A/N: Infamous chapter 10. Ironically, this chapter is 10 pages long. I know I've kept you guys waiting for . . . well, an extremely long time, but here is the NEXT CHAPTER OF BLUE BLOODS! I was having major writer's block for a few months and then I finally got my muse back a little while ago and wrote this.

I'll be updating Romantic Egoist as soon as I can. I'm about . . . halfway done with the next chapter.

Sucketh does the life of a student and woe is the work. Totally random but I'm sure others can relate.

Disclaimer: I don't own.

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Chapter 10

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Neji

When life throws you lemons you make lemonade, but I've never actually had a lemon thrown at me.

Not the real saying, but I feel this one is more appropriate at the moment.

Tenten says it was an accident—oh yeah, I believe her alright—but the citrus fruit had hit me perfectly in the back of the head. It practically welded itself into my skull. I don't know why Tenten is so . . . Irritated right now. This is our first real mission, something we've both been looking forward to, and she picks this time to get pissed off.

I frown at the yellow fruit and then shoot a glare her way.

Tenten smiles cheerily and waves.

She makes me so angry sometimes I could just . . . Just—

My shoulders stiffen when it makes impact and I think the vein in my neck is bulging. I slowly turn around to stare at the orange fruit on the ground behind me.

That bitch!

"Oops!" Tenten comes running up and bends down to pick up the orange. I resist the urge to kick her in the ass. That wouldn't go over well with Hiashi if he found out. "This one got away from me just now," she smiles at me, "sorry Neji."

I'm sure.

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Tenten

I think the orange made my mood perfectly clear.

I hate him. Hate, hate, hate him.

We kiss and Neji, being the bastard that he is, doesn't want to talk about it. What the hell? I just gave him my first kiss—my lips are no longer virgin, god dammit!—and he goes off to pack his things for ourstupid mission. I angrily throw another orange down, missing the crate. It makes impact with the ground and splits, showering the side of my leg with juice and pulp.

"Tenten!" Lee cries, hurrying over to my side. "You've been very high-strung this glorious morning! Are you feeling well?"

"I'm fine, Lee." I manage to grind out while picking another fruit.

"Perhaps it would be wise if you," Lee's eyes move to the pile of destroyed oranges behind me, "sat down and relaxed for a moment. You've been working very hard for the past few hours, Tenten."

"I said I'm fine!"

I squeeze tightly as I yell and I feel sticky juice and pulp flow disgustingly out of my hand.

Another orange bites the dust.

Lee pats my shoulder and I sigh.

"Ok, maybe a short break."

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"You've damaged more oranges than you've picked."

I glare up at Neji.

"Thank you for your intelligent statement, Neji. Now please, go pick some fruit."

He doesn't go and instead joins me, sitting on his haunches to look me in the eye.

"I don't like having things thrown at me, Tenten," he says seriously. "Tell me what's wrong and I'll try to fix it."

I had the strongest urge to say 'it's you, fool!' but I didn't. I look away and sip some water.

Neji stares at me for a few more seconds and says, "Women are very strange . . . Or perhaps it's just you."

"You just wait, Hyuuga Neji." I say, voice low and menacing, "When we're married I am going to make your life a living hell. And if we have children—oh, you'd better hope I'm in a generous mood then."

"Seriously Tenten, what is this about?"

He's not taking my threat seriously!

"You want to know what it is?" I look side to side and, satisfied that Lee and Gai are far away, I whisper into Neji's ear, "It's that you are an ass! How could you just go off like that after we kissed?" I lean back and his face is blank. I frown.

Neji looks genuinely confused and asks, "What kiss?"

I want to kill him.

Was it that bad that he's wiped the entire ordeal from his memory? I clench my fists in anger and humiliation. So what if he doesn't remember. I don't care! Kissing Neji was like . . . Like . . . the worst moment of my life! Second to this one.

And suddenly, he's smirking at me.

"Is this what you've been angry about?" he asks. "That stupid kiss?"

"You're laughing at me in your head, aren't you?" I say accusingly. "And it wasn't stupid—"

"Oh?"

"That was my first kiss you loser!" I snap, smacking Neji on the shoulder.

He turns solemn. "Should we mourn the loss of your first kiss?"

"Don't mock me. This is serious."

"Personally," Neji began, "I don't think I'm a bad kisser—"

"Yeah? Well, you suck!" I yell.

"Stop acting so childish." he says flatly. "It's unbecoming of you, Tenten."

I'm about to give him a piece of my mind but Gai comes running up, Lee behind him, with a giant smile plastered on his face.

"Beautiful flower Tenten and youthful Neji! We've finished our mission! Lee and I worked youthfully and accomplished much while you two rested!" Gai's teeth sparkled. "Race back to Konoha and let your youthful spirits soar!"

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Neji

Tenten was angry . . . Over that dumb kiss.

But . . . I guess it was her first. And girls always seem to want their first kiss to be special . . . Would it make her feel better to know that that was my first kiss too?

. . . Nah.

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Tenten

Oh my god, where are they?

WHERE ARE MY FUCKING WEAPONS!?

I get down on my knees and grope under my bed for the box with my secret stash. I sigh with relief as my fingers make contact with the wood and I pull it out.

I open the box and gleaming metal doesn't greet me . . . But a note does.

You can't tell right now, but I'm laughing at you.

HA, HA, HA!

I know you'll kill me for this, but you'll thank me in due time. I stole your weapons (quite obvious from the lack of them in the 'secret stash' which, by the way, isn't so secret since Hinata found it and told me and Sakura. Can you say perfect leverage?) and I'm not telling you where they are/giving them back until you do something for me.

I want you to kiss Neji. Not a peck on the cheek or something stupid like that, but a REAL kiss. Do not skimp on it because I swear that I'll melt your precious little senbon into new hair clips if you don't do it right.

Meet me at the shop afterwards and I'll give them to you if I deem it satisfactory and yes, I'll be able to tell. A girl who's just been kissed by the guy she likes has a certain glow about her.

Love you!

-Ino

That girl is going to die once I get my hands on her and it's going to be long and painful and god dammit, where does she get the nerve to come sneaking into my room and stealing my stuff? And how does she have the audacity to say that I like Neji? I most certainly do not.

"Tenten."

I turn to the door and I can't help the smile that comes to my lips.

Perfect timing.

"Wait!" I call, hastily stuffing the note back into the box and shoving it under my bed.

Huh. I need to change. This dust on my shirt and pants is disgusting. I really should let the maids come in and dust under the bed for once.

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Neji

There's a muffled sound through the door and words that sound like 'bait' repeated about five times. Is she going to catch an animal? I'm intrigued and, though I know it's against my upbringing, quietly activate Byakugan to look through her door.

My cheeks feel a little hot as I witness Tenten changing.

I hastily deactivate my Byakugan after I receive quite a nice glimpse of her legs and slim waist and very ample chest. Oh my god, I'm turning into a pervert. I'm using my Byakugan to stare at Tenten through her bedroom door . . .

"Hey Neji."

I turn around at the sound of my name and I try not to cringe at the look that Hanabi is giving me.

"Hanabi-sama." I say, hoping she'll go away.

There's a huge grin on her face now and I want to wince.

"Staring at Tenten through her bedroom door with Byakugan." she says slyly, "Never thought you would have it in you, Neji-niisan . . ."

"I am not doing anything." I deny stonily.

"Sure."

Oh, what I'd give to be able to smack that stupid smirk off her face.

"Oh, Tenten!"

I hadn't even noticed that she'd opened her door.

"Hey Hanabi. Neji."

"Guess what Neji-niisan was just doing!"

I stiffen and I can see my bleak future, filled with sharp objects I might add, flash before my eyes.

"What?" Tenten asks. I can hear the amusement in her voice.

Hanabi holds a finger up to her lips. "It's a secret." She gives me one last smirk and walks off, disappearing around the corner at the far end of the hallway.

Tenten pokes me in the shoulder and I turn around. "A secret." she says skeptically. I don't say anything and she sighs. "Sorry you had to wait. Come in."

Ah, so she was saying 'wait'.

I close the door behind me and Tenten plops down onto her bed, gazing ruefully at me.

"Ok, so what were you doing outside my door?"

"I came to talk to you." I answer truthfully.

"Alright. So talk."

I sit down beside her on the bed and pray that I can look her in the eyes without blushing. Right now all I can think of when I look at her is her naked. Tenten stares at me and pokes me in the cheek.

"Sorry." I say, rubbing my temples.

"You're spacing out." she says playfully. "Are you ok?"

"I'm sorry."

Tenten gazes quizzically at me, frowning. "Sorry?" she asks. "About what?"

I try not to sigh and pluck a loose thread from her shirt. "For your first kiss."

"Oh," she smiles, "that."

"Yes, that."

There's something weird about her right now but I can't place my finger on it . . .

"You can make it up to me, Neji." she says, voice husky.

I lean away from her a little. "What?"

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Tenten

How dense can this boy be? Honestly.

I roll my eyes and press my lips to his.

At first we're just mashing lips to lips but I turn my head slightly and we're kissing, close-mouthed of course. Neji hesitantly begins to return my kiss and I smile despite myself, closing my eyes as he places a hand on my neck. I really like this. I mean, I instigated this, but I'm just relieved that Neji's responding the way he is because it's much easier. When his tongue licks my lips for entrance I hastily pull back, pressing my fingertips to my lips as Neji just stares at me.

"Um . . ." I begin, at a loss for words.

Neji stands up. "I have to go." he says.

I nod and he leaves my room.

It was only a kiss—one little kiss—and I think I'm blushing like a school girl.

Then I'm running.

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The Yamanaka flower shop is in my sights but I run into Ino before I reach the door.

"I did it." I say in between breaths.

She stares at me, amused, and appraises my disheveled appearance.

"Did you just run here after you guys kissed?" Ino asks, putting her hands on her hips. "Because that totally wasn't the point of the bet—"

"One kiss." I remind her. "You only said I had to get one."

"Oh fine!" she snaps, pissed. "Your weapons are under the counter."

I'm immediately in the store and behind the counter, pulling out a cardboard box filled with my artillery. Shiny shuriken, kunai and senbon greet me and I'm about to cry. I've never been so happy to see my babies. I hug the box to my chest. She doesn't understand! The bond between me and my weapons is sacred! It's, like, the earth and water—one can't exist without the other and I know I'm exaggerating a little, but that's what it feels like. I give her a filthy look while pulling out a kunai and tracing the edge lovingly.

"I can't believe you stole these from my room—" I say nastily, knowing she's standing right behind me. I hear Ino snort. "What?" I demand.

"If you were half as good to Neji as you are to your weapons you two would be the most loving couple in all of Konoha . . ."

"I only have one love and it's—"

I'm suddenly shoved down to the floor and Ino has her foot on my back.

"Neji!" she squeals, digging her heel into my back in warning. "What can I do for you?"

Holy shit. Neji's here? What the hell is he doing here? Does he have to talk to Ino? Did Ino talk to him!? I hadn't even told him about the bet! Oh my god, if Ino blows it I'm totally fucked . . .

"I need flowers."

"Really." I can tell Ino's smirking. "For who?" she asks.

"That's none of your concern." he replies coldly. The ice in his voice is evident. "I need some white lilies."

"O-Ok." She gives me a hard kick in the side and I have the urge to grab her ankle and throw her down! But I don't.

Ino bustles around the shop and grabs some lilies and wraps them in a gold colored paper. She hands it to Neji and he says to put it on the Hyuuga tab. The Hyuuga have a tab here?

I rise to my elbows and blow my bangs out of my face and accidentally hit the box with my arm.

"What was that?" Neji asks.

Ino laughs. "I accidentally kicked a box. It's nothing!"

"Hn."

I can hear the skepticism in his voice and I pray that he won't use his Byakugan on this place because it'd be incredibly embarrassing to have him find me on the floor like this, plus it'd result in a lot of questions.

"Oh, Neji! Tell Tenten I said hi, ok? She hasn't been around much and I—"

"Goodbye, Yamanaka-san."

"Bye, Neji!"

I want to laugh at the sugary tone Ino uses but I don't because Neji was still in the shop. Oh my god, I think she has a death wish or something because no one talks like that to Neji, at least, I haven'tseen anyone talk to Neji like that. I hear the door open and close and I get on my hands and knees and then to my feet. I hiss at the soreness in my back.

Ino grasps my shoulders and stares me in the eyes. "You have to follow him."

"What? No!"

She shakes me. "I'm serious! Something's happening and I think he bought those flowers for you though I don't know why he picked white lilies when you like irises . . ."

I roll my eyes. "Maybe he didn't buy them for me Ino—"

"Of course he did! Unless," Ino's eyes go wide and she raises a hand to her mouth. "Oh my god, what if he has another girl!?"

I snort. Neji? A girl? The whole idea is laughable.

"I don't think so."

"He's playing you, Tenten! You must find out what's going on!"

"Neji isn't like that." I state flatly. "He would never be unfaithful. It's like, the Hyuuga way."

Ino looks at me with pity. "Ok."

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God damn Ino and god damn my curiosity. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be spying on Neji right now and feeling like an idiot. God, what does it matter if Neji has another girl? It just means that if he gets caught with her the engagement is off—that sounds nice—and it means that I'll be free—that sounds even better—and that means I'll be able to get with Anonymous!

And oh my god, where did that last thought come from!?

I watch as Neji lands inside Team 7's training ground and frown. Could it be that he's getting with Sakura? No! She's entirely faithful to Sasuke! Though, if Sasuke really was Anonymous, that would mean that he's not faithful to Sakura, which would mean that I've been—ARGH! Why can't things be simple?

I land in the trees and glare at his back.

What the hell is he doing here?

I look at the grounds, there's no one here, and then I look back around and there's Neji.

Right in front of me.

And I scream, falling backwards on my ass.

His face is expressionless and I want to die.

"N-Neji!" I manage to get out, my voice strangely squeaky and high. "I—"

"You've been following me." he says. "Why."

"I-I didn't even know you were here!" I reply hotly. "I came looking for Sakura!"

Neji levels me with a cold glare. "Haruno-san is currently at Ichiraku with her teammates. If you had paid attention when we passed, you would've noticed as well."

God damn Neji and his god damn eye sight . . .

He studies me for a second and asks, "What are you doing here?"

"I followed you." I snap, turning away pointedly.

"And what were you doing at Yamanaka's?"

"Buying a bouquet of flowers."

"Behind the counter?"

I turn towards him angrily. "Stop using your Byakugan and seeing things that aren't meant to be seen, Neji." A faint pink color rises in his cheeks and my jaw drops. "Are you blushing!?"

Neji ignores my question and hastily turns around. He coughs before saying, "You never answered my question."

"You haven't answered mine!" I retort, then adding, "And maybe I was following you but only because I was really, really bored."

He turns his head slightly and looks at me out of the corner of his eye.

"Did you follow me because of what Yamanaka Ino said? About me have another girl?"

"Were you listening in on our conversation!?"

"Did you follow me because of it?"

I open my mouth and shut it immediately because he's hit the nail on the head. God, why did I even follow Ino's advice? It's never good and now look where its gotten me. Here. Alone. With Neji. And I'm going to have to apologize to him. Damn her . . .

"Look," I begin, "I'm sorry. I'll go if you want to be alone—"

"No."

My eyes widen. "What?"

"You can stay if you wish." Neji says. "I'm just here visiting."

"Visiting . . ." I repeat slowly.

"My father's name is etched on the memorial stone here." he replies, voice low and flat. "Today is the anniversary of his death."

"Oh." I say quietly. What else could I say? This wasn't what I was expecting, no where near what I had been expecting. Neji's never told me. Come to think of it, no one in the Hyuuga mention anything about Neji's parents. Even the talks with Hiashi never wandered towards my future husband's deceased parents. "I'm so sorry." I whisper, grabbing his hand and squeezing it affectionately. He stares at it like it's a foreign extremity of his body and I have the sudden urge to roll me eyes and ruffle his hair playfully like he was a puppy because the look in his eyes . . . God, I've never seen someone look so lost and . . . Sad.

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"Thank you for coming with me, Tenten."

I can't help the heat that rises to my cheeks and look away.

"Yeah . . . Sure. Anytime, Neji." I smile hesitantly. "If you ever need something . . . Well, I'll always be there . . . And stuff . . . Since we'll be—"

He presses two fingers to my lips to silence me. "I know, Tenten." he replies with a smirk. "You don't have to babble."

I wrench his hand away. "I was not babbling!"

Neji gently brushes his lips against my cheek in a chaste kiss and I can feel my heart pounding. Literally. Blood and heat are racing through my veins and breath stills in my lungs.

"No," he says, giving me that infuriating smirk, "you weren't. I'll see you later Tenten."

He walks away, leaving me standing there like an idiot.

Holy crap, where did that kiss come from?

I touch my cheek, smile despite myself.

And why was he blushing before?

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A/N: Reviews are my happy crack.

Please tell me (review, PM, whatever) if this chapter rocked or sucked because I'm having trouble getting back into the whole writing 'thing'. Your comments would be greatly appreciated!