[[ A/N ]] I mislabeled Chapter Two as Chapter One, but I don't think anyone noticed...;D I also made a couple other mistakes that I fixed. I stole a part (sigh) from the manga, when Sakura tries to stop Sasuke and Naruto from fighting. However, mine ends differently. I also took the idea of having a special hand motion for Lee and Neji, like Naruto when he fights Neji in the main matches, he sticks out his hand to show the whole blood thing (yeah, you know). So, don't flame me for taking the ideas, because I gave credit. I love everyone that reviewed.

[[ Disclaimer ]] -blinks- I do not own Naruto. (see A/N, above, about other disclaims.)

Chapter Three: Admiration Is Tough to Get

The perfection of the morning was flattered by the sweet wind brushing through it in its own twisted manner. A moment of serenity. The screech of nurse brought forth anxious whispers and tense expressions to those who had just been whistling and smiling.

"Where did Lee-kun go?"

"Again?"

"I don't know what's gotten into him! I can't have a second of peace with him as one of my patients!!"

---- ---- ----

The morning had been a tussle with the bed sheets as Tenten fought her way to her bathroom, splashing cold water upon her face. The nights of tossing and turning had finally gotten to her. There were shadows where they had no right to be, lines digging into the corners of her eyes, and her lips were heavy. Tenten dragged a comb through her locks and fixed her hair into their buns without looking into her mirror. Every day, the same routine.

But today was different. Today she had no motivation to stand, or to even get dressed. For the past couple of days, she'd avoided any conversation whatsoever that might lead to her earlier conversations with Neji. That meant she hadn't spoken at all. She'd halted her visits to Lee, who never seemed to be awake when she came, and had trained without words.

A growl left her throat and greeted the air with a weariness that gave Tenten the sensation of being an old, old woman.

"Tenten, your sensei left a message saying to meet in front of the academy!! Grab something to eat, and get out of here!!"

"Okay, okay..." She didn't want to hear her mother or eat. She just wanted to huddle inside her bed for another few hours---maybe days---and nap the minutes away.

---- ---- ----

The screams of the academy children bit at his honed ears. The pathetic creatures. Neji closed his fist and opened it. He could hardly contain his anticipation for the main matches. The power he would be up against after that noisy blonde---and he would meet it gladly.

Remind you of a certain "hot-blooded fool"?

"Lee, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be hospitalized."

"I knew you'd see me coming," came the reply, pointedly ignoring the question he'd been asked. The ninja approached him awkwardly, leaning weakly on the crutches. In a moment of silence, he imagined Gai sensei flashing him the smile that had stolen a thousand hearts. According to Gai sensei, anyhow. He dropped both feet to the ground, and gritted his teeth, laying so much pressure upon them that they could be ground into dust. A clatter. His crutches had kissed the grass.

"Lee, you can stand without them?"

"Don't coddle me, Neji." A strange way to describe his ways. "I'm here to fight." Lee displayed his palms to his former rival. His friend.

[[ Flashback ]]

"Why did you master that move? Why didn't I? I'm the genius, after all." As Lee had whooped happily and been petted by their sensei, Neji muttered incomprehensible things to himself as Tenten sighed and fell into the dirt, on her knees in exhaustion. 'How could he have done something that I couldn't? That's not...possible!'

Finally noticing the Hyuuga's dismay, Rock Lee solemnly spread his fingers apart, letting the now-coloring bruises from the Lotus move stretch out. His palms upward, he grinned. "It wasn't easy."

'No, really?' came the disgusted thought.

"But now that I have this, I can truly say that hard work can defeat genius."

Making a noise of contempt, Neji turned away, averting his colorless eyes. But wherever he looked, the bruises on those hands stood out in his mind, floating before his eyes.

[[ End Flashback ]]

"Don't make me laugh. You had no chance of defeating me even with your limbs---what are you going to do without one arm and one leg?"

Lee's arms were still outstretched. A growl rising in Neji's throat, he realized that he was too pumped to back down from the challenge. ' "Hard work can defeat genius," right, Lee? Let's see.'

'Neji, I'll force you to respect me.'

As he slid easily into the Hyuuga style taijutsu stance, his opponent shifted his weight and dropped his arms to hang uselessly at his sides. 'What is he doing?' Lee forced his feet forward. "Let's begin." They sped towards each other, Neji amazed at the alacrity Lee was going at. 'With only one foot!'

Suddenly, as unexpected as the confrontation had been, Lee disappeared and reappeared above his head. A smirk playing across his mouth, Neji shot heavenward to meet his attack.

Tenten had been moving slowly to the academy, loathing every step that she had taken. Her skin was prickling with the now-familiar ambiance of tension. But that wasn't to take place yet. She was supposed to first see Neji, and then that would occur. Something was different. Shinobi senses.

Her nose twitched. She could nearly smell the perspiration from two males. She actually heard the air shattering as they moved. Wait. Lee and Neji!

No longer frozen with sluggishness, Tenten threw her weight forward and threw her arms outward.

"Tenten!" Swearwords passed through both boys' minds, but they couldn't stop. She had thrust herself between them horizontally, eyes closed, preparing for the impact.

'I can't hit Tenten! This was not supposed to happen!' Lee's foot was coming down to welcome her back and Neji's hand was rushing from the front.

'This is bad!'

'No, this can't be happening!'

The crimson of life's dependence dripped from her parted lips. Lee and Tenten fell to the floor in an ungraceful heap. Neji had lithely flipped backward, landing squarely on his feet.

Gathering himself together, Lee stood with difficulty. "This is all your fault."

"MY fault? Tend to Tenten and we won't have to argue about this."

"You should, her injury being mostly your mistake." Both were too busy being incredulous to notice a groan and the whisper of inconsistent, ragged breath.

"You wanted to fight me. Hurry, before she goes into a worse condition."

"Are you worried about her? I thought that you didn't want anything to do with her."

His eyes widened slightly, but then narrowed. "How would you know?"

"I'm listening when she thinks I'm sleeping. She talks."

The words had hardly been uttered when Neji lunged forward to strike him. A kunai found its way at his neck. Lee, who had seen his assault and had thrown his useable hand into the blocking process, also discovered a kunai at his neck.

"Don't...move...or...I'll...hurt...you."

Two drops of red plummeted to the grass. Heaving at the chest, their female teammate lifted her limbs so that the blades scratched both just an inch. Just an inch. Lips moved slightly. A smirk. "If you say one word..." she panted "...you won't be able to end your sentence." Tenten suddenly fell to the ground, sputtering. A cough and more blood joined the puddle at her knees.

Lee stooped down, but she managed to hiss, "Don't...help...me."

'I need to prove that I'm not weak. I'm strong. I can take this without any help.' She fell flat on her face in her endeavor to stand once more. Tenten dug her nails into the soil, pulling herself a foot before using her other hand. The swing rattled above her head at the command of the wind.

Lee, despite his pain, shuffled over, crutches back in place, to try to help, but she snarled at his hand in warning. "Don't! Tenten!!!"

She ignored his passionate yells and studied the sand and dust beneath her now. She'd made it to the non-grassy area. It seemed like hours began to crawl on by as she bled and panted. Then there were shouts.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"

Tenten wished she could see Neji's face. His expression. If he actually felt any sorrow at getting her instead of Lee. Then she let herself go.

---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

Ah, things heat up. The quality of this chapter I am not quite sure of, as I skipped back and forth within it. Also, I my computer got rather strange and decided to have problems, so the screen is jittery and slightly blurry. It bugs me. So, if this is not what you expected, I'm very sorry. I don't think it turned out that badly. Yes, it's sort of a cliffhanger, but not really. Please review!

(Coming soon) Chapter 4: More Confrontations

[[ Review Answers ]]

Calophi: I'm glad you were amused! And Neji really must get annoyed...a lot. xD

yugi-i16: I'm extremely happy that you like this fic, and that you understand where I'm going with the whole "I'm not weak" thing. Thank you for reviewing, I truly appreciate it.

TenTen Hyuga: Supporter! Awesome!! I'm not sure if I could do that, but this chapter comes close enough, I think.

babyblu: Thank you very much! Actually, I think that his change was...whoa. I think it's cool on one level, but on the other hand, he can't be the mean guy we write about! :D

Mechalich: Thank you. I do try. And I know what you mean about that part in the second chapter. Thanks for some constructive criticism! -alters part- (Or, actually, I'll change it after I post this chapter up.)

ani05tersrvip: -hugs- Thanks! Your words mean so much to me! You'd probably know how nice it is to get reviews like that!

Mango13: -clings- Someone who understands how I felt about that fight! It was so short...and it made me sad, because, although Temari and Tenten are a couple of my favorite characters...I wanted a little bit more out of Tenten! I can't tell you about what happens to them...you'll see...