A/N: So…there weren't much reviews, so I'm going to wrap things up quickly.
"!HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
Tenten hanged her mouth open. She was not expecting this.
"Today…is my birthday…?" she asked in shaking tone.
"Yes, Tenten." Neji spoke behind her. He stepped up and stood next to her. "Don't you remember?"
"I…" the girl looked up at him. "You, you…in this, too?" she asked him. Their eyes locked in each other.
"Hn…" He murmured. Neji however still felt guilty about nearly forgetting Tenten's birthday if it was not for Lee who reminded him. Looked down at his female teammate, Neji saw her eyes were twinkling along with the light. Tears built up on her sockets, threaten to fall anytime soon. She gave him a warm smile
He froze.
"Thank you, very much, Neji!"
"Oh! Two lovebirds can get a room, later! How about your soul sisters, Ten-chan? We also remember your birthday, ya know!" Ino ran toward Tenten and hold her hands. Sakura and Hinata went after her. They then all wrapped their arms around Tenten and formed a group hug.
Tenten attentions left Neji and looked back lovingly at her girlfriends then the room. Her plain white room was decorated with posters, corlors and full with presents. She saw everyone was here. All her loved ones. Sasuke and Hanabi were also here, too. She wondered what could convince them to come here, but Tenten happy they were.
She smiled at her little girl group. "Of course, guys! How can I forget you all!" she hugged her friends tightly. Tenten then looked back at the rest in the room. "Thank you…so much…" the tears she was holding back now rolled freely on her cheeks, that caused her friends to squeeze her tighter.
They remembered her birthday when she can't even remembered her own.
Tenten was too happy.
"Geez, what with all the tears, buns bitch. Never knew you were this emotional." A voice spoke up.
"Temari!" Tenten opened her eyes widely; she was not expected to see her rival in here. She smiled mischievously. "When did you come back?!"
Tenten and Temari became closer after the Chuunin Exam. They saw each other as rivals but also can't help to form a friendship bond. Tenten loved the Sand girl so much.
"Just arrived yesterday with my bros here. You think I would miss a good chance to screw your little pathetic life?"
"Like hell you can, Tema!" Tenten grinned widely at her. Yep! She loved that bitch.
She glanced back at two figures behind Temari. Her brothers, Kankoru and the Kazakage of the Sand were also in her apartment.
Such a man like that in her place. Tenten never felt more honored.
"Kazekage-sama! Such an honor for you to be here in my humble home." She apologized her girlfriends then walked toward Garra to greet him. She bowed her head a little.
"No need to be formal, miss Tenten. The honor is mine." He spoke, bowed back at her.
"Hey hey beautiful! Don't say you forget me already!" Tenten diverted her attention at the voice. A soft grin appeared on her happy face.
"Kankoru! How could I ever forget you?" she told him.
"I know right?! My charm is irresistible." He smirked then wrap his arms around her body and pulled her into a tight hug. Tenten giggled under him and returned the hug. Behind her, Kankoru suddenly sensed a deadly aura surrounded the Hyuuga prodigy near the door. He saw Neji glaring so hard at him with maximum capacity. Kankoru felt the chill ran through his spine but can't help to form a smirk on his face. Geez. Quite a jealous teammate we are dealing here!
"Ya know, Kankoru! Before you want to mess with my rival, ya better asked this guy permission first." Temari pointed her head jokily at now pissing off Hyuuga.
Tenten broke the hug at Temari remark and blushed. She looked at her teammate direction and he was indeed extremely angry.
"Okay! We better start the party before Neji threw the tantrum at us all. Tenten, let's go see the cake Chouji made especially for you, hun." Sakura suggested, she ran to Tenten and pushed her slightly to the table. Everyone followed after the two girls.
"Neji, my boy! Cheer up! It's our beautiful flower's birthday after all, so don't let her see you upset."
Neji glared at his sensei.
"I am not upset!" He stated sharply.
"Hm, okay, okay whatever you say my dear student." Gai moved to the door and stood next to the Hyuuga prodigy. They observed the celebration in silence.
"She looked beautiful today, isn't she, Neji!" Gai suddenly spoke.
Neji glanced up at his teacher then moved his eyes to the birthday girl. She was laughing along with her friends. The happiness on the girl face suddenly brings the warm feeling inside his stomach. He looked at her. That beautiful smile on her face. He would do anything to see it everyday. Anything.
"Hn…"
"I heard, you have a mission tomorrow with the boys. A S-ranked mission? And you're the co-captain?" Gai asked him.
"Indeed."
"Uhm! I'm proud of you, Neji! This is the reward that you deserved for all your hard works, my boy!"
Neji looked at his sensei. Even though he hated his teacher too energetic behaviors so much, he was always held a special respect to the Jounin. The guy did teach him a lot.
"Thanks." Neji returned his gaze back to Tenten
"You know, Neji! A shinobi's life is like a thread of fate. You won't know when will it be cut and you won't know what will come to you along that thread."
Neji froze
"Life can end short or long, but how you live your life is all that matter, my boy."
The pupil stared at his sensei
"What is it you try to say, sensei?" he asked impatiently.
Gai chuckled
"Do what you want to do. Don't make yourself regret anything with life, Neji."
"What wa-…"
"You are a genius, my boy! You will figure it out." Gai gave him his infamous thumb up and then moved toward the group with Tenten greeting him.
Neji looked blankly at the window. A white bird flew by.
Fate…
"Neji!"
Neji turned his head back and met the chocolate eyes that he grew to adore through time.
"Come to join us, Neji!" She smiled softly at him. "Come with me!" she held out a small hand to him.
Neji stared at her. He then slowly raised his hand and wrapped hers possessively around his.
A small blush appeared on her cheeks. She looked up at him through her lashes and smiled softly.
He let her guided him to their destination.
I fall for you, Tenten…
~~~o~~~
Everybody went home after the party. They insisted to stay and help her clean up the mess but she refused, saying that they already did a lot with the preparation. Eventually with all the begging, she was able to convince them all to went back home, except Neji, when that guy already made the decision in his head, he would never change it, despite all of the puppy eyes she gave him.
"Bye, Ten, Neji! We'll see you tomorrow!" Ino and the girls waved at Tenten and Neji.
"Bye bye Tenten-chan! Neji, don't try any of your perverted moves on her." Kiba waved and smirked at him.
Neji glared at him murderously. Tenten just giggled
"Goodnight guys! See you in the morning!" she waved happily after them.
They watched until their friends' shadows had vanished. Tenten can't help but let out a small yawn.
Neji looked at her
"Come to bed, Ten! I'll clean up!"
"What?! No, Neji! I'll clean up, you go to rest. You must be tired. Tonight was the first time I ever see you socialize that much. You sure talked a lot, Hyuuga!" she giggled.
Neji frowned his eyebrows.
"I'm just kidding, Neji! But I'm glad to see you enjoyed yourself again. " she said
Neji smirked at her.
"Don't expect that from me often, Tenten! I made an exception for tonight only."
"Thanks…I'm happy you did, Neji!" she looked dreamily at his eyes.
A blush threatens to appear on the stoic Hyuuga's cheeks.
"We're going to catch a cold if we keep standing here, Ten." He turned around
"Hn!" Tenten smiled next to him. She turned round, too.
The couple stared intently at the mess that they left behind. Cups and bottles lied lifelessly all over the floor. The room was a mess.
"For a second thought, Neji!" Tenten spoke suddenly "I think we should leave this tomorrow. There was no way in hell we can clean up all of this, tonight."
Neji for the first time, agreed with her. He glared intensely at the trashes as if he can make them all disappear with his powerful glare. But sadly, he can't.
"I'm not going back, yet, Tenten!" he spoke
"What! But you have a mission, tomorrow! You should get some rest!"
"Nice try, Ten! I'm not leaving you with this mess alone!" he glared at her.
"Now who is the bonehead here, Hyuuga? Fine! If you don't want to go home yet, then you can stay and help me unwrap my presents, okay?" she said
"Hn!" Neji answered
Tenten lead them through the trash to enter her bedroom where the mount of presents lied randomly on the ground. She jumped on the blank spots on the floor in difficulty. One foot after the other. She finally made it to bed. She looked back at Neji. A grin appeared her face.
"C'mon, Neji-kun! Don't be embarrassed! I'll be the only one who could see you jump like this. C'mon Neji! Come on!" she encouraged him but in her head, she already laughed so hard at the image of Neji Hyuuga jumped with one foot like a little girl.
Neji looked at her
"You're enjoying it, aren't you?"
"What?! Pfft! No! What make you think that?" she can't hold back the laugh anymore. She rolled on her back laughing her heart out as the image went back in her head.
She opened her teary eyes when she felt a pressure on the bed sheet near her. What she saw was not what she would expect. Neji Hyuuga was kneeing next to her with a smirk on his face. Tenten stared at him with wide-eyed.
"When did you...?"
"If you don't remember, us shinobi can jump quite high without setting a foot on the ground for support." He teased her with the obvious knowledge.
"Are you saying I'm stupid, Hyuuga?!" Tenten threw a pillow at him. He easily caught it with one hand.
"Hn! I'll be the only one who knew your lack of intelligence, Tenten." He smirked widely at her.
"You with your fancy words, Hyuuga! I hate you!" she crossed her arms in front of her chest while glaring at him.
"Hn!" Neji amused "Shouldn't we start to unwrap your presents?" he asked
"Way to change the subject, jerk!" she glared
"Thank you." Neji smirked again. That girl just can't stop making him amusing.
Tenten leaned down and get as much presents as she can hold and dropped them on the bed in front of her and Neji.
"Okay! Let's start with this pink one, I think this belongs to Sakura!" she unwrapped the paper and pull out a beautiful strapless black dress.
"Oh My God! I can't believe she got this for me! I thought they were all out. She must have buy it before the sales!" Tenten held the dress in front of her and feeling the fabric. She turned to Neji and held the dress in front of him.
"Neji, Look! Don't you think it's pretty?" She asked him happily
"Hn…It looks fine" Neji answered
"Fine, Neji? Beautiful must be the word. I'm so nervous. I wondered if I could fit in this."
Neji eyed her, then the dress.
"So, try it on." He said
"Hm?! Yea, I need a guy's opinion in this. Wait a sec, Neji! I will be right back." She held the dress in her arm and jumped out of the bed, head straight to the bathroom.
Neji sat there and let his imagination ran free with Tenten.
5 minutes later
"Neji,…I think,…do you think,…it's okay?" Tenten head popped out of the bathroom door.
"I can't say anything if you don't come out, Tenten."
"O…kay…"
She stepped shyly out of the bathroom and moved slightly toward Neji.
He for the second time of the day, speechless.
To be honest, Neji didn't find it beautiful when Tenten just held it in front of him. But now, he saw how the dress elegantly wrapped around Tenten's beautiful body, he finally understand its true beauty.
If Neji didn't close his mouth, he would be all drooling right now. But how can he not? She was breathtaking,
"Neji,…say something…do I look that ugly….?"
WHAT?!
"What! No! Ten! You looked…erm…nice." Neji shuttered.
"Really?! You think I look nice?" Tenten asked again.
He eyed her. Embarrassed at himself
"Yes." He answered
Tenten giggled. "Thanks, Neji!"
She hopped back on the bed. Neji stared at her.
"You don't change back to your old clothes?" he asked her
"Nah! If you like the dress, I'm gonna wear it!" she smiled at him.
A blush that hid somewhere all night, suddenly came back to his cheeks. Neji stared at the lovely woman in front of him, admired her beauty to the last details. He wanted to remember her like this forever.
"Hn."
"Okay! Let's continue!" the birthday girl happily unwrap the next present.
She had never felt happier in all her life. Her friends, had give her so many amazing stuff.
Ino gave her a brand new cosmetic box. Typical Ino. Tenten did not use make up often but she still appreciated it, because it was given to her from her soul sister.
Hinata gave a box full of medical ointments, which she made them herself. Hinata's ointments were very effective with open wounds and bruises.
Gai-sensei, gave her a new set of expensive scrolls
And Lee of course, gave her a green spandex. The kid would never change.
Temari and her brothers gave her a bottle of expensive special spice that only Suna had.
Naruto gave her a bunch of ramen coupons
Kiba gave a teddy bear that near as big as his dog.
Shino and Sasuke gave her a new set of kunais while Shikamaru gave her a new katana.
Last but not least, Chouji bake her a birthday cake himself which they nearly eat it all tonight. The cake was so delicious.
"Aren't those amazing, Neji?! I love them so much!" Tenten smiled at herself. "Now I just have to find space for them. Kiba's teddy could stay with me on the bed." She was ready to stood up when a hand suddenly stopped her on her wrist.
"You don't ask me about my present." Neji told her.
She smiled prettily at her teammate.
"Because I don't need it." she said "You agreed to be here with me on my birthday is already enough for me, Neji! I don't and never ask for anything else better than that."
Neji stared at her. He felt his heart beat like crazy in his chest cage. Hyuuga Neji would never stop staring at his lovely teammate. Her body and soul just too beautiful.
"Tenten…" Neji let go of her wrist and set his knees on the bed. He pulls out a scroll from his pocket. He slowly unwrapped and spread it widely on the bed.
Tenten did not say a word. She was too busy staring at the prodigy. What is he doing?
Neji made a short hand seal and smoke spread out from the scroll.
When the smoke all clear, Tenten saw her stoic teammate still kneeled in front of her. A usual emotionless face, but, his hand, he was holding.
Tenten eyes wide.
A bouquet of Lavender flowers.
"This is my present for you." Neji said. He handed the flowers to the brunette, but she didn't make any move to receive it.
Neji started to feel panic.
"You…you don't like it?" he asked her.
"No,…I just,…I'm just too shocked, Neji! The flowers are so pretty! How can you know my favorite is lavender?" she asked
"I saw your vase the last time I visited, so I, just guess they were your favorite." He answered, without looking at her.
"Then you got it right." Tenten smiled at him. "But you know lavender just became my favorite five years ago. My previous was actually lily."
"Oh? How come?" Neji can't help but ask her.
"They,…the Lavender flowers, reminded me, of your eyes." Neji froze at that statement.
"The first time I met you… was the day we became a team. Your eyes, I can't stop looked at it, I were so afraid you would think I was some kind of your fangirl or things like that. " she chuckled a little
"Your eyes, Neji, were unlike other Hyuugas." She continued Hinatas' and others were pure white but,…I saw yours had the light color of lavender in them. They were just,…too pretty. I loved that color in your eyes…" Tenten turned her gaze from the flower and up to Neji's face, stared directly at the beautiful eyes that she adores so much. "And that also made me start to love this kind of flower."
Neji was speechless once again. He would never thought…
"You…like my eyes…?" He asked shakily. The eyes of the Hyuuga, represent the hidden power of the noble clan, but they were also reflect the horror and misery of its history and customs. Most outsiders were founded more afraid of the eyes than attracted to them, but there was one person who has a different thought.
"I love them, Neji." she smiled softly at him.
The eyes that he, the Hyuuga, hated himself. The eyes that reminded him day by day how cruel and selfish the world are. He despised them with all his heart, but there she was, admiring his eyes, like they were the most beautiful things she ever saw.
I love you, Tenten…
He gazed at her chocolate eyes then traveled down to her full lips. The urge to kiss them was too much. Unconsciously, he leaned down slowly, toward the beautiful lips of the pretty girl that he falls for.
'No…What if,…things were not as the way they seemed. No,…she was everything to me,…I was so selfish,…I can't afford to lose her,…Never…'
He stopped when there were only few inches left until their lips met. He gazed at her face for a while. Neji slowly leaned his forehead against hers. He closed his lavender eyes.
"I'm sorry…"
With that, he disappeared behind the window and left the weapon mistress dumbfounded on her seat.
~~~o~~~
After a sleepless night, Neji packed his belongings neatly in his mission bag. Last night event was not leave his mind even a second. Whenever the Hyuuga prodigy closed his eyes, the yesterday image of his female teammate kept appeared in front of him.
Neji sighed. Here he was, a Jounin who supposed to put his entire mind to prepare for his first S-ranked mission, not a sleepless fool sitting on the floor, lovesick.
His eyes landed on the second scroll that he supposed to give it to her. He picked it up and gazed for a while. He then placed the scroll in his pocket.
Neji believed he did the right thing last night. Kissing her would do no good for both of them at the moment. He was not oblivious with the whole situation. For a long time, the Hyuuga prodigy was well aware of his female teammate affection for him, but he was not entirely sure. Was it love? Or was it simply a high respect for a fellow shinobi? He was not sure.
He didn't want to let both of his and her hope held high. The mission he was taking is a S-ranked mission after all. Death was not avoidable. He didn't want her to get hurt. Neji knew his teammate well. She was not the kind of person who took her feelings slightly. If she indeed loved him, then if he kissed her and died, her heart will be broken. Neji did not want that at all, so he demolished the nonexistence bond between them before it became too strong.
Neji Hyuuga loved his female teammate. He loved her with all his little heart can handle. But,…she deserved better.
He put on his Jounin jacket and picked up his bag on the floor. After said farewell to his uncle, he slipped out of the house and headed to the gate. Neji stopped when he spotted a familiar figure sitting on the bench near the gate. He looked at that person. The person somehow sensed his presence, traveled her eyes up to his. She stood up and went toward the Hyuuga prodigy.
"Good morning, Neji!" Tenten gave him her softest smile. Neji felt his heart skipped a beat.
"What are you doing in front of my compound, Tenten?" he asked her
"I,…I was waiting for you." She murmured quietly, her eyes looking down.
"What is it you want?" he said blankly. Tenten looked up at him then closed her eyes tightly. She felt hurt at his sudden coldness.
"I,…Can I, walk with you to your destination?" despite the tears threaten to spilled out of her sockets, she asked him softly.
"Why?"
"I…" Tenten looked at him in his eyes, tried her best to regain her confidence "I just want to be with you before you go."
Neji looked at her. Even though Tenten tried her best to hid her emotion pain from him, he still felt the vulnerability and hurt in her voice and body languages. Neji closed his eyes. He didn't want her felt hurt. Especially from him. Neji also wanted to be with Tenten if this maybe the last time he saw her. Neji wanted to show her his longing love that he built over the years for her. He wanted to kiss her, and hold her in his arms one last time. But he can't do those for his own selfishness. It pained him too much when he tried to push her away. Neji did not want any string attached them. He did not want to hold her back. But,…how can he ruthlessly push her away, when all he felt is love.
"Alright…" Neji said. He saw her face lighten up immediately. The smile. It hurt him.
He walked ahead, Tenten followed quietly next to him. They walked together in silence. None started the conversation. Tenten squeezed her fingers in her palm. She had to say something to him. She did not want to feel regret after.
"Did you eat breakfast yet, Neji?" she started the conversation awkwardly. She shut her eyes at her own embarrassment.
"Yes, I did. You?" he answered, sensed the discomfort from the girl walking next to him.
"I also did, thank you." She smiled to him "Did you pack everything you need for the mission?" she asked him again
"Yes." Neji said. That ended their small conversation. They once walked again in silence. Tenten chewed on her lower lips. She did not say half of the things she wanted to. The brunette cursed at her weakness. Where is the lion courage of her when she needed it?
She looked up and stared at her teammate. He looked handsome as always. Hair tied neatly in low ponytail. His face even though keeps the usual expressionless look, but his eyes seemed to twinkling slightly under the morning sunlights. It made him looked like an angel. The green Jounin jacket on his torso somehow added to the charm of the Hyuuga prodigy. He looked so flawless and powerful. He was too perfect. How can she reach him, when he was too high. Tenten held back her tears. She did not want to cry in front of him. She knew how much he hated weakness.
The pair walked toward the gate and saw their friends were already there. The boys, Shikamaru, Naruto, Kiba, Shino, Chouji and Lee were in their Jounin uniforms and talking to the girls in their group. Ino and Sakura was busied remind their friends what they need to do with the medical kit when emergency happened. Hinata was standing aside, folded a jacket and handed it to Naruto. The fox boy accepted it with a huge grin on his face. Poor Hinata! The girl looked nearly fainted with embarrassment. Shikamaru semmed to notice the prodigy and his female teammate approaching. He waved a hand at them, that caused the whole group turned back.
"YOSH! MY RIVAL AND TENTEN! YOU TWO LOOKED SO YOUTHFUL TODAY! NEJI! MY RIVAL! ARE YOU READY FOR THE MISSION?" Neji and Tenten hyper teammate yelled when he spotted them. The pair raised their hands to cover their ears at his sudden outburst.
"Shut up Lee! And I'm ready!" Neji scowled at his other teammate.
"What with the tired faces?! Did you guys have sex last night or something?" Kiba smirked at Neji and Tenten.
Neji glared hard at him. Murderous aura already covered his whole body.
Tenten sensed the bloodlust from Neji. The weapon mistress wanted to slap Kiba sometimes, he always pushed Neji button every time they meet. She was feared for the dogboy rather than her stoic teammate when they got in their arguments.
"Kiba! Stop joking like that! You do not want to piss off your teammate before the mission, do you?!" Tenten told him. Her eyebrows frowned a little to emphasize her point.
"Okay! Okay!" Kiba laughed. He himself knew that pissing off the Hyuuga prodigy now would do no good for him. Harm? Maybe.
Tenten touched Neji on his arm in hope it would ease his angry mood. Neji looked down at her and sighed. Why did she have to care about him all the time?! Her kind concern made it harder for him to get her off his mind. Neji raised a hand and massaged his temple.
Tenten looked up at her teammate. She glanced over his jacket and noticed some top buttons were undone. Don't bother to think. She raised both her hands near his collar and buttoned it. Neji tensed at her sudden movement. Her touches sent him a chill down his spine. He stared with wide-eyed at her.
"Neji! The mission is very dangerous so take care of yourself, okay?!" she said while fixing his jacket. Neji speechless
"Don't skip your meals. It's not healthy if you do that!" Tenten ran her small hand over the second button. "Remember to wear something warm when night fall! I knew it near the desert but temperature drop low there at night so keep yourself as warm as possible, alright?!" She moved on the third button "Don't risk your life out there! If you see it is too much to handle alone, wait for others to come, don't let your ego override you, okay?!" Finished all of the buttons, Tenten trailed a line on his jacket by her hand to smooth it. "Sleep as much as possible, okay?! Don't work yourself, too much, you ha-…" she can't say anything anymore. Tears blurred her visions. Her voice lost. She bit her lower lip to stop the incoming chokes built in her throat. Letting him go hurt her more than she thought.
Neji saw the heavy tears rolling on his teammate beautiful tanned cheeks. He noticed her lower lip was bleeding. A small drop of blood stayed stubbornly on her red full lip. The pain she was enduring. He felt it. It matched the one that he was feeling right now. Neji heart squeezed tightly in his chest as like someone tried to rip it out of him. He did not want to see her crying. The tears on her cheeks, he wanted to kiss them all away. The sorrow she was feeling, he wanted to hold her dearly to shoo them all away. The physical pain was not hurt like this.
Neji held her face between his palms. He slightly titled her head up. Locking her beautiful brown eyes with his. And for the first time, he smiled. A true smile.
"Don't cry,… Tenten." He told her softly.
Tenten stared at him. She never saw he smiled before. The smile of his. It was too beautiful to say with words. She wanted to see it more. He told her not to cry but yet, she can't help to let more tears running down from her eyes. But this times it was different. Those were tears of joy.
Tenten raised a hand and placed them on his. She smiled at him but tears keep falling.
"Be safe, Neji."
Neji smiled again. At this moment, he can't deny his feeling anymore.
He leaned in slowly and kissed a tear running on her cheek. He closed his eyes, his forehead was against her.
"Wait for me, Tenten." He whispered softly to her. His beautiful lavender eyes gazed directly at the big pretty chocolate orbs. Two colors blended with love.
"I'll always be waiting for you." She told him in loving tone between the tears. She leaned toward him on her toes, closed her eyes and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. She backed down with a breathtaking smile on her angelic face.
The soft sobbing sounds broke the moment.
Turned back the other way, the pair saw their friends staring lovingly at them. The sobs came from Ino, Sakura and Hinata. They looked as if they just saw the most romantic, cheesy movie in the world. The boys were smiling at them. Not smirk. Smile. Except Lee. He was crying along with the girls.
The two were now aware of their close proximity. They let go of each other slowly with deep red blushes on both of their faces.
"WOAH! MY TEAMMATES! WHY DID YOU STOP?! IT WAS TOO BEAUTIFUL!" Lee yelled in disappointment and happiness at the same time. He knew two of his teammates were definitely feel something for each other and this had proved him right.
Tenten and Neji felt like they were going to die from embarrassment. Neji cleared his throat with an awkward cough.
"It's time Shikamaru! Let's get going." He said. Glanced over the captain, he saw a unusual smile on the lazy boy face, which made him even more embarrassed. Great! They are going to tease him no end during the mission.
"Okay then, we will get going, team! Goodbye, girls!" Shikamaru waved a hand lazily at the girls, who were still sobbing. Sakura organized Naruto and Lee bags and handed toward them. Ino, recoverd from her emotional moment, start yelling orders at her teammates. Mostly to tell them to take good care of themselves. Hinata handing a bag full of her homemade ointment bottles for her teammates and gave them medical direction.
Neji and Tenten were left alone with their moment again. Tenten was still keeping her head down from embarrassment. Neji looked at her and smirked at her shyness.
"I will get going, then." He told her.
Tenten turned her still red face at her teammate. She smiled and nodded at him.
"Take care of Lee also, Neji!" she told him
Neji smirked at her "You spoiled him too much, Tenten."
She giggled happily at him. Tenten stepped forward and put her arms around his waist. She pressed herself against him tightly.
"Come home soon, Neji!" she told him.
Neji smiled and placed a loving kiss on her hair.
"I will!" Tenten smiled and released him. She wiped away her tears on his jacket and motioned him to go forward. Neji smiled at her and stepped toward his team, but he suddenly he stopped.
Tenten asked worriedly when she saw him stopping.
"What's wrong, Neji? You forget something?"
Neji turned around to face her.
"Indeed, yes I am." He answered her
"What is it? I will come to your room and get it! It will be fast!" Tenten told him
Neji said nothing more. He reached at his pocket behind and pulls out a scroll. Tenten eyed him questionably. Neji opened the scroll and did a quick hand seal. Smoke burst out of the scroll. Tenten coughed and waved her hand on the air to clear the smoke.
The thin air in front of her slowly faded, left her an image of the man she loved with a bouquet of beautiful red roses in his hand.
Tenten stared in surprise.
From behind, Ino had a smile on her face.
Neji stepped forward and stopped in front of Tenten. He raised the bouquet near her slightly shaking hands. He gazed and smiled at the beautiful woman he vowed to protect with all his life.
"Happy Birthday, Tenten."
THE END
A/n: OMG! I FINISHED! FINALLY!
You love it? Or hate it?
Plz reviews! :'