Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Naruto.

Destined to Love
By: Chigiri Sasaki

Summary: He was a prodigy, with a damaged past and no future. She was a commoner, with a hidden secret. Strung together by fate, it was only a matter of time before she changed his life forever. AU, NejiTen

Chapter Fourteen

"I'm sorry," he blurted.

This took Tenten by surprise.

Everything seemed to happen in a blur; much too quickly for her mind to comprehend. The last thing she remembered was working at the flower shop just five minutes ago, serving customers and planning to work until seven thirty. Ever since she stayed with the Yamanakas, it seemed as though she had a whole different life. She would wake up, eat breakfast, work, go to the hospital to meet up with Sakura and Ino, and then eat dinner afterwards. It had happened like this for quite some time now. It seemed surreal that she would get a dose of her life with the Hyuugas—not that she stayed in either places for long, but it was still considerably unbelievable.

She couldn't get around the fact that Hyuuga Neji had just apologised to her. She knew she wasn't appreciated and she honestly couldn't blame him for thinking that she was a nuisance, as she kept bothering him for her job. But she decided long ago that she wouldn't treat her befriending Neji as a task if she were ever to see him again—she honestly wanted to be friends with him. She wanted to figure this mysterious boy out.

But now he was here. Over a dozen unanswered questions roamed in her mind. Why was he apologising? Did he figure out the truth behind the entire incident? Did he come here on his free will, or was he sent by someone?

After recollecting so many thoughts, and thinking how ridiculous and unlikely it was of Neji to find her, Tenten wondered if she really did hear Hyuuga Neji apologise. Maybe she just hallucinated it all. After all, Ino and Sakura did say that she tended to tune out a lot.

The brunette blinked a couple of times, finally breaking out of her trance. "I'm sorry, but what did you just say?"

"I just apologised," Neji replied calmly, but she could spot the beginning of impatience in his eyes. Normally, she would be more than thrilled to tease Neji in such a composed state, but things were different now. After all this time, the period of her life with the Hyuugas seemed like a distant memory—almost unreal, now that she thought about the luxury she bathed herself in.

"I learned that I've falsely accused you," Neji explained when she didn't reply. And then, in a low voice, he muttered something so low and so quick the brunette couldn't quite catch.

She finally found her voice. "So you came here to apologise because…?"

"I'm mean, not illogical."

Tenten let out a breathless laugh. "So," she said awkwardly, after a silence, switching her weight from foot to foot. "Does that mean I get my job back?"

He aligned his gaze with hers, and she could see the coldness again. "Didn't my uncle offer?"

The brunette exhaled a breath as she stared at him in disbelief. "Yes, but can I hear it from you?"

"Why would you care if I offered on not?"

"Neji, can you actually think of me wanting to be friends with you, instead of something that your clan sent?" Her tone lost its edge and she sighed softly. "I honestly don't know what happened to you and what led you to be this cold, but you have to—please, just think differently for once. If I really wanted the money, then I would've accepted Hiashi-sama and Hinata's offers a long time ago. But I didn't, because all I want to hear is that you want me to be there."

It seemed like forever, waiting for his response. Tenten had no idea what was going through his mind—his eyes filled with simple, utter confusion for a moment before they quickly returned back to their composed state. All he seemed to be able to do was to stare at her, like he was doing now, only half of an arm's length of distance between them.

"Why," he finally asked, "would my opinion affect your decision? What difference would it make?"

Her tone made it seem as if the answer was obvious. "Because I want to be your friend?"

Neji simply continued to gaze intently at her, as if he was unsatisfied with her response. Tenten's eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement. That was the correct answer, wasn't it?

She squirmed slightly under his rather frightening stare. She tore her gaze away from his and forced her eyes to focus on something else—anything but him. She didn't know why the situation felt a little more awkward than the ones that she had with all the other guy friends she had met. Surely Neji wasn't anything special…

Tenten forced her mind off the subject. It was a ridiculous thing to think—obviously, it would be slightly awkward reuniting with somebody she hadn't seen in a while. She convinced herself successfully, and finally looking around the empty shop, she noticed that there was something strange at last.

Why weren't there any customers? On average, there was only a gap of a minute between each customer.

Tenten looked out the glass door and windows and gasped. There were customers, but they were waiting outside; a certain blonde blocked the door, spreading her arms, herding the people out of the store. Tenten couldn't see her expression, but the people she was holding back appeared to be more and more annoyed.

"Ino!" Tenten exclaimed as she opened the door. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, I just told them to wait while you and Neji talk." She ushered the older girl towards the Hyuuga prodigy, who had an eyebrow raised at the commotion. "Go on, you go get your job back and kick some butt. Oh, and tell Neji that he needs to see Tsunade-sama in a week to make sure that everything's okay. And he needs to rest until then, so no training—" She suddenly turned to the people who tapped her shoulder. "I said wait! I already promised you a discount, didn't I?"

Tenten refrained from laughing when the crowd suddenly quieted; only Ino would be able to manipulate people like that.

"So as I was saying, Neji can't train, even though he's pretty much healed. And oh, if you do get your job back, don't worry about the flower shop. I'm sure my mummy will take care of it."

Ino knew about Tenten's life crisis and she cared deeply for her friend; it wasn't pity that made her offer lodgement to the brunette. Tenten felt a surge of gratitude for her. "Oh, thank you so much, Ino! You're such a great friend. I don't know how to repay you!"

"It's fine, Tenten. You're helping us so much too!" Ino's cerulean eyes suddenly watered and she threw her arms around the brunette. "Oh, I'm going to miss you so much Tenten!"

Tenten hugged her friend tightly. "I'll miss you too! But it's not like I'm going to move away—you're such a drama queen, Ino."

The blonde giggled and pulled back. "Yeah, but just don't forget me when you become one of them Hyuugas."

"Eh?"

Tenten didn't even have time to receive her answer, as Ino swerved around swiftly and began jogging back towards the hospital. "You can keep the outfit!" she called loudly over her shoulder, and then she broke out into a full sprint.

Tenten watched the blonde disappear with a smile. The brunette had grown to be very fond of the bubbly blonde. Although she tended to be a bit too much sometimes, she was a true friend. In fact, she was Tenten's second friend, the first real one being Hinata. But without Ino, Tenten wouldn't have known what to do; she would have had nothing to eat and nowhere to stay. And on top of it all, she wouldn't have met all these other great people, such as Sakura, or any of the people from the village.

The sixteen year old brunette turned to look at the shop, which was now full of customers. She couldn't see Neji. She felt a pang of disappointment—did he already leave? Taking a deep breath and ignoring the throb in her legs, she went in, ready to work for the last twenty minutes in the flower shop.

A young couple instantly went up to her when she entered. The black-haired woman pointed at a sale sign. "Your friend there, the owner's daughter, she gave me a discount. Does it apply to the sales as well?"

"I guess it does."

"Then we'll have three dozen of those gorgeous lilies," the woman said, smiling.

Tenten nodded. "Sure, but wait. I'll be back in a second." She didn't want to deal with them just yet; she was wondering if Neji stayed. She knew he hated any kind of loud commotion—chances were that he was outside, somewhere far away. She didn't even know if he let her have her job back; he was probably gone now, she thought. However, it was expected. Did she actually expect him to be all friendly with her just because he apologised?

The brunette instantly accepted that then, as she had done with every other sad aspect of her life. She never had her hopes up high.

So then why did her heart suddenly skip a few beats when she saw him sitting by the counter?

He was really there, sitting on the stool that Tenten often used when she was changing the signs that were too high for her reach. He was still, even when some girls who Tenten guessed to be fans tried talking to him. Tenten walked towards him cautiously, almost afraid that if she approached him too fast she would scare him away.

"N-neji," she said, breathless. "What are you doing?"

His eyes were closed and his lips were set in a straight line, but when he replied, his voice held more warmth than she had ever remembered.

"Waiting for you."

The walk back to the Hyuuga mansion was silent. There wasn't an uncomfortable tension lingering, though: Neji preferred the silence and Tenten was too occupied with her joyous thoughts. She couldn't help smiling; the thought of finally getting back onto her life and maybe actually having enough money made her more than ecstatic. Best of all, she finally proved herself to be somebody that truly didn't mean any harm. Maybe she would finally get approval from the Hyuuga clan.

The incredulity of the last thought made her grin widen, and a laugh escape her throat. She barely noticed that Neji was watching her the entire time.

"Why are you smiling so much?" he asked suddenly.

"Oh, I don't know. Just happy that I'm finally back. Kind of nostalgic, don't you think?"

That was the end of the conversation; each lapsed back into whatever they were doing. By the time the Hyuuga manor was in view, the sky was almost dark, the little beam of light peeking in between the houses on the west. Nostalgia washed over the sixteen year old brunette nearing the large mansion, and she suddenly felt as if she was entering for the first time. There was still the excitement from the day of her arrival.

She walked past the gates and everything was just as beautiful and rich looking as before; the gardens were decorated beautifully, despite the fact that the flowers were starting to wilt due to changing of seasons. The leaves of the trees were now auburn and orangey, and the stone pathway that led to the backyard was as immaculate as ever. Tenten knew her memories didn't do the place justice.

She followed Neji up the steps, where two Hyuuga guards greeted them and politely opened the door. Tenten stepped into the large place and gasped.

She didn't recognise the long hallway. Instead of meeting a large empty place that would echo her footsteps when she walked, there were at least thirty people standing there, Hiashi standing in front. All of them, excluding the Hyuuga leader and the one or two mothers, were young, most of them being children who were around Hanabi's age. They were all talking among themselves. And then, as if they all realised that Neji and Tenten entered, they all fell quiet and turned to look at the two.

"Welcome back Tenten," Hiashi said and then, as if on cue, the young children and everybody who were gathered there began to clap. There were no cheers or hollering of any kind—just simple applause with polite smiles on everybody's faces.

For a moment, Tenten didn't know what to say. And from Neji's frozen expression, she could tell that he was just as speechless.

"I…" she finally started. She smiled genuinely. "Thank you, Hiashi-sama, everybody. This means so much to me." Then her voice turned thoughtful and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Wait, Hiashi-sama, how did you know I would be here? Did you tell Neji to bring me back?"

Hiashi shook his head and a gracious smile appeared on his lips. "No, I didn't. I talked to him, though." He eyed his nephew for a moment, who seemed a bit puzzled himself. "I knew Neji would do the right thing and ask you to return."

"Yes, I'm sure Neji would have," she said, hiding her sarcasm carefully, "but you really didn't have to do all this… all these people you gathered are here to welcome me?" She sounded touched, and her voice became slightly thick. "I… I don't know what to say."

As the conversation wasn't enough to capture attention, the Hyuuga children started talking among themselves again. A few babies began wailing at the sudden buzz, and then their cries were followed by their mothers' coos and chants in attempts to make them stop crying. Some little children were already sparring as if they were in a match, and there was even another little kid who was playing as the referee. Some girls were showing off their gracefulness in their techniques, while the toddlers began drawing at the table. There were teenagers as well, but they all stood there motionlessly, probably having no idea of what to do.

Tenten couldn't help but gawk at the scene; she met a few Hyuugas who were younger than her before, and they were much more serious. So the children's behaviour today didn't match the ostentatious image of the Hyuuga clan. They were more playful and carefree—maybe, the brunette thought, the childish tendencies from the other normal kids at the academy finally rubbed off. Or maybe it was because there were no parents to herd them today.

Tenten suddenly wondered. Was Neji like this as a kid? And if he was, what happened?

"You don't have to thank me," Hiashi was saying. "I simply wanted to make you feel as welcome as possible. I'm trying to make up for the last time you were here. The last time… our family didn't leave you with a good impression, did they?"

Neji made a sound that was torn between a snort and a scoff. Hiashi couldn't hear over the buzz of children's voices, but Tenten caught it and she bit her lip in order to suppress her giggles.

"Well," Hiashi continued, "I think somebody wants to say anything." Hiashi stepped aside and behind him was a young girl. Tenten instantly recognised her as Hinata's younger sister Hanabi. The young girl looked at her father unwillingly, but with a gentle push from him she stumbled forward.

"Hi," Hanabi said, almost grudgingly. "Tenten-nee-chan, I'm sorry for what I've done. I regret calling you someone who would take our money and"—she peered down at her hand, where black words were written all over—"tripping you into a plate of food. I'll never do it again. I hope you'll forgive me." She turned to her father's direction, who gave her a little approving nod. Tenten suppressed a laugh.

"Sure, Hanabi."

Hanabi managed a small smile and she and her father left, disappearing into the tiny crowd of children. A bunch of other younger kids came up to her as well, apologising for thinking that she wasn't a good person. Tenten hid her irritation and smiled. What did their parents say about her behind her back? Speaking of which, she thought, looking up, none of the elders and few parents were here. They probably disapproved of her returning, but let their kids have their fun.

"Mummy doesn't like you very much," a little girl who was called Hana said. "But I like you very much!"

Tenten smiled as she bent down to talk to the little girl. "I like you too! Let's just hope that your mummy will change her mind."

Hana nodded avidly and left. Tenten stood up again, overwhelmed by the attention she was receiving. It didn't make much sense; these were the children of the people who ignored her during her stay. How could these children have such big hearts when their parents were so cold, hardworking, and calculating?

"Hello."

The voice, soft and velvety, yet masculine and full of authority, belonged to a Hyuuga that was no more than a few years older than Tenten. The brunette turned and saw a ridiculously handsome boy. He had the impeccably beautiful Hyuuga eyes, lined with a set of dark eyelashes. His skin was pale yet smooth and unscarred. He had a strong, square jaw line, a perfectly angular nose, and just about the most perfect lips.

"Hello there," the devastatingly beautiful boy said, his voice light and amused. "Sorry, I haven't properly introduced myself before. My name is Hiro. Hyuuga Hiro." He shook her hand formaly, taking her small hand into his warm one. "Tenten, right?"

The brunette could only nod.

"It's a shame we didn't meet each other earlier," he continued in his soft, soothing voice. "I live on the other end of the mansion and I sit in a different room at dinner. I'm mostly away at missions, anyways." He chuckled. "Although I was there the first day you arrived. Quite entertaining, actually."

Tenten's eyebrows furrowed, trying to recall what she did the first night she arrived. Immediately, the memories of her dressing up in the wrong way and Hanabi tripping her flooded her mind and her cheeks coloured. "That was embarrassing," she muttered. "And I nearly forgot about it."

"Don't worry, I thought you were beautiful."

Tenten felt her heart flutter looking into his light, teasing eyes. "You're quite the flatterer," she said, laughing. "What are you, a ladies' man?"

The ends of his lips quirked into a smirk. "If you think I am, then I must be good."

Tenten couldn't help but giggle again, feeling warmth flooding her cheeks. She was grateful that Hiro was tall enough that he couldn't see her blushing when she looked down. Suddenly, her view was blocked when somebody stepped in front of her. She found the tall frame and the white clothing surprisingly familiar—it was almost like déjà vu all over again.

She looked up to see Neji's frightening eyes.

But they weren't looking at her; rather, they were looking up ahead, and Tenten suddenly realised that he was glaring at Hiro.

"Hiro-san," Neji acknowledged, his voice calm and polite. It didn't quite match his eyes.

"Ah, Neji! I was just speaking to your lovely tutor. How come you've never told me about her?"

Neji's voice hardened, just for the slightest bit. "I'm not allowed in your territory."

"Ah, yes, but yet you sleep in the same territory as the rest of the head family."

"That's because Hiashi-sama put me there. The rest of the elders don't approve."

Tenten didn't realise that they were still talking above her head, leaning in slightly as if protective of her. Her eyebrows were furrowed in confusion, wondering what Neji had just said. What did he mean, by he wasn't allowed in the head family? And why did Neji always refer to people with a termination?

She looked up and saw both of them, continuing to talk in hushed, slightly angry whispers. She realised how much they resembled each other; if she didn't know any better, she would think that they were identical twins. The only difference between them were their clothes and their height differences; Neji was tall, but he didn't seem to have reached his full potential. Hiro towered over the young sixteen year old by half a head.

She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around to see the shy Hyuuga heiress, whose attention was now focused on Hiro and Neji. "U-um… W-well, it's g-getting late now, we should all g-go and eat now. I'm s-sure all the kids are hungry n-now."

Neji was the first to look away, and with a slight scowl, followed Tenten and Hinata to the dining room.


Tenten sighed contentedly, staring at her reflection.

It was late at night, and the brunette was now sitting on the desk in her room. She had already showered and changed into her night gown, her hairstyle being the only thing she didn't undo yet; she was too busy admiring a gift on her. It was thin, silver chain suspending a tiny yet beautiful emerald pendant. Hiro had given it to her during dinner. She loved it. It was simple, thoughtful, and something that she would be able to wear all the time. Thinking about his smile, Tenten couldn't help but feel the warmth spread through her face.

She gingerly fingered the rest of her 'welcome back' gifts. They were all small, nothing like the gift Hiro had bought. Most of the children made homemade cards—most of the words were barely readable in messy scrawls, but Tenten loved them all the same. There were some bracelets made out of string, hair ties, and even a few drawings. Hinata had gotten her an expensive looking and beautiful kimono; at first, Tenten refused it, but Hinata insisted that it was nothing, since she didn't know how to spend her money. So Tenten smiled and hugged her friend tightly.

Although enjoyable, the brunette was glad that the night was over. She was exhausted. Hiashi had actually organised an extra room for her to eat in, with all the food of her choice. All the Hyuugas that were around her age or younger were with her, more talkative and animated than usual. The elders were not there with them, and were probably just as disapproving as the parents of the adolescent group. Tenten asked Hiashi about this, and he simply replied that they didn't have anything against her—they just didn't trust a person outside the clan.

That bothered her slightly, but other than that, Tenten was at ease. She learned a bit about everybody and learned that the only reason why they didn't come and talk to her was because their parents disapproved of it. And when they found out the real reason for Tenten's departure, they wanted to go and apologise to her on the clan's behalf, but as expected, the elders held them back. But they said they regretted not hanging out with her earlier because she was a great person and nobody should have judged her. Then Hiro told her he agreed completely, and that Neji was lucky that she was his peer tutor.

The brunette laughed at that, feeling warmer than she ever remembered. But the thing that made her smile the most was the look on Neji's face—for he, too, was there. He sat in the corner, as far away from the commotion as possible. But although he frowned, and his eyebrows were always furrowed in irritation, she could tell that he wasn't being completely unreasonable. She was lucky he was there in the first place; for all she knew, he could have been in his room, studying or even outside taking a walk.

Tenten smiled a little. Maybe her leaving the Hyuugas for a little while was actually a blessing in disguise. She didn't think it was such a bad thing if she suffered a little before, as long as Neji finally felt some kind of human emotion. He seemed a bit overwhelmed by guilt—or, perhaps even shock—that he made a mistake, considering that he was an elite ninja. But either way, he was still being slightly more considerate around her and seemed to be treating her as somewhat of an equal.

And while this happened, she was able to get closer to Ino and Sakura—and even young Amaya. Tenten met a lot of wonderful people as well and was surprised at how warmly they welcomed her and how they accepted her so easily. She was almost starting to enjoy Konoha and all of its people. She almost believed that she wasn't alone anymore.

But there was still just one question that bothered Tenten about the entire 'Mikya' incident. She knew that Mikya was actually dead and Neji's old team-mate replaced her, but what were her intentions? The last time she asked Hiashi, he didn't answer, and Hinata didn't seem so open about the topic either.

Maybe she would be able to get the answer out of Neji. After all, it was her job to learn more about him. And today, he was a lot nicer than she had ever seen him. He apologised, gave her job back, and even waited for her so he could bring her back to the clan. Maybe he finally learned to be more considerate.

She touched her gifts thoughtfully.

Or, maybe, like the little gathering Hiashi organised for her today, Hiashi ordered Neji to be nice to her. Surely Neji would be obliged to follow the leader's orders. But giving her job back was an entirely different matter. Why would he sacrifice his privacy and solitude like that?

Tenten pursed her lips, her eyes thoughtful. She had a sudden urge to talk to Neji now, to find out what he was thinking. To her, Neji was a bit like an enigma, something that nobody could figure out. Everything about him was contradictory. He was frightening, yet there was this odd, elegant beauty to his eyes. He wanted to be understood, yet he was reserved. He cared for his health, but he trained vigorously. And he clearly didn't make his distaste for her a secret, yet he accepted her back into his life.

The brunette got up and went into the hallway, heading towards Neji's room. It was right across from hers, and with a small smile, she remembered her reaction when she first found out about this little fact. She shook her head, remembering her goal, and placed her slender fingers onto the handle of his door. But another sudden thought made her stop in her tracks.

Would he allow her into his room?

Tenten remembered the last time she was here—deliberately skipping over the parts where Mikya pushed her and where Neji insulted her—and recalled the way the Hyuuga prodigy acted when she entered his room. He didn't do anything then, even though Hinata said that nobody intruded upon his privacy.

Tenten shook her head. It didn't matter. She brushed away the feelings of anxiety and replaced them with courage and determination. She was back on her job now; she had to continue from where she had left off. So she took a deep breath and quietly went into his room, closing the door behind her.

Neji was already tucked in his clean, white bed sheets, his hands placed across his stomach. He was looking up at the ceiling—he didn't even glance at her, as though he already knew that it would be her the moment his door slid open. He was breathing evenly. He was trying to not be rude and order her to leave, but he wanted to sleep; he hadn't felt so well during the past week, lying in the hospital and eating their bland and tasteless food. Although he had been unconscious most of the time, he wasn't actually peacefully sleeping. It was rather uncomfortable, now that he thought about it. It was more like somebody was pushing him deep in the cold, dark waters, trying to drown him.

Heavy silence filled the air. Neji eventually shut his eyes; maybe she would get the message and leave.

But Tenten stayed and went to the foot of his bed, standing somewhat shyly. "This won't be long, I promise," she said quickly. "I just need to get this off my back. It doesn't seem right if I don't thank you."

He sighed quietly and opened his eyes. "For what?"

"Well… I want to thank you for coming to apologise to me. And for giving my job back." She looked at the Hyuuga prodigy, expectant, but he didn't say anything. She scratched the back of her neck awkwardly, feeling her face beginning to flame with embarrassment.

"Are you going to say anything?" she said at last.

A sigh was heard from him again, and Neji finally sat up to look at her. Just one look at him told her that he really needed to rest—it wasn't just the healing process that drained the energy from him. It seemed as if all the sleepless nights he had before in order to train was finally taking its toll on his sixteen year old body. Or, Tenten thought, he was simply exhausted from putting a lot of effort in being civilised enough to say sorry to her. She almost smiled at that thought, but decided against it when his tired eyes looked directly at her. She could almost see the pain and agony in them.

"I apologised because it was the right thing to do," he said, and Tenten was taken back from his weary tone. "I admit that I made a mistake."

"So that's why you gave me my job back?"

"I didn't offer your job back," he corrected coldly, his voice now curt and impassive. "You were the one who asked for it, and I told you what Hiashi-sama would have wanted me to say."

"Oh."

Tenten felt a pang of something torn between disappoint and hurt, but she pushed it away altogether. After all, she thought, it was Neji—his coldness and rude remarks were inevitable. She took a deep breath. "Well… I guess that's it. Thanks anyway." She smiled at him affectionately and headed out the door. "Goodnight, Neji."


The brisk, refreshing breeze spread through the small training ground; autumn had made its presence known through the changes of the colour of the scattered leaves on the ground, adding small puddles of auburn and flaming red hues to their edges. Neji stood under the large cherry blossom tree that extended out its nearly leafless branches in a form of an umbrella, hardly shielding him from the gentle showers of white sunlight.

It was noon, with the sun shining at its peak. But it wasn't as merciless and bright before, Neji noticed as he gazed up into the sky, his Byakugan activated. The rays were much gentler and dimmer than those of summer—it was almost sadder in a way.

Moments later Neji figured that the gloomy feeling that the tree brought was expected—after all, he stood here exactly twelve years ago. It was only a few weeks after his cousin Hinata's third birthday—as well as his undergoing the process of the curse seal, when he and his father were training as usual in this area. During that fateful day, Neji noticed that Hizashi was rather preoccupied, or distracted. But since the prodigy was only four, he shrugged it off without a second thought and continued to spar.

That was, until Hizashi suddenly left. Young Neji didn't think much about it and simply stood under the growing tree, awaiting for his father's return.

But he never came.

Returning back to reality, the Hyuuga prodigy shook off the flashback and looked at the place with slight disdain. He didn't train here anymore. He had long ago moved on from small battlegrounds; ever since he graduated from the Academy, he used the wide open fields, as unleashing his powers here would cause more damage than the grounds could take. And training here would simply bring back too many memories that were better to be left alone, untouched and forgotten—like an old, abandoned brownish photograph, fading away around the edges as time battered it. He didn't want to remember it. He wanted them to be forgotten, but he knew it was a burden he must carry on for the rest of his life.

He didn't know why he came here in the first place, especially while he could be resting or practicing in his current training area for a future tournament.

Maybe, he thought, his four year old self still resided within him and there would always be the occasional time where he would think that he could come here and find his father with a warm smile gracing his wrinkly features.

"Neji!"

It was only then that the sound of his name hauled him back into the reality. Deactivating his Byakugan, he turned to the direction of the approaching footsteps that reverberated in the air. And there he saw her, right beside him, her hand pushing against the tree, a big smile on her lips as her eyes looked happily into his. "There you are, Neji!"

Neji gazed down at Tenten with fascination, unable to speak. He was suddenly captivated by everything about her; the way her brilliant set of pearly teeth contrasted with her skin when she smiled, the way strands of her chestnut hair glowed like golden threads of the finest silk. Then their visions aligned and he saw those familiar warm brown eyes once again, so full of emotion and ability to shine dazzlingly even in the dimmest sunlight.

And for that briefest moment, Neji almost believed that she could be the light that would shine through his darkened world. Perhaps, he thought faintly, he would be able to find happiness with her. Perhaps…

Perhaps she could teach him to love again.

"You're not supposed be training," Tenten said, and he heard the nostalgic smile in her voice. "A week, remember?"

He tore his gaze away from her and stared up into the sky, reactivating his Byakugan. "I didn't come here to train."

Tenten tilted her head questioningly, as she knew what Neji used his infamous bloodline limit for, but was unable to frame a coherent question looking at the serenity he held for once. His face was unusually pale under the illuminating rays of the sun; it highlighted his sharp profile, casting a faint glow over his features, adding tints of silvery and white. His eyes, his eyebrows and his lips were relaxed—even the veins that rippled across his skin didn't seem so frightening anymore. He looked like a marble statue to Tenten—a calm, beautiful, stunning piece of artwork that was only meant to be handled with the gentlest care.

"How many?" he murmured.

Startled by his quiet voice, Tenten broke out of her trance and after a moment of thought, followed his gaze. Several dark coloured birds soared in the clear, blue, boundless sky, and she counted them, figuring that that was what he was asking about. "Eight," she replied, just as softly.

"Always missing that same one," he muttered quietly, more to himself than to her.

"What do you mean?"

Neji instantly froze, as if he had accidentally said something he shouldn't have, and turned to her. "Nothing," he dismissed. "It's nothing important."

Tenten didn't seem to notice his strange behaviour. Instead, she felt her blood race and stifled a gasp, now aware of their proximity. His face was just mere inches away from hers—despite the height difference—and she could see every detail of his thin, angular nose, his flawless skin, his strong jaw line and every pigment of his fathomless ivory eyes. Heat spread through her cheeks.

"Neji, Ten—"

The soft voice stopped, and both sixteen year olds spun around to see the surprised—and now red—face of the shy Hyuuga heiress. "Oh, I-I'm so s-sorry!" she stuttered, her flushed face even visible as she hung her head to bow. "Please a-accept my s-sincere apologies, N-neji-nii-san. I r-really didn't m-mean to i-interrupt!"

The Hyuuga prodigy didn't say anything, but he merely looked away and Tenten took it as an implication that she was supposed to speak.

"It's alright. We weren't doing anything," she quickly reassured, feeling strangely warm at how casually she had used the term 'we'. She looked pointedly at the male Hyuuga, and with a slight smile, added, "even Neji isn't doing anything!"

Hinata looked past the taller girl and seemed slightly stunned at her older cousin being quiet. He, of course, was naturally silent and didn't like to interact with others, but if one were to bother him, he wouldn't even hesitate from scolding and insulting, let alone stay.

"So Hinata," Tenten said after she didn't reply, "what were you going to say before?"

"Oh right!" the younger girl exclaimed, giggling, her laughter still weak with relief. "I thought that you t-two might be interested in these." She brought out two small pieces of rectangular paper. "They're coupons for free meals at Ereganto," she explained. "I invited some other people, too. Everybody has a day off today."

"No way! Isn't that the most expensive restaurant in Konoha? How did you get these?"

"Father knows one of their chefs," Hinata replied, smiling at her enthusiasm. "And yes, it is. Their food and their variety is great! I go almost every w-week for lunch but I still haven't gone through their entire menu."

Tenten felt her face fall slightly. While the restaurant's prices were way out of question for a poor peasant like her, it seemed like nothing for a member (let alone the heiress) that belonged to the Hyuuga clan. She couldn't exactly imagine herself eating in the restaurant that she passed everyday because she couldn't afford any of it. Her eyes subconsciously flitted from Neji to Hinata, and then to the large Hyuuga mansion. Again, this was the difference between her life and the life of someone rich.

"So do you two want to go?" Hinata's voice broke into her thoughts. "I know we usually eat in the l-living room, but today it'll be pretty empty. There's a meeting, and most of the o-others have made plans to eat dinner outside too."

The brunette plastered a cheerful smile on her face and hoped it was convincing. "Of course!"


Tenten had not given much thought on what she would wear. She decided to wear her usual, baggy Chinese styled clothing, keeping her usual hairdo of buns. Regardless of how elegant and rich the restaurant was, there was no point in dressing like someone rich. Tenten knew she would be meeting new people at the restaurant and she wanted them to see her for who she really was. Besides, the last time she spent time applying makeup and wearing expensive clothes was when she first arrived, and she made an incredible fool out of herself.

Maybe she was making a fool of herself right now.

She was walking down the streets with Neji and Hinata, with the Hyuuga heiress leading the way. She and Neji were trailing behind slightly, walking next to each other. Tenten saw that Neji or Hinata did not change into anything fancy, and she was thankful for that—but she still noticed how much sharper Neji looked than her, regardless of what he was wearing. She also noticed that townspeople were staring at her and Neji's proximity, some frowning, and some simply raising their eyebrows in surprise.

"What are they staring at?" she whispered to Neji. She sighed in exasperation when he didn't reply.

It had taken some persuasion in order to get Neji to come to the restaurant, as this was a public gathering and Neji hated anything that was loud in general. He instantly refused to go right after Hinata left them with two coupons for free meals, claiming that he had better things to do. But Tenten, being the stubborn tutor she was, asked him over and over again. Although he finally gave in after she asked for the fourth time, she knew that there was still no reason for him to be cooperative.

"Maybe w-we should pick up the pace," Hinata piped up after a while. "We're g-going to be late."

Tenten, thankful for this, broke into a brisk run, and maintained it easily until they were at the restaurant.

Ereganto was much more than she had expected. Whenever she passed by, she would manage to catch a glimpse of the restaurant's entrance and garden through the gates. The rest was covered by the wooden fence. But now that she was inside, she stared, marvelled at how elegantly the structure of everything was designed. Once they entered the gates, they walked down a long, stoned pathway that curved around the beautiful garden, which had romantic tables and fountains that were adorned by roses and vines. The main building was at the end of the path, and it was absolutely magnificent, with the large floor to ceiling windows and a porch that extended from the side of the entrance, down the side, past the back, and all the way up to the front again.

It was even larger on the inside, the atmosphere completely changing when they stepped from the garden and into the restaurant. The doors, walls, ceilings, and stairs were all in a polished, smooth, rich coloured wood, and Tenten couldn't spot a single thing out of place. The pottery and paintings that decorated the waiting room were grungy, yet antique, and they were somehow accentuated in the dim light.

Tenten was surprised at how cosy the place seemed. As she was led to the table, she noticed how most of the people there were couples, dressing sharply and murmuring quietly. There was only one table that was out of place—and that was the same one that had the loudest chattering.

"Here you go," the waitress said, and left shortly.

Tenten marvelled at how comfy everything was. The seat was actually a long cushion; it curved around the large round table, ending at the front where the waiters and waitresses would come and go. Sakura sat between two guys near the end of the large 'U', and Tenten recognised, by the pink haired girl's previous descriptions, that the one sitting on the outer end was Naruto, a hyperactive blond with clear blue eyes. The dark haired guy, who had an expression that closely resembled Neji's, was seated on other side of Sakura. Tenten knew that the handsome boy was Sasuke. Ino sat next to Sasuke, and then there were two guys she didn't quite recognise. Kiba and Shino, who she had met the other day, sat next, and Hinata took the spot after that. "C-come and sit, Tenten," she said.

Tenten smiled and seated herself, leaving Neji the last outer spot.

"Oh, so this is Hyuuga's new girl! It's about time I met you, Tenten. I'm Uzumaki Naruto!" the blond exclaimed. He grinned widely as he elbowed Sakura. "Wow, you never told me she was that pretty." His eyes ran over Tenten appreciatively, who subconsciously leaned towards Neji. "She's thin and tall. Model like, actually, if you lose the buns, and the loose clothing…"

"Naruto!" Sakura bonked him on the head, and smiled apologetically at Tenten while some others laughed. "Sorry, Neji, Tenten. Naruto here has been hanging out with Kakashi-sensei and his books too much lately." She turned to Sasuke and her expression softened, and Tenten instantly recalled the pink-haired girl gushing about the Uchiha prodigy and how he took his shirt off one time. "At least Sasuke-kun is sane. Well, when he's not busy training, at least."

Tenten joined in the laughter knowingly, and she was soon introduced to the rest of the former members of the rookie nine, learning a bit about everybody's fighting styles and techniques. The dinner proceeded when a waitress showed up to take their orders; Tenten vaguely noticed how the young waitress's eyes lingered on Sasuke and Neji for a moment before reluctantly starting to take the orders. Sakura noticed this, and slightly annoyed, began ordering a bunch of things, speaking intentionally at an almost incomprehensible speed. Naruto laughed wholeheartedly and ordered his large meal as well. As the ninjas all had unlimited choices, they—especially Naruto and Chouji—took as much as they could possibly eat, each person taking a different kind of food so they could all share and taste the exquisite foods of Ereganto.

"This food's amazing," Ino exclaimed as she finished the last spoonful of her desert. "I've never tasted anything like this before!"

"What happened to the diet, Ino?" Sakura asked teasingly, and giggled as Ino made a face.

"W-we're ninjas. Calories d-don't affect us," Hinata piped up.

"You girls are too troublesome," Shikamaru said, yawning, leaning back into the soft cushion.

"I'm going to the bathroom," Neji suddenly muttered, speaking for the first time during the entire night. He abruptly got up. Tenten knew that the noise and conversations that lasted for the past few hours was more than enough to drive him off the edge. But, still, he had been patient enough to stay and not leave, so she really had nothing to say about it.

When he was out of hearing range, Naruto suddenly leaned in, his eyes wide with curiosity. A grin spread across his face. "So what's up with you and Neji? I've never actually seen Neji go out to public gatherings—yow! What was that for, Sakura-chan?"

Tenten shot the pink-haired kunoichi a grateful glance, but answered the blond anyway. "I already told you. I'm sort of his peer tutor, so I bring him out cause he's just that anti-social"—she could see, from the corner of her eyes that Sasuke's mouth twitched—"and I train with him."

"So you're who he's training with for the tournament?" Naruto asked.

"Tournament?"

"It's like the final stage of the Chuunin exams," Kiba explained. "You know, when people go to combat one on one."

Tenten's brows furrowed as she struggled to remember. She had been in the audience for one, but it was quite a while ago. The admission fee was more than she could afford, and she would often pick up a copy of the newspaper the day after. "I remember," she said finally. "I was there once, but I think it was when I was eleven. I don't think any of you tried out yet."

"Right," Hinata said, her voice soft. "B-but this time, it's sort of a tournament to s-see who's the best fighter in Konoha. Usually, whoever wins gets m-money, and their rank usually goes up. Lots of people join, and t-the ages don't matter. So, since some of us, including Neji-nii-chan, are trying out this year, w-we have to train hard to beat the others who have more e-experience."

"But Neji's really strong," Tenten said, her voice thoughtful. "I trained with him before. I was only able to beat him because he had no more chakra and he was all worn out." She left out the rest; there was no need to say that she injured him and how she prevented him from training.

"Really?" Sasuke asked, his usually impassive voice holding a spark of interest. He looked at the brunette. "How were you able to defeat him?"

"I just noticed how he resorts to using his Kaiten a lot to defend himself for long range attacks. So, I attacked him, and he used his Kaiten, but just as he slowed, I attacked him with everything I had. I guess he didn't have much chakra or energy to defend himself that well." Tenten grimaced at the memory of hearing the scythe piercing Neji's shoulder. "But, like I said, he was worn out and had no more chakra left. It was sort of a freebie, on my side." She didn't notice how everybody at their table listened interestedly.

"You're a weapons mistress," Kiba stated. "Is weaponry one of Neji's weaker points?"

"Well, not really. He's pretty good, but he relies too much on his Byakugan. He's influenced by his inherited skills, and I guess he just gets sort of a different kind of training from me. Not that I'm that strong, anyway."

"Still impressive," Sasuke said. "I myself have not gotten the chance to fight him yet. I'm going this year to the tournament, and I know for a fact that many Hyuugas are fighting. I would like some insight from someone like you, Tenten." Sasuke's onyx eyes were intimidating. "Would you mind if I trained with you some time?"

Tenten couldn't help it; she felt her cheeks flush slightly. Sakura was right about his strange effects on girls. "S-sure."

"Hey, I want to come too!" Naruto exclaimed. His usually happy face scrunched up in thought. "But I think Neji has a good shot at winning, either way. I fought him a few years ago, and boy, was he scary! He just started to blab about my destiny… I think his words can undermine somebody quickly, and then he just finishes them off." He frowned slightly at his memories. "But, Neji seriously needs an attitude change."

"I do?"

Neji's impassive voice and sudden appearance made Naruto jump with a yelp. Tenten, turning to see the Hyuuga prodigy, was startled by his rather angelic expression—his eyebrow cocked, his eyes blank yet expectant. For a second she almost thought that he would walk out, as she recognised this as his face to conceal emotions, but Neji stayed and directed his gaze to the young Hyuuga heiress.

"We must go now, Hinata-sama. It's almost midnight. Hiashi-sama won't be happy."

"Yes. You should g-go with Tenten. Father knows that m-my t-team and I need to see Kurenai-sensei for our m-mission."

"I thought you went this morning," Tenten pointed out, remembering the conversation from the café.

"We were. But when we went, Tsunade-sama was still undecided as to whether we should go," Shino informed quietly. "We are to see Kurenai at the Hokage's tower tonight, and if she is decided, then we will set out."

"I've never seen the Hokage so frustrated before," Kiba added.

The large group of eleven split from there; Hinata and her team set off together towards the Hokage's tower, while Chouji and Shikamaru went their separate ways back to their homes. Sakura and Ino headed towards Konoha's hospital, but Neji and Tenten followed, as it passed by on the route to the Hyuuga mansion. Naruto and Sasuke simply tagged along, since they had nothing else to do and they each had no family to come home to.

"Oh look!" exclaimed the bubbly pink haired kunoichi, when the hospital came into view. She skipped ahead towards a light pole nearby. She peered down at the colourful flyer that was taped sloppily onto it. "Join us at the biggest festival of the year," she read aloud. Her voice slowly rose in excitement. "There will be prizes, contests, celebrations, free food, games, and dances!" She clapped happily. "Oh, it's been a while since the last festival! Guys, we must come altogether!"

Naruto nodded in agreement. "I'm in if there's free food."

Ino smiled. "I'm not missing this one!"

Tenten smiled warily. "Sure. It's not like we have anything else to do. Right, Neji?"

She turned to him when he didn't reply. His eyes were closed and his arms were crossed, but his expression was at ease. Strangely content, she slowly turned back to face the hospital. Sakura had already entered to check up on Amaya, and Sasuke and Naruto followed her, waiting in the lobby. The two younger ninjas started fighting shortly after sitting—with Sasuke muttering, and Naruto, infuriated, yelling. Tenten smiled softly at the sight.

"Why do they fight?" she murmured to Neji. "And they don't need to wait for Sakura. She's a strong ninja."

"They're a team. They stay, fight and die together."

He spoke the words through his teeth, yet Tenten felt her grin widen. She could tell that Neji was clearly making an effort to be patient, and for this simple reason, she felt her heart throb with pride and happiness. This was the most surprising day yet; first Neji apologised, and now he was trying to be more considerate. It seemed as if he actually changed because of his false accusation. Tenten wondered; would he have been like this if she didn't leave?

"Tenten-nee-chan!"

Tenten, slightly startled, turned to the familiar voice. Amaya's tiny head was peering out the second floor window, grinning widely as her little blonde pigtails dangled in the air. She was waving eagerly with her little hand, and in the background, Sakura was waving as well.

The brunette smiled warmly back at the two. "Hey! Look who's here!" She pointed to Neji, who raised an eyebrow but remained quiet nonetheless.

"I know!" Amaya replied, her eyes wide with excitement. But she soon turned away, to do what Tenten guessed to be taking medicine.

"What was that all about?"

Neji's question made Tenten realise that he didn't know about the little blonde or her admiration for him. "That's Amaya," she replied, "an eight year old I visit at the hospital. She's a big fan of yours. She wants to become as strong as you one day."

"But she can't," he slowly concluded.

Tenten knew he knew about Amaya's fatal condition just by his all-knowing tone. "Yeah, you're right," she sighed, her voice wistful. "She might come off as a bouncy, happy eight year old, but she suffers more than she lets anybody know. When she was younger, her parents left her at the orphanage because they didn't have enough money to support her. Apparently, she was"—she left her fingers to make quotations marks—"an 'accident'. But they didn't visit her either way, only sending her a card during her birthday, and she kind of thought that they didn't want to see her, so she started to disobey everybody at the orphanage." She didn't see Neji as he looked intently at her.

"But when she was six," she continued, "she was taken in by the Tanakas. They're good friends of her parents, and now she actually gets to see her parents from time to time. She's going to the academy, and she's finally starting to live her life. But now…" She stopped, and finally noticed that Neji was staring at her with an unfathomable expression. "What?"

He didn't say anything, but his gaze drifted back to the window, where Amaya was talking to Sakura, and then looked back at the brunette. "You like kids." It wasn't a question.

"Sort of." Tenten smiled sheepishly. "I babysat a lot for money, but no matter how much experience I have, the kids always annoy me. They're always the same. They're spoiled, loud, and curious about everything. They pull at my hair, they scratch me, and they always want to do whatever I do! It's like they want to be like me."

He raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that be a good thing?"

Tenten blinked, unable to detect any sarcasm in his soft, velvety voice. She didn't know whether to take it as a compliment or not, but she felt her face redden just for the slightest bit. "No, I don't think so. Like I said, too annoying."

"So you think kids are irritating, but you're attached to Amaya. Why is that?"

"Kids are annoying, and they talk a lot, but I know it's just a part of their nature. They naturally curious about everything." Her eyes softened. "But even the most annoying kids have their moments. One thing I love the most about kids is their innocence. They love it when I read them stories, and when they sleep, I can honestly just sit there and watch their peaceful expressions for an hour." She laughed quietly, more to herself than to him.

"But another thing I love," she continued on, "is that they're all so vulnerable. Even the wildest, most troublemaking kids want to be loved, and you can see that in their eyes and smiles. When a kid smiles at me any time of the day"—Tenten subconsciously smiled herself—"I want to stay and keep them safe. It's the same with every child I baby-sit. I always want to go back, thinking about the best moments, like when they smile, or when they sleep. But then, when I'm actually there and they attack me with paint or whatever, I'd hate them for that. But then, it all disappears when I put them to sleep, and I'd want to go back again."

"And Amaya possesses these qualities?"

Tenten had a feeling that Neji was trying to be social; she suppressed a smile. "All kids do," she replied lightly. "It's just that Amaya's… mature. She's like me, in a lot of ways. She doesn't have parents, and she kind of grew up to survive on her own. She doesn't take things for granted, and she has the cutest smile in the world."

"You seem to know her very well. I can tell she likes you very much."

"She may like me, but she adores you. You should see her gabble about your tournaments and everything! She's your biggest fan. You're her idol and inspiration."

"Idol? I am not worth admiring."

Tenten shook her head in disagreement. "You should give yourself more credit, Neji. You're strong and hardworking, and you have a strong sense of will. You have a cool demeanour to maintain, yet you're perfectly nice. Like, right now. I can tell you're putting a lot of effort into being patient with me. So now we're having a civilised conversation, and you're not even pushing me away." She smiled. "Compared to how you were at the beginning, you're amazing right now."

"Don't get used to it," Neji muttered under his breath, but Tenten caught it and laughed. She secretly wondered why she was smiling or laughing so much today.

Life doesn't always have its happy ending.

Tenten's words rung clearly in Amaya's ears. The blonde looked at the older girl through the hospital window, smiling a little.

The brunette said that quote some time ago, when the little blonde asked if she had found her prince charming yet. The sadness in Tenten's eyes made the little girl stop pressing on, in case it would trigger something within the older girl and cause her to leave. However, over the next few visits, Amaya found out that the quote didn't just refer to the brunette's slow love life. Tenten didn't know how her future would be like. But, strangely, she accepted it all and didn't take anything for granted.

Amaya tried averting the sad topic. So she started babbling about her idol, Hyuuga Neji, and she soon found out that Tenten did know him in person. Amaya guessed that she admired him just as much as she did, so she made Tenten tell her everything she knew about him. But, the blonde found out about the failed tutoring job, and that was honestly no better than talking about the brunette's dim future.

But the way Tenten explained Neji's personality made Amaya wonder if her relationship with him was just one between friends. But then again, Amaya knew she couldn't jump to conclusions, as one would always do if they saw a girl and a boy together. She knew of Tenten's past, and how she was alone for all this time, so the blonde was glad that Tenten found friends like Ino and Sakura. But it was obvious that she needed a significant other—Amaya, eight years old or not, was positive that the brunette needed a companion in life.

But could he be Neji? It was hard to tell.

"Isn't it interesting to watch?" Sakura, her pink-haired nurse, mused. Performing the same routine everyday, she took out a little clear bottle of capsules, took a tablet out, took out a plastic cup from the cabinet, and filled it with water. She then passed it all to Amaya, who took the medicine and gulped it down.

"Yeah," Amaya agreed wholeheartedly. She knew about the reunion; Sakura told her what happened when Ino returned to the hospital yesterday, claiming that Neji had finally come to his senses. "She seems really happy again."

Her cerulean eyes brightened as she peered down the window from her bed. Her bed was originally placed in the centre of the room, but during the seemingly endless hours she spent here, she would often get up and peer out the window because there was nothing else to do. She did that everyday, spending hours watching, sometimes even falling asleep by the windowsill. It was Sakura's idea to move the bed.

Sakura smirked mischievously, an expression that didn't quite fit her angelic face. "To be honest, I think Tenten secretly likes Neji, but she just won't admit it."

Amaya grinned. "Or, she likes him but she doesn't even know it!"

Tenten's obliviousness to just about anything social made it a great possibility, and the pink haired kunoichi laughed. "That's so true. She thinks that every joy comes from a job done right. Like Neji's case, there."

"Is she always like this, Sakura-nee-chan?"

"I've only met her for a short while, but I think I know how she acts." Her emerald eyes were thoughtful. "Tenten is really selfless. She finds more happiness in pleasing others than herself. And when she sees that something is going right—when someone is happier because of her, she feels pleasure, too." She smiled softly. "And when she finds herself enjoying the process of making someone's life better, she's even more ecstatic. Like right now." She looked down the window, and Amaya followed her gaze.

Neji and Tenten were still standing in front of the hospital, but this time, they were standing closer to each other, their hands nearly touching despite their height difference. Tenten was talking animatedly as she waited for Sakura, her eyes sparkling as if the world couldn't get any better. And although Neji did not open his mouth to reply, he gave occasional nods, his lips pressed together as if he was suppressing a smile, or even laughter. His eyes were, undoubtedly, at peace.

At first, Amaya was in shock. But then her expression turned into one of awe and wonder. Seeing them talk like that, in a manner that seemed so private and intimate, made her bright blue eyes sparkle. Maybe Tenten was wrong, she thought happily.

Maybe life did have its happy endings.

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A/N: FINALLY, I managed to get this chapter out. I knew I had to write one before all the school work comes in… oh great, the joy of school. But anyhow, sorry if the chapter was rushed; I wrote the parts in like, twenty different times because my mum limits my computer time. She's like a freaking hawk.

Story: Well, somebody asked why I made Neji win against Naruto at the Chuunin exams. Well, basically, Neji would have changed if Naruto did win. And, well, he just explained why fate made Naruto lose, including the fact that his dad went in to save Hiashi (meaning that people like Sakura know about the whole the land of lightning finding no traces of the Byakugan.) Neji didn't mention anything about him having the curse mark, or the lower branch status and all of that. Nobody outside the clan knows about it, so nobody told Tenten about his past.

I hope that clears some stuff up. Well, I'll stop here before my author notes becomes a chapter itself. Thanks to my beta Philyra, and thank you for reading my super duper long (long for me) chapter! Let me know what you think! :)

Love always,
Chigiri Sasaki