Uhm…this is chapter eight…and I myself am not that satisfied about this…I think…even chapter seven. Sorry for wrong grammars and spellings, I'm not perfect...alright? Well, okay, here goes nothing. Just enjoy and don't forget to give reviews.

"words"-being said
'words'-thoughts
(words)-things added…but if there is A/N-then you know what that means
Words-flashbacks

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In the Last Chapter

Tenten replied. "Your cooking is exquisite!!"

Lee scratched the back of his head and said, "Al-alright…"

"Thanks, Lee-kun!!" And in a split second, she kissed him on the cheek. 'What was that? Did I just do that?' Tenten asked herself being unsure of what she just did. While Lee was just still on his seat blushing from the kiss that was just given to him.

Chapter Eight: Things Changing

"Welcome to my humble home, Naruto, Ino-chan." Tenten said, leading them inside her comfy house. She led them to the living room, nearing a couch that could accompany four people, and then said, "You can sit over here. You two make yourself comfortable."

When the four finally got to the couch, it was a surprise to them that someone was already there. "Hanabi!!" The four shouted out in surprise. Hanabi got up from her slumber on the couch and found four people in front of her. "Huh? What?!!" much to their surprise, she was in her home. Again Hanabi then said, "What?!!" to asked them again since they didn't answer her. Tenten then asked her, "W-What are you doing here…here, in my house? H-how d'you even got in?"

"Huh? Oh!! I came here because I needed to talk to you, Tenten-nee-…Tenten-chan. A lot of things have happened already."

"O-o-okay…so how did you get in, exactly?" Tenten asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Sorry about that, the whole breaking in thing into your house, but I just needed to see you, that's all. Since your door was locked, I tried your window, and it wasn't locked, so I got in. No one was here, so I decided to wait. Getting out of the Hyuga compound was already hard enough!!"

"Oh…okay. Hanabi…but it's getting late, you should be home by now, you know."

"But I still don't want to. Let them find me, punish me if they wish, I just need to talk to you, Tenten-chan."

"Okay, okay. You can stay here but after we talk, you need to go home. The three of you make yourselves at home, alright? Lee and I will now really be starting to cook dinner." Then the two dashed of to the kitchen while the three stayed in the living room.

After a while, Tenten shouted out "Dinner's ready!!! Common guys, let's eat!!"

So the five ate their dinner peacefully and traditionally. After eating, Ino, Naruto and Hanabi once again seated in the living room while Lee and Tenten were left in the kitchen to clean up. Naruto found a Chinese checkers board and got it asking "Hey, Ino-chan, Hanabi-san, you want to play?" He set it up on the table.

"Alright, I'll play with you." Ino answered. "How about you, Hanabi-san? Just to get your head out of all those problems. Come play."

"Oh, no thanks. I'm kind of not in the mood of playing. It's alright. I can just meditate. Thanks anyway." So the two started playing the game, while Hanabi was seated at one end of the couch, observing the four other people in the house. She looked at Naruto and Ino playing then heard Lee and Tenten's laughs in the other room. 'Well, good that they are feeling alright now.' She thought.

Well, in the kitchen, Tenten and Lee were laughing alright. They were having fun cleaning…each other. They didn't mind getting themselves wet in splashing the water from the faucet to each other, bubbles of soap on their hands, getting a wet towel and sprinkling of the extra water on the towel to each other, so all in all, they were really wet.

She ran around the kitchen, laughing, away from Lee, who was chasing her to get her even wetter. She ran towards the faucet to get the soapsuds out of her hand and get some water to also wet Lee. But before she could run the water to her hands, Lee got to her, turned her around to face him. She was still laughing from their little chase, and so was he, but their face was just millimeters away that just one slight clumsy move, they could kiss already. They noticed that right after opening their eyes, looking into each other's. Lee made the first move, moved his head closer to hers, his hands at the sides of the sink for support, slowly closed his eyes and let his lips meet hers.

She was leaning backwards by the sink, trapped by Lee's arms. Her eyes widened from the contact of their lips. She tried her best to pull her body away but she couldn't, her body wouldn't listen to her. She was surprised, confused, worried, but then she also felt happy at the same time. Her feelings were all mixed together, but there's this one feeling that she kept holding on, it kind of feels right.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, slowly closed her eyes. She could feel that his arms were slowly and gently wrapping around her waist as if she was a fragile glass. And so she melted in his kiss. They stayed like that for a while, while in the living room, Hanabi wondered why their laughing came to a halt. Until they heard the sound of Ino "Ha!! I won!!" did they break apart, both blushing tomato.

Lee pulled back his arms...so Tenten got out of the kitchen, luckily her blush was starting to fade, but there was still a hint of bright pink. She was at the door separating the living room from the kitchen and said, "Uh…Lee-kun…uhm…I'll be talking to Hanabi-san now. I'll leave you with the dishes."

"Oh…H-hai." Was Lee's reply and got back in to cleaning. (I mean literally now.)

Tenten got out of the kitchen and proceeded to the living room. Hanabi was looking at her quite weird, worried, suspicious and happy at the same time. Tenten looked at Ino and Naruto and asked, "What is it with you winning, Ino-chan?"

"Ino-chan just beat me in playing Chinese checkers." Naruto said, beating Ino from answering Tenten's question, moping at the information.

"Oh, alright." She said smiling, chuckling a bit. She looked back to Hanabi and said. "So, Hanabi, care to talk, at this moment?"

"Uhm…Tenten-chan, can we talk somewhere…only the two of us?" Hanabi questioned.

"Oh, alright. Come." Tenten said and forwarded to her room. Hanabi followed her.

They sat on the bed, side by side, neither uttering a word, until Hanabi started. "Tenten, how are doing?"

"Oh, I'm in good shape…I think…"

'Sh-she didn't even care to ask how I, or Hinata-neechan or especially Neji-neekun is doing.' There was a moment of silence after this.

Tenten then broke their silence, "So what made you come here?"

Hanabi only had one…or maybe two things she came here for to tell her.

Flashbacks

She sat by the end of the dojo…many things running through her mind. She looked at the floating clouds, which seemed like she's looking for some sort of answer. She looked back down to where she could see two people by the end of another dojo, enjoying each other's company. She kind of felt happy for them that, somehow they manage to let bygones be bygones and learn to love each other? Yeah, they have managed to do that, but at the same time feel sorry for them that they had to undergo so many things, luckily they were facing it together. But everyday, there was still this pang in her heart that keeps disturbing her.

By the end of another dojo, she saw her nee-chan and her cousin-brother sitting together, laughing. She smiled at the sight that they were finally happy with each other and the fact that over three or four weeks, they have come to the point to love each other more than that of just siblings or friends, but has been forcefully to forget about any affairs they had with them, especially being their girl/boyfriend.

But she just smiled at the scene; she knew they were sharing words of forbidden love to each other making each other blush from when they whisper to each other's ear. (A/N: I don't know what got into me when I typed that down, letting her know what was some sort going on between the two, like: she's too young to know that, she's still 12!) They have been spending time with each other ever since, and they were forced off duty until they would get married.

"Hanabi…" She heard someone call her name.

She turned back to see who it was. "Otou-san…" She said then turned back to Hinata and Neji, not far from them. She continued, "Shall we start training, now, otou-san?"

"Hanabi…I don't wish to train you today." He said, then sat down beside her, looking at the same thing she had her eyes set on.

She was taken aback by his words. 'Why doesn't he want to train today?' She thought.

"I just want to spend time together, maybe talk?" Hiashi said.

"Hai…what is it, otou-san?"

"In a mere of just a month, your nee-chan will turn eighteen, right?"

"Yes…"

"So, anytime soon, she'll be married right?"

"Yes, otou-san, to Neji-neekun." She replied to her father, with her head down low.

"And…" He let out a deep sorrowful sigh "…as to the rules of the Hyuga Household, anytime after their marriage--" Before he could finish his sentence, Hanabi cut him off.

"I will get my cursed seal on my forehead…I understand, otou-san…my duties are for the clan…it will be alright…" The young twelve year old said. Her father looked at her eldest daughter, then to Hanabi, smiled and proud at both of his daughters' determination to keep their clan alive. He wrapped his daughter and embraced her. Hanabi was surprised by his gentle actions, he never did that before ever since their mother had died, but his gentle actions had come back. She was happy and at the same time saddened by all the events that had happened, that is happening and will happen. (A/N: The underlined words are those of what Hanabi wanted or needed to tell Tenten.)

End of Flashbacks

With that being told, Tenten fell silent. She didn't know exactly what to say to her…she accepted the fact that she and Neji ahd let bygones be bygones but right when she thought everything was fine; Hanabi had a big, biG, BIG problem coming her way. "Oh,…Hanabi…" was all Tenten could ever say, she really felt sorry for Hanabi.

Hanabi fell silent…after telling her everything that had happened and was to happen. Tenten then wrapped her arms in an embrace, while she just sat there, stiff.

When Tenten released, Hanabi asked her, "Tenten, are you sure you're going okay?"

"What are you talking about? I'm sure I'm alright, as alright as your Neji-neekun." She said, giving her a bright smile, a real smile.

As a Hyuga, yup, they somehow could just read expressions on other people's face, either frustrated, worried, scared, happy, sad…any…and judging from her bright pink face a while ago when she came out of the kitchen, she wondered, "So, Tenten-chan, how is Naruto doing?"

"Oh, I think he's fine. Ino did a great job keeping him company."

"So what is Lee doing here?" She asked, forming a smirk on her face.

"Oh…him…well…" She started her statement and started to blush. "Well, he's doing the same with me as to how Ino with Naruto."

"How has been with you, Tenten-chan?"

Her blush was getting even redder, but snapped back, looked at the younger kunoichi with a raised eyebrow and said, "Why are you asking me this?" Her blush still visible.

"I was just worried…Tenten-chan. Am I not allowed to think of my friend?"

She shifted her sight to the wall, staring blankly into space, her eyes became to a dreamy type, her blush was now even redder, she said, "He's been so nice to me. Ever since that day…well…he's been with me. Even though I tend to tell him bad things and try my best to piss him off, he never does, he's well…so patient. He tells me so many things that brighten up my spirit. Even though I did something that I know that must have hurt him, he didn't mind at all. He keeps me company all the time and always makes sure that I'm alright. Instead of looking out for himself, he always looks out for me. Well…sometimes I do get annoyed that he's looking over like a mere child but…somehow…some part of me says that it will be better and it is right…I don't know…well…it's just that…and I just feel safe whenever he's around and…I don't know…when like…he's not here…I feel unsure…I seemed unsafe and lost…I don't kn--"

Before she could finish, Hanabi stood up from her position, back faced at Tenten so to not let her see the small smirk that crept up her face 'I think she is fine, from now on. Lee, you're doing a great job!! Please let her stay like this, I know of your feelings for her and you might have a chance' she thought then said, "Alright…uhm…shall we join the others?"

Tenten looked at her with confusion, but then just smiled and went out of the room with her. Lee had finished the dishes, Ino and Naruto was starting to keep the Chinese checkers board. Hanabi then said, "Tenten-chan, since we're finished talking, I'll head off now. Arigato!! Ja ne, Tenten, Lee, Ino, Naruto!!" She waved goodbye to them and so did they to her. She proceeded to the door and opened…but to her surprise, someone was at their door with furious and worried looks on their faces. "Neji-neekun!! Hinata-neechan!!" She said, nearly shouting their names at the top of her lungs in surprise.

"I knew you'd be here." Neji's voice was heard inside.

"Hanabi…you really got us worried. It's has been sundown since a while ago, you haven't even ate dinner yet." Hinata's gentle voice came next.

"I'm finished eating dinner already, nee-chan. I was on my way home anyway." Hanabi answered the two.

The two just stared at her in different points of view, then looked at the other people in the house then heard them say "Yo!!" "Hi!!" at them with big warm and welcoming smiles on their faces. They just smiled at them and gave them a little wave of 'hello' to them and smiled back. The two then looked back to where Hanabi was Neji said, "Hanabi-sama, let's go home." Then he looked back up at the other people to say words of gratitude and farewell 'till next time to them but was beaten by Hinata, "Thanks for keeping my younger sister safe. We'll go on ahead now… Ja ne!!"

The four waved back at them, "Ja ne, Hanabi, Hinata, Neji!!" Naruto and Tenten wore smiles on their faces to see that there were really alright, and that they didn't literally get mad at Hanabi, while Ino and Lee were worried that the ones who had their heart might leave them and go back to the Hyugas. But actually they thought of it wrongly, Naruto and Tenten didn't have any thought about it. To see their friends alright with their own eyes was all they needed to see. And so the three Hyugas left.

Not long after, Ino and Naruto stood up from the couch and said, "Uhm…Tenten-chan, Lee-san, Naruto-kun and I also better get going. It was really nice staying here."

"And you're right!! Lee's cooking really is tasty, even tastier than ramen too!!" Naruto continued.

"Oh, it was nothing. Living alone, (A/N: Does Lee really live alone? Well in my fanfic, he does, so please bear with this) you should learn how to cook to survive!" Lee said, he hands at the back of his head.

"Well!! It was really nice staying here, Tenten-chan, Lee-san. Ja ne!!" Ino said, pushing Naruto to the door with Naruto also yelling to the older shinobi's "Ja ne!!"

With the two being left in the house, and it was already late in the night, Lee also thought that he has to get going, "Uh…Tenten-chan…I better get going as well. It's also getting late. See you tomorrow…" He said heading towards the door with Tenten following him. Once outside of the house, he turned around to face and said, "Take care of yourself, my love."

By hearing those words, her head jerked up, kind of taken aback by his chosen words. "Huh? What?? What did you just call me??" She asked, unsure of what she had heard.

'Oh Shit!!! I should have been careful with my words and cautious with my tongue!! Good going, Lee!!' Lee scolded himself in his head. "Oh, nothing, nothing…" He said, with a sweat drop forming at the back of his head.

"I swore I heard something else."

"Yeah, I just said to 'take care well of yourself'." Lee said, covering up for himself. "I better get going now, Tenten-chan."

But before he could leave, he found himself wrapped in Tenten's arms, and to his surprise, found their lips together. He…he didn't know what to do. His mind tells him that this is wrong…all too wrong, that maybe Tenten is just isn't herself, but his heart…his heart told him that it was alright…in fact, is heart told him it was right. He slowly closed his eyes and unconsciously wrapped his arms around her. He tightened his hug and made the kiss even deeper.

They stayed like that for a while, and slowly they parted away from their kiss, still her arms around his neck and his arms around her waist. As they parted, loosening their hugs to each other and eyes slowly opening, they stared into each others' eyes, with so much…wonder, passion and desire.

But Tenten snapped back to reality, her eyes went wide at being so close to Lee. She started to blush, realizing that yet again she just kissed him involuntarily. She released him and ran back in the house, slammed the door in front of his face, her back facing the door. While Lee was shocked, yet happy at the same time. A smile crept up his face and so a blush. His fingers traced his lips, 'She kissed me.' And so he headed home with the scene in his mind never fading away, and so are the smile and the blush. 'I you're alright Tenten, but I really do hope you meant that kiss and that you could love me back.'

Tenten, in her house, slapped her forehead once or twice so to punish herself and to try to throw away the scene from her mind…but she couldn't. She went to her room, changed to her nightgown then sat on her bed. The scene just a while ago by the doorstep won't get out of her kind. She lifted her hands up to her lips and let her fingers trace her lips gently. 'What is this feeling?...Am I…am I in love?...with him?'

XXXXXXXX

Hyuga Compound

The two engaged Hyugas, asleep yet not peacefully. At a glance, when you look at them, you could definitely tell that something is bothering them both.

"TENTEN-CHAN!!!" "NARUTO-KUN!!"

The two shouted out their names together, waking up from their uneasy slumber, rising to sit on bed. They were both sweating like hell. They slowly looked at the person beside him/her, to find her/him awake.

"Hinata-chan…" Neji said her name, his voice mixed with: surprise to see his Hinata awake; and worry because of the sudden dream he had of his once was Tenten and that since Hinata's awake, she might have dreamt about her once was Naruto and might no longer love him (Neji).

"Neji-kun…" Hinata said her love's name later. Her voice as well mixed with worry and surprise for the same reasons as Neji. "Neji, I feel like some part of me left, but now returned, nee-kun…" Hinata said.

"Me, too, Hinata-chan." Neji said. He wrapped his arms around her petite form and said, "Please, Hinata, don't call me 'nee-kun', calling me 'nee-kun' once again…I don't want to be just a mere cousin-brother to you. Am I not the one who you love any longer, Hinata-chan?" Neji asked, trying to tell her that she still was his and in the kindest way he could, tell her he doesn't want her to call him 'nee-kun' any longer.

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Well, there you have it, chapter eight. I hope it isn't that crappy. Sometimes, I tend to have writer's block which really sucks. This is the longest chapter I had written so far.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!

Naruto: We're almost finished cleaning and arranging your things, Kyoko…but there's a little problem with Neji.
Neji: KYOKO!! I am still loved, am I? I don't want to be lonely...I need someone, even in this fic, even though it's just a story.
Hinata and Kyoko: Of course you are!! Everyone is always loved!!
Neji: In that case, let's hurry and find chapter 9!!!!
Kyoko: I can't take this anymore!! (I mean it, literally. My head is aching because of too much thinking!!!)