its been a while since I've updated this story...i guess the writer's block has gotten to me...well we'll see ^^; sorry if it's bad.

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Chapter 7

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Neji POV

I continued to stare at my white ceiling, trying to piece together everything that's happend with in the last fourty-eight hours. I woke up..okay that's one thing... then I got ready for my meeting...

Okay...doing alright so far...

I went to my meeting. Psht, that shit took up my whole day. I was lucky to run into Hinata so I can pass on my gift to Tenten... The meeting was about my duties as I get older and the spot for head of clan was surely mine if Hinata was not ready...big possiblility...okay what else?

Oh, I went to the party late and-...I frowned at myself at the thought of Tenten with that Uchia.

"Checkmate Hyuga. I win."

Tsk...that fucking asshole...he was right. I failed. Now what? I'm stuck in my room sulking about something that already happen? And my talk with Itachi made everybody piss me the hell off. But whatever. It's done.

It's over.

"N-neji...?" Hinata's voice called from my door.

"Hn?" I gave my usual grunt whenever she bothered me.

My door slowly opened to both my younger cousins.I looked at them. They looked at me. Awkwardly I may add.

"What?" I hissed.

Hinata gave a gulp, while Hinabi, unfazed by my attitude, answered back like a wise ass.

"Oi, stop acting all depressed and shit. Get off your lazy ass and come to eat. You have a visitor...dear cousin," she sneered.

I cracked a smirk. Hinabi was the total oppisite of Hinata, which I am thankful for. I shooed them out of my room and took a shower. It felt good to have the cold water run down my spine. To me it was a wake up call, and it saves everyone else the hot water. I step out with my towel rapped around my waist. I glanced at my mirror.

Bags.

I had trouble sleeping and the fairness of my skin made it look like I haven't slept in months. I put on my Hyuga robes and walk out to the living room to see who this guest was. I glanced at the person standing next to Hinabi. I looked at the woman. She was like Hinata's double,only she was not a ninja,or had long hair. Oh wait...I glared at my .-

"Neji this is your cousin, Ookami. She-"

"Are you shitting me,Hiashi?" I cut him off.

So he was marring me off early. That bitch! Hiashi sighed. Yep, I knew it.I've only met this girl once in my life. She's like Sakura mixed with Hinata. She bowed to me. I raised my chin to her. I am not pleased one bit. Before I can open my mouth, a servent came into the room.

"My lord, breakfest is ready." she said with a bow.

My uncle nodded and we allw alked to the kitchen. Ookami clinged onto my arm. I flinched at the contact from this whore. She has had more boyfriends then Sasuke has had fangirls. As we pass the enterence to the shrines, I had an idea. I jerk away from Ookami and start walking to the enterence.

"Neji,darling-!" her voice irritates me...

I stop and glared at her. She stops in her tracks and looks at Hinata. Hinata looked at me. She nodded at me and turned to her cousin.

"Ookami, Neji always goes to the shrines to pay his respects to his father before eating everyday. Also before he leaves on missions..." she informed her.

"Oh! Then I'll go-"

"He likes to go alone, Whore." Hinabi snapped.

Hinata held back a laugh by covering her mouth. Hiashi glared at his youngest daughter while Hinabi stared at Ookami. Heh...I have taught her well... After a moment, Hiashi and Ookami continue to walk to the kitchen. Hinata and Hinabi walked up to me.

"Alright, you can laugh now, big sis." Hinabi stood proud, a grin on her face.

Hinata bursted with laughter at her sister's actions toward their cousin. Hinabi looked at me.

"Neji,dude,cousin...older cousin...-"

"Hm?" I looked at her amusingly.

"What I said is true, and I'm never taking it back. Plus,I saved your ass so take me with you to the shrines. I don't like that bitch one bit and only Hinata can stand her anyway..."

Hinata gave a 'huh?'. Hinabi grinned at her and took me by the hand,leading me on to the shrines. Hinata sighed and said she'll make an excuse for her. Hinabi and I walked to the shines, her constant complainning about how stupid the clan's customs are and of Ookami. She was suppose to have already been married off, however a distant cousin suddenly was 'hospitalized' due to 'cardiac arrest'. The kid was only twelve, and when I saw him again, he was running around, back doing missions and babysitting Hinabi. I smirked at the thought. That's what happends when you marry in tha family I guess... but what am I suppose to do? I have no clue how to get out of this mess...It's not like I can fake my own death or anything...unless...I find someone else...My thoughts went to Tenten. Yes, my uncle liked her. He liked the fact that she has no clan traits so obtainning the Hyuga blood would be easy. But if he liked her...why didn't he pick her... I frowned as I pondered around the question.

"Nejiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! It's Uncle Hizashiii!" Hinabi pointed to the stone in the middle of the shrine.

She was pointing at a bowl. Like Hinata said, everyday I come here before eating and going on missions. The bowl was suppose to be filled of flowers that I had gotten from Ino. However, they were gone. Not like dead but it was like nothing was there in the first place.

"Sometimes I see him you know..." Hinabi whispered.

I looked at her, not sure if she was joking or not. I looked at her face. She was serious.

"I think it's just my imagination...but when I had a full conversation with him...It felt so real..." she put a hand on the stone.

"When did this happen?" I asked.

Hinabi wrinkled her nose as she thought.

"Well..it always happends when I'm asleep. I wake up in the middle of the night to get some water and he just...shows up," She looked at me,"What does this mean,Neji?"

I looked at her, then at the stone. What a strange ability...I've read about it before, but it takes alot of concentration to control. Could Hinabi have mastered this ability without even knowing it...?

"What did he say, Hinabi?"

She shrugged.

"He wanted me to take you here. Uncle never said why. But he said to take you here when we were alone..."

Then why isn't anything happening? Wait she said in the middle of the night...but maybe I can try to do this now...but how...?

"Hinabi. Whenever you talk to him, what do you do?" I asked.

She sucked her teeth as she thought.

"Well, I activate my Byakugan and just look at one area of the room...then after a bit he pops us...It's like the dead still has chakra or something..."

I nodded and turned to the box of insence. We payed our respects and I told Hinabi to head back without me. She just grunts and trots away. I sit in front of the stone and begin my meditation. That could be it too...Hinabi has ways of keeping her mind clear and chakra focused. I sit in meditation for a while.

"Byakugan!"

My chakra rushes to my eyes and I stare at the stone. Maybe I can see what Hinabi saw. I keep staring at the stone. Nothing. Not even a faint line of chakra...

"Oh,Neji-darling! You're so deep in thought!"

I flinched at the voice. Well, fuck me...No wonder nothing is happening. Hinata and Hinabi come stumbling over. What the fuck man? I can't have any alone time anymore. I turned to them, my Byakugan still activated. Ookami flinched and jumped behind Hinata. Hinata just stood still, having been used to my glares and threats. Hinabi just sucked her teeth and told me that Hiashi wants me to come to the kitchen to eat. I shook my head as I deactivated my attached herself to me, once again, and starts to babble. As we walk out of the shrines, I sensed a powerful chakra on the roof. I glanced at Hinata and Hinabi. Looking at me, we all nodded in unison.

"Byakugan!" Hinabi cried.

She scanned the rooftop of the estate. There was indeed, an ANBU on the roof... She reported to the other Jonnin in the group.

"An ANBU? What was his chakra pattern?" Hinata asked.

"Free flow," Hinabi pointed to her eyes.

"But only for a split second. The chakra straightened to the face. More likely the eyes..."

I nodded and looked at Hinata. I gestured to the estate and seperated myself from my second cousin. Hinabi jumped to the rooftop before I could've told her to stop...ah...she reminds me so much of Lee and Naruto...I told Ookami to stay here. Hinata put a hand on my shoulder and she followed me to the rooftop.

"You could've came down!" I hear Hinabi exclaime to the Black Op.

I walk up to the familiar figure and asked his objective.

"You haven't forgotten your promise to Lady Hokage, right...Hyuga Neji-sama?" he said.

Uchia. I knew it. I shook my head. No, I didn't forget. I don't need a reminder either. Before I could turn my back, Hinabi gave a yelp. Itachi had picked her up bridal style and had thrown her in the air.

"As for you, missy. Tsunade wants to see your team for a B ranked mission." he said.

"Put me down! Put me down, Itachi-sensei!" my youngest cousin cried.

That's right. Hinabi was a Chunnin now. Her missions were more challanging, but it's nothing she can't handle. I waved as Itachi wisked Hinabi away on his back to Tsunade's office. Hinata let out a sigh.
"If you wish to join us, Hinata, you may-"

"It's alright,Neji. I have to keep Ookami company.I'll bring her to my team's sparring practice later. I know you wouldn't want to be bothered while with Tenten..." she said before leaping off the roof.

I nodded in her direction. Forget breakfest, I'll just eat with the guys for lunch.

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Tenten's POV

Man, this is probably the first time I'm actually early to a sparring practice. The trainning grounds are empty. Hmmm...I'll go climb that tree then. I hold onto the branch and pull myself up. I lean back and let myself hand by my knees. I like seeing the world upside down. I can feel the blood rushing to my head as I hang. Mmmmmmmm...this is getting boring...I jump down and my head felt fuzzy for a moment, the blood rushing back to my body. I looked around again. Sighing, I plopped my self under the tree I had just climbed at leaned against its trunk. I looked up at the clouds. There were a lot of different shapes...

...

I felt something soft againt my cheek. It felt like hair...I reached up to grab it, only to hear a hiss. I cracked open my eyes to find Neji sitting next to me in his meditaion position. I sat up and yawned.

"Oh, I'm sorry Neji. Didn't know you were there..." I said looking at him.

"It's fine...you can let go of my hair now,Tenten." he sighed.

I let go. He seems a bit...sad...ever since yesterday...Or maybe it's something else...

"Tenten, you're finally awake?" Sasuke walked over to me and smiled.

I shrugged.

"You could've woken me up..."

"I was going to, but his bitchiness over here didn't want me to," he said gesturing to Neji.

I watched as the corner's of Neji's mouth twitched. He's always been like that I've noticed. Whenever somebody questions him,anyway...and of course it's always Sasuke who gets to him the most. But they weren't always like this. I remember they worked very well together on missions, and they didn't argue or annoy each other when we were together as a group, or even when I was on a mission with them. My perspective of things didn't change except after I went on that two year long mission with Naruto to get Itachi. Even though they did share glares...now they bash each other whenever they get the chance. I don't understand what's going on...

"Now, my sweet Panda,shall we begin?" Sasuke held out his hand to me.

I smiled at my new pet name and took his hand. He gently supported me up and peckedmy cheek lightly. I can feel my face get warm and my stomach become all fuzzy by the amount of affection he's given me. I heard a sigh come from my teammate as we walked into the center of the field. There were targets set up all around, scattered and placed on some trees. Target practice.

"Alright, let me explain 'cause I already know what you're thinking. These targets are not going to be used for your kunai so you can drop the big scroll on your belt," he said pointing to my stomach.

I unbuckle my scroll and tossed it near the tree that I fell asleep under.

"I know you're familiar with my clan's fire ball technique, well that's exactly what you're gonna do. Besides hitting the targets, you're gonna conrtol the flames so that it doesn't damage the trees, okay?" he pointed to a few far oak tree a few yards away.

I nodded.

"Alright, Tenten, let's see what you got." Sasuke nodded at me to begin.

Alright...here goes everything...

Man what a total fail...

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Hinata's POV

I can understand why Neji is mad...I can understand why he's being so moody. But I can't understand why he just doesn't stick up for himself...I sank into my chair in the living room. Ookami's my second cousin from our branch family that lives in the waterfall village. She isn't a ninja...only because her parents didn't want her running around sleeping with any guy she met. She has a reputation for that here and back at her home village. Alot of people say that we were suppose to be twin cousins, but I don't understand how we could be if we are nothing like each other. This is like the fifth time I ever saw here in Konoha. I glanced at my father. He was reading a book, sipping his tea. He liked Tenten. As a Ninja-I mean...Father would bring her up in a lot of conversations whenever we had guests or just us. Hinabi adored her as a sister and best friend. Tenten is like a best friend to me...someone I can talk to and get advice from...and Neji...well...I know he likes her, everyone knows that...but considering what Sasuke did...and that Tenten didn't say anything...I think my older cousin is in denial...

"Oh...Neji is such a hard-head...skipping breakfest like that to go train 'til night time..." Ookami pouted as she flipped her magazine open.

I just gave her a side look. Nobody really liked her...she was introduced to my friends in rookie nine...even Choji, the sweetist and caring one in our group, didn't like her. Even Naruto said that he'd rather not hang out with her.

Naruto...

"Oh no!" I exclaimed.

"What's up, cousin?" Ookami asked flipping threw her magazine.

I stand and look at the clock. I had to go meet Naruto for our spar with Shikamaru. I turned to my Father and told him.

"I had a feeling you had forgotten. Very well, Hinata. Give my greeting to Uzumaki and work hard." he said waving me off.

I bowed to him and waved at Ookami. I put om my shoes and sprinted to the lake. Father has become more excepting of Naruto. I think it's because he finally saw how hard-working he is-I mean Naruto made Jonnin with Sasuke and Shikumaru...while Tenten,Lee and Neji are the only ANBU in our group...

"Oi! Hinata! Over here!"

I stopped sprinting and glanced around. I spotted Naruto and Shikumaru near a big tree. Walking up to them I apologize for being late.

"Nah, don't worry about it...We just got here ourselves actually...I had to drag Naruto out of Tsunade's office again..." Shikumaru pointed at him.

Naruto grunted and went on ranting to him about how missions weren't as common anymore as they use to be. I let out a laugh at Shikumaru's nonchalant reply. It was true though. Most missions now a days were escorts, messaging, ground work and babysitting. I don't really mind the change of pace now. But I do miss those advanture missions when we travelled to another village besides Suna and did investigations...everything slowed douwn once Naruto and Tenten came back. I wonder what happend though. They never told anyone what they encountered when they came back with Itachi. Naruto didn't even tell Sasuke or Sakura...Tenten was the same way too. She didn't tell Neji or Lee,not even Temari knows. Butone thing's for sure when she came back, she had changed alot.

"Alright bone-head. I think Hinata is tired of hearing your annoying babble. Let's just start..." Shikumaru said.

"Fine, fine...C'mon Hinata-"

"HEY! WHAT THE FUCK UCHIA?"

We turned to the voices across the lake. Sasuke had Neji tied to Tenten with chakra strings, smirking.

"So that was it..." I heard Shikumaru whisper to himself.

What was it? I continue to watch. Sasuke kisses Tenten on the lips before leaping on top of a near by tree.

"Try to get out of that and get me,Hyuga. I'm all yours!" he yelled.

Uh-oh...Neji's loosing his temper...

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Yea a bit short I know. But I'm working on trying to write a draft first before typing...not working out...

O Sasuke-you so fiesty... :3