Day to Day

A Naruto Fan-fiction

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any bands mentioned, with the exception of Star Pirate Ship.

(A/N: the reviews are in, and here they are: Sakura and Sasuke have no votes (did I chase away the Sakura and Sasuke fans again?) Naruto Hinata has one vote, Ino and Shikamaru have one vote, and GASP! Neji and Tenten have four!

So guess what? That's right! You guys get your New Year's Neji and Tenten! Enjoy!)

Chapter 13: New Beginnings

It was nice to come home, as always. So many things awaited them, and such important people. The ninjas came back successful, with a few blood-splattered. All of the boys were together, some joking, some quiet, one secretly excited for a girl who waited for him in her apartment with a large bowl of popcorn and silly string. It was New Year's Eve, and all of the ANBU ninjas were glad to be home in time for the festivities.

"Home, sweet home!"

"…Hey, Sasuke, do you think Ino-chan would be mad if I turned up in her apartment without invitation?"

"I don't know."

"Do you go to Sakura's uninvited?"

"Yea."

"Then why can't I go to Ino's uninvited?"

"I don't know. Ino's weird."

"HA! Sasuke just dissed your girl, Shikamaru!" Naruto shouted, and smacked Shikamaru playfully on the back of the head. The lazy ninja growled and punched

Naruto, while Sasuke and Neji smirked.

"Yea, well, your girl's like Samara." Shikamaru snapped.

Naruto gave Shikamaru a puzzled look. "Who's Samara?"

"That scary chick from 'The Ring'." Sasuke answered, and Neji glared at Shikamaru.

"It's bad enough my cousin's dating that dunce. Don't insult her." He hissed at his companion, who quickly looked away and crossed his arms. Neji protected Hinata like he would a sister; he can insult her, but there was no way in hell that anyone else was allowed to.

For a long time, Neji and Hinata had a kind of compromise between them. Neji wasn't the kind of person to form bonds or friendships, although he had found more than one among his ANBU teammates and his old team when he was a genin. He had been to cruel and distant growing up for much of a friendship, but he and Hinata had a kind of mutual bond that neither spoke of. He kept her secrets, helped her, and watched over her. She kept his secrets, learned from him, took his criticism easily, and helped him in what tiny ways she could. There fore, no one insulted his cousin but himself.

"Yea! Hinata's way better than Ino!" Naruto shouted, and stuck his tongue out at Shikamaru. Then, of course, he realized that this comment was insulting him too.

"Hey! I'm not a dunce!"

"Right. You're slow."

The two stopped a moment, glaring daggers, while the other two boys rolled their eyes and continued to walk down the dark, cloudy streets. With his hands in his pockets, Sasuke looked up at the sky as he walked. Shikamaru followed suit after seeing his comrade look up.

"Looks like a storm is coming in." Shikamaru commented, and stuck out his bottom lip. "How troublesome."

Sasuke just nodded, and smirked. If it lasted long enough, Sakura couldn't go to her parents'.

"Everything's so damn troublesome to you!" Naruto declared as he fell in step with the other boys again. He still had a bone to pick with the lazy ninja; rather, he didn't know when to give up and get over it.

Finally, the boys came to the crossroads where they parted, and waved good-bye. Same as always, Sasuke nodded and waved as he walked off, Naruto waved and shouted, Neji nodded, and Shikamaru waved. Each one had such different ideas, ways of acting, and ways of thinking, it was a wonder they could cooperate as a team.

Neji began to walk home, hands in his pockets, his hair laying over his shoulders and down his back. His eyes, which were normally looking straight ahead, fell. He kicked a puddle on the dirt road, now compacted by the previous rains he had missed while away. Life went by so fast. It had seemed like just the day before he was going on missions with Tenten and Lee, and here he was, coming home from another ANBU mission. Secretly, he missed those afternoons with his old teammates. As horrid as Lee can be, he always made things interesting, sometimes a challenge. Gai was always weird, but filled with his own wisdom and ninja techniques. Tenten-she was Tenten. She was always there just before him, staring out over a lake or into a forest, pondering something or other. She never told him what she thought about when she daydreamed. Sometimes, he wondered that if she had special eyes like he did, only not like his Byakugan, but kind of like a different perspective on the world.

Gai would arrive, and they would start to train. He would fight Lee, and she would analyze, cheer and criticize. She would fight him, and he would win, but she would always just get right back up, pride untouched, ready to go again. He had asked her once why she did that, and she had just said, "Neji, you have strength, genius and strategy I could only get from years and years of work. I'm not a big challenge for you. But that's okay, because each time I fight you, and each time I get back up, I get to learn something else. It's like I'm copying a piece of your genius for my own use." He had been surprised, but shouldn't have been. She had always had a way of looking at things in a way he never would've thought of.

He always learned from her too.

As Neji continued to walk home, his memories poured through him like tea from a pitcher.

When he had first met her, she had walked up, smiled a bit, and offered her hand. "I'm Tenten." He had looked her up and down to see if she was something to be worried about, and wasn't impressed. She was just a gangly girl. "You're Chinese." He had replied. Her name sounded Chinese, the way it repeated. "Oh! Yea. My mom's Chinese." She had replied, "It means heaven." He had just nodded, and sat. He could care less-he had just wondered if she knew Chinese martial arts.

During one mission, he had found her on the beach they were camping on. It was the middle of the night, and she sat on the beach with her feet buried in the sand. A breeze blew in from the ocean as the waves crashed, and she had closed her eyes; letting the wind brush up against her face, bare arms and legs.

He had been knocked out in a fight against Master Gai, and he had woken up to her face over his, eyes wide and mouth open. "Neji! You're okay!" she had shouted, and then grabbed him up. She held him in her arms and he didn't protest. Later, he had concluded that it was because he was too weak to move.

After their first A-rank mission, Tenten had been put in the hospital. She had a concussion, and he and Lee had sat by her bed for hours at a time. One night, after Lee had already left, Neji had remained. He stood on the doorway, watching her as she slept in her hospital bed, in her hospital gown with bandages around her head. The lights were off, so the hallway light had seemed to pour in and over her. After a few moments, he had turned and let the door shut with a silent click behind him.

Neji stopped a moment as the rain began to fall in huge curtains. It was amazing how well he knew Tenten, how many things he had done with her, for her, things she had done for him. Their history seemed longer than he had ever thought five years could be. Memories poured into his mind, some like sweet candy and others sour, but each one just as precious. How many times had they fought together, saved each other's lives? How many times had they nursed each other back to heath during missions, or watched over the other as they slept? How many times had he stopped to watch her, staring out into the distance?

Millions.

The rain became harder, and the lighting flashed. It was New Year's Eve.

He shook his head, flicking water everywhere, and realized that he couldn't make it to the mansion before the worst of the storm began. He ran his fingers through his hair, and assessed his options. Normally, he would just trek the rest of the four miles home, but he didn't want to battle a storm after a mission. Who's home could he go to for the night? Which was closest?

He looked at the street sign and sighed. Lee lived three miles in another direction, and Gai was five miles. Sasuke was going over Sakura's, Naruto's home was unlivable, especially with him in it, and Shikamaru was annoying in the morning.

He began to walk again, realizing his only choice was the same girl he hadn't seen in two weeks. The same girl he wasn't sure about, that made him crazy and unsure of himself. He wondered if it had become worse after walking with her that night to throw darts, if the uncertainty in the atmosphere would bloom. Neji wasn't one to make friendships or bonds; they came to him, and he was indifferent about them; accepting, but convincingly able to live without them. With Tenten, things were different, like he actually wanted to be around her. Neji had always just wanted to be alone, just wanted to be a ninja, achieve his goals and be revered. Tenten didn't just do that; she did so much more. Something about her always made him feel different, as if the air suddenly became clearer, easier to breathe. It was always something.

Soon, he found himself at her apartment doorstep, and buzzed in. He knew Shikamaru's room number from having to come get him up on countless occasions. Although he didn't want the ninja to know about him going to Tenten's, he knew it had to be done.

"Yo. Speak." Shikamaru's voice came over the speaker.

"It's Neji. Let me in."

"Why?"

"It's none of your business. Now let me in."

"Fine. You're so troublesome."

Neji rolled his eyes at the frequently used word, and pushed open the door when it buzzed. He glanced over the lobby, which was decorated with New Year's decorations, and then went up to the paper on the wall next to the stairs. On it was a roster of the residents, their room number, and a check if they had paid their rent for the month.

He scanned down the list until he found her name; room 779, second floor.

Without a word, he began to run up the steps until he came to the door with the large numbers 2, 770's. He shoved open the doors, and began to walk down the hallway. His feet squished with water as he walked down the hallway, and looked at the numbers. Finally, his clear eyes caught sight of 779, and he walked up to it. Clutching the cold brass knob, he wondered if he would walk in on something embarrassing, or if she didn't want him there. 'There's no turning back.' He thought, and pushed open the door.

Tenten looked up, and stood immediately. "Neji! What're you doing here?"

Tenten's apartment was like Sakura's and Ino's, but furnished with reds, blues, blacks and greens. She stood in what appeared to be the sitting room, and in front of her was a TV. The red couch was against the wall, and newspapers were all over the floor. Next to her was an easel that held up a painting, and in her hand was a brush. Cans, and tubes of paint were on the floor.

Tenten looked at the drenched Neji, and put down her paintbrush.

"I didn't have time to get home before the storm." He replied.

"Do you need to stay the night? I have a cot." She said. "Close the door and strip off those clothes. I'll go get you some dry ones."

Neji looked behind him, closed the door, and she went off into her bedroom. He took off his shirt, jacket, vest, socks, boots, and pants and dropped them in a soaking pile next to the coat rack. His mask his the pile with a smacking sound, and he stretched, rubbing his wet arms. The Hyuuga wasn't embarrassed; he wore boxer shorts, and Tenten, Lee and himself had gone swimming on more than one occasion. Of course, he thought this feeling would last.

Tenten appeared with a towel and some clothes. Her eyes widened a bit when she caught sight of her old teammate, and her hands gripped the fresh clothes. Neji, too, felt the warm rush to his cheeks.

The weapon master gulped, and walked toward Neji. She handed him the clothes and towel.

"Here. Use the towel, and go get changed in the bathroom."

He nodded, took the clothes and towel, and went to go get changed. Closing the door behind him, he looked at himself in the mirror and realized his mistake. Of course Tenten would be uncomfortable! He wasn't twelve anymore; he was seventeen, and built. Scowling, he changed into the clean clothes, which turned out to be a baggy shirt and jeans, and towel-dried his hair.

The door clicked open, but Tenten didn't look up. The TV was broadcasting the New Year's special, and she stood before her easel, touching the picture lightly with a brush. He walked out of the bathroom and walked up behind her, looking at the painting.

It was of a forest.

"Is that why you stare out like that?" he asked as he looked over the painting. She didn't turn, but he could tell it unsettled her a little bit to have him looking over her shoulder.

"Yea. Sometimes." She replied, and turned. A small smile graced her face, and he couldn't help but feel one side of his mouth twitch for a moment.

He finally knew. He had always wondered, and now he knew that it was for her paintings. Some how, that seemed to settle something for him.

"So, what were you going to do for your New Year? An extravagant party by the rich?" she asked.

"No." he replied, and sat down on the couch. He watched as she moved the easel from in front of the TV and sat down next to him.

"Then what?" her voice seemed to float and simmer a moment, then die out.

He paused a moment, and then said, "Nothing."

"Me too." She said, and laid back. Inside her head, battles raged. Two times he had shown a kind of affection she knew he never showed anyone, but nothing had happened.

Tenten looked around, searching for words. What was going on? What did he want from her?

"Neji, have you forgotten the walk to the darts?"

Her words pierced the room again, and he was left without words of his own.

Before, he hadn't felt any kind of joy at coming to her apartment, to see her, but a kind of uncertainty, but never dread. For a moment, he had felt indifferent again, but it was gone soon. Because he wasn't indifferent; this was something he wanted.

He looked down, and then over at her. "No. And no one makes me decisions for me." The comment was one that was strong, but still gave away more than one thing to the girl sitting beside him.

For the first time since he had come, he got to take in her face. She had green paint splattered across her face, and wore shorts and a white t-shirt splattered with paint. Every time he saw her, she was dirty, but it added realism to her. She was nothing like the other girls.

"Then, what's going on?" she asked.

This shocked him a bit. Normally, Tenten could speak without words, like himself, but she needed this said aloud.

"I don't know." He replied, and his brows furrowed. "I don't understand it."

She nodded, and looked down.

"Tenten."

She looked back up at him.

He began to speak, but then found himself taking an entirely different course. Neji leaned over the girl next to him, and kissed her, he rapped his arms around her, holding her close to him, and felt her arms go up around his neck.

The act was completely spontaneous, but moments flooded back to him like before, but every denial was revealed for what he had always tried to believe it wasn't.

He leaned his cheek against hers when he pulled away, and then leaned his forehead against hers. After a moment, he opened his eyes, and found his clear eyes staring back into hers. She could read the glint of fear in his eyes.

"What is that?" he whispered. He was so over whelmed; everything was turned upside down in a sudden movement that he could never take back. Everything had lead up to this single moment, this single swift kiss that had changed everything they had known to be as a friendship.

She laughed, and kissed him. "That's love." She whispered back, and laid her head on his shoulder.

They say that how you spend your New Year's Eve is how you will spend the rest of the year. For Neji and Tenten, both were asleep, with the lights off, on Tenten's couch while the TV blaring the screams in Times Square as the New Year was exclaimed.

Sakura and Sasuke were in her apartment. Sakura had gotten Sasuke into a New Year's hat, and silly string was everywhere. He held her up in his arms, spinning the girl around, both laughing as they cheered for the new-year.

Ino paid a surprise visit to Shikamaru, woke him up, and was found kissing her boyfriend in his apartment when the same count down hit one.

Naruto was in his apartment with Hinata, regretting not cleaning it, but still happy. When the countdown on his radio hit one, he was dancing around with Hinata, smiling and shouting. Sadly, he woke his grumpy neighbors, and later had to replace a window.

Happy New Year, and may your next year be the best of all!

Hey Ya'll!

I think this chapter was really fluffy. Seriously-if you guys thought I hit the bar last time, this one sure beat that one. I guess I just really wanted to show a lot of thought, and make this longer. And as for the part where Neji was stripped down to boxers-I really didn't like that! I kept trying to figure out a way around it, but I wanted to keep the idea of him emerging from the bathroom. And I was lazy about it, and I wanted to go watch a movie. Well, Happy New Year!

I GOT 12 REVIEWS ON THE LAST CHAPTER!!!! AND 13 COUNTING THE ONE ON CHAPTER 11!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys, I have 97 REVIEWS! OMG!!!!!!!!!!! I guess this must be good, lol.

Thanks SO, SO, SO much to my reviewers:

warprince2000 (get a bigger vocabulary! Still, thanks. I love you!), AkiaBinZaid (gasp-I put a teasing element in chapter 12? Well, I guess I did. Thanks for reviewing! I don't care if you're late or not-I'm just so grateful that you do take the time to review and all! As for the whole foot thing, believe it or not, as I was eating ice cream after posting that chapter, I realized that. I felt really stupid! I blame Shonen Jump. I haven't read Naruto in a while since I've had book reports, and the next Naruto doesn't come out until April! Argh! Glad you liked the whole Itachi thing. And thank you so much for the congratulations on the consistent quality! Although I enjoy writing these, sometimes I wonder if people know how much work I put into them. Happy New Year!), NEJITENTENLOVE4EVER (well, sounds like you got your chapter! Hope you enjoyed it! Happy New Year!), Juile7 (Thanks for putting me on your favorite's list! I'm flattered! What do you think of the last chapter?), KristiexxNguyen (Rambling's cool! It gives me something to write back to you about in these ending author's notes. I hope you enjoyed this last installment!), nonengel (Yea, I think that last chapter beat the fluff levels…well, now I've beaten them again! Hah! Glad you still liked it though. I hope I haven't turned you off or anything.), Little Hinata (Okay, this wasn't Naruto and Hinata, but I still hope you liked it! Hey, maybe the next will be Naruto and Hinata, eh?), n1t3sama (you got your Tenten and Neji! How was it?), sephynarutocloud (Do a lot of girls like you? Um, that's got to be scary if you're a girl. Or not! I'm just weird. Even one of my guy friends gets weirded out when he realizes how many girls like him…but like I said, I'm weird! Still, um, where did that comment come from?), UNKIND (Yay! It's great that you liked my idea of Neji and Tenten. I kind of took it to an extreme here, so let me know if I kind of breeched my own walls. Happy New Year to you too!), I-dream-of-blue-eyes (you got your Neji and Tenten! What'd you think?), and ayasi (thanks so much for taking the time to review! I hope you enjoyed this installment!).

I really love you guys! It's so awesome that you review and read this, and enjoy it! Sometimes, I think I'm posting crap, but you guys really are up-lifters!

On the side, I've been playing with a few other stories, and although you guys might be only for the romance stuff, I want to try and write other things. I've never been good with action, so I hope to do something else. I've been thinking of this one idea for a few months now, and am continuing to mess around with it, but apart of me doesn't like the idea as much. It's all about Sakura, and it has a zesty twist that might interest you. First, though, I've got research, reading and writing ahead of me! Also look forward to my mutual story, Hate Me, with Gaara and Sakura. It'll be out in late January or February!

Thanks,

Review,

Vote,

Happy New Year!

IHearVoices