Wait

Tenten was mad.

Oh yeah. She was mad.

That's where our moment begins, with Neji and Tenten at their normal sparring grounds, glaring at each other.

It's usual to see Tenten pissed off, she gets pissed off every so often at Sakura and Ino. But it's unusual to see her pissed off at Neji.

What's even more unusual is that Neji was glaring at her, supremely pissed as well.

"WHAT did you say?"

Neji smirked nastily, "You heard me, you pathetic, weak, ugly, excuse of a kunoichi."

Neither of them were sure what had started it.

Simple spar.

Simple loss for Tenten.

Then suddenly they're here.

Majorly pissed off at each other.

When Tenten's pissed, it's like a volcano eruption, all over the world.

When Neji's pissed, it's like all seven layers of hell froze over. Twice.

When they're both mad, well…

…

Yeah.

"Oh shut up, at least I'm not a cold hearted BASTARD like YOU!"

"At least I'm not a flat-chested, PMS-ing freak who can only throw pointless weapons."

"Just SHUT UP."

"Make me."

Tenten bit her lip as hot tears started to swell at her eyes, and she rubbed them away furiously, "JUST FRICKEN' SHUT UP!"

Neji smirked nastily again as he crossed his arms in satisfaction as Tenten started to sob into her hands.

When he was angry, he made the person miserable.

His sadistic smirk only widened as he watched the bun-haired girl run off.

Neji, you're such a sadist.

XxOoOoOoOxX

The next morning, Neji leaned against the tree calmly, his normal expression-less face on, which was technically his peaceful face.

He had gotten over it.

She should've too.

And so when she came in stomping furiously, he was pretty goddamn surprised.

"…Tenten."

"Hello freak."

Neji raised an eyebrow, "You're still mad."

"Duh."

Tenten crossed her arms and frowned, glaring at him, "You don't know who I am."

"Yes I do. You're Tenten, the weapons mistress of Konohagakure."

"Yeah, but you don't know who I really am. I bet you didn't know my mother died while giving birth to me and my father just ran out. You don't know that this pretty little face is a mask," she said angrily, "You don't know what I've been hiding. You don't know me at all. You only know my mask."

Neji half snorted, "And I should care?"

Tenten bit her lip, "You don't care about me or what I've gone through at all, do you."

"No."

"Then find yourself another sparring partner," she said coldly, and left.

Neji, you are in big trouble dude.

XxOoOoOoOxX

"…Hinata-sama."

"Come in," Hinata's gentle voice called from inside the door.

Neji opened the door and sighed, running a hand through his dark hair, "I… got Tenten mad at me."

Hinata closed her book, "I heard. You didn't care about her, did you?"

"Well. No."

So blunt.

Hinata sighed, "Let me put it this way. She's been there for you, kids, academy, genins, chuunins, now jounins. She kept supporting you, especially when you were younger and lonely. Wasn't she your first friend?"

"…Yes…"

"And she stayed by you, especially after you told the truth about your father during the Chuunin exams. When you were sick, she'd always come and help you feel better, even if it was pouring. She'd keep sparring with you, even if she knew it was hopeless for her to win, or that your techniques were already perfect. Didn't she let you practice her Jyuuken on her? She knew it could be fatal, but she let you anyway."

Now the he thought about it…

Hinata paused and looked out the window, "She was definitely right about you not knowing her. No one truly knows the person behind her mask. I've been to her house a couple of times, and I've seen her crying a couple of times. You truly don't know who she is. She's been rejected, and her heart has been torn in half multiple times, it's as breakable as silence. She's poured her heart out to me once, then told me to forget it, she didn't want to bother anyone with her troubles. She truly is a good person, Neji-nii-san. She's terrified of not living up to people's standards, and feels as if no one loves her. It's horrible to live without anyone loving you, you know how that feels, don't you?"

Neji frowned slightly. Maybe there was more to her…

"She's had the flu multiple times from just from sparring excessively with you. She'd just take medicine herself, or go to Sakura if it was really bad. She never went to the hospital, since she didn't want anyone to worry over her. Neji-nii-san, she's such a good person," Hinata said, almost pleadingly, "And… she loves you."

Neji's frown deepened.

Oh this is bad.

Yes, this was very bad.

XxOoOoOoOxX

"Tenten."

"Leave me alone."

"Tenten. Let me in."

"NO."

Neji sighed as he turned the doorknob and let himself in, quite rudely, "Tenten."

"Go away."

Slowly and carefully, he made his way over to her bed, sitting down delicately next to her, awkwardly putting a hand on her back, "Tenten."

"I said, GO AWAY."

"…I'm sorry."

"…Excuse me, I think I didn't hear right."

"I'm sorry. Hinata-sama told me everything, and you were right. I truly do not know you, and everything behind your mask. The pain, sadness, loneliness, I didn't know any of it. You're a good actor."

Tenten sniffled and sat up, crossing her legs, finally giving him a view of her face.

Her eyes were red from crying, hair astray, cheeks red.

He definitely didn't know the otherside.

Tentatively, he reached out a hand, pulled back, then reached out again, and pulled her closer, so her head was against his chest, and his chin was on top of her head.

"I can't… say I love you. But… I might be able to. One day."

Tenten smiled, "It's all right. I… can wait."