Hello all! I'm expecting this to be the last chapter, but I've got another story idea in mind, so keep your eyes open. (To aubrey-coffin, don't worry. I didn't kill anyone off…well…except the bad guys. I hate character deaths! They're so sad! T.T) I'm glad you all like the story, and my apologies, I made a mistake. It wasn't Kratos Wilder who didn't like too much fluff, it was Silent Alchemist. Sorry for the mix-up! ; Lee: animeangel46 begs your forgiveness! As a peace offering I will perform the dance of the pleading green beast! (Starts twirling to random classical music) Gai: Lee! You're so noble! I will join you! (Begins twirling with Lee) Me: …I'm not sure what to say about that one…oh well! If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! (Dances with Lee and Gai) I hope you enjoy this new chapter! Whoa. Gai just did a curtsy. I am now scarred for life…

Chapter 6 – Going Home

Tenten groaned. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around an unfamiliar room. She was on the floor in her sleeping bag. There was a blanket next to her makeshift bed. Then the girl noticed she was covered in bandages. She sat up, ignoring the pain in her mid-section. Tenten recalled the fight and being stabbed. She winced, remembering the chakra explosion.

"Where am I?" She wondered out loud. "And where are Neji and Haru? Is Neji okay?" The kunoichi felt sick with worry. The door opened, revealing the subject of her thoughts. Upon seeing Tenten awake, Neji dropped the canteen he was holding. He fell to his knees beside his friend and hugged her.

"You're awake! Kami, I thought you'd never wake up! He tightened his grip around her. Tenten put her arms around his neck and returned the embrace.

"What about you?" She asked. "Are you okay?" He pulled away to look into her brown eyes.

"Thanks to you, I'm fine." He said. "Why did you do that for me?" She looked down.

"I…I don't know. I saw that you were about to get hurt, and I just reacted. I didn't even think about it. I guess I did it for the same reason you protected me." He held her in his arms again.

"Kami, Tenten, you have no idea how scared I was." He felt the girl shaking in his arms and looked at her. "What's wrong?" He asked as tears spilled down her cheeks. She shook her head.

"Since the day we met, I wasn't sure if you cared about me at all." Se said between sobs. He tilted her chin up and pressed his lips to hers. Tenten was shocked, to say the least. She closed her eyes and hugged his neck. Neji snaked his arms around her waist, deepening the kiss. He broke away and looked directly into her brown orbs.

"Don't ever think I don't care about you." He brushed a tear from her face. "You're the most wonderful person I know, and the best friend anyone could ask for." He touched his nose to hers. His breath tickled Tenten's lips, and she shuddered. "And I'm in love with you." He claimed her lips again. Tenten played with his silky hair. They pulled apart. (A/N: As much as it sucks, humans need to breathe).

"Thank you," Neji said. "for always being there for me. I'm so sorry I didn't realize it sooner."

"I was there for you," Tenten smiled, "because I love you, too."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"I'm glad to see you're feeling better." Haru said to Tenten. She had been healing in his village. Upon Tenten's request, Neji had explained what happened to Atsuuka.

"When he hurt you," He had told her, "I thought you were dead. I got so…so mad. I freaked out, thinking I'd lost you. I killed him right away with the technique you've been helping me with."

"But that's a defensive technique!" She had argued.

"Not anymore." He'd replied, smirking handsomely.

Neji appeared out of the one-room house he'd been sharing with Tenten. "Are we ready to go?" He asked, shifting his freshly stocked pack on his shoulders. Haru's father walked up to them.

"As the Feudal Lord of this village, I'd like to thank you for protecting Haru, and for bringing peace to the Kanjo Tribe." He smiled and shook Neji and Tenten's hands.

"Before you go," Haru stepped up to Tenten, "Please consider staying with me. I could make you very happy here." Tenten smiled sweetly.

"I appreciate the offer, I truly do." She said. She took Neji's hand and he intertwined his fingers with hers. "But I've already found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with." Neji gave her hand a squeeze. Haru sighed, but smiled.

"I understand." He assured them. "I should have guessed as much when he got all teary-eyed after you got hurt." He smirked and thrust his thumb at Neji. Tenten turned to him, surprised. He was blushing.

"THE Hyuuga Neji getting teary-eyed over me?" She laughed. "I'm flattered." Neji crossed his arms.

"I thought the one person who loved me was dead. What did you expect me to do?" He asked, looking away. Tenten turned his face to her and gave him a peck on the mouth.

"You're cute when you blush." This only caused him to blush more. Tenten took his hand again, laughing. Haru waved goodbye, and the two set off down the road.

"It's been five days." Neji said, rubbing Tenten's hand with his thumb. "It took us one day to reach the castle, two days to get to the village, and two days for you to heal. If we hurry, we should be home in just enough time to stop them from sending the ANBU after us." With a nod to each other, the couple leapt into the trees.

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Tenten hopped down to the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village followed by Neji.

"You know, you were wrong." She said. Neji looked at her questioningly. "You said I was the only person who loves you." Neji raised an eyebrow. (A/N: He's sexy when he does that! Giggles girlishly Okay, sorry. --; ) "Hinata cares about you, too." The boy smirked and wrapped his arms around her.

"No fair." He nuzzled her nose. "Hinata cares about everyone." Their lips locked. "You know, we're being watched." He murmured into her soft lips.

"I know." Tenten smiled and kissed him harder, ignoring the whistles and cat-calls of the rest of the rookie nine that had come to greet them. Tenten and Neji knew they could only be happy as long as they had each other. After all, the perfect kind of love is the love of a friend.

Owari

Woohooooooo! I'm done! Still, it's sad to stop writing this fic. It's kind of like…watching your first child grow up or something. Lee: (Cries) That was so beautiful! Gai: The flower of our team has finally blossomed! Lee: The youthful springtime of love has brought our Neji and Tenten together! Gai: Yes! YOUTHFULLNESS! (Strikes nice-guy pose number twenty-four) IT'S THE POWER OF YOUTH! Lee: Gai-sensei! Gai: Lee! Me: sigh Sure. Youth. Whatever you say. Well, everyone, tell me what you think! Thank you so much for reading, and look out for any other fics I may write in the future. C-YA!