Chapter 15:

"Ow!" Neji winced in pain as Tenten helped him dress his wounds. He was covered with cuts and bruises. He had a powerful urge to lick at his cuts and scrapes, but Tenten had gotten there first with a handful of bandages.

"I don't know what's gotten into you lately, Neji, but it's just plain weird." She placed another bandage on his exposed leg. "You're not yourself."

"You don't know the half of it…"

She wrapped up his bloody calf with gauze with a sigh. "You can talk to me, you know. I'm not just another teammate. I'm a girl, too, and we're good listeners. If there's anything you need to talk about, I'm right here for you. And I won't punch you, either. That's Gai's way of helping people out."

"No kidding…" Neji rubbed the back of his neck. It was so sore. He was battered and bruised and for what? Gai was an idiot.

"Are you feeling alright, Neji?"

"I'm fine."

Tenten stopped bandaging him for a moment to look him in the eye. "Like I said, you're not yourself. It's not like you to run off like you did the other day and it's not like you to just stand there and take a hit like that. Lee mopped the floor with you. He's celebrating right now. He's even talking about a rematch with you, one-on-one this time. What's with you?"

In truth, Neji wanted to tell her and get it over with. Clearly the potion wasn't going to wear off anytime soon and he was growing impatient. He couldn't spend the rest of his life like this. Telling Tenten wouldn't be so bad. But he was still very embarrassed about it and couldn't bring himself to tell her.

"I've just been going through some things right now."

"What kind of things?"

"Nothing. It's not important…" Neji yawned and rubbed his eyes.

Tenten moved closer to his face.

"What?"

"Just how much sleep did you get last night?"

Neji looked away, uncomfortable with how close she was. "Why?"

"Because of those bags under your eyes. And you yawned just now. You look tired."

"I am," he admitted. "You try going a few rounds with Gai full-force. I had you and Lee to worry about, too. Of course, I'm tired. And no, I didn't get a lot of sleep last night."

"You should take better care of yourself, you know." Tenten pulled out another bandage. "Now hold still. You have a cut on your chin right there."

Neji held perfectly still while Tenten placed the bandage over his cut.

"The bleeding stopped. That's good."

"You did it," Neji muttered.

Tenten chuckled lightly. "Yeah, sorry about that. I thought that you could dodge that kunai. Sorry, it was Gai's orders."

"Hm."

"Now keep your head still. Lee got you in the face a few times, right? I want to make sure you won't have a shiner or anything."

Neji held his head still and kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, thinking that she was only going to look. But she lifted her hands up and placed them under his chin, holding his head steady. Her warm hands on his jaw made Neji's face twitch ever so slightly. He wasn't in any pain, but he almost wished that he was. Why? Because having her this close to him, holding his head made him feel like purring.

She turned his head this way and that, getting a good look at him. "Hmm… I'm not seeing any real damage…" She turned his head one way and then another, inadvertently scratching him behind the ear. The gentle touch made Neji shiver. "You ok?"

"Uh-huh…" He was slipping into cat-mode once again. He loved having his ears scratched.

Paying no attention, Tenten went back to looking him over. Her thumbs pressed down lightly into his cheeks as she carefully lifted his head up. Her fingers caressed behind his jaw and down his neck. It felt wonderful. He closed his eyes lazily and started to purr.

Tenten raised a brow. "What was that?"

"Dunno…" Neji mumbled sleepily.

"I could have sworn that I heard you purr just now."

Neji moved closer to her, cat instincts taking over, and purred again. "That feels so good."

"What?"

"What you were just doing. No one ever touches me like that."

"What about doctors when you get a checkup? They touch you like that, don't they to make you turn your head and make sure that everything's in order?"

"Yeah, but they don't touch me like that." Neji kept his eyes closed. "Your hands are so warm and gentle. But they are a little rough."

"Oh. Sorry. I just train so much and handle so many weapons, I just-"

"But I like it. It's not quite like sandpaper. They're softer than that, but still rough. It feels really good."

"Oh. Ok." Just before she could get comfortable with this, she pulled her hands away. "Wait a minute."

"What?" Neji still hadn't opened his eyes.

"This is too weird. This is a side of you I haven't seen before. Since when have you...? No, that's not it. Why would you say things like that? No, even that's not my real question. How do I put it?"

Before she could figure it out, Neji had curled up on her lap.

Her face turned red. "Neji? What are you doing?"

He snuggled up to her warm body and tucked his hands up under his chin. "Is it ok if I take just a little nap right now like this?" His voice was soft and distant like he was already asleep.

"But on me?" Tenten didn't know what to think. If she didn't know better, she would think that Neji was flirting with her or something. "Why?"

He sighed sleepily. "I don't know. I just feel like sleeping here right now. Just a little nap, ok?"

"But Neji…"

She felt his body relax, all the tension slipping away. He was drifting away. "Is it… ok… Tenten...? Just a… little… nap…" It was too late for her to protest now. Neji had already drifted off.

She placed a hand on his head, stroking his hair as he slept. "If you must."

His purred turned to snores as he slept on her lap in the middle of the grass.

Something strange was going on with him and Tenten knew it. She needed more information to make sure she had the right idea. But she couldn't be right, could she? It was too farfetched. The way he was acting… He couldn't be, could he?

"How's that milk, Sasuke?" Naruto asked. He had just given Sasuke a big bowl of milk and watched him lap in up off the floor, very amused. "Good, huh?"

Sasuke blinked back at him before his eyes trailed down to the bowl in front of him. He couldn't care less anymore. All he knew was that there was milk in front of him and he wasn't going to pass it up. Sasuke finished his meal and yawned widely, before lying down on the floor, getting ready to go to sleep. Naruto blinked and then smirked. Sasuke looked kind of cute like that, all curled up on the floor. Sasuke seemed to have gotten into the habit of sleeping where he dropped.

Acting like a caring older brother, Naruto draped a blanket over Sasuke's body and watched him sleep curled up underneath it. He had no idea that Sasuke could look so cute and innocent. Unable to resist the urge, Naruto patted Sasuke's head, smiling when Sasuke purred.

Good thing Kakashi-sensei gave us the day off today, Naruto thought. Sasuke's too tired to do anything.

"Naruto!"

He flinched and fell over. Sasuke frowned in his sleep and hid his face under the blanket. Naruto rushed to the window and shushed the person responsible for the racket.

"Shh! Be quiet! Sasuke's trying to sleep!"

Lee stood just outside the window looking sad. "Oh. I am so sorry. I did not know." He perked up again. "But guess what, Naruto! I beat Neji! I finally did it!"

His jaw dropped. "What?!"

"For real! I did it! Ok, Tenten and Gai-sensei were there, too, but I did it! He did not stand a chance! I feel pumped! Like I could take on anything!"

Naruto took a nervous glance back at Sasuke on the floor. Lee was still way too loud. He was starting to wake him up. "Lee, please be quiet. I really need Sasuke to sleep, ok?" After all, if he was asleep, he couldn't complain or tear up his couch.

"Sorry, Naruto. I just cannot contain my enthusiasm!"

"Contain it, already!"

It was too late. Sasuke sat up and looked at the window. "What the hell's he doin' here?" he slurred sleepily. He was less than happy about being woken up.

"Sasuke Uchiha!" Lee tried to climb through the window but Naruto held him back. "I would like to spar with you! Right here, right now!"

"What?!"

"It is true, Naruto. I am so pumped up, I cannot possibly lose! Let us go!"

A very grumpy Sasuke got to his feet and marched over to the window. Without a word, he grabbed Lee by the front of his jumpsuit and pulled him forward. They locked eyes for a moment, then Sasuke snarled at him.

"For your information, I just fell asleep and I'm really tired, which makes me a little less than happy about being woken up, you moron. So, I think it's in your best interest if you leave right now while you still have the legs to do it."

Naruto gulped in fear, backing up. Sasuke wasn't in a good mood. It was scary.

But Lee was unfazed. He still wanted a fight. "Come on, Sasuke. Just one quick spar and you can go back to your nap."

"I said no!"

He wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. "I will even let you pick the spot. Where would you like to fight? Here, the street, the woods? Wherever is fine with me."

Sasuke's eyes lit up with a furious glare and showed his teeth at Lee in a threatening manner.

Fearing the outcome, Naruto tried to get Lee to leave once again. "Please, Lee. I don't think he…"

"Come on, Sasuke Uchiha! The fight is on!"

Hissing, Sasuke swiped Lee across the face with his nails. Lee pulled back and put a hand to his face. He looked at his hand and saw tiny drops of blood on his fingers. Sasuke had cut him. He wasn't expecting that.

Naruto ran forward and grabbed Sasuke from behind, holding him back. His dark hair was standing on end and he was still hissing, ready to tear Lee limp from limp. "Lee, I think you better leave!"

"But he-"

"Now!" Naruto pulled Sasuke into the other room, but both him and Lee were itching for a fight. Naruto threw Sasuke into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. He ran back to the window and shoved Lee out. He ran to the bathroom and forced his way in, shoving Sasuke aside with the door. "What the heck is wrong with you?"

Sasuke's hair was still standing on end and was hissing furiously. He wasn't calming down.

Naruto took the hose from the bathtub and sprayed him in the face. He yowled and flailed about. When Naruto turned off the water, Sasuke was left sopping wet and miserable.

"What the hell is your problem?!" he spat.

Naruto put the hose back. "I was trying to calm you down. You were acting all weird. You were hissing at Lee."

He blinked. "I was?"

"Yeah!"

"Oh. Huh… That's funny. I don't remember any of that."

"Lee, for crying out loud, not now!"

Both ninjas turned.

"That sounded like Neji."

Outside, Lee had Neji cornered by the side of the road, still wanting to fight. Neji, however, wanted no part of it. He had just embarrassed himself in front of Tenten, had Shino on his case and was not about to add Lee to the list as well.

"Just leave me the hell alone, Lee. I'm in no mood."

"What is the matter? Afraid that I will beat you without Gai-sensei's or Tenten's help? Put them up!"

"You've got to be…"

"Hyah!" Lee punched Neji in the face and sent him reeling.

Neji put a hand to his face and could feel his cheek beginning to swell. Frowning, Neji stood his ground. "Fine! Have it your way!"

"Yes!" Lee was overjoyed to have a sparring partner now. He charged in and Neji kicked him away. Lee quickly recovered and tried to attack him from another angle. This time, Neji couldn't react in time and took the hit to his shoulder. After that blow landed, Lee was more pumped than ever and wouldn't let up for a second. He attacked Neji with a flurry of punches and kicks.

Naruto and Sasuke watched from the safety of the window, not knowing whether to help or watch a free fight from so close to the house.

Neji threw his arms over his head to protect himself. Lee was doing great. Too bad he wasn't so lucky.

Confident that he was going to win at last, Lee moved in for the final blow. He curved his hand into a fist and threw the final punch.

Something in Neji's brain snapped and he slashed the green beast across the face with his open hand, drawing blood from the other side of Lee's face.

"Wait a minute, what is that?" Naruto leaned out of the window for a closer look. Neji was down on all fours, hissing with his hair standing on end. "This doesn't look good."

Neji's gaze was fixed on Lee. He raised his right hand up, curling his fingers making it look more like a paw. He hissed at Lee once again.

Lee stood dumbstruck. "Neji?"

"Meow!"

"Eh?" Lee's stance fell. All he could do was stare at him.

Neji stood on his toes and left knuckles, back raised. He yowled at Lee, showing his teeth.

"Neji?" Lee stood his ground, but his will to fight was diminishing fast. "Are you ok?"

The Hyuga's eyes flashed with an aggressive gleam. Neji had become feral. With a hiss, Neji pounced and landed on top of Lee and started to scratch up his face and chest.

"Holy crap!" Naruto jumped from the window to help. "Neji, stop!"

"What's gotten into him?" Sasuke wondered as he followed Naruto out onto the street.

"Neji, stop it!"

Neji didn't listen. He just kept slashing at him.

"Neji!" Naruto grabbed him from behind and pulled him back. "Snap out of it!"

"Rarow! Meow! Rarow!"

"Neji!" Naruto punched him in the head. "I said snap out of it!"

Hissing, Neji turned around and scratched him across the face. Then he turned back to Lee and gave him one final slash across the chest. Lee lay in the street, playing dead. If he submitted to Neji now, maybe he couldn't get worse later on. It went against his fighting nature, but there wasn't much else he could do. Neji had gone nuts!

Neji licked the blood off his hands and stood over him in triumph. Then as quickly as it happened, it was all over. Blinking, Neji gave a look around. He turned a confused eye to Naruto and asked, "What just happened?"

Still holding his face, Naruto returned his confused gaze. "What do you mean what happened?"

"Just what I said." Neji rubbed his head. "I don't remember anything. I feel like I blacked out or something. What happened to me?"

"You almost killed Lee," Sasuke answered matter-of-factly. "You really did a number on him, too."

Neji gasped. "I hit him!?"

"And how!"

Gasping again, Neji turned back to Lee. He still hadn't moved since the fight was over. "Why did I...? Why didn't you guys stop me?!"

"We tried!" Naruto shouted back. "I did, anyway. Sasuke was just kind of there."

"Gee, thanks…"

Lee sat up, jumpsuit in tatters and face covered in scratch marks. His mouth was moving, but no words came out.

"Lee…" Neji began, but couldn't finish. "Lee, I… I'm… I… Lee…"

Lee found his voice. "Neji…"

"It's not… That is… I'm sorry… I didn't mean… Are you…? I mean, did I… Am I… I am… Lee…" He couldn't find the right words no matter how hard he tried. He wanted to explain himself, even though he had no idea what had just happened. He wanted to apologize, but he hadn't had much practice in that department either. He hardly ever had to apologize to Lee before. What could he say to him?

"Oh, Neji…"

"Lee, I'm…"

"That was… amazing!"

"Huh?"

Lee jumped to his feet, excited like never before. "That was a new technique, am I right?! That was so cool! You have got to teach me it! What is it called? When did you ever come up with it? It was something out of this world! Amazing! Incredible!"

Good thing Lee was an idiot. He had no idea what was going on.

Or did he?

Now that he thought about it, Neji was beginning to suspect that it really was a technique, after all.

"Please teach it to me, Neji! Please! I am begging you!" Lee was jumping up and down like an energetic puppy, grabbing Neji's arm tightly. "Teach me! Teach me, please! Please! Please!"

"Shut up already!" Neji shook his arm free. "Let me think."

"Please teach it to me!"

Naruto smirked. Lee really wanted to learn that scratch attack and was actually begging Neji to teach it to him. An evil grin found its way onto his face as a cruel idea popped into him head. "You know…" he drawled. "Neji might just teach it to you if you did something nice for him."

"Anything!" Lee jumped up and down excitedly.

Still grinning, Naruto gave him the instruction. "Try scratching him behind the ear."

"Like this?" Lee tickled Neji behind his left ear.

His leg jerked and he moaned as if he were being given a wonderful massage. "Lee...!" Despite the wonderful feeling, Neji wasn't pleased. It was a stupid trick, courtesy of Naruto. He was embarrassing him in public again.

"He also likes it when you scratch under his chin, too."

Naruto, you idiot!

Lee started to scratch him under the chin, caressing his jaw bone with his fingertips.

Independent of his will, Neji started to purr.

Lee started to smile. "Heh… This is kind of funny." He tickled Neji's neck. "He is acting almost like a cat."

Naruto's smile went away. He didn't mean for Lee to find out. Only to tease Neji a little bit. "Don't be silly, Lee," he said nervously. "H- he's not a cat. What are you, crazy? Heh heh…"

"I know. He could not be a cat. I know Neji. He is one hundred percent human. A true ninja!" He kept scratching him. "I mean, sure, he has been acting strangely these past few days, but he could never be a cat. He looks nothing like one. Besides, if he were a cat, he would eat nothing but fish and milk, take long naps in the sun, meow a lot, like having his ears and chin scratched and purr when you…" Lee's hand froze on Neji's neck. He eyed Neji up and down with unusually round eyes. "Oh, my…"

He had figured it out.

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