Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto… please review…this is my first fic, and it would mean a lot to have someone comment on it…thanks, Chixon!
"It's a nice day, huh, Neji? I mean, no attacks on the way to Water Country and back home!" Tenten smiled. It was the first time that happened. There were usually many ninjas attacking them during their missions, trying to get Konoha nin.
Suddenly, kunais rained down on them. As they tried to escape, ninjas blocked their path. Tenten took out various weapons.
"It's an ambush!" Lee cried, as more ninjas surrounded them. He started with his Konoha Senpuu to clear the way. As the ninjas fell down, dead, other ninjas took their place.
"I believe we can handle them." Tenten called to Lee while throwing various weapons at the enemies.
Suddenly, a ninja grabbed her from behind, startling her. She tried to wiggle her way out of his hold, but it was no use. Neji and Lee were too busy fighting, and she could not disturb them by calling for help.
"Let go of me!" Tenten cried to her captor. The ninja tightened his grip. "I said, let go!"
Neji heard her. He tried to help her, but other ninjas closed in on him. "Hakkeshou Kaiten!"
Tenten realized Neji heard her voice from the far end of the battlefield. She tried to stop him, but she couldn't. The ninja holding her had his grip so tight she couldn't move, much more shout a warning.
"Tenten!" Lee cried, trying to get to her.
"Lee, cover me. I'LL help her." Neji told him quite calmly.
An enemy threw kunais to Neji, but he didn't care. All he cared for was Tenten.
Tenten looked into his eyes. Even though Neji spoke with tranquility, she saw in his eyes he was concerned about her. She knew that even if Neji hardly talked to anyone about his feelings, he cared.
"Neji, don't…" she choked out, before falling unconscious.
"Tenten!" Neji rushed to her captor. He struck a blow to the man's heart, instantly killing him.
Every ninja fighting stopped at once, seeing their leader die so quickly. They took the body and went back to their hideout.
"Neji, you didn't have to do that, you know. If Tenten was awake, she wouldn't have liked it." Lee told him, shaking his finger in front of Neji's face.
Neji grunted. He took Tenten's limp form and carried her the rest of the way.
"Neji…" Tenten mumbled, as he placed her gently onto a bed. Neji looked at her worriedly.
"You shouldn't try to get up, Tenten." He told her curtly. "You need rest."
"But Neji, I'm alright. See?" She tried to sit up, but failed. Her waist and arms hurt too much from the grip her opponent had.
"Tsunade-sama told me you can go home tomorrow. And no sneaking out." Neji smirked.
Everyone knew Tenten hated hospitals—because she thinks it is for the weak people who get hurt easily—,and that she sneaked out every time she got hospitalized.
"You won't know anyway." Tenten reasoned.
"Tsunade-sama also told me that I would have to watch over you." Neji said, face returning to its emotionless state.
"Fine." Tenten moped.
When Tenten woke up the next morning, she found Neji meditating. With his shirt off, she saw his chest bandaged up where the kunais hit them.
"Neji…I'm sorry…" Tenten had her head bowed in shame. Neji was rarely hurt in missions, and it was usually because of her. It was the tenth time it happened, but Tenten still wasn't used to Neji getting hurt because of her.
"Hn." Neji responded. He sat down in front of Tenten, who became silent.
Tenten was hurt, really hurt. Didn't Neji realize it was hard to swallow her pride and apologize? She put that thought aside and focused on a more important question. Didn't Neji even know it pained her terribly to see him get hurt? She thought that with his Byakugan he would notice it but…
"Tenten." Neji looked at her in the eyes. "Don't blame yourself. I was careless."
Tenten could only stare in shock. Neji? THE Hyuuga Neji, say he was careless? Well, he wasn't really careless, he just became distracted. By her. Again. After all, being the only girl in the team, Neji and Lee found the need to protect her, Neji especially, since they were training partners.
"Neji, it wasn't your carelessness, it was mine. If I wasn't careless we wouldn't have been harmed by the enemy." She reasoned.
"Tenten." He was growing impatient.
"It was MY fault, Neji. If I was more careful…" she cried. "But you shouldn't have protected me. Why did you even do that!"
"Because…I love you, Tenten." Neji told her quietly. "I always did. I just never told anyone…"
Outside, Lee stood, watching his two teammates.
"I have to tell Gai-sensei!" He cried, then rushed out to meet his sensei.
"WHAT!" Gai was shocked at what Lee reported. He immediately went to where Neji and Tenten were. "My youthful students! Such great joy it is for me to find out you aren't wasting your youth!"
"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!" Tenten woke up from her dream…okay…so it wasn't that good a dream…it was a good one until Gai came…
She looked around. It was still dawn, and she was still at their client's home. That was a nice dream, she thought, before falling asleep again, smiling.
Please review! I know it isn't nice, but it's the best I can make it since it's my first fic…sorry…ü