BB: Three updates in less then 24 hours, it's a new record!!

Shay: My story isn't coming back up yet, is it?

BB: Not yet. Oh, and to my Plot beta, I'm keeping Shattering Sand a complete secret. I'm still working on the finer points, but all I can say now is that there will be Angst, tears, a case of suicide, and Gaara seeing Shay in the Shay in the bathtub. And that's all you guys are getting!

Illiana: and now, BB does not own Naruto, Swirl and Splode Weapons Range, or Moriko's Paintball and now read the story.


They soon arrived at a beautiful house, with some extremely fancy cars parked in front of it. It was huge, causing even Hinata, who had seen some of the largest houses in the world, to stare. Naruto was completely unaffected. He just parked the car without even looking at the house.

"It's beautiful" Hinata whispered. Naruto glanced at her, then looked up at the house.

"I suppose." He muttered, as he turned off the car. "But sometimes the most beautiful homes carry the worst evil."

Hinata shot him a surprised look. "What do you mean?" She asked. Naruto didn't answer, just got out of the car, and closed his door. Hinata moved to get out, but Naruto was moving to get to her door, so he could open it for her. As he did, she asked him again, "What do you mean?"

Naruto sighed, and looked at her. "Think about it. What kind of houses do you see in the horror movies?" He asked, closing the door after she gracefully exited the car.

"Big houses." Hinata answered truthfully.

"Houses that at one point was no doubt as beautiful as this one, right?" Hinata nodded, and Naruto continued, "Both you and I have lived in huge houses like this one, right?" Hinata nodded again. "How would you consider your time in that house?"

Hinata remembered not being able to be what her father wanted, her sister hating her, her mother dieing, the looks from everyone she passed, the final rejection from her family. "Hell," she said simply.

"Exactly. Everyone I know who grew up in a house like this could describe it that one word. Hell." Naruto shook his head. "Sometimes I could describe my life like that as well."

"I get it." Hinata looked up at the house, the beauty taking a slight creepy look. "Who owns it?"

Naruto gave a crooked smile, and answered. "My grandmother."

--

Tenten was nervous. Neji Hyuuga had an extremely cold disposition. He didn't seem to crack a smile, and he didn't seem nice.

"This is a nice car." Tenten said, smiling at him. He glanced at her, his lavender Hyuuga eyes observing her. Tenten felt like one of the bugs under Pem's microscope.

His eyes turned back to the road, and Tenten had a sharp urge to sigh. "Hn." was all Neji said.

Tenten didn't like being nervous. She didn't like being 'Hn'd at. She really didn't like the sense of superiority that seemed to encircle Neji like a really bad cologne.

"How articulate." She snapped at him. Angry thoughts were running through her mind. She had gotten dressed up for this date, she had expected to have fun, and she had to be stuck with the most annoying, the most aggravating, the sexiest-

Her train of thought completely derailed at the last thought. She thought he was sexy? She couldn't. She let herself observe him out of the corner of her eye, taking in all of the details.

He had long dark hair that was just asking her to run her fingers through it. He had those lavender eyes, that seemed to take in everything all at once. His face was calm, something she liked. She could tell that underneath that suit was a body made of rock hard muscle. Tenten felt her mouth water, and fought not to gulp.

Oh, yeah, she thought he was sexy.

Tenten had a history of dating the worst guys in history. Her first kiss had been given to her by the playboy of the school, who dumped her the next day for her best friend. Her prom date in high school had left her sitting on the top of 'Make-Out Rock' in the pouring rain, because she wouldn't go any farther then kissing him. And after the year where she had been going out with a guy who was already married, she had promised herself not to date anymore. She had broken that tonight.

She glanced at him. She noticed that the corner of his mouth was tilted upwards. He seemed to be watching her out of the corner of his eye, but she couldn't tell. Maybe he thought she was amusing.

And maybe he wasn't as cold as she thought.

--

Neji was slightly annoyed at his cousin for this entire blind date affair. Having to have his cousin pick a date for him, made it seem like he couldn't get a date himself. He mentally scowled at that thought.

He glanced at the woman on the other side of the car. She had complimented his vehicle, and he had answered his usual answer. She didn't seem to like that, considering her snappy answer. Neji had smirked at her. He had always liked a woman with some fire in them.

She was pretty. Beautiful even. With long curly brown hair that simply curved and flowed down her shoulders and her back. Her brown eyes were big, unless she was narrowing them in frustration, as she was now. Her dress emphasized her curves, and he couldn't help but notice that she had some muscle tone to her arms. She also seemed to like weapons, considering her dress was adorned with them. Neji felt his eyesight dipping down to the ninja knife on her dress, and turned his eyes back to the road.

His mind was definitely going down a dangerous path.

He glanced back at her, and noticed that she was glaring at him. "Is there anything I need to know about, before we get to the party?" She asked, her voice sharp.

His eyebrows rose, as he sent a questioning look towards her. "Like what?" He asked, his voice it's normal tone.

Tenten's glare sharpened. "You aren't married, are you?"

Neji almost choked. He shot her a look, and blinked. "What?" His question was a little sharper then it probably should've been .

"You heard me. Are you married?" Tenten said , rolling her eyes.

"No, I am not." Neji turned his attention back to the road, switching lanes quickly. "Why the hell do you think I would be going out with you, if I was married?"

"How should I know?" Tenten snapped. "I just wanted to make sure."

Neji wondered slightly whether if she had ever gone out with a married man. She must've, to ask such a question. He was surprised at the sudden urge to go kill the man who had done that to her.

He glanced back at her, as she wriggled deeper into her seat. She looked like a child pouting. She was pouting, he realized, as he noticed her bottom lip sticking out slightly. He fought the urge to laugh.

"Where do you work?" he asked, mentally kicking himself for asking such a question. There was no doubt that she wouldn't want to go on a second date, and there was no need to ask personal information.

Tenten straightened, and looked at him hard. He ignored her stare, concentrating on the road. Finally she answered, "I work at the Swirl and Splode Weapons Range, on the edge of town. I test the new guns on sale, and teach the novices how to shoot. On weekends, I go down to the Moriko's Paintball, and work there as a challenge for the players. Why?"

"No reason." Neji said tonelessly. Inside he was shocked at her work. He glanced at her again. There was definitely going to be a second date now. He loved a woman who not only could take care of herself, but would rather do so then count on a man.

Neji also felt like giving Hinata a raise.


BB: okay, this chapter was a little more Teen then anything other chapter. And I am not really a Neji fangirl, even this chapter makes me sound like one. I'm a Gaara fangirl.

Shay: HE'S MINE, YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM!!

BB: UNLESS I SAY SO, YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM EITHER!!

Shay: EVILNESS!!

Illiana: while they're yelling at each other, I have to say please review. And no Swirly, we don't like you. That's why you guys are the bosses of Tenten. :P

Alleanye: When the hell did we get a smily?