A/N: I discovered this lovely gem in my pile of incomplete stories.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
…..
It was a mundane morning for Team Gai. Neji and Lee had slept over at Tenten's apartment, all three having arrived in the village late the previous night from a mission. They were currently assembled in her kitchen, eating breakfast. Neji was staring blankly at a plate of half-eaten dango, lilac eyes still drowsy. Lee was doing one-armed push-ups on the floor, counting each one underneath his breath. Tenten was clamoring around fixing tea, her bare feet moving noiselessly.
Outside, the three could hear Sakura's angry shouts and the distinct sound of a body slamming into a brick wall-Naruto was up to mischief again. Neji lips twitched into a smirk as the blonde's groans of pain drifted through the open window.
"Careful," Tenten said, setting down a tray on the table in front of the Hyuuga, "the mugs are a bit hot." Neji thanked her quietly, took a sip, and then shifted his gaze to glare at the tea instead of the food. The brunette female placed her hands on her hips, rolling her eyes at Lee's antics. She pulled him off the floor and sat him in a chair, forcing a mug into his hands. The bushy-browed man downed the scorching liquid in one go before quickly reclaiming his space on the floor for his exercise.
Neji and Tenten exchanged an exasperated glance, but still couldn't help feel a surge of affection for their bowl-haired teammate.
"Sleep well?" the brunette female asked, helping herself to Neji's unfinished dango. The Hyuuga gave her a nonchalant shrug, watching her eat. One strap of her baby pink colored tank top was slipping off her shoulder, the soft, scarred skin beneath looking particularly enticing. Neji gave his thoughts a sharp tug: this was not the time to awaken his imagination.
Tenten continued to happily chow down, grinning at the male when their eyes met. "You're quiet," she commented between mouth full's.
"Aren't I always?" he retorted, taking another sip of tea. Tenten let out a soft laugh.
"Yes, but you're being more so than usual," she told him. Neji let out a noncommittal grunt while running his fingers through his unbound, damp hair. He glanced over at Tenten now, whose own hair was pulled up into a single messy bun. It had a nice healthy sheen and was the color of chocolate. He examined the few strands that framed her face, tracing the curls with narrowed eyes. No split ends, he observed, the cogs in his mind turning to catalog this information, she must have trimmed them. Satisfied, he returned his gaze back to his tea.
"When are we training?" he asked. Tenten paused mid-bite, then lifted a hand to smack him. He dodged easily of course, his eyebrow rising in question. Did he say something wrong?
"Neji Hyuuga, I am sitting here for once in my life enjoying a peaceful breakfast, yet you have the audacity to ask me when you can try-note the use of the word try- doesn't mean you will succeed- to beat my ass into the ground? How rude."
Neji blinked dumbfounded. It wasn't until he caught the mischievous gleam in Tenten's eye that he realized she was only joking. Still, he found her words unsettling. "What do you mean you've never had a peaceful breakfast?"
She sighed, "Well I'm just saying that ever since you amped up our training regime, I haven't exactly had the time to eat properly." She brushed it off with a shrug, taking a long gulp of the now lukewarm tea. She wasn't angry; she didn't mind spending time with Neji or training- her profession required it after all. However, the Hyuuga was not so willing to let it go.
"You don't get to eat?" The wheels in his mind were spinning again.
"It's not that big of a deal-"
"Yes it is." He got up from the table and rummaged through one of the drawers for a pencil and paper. He scribbled something down before showing it to her. "Here is our new, improved schedule." Tenten stared at him, then glanced at the paper, then back at him.
She burst out laughing. "You are such a dork!"
Neji frowned. "I don't understand why you're laughing. By waking up an hour earlier, we can both eat together before warming up. Breakfast is important. Food is our fuel, and if we don't have enough, we burn out and-mmph-" Tenten had pounced on him suddenly, wrapping her arms around his neck as she kissed him. He felt his back collide with the refrigerator, but he was too preoccupied to care.
"You're so cute!" she teased, pinching his cheek. Neji gave her a stern glare. He never really did understand women, much less his own girlfriend. One minute it looked like she wanted to beat the crap out of him, the next she was tucking herself under his chin.
They paused for a second, Neji inhaling the scent of her shampoo, Tenten listening to the steady beat of his heart. Lee remained oblivious to it all ("1001…1002…").
"So I seriously have to wake up an hour earlier?" Tenten whined. Neji smirked and leaned down to whisper in her ear. His cool breath tickled her skin and she tried her best to keep her mind engaged.
"I'll feed you," he murmured, moving to trail his nose along her jaw. Tenten grinned. Neji may not have exactly understood how her mind worked, but he did know what made her tick.
"It's a date."
…..
A/N: Thank you for reading and please review!
~M.I.