Choji was a bundle of nerves. A large Akimichi-sized bundle of sweaty-palms and shallow-breaths and might-throw-up nerves. Deciding that perhaps he needed a glass of water before he could work up the nerve to ask her, he turned into the stairwell to go up to his apartment to drench his cotton-dry mouth. He plowed through the door, opening it up with too much force, all without him trying to. Nervous Akimichis sometimes didn't know their own strength. Of course, he then realized that he needed to reign in his leaky chakra, and tone it down a bit or he would end up inadvertently hurting a civilian, something he definitely didn't want to do.

Of course, being as side tracked as he was, he plowed into the one person he was looking for on his way to avoid her.

"Sorry," he immediately apologized, "Tenten, I am so sorry," he reached out with a large nervous hand to help her up, his voice echoing slightly in the stairwell.

She smiled, and reached out so he could pull her up. He couldn't tell if he had pulled too forcefully or if she had lost her balance, all he knew is that she had gone from on the floor to firmly planted in his chest. "Are you alright?" he asked as she slowly peeled herself from him, now smiling up at him with a faint flush on her delicate features. His hands had somehow found her shoulders, and she finally shook her head that she was, indeed, okay.

He fought with himself not to keep his hands there on her shoulders, and perhaps they lingered just a bit longer, but she smiled politely up at him finally, and he couldn't help but foolishly smile back like a dolt. Pieces of her hair were starting to come out from her immaculate buns, forming limp strands by the base of her neck. She had obviously just come back from training; he could smell the forest on her and some kind of hint of a flower. He wondered slightly to himself if that we some indigenous species on the training grounds or if she intentionally put the scent on before practice. Whatever it was, it smelled like something special, like when his grandmother would let him "help" make cookies with her when she came over before festivals. He remembered the smell of faint perfume on his grandma mixing with the cookies she baked in the oven. It was a scent he hadn't smelled since she died many years ago, and he was surprised by the overwhelming memory the subtle scent brought up. Regardless, he should probably refrain from telling her that she smelled like his dead grandmother. Clearing his throat to break the silence, he smiled again.

"I was actually looking for you."

This startled him. He was actually going to say exactly that. His shock must have shown on his face, but she continued anyways.

"I wanted to thank you for last night," she began sheepishly; "I owe you one."

"My pleasure. Anytime. If you need a place to stay tonight, you can crash at my place, I'm leaving on a mission, so I won't be there, but you are welcome to stay."

Another smile from her and she shrugged, "Thanks."

His brain was stalling as he was watching her adjust her weapons pouch, tilting it on her hip for lack of something better to do. He followed the pouch to her side, wide spread hips attached to long, slender legs. She tightened her gloves afterwards, another out-of-habit action done instead of throwing a kunai.

"My team is going out for dinner when we get back. I was wondering if you wanted to come. If you don't have a mission," he cleared his throat nervously again, "or a boyfriend."

There was a few moments of touch-and-go where he thought for sure she was going to say no, the surprise in her big brown eyes surely spoke of previous engagements.

"I would love to," she nearly stammered out, "how long is your mission?"

"Four days," he informed her.

"Dangerous?" she asked taking a step closer to him, a glint of something in her eye he couldn't place. Was she concerned?

"Probably," he shrugged it off. Weren't they all these days?

She walked up slowly, like a predator, yet innocent and only full of good intention. She slowly snaked up against his chest on tip-toe, and brushed her lips across his cheek. The action seemed to last longer than it probably actually did, but the soft lips that buzzed the side of his face were gentle and full of hope. "Be safe," she offered before slipping through the metal door and out of the stairwell.

Choji eventually shook his head to help him come to his senses before touching the place on his cheek where she burned her lips on his skin.

(o)

The night came with a bundle of nerves coupled with flowers, which only seemed to confuse the girl in question. Choji took the time to appreciate her curvy body as she explained to him that they were beautiful. He might have let it slip out that they weren't nearly as gorgeous she was, and he couldn't be sure if he actually said it or not, but he suspected the blush on her face was from his blatant staring.

Since they were meeting his teammates at the restaurant, they walked together through the streets of Konoha, chatting amiably, arm in arm.

Dinner had gone smoothly; Shikamaru took to being a complete gentleman to Ino, who seemed appreciative of the fact that he had taken some initiative in pursuing her like a lady and not just conveniently like a teammate.

Then he found himself back at his place with a very beautiful girl in his lap, vaguely aware of time passing. He was too busy placing his nose along the crevices of her neck while they talked, mostly speaking in low thrumming grunts of agreement with her as she spoke. They talked about her tentative upcoming escort mission to Grass, and Choji's last mission where Shikamaru nearly lit himself on fire he was so distracted by Ino.

"I still cannot believe that some one as beautiful as you, would be into some one like me," he confessed into her hair, the smell intoxicating and dulling his senses.

"I can," her velvet voice as soft as her skin. "My first crush was an Akimichi."

"Oh," Choji couldn't seem to stop the mild amusement out of his voice as he ghosted the back of his fingers down her arm, relishing in the light touch.

"Yeah, one of your cousins, I would imagine, I haven't seen him around since I took the Chunin exams."

"That was nearly a decade ago," Choji mused.

"Hey," she squeezed his hand playfully, "I did say it was my first crush, didn't I? I think the guy was younger." He could tell she was trying to drudge up the details of her past.

He placed a kiss on her the slope of her shoulder, "So what is it about us Akimichis that you find so attractive?"

She shrugged, "I fight with weapons, but this guy was a weapon. Strong, but I could tell he had a big heart. Brave, and nearly loyal to a fault," she smiled as she tried to turn to him. "I'm a sucker for teddy bears with teeth," she laughed. "You probably know him, he shares the same name you do. I didn't think Choji popular. Must be a family name in your clan."

To this, Choji tried to wrack his brain to come up with another Choji even close to his age with in his clan. "What did he look like?" He asked curiously, still unabashed from his chore of exploring her shoulder with the pads of his fingertips.

"Lighter hair than you, he had a scarf. Wore a clan shirt. You know, Choza's son."

Choji straightened. Was she serious?

"You're kidding right," Choji had turned her to him, just to make sure he read the expression right on her face.

"What?" she asked, a bit startled by his actions, "It was just a silly crush, Choji," she defended herself, "it's not like the Akimichi heir would give me the time of day, I don't think you have to worry about me running off into the sunset with him."

"What?" Choji blinked, clearly stupefied by her words.

"Sorry," she apologized quickly, "you hang around Gai and Lee long enough, and you are bound to start talking like them."

"You think the Akimichi heir wouldn't give you the time of day?" he asked befuddled.

"No offence to your cousin." She clarified, "he would just be too busy, I would imagine. He probably wouldn't be able to step off of Akimichi property after all of the destruction. Heirs like him are damn near tethered to their property. Hinata was telling me that she couldn't get a place of her own, even if she tried, too many clan responsibilities."

"Unless their was extensive damage to the property and most of the buildings and you ask the council to leave so other members of the clan could stay in your stead."

She stood up.

"What?" It was vaguely accusing, her surprised tone.

"Tenten, Choza is my father. I am the Akimichi heir." She took a step back at his words, as if they were attacking her. It was this transition that caused him alarm.

"No," she shook her head, her expression becoming more frightened than anything. She kept stepping backwards until she was by the front door.

"Wait, Tenten," Choji held up his hands in an attempt to calm her down, but it was too late. She was looking around wildly like a scared animal, ready to bolt.

"I have to go," she spoke breathlessly, and in a rush left his apartment. Choji scrambled to follow her, opening his door and shouting down the hallway to her.

"Tenten! Wait!"

She was already slipping a key in her door and turning it open before Choji could even get halfway down the hall.

But it was the look on her face that scared him.

Because she herself looked scared. Scared of him. It was written in her eyes, the scared look, mixed with betrayal and hurt.

She slammed the door in his face.

"Tenten, let me in! Tell me what's wrong!" His massive fists threatened to break down her meager door as he pounded on it.

"Go away!" She shouted weakly through the door, which Choji could only imagine was because she was crying.

"Not until you tell me what all of this is about! Why does it upset you that I am Choza's son?" He pressed his forehead to the door, then stated a bit quieter, "Tell me what's going on. If I upset you, I am so sorry."

More stifled sniffing and crying on the other side of the door.

"Just tell me what I did wrong," He pleaded again. "Please."

Something told him he wasn't going to get inside her apartment.

How had he screwed this up so badly before he even got to properly kiss her?

He swore to himself loudly, and waited until he could no longer hear her sobbing before taking off to see the one person who could possibly help him.

He needed to see Lee.

(O)

"I need your help," Choji stated to the ninja rubbing his eyes sleepily with his thumbs.

Squinting one eye, the shirtless shinobi motioned for the large man to enter his humble abode.

"What can I help you with," Lee began and stopped abruptly.

"Choji." He provided quickly.

"What can I help you with, Choji-san," Lee managed through a thick yawn.

"I'm sorry to bother you so late." Choji began, "but it's Tenten."

This quickly brought the sleepy man out of his languid state.

"What is wrong with Tenten?" Lee snapped to attention, causing his eyes to narrow in on the man twice as large as he was. "Choji?" Lee recalled suddenly, "Are you the Choji that Tenten had a date with tonight or Choza's son?"

Choji wasn't sure how to respond to that. "Yes?" He said with uncertainty.

"Well," Lee found his shirt and put it on, "Which one is it?"

"Both."

"Well, then," Lee started again putting on his sandals. He provided no more information as to why that might upset Tenten. "Let's go."

Apparently Lee's idea of being helpful meant shutting the door in his face as soon as Lee entered Tenten's threshold, leaving Choji outside her apartment again.

He gave up after half an hour of camping outside her door and headed to his apartment for some restless sleep.

He dragged himself to his family compound early in the morning to help with reconstructing houses. With his father, together they hauled frames of houses side by side until the late afternoon sun stung their eyes and Choza's wife called them inside to finally eat a decent meal.

The spread lay out before them was modest, yet suitable for a long days work. Akimichi needed nearly twice as many calories as a normal shinobi to keep up with their clan's jutsu, but some how, Choji didn't quite seem as concerned with his caloric intake as he would have normally. He half-heartedly nibbled on some rice balls after only consuming half of his plate. His father eyed him wearily, taking note of his son's distracted behavior.

"We have a very important clan meeting tonight, son," Choza attempted to bring Choji out of his contemplation.

"Yes, Father," Choji obediently agreed.

The leader of the Akimichi clan knew his son well enough to know when something was troubling him. "The Elders agreed that it is time for you to settle down and take a wife. You will be meeting a girl from Grass they hope to arrangements nuptials with, we have asked for a team to escort the lady in question to Konoha provided you have no contention with the arrangement." Choza watched his son's face turn a pallid color as the blood drained from his face.

"Wait, I have a choice?" Choji's voice became so low that it was almost whispered. Choza nodded. "I don't have to marry someone I don't know from another village?" Choza nodded again. His son seemed quite relieved and let out a sigh followed by a full breath of air.

"I take it you are wanting to find a bride on your own?" His son nodded, and Choza took his fists under his chin and contemplatively responded, "Good, I never did like her father, always assured the Council that he was a snake in the Grass. Pun intended of course. Other members agree with me of course, but it still means they might try to negotiate other offers with other clans outside the village. Unless," Choza lifted a hand, and referenced offhandedly, "you were dating someone serious from with the walls of our own village. They would respect your boundaries and not interfere with the courtship. Now son," Choza couldn't help but pry, "do tell me there will be a courtship?"

A new light on his son's face brought a sparkle to Choza's eye, one that fancied plenty of plump grandkids running around at his feet. Choji nodded to him, "Yes, Father."

(o)

Choji raced home to his apartment after the long and grueling clan meeting. Unable to stop himself, he knocked on Tenten's door. Before the shock of realization swept over her as to whom she opened the door to, Choji lurched inside and shut the door, announcing with certainty that he would not be marrying anyone from Grass, or have his marriage arranged for him. He explained with short forceful sentences that the Elders agreed that he could court whomever he wanted. He then found the scroll document that had her tentatively scheduled to escort his marriage prospect, and tore it up in front of her. She looked on with his actions with wide-eye amusement and stunned reticence.

After he dropped the last bit of scroll, he crossed the room to her side, and then he picked her up in his arms and kissed her fervently on the mouth without hesitation.

Of course at this moment, Choji began to panic. He had never had so much bravado in his life to even remotely do something as bold as forcing himself into someone's apartment and wrecking their property and then continuing on with what a police report would read as a physical assault. Images of being handcuffed and thrown in jail came to mind as all of this dawned on him, a large part of him mentally going over just how beat up he would be by the girl he was kissing while ticking off in his brain just how many weapon's he spotted lining her wall while he was making his big speech.

But then he heard something that made his brain catch up to the fact that he hadn't been bludgeoned with anything yet.

It was a soft little moan coming from the back of her throat as his lips attacked hers. His hands had already latched around her hips to hike her up to eye, or lip-level. As he fought for air and sanity at that point, he noted that she was, indeed, reciprocating the affection.

No jail.

No disembowelment.

No screaming kunoichi threatening to take away his man-hood.

No thought process left as her tongue began to weave its way over his teeth and across his lips and damn, she tasted good. He had to break for air before his hands began to roam in places he would definitely get in trouble for.

They panted for air until one of them was finally able to speak.

"So, I take it you want to court me?" Choji noted her swollen pink lips as she let the sentence escape her breathlessly.

Choji nodded.

"If you are okay with the Akimichi heir courting you." He responded.

"And if I'm not?" Tenten asked mischievously as she raised an eyebrow.

"Well then," Choji placed a hot kiss along the curve of her neck, "I will just have to convince you."

Tenten played along, "I think I might need a lot of convincing."

(o)

More crack, just for the hellovit. There just ain't a lot of Choji love. The big guy needs him some lovin'.

Post a review with "Choji needs more lovins!" if you like.

Shameless, I know.

Cheers! And thank you my loyal fans!

~jaggedwhitejacket~