Awaiting Sunrise

Chapter 5 - Shining Passion

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

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BEEP! BEEP! BEE--- SHNAP!

Tenten awoke, banging her alarm. She had been used to waking up early to train with Neji, but nearly killed herself, remembering that Neji was off on his mission. She plopped back down on her bed, only to be wakened again by her teammate and sensei.

"Tenten! Wake up! You must train the flames of youth that move you!" Her sensei, Gai-sensei said.

Tenten groaned and sat up on her bed.

"Gai-sensei, it's so boring training without Neji! All I do is practice with still targets. No challenge at all..." She said, rubbing her temples.

Gai looked at her in sorrow, knowing that deep down, she was drowning in her depresion. He smiled his shining smile, and gave her a thumbs-up.

"Lee and I will train our youth by ourselves then! Enjoy your day off!" Gai said.

"Gai-sensei!"

"Lee!"

"Gai-sensei!"

Tenten grew impatient with her team's repetition of their childish act.

"JUST GO ALREADY!" She yelled.

Gai and Lee looked at her with a playful fear in their eyes, and vanished. She smiled. Just the usual them...Oh well! Time to go and stroll through Konoha! What a great way to spend my free day! Wait...that was sarcasm. Right?
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Tenten got out of her bed, and got into the shower. She smiled at the warm feeling of the water, thinking about Neji throughout her ten minute shower. She got out, and put on her casual attire - her pink chinese top with black slacks. She quickly dried her hair, and was about to put it up in buns, but then decided against it. What if Neji comes home today? Blah. It's only for a day. Right? She smiled at her reflection in the mirror, and took a step out of her home. The sun's warmth caressing her skin, she smiled. And this day just seems to get better and better.
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Tenten found herself at the bridge once more, staring at the reflection the water had given her. The forest was just nearby, giving her shade and a feeling of safety. She looked off into the distance, the afternoon sky creating a perfect picture with the reflecting water. She continued to remember her love's promise, letting sorrow overcome her face. She sighed it off, and decided to wander around the village gates. Who knows? Maybe I'll see him there.
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Neji continued to make his way through the forest, the pain in his thigh increasing, his lack of chakra making devastating affects on his stamina. He fell close to the village gates, still in the shade of the forest. He smiled, and picked himself up. No...I'll make it to the village...I have to see...Tenten... He stood up, and took a breath. All he could think about was running - running to the village, making it inside...he didn't care if he fainted once he set foot behind the closed village gates - as long as he made it in, he was happy. Neji looked off at Konoha, and barely made it to the gates, where ANBU recognized him and brought him in.
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Tenten saw the ANBU bringing in a figure from a distance. The long hair and pale skin reminded her of Neji. No...it can't be him...can it? She ran, worried about why the ANBU had to escort him inside. She reached her destination, and gasped at the sight. Neji's right thigh was wounded, his shorts stained from the blood. By the looks of it, he had exhausted his chakra, unable to move due to the lacking it. She ran to his side.

"Neji! Oh my god, Neji!" She cried, putting his head in her lap.

Neji opened his eyes and smiled.

"No! Wait! Just hang on! Oh my god! Don't go to sleep! Don't--leave...me..." She said, tears streaming down her eyes.

Neji nodded silently, and looked at her. It has been three years since he set his eyes upon this beauty, her calming features making him feel serene. She had let her hair down today, not going with her usual panda ears.

"You look beautiful, Ten..."

Tenten blushed, and noticed his eyes fighting to remain open.

"Neji! Damn!"

Tenten's voice seemed to get farther and farther away, and before he knew it, he lay in her lap, unconscious. Tenten instantly took him to the hospital, seeking the help of Sakura and Tsunade.
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"Ah, I see. That's great that Neji's back. He just exhausted his chakra. Don't worry Tenten, Tsunade-sama did her best to heal all his wounds. I did a chakra transfer to help him recover, but the rest is up to him...and you!"

Tenten smiled.

"Thanks, Sakura! I appreciate it."

The pink-haired kunoichi smiled, and began to leave the room. She stopped as she began to turn the doorknob, and looked at Tenten before leaving.

"It's all up to you...Tenten."

She smiled, and left the room, closing the door softly behind her. Tenten turned her gaze to the sleeping Neji. She noticed his breathing become calmer and calmer until it reached its normal rhythm, and smiled contently. His room was just like hers when she was in the hospital, except for the fact that there was more sunlight penetrating through the windows, and there were more flowers from Sakura, Ino, and Hinata. She broke out of her daydream as she sensed Neji stirring.

"Stay asleep, Neji...or else you'll exhaust your chakra again! That's you, stubborn Hyuuga Neji! Exhausting his chakra to finish his mission! You could at least take care of yourself," Tenten said, a tear gliding down her cheek, a hint of concern in her eyes.

Neji opened his eyes, and managed to lightly chuckle.

"Only exhausted so I could see you before I fainted..." He said, slowly drifting away from his words.

Tenten laughed, and held his hand, careful not to hurt any of his body.

"Baka! You didn't have to do that."

"But I wanted to."

Tenten looked at him, and smiled.

"Is my happiness blinding?"

Neji managed to laugh, and closed his eyes.

"Yes...everything about you is blinding...why do you think I have to close my eyes, looking at you?"

"Only blinding 'cause I'm the ugliest thing around Konoha!"

"That's not true."

"You only say that 'cause you pity me."

Tenten's happy gaze turned into a stare full of sorrow. She stared at the two hands clasped together. Neji twitched as he processed her words, and sighed. He slowly got up, ignoring all the pain that caused him.

"What do you think you're doing? Just stay in bed! Don't sit up!"

Neji just looked at her and smirked, still continuing to sit up in an upright position. Tenten sighed.

"One of these days you'll kill yourself with your all-time stubborn and arrogant actions."

"Why do you think I pity you, Ten?" Neji asked, instantly changing the subject, looking at her with concern and sorrow.

"Because...you don't love me do you? You just think I'm weak...and I need protection..."

"That's not true. I don't think you're weak, you're everything but weak. How can you call yourself weak when you put other's needs before yours?"

Tenten looked at him, unable to hold back the tears streaming down her face. Neji frowned, and used his free hand to wipe them away. It was true. She would always put everyone before her. If Lee was sick, she'd miss training to tend to him, leaving a very irritated Neji training with himself. If Sakura needed an errand done but couldn't due to her duties at the hospital, she would always take care of that. And if Neji always needed someone there for him, she was always there, and always will be.

"Do you love me, Neji? From the bottom of your ice-cold heart, do you love me?"

Tenten looked at him eagerly, fearing his answer. She felt happy when she felt Neji pull her closer to him.

"Before, I was just cold and uncaring...but then you changed me. You melted my ice-cold heart and created a different one...I'd always treat you so coldly, and be surprised that you would always come back the next day as if nothing happened. You were the sunrise while I was always like Sasuke...always believing my world was always night, always filled with lonelines... I.love.you, Tenten...whether you believe me or not."

Tenten smiled, and an evil idea popped into her head. She smiled, and looked up at Neji with her eyes glowing from happiness, plotting evil inside her head.

"Prove it."

Neji looked at her and smirked. Just like Tenten...finding a way to get me to do what she wants...But heck, don't I want this too? Heh. He looked down at her, and smiled, catching her drift. He whispered in her ear, and she shuddered at the warm breath running down her neck. "Fine." was all she heard, and was unable to answer, before the space between their lips disappeared. She was filled with happiness, and put her hands around his neck, deepening the kiss. She broke away, and smiled.

"And I believe you! Whee! Neji!" She said, hugging him oh-so-tightly.

"Ten...that hurts..."

"Oh! I'm sorry!" She said, breaking off the hug, full of shame that she forgot about his injuries.

The prodigy just smiled, and lay back down on his bed, knowing that when he awoke, Tenten would still be there. He closed his eyes, and felt her hand clasped in his, drifting off to sleep, forgetting all his pains, as his sorrow melted.

Finally...this happiness...will never go away...not while I'm alive...

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WHEE! End of the story Thanks for reading! I know it was a really short story, but there'll be a new one that's longer, once I figure out ... what it's about? Ehehe. Epi coming, though.