Just say it! - Neji X Tenten Three-shot

Part I- Tongue-ties

Hi! The first part of a mini story on Neji and Tenten. I just think they're a great pairing!! ^_^ Okay, so this is set about six months before Naruto returns from his journey with Jiraiya. We all know Neji would never admit to thinking these things, but hey, this is a story. It's meant to be cutesy.

Anyway, please, enjoy! And let me know your thoughts. :) <3 Much love <3

I snapped my eyes open and sighed. I was going mad. I had dreamt of her again...

I rolled over in my bed and glanced at the alarm clock. It read 11:15.

"Hell!" I muttered. "How could I have overslept this much? I've missed valuable training time, and plus it's sooner till..."

I sat up, and was greeted with a mirror and a reflection of myself, purple circles under pallid eyes, curse mark and all. I noticed there was a less severe look in my eyes now. I was more... tranquil, calm, rather than challenging. I didn't know if I liked this change in my fundamentals, but other people seemed to. Still, it was hard keeping a lid on my smarmy comments. I was working on that.

"Don't let them see..." I said to myself. I reached over and grabbed my forehead protector, placing it and tying it up over that damned curse mark, covering up the symbol of my difference. Now, I appeared to be an  ordinary Hyuuga, a normal member of the clan.

I threw off the covers, and slipped on my new traditional Hyuuga robes, the white, draping pieces of fabric that clung in the right places and loosened in others, allowing the best movement that helped my, admittedly, superior gentle fist techniques. After applying the bandages to my legs and putting on my training trousers, my feet slid easily into my new shinobi sandals. Since I had grown so much, I was forced to find a new outfit. I had to conceded, I liked it much more.

All this time, I was trying to ignore the niggling thoughts in the forefront of my mind. How was I going to concentrate on my training if all I could think about was her? I must have been blind before, or rather too focused on my damned grudge, but I had only recently realised how beautiful she was, how genuine and caring, and how strong. She gave off a good aura. I had tolerated her this whole time, but throughout our time together, I had grown to love her. Only recently I was able to admit it, because before my eyes had been muddied by other trivial things. It was weird for me to be having these sorts of emotions, but once I had realised the feeling, it was unstoppable.

I padded through the corridors, which made me sound relaxed when I really wasn't, and made my way outside. I hadn't been outside longer than five seconds when I heard a frantic voice. 

"Brother Neji!"

I turned around, blank faced as usual, and was greeted with a breathless Hinata, my cousin, my social superior, and, more recently, my friend.

"Brother Neji, why are you up so late in the day? Don't you usually get up before dawn?" she asked, totally innocent.

"Yes... I... overslept," I said vaguely.

"Do you still, um, have time to train me?"

I sighed. So apprehensive. "Sorry, Lady Hinata, but I'm busy right now. I have to train on my own today. Another time, maybe?" I saw her put-out expression. "How about tomorrow? You can work on your personal techniques until then."

"Okay, Neji. What are you doing that's... so important?"

"Third training ground, ah, gentle fist work. My work. Lady Hinata, I am running late. I'm sorry. I'm going now."

I felt a little guilty for hurting Hinata like that, but I really was in a rush. I had been trying hard lately to be nicer to people, now I knew how stupid it was to have a grudge against the main branch and every apparent fool who believed in bettering themselves.

I swivelled round and ran out of the Hyuuga compound. I ran all the way to the training ground, which, thankfully, was empty.

I concentrated my chakra as best I could by closing my eyes, but as soon as I closed them, the image of Tenten's smile blazed into my thoughts and took over. I felt myself flushing and gritted my teeth in frustration. 

"Concentrate!" I muttered. "Gentle fist!" I shot out my arm and activated my chakra. 

Unfortunately, it was a complete flop. The chakra flew off my fingertips and dissipated in the air in front, leaving me not only tired but with hurt pride. I sighed. I never got a technique wrong. Not ever. Making jounin recently had been a testament to that.

I slumped down on the grass, annoyed with myself. I mentally slapped myself for being so damned sentimental. I was a man, a Hyuuga, my father's son, and a jounin shinobi. I couldn't have time for being in love, and yet I was forced to make my time. I was planning on asking her to spend some time with me, but that very action would seriously damage my reputation as the stoic man Neji Hyuuga, and my pride.

"Neji!"

I turned my head. "Tenten!" I blurted in surprise, and was about to get up.

"Nah, stay there. I only came here to lie in the sun anyway!" she said brightly, and sat down beside me. I jerked away, edging to the right. "So, what brings you here?"

"I was training." 

"Cool! I was going to train too, but you know, the sun's just too hot and nice today to be running about in. Since I don't have any missions for a while, I thought I might enjoy the weather a bit."

I nodded. She was so chatty, and I had just frozen up. If anything, I was more awkward in front of her now than when I was socially inept with everyone and focused solely on my grudge against Hinata and her family. 

"Are you okay, Neji? You look distracted." Her face clouded with concern.

"No, I'm fine." I sounded in pain.

"You don't look it. It's a good job you're sat down. If you overexert yourself when you're not feeling too good, it'll break you down!"

"Great. Thanks, Tenten..." I was still avoiding her gaze. Her chestnut eyes were rich and warm, and I would not stop staring if I told myself I would only glance.

"So... Anything new lately, Mr. Jounin?" she asked, sounding awkward. I didn't blame her.

"No..." I cleared my throat. "Tenten?"

"Yeah? What's this about?"

I felt myself blushing. "Do you want to go to the cinema in the middle of Konoha tomorrow?" There. I said it!

"Cinema?" Her face brightened. "To see what? I'd love to!"

"Erm, we could decided when we get there. If that's okay, of course..."

"Sure, that's fine! What time shall I come round to yours?"

I blushed harder. "I'll come and get you at your house. It's only polite."

She seemed to sense my discomfort, and I was highly grateful for her consideration with my idiocy. 

"So, come for me at seven o' clock, 'kay? It'll be great!" she said, beaming, and then her smile faded. "Oh? Was there something else you wanted to say?"

"No. Nothing. See you tomorrow."

I jumped up, and went out of the training ground faster than my legs would carry me through the metal gates.