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

A NejiTen fanfic

Tenten's P.O.V.

I groaned getting out of bed. By now, I was used to the pain but it still bothered me like crap.

It was also getting extremely annoying how I didn't have a ride. Walking there is so troublesome. Especially since it's miles away, so I have to run, and then when I get there I'm tired. Of course I could wake up earlier but then I would still be tired even if I did get to walk because of that.

There was no escape!

This morning I didn't even bother brushing my teeth. I slipped into my outfit and adjusted the buns on my head. They were slightly out of place, but at the moment I was too drowsy and sore to notice or care.

It seemed like I was a zombie when I slung my dance bag over my shoulder and shuffled down the steps. I didn't pay attention to which shoes I put on either. I just shoved my feet into the ones nearest and grumbled as I walked out the door.

Now I was going to have to deal with Neji. Great.

This was my life now. At least after today I don't have anymore dance until Monday. Hurray!

I know. I should be excited to be in such a program and right now kids are starving on the streets but they don't have to put up with him. God was he annoying. Well, cold. I mean Neji was a fricken snowman. Except he's invincible because he doesn't melt no matter what!

Yeah but you're working on it...

Gah! Who the hell are you?

You're inner?

You're me? I raised an eyebrow while I strolled down the streets.

Yep!

That's kinda creepy...

What do you mean?

I'm talking to my thoughts?

Okay now you're getting me confused.

How?

The only thing I am is what you're really thinking.

The are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Um..yes?

Then why haven't you gone away yet?

Well I technically have my own thoughts.

That doesn't make sense.

Neither do you,

I am you!

...right.

So what do you want anyways.

How are we going to deal with this Neji problem?

We?

You just said I was you.

...oops. Well whatever. What do we do?

I asked you first.

What the hell do I do about a bastard?!

I don't know but he's messing up our life.

Ya think?!

You should kiss him.

Say what?

See if he kisses you back.

Hell no!

Why not?!

One, I don't want him stealing my first kiss, two, he''ll hate me!

More than he already does?

Shut it. You're not seeing the point.

What point.

I can't just kiss a fricken prodigy!

Why not?

Because that stuff just doesn't imagine. And besides after I kissed him it would be so awkward, he'd call me pathetic-

Not like he already has.

Yeah so? Now he'll be speaking the truth.

Hn. Whatever.

Oh so now you're turning in to him?

No.

You just said hn.

Not talking to you.

I'm not gonna kiss him.

Still not talking to you.

Fine I'll do it.

How has your day been?

I was joking.

I knew it. Not talking to you.

Fine. Bye.


I yanked open the studio doors.

"Hello," Shizune called to me as I turned to her.

"Hi," I breathed. "Same room?"

The woman nodded.

"Thank you,"

Here we go again. Let's hope Neji is feeling a bit merciful today. I don't really need this shit anymore.

The door swung open and I faced Neji and Tsunade waiting.

"You're la-" Neji was interrupted by the blonde.

"No she's not," Tsunade grumbled.

Neji silence himself reluctantly knowing I was late. Even I did.

I knew Tsunade was just trying to avoid another fight. I'm pretty sure she figured out how much we bicker by the end of the first day with the Moonstones.

"Alright," Tsunade announced. "We're going to continue on."

I nodded briskly while Neji stared. God he's so cold. I can't believe Tsunade puts up with that Bastard.

"Tenten," Tsunade turned to me. "You're going to push forward onto you stomach, bring your feet together in a pike,and sit on your ankles. Then you're going to roll, facing the back now and slowly raise you arms above your head. After you slowly bring them down, you're gonna do two pika turns to the left."

"Got it," I said.

"Alright," Tsunade repeated. "Neji, Tenten, do it from what you've got and Neji you can just stop and I'll tell you what to do after,"

He nodded this time, glaring icily at me.

WHAT IS HIS PROBLEM?!

"Five six seven eight!"

I chassed, stepped with my left, and wents into a perfect leap, then spun to the left quickly, keeping my legs completely straight and in releve, then pushed off my right foot letting Neji grab me. I tried not to show emotion by biting my lip and keeping my eyes wide open. Neji, arms still on my waist, pushed me into my center splits, and "danced" off. Just as he did, I pushed forward, laying on my stomach and brought myself up so I was sitting on my ankles and rolled to the back, slowly getting up and rising my arms up then down. Then I went into two pika turns to the left.

"Good job," Tsunade praised.

I smiled nicely. "Thanks," then glared at Neji who didn't even budge.

"Neji," Tsunade said now. "You're going to do four jazz walks to the left, left pivot turn, chasse to the right, left ball change and do a left kick obviously. Then do four pika turns, circling around but moving towards Tenten."

"Right," he replied sharply but with his cold edge.

"Okay, get into your beginning spots. One two three four, FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT!"

I didn't know why Tsunade felt the need to use the beginning counts. I'm guessing she's having us hold at those counts.

I did the chasse, step, leap, turn and stepping off one foot jumping into Neji's arms. His touch made me want to cringe back but I stood still as he put me down into the splits and ran off. I pushed forward on my stomach, did the sit on the ankles, turned slowly sat up rising my arms up and down. Then I did two pika turns to the left, ending so my left shoulder was touching his. God I hate the feeling of him touching me!

"Great job," Tsunade commented. "But Tenten,"

I gulped. Whatever she was going to say, Neji was going to make fun of me for it.

"You show too much emotion,"

"I. Don't. Trust. Him." I growled. "Do you guys understand that?"

Okay. I should trust him after he saved my life yesterday, but he didn't do that for me. He did that for his own fricken self.

Tsunade rubbed her temples. "I know but you have to," she remarked.

"Well I don't," I replied.

Neji who knew exactly that we were talking about him didn't seem to care the least bit.

"He won't do anything," Tsunade retorted.

"How do I know?"

We both turned to the prodigy who didn't even glance at us.

*Cough Cough* "Neji,"

SHOOT! I FORGOT I HAVE TO BE NICE TO HIM!

"I mean, Neji would you please turn your attention to us?" I asked him sweetly.

Tsunade glared at me, which I ignored. "Neji," I said a little harsher. "Neji,"

"What?" He asked, glaring at me.

"We're talking to you,"

"I know," He answered.

"Tell her you won't do anything," Tsunade mumbled to him.

"I won't do anything," Neji repeated.

Yeah right. Who knows what you do if you're pissed. Because if supposedly he's not that mad right now, I wouldn't want to see him when he is truly mad.

"I doubt that," I replied, ignoring that I was supposed to be nice to him.

We were now close to each others faces, our eyes narrowed.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could see steam eventually come through our ears.

Tsunade's eye twitched.

"THAT"S IT!" She cried. "I'M TIRED OF YOU TWO FIGHTING ALL THE TIME! YOU ARE GOING TO GET USED TO EACH OTHER AND TENTEN YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN TO LOOK NATURAL WHEN NEJI TOUCHES YOU OR NEITHER OF YOU ARE GOING TO THE COMPETITION!"

My eyes widened and Neji shot me a nasty glare.

"How do suppose to do that?" I asked the woman. She smirked.

"Neji, Tenten, come here,"

We followed her.

"Neji," she placed her hands over hers and put them on my waist. I squirmed.

"Tenten stay still," Tsunade ordered. Neji kept his hands there and I wanted to run away fast, feeling exposed somehow.

"You guys are going to stay there until Tenten can keep a straight face or smile naturally." Tsunade grinned.

"Are you trying to kill me?" I demanded trying to move. Neji gripped tighter.

"Ow," I whimpered.

Tsunade grinned deviously. She strutted to the other side of the room. "I'll leave you two here. Call me when you're ready. And if you're not by then and I come in you have to hold it longer,"

My knees became wobbly. This was not for real. I felt like I was going to collapse.

Suddenly my legs gave out. I couldn't handle this.

Surprisingly, Neji held me up.

"Don't even think about it," he hissed, his minty breath brushing against my ear.

"U-Um," I stuttered. SAY SOMETHING! My mind screamed.

"Now put on a straight face," he whispered into my ear, his breath tickling it once more.

I shivered.

"Stop doing that," I pleaded.

But I kept a straight face now. I ignore the searing "pain" that was in my body at the moment telling me to move.

"Tsunade?" I finally called.

No answer.

"TSUNADE!"

No answer.

"DAMMIT WOMAN GET OVER HEAR!"

The door cracked open and I did something I never though I would do. I relaxed into Neji's hold and breathed.

I felt him wince. He noticed.

Breath in. Breath out. Relax.

"I see you're doing better, Tenten," Tsunade commented, staring at my relaxed state which was struggling to stay relaxed.

Tsunade sighed. "Alright, you may let her go,"

Neji's hands dropped immediately, almost making me fall over since he was practically holding my weight before this.

I panted heavily and grimaced. God that was hard.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Alright there?" She questioned.

I fake grinned. "Yep,"

"You're really bad at that," Tsunade frown.

"Yeah I know," I answered.

See it wasn't that bad.

Oh god what are you talking about?

Neji didn't squeeze you to death.

We just would have had to hold it longer.

But he's lightening up.

???

Okay maybe not but this is the start.

Yeah I'm sure.

Have confidence. Have hope.

Yeah. False hope.

It's still hope.

Hope that's not gonna happen.

Have. Hope.

Whatev-

HAVE HOPE!

...

Ahem. Sorry 'bout that.

Yeah that was different.

Anyways, you should believe that you're able to break through this.

...yeah I'm pretty sure I don't believe that I'm going to break through Neji's little barrier of ice.

Have fait-

"Tenten?" Tsunade asked.

"Oh yeah?"

"Start from the beginning,"

"Oh right," I answered, skipping to the other side of the room trying to act happy.

I took a deep breath. No emotion. Remember, smile.

"Five six seven eight!"

I chassed, grinning madly, stepped and on my leap, I widened the smile and kept it while I turned snapping my head and pushed off my right foot into Neji. The moment he touch my waist my smile faltered but did not end. I kept a certain twinkle in my eyes when he put me down into the center splits. I pushed forward and soon sat on my ankles, turning, rising slowly up, my arms following, then going down. I then did two pika turns to the left, ending very closely to Neji, making me uncomfortable again but I still grinned.

"Excellent Tenten," Tsunade commented. "Neji,"

Neji glanced up now and stared at her, daring her to comment.

"Do you show any emotion?" Tsunade demanded.

"At competitions," Neji remarked coolly.

"In practice?" Tsunade grumbled.

"There's no need," Neji explained calmly. "Would you like to give me one?"

"It's more enjoyable to watch," the woman replied.

"Hn,"

"Whatever," Tsunade shook it off. "Your session is over,"

YES!

"Alright," I said, smirking as I pushed past Neji.

He grimaced, watching me grab my bag.

"Tell me?" He asked. "How hard are you straining to keep that smile during the dance?"

"Pretty hard," I hissed. "So shut up,"

Neji shrugged. "You're still too jumpy,"

"You're still too gay," I tried not to laugh.

"What did you say?" Neji growled.

"Nothing!" I cried, running out the door, sprinting as fast as I could.

"Goodbye!" Shizune called.

"BYE!" I screamed halfway down the street.

You know he's not chasing you right?

Yep!

A/N So you like? Dislike? Tell me. I know I introduced inners now to make it more interesting. Plus I had to add more to the dance. Did you like what Tsunade did? She's a little devil on the inside isn't she? I'm deciding if I want a chapter where she drinks a little too much Sake just for the fun of it. I can imagine her chasing Neji and Tenten through out Konoha. LOL! So, please review:)