~*~*~*~*Dance Partners*~*~*~*~

A NejiTen fanfic

Tenten's P.O.V.

Oh, I was tired again. Crap.

I moaned, trying to get out of bed and failed miserably. Yeah. Epically failed at getting out of bed. I laid back feeling kind of pathetic, then suddenly remembered my horrible life. Damn that Neji Hyuuga. Cocky, son of a bitch, fricken dance prodigy. I mean honestly, he's bound to be gay. Even though it's kind of cute when guys can dance. I'm calling him gay though because I don't like him and he hates everyone around them...and they just happen to be girls. Yep. So I bet he's gay.

In bed, I smirked at my conclusion. Boy would he be pissed if he knew what I was thinking. I can just imagine him staring at me with those lavender orbs that sink deep into your mind and soul...like literally! I bet his eyes could be used as a torture tool. They look calm and innocent but with Neji impassiveness they make a deadly combination, resulting in fatal outcomes.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out all the memories of yesterday but they flooded back. Oh, god. Come ON! Really? Personally, I didn't think that I did too bad. Neji was just a mean asshole who didn't know how to trust anyone. I mean, I tried to get along with him in some sort of way but he acts like dropping me means nothing. Of course it won't hurt that much, it's just that I feel uncomfortable when guys I don't trust touch me. Obviously though, Neji's too cold to try an do anything if you know what I mean, but still. I feel so insecure.

Angrily, I pushed these thoughts aside and thought that I was getting way too ahead of myself. I was definitely over reacting. Okay, so maybe Neji was a bastard but Shizune did say that he wasn't always like this. Maybe his parents died in an accident or he got raped a long time ago (I've decided he's gay remember) or possibly he used to get teased for acting gay...even if his voice has a deep tone and he's far stronger than I am. I still have come to the conclusion that he is gay. No exceptions.

With this as a motivation to get up, I slowly rose, ignoring the excruciating pain, (now I just figured out why in Harry Potter they call it the Cruciatis curse) (1).

I moaned. God this hurt.

This was my third day of pretty much boot camp and I'm not gonna lie, it feels like my muscles will give out any second they're so week right now. So really, I had the sudden urge to lay back down but ignored it because I didn't want to be a lazy bum all day.

I slowly stumbled down the stairs, gripping the railing as I went. Dance wasn't until five PM today so I had some time to relax.

Just as I started to pour cereal in a small bowl, the phone rang, making shudder and drop the things, which by the way came crashing into the floor, the impact shattering the glass bowl.

"Dammit," I hissed, carefuly scurrying over the glass and snatching the phone.

I punched the call button. "What?" I snapped.

"Tenten?"

I recognized the voice but couldn't put a finger on it.

"Um..."

"It's Sakura,"

"Oh, hello," I finally spoke up. "What's up?" I tried to act casual.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out with us?" Sakura offered.

"Who's 'us'?" I questioned suspiciously.

"Oh it's me, Hinata, Ino, Temari, and some of our other friends," Sakura explained.

"Oh," I answered.

"So you in?" she asked.

I looked at the shattered bowl and spilled cereal and paused.

"Hell yeah!" I finally cried. "Nothing else to do around this dump,"

"Great," Sakura commented.

"Where should I meet you?" I inquired.

"Hmm," Sakura pondered. "At Ichiraku's, the Ramon shop,"

"Alright!" I replied enthusiastically.

"See you there,"

"Yeah, bye," I told her.

Click!

"Great," I grumbled, cleaning up the glass. "I better get this put away quickly,"

I bent over and shuffled the things into a dust pan and shook that over in the garbage.

Well, I guess this was going to be fun. I surely had made friends now. That was good news. I wondered who her other friends were. They could be dancers from a lower level, or possibly just friends, but who knew. It should be good anyways because Ichiraku's is the best Ramon shop in Konoha. No doubt there.

Sighing, I set the dustpan down and began to search through the mudroom for a proper pair of shoes. I just remembered though that I didn't take off my pajamas. Immediately, I sprinted into the laundry room, near by and threw on a light pink top and navy blue pants that cropped above the ankles.

Then I quickly slipped on my shoes and hopped out the door, not literally because that would hurt in my state or condition.

First I started to walk down the street, but slowly my excitement began to build up and I began to jog.

Normally, people I first meet don't ask me to go to a Ramon shop with their friends. I was definitely surprised that Sakura called me. She seemed nice enough though. I wondered why she wanted me to be with her? Perhaps she was amazed that I accepted Neji as a dancing partner, or thought I was cool with my twelve turns, even if Neji beat me. Because anyone who sees me normally will not ask me out for Ramon unless they've talked to me for a while.

I rounded the corner and arrived at the familiar Ramon place, to spot a group of people waving excitedly towards me.

The first person that caught my eye was a boy...wearing forest green spandex....with orange legwarmers...had a bowl cut hair style...and the bushiest eyebrows I have ever seen in my fricken life.

Second person that caught my eye, took hold of my attention, not only because his hair was a mesmerizing onyx color, but was in the form of a chickens ass. Like seriously, I had the urge to walk up to him and ask, "Guess what...chicken butt!"

Next person was grinning widely as he devoured his Ramon. His hair was a spikey blonde and he wore an orange jumpsuit. Something about him made me think he was hyperactive...

Moving on, next I saw someone's hair that was rather...different. I had the temptation to sing, "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea..." (2) Cause his hair looked like a pineapple! Hehe sorry.

The next kid had face painted cheeks. They were red triangles imprinted on each side of his face. A dog slept limply on top of his head.

Yeah they were an interesting bunch. Because all these boys were also with my fellow dance buddies. Yeah some of them looked mismatched with each other.

"HEY!" The blonde greeted loudly. "You're Tenten?"

I nodded. slightly embarrassed.

"Naruto you baka, you're embarrassing her," Sakura hissed hitting him on the head.

"Yeah," Ino did the same thing. The two took turns hitting him extremely hard.

I raised my hands up so they were slightly close to me.

"It's alright guys," I assured them. "I don't mind,"

Ino and Sakura sat down growling.

"Gosh Sakura-chan," Naruto complained, rubbing his head. "That hurts,"

"Troublesome," Pineapple muttered.

I giggled. Yep. This group was definitely different from most people. I liked them.

"Join us," the boy with face paint encouraged me.

"Sure," I took a seat next to him.

"So you want Ramon?" The blonde questioned.

"Sure," I shrugged pulling out my wallet.

"No it's okay," the boy said. "You just owe me next time,"

I sweat dropped. "Okay, whatever,"

The kids took out a frog shaped wallet. Yeah. Don't ask.

"So," Bushy brows started. "Are you our new youthful friend?"

"Um," I answered. "Sure,"

"I hear you are working with Neji," the boy continued.

I grimaced. "Yep," my voice was icy.

"Speaking of Neji," Sakura said. "Where is that bastard cousin of yours, Hinata?"

"So you're cousins?" I asked.

"Yep," Ino smirked. "Can't see the resemblance can you?"

"Nope,"

"H-He's not coming," Hinata stammered looking down.

Naruto pulled the girl's arm up and down.

"Aww why not?" He whined.

Hinata's face seriously turned as red as a tomato. I thought she was gonna explode...looks like someone has a crush!

"U-Um,"

"I got it," Ino pulled out her cell.

"So do you like him?" I suddenly turned my attention to a girl with four spiked ponytails. She hadn't spoken before. I recognized her as Temari though.

"Um...not really," I admitted.

"Eh, you're with me girl," She laughed. "No one more bitchier,"

"Haha nope-"

"JUST GET THE HELL OVER HERE!" Ino cried into the cell.

We started to stare at her, intensely. She was making everyone glare at us.

I wonder what the hell she was doing and why she was yelling so loud.

"...I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE A FRICKEN PRODIGY! YOU'RE HANGING OUT WITH US...OH SINCE WHEN WERE YOU A PRODIGY? WHEN HAVE YOU LOOKED IN THE DAMN MIRROR! OH HECK WITH THAT AND JUST GET THE HELL OVER HERE!" Ino was totally pissed.

We blinked in sheer terror of her exploding.

"Fine," she stated calmly. The blonde then shut her phone. "Alright, time for introductions,"

We sighed in relief. Thank god. I thought she was gonna go on a rampage. But I have a suspicious feeling of who she was talking too...

"Bushy brows here is Lee, baka over there is Naruto, the one who looks depressed is Sasuke, pineapple here with the genius IQ is Shikamaru, and doggy over there is Kiba," Ino explained, pointing to people as she said their name.

"Aight," I agreed laughing. "You guys know I'm Tenten,"

"You're Ramon miss,"

"Thank you," I answered, taking the bowl and calmly slurping up the noodles with the chopsticks, unlike Naruto.

"Hmm..." Ino pondered. "What's something else you should know?"

Everyone shrugged including me. I really didn't care-

"Oh I know!" Ino finally exclaimed. "Sakura here likes Sasuke, Sweet little Hinata is head over heels for Naruto, Temari has the hots for lazy ass and-"

"YOU LIKE KIBA!" Sakura and Temari shrieked.

Hinata just had a bright face, trying to shut out from the world.

"DO NOT!" Ino cried, her hands placed on her hips.

I giggled. "Gosh you guys you're so-"

"Immature?" a cold voice suggested from behind me.

I knew it from a thousand miles.

"No, Mr. Freezy, I was about to say funny," I spun around to face him. "And who said you could come here?!"

Neji raised an eyebrow. "A, it's a public place, anyone can come here. B, she invited me," he pointed a finger towards Ino.

I turned towards Ino. "You should've known we don't get along," I hissed.

Ino shrugged. "I thought this would help," she admitted.

"Well you though wrong," I grumbled, shoving money into the man at Ichiraku's hands and strutting away.

"DAMMIT HYUUGA!" I heard Sakura scream.

"Not you Hinata," Naruto reassured the about-to-faint other Hyuuga.

I barely glanced back. I was not gonna go back there when someone I was trying to break free from most of the day just arrived.

Immaturely I crossed my arms and leaned against an alley wall. I didn't care if I had to stay here all day until dance. I wasn't going back there until he le-

"You idiot," someone hissed. It was Neji.

"What?" I asked. "the hell are you doing?"

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me along with him.

"No what are you doing?" He demanded.

"What?" I asked, trying to break free. "What's wrong?"

Neji didn't let go until we were in the Konoha market.

"That," Neji bitterly stated. "Was one of the locations of Konoha's most deadly gangs. What the hell were you doing there?"

"Escaping from you," I muttered.

"Hn, escaping from the world of the living," Neji retorted.

"So you actually cared if I lived?" I asked him.

"No," He growled. "I didn't do it for you. Last time someone walked into that alley, people yelled at me for not warning them,"

"Thanks," I grumbled.

"Besides, I would have to drop out of the partner competitions," Neji explained.

"Of course," I replied, pissed. "You don't really care that it's me, you just care about your career,"

"Well when you put it in those words, I guess so," Neji remarked.

"Leave me alone," I mumbled, pushing past him.

God what was his fuckin problem. He didn't care? What kind of son of a bitch is he? Honestly! I thought for a split second that he cared about my safety and that his heart would ache if someone put a cap in me but obviously I was wrong. That bitch didn't give a shit. And now he wasn't even coming after me. What if I was gonna commit suicide (which I'm not). He knows what state I'm in and doesn't do anything. Typical thing for an ice cube to do.

I pushed past anyone who got in my way and ran as fast as I could towards home. Really I was pissed.

I honestly wanted to shout in many ways how I felt. Felt towards dancing, my new friends, and Neji, my dance partner that doesn't give a shit about anything. And for a moment there, I thought he had a heart. No. Not even moment. More like a split, split second.

Furiously, I slammed the door behind me. It was only noon and I was already back, madder than hell. Great. I was gonna do something stupid now like break dishes or something. GARRR! I wanted so badly to scream in frustration but not attract the attention of the neighbors.

"GOD DAMMIT!" I finally cried once I was in the safety of my room. "WHAT THE HELL?!"

Tears squeezed through my shut eyelids and rolled down my cheeks. Neji was so damn mean it wasn't even funny how he could be so cruel. I didn't want to do this anymore. I wanted to quite and never see Neji's face again...so why couldn't I? What was holding me back? Maybe it was a desperate attempt to save Neji from the darkness...maybe not. I had no idea what it was but it was nagging at the pit of my stomach begging me not to quite. I was about to mentally tell it to stop when-

Knock knock!

It was from downstairs.

"Tenten?" a voice asked.

I knew that timid voice from anywhere...Hinata!

A/N LOL! Weren't expecting that were you? Anyways, I was gonna be real mean and said, I could recognize that voice from anywhere, it was a certain Hyuuga and then I was gonna leave you guys hanging but you'd be so pissed in the next chapter finding out it was Hinata. Sorry. So thanks for reading and please review!

(1) Ha, get it. Excruciating. Get where the cruciat comes from in crutiatis curse?

(2) Who lives in a pineapple under the sea Shi-ku-mar-u! LOL