A/N: Ok sorry for not updating right away. Usually I write pretty quickly but it appears that Ice Cream is my new brain food, and I was out of it until recently. The other problem was that I wasn't exactly sure what actually happened to Tenten during the fight. So after some research over the different types of Genjutsu from the series, I decided on the one in this chapter. This chapter is a little short comparably but the next one will be nice and long I promise. I should have it done by the middle of next week. Lastly, Thank you for the reviews, I enjoy reading them a lot. Please keep them coming. Enjoy this latest chapter:)

Recovery

Neji had been sitting beside Tenten for a few minutes when Gai and Lee entered. Lee was extremely angry and had no doubt been told by Gai to be quiet while they were inside. Gai didn't even speak, all he did was motioned with his hand and then left. Neji sighed and looked back to Tenten. He kicked himself mentally for the millionth time before he stood up. 'I was supposed to be there, I could have helped her…' Suddenly the more rational side of Neji's mind kicked in for the first time since his return. 'Why is this affecting me so much? She is my teammate yes, I am disappointed for not taking care of that shinobi correctly but…' 'Come on, you are smart, you know what this means…' 'No I don't' He told himself. 'This could mean anything… For now… I have to deal with Gai and Lee… My feelings come second…' He sighed as he exited the hut to find Lee practically scorching the earth around him with his anger and Gai with a rare concerned look.

"Neji, what happened?" Gai was being calm, as he usually was when things were still serious. Lee, on the other hand… "YES NEJI, WHAT HAPPENED EXACTLY! HMM! HOW DOES THE GREAT HYUUGA NEJI NOT SAVE HIS OWN TEAMMATE!" Neji merely glared at Lee. He was such an idiot and would never understand things until they had been explained entirely. Unfortunately, until that time, he was a raving lunatic. "Lee!" Gai of course interrupted what seemed to be a very long and drawn rant about how Neji should have been there for Tenten.

Neji's cold stoic face was back, and so was his attitude. "It's quite simple. Three rock shinobi had set up an ambush for us. I noticed it, attempted to counter it, and then we discovered that it was a genjutsu. A very simple one, so simple that I didn't even notice it… We fought them, I took on two, she took on one. I took care of my first opponent and then I chased my second. He had used Kage Bunshin to fool my eyes and had stayed behind. Tenten must have met him there and they fought. Though what exactly happened I don't know. He died before he could tell me what he did…" He stared at Gai behind a mask of indifference while inside, he fought with his own guilt. They would have to go back to Konoha now, and it was all his fault.

Gai sighed. "All right, we can't complete this mission at this time. We will take Tenten back to Konoha so she can be treated. I will carry her back." He started to enter the hut but then he stopped and turned around. "Neji, it wasn't your fault. SPRING TIME OF YOUTH!"

Neji cringed internally. Gai had seen through his mask, and had returned to his normal psycho self in under 2 seconds, which did not bode well for his ears. Lee on the other hand was still very angry. He wasn't yelling anymore but still gave off an aura of deep loathing and disappointment. Neji ignored him as he checked his own small wounds and re-secured his equipment. Gai came out a minute later with Tenten on his back, still unconscious. "All right, Let's go!" They all took off, Neji staying behind slightly, so he could take up his rear guard post as usual, but also to distance himself from the others in order to think in peace.

The team arrived in Konoha a few hours later to find the village bathed in darkness. Neji had wrestled with his confused mind for over half the day and had arrived at no conclusion. He was broken out of his reverie by Gai when he spoke up. "I will take Tenten to get treatment. Lee, go home, get some rest. Neji you will come with me." Lee nodded with approval and headed off to his home. He still seemed to be sulking but he also seemed to be more normal than he had been all day. Neji nodded his approval and followed Gai to the hospital.

They arrived at the hospital a few minutes later and were greeted by an agitated looking Hokage. "How is she?" Gai spoke up immediately. "She is still unconscious. I am not sure exactly what happened, but Neji..." Tsunade immediately rounded on Neji. "What happened!" She was getting agitated and it showed. Neji merely looked at the woman with helplessness. "I am not sure. I wasn't there. I do know she was fighting a genjutsu user though…" Tsunade merely nodded her approval and took her from Gai easily. She then brought her into an emergency treatment room and closed the door.

Neji sat down in a nearby chair and rubbed his temples. He was worried about Tenten but he was also worried about himself. He had no idea what was going on inside his head and he hated being left in the dark, especially when it involved him. Neji hid his unease behind his normal stoic face, however he was a bit too slow. Gai had noticed. He sat down beside Neji and scratched his head.

"Neji, things happen on missions, there wasn't anything you could do…" Neji looked to his team leader and teacher. He was generally concerned, he wasn't overly loud, he was well normal… 'Maybe Gai can be a normal person…' "I know that, I just… I can't explain it. I am worried about Tenten, but I know she will be fine. I am a little guilty that I wasn't there to help her but that isn't what's bothering me…" Gai turned to Neji. He usually was very quiet, and dealt with his problems on his own. 'I suppose I kind of forced him to talk…' "All right, well I suggest you go home and get some rest. I will stay her and keep you and Lee informed. "Hn." Neji was still deep in thought and left without another word. He made his way home despite not watching where he was going at all. He was just staring blankly ahead wrestling with his subconscious. He even ignored Naruto who was trying very desperately to get his attention despite Hinata's futile attempts to keep Naruto quiet.

'What is wrong with me, of course she will be ok…'

'Its not that she won't be ok, you are just trying to run from the truth…'

'No I am not, I just…'

'You just what? Hmm? You are trying to run away from what you really feel.'

'What feelings! I don't really feel anything!'

'Just because you are a shinobi doesn't mean you don't have emotions…'

'I am a Hyuuga, I don't have time for feelings…'

'Yes, you are a Hyuuga, now make your clan proud and put your mind at rest!'

'You are my mind…'

'Exactly, you are arguing with yourself and you are losing!'

'What do you want me to do?'

'Its not what I want, its what you want…'

Neji sighed as he finally reached the Hyuuga compound. He wasn't finding any answers inside himself at the moment and it frustrated him. He walked into his bedroom and jumped on to his bed. He lay there for about an hour before sleep finally over took him.

He was sitting in the hospital. Hokage-sama came out with a grave look. She walked over to the remaining members of Team Gai. "I am afraid, she won't be able to recover from the damage that her mind sustained... If she survives she will have to live here, on life support machines. However, the chance that will happen is very low..."

Neji awoke with sweat slowly trickling down his face. He breathed a small sigh of relief as he realized it was just a dream. He laid back down on his back and stared at the white ceiling of his room. 'Ok, maybe I do feel something else for her…' He shook his head. 'No! It would be bad for the team… I wouldn't be focused on any missions…' He got up out of his bed and walked to one of his large windows. He then began to think about Tenten herself. 'She is one of the strongest kunoichi of Konoha, she is mature, and isn't boy-crazy, and she knows the importance of training… Not to mention the fact that she is absolutely beau…' The more sensible part of his mind woke back up again almost immediately. 'No, she is a teammate, a friend, and a sparring partner, nothing more!' He stared out at the cool night sky and looked to the stars. He sighed. He knew the only way to come up with an answer was to meditate.

A few minutes later he was outside, fully clothed, and under a tree. He closed his eyes and calmed his breathing down. His heartbeat calmed into almost a sleep state as he reflected on what he should do.

Two and a half hours later, Neji opened his eyes. The sun had been up for a while but it was still very early. He stood up and stretched. It took about ten minutes of meditating for him to come to grips with the fact that he felt something more than just comradeship. However, what he should do about it took a lot a longer. He stretched his back one last time and set off towards the hospital. It may have taken him over two hours, but Neji had a plan.

Neji slid the door to Tenten's room open quietly and was surprised to find Hokage-sama and Haruno Sakura checking on Tenten who appeared to be sleeping. The elderly hokage (Though she didn't look a day over thirty) turned to Neji and smiled. "She'll be fine. She just needs some rest. Her mind took a lot of damage. She should be up in a day or so." With that she and Sakura left Neji alone with her. Neji sat down at a chair near her bed and looked at her peaceful sleeping form. 'Well, now to wait for her to waked up…' Neji looked to the floor and noticed that Tenten's hand was hanging limply off the side of the bed. He picked it up gently and held it for a few moments as he put it back on the bed when a voice made him freeze. "Neji, why are you holding my hand?"