Disclaimer: I do no own Naruto.

7 Days, Come What May

Chapter XV: Something Called Jealousy

"…and, and then…Naruto was gone…" Hinata finished her sentence with a worried sighed.

Neji's face expression was still unchanging.

"…So…if the only evidence left there is two drops of blood, we must assume that some weapon was used on Naruto, right?" Ten Ten ventured while Hinata's eyes widened in slight horror.

"Y-Yes…I-I hope he's not…"

Everyone minus Naruto, Ino, and Chouji were sitting at the dining table, previously listening intently to Hinata's story of Naruto disappearing.

"Don't worry, cousin. I don't think he's dead," Neji sipped his tea.

"Why?" Sakura asked.

"Instinct."

Inner Sakura sweatdropped. Suddenly, Gaara spoke up.

"Where is Ino and Chouji?"

Sakura's eyes widened. "Ino! Ino! What if she's captured!"

As Sasuke was about to open his mouth to deliver some pessimistic retort, the door burst open. It was Chouji.

"Hey, has anyone seen Ino?" he asked casually.

"We were just discussing where she went," Shikamaru replied. "…And then there's the big possibility that she's been kidnapped with Naruto."

"What! Naruto's been taken? And Ino too? How come I didn't know!" Chouji was bewildered.

"We just found out too," Shikamaru now had a serious expression on his face. "…And we have to find out who kidnapped them…"

"Genius, what's the plan?" Temari nudged him.

'So we're back on name-calling now, huh?' Shikamaru gave an annoyed sigh.

"Well, I'm guessing that we should be on the absolute lookout tonight, and take more action tomorrow," the Nara paused. "…And remember, tonight, never be alone by yourself. If you separate, it's easier for the enemy to get you."

Sasuke grunted. Shikamaru ignored the Uchiha and turned to Temari.

"…And I guess we're together again tonight, eh, woman?"

"…And what makes you think I'm staying with YOU, huh?" she retorted.

He shrugged casually. "I dunno."

Temari huffed and turned the other way.

After that, everyone ate in silence, aware of the danger that was surrounding them. Then, they all departed for their own ways.

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'Gosshhh, he's the one the told everyone never to separate and he's the one doing the separating!' Temari thought furiously.

She'd already been in her bedroom for twenty minutes now and the stupid Nara genius still hasn't shown up. As much as she hated to admit it, she was getting kind of worried. Then, she vigorously shook her head.

'If he's not strong enough to even protect himself, he's not worth anything!'

Temari crossed her legs impatiently and spread out her small mini fan and cooled herself with it. After a while, she decided to go down for a walk. There was no use staying up here anyway.

She made her way to the small lake to the west of the main building. From the distance, she could see two figures on the lighted bridge that was built across the lake. Temari squinted, for one of the figures looked suspiciously like Shikamaru. The sand shinobi quickened up her pace now.

When she got a bit closer, she realized that it was indeed Shikamaru.

'Who's the other person he's with! Didn't that stupid genius say he'll stay with me!' Temari tried to make as less sound as she could, so they wouldn't notice. 'Wait…I don't recognize the person he's with...from here, it looks like…a blue-haired girl! Who the heck is that!'

A strange feeling washed over Temari.

'How DARE he separate from me just to go FLIRT with some girl!' Temari felt her blood beginning to boil.

Her temper was evoked even further when she realized that…he was HANGING ON to the girl! Steams of smoke coming out of Temari's ears were almost visible.

"That lazy flirt!" she hissed, clearly pissed.

In her anger, Temari had indeed done a very foolish thing. She had forgotten to take note of her surroundings. She had failed to notice a certain blue-haired girl creep up behind her. All she felt was a prick in the back of her neck before she went unconcious.

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'How troublesome,' Shikamaru thought as he supported the blue-haired girl beside him. After dinner, he had gone to the souvenir shop in the K.H.S. hallway to buy some toothpaste, for he had run out. Besides, he didn't want to ask Temari for some. On the way back, he had found a girl sitting and crying at the side of the building.

When he had asked what was wrong, the blue-haired girl claimed that she had sprained her ankle and couldn't go back to her room. Lazy though he was, the Nara was a gentleman and could not find it in his heart to just leave her there. So, he had asked her where her room was and the girl had told him that it was on the other side of the lake.

"Emiko, can you go on a bit further?" Shikamaru shifted his hand so that it could support her weight better.

"Yes…I think I can…thank you very much…Shikamaru…"

The Nara immediately stiffened. 'What? I hadn't told her my name! How did Emiko know-?'

Emiko soon realized her mistake. 'Shit.'

Shikamaru was not stupid. His first suspicions were that this was surely the enemy that had captured Naruto and Ino. He immediately tightened his grip on the girl. Emiko turned to look at him with an evil grin on her lips.

"…So, you've realized that I'm that enemy?"

"Of course…where's Naruto and Ino!"

Emiko couldn't move because of the Nara's Shadow Jutsu. However, that didn't stop her from smirking at him.

"…Are you stupid? ...Like I'm gonna tell you…"

And, with a poof, she disappeared right from Shikamaru's hands. The Nara stood there a while, frustrated with himself that he couldn't even hold on to the enemy. Then, he sighed, annoyed.

"…Of course, that Emiko was a clone…the real one must be somewhere else," with that, he started to walk back the way he came.

When he came to the end of the bridge, he saw a familiar object lying in the darkness. When he picked it up, he realized that it was Temari's mini-fan. It didn't take long for the truth to be drawn on the genius. Apparently, the real Emiko had already taken Temari. And he was most likely at fault, for being tricked by the clone.

"Shit!"

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Ten Ten and Neji were sitting on a small, comfy sofa. It was all silent between them; no words were exchanged. The only light in the dark room was the small white light bulb that shined down on them. The reason for this was that Aunt Midori was sleeping on her bed.

The two were currently in the old lady's bedroom because Shikamaru had told them at dinner to come and make sure that no harm comes to the lady, especially since there was an enemy running around.

Ten Ten was getting slightly sleepy. They had been sitting here for an hour and a half now, with nothing happening. The only sound heard was the gentle snoring of Aunt Midori. Ten Ten really doubted that anyone would come to harm the old lady.

'I want to go to sleep…' she thought, her eyes drooping slightly.

"Go on, sleep," Neji suddenly spoke up, ask if reading her mind.

Ten Ten perked up, all the traces of her sleepiness gone. She looked at him, embarrassed.

"That's okay…I'm not sleepy…"

"Just go to sleep….I'm more than enough to keep the enemy away if they attack," Neji's eyes bore into her.

She sighed. He knew her so well. On past missions, Neji or Lee would always volunteer to do the night guarding for her. They knew she hated staying awake when she was sleepy. Of course, she would always feel guilty afterwards for sleeping in, but they never seemed to mind.

"Well…" she looked into his face, then paused.

Seeing his face this close to hers…it suddenly reminded her of that night. The night when Neji got drunk. She immediately blushed and scooted farther away from him on the sofa.

'How can I sleep when…he's this close!'

"….N-Never mind Neji…I don't feel sleepy anymore."

He raised his eyebrows. Well, the Hyuuga wasn't a genius for nothing. Besides from being able to see all around him in all directions, apparently, he could read minds too.

"…Thinking about that night?" he asked, a barely visible smirk appearing on his lips.

Cross out the 'he knew her so well'. He knew her too well.

"No…No way!" Ten Ten said a bit too loudly.

Neji put a finger on her lips, quieting her immediately.

"Shhh…." He whispered. "…There's other company among us, you know."

Ten Ten turned to Aunt Midori, who had shifted slightly at the sound. When she turned back, Neji's face was still close to her…closer than ever. Again, she blushed, even though it was barely visible in the dark room.

'Should I tell him now? That I like him?' she thought.

Ten Ten had liked the Hyuuga for…who knows how many years? But she had always been scared. Scared of what would happen if she did tell him. Many times, she wondered what would become of their friendship if she told him. The reason she never told him was because…well, her precious friendship with him was at stake. Ten Ten always valued her friendship first.

But, recently, things were getting more complicated. Some of Neji's actions were prodding her to change her mind about never telling him.

F L A S H B A C K

"…am I…just…a one night fling?" she had asked.

"Well…" long pause. "…You know you mean more to me than that."

F L A S H B A C K

'You know you mean more to me than that'…Ten Ten had thought over that last statement many, many times. Was it a hint to her that they were something more than friends? Or was she just thinking too much?

Tonight, however, the environment they were in right now was just so…fitting for telling him what she felt. At least for Ten Ten, that's what it felt like.

'In an old lady's bedroom…I never thought that this would be where I'll tell him…' she took a breath and let it out.

She refused to acknowledge that she was blushing like crazy.

"Neji…" she began.

Ten Ten couldn't bring herself to say what she wanted to say immediately.

"…You know…I really was thinking about that night…" she said.

Neji just looked at her. She could tell that he was listening intently.

"I…just wanted to tell you…that I…"

She still couldn't bring herself to say 'I like you' in front of him. Ten Ten desperately wished that she could rewind all this, rewind the moment, so that this wouldn't have happened. However, she knew that it was too late to stop anything now.

"…I…I-I…."

Ten Ten ventured a look up into the Hyuuga's face. To her surprise, he looked a bit uncomfortable. Actually, he looked very uncomfortable. Was it a trick of the light or did he look slightly red?

The two stared at each other. Ten Ten totally forgot about finishing her sentence.

"Ten Ten, why don't you just go to sleep."

She sighed in relief. "Yea, I think I'll go to sleep. Care to take the watch?"

Neji nodded. "Sure. Make yourself comfortable."

As Ten Ten was about the lean the other way and go to sleep, Neji gently pulled her to rest on his shoulder. He put a hand on her head.

"…Neji!" Ten Ten said hushedly.

He didn't reply. And she didn't make a move to pull away from him either. After a long, long while, the Hyuuga finally spoke.

"…I think I feel that way too, Ten Ten. So, go to sleep, okay?" he whispered.

"….Okay…"

And so, even though the two never confessed their liking for each other, a silent agreement was woven in between them.

'Oh well…he's a mind reader after all…'

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