Neji's POV

The horror; the absolute horror! Not even in my worst nightmares was I ready for this. Gai-sensai embraces me, while we're both naked. The only thing that's keeping my mental state from completely shutting down is knowing that with God's good grace, we were at least wearing tiles. Knowing that, what small dignity I have left is protected from the fact we didn't have 'complete' skin on skin contact. 'Thank you oh sweet and merciful God we're both wearing tiles.' I can plainly see Ms. Hide-san laughing to the point she is holding her stomach. She must think I'm a such loser now because of this oaf. What chance do I have with her when this nitwit has just humiliated me to the point of no return? He finally let me go as he went to talk.

Gai: "Come, Neji. Together, you and I shall rain victory and crush our opponents. Then we'll celebrate with some curry as we bask in our youth!"

Hide: "Is that a challenge I hear?"

Gai: "Well, not to say I'll win but your defeat in almost guaranteed."

Hide: "Ok, how about we make this game interesting? When you lose, you have to be Carlos' full body guard and I get the rest of this mission off."

Gai: "Hehe, I see. If you lose, you let me stay at your house until my apartment gets fix."

Neji/Hide: "WHAT! What happen to your apartment?"

Lee: "Well, that was my fault. As it would seem, ceiling are very easy to break."

Neji/Hide: _

Hide: "Erm,…I'll ask later, but yeah, you can stay with me but only if you win."

Neji: "Hold on a second,.."

Gai: "Alright, and if I lose, I have to do 500 laps around this entire island, on my hands."

Lee: "That sounds most intriguing. If you lose, then I will join you."

Neji: "Hold on a second!"

Gai: "What is it, Neji?"

Neji: "How are we going to play volley ball in here? We don't have a ball or a net?"

Gai: "Hmm,...oh yeah." ^_^'

Hide: "Don't worry about that sweetheart. I'll take care of it."

I was watching Hide make hand signs. They were so fast I couldn't even keep up. Suddenly, the water around us started to feel hotter as it was glower brighter. Within a few seconds, the glowing water seemed to be a living thing. It moved around Hide while the rest of the water stayed put. I watched as the object moved out of the water in the shape of volleyball net. It wasn't made out of water though. It looked like crystals. Next Hide held her hands out a water sphere floated into her hands. It spun until the outside layer became a flexible type of rubber. I couldn't tell if I was showing it, but I knew I was truly amazed by this small performance.

Hide: "There we go!"

Lee: "That was amazing, Hide. I have never seen anything like it before."

Gai: "Bravo! Spectacular!"

She was lightly scratching her nose as she giggled slightly. The small blush on her face was just so cute. 'Wait a minute! Don't think like that. She has no desire to be with me.' Then all at once, the memory of her hot soft lips on yours, the steamy kiss, the way she smiled at you, the way she even flirted with you; it all came back again. 'Maybe she does. She could just be hiding it for Gai's sake.'

Hide: "First to five wins. Alright, since you picked your team first, we get the ball. Oh yeah, DON'T go easy on me."

There it was, that smirk. She was aiming it straight at you. 'Maybe.'

Hide's POV

I threw the ball up. BAM! 'Get in, get IN!' Gai hit the ball just in time before it hit the water. It flew up a good 30 feet before it started to fall on our side. Lee jumped up and with all his power, he kicked the ball to the other side.

Hide: "WHOO HOO LEE!"

I couldn't help it. I had to pick up my favorite and teen spin him around in my own hug. I may not have to deal with Carlos anymore after all! I hear Lee and even Gai laughing despite the fact that we got the first point.

Gai: "Enjoy victory while you can. For next point, there will be no next point for you."

Hide: "Jealous 'cause we're winning?"

Gai: "Lucky shots don't count! Neji, we need a cunning and diabolical plan."

As those two were plotting, I had something else up my sleeve,…or tile, whatever comes first. I felt Lee tapping on my shoulder. "Hide, do you think we should come up with a cunning and diabolical plan?" "No Lee, we'll win for sure." "How do you know that?" "One: The ball is infused with my chakra so it'll do whatever I want it to do. Two: same as the net and lastly, I have you on my side." "Thank you, Hide. I promise, I will not let you down!"

Gai: "Our serve!"

The game continued for a good 40 minutes. Using my chakra, I did make three more points with Lee's help. Since I didn't want Gai or Neji to see through my plan, I allowed them to make four points. My win was now. Neji served the ball, I jumped and did a forward spinning kick while making my legs as closed as possible. The two frozen enemies stood their, stiff. (No pun is attended on purpose. X3 Ok it was totally was.) Both Gai and Neji's face fell, blood gushing from their noses as the ball landed my victory. 'Victory of having perverts on the team.'

Lee: "Yeah! We won!"

Lee ran up and hugged me as I spun him around again much like the first. "That's my boy!"

Gai: "Well Hide, you may have won this time, but mock my words, I'll win the next one."

Gai gave me a thumbs up and a kiss on the cheek before getting out of the water to do his laps and Lee followed him as he said he would. I made the ball and net disappear for going back in the deep in. I was so tired. I relaxed almost immediately was the steamy hot water came up to my neck as I sat myself down. I could just sit here and fall asleep.

"Ms. Hide."

Or not. I snapped my eyes open and saw the pale eyed teen right in front of me, looking at my at eye level. "Yes, Neji." "I was wondering. During the game, you didn't cheat by any chance, did you?" Busted! I knew I gave myself away when my face fell. He just shut his eyes and smirked. "I knew it." Crap, this kid is a genius. I'm screwed. "Technically, my only rules we're the 5 points to win. However, I didn't say how. So, no, I didn't really cheat."

Neji didn't say anything. He kept looking me. His eyes were clouded by thought as if he was being possessed by it. "Neji?" Nothing. I leaned in closer with my hand out. I was really worried about him. I wonder if he's coming down with a fever. I went to touch his forehead but all at once, it looked like a blur.

Neji quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and crushed his lips with mine. I then felt my body being lifted and laid down on the floor as he lays himself on top of me, pinning my arms at my waist. I gasp in shock. I didn't think Neji was this type of person! He took his chance and plunged his tongue in my mouth. He tasted every tooth and swirled his tongued around mine. My mind went hey wire but my damn body was still frozen from the shock. One hand left my waist so he could lift up the bottom of my tile; soft firm finger just barely touching the wet entrance between my legs. At that moment, I finally snapped out of it. I pushed Neji off of me, breaking the kiss. "Neji, stop!" From the look on his face, he finally snapped out of it too.

"M-Ms. Hide? Oh my God, what have I done?" Neji turn to run but I grabbed his hand before he could escape. He glanced back at me. The shock, the disgust, and fear in his face were all too clear. "We need to have a talk, right now." He didn't move an inch except his head. He wouldn't even look at me as shame flooded his entire face. I got off the floor and brushed off the small pieces of peddles on my tile. Neji still wouldn't look at me. 'I think I know what happen but just to be safe, I'll let him talk.' Gently placing my hands on the young mans shoulder, I felt him jolt underneath my touch, as if I just burnt his flesh. "What are you going to do to me, Ms. Hide?" "Well, 'we' are going to sit in the spring and whenever you're ready, you can tell me what going on through that little mind of yours." I led him back inside the same spot where we started in. We sat down together but to his surprise, I wrapped an arm around his shoulder just like I do with Lee. "I know I have no right to ask but, will you keep this hole nightmare just between you and me?" "Neji, you should know better." Neji's frown had sunken. "You're every bit as important to me as the others. You have my word that this situation never happened." I saw his eye's widen. He looked at me so confused. I just gave him one of my sweetest smiles. ",…but why?" "Because I know you well enough. You're a great kid. I can't read you're mind however. So before I can help you, you need to talk to me."

Neji just lowered his head. "So you only see me as a child and you want nothing more to do with me." "No, I see you as a young man who seems to be having issues me." He still didn't look at me. "I don't have,..issues with you." "We both know that's not true. Tell me, what's bothering you?" He didn't anything for a few moments as he was collecting his thoughts. "You could never see me in a romantic way, can you?" 'I was right.' "Neji, these thoughts you're having, was it because I kissed you?" "I've never kissed a woman before you. I know now that I'm too young for you so you'll only see me as a child." I could see his reflection in the water. The sad look on Neji's face, I felt sad for him. I didn't know I was leading him on.

"At the moment, I think you don't as much about me as you think. You're not too young for me but I'm simply too old for you. Trust me, if I could be 16 again, you'd be my first choice." "hmph. You're just saying that." "That's another thing, I never lie to make people feel better. Believe it or not, I once dated a special someone who was just like you, personality wise." "You did? What happened?" "Well, lets say he didn't show as much interest in me as you did. That's what broke us off. We're still friends of course but if he would have had as much enthusiasm as you just showed me, we probably would've had a few kids in school by now." Hi finally looked back up and I seen the slight pink in his cheeks. "If you were 16 again, you would be interested?" "You kidding me? If I was 16, you would be able to leave my room for a month." The different shades of pink and red made Neji look a lot cuter. "Neji, listen to me. I'm sorry I stoled your first kiss. I didn't mean to give you mixed signs." "No, it was my fault. I should've listen to logic. I knew it was only from that bet." Neji looked so heartbroken, I felt like I owed him. "How 'bout this? I'll give you one free bee. Okay?" "What?" Now his face looked as if was going to pop, he was just so red. "I'll let you kiss me, right here and now. However, you have to tell me exactly how you feel afterwards, okay?" "Are you serious?" "Like a heart attack." I seen he was shock. His eyes was wide and mouth slightly fell. "Well come on, kiss me." His was hesitant at first but, he slowly moved in front of me and he pause. Apparently, Neji's only good with sneak attacks. I wrap my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He gently placed his hand at my waist. At the same time, we shut our eyes as our lips met. Neji's kiss was slow and sweet. Our rhythm matched perfectly. After a few moments, Neji broke us apart as he sat back down in front of me. He wasn't looking at me but down at the water. The blush in his cheek was a light pink. I never seen Neji smile so sweetly before. It was so boyish and cute!

"Neji, what are feeling?" "I feel,...happy." "And why's that?" He finally looked into my eyes. "Because, even though it was a great kiss, I don't feel attracted to you anymore." "Does this mean you're breaking up with me?" Neji caught the playfulness in my tone and chuckled. "Yes, but don't worry. We can always be friends." Now I was laughing. "Ow, harsh." We both laughed.

"It's getting late. I think we start heading back for a good night's sleep. What do you say?" He gave me a soft smile. "Agreed." Neji got up first and offered me his hand. Gladly taking it, Neji pulled me up. However, I didn't notice how my tile was caught between the rocks. Neji's eyes nearly shot out of his skull as the blood shot from his nose. "Neji, what's wron- SON OF BITCH!"