Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Naruto. Only the OC is my idea, her backstory, abilities, appearance, etc. I do not make any money from this story. Some characters may be a bit out of character.


An hour later Neji left the Yamanaka flower shop with a slightly lightened wallet as well as a red and yellow rose bouquet in hand. He had been careful not to dip into any of the money he'd earned from the mission with Chiaki however. That money he fully intended to give to her for her own spending as she needed. He still wasn't certain of what he would tell her but he decided to ponder on it as he made his way to Tenten's house. She was jealous. He'd never thought of Tenten as the jealous type. If he'd said her earlier behaviour had surprised him that would be downplaying how uncharacteristic it was of her. Now that he really thought of it when she had asked Lee to join her at Ichiraku Ramen Shop, he'd scoffed and walked away. It wasn't just jealousy it was being left out. He suppressed the urge to groan at the mess he'd created, yet he couldn't imagine letting someone, spirit being or not stay out in the street when there was another option.

Surely she had to realize that, Tenten was usually calm and level headed. Maybe once she calmed down and got the roses things would simmer down a bit. He turned at the end of a street and walked up to the door. Inhaling deeply he knocked on the door and waited. One minute, two minutes, now three. He bit his lip. Maybe she hadn't heard him?

He knocked again, this time the door flew open and as soon as he saw her, his confidence wavered. She still had a deep enraged scowl on her face when she looked at him. She noticed the roses but her expression didn't soften any.

"Tenten, I know I made an error in judgement, but there's a reason for everything and none of it has anything to do with me being unfaithful to you. May I please come in so we can talk?"

Tenten leaned herself against the door frame, indicating that he couldn't enter her home and stated, "Talk."

"I'd rather not speak out here," Neji hinted.

"Then we've got nothing to say," she replied as she went to close the door. Neji pressed his palm against the door and pleaded, "Tenten, this just isn't something I can discuss outside of your home. May I please enter an-"

He was answered by a door slamming in his face and the sound of the clock engaging. He gave a heavy sigh of defeat as he turned and headed back to his apartment. Team missions would be a real challenge now. Why had he even gotten involved with a teammate? He'd sworn to himself in the beginning that he wouldn't. Yet she was enticing, too enticing to resist.

She was physically strong, and was typically an absolute angel. She had more patience for Guy Sensei and Rock Lee than him, he had to admit that without hesitation. She also held space for him and he could get pretty gloomy sometimes. He'd never known a woman to be that strong and gentle simultaneously. That's what drew him to her.

He entered his apartment building and ascended the staircase, coming to his apartment door he gently tried the door knob, finding that it easily turned and entered the apartment. Closing the door behind himself and locking it, he called out to the apartment, "Chiaki?"

"I'm in the bath," she called from the bathroom. Neji tensed at the thought of her bathing with an unlocked door.

"Why the hell didn't you lock the door?!"

"If someone from your world can get the drop on me, they've earned it," She called back. Though it sounded like the tub was now draining from what he could tell. He violently threw the bouquet of roses onto the coffee table and sat on the couch, elbows resting on his knees and head between his hands pulling at his hair.

The pitter patter of wet feet could be heard in the hallway and Chiaki stopped walking towards the bedroom. She walked over to him, a thick yellow cloth bathrobe covering her body was the first thing he noticed which put him at ease. Next she had her hair up in a towel. She gently sat next to him and with concern heavy in her voice asked "what's wrong?"

Neji kept his face hidden from her, but she could feel the anguish radiating from him. She wordlessly remained in her spot, a hand resting on his shoulder while droplets of water hit the floor below him. He was crying. It wasn't the first time Chiaki had seen a man cry, although she knew with old fashioned beliefs some cultures still held men had to be in immense pain to cry. When the sobs began, she was even more certain his pain was profound.

She briefly considered stroking his hair, but retracted her hand when she realized the implication it might hold. Unsure of what else to do, she gently nudged his arms with her torso and grasped his shoulders with her hands.

"I'm here," she offered, unsure if he'd accept it. A moment's hesitation before he shifted his body so she could hug him, and he squeezed her close to himself as he dared, his tears now falling onto her bathrobe.

Chiaki stayed kneeling in front of Neji and the couch like that even when her knees began to throb and her thighs felt as if they were on fire. Her ankles felt as if she'd received a double foot amputation. After what felt like an eternity his tears stopped, and the sobs were reduced to quiet gasps.

"I'll get you some water," she offered as she moved away from him. He nodded his head and headed over to the bathroom to wash his face.

He'd always loved the layout of this apartment. One bedroom on the left side of the hall, the bathroom right across from it, and an eat in kitchen at the end of the hallway. The living room was the first one you saw when you came in through the door. He loved the simplicity of the design, but how long would Chiaki be here? Maybe he should look for a new apartment or maybe get a dividing screen and a futon mattress for Chiaki to have her own space in the living room. He wasn't sure what would make Tenten more comfortable about her being here, but he was willing to do whatever it took, short of throwing someone out onto the street. Nobody deserved that kind of treatment, his Uncle had taught him that much at least.

Entering the washroom he ran the cold water tap and splashed his face repeatedly with the icy liquid. He realized he looked a sight his featureless pearly eyes now possessed red sclera. He grabbed a hand towel, patting his face dry. The thought came to him that he should meditate, he hadn't done that in a while.

A glass of water was offered to him from the doorway, Neji met her eyes as he accepted the glass from her, "thank you."

"Of course," she replied then went into the bedroom to dress.

He let his hair out of its usual ponytail and let it fall behind his back, he then headed into the living room sipping the water. He tried to ignore the flowers sitting on the coffee table.

He turned his attention to the window, watching as a trio of birds flying outside of his living room window. 'They look so free and happy,' he thought to himself.