a/n: Here's chapter three! As for the person who gave the anonymous review… well, I guess so far this is a little more dramatic than humorous, isn't it? Ah well. I'll change it to drama for the time being, but I'll have humor in here somewhere. I intend to make this fluffy. Enjoy the chapter! xD
A quick, rapid knock on the door. That was all it took.
Tenten tapped her foot impatiently and waited for someone to get the door.
Finally, it was opened, Tenten leered at the figure in the doorway.
"Who are you?"
The girl, in her cute, frilly outfit, fidgeted slightly under Tenten's gaze. "I-"
"Where's Neji?" Tenten cut in.
"He's sick, miss. I'm-I'm just the maid."
Tenten exhaled, relaxing a bit. Of course, the maid.
The maid was know looking Tenten over. "Are you Miss Tenten?"
"Mm? Yes."
"Master Neji doesn't wish to see you," she said shortly, closing the door. But before it could shut completely, Tenten stuck her foot in the doorway. She gave a slight, ominous smile.
"Oh, but I think he does," she purred, pulling out one of her kunai and innocently turning it around in her hands, "we're sparring partners. And he missed our training this morning."
The maid looked downright terrified now, and she hurried to open the door. Tenten put away her kunai, gave the wide-eyed maid a bright smile, and walked in.
She couldn't help but admire her surroundings for a moment. They Hyuuga home was beautiful, decorated to perfection.
Then she barged into the bedroom.
He was lying on his bed. But there was something wrong, as Tenten was quick to notice.
There was something distant in his pale eyes, and his skin had a sickly tint.
"What's wrong?" she said, perhaps expressing more concern than she wanted to.
He looked over, his face openly displaying surprise. "What are you doing here?"
She plopped herself down on a nearby chair. "You didn't make it to our training this morning," she said defensively. Her inner voice, though, was screaming. Act like nothing happened! Act like nothing happened!
"I'm sick," he said, giving an involuntary sniffle. He had some kind of flu, that was evident. Tenten felt like it was her fault, though more likely than not it had nothing to do with her.
"Oh… are you okay?" she asked.
"I'll make it. A flu won't kill me when an missing nin couldn't." He smiled finding this comment funny. Tenten immediately frowned.
"A flu has killed many great men, Neji. Don't take it so lightly," she scolded.
He sighed, although he was used to her saying those kinds of things.
She stood herself up. "You need to eat," she lectured, "I'll make you something."
"The maid'll take care of it," he said boredly, leaning back onto his pillow.
"No, she can't cook like I can," Tenten sniffed.
He winced. "Please. Don't." Tenten was infamous for her cooking… the only things he could successfully make was cupcakes.
Nonetheless, she bustled off to the kitchen, ready to make him something.
Neji took this opportunity to stare up at the ceiling and think.
A lot had been swirling through his mind since last night. He was bitter, that was true. But he couldn' take it out on Tenten… He didn't care if she'd hurt him. In a way, it didn't matter, because he wasn't going to take it out on her.
He wondered why she'd come. Why she said no. He wondered a lot of things about her…
After a half hour or so, when he was starting to get drowsy due to his flue medicine, Tenten triumphantly walked back in, carrying a bowl.
He raised a speculative eyebrow. "You didn't blow up the kitchen?" It was only half a joke.
Tenten looked down into the liquid. Act like nothing happened… she reminded herself, though the voice was getting quieter.
"Actually," she explained sheepishly, "your maid helped."
She set it down next to him. Now that she was no longer occupied with fretting over Neji, they sat silently while he ate the soup.
Act like nothing happened, she reminded herself again. The urge to talk about what had happened – to discuss it, maybe fix it – was too strong.
But they sat in silence.
Finally, Neji was done.
More silence.
He turned to her and gave a faint smile. "You're trying to act like nothing happened."
Her illusion was shattered like a poor genjutsu. And suddenly, Tenten was livid.
She glared. "Stop… stop reading my mind!"
He turned away. "I'm not. I just know you."
Her heart was hurting.
Her head was pouding.
"Yes," she said suddenly.
"What?" he said, whipping around.
"I said yes."
Realization dawned on his face.
"No," he said shortly.
"Why? You… you don't want me anymore?" her voice cracked a little, although her eyes flashed.
"That's not what I…"
She was crying now, crying what she'd held back.
"Come here."
She looked up at him obstinately, but sat tentatively on the edge of his bed.
"If your not sure," he said softly, "I'm not going to make you do it."
And suddenly she was in his arms, crying.
"I- I want to, but I-" hic "don't like relying on people!"
He smiled to himself. He whispered to her:
"Go home. Get some rest. You can tell me what you think when you're really, truly ready."
She held him tighter.
"I don't want you to catch the flu," he said, pushing her away gently.
She sniffled, but stood up.
"Goodbye?" she asked, her voice sounding pitiable.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, almost laughing at her tone.
And suddenly, it felt like everything was okay between them. But Neji knew that if he wanted to salvage their relationship, he'd need to do something. Something to convince her how much he loved her.
And so it began…
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