||My Little Bird|| [Neji Hyuga x OC]

Chapter Five

The battle took only three minutes. Of course, it was a tie. Not because they were equally strong, but because the Hyuga was struck on the side of the head, hard enough to knock him unconscious. And it wasn't Kimiko who struck him.

"N-Neji?!" Kimiko widened her eyes, quickly leaping to his side as blood began to pour out of the wound.

"Stop!" Gai yelled, and Tenten immediately took action too. "Jeez, what the hell was that?!"

"It looked like a giant rock from a slingshot..." Kimiko pressed her hands against the wound, applying pressure to stop the bleeding. "Any emergency gauze in hand?"

"Hai!" Rock Lee unfurled the extra gauze on his hands (clean luckily; he changed it during the first three minutes) Tenten tied it tightly, holding the wound together, and Neji soon regained conscious.

"Hell, Kimiko, rocks are cheap moves..." Neji growled, everything was still foggy to him. "How bad is it?"

"It wasn't me, for one, and...well...it'll leave a little scar..." Kimiko frowned. "Someone's got to track the guy who threw that! What was he doing, trying to kill someone?!"

"It seems like it was a she!" Tenten narrowed her eyes, as she approached the direction from where the rock came from. On it was a small strip of light pink cloth. "Someone's got enemies. Probably one of Neji's yandere fangirls. It happens, if you're a rookie. If you're Sasuke, it's more...extreme..."

Kimiko ignored the fact, knowing that if it happened again it might strike him somewhere vital. Then she couldn't...complete her mission. "We should get him to the hospital..."

Not ten minutes later, Neji laid in a white sanitary room, his clothes changed into the usual hospital gown and his headband removed. Kimiko had been curious to see his curse mark in person, but he was wary; he covered it up with white gauze so that even if his headband did slip, no one would see.

"Hey, so...about the match..." Kimiko coughed, sitting at his bedside like the rest of the team. She was concerned for the Hyuga. If he died, she would surely be a suspect. And...and that she thought he was quite enjoyable to be around, even if he was a tightass. "We could redo it, you know. I was pretty excited to see the power of the Hyuga." She said with a light laugh, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.

"...hm. As soon as I get out of this hospital bed, I'll have you on the ground begging for mercy in two seconds flat." Neji scoffed, his eyes closed. His was in a lighter mood, probably because of the pain medication. He needed it, the rock had dug deep enough to make a small fracture in his skull, and it was dangerously close to the part of his brain where he kept his memories.

Hearing Neji speak those words, and having the slightly perverted mind she did, Tenten held in a little giggle. "Hehe..." She covered her mouth. "Pft!"

"In the least lewd way possible. Tenten." Neji gave her a tired stare. "I can't handle this if you're gonna be perverted. I've only been acquainted with Kimiko some hours ago."

Kimiko felt awkward, moving away from his bedside. "I should probably be going. I'll visit tomorrow, promise, but Sasuke is waiting, and I hate to keep him waiting. Hope you get better, Neji!" She bowed to the Hyuga, giving her respects. Honestly,she didn't think that he was as good as fighting as he was, though she couldn't fully tell his full potential.

"Kimiko?" Neji called, just as she reached the doorway. "I underestimated you. You're...an average fighter. Pretty good."

"R-Really?" She raised her eyebrow, surprised by his sudden compliment. "You're not too bad yourself...rookie."

Neji laid back, tired from being awake. His head ached badly, but he had too much pride to show that weakness to the newcomer. At her words, he felt a smirk arising from his lips. "Very well. See you tomorrow."