AN: Do we really have to do this at the beginniogn of each chappy? SHeesh. Usual saying goes here.
The people of Konoha were in an uproar tonight at the meeting. Naruto-sama did an overall good job of addressing the pressing issues, but the moment that the Lord Daimayo of the Fire Country made an appearance it took the cake. He was a funny looking. He was knee-high to a bullfrog and looked like a hamster. Round cheeks, small beady eyes and a puckish sort of nose adorned his round shiny bald head. His clothes were rich in texture and his fingers had some of the largest jewels I had ever seen. He had a tie with a picture of his cat on it and a cheesy saying underneath. I laughed when I read it. It said, "My hairy balls are bigger than yours." This was too much. His wife, who had the "demon" cat, was also present. What they were doing here was a mystery to us. Naruto-sama, especially was shocked. As genin, we'd always captured the cat, but we'd never seen the lord himself. He strutted up to the podium and handed Naruto-sama an envelope. He opens it and inside I see a check. Naruto-sama goes up to the microphone and tells the crowd that a check in the amount of 10 million ryo has just been presented to us.
"My Lord, thank you. You honor us with such a gift. How can we repay such a debt?" Naruto-sama asks him, trying not to laugh at the outfit.
"No need, no need, Lord Hokage. Lets call it payment for years and years of catching my wife's cat. After all, she wouldn't have been able to live without her snuggly-wuggly-oogie-ums. Plus, your village is our military force, this is the very least I can do." It took a real secure man to say something like that with a straight face.
Dead silence engulfed the village. Some of it was due to shock, some were in prayer for the generosity of this man, and the rest was due to the men of our village shuddering at another grown man saying snuggly-wuggly-oogie-ums. I fell into the last category, then my mind registered 10 million ryo. Holy hell that's a lot of money. I had trouble picking my jaw up off the ground. That will go a long way.
"Yes, Lord Hokage" the man continued, "our Management for Economic Overhaul Works program has raised this money from taxes and donations. You all keep us safe and the people at M.E.O.W. just want to say thank-you."
I snorted at the acronym. We catch his cat and his primary relief fund spells meow, the absurdity of the moment was killing me. Oh the coincidence. Sasuke was even holding back a laugh. This was too much. I look over at the others and even the sensei's were trying not to laugh. Asuma had dropped his cigarette and even Gai was speechless. That's hard to do with the master of embarrassing statements.
"Well,my lord, we shall do you proud with this money. We will rebuild and be twice as strong." Naruto-sama reassures him. The lord looks to him and says that if there is anything he needs, only mention it and he will take care of the details. He leaves and Naruto finishes the meeting.
I was in charge of seeing the refugees to their temporary shelter while the others were busy setting up the "reunion room" on the third floor of the building. Many children were herded that way by the genins and chuunins under the direction of Iruka-sensei and I wasn't shocked at the number. I pass a number of familiar faces and I spot the five children I encountered earlier.
"Hey Mister!" One of them shouted and I turned.
"OH, hey kids. I see you are out of the hospital. Are you heading for the reunion room now?" I look down at the little girl and she flashes me her toothy grin.
"Yes mister, we are. We hope we will see our parents. I miss them. My doll misses them too. My doll, Mrs. Sunshine, got a cast like me. And, we got a lot to eat. And, we saw lots of doctors. And we got clean. Wow. I can't wait to see my mommy and daddy. And mister, you know what? Do you?" I listened to this child's nonsensical chatter all the while thinking about what else is in that hospital. Ok, not what but who.
"Well mister, its been nice knowin ya. We gots to go now. The nice man with the scar over his nose is calling us. Bye bye mister."
"Hey, you kids take care." I reach in my vest to grab a pen and write my name down on her cast.
"If you or your friends ever need anything, you can call on me."
She looks down at the cast and tries her best to pronounce my name.
"Hy..Hyyuu..Hyuuga? Hyuuga? NNNe..Nneji? Neji? Hyuuga Neji?"
"Yes, that's right. I work for the Hokage. Do you know who he is?"
Her eyes got as big as saucers.
"WOWWWW….I do. Wait till I tell my friends." I ruffle her hair and she bounds off.
I sigh and turn. I look at my watch and see that visiting hours for the hospital are long over. I really wanted to see her. Regrettably, I head back to my office. I would sleep at the Hyuuga compound, but, I kind of like the solitude of my office.
The next morning, I woke up with one hell of a crick in my neck. I check my watch and get ready to go pick up TenTen. I plan on taking her where she needs to go, but mostly, I want to see what's left of her place. I saw her father's place, but Ten's was on the other side of town like mine. I guess in our quiet little village, one can only get so far from home. I smile sardonically at that thought then head out.
With the new relocation plan in tact, Konoha was busy in the square. People were sorting belongings and hungry kids were getting cranky and upset. I hurry past them and enter the hospital. I walk up to the makeshift reception area and tell the nurse in charge that I am here for TenTen. She looks at me and waves me down the hall after handing me her discharge papers and aftercare instructions. I take them and head towards the room.
As I open the door, I hear mutterings inside the room. What the hell? I enter and I see her pacing. She stops when she sees me, obviously relieved of my presence.
"Thank goodness it's you. I feel caged in here. Another minute of this place and I was ready to jump out the window." She snatches the discharge papers out of my hand and glances at them.
"Well, TenTen, looks like you've got a month of absolutely no lifting, no bending, and no strenuous activity. What will you do with yourself?" I smirk at her and she gives me "the glare".
"Well, I guess nothing. Did you bring me any clothes to change into?"
I totally forgot. Shit. I've been so preoccupied…shit.
"Um, well actually, no. I sort of forgot." If her eyes could fling weapons as well as she could, I would be dead. Man she's scary when she's irritated.
"So, genius, you don't expect me to stroll out of here in nothing but my hospital gown and shorts do you?"
"Let me see if I can find you something to wear." I rummage through the closet and find the socks and slippers which are one of the basics of our hospital rooms. I toss them to her and she sits down. I hear her sigh and immediately figure out what's wrong.
"Need help?' I ask. She gives me the look of "I don't need your help".
"No, I can do it. I am very capable woman." She leans over and I hear her sharp intake of breath. :I see the tears brimming in her eyes.
"Here, I'll help you put them on before you aggravate your wound further. I know you are in pain and your range of mobility is limited."
"No, I'm not weak. I can do this. I must." I silence her protest by grabbing both the socks and slippers out of her hands. I kneel in front of her and she crosses her legs. She gives me a frustrated groan and I smile to myself. My gaze strays towards her calves and then they trail to her ankles and down to the delicate arch of her foot. I raise her foot up and prop it on my chest while I get the sock right. Suddenly I look up and have a vision of her laying on my bed and me running my hands up those thighs. I shake my head to clear the thought. It's gotta be out closeness that's brining on these thoughts. Yeah, that's it.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Just what are you thinking, Neji-kun."
To cover my blunder I smirk at her. "Oh, it's just that you need to shave. My you almost have as much leg hair as me."
She looks absolutely pissed off now. She blushes and kicks me with what strength she has.
"Jerk. You know I haven't been able to shave in days. It's not like I can do anything. It was tactless of you to say I need to shave, when you haven't shaved either. Your peach fuzz needs to be plucked."
"Sweetheart, this isn't peach fuzz." I growl at her.
"You deserved that one", she stuck her tongue out at me then smiled coyly.
Finishing with my task, I pat her foot and smirk. "There. Done. Now, to find a shirt. It's hot outside so I'm going to ask the nurses for an extra set of scrubs for you."
I look out her door and flag down a passing nurse. When I put the question to her, she said that scrubs were for medic nins only. The supply was short and any extras were to be used when more wounded arrived. I thought of my office, and then I thought of the supply cabinet in the Hokage's office. But I had to get her there first. Hmm.
I lean back in the room.
"Well, it's a no go on the scrubs, but we can hit the supply cabinet at the tower and get you a new uniform."
She looks up at me and smiles. I guess the thought of new clothes warms her heart.
"But Neji-kun, I need the shirt to get there. Hell, I don't even have a bra right now. I feel a little exposed." I reeled from that and I pictured her bare chest in my head. I'd seen her in a sports bra several times and it was easy to picture her without the top. A little voice in my head reminds me that she is a friend and that such thoughts cross into a big gray area of friendships and that was bad.
"Shirt." I clear my thoughts and turn towards her.
"Huh?" I glance at her.
"I was saying, I could wear your shirt and you could just wear your vest."
"Um, ok. Good thinking TenTen." I unzip my vest and lay it on the chair. I see her looking at me.
"TenTen, are you going to turn around or what?"
"Embarrassed are we? I would have never thought that the "Great Neji" would be shy. How cute." She giggles and turns around.
"I am not shy, I just didn't want you to pass out from the sight my manly body." Ok, so she's the only girl who knows that I have a sense of humor and a personality. Sue me.
"Ha. Yeah right. You're shy. Just admit it. You know, anyone who knew you would be shocked by this news." She giggles again and I tell her it's ok to look.
I glance at her and I'll be damned if she wasn't blushing.