The Red Ribbon

Note: I don't own Naruto. You might have figured that because it's called a "fan" fiction.

Chapter Two

Tenten and Lee continued to jump through the forest.

"Did Gai even tell us what the mission is?" Tenten asked Lee.

"He told me!" Lee proudly said, "All we have to do is help to clean up the Ramen place!"

"That's it?" Tenten asked. No wonder Gai didn't want to go on the mission.

"Gai said he'd pay us double!" Lee grinned, "And Neji isn't here, so Neji will get no money!"

Tenten didn't really get why Lee didn't like Neji much, maybe because he would never win to Neji? Oh well, rivals are rivals.

Lee starred at Tenten, she had an angry look on her face…maybe from being pissed off from waiting 2 hours. Lee just looked at her as they jumped through the trees.

"Uhh….Lee…why are you smiling at me like that?" Tenten asked when she noticed Lee was starring at her.

"Uhhh….I'm not looking at you! I was looking at a…uhhh…. SQUIRREL! Yeah! That's right! A squirrel!"

Tenten looking at the way Lee was looking and saw no squirrel. Heh…maybe Lee was looking at Tenten.

So…after a few minutes, Tenten and Lee arrived at the Ramen Bar.

"Welcome to the bar!" Ayame said (if you don't know, Ayame is one of the ramen bar dudes). "I see you're here to clean up the place! You can start with the kitchen!"

Tenten nodded and went to the closet to grab the bucket and mop. Lee followed her.

"Ok, here's the mop," Tenten said as she tossed Lee the mop, "You do the kitchen, I'll clean the entrance."

"Ok," Lee said as he marched to the kitchen.

So, Tenten walked over to the entrance of the Ramen noodle bar, but started by wiping down the hall. Then she over heard someone speaking.

"So…I hear you like flowers," was what Tenten heard. It sounded like…NEJI!

"Yeah…it'd be nice if I was taken to a garden" said another voice. And that one sounded like…. SAKURA!

"ACK!" Tenten thought, "Ok…calm down…Neji wouldn't really go out with Sakura…would he?"

Tenten took a small peep into the entrance and saw Neji sitting next to Sakura…eating ramen…TOGETHER!

Tenten looked back.

"HOLY CRAP!" Tenten thought, "Ok…ok… maybe Neji went into the ramen bar to eat ramen…but Sakura just came in and decided to sit next to Neji…Yeah! It's not a date! Silly me!"

Tenten decided to look back to see if Neji and Sakura really WERE on a date. And all she heard was:

"Wanna come again tomorrow at 8?" Neji said to Sakura.

"Ok!" She responded. And the two walked out of the ramen place.

"HOLY CRAP! They ARE on a date!" Tenten thought, "Why would Neji date some pink haired bastard like her? (sorry Sakura fans). I mean…she's younger then him! ARGH! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Why do I even think Neji likes me? It's not possible. How can Neji like anyone…that's not ME?"

"Uh….Tenten," Lee said as he poked Tenten's shoulder.

"I finished mopping down every where," Lee said, "There's nothing left to clean…wanna just sit and eat ramen? My treat!"

Tenten nodded. Lee was nice, I mean, how often do boys give you free dinner? Seriously!

…………….

So…Tenten and Lee are eating ramen together. Lee was on his second bowl while Tenten was still finishing her first. Lee watched as Tenten politely slurped up her food and drink the soup.

"Lee, why do you keep starring at me?" Tenten asked Lee, starting to get quiet annoyed.

Lee didn't answer. He just looked at his bowl of ramen.

"Tenten, do you like Neji?" Lee suddenly asked.

Tenten froze and started blushing.

"You're always nervous around him," Lee continued, "But you always train with him and never with me!"

"No…I don't like Neji…" Tenten said, even though she didn't mean it. She didn't want anyone to know about her crush on Neji.

"Good," Lee said, "I seriously hate Neji."

Tenten thought that answer would be likely from Lee, but Lee really hated Neji THAT much?

"What has Neji ever done?" Tenten asked.

"He took someone away from me," Lee said, turning away from Tenten, "Someone who I loved…"

Lee sounded really serious back then. It must not be often that he sounds so cold. Wait a minute….did Lee mean Neji took Sakura from him? Did he know that Neji and Sakura are dating? OMIGOSH! Then they must really be dating! Wow…Lee must hate Neji now…

"I know how you feel," Tenten responded, even though she really didn't, "I wish I could make it up to you!"

"It's not your fault," Lee said, "But there IS something you can do for me!"

"Yeah, sure, if it'll make you feel better!" Tenten said.

"I want you to date me," Lee answered.

Now for the awkward silence.