I hate this computer! I had the whole chapter finished, and saved, and the computer decides to delete it! Thanks a lot computer!
Anyway I hope you like this chapter; it's one of my favorites…
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Neji cuts across the lawn to the back door. He enters and quietly closes the screen door behind him. The faintest click from the handle brings a call from the living room.
"Neji?"
Neji spits off a string of curses for being caught, but turns into the living room.
Hiashi is on the couch with college brochures, a calculator, and lots of paper. He is working figures. He turns to the foyer.
"I have good news." Hiashi says "The treasury bills have gone from ¾% to 7%."
Neji holds a wince as Hiashi hits a tender subject.
"You're earning an extra sixteen dollars a year per bill."
Neji manages a small smile.
"That's great."
"You have your first year's money, Neji. Now all you have to do is pick a school."
"Yeah, I'll get to it." Neji says as he heads upstairs. Hiashi turns back to the figures.
Neji walks into his room and takes off his jacket. He tosses it on a chair and sits down on his bed. Neji takes out a wad of cash from his pocket. He unfolds it, looks at it, and thinks. He glances up at the sketch of Sakura.
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Sakura smiles, laughing with Ino as they walk through the mall. As they walk past Tenten peeks out of one of the pillars, and follows them.
Ino and Sakura are browsing through a women's clothing store. Tenten slips in the door. She crosses to the shoes and keeps tabs on Sakura as she pretend to look at the shoes. They're obviously revolting, silly things to her.
Sakura looks though the rack of clothes. As she abandons a section, Tenten takes her place, looking at what she's bought. Ino and Sakura are sifting through hanging blouses. Ino tugs Sakura's sleeve to get her attention. She motions her head fro Sakura to look behind her. Discreetly, Sakura turns and looks.
Tenten is doing a bad job of pretending to look preoccupied.
Ino whispers to Sakura, and they both leave and go to the dressing rooms. Tenten goes over to the blouses as the two girls watch from the dressing room. Ino smiles, she has an idea. She leaves the dressing room, and Sakura follows.
Tenten watches from the corner of her eye as Sakura and Ino walk behind her. They clear, and once again Tenten follows.
They turn into a men clothing store, Tenten behind them. The girls cross to a rack of suits, and Ino starts looking through them. She motions for Sakura to do the same. Tenten is looking at a rack of belts, keeping a watchful eye on the girls.
Ino and Sakura leave the suits, and move to the back of the store. Tenten leaves the belts and looks at the suits. As she looks through them, she becomes puzzled. She looks at the sleeve, holds it, and thinks for a minute. Tenten realizes that something is very wrong. She looks up and turns.
Ino and Sakura are looking directly at her.
Tenten sees she's been caught. A moment passes and the embarrassment hits. She turns back to the suits and curses herself for letting herself get trapped.
Ino looks at Sakura with a smile. Sakura isn't amused at the prank, and leaves. Ino doesn't know what she means, but soon follows.
Sakura stops at the door, and Ino continues to walk down the mall. Sakura looks back at the rack of suits.
Tenten is staring at the sleeve. She looks back at Sakura with a hurt, angry look. Sakura gives her a look back, but is still curious.
What does this girl want?
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Tenten is sitting on a work bench. Neji is working on a vintage Jaguar.
"I think we've covered pretty much everything. All the arrangements have been made." She says
"Right," Neji replies
"You know what you're going to say?" she asks
"Whatever comes to mind." He says
"You want to plan it out a bit?" Tenten says
"It'll sound false. I'll just do what my instincts tell me."
"Okay," Tenten replies
Neji gives her a smile. He slams the hood shut and wipes his fingerprints off the paint.
"Not altogether terrible mode of transportation, huh?" he asks
She has something on her mind, but it is hard to bring forth.
"One last detail hangs." She stars.
Neji tosses the rag and leans back on the car.
"Don't think I'm being weird, but what if she wants you to kiss her?" Tenten says
Neji gives her a deadpan look.
"I'm serious." She repeats
With a smile Neji speaks "Well, then I guess I'll just have to kiss her."
"I didn't put in all this time and effort to have you blow it all because you're too vain to admit you're not the king of sexuality." She continues "Sakura Haruno is no minor leaguer who'll be swept off her feet at the touch of your amateur lips. This babe has plenty of battle scars."
"Thanks, but I think I can handle it." Neji says
"I'm not knocking you. In this age of high-tech diseases, you're probably smart to keep to yourself. I just think that maybe you should consider whether or not you can deliver a kiss that kills."
A wave of doubt washes over Neji. He pulls a swift reverse.
"You think I can't?"
"If you say you can, you probably can." Tenten nod her head with disbelief.
"I'm not an expert."
"It's fine. I was just going to work on it with you, but if you're comfortable…"
"How do you work on it?" he asks
She waves him over to the bench she is sitting on.
"Pretend I'm a girl, okay?" she pauses and corrects herself. "I mean, pretend I'm her. Sakura. It's a big stretch, but try it."
Neji shrugs, he can handle it.
"What do you do with you hands?" she asks
"It depends." Neji says
"It doesn't depend, they go on her hips."
"Okay," Neji says
"Do it,"
"Do what?"
"Put your hands on my hips."
Neji stares at her.
"Are you kidding?" he asks
"This is just as weird for me as it ids for you. Let's be men about it." Tenten says
Neji takes a step to the bench. Another step and he is face to face with her. He gingerly lays his hands on her hips. She grabs his writs and plants them firmly against her body.
"Look in my eyes." She says
Neji look, and laughs. Tenten glares at him.
"I don't have to do this, you know." She says
"Sorry, it's just…"
"Grow up a little." She says
Neji resets, clears his smile and looks into her eyes.
"She'll probably do this…"
She puts her arms around his neck.
"Ho do you know?" he asks
"I watch a lot of TV." She pauses "Close you eyes."
He closes his eyes. She takes the opportunity to steel herself. She moves slowly towards him. Her lips part; and she hesitates for a brief moment. He opens his eyes.
"Keep your eyes closed!" she shouts
"Why are you staring at me?" he asks
"I'm seeing if you look stupid."
"And?"
"You're fine." She says
Neji slams his eyes shut. She repeats the move and then gently presses her lips to his. His fingers squeeze Tenten's hips. She clutches his shirt. Tenten's legs close around Neji's waist. She suddenly catches herself, opens her eyes and breaks the kiss. She pushes him away.
"Okay, fine!" she nearly yells
"What?!"
"Lessons over, you're cool." She stutters
Neji smiles "You're blushing."
"Yeah, right. The day I blush…" she begins
"That was very nice. You're pretty."
Tenten raises a leg, plants it on Neji's belly and pushes him across the room. She jumps down off the bench.
"If this is how you repay a favor, I don't think I'm rich enough to be your friend."
She storms out of the garage. Neji is dumbfounded.
"I didn't mean anything! I'm sorry. I was kidding." He calls
She stops. Maybe she'd rather he wasn't kidding. She turns, and sees that he is genuinely sorry he's offended her.
"Don't be mad, okay?" he says
She forces a smile, and he smiles back.
"I won't tell anybody about this." Neji says
She nods, turns and heads down the road; she wipes her mouth on her sleeve. He watches her go with a smile.
"I'll see you tonight!" he calls after her.
Tenten lifts a hand, but doesn't turn. He leans against the Jaguar and watches her disappear down the road.
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Sorry for a late update, but I hope you liked this chapter! Please review!