Pairing: NejiTen

Genre: Romance/Angst

This Time

by John Legend

"Hai. Thank you, Hinata-sama." She bows curtly before retreating back to the training grounds. Meanwhile, Neji sighs in exasperation. What does Hiashi-sama want now? Slightly reluctantly, Neji ventures towards the Hyugga compound.

Five years have passed and the Hyugga was now 21 and a high-ranking ANBU official. Certainly, he had not wasted his years. He'd used it training. Training so vigorously, in fact that he'd spent only a few moths as Jonin before being appointed as ANBU. Yes, Neji definitely did not waste his time. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said about his social life, romantically speaking.

Speaking of Neji's love life, the Hyuuga should look more carefully before turning a corner.

CRASH!

The smaller figure (which isn't Neji) stumbles and falls.

"Ooohh.." Neji groans, rubbing his sore forehead.

"Oh God! I am so- Neji?" Said Hyuuga looks down and blinks.

"Tenten?" So beautiful.. He thinks, and suddenly, his hand shoots down at her as a last-minute gesture of courtesy. His heart pounds, nervously, forcefully against his ribcage, palms sweating every second his hand hangs between them. She eyes it skeptically before smiling that genuine, heart-wrenching, time-bending smile Neji is cursed to have seen. It's so so beautiful..

She latches onto his hand, accepting his offer and sparks quickly rush up his hands, his arms, all throughout his body. And he realizes her skin.. How soft it was.. How small her hands were.. How it perfectly fit in his.. Dear Kami, he was crazy.

He hoists her up, quickly realizing how much more beautiful she actually looks up close.

"Hey, Neji." She releases his hand, much to his chagrin. "It's been ages, hasn't it? How've you been?" She smiles warmly, beautifully, not knowing the chaotic effect it has on the Hyuuga's once clear, systematic thoughts. So incredibly, unbelievably beautiful..

"I've been fine." He answers, surprised at his show of placidity. He pockets his trembling hands, frustrated and nervous. Gorgeous.. He stares at her, hanging intently on every word that comes out of those luscious lips.

"Yeah." She adds, hoping to break the awkward tension. "I.. I see you've.. Got back f-from that.." She swallows. "..Mission." And the awkward tension actually thickens.

Then it hits him. How there was once a them. It wasn't the most memorable time of his life.. In fact, he barely even remembered anything about it, he was ashamed to admit. He had been quite involved in his training, that much he could recall. He was preparing for initiation as ANBU, so of course he had to train, right?!

Right?

"Yes. I've actually been back a few months now." He adds unhelpfully and unexpectedly calmly, adding more to the already unbelievably awkward tension.

"Oh." She smiles a forceful smile. It didn't look as.. beautiful, he discerns.

"Well, I guess I better get going. It was nice seeing you." She waves a brief farewell before turning away.

I miss her..

--

"Good morning, Hiashi-sama." He bows mannerly before sitting beside the elder Hyugga on the circular furniture.

"Good morning, Neji." Hiashi replies formally, apathetically. "I apologize for the short notice. The elders and I have discussed this only recently." He looks Neji in the eye, slightly condescendingly. Neji doesn't falter under his gaze. The elder Hyugga frowns, sighs then relaxes back into his chair.

"I'm sure you're familiar with the main branch's.. Privileges." Neji nods curtly. "Yes, well.. With the current Hokage's requests to reform the clan's principles, the elders have been debating on who would be most deserving as Clan head among your generation." Neji's interest and hope sparks, his brow raising.

"Expectantly, you, Neji, were their top choice." Suddenly, Neji finds himself biting back a grin, before seeing Hiashi frowning. "But.."

"..You must marry a Hyuuga."

--

"I can't believe this." Shikamaru eyes the fifth cup of sake the Hyuuga has downed. "When I dated her, I barely even remembered any dates we went to. Five years later, I now suddenly find her incredibly attractive?!" Sixth shot.

"Not only that, but I actually refuse to be Clan head." Seventh. "One more bottle please, sir." He gestures to the waiter, who nods in reply.

"Tell me, Nara.." He ventures. "How did you and Temari get together?" For the first time that evening, Shikamaru is given a chance to speak.

He shrugs. "Just told her I liked her. She ended up liking me back. It's not that complicated, really." He finishes, just as the waiter serves their third bottle of sake.

"Yes it is." And Neji takes a generous swig directly from the bottle. Shikamaru raises a brow at the Hyuuga's uncharacteristic antics.

"If you keep drinking, I have no doubts you'll end up at her door tonight." Neji doesn't waver. Instead, he continues with his tenth shot.

"I have a very high alcohol tolerance." He continues. "And besides, I may need the leverage." Eleventh. The Nara only smirks.

"The drunk mind speaks the sober heart." He downs his third shot. He swore never to get drunk during his relationship with Temari.

The Hyuuga snorts. "You would know." An amused smile. "You were drunk when you told Temari, weren't you?" The Nara's smirk widens.

"I very much was."

--

"I thought you said you had high alcohol tolerance." Shikamaru gently sets the cup of coffee on the table, plopping down on his bed beside the flushed Hyuuga.

"I think I lied." Neji scrunches up his face, taking a sip of coffee. Shikamaru noted how Neji didn't slur, despite being totally wasted. He wondered if all Hyuuga's were like that. Suddenly, Neji shifts towards him, hastily, awkwardly.

"Do you love Tenten?" Neji blurts out.

"WHAT?"

"Because.. I think I love her." Hyuuga's may not slur, but they sure were idiots when they were drunk.

--

Neji's eyes widen at the sight before them. "So beautiful.." He murmurs, before Shikamaru nudges him to keep silent.

Tenten's brows shoot up. "What are-? Oh geez. He's drunk." She shakes her head in disappointment. "He's drunk and you took him here?!"

"I'm really sorry, Tenten, but I didn't know where else to go."

"What about your place?!" He quickly produces a lie, knowing full well it was his house they'd just been from.

"My parents would kill me if they found out I was drinking this late-"

"-Again." She scolds. "What about Naruto? Kiba? Lee?" She adds desperately.

"It's Naruto and Sakura's anniversary, that's pretty self-explanatory. And Kiba and Lee are on missions. Come on, Tenten. It's just for one night."

She glares, shifting gazes between the two geniuses.

"You're both idiots." She concludes verbally, then sighs in defeat. "Fine." Sidestepping, she makes way for Shikamaru to guide Neji into her home. Shikamaru drops him roughly on the couch.

"Thanks, Tenten. Neji really owes you."

"So do you." She spats. He reaches her front steps, when he twirls around and speaks.

"One more thing, I-"

SLAM!

"I am so telling Temari you got drunk." She quips against the closed door. Gingerly, hesitantly, she turns to see a flushed Hyuuga staring intently at her.

"Hey there." A nervous, forced laugh emanates from her throat. "I'll go make coffee." She flees to the kitchen, breathing a sigh of relief. She places a shivering hand on her chest, feeling the inhumane heart rate..

Why was it so hard seeing him now? Wasn't he just the same power-hungry, fatalistic Neji Hyuuga she'd dated five years ago? Maybe a little taller.. More mature, hotter, even, but on the inside, he should be the same.

She sighs in defeat then goes on to prepare his coffee. I kind of miss him, though.. Suddenly, a rough hand slides gently up her arm and she finds her heart on her throat. She can't breath properly, it's hitching and her thoughts are hazy, blurry.

"Tenten.." He whispers against her nape, the scent of alcohol tainting his breath. She shivers blissfully under his control. "You are so beautiful." She uses her mouth to breath, to breath properly. She freezes, her brain unable to produce coherent thoughts anymore.

Where the hell was this five years ago?!

"Neji, no." She wills, despite her inner cries. She knows what will happen if they ever venture through this again. She doesn't want this. Not anymore.

She pushes him away, a puzzled expression looking foreign on the Hyuuga's features. But he doesn't know it breaks her heart too.

"I don't want this to happen again. I learned the first time." She shakes her head and goes back to preparing the coffee. "Please, just stay in the living room."

He is frustrated, confused and man, is his head killing him. But still, despite the bleary vision, he sees the incomparable beauty that was the girl before him.

Quickly, he grips her arms and rests his forehead on her shoulder. "Tenten.." He speaks, and he suppresses the urge to hug her, to pull her beautiful, tiny body against his, to bury his nose into that bundle of silk, brown hair. God, she was just so damn beautiful, it was so surreal.

He relieves her shoulders of his head and stares into those eyes. Those beautiful, perfect pools of brown. Slowly, he inches towards her, her addicting aroma wafting up his nostrils. She doesn't protest. She just stands there, waiting for the contact. Closer.. Just a little bit more..

Suddenly, he feels a hand against his chest and realizes she is pushing him away, away from the kiss.. Seeing her pained expression, his heart breaks and falls.

"Neji, we don't want this. You and I both know how this is gonna end. You'll stand me up for training.." She trails, and he realizes that she is about to cry. She wipes violently at her eyes, frustrated at the fact that she was actually crying. His heart feels strangled, Did I make her cry? "A-and.. I'll.. I-I'll end up.."

He doesn't let her finish. Instead, he captures her words with his lips, and God, it feels SO GOOD. He feels her push him away, albeit faintly. He doesn't part, though. He just wants her so bad. He'll leave after this, he swears. Maybe she'll hate him, but dear Kami, this was SO worth it.

This time, I'll take the chance.

And when he pulls away, he doesn't open his eyes. He can hear their labored breathing and he could feel her glares. He savors the moment before having to look at the angry, betrayed eyes he just knows is coming.

Before he opens his eyes, he whispers an "I love you." with as much sincerity and longing as he can muster. Those words were just five years overdue, he regrets.

This time, I'll be your man.

He opens his eyes slowly, hesitantly, and he sees her tears. I made her cry again? He thinks, and frantically blurts out an apology before turning to leave. For a genius, he truly was just an idiot.

"I'll show myself out." He says, not even sure where the hell he was gonna go.

"Neji?" She speaks and he stops mid-step. "Did you mean that?" And he could feel the hurt and hope and longing in her tone. He looks back at her. "Did you mean what you said? That.. That you.. Loved me?" He quickly found himself nodding vigorously.

"You don't know how much I've thought of the word 'beautiful' since I saw you this morning."

I can be all you need.

She cracks a smile, so sincerely and genuinely and lovingly that his heart stops and breathing hitches. For a moment, he is tempted to tell her to stop smiling so beautifully for it makes him go unbelievably crazy inside.

"But.. How do I know things will be different?" She hesitates. He smiles and walks to her. His smile is so loving and warm and touching that he swears her knees went weak. He catches her though, embracing her tightly.

"Marry me, and I will prove that Ninja ranking and training comes only second to you."

This time, it's all of me.

A/N: Just so you know, she said yes. ^^ Ooooh, I love this song. John Legend's voice is just amazing. Excuse me if they were OoC in any parts of the story.

BTW, I need a BetaReader. XD And once again, constructive criticism is always welcome, so please REVIEW! C: