Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

A/N: Special thanks to Thami. You are a great reader and reviewer who had become a good friend and supporter.

Konoha, 13 & 14 February

Random place, random timeline

PART 2 – Unspoken Words

A Dedication to Neji & Tenten

People say that it would be better left unsaid, but unspoken words might cost you a happiness of a lifetime

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Tenten sat on a big log and watched as her teammates were sparring with each other. They were in a secluded side of the forest working their brains and muscles out. Neji reactivated his Byakugan and swiftly dodged a really fast kick from Lee as the Taijutsu expert resumed his stance. The slightly warm afternoon breeze did wonders to assure the brown-haired girl of the promise of serenity.

Her slightly worn body heaved slowly as she tried to catch a few breaths for the lost during her sparring session with the stoic, silent genius of the Hyuuga clan before. Looking back, for these past few years Tenten realized that she's been harboring very special feelings towards the said person…way too long. But, she couldn't find the strength to come clean with it. That's because…he's Neji, of course. The cold, serious and yet alluring Neji.

Tenten sighed. It's really hard to be a girl. You can't just tell the guy you liked him. That's just so…embarrassing. All she could do until now is to savor the moment when she trained with her team-mates because that's when she'll be close enough to Neji.

'I wonder how it feels like to be touched and pampered like a princess. Will his touch be as gentle compared to his jutsus?

"I think we should take a break now, Lee" Neji said between breaths, breaking her away from her trance. "Hai…Neji"

"Anou…Tenten-chan, are you alright?" Her fuzzy eye-browed friend inquired. She blinked faster than normal at Lee, trying to regain composure. She didn't realize that Neji had plopped down beside her. "I'm fine, Lee-kun. What makes you think that I'm sick?"

A warm hand suddenly shot up from her left side, placing itself on top of her forehead, pushing her forehead protector away. Apparently, it was Neji's. His hands are so warm although slightly calloused from his rough trainings for a decade. "Are you having a fever Tenten?" His slow, deep voice resonated within her ears.

That simple act alone was enough to push all of her blood to go up to her face and now she's flushing like her life's hanging on it. She shoved his hands away as if his hands are scorching hot and burning through her skin. "Iie! I'm fine, Neji" Standing up slowly while brushing a few invisible dust away form her dark green pants, she walked towards the training grounds.

"What's wrong, Tenten? I was just trying to help" She heard his voice from behind, as she gathered her kunais, shurikens, and several katanas from the solid earth. As soon as she had finished tucking up the last piece of weaponry inside her holster, without looking back to her teammates, she gave a small wave. "I think I want to cut the training short today. See you later" With that, she walked away.

"I'm confused" Neji rolled his eyes as Lee took Tenten's previous position on the log. "If you ask me, Neji-kun. I think it has something to do with tomorrow" Pale, white eyes landed on his comrade's face. "What about tomorrow?"

Lee sighed. 'Neji-kun's one insensible person, literally' "Tomorrow is 14 February, Neji-kun. The day we youths celebrate the spirit of love" He was in his trademark nice-guy pose.

Neji scoffed. "What does it has anything to do with Tenten?" "Aaaa…that is something you need to find out yourself, Neji. You know, guys need to start a relationship, not the girls" But, all Lee got in response was a…nothing. Neji just closed his eyes as if he's meditating although the truth is he was way confused than before.

"Where did you learn that horrible fact anyway, Lee?"

"How could you find the heart to insult Gai-sensei's useful inputs, Neji?" Lee looked utterly horrified.

Meanwhile…

Tenten had a few more steps before she reached the front door of her house. She is still cursing a certain raven-haired Hyuuga genius.

"He's one ignorant bastard. It's not that I didn't show him how much I cared about him for all these years. Argh…I hate you Hyuuga Neji. I swear the next time I see you, you are so dead." And, the swearing never stopped when she walked past by her mother in the kitchen.

"Tenten, dear. Welcome home" A warm, genuine smile etched on the face of her beautiful mother. Tenten however, didn't have the motivation to look back at her mother in return. Her body's tired and her heart's aching. It felt like breaking into a million pieces. And it all because of that certain someone.

But the ramblings still continued even until she reached her bedroom. She plunked unceremoniously onto the four post silk-covered bed. She kept asking herself whether she was good enough or whether she's still going to be fawning over that idiot (factually, if you know what I mean) on Valentine's Day tomorrow.

Tenten growled and she dove onto the pillow in hopes to block out the oxygen because everybody knows that oxygen is what helping you to think properly and right now, Tenten doesn't want to think properly. It reminded her of Neji and she doesn't want to think about him right now. Oh, second thought. Tenten doesn't want to die of suffocation. Neji doesn't worth her life. Or, does it? If she loves him, it certainly do, right?

The walls shattered as Tenten screamed in frustration.

The next morning of 14 February witnessed a very restless 17 year old Hyuuga Neji walking down the streets of Konoha, turning into several turns, left and right into roads that he had grown accustomed with. The sky had started to become brighter as the sun slowly rose from the east.

The usual 10 minutes walk to Tenten's house seemed like an eternity to him. And the fact that Lee's words were still ringing inside his head did spark a rather edgy feeling inside him. It's like a joke of the century. Neji is a silent, reserved fighter but right now, he's shaking like a 6 year old. When it comes to a fight for love, hell…Neji knew nothing of it. Zero. Nada. Zilch.

"Neji-kun, what do you think of Tenten-chan?"

"Me?" He asked back fervently to Lee, who just nodded in reply.

"She's a…very warm-hearted person. She cares about other people and…she's a talented weapons expert."

"Is that all, Neji-kun? What about her personally, as a girl?"

"As a girl? Well…" Neji let his mind trailed onto some of the memories he had with the brown-haired kunoichi. Subconsciously, he started to describe her desirable traits. "She has this silly grin whenever she's embarrassed, and her eyes lit up when she laughs. She's a very determined and confident young woman and after some time, I just realized that she's a grown woman. That explains why whenever we walked together in the streets or anywhere, men fixed their eyes on her and that just annoys me. I just wanted to be the one to have her smiles, her gaze and her everything…" He automatically kept his mouth shut, realizing that he accidentally blurted out his well-kept secret; that he's in love with Tenten.

He was rewarded with a gentle, friendly pat on his shoulder. "Oi, Neji-kun. If only she could hear this straight from you."

"Are you joking Lee? There's no way, I'm finding me saying those things to her. Besides, she should already knew it by herself"

Lee sighed, again for the umpteenth time. "Neji, some people say it would be better left unsaid, but those unspoken words may cost you the happiness of your lifetime."

"…"

"Don't expect Tenten to wait for you forever, Neji. She's a beautiful girl, so you better gather up your courage and tell her how you feel before someone else does before you"

"…"

"I heard that Kankurou might be in town tomorrow and it has something to do with Tenten and Valen…"

"Okay…Okay...I'll go to her house tomorrow"

Lee smiled triumphantly. 'Yosh! May the force be with you Neji-kun'

"Let the Spirit of Love guide you with its pure heart, Neji-kun…"

"Okay…would you just go already?"

"Err…don't forget to bring the flowers, Neji-kun?"

Then later that evening, Konoha witnessed the chasing rampage of a laughing Rock Lee by the pissed-off byakugan-activated young Hyuuga down the streets.

The door opened to reveal a slightly worn-out Tenten with slightly dark circles under her eyes. Obviously, Tenten didn't manage to reach slumber land last night and it all because of…

"Neji? What the HELL are you thinking? Knocking on my door early in the morning? Thank God that my parents are still sleeping. Ooh…I'm gonna skin you alive, Hyuuga Neji…and I'm gonna…"

"I love you"

"What?" Tenten hit her head several times with her hands. "Am I dreaming? Your drunk right, Neji?"

"No, I'm quite sober Tenten and believe me. I really meant what I told you just now"

"…"

"Here…" He handed her a bouquet of iris and lavender wrapped neatly with a purple ribbon. "I'm sorry I couldn't find roses, they were all reserved since the last few days"

"It doesn't matter, Neji. Oh my god, thank you so much. I never thought that I…"

But the rest of her words remain unspoken as she was pulled into a deep embrace. Neji rested his face on top of her head, his hands made it through her brown locks. They molded perfectly into each other's body and they do not plan to let go for a while now. They were where they belong. In each other's arms.

The End

NEXT STOP: SASUKE & SAKURA

A/N: Fluff all the way. Heheh…Spread the Springtime Youth of Love, minna. Thanks for reading. R&R!