It's that time again. Time for a new chapter. I gotta do these while I'm still on vacation. College really gets me busy. This is an important chapter, so pay attention )

Asuma-sensei: Yeah, Luna does not own Naruto. is a random character with no chances of appearing in this story.

Black and White

Chapter 6

"It's already July 1st, time sure passed quickly," Tenten mused as she shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand as she watched the blue summer sky.

It had been three months since she and Kiba had begun going out. It's not like they saw each other all the time, however. Often, they wouldn't see each other for days because one or the other was away on a mission. And of course, they also had training sessions. So, most of the time they spent together was when Kiba would come pick her up after training and they would walk home together, or sometimes they would hang out a little.

Kiba grinned at the date she had mentionned. "Yeah, and you know whose birthday is coming up soon?"

Tenten put her hands together as she remembered. "Yeah, I gotta remember to get him a present."

The boy raised an eyebrow. "I meant me!"

"Oh right! Your birthday is four days after Neji's, isn't it?"

Kiba grunted silently. Why did that guy have his birthday so close to his? Furthermore, Tenten had remembered that Neji's birthday was coming up, but not his.

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So July 3rd was another usual training day for Team Gai. Except Lee and Gai had insisted on singing Neji the Happy Birthday Song. The long-haired boy ignored them completely (or at least he tried to), while Tenten winced at the tone-deaf singers. That day, Neji left the group early.

"You don't want to hang out with us?" the girl had asked.

"It's your birthday, be youthful!" Lee had added.

"No, thanks. I'm going home," came the silent reply. And the boy left.

Later, when it was time for Lee and Tenten to leave, the girl had gone without waiting for Lee nor Kiba.

"Yo, where's Tenten?" Kiba asked Lee as he came to pick up his girlfriend.

"It appears as though she had things to take care of and she said to go home without her."

"Aw well. Let's go then."

Kiba and Lee headed for town together. They had become somewhat friends lately, due to the dog-boy joining them all the time. Neji actually did not understand how Lee could walk casually with both Tenten and Kiba without problem. Then again, Lee did not share his feelings towards neither the boyfriend nor the girlfriend.

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Meanwhile, Tenten made her way hesitantly through the Hyuuga compound. She had thought about it, and came to the conclusion that someone spending their birthday alone was just too sad. She had trouble finding Neji's room. She couldn't help but notice how everyone was staring at her. She stood out like chocolate in a sea of vanilla here. It annoyed her that all the houses looked the same, and especially that all Hyuuga looked alike as well, long black hair and white eyes and all. Even Hinata, who had been different until now, had started to let her hair grow long too. Gees.

She finally found Neji's door and knocked. Twice. But no answer came. She twisted the doorknob and the door was unlocked, so she slipped in carefully.

"Sorry for the intrusion..." she said quietly. But the room appeared empty.

She closed the door behind her, removed her shoes, and took a look at Neji's apartment. She had never really seen the inside of it. It was certainly smaller than hers. Strange. Somehow she imagined the Hyuuga to be somewhat wealthy. The light was dim through the bland curtains on the small window. Everything was neat and tidy though, just like she would've imagined. There was space only to fit the regular appliances, a bed, a desk, a dresser and a book case. Tenten observed the books in it. Not a single novel or manga in sight. Only big complicated books about history, science or ninja stuff. Wait, she did spot a manga. But it was old and damaged and it was a series that had been out of print for years. She guessed it must've been a childhood memory.

Suddenly, she heard a click and turned around, only to find Neji coming out of the bathroom, hair wet, wearing a towel around his waist. He thought he had heard something, his eyed widened with a 'what the hell??' expression as he saw her teammate snooping through his books.

The girl put the manga back as fast as she could. "Sorry! I-I knocked and the door was unlocked and..and…" she staggered while eyeing his bare chest, in spite of herself.

The young man frowned. "Wait here." And he disappeared back into the bathroom.

Tenten sighed. He would be pissed at her for coming in uninvited. She sat on his bed, but instantly jumped up as she felt something spiky under her. She reached for it and found a hairbrush. She sat, and pulled a long black silky hair from the the brush. The girl sighed again. How did he manage to keep his hair so shiny all the time? She wished she knew. She had trouble with her own hair.

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Neji came back out, fully clothed this time. Tenten looked at him with sad eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said again.

The boy made a few steps forward and eyed her with scowling pearly eyes. Looking up at him from her sitting position, he certainly looked imposing.

"It's my fault for being careless. Why are you here?" he asked calmly.

"Because," she said firmly. "No one should be alone on their birthday!"

He sighed. "Is that the reason? I'm fine." He was annoyed that she had invaded his privacy and yet, he was touched that she cared.

"It's your birthday! How boring is it to remain inside?"

"My birthday is of no importance. It's just another day." Her birthday, however, was special. It meant one more year that she had grown more beautiful, one more year he thanked God for her existence. "May I have that?" he added, referring to the hairbrush she still had in her hands.

She smiled. "Can I ask a favor?" He stayed silent so she continued. "Let me brush your hair! Please!"

Neji's eyes widened at this strange request. "What?"

"It's so long and beautiful. It's every girl's dream! Please?" she pleaded.

"Fine." Normally, he wouldn't have agreed, but no one would see them here and it was rare that she would ask something from him.

He sat on the floor, right below her, and undid his headbands. He put them beside him and closed his eyes. What a situation she had created for him! Tenten smiled happily and ran the hairbrush through Neji's delicate hair gently. Wow, almost no knots. The tiny ones were easily untangled with one stroke of the brush. Any other guy could've blushed in this embarassing situation, but Neji found himself switching from being unwilling to a more relaxed state. The feeling of someone brushing your hair so softly was actually quite pleasant. Tenten ran her other hand through it occasionally just to feel any more knots, sending invisible shivers down the boy's back.

She broke the tasteful silence by asking a question. "So, your wisdom teeth, do they still hurt?"

"Not as much, they're almost out now," he said as he turned to face her. "See?." He opened his mouth for Tenten to see.

"Oh right, I can see them," she said, confused about Neji's behavior.

The boy turned his head back for Tenten to continue brushing, but she did not. Instead, he felt something wet on his shoulder. He looked back again and found tears in the girl's eyes.

"What's the matter?" he asked, confused as well.

"Your teeth…you showed them to me," she explained faintly.

"What about it?"

She wiped the tears from her face, not wanting to cry in front of him. "You wouldn't show them to me before. And now you just did so easily. It seems like…after all this time…you're finally opening up to me."

That's true, he thought, realizing he did show her his teeth without even thinking. Maybe it was the mood, or the fact that they shared a private moment, but he had acted contradictory to his normal nature. It felt wrong. But when she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, saying "I'm so glad!", it felt very right. That's when he knew. That's when he understood. Part of him wanted to push her away because he did not like this kind of physical contact, while another part felt like hugging her back.

Heck, he was hugging her back! When he noticed this, he immediately let go and hurried to the bathroom.

Tenten suddenly felt bad. She probably shouldn't have hugged him, she knew he disliked being touched. Maybe she had only imagined that he had opened up to her lately. Maybe he was upset with her now.

Neji looked at his reflection in the mirror. What was wrong with him? That wasn't like him at all! He looked at his finely brushed loose hair and remembered the warmth of Tenten's breath on his neck. He felt warm inside and got nervous. Was that a blush on his cheeks? He splashed cold water on his face. Impossible. This can't be! No freaking way!

When he came back a few moments later, Tenten apologized again.

"I'm sorry. Maybe it's best I left."

Yes, that probably would be best. "Stay," is what he said instead, surprising both Tenten and himself.

He sat on a chair, put his hairbands back on and she looked at him. The silence was awkward and made her uneasy. Neji wasn't good at conversations. In fact, he evaded them when possible.

"Tell me," she said after a few moments of silence. "What do you use on your hair to have it looking like that?"

"Shampoo."

"What kind?"

"The regular brand from the store."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Wow, that's amazing."

"…"

Tenten was somewhat irritated that she had to spend hours and money for expensive shampoo to get her hair to look good, while his was amazingly beautiful with no effort. How unfair.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" The girl got up and grabbed the bag she had left by the door when she first came in. She handed it to Neji. It's a present for you!"

"That was unnecessary," he said as he looked inside.

There was a long-sleeved shirt, white with black sleeves and a black collar.

"I know it's not really your style, but I thought maybe you'd like to try something new."

Neji wondered why in the world Tenten would buy him a shirt she knew he wouldn't like. But he thanked her, nonetheless. Maybe he really should try something different.

There was another silence. Then Tenten spoke again.

"We shouldn't be inside, it's nicer out there. Let's grab a bite to eat. I'm inviting you, cause it's your birthday."

"Fine. If it makes you happy." It made him happy too, not mentionning he was also short on money ever since his screw-up with the thief a few weeks ago.

She smiled and extended a hand to help him up. "You're fifteen now. You should celebrate!" While I thank God for another year of your existence.

She waited as he locked the door and both headed to town. The sun was almost completely set. The sky was a mix of blue and purple, with a faint glow of orange at the horizon. A beautiful sight, but not as much as Neji's smile. A beautiful smile that couldn't be seen by anyone. He smiled on the inside.

He was in love.

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Gaaah! I really enjoyed writing this chapter! Next time: Kiba's birthday! Please review!