer." A young girl his age with large chocolate brown eyes and brown hair tied up in twin buns stood behind him. She wore a pastel pink winter coat and was carrying a few sticks in her hands. "I was getting branches for the arms. I couldn't choose which were best so I came back with six." She walked closer until she was standing right next to him, she was slightly taller but just barely.

"I'm sorry, I thought it was abandoned."

"It's okay, you actually helped me out. Do you wanna help me finish it?" she offered him a warm smile, he returned it and nodded

The two of them continued their activity together. Neji finishing off the torso while Tenten got started on the head and gathered stones for the eyes. Once done with the body they each took a branch and attached it on either side. They took a step back to admire their work, proud of the snowman they'd built together.

"It looks great."

It really does, I'm Tenten by the way."

"I'm Neji."

"Well Neji thanks for your help." She then threw a snowball at him and started laughing. He dusted himself off and immediately retaliated and right there they'd started a snowball fight. Neji was quite skilled at dodging her throws and so was she. They spent a good while laughing and running around together, Neji having completely forgotten about the sadness he was carrying earlier.

The two of them finally ended the fight, both breathing heavy but smiling nonetheless. Tenten was looking at the sky while catching her breath then looked at Neji.

"Hey there's something on your forehead." She pointed out. Neji realised that his head wrapping had come loose and his curse mark was partly showing. He quickly tied it back around his head, embarrassment on his face.

"Did you draw that on yourself?" she asked curiously

"No it's…" he slumped his shoulders and looked away from her, not wanting to explain what the mark was. Tenten seemed to notice his change in mood.

"Is it a secret?" she was looking him with those beautiful brown eyes of hers. Neji was at a loss for words, it wasn't exactly a secret per se but he didn't know what to say "If it's a secret then I guess you shouldn't tell me. Maybe one day when we're a little older and become best friends, that would be nice." She gave him that same smile when she'd first met him. Neji was surprised but relieved that she didn't press the matter any further. This girl, Tenten, he thought to himself, had a really kind energy. Just her presence put him at ease. They'd only known each other for a few hours and he was already convinced of her words, that they'd become good friends really quickly.

"Your hair's really pretty, you should wear it loose more."

"Loose?" he reached back and felt his hair was no longer bound in its hair tie. He looked around on the ground wondering when it had fallen out. "My hair tie must've come out when we were snowballing." He was still looking around

"I can help with that." She reached in her pocket and pulled out a hair tie with a small panda face charm on it. "Sometimes my hair ties fall out too so I always carry one in my pocket." She walked behind him and before he could say anything she's already gathered his hair and tied it for him. Perfectly. As if she knew just how he tied it.

"Thank you." A small blush on his cheeks

"You're welcome, well I should head back. I had fun with you today Neji, I hope we can do this again."

"Me too." They waved goodbye and he watched her walk away. She turned back one last time to wave at him before turning the corner.

He looked at their completed snowman fondly before he brought his hair over his shoulder and looked at the hair tie she'd given him with a smile. He turned and headed home himself, thinking about his father.

"I made a new friend today father. We played in the snow all day the way you and I used to. I think you'd like her."

That night before going to bed he took out the hair tie and put it in a small wooden box before tying his hair with one of his own hair ties. He wanted to keep Tenten's one as a reminder of the fun day they had.

He got into the blankets and fell asleep almost immediately, going to sleep happier than he had woken up that morning, all because of a snowman, a friendly smile and a hair tie.

And there you have chapter one, just a cute little first time meeting for them. Let me know what you think with a review. Also I'm not sure how long this fic will be, I'm currently busy with ch6 and I have a few more ideas but a specific number of chapters, I can't say right now but that just makes it more fun.

Well, that's it from me-

Until the next chapter:

Ketsui Tasogare