Title: It Shows Weakness
Author: Anorexia
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Neji Hyuuga x Tenten
Theme: #27 - Overflow
Disclaimer - I do not own Naruto. It's all the work of Kishimoto-Sama. (I just make Neji and Tenten have cheesy kisses all the time.)
A Shinobi was never supposed to show their emotions, no matter what the circumstances were. But what about the Kunoichi? The female ninja had it hard enough, being a woman and always baring the title of 'weak' upon her shoulders. What if their love was murdered in front of them? If the day was going horribly wrong? What if the Kunoichi was in deathly pain? Would she be able to show her emotions then?
It didn't matter to me. I often broke the law of being a Ninja and let my emotions seep through. Never did I show my emotions in front of my teammates. The reaction would be too embarrassing. Lee would begin to explain that a Ninja never showed their emotions, and that it was a sign of weakness. It always did puzzle me of what Neji Hyuuga would say though, I add many suggestions of what his comment would be, but never did I expect it to be the way it was.
For some odd reason I was not myself. It wasn't like me to miss my target so many times in a row, to trip while sparring, and accidently cut myself with one of my weapons.
"Tenten, are you okay?" Lee peered over my shoulder while I tried to control the bleeding.
I nodded. "Yes Lee. It was just an accident." My once white cloth was turning into a deep red, it's purity being stolen from my blood. "Gai-Sensei has a first-aid kit, I'll just bandage up my hand. It'll be fine." The cut wasn't too deep and was hardly worth the effort to worry about.
"How'd you get that cut on your hand, Tenten?" Gai-Sensei, handed me the first-aid kit.
I lowered my head in embarrassment and shame. "I caught the weapon wrong."
"Don't worry Tenten. The power of youth is with you and you'll catch it right next time!" He flashed one of his tooth-filled smiles at me. "Now, hurry and take care of that wound. You still have a lot of practice to do before the Chuunin Exams."
I nodded. "Yes, Sensei."
This wasn't like me. What was going on? Why was I messing everything up?
Slowly and shaky, I wrapped the bandage around my hand. "This isn't like you, Tenten." Tears formed in my eyes and an overflow of depression fall upon me. "Come on Tenten..." I cried. "Pull yourself together. You're a Kunoichi!" I cried more and clenched my hands together, causing the blood and tears to overflow from my hand and eyes.
"Kunoichi and Shinobi never show their emotions. It shows weakness." A cool voice said from behind me. "So why are you showing it?"
"Not now Neji..." I hiccuped.
Hie eyes trailed down to my bloody hand. "What happened?"
I brought my hand closer to my chest, smearing blood upon the pink top. "It was an accident..."
Neji's eyes were different from usual. They seemed calm and at ease instead of angry. "You wrapped you're hand wrong..." He bent down onto one knee and undid my wrappings. "What happened?" He asked again.
"I'm having an off day..." Tears were still pouring from my eyes. "I threw a kunai into the air and caught it wrong..." I pursed my lips together. "I've just been so clumsy all week. Ouch! Not so tight!" He had just tightened the bandage around my hand.
"You're hand is wrapped properly now though." Neji stood up. "And wash your shirt, it's covered in blood." He reached out his hand to help hoist me up.
"Thank you..." I reached for his hand with my un-wounded one and gripped tightly for support.
Without any effort, he pulled my body up. "You know Tenten..." He said quietly, pulling my body closer to his. "If you let stress build up, it will overflow."
I blinked a few times. "I-I know..."
He closed his eyes and moved into me. I knew what his next action was going to be, and I knew what it was going to be for. A small, relieving kiss.
"Better?" He asked.
"Yes...but I thought Shinobi were never to show their emotions, for it shows weakness?" I said with a small smile.
Author's notes - I swear, the more I write, the more I suck...
Thank you for reading