Title: The Spiral Project
Author: Matahari
Rating: T

Summary: Dr. Shi Tenten gets a job at Hyuuga Laboratories after receiving her Ph.D. in biophysics. Although not very socially experienced, she quickly gains a reputation in the organization as someone who can get things done and is selected to be in charge of the mysterious "Spiral Project". What she doesn't know is that this will involve getting close to a man who was even more secluded than she was and perhaps, love.

Author's Note: Now that this is going on, I highly doubt that I'll make it to the deadline but I'm going to try:) I'm definitely enjoying the directions I can go with this fic, although I am nowhere near done with "Who You Must Protect". I enjoy writing a mature and confident Tenten and I hope I managed to capture some of Neji's cockiness even though it's AU. I know that some of you were confused earlier with the "sciency" (is that even a word?) information, but don't let it overwhelm you. All of the degrees that the girls have help them do what they're doing for the project. Energy healing is basically new age/alternative medicine. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Upload Date: 4/23/07 (updated 5/9/07 because of something my little kitten added to an end of a sentence when he stepped on the keyboard)

Chapter 3: You Won't Hurt Me

Still in the Past…

Pools of liquid caramel met silvery ice depths and Neji felt something pull deeply at his gut at the contact. A girl stood before him with a dazed look on her face, wisps of brown brushing her face, and glasses askew. The last female he had seen personally was his cousin, Hinata, crying over his dead father's body and she could still be considered a child at the time. What was this emotion he was feeling? His eyes suddenly hardened and he collected his thoughts. What reason was she sent for? Why now?

He had been under "lock and key" for the last 13 years in this unlikely prison. He figured that the design of the room was greatly influenced by the anticipation that he would try to kill himself. The sink and shower did not hold water and his food was always pre-cut (if necessary) and served on Styrofoam plates. The only utensils he was provided were some rubber chopsticks. Even his bed was made completely of foam and lacked any internal springs. The walls were covered in padding – he could not ram his fists or his head into any hard surface.

The glass hiding the displays for information access were above his reach and any search trying to find something that would either help him 1) escape, 2) learn to fight, or 3) otherwise cause destruction were filtered out. The little he managed to glean was from classic novels in eBook form, which discussed minor swordplay; however, the content was rather vague and not to be relied upon. He had managed to teach himself T'ai Chi Ch'uan (more commonly known as Tai Chi) under the watchful eye of the guards, surveillance cameras, and lastly his uncle. They had probably assumed that it was simply a meditative and relaxing exercise. What they hadn't realized that it was first and foremost a martial art and that the meditation had actually helped him in focusing his "powers".

When he had first realized that he could feel and see something other than what "normal" people did, he was confused. He was afraid to go to his father and be dismissed as a freak or a monster. Rather, he simply quietly went about his business all the while privately exploring his newfound talents. He was soon able to distinguish between the life forces of inanimate objects, plants, animals, and people. He realized that he could figure out when a person or animal was in pain – the amount of pain they felt and the source of it by the strength and type of tingling in his fingertips. Sometimes when he was upset, electronic devices flickered or malfunctioned. However, he supposed the most "impressive" thing he had ever done happened on the night of his father's death – if it really was attributable to him – a blackout throughout the entire Hyuuga compound.

After that, his "guardian", Hiashi, had relocated him here, a poor mirror of normal existence. Was he trying to tease him now with the prospect of companionship? "You seem attractive enough for me." Neji said coolly, surveying Tenten's body with interest. "Are you a whore?" he questioned.

Tenten was taken aback and blushed with the comment, while taking a few steps backward and subconsciously adjusting her skirt. Maybe she should have chosen the pants suit today. She didn't know whether to feel embarrassed, insulted, or both. "Excuse me?"

"I asked whether you were a whore. But now that I think about it, they should have at least found someone who had better comprehension abilities. Just because I've been alone all this time, doesn't mean that I have low standards." Neji said, as he turned his back to her almost as if he was sending back an unappetizing entrée at a restaurant.

Ego bruised, Tenten's eyes narrowed into slits and she grabbed him roughly to turn him around and face her. "Since you haven't been a part of civilization for a decade, I'd like to give you the benefit of doubt, but there's no reason for you to be a rude and obnoxious jerk."

Neji looked on with a mix of amusement and annoyance at the woman in front of him and raised his left eyebrow before saying, "I know this may seem immature, but I'd like to see you make me without any help from your friends up there." His head jerked towards the two armed guards on the balcony and placed a hand on her shoulder and the other, on the wall pushing her back against the padding.

His face was mere centimeters from hers and he was surprised that she neither struggled nor screamed in terror. Instead she boldly stared into his eyes and whispered in a calm, even tone, "You don't scare me." She delicately moved his hand away from her shoulder and stepped out from between him and the wall. When she did raise her voice, it was only to say to the guards, "Let me deal with him myself. Don't get involved. In fact, why don't you just leave?"

The guards protests of, "But, miss…" and "Hyuuga-sama insisted…" were met with stubborn resistance and a casual threat of getting them fired if they disobeyed her command.

This was probably the most unexpected thing to happen to Neji. Was this woman stupid? Did he honestly look like that much of a weakling? Looking down at his arms and chest, he reaffirmed that there was nothing the matter with him. Something definitely was wrong with her. "Are you sure you really wanted to do that? Didn't you hear what happened the last time someone came in here?"

Tenten did not habitually entertain fights although she was well trained in martial arts. There was something about Neji that made her want to prove herself and she wanted to get back at him for his earlier callous comment.

"I don't care what happened to the last person who came here," she said moving over towards his bed and sitting down casually amongst the silk. "You won't hurt me."

The utter belief in what she was saying was evident in her voice. Neji found that very disturbing. With something that could be described a nothing short of a growl, he was on top of her, using his arms to hold hers above her head, and his knees positioned in a way to control the movement of her legs. Yet, she was as serene as ever although her hair was now tumbling out of that bun and her glasses fell to the ground revealing eyes, which just seemed to reach out to his soul.

Again, she whispered, "You won't hurt me."

Exasperated, Neji asked her softly, "Why? Why don't you believe me? Look at the position you're in. I could do everything I want with you… to you…"

Tenten breathed deeply, and wondered herself why she was being so calm and collected. But when she looked into his eyes, she felt something. "You won't hurt me… because… you are not a monster."

Neji almost choked when she said that. This girl… this woman… without knowing a thing about him personally was surprisingly the one who managed to say exactly what he had always hoped someone would say to him. He wasn't a monster. He was normal. And as he gazed into her eyes and let himself get adjusted to her warmth, the newfound feelings overwhelmed him and he suddenly bent down and softly touched her lips with his.

Note to Readers: Thanks for all the readers and especially the reviews from ff . net and the NejixTenten FC. Thank you especially to openwindow4, newt-ish, tarzi-kins (who is also a frequent reviewer of my other fic), my dear EshtarWind, NotJustAnotherHuman, Intuition, lily was a maruader, Princess of Stroms, Chariel, whitebird (yay!), Tsukiko Yuki (thanks for the double review), Whipped Coffee (also a double) and last but not least Raven2120 (my first reviewer for this fic) :) Sorry if I missed anyone!