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11:58pm. Tenten checked her watch for what seemed like the eleven-millionth time in ten seconds. She checked her surrounding once again, keeping her eyes on that one bush, trying to decide if she should leave or wait for longer for this Neji guy to come. She did some research on her next door neighbour. She found out that they had moved in today, and her father went to school with his guardian. She didn't find out much else, except he was only a bit older than her, probably only by a couple months, her birthday was this Sunday, but like every year, it wouldn't be celebrated. She sighed, some how she had motivated herself to get outside earlier than midnight and there she was, freezing her butt off in a tank top and shorts. She would have gone to get her bathrobe, but if she went to get it now, she might miss him. She looked at the watch she brought out with her; it read 11:59pm. What was taking so long? She looked up, trying to find something to keep herself occupied. She settled for the moon. It was full tonight, and was an interesting shade of off white. Somewhere off in the distance she heard a dog howl to the moon, and was soon joined by at least six other dogs, and then the sound of someone clearing their throat. Her head jerked down after hearing the last sound, only to be met face to face with a boy her age with eyes that were almost the same colour as the moon. Their faces were so close together she let out a small yelp and jumped back, at least a foot after seeing him so close. She had never been in such close proximity with a boy since she was three, when her father died during his job as a body guard. All of her coaches were girls, same with her tutors, and even her goldfish, so it was no wonder her mother was worried when she asked about their new next door neighbours. She was there now and there was no turning back.
She faced Neji and shyly said; 'Sorry, you just….startled me.' She turned a darker red 'stupid, stupid, stupid!' she thought to herself. 'Obviously he startled me; why else would I have yelped! I'm such and idiot!' she...well she thought she only said that in her mind.
'You're not an idiot.' A male's voice said.
'Oh crap.' She thought as she turned a very deep shade of crimson. She watched as he took something from his front pocket. It was a small box wrapped in silver paper with a small purple ribbon around holding the top and bottom of the box together, neatly tied in a bow at the top of the box. He handed it to her and said, 'Open it on Sunday. Let me know what you think of it. And don't open it early, I'll know' and with that disappeared in a puff of smoke, a note where he used to stand. 'Well he likes being mysterious.' She thought aloud with a smirk she bent over and read the letter he left for her and read it to herself quietly.
'Meet me tomorrow, same place same time. I want to watch you open your present.
-Neji
Ps. you never did tell me your name Miss Tenten. Have you no manners?'
'Pft. No manners…See you then 'Mr'. Neji' she thought before running up to her room, box in hand.
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That night Tenten didn't a good night sleep unlike other nights. She couldn't fall asleep because she could only think about what could be in the box. It could be anything! Like a gift certificate, or jewellery or…or ANYTHING! She thought about opening the present earlier but she remembered what Neji had said... 'Don't open it early, I'll know' she thought about what it could mean. How could he know? She got up and walked over to her dresser and fingered the box carefully. She then, ever so carefully, tugged on the little purple ribbon. So it only moved the tiniest bit and shut her eyes in case something blew up or something. She opened one eye, just to make sure her room wasn't charred to a crisp. Looking up she saw nothing out of the ordinary she proceeded to tug on the ribbon until…'I wouldn't do that if I was you.'
Tenten nearly fell over from shock 'W-w-what are you doing here?!' She yelped, her face a deep red. 'I told you I would know.' Neji stated simply, he then looked at his watch.
'Pathetic, you could only wait 25 minutes.' Tenten blushed furiously. 'It's not my fault!' she said quietly. 'And keep it down! Someone will hear you!' Neji only smirked. 'Well since you're soo curious, and I'm already here, you might as well open it now.' Tenten only blushed harder, if that was even possible. 'If you insist!' she said in a sing song voice. She carefully took off the bow, and opened the box to reveal a paper crane. It was perfectly folded and was the same pale-lavender colour as Neji's eyes. She gasped as she saw how perfect it was. Neji also blushed seeing her pleasure.
'It can't be as good as whatever your parents give you.' He said modestly. At this, Tenten's face fell. She was super quiet and whispered 'My mom never gives me anything.' This time Neji's face fell when he heard the silent response. 'I'm sorry' was all he could say, his face flushed with embarrassment.
'It's ok. It's not your fault anyways' she said with a simple smile. There was a long awkward silence afterwards. Neji and his ego not allowing him to say anything and Tenten not knowing what to say to a boy. The silence was forcibly broken by Neji saying; 'You know, if you get 1,000 cranes, you can make a wish.' It was weak, he knew, but it was all his pride could let him say. And before Tenten could say anything else he disappeared in a poof of smoke yet again, this time with a really short note saying;
'Happy birthday Tenten'
'Thank you…Neji.'
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