In The Rain

"NO!"

"Come onnnnnnnn!" Sakura cooed.

"Don't you like Sasuke?"

"Well, yeah, but that's not the point!" Sakura snapped, "It's simple, just go and kiss Sasuke!"

"What if Neji sees?"

"Why? Do you like him?" Hinata, Sakura, and Ino asked.

"NO!"

"THEN WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?"

"I…I… I DON'T WANNA!"

"It's a DARE you have to do it!" Ino said, "Or we'll tell the whole village you like Neji!"

"BUT I DON'T!"

"THEN DO IT!"

"GOD DAMNIT, FINE!" Tenten yelled and stomped off toward Ichiraku's with the other three following, "UCHIHA! I MEAN, SASUKE!"

The Uchiha turned around angrily, "No Sakura I'm not going out with you."

Neji sat silently in the corner, drinking his water, surprised Tenten hadn't noticed him. Yet.

"I'm not Sakura!" Tenten said.

"Oh it's… er… future Mrs. Hyuuga Neji…"

She blushed furiously, "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?"

Neji made a mental note to kill Sasuke.

Tenten glanced backwards to see Ino and Sakura nodding their heads vigorously.

Since Tenten was so angry, she didn't notice Neji. Big mistake.

She calmed down, but a faint blush still remained. In a single movement, she hooked her arm around the Uchiha's neck, pulled him closer, and pressed her lips against his roughly.

Naruto stared.

Shikamaru's eyes widened.

Ino and Sakura let out a small 'meep'.

Hinata smacked her forehead.

Tenten pulled back when she heard some glass breaking. She turned her head to the right and her eyes widened, "N-Neji…"

She thought she saw something flicker through his eyes, but it was only a second. He got off the stool and stomped off.

"NO, NEJI WAIT!"

Tenten paused and spun around, "I hate you guys," she hissed and continued to chase after Neji.

"…"

"…"

"…"

An awkward silence passed through the stand.

"Well. You made Tenten break Neji's heart," Naruto said plainly.

Sasuke and Shikamaru smacked his head, "Idiot, we're not supposed to tell!"

"AHA, HE LIKES HER!" Ino yelled.

Sakura tugged on Ino's shirt, "Yeah, but he might not anymore, maybe he thinks Tenten likes Sasuke…"

Ino paused, "Ooh, this is bad…"

Neji and Tenten

"Come on Neji, just let me explain! Sakura and Ino dared me!"

"And you accepted?"

"Well… they threatened to spread that I liked you around the village, and you know how Ino is the biggest gossiper, they'd know within ten minutes…"

"Do you?"

She was taken back, "What?"

He stopped walking and turned around to face her, "Do you?"

"Well… as a teammate I guess…"

He sighed, "All right, just asking," he muttered and left.

She tilted her head. Where did that come from?

Tenten's house

Tenten flopped onto her bed, "Where did that come from… I mean, I like him as a teammate… he's my idol… okay, so I feel more for him than just friends…"

She flipped over and stared at the picture of team 8 on her nightstand. She stared at Lee and Gai who were giving good guy poses, Neji who was staring at them with the 'what-the-hell' look on his face, and she was… staring at him?

She sat up quickly.

How could she have been so blind?

She jumped out the window, ignoring the rain. (A/N Sorry about using rain so often, I just love the rain! And it seems so suitable for romantic situations! xD)

The love of her life has been standing in front of her for the past 5 years. (A/N Okay, she's like 14 or 15 here, let's pretend she started liking him while she was in the academy?)

How could she have been so blind?

Neji's room

Neji closed his eyes and started meditating.

There are other girls out there. She liked Uchiha. That's how life goes. Especially with the fate as a branch member.

"Neji-nii-san…"

"Come in Hinata-sama."

Hinata entered shyly playing with her fingers, "Er, about today… Tenten-san was dared by Sakura-san and Ino-san… so… she doesn't really like Sasuke-san…"

"I don't care."

"But…"

"I don't care," he said harshly.

She let out a small sigh and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Neji stopped meditating and looked out the window, at the falling raindrops.

I really don't care.

But he really did.

He looked down and spotted someone running. He ignored the person and continued to stare out into the rain.

It was so peaceful and serene… it seemed perfect… until someone dripping wet burst into his room.

"NEJI!"

"…"

"You know how I said I only liked you as a teammate earlier today?"

"…"

"Well… I lied."

"…"

"I… I… I love you!" she blurted out.

"…"

"You don't care, do you?" she asked softly tears streaming down.

"…"

She let out a sob and ran out of the Hyuuga's room.

Hinata appeared, "Neji-nii-san, I just saw Tenten-san run out of here crying… do you know… oh…" she finished softly.

She had been told that Neji was the strongest Hyuuga ever.

But even the strong have to break down sometimes.

For the first time in 12 years…

Hyuuga Neji was crying. (A/N Okay, he's 16, and remembered when Hizashi died when he was 4? Well, Neji cried then. –feels sorry for chibi Neji-)

Outside

Tenten slowed down to a walk in the rain, still crying.

He really doesn't care.

She loved him so much.

He doesn't care.

Why won't that stupid voice get out of her head?

She loves him so much, and he just pushed her away.

She sniffled again.

"Tenten."

She paused, "Neji?"

She turned around, and tried to look as cheerful as possible, "Is… is there something you needed?"

"I'm sorry."

"…Huh?"

He looked straight into her eyes, "I'm sorry. I.. guess I lied too."

He advanced toward her. His hand placed itself on the small of her back and pulled her closer.

"I do too."

Tenten smiled.

Hyuuga Neji would never say 'I love you'.

But 'I do too' would work.