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

~A NejiTen Fanfic~

Tenten's POV:

Neji and I were cut off from the others. Tsunade decided it would be a better idea if Neji walked me home, which was the opposite direction of where anyone else was going. In my head I silently thanked her but I pretended to complain about it. Trying to make myself look tougher than what I really felt on the inside. Fear. Actually, terror. It was terrifying, tonight was. I had never felt fear so real. It was almost as if it were breathing inside of me, and building up until this last moment when Orochimaru, or Raipo or whoever the hell pissed me off enough, made it snap and burst . . . just like the process of a virus taking over a cell. Attach, invade by injection, copy and multiplies, and then releases, bursts out of the cell. That's what happened with the fear. That's why I wanted Neji with me.

We walked slowly but still keeping a pretty fast past. Neji was slightly ahead, due to the fact that I was in deep thought. If this were months ago I'm almost positive that he'd be walking twice as fast and would've left me here alone . . . but maybe not. Since technically a couple of months ago he did save me from the alley. But if it was him from that long ago in this time he would have no need for a dance partner because it was after nationals and would leave me behind. Thinking of all this just made my head hurt.

Neji turned, noticing my slowing down.

"Do you want to be left behind?" He inquired, his voice still icy. Haha. But I know he's just using ice to cover up.

"Of course not," I growled. "But not like I needed you here anyways," I crossed my arms stubbornly, averting my eyes from his intense stare.

"Perhaps I should just leave you then," Neji remarked, raising an eyebrow.

I squinted, finally looking at him. "I'm hurrying,"

Then I darted ahead from him five feet when something struck me.

My parents! They're probably as worried as hell! Dammit! And when I get home I'm gonna get a long ass lecture . . . and my wounds too. And bruises. And cuts. And messy hair. And smeared make-up. I could go on but you already know what happened. I was attacked, raped (failed attempt), shot at, bombed . . . pretty much hell so can you imagine what I looked like? Yeah. I'm pretty sure your picture wasn't as wonderful as the one that I'm staring at in the reflection of the glass of some old, out-of-business, store.

"What?" Neji questioned, stopping just after I did.

"Hey Neji," I rubbed the back of my neck embarrassingly. "Would it be alright if . . ." I trailed off unable to finish. God this is true embarrassment.

"What?" Neji demanded, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Well . . . if I stayed at your place?" It came out more like a plead than a request.

Neji narrowed his eyes. "Absolutely not,"

I already knew what he was thinking about. It wasn't me, heck it wouldn't be anyone else staying, it's the fact that his uncle would be pissed.

"Yeah but," I argued. "I don't wanna go back to my parents tonight. I don't want to be questioned just after what happened and have to explain it, and get a lecture and deal with them fussing over my injured body, and well to be honest I don't really feel that safe and I don't wanna go back and-"

"Make your point," Neji spat, obviously annoyed.

"My point?" I asked, more to myself. "What is my point . . . don't know! PLEASE!"

"Tenten," Neji reasoned, his eyes squeezed shut in frustration. "Hiashi will not be pleased with me, let alone you. It's better if you stay with your family,"

"I DON'T CARE!" I cried. "I just don't wanna be around my parents. I don't give a damn if your uncle lectures me!"

Neji raised his eyebrows, trying not to show his surprise at my sudden break out (no not acne).

"Hn,"

"NO! Er, go on," I laughed slightly. He hadn't Hn'd in so long and now he just broke his streak.

"Hn, well don't blame me for anything that happens," Neji grunted avoiding eye contact.

"Hai," I responded, still clueless about what I was going to do about sleeping and food.

Neji and I turned and started walking the other direction.


The Hyuuga Estate was coming up close after about twenty minutes of wandering around Konoha.

Neji crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes as he looked at his home in the distance. There was shouting . . . lots and lots of shouting. Mostly Hiashi but some other small timid voice . . . HINATA!

If that son of a bitch did anything to Hinata, I would've personally killed him . . . maybe with the help of another certain, cynical Hyuuga.

Neji sighed. "Sounds bad,"

We continued until we came to the door.

Neji rapped his knuckle across the door for almost a split second but then decided hell with it because it was his own home.

He pushed the door open, finding Hinata. She was actually standing up for herself. Being with Naruto during that dangerous situation must've sparked a sleeping flame inside of her body because she may sound quiet but inside she was raging. I could see it in her eyes.

"Well your injuries must've come from somewhere!" Hiashi cried.

He was mad about this??

"How many times must I tell you father?! They're not from Naruto!" Hinata replied sternly, her voice reaching just about regular talking.

"From WHERE THEN?" Hiashi boomed.

"Enough," I grumbled, interrupting them.

Neji grabbed my arm as a signal to stop.

Hiashi turned to me. "And you're the girl from before aren't you?" he interrogated.

"Yes," I answered, straight forward.

"And you, also, have injuries," Hiashi observed, seeking the connection between me and Hinata.

He glanced at Neji acknowledging him. "You, too, have wounds,"

Hiashi straightened his back and narrowed his eyes while he looked down at the three of us.

From looking at this situation, it was quite obvious neither Hinata nor Neji wanted Hiashi to know about running into the Konoha Gang. So I decided to take the hit. Here comes my good acting skills.

"It's my fault, sir," I spoke up.

Hiashi's glare turned towards me. "Oh? Care to elaborate,"

Neji gave one of his signature glares, which I ignored quite successfully and instead, stared into the eyes of the other Hyuuga. They were just like Neji's . . . and Hinata's lavender, pale, and truthful. Full of integrity. I knew on the inside Hiashi wasn't like this. But some fear must've invade his body too, injected, multiplied, then burst. It happened so many times though, he has these bursts more often so I understood . . . just by looking in his eyes.

"Hiashi-san, do you know the cliff on the outskirts of town?" I asked.

"Of course," the Hyuuga replied smoothly.

"I was quite angry at something during the mid-awards at our National Competition. So I stormed off. Personal reasons. Embarrassing. But I Hinata was worried about me and came after me, along with Neji who took responsibility for his cousin and came after both of us. I ended up falling and brought Hinata and Neji down with me. It took us hours to climb back up." I explained, using arm motions and trying to make my face turn red at certain parts, rubbing the back of my neck. Heh. I'm too good of an actor.

Hiashi sniffed. "Well I'm not allowing either of you around Hinata for a while. You've already exposed her to enough."

I was about to counter-attack his statement but from the look Neji gave me, I supposed it probably wasn't the best idea.

"Hinata," Hiashi ordered. "Go to your room and I'll have a maid attend to you."

"Hai. Odo-san," Hinata mumbled, murmuring a silent thanks to me as she passed both of us.

"Do what you wish," was all Hiashi said before he left Neji and I.

Without even asking permission, I started to head towards Neji's room. I mean, I've already been there once and it's not like I'm gonna end up anywhere else.

"What are you doing?" he inquired.

"Going to your room," I remarked, tracing the wall with my fingertips as I walked down to the last door on the left . . . strange I remembered.

"Hn, you didn't even ask," Neji retorted icily.

I shrugged, arriving and twisted the door handle. "It's not like I was gonna go anywhere else."

Neji didn't respond verbally but he sighed.

I plopped myself on his bed and immediately started gathering the majority of his pillows. Hehe. I was going to make a kingdom on the floor.

"What are you doing?" Neji repeated for the second time, watching me now take a couple of his blankets, making a bed on the floor with surrounding walls.

"Making a bed," I replied.

""Who said you were sleeping in here?" Neji asked, glaring at me.

"Got any other place in mind?" I questioned.

Neji sighed in defeat. "No. At least let me keep one more pillow."

"No," I argued. "That'll give you two,"

Neji's eyebrow twitched. "You have four,"

I rolled my eyes to the top of my head counting. "Oh yeah four . . . hey why do you have so many pillows anyways? I mean I didn't think ice cubes like you liked sleeping with a bunch of soft things.

"Ice cube," Neji mimicked.

"Yup," I grinned. "Isn't it weird though?" I asked. "A couple months ago, I'd be dying just at the thought of staying in the same room,"

Neji raised an eyebrow. "I don't think it's changed much."

I sighed also. "Good point. Thinking about you sleeping is creeping . . ."

Neji rolled his eyes. "God. You're so immature."

I stuck out my tongue just to confirm his observation. But, I was returned with a pain in my body. It was slowly becoming sore. It was now two in the morning and getting the shit beaten out of me was slowly starting to take it's toll on my body.

"Oi, Neji!" I called.

Neji turned to my icily. "What?"

Heh. What a loser. I'm already immune to that stare by now.

"Got a first aid?" I waved my hands back and forth.

Neji's expression hardly softened but his eyes did. "Yes," He replied.

"Good," I smirked, wiping my dry, bloody hands on my legs, which were wearing torn tights.

Neji motioned towards an isolated chair on the other side of the room.

I sat, understanding, while he pulled open a drawer, the bottom one on his dresser to be precise, and lifted a board, deceiving me because he pulled out the box from there.

"Why do you keep it hidden?" I pried, twisting my now-greasy hair.

Neji shrugged coldly (heh colder shoulder get it?) "Why do you talk so much,"

"Hm," I grumbled, turning the opposite direction, while he moved closer.

"And immature," He added.

I ignored that to.

Neji took out a knife. "Give me your foot," he ordered.

"What?!" I demanded, bringing my foot into my hands protectively.

The corners of Neji's lips twitched, as if trying to hide a smile.

"What do you think I'm going to cut you?" he inquired, slightly amused.

I sniffed, putting my foot back down. "No," I finally answered.

Neji expertly took the knife and made a thing cut around my ankle, on the tights, but not reaching my skin. He ripped the seam until finally my tights on my left leg opened up all the way, giving Neji a good view of my horribly bruises legs.

I averted my eyes at the sight. All black and blue. With the addition of some lovely cuts.

Neji's eyes strained, even if he tried to not show it.

Heheh, is that some concern I sense, Icicle?

Neji took numerous portable ice packs and taped them onto my worst bruises. He put Neosporin on most of my cuts, and placed band aids over the really bad ones.

"Lift up you shirt," he instructed.

After watching my look of uncomfortableness he added, "I'm not going to do anything,"

Carefully I rolled my shirt up, giving Neji a clean view. Thanks god that I had my chest wrapped in a thin layer of bandages (since we're not allowed to wear bras for the strap shows).

Neji's eyes furrowed as he pressed his fingers against my rib cage.

I gasped, holding in a breath, trying and failing to ignore the excruciating pain.

"Hang on," Neji ordered, taking out an ice pack and pressing once more. There was a silent pause. "Don't worry," Hyuuga finally said. "It's not broken, just bruised," he comfirmed. Neji then pressed an icepack against my ribs and taped it on with Medical Tape (Duh).

"Actually," Neji said, noticing my awkward position of holding my shirt up. "Just take it off,"

I gripped the sequence and rolled it over my head, dropping it on the floor. "Ow," I moaned, with a slight chuckle at the pain soaring through my arms.

"Lower them," Neji now said.

I lowered my arms and allowed him to put ice packs on them.

His attention though, was mainly averted towards a gash in my left arm. Blood still was slightly oozing out, not severe bleeding.

Neji took a bandage and wrapped slowly and firmly around the top of my arm where the cut was located.

He examined me when he was finished, not noticing anything more major and slumped against the wall.

"Thanks," I replied quietly, trying to get up.

Neji's eyes were closed but since he was just Ninja (1) he knew what I was attempting.

"Stay sitting," He advised. "If you get up and move around the swelling will go up instead of down."

I waved my hands back and forth as I sat down. "Hai, hai, Mr. Doctor." . . . "Now what?"

"We wait,"


It was about forty five minutes when Neji removed all of the ice packs. "Looks better," he observed.

I nodded looking down. The swelling had definitely gone down.

Before I could thank the Hyuuga again, my stomach growled . . . loudly.

"Neji?" I inquired.

"What?"

"I'm really hungry," I complained, rubbing my bare stomach.

Neji sighed. "I figured,"

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Aren't you?"

Neji shrugged. "I could live,"

He could live. Honestly this kid must be a gigantic wall that keeps taking hits and never gets knocked down. Stoic bastard haha.

"So what do you have to eat?" I asked him, about to open the door.

Neji chuckled, very faintly. HA! But I could hear it!

Then I remembered he was laughing and retaliated. "What?" I demanded. "What's funny?"

"You're going to go out like that?" Neji questioned, one eyebrow raised and pointing to my attire.

I sweat dropped. "No . . . got anything I could borrow?" I didn't wait for his answer though. "Too late!"

Neji didn't have time to react; I was already searching his drawers.

It took a while but finally, at the way bottom, I discovered a dark gray T-shirt (3 X my size) and awesome baggy, black sweat pants.

"These?" I suggested, raising them to my dance partner.

Neji tried to hide his obvious annoyance. "I don't really care,"

"Hehe," I giggled. "Now leave,"

Neji got up, not thinking twice and closed the door.

I slipped off my poofy skirt, and the other skirt layers, and then slid down my "holed" tights until I was in underwear and bandages.

Now, I crawled into Neji's large cloths. They smelled different . . . good . . . like Neji- WHAT DID I JUST SAY?!

. . .

That's odd. Normally my inner comes attacking me about now. Weird.

I burst through the door dramatically and found a dark empty hallway.

"Neji?" I called softly. "Neji?" I was now singing it.

"What?"

"HOLY SHIT!"

Neji bonked me on the head.

"Ow,"

"Don't scream," he ordered.

I rubbed the back of my head. "Hpmh. Time to raid the cupboards,"

Neji didn't even bother to try and stop me. It was too late now. I was searching for food and I was hungry . . . no way he was getting in my way now.

Finally, I found something worthwhile . . . RAMEN!

"Oh BABY!" I cried in triumph, dancing around with the Ramen.

Neji hit me in the head once more.

"OW!" I complained. "You're gonna give me fricken brain damage."

"No screaming," He repeated.

"I hear, I hear," I complied, still roaming around the kitchen, on a hunt for ingredients of my desire.

"Neji," I concluded evilly. "I'm going to make some Ramen . . . for me and you,"

"No"

"Yes"

"No,"

"Yes,"

"No,"

"What do you have against it?" I interrogated. Raising my hand into a fist, but bringing it back when it hurt like crap because my cut on that arm.

"I don't like it," Neji stated.

"Why not?" I asked annoyingly.

"Because I don't," Neji remarked, coldly.

I put my hands at my hip, in disbelief of the icicle. "Just try it," I grumbled. "If you don't like it, I'm probably going to end up eating yours anyways."

"Whatever," Neji replied, avoiding eye contact.

"Heh," I smirked. "We at an understanding,"

"Hn,"

I sweat dropped. Not this again


I grinned madly at the pile of . . . ramen with some extra ingredients I made for Neji and I.

Ripping the drawers open, I finally found some disposable chopsticks. I tossed a set to Neji and shoved his bowl across the counter to him; it slid into his arm.

With the same stupid grin, I ripped my chopsticks apart. "ITADAKIMASU!" Shit.

Neji threw his chop sticks at my head.

"Ow," I moaned once more, dropping my chopsticks.

"What did I say?" Neji hissed.

"Inside voice," I sang lowly, tossing his chopsticks back to him and picking mine back up.

"Din din," I smiled now and dug in.

Compared to Neji, I ate lightning fast. Neji was about a fourth the way through by the time I was done.

He looked at me with a glare of disgust, but not at my speedy eating, but at the food.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh you baby give it to me,"

Neji didn't have to push his bowl. I plopped next to him and raised me chopsticks and looked at him.

"Watch and learn," I said. "This is how it's done,"

My chopsticks went up and down, very fast, as I devoured my partners food.

"Owarimashita!" I set the bowl back down after slurping up the last remains.

Neji raised an eyebrow. "You're annoying," he finally concluded, getting off the stool and walking away.

"Oi!" I called. "Where are you going?"

"To bed," he answered, ahead of me now.

I jogged to catch up. "Okay okay."

When I was back in his room I plopped onto my comfy bed on the floor, and pulled the covers up to my chin.

If this were a couple months ago I'd be hiding in the closet but tonight, Neji save me from a rapist so . . . that's a check mark in my book.

I yawned in the baggy clothes. "Good night," I sang, shutting my eyes.

"Hn," Neji responded coldly, stepping over me and shutting off the lights.

Ahh. Nice peaceful sleep at three thirty in the morning after getting the shit beaten out of me . . . damn do I need it.

MWAHAHAHA!

Oh god . . .

Yes. I am back.

Where were you?

Trying to get inside Neji's inner.

And?

Failed miserably.

So why are you here?"

Oh yeah. Thanks for reminding me. You're sleeping . . . in the same room, with Neji . . . at night.

And? I did before.

Hehe yes but now you're alone:P

Shut up . . .

Come'n didn't you miss me nagging on you? Just here my plan.

I'll here but definitely won't comply.

'Kay, so since you almost got raped tonight-

Don't remind me.

Anyways- you almost got raped, you're still kind of in emotional panic, you could start crying and having an emotional break down and who is here to comfort you??

Shut up you're sick.

Hmph. Suit yourself.

I went to sleep now in peace . . . and completely oblivious of the hell I would go through the next day.

A/N Whoop whoop! Another chapter. Sorry guys I would've updated Thursday but I had Softaball practice that night and they're playing me up this year so I'm on the A team again but with older girls and our practice went way longer than expected (it better not conflict with dance). So yeah and over the weekend no time to update. But now it's here with a chapter 3,906 words without Authors note. Lol. I'm pretty proud.

(1) Ninja -haha- My favorite saying. At a hotel during one of our competions this weekend (reason I couldn't update) we we're playing elevator tag, my dance team and I along with Zack. And I was doing leaps across the hallway, screaming, "Agh! Look how Ninja I am!" yeah so I kept saying how Ninja we were as we played tag (we ended up getting yelled at too because it was twelve AM) Haha. Zack and I were partnered for elevator tag and we kicked ass! Kinda . . . it's a long story. Too bad I don't like him I could apply some Neji Ten to our situation but he's just a good buddy. Hehe.

Poll results: SHIKAINO! Congrats all ShikaIno lovers. Sorry ShikaTema fans . . . really sorry. It was close like 5 6 I think.

Okay, so ShikaIno is the favored side pairing.

Bye-bye!