Remembered Memories

Tenten stood there unmoved from the same spot that Neji left her at. It took a few more second before the name 'Kabuto' processed into her brain. She remembered that he was the one that got knocked back by one of the Sound Village ninjas at the entrance exam. There wasn't much she remembered after that that included him so she wondered what Neji meant by saying that he was going to kill him. Before she could move to walk into the manor to question him about it a sharp pain burst in her head that caused her to fall onto her knees. She placed both of her hands to the side of her head to try and ease the pain out but no use. Closing her eyes as groaning as images started to appear in her head.

A dark figure, was standing just a few feet away from her, he was taller but only slightly. His lips were moving to form words but she couldn't tell what they were. In his right hand held a small tube like container. The images were so dark and blurry that she couldn't differ between the colors, only black outlines of figures and objects. She for feel something sturdy behind her that caused her to not move back, but in a sense she didn't even if she could. She could see a kunai in her hand in an attack position toward the dark figure. She could feel herself tremble as fear started to slowly engulf her.

Before she could react the small tube like container was flicked open and smoke exploded in large amounts in the surrounding area. She could feel herself try to escape to a safer place but her body was not taking the commands and all she could do was stand there inhaling the substance from the container. Tenten could feel herself loosing consciousness. Then everything went black.

Wincing, Tenten cracked an eye open still feeling slight pain but the worse of it had already started to ease out. To and Ri were standing close to her, watching as if they could tell she was in pain and wanted to make sure that she was alright. Removing her hands from the side of her head different ideas of what had happened to her came to realization. Was it Kabuto that had caused her to forget her memories, and why. If he was capable of doing this that what were to happen to Neji if he went out there alone? She made her way into the manor and toward his room, retracing her steps so that she wouldn't get lost just trying to get through the maze of the Hyuuga manor. Finally reaching her destination, she opened the door slowly to find him packing. His white bag was placed on top of the chest at the end of his bed and he was placing various materials that he needed for the mission in. His back was facing her but he could tell that she was there; he didn't even need the help of his Byakugan to tell that it was her standing at the doorway to his room.

A feeling that she could understand was tug at her in the pit of her stomach. She slowly moved closer trying to be as quiet as possible even though she knew that he already sensed her presence in the room. She stopped when she was directly behind him. Leaned onto him and rested her forehead against his back which caused him to stop packing for a brief moment. Neji turned his head slightly and watched her. Tenten closed her eyes and just stood there, taking in the scent of the room, of him.

Both of them didn't know what happened after that. Somehow Neji had turned around and now they were both kissing each other. Tenten's hands were holding onto his shoulders to keep steady as the kiss made her legs numb. Neji's hands were holding on her hips to apply extra support for her and to hold her in place. Slowly Neji guided Tenten to the bed with the help of his Byakugan to ensure that they wouldn't trip on something. He gently placed her down so that he bad was on the bed and he leaned in on top of her still kissing her. That was all that Neji allowed himself to do, he didn't want to force her into anything she might regret later but it seems that Tenten had something else in mind. Her hands were making their way through his Hyuuga style robes feeling their way through.

This was like her dream, well in her memories. His chest felt the same way, hard and warm with very little hair which made her smile in the kiss. It was a matter of moments before his rode came off and was tossed lazily to the floor. Neji's lips moved from her mouth to her neck and trailed kissed to her shoulder as his hands worked to try and remove her shirt but as he did this, realization hit him or what they were about to do and it hit him hard. He pulled back abruptly which caused Tenten to look at him feeling the loss of his warmth around her.

"Neji" She said in a small voice edging him to continue what he was doing. Something about being with him felt so right, she knew that feeling, that warmth. That was something no one could ever forget. Neji was actually very gentle, no matter how cold he seemed or how tough his defense was, he was very kind inside. In a way she knew this ever since she met him back at the academy.

"We shouldn't be…" His gazed looked away from her as his words trailed off not comfortable with saying what he wanted to say. He wanted to be with her, to protect her so badly but he was scared of hurting her with his selfishness. This was the first time in years since he's had this fear. He didn't even care if he died sometimes but loosing Tenten was something that he couldn't withstand no matter how much he would try to block that pain out. Before he could move to get off, Tenten raised her left hand and placed it onto his right arm to stop him from moving away. Neji stopped and looked at her hand, the silver ring shined even though the room didn't have much sunlight shinning through with the closed shades. His eyes stared at the ring lovingly as if remembering were it was from.

"Neji, why do I have this ring?" She asked still softly. His loving expression turned to a troubled on at her question. If he said something then that would be pushing her with his stubbornness, his possessiveness, wouldn't it? Feeling his unease, she moved her right hand up and placed it against Neji's cheek and caresses it. Neji kept still, he was not going to say anything. He would not allow himself to say anything.

"We're engaged." Then he said something. Hearing his own voice form those words he growled at it. No matter how much he tried to deny it, he could never refuse her anything. Neji just wouldn't say no to her and keep to it.

"Will you tell me more?" Tenten whispered, her hand still caressing his cheek. He tried to not say another word but the end result was inevitable.

"I proposed to you before you went on that mission. We were to wed when you returned, but when you returned…Tsunade said to wait till the right moment before having the wedding." He could feel his body tense up with a mix of anger, frustration and sadness which Tenten was easily able to figure out and she stopped caressing his cheek to move up and pulled him down. Neji complied easily and rested his head on her shoulder. His left hand wrapped around her body, not in fear of losing her but to be reminded that she was still there. Tenten's hands moved to his back and did simple strokes on his bare back to calm him. The "heat" of the moment had passed and now it was just a peaceful moment.

They stayed in this position for a few moments. It was only until Tenten removed her hands from his back did Neji look up to see what was wrong. She didn't say anything at first but motioned for him to move up higher so that they would be on the same level. Her hands started to caress his shoulders, chest, and stomach before she said something that even made the heart of a Hyuuga pick up speed.

"Help me remember." Then she moved down slightly and kissed his chest above his heart, she could feel the pulsation as her lips touched heated flesh. His eyes closed, he could feel a sound wanting to escape through his throat but he held back. His mind was on the brink of collapsing, barely able to sort of what should be done and want shouldn't be done yet.

"Tenten…" He didn't even get a chance to finish; Tenten took hold of his face and kissed him. Neji couldn't help but kiss back. She only pulled away one more time to speak to Neji, the words she said caused him to lose complete focus, to lose most of his control.

"Make me remember." With that Neji did what she asked of him. Clothes were carelessly thrown to the side with any doubts or second thoughts still left in either one of their thoughts. Hands caressed over skin, skimming lustfully over what is now the other's. Lips pressing against areas that would be concealed during the day. With one more kiss, Neji positioned himself above Tenten and looked into her eyes giving signal to what his next move was. As approval, Tenten raised her hips up to tell him to proceed. Neji groaned as her flesh came into contact with his lower more sensitive region. The pace of his movements, his thrusts were slower to a point were they were painfully slow until Tenten edged him to go faster. It wasn't too long after Neji thrust quickened did both of them reach the edge of the peak and finally came crashing down in heavy breaths.

Drops of sweat trailed down their body as if it had been a day of non stop sparring, tired and exhausted they moved into a more comfortable position so that Neji's weight would not squash her and repositioned on the bed. Tenten crawled on top of Neji and rested her head on his shoulder and Neji's right arm instinctively wrapped around her waist. Her right hand moved to lay on his stomach drawing circles with the tip of her index finger as she listened to that way his breathing had finally returned to its usual speed. Neji gently rubbed her bare back and closed his eyes as she had also done. Their legs lay entwined with each other. Blissfully ignoring everything else they slept.

Tenten awoke to knocking sounds against a door. Still exhausted from previous straining on her body she could barely obtain the will power to move out of the bed to the door. Groaning she pushed her body off of the bed and walked over to the door that allowed entrance for visitors. It surprised her even at how fast she actually reached the door considering she was slumped so lower her knees could probably touch the cold wooden floor. She placed her hand on the door knob and turned to be taken back at the sight.

There standing at her door was none other then Neji Hyuuga. That bastard that had worked her like a dog and didn't even give her a thanks let a lot a moments rest. But there he stood, in his usual cold demeanor with his hand inside of his pocket and stern face. Tenten was close to shutting the door on his face but she decided to wait for him to say something that she knew would give her a reason to slam the door on his face. She kept a hand on the door awaiting the moment. But he didn't say anything. Both of them stood there for what felt like minutes were just a few seconds before Neji looked away to avoid eye contact and apologized.

"I'm sorry." It came short and simple but Tenten knew that it took a lot to even get Neji to become close to apologizing to anyone let alone her and she couldn't help but smile. He apologized, it literally meant that he accepted being incorrect and that was something she knew first hand that Neji's pride held him back of.

It had been exactly ten minutes all together since she left him on the training field alone. It took two minutes and ten seconds of feeling the absence of his female teammate before he stopped training. It took seven minutes and forty-seven seconds of deliberating with himself to an answer. And it took three seconds to get himself before her house's door.

Still smiling at him, Tenten removed her hand from the door. "Thank you Neji"

"Do you want to return to spar?" Neji asked looking at her smile, he felt a sense of comfort from it, something he hadn't felt in a long time.

"Tomorrow, only if you do this for me though." Tenten said.

"What?" It really didn't matter what Tenten said, Neji knew he would agree even if it was ridiculous. Taking his arm, Tenten pulled him inside her house and to her room. It was when they reached her room did Neji feel unease, it was only increased when Tenten got into her bed and motioned for him to also get it. Close to refusing he looked at her and the refusal changed to an approval and he got onto the bed, trying to get close but not to close to where Tenten was. Before he knew it, Tenten leaped over pushing him back and she rested her head against his shoulder. Right hand on his stomach and legs entwined with his.

"Help me fall asleep." Neji began to gently rub her back through her shirt as Tenten fell asleep to the rhythm of his heat's pulsation. One thought faded in her mind as peaceful sleep consumed her.

'I can get used to returning to bed this way.'