Chapter Five: The Game of Love

Disclaimer: Let’s say I DON’T own Naruto or any of its brilliance. Short, sweet, and right to the point. XD

Author’s Note:Anyway…. I’ve NEVER updated for YEARS! Hahaha (I can laugh my insanity off for delaying my story for such a longggggg time). And since I’ve never updated for quite a period of time, I’ve lost interest in the pairing but it’s still wins the cute award though! - If this story does end of getting more and more reviews… then I might continue it but for nowwwww I’m only updating for the sake of my best friend! It’s a super-awesome-special gift for her birthday today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! pops popper everywhere OH and HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEARS! YEAH! GO FOR THE RAT!! XD XD XD

So a lot has changed since my last update. That was when I actually had time to update but now that I don’t have a life except for school… I don’t have time but once again… if this does end up being a hit, yay for the story:D So enjoy this special and so long awaited chapter.

P.S. And to the fans who actually like this story when it first started, you now have the right to throw anything at me or go demon fox on me. Yeah, that’s right throw a fireball jutsu or something. I know… I update so fricken slow huh? XD Oh and you can tell my writing style might have changed too since the last what… two years, lol. XD

Okay finally to the story, lol.

The Hyuga Compound

It was finally morning. The morning sun smiled upon the windows of Hanabi’s small room. The two girls were sounded asleep. I wonder what Tenten’s dreaming?

Neji was awake first. He fluttered his eyes open, fighting the pain of the bright light casting over his pale eyes. His hair sloped over his well defined shoulders and down to the side of his abdominals. He was surely tired after yesterday night. He forced himself to sit upright. He sluggishly rubbed his eyes and glanced at his shining window. He conspicuously saw a gorgeous golden brown bird picking at small fruit in a nearby tree. He stared at it for a while and reflected on it for a bit. A bird, the symbol that defined true freedom, the freedom to roam through the skies that mystically have no limits or ends. As he got up from his position the bird quickly flew off the branch and ascended into the air.

To be free… how would that feel like? Neji thought. As he walked towards his door something suddenly hit him. He totally forgot Tenten was here and if his cousin’s father found out about that… who knows what. He might end up living as a hobo on the streets! And soon his reputation will sink downhill from, “the prodigy,” to the, “poor man.” The thought of that nearly knock him off his balance. The thought never crossed his mind. All the consequences! Now regret started clouding over his mind. He needs to be a good boy while he’s still young. He may be a good fighter, but he sure isn’t a great profit! He is he going to support himself?

All I need to do right now is find Tenten get rid of her and… Neji balked his movement towards the door. His hand rested firmly around the handle to his door. Even if this will cause Neji’s grand reputation, he still had some feelings for her. The carefree girl who accepted to every one of his training requests no matter how dangerous it could be or even to how stupid the training was. She wasn’t just a training partner, but a close friend as well. The girl who always sat and stood by him just to sit there or listen to what he had to say, even if it was just words of rejection or occasionally a small bit of affection. But there was a unique quality of hers that made her stand out than other girls. It wasn’t her beauty but the beauty inside her. It was her determination and enthusiasm that brought that secret smile to his face. Her eagerness just see him there, standing in front of her and her recklessness just to beat him in a small ninja game. She valued him so highly is gets too unbearable for him to think about. It almost always made him feel… tingly… tingly in his stomach… and in his heart. He couldn’t tell what was this feeling, this sensation. Was it love? Neji thought about the concept silently in his head. Did love have to be so complicated as this? It frustrated him. It confused him. He couldn’t sort out the meaning… the emotions running around inside of his head. What could he do about it?

Little did he know, Neji was already standing in front of a door. Actually, not the door to his room, but the door to an uncertain crush. He stood there, puzzled by the fact that he hadn’t noticed he walked himself all the way to where Tenten was sleeping already. He was so caught up in a trance, he didn’t know he was. But in the end, he was brought to the door to where she was. He stared at it for awhile. He wondered, was it going to be him knocking on her door, one day, or was it going to be her. Will she knock on his door ever? Not for another request to train together, but for the sake of just seeing him and him only. He sighed. What was he doing? This is never going to come true!

How foolish of me… I shouldn’t fall for something so stupid… Neji reflected. But the idea didn’t make him smile… but made him grimace.

Tenten looked up. She barely got any sleep. She stared at the ceiling. Neji… why did he save her? Was Hanabi telling the truth? Did Neji really care about her?

There’s no way Neji cares about me… he just said he didn’t like me either. This better not be a trick… is he just trying to get revenge on me somehow by keeping me here? Tenten grimaced and abruptly turned a bit furious. She furrowed her brows and clenched her teeth. This better not be another game…

As she carefully got out of bed, making sure she doesn’t wake up Hanabi, she motioned towards the door and opened it swiftly, hoping it would be silent. But suddenly a big fist raced towards her head and temporarily knocked her out.

And guess who did it?

Why it was the one and only Neji Hyuga. Knocking out his comrade like that… and it was only seven in the morning. (Early time to wake up huh)? O.o…

Oh great… nice move Neji… nice move… Neji angrily told himself. How was he going to make her fall for him this way? Geez… it might be a long morning… Neji groaned as he swiftly swept off the ground (yes she fell to the ground without catching her. Another negative point for Neji, haha). Then a loud shut of a door was echoing nearby. Oh no… the big man here, the head of the Hyuga, Hiashi.

Oh crap… I have to get Tenten out of here! Neji paced himself to a random direction, hoping that he could arrive safely to their usual training grounds without being caught, but as he was about to get there… suddenly…

“Neji!” A familiar voice called.

Crap… Neji cursed. This is the end of his beautiful life here in the compound. (Well, it really wasn’t that beautiful anway).

As he was about to turn around to face his fate he found himself looking at the back of his cousin’s father. Hanabi. She was standing in front of Hiashi, stalling him so Neji could get away.

“Father? May I go wake up Hinata early so I can train soooo hard that I can become a prodigy too?” She asked sweetly, her voice almost singing angelically like an innocent girl. Her father gave her a puzzled look and as he moved his eyes away from her she quickly winked at Neji. It was his cue to leave nowwwww…

Stupidly, Neji was standing there for quite a bit and finally snapped out of a trance, thinking about him and Tenten. Running away to be alone… alone with her? He finally ran away and promptly arrived at the training grounds.

Training Grounds: Konoha Forest

It was usual silent morning, it felt different though. At least that’s what he thinks, but he couldn’t figure out why. He laid Tenten gently against a tree, his hands gripping on her shoulders and suddenly feeling a slight tinkle. He quickly looked up at her. She was fluttering her eyes open, her long dark eyelashes that perfectly complimented her golden brown orbs. She lifted up her head to glance at him. His eyes stared directly at her and her only. They were not pierced as if he was trying to defeat her in a battle, but they were soft, earnest, and longing… longing for something. Was it her?

Quickly, his expression changed and Tenten knew what it was. It was his game face. She knew want he wanted… it wasn’t her after all… he just wanted another battle… another game. She starting to convince herself that he only looked at her one-sided, like a coin. Neji saw her only as a training partner, an acquaintance and nothing more than that.

Tenten breathed a heavily sighed and swiftly pulled out various kinds of small killing weapons and spun them towards him. He quickly spun around like a top and reflected every single one of her weapons perfectly and unharmed. She pulled out two scrolls from her dark purple robe. She was well aware that she was wearing barely anything under her garment, just a black laced cami and underwear.

“Twin rising dragons!” Tenten shouted confidently furiously. Neji lifted an eyebrow in surprise.

Already getting serious early this morning? Neji thought amused. The determination. It was there again.

“Byakugan!” Neji yelled fiercely.

The fight was getting intense so fast that he barely caught sight of her. It was always weapons in his face. She was serious and she was angry.

More weapons flew from different directions and in various sizes and shapes. They flew in great speed and velocity, but in the end, Neji still succeed unharmed with his mastery in the heavenly spin. Powerful enough to reflect and block any type of weapon, big or small, powerful or fast, no type of weapon could stop his perfection with his deadly combination of the byakugan and his talent in using the gently fist style.

It’s no use. Tenten knew that merely throwing weapons was futile and her only option now was taijutsu. Quickly, Tenten raced towards Neji and pulled out a kunai. She slashed her hand diagonal to his fit body. He naturally moved back and grabbed the hand that gripped the knife. He squeezed her hand, compelling her to drop the kunai.

“Argh!” Tenten squealed as she surrendered her knife, falling to the ground, standing upright. Her wrist starting burning, the pressure was augmenting. He was squeezing too tight and it was actually hurting her a lot. She felled to her knees and clenching her teeth, trying to withstand the pain. Training was always like this. She was always bowing down before Neji’s presence. Always the loser of this fight. He was always cold to her. He didn’t care to much whether she was alright. As long as her condition wasn’t near anywhere to death, her being didn’t matter and with this, Neji forced himself to look at her this way.

He couldn’t, he can’t fall in love with her. Why? Neji knew well why and he silently kept that to himself. He forced himself to realize that he needs to protect his reputation and because he still didn’t have freedom…He squeezed more from thinking about it.

The pain was getting stronger and it was becoming more difficult to contain it. She had to say something now. “Neji! Stop it!” Tenten yelped.

Neji kept silent and looked away. “You’re still too weak Tenten…” Neji said darkly. He needed to be like this because he didn’t have the choice to choose her. Why?

He still hasn’t let go of her.

“NEJI!! STOP IT!! PLEASE!” Tenten cried desperately.

Neji quickly released his gripped and glanced at her with concern. He completely forgot he was gripping her too tight. (What a jerk… XD).

Argh! How could I have been so careless?! Neji angrily told himself. He mentally punched himself.

As he bent down to check up on her, he found himself surprised and lost into her presence. He gawked at her and finally found the reason to why he felt that today’s training wasn’t any other typical training with Tenten.

He slowly reached out for her, but she wasn’t looking at him. Her mind, her attention was turned to her wrist, to the pain he caused. Her hair wasn’t in her usual buns, it was flowing freely and shined brilliantly in the summer sun. Her hair was absolutely gorgeous and long. Her dark brown tresses curled up at its ends and emitted a floral scent. The smelled good, fresh, and addictive. He craved to get closer to that beautiful aroma... to the beautiful girl in front of him. He couldn’t help himself any longer, he wanted her even though he knew he couldn’t.

As his hand ran through her silky hair and lightly touching her shoulder she defensively pushes his hand away.

“GET AWAY FROM ME!” Tenten yelled angrily. She knew it. Neji was never the caring type and Hanabi was absolutely wrong. Indeed, she was foolish.

“Wait!” Neji said and she struggled to get her attention. Tenten wildly swung her arms around, attempting to anger Neji so that he’ll leave her alone. Neji violently grabbed her wrists. “Stop it Tenten! Look at me!” Neji commanded. Tenten refused and continued to wildly move around.

“TENTEN! STOP! LOOK AT ME?!” Neji demanded. Tenten balked and angrily looked at Neji.

“I HATE YOU NEJI! YOU’VE NEVER CARED ABOUT ME! ALL YOU CARED FOR IS YOU!” Tenten screamed. She obviously lost her breath after that and soon after, tears wailed up her beautiful golden eyes. Her eyes shook, like they shivered from fear, and they glimmered from the moisture of the water. Her tears fell fast, each dropping to the ground one by one. Neji stared, eyes full of concern and hurt.

This definitely wasn’t any typical training.

It wasn’t even training.

It was a game.

A game of love.

“I-I loved you Neji…” Tenten finally confessed. Her voice quivering, a silent shake after she said each word of that sentence. It was getting difficult for her to speak and the tears just kept coming. She couldn’t stop herself from being too emotional and from being to weak to talk with boldness like she usually is. She was fearful, feared for being used and knowingly, feared for rejection.

Neji couldn’t bear to hear these words from her. He was surprised and guilty of what he did. He couldn’t stop feeling so bad so worried about her.

“And…” Tenten looked glance at Neji. He wasn’t looking at her. His face darkened by his own hair, still holding Tenten’s hands. Knowing that saying more would be futile, Tenten finally got up and sniffed loudly as she finally knew her future. To get away from here. Far away, because the one and only person she had such hopes for, such admiration, finally got the nerve to reject and hurt her. This isn’t her place of content, the place she didn’t belong to.

Neji… As Tenten motioned away from Neji, their hands slowly slipping apart from each other, Neji quickly grabs back her hands.

“Tenten!” Neji bellowed, compelling her to quickly fall back down and plop onto his lap accidentally.

His voice was full of concern, he stared at her and placed his hand on her cheek, wiping away some of the tears with his thumb. Tenten glanced back eyes, still crying desperately for his affection.

Her heart jumped as his face inch near to hers. She felt it, his warm breath brush against her cold skin in the rising sun. Her raced faster and blushed by their closeness.

Neji couldn’t stop. This was his chance. The moment. He couldn’t reject her after hearing the words he wanted to hear so desperately, but he couldn’t return her with the same words.

He closed his eyes, thinking about only one thing on his mind. Tenten, and only Tenten.

“I’m sorry…” Neji whispered with a velvet voice. He moved his hand down her jaw line and with his fingers, enveloping her chin. He raised her head and slowly moved her face towards his. Tenten blushed more and leaned in to finally kiss him.

As they inched towards each other, sharing the moment they both waited for, something happened to slide incredibly fast between their faces. Neji and Tenten looked towards to in which the direction it came from.

“Hey…”

A tall man with beautiful and fine features appeared before them. His dark black eyes were mysterious and arousing and his hair was spiked wildly.

“Uchiha…” Neji growled. “What are you doing here?”

Sasuke glared and a dark smirk appeared on his bleak face. “Hmph. I’m here for Tenten.”

Yay!! I’m done with this chapter! Wow… this chapter’s kinda long?! As you can see this chapter should definitely show that I changed my style of writing. I dunno but I’m more laid back right now so of course there’s going to be a lotta grammer mistakes (see I’m already doing it… XD). Well I hope this compensated for my absence (I’m having a BIGGGG feeling it didn’t).

-What will happen to Tenten?

-Why won't Neji say "it"? (haha...)

-And will the mission resume?

Well, you may convince me to continue this story and provide me inspiration to continue this story:D So ummmmmm…. Review! Give me your insightttttt… lol. XD

My Review:

Actually I’d have to say this was very cheesy but a lotta fluffiness and mushiness inside my stomach. How about you?! XD.

Reviews are just like voting… (well maybe not), lol so plz review if you really liked it!

P.S. I've noticed that when I put my doc into Fanfiction, some words are put together! (ARGH) Anyway plz disregard it if you come across it! Thankies! -