Happy Birthday, Neji-kun!!!!!!!

Doesn't he turn like, eighteen today??? LEGAL. XD

Hahaha.

Well, I hope I find all of you well and enjoying summer.

I'm enjoying summer, but from inside most of the time. The heat in Alabama sucks. We are well into the hundreds and the heat indexes are crazy. XD Ugh.

krizzie: Haha. I knew y'all would. :D

TwilightRaver: And it was a great chapter, indeed! I can't wait for the next one! Lee rocks. Hahahahahahhaha. Pun. I made a pun!

StrawberrySmoothie99: Wow. Sixth sense, ne? :D That's okay. . . It's always messed up when I review twice in a row. Honestly, I prefer the sad stories to the happy ones, so I will ALWAYS have unhappy stories in this. :) My friend freshpaint has gotten me back into the latest manga chapters, even though it's over 200 pages ahead of where I REALLY am. XD But, I am going to go read chapter 454 after I post this. Thanks so much, dear! :D

C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only: Hahaha. Yes, he will. I might do a follow-up. :) Anime Expo!!! Fun!!! :D

e1nav57: :( I'm sorry, dear. But, I can't always do happy endings. Sad ones will occur. But, you have my apology. :D Yeah, I wanted to try something new and make TenTen the one who had relationship problems for a change. But you have to admit, it was an EPIC ending. For reals. And the whole subplot between Suzaku and Lelouch? Also epic. And I'm really glad they ended it with Kallen. She's my favorite!!! :D

ChasingProse: Yeah, I suck at endings. XD I bumped it up to Mature as a precaution. Well, I thought if he proposed to her it was a bit obvious they had a preceding relationship. . . but maybe I didn't make it as clear. But, with chapter 7, before he proposes to her, I imagined it as a very casual relationship. . . If that makes any sense at all. XD Uh, they weren't important enough to be named, and in my fics, if you're not important, I usually overlook you. But let's just say it was Moegi ('cause I like to use her a lot) and . . . Inaho (who only made one appearance that I know of in the manga/anime.) They better become canon. I will seriously be upset if they don't at least hug or something by the end. XD

Okay. Here you go, guys.

Disclaimer: Kishie, I'm expecting Danzo dead in chapter 454. Don't disappoint.

Birthday.

Neji spent his twenty-third birthday on a mission.

To him, birthdays were not particular sources of celebration.

They were dispensable and unnecessary; really, what was one more year of age to tack on anyway?

Contrary to Neji’s beliefs, however, his teammates saw differently.

Upon his return to the Leaf Village, Neji promptly retreated into his apartment, intending to catch up on some needed sleep.

His plan was foiled, though, when he received a knock on his front door, not ten minutes after he himself had arrived.

Grumpily, Neji strode to the door, wresting it open by grasping the knob.(1)

Before him stood his petite teammate TenTen, wearing a broad smile.

Neji glared at her, unhindered.

“What do you want?” Neji said flatly.

Unshaken, TenTen replied, still smiling, “Happy Birthday!”

Neji stared at her blearily.

Eventually, under the weight of his glare, TenTen dropped her smile and pushed past him into the apartment, settling herself comfortably on the couch.

Neji closed his eyes briefly to control his temper before shutting the door.

“Look, TenTen, I’m tired. So, whatever you have to say just save it until later, alright?” he began, gesturing tiredly.

“Oh, hush,” she disrupted, waving a hand airily. “I just came to inform you that Guy-sensei and Lee are planning you a surprise party and that I will be here tomorrow at three sharp to kidnap you.”

Neji shook his head slightly.

“Please tell me that you’re making this up just to make me mad.”

TenTen rose from her spot on the couch, easily maneuvering past him to the door.

“Don’t I wish. It’d be a lot less trouble.”

She pulled open the door, casually walking out without murmuring a goodbye.

Neji had a second of indecision before leaving the apartment, calling out, “Hey! Wait!”

TenTen stopped, turning slowly on her heel.

Neji’s mouth quirked in a slight smile.

“Kidnap me? No blindfold, I hope?”

TenTen smirked and shrugged limply.

“Hey, you never know with Lee and Guy-sensei.”

Neji rolled his eyes.

A second of silence passed between them, the hallway empty save the two teammates.

“So, what did you get me?”

TenTen raised a dark eyebrow.

“You’ll see tomorrow.”

She turned again to leave.

“But what is it?”

TenTen’s forehead wrinkled as she glanced at him over her shoulder.

“Why? Are you so eager to return it before you’ve even seen what it is?”

Neji shook his head, his long hair swishing some behind him.

“No. Just curious.”

TenTen nodded carefully and started for the exit again.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Neji.”

Neji grimaced but nodded at her, returning to his apartment where he hurriedly went to bed.

-

Neji did not usually sleep late, but upon waking the next morning at ten, he assumed his mission had taken more out of him than he expected.

He clumsily pushed himself out of bed, stumbling to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

He ate a solitary lunch and spent his afternoon by himself, anticipating TenTen’s arrival.

As usual, she entered without introduction and without apology.

“Hey,” she called out, looking around until she located Neji.

Neji greeted her with a small smile.

“No blindfold I see,” he commented from the couch.

“Yeah, I think they forgot. . . But I can get you one if you want?”

“No thanks.”

TenTen chuckled, crossing her arms.

“So, Guy-sensei and Lee told me to stall because they’re not ready yet. . .”

Neji shook his head.

“You are the worst secret keeper in existence.”

TenTen shrugged, unconcerned as she sat beside him on the couch, throwing her feet out to rest on the coffee table.

“It’s not my fault,” she defended. “They should’ve known better than to send me on this particular quest. I spoil everything.”

Neji rolled his eyes and sighed.

“No, you don’t. Besides, do you think I’d willingly go with Guy or Lee if they didn’t tell me what was going on?”

TenTen shook her head.

“Exactly. It’s best they sent you. Even if you didn’t tell me about the surprise party, I would still go with you. You’re my best friend; I trust you.”

TenTen paused, sending Neji a surprised glance.

“What?” Neji quickly asked.

“Aw, in your old age, you’re getting nicer!” she cooed, swiftly pinching his cheek.

Neji swatted her hand away grouchily.

“Shut up,” he fussed, glaring.

TenTen grinned at him cheekily, finding it funny.

She reached over and patted his knee in apology.

“It was just a joke. Jeez.”

Neji met her gaze, considering her.

He leaned forward, moving towards her carefully.

TenTen’s eyes darted around, finding the clock.

“Come on, I have some errands we can run.”

Neji sighed and followed her out the door.

-

TenTen’s errands were more equivalent to stuff-to-do-while-bored in Neji’s book.

She led him to the grocery store, where TenTen perused the toys.

Neji was taken completely unawares when TenTen shot him with a toy gun that shot a cork bullet attached to a string.

“You are such a child,” he commented, tossing a paper airplane at her face. “Can we go yet?”

TenTen quirked her mouth in thought.

“I am not a child, and yes, I guess we can start over there.”

The two began the walk to Guy’s house, passing civilians and ninja alike.

“So, a few warnings before we get there,” TenTen started as soon as Guy’s house came into view.

“Should I be worried?”

TenTen seriously thought over it.

“Um. . . I’ll keep you posted.”

Neji smiled.

“Please do.”

“Okay. When we get in the house, do not under any circumstances, look down. Save yourself the embarrassment, please. Don’t go in the kitchen, whatever you do, and please, for the love of Kami, act surprised. Guy-sensei and Lee worked really hard on this and they’d throttle me if they found out I told you.”

“Can I ask why I can’t look at the floor?”

“No.”

Neji rolled his eyes but nodded.

“Fine. Can we go in?”

“Um. . .”

TenTen pressed her ear to the thin door.

Someone snickered from inside.

TenTen vaguely recognized it as Ino.

Lee shushed her loudly.

“I guess,” she said, slightly unsure as she turned towards Neji again.

Neji leaned in beside her, pressing his own ear to the door.

He watched TenTen’s face as he did so, eventually forgetting altogether that he was listening for sounds of laughter from his friends.

TenTen slowly looked at him, indecisive.

“Neji. . .”

He shook his head, dismissing whatever she had been about to say.

He kissed her chastely on the lips, ignoring TenTen’s hand on his chest, attempting to push him away.

TenTen stepped back from him, letting her hand fall.

“Hey!” whispered TenTen sternly. “Don’t turn this back on me. Go in there and have fun. It’s your damn birthday, and you only turn twenty-three once, so go already!”

Neji stole another look at her before pushing through the door, his eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness.

There was a pause, and then the lights flipped on with a click and various people popped our from behind furniture and plants, shouting, “Surprise!”

Neji stared at each of his friends in turn, managing to appear shocked in his own personal way.

“What—?”

“Happy Birthday, Neji!!!” bellowed Lee, coming up to him and clapping him on the shoulder.

Neji gave him a small smile.

All of his friends were there, including several senseis.

Neji noticed Kakashi over in the corner, reading his famed Icha Icha Paradise book.

He made a mental note to steer clear of him.

Neji was ushered deeper into the house, conversing with his counterparts.

The only person missing was TenTen, who had disappeared as soon as Neji had walked inside the house.

Neji tried not to feel guilty.

As Neji and his acquaintances sat down around the living room, Lee and Guy bustled around, assembling presents and wheeling in a cake.

Neji grimaced as Lee and Guy shoved a multitude of presents in his lap, trapping him in the couch.

He grumbled but murmured out a general thank you to the partakers.

He started unwrapping one, denoting from the sloppy handwriting that it was from Naruto.

“Naruto, what is this?”

Naruto scrambled to Neji’s side, looking down at it also.

“It’s an IOU ticket book! See, whenever you want something or need a favor, you take one out and give me one and I’ll make it happen! See, I signed my name and everything!”(2)

“Naruto, that is the worst gift ever,” Ino scoffed from the corner, shaking her head.

“No,” Neji slowly corrected her, “it’s . . . nice. Thank you, Naruto.”

Naruto nodded easily, sitting back down next to Sakura.

Neji examined the ticket book a little longer before he set it aside, reaching for another present.

-

Half an hour later, wrapping paper littered the floor, and most of the party guests were groaning from the amount of cake they’d eaten.

Finally, the guests began to leave, claiming they’d eaten too much and desperately needed to crash and sleep some of it off.

Neji willingly waved them away, setting to work with helping clean up.

However, TenTen made her first appearance since they’d arrived, yelling at him to sit down and relax, for Kami’s sakes.

Neji ignored her however, as he entered the kitchen behind her, breaking one of her established rules.

“What are you doing?!” she stormed as he rolled up his sleeves.

“Washing the dishes.”

TenTen crossed her arms defiantly.

“What? You won’t let me do anything else.”

TenTen rolled her eyes and left the room, just as Neji started to clean the silverware.

Minutes later, she returned, clearing her throat from behind him.

Neji looked up from the sink, ignoring the slim, long box that was being offered to him.

TenTen was leaning against the doorpost, holding the box aloft with ease.

She nodded towards it.

“It’s your present,” she clarified quietly.

Neji studied her face, noticing the familiar lighter flecks of auburn in her brown eyes, the way her lips pursed carelessly.

Neji dried his hands on a nearby towel, taking the box as his fingers grasped open the lid.

Quickly, TenTen murmured, “If you don’t like it, I can always get you something else.”

Neji tossed the lid onto the counter beside him, gingerly reaching into the shallow depths to pick the gift up.

Neji unsheathed the ninjato from the black ebony scabbard, tucking it under his arm.

Neji’s eyes roved the ninjato, memorizing every detail of the sword.

TenTen allowed him several seconds before saying softly, “For your ANBU promotion.”

Neji ran his fingers down the polished metal, his skin prickling when a finger strayed too much to the sharp edge.

The hilt was woven with black and white cord, leaving the kashira exposed.

Neji turned the ninjato over, examining the back of it.

Some script caught his eye.

There, under the hilt, was his name, scripted in familiar kanji.

He ran his thumb over the kanji, nodding his head at the notches they made in the steel surface.

Neji looked up at his teammate, his eyebrows furrowed.

“You crafted this yourself.”

TenTen nodded in answer, even though it had been a statement.

Neji shook his head at the sword, disbelieving.

“How long did it take?”

“Um. . . a few weeks for the hilt. Several months for the ninjato. And . . . a bit more for the scabbard.”

“TenTen. . .”

“I just . . . I just, uh, wanted to give you something new for a change. Something that was personal and usable and—!”

Neji had put the ninjato back into the scabbard and had embraced her swiftly.

He kissed her fleetingly on the mouth, noticing that this time, she did not protest as much.

Neji looked down at her, brushing aside some of her hair.

“You like it, then?” she prompted, uncrossing her arms.

“Very much. . . Thank you for doing this, TenTen.”

A small smile appeared on her face.

“Happy Birthday, Neji.”

(1) Don’t any of you dare lecture me on Japanese doors. XD

(2) At this time, I imagined Naruto as Hokage, so that’s a pretty dang good present, if you ask me. :D

I wanted to add something to the end, but I wasn’t sure what. I think it’s alright, for the most part, though. :)

I might do a follow-up one-shot that incorporates Naruto’s gift to Neji. . . Hm.

Okay!

Guys, have a wonderful 4th of July/Independence Day! Spend time with your families, shoot off fireworks, all that good stuff. :D

Review!