A/N: Holiday AU, I really don't know when to stop. XD

Word count: 1,352 words

Characters: Neji, Tenten

Summary: Those very first days of winter and last days of school before winter break were the ones Neji hated the most. Unbeknownst to him, his opinion about Christmas was about to change. (Happy holidays everyone!) R&R

Chapter 8:

On Holiday

Those first days of winter and last days of school before winter break were the ones Neji hated the most. Firstly, because the air was so aberrantly cold that it prevented him from training outside his family's already cold compound and secondly because the 'oh so torturous' holiday spirit imprinted itself on everyone of his classmates making that last week before the so awaited break the second most distressful and annoying week of the whole year; the first being that of Valentine's day.

Ironically enough, the week's bogus happiness multiplied itself by the sole and only reason that he, as the president of the student council, had to cope with the unusual cheeriness that involved the student council and the fact that he actually had to act as he enjoyed such festivities. He was a source of admiration and he had an example to set after all.

If it wasn't enough, the people he was forced to spend his extra time with every single day after school in council activities consisted of the most exuberant sort. There was Chouji, who didn't mind spending his personal budget on buying cookies and cakes with the shapes of trees, presents, big fat Santas, stars and the occasional fairy for the whole council cabinet. There was Kiba, who as the second loudest person he knew, he always made all sorts of schemes in relation to the nearing holidays (even when Christmas was not a national Japanese holiday) and he didn't hesitate to bring abundant decorations for their 'hideout'. There was Lee, the craziest of the lot, who loved to play matchmaker and insisted on buying mistletoe with the school's budget, even when it was fake and cheaper. Lee, of course, hanged it all over the room and the halls against his wishes. The action had annoyed Neji to no end, not because of the fact it was mistletoe, but on the fact that most of it fell apart on the very first days they were hanged and the Student Council was forced to take extra patrols after school in order to clean up the mess. Finally but not least, there was Tenten who was probably the sanest person after him, though Christmas festivities did affect her behavior somewhat; she would giggle more constantly, smile for no reason at all and involve herself quite fervently in every activity that involved decorating or setting up something.

He, as student council president, just watched and wished people happy holidays whenever needed.

How annoying.

**

The door was closed; a sheet of paper was attached with duct tape, clearly ripped from someone's notebook, while big scrawny letters (that he was sure belonged to Lee) read 'STUDENT COUNCIL SECRET HIDEOUT'. Neji rolled his eyes and opened the door ready to finish the semester's paperwork before holidays.

He had given the afternoon off to all of the other members. If there was someone to finish the workload without regret it was him, but there she was in all her twin-bunned glory soundly sleeping. Tenten was resting, using her hands as a pillow as she sat comfortably on one of the chairs, hunched over the table. Even when it was cold, she refused to let her hair down despite the insistence of some of the teachers and friends. Personally, he didn't mind at all.

He closed the door behind him and hung up his coat slowly. He hesitated; he wasn't sure whether he should wake her when she looked so peaceful. Inwardly, he smiled. The rhythmic hum of her breathing hovered in the air like a beautiful lullaby and watching her lying still after such a hectic week was a relief.

When her eyes opened blearily, Neji finally noticed he had being staring. Tenten yawned once and with a short shake of her head turned to him. If she had noticed him staring, she said nothing.

"Good afternoon," she greeted quite happily for a person who had just woken up from a nap.

"I guess you had a nice nap," was the only thing his mind could come up with. He was way too conscious of the way his arms dangled dumbly at his sides and the fact that he had been standing for a little too long.

"Cold weather is the enemy of women," she replied pleasantly, stirring over the table like a cat. Neji blinked once, it was too late to turn away and pretend he wasn't looking her way.

"Go home," it was an order, "I'm finishing paperwork," his hands closed into fists once attempting to ease his physical awkwardness, his eyes finally setting on their very delicately adorned Christmas tree behind her.

"Are you sure?" her voice brightened up the littlest bit and Neji prevented himself from frowning, truth to be told he wasn't quite sure why.

"Yes,"

Her eyes danced with glee as she stood from the chair quite lazily, the warm smile she sent his way made his insides turn against his will. Two steps from her coat she stopped again as if remembering something and she turned to him again.

However, her eyes were set over his head where a small plant hovered merciless over his skull. Lee had not followed his instructions after all; he had strictly prohibited him to hang mistletoe inside the Student Council meeting room.

"Is that –

"Actually, it's false mistletoe," he intervened before she could even come up with a sentence.

Suddenly her face was so close her warm breathing tingled on his skin, teasingly. She backed away an inch, eyes sparking unusually as a beckoning smile twisted on her lips.

Before he knew it, her lips were on his. It was quick, warm and could barely be labeled as a kiss. She brushed her lips over his almost as a caress and withdrew slowly. Neji was much too shocked to react accordingly.

Tenten's cheeks were red, he wasn't quite sure if it only involved the cold anymore.

"Cold weather is the enemy of women, after all," she took her long, dark coat from the nearest clothes rack and left the room with a very mysterious smile. Neji tasted his lips once, it was cherry. Neji had failed to notice the moment on which Tenten using lip gloss.

Finally reaching a chair, he sat; a pile of unsorted paperwork awaited him blandly over the table. Neji was sure his cheeks obscured a very girly hue of pink against his wishes, but he decided to ignore it unlike the very unusual sensation of his twirling stomach which refused to fade away. Removing the very warm scarf of his neck, Neji took a pen out of his backpack…he really needed to get busy.

**

The door opened unexpectedly the moment he rejected, again, Yamanaka's proposal for a new club. Her cheeks were red from the cold; her hair vastly covered with snowflakes. He had failed to notice it, but it had started snowing a couple of minutes ago.

"Tenten,"

"Your Christmas present is under the tree," her voice was breathless and she clutched the side of her abdomen for breath.

"If it has no tag, it's mine," she added briskly. Neji looked behind him.

It was true, under the tree stood a small green package with his name on it but no tag. If it hadn't been for her telling him so, he would have dumped it away like all the other Christmas gifts he had received from his fangirls, they had became rather ingenious as of late. (They had overflowed his locker with Christmas presents that morning and he had no doubt some of the other presents under the tree had 'magically' appeared the same way.)

Brushing the remaining snowflakes from her hair, she made her way to hang the coat beside his. He could only watch her walk and sit right in front of him and resume his work. He didn't ask her why she had returned, or where she had gone, much less why she had left him a Christmas gift with no tag under the tree.

He was a fervent believer that actions spoke louder than words ever could.

A/n: Short and cute, I hope you liked it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Just for the kicks, most Japanese don't celebrate Christmas, considering most of its population isn't Catholic or Christian, but it is a very popular festivity among the young. Another reason to give and receive presents, I guess. :)

I wish everyone happy holidays; I'll wait patiently for your reviews! Expect more of me now that we're on break, I'll try not to disappoint you guys. Would you want me to write a New Year's fic? I'd be wondering if people were interested. I'll think about it, depending on how everyone reacts to this one. (Laughs)

I hope you continue the reading. Constructive criticism is always welcomed, just as positive feedback or if you just happen to have an opinion, a comment/suggestion or whatever, don't hesitate to leave a review. It's always nice to read what you guys think. Merry Christmas!

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