NejiTen Oneshots And Drabbles

L'appel du vide

L'appel du vide: "The call of the void" is this French expression's literal translation, but more significantly it's used to describe the instinctive urge to jump from high places.

"I absolutely refuse."

"Oh, come on, Neji!" she coaxed. "It will be fun!"

"No," Neji set his jaw firmly, and she knew he would not be moved.

"Ok," she shrugged. "Suit yourself. Lee," she called over to him. "You in?"

"Of course!" he jumped down from his perch high in the trees somersaulting to land next to her.

"Are you sure, Neji?" Lee looked up to where their remaining teammate sat stubbornly in a tree, arms crossed, back straight, eyes closed.

"Positive," he said coolly.

"C'mon, Lee," Tenten started to walk away. "He can't help it if he's scared."

Lee's eyes went wider than saucers.

"Eternal rival," he clenched a fist and called up to Neji. "Is this true?"

Neji grimaced.

"Of course not, Lee," he said stiffly. "I simply find no merit or justification in undertaking reckless risks – particularly those that can break the neck of the risk taker."

"So, scared," Tenten said flatly. "It's okay. We get it. Lee – hurry up!"

Lee gave one last look at Neji before hurrying after her.

Neji ground his teeth and activated his Byakugan.

He watched as they strode through the woods to a nearby cliff.

They didn't have to go far.

They were in the Land of Waterfalls.

Everywhere was a nearby cliff.

This particular waterfall was not egregiously high, and the pool below it was deep and safe for swimming. The locals had marked it on their map, and he had double checked it with his Byakugan.

He simply saw no point into diving into it from such a height – no matter what the locals said or did.

Lee rushed to pull off his leg weights and usual uniform, and Neji was thankful he had perfected the art of how to use his Byakugan in layers.

Luckily, Lee forewent Gai's preferred selection of swimwear, and instead followed Tenten's advice.

"You'll freeze your youth off," she warned him when she saw the speedo he had initially packed for the hike. "Take that instead," she pointed to the short green bodysuit. "There are rocks along the banks, and it's too early in the season for the water to have warmed up yet."

She had been right, of course. The air temperature was warm, but the water would be cold.

He shifted his gaze to her.

Always prepared, Tenten had worn the bottom of a bathing suit instead of underwear. In seconds, she'd expertly swapped out her sports bra for the top of her suit (and had he been standing next to her, he still wouldn't have seen anything indecent) and then wriggled into her own short bodysuit. It was sky blue with navy on the sides, and it reminded him of outfits from their genin days.