Bright and early the next day Asuka awoke with a big smile on her face as she remembered Neji's kiss. Almost immediately after she woke there was a knock on the door. I wonder who that could be. Probably Ino wanting to know how our date went. Asuka opened the door to find not only Ino, but Sakura, Hinata and Tenten too.
"Hi guys. What brings you here this early in the morning?"
"Don't play dumb with us Asuka. Ino told us that you had a date with Neji and we want details!" Sakura said enthusiastically.
Asuka sighed. I guess it's to be expected. I've become close with Neji and they've known him a long time. Naruto also told me I could trust these girls with my life. What the hell! If I can get past my anger enough to let Amaya look for my father then I'm sure I can open up to these girls enough to spill about my date.
"You don't have to if you don't want to." Hinata offered.
"Its okay, I don't mind. Come on in." Asuka said.
They all went in and sat in the living room. Before Asuka even sat down they all had their eyes fixed on her eagerly waiting. Asuka told them everything that happened with Amaya, in order to give some context, and then went into detail about how Ino dragged Asuka all over the village and then everything that followed.
"That's so exciting!" Ino squealed.
"I'm happy that Neji has found someone to care so deeply about." Hinata said quietly.
"Do you guys have plans for another date?" Sakura asked.
"Not as of yet but seeing as how we've finally gone on our first one I can imagine the second one wont be far behind." Asuka answered.
"What's wrong Tenten? You've been awfully quiet." Ino asked.
"I guess I'm just a little jealous. Not including Hinata, it seems like you guys have no problem telling your man how you feel." Tenten admitted.
"To be honest I didn't tell Neji how I felt till he asked me because someone else brought it up." Asuka shared.
"Who do you have a crush on Tenten?" Sakura asked.
"You guys will just laugh." Tenten dodged.
"I promise I won't laugh." Asuka swore.
"Me too." Sakura said.
"Me three." Ino said.
Tenten took a deep breath.
"I'm in love with ... Lee."
Everyone's jaws dropped. Asuka was the first to recover.
"I think that's sweet. How come you haven't told him yet?" Asuka asked.
"Because he's got eyes for Sakura." Tenten said pulling her knees to her chest.
Asuka could tell she was close to crying.
"But I'm in love with Sasuke and Lee knows nothing is going to happen between us so maybe he will see you when he's ready." Sakura comforted.
"I know that but the whole thing just feels hopeless."
"I may not be able to tell Naruto how I feel but I'm sure between all five of us we can come up with a plan to help you with telling Lee how you feel." Hinata suggested.
All the other girls agreed.
"You guys would do that for me?" Tenten asked.
"Of coarse we're friends now. I think I can even get Neji to help us out so we don't have another Ino encounter." Asuka teased.
"Hey!"
"Sorry Ino but its true."
"Well in that case I'll see if I can talk Shikamaru into helping." Ino said.
"You really think he'll be up for it?" Sakura asked.
"Sure he will... Once I offer to treat him and Choji to a week a BBQ's." Ino confirmed.
Everyone giggled.
"Well what are we waiting for? Ino and Asuka you go get Neji and Shikamaru and meet us back at my place then we can start planning." Sakura instructed.
Immediately, Sakura, Hinata, and Tenten headed to Sakura's house. Ino and Asuka headed off together to find Shikamaru and Neji.
"Let's go get Shikamaru first, we can use him to help convince Neji." Ino suggested.
"Sounds good to me."
After several minutes of searching they finally found him and Choji sitting outside looking up at the clouds. Choji of coarse had his bag of chips which he was happily munching away at.
"Shikamaru can we see you for a sec?" Ino asked.
"Sure." Shikamaru stood up and headed towards the girls and just out of earshot of Choji. "What are you guys scheming?" Shikamaru asked.
"What makes you think we're scheming?" Asuka asked.
"Ino never pulls me away from Choji unless its something she wants to keep to just the two of us. And your faces and body language tell me you guys are strategizing."
Wow! I knew he was smart but I didn't think he would be that fast.
"We need your help coming up with a way to help Lee and Tenten get together." Asuka said outright.
"You want my help to play matchmaker?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." Asuka answered.
Shikamaru looked unimpressed.
"I'll treat you and Choji once a day everyday for a week at BBQ's." Ino bribed.
Shikamaru's eyes went a little wide. "You must really want my help if your willing to bribe with that."
"Well that's because we don't need another incident like Ino dragging me all over yesterday." Asuka teased.
"Will you drop that already!? It worked out didn't it?!" Ino yelled.
"I see your point. Fine I'll do it." Shikamaru agreed. Shikamaru turned and faced Choji, "Hey Choji! Ino's treating us to dinner at BBQ's every night this week starting tomorrow."
"Alright! What time should I be there?" Choji asked.
"Let's say 6pm."Shikamaru answered.
"Alright, now that that's settled, let's go get Neji." Asuka said.
"Right." Ino agreed.
Shikamaru was silent and simply followed the girls.
Finally, they found Neji training by himself. The trio walked up to him. Once Neji noticed them he stopped what he was doing and waited till they were within conversation distance.
"This isn't another confrontation is it Ino?" Neji asked.
"Don't worry Neji its not. Notice I'm not being dragged this time." Asuka answered for Ino.
"Again with that Asuka? Like I said, it worked didn't it?" Ino protested.
"So then what's this all about?" Neji asked.
"We want your help getting Tenten and Lee together." Ino said.
"Really? You want me to help Lee get a girlfriend?" Neji looked completely unimpressed.
"Please Neji." Ino begged.
Neji looked at Shikamaru. "Why are you a part of this?"
"Ino offered to pick up the tab for our food at BBQ's for a week."
"And what about you Asuka? I would have thought that after yesterday you would be the last person in on this." Neji asked looking at Asuka kind of confused.
"I more just want to created an atmosphere and opportunity where Tenten can tell Lee how she feels." Asuka explained.
"I see, so he would be free to say no if he wanted." Neji thought out loud.
"That's right." Asuka said.
"Plus think about it this way, if Lee and Tenten hook up that means that you can have some more peace from his excitability because he will be with her more." Shikamaru pointed out.
"And it gives you more time with your girlfriend." Ino added gesturing to Asuka.
"How can I help?" Neji asked without hesitation.
Asuka smiled. "Well first we all have to meet at Sakura's place then we can strategize."
So off they headed to meet with the girls at Sakura's house and for a good majority of the day they plotted how to help Tenten confess her feelings to Lee.
"So everyone is clear on the plan?" Shikamaru asked.
Everyone agreed simultaneously.
"Alright then, tomorrow we put our plan into action." Shikamaru confirmed.
Asuka looked at the clock. "Perfect timing too, I'm hungry. I think its time to go home and heat up some food."
"Yeah me too." Ino said.
Everyone else soon agreed, said their farewells and went their separate ways.
"Asuka! Wait up!" Lee called out.
Asuka stopped, turned to see Lee and Guy Sensei and waited for them to catch up.
"What's up?" Asuka asked.
"Where have you been all day?"
"Just hanging out the girls why?"
"Guy Sensei and I require your assistance for a new training idea." Lee said enthusiastically.
"I would love to help but I was just on my way to eat." Asuka explained.
"Food sounds like a wonderful idea! Don't you think Guy Sensei?" Lee asked.
"Yes it does Lee. Asuka what do you say to helping us with training after we treat you to dinner?" Guy asked.
"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea."
So the three of them went and ate and then Lee and Guy Sensei pulled Asuka full force into training.
"So what is it you need me for?" Asuka asked.
"Well I was thinking you could create an ice rink for us so that we could train our taijutsu while trying to keep our balance on ice." Guy Sensei explained.
"I'm not sure how big of a rink I could give you. The colder something is the more chakra I need to use, but I will give it my best."
Asuka weaved the proper hand signs and formed about a 30ft diameter ice rink. Once she had finished she huffed and puffed.
"Excellent work Asuka!" Guy Sensei praised.
"Let's begin our training Guy Sensei!" Lee shouted as he launched onto the ice.
"Right!"
The two began their rigorous training. Asuka sat and watched as she rested. Wow the intensity these two use when they are training still blows my mind. They may be sliding all over the place but they are still standing and managing to do taijutsu.
"Come and join us Asuka!" Guy Sensei offered.
"Alright." Asuka accepted now feeling fully rested and lept onto the ice.
Immediately after landing Lee swung a kick at Asuka. Asuka ducked and came back up with a punch from Lee's blind spot. Lee blocked just in the nick of time only to get a blow from Guy. Asuka took the opportunity to try a kick at Guy's side but he was quick to block with his free hand. Lee then took the opening Asuka gave to sweep her leg. Asuka took the fall then rolled right back up. As soon as she was up however she barely had enough time to block Lee's foot coming at her face. This ice sure takes taijutsu training up a notch. I barely had enough time to react when I trained with Lee and Guy Sensei before but with the ice it's even more difficult.
They continued their training till well after the sun had gone down.
"Alright Lee, lets call it a night." Guy Sensei said.
"But Guy Sensei..."
"No buts, we can continue this training later, after we've had a good night's sleep." Guy said.
"Sounds good to me." Asuka said and released the jutsu.
"Very well then. I will be sure to get a good night's rest." Lee said.
"I'll see you guys later." Asuka said as she began walking home.
"Asuka wait!" Lee called out.
"What's wrong Lee?" Asuka asked once he had caught up.
"May I walk you home? There is something I wish to ask you."
"Sure."
The two began their walk.
"You said you had been hanging out with the girls today is that correct?" Lee asked.
"Yeah why?"
"Was Tenten there?"
"Yeah. What's going on in your head Lee?"
"Once Sakura made it clear to me that she was interested in me I decided to let my feelings for her go. Now I think I may have feelings for Tenten, however I am not sure she feels the same way."
Oh my gosh! Tomorrow is going to work out perfectly! Tenten you are about to be united with the man you love!
"I think I would watch her and spend time with her over the next little bit and watch her closely to see if you can pick up any sign that she feels the same way." Asuka counseled while still keeping the plan safe.
"I'm not sure I would be able to see the signs."
"Trust me Lee, if she likes you then she will be dropping hints. Girls always do."
"Did you drop hints with Neji?"
"Neji and I are a unique case."
"How so?"
"Neji and I were more at odds with each other at first so when my feelings started to surface I denied them." Asuka explained.
"But what if Tenten is trying to deny her feelings? How will I be able to tell."
"From what I know of Tenten, if she has feelings for you she wouldn't be one to deny them."
Finally, they arrived at Asuka's house.
"Well this is my place." Asuka looked at Lee and saw he was still a little unsure. "Trust me Lee, if Tenten likes you, you'll know it. Maybe even sooner than you think."
"Alright then! I will eagerly look for her hints and if I see them I will confess my undying love for her."
Asuka smiled. If only you knew how much Tenten wanted to hear it, maybe you would be together already. Oh well, not to worry, you guys will be together tomorrow.
Lee and Asuka said goodbye. Asuka didn't even make it too her bed; she flopped on the couch and passed out.