A/N: And we've arrived at the second chapter. I remind you that updating will be irregular, heh. Review! :)

Tenten looked at the clock absentmindedly. In a few minutes, she would have to make some excuse to leave. The girls didn't quite know about her relationship with Neji and she planned on keeping it that way for as long as she could. Kunoichi were not known for minding their own business, especially Tenten's friends, who included the girl who everyone went for gossip: Yamanaka Ino.

"Hey, isn't Neji's first ANBU mission today?" Ino asked suddenly. "Aren't you going to go see him off?"

Sakura glanced over at Tenten.

"Yeah, Shisou did say that," she said. "But it sounds more like you want to see him off, Pig."

Hinata giggled quietly as the blonde turned to her best friend with a glare.

"Well, not alone," Ino protested. "I mean, Neji's fine, but I feel like it'd be kind of awkward, which is why having Tenten there would be nice."

"If Neji's fine, then why would it be awkward?" Tenten queried, confused.

Ino slapped her forehead, sighing.

"Not fine like okay," she explained. "Fine. Like, attractive and deliciously beautiful?"

Tenten raised her eyebrows doubtfully.

"I'm not sure if you could classify Neji as attractive or deliciously beautiful," she replied. "But uh, I'm not sure if I'm going to see him off or not. He's kind of a loner, you know?"

"No worries," Sakura broke in. "We'll come along."

Hinata shook her head.

"Sorry," she said softly. "I'm going to train with Kurenai-sensei in a few minutes."

"That's okay, Hinata," Ino grinned. "Forehead and I can come along. Do you think an ANBU mask would make Neji sexier than he already is?"

Tenten wanted to smile but she really couldn't. If Ino and Sakura were with her, then they could find out. It wasn't like Neji cared if people found out. Tenten only cared because she didn't want people to see her as just Hyuga Neji's boyfriend. She was an independent woman, a kunoichi that could pound Neji's head in, any day she wanted. She had made that clear in training the other day. (Or she had attempted to make that clear but taijutsu just involved too much skin on skin contact for her brain to function properly.)

"Whatever," Tenten groaned, rolling her eyes. "Let's go. Bye, Hinata!"

The dark haired girl smiled at them before leaving.

"So, Tenten, after all these years of being on Neji's team, what's your opinion?" Sakura asked conversationally, as they started walking.

"What do you mean?" Tenten answered. "Opinion of what?"

"Opinion of Neji," Ino clarified, impatient. "I mean, you must know him pretty well."

Tenten shrugged, getting more uncomfortable by the second.

"He's talented," she replied. "He's also pretty nice, except when it comes to the Hyugas."

The other two kunoichi stared at her when she didn't continue.

"That's it?" Ino said in disbelief. "That's all you've gotten on Neji?"

"Well, I don't know," Tenten said, flustered. "He has pretty hair."

Sakura started laughing right away and Ino didn't take too long to join in.

"Nice lips too," Ino added, grinning. "Wonder what it's like kissing those."

Incredible, Tenten wanted to reply.

"Look, there's his team!" Sakura whispered, pulling them behind a building. "What should we do?"

Ino thought for a moment before responding.

"Tenten, you go in first," she told her. "And then, Sakura and I will just 'happen' to strolling by when we encounter you guys."

"This sounds like a mission," Tenten sighed. "Guys, this is ridiculous."

"Just go," Sakura pouted. "Come on, this is important to Pig. Since none of the boys have had the guts to ask her out yet, she needs some distractions."

Tenten rolled her eyes before continuing on her way. Neji didn't have his mask on yet and his eyes were shaded over with anxiety. Was he waiting for her?

"Neji!" Tenten called. "Hey!"

She had been right; his eyes brightened ever so slightly when he saw her.

"Tenten," he nodded. "What are you doing here?"

She shrugged, running a hand through her hair.

"It's your first ANBU mission," Tenten reminded him. "There's no way I wouldn't be here, Neji."

The Hyuga's lips curved up into something that was almost a smile.

"I'm glad," he told her. "You're not worried, are you?"

Tenten shook her head.

"I know you'll be fine," she laughed. "I mean, what could penetrate that thick skull of yours?"

"A number of things," Neji replied immediately. "Kunai, shuriken, swords, maybe even sticks if–"

"Shut up, smartass," Tenten told him, her glare stopping his words cold.

Just then, Sakura and Ino 'casually' walked over, putting on fake surprised smiles when they saw them. It was at the moment that they came over that Tenten realized she hadn't told Neji not to say anything about their relationship.

"Neji-san!" Ino exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"Ino-san, Sakura-san," Neji greeted them. "I'm going on a mission soon. It's ANBU, actually."

"Oh, Shisou did tell me that you were recruited," Sakura said thoughtfully. "Congratulations, Neji!"

He accepted the congratulations graciously, with a slight bow of his head.

"Thank you," Neji smiled.

He pulled out his mask amongst Ino's squeals.

"That is just so cool!" she told him. "I mean, I've seen Dad's mask, but yours is so sleek and gorgeous, Neji-san. Much like your hair, actually. What conditioner do you use?"

Tenten wanted to impale herself on a stick. Well, she would have been able to impale herself on a stick if she had let Neji finish his sentence about how his skull could have been penetrated by a stick. Perhaps she could figure out how to do it without being a genius. Hmm…

"Tenten, is something wrong?" Sakura asked, snapping her out of her trance. "You haven't said a word."

"No, no," Tenten replied hurriedly. "I'm fine."

Neji looked at her, his concern visible only to Tenten.

"I'm fine," she murmured, so quietly that Ino and Sakura couldn't hear her. "Sorry."

A whistle sounded and Neji looked in the direction that the sound had come from.

"That's the two minute warning," he explained. "I'll be leaving soon."

"Be safe, Neji-san," Ino winked. "I can't imagine what the kunoichi of this village would do without you."

It was doubtful whether Neji had even heard the blonde's statement. He was too busy looking at Tenten.

"I'll see you when I get back," Neji told her. "The mission is supposed to take only three days. If it takes longer, I'll find a way to inform you."

Don't kiss me, don't kiss me, don't kiss me, Tenten thought frantically.

"Yeah," she replied. "Bye, Neji. Be careful out there."

Before she could turn around, Neji put his hands on her hips and pulled her against him. He wasted no time in gently kissing the madly blushing Tenten. Now that they'd seen the evidence, Tenten thought it safe to kiss him back, so she put her arms around his neck and closed the space between their bodies. She almost cringed when thinking of the girls' reactions but instead chose to weave her tongue around Neji's. Her eyes fluttered shut for a few moments before she finally pulled away.

"Bye," Tenten whispered, disentangling their mouths. "You'll do great, Neji."

"Thank you," Neji smiled. "Goodbye, Tenten."

His two minutes were over so, waving to the two stunned kunoichi, Neji left.

"Tenten," Sakura said shakily.

"What just happened?" Ino finished, still blinking rapidly.

Tenten fiddled with a strand of hair.

"Um, I kissed Neji?" she replied finally. "At least, I think that's what they call it when your lips tou–"

"Sweetheart, more than your lips touched," Ino smirked. "I mean, that was really something. Are you sure you got enough oxygen?"

"Maybe we should take her to the hospital," Sakura grinned.

Tenten looked at her friends in exasperation. This was exactly why she hadn't wanted them to know.

"What's the big deal?" she sighed.

"You didn't give us details!" Sakura pouted. "Tenten, come on. That's just not fair."

"Especially when your boyfriend is so fine," Ino added. "Spill. What happened?"

Tenten sat down on the nearest rock, shaking her head.

"I mean, it wasn't anything much really," she shrugged. "Gai-sensei told us that Neji had been chosen for ANBU. Then, he and Lee started crying, so I left. Neji followed me, I told him I loved him, he didn't know what to say. The next day, he came and found me and told me he loved me too. We kissed, Gai-sensei and Lee were watching, I later threatened to kill them. Yeah, I think that's about it."

"So why didn't you tell us?" Ino asked impatiently. "I mean, we're friends."

Tenten bit her lip.

"I just didn't want people to think of me as Hyuga Neji's girlfriend," she admitted. "I'm a kunoichi and a person in my own right but Neji is you know, a genius, and I thought he might overshadow me or something."

Sakura nodded knowingly.

"I get it," she agreed. "Still should've told us. How was the kiss?"

Ino's eyes lit up and she turned to Tenten with a wide grin, waiting for the answer. Tenten bit down harder on her lip to stop her smile from getting too big.

"Incredible," she whispered.