Part of the NejiTen discord Secret Santa exchange!
Prompt: Christmas/winter theme. Can be fluffy or angsty or anything in between Optional: +1 for adding Lee and Gai, +1 for narutoverse, +1 for steam rising from mugs of hot cocoa/tea, +1 for PINING
I hope you like it, Bunrising!
Shades of Konoha: Dragon and Phoenix
In Anticipation of Snow
"Neji, what are you getting Tenten for the Rinne Festival?"
He didn't even look up as he asked, "Did you knock?"
Hanabi rolled her eyes and rapped an exaggerated knock on his bedroom door, trying not to scream when he finally looked up and acknowledged her.
"Hanabi. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"What are you getting Tenten for the Rinne festival?" she repeated, exasperation tinging her excitement.
"I fail to see where that is any of your concern," he arched an eyebrow.
"Maybe it's not," she shrugged far too casually for it to actually be a casual gesture, "But she is coming home for it this year, so you are running out of time."
"No," he shook his head, returning to his work. "She will be in Suna still."
"Not anymore," Hanabi's eyes sparked wickedly. "I just heard from Hinata that they are coming back."
"Must be a change in plans," he frowned as he worked. "She made no mention in her last communication."
"Well," she lowered her voice, stepping closer. "You didn't hear it from me, but it sounds like something big happened to Tenten in Suna – something she couldn't even tell Hinata about."
"She probably developed a new jutsu or weapon," he said dismissively (because of course she would, she was Tenten). "In that case she would up her timetable to report to the Hokage in person, because she has to report any findings to him first and the only kind of secret she is absolutely unable to keep is the kind that pertains to a new weapon. No doubt Tenten is just exercising good sense."
"Mm," Hanabi tipped her head to the side, considering. "That doesn't explain why she told Hinata she has a big announcement to make… or the part where both she and Kankurō have to be in town and together to share the news!"
"Kankurō," Neji frowned. "What does he have to do with anything?"
"Beats me," Hanabi shrugged. "But when a girl hurries back with a boy just in time for the Rinne Festival to make an announcement, it usually only means one thing."
She watched Neji's face contort as he took in the information.
"Guess it doesn't matter if you got her a gift or not," she said airily. "It is bad form to give a gift to a woman who is spoken for. See you!" She turned on her heel and strode down the hall, her expression just as smugly pleased as Neji's was dumbfounded.
In Suna, Tenten sneezed and then excused herself.
"Someone must be talking about me."
"Probably Kakashi," Kankurō grunted, tinkering at his desk. "Screwdriver."
"Probably," she handed him his tool. "He has been asking for updates."
"He'll get them soon enough and in person. Squiggly black screwdriver."
"And you're sure about this? I mean, … do you think we can make it work?" she reached for another tool, frowning as he worked. "I think… a little to the left?" She offered, tapping his shoulder with the tool. He took it with a grunt and tinkered a bit longer before standing up.
"That should do it. And yes, I am sure about us, and I know we can make it work. Not getting cold feet are you?" he slid a look to her.
"No," she sighed. "Not exactly."
"Afraid of showing off your new partner to your old pals?"
"Definitely not," she grinned, bumping her shoulder against his. "You know what a great team we are."
"Just making sure you aren't trying to keep all of this awesomeness a secret," he flexed before tossing his tools back into place. "C'mon. If we hurry, we can finish this last round of tests and keep to the earlier timetable."
"You're the best!" she jumped up and kissed his cheek before sealing everything away in her scrolls.
"Yeah, I know," he hooked an arm around her neck and kissed the top of her head. "Now, let's go blow some shit up!"
Neji had tried to return to his work, but Hanabi's proclamation had left him distracted.
"Did she mention the festival?" he asked, pulling out her letters – all kept in sequential order in his desk. He scanned the first few, but he knew them almost by heart. Her leaving had been new, then, and naturally he had been concerned about his teammate and read those initial letters several times – always replying promptly to each and every one.
His eyes narrowed as he started to notice a certain name in her letters occurring with greater frequency.
'I have to say on the surface I preferred my assignments in Cha no Kuni or Takigakure no Sato, but there is more here than I thought. After Temari left, Kankurō took over showing me around while Lee trained with Gaara and Shira. And just in case you were worried, the extreme heat and difficulty of moving in sand did absolutely nothing to slow Lee down. He brought Shira another training outfit, and they spent at least twenty minutes discussing its moisture wicking properties. Yome was attentive throughout the whole thing – I guess there really is someone for everyone. Lee says he brought enough suits for everyone's spar tomorrow, so Kankurō is taking me on an urgent mission that will pop up an hour before anyone breaks out the spandex. I suspect there will be dumplings.'
Neji flipped the letter over with a frown and scanned another.
'You know how we always felt bad for Kakashi getting stuck with Team 7? After hearing more about life in Suna pre-Naruto and post-Gaara-no-longer-kills-for-giggles, it is clear that Baki deserves some love. Do you know the sorts of things he had to put up with? Kankurō was telling me about this time where-'
He stopped reading with a growl and read a few more – Kankurō's name jumping out at him from the page making him more and more agitated.
'I know I complained about Suna, but I think the place is finally growing on me. The nights are far cooler – they can even skew to cold! – but it is the night sky that makes Suna incredible. It is so different from home, Neji. The sky just stretches on for forever, just endless and black and loaded with stars you can't even see in the Land of Fire. I see why Temari says it is the sky in Suna she misses the most.'
'Last time she visited, she took me to the observatory (I guess it belongs to just the Kazekage and his family, so hooray for connections!). There is an old astronomer there that taught me all of the stars I didn't know, and how to navigate by them. Turns out their astronomy and astrology run pretty close, so now I have even more ways to tell our fortunes when we are bored in missions. That reminds me – you might have a difficult decision to make when the snow comes. Or you should beware snakes in birthday hats… not really clear on how this works yet.'
"When the snow comes," he murmured, reflexively glancing out of the window to the winter skies, even as his memory of that mission eighteen months ago – when snow was impossible in Konoha, but inevitable in the village nestled in the shadow of the Three Wolves. .
"Can you smell it?" she'd inhaled deeply, her cheeks bright and rosy above her scarf. "The snow is coming."
"It's moving this way – from the West, maybe 5 kilometers away."
"You're cheating," she chided him, lips turned down petulantly. "Must you Byakugan everything?"
"I'd rather not head into a storm unprepared," he'd countered, jumping down from the tree.
"I'm never unprepared," she'd snorted, patting one of the scrolls at her hip. "But I trust my intuition."
"Trusting accuracy over premonition seems more prudent."
"You got the prude part right," she muttered, and he tossed her a glare. "Just remember, Neji," her smile had been a curious mix of teasing and sad. "From someone that values accuracy and precision – sometimes you just have to trust and make a go at the target."
Before the end of that mission, she'd told him she was leaving for Suna. He'd known then that their own corner of the world was changing, but this…?
Tightening his jaw and locking his desk with the letters, he stood, his nimble mind racing to construct a battle plan.
As he left the compound, Hanabi called after him, "Where are you going?"
"Shopping," he called over his shoulder, his voice sharp in the air that snapped with promise of coming snow.
The trip back to Konoha usually took three days, but it was taking them about a week with stops. Tenten was somewhere between being glad to not be in Traveling-with-Lee-and-Gai mode where she'd have to move at breakneck speed for three days straight, and wanting to just hurry up and get home.
It didn't hurt that Lee sent word that he'd aired out and dusted her apartment, and Hinata had already put some food in her kitchen.
She smiled to herself, thinking fondly about her home – the small building with a shop down below and two apartments above – and the first time she had seen it.
"Are you sure you want to buy this place?" Neji asked. "There are newer buildings, you know."
"I know," she said, running her hand along the worn counter. "But this building is one of the only ones that escaped being destroyed by Pein. It's one of the last parts of Old Konoha."
"It survived because it was so out of the way. Not an ideal thing if you are hoping to start a business."
"Konoha is growing," she shrugged. "And a weapons shop doesn't have to be in the busiest part of town. People that want what I sell will come to me."
"Mm," he looked around the room with a critical eye, and his Byakugan fading. "It could stand some repairs, but the structure is sound. What about the apartments?"
"I'm moving into one next week. The other is already rented until the new year. I think I could have the shop ready to open by the spring."
The half-smile that tugged at his lips did strange things to her heart. "A most youthful time of year."
Her answering smile was wide and her heart pinged as she said "Exactly."
She'd done most of the work on her own – Neji was so often busy with clan affairs, and Lee was sometimes less help than he was hinderance – but he had come when he could get away to sit with her amid the paint and chaos. The image of him calmly sipping tea against a backdrop of paint cloths and ladders was forever ingrained in her memory, as well as the stark contrast between his pristine attire and her paint splattered work clothes.
When she'd finished the shop, he had been her first customer. (She framed that 5,000 ryō note and it hung on the wall behind the register where it still kept watch over the shop.) When she had finished her apartment, he'd been her second guest, because Lee had barreled through the doorway first. Since he had to leave early to check in with Gai-Sensei, though, Neji had been her first guest for a mug of tea. They'd spent much of the evening in pleasant conversation and smiles exchanged across the tops of mugs curling with steam.
When she was needed on longer missions, he and Lee would check on the shop for her as well as on her apartment and tenants. Eventually she hired someone to work at the shop and offered the apartment upstairs to him and his wife. Even more eventually, they had their first child, so they vacated the apartment in favor of a larger home. That had been right before that last joint mission she and Neji took in the Land of Iron.
The problem with that mission was that Tenten was beginning to realize her feelings for Neji were shifting in a slow, inevitable way that she was powerless to stop.
Right before they departed, she'd been offered two other major missions, and one was long term in Suna.
She hadn't told Neji about either of them.
She had been debating about what to do, but then there was that long conversation they'd had about the clan and his goals, and what were her goals, and Hiashi hinting about his marrying, and it had given her pause.
What were her goals?
What were his goals?
He was a prodigy – a Jōnin from an early age and gifted in so many areas. He finally had a choice in the direction in his life, but he needed to be reminded that he had that choice, and to be ready to take action.
And what about her? Sure, she didn't want to be Tsunade, but she still felt she had room to grow, and could better herself. Could she really say she was being true to herself if she didn't take the opportunity to see how far she could go?
When the storm that she'd caught scent of finally settled around the inn where they stayed, she'd watched him through the curling steam of her hot chocolate with an ache in her chest.
"I can't tell him to move forward if I just stay still."
She'd surprised them both by telling him she was going to accept the mission in Suna.
"In Suna?" he blinked. "For how long?"
"At least a year," she said, trying to sound nonchalant. "I think it will be good for me."
To his credit, he didn't immediately point out things like how she hated to be hot, or the million ways one could be miserable in a desert, or that she would be so far from home with few people she knew. Instead, he asked pertinent questions about her mission (or what he could ask of it) and helped her think of ways to keep her shop running. She finally blurted out, "We can write to each other, can't we?" at his slow blink, she hurried and added, "Not about the mission specifically, even though you are a Jōnin and will probably have clearance and all of that, but just about Suna, and what is going on and-"
"We can write," he'd cut her off calmly. "It will be a nice change from reading clan reports."
She'd almost done it then – she'd almost spilled her heart into the space between them and told him how much she'd miss him, and how she cared about him, and even though it was stupid, that she worried about him, and how she wanted to be stronger and better and more sure just like he was because she'd never feel like she was a good partner unless she was at her best, and even if they were never more than just close friends she wanted to be strong enough to support him in whatever he did because she knew he was bound to be amazing no matter what – but instead, the only thing to cross the void was her grateful smile, and a simple "Thanks, Neji."
"Why is Konoha so fucking cold?!"
Tenten laughed, the bubble around her reverie popped by an irritated Kankurō.
"It isn't that cold," she chided. "It hasn't even started snowing."
"Snowing?" his face paled beneath his makeup. "It's going to snow?"
"Yeah, can't you smell it?"
"Does it smell like death? Because I think I might smell death."
"Oh, stop it, you big drama queen," she rolled her eyes. "Pick up the pace and you will get warmer."
"Yeah, right. I bet you have one of those green jumpsuits on under there, and that is why you aren't freezing your ass off."
"Yup, you guessed it," she deadpanned. "I have an extra if you want it."
The fact that he clearly considered it before telling her to fuck off made Tenten's laugh ring out merrily as they closed the distance to Konoha.
Neji was finding every vendor in Konoha to be abysmally lacking.
Naturally, he had purchased a gift for Tenten already, but in light of Hanabi's information ("Provocation," he thought to himself) he was no longer satisfied with his choice.
"It is bad form to give a gift to a woman who is spoken for," her voice sang in his head on a continuous and grating loop.
"Spoken for," he muttered darkly. "As if she is a thing to which someone can simply lay claim."
The more Neji thought about it, the more irritated he became. How could she not have said something if she had such big news to share? He had visited six months ago, hadn't he? There had been no real mention of Kankurō then, so had she been hiding it from him, or had there been nothing worth mentioning? And if there had been nothing worth mentioning to the person she' d probably known the longest and who knew her best, in what universe could it have escalated to requiring a joint announcement in six short months?!
"Preposterous!" he snarled, startling the woman shopping nearest to him. He didn't even register when she ducked away, genuinely frightened.
Several more startled shopkeepers later, Neji found himself staring blankly through the steam of his tea to the empty seat across from him. It wasn't the first time he'd thought of her while dining alone, but it was the first time he didn't have the luxury of reminding himself she'd be back soon, and everything would be as it should be.
The more he turned the problem over and over in his mind, the less clear he found the problem to be. He didn't really doubt that his original gift selection had been on point (and she would laugh at that, as all of the things in the gift were in fact pointed and sharp) yet he'd been scouring the market for something to surpass it.
Somehow, he felt like his gift hadn't been enough. It was practical, yes, and expensive enough to ensure it was of high quality without being extravagant, because she would never sanction his spending too much on her. Actually – that had been part of what made buying weaponry so satisfying. She knew it, used it, understood it, and also was more tolerant of his spending more because the correlation between pricetag and gift was less of an issue with weapons. He knew she had spent large sums of carefully saved money on things she really wanted, but only if she really wanted them and could use them. That was how he had managed to get away with his present last year, which had cost him more than what he spent on Lee, Hinata, and Hanabi combined.
With a heavy exhale, he realized that his concern of the gift being enough wasn't accurate; despite Hanabi's allusions to the contrary, he knew his gift was fine. He wanted to give her something that meant more, because she meant more... or perhaps she had always meant something special to him, but he hadn't told her specifically. Was it too late to show her? Was it ungentlemanly to bring up his feelings if she had decided hers lay elsewhere? Or would he regret it forever if he never spoke up and she turned her affections elsewhere because he had never bothered to express his interest…..
"Ah," a familiar figure appeared at his elbow. "It has been a while since we have seen you."
Neji looked up in the kind eyes and weathered face of Maruboshi Kosuke – the Eternal Genin who ran the small restaurant and served his very favorite tea.
"Yes, … sorry," he looked up, forcing his attention back to the present. "I have been busy with clan affairs."
"Unsurprising," the old man shrugged, and switched out his teapot. "I am glad that you came by, though – I have a small token of appreciation I would like to give you."
"Appreciation?" Neji's eyebrows drew together in confusion.
"Yes," he gave a small laugh. "You and your friend have been my best customers for quite some time. I am hoping to see her for the Rinne festival – I have some hot cocoa I have been saving for her. Here," he put a small parcel on the table. "Please send my regards to her in your next letter." With another bob of his head, he left to tend to the other patrons.
Neji undid the parcel and felt something warm in his chest. He'd come here so many times, using stolen moments to write his letters to Tenten, and sending them off on his way home. Had even Mr. Maruboshi noticed?
Perhaps it was the murmur of other patrons that made him look out of the window – the one they liked to sit next to and watch the village over their cups of tea.
And there they were – the first snowflakes of the season were beginning to drift down from the sky, to stick to the window and the world outside. The world remained still, despite the seismic shift in his chest, and with a final sip of his tea, Neji picked up his newly gifted pen, and began to write.
They'd finally made it into Konoha, and Tenten was so giddy, she didn't know what to do first. "It snowed!" she beamed, turning her face to the gray of the winter skies and relishing the kiss of snow on her cheeks.
"Yeah. Snow. Great," Kankurō grumbled, burrowing further into his coat. "Best day ever."
"C'mon," she hooked her arm in his and pulled him forward. "There are plenty of things that make it worthwhile, I promise." He gave her a dubious look, and she squeezed his arm harder. "I Naruto promise," she crossed her gloved finger over her heart, and he rolled his eyes, holding on to their linked arms.
"Ok, fine," he muttered. "But just because you are fucking adorable when you are forcing people against their will."
She laughed, and he smiled under his paint, and her heart was warm with happiness and home. They turned into her street, and her heart leapt to see a familiar figure pacing outside of her shop.
"Neji!" she beamed, and started forward, only to have Kankurō hold on more tightly muttering under his breath about 'fucking ice.' Swallowing a smile, she held on to his arm to help keep him upright, and hurried them as best she could toward her teammate.
He looked up at her call, his head swinging toward her, pausing in the track he had worn in the snow. There was some course correction in his expression a moment or two after their eyes met – it had been just long enough to melt her insides to honey before he noticed Kankurō (who was mostly watching his feet because he never had gotten the knack of chakra regulation on ice) and shuttered any whiff of emotion behind the perfection of his Hyūga mask.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, unoffended that he would adopt a formal attitude around someone he didn't know (and could maybe hear inventively swearing about ice).
He flicked a glance at Kankurō, his face unreadable, and answered, "I heard you'd be back today."
"Yes, finally," she beamed, adjusting her hold on Kankurō who had just grabbed her harder and sucked in air when his footing began to slip. Tenten played it off, not wanting to embarrass him as he looked up to Neji.
"'Sup," he half motioned, not daring to let go to wave.
"I can see you are busy," Neji said a touch coolly, and she suspected he wasn't impressed by Kankurō's attempts at staying upright. "Will you have a moment to speak later…" - he shot a look to Kankurō – "or is your time spoken for?"
"Depends on if Kakashi is running on time," Kankurō grumbled before sharing a look with Tenten. "Can't do much until we report in to him."
"That doesn't bode well," she sighed. "We should be able catch up with you at the festival later tonight, though," she said hopefully. "We have some big news to share, once we've touched base with some folks."
"Speaking of," Kankurō grimaced. "I think Temari needs to be our first stop after Kakashi – before if he is running too far behind."
"I sent one of the others ahead to Kakashi," Tenten nodded. "We should hear from him any minute now."
"TENTEN!"
They all turned to see the blur of green come barreling toward her, even as Kankurō's eyes widened.
"Shitshitshitshit," he began to curse under his breath as he braced for impact.
"Lamppost!" she said frantically before Lee swept her up and away. When he finally put her down, she was relieved that Kankurō had managed to use his chakra strings to hold on to the lamppost, and both he and Neji were shaking their heads at Lee.
"It is so good to see you!" Lee enthused, and Tenten drank in the sight of him – from his massive fuzzy green earmuffs to his weighted snow boots – and smiled.
"Good to see you, too, Lee."
"Are you just getting in? Do you need any bags carried up?" he jerked a thumb over his shoulder to her shop. "It's all ready, you know – freshly cleaned and dusted, and set up for guests."
"Guests?" Neji asked. "Are you expecting company?"
"That'd be me," Kankurō grinned lazily. "Nara isn't the only one who thinks my staying with him and my sister is 'troublesome,'" he made large air quotations. "Tenten is the best for letting me stay with her instead."
"How is that any different from our last six months," she said dryly. "We've been together pretty much always."
"True," he shrugged. "At least I know where to get the best breakfast in Suna. Your turn, now."
"I'm on it," she grinned. "Thanks for your help, Lee."
"Anytime," he beamed. "Now, Kakashi sent me to get the two of you, so we had better make our way quickly."
"Right," Tenten nodded to Kankurō, who tightened his jaw.
"Here," Lee grabbed Kankurō around the waist and slung his arm over his shoulder. "I know a short cut!"
"Wait, what – are you crazy? I can WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAllk!"
Tenten put her head in her hands as Kankurō's protests rang over the city.
"Never a dull moment," she sighed, meeting Neji's eyes.
She frowned, then, and peered closer.
"Neji, is everything ok?"
"Fine," he said, as if snapping out of a reverie. "Everything is fine."
"Oh…" she blinked, not sure if he was being completely honest (but why wouldn't he be?) "I guess if you say so…I really should hurry to Kakashi. We will see you later tonight, right? At the festival?"
He hesitated for a moment before giving a single nod. "Of course."
"Good," she smiled warmly, "I'd better catch up before Kankurō teaches Lee bad words. See you tonight!"
She raced forward, then, so she missed the way Neji's face fell as he tucked a letter back into his pocket, and left for home.
Neji couldn't stand being late, but this was one instance where he had no desire to be early. He raked a hand down his face and cursed himself for essentially promising Tenten he would be at the festival that night.
"Idiot," he muttered, glowering at his reflection in the mirror.
He had gone to her home to talk to her. He had intended to give her his letter, or leave it for her or to do something, but it had all gone so fast. One minute she and Kankurō were holding on to one another for dear life (and it couldn't have been the ice – someone who controlled puppets surely knew how to keep their balance on ice) and the next they were leaving to go see Kakashi.
He might have said something even then, but she had looked so happy. He sighed, hanging his head as he gripped the sides of the sink.
There was nothing he wouldn't do to make sure she kept smiling.
"If it means her happiness," he stared into his own pale gaze, ignoring the phantom knife-stab in his chest, "then so be it."
And with that, Neji bricked up his resolve.
He would go this evening and be sure nothing in his appearance hinted at his disquiet.
He would bring all the gifts he bought for their friends in that convenient sealing scroll she'd given him two years ago, and if they exchanged gifts he would be prepared. After all, she was still his friend, was she not? That hadn't and wouldn't change, no matter who she brought to the Rinne festival.
He would be grateful for the chance to support one of his most precious people no matter what the circumstance, and he would do so without fail.
"No matter what," he reminded himself as he neared the restaurant where they were to meet, and the snow drifted lazily about him. He could see their table inside, already filling with their friends, but he only had eyes for Tenten. The sun had been kind to her, and her skin had darkened to something honeyed and rich, while glints of gold and red threaded her hair. She was talking animatedly, happiness radiating from her as she motioned to Kankurō who said something, and then grinned smugly as she resumed her story.
The cold air suddenly burned in his lungs, as he dragged it in, wondering if one could hear a heart break.
The letter in his breast pocket felt like lead pressing against his heart, and he reached for it reflexively, determined to do away with it.
That was when he realized that he had not heard his heart break, but he had heard the tether for the vendor's too-heavy cart snap. Unfortunately, that realization came as the cart was barreling down the hill (easy to avoid) and a small child was in its path (impossible to avoid).
With no hesitation he got the child out of the way, but had no sooner put her down than the cart tipped and knocked him the rest of the way down the hill.
He was staring dizzily up at the falling snow when the commotion of people coming to help swarmed around him.
"Huh, what do you know?"
He looked up to find Tenten standing over him, hands on hips, reaching down to pluck something off the ground. She studied the broken wooden sign, shaking her head before turning it to face him, revealing a rather ridiculous logo, even for a toy vendor.
"Turns out it really was 'beware of snakes in birthday hats.'"
And Neji couldn't help but feel his heart expand at her crooked grin.
She knelt next to him, her arms folded over her bent knees.
"Anything broken?"
"No," he shook his head, immediately regretting the action. "I don't think so."
"Far be it from me to criticize," she raked her eyes over him, checking for damage. "But I think your dynamic entry could use some work."
She offered him her hand then, and he accepted her help to come to standing. "You're not as steady as I'd like," she frowned. "Why don't you come sit with us? Sakura can give you a once-over."
He knew better than to argue, especially since he knew she was right. Even if she was wrong, it was better not to argue with Tenten. She put an arm around his waist, and pulled his other arm over her shoulders, and her warmth radiated through him like the first thaw.
"You're just in time," she said, picking their way carefully around the children's toys scattered in the snow. "Kankurō and I were just about to make our announcement."
"Oh?"
"Yes!" her eyes danced brightly. "Of course, I couldn't say anything until we spoke with Kakashi," she continued, "so I was relieved when we were able to come back a little earlier. I suspect Gaara made up whatever message he sent to Temari just to help us out."
Neji stopped in his tracks, and stared down at her.
"Now don't give me that look," she sighed. "You know how impatient I get about weaponry, and we came up with such a great prototype that I could hardly stand it! It was all I could do to not spill it all in my last letter to you! Ugh – do you know how hard these last six months have been?"
"So… you and Kankurō…"
"Oh, we hit this one out of the park! Kakashi said we are his new go-to for weapons development."
"And your announcement tonight… it was to be strictly professional?"
"Well, yeah?" she blinked up at him. "What else would it have been?"
He raised his eyebrows at her. "I have it on good authority that when a girl hurries back with a boy just in time for the Rinne Festival to make an announcement, it usually only means one thing."
"Oh!" her eyes widened, and then she looked to the side, a blush creeping up her neck. "No, we… we don't… it's not that kind of announcement. We only hurried because, you know. Weapons."
His smile was slow and sure.
"That makes sense."
"I also missed home," she added, chancing a glance at him. "Suna is amazing, and I love my work there, but it can never replace Konoha." She met his eyes frankly. "It isn't home."
There was a long moment where they did nothing but hold each other's gaze as the world slowed around them and snowflakes fell lightly in their hair.
When she shivered, Neji made a dismissive sound.
"Have you been in Suna so long that you forgot you need a coat in this kind of weather?"
"No," she wrapped her arms around herself. "I am still so loyal to my teammate that I ran out into the snow without one to make sure he wasn't buried under a pile of children's toys."
"Come on," he put an arm around her. "Let's get you inside."
Their friends met them with smiles and teasing – except for Sakura who went immediately to Neji.
"What's the matter, Hyūga?" Kiba teased. "They didn't have the stuffed animal you wanted?"
"That is ridiculous," Shino snorted. 'Why? That is because, we saw him save that child before he was run over by the cart."
"Are you alright, Neji-nii?" Hinata sat next to him, worried.
Neji looked to Sakura.
"He's fine," she smiled at his worried cousin. "Heartrate is elevated, but that is to be expected."
Neji flicked a glance at Tenten, a small smile on his lips.
"Yes. Yes it is."
All was right with Tenten's world.
Kakashi had loved everything she and Kankurō had brought to the table, and approved for continued partnership and funding.
Temari had been happy to see them both, and Tenten had a wonderful time catching up with her friend.
Gai-Sensei and Lee had both come out to celebrate her return, and had wept absolute floods of tears at her success. When she and Neji had walked back into the restaurant together, they had cried again at the reunion of their team, even as Gai winked at Tenten.
"He's been rather thoughtful while you were gone," he told her quietly. (And later, she woke up in the middle of the night wondering when Gai had ever done something quietly.) "It is good to see him more like himself."
With her Konoha family around her, life was good.
As the evening ended, her team agreed to meet the next night to exchange their gifts and wander around the festival.
"Still cold," Kankurō muttered with a dark look to the sky.
"This weather is most youthful!" Lee enthused, clasping Kankurō across his shoulders. "But just in case, I turned the heat up in your apartment. If we hurry, we can get there in less than three minutes."
"Excellent idea, Lee!" Gai-Sensei joined in. "You go ahead and make sure things are ready – I shall follow with our guest!"
"What – wait, no, that's not necessary!" Kankuro's eyes grew wide as he tried to back away, but got no further than Gai's wheelchair.
"Nonsense," Gai pulled him into his lap, bridal style, and beamed. "Ready, Lee?"
"Ready, Sensei!"
"No!" Kankuro blanched. "No one is ready!"
"GOOOOOOO!"
As Lee took to the roof tops, Gai flew down the streets, with Kankuro clinging to him and cursing all the way.
Tenten blinked a few times before looking back to Neji.
"I'm not sure if I should hurry up and follow, or just stay away as long as possible."
"Probably best not to dawdle," he sighed. "I'll walk you home."
"That's OK," she shoved her gloved hands into her pockets. "You live in the other direction, and I haven't been gone so long that I can't handle a little snow."
"Tenten," he said quietly, making her heart stand still. "It's not… I would like…" He met her eyes, and asked, "May I walk you home?"
Everything struck her then. The hint of color on his cheeks that wasn't from the cold, the tense body language, the hint of hope in his eyes that he tried to hide.
"You… want to walk me home?" she asked, instantly thinking it was the dumbest thing she had ever said.
"Yes. If that is alright."
She nodded, then, and they both turned toward the direction of her apartment.
Tenten knew the Green Team was basically ambushing Kankurō, but she couldn't bring herself to hurry. She glanced at Neji now and then, loving the way the snow caught in the dark of his hair.
"It might not have been clear from my letters," he offered, eyes fixed on the walk ahead, "but I very much missed your company."
She smiled into her scarf. "I missed you, too."
"When will return to Suna?"
"Kakashi gave me some time off. I'll be in Konoha for two weeks."
"And…does your continued collaboration with Kankurō mean you be in Suna indefinitely?"
"Not indefinitely," she pulled a face that made him smile in spite of himself. "I'll finish out the mission term, and go back and forth as needed, but Kakashi wants me to operate out of the village."
"That is good to hear."
"Yeah," she looked up at him. "I could never leave Konoha for good. It's my home."
That must have been the right answer, because Neji could not hide how pleased he was to hear it.
"Perhaps," he cleared his throat, "when we attend the Rinne festival tomorrow, we could do so together."
"Together, as in, the two of us?"
He nodded.
"I don't know, Neji," she sighed, hiding her smile. "I was recently told that when a girl brings a boy to the Rinne festival, it usually only means one thing."
"True," he stopped and met her eyes. "Would you be alright with that?"
"With people thinking we are a couple?"
"With being a couple."
She couldn't keep the smile from blossoming in her heart and across her face. "I would very much like that."
He offered his hand then, tucking hers into his arm as they finished the walk to her apartment.
"I brought back some excellent tea," she said, as they approached her door. "If you get some time."
"Whenever you like."
"Is… is now too soon?"
She looked up at him sheepishly, and he smiled.
"Now is perfect."
As the door closed behind them, Neji reminded himself to re-write his latest letter to Tenten, still promising to do whatever made her happy, without mentioning Kankurō.
All that mattered was he was finally where he belonged, sipping his tea across from her, while the snow blanketed the world in white.
Wishing you a happy holiday, and a brilliant 2020!