Title: Memory
Author: Anorexia
Pairing: Neji Hyuuga x Tenten
Fandom: Naruto
Theme: # 29 - The sound of waves
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, and never will.

It was our last day in the Village Hidden in the Waves and I didn't want to go home. Unlike Konoha, this village had peace, and there was always time to finish everything, but within Konoha there was never enough time and everything seemed to be rushed. I had grown deeply attached to this village and didn't want to believe that tonight was our last night here. The village was grateful for our hospitality and was throwing a small feast for us. I had only a small meal and left to spend my last few hours here with my feet in the water.

I had taken off my shoes and placed them on a nearby rock. With the others enjoying the feast I knew this would be a relaxing moment as I placed my feet on the wet sand. The texture of the sand felt good between my toes and small waves that came to shore every couple of seconds felt soothing. The water was at first cold but I was soon use to it. I then began walking along the shore-line, the water splashed against the bottom of my legs and sent a refreshed feeling each time. Yes, unlike Konoha this place was peaceful.

As I walked further along the shore I noticed a few shells were brought up from the sea. Beautiful shells of different unusual colors of purple, pink, green, and blue. I smiled and picked up a few of the shells, only grabbing the most beautiful ones. I gently placed each shell in my hoister on my leg and continued with the walk until a familiar voice interrupted me.

"Tenten? What are you doing?"

Startled, I turned around and saw Neji. I smiled and gently kicked the water. "Just walking...care to join me?" I wouldn't mind if he joined, I'm sure he'd enjoy the water and peace.

Neji didn't give me a proper answer, all he did was walk up beside me. He must've known that his shoes would become heavy and squishy if they were wet, his were removed as well. So, side by side we walked down the shore bank, enjoying the sound of waves and each others company. The farther we walked the more quiet it became, soon we were unable to hear the sound of talk and laughter from the feast. Curiosity then got the better of me.

"Why aren't you at the feast, Neji?" I made another splash of water.

"I became bored." He replied, keeping the same facial expression and movement. It was times like these when I wished he'd become more open, like the water.

Our walk continued with silence, and I enjoyed it. Neji's company made the thought of leaving this wonderful place less painful. But still, even with the silence that was an enjoyment, I wanted to talk, wanted to talk to him and get to know him better. We had been teammates for so long, yet knew so little. Some say that the Ocean brings people together. I wonder if that is true.

While we continued walking, I picked up a few sea shells on the way. Each one more beautiful then the other. "Do you like shells, Neji?" I held a dark blue one in front of him. "I feel as if they tell a story from the sea...a hidden story that has no end and never will, only a beginning."

Neji studied the shell. "Put it back." I raised a brow at him. "Put it back? Why?." I looked at the shell to see if there was something wrong with it.

He took the shell from my hand and set it back down where I found it. "It's a home. You wouldn't like it if someone came in and stole your home would you?."

"No, I guess not." I quickly checked through the shells I had previously grabbed, making sure I wasn't bothering another.

Once again, our walk continued. We had almost traveled to the end of the shore bank together, and I was growing cold. I began to walk closer to him, hoping he'd understand what I was doing. It was nearing midnight and the nights were a little cold in this village, and with what the both of us were wearing and walking through the water, it was only going to make us a little bit more colder.

"Do you want to head back?" He asked, "It looks like you're getting to cold."

"Not yet." I shivered, "I want to finish this walk, then we can head back."

He nodded and continued being silent.

Our walk ended a few minutes later, I felt dumb for still having my shoes on the other end of the bank and explained it to him. Thankfully he understood and we walked up the stairs that led to shore and headed back that way so we'd be closer to the heat lamps that were along the sidewalk , making the walk easier. It took us only half the time to the other end of the sidewalk then it did for us to reach the other end of the shore. Neji was kind enough to get my shoes for me. As I waited I went through the shells I kept. The prettiest of all was a dark purple one, the color swirled with some white, blending it into a near tie-dye color.

"Here are your shoes." Neji said, dropping them in my lap.

I thanked him and smiled. "It's to bad we have to leave this place...it's so calm, peaceful and the smell of salt water it nice compared to the strong dirt smell in Konoha..."

"I suppose..."

"And the best part is..." I ran my fingers along the shells bumps. "I have a great memory to take home with me from this village..."

"What would that be?."

"Walking down the shore bank with you..."

"I would hardly call that a memory..." He said with a disapproval tone.

"Oh really? Well what would you call a great memory?." I snapped with a small tone of irritation in my voice.

"A memory is something special, something you'll know you'll never forget because it was your first or last of something. Or maybe it was something meaningful. A walk on the shore bank, I highly doubt, is meaningful." He said with strong pride in his voice.

I sat there, staring at my purple shell. So Neji wouldn't even call my shell a memory?

"Alright, since you know what a memory is. Give me or take me to the first of something."

Before I knew it, his lips were pressed firmly against mine. I was in complete bliss and had shut my eyes tightly and moved in a tad deeper within the kiss. I couldn't hear the laughing and talking that was still going on, I could no longer hear the people walking by, or the flapping of a birds wings. All I heard was the sound of waves.

He pulled away from my mouth with a small smile. "There...your first kiss. That's a good memory to take back with you."

Author's notes - Gah, I should really try to make Neji not so OOC. But he's so hard to write with emotions so each time the kiss would be really boring if I didn't put them in...oh well...

Thank you for reading.