Sunday, June 30th, 2013.

Bad News: I won't be going to ComicCon. My dad couldn't get the tickets in time. Yeah, it's in like 3 weeks, but ComicCon's huge, people.
Good News: We'll be going to New York City and Washington DC instead. I'm pretty sure at least.
More Bad News:
I'll be at a YMCA camp 4 days of this coming week. Well, that's not bad news for you guys but it is for me. I haven't completed any anime this week! (I planned on Ano Hana, but it's sad so I'm wary - I'm actually going to look up the ending to make sure I'm willing to see it) I should at least watch one or two this coming one, but I'll be at a camp all day. Maybe I could try to finish FMA and Inuyasha...

Anyway.

You got 4k words of NejiTen fluff, peeps. Cheer.

Fun Fact: Um... I'm a sweet tooth. I love candy. But candies are getting more sugar as time passes and I can't eat them - both because I can't stand the taste anymore because it's all sugar and because I get pain if I eat too much sugar. It sucks. I've never had a sugar high or crashed for a reason like that - I get pain. Sodas are more loaded with sugar before than they used to be. I feel old when I say "I remember when they didn't have this much sugar! I remember when Sprite tasted like lemon-lime soda and not like sugar and whatever-the-hell-that-is!"

Book Recommendation(s): I'm in pain and in a rush. Sorry, I don't have the time nor patience for it.

Anime/Manga Recommendation(s): Should I? Fine. "Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo". WTF, right? It's a hilarious anime that really is "WTF?" I watched as a kid and am re-watching. In English. I guess like Hetalia, the English is funnier. Though unlike Hetalia, not strong language is used cuz Cartoon Network aired it as a kid's show. Just check out some clips on Youtube. It may seem like shit, but I think it's worth watching. Mostly pure comedy and "WTF?" material as well as a cute romance between 2 supporting characters. GasserxBeauty FTW! Oh, and by the way, everybody is an idiot except for the girl supporting character. I had a crush on Gasser when I was younger, too. Just look him up. And no, Maximum Ride fans, not Gazzy.

Answer to last QotW: Uh, I can't answer that. I just asked you guys that because I'm trying to watch a lot this summer. And don't worry, Attack on Titan is on my list for later - I want to wait for more eps before I start.

Again, ton of NejiTen fluff. 99.9% of this is fluff.

ATTENTION!

Remember when I said 50th, 75th, 100th, etc, reviewers get a one-shot? I'm getting started on those one-shots soon. And a new story (not time-travel related) may be born in months. Or something. I could use this coming week to get started since I can't do anything else...


Chapter 31: United in Love|Miss Me?


Neji POV

She's so… beautiful when she's sleeping like this.

It was around two am and I couldn't sleep. I've been having nightmares of the same thing Tenten has for weeks - my apparent death due to being impaled.

I guess I've been having similar dreams because of what happened in the forest with Kidomaru's arrow, but whatever the reason, I'd been having them.

The odd thing is, about the dream, I was older and wearing a green vest. That would mean I was either a Chunin or Jounin. Also, I seemed to be protecting something – I heard Hinata and Naruto's voices, but I couldn't see them nor what impaled me.

That's not the only thing – for a while now, I've been having odd dreams of an older me; older everyone, really. Sometimes we're in a fight, other times I'm just training with my teammates.

One time we fought a shark-like man in a black cloak and red clouds. Judging by what he said, it wasn't the first time he'd met Gai, though Gai-sensei didn't remember him.

Something very odd is going on, but I have no idea what.

I sighed.

I should just ignore that for now…

I looked back down at Tenten, who was sleeping beside me.

Her hair was down and spread around her pillow in a way that reminded me of a halo. The moonlight hit her face in a way that made her look ethereal. Her name does translate to "heavenly heaven".(1) It's quite apporiate... Man, I sound sappy.

I gently moved a lock of hair from her eyes, unable to stop the edges of my lips from quirking up.

We've been in the hospital 8, actually 9 (because it's early morning) days now, and I doubt we're coming out very soon.

Out of all of us teens that fought in the forest, Tenten, Sai, Naruto, Gaara, Karin, and I were the worst off. Gaara should be out any second though – he heals pretty fast, it seems. Could that have anything to do with his being a Jinchuuriki? Naruto healed fast as well.

Jiraiya took Naruto early the morning of the 7th day to go somewhere out of the village and train. At least, that's what he told the public. He's really retrieving someone important, like he told us... "Tsuna' or something like that... are they supposed to be the next Hokage or something?

The night before, Jiraiya took Sai to operate on the seal-removal jutsu or whatever, and hide Sai. Ino's been heartbroken.

Apparently they had gotten together that night.

Karin may be out by tomorrow or the day after, and I believe Tenten and I will be out about the same time as her.

But Tenten was more injured than I was, so I don't know for sure. The arrow went completely through her body, and only went deep into mine.

She prefers to sleep on her side until she's healed, and I sleep on my back for the same reason... we compromise by her sleeping on me. Not that I mind.

During the last few medical ninjutsu healing sessions, she requested to the nurses that they leave a small scar. Without medical ninjutsu, she's have a large, white, round scar on her back and stomach. With medical ninjutsu, she could be left with nothing to physically remind her of the event. But she wanted them to leave a small remnant of me.

So now, she has 2 small white, almost circular scars on identical places on her back and stomach – showing that she was stabbed through for those who could tell. It looked like a white dot with small white veins coming from it. In all, it was the size of about a nickel. Barely.

I requested the same thing, though it's only in my front because the arrow never went through my back. Our scars look identical, though. For some reason, I'm almost proud of that.

Every day, we've had visitors – our friends, Ko, Hanabi, Uncle once or twice (though I doubt he was actually concerned), and of course Lee and Gai-sensei. Lee is still in the hospital and can't leave until his surgery. So he can't visit as often as I'm sure he wants to.

We also know how everyone's doing, and Sakura texts Tenten about how Ino is; without Sai and all.

On the 3rd day, Tenten and I woke up from the deep sleep we'd been in since the Forest to find our hospital beds pressed so closely together, it looked like one large bed. Also, the guardrails between our beds were taken down, and some blankets were stuffed between the beds so it really did look like one large bed.

When we asked Gai about it, he answered, "I felt that you two wanted to be closer and deserve it. So I asked the staff if I could do it." With a smile, he finished, "You were sleeping so much more peacefully afterwards. As if you subconsciously knew the other was near."

Of course, that caused Tenten and I to blush furiously, but we thanked him regardless.

Anyway, that explains why she and I are so close right now.

Physically, I mean.

But we're emotionally close as well.

Being stuck in a bed (2 beds) all day, 24/7, with a girl you've been growing feelings for the past weeks, months, or maybe even years (months may be more accurate, however) gives you a lot of time to think when you aren't talking to each other or reading the books and manga your friends had given you so you don't die of boredom.

So here's my conclusion from all this time of thinking:

I love Tenten.

She's been my best friend for years, always there for me when I need her and there to smack some sense into me as well. I don't know what I'd do without her, honestly.

Recently, we've been even closer to each other and I was pushed to the limit in the forest, my main priority keeping Tenten safe.

Added with all the times we've kissed, I accumulated romantic feelings for her.

And now, they've been realized.

I want to tell her. Soon.

I may sound sappy, but it's the truth. Normally, I wouldn't want to tell anyone something like this, but the side of me that wants her to know grows stronger and stronger every day.

Not to mention, it'd be better that I plan it rather than it being blurted God-knows-when. That'd be mortifying.

Tenten… I thought, caressing her warm cheek.

"Mnn… Neji…- kun?" Tenten muttered, waking from her sleep. So now she wakes up.

"It's 2am, Ten."

Tenten stretched. "Then *yawn* what are you doing up?" Watching your beautiful self sleep.

… Damn, I hope when I tell her this sappiness will go away.

"I could say the same for you."

"I asked first."

"… I couldn't sleep."

Tenten scooted closer to me, and I used my left arm –I was holding myself up with my right– to help with the endeavor.

Changing position, I laid back on the bed on my right side (not propping myself up anymore) and wrapped my left arm around her waist as she rested against me.

"Why couldn't you sleep?" She asked quietly, absentmindedly drawing circles on my chest.

Our faces were centimeters apart, nearly level with each other.

"Nightmares. You?"

"Nothing, I think. I just woke up on my own, you know?"

I moved her bangs from her eyes again, and I smirked when her face warmed just slightly.

"Then why don't you go back to sleep?" I asked.

"I don't want to…" This surprised me. Tenten's the type that likes her sleep… why would she refuse it after waking up at two in the morning?

"Why not?"

Tenten looked anywhere but at my face.

"I just… want to lie here like this... with you."

The statement… shocked me. And made me smile.

I don't know how much more of this I could take.

I couldn't resist any longer.

"Sometimes, you're really cute." I said, lifting her chin with my left hand.

She was shocked. "Eh? Did you just say c-"

I cut her off pressing my lips softly to hers.

My right arm snuck under her body and around it, pressing her against me before resting in her long hair, let out from her buns so she could sleep.

She quickly got over her shock and reciprocated the soft, sweet, and slow kiss.

It was the second time since we got in the hospital. The first being when we first woke up (to find our beds combined) and Tenten was so elated to find us alive and alright (and alone, thank God) that she kissed me. Of course, I didn't refuse. I'm still a 15 year old guy, you know. In love, no less.

That one ended up, uh… kinda passionate. But – we weren't sure if both of us would end up alive! And well!

Cut us some slack.

It was pretty hot, too… I wouldn't mid repeating that one again! Too bad there wasn't any tongue… Mm, I wonder how that'd feel like?

Shut up, you damn pervert.

But you agree, don't you? *wriggles eyebrows*

I reddened. No I don't!

Riiiiight.

That, people, is a nuisance that I've had since the Finals. He calls himself my "Inner".

He says he probably won't stick around for long, but I don't the sooner he leaves the better. Like I needed a pervert living in my head.

Hey! I resent that!

Don't. Care.

Soon, Tenten and I pulled away from each other, slowly, ending the kiss.

I maneuvered my arm again so it was beneathTenten's head, and she rested on it.

"Mmm…." she hummed, contentedly and smiling, her eyes closed.

... That is it. Screw it all.

"Tenten."

"Mm?"

"I love you." I stated. Kinda abrupt and blunt, but whatever. This isn't a some chick flick.

Her eyes jumped open, flicking immediately to me. Shock was very evident on her face.

"Y-y-you… w-what?" Quickly her face reddened.

How amusing…

"I love you." I repeated.

"I heard that! I meant-… I meant-… Uh, um… gah!"

I rose a brow, internally feeling like laughing. "I don't speak alien, Tenten."

Her eyes narrowed. "Very funny." Then, her expression fell and she looked away from me. "I'm just surprised. Do you… mean it? Because joking like that is just mean."

I frowned. Does she seriously think I'd joke like that? Or is that just her insecurity showing?

"I wouldn't joke about something like this. I really am in love with you." I turned her head back to me, making me look at me even if it wasn't in my eyes.

"… Really?"

"Really."

"You sure?"

"Positive."

"Positively sure?"

"Tenten..."

"Alright… I believe you." She was looking down at my chin so she wouldn't have to look me in the eyes, but I saw her smile. She gripped the front of my hospital gown and buried her face in my clothed chest.

She squealed quietly. Someone's happy.

I smiled.

She pulled away from my chest. "Sorry. Had to do that. I was just so…"

"Happy?"

"Yeah…" Her face was very red and I could tell it was all she could do to not break out in a grin that would split her face in half.

"Wouldn't that usually mean you return my feelings?"

She reddened even more and quickly buried herself in my chest again. How cute.

"Well? Do you? I want to hear it, Tenten." I was pretty sure she did return my feelings.

I mean, she had a crush on me a while back, I know that much. But of course, a part of me was absolutely terrified that those feelings are now gone.

What then? Would our relationship be awkward for the rest of our time together? Would she distance herself from me?

But her reaction calmed me down somewhat. So for once, I decided to just hope for the best and believe that she did; not daring to think otherwise.

"…" She muttered.

"What was that? I can't hear you Tenten…" I teased. I thought I heard something like a "yes" but I wanted to hear it louder.

There was a grin on my face that was refusing to leave, and I let it stay. I should be let myself be happy sometimes.

"… yes…" She said quietly.

"Louder, Ten."

"Yes!" She exclaimed pulling away from my chest, looking frustrated, but heavily embarrassed. When she saw the grin/smirk that was on my face, she looked shocked for a moment, then scowled.

"Yes what?"

She huffed and looked away from me.

"Yes, I…" She looked down to my collarbone this time – anywhere away from my eyes.

"Yes, I return your feelings."

I chuckled. Her eyes shot up to glare at me. "I want to hear those words. Say them, Tenten."

Her face had cooled down before when she scowled at me, but now, it inflamed even redder than before.

I took her chin and forced her to look me directly. "Tenten…" I said softly.

Her eyes softened and she gulped, taking a breath.

"I…" She swallowed. "I love you, Neji-kun." She said softly. "So much..."

I couldn't help myself.

My eyes lit up, the grin finally ate my face, and I laughed. Laughed. Out of pure happiness and relief.

I hugged her shocked body tightly to my own, muttering "yes, yes, yes!" quietly. I sighed as she wrapped her arms around my neck and at how perfect our bodies fit against each other.

After a moment, I pulled away and rested my forehead against hers and positioned our heads on the pillow, closing my eyes and sighing again. I had a small smile on my face.

"Neji-kun…" she muttered.

"I know this unlike me… I'm just really happy…" I said quietly.

I felt her kiss my cheekbone, and opened my eyes to see why.

She ran a thumb under my left eye.

"Tears…" We muttered softly, simultaneously. I out of surprise, she to explain.

I didn't even notice…

I smiled again, and pressed a soft peck to her lips. "Tears of happiness, Ten…"

The peck I gave her turned into more pecks and more and more between us until they ended up as sweet kisses.

When we pulled away, she kissed my forehead gingerly, removing the bandages momentarily. She knows what that spot means to me, and I know why she kissed it – to show me, that no matter what, she'll always love me. Curse seal or no curse seal.

"I'm happy, too…" she said.

I smiled again.

I may only be 15, but that doesn't mean I'm oblivious to the world. I may not be well-versed in love or anything, but if there's two things I understand, it's these: 1) I love her. 2) We will face hardship in the future together.

The question is; am I willing to risk that? Risk her?

"There'll be a lot happening in the future…" Tenten started. So she addresses it before I did.

"A lot, Neji-kun. Things'll change, and we'll be pulled along with it. Like a fierce tide." Alright. I'm confused. What is she talking about exactly? Things'll obviously change – we'll need a new kage and the village just got attacked. But there's more to what she's saying…

"What are you trying to say, then? I'll protect you regardless." I meant what I said. I want to protect her, no matter what.

Surprisingly, she looked up sharply at me. I flinched on instinct. "I'm not sure what I'm trying to say either; some kind of warning? But I don't want that!"

… What?

Excuse me?

"You don't... want me to protect you?" She nodded her head. If I wasn't lying on the pillow with her, it would've looked weird to see her nod sideways. How random of me.

"No. I don't."

"Why not?!" She is so backwards sometimes! What girl doesn't want to be protected by the girl she loves? I thought girls liked that. Not that I said it because I thought it was what she wanted to hear. I meant it.

"Because I don't want you to end up dying or something terrible like that! And my inner feminist has little to do with this, Neji-kun – I know what you're thinking." She knows me so well.

"I am not goi-" I started, but she interrupted me with a finger to my lips.

"You don't know that!" She yelled. Tears were pooling into her eyes.

I stayed silent. Now that I think about it, having nightmares of me dying for so long would easily make her afraid of my death…

"I'd rather we… protect each other, you know? I can fight, too, and you need me to watch your back." She said quietly, as tears ran down her face.

I wiped them away with my thumb, smiling as I finally understood her.

I kissed her nose. "That's even better, then."

Content now that she got her point across, she pressed closer to me.

"So… what are we now?" She said quietly, embarrassed.

"Well, we're a couple aren't we?" I chuckled.

"Just wanted to be sure…" she pouted.

Then, her expression grew more serious. "… What about… you know, the clan? Would they really be okay… with me?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"If you've forgotten, Neji-kun, I'm basically a nobody." I opened my mouth to interrupt her, but she placed a finger over my mouth.

"Let me finish. I have no last name, no parents, and no relatives to speak of. None. Zip. Nobody. Never knew them, and never will. The only thing I'm sure of is that I'm an only child and was born at least right outside of Konoha. But that's just intuition!

"Even though Lee has the same familial situation I do, he's made a name for himself in the village already, at least! And Gai-sensei's bound to adopt him sometime. Nobody knows who I am.

"You may not be the heir, Neji-kun, but you come from one of the most influential clans in the village that's renown around the world. How do you think people would feel if they learned you were dating this nobody? 'The Hyuuga prodigy – dating a no-name teammate.'

"Your uncle already thinks I'm out to seduce you for your money!(2)"

I sighed, frowning. Tenten seems to ponder her "unimportance" a lot. Despite her looks, she's actually pretty insecure sometimes. I had almost forgotten that.

I pinched her right cheek, the one that wasn't on her pillow. Harshly.

"Oww! Nehi-guuh?"

"You're ridiculous sometimes, you know that?" I said, letting go.

She cradled her cheek, watching me as I continued.

"Do you really think I cared about any of that shit? I never cared about that sort of thing anyway, you know that. If we end up together on tabloids –unlikely as that is– then fine. Let the world know that you're mine. And that I'm yours." She blushed.

"It'd certainly get rid of some fangirls. People can say and think whatever but that won't change the fact that I love you, you love me, and we both want to be together. We can deal with the clan if it comes to it. But like you said – I'm not the heir. Hiashi shouldn't care much if at all unless I was Hinata-sama or Hanabi-sama. Same goes for the rest of the clan."

I caressed the cheek I pinched, laying a kiss on it. She blushed again.

"I've known all about you and all that business about your last name and family since we were children, Tenten. But you also have me, Lee, and Gai-sensei – we're your family now. Even the rest of the Konoha 13(3), as Sensei dubbed us. And as for your last name…" I blushed, opting to look at her nose rather than her eyes. "… Maybe one day, you'll have mine... Maybe."

Now, now. We all know something like marriage is way too much and too far away right now. But, if it happens, I'd be perfectly content.

But we're also 15 – we don't need to even think about something like that now. We will when it comes.

"Neji-kun…"

I took a breath and looked her in the eyes again. "Still worried?"

"No." She whispered.

"Good."

We leaned closer each other. "You belong to me now…" I whispered.

"How possessive of you… but now I also have you all to myself…" she replied, just as softly.

I smirked. "How hypocritical of you…"

"Just shut up and kiss me."

I smiled. "My pleasure."

Our lips met again.


A Couple Moments Later

I looked to the clock. "It's almost 3."

I looked down to the girl in my arms. "We should sleep then," she said before yawning.

Seeing her yawn brought me to yawn as well. How the hell are yawns contagious exactly?

"Goodnight, Neji-kun."

"Goodnight, Tenten. For the record, I won't be all mushy and romantic like I've been when we wake up. Especially around others. Better enjoy this while you still can."

She laughed softly, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling herself as close to me as she could be. Though her injuries made that hard for her.

I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She moved her hands from my neck and rested them against my chest, and I laid an arm under her head for her to sleep against. The other remained over her waist.

"I know…" she said, sleepiness seeping into her voice. "That's just the way you are… but I love you for it, too..."

With one last peck to my lips, she fell asleep.

I pulled the blankets up and over our shoulders to keep us warm.

Then, I kissed her forehead and fell asleep myself, with one final thought. November 17th… I'll remember today…


3 hours later: 6 am.

Karin POV

Ugh… What's this weird feeling in my head? What a crappy way to wake up, were my first thoughts as I awoke.

I had the weirdest feeling in my brain.

It felt like-… like-…

… You know that feeling when you know you're forgetting something but don't know what?

Sorta like that. Intuition.

Instead, the feeling is telling me to do something. To check something. It's pretty weird.

Check what, exactly?

It was very strong and equally annoying, so I couldn't ignore it.

Then, I had an idea.

What about my scroll? Itachi said we could send messages to each other… We hadn't delivered any since we got them to test it, but we might as well, right?

So I reached over to the bedside table for my ninja pouch, where I kept my scroll.

I checked the time while I was at it and realized it was 6 am. What the hell?! They woke me up at 6! This better be good…

I opened it, nervous. I doubt any of the girls would do something like this at this time of the morning when they could just text me or something. But Itachi could always have a message for me...

I opened my scroll.

The message was indeed from Itachi's scroll, but the message sounded nothing like him.

I gasped.

No way… It can't be!

Itachi: Yo, Four Eyes. Miss me?


(1): "Ten" in Japanese (and Chinese, possibly) is "heaven". So "Tenten" could translate literally into "heaven heaven", or "heavenly heaven" which makes more sense. But that's a literal translation that doesn't pertain to its actual meaning. I think. "Tenten" means "little by little", "this and that", "here and there", but insinuates "ten out of ten" - why Kishi named her that.
(2): Yup. I don't think I mentioned it in DoOver yet, (maybe when I had Tenten's POV during the Finals?) but Hiashi dislikes her (remember, he's a jerk here) because he thinks she's a dirty gold-digger. Hilarious, right? Something my sis and I came up with.
(3): Konoha 11 + Sai + Sasuke.

Question of the Week: Favorite candy? BTW, for anyone who knows - how long is Sword Art: Online? Is it completed yet?

Love ya'll.

SasuSaku, NaruHina, and SasuHinaFriendship! (I don't support the couple) coming up. Probably. Depends on what my hands want.

Laters, I'm in a hurry!

REVIEW!

150th reviewer gets a one-shot, remember?

-Cherry