Playing Catch The Soul (NejiTen Story)

Memory 13: Asking Me Out Age: 15

Present TenTen's POV

It's been a few days. The setting seems too familiar like it was just recent. Of course, this is the memory when Neji asked me out and a few days later he committed suicide. I don't know what happened. But I think this is the last memory before the suicide.

There was also something going on on that day. Something happened to Neji. Present TenTen was sitting boredom in class, playing with her pencil while everyone was here except for Neji. Of course, she was worried since it's not likely of him to be absent if Hinata was here.

"Hey, Lee-Kun? Do you know where Neji-Kun is?" TenTen asked Rock Lee curiously. Rock Lee shook his head as he drew a picture of Sakura in his notebook. He was barely paying attention to TenTen's question but could hear enough to answer it. "How about you? Hinata-Chan?" TenTen asked Hinata.

Sadly, Hinata shook her head. She still had some bruises from the obstacle course but they were bandaged. "No one knows where he is," Hinata said and frowned as she took out her textbook and pencils and pens. TenTen bitterly stared at the empty seat next to her where Neji usually sits. There was nothing.

Finally, Kakashi came into the classroom with a large set of books. But he pointed out the door and looked at TenTen. "TenTen-San. The medical-nin are calling you. You should go," Kakashi said. TenTen got up from her seat. "Hai, Kakashi-Sensei," TenTen said and walked out of the classroom.

As TenTen walked in the hallways, her heartbeat kept getting louder and louder per step she took. She was thinking that it was something urgent for her to skip class. She was at the nurse office and stepped in. "Neji-San I'll need you go calm down," I heard a medical-nin say. Neji groaned in pain as I saw he clutched onto his forehead.

"Neji-Kun!" TenTen exclaimed in worry. "TenTen-Chan..," Neji said and winced in pain again. The medical-nin pinned him down and I soon saw that he had his forehead protector removed and his seal was showing. I looked at I and saw that it was glowing light green then back to it's original color. Like a bunch of flickering lights.

"Okay, Neji-Kun, I'm going to need you to activate Byakugan, okay?" The medical-nin said. I saw as Neji strained and forced himself to activate Byakugan. His forehead seal looked like it was matching his heartbeat. It started to flicker on and off rapidly as suddenly it was back to it's original color and part of it had faded away. I saw as Neji's Byakugan deactivated. He tried to do it again, but nothing happened.

"My...Byakugan is gone..," Neji said in shock.

TenTen gasped as the medical-nin was cleaning up her work station. Neji got out of where he was sitting and walked out of the office and back into Kakashi's class. "Neji-nii what happened?" Hinata asked. Neji gave her a cold shoulder and put on his forehead protector. TenTen sighed and paid attention in class.

*time skip*

It was lunch. TenTen was sitting with Neji and Hinata at their table. Everyone was quiet. Especially Neji which seemed to bother Hinata and TenTen. "Can you tell me what's wrong with him?" Hinata asked. TenTen shrugged. When she was about to tell her, Neji grabbed her by the hand and basically dragged her away. "Hey! Let me go you baka!" TenTen exclaimed as Neji had just continued to drag her until they reached the front of the school gates.

"Why can't I tell Hinata-Chan?" TenTen asked. Neji shook his head. His cheeks were red. "Look, TenTen-Chan I had no choice. I need to tell her myself. Hyūga to Hyūga," Neji said. TenTen crossed her arms and raised one eyebrow. "Why do you look embarrassed? Your cheeks are red," TenTen said. "Shut up!" Neji exclaimed. TenTen rolled her eyes. "Fine," TenTen said.

She soon noticed a poster on the wall saying Dance Coming Up! And soon saw why Neji looked embarrassed. "This is stupid and I know I should focus on my studies..," Neji said and rubbed the back of his neck. "But I have no choice since I can't go on missions since I can't do anything without my Byakugan!" Neji exclaimed as his cheeks turned redder. He pointed at the wall where I was looking at a poster. "See that? Right there?" Neji asked. TenTen nodded. "Yeah, are you that blind without your Byakugan?" TenTen asked. "It's a dance poster right?" Neji asked. TenTen nodded. Neji clenched his fists as he practically looked as red as a tomato. "I-I...um...," Neji stuttered and started to yell.

"JUST GO TO THE DANCE WITH ME, DAMMIT!"

TenTen's eyes widened as her cheeks turned pink. She was flustered herself. Neji had tended to calm down as soon as he got it over with. I actually had a crush on Neji which was the thing. TenTen had nodded with a wide grin on her face. She playfully punched Neji on he arm. "Of course I would go with you! See? That wasn't so hard to ask," TenTen replied and crossed her arms. Neji exhaled and sighed in relief. "That's nice to know..," Neji said and half smiled. TenTen had nodded.

"At least something good came out of you loosing your Byakugan," TenTen said. Neji shook his head. "Now I'm basically useless. I can't be a shinobi or kunoichi at this rate," Neji said. TenTen patted his back. "Cheer up, Neji-Kun. Your not useless to me. Byakugan or not," TenTen said. Neji gave a full on smile and had suddenly embraced TenTen tight. Her eyes widened as she blushed harder but gladly accepted the sudden hug. "Arigato TenTen-Chan," Neji said. TenTen nervously laughed. "No problem, Neji-Kun," she said.

I saw a familiar blue aura of Neji. He came as I didn't talk. He had the seal on his forehead looking like it did earlier. "Arigato TenTen-Chan," he repeated. He was only there for a short time before disappearing again.

"Gomen Asai, Neji-Kun," I said before he disappeared.