“Oh, shit!”

They were Chuunin. Neji snapped his head back to the swirls of dust, the wind had picked the particles up to braise his face and eyes and skin. One of Tenten’s hands was clenched to the toppling right bun of her hair, and the soft, inaudible clink was heard between the shudders of the wind.

“Just let it go,” Neji hissed through clench teeth, not particularly desiring dust to build up in the back of his throat. Tenten looked at him through squinted eyes and nodded, obediently taking a hand off her hair and letting it blow in the wind. Neji had already given up on keeping his tied.

Gai and Lee had already bounded to the front, mere shadows in the dust but looked like they were waving forward excitedly.

A few more steps, pressing against the wall of nature, and suddenly, the wind lifted. Tenten huffed next to him. Neji glanced over to see that both of her buns had relieved themselves, forming a tangle around her shoulders. Tenten took one look at him, his hair, and groaned, pulling a brush out of her bag to oblige to the tedious duty of untangling the knots in her wavy mousy hair. Neji only observed quietly, and a little bit self-consciously, lifted his own hand to pat his head.

Gai and Lee were already looking at something with adamant amusement, both not particularly ready to return to the dull life at home. Neji, on the opposite, urgently wished to return, both to the soft dewy training grounds and to the simple, regular lifestyle of shifts and Hyuuga duties.

Tenten had already taken out her already mostly depleted water canvas to pour the rest on her hair.

“Is that a necessary waste of water?” he commented.

Tenten sighed, a sound that meant he would never understand. He continued to watch as Tenten brushed her hair back, her nose scrunching up at a particularly difficult knot, but was continuing with not much luck.

“Let me do it,” Neji finally said, watching her had left him considerable amusement, but he knew Tenten was getting tense with him just staring. Tenten’s brows furrowed for a moment, but she wordlessly handed the brush over. Neji sat her down on an empty stump, and began the slow, tidy process of fixing the tangles, his fingers working along the way.

It was slightly comforting, the waves of coarse brown through his fingers. He had been so focused on his work that it took him a second to process when Tenten had turned her head and muttered, embarrassed, “I think that’s enough, Neji.”

He returned the brush, pensive. Tenten moved over on the stump and he settled next to her, and they both watched their teammate and sensei shout promises of glory and continue a rigorous exercise regimen.

“We should return home tomorrow afternoon,” Tenten said.

“I’d expect so, even with these extended breaks,” he replied, and Tenten looked at him, a grin curling on her face. Before Neji could move, Tenten had already tangled her brush in his hair, working her quick, deft fingers across his scalp. Neji gave in almost immediately, sighing in defeat. Tenten hummed above him.

Team Gai, in the safety net from the terrible wind, one they would have to greet again.

Notes: Yeah I know, I keep having such damn long hiatuses. Well, I'm currently in the process of writing Temptations, so I'll finish that off. Hanamachi, oh dear, is quite a work.