Where is the Woman I Love?

"COME ON LEE, YOU CAN BEAT HIM, REMEMBER THE uh… POWER OF YOUTH! I THINK!"

Normally, Gai would've been the one shouting that.

A vein popped in Neji's head. What was going on?

He let out a sigh of annoyance as he gave Lee a last kick and sent him falling.

"AND NEJI HAS WON AGAIN!"

Gai would be yelling that. But he was busy congratulating who used to be the only other sane member on their team.

Yes it was true. Tenten has become one of them. A youth addict.

Tenten grinned. Neji glanced at her. Thank god she wasn't wearing a spandex suit.

"GOOD JOB TENTEN, YOUR YOUTH SHINES BRIGHTLY!" Gai yelled.

Lee jumped up, "YES TENTEN!"

They held out their arms for a hug. Tenten backed away, "Uh, no thanks…"

Their faces dropped.

"Hey Neji, wanna go for some ramen?" Tenten asked cheerfully as she dragged Neji towards Ichiraku without his agreement.

"Miso ramen please!"

"Plain ramen…"

"Coming right up!" the old man said cheerfully.

Tenten grinned at Neji, "So Neji, 'sup?"

"…"

"Aw, cold as always?" she asked playfully and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Tenten… do… not… touch… me…"

She removed her hand quickly when she felt his killer aura.

"Here are your ramen, enjoy!"

"Itadakimasu!" Tenten chirped and began slurping the noodles.

Neji ate his noodles in peace.

Once they finished Tenten dragged Neji around Konoha.

"Hey Neji…"

"What."

"We should get spandex suits to match with Gai-sensei and Lee!"

"…NO."

Tenten's face fell, "Why not?"

"Because. We'll look like pathetic idiots."

"Aw, come on Neji! Youth!"

"…"

He walked faster, she caught up with him, "Hey Neji, something wrong?"

"What do you think is wrong?" he snapped.

"Ummmm… you're still hungry?"

"…Idiot…" he mumbled and picked up his pace again.

"C'mon Neji, tell me? Pleeeeease? Or I'll give you a lecture on youth!" Tenten said.

He glared at her, "What happened to you?"

"What? Nothing happened to me!"

"You're acting like Lee and Gai, the youth addicts."

"Cuz youth is COOL!"

He glared at her and leaned closer until they were dangerously close, "What happened to the woman I loved?"

"Woman… you loved?" she squeaked.

"The woman I loved isn't standing in front of me," he said plainly.

Tenten stared. It was amazing how he could admit his love while keeping a straight face and not blushing.

"You've changed into someone I really don't like."

Tears welled up as he turned away.

Neji heard a loud sniffle as he turned around.

His eye twitched and hoped it wasn't what he thought it was as he turned around.

It was.

Tenten was sniffling loudly as tears rolled down her pale cheeks.

"Um… it's okay?" Neji said trying to be comforting.

Well, it made things worse.

He approached her, "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, I just thought you wouldn't notice me, so I tried to change myself into someone you'd notice!"

He sighed, "Er…"

"And now you don't like me!" she continued her sobs getting louder.

His mind raced to find something to say.

"And now…" she was cut off when she felt something on her lips.

Her eyes shot open and she lowered her hands as she pressed against his lips, her eyes slowly closing.

He pulled back, "There. Now stop crying."

She smiled slightly and happily walked beside him.

"Tenten?"

"Hm?"

"…Don't ever change."