Thanks for the reviews. I try to answer each review I get- well, when it's signed I can- but I don't always have time, so sometimes I do reply to reviews, other times I don't because I don't have the time. So keep reviewing, and I'll be sure to get to you one of these chapters! And even when life doesn't permit me time, I still appreciate the reviews!
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Ten-ten sat on a nearby branch, twirling a stick and knocking snow off the other cold branches. She looked up at her companion.
Hinata continued to gaze at the tree tops, the wind ruffling her long, blue-black hair. She'd let it grow out, down past her shoulders so she could be like her Neji-chan. "He won't talk to me. Y-You…m-maybe you should try."
Ten-ten rose, brushing snow off her pants, and leapt onto the wooden porch. "Thank you." She bowed halfway to Hinata, who only nodded her head and didn't look at her. She knew how much it cost the girl to say that.
Ten-ten opened the door. "It's getting colder out there." She gazed at Neji's hunched back.
"The stew's almost done."
Ten-ten's lips pursed. "Even the birds aren't coming out. Maybe we're in for a snow storm."
"It must be bad if the cold's even bothering you." Neji's voice was soft, distracted. As ninja, they were trained to withstand the harshest of elements. What would faze other people didn't bother them a bit. It all related to body temperature, which they used chakra to regulate.
Ten-ten nodded the smacked herself on the forehead, wincing when her heel drove the metal forehead protector into her skin. She still wasn't used to Neji being blind. He knew his way around the treehouse so well, it was easy to forget he was. "Yeah. Stew smells good. It's nice when we're all here together."
Neji nodded. Ten-ten paused, then went over to her sleeping mat, which was a pile of thick furs and wool blankets, and fished out Neji's headband. She'd scored the leaf symbol on it long ago, when they first arrived. She came over to him and held out her hand. "Here."
Neji raised his eyebrows in question, hands following the sound of her voice. He missed; his hands were under hers and off to the side. Ten-ten adjusted herself and placed the forehead protector in Neji's palms. His eyes widened as he fingered it. "I-I thought I lost it!"
Ten-ten blushed. "Thank Hinata; she took it for you."
Neji fingered the gouge mark across the leaf symbol, and tears trickled down his cheeks. Ten-ten frowned and wrapped her arms around him as he cried. "Neji?"
Tbc…
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