Title : Mundane Insanity

Series : Naruto

Character/Pairing : Hyuuga Neji x TenTen

Set : 1

Theme : # 7 – Crazy

Rating : PG-13

Word Count : 1, 019

Disclaimer : I don't own any of the characters that will be used in this story. Do I even seem or look like Masashi Kishimoto? No offense if you're blind, though.

It was common knowledge that all shinobi were the least bit insane. They constantly risked their lives in missions, they engaged in fierce battles, and they handled dangerous weapons. Many shinobi refused to acknowledge this fact, however. There were only a few. Like Hyuuga Neji. That was probably a given seeing as he was the genius of the Hyuuga Clan. That and there's a saying that there's a fine line between genius and insanity. Hatake Kakashi would also be a fine example of the few shinobi that were all too painfully aware of that notion.

TenTen finally realized that truth after a month of being with Neji. She learned it in a different way. She didn't learn it because of her family's cruelty, the death of those closest to her, or the betray of the one whom she adored the most back then. She learned it through love. Through cold and smooth yet somewhat warm lips. Through comforting and strong arms that promised her protection. Through whispered nothings that meant everything sometimes. Through silent understanding. Through the strongest of bonds.

Falling love was crazy itself. People more than often tended to act out of character when they were in love. People risked everything for love. People couldn't live without love. Loving was also gambling. Like the life that ninja led. There was always uncertainty in the things that might happen but certainty in the things that they were going to do. Perhaps one might even say that every ninja, no matter how seemingly prepared they were, were reckless. Ninja were ninja for the reason that they didn't deal with the norms.

If anyone asked her if she ever expected to fall in love and be with Neji when she was thirteen, she would've shook her head and told them that they were mental. When she started to be the Hyuuga's teammate, she never knew that the normally stoic boy could love, could be passionate. At fourteen, she began noticing things. Then, that was when things started to go. Of course, there was also that short-lived crush for Lee, but that was in the past.

She had a feeling that Neji would always be the present and the future after they finally got together when they were sixteen. She wouldn't mind that. She loved him and he loved her. She could never wish for anything better. She could live life on edge if Neji was there. She was sure that she wouldn't mind dying in a mission as long as Neji was there.

She was also sure that she would mind quite a lot if she never saw Neji before she died and if Neji died. That was one of the things that made love crazy. You wouldn't mind a lot if you died, but you would if it was the one you loved that died.

Loving was equivalent to living. Perhaps life had always been meant to be crazy, to be insane, to be incomprehensible when trying to be comprehended. Love hits you like a truck. You don't find love, it finds you. The only thing you could do was to try to be as ready as possible. As with shinobi and their missions.

Perhaps the unknown duration of their lifespans had made shinobi the most loving of people when it came to their special ones. If they had special ones, that was. Many shinobi try to not have any bonds so that if they pass away, not a lot or none at all would become depressed when that happens. The key word there was try. Not a lot could truly accomplish that. It was just so hard to control the heart. It had a mind of its own that couldn't be tamed with vigorous training.

"You worry too much, TenTen," Neji said.

Please don't mind me. I don't want to see you like this. Worrying solves nothing. Nothing at all. It's living and expressing that does.

She bit her lip.

"Then why don't you worry for a change?" she asked.

I can't help myself. I love you far too much to not worry whether you'll come back to me in one piece. But I do hope that you do. I wouldn't be able to live if you didn't.

"I can't and I won't," he said.

Because if I worry, you'll just become even more worried than you already are. You worry enough for the both of us, love. But sometimes... just sometimes... When you go out... I guess that we can't just help it sometimes, can we? This is our weakness. This love. I guess that we don't mind living in this weakness or having this weakness.

TenTen was silent. Wasn't Neji afraid of dying? Afraid of leaving her alone? It wasn't her fault she was acting this way. He was going to undertake an S-class mission. There was a possibility that he might not come back alive. And if that happened... She wouldn't know what to do. She didn't want to think about what she would do if that happened. She would never be ready.

Then Neji's all-too-familiar arms encircled her waist and pulled her to him. They said not a thing because they both knew the words that hanged in the air. I love you and I'll be back, I promise. I love you, too. Loving was putting your trust in things, no matter how many doubts there were. Loving was just feeling, was just acting. You didn't need to think to truly love. Perhaps that was the number one reason why love was a crazy, crazy thing. It had too many maybe's and what-if's. It was the biggest uncertainty life could ever offer. Love was gambling. Life was love.

Loving and being a shinobi were supposed to be crazy, insane. But in a hidden ninja village like Konoha, that was life and it happened every single day. Neji and TenTen were perfect examples. Especially when their lips meet and when their bodies touch. Especially when they just loved.

Here's the seventh one out of ten. We're nearing the end...

As always, minna, R & R!