Author's Note: I decided to try something different. I have had this stored in the depths of my microsoft word documents for a couple years, I think. I started writing this a long time ago, got stuck at the part where Tenten tells Neji to "read her the stars," and then left it alone. After kicking myself in the butt to get it done, I did. And here's the result.

Also, fun fact, I was looking at when I first published these series of one-shots, and that was way back in August 2008! You guys! It's been four years! Am I the only one mind blown by how time has gone? Crazy!

Anyway, I hope you like it! Short and sweet. At least I hope it comes off that way. :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Title: Stargazing
Genre: Romance
Rating: T
Pairing(s): NejiTen
Summary: He said everyone had a predetermined destiny. She asked him to tell her her destiny. He raised an eyebrow to her. She pointed at the sky. "Read me the stars."

The sun had begun to set as a brilliant gold sky gleamed overhead.

"Good job, everybody! Now, one more lap around the forest and then that will end today's training session! Come on, use the youthful energy flowing in your youthful bodies!" shouted Gai as he encouraged his panting students.

Rock Lee stood up very straight, puffing his chest out as he lifted his arm in the air. "For Gai-sensei!" he shouted as he immediately began sprinting.

Neji and Tenten watched the boy clad in tight green spandex run, catching their breath for a few more moments before they followed suit as well.

"Well done, well done!" shouted Gai, smiling widely as held out his arm and gave thumbs up, his teeth sparkling with a ding!

Within minutes his students finished running a lap around the wide forest and fell into line in front of their mentor. Tenten rested her hands on her knees as she panted while Rock Lee and Neji stood, panting quietly.

"Excellent, my pupils! Another successful training day!" shouted Gai. "I will see you three tomorrow. Same time, same place. Stay youthful!" And with that, the odd man took his leave.

"Gai-sensei, wait!" shouted Lee, quickly trailing behind his beloved sensei.

Both Gai and Lee soon fell out of sight. After a few moments, Tenten stood upright, wiping away a bead of sweat that was trickling down the side of her face. She looked at Neji who returned her glance.

He put his hands in his pocket and nodded towards her. Then he turned on his foot and began to take his leave.

"Neji, wait," Tenten breathed, calling out after her comrade. He stopped his movement, turning his head over his shoulder as he looked at her. "Will you help me work on my physical combat? I think I made some progress last time." She beamed triumphantly.

Neji raised an eyebrow. "Now? Are you not tired?"

Her smiled became a teasing one as she replied, "No, but if you are we don't have to train, so you can rest your 'delicate' bones—"

He turned to face her fully. "Don't get overconfident. It affects your technique."

She grinned. "Of course. Don't go easy on me, okay?"

He did not answer but Tenten didn't mind. Instead she watched him crouch low as she lunged at him, her fist clenched tight as she swung at him.

An hour later…

Her feet created friction with the soil as Tenten was pushed back a few feet. She uncrossed her arms (that were crossed over one another defensively) before she dove towards Neji once again.

She swung her fist in an uppercut, but he caught her wrist and twisted it. She winced slightly and quickly moved her hand to slug him across the face. He dodged it but in doing so he released the grip he had on her wrist and she jumped back, massaging her wrist gently. She hunched forward and rested her palms against her knees as she caught her breath.

"Okay, I think that's enough for today," she said, pushing the strands of loose hair that fell in front of her chocolate brown eyes away from her face.

Neji nodded and straightened himself. "Not bad," he remarked coolly. "There was some improvement."

She smiled at his compliment. "I'm glad you think so," she said before she plopped herself down against the soft grass below her. She leaned back against the small blades of grass and stretched out her arms and legs, sighing contently as she closed her eyes.

She could hear his feet moving against the grass. She popped an eye open as she saw him turn away and begin to leave.

"Hey, Neji," she called out after him. She saw him turn around and look at her inquisitively. She patted the grass beside her. "Come here. I want to ask you something."

He raised an eyebrow, but nevertheless did as he was told. He walked towards her and sat down with his legs crossed. The sun had set an hour ago, and the sky was a brilliant shade of midnight blue. The stars above twinkled as the radiance of the moon gave the forest area a silver glow.

"What is it?" he asked calmly.

"You said I was improving on my hand to hand combat. Which is great. But what else do you think I need to improve on?"

He shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

She opened both her eyes and looked at him. "It does to me. Why do you say that?"

His light, lavender eyes fell on her face for a moment before he looked at the sky. "If you were meant to be a great fighter all around, you wouldn't need improvement," he replied matter-of-factly.

She sat up and pulled her knees up to her chest. She wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin against her knees. "You think great fighters are born and not made?"

"Of course."

"But what about Lee? He wasn't born fast, he trained every day with the weights on his legs to make him fast."

"Lee was born with the discipline needed to cultivate his speed. Most men would not take the lengths Lee took to increase one ability."

"If people are born great fighters, what's the point of our training, then?"

Neji gave Tenten a pointed look. "Training keeps one's skill in tact. It is not useless."

Tenten tilted her head to the side. "So you really think people don't have control over their lives?"

"People are born with a predetermined destiny. There is no argument over that."

She looked off to the side before returning her gaze to his pale face. "Fine. Then tell me, Neji, what's my destiny?"

He turned to her and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Tell me my destiny," she repeated. She looked up and pointed at the stars twinkling above. "Read me the stars."

He studied her face, trying to decipher if she was joking or not. But her brown eyes were focused on the sky, the glow of the stars reflecting in her gaze. He followed her stare, looking up towards the night sky as well.

"You can't tell destiny from stars," Neji replied. "They are merely constellations in the sky. Bright lights. They mean nothing."

A small smile appeared on Tenten's face. That was such a typical Neji answer.

"So your saying it wasn't in your destiny to know how to read the stars?" she said playfully.

She could feel his eyes on her. "You're mocking me."

She gave him a cheeky grin. "Just a little bit." She shifted her position, straightening out her legs in front of her and placing her palms against the soft grass behind her as she turned her torso towards Neji. "Do you honestly believe everything is predestined?"

"Of course. It's perfectly logical."

"So humans have no control over their own fates?"

"No more than anything else on the planet. The power to control destiny is too great for anyone to possess, let alone each individual on earth."

"Is that so…" Tenten mumbled quietly.

He tilted his head back, looking up at the sky overhead. "It's the way it is. All one can do is accept their fate—"

He was looking at the sky when he felt something soft and warm against his cheek. As quick as it came it was gone, and he couldn't fight the small blush that spread across his face.

Tenten inwardly smiled at his reaction, though she mirrored the blush he wore. At least she wasn't the only one flustered.

She scooted next to him, nudging him lightly with her arm. "Well, I believe people control their own destinies, not the other way around."

He grunted, muttering, "Well, uh—everyone's entitled to their own opinion."

She smiled, finding the courage to lean against him and rest her head on his shoulder. She felt him tense against her. She knew he wasn't a fan of physical contact. But within a few moments his body relaxed.

They sat together in a content silence before Tenten spoke her thought aloud.

"Do you believe this was meant to happen, on this very night?"

He was quiet for several moments. "It must have been, since it's happening."

She couldn't help the soft giggle that escaped her throat. "So, are you saying, Neji, that we were… 'fated' to be together?"

He scoffed, closing his eyes. She pushed herself off of him, peering up at his face. She stifled her laughter behind her hand.

"Neji, you're blushing!"

His eyes opened, his eyebrows furrowing together as he scowled at her.

"You're seeing things," he said, though his glare coupled with pink cheeks came off more as an adorable pout than anything threatening.

"So cute," she said between giggles, leaning her head against the crook of his neck.

Neji merely rolled his eyes, his chin resting against the top of her head. He wasn't blushing. Hyuugas don't blush.

She sighed contently as the two tilted their head back, looking at the stars twinkling above them.

"I can't believe I made you blush. Gai-sensei and Lee will never believe me."

"Shut up."