Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Light day before storms
Tenten sighed. Maybe she should not have told her friends about it, about her secret, now they just could not stop gossiping aloud. “Such a long time it has taken her to spill it! I told you guys already! She must have a crush on him, that’s why she doesn’t show any interest in all men we met.”- Ino nearly shout at Sakura, who grinned and took her side “Yes, actually it’s quite expectable, Neji is a nice guy, isn’t he, Hinata?” The timid girl just flustered at the question, she darted her eyes at Tenten, now looked regretful, or miserable, she couldn’t tell. Of course Hinata knew it, as the white-eyed shinobi’s cousin, although they are not really that close, she always knew about the emotinal attachment between him and his very teammate, or dare she say, the girl he liked. Neji was not the type of person that is able to express his feeling, but the way he looked at Tenten, the way he insisted on training with her made Hinata realise, made everyone realise, except Tenten and himself. She thought that she could understand; however, both sides were just too stubborn, and now it is Tenten who admitted it first. “Tenten-san, I-I t-think that you should tell him already”- Hinata tried to persuaded the older girl “M-maybe Neji-niisan is not good at these feelings, I’m sure that he feels for you just in the same way as you like him” Tenten gasped, even Hinata said it too? Were they all insane? There was no way the prodigy will return her feelings, and all she could do was keeping it unknown to him for the past seven years, this relationship was simply impossible. It might have wondered her sometimes, his interest, his love, it was hard to accept that one day he will marry a woman that wasn’t her, but she was trying to give up on him, to forget it and continue to be by his side as a teammate. How Ino, Sakura and Hinata thought so differently? “No, I will never tell him, and I expect you guys to stay quiet! I quit dreaming about it long ago!”- she pleaded, Sakura eyed her suspiciously then retorted “Don’t be silly, Tenten-san, you should give it a chance. There are many things that you can see only after trying so hard. Like Sasuke-kun and me, I had never known that he loves me before I confessed” Tenten frowned, love, ah, was incomparable, and love was not relevant. Nevertheless, she could not help but felt something like firework glowing in her chest, what if…? She didn’t know, and her friends were there backing her up. Closed her eyes, she let out another sigh, gave into their ideas “Fine, I’ll try, now I think that I must go. Neji is waiting, we are going to train this afternoon…”- she waved her arm and quickened her speed.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Neji was waiting for her. They had agreed to meet at the training ground and do some light exercises. Sure they would hone their skills; however, he always knew that to him, it was just an excuse to spend more time with Tenten. At the age of nineteen, they were all jounin, went on missions privately and he silently missed her, the girl he found himself falling in love with. He was terrified at first, ninja should not let themselves be troubled with feelings, but after seven years, he found it as an inevitable thing, maybe a fated destine. He could be selfish when he was with her, he allowed himself to be, ah, he even allowed himself to be jealous whenever he saw her smiling with another person. He got desparated, attached and vulnerable while strengthened by Tenten at the same time. Stoic as he might seem, Neji knew he should make a move. He did not know how she would react, maybe she would reject him, but still, he must try. If it was difficult, then the Hyuga prodigy was trained to deal with challenges. They were expecting a mission together, along with Gai and Lee, as a whole team, it would be the perfect time. For now, just seeing her was a pure bliss. Then Tenten came, hurriedly dashed him a grin and stood at her position. He took the Kaiten stance, they began their usual process, soon the training ground was drowned by the whistles of the wind and metalic crashes. They called it a day when the moon was shining among the stars, both fell in to silence. Before Tenten could mouthed a goodbye, Neji had asked if he could walk her home. She blushed lightly, nodded her head for an agreement much to his delight.
---------------------------------------------------------------
They walked on the street together, both fell into a comfortable silent. Some usual chats and jokes filled in the air. Glancing at her over his shoulder, Neji couldn’t help but amazed by her warm, petite frame. He wondered if her hands were warm like their looks, after all, it killed nothing if he tested out a little, Neji decided, he grabbed Tenten’s wrist, who was in an awe because of his sudden action and looked into her shocked eyes “Ten, I…have something to say”- he struggled to find a proper reason. Tenten nearly flinched at his words, what was he doing? Why was he holding her wrist? Was it another trick that he used during their spar? And more importantly, what was he going to say? Several questions spinned in her head, she, for the first time, was at a loss... “Uh, uh, I’m listening”- she murmured, gazing at his fingers. He mumbled something underneath his breath, she gathered all her ability to make out, but he just wiped it away, released his hold, looking troubled as he amused her “Neji, I can’t hear you, say it again”- seeing him stuttered made her chuckle, but the prodigy just blushed hard, if a faint color of rosy stained on his pale cheek was called a crimson in his language, maybe he was dying of embarassment right then “No, I hate to repeat words that I’ve said, you know that” He was too embarassed to repeat it, Tenten smirked to herself, she kept pressing on the matter with a devilish curiosity “Well then, I have something to say too” Neji stopped his pace, waiting for her to continue “I won’t tell you unless you repeat what you said”- Tenten grinned harder as she saw Neji frowned, he would yield to it, she told herself, he can’t be that composed- “Then save it to yourself”, the boy answered her calmly. He showed no sign of being interested anymore, of course he wanted to know; nevertheless, his pride was taking the lead. It was his turn to smirk when he saw her pouted, not now, Ten. Smirked arrogantly, he whistled to her ear, his warm breath tickled her madly burning skin “Maybe another day” and left her at her house’s door with mixed feelings “Prepare for the mission, I’ll pick you up at 4 a.m tomorrow” Quietly eyeing her behind his back, he finally smile softly, touching his fingers, her hand was incredibly soft. Neji demanded more than just a hold, but it was for the future, their future after his confession. Right now, at this very moment, everything was perfect.
This is not a love story, you holding my hand, sofly soothing my soul, I want to hug you warmly, but this is not a love story.
Not yet…