Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Christmas Love ❯ Garden Romance and Ungodly Hours ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
Neji entered his room. He sat down on his bed and contemplated on what was going on at the moment. Tenten was staying over at his housem next to his bedroom, for almost two weeks. He knew for a fact this wouldn't be going well.

He couldn't believe Hiashi-sama allowed her to be a resident in this house. He was informed about it the day before, and didn't really care for it. Besides, it meant more hours of rigorous training which meant more options of getting stronger.

He thought for a moment. Perhaps he should check up on Tenten to make sure she didn't destroy anything. It would be best for the furniture. She had already been pretty angry when she came here and she had a tendency to destroy things that got in her way.

"Byakugan," he whispered, enabling his bloodline limit.

Looking through the wall that seperated his and Tenten's romm, he saw she was curled up in a ball and apparently fast alseep. Nothing was damaged. He sighed not really feeling like staying in his room. Getting up he walked out and passed by his teammate's room. Should he really leave her like that? Surely her back would ache in the morning.

Neji slowly made his way to the sleeping figure. When he got closer he noticed the kunouchi was sucking her thumb. He thought that was priceless, but it looked sort of...cute. No, Hyuuga Neji did not use the word 'cute'! Silently to himself he cursed the girl, she was the one who made him think such thoughts.

"I should just get this thing over with. I'm wasting my time," he muttered to himself.

But first, he needed a picture. Exiting the room, he quickly returned with a camera in hand. Oh, how he loved blackmailing people. He took a shot of the scene in front of him and decided he would save it later for when he needed it most. It was a perfect idea, and of course a genius like him would think it up.

Carefully he moved Tenten under the bedsheets so not to wake her. She would probably get the wrong impression and he didn't want that happening, He strolled out the door after turning out the lights. Maybe some excercise would clear his mind for a while. There was just too much to think of lately.

Of course that didn't happen. His mind was too preoccupied with the image of a sleeping Tenten. Even if he wouldn't admit it to himself, she looked adorable. Every time that picture came into his mind, unconsciously he would push himself harder when he was doing his excercises.

"Damnit, Tenten!"

Suddenly, he had an incredible urge to go back and gaze at her again. However, on his way back to her room, he saw Tenten wandering around outside her room, looking as if she were lost.

Tenten opened her eyes and yawned. She looked around, rubbing her eyes to try and get them used to the darkness. She felt for a lamp on the desk next to her and turned it on. She cursed the fact that coming to Neji's wasn't a dream. It was real.

"Damn."

She recalled laying on the bed and falling asleep with the lights still on. How did they get off? And since when was she underneath the covers of the bed? This was so confusing to her. Maybe Neji did this for her, or maybe not considering she knew he could care less.

"Well then who put me here," she wondered.

Tenten pushed the covers away and got up heading for the door. She opened it and searched her surroundings when in the hallway. She remembered she wanted to ask Neji about something.

She slapped herself on the forehead. "Oh that's right! The garden!"

"What about the garden?" A voice questioned from behind her.

On instinct, Tenten grabbed a kunai from her pouch and proceeded to attack the person without warning. A hand grabbed her wrist to stop her. She glanced at the person and blushed at how close their faces seemed to be, a few inches apart. And to make it even worse, it was Neji.

"Tenten, what's the meaning of this?" He demanded, giving a pointed look to her weapon.

"I...uhm," she started,"I'm sorry, it's just you gave me a little scare."

"It's only me," he stated.

"I know that now, but I didn't when you said something from behnd me. I couldn't see your face so I wouldn't have known."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Your point is?"

She growled, "Don't do that again."

He barely nodded and noticed his earlier question had gone unanswered. "Well, what about the garden? You were mumbling to yourself about it."

"Oh uhm, right. I was wondering if you would show it to me. I thought it seemed interesting," she replied.

He thought about it for a moment. "I suppose I could, but it's late and you should still be sleeping."

Tenten pouted and gave her best sad puppy look. "Please, Neji?"

"Fine." Neji grunted, closing his eyes. He hated it when she did that.

He walked towards the direction of the garden and slid open a door. Tenten immediatly pranced in, gazing in awe at all the colorful flowers. Meanwhile, he just watched in amusement. This garden has really seemed to watch her attention quickly.

"Happy now? You got what you wanted." Neji sighed.

"Very. Arigotou!"

Tenten ran over to the bird fountain in the middle of all the plants and stared down at her reflection. Her hair was messed up and her clothes were all wrinkled. She guessed that she hadn't really checked herself in the mirror before she got out of her room. But right now she could care less.

The reflection seemed to be missing something, in her opinion anyways. She just didn't know what. Then Neji came to mind, and she imagined him beside her. She dipped her hands in the water, gathered some in her hands, and rubbed the water on her face. It was refreshing, but the only reason she did it was to get the scene she imagined out of her head.

Sure she had a crush on him one time, but that was before at the Academy and when she was first assaigned to his team as a genin. Perhaps even now. Of course, she wouldn't admit that to herself. It was troublesome whenever she thought about it.

Tenten had forced herself to not like him, however, that was all in vain. She did this when she felt herself starting to fall in love with him and he had gone on that damned mission to rescue Sasuke. He almost died and she felt her heart couldn't take the pain of loss, but what would have happen if he rejected her and it lead to destroying the friendship?

The full moon's light shone on Tenten through the greenhouse window and somehow made her sparkle within it. Neji stared at the girl almost as if he were in a trance. Quickly shaking it off, he decided to go over and sit at the fountain's edge incase Tenten might suddenly go to sleep and fall in the water, he'd be there to catch her when she falls.

'To catch her...when she falls,' he silently thought.

"Neji, this garden is wonderful!" She happily said.

"I suppose so," was his bored reply.

Tenten felt herself start to doze off for a moment and decided to lean her head against something that was near her. Thinking she was resting her head on a statue, she let herself drift into a light slumber. This so-called "statue" was Neji. He was a bit shocked, but he wouldn't let that show.

'Women,' he thought spitefully.

How did he know she was probably going to go to sleep? He just did, that's why everyone called him a genius. Well, at least she didn't fall in the water and drown to death. At first he wanted to shove her off him, but he didn't after considering that she would start an arguement about it and it would only lead to less sleep for him.

He grunted and cursed Fate for putting him in such a situation. Neji placed her on his back and walked back to her room to put her back in bed just as he had done earlier, then went to his own to sleep with barely a tint of red on his cheeks. Hyuuga Neji was blushing.

This magical scene did not go unkown to anyone who was there, and taping all of what had happened.

"Good j-job, Hanabi," stuttered Hinata.

"Yeah. Father is going to be so proud!" Hanabi excitedly said, stopping the camcorder from recording even more. "This is even great footage for blackmail." She laughed evilly.

Her older sister thought it would be bad to do that. "No, we sh-shouldn't."

"But this is Neji we're talking about! Neji! He's mean to us and I wanna get back at him!" The younger sibling pouted.

"No."

"Fine." Hanabi quietly thought of other ways to get back at her cousin, unforutnatly unable to think of anything else.

The two were concealed by a nearby bush. Hiashi told them to try and get whatever happens between Neji and Tenten on tape so he could watch it himself and plan further on what he should do to get the two chuunins together. That meant following them wherever they went.

"C-come. We must s-show f-father what we have," Hinata ordered.

Hanabi complied and jumped out of the bush, as did her sister. The siblings went towards their father's room and knocked softly on the door. It opened and their father stepped out wondering what the two wanted. They presented him with the tape.

"Here. We have what you wanted," Hanabi said.

"Perfect! Good work, the both of you," he congradulated. "You are dismissed."

Hinata and Hanabi left after bowing, while Hiashi rushed to his television set and watched the tape. He grinned slightly. Things were going as he wanted. In the morning, he would improve his plot someway.

Day 2

Tenten stood before the cheering crowd, waving her hands and flashing smiles to everyone. This was the life. She had finally made her dream come true. She was as strong as the legendary sannin, Tsunade-sama, her idol! Nobody could stop this kunoichi, no one.

"Tenten!"

Hordes of people cheered.

"Tenten!" Called a voice.

Wait, since when was there one person?

"Tenten!" Neji spoke loudly in her ear.

The girl opened her eyes. It was only Neji that was saying her name. Clearly annoyed, Tenten sat up and threw her pillow at him which he dodged easily. She wasn't expecting it to hit him, but it would have been nice if it did. So this is who awakened her from her wonderful dream?

"What do you want?" She asked bitterly.

"It's time to get up," he said.

She groaned. "What time is it?"

"Right now it is exactly 5 o'clock in the morning."

"What! Leave me alone!"

No wonder she felt so sleepy. It was too early in the morning to get up. She hid under the blankets hoping that it would make Neji go away. Although she knew it wouldn't happen, she still wished that maybe it would.

"Get up," he commanded. He didn't like wasting time.

"No!" She yelled back.

An unknown force shoved her out of her sanctuary, the comforting bed.

"Ow." She rubbed her head. "Hyuuga Neji, you are so in for it!"

He just smirked. Oh, how she wanted to wipe that smirk off his face right now. Taking a kunai she had hidden somewhere in her clothes, she aimed it at him and threw. Neji titled his head slightly to the left as the kunai zoomed passed his cheek, almost cutting his cheek.

"Your aim is better than ever, Tenten," he complimented.

It was her turn to smirk. "I know."

"Though, next time you could try hitting me." Why did he always have to say something the least bit nice, then add some bad remark? "Hurry up, breakfast is ready."

Tenten sighed and murmured to herself about him being mean and making her get up. She grabbed some clothes from the drawer and was going to change untill she noticed Neji was still in the room. She blushed furiously in embarresment.

"Pervert! Get out!"

She pushed him out of the room, shut the door, and locked it to make sure he wouldn't come in yelling why the hell she did that. Neji blinked. What was all that for? He then realized why and pretended that nothing happened, nor cared for it. He heard shuffling and curses inside. Curiosity got the better of him and he leaned closer to hear more.

Just as that happened, the door swung open. Neji felt no support whatsoever anymore and quickly caught himself before falling. Putting his calm composure face on to hide the surprise of what just happened, he looked at Tenten who looked tired and angry.

She raised an eyebrow. "What the hell were you doing?"

"What do you mean?" He asked innocently.

"You know what I mean. You were trying to peak on me, weren't you?"

"Tenten, why would you accuse me of such a thing?"

Tenten eyed him carefully. "Argh...whatever." She wasn't in the mood to yell at him right now.

"How can you be up at such ungodly hours? Tell me!"

"It's normal. The family does this everyday."

Neji walked into the dinning room and sat next to Hinata. Tenten followed in suit and sat next to him not knowing where else to sit. A few minutes passed in silence between the two as others arrived and chatted quietly among themselves. Someone tapped Tenten on the shoulder. She turned around to face a Hyuuga member.

"You're in my seat. Move," stated the man rudely.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear the 'please' in your request. Besides, I don't feel like moving," she replied stubbornly.

"Why don't you say that to my face?" The man grabbed the collar of her shirt.

Swiftly, a kunai was at his throat in less than a second. This Hyuuga didn't even see it coming. In the morning, Tenten was not the best person to mess with at the time. Especially when awoken this early in the day.

"Put me down, or I'll slice your throat," she growled out lowly.

The glimmer in her eyes showed determination that she would not back down from this. The Hyuuga who was clearly shocked, nodded slightly and put her down. Instead he sat at another seat at the rather large table. Tenten looked satisfied and began eating the food in front of her.

Neji looked at her in disbelief for the fact that someone like her threatened a Hyuuga member. That was not something people would even try to do for fear their lives would be taken. Hiashi, who sat at the end of the table near Hinata, had watched with amusement struck on his face. Yea, she was definatly the one for Neji.

"What did you think you were doing, Tenten?" Neji harshly whispered to her.

"Defending myself and earning some respect from these arrogent bastards." She said simply.

Neji said nothing more and began eating as well. It was times like these when he wanted to strangle Tenten for doing something so idiotic. She could've gotten seriously hurt and he wouldn't be allowed to do anything about. He was a Branch member and had certain restrictions, like not to interfere with Main House member affairs.

When Tenten had finished eating, she set aside her bowl and tried to sleep sitting up. Laying her head on the table would be impolite and disrespectful to the Hyuuga clan. She couldn't believe how many people there were. It seemed quite odd to her.

"Need...more...sleep," she muttered. "Must have...sleep."

"Tenten." Neji shook her shoulder. "Tenten, wake up."

She fell backwards and jumped up after the sudden impact on her head. That was the second time in one day. How many times was Neji going to do this to her?

"What was that for?" She yelled.

Everyone turned their heads to look at her because of her loud, sudden outburst.

"Hyuuga Neji! You better explain yourself!"

Then everyone looked at Neji.

"Tenten, calm yourself and sit down," he said harshly. They were getting unwanted attention from his family because of her.

Then to Tenten.

"Answer me first!"

They all looked at Neji expectantly.

He grunted and ignored his teammate, pickig up his bowl to continue eating his meal in silence. Tenten glared at him defiantly.

"You fight like a married couple!" Commented one of the members, which sent the people into fits of laughter at the two.

She blushed and sat down, hanging her head to hide it. Neji's eye twitched as he blocked out the noise.

"Enough." Hiashi ordered and everyone stopped. "I have an announcment to make! As we all know, tomorrow we have a special dinner for all the guests who will be arriving. And after that our Annual Ball that's held every year as usual."

Tenten glanced at Hiashi who went on about what he was saying.

"I want everyone to look nice to impress the guests, including you Neji." The boy grunted in response. "Tenten, you have to attend too. Your have advised that you must."

"What! No this can't be happening..." Great. Not only did she have to spend Christmas with Neji, but she also had to wear a dress and attend the Annual Ball which she had never even heard of before.

"As I was saying," Hiashi continued, as if there wasn't an interruption from her, "all bachelors, like you Neji, must dance with at least one woman. You may now finish your meal."

Neji almost growled at this. Almost.

"Tenten, Neji, w-w-why don't we g-go sh-shopping and look for s-something for you t-to w-wear?" Hinata offered.

Tenten sighed and nodded, as did Neji.

This was going to be a long day.