A/N: School stress is killing me, though FF wise that's usually a good thing. When my emotions are running high and my brain is scrambled, that's when I write the best.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

…..

Tenten was standing in her kitchen at two in the morning, hands on her hips, staring down her coffee machine. Her hair was beginning to pool out of its messy bun, a strap of her tangerine tank top had slipped off her shoulder, and his gaze, the Hyuuga assessed, would surely burn a hole through her back if it were any more intense.

Tenten, Neji decided, was quite the woman.

"I apologize for waking you," he murmured, the same thing he had been telling her for the past fifteen minutes as she stomped around her flat to accommodate her unexpected guest.

"It's no problem," she grunted, the only words she'd spoken to him in the past two months. She still held a grudge against him, against words that he wished he could take back. But the damage was done, and the two had resorted to the same antics they had used in their genin days, during the beginnings of Team Gai.

It was awkward.

"How have you been?" the Hyuuga asked. He hadn't seen her since their fight, and though he kept telling himself he was completely independent, he had to admit he had missed her, a lot. Tenten purposely kept her back to him, afraid she would break if she looked him in the eyes.

"Okay," came her gruff reply (This was a complete utter lie. She couldn't sleep anymore). "You?"

"I'm doing well." In truth, he had nearly obliterated their training grounds in a fit of blind rage the day after their break up. He should never have yelled at her like that, should never have called her reckless and irresponsible. He was just so damn worried that she could have gotten hurt. It was just a simple mission, an ambush by a stupid band of thieves, but Tenten had nearly gotten her head chopped off. He didn't mean to practically go into hysterics. How was he to calmly explain to her that watching her almost die did painful things to his heart?

So instead he sat quietly observing the décor in her apartment. There really wasn't much to see, but he noted she had taken down the ornamental fan he had brought back for her from a mission in the Tea Country. Something inside him began to burn at this knowledge. The book she had permanently borrowed (AKA stolen) from his room was not in its usual place on the coffee table either. He didn't mind her taking it, but it had amused him to no end when she stammered trying to explain how it had ended up at her house.

"Only one spoon of sugar right?" Tenten asked. She didn't wait for his reply, already knowing the answer, and opened the cabinet and reached for the sugar pot. A moment later, it clattered to the floor and she let out a soft "shit" clutching her hand, watching blood ooze out from the gash across her palm. Neji was up in an instant and took hold of her wrist, forcing her hand under the cool tap water.

She recoiled and tried to pull away, gritting her teeth as tears threatened to spill. "I don't need your help," she hissed, finally managing to jerk her hand out of his grasp. Neji glared at her, forgetting all about the fact they weren't exactly on speaking terms.

"Tenten, if you don't treat this properly, it can become infected," he said, reaching for her hand again.

"Gee I wouldn't know that would I? Considering I'm reckless and irresponsible," she spat. Neji stiffened. He still hadn't decided how he wanted to broach the subject of their fight, much less convince (beg) her to be his girlfriend again, and he certainly wasn't expect her to bring it up, but if he wanted her back, now was the time to make his move.

"Tenten, I didn't-"

"Oh yes you did! You meant every word! You've always thought of me as weak, always looked down on me like I was your dummy to punch whenever you wanted. All you ever wanted was to use me and throw me away. You never actually loved me. It was my mistake for believing you-you little shit. GET OUT!"

Neji could feel white rage bubbling. He balled his fists, half wanting to scream, half wanting to shove her against the fridge and completely violate her. "Listen," his voice shook with barely controlled anger," I know that I insulted you. I know you are not reckless or irresponsible. But how dare you accuse me of using you as a punching bag. How dare you say that I never loved you. I was worried about you. You should be grateful you even have anyone to care about you."

That may have been a low blow on his part, but his frustration was getting the better of him. He took deep breaths and tried not to flinch when Tenten shoved past him and placed her hand under the water. He didn't need to look at her face to know she was crying- crying hard. "Get out," she whispered.

"No."

"Why can't you just leave me alone? I don't want you here."

"I can't leave you alone because I never stopped loving you, never stopped caring about you."

Silence.

She didn't move away when he tentatively placed a hand on her shoulder, or try to dodge the kiss he pressed to her temple. "I'm sorry," he murmured against her skin.

There, he said it. He swallowed his damned pride and said it. Tenten stilled underneath his fingertips. When she looked at him, huge wet streaks were running down her cheeks and her tears were obscuring her vision. But she reached blindly for him anyway, grabbing his shirt and burying her face in his chest.

"You asshole." I love you.

Neji's strong arms slowly encircled her waist and he gently rested his chin atop her head. He really had missed her.

"I love you too, woman." Don't you ever leave me again.

…..

A/N: I don't know what's with me and break-ups, but that's all I feel like writing right now. It feels very satisfying to have them scream at each other (probably because I want to scream at someone right now).

Thank you for reading and please review!

~M.I.