A/N: Alright. Here's chapter 2. It's the first chapter where they're actually at the beach. Let's see what's in store for them X3

Chapter 2

Neji and Tenten joined the others near the area they set their beach stuff up at. Most of the boys were running towards the water, getting prepared to jump in. (A/N: Shikamaru wasn't running, though. It's just too troublesome P) Tenten put down her bag and stretched. "Mm...beautiful day out, huh?"

Neji looked up at the sky. "Huh. Yeah. It is pretty nice out." He then turned his glance towards Tenten. "Are you going swimming?"

"Nahh. I think I'm going to go to this cove some of the others told me about."

"There's a cove around here?" He looked slightly interested.

"Mm-hm." She nodded cheerfully. Then an idea hit her. "Hey! Why don't you come with me?"

"Hmm...well, I guess that'd be fine. Sure, I'll go."

"Awesome. Hey, Ino. You guys brought down the kayak, right?"

Ino was lying on a beach towel, rubbing sun tan lotion on her skin. "Wha-? Oh, yeah! Shikamaru and Choji hauled it down here. It's over there." She pointed to a two-seat kayak lying on the sand near their beach gear.

Neji looked confused. "Uhh...why are you asking about a kayak, Tenten?"

Tenten looked back at him. "Well, the cove IS on that island over there. Pft, it's not like we're going to swim there. Haha."

"But...I thought it was walking distance. As in on this beach." He took a glance at the island Tenten pointed out. "That has to be at least a 2 mile kayaking distance."

Tenten grinned. "Don't tell me you're the next Shikamaru. You're too lazy to kayak that far?"

Neji shook his head calmly. "No. I didn't say that. But if you mentioned the fact that it was on that island BEFORE I agreed to this, then I wouldn't be so confused." He kept a stern face on.

"So...you're saying you're not coming with me then?" She frowned and took one of the oars into her hands.

He sighed. "Stop putting words in my mouth, would you? I didn't say that either." He went and grabbed one of the oars as well. "Ready to go?"

She smiled widely. "Yep! I'm ready!" He grabbed the front of the kayak, and Tenten grabbed the back. Before they started dragging it down to the shoreline, Ino said, "Behave, you two! Don't stay on that island TOO long, alright? We want you back at least by lunchtime! Haha!"

Neji spoke as he kept his eyes forward. "We're just going to the cove and coming back. It's not going to take long at all."

Tenten nodded. "Yeah. We'll be back before you know it. And IF for some reason, that we're a little late, save some lunch for us, okay? Don't let Choji get to it."

Ino laughed. "Alright, alright! Haha! Just get going, you two. Go have fun. You deserve it."

Tenten smiled, as if to say thanks. Then, Neji and Tenten lifted the kayak on each of their ends and pulled it to the shoreline. As they carried it down, some of the other boys ran up and all spoke loudly. Naruto first yelled, "YOU TWO ARE GOING ON THE KAYAK! I WANT TO GO ON! DON'T HOG IT!" Then Choji. "Is there a weight limit on these things? If so...um...how much? I want to use it, but if I'm too heavy, I won't go on." Then Shikamaru. "You're seriously kayaking all the way out there? ...god, how troublesome." Then Lee. "You two are DITCHING me! I want to go too!"

Tenten finally broke into the boys' rambling. "Sorry, Lee. This kayak's a two seater. You'll have to wait your turn." Lee pouted and crossed his arms.

Finally, the two of them reached the shoreline and set the kayak down onto the water. Neji still held onto it a little so it wouldn't float in with the waves. "Okay, Tenten, you can get in first."

"Alright. Let's see if I can do this without fall-" And with that, Tenten fell face first into the water after she slipped when trying to get into the kayak. She was almost too embarassed to amerge from the water to see Neji's reaction. But when she stayed down long enough and knew she needed air, she got up the nerve to get up. As soon as she reached the top, she looked over at Neji to see what he thought. He was actually on the kayak already.

"Heh. Here you go. Since that didn't exactly work for you, I'll help you up this way." He extended his hand to her and she looked at it as she floated there in the water, holding onto the side of the kayak.

"Th..Thanks..." She reached out her hand as well to get a hold of his. Their hands met in a tight hold, and Neji pulled her up with ease. She sat up and tried to dry herself off as much as she could, even though it was hopeless to get completely dry.

Neji placed the end of his oar into the water and looked back at Tenten, as if signalling her to put hers in as well. She quickly grabbed her oar and did as he did. And with that, they began to kayak towards the island in view.

They didn't talk too much as they went, since kayaking takes a lot out of you. Tenten sat in the back seat, sometimes taking quick glances towards Neji, who was in the seat in front of her. He was still shirtless, much to Tenten's liking. Each time he pulled the oar back, the muscles in his back tightened and then loosened when he pushed it forward again. Tenten found this continuous routine hypnotizing. After awhile, she couldn't pull her eyes off him, which resulted in her not doing her job as good. Neji noticed they started going slower, and he looked back at her over his shoulder.

"Tenten...I don't mean to be rude, but can you pick up the pace a bit? You're not really rowing anymore. You're just...sitting there."

Tenten returned to the real world as Neji said this, and this time, she put more effort in rowing. She knew weak girls angered Neji, and she didn't want to appear to be one of those girls. But then she began thinking to herself...why did she want to prove herself so much to Neji lately?

TO BE CONTINUED...

A/N: Hm. I wonder why. P Well, in the next chapter they arrive at the island. What will be in store for these two when they get to the island? Wait and see. 3