A/N: Ugh, I hate this chapter. It gave me so much trouble. In certain spots I forgot that this was first person and I suddenly switched to third person and then I went back to correct it all and . . . Ugh. So sorry if I missed some spots. Enjoy!

Oh my god! Only 4 chapters and 100+ reviews! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you all!

Who has heard Teenagers by My Chemical Romance? I love that song and it's so . . . True. Sometimes.

Disclaimer: I don't own!

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Chapter 5

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Neji

I frowned, stared, then frowned again while my friends deliberated amongst themselves on what would be the best birthday gift for Tenten. I know I shouldn't have asked them for their help, the warnings signs in my mind were flashing erratically, but I needed someone's damn honest opinion. Now I realize I should've asked Hinata or Sakura or, god help me, Ino.

"Weapons." Sasuke said flatly.

I snorted. "And have them thrown back at me when she uses them to spar?"

"You have your Byakugan. You'll avoid them."

"No."

Naruto bits his lip. "How about . . . A dress? Girls love clothes!"

"No." I say stonily. Imagine a Hyuuga male going into a female clothing store and purchasing a dress. It would be scandalous. Not to mention my cold and distant prodigy reputation would be slightly tarnished because I'd bought something so absurd. God. People might think that I bought a dress for myself!

Shikamaru, and Shino, seemed to share my opinion because Shino adjusted his sunglasses and Shikamaru rolled his eyes.

"Naruto," Kiba drawled, "we're thinking of a good gift."

"That would be a good gift!" Naruto snapped.

"Get her flowers." All of us turn to Chouji who's munching on potato chips and shrugging when Kiba asks him when he got there. He swallows and gives me a sympathetic look. "It must be hard to get Tenten a birthday gift but girls love flowers. And chocolate. Get Tenten some flowers and I bet she'll be happy with that."

It was the most sensible suggestion I'd been given all morning.

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The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as Yamanaka Ino stares at my back, boring holes into my skin. I can actually feel the heat of her eyes and I know she's analyzing everything I'm doing and wondering why I'm in her parent's shop. I had forgotten that she worked here and if she finds out that I'm getting flowers for Tenten then Tenten herself will find out and—god. Why does she have so many friends?

"You're getting flowers?" Ino asked.

I frown. "What else would I be doing in your shop?"

The blonde kunoichi frowns for a moment and then a light bulb seems to turn on in her head. "You're getting flowers for Tenten." she says slyly, looking so happy with herself, as if she'd solved the biggest puzzler of all time. Ino comes out from behind the counter and discards her work apron. "I knew you'd be in here sometime this week. I knew it!" she cries elatedly, going to the door and turning the sign so that it temporarily says 'closed'. "So, what do you need help with?"

"Excuse me?"

"You have to get a gift for Tenten, right?"

"Yes." I answer warily, not liking the gleam in her eye.

"Have you decided on a gift?" she asks, smirking.

"Flowers."

Ino stumbles back and looks like she's about to have a heart attack. I stare at her passively but inside I'm wondering at her alarmed expression. What's wrong with flowers?

"You can't give Tenten flowers!" she hisses.

"Why not?"

Ino smoothes her purple shirt and glares at me. "She's your fiancé! Not your girlfriend. You need to get her something special!"

I didn't get it. "Aren't flowers special?"

"Yeah," she scoffed. "For dinner or an anniversary! But this is her birthday! You have to get her something she'll remember—"

"Ino!" Sakura entered the flower shop with Hinata and swiftly closed the door behind them. "You said you were going to tell us when Neji came to see you!"

"Hinata-sama." I say.

She nods. "Neji-niisan."

"So," Sakura began, hooking her pink hair behind her ear, "what were you going to get Tenten?"

I opened his mouth to answer but Ino beat me to the punch.

"Flowers." she said in a disparaging voice, dramatically burying her face into her hands.

Hinata actually winced and Sakura shook her head at me, putting a hand on my shoulder. When I leveled her with my glare she swiftly returned her hand to her side.

"Are flowers not appropriate, Hinata-sama?"

She fiddled with a strand of long blue-black hair and sighed. "I-It's not what you s-should g-get," she replied shyly, voice so quiet that I can barely hear her. "B-But it's t-the t-thought t-that counts?"

Ino scoffed. "Don't lie, Hinata. Neji," she said in a commanding tone, turning her ice blue eyes onto me, "you're getting Tenten jewelry!"

Sakura laughed awkwardly. "Are you sure, Ino? I mean, Neji doesn't seem the type to get Tenten something so . . . Nice?"

I was partially insulted.

"So what if she knows that Neji came to us for help?" Ino snapped. "The fact that he did shows that he knows better than to go about this himself."

"No." I say stonily.

"What's the matter, Hyuuga? We know you have enough money to buy Tenten jewelry."

"She doesn't wear it." I reply sardonically. Hinata seems impressed that I know this and Sakura is giving me an odd look. "What?"

"You'd have to be studying Tenten really closely to notice something like that." she says, a smile forming on her lips. "Do you like staring at our fair Tenten?"

I don't dictate her asinine comment with a response.

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I ended up shopping for jewelry with them.

I never realized how, in the words of a fellow prodigy, troublesome women are. We must've been to six different shops and still nothing satisfied them. One minute Ino, Sakura and Hinata would be gushing over one item and then they'd turn around and find another that they like more. God, I can't stand it! They'd say that this particular thing would be it, but then change their minds and move on to a different store.

Why are women so indecisive?

"N-Neji-niisan," Hinata says tentatively, "I think we've found it."

Finally.

Ino is staring at the item being held out for them as Sakura chats up the shop owner, smiling flirtatiously and coy winking at him. I wonder if the Uchiha knows about this. He'd probably chop the guy's head off or something if he found out.

The blonde kunoichi sees me coming over and smiles brightly. "What do you think?" she asks, indicating the object the shop keeper is holding out for my viewing pleasure.

It was a gold necklace with a good sized white pearl hanging in the center. It was simple and elegant and I found myself taking a liking to it immediately.

"We were thinking platinum at first, but it'd look a bad with Tenten's tone so we went with gold and we were thinking of a black or pink pearl at first, but white is classic." Ino said. "What do you think?"

I stared at the girls, at the necklace, then at the shop owner. Hinata, Sakura and Ino are positively beaming when I say, "Wrap it."

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Tomorrow is Tenten's birthday.

I ran my fingers over the thin gold chain of the necklace in my bed room. For some reason it reminds me of Tenten; simple and elegant. She might be crude and rough but she's also nice, sometimes, and, I must admit, she's pretty. I like her brown eyes and her hair style is interesting. I wonder what her hair looks like down . . .

"Neji."

I hastily put the lid on the long box and turn around. "Hiashi-sama."

"You bought Tenten a necklace?" he asks, giving me an impressed look.

Everyone seems to be impressed with me today. Just because I act cold and distant doesn't mean I don't know a thing or two about other people . . . And . . . Things.

"Yes, Hiashi-sama."

"Tomorrow you have to inform Tenten that she will be moving into our house." Hiashi says. "Tell her that there is a room already prepared and that you will be showing her around for a while until she feels comfortable here. Understood?"

"Yes, Hiashi-sama." I answer obediently.

Oh yeah. Tenten's going to be really happy when she hears this.

Dammit.

Dammit.

Dammit.

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Tenten

There's a knock on the door while I'm in the kitchen making some jasmine tea. Odd, I wasn't expecting visitors today. I look down at my sleeping attire, large shirt, short shorts, and I think I look presentable, I mean, it's still pretty early. I have three extra hours since Gai-sensei told me to relax a little before coming to meet Team Gai in our training area.

I open the door, expecting to see someone there, and am greeted with no one.

There's no one in front of the door.

I peek outside and look down the hall.

Nope.

No one.

But there is a package at my feet.

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Neji

I'm at Tenten's building and I'm trying to convince myself to go up there, give her the damn birthday gift and tell her that she has to move into the Hyuuga house.

Right.

She's going to totally love that.

I hope she doesn't start throwing things at my head.

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Tenten

I sit at my kitchen table staring at the package.

I've already looked at it but the sender's name isn't present and I've poked and prodded at it with some needles. Being the cautious person I am, I also tested it to see if it was rigged. So far, it's proven to be just an ordinary package. God, I am so paranoid. Being a kunoichi has screwed with me so much. It's a package, package most likely equals gift. It's my birthday, it's probably a present from one of my friends.

I sigh.

Get this over with, get this over with!

I slice the brown paper wrapping with a kunai and then shield my face. When I don't hear anything I lower my arms with a sigh of relief. Ok, there really weren't any exploding tags.

The box underneath the paper is medium-sized and a creamy yellow color which is really pretty. I hesitantly lift the top off of it and peer inside. There's tons of white paper and I start taking it out until my fingers scrape something hard inside. Piqued, I lift the thing out and it turns out to be a pair of binoculars. They're black and sleek and cold in my hand. There's a note attached to them, hanging from a line of brown string and I turn it towards me.

To help you see the stars better at night.

Instantly, I know this is from Anonymous.

How did the guy find out about my birthday?

It's kind of unsettling how much he knows about me while I know next to nothing about him.

I look through them for a moment and everything is closer and sharper.

The focus is amazing.

A familiar sound enters my kitchen and I turn my head just in time to see a white bird land on my shoulder, a note attached to its leg.

Holy crap.

This is his response letter.

He's supposed to tell me about himself.

Yes!

I'm already taking the note off the bird's leg and I'm about to open it up but my door bell rings.

Damn.

I set the letter down my the opened gift, walk to my door and open it.

He's standing there wearing his signature Hyuuga robes, looking spiffy as usual, and holding a bouquet of red roses (Does he even know what those mean?) and something long and thin wrapped in shiny red paper. He gives me a bored look but he's sort of fidgeting while he's waiting for me to let him in. God, I've never seen Hyuuga Neji look so uncomfortable before and he's giving me a surprised look mixed with, dare I say it, humor?

"What are you doing here?" I ask, shocked beyond measure.

Neji stares at me. "It's your birthday today."

I hastily look back into my apartment, and then return my gaze to him. "Do you want to come in?"

He doesn't reply and steps into my apartment.

I'll take that as a yes then.

Neji makes his way to my living room and I close the door. I sigh. I definitely wasn't expecting this. I mean, he doesn't seem the type to visit just for the sake of giving a gift and flowers. I never took him for the type, I mean, this is really sweet.

"You look awful." he says.

I scowl. "What the heck are you talking about?"

Neji draws invisible circles around his eyes. "You've got dark circles around your eyes, Tenten."

I rush into my kitchen and pull out a metal spoon from a drawer and stare at my reflection in shock, a strangled shriek coming from my throat. Oh my god. I've got two giant circles around my eyes and they make me look like a panda! I turn around and glare daggers at the binoculars and the note from Anonymous on the table. This was all his doing! Dammit! How could I have been so stupid? I rub at the black on my face and thankfully it comes off easily. I rub my fingertips together.

The black stuff is just ink.

"Did you get it off?"

I lift my gaze to Neji. He's leaning against the door way that leads into the kitchen, looking cool and composed as ever. I nod. "Thanks." I say, actually meaning it.

He nods. "Come open this gift."

Neji hands me the wrapped box and I gingerly take off the red paper; it's just so pretty, I'm afraid to ruin it. When I take the lid off my breath stills in my lungs. "Oh, Neji." I breathe. I know Hinata, Sakura and Ino had to help him get this, he's not the type to think of this on his own, but, god, it's gorgeous. I lift the necklace out of the box and study it in the light. The gold chain glimmers and the pearl glows.

I'm speechless.

"You like it then." Neji says. "I know you don't normally wear jewelry, but you can wear it for formal gatherings."

"It's beautiful, Neji. Thank you." I've never gotten anything so . . . Nice as a birthday present. It's always been something practical, like kunai and shuriken, but never something as delicate as a necklace. I guess I've never shown a preference for jewelry, but I do like it and I'm glad Neji got it for me. I give him a brilliant smile but he looks slightly . . . Uncomfortable. "Neji?"

"Hiashi-sama wants you to move into the Hyuuga house." he says suddenly.

I give a shriek of indignation.

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Neji

I knew she'd react like this, I knew that, but I had hoped she wouldn't scream or shriek.

My ears hurt.

"I am not moving into the Hyuuga house!" she says vehemently. "I like my apartment!"

I roll my eyes. "You don't really have a choice. Hiashi-sama asks that you move in." Which really means that she has no choice and that he'll get forceful if she refuses.

Tenten shakes her head. "Tell him that I'm fine in my apartment."

"Honesty," I say in annoyance, "it would be easier for us both if you just consent. I'll only be back here after telling Hiashi-sama that you refuse."

"Look," she takes a deep breath and then stares me straight into the eye, "I like my independence and I'm going to give some of it up when I marry you. Tell him that I'll move into the Hyuuga house a month before we get married, ok?"

"He's not going to like this." I warn.

Tenten fingers the pearl on the necklace. "I know, but I want to keep staying in my apartment . . ."

My eyes lock onto the bird on her shoulder and they narrow. "Is this your pet?" I ask. "You don't strike me as the type to keep birds."

"No. It just brings me—" Tenten seems to catch herself before saying something and then shuts her mouth for a moment. "It's just a random bird I feed sometimes. Its grown attached to me over these past few weeks."

"I see." I murmur quietly. I look at her table which is littered with ripped brown paper, a pair of binoculars and a folded sheet of white paper. My interest is piqued but I don't question her about it. "I should be going," I say, making my way to her door. "And Hiashi-sama requests your presence later tonight. He's holding a dinner at the Hyuuga house for your birthday." I open the door and step half-way out of her apartment before adding, "Wear that necklace."

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Tenten

My god, what would Neji think about me sending letters to a random stranger?

He'd probably think I'd lost my mind.

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Tenten,

It's quite entertaining to provoke you. I'm sure you found the binoculars particularly amusing. Did you like the dark circles around your eyes? Be more careful in the future.

You want to know about me?

I suppose I can divulge some information.

I am male, a shinobi and, as you saw in Konoha, I have dark hair. My parents are dead and we're pretty much the same age, give or take a year.

I've heard of Hyuuga Neji and I've heard that he is moody and anti-social to the highest degree. What do you think of him?

-Anonymous

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A/N: Please review? Reviews are my happy crack!