Never judge someone without knowing their whole story. You may think you understand, but you don't.

-Unknown


The Hyuga compound had always been a quiet place, it's silence a rival to that of the Uchiha District.

Tenten couldn't help but shiver, her skin erupting with goosebumps, as she rubbed her arms. This place was the epitome of loneliness. Not for the first time, she wondered how the hell Neji lived in this graveyard.

Neji, she thought sadly.

She sighed.

Right, that was what she was here for.

Taking a deep breath, she walked through the endless corridors in the direction of her teammate's room, her footsteps resonating through the air. She stopped when a familiar door appeared.

Hesitating slightly, she stepped forward and knocked.

The sound echoed all around her. She suppressed another shiver.

"Neji?"

No answer.

"Are you in there?"

Still no reply.

She pursed her lips.

"I'm coming in."

With that, she opened the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She gulped, her chest constricting painfully at the lone figure in the middle of the room.

He was sitting cross-legged, his back facing her. His rugged breath was the only thing heard in the dark room.

Though it was morning, the curtains had been drawn, blocking out any sunlight from entering.

"Neji."

Her voice was firm as she took a step at the person in question.

"Enough is enough."

She got no response.

"Hanabi told me you haven't eaten today either. And you haven't been sleeping at all."

Still silence.

"Neji?" She asked, as she slowly made her way infront of him.

His head was bowed, long brown strands escaping from his ponytail and falling in front of his face. Kneeling in front of him, she gently cupped his face and lifted it up slowly. She exhaled heavily, unsurprised at the state he was in.

Out of all of them, Neji had always been the most composed, taking everything with a stoic face, expressionless. And yet, now, she felt her heart clench at seeing someone so precious to her so vulnerable.

This was the second time she was seeing him like that.

His skin had turned a sickly pale, dark bags under his slightly red eyes. He looked thinner.

"Oh, Neji." She muttered softly, removing a few strands of hair away from his face. It was them she realized his warm he was. She jumped.

"You're burning up!"

But, before she could fully get up to get him a blanket, a hand seized her wrist in a bruising grip.

"Don't."

She froze.

His voice. It didn't sound like him at all. So rough, hoarse. So broken.

Tenten leaned back, placing both hands on his shoulders, frowning when she realized that he was shirtless.

No wonder he's sick.

Shaking her head, she tried to meet his eyes.

"You can't keep doing this to yourself." She chided gently. She wasn't expecting an answer, so she was surprised when she got one.

He grunted.

"A little more." He rasped out, "I need to punish myself a little more, and then-"

He broke off.

And then, I might be able to forgive myself for being too damnblind to everything.

Tenten read his thoughts. She always did.

She sighed softly.

"There wasn't anything you could have done."

He clenched his fists.

"Then, that is the problem. I was supposed to be her protector, the one who always looked after her. And yet, I failed."

Tenten straightened up, her lips pursing.

"You didn't fail." She held up a hand, when Neji began to reply.

"You didn't fail." She repeated, "You couldn't have failed. Not when there was nothing to protect her from."

Neji's eyes ignited.

"The Uchiha-"

"Was not a threat."

Neji's lips curled in a snarl, his eyes wild as he stared at his teammate in disbelief.

"How can you say that?! Defending that Uchiha-"

However, he was cut off.

"I know Hinata, Neji. And I know she is many things. She's sweet and innocent, but not dumb and blind. She knew who the Uchiha was when she met him. Do you really think she would associate with him for no reason at all?"

Clenching her fists, Tenten looked up at the ceiling.

"Hinata's eyes are special, and not just because of the Byakugan. She can see the good in the worst of people. You know that, Neji, better than anyone. And it is because she saw something that everyone else missed, that she associated with him."

It made sense, of course. But that didn't mean Neji was going to accept it.

"You don't know that." He replied, unconvinced, "Don't you remember how bad she was years ago, before she left? Was the face of someone who'd just made a new friend?"

Tenten regarded him silently, taking no note of the sarcasm that coated his last sentence.

"Actions speak louder than words. Hinata willingly gave herself to him.That itself should be proof enough of her feelings."

Tenten narrowed her eyes at him, her tone harsh when she spoke.

"And as for her condition before she left, she was pregnant at the time. All that throwing up was because of that."

She cocked her head slightly.

"And yes, I admit she didn't look like someone who'd made a new friend. Instead, she looked like someone who'd just lost a really old and precious one."

Neji looked away, hating how much sense Tenten was making. He clenched his eyes shut.

"What if he hurt her? Do you really think she would've just let that go?"

Tenten's demeanor turned cold, lips curling into a sneer as she icily spat out her next words.

"She forgave you, didn't she?"

Neji recoiled, her words making his chest constrict, reopening a wound he thought had healed.

"You spent years hating her, Neji. Years. You spent such a long time making her the target of you hatred, even going as far as taking her life. Don't you think you owe her? For making her childhood hell?"

Neji felt bile coming up his throat, his gut twisting in agony and guilt. He hid his face behind his hands, his breath coming out in pants. His fingers dug into his scalp.

"I don't know!"

Tenten couldn't help but grimace.

Maybe I was a bit too harsh.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed down. Getting up, she grabbed a blanket from his bed and wrapped it around him.

"She needs us, Neji." She said, quietly, "More than ever before."

There was silence.

"I don't know what to do."

His voice was barely a whisper.

Hearing him, Tenten felt her heart shatter, as she pressed a hand to her chest. Sighing softly, she leaned forward, and wrapped her arms around her teammate, burying his face against her shoulder.

After a moment, Neji's own arms cam around her waist, pulling her snug against him. He inhaled deeply, fingers tangled around her brown strands as he held onto her, as if she were the only thing anchoring him to the ground.

Fresh Apples, he mused, her scent calming him to his usual state of mind.

Despite herself, Tenten couldn't help but flush, her heart skipping a beat.

She shivered, delighted to be this close to him. Neji, of course noticed. She felt him smirk against her neck.

Smug bastard. He knows just how much he affects me.

For a long moment, they stayed like that.

Then, a thought hit Tenten.

"Have you introduced yourself to Kazue?"

Neji stiffened in her arms.

I'll take that as a 'No'.

Neji clenched his fists.

"I can't. He looks so much like him, everytime I look at him I see that Uchiha."

Tenten's eyes softened at the thought of the innocent boy.

"Neji... Kazue is an angel. He's so innocent like Hinata. In fact, he's just a shy as her. He hasn't done anything wrong, has he? He doesn't deserve either your hatred or your anger."

She could almost hear the cogs turning in his mind, as he thought about it.

"As soon as you're well, we'll go see him. Okay?"

He hesitated for moment, then sighed in defeat. He nodded.

Tenten took his hands and clasped them between hers. She smiled softly.

"Whatever happens, I promise you, we'll get through this. Together."

For a moment, Neji stared at their interlocked hands. Then slowly, a small yet genuine smile appeared on his lips. He grinned weakly.

"Together."


THERE YOU LOSERS GO!!

I'm really sorry for the late update. There was no Internet for a few days and it came only a few hours ago. So, yeah...

Anyway, did you like the new chappy?!

And yes, I do ship NejiTen. Pity he was killed in cannon.

Either way, what are your thoughts?

And, what do you think would happen next?!

-Your lovely author.