Believe

Do you believe we can love each other?

"Hey Neji!"

"Hn."

Tenten smiled brightly as she sat down on the stone bench next to her sparring partner, "So… 'sup?"

Neji shrugged.

"How's Hinata?"

"With Uzumaki and Inuzuka, trying to get them to stop fighting."

"Hanabi?"

"Making Hiashi's life utter hell."

"Why?"

"I'm not there."

"…Oh."

Tenten leaned back and tilted her head upwards, gazing at the bright sky, "Neji, do you believe?"

"In what."

"…Like, overall."

"…Not really."

"How boring is that? Not believing in anything…"

"…It's fate."

"Well then, Destiny is the new Fate."

"It's destiny as well."

"…"

"…What?" Neji asked irratibly, glancing at her.

Tenten blinked, "Do you believe Sasuke'll ask Sakura out?"

"Maybe."

"Do you believe Naruto'll be the next Hokage?"

"Probably. Stupid kid would annoy Hokage-sama to make him to Rokudaime anyway."

"Do you believe Hinata'll be a good clan leader?"

"Yes."

"Do you believe Gai and Lee will be sane one day?"

"No."

"See Neji, you believe some stuff!"

"Some. Not all."

"…" Tenten smiled slowly, "Do you believe I'm pretty?"

"….."

"….Thanks Neji. Thanks."

"Yes."

"…" Tenten blushed lightly, "E-er, do you believe I'm strong?"

"I believe you're the strongest weapons mistress in Konoha and Suna, maybe in all of Fire country," he blurted, looking away as a blush appeared.

"U-um, anyway, enough about me," Tenten muttered, a blush still adorning her cheeks, "Do you believe you've overcome your fate?"

"No."

"Do you believe you're hot?"

"Yes."

"…You are so arrogant. Do you believe you're smart?"

"Yes. I'm a prodigy."

Tenten sighed, "So arrogant. Hm… Do you believe…"

"I believe you're asking too much."

"See, you believe!"

"Tch."

Tenten reached up and caught a falling leaf between her fingers, and examined it, "So…"

"…"

"Heard Sasuke and Sakura got together."

"Yes."

"Whaddya think of them?"

"Haruno's hyper, Uchiha's an ass they're perfect together."

"NEJI."

"WHAT?"

"What about… um…"

"…"

"What do you think of… Ino?"

"…Hell?"

"I'm serious Neji!"

"Well I'm serious too. She's hell."

"NEJI."

"WHAT?"

"Shikamaru."

"Lazy."

"Kakashi."

"Pervert."

"Naruto."

"Strong but used his Kyuubi to cheat during the chuunins exams."

"….Ummm…"

"…"

The two lapsed into an awkward silence until Tenten finally spoke up again.

"Neji, what do you think of us?"

"Teammates."

"We're far more than teammates. Or sparring partners."

"…Companions."

"NEJI."

"Fine. Best friends."

Tenten glanced at him, a small smile on her pink lips, "Neji, I think we might be more than just best friends."

"…"

"Neji…"

"Eh."

"…I think… I love you."

"I… may return your feelings but…"

Tenten stared at him.

"I don't think the two of us can love each other," he stated abruptly, trying not to look at her hurt face.

Tenten smiled through her pain, "Neji… all you have to do is believe that we can love each other."

"…"

"Do you believe we can love each other?" she asked, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

He looked over and relaxed into a smile, stroking her soft cheek with the back of his fingers, "…Yes."

Then…

…We will.