Awaiting Sunrise

Chapter 2 - Overwhelming Memories

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

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Beep! Beep! Beep!
Tenten banged on her alarm clock as it stopped its continuous beeping. She lazily got up, and felt the sun filtering through her window. The warmth felt nice, but sometimes she always thought of Neji when she felt its rays hit her body. She sighed as she got up and got into the shower. The warm water hitting her body soothed her as she thought of her memories. It had already been three years since Neji had left. She knew that there was very little chance he would come back to Konoha; she also knew that he was marked dead by others. She sighed and forced back her tears, unable to bring herself to acknowledge his unofficial death.
I just know he is out there, I just know his heart is beating with mine.
She turned off the water and threw her clothes on. She wore a simple blue chinese top, with black straps that tied the two pieces together. She wore black cargo pants that covered her legs, and slipped on her sandals. Her hair was up in her regular panda ear buns, held together with blue ribbons. Tenten smiled at herself through the mirror, and then headed out to the forest to practice with her weaponry skills.
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Phwooot! was the sound of Tenten's senbon cutting through the air and hitting their marks on a tree trunk. She smiled as she got another bullseye on all four that she had thrown. This is getting slightly boring without Neji to push me to get stronger and pass my limits... She frowned as she walked over to release her senbon, realizing that she would not have grown stronger without sparring with Neji. Each senbon she pulled out was done so with much force as rage dove beneath her. He still hasn't come back...

"T-Ten-Ten!" Called a voice from behind her.

Glancing over her shoulder, Tenten saw Neji's cousin, Hyuuga Hinata. She smiled as Hinata grew closer to her.

"Hinata. Nice day today, isn't it?" Tenten asked.

Hinata smiled and looked up at the sun. It seemed that she wanted to speak with Tenten about something, but could not gather enough courage to do so. Tenten glanced at Hinata with a concerned expression on her face.

"Hinata? Hinata? Are you okay?" Tenten asked.

Hinata laughed as she realized she was lost in her thoughts. She nodded, and took a deep breath.

"Tenten? Do you think of Nii-san? Er...Neji?" Hinata asked, looking at Tenten.

Hinata carefully read Tenten's facial expression. She found a deep sorrow hidden beneath Tenten's skin, and smiled. Tenten stilled loved Neji...but something was troubling her about that.

"Yes...I still think of Neji. But it pains me to know that he may be dead out there...Knowing that he'll never come back makes me upset beyond measure. It makes me throw a senbon with so much force that the impact could break my weapon and not the target," Tenten said, processing what she had just said.

"Nii-san does not break his promises. He promised you he'd come back for you, did he not?"

"Only out of pity for me."

Hinata frowned. Tenten still did not understand that Neji had expressed his true feelings for her. Neji truly did love her behind his emotionless face, but Tenten could not bring herself to understand why it bothered her so that Neji did not return her love.

"That's not true, Tenten."

Hinata chuckled, thinking how Naruto had changed herself. Before, she was a failure, unable to become stronger. She would always give up...but then came the Chuunin Exams, where Neji had ruthlessly defeated her. But her own defeat made Hinata smile. Without Naruto's help, she never would have been able to fight him, the prodigy of her clan.

"Well? You're not exactly yourself ever since you started seeing Naruto."

Hinata blushed, unable to argue with Tenten's statement. Tenten laughed, and smiled at Hinata.

"Love is a powerful emotion, Tenten...all these years Naruto was oblivious of my love for him, and it pained me so that he loved Sakura and I went by him unnoticed. But you know Tenten, even though I thought that I would never have his heart, I still tried - I worked harder, I believed in him and myself. I believed that when he would cheer me on, they were real cheers, and he actually believed I was worth something. Neji makes you feel the same way, does he not? He acknowledges your power, as do you. You both love each other, but many times can't bring yourselves to confess. You think about him when the sun shines on your body, do you not? You remember his promise to you."

Tenten sighed. Hinata had definitely hit the mark on that one. All she could do was think to herself, trying to find a wise answer.

"Yes...Neji acknowledges me...And yes, I love him. But he doesn't love me. It hurts to think of unrequited love, especially when what you feel is true. Every time I think of him, my heart beats fast and gives me adrenaline to run on. It gives me power..."

"If you think of unrequited love, Tenten...then think what you wish...but," Hinata said, turning around to begin walking away, "I know Nii-san as do you...and behind his emotionless, cold features, there lies a warm aura when he is around...you."

With her statement, Hinata smiled at Tenten, and began walking away. Tenten blushed, and shook her head. No! That can't be true! Neji would never feel warm around me! Tenten threw her senbon at her targets once more, her throw full of confusion, rage, and love.
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Tenten gazed at the night sky through her bedroom window, unable to sleep throughout the night. She looked out at the stars, smiling at their beauty. It had all well reminded her of a day she would never forget...a day with Neji that was burned into her memory.

Flashback
The onyx sky sparkled as the two made their way to the bridge. Tenten smiled happily, her features glowing in the moonlight. Neji looked at her, stunned by her glowing beauty. He smiled at her happy-go-lucky nature, and followed behind her. Tenten glanced behind her shoulder, and saw a rare smile creep across her teammate's face.

"THE Hyuuga Neji? Smiling? And what miracle made that happen?" She asked playfully, stopping to wait for him to catch up with her.

Neji smirked, and stood next to her.

"Only a miracle that makes me feel warm inside," He whispered, and Tenten blushed.

She began to walk slowly, and laughed. She stopped as they reached their destination, gazing up at the stars above her, amazed at the beauty.

"Neji?" Tenten asked, leaning on the railing of the bridge, still gazing up at the beauty above her.

Neji looked at her, acknowledging her to continue. Tenten caught the look, and took a deep breath.

"Do you ever look up at the sky, and wonder if the person you love is thinking of you?" She asked, slightly blushing.

Neji moved next to Tenten, and thought for a moment. He was smiling inside, and looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath.

"Yes, Tenten. I always do...especially when I gaze at the moon. When I gaze at the moon, I'm reminded of the person's beauty. And at sunrise, I am reminded of her warmth."

Tenten blushed, her cheeks turning red, very red. She wondered who this person was that he was talking about, part of her wishing it was her. She was then taken aback when she felt Neji's hand around her shoulders, and felt her face turning a cherry red. She leaned into his shoulder, and she closed her eyes.

"...and someday, I hope my love for this person continues to blossom..." Neji said, taking in the sweet air.

Tenten found herself lightly dozing off on his shoulder, and smiled contently. Neji looked down at her, and held back a chuckle. Her eyes were closed as she leaned into him, taking on the appearance of an innocent child. He blushed, and whispered to himself, "...But fortunately for me...it already has..." He smiled, and placed his head atop Tenten's, both of them dreaming of each other under the night sky.
End Flashback

Tenten found herself crying, and cursed at her weakness.

"Damnit, that night continues to haunt me..."

She sighed, and gazed at the moon. It reminded her of Neji...it looked so cold and eerie on the outside, but on the inside seemed a feeling of eternal bliss. She smiled, letting her memories overwhelm her. She closed her eyes and was lost in her train of thought, thinking of her good memories with him, all of them playing perfectly before her closed eyes.

"Haunt is a very strong word, Ten."

Tenten jolted up, unable to process what she had heard. Only one person called her Ten, knowing how much she hated and loved it at the same time. She turned around, and almost fainted with shock at the image in front of her.

N-no, i-it c-can't...b-be...
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Cliffhanger! Muwahaha! Though I'm pretty sure it's kind of obvious at who it is...