Fear

.By: Panda-chan.

.Standard Disclaimer Applies.

-

Summary: She was horribly afraid of it. The sudden flash of light. The loud, crackling noise it gave away. It brought back buried memories... She thanked the Heavens for his presence.

-

One kiss breaches the distance between friendship and love.
-10-

-

Boom

Boom, Boom

A girl around seventeen whimpered and threw her sheets over her head. The loud, ear-splitting sound being reduced only a fraction. She crawled towards the top, left corner of her bed and snuggled deeply into the covers.

It's just thunder... nothing to be afraid off! Nothing at all... She comforted herself as the heavy rain pounded onto her windows and roofing. She could feel a shiver rise up her spine at the disturbingly loud and echoing sound the drops of water made.

She had two of her lamps turned on by the each side of her bed. It lit the room, and gave Tenten a false sense of security. She sniffed, quickly wiping away any remaining tears from her cheeks.

BOOM!

"Uwaa!" She dove deeper under the covers and trembled. Fresh tears skidding down the tender flesh of her cheeks. She groped the flimsy sheets to her chest as the storm outside raged on with full force.

Her eye's snapped open whens she heard her door open creak open. Being a kunoichi, she had heightened senses, which in some cases, proved to be very troublesome.

"Tenten?" The girl peeked from over her covers. Relief melt through her. At the frame of her bedroom door stood her beloved teammate, Neji Hyuuga. His silver eyes reflected worry at the tears that ran down her cheeks.

"Are you alright?" The girl sniffed and wiped away any remaining tears, barely noticing that she was still crying.

"Y-Yeah! Um.. just—just go on onto your room! I just had a bad dream is all..." She smiled weakly at his indifferent demeanor.

"Yes. Okay..." He reluctantly exited her room and walked into his own. She and her teammates, Lee and Neji, all lived in the same house. Lee thought it would be a good idea of bonding. Neji simply moved in because he was getting bored of the Hyuuga Life-Style.

Neji lived in luxury. Unadulterated luxury. At first, Tenten had thought he was stupid for even leaving. Leaving all of that luxury and glory just to live in a second-rate house with his rather odd teammates. But then, she found it comforting that she wasn't the only one having to withstand Lee's obsessiveness with the word 'Youth' and green spandex.

BOOM! BOOM!

"Mmnnhhh...!!" She blocked out the loud scream she was about to utter. Neji's room was right next to hers -Lee on her other side- and she didn't want to disturb his sleep. The walls were as thick as tissue paper. Of course, Lee was a heavy sleeper, so she could scream all she wanted and he wouldn't get up a single time.

But Neji wasn't. A single creak of the floor boards could have him up and alert with a kunai ready in his hand.

She had to be careful not to scream too loudly...

Tenten grabbed a pillow and quietly slid off her fluffy mattress and onto the cold wooden flooring. She winced at the prickling coldness that emitted from the floor and slowly made her way towards the blank and lone corner of her room.

She threw the blanket on the ground, sat snuggly on it and wrapped it around her small figure; the pillow in between her legs. She tried to do this quickly, her arms trembling with fear.

Tenten prayed that the lights wouldn't go out. She was most terrified when the lights when out, and darkness consumed her along with the flashing light and crackling noise of thunder.

Boom!

She froze, and shut her eyes, quietly reciting an old lullaby her mother used to sing to her before she passed away.

BOOM!

"KYAAAA—!" Tenten bit her lip and stuck her head into her pillow to muffle the ear-splintering scream. She could feel tears accumulate in her eyes.

Tenten heard a sudden bump. Then the creak of a door opening abruptly and some heavy footsteps before her own door slammed open. Neji scanned her room quickly before staring at the small bundle that sat hunched by the corner of her room.

He drew in his brows, but sighed in relief when nothing was wrong with her. He neared her, and crouched down so he was even with her eyes.

She had her bed sheets over her head and her shoulders were visibly shaking. Neji smiled crookedly at his -usually- fearless sparing partner.

"Ten..." He whispered softly. She looked up from under her sheets and thats when he truly saw the severity of the situation. She had tears running down her cheeks. Her eyes were squinted in fear and insecurity. And her body was trembling severely.

"N-Neji..." She said below a whisper. As if to hide her shame for crying in-front of her heartless sparring partner, she lowered her gaze and looked away from his piercing eyes.

Boom!

"Mmhhnn!" She stifled a yelp. Neji soon saw why she was huddled in a corner with all the lights turned on and tears running down her face. She was afraid of thunder. Severely afraid, from the looks.

Neji shifted his weight. He got on his knee's and crawled next to her, hitting his head on the edge of the window sill that was nailed firmly above him. He placed his hands over his knee's and accompanied her silently.

Minute's passed, and the rain seemed to lighten. Tenten secretly glanced to her side, seeing Neji's monotone expression. She looked down guiltily. This was her fault.

"I-I'm sorry..." Neji glanced at her.

"Hn. It's alright. I couldn't get any sleep anyways." She nodded and gulped. Her chocolate eyes gazed at the mirror that hung on the other side of the wall. In it's reflection, the light green curtains that shielded the storm outside.

BOOM! BOOM!

"Ahhh!" She ducked her head into her knee's and shut her eyes. All thoughts on comforting herself left her mind and, suddenly, all she could think of was the intense fear that churned in her stomach.

She was about to burst out crying again, when she felt a distinct warmth consume her. She raised her head, and saw Neji wrapping his arms around her and bringing her close to his chest. She froze and sunk into his body while the rain grew heavy.

The lamps flickered before going out.

"Power outage." Neji pointed out obviously. Tenten only turned her body and buried herself into Neji's warm chest. She brought her knee's closer to her body while Neji's strong arms tightened around her waist.

"Mmhm." She throated. From there on, she didn't feel the urge to cower and cry whenever a loud crackle was heard nearby. She simply pressed herself against her loyal teammate and let him take care of her fear.

She didn't know when, but soon she drifted into a dreamless sleep. Forgetting all about the violent storm and loud thunder that lingered just on the other side of the wall she was leaning on.

-

Bright, shining rays of light hit Tenten's face. She stirred and slowly opened her eyes, fluttering them as the piercing light blinded her sensitive cornea's. She closed them, then snapped them wide open.

She gazed downward and stiffened when she saw part of Neji's face lying on her chest. His arms were woven around her body. Their legs interweaved with each other. She didn't know when they had gone back to her bed, all she was certain of, was she liked this scenario.

And wanted to awaken to it everyday...

Tenten smiled and tried to move her hand from his, who's fingers were threaded between her own. The response she got only delighted her more.

"Hnnn... Tenten... Sleep..." He mumbled. Neji tightened his lock on her body and snuggled in deeper. Tenten bit down a grin.

"N-Neji...?" She whispered, wanting to know if this was a dream or not.

"Hn?"

She inwardly cheered. "I-I need to get up now... I have to go get breakfast started..." Tenten's cheeks grew warm at the statement, certain thoughts roaming through her mind. Neji heaved a sigh and reluctantly let go. She shot upright and looked at Neji while he propped himself up on his elbow. His eyes clouded with sleepiness.

"Well? Get going before I haul you back down..." He drawled lazily, yawning.

The brunette flushed, and nodded; admiring how casual he was about the whole situation. She stiffly stood and walked out of the room without another word.

-

As the day dragged on, Tenten found herself in a better mood than ever before. She was completely buoyant throughout the whole day, for once. Hardly getting irritated or angry with Lee's outrageous lectures on Youth.

But, when nightfall came, she wished she was back in the arms of Neji Hyuuga. Obviously, Lee and Neji were out on their monthly 'Guys Night Out' with the other males of the Rookie Nine.

And they were notorious for spending almost all night in some popular club. Talking, drinking and overall having a great time with each other. Sure, the thought that maybe Neji had danced with a couple of girls came to mind... But it's only natural if you're going to be in a club!

Yet she couldn't help but to be a bit jealous and envious. She frowned and continued to wash her dish. She had cooked, ate and watched TV all alone for the past five hours. It was nightfall now.

"Man, maybe I should've gone with the girls to the sleepover..." She blinked and shook her head at the thought. Their sleepovers always included some form of prying into her personal life.

She glanced at the clock and sighed. "Ten fifteen, huh?" Tenten walked towards the open curtain and gulped when she saw the angry looking clouds above her swirl with gallons and gallons of frigid water. The black swirls only increased while time passed; wind ruffling the tree branches roughly.

She suppressed a shiver. "I better go to sleep... then maybe I can sleep through it. Yeah!" She thought aloud. Tenten sprinted to her room, changed into her usual sleep-wear; some black shorts and a tight, white, tank-top with the Hyuuga emblem on it. A gift from Hinata when she had forgotten her own shirt on one of their sleepovers.

"Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!" Tenten repeated before pouncing on her bed and scurrying under her faithful light green silk covers and comforter. Gifts from Sakura and Ino.

A hand lashed out from underneath the elegant sheets to turn off the lamp. Tenten peeked over the edge of her comforter and nodded when she saw nothing but black. The dim lighting from the moon's rays giving her just enough light to see the outlines of all her furniture.

It's gonna be alright Tenten! It's just flashes of light like camera's! Yeah... and the sound, it's—it's just like—like a frying pan falling down! Yeah! Nothing to be afraid of!

Her self-convincing went in vain when the loud, roaring sound of thunder crackled outside. She squeaked and dove under her sheets. Her breathing mixed with the fresh scent of detergent while the large storm stirred in the outskirts of Konoha.

"Damn it all to Hell! I knew I should've gone to the sleepover! Screw having my personal exposed! I've got nothing to hide!" Tenten admitted in a loud, squeaky voice.

"Really now, is that all they do there? I'll have to make sure to tell Hinata-sama to calm your two—gossiping friends." Tenten sat upright and grinned in delight when she saw Neji standing by her door frame.

Her grin soon melted into a frown. "Wait... why are you here? Aren't you suppose to be with the rest of the guys?" Neji's amusement falter momentarily.

"I—decided to leave early..." Tenten didn't inquire more, guilt spilling onto her feature's.

"Ooh... I see..." The silence stretched across the room like a rubber band, ready for tension to snap it in two before Tenten spoke. "I-I'm sorry!"

Neji glanced at her and turned his head to the side, hiding a smile. "I came of my own will. Don't worry about it."

More silence continued after. She lowered her gaze and jumped when a muffled crackle shattered the comfortable silence.

"A-Ahh...!" She pressed herself up the headboard. Neji immediately went towards her. He rested his knee on the edge of the mattress and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Shhh. It's alright, Tenten." She swallowed. Not used to feeling so weak. So in order to ease the feeling of weakness, she slid down and brought the sheets over her head in embarrassment.

"Nnhhhggg..." She groaned childishly. Neji chuckled at her while she tightened the sheets over her head.

"Scoot over." She did, and Neji slid under the covers with her also. Tenten felt her cheeks heat up while Neji got comfortable. He was lying next to her! It was a challenge to get him to sit by her voluntarily, and now he was comfortable enough to lie next to her?

It was certainly to good to be true...

Tenten scooted over even more, trying to distance herself from him. Neji shifted his eyes to her and frowned lightly.

Why is she avoiding me?, The thought itself made Neji grunt in irritation. Last night, Tenten was all cuddles and hugs when he had embraced her to calm her nerves. And for some demented reason, he liked it. A lot. So he spent three hours absently hugging and playing with her bangs before he picked her up and swung her onto her bed.

Then he found out that when Tenten cuddled and hugged, she would not let go. As in, no matter how much he tried to pry her hand open from his own, she wouldn't let go. Not that he minded. He didn't even put much effort into making her let go.

Not that he will ever tell anyone that.

Boom

He felt her jerk closer to him. A small smirk rose on his face as she gasped and scooted away from him again. Neji locked his arms behind his neck and stared at the crack dividing the closet doors to hide his obvious amusement.

"N-Neji...?" He turned his head towards her. Tenten flushed and shook her head, a small frown on her lips.

"Hn?" She shook her head again.

"Nothing—"

BOOM!

She screamed, jumped and latched herself onto Neji while the loud noise slowly receded. Neji smiled wryly and hugged her closer to him while she trembled.

"Hmph... why are you so afraid of thunder...?" He murmured. Tenten licked the small bit of blood that dripped down the crack of her dry lip and answered his rhetorical question.

"... M-My dad died on a stormy night like this... while he and my mom were on an S-class mission." She whispered. Neji listened closely. "So ever since then I have this strange fear of thunder since my mom died a couple of hours later while I was hugging her... and it was still stormy outside when it happened..." Neji stayed silent. Taking in what she was saying.

"Ah. I see..."

Tenten stifled a gasp and removed herself from his chiseled chest, only to have his grip tighten. She looked up at him curiously. Neji clenched his jaw and let go of her, snapping his head to the side to hide a light blush.

Tenten moved back to her side and brought the sheets to her chin. Silence ensued. Light, crackling, noises filling the monotone quietness once in a while.

"Do you... wish to go and sit in the corner?" Neji asked, half serious. Tenten nodded her head vigorously and crawled down the bed and to her trusty corner. Neji watched, pretending to rub his nose in order to hid a laugh.

Tenten's chocolate orbs seemed to glow while Neji stood and walked over to Tenten. He kneeled in-front of her and just then, a loud crackle struck just outside their house.

"OOH!" Tenten jumped. Neji snapped his head towards Tenten. A warm, fuzzy feeling began to spill into Tenten's stomach while she stared shocking into Neji's pale white orbs. Neji was suddenly consumed by the senseless urge to wrap his arm around her waist and press her to him.

They stared into each others eyes while their lips touched. Seconds passed, another crackle was heard, and Tenten wasn't moved at all. All she could do was stare into his pure white eyes with a hypnotic gaze.

Neji was the first to react. He grinded his teeth and threw himself back while Tenten stared blankly at nothing, a silly smile on her face. Neji pressed his palms onto the wood flooring and used the heel of his foot to push himself back, not being able to control the blood rush that stained his usually pale complexion.

Tenten blinked and gasped. She slapped a hand over her mouth and drew her brows in at the grin that wanted to appear. She stared at Neji's perplexed face, lowering her gaze as he scrambled to his feet and coughed, regaining his cool composure.

"S-Sorry!" The two adults blushed for they spoke at the same time. Tenten bit her lip, vaguely thinking that that was her first kiss. Neji coughed, his mind musing on the warm softness of her lips.

The young Hyuuga shifted to the side and quietly sat next to her, his emotions all scrambled and mixed. He glanced at Tenten, drawing in a brow at her beet-red face. Neji smiled and looked upward towards the smooth finish of the roofing.

"A-Ano..." He glanced at Tenten. "I-I really am sorry!"

Neji turned his head fully to her and smiled, only to get a flabbergasted expression from his older teammate. "Don't be."

Tenten looked away quickly, finding it hard to suppress the grin. While the two young adults dwelled on what had happened a few moments before with surprising euphoria...

The storm outside left forgotten.

-

Alright-y. No funny stuff. Pure fluff. How did you guys like it? For once, I am not hyper off O.J. or anything else that I can consume.

R&R Please! You know how I love it when you gush about my -somewhat- crappy shots!

Panda.