-[Love begins-
"She's waking up, I think." She heard someone whisper, it sounded a lot like Kiba. Her eyes wanted to open but she couldn't and she relaxed a little again. Then another voice said:
"Can I shake her awake?" This voice probably belonged to another of Hinata's bodyguards, Naruto. Tenten finally felt warmth around her body and she twitched her fingers.
"Oh, Tenten! Wake up!" A strong, yet caring voice demanded and Tenten knew it was Hinata who said it. Slowly, her brown eyes opened in confusion and noticed that four people were gazing at her worriedly.
"Where…where am I?" The brown haired girl pulled herself together little by little and her eyes wondered around. It looked like she was back in the Hyuga compound. What happened earlier? Tenten thought and her head pounded in pain, as if a hammer was continuously hitting on her for hours. Last thing I remember, was that I past out and then…Her eyes turned to look at the calm, careless Hyuga Neji who was standing beside her bed. Then I fell on…him? Her cheeks flushed red and she quickly turned her gaze to the floor.
"I'm so relieved that your okay, Tenten!" Hinata exclaimed and her arms wrapped around Tenten's shoulders friendly in a hug and Tenten hugged her back. Hinata released herself and her eyes filled with sorrow. "Oh, its all my fault! I should've told Naruto-kun or Kiba-kun to stay with you! If I did, then you wouldn't have been hurt!" She wiped a tiny tear on her left cheek and went on, "But I'm so glad that Neji nii-san rescued you, or else…or else I'd never forgive myself." A smile appeared slowly on Tenten's pale face and she patted the heiress lightly.
"Don't be silly, Hinata! At least I'm fine now." She tried to say it eagerly and soothed Hinata with gentleness.
Hinata sniffed and suggested softly, "Maybe we should let Tenten rest." She turned to the others and they nodded. Then she faced back to the resting girl, "We'll go now. If you need anything, please do tell me. Get some rest." Hinata told her and Tenten nodded as they got up. The heiress turned to smile at her one last time before she exited the room.
"What a night!" Tenten thought and she sighed. She lay back down slowly and stared at the ceiling. There were faint sounds of crickets and other creatures heard in the stillness of the night, and Tenten listened closely to them until her eyes finally drooped and she fell fast asleep.
NEXT MORNING….
Knock, knock, knock
Tenten opened her eyes tiredly and she heard the loud noises once again.
Knock, knock, knock
"Tenten?" She spun around in an instant when she found out that it was Eri's voice. She was about to speak but she changed her mind. She wouldn't be able to talk to him after the whole 'letter incident' and how she turned him down. After several more seconds, Eri called again. "Tenten?! Can I come in?"
Not wanting him to wake the whole complex up, Tenten chose to respond. She gulped and then said:
"Come in." The weak girl waited as Eri pushed open the door and dropped a bowl of brown mixture next to Tenten's bed. He smiled sweetly at her and she hesitate a forcing grin. Grabbing a nearby stool, he sat beside her. "I heard what happened last night! I almost cut myself in the kitchen when I heard that you fainted!" He grasped caringly onto Tenten's arm and she pulled it away.
"Heh, yeah it was nothing." She wavered and she looked at the bowl beside her. "What is that?" Eri gave a mocking smirk.
"It's medicine, very, very bitter medicine." He told her and Eri handed Tenten the bowl. "You better drink all of it. That took me awhile to make." The brown haired girl stared into it and with a frown, drank it all in one big gulp.
"Thanks." Tenten handed him back the bowl and she wanted to tell him something but Eri stopped her.
"I know what you're gonna say, you're probably wanting to say how sorry you are that you couldn't make the date yesterday right?" Eri sounded as if he knew everything in Tenten's mind and her eyes widened when she heard. "It's alright. We could always go next time. By the way, I better go now. You should rest, Tenten. I'll see you later."
"WAIT I…." But without another sound, Eri left and Tenten's mouth was still open, wanting to confess to him. She heaved a depressing sigh and thoughts flooded through her mind unwillingly. What am I going to do? He will hate me even more if I don't tell him soon. Oh…this is so annoying! She rubbed her temples as she thought about all the bad possibilities that would happen if she doesn't admit before long. Maybe I'll just go right now to see him! Yes, that's what I'll do! Then as quickly as Tenten could (which was pretty slow due to her injuries from last night) she limped towards the door, with the support of nearby furnitures. Gradually, she grabbed onto the rough wall outside her door, and followed it to the kitchen. Unfortunately, Tenten lost her balance and tripped forward. She wanted to grab on something before she fell flat on the pavement, but she couldn't feel for any. All of a sudden, someone caught her by her arms and she looked up, gratefully. Dang, its him…again, Tenten thought.
"You shouldn't be walking yet, you know?" Neji's unemotional voice commented as Tenten held onto his arm for support. It was really him. She nodded politely and the Hyuga helped her back to her room. She didn't even know that her cheeks reddened when she saw Neji.
"Thank you, Neji-sama." Responded Tenten in a soft tone. "If it wasn't for you last night, I probably was beaten to death."
"Hn." He managed to say and then there was that weird silence between them again. Not each of them said a word. They didn't even make eye contact. Tenten continued to gaze at her blanket and Neji just stood there, crossing his arms. Suddenly, "I'd like to know more about you, Tenten." His voice came all muffled up and Tenten looked at him in surprise.
"What?" She asked again, she wanted to make sure that that was what she heard. Once more, he said, but this time he raised his voice and it sounded a lot clearer:
"I would like to know more about you, Tenten." Those lavender eyes met with her brown orbs and they stared at each other for a while.
A curve appeared on Tenten's lip and she finally replied, reassuring herself, "Same with me."
NEXT DAY….
There was a gentle breeze that blew over the noiseless Hyuga compound. The sky was extremely clear and the sun was shining like a gem. It was supposed to be an ordinary day, but it wasn't anymore, for Tenten and Neji at least. She was serving some light snack for Hinata and Hiashi, until; she remembered that Neji is meeting her at his training grounds. Hinata knew of this and she made an excuse for her to leave sooner and Tenten thanked the heiress for it.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Neji-sama, I'm late!" She heaved for air as she stopped her sprint, and said apologetically. Neji was sitting under a big cherry blossom tree and the brown haired girl rested beside him. Then Tenten noticed a few shurikens and kunais on the floor beside her. She resisted difficultly, for the weapons were mourning for her to get hold of them. Still, she failed. "Neji-sama, do you mind if I….play with these?" She clutched the pointy objects and the Hyuga gave her an odd expression.
"Play with them?" He inquired. "I don't think you girls should ever touch these. They can be deadly." Neji showed a smirk on his face and suggested. This made Tenten angrier than ever.
"What do you mean that 'girls shouldn't touch these'?" In an instant, she stood up and threw five bullseyes in one turn with all the weapons. No need for aiming, she thought. Neji rapidly jumped up and his lavender eyes widened in astonishment. What…who is she?
"How did you…?" He was trying hard not to stutter and he eyed the bullseyes with surprise. Tenten returned his smirk.
"I was trained since I was little to work with these." She twisted and twirled the kunais playfully and handed it back to Neji. The Hyuga still couldn't believe. It's not everyday that you see your own 'friend' or let alone 'servant' use weapons that skillfully. She was one of a kind, Neji remarked in his mind and then he had an idea.
"Would like to train with me, perhaps?"
Tenten stopped whirling the sharp objects in her hands, "You're kidding, right Neji-sama?" The Hyuga uncrossed his arms and shook his head.
"No, I'm not joking." Replied Neji seriously (like always). Everyone in the Hyuga compound knew of Neji's powers. Neji isn't any Hyuga; he was the prodigy, the genius. Tenten was just an ordinary girl, although she loved kunais, shurikens….etc. Helping him train would be a little ironic, Tenten thought.
"So?" Neji was waiting for a response and finally, Tenten nodded. "What can you do?" He asked and she pondered for a moment.
"Throw weapons in a very fast speed." She replied and a grin appeared on Neji's face. "How can I help you with just that?"
"We have a very special technique called 'kaiten'." He began, crossing his arms and leaning on a nearby tree, "I can release a great amount of chakra, an energy produced by ninjas, and let it cover myself. It would be better if I demonstrated." Suddenly, Neji activated his kekkei genkai and walked forward, pressing Tenten aside. A blue whirlwind wrapped around him and he started spinning like a top. Rocks that touched the blue energy either flung back or snapped and Tenten gasped in surprise. It was amazingly powerful. Gradually, he slowed down and stopped his insane twirling.
"It'd be great if you could throw the weapons towards me, then I can practice my 'kaiten' and dodging techniques." He told her and Tenten started grabbing a few kunais. "Okay, let's start." Soon enough, the weapons mistress sent weapons of all kinds to soar through the air. It flew towards the Hyuga and he quickly activated his byakugan, letting his chakra cover him whole. The weapons bounced back, but Tenten didn't stop. Again, Neji spun rapidly, making the kunais and shurikens fall back on the soft grass. The two continued for minutes until Tenten stopped, lying down on the ground to rest.
"This is so tiring." She insisted and the Hyuga sat down beside her. We're perfect together, Neji caught himself off guard and thought. Tenten went on, puffing for air. Within a minute or so, she stood up again. "Okay, I can go on." In his battle stance, Neji awaits the incoming weapons. Tenten let out a sigh and she thrusted the kunais once more.
This time, the Hyuga didn't use his special 'kaiten', instead he knocked them off with his hands. 'Jyukken' as he mentioned. He'll never get hit, the weapons wielder thought and carried on her throwing. However, something unexpected happened. One of the kunais hit the back of Neji and he let out a loud shriek of pain. Tenten's jaw dropped opened and as fast as she could, she lifted Neji up by his arm.
"Oh, Neji-sama, I didn't mean to!" She blurted out as Neji clenched his teeth, trying to ignore the throbbing pain. "I better get you to Hiashi-sama!" She exclaimed and started walking, pulling Neji along.
"Tenten, if he finds out, you're going to get punished." He managed to say and he pulled the kunai out. "I'm fine, really." Yet, Neji still gave a short cry. Tenten stared at him for awhile in worry and frustration, and decided to go on.
"I don't care, Neji-sama. Please let me help you." She flashed a forcing grin and put one of his arm around her neck, transferring all the weight to her. Tenten placed one of her arm on Neji's back and supported him difficultly. Still, she went on, as her hands were dripped with his blood.