Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Realise
Neji's P.O.V.
Morning came, the day that I would be released. I wasn't aloud to see Tenten over the days since I was taking serious medication.
I stood in the middle of the room, slowly patching up the buttons on my clothes. I stared directly at the wall, Gazing into space.
I has finished getting dressed and just stood there, I felt like I was in a world of my own until the door opened. I saw Tsuande.
"Hokage-Sama" I bowed letting my hair flow freely.
"Neji," She replied, "So, happy your getting out today?" She asked with a slight smile.
"Yes Ma'am" I paused "Thank you"
The large Chested woman stared,
"Thank you for what?"
"For all you have done, the research, all just to assure that I could walk again, I owe you my life as a Shinobi"
She smiled, "it's the least I can do Neji-kun"
I gave a dim smirk as if to say thank you all over again.
"You need to get the release papers from the front desk" she instructed,
"yes ma'am" I looked away and out of the window thinking the noble woman exited the room.
I watched the birds fly across the window. I had enjoyed the endless hours watching the birds through my stay.
I went over to the window, opened it, let the curtains flow in and leaned outside.
I stared at the endless distance of the village and smirked mildly. I sighed but my eyes were grabbed by the sight of birds gathering.
"Neji…" She spoke with a sigh,
I looked behind me to see that the Hokage was still in the room.
"Yes?" I asked politely.
"Tenten will be leaving in a day or so but she will have no voice over a period of time. So that means she can't perform violent Justus or train in rough conditions since she can't move like usual. There's also that matter of that her parents are out of town and she can't stay on her own at home, so… I request that she stays at one of her teams mates. In other words at the Hyuuga Manor"
I trembled for a second,
"Tenten… at mine?" I spoke numbly.
"Yes.." Tsuande replied with a expressionless face.
"You know she wouldn't stay at Lee's, don't you?" The woman remarked.
I smirked "Yeah…"
I leaned back on the window seal and knew that she was no longer in my presence.
I stared once again in to the distance with the smirk still upon my face.
I stood away from it and left the room, grabbing my bag on the way out.
As I walked down the Hallway I passed Ten-ten's door. I wanted to go in and tell her the news which I couldn't figure out if it was good or bad. There was something in me that told me to just carry on walking which I paid attention to.
I reached the reception.
"May I have release papers please" I spoke to the dark haired receptionist.
She nodded with a wide grin and handed me a sheet of paper after searching for it. I started to read and write.
By the time I had finished I heard the doors fling open. Standing there was Gai. I cringed slightly and watched him rush to me with Lee by his side.
"Neji! The spring time of Youth has allowed you to escape from the prison of healing and into the wide world!" He and Lee jumped with joy.
I twitched, they are troublesome sometimes.
I stood there with unease after handing the woman the release papers.
"Come My Honourable student! We must train!" He grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the reception. At that point I was ticked off, why does Lee and Gai love to torture me? I wanted to go and talk to Tenten again and tell her about the news but from they way they just ripped me out of the hospital I guessed that someone else would of told her.
I fount myself in the forest, sitting on the tree stump I had trained with numerous times and had reduced to its current stumped form.
I watched Gai as he gave me a lecture at I just about lived through without killing myself.
'The spring time of youth crap is so annoying, I don't know how Tenten Lives through with it'. I cursed to myself.
Time seemed to fly by as my thoughts rushed through me. I watched the two Green figures train with pure boredom but the thing that I could stop wondering was what happened to Lee in the fight? He didn't have barely any scratches upon his face.
The two stood, gasping for breath after their training. A Heavenly silence stalked the area.
"Lee… What happened to you?" I suddenly said with misty eyes.
"Happened to me? When?" The Boy replied with a face of confusion.
"What happened to you on our last mission, you was mortally wounded Lee. You hit the floor with hard impact and now your body don't seem to be showing any effects from it"
Another cloud of silence surrounded us, Gai just stood there absorbing every word either of us spoke.
"Well?" I wanted answers.
"…I was knocked out, that was all, nothing serious"
I knew it wasn't true, he was a bad liar and I always managed to get the truth out of him.
"Yes but you usually over come that, Don't make me use my Byakugan Lee"
"OK! I'LL TELL YOU! I FAKED IT!" Was his sudden out burst.
"Uh…" I was stunned I looked at him with widened eyes.
I looked at Gai sensei for a second he looked like he knew.
"How dare you" I stood with narrowed eye brows.
"If you didn't fake it Tenten wouldn't of lost her voice or go through dangerous surgery, didn't you think that? Did you!"
I approached him and grabbed him by the Shirt,
"If you wasn't so selfish maybe she would be with us right now, You shit!"
"Hey! Stop it you two" Gai Pushed me away from Lee.
"Don't either of you understand? She was Selfless to try and save us both and risk her life Lee!"
The boy's eyebrows narrowed, he shook his head and suddenly appeared behind me with his arm around my neck.
"And don't you think that it haunts me? Neji? You was bad enough by under estimating the opponent," I trembled and slipped from his grip.
I began to walk from them, "I'm going home, I shall be coming back here tomorrow to start my training".
They stood there and watched me walk, I felt like I had just shattered my only friendship besides Tenten's.
The walk home was slow, I was looking forward to see the walls of my room but It was just having to face Hiashi, the Leader of my Clan.
I got to the doors of the Manor, knocked on the hard wood. A Maid opened the door with a Sheepish smile.
"Welcome back Neji-kun" The Maid Welcomed with a bow.
I bowed back and took off my shoes. I Sneaked up to my seriously missed room and flopped down on to the soft bed.
I sighed and gazed up to the white ceiling.
"Hyuuga Neji!" I Heard my name being called.
I cringed to recognise the voice, It was Hiashi.
I climbed down the stairs with slight unease.
A Maid crossed me and told me the location of my Uncle.
I Walked to the Meeting room to see the Clan Leader with a Very Stern Face.
"Please Sit Neji" He spoke plainly.
I obeyed and rested on the cushion before Him on my knees.
"Welcome back," was his unexpected sentence, I didn't show that I was surprised but I was expecting him to shout at me for failing the mission.
"I have been informed of the news of Tenten Staying at our Home, she will be staying in the guest room which is located next to your room" I trembled very lightly and took a breath,
"Yes sir" I bowed my head with closed eyes.
"Other that period of time there will be the winter ball, you will both attend it" He spoke dominantly.
The Man stood
"You are dismissed" I stood and bowed.
As I made my way to the door he stopped me with a Hand on my shoulder.
"Neji, I know you feel with unease with her staying here but I would like you to make her feel welcome"
"Yes sir" I felt the room and went back to my chamber.
As I sat in the silence I couldn't help but to open the cage of the bird that stayed in my room.
He had Black feathers with a white part that looked like a beard.
It sat on my finger as I laid on the bed with heavy thoughts.
It's so trapped, so caged,
Never meant to have freedom,
Never meant to spread its wings,
So trapped so Caged,
The chains will keep it down
The chains will forbid its freedom
Forever Caged.
Time passed, It reached midnight, the bird was back in its cage. I couldn't get to sleep.
The Untamed moonlight dimly light my room. With a deep sigh I tried to fall in to a deep slumber but it was no use. To much poisoned my thoughts.
I couldn't help but think of her, every minuet of the hour was deep thoughts of Tenten, what was the emotion that kept making me think of her? Was it… Love?.