Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter Two
The next morning at the training gfounds, Neji was quieter than usual. He was mulling over his conversation with Mira the day before. Is it true she wants to move on from the past? Or is she planning something again? Neji decided to keep his guard up at all times around the female Hyuga as Tenten arrived at the grounds. Damn Neji cursed himself. After his confrontation with Mira the previous day, he had forgotten to come up with an apology for his teammate. He watched as she walked past him, not even glancing in his direction as she went. That hurts. He thought. Even when she is mad at him, she usually greets him when she arrives. He turned to Lee and raised an eyebrow. Lee sighed, and ran over to where the prodigy stood.
"Our beautiful lotus flower is more upset than we thought. She is still very angry about the things you said to her yesterday."
Neji looked down at his hands trying to mask the guilt he felt. He hadn't intended to upset her, least of all this much. He looked over at Tenten. Currently, a tree had become the victim of her onslaught as she pelted it with weapon after weapon, releasing her anger, but never really letting it go. He sighed and looked at Lee before walking over to her. He could see she was exhausted, yet she continued to adorn the tree with her weapons. He stood and watched her for a moment before his thoughts were interrupted.
"Need something Hyuga?" Tenten asked him harshly, never turning to look at him.
"Tenten, I wanted to apologize." Neji stated slowly. Tenten froze, completely shocked at what her teammate was saying. She faced him, staring hard at his face, searching for a sign, any sign, that she had not heard what she thought she did. There was none.
"My behavior yesterday was completely uncalled for and I apologize for upsetting you." He finished, looking at face, studying her reaction.
"Neji, you didn't upset me." She admitted, looking to the ground. "You could never upset me." She whispered quietly and turned away from him.
"Yes I was upset, but not with you. I was upset because what you said was true. I'm seventeen now, almost eighteen. I've been a ninja for too long to still let my emotions get the best of me."
Neji hestated for a second before stepping closer.
"No Ten, those things I said weren't true. You're an amazing kunoichi, and you're only human okay? Even I let my feelings take over me sometimes." Like now, he thought bitterly. Since when had he cared so much for Tenten? Sure, he always had her back o missions, but this... this was different. He cared how she was feeling. He was upset because she was hurting. Neji cared for anyone's feelings before, let alone Tenten's. So why did he suddenly care now?
Tenten spun around, eyes wide.
"Y-You really mean that Neji?" She asked in amazement.
"Of course Ten. Anything I say otherwise is a lie." He said, his eyes softening as he looked at her. When did she grow up and become so beautiful? Maybe this is why he was finally thinking of someone else. Maybe, just maybe, he was falling in love with his bun haired teammate. Neji turned sharply and began walking away. He could not be having these thoughts, not about Tenten.
"Neji, are you okay?" Tenten asked, confused. Neji cursed himself mentally. He allowed himself to get too close to Tenten.
"We need to train." He said over his shoulder, his demeanor returning. Tenten sighed as she followed him. How could she be so stupid to believe that something had changed between them? Neji turned and slid into stance, eyeing Tenten, but avoiding her own eyes. How could I be so stupid? How could I allow myself to fall in love with Tenten? And why now of all times?! I'm going to be married after my birthday. It's too late now. He tried to slow his mind. He could feel his anger at himself rising inside and the last thing he wanted was to take it out on Tenten again. Maybe, he thought, maybe I could. There are a few more weeks until my birthday. Maybe I could allow myself to love, just until then... Neji smiled himself as she released her arsenal of weapons on him. Yes. Just until then. His Tenten. He liked the sound of that. His Ten...
After a grueling training session with Tenten, Neji was exhausted. He wanted only to go to his room and sleep, dreaming of his Ten. He smiled at the thought, but it quickly turned to a frown when he was stopped by none other than Mira.
"Can I help you?" He asked just as coldly as before. She sighed.
"I thought we were gonna move on." She said, annoyed with him.
"I do not recall that meaning it was okay to come home and find you waiting outside my bedroom."
"Our bedroom." She said quietly, her eyes dropping to the ground. Neji's body went rigid. Had she said our room?
"What are you talking about?" He asked, though he was sure he knew the answer.
"The elders are moving me into your room so that we can get used to living together as a married couple." Neji was already walking away towards the Main house before she had finished her sentence.
"You're moving her in with me?!" He yelled, bursting in on Hiashi and the elders having supper. Hiashi sighed, putting his chopsticks down.
"I'll handle this, if you'll excuse me." He said rising as the elders nodded their heads in consent. Hiashi pulled a steaming Neji outside, shutting the door behind him.
"Neji, I-"
"How could you?!" Neji yelled. He was livid and swore he felt steam coming out of his ears.
"Neji just let me explain." Hiashi interjected. Neji stopped, then looked down, granting his uncle his silence.
"Mira is being moved into your room because of the troubles you both have had in your past." He held up a hand to silence his nephew, who opened his mouth to protest. Neji shut his mouth and looked down at his feet while Hiashi continued.
"You both need to learn to function together in one accord if you are going to be married. It has already been decided and the servants have already begun moving her things in. You may as well get used to it now Neji, because that's how you'll be living the rest of your life." Neji nodded his head solemnly. Hiashi was right. There sold be no point to delaying his living arrangement with Mira. The only person it would negatively affect would be him, but he couldn't let anyone find out. If the Hyuga found out his feelings for Tenten, they would separate them. It wouldn't do well for a man to love one woman and be married to another. He would bring shame to his clan.
Neji walked slowly back to his room. He realized he would soon have to tell his team that he was going to be married. He knew they would want to attend the wedding, in support of their teammate. But how? How could he stand I. Front of them and say he was marrying a woman he didn't love when the one he did stood before him? Neji had known for years now that Tenten had the same feelings for him as he did for her. So how could he tell her? He knew he would not be able to stand seeing the pain and hurt in her eyes, especially knowing it was him who caused it. He pondered this while longer before forcing himself into a deep slumber, trading his troublesome thought for dreams of his Ten.
