All I Want

Neji stared at the calendar.

The calendar stared back.

There was something special about today, but he just couldn't place his finger on it…

Oh.

March 9th.

Shit.

Tenten's birthday.

Training grounds…

Neji leaned against the tree thinking what to get his female teammate.

Jewelry?

No, Tenten never wore jewelry…

Make up?

Ew. No.

Clothes?

Nah.

Weapons?

She has millions.

He closed his eyes to concentrate better when…

"YOSH! NEJI, MY YOUTHFUL RIVAL, TODAY IS OUR LOTUS BLOSSOM'S BIRTHDAY, WHATEVER DID YOU GET HER?"

Neji cracked open an eye and glared at Lee, "Lee, shut up."

"YOUR YOUTH IS TAINTED IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN HER A PRESENT! AND I SHALL SPREAD IT ALL OVER THE VILLAGE BY SUNSET!"

Okay. That provoked him.

In a swift move, Neji was holding Lee up by the fabric of his spandex suit, "Don't you dare…" he hissed.

Lee blinked, "YOUR YOUTH!"

"SHUT UP ABOUT MY YOUTH!"

"Hi Neji! Lee!" Tenten said cheerfully approaching them.

Neji dropped Lee and gave Tenten a grouchy, "Ohayo."

Tenten froze, "Whoa, he said something to me other than a 'hn'! OH MY GOD, THE WORLD IS ENDING!"

"…"

Tenten blinked, "Are you being nice to me because it's my birthday?"

He paused and gave a slow nod.

Tenten grinned, "Great!"

"MY BEAUTIFUL LOTUS BLOSSOM, THOUGH NOT AS BEAUTIFUL AS SAKURA-SAN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Lee yelled.

Right into Tenten's ear.

"LEE, SHUT UP!"

After Lee had run off to Gai, Neji and Tenten went to a small clearing.

"Aren't we going to train today?"

"…You want to train on your birthday?"

"…No…"

"Then we won't train."

Tenten blinked, "Did some kind of alien life form take over your mind or something?"

Be nice, be nice, be nice, be nice… Neji repeated over in his head.

"Tenten."

"Hm?"

"…What do you want for your birthday?"

Tenten grinned, "I already have everything I want! You're being nice to me, you're not pushing me to train, we're alone in a clearing…"

She paused and blushed.

Neji turned around and smirked, "Tenten. There has to be something you want."

Tenten paused and smiled shyly, "You promise you won't tell anyone?"

He had to admit. She did look cute with both hands behind her back, her left leg in front of her right, a slight blush tinging her cheeks, her brown eyes staring up at him, and a shy smile gracing her pink lips.

Okay. Neji, stop thinking like that.

"No."

"Promise?"

"Tenten," he said rolling his eyes, "I have my pride you know."

"Well… I want someone to care for me."

"…"

She looked up at the sky, her brown eyes seeming dreamier than ever, "All I want… is for someone to care for me."

"…"

"My parents died when I was 3, so I've lived alone pretty much all my life. I don't know what it feels like for someone to care for me…"

She sighed, "It's all I really want. For someone to care for me."

He blinked, "That could be arranged."

She snapped back into reality and looked at him, "Huh?"

He approached her, and bent down slightly so he was eye level with her, "That can be arranged."

She blushed, "W-what?"

"You want someone to care for you, right?"

"Y-yeah."

The smirk widened, "I'll be that person."

She smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck, and sighed happily as she felt his arms around her waist, and his chin on top of her head.

She only really wanted one thing.

And now she had it.

All I want… is for someone to care for me.