Tenten growled and rubbed her chin, glancing at the person who was her teammate.

He rolled his eyes and said, "You should've expected that, Tenten. Maybe you should just go home and rest. After all, that's all you're ever good at doing."

"I don't take orders from the likes of you!!" She barked, picking up one of her discarded katana and running straight for him.

He waited until the last second to step to the side before attacking her side. Tenten rolled, but not fast enough, and ended up on the ground, gritting her teeth as she fought a cry.

'Every day,' she thought, holding her side, 'every day he's like this. Why Kami? Why do you hate me so?'

She stumbled as she stood up, eventually turning to him to see a smug grin on his face. She couldn't take anymore and started to cry.

"You're an asshole, Neji! That's all you'll ever be! Die; go somewhere and die!!"

Her rant was short, as were her breaths, and she felt like her words were wasted once more.

Neji scoffed and said, "I think if I keep hanging around you, I might just die of boredom." Tenten screamed out moments before stomping away from the training grounds. She had to, enable to get away from Neji.

If anything, she wished that he was more considerate, but as of that moment, she started not to care anymore.

As she walked further into the woods, she felt dizzy. Before she could call out for help, darkness took over, causing her to pass out.

~

At the same time in the opposite side of the universe, Tenten was eye to eye with Neji, never giving him a second to breathe.

When he moved, so did she, and she used his blind spot too, which all but irritated him.

Eventually, they stopped to take a break, and Neji was aching all over. Tenten, just as sore, giggled softly and said, "It's been a while since we sparred like that."

"Hn," was his reply.

Moments later, he drank water from his canteen before saying, "Indeed. But you need to work on your defense a little more." Tenten nodded slightly to that. A few more silent moments passed before Tenten said, "So, got any plans for this weekend?"

Neji raised an eyebrow as he said, "Eat, rest, meditate, train. No different from last week."

"Well," Tenten said, fiddling with her fingers and smiling at him, "have you ever thought about going out to do something? I mean, I know you're not really the type to go out or anything, but you might actually like it."

Neji considered for a moment, and then shook his head. "Sorry Tenten," he said, standing up, "but I'll pass. You enjoy yourself, however."

He gave her a slight smile before turning and walking away from the training grounds.

Tenten waited for Neji to be out of earshot and flung several kunai at a post.

'He didn't even realize I was batting my eyelashes at him.'

She sighed and rolled her eyes.

'Of course,' she thought, 'it wouldn't matter anyways; he'd never find someone like me attractive.'

Tenten threw a few more kunai before picking all of them up and sealing them in a scroll. Sighing, Tenten took off deeper into the woods to try and find a piece of mind. When she got to a certain area, she turned her head to find her body on the ground.

Well, it looked like her, but her clothes were tattered and ripped in several places.

As Tenten stepped forward to investigate, it felt like someone had struck her behind. Tenten fell forward, just inches away from what she thought was herself.

Her vision faded shortly after.

~

At first, her vision was muddled.

She could even see a tree correctly.

However, once her vision came to, she realized that her twin, or whatever the girl was, was gone. Tenten gripped her forehead and groaned, feeling a headache slowly form.

'What was that,' she thought, carefully getting up, 'I could've sworn I saw a battered version of myself just moments ago...'

She shook her head and turned back to walk back to the training grounds. When she got there, she saw weapons all over the place, to her surprise.

'Well that's... Unexpected,' she thought, opening up a scroll to place the weapons in.

Once she set them in their places, she pressed her hands together and sealed them up inside the scroll. Wiping her head, she smiled at her work and rolled the scroll up.

Someone cleared their throat behind her, and she turned suddenly to see Neji, seemingly happy about something.

Tenten raised her eyebrow back at him, returning the smile, which caught him off guard.

In fact, that wasn't the only thing that caught him off guard.

Tenten was... Clean. Unscathed. Tired, but unscathed. She looked fitter in certain areas, and her clothes were much longer on her. It took him a few times to realize that it was his teammate, as weird as it was.

She giggled as his slightly surprised reaction and waved. "Hey," she said, "You alright? You look like you just saw a ghost."

~

Tenten whimpered and held her head, sitting up and blinking a few times.

She tried to recall what happened, but she couldn't remember anything for her life.

Very carefully, Tenten stood up and stumbled before standing up straight. Nothing looked different; at least, she didn't notice anything different. Either way, she felt weird and being alone freaked her out.

Turning back towards the training grounds, Tenten contemplated on how she'd defend herself from Neji's sarcastic comments, if he was even there still. He usually was which ticked her off, because he knew that she would always come back.

As she got closer, however, she had a weird feeling; one that she didn't get at the random.

Tenten shivered and rushed back to the training grounds, only to find no one there. She was surprised, not only because he wasn't there, but because all the weapons that were resting all over the training grounds were no longer there.

Feeling a little panicky, Tenten rushed from the training grounds and back into the village.

On her way there, she saw Neji sitting near a tree, seemingly unsettled about something.

'Hah! Like I care,' she thought, stomping towards him.

However, as she got closer, and he turned his head, she was taken aback by his shocked response.
"Great Kami, Tenten," he said, standing up and looking down at her in disbelief, "what happened to you?"

~

It took Neji only a moment to compose himself before he scoffed and said, "You know I don't believe in ghosts, Tenten."

Tenten giggled and said, "Yeah, that's true. I don't know why you're back though. Are you ready to go home?"

He blinked at her before nodding and saying, "Uh, yeah. Are you alright?"

She nodded and said, "Yeah, I'm fine. I think I passed out in the woods though, and my head hurts. Listen, about earlier? I'm sorry about saying what I did; I already knew how you are. Forget I ever said anything."

Neji looked at her in astonishment.

She caught the look and said, "It's no big deal, Neji. Ah, whatever. Come on!" Tenten started walking off, a slightly confused and weary Neji following her.

The whole time they walked towards the village, Neji kept studying her, both her attitude and her surprisingly attractive ass as it swayed.

Tenten paid little attention to him, as she was still trying to figure out why she passed out, or why there was a familiar version of her, passed out on the ground.

Finally, she said, "Hey Neji?" "Hmm?" He asked, not at all paying attention to her, as he had lingered to watch her walk. She sighed and turned around to face him, catching her off guard.

She pointed her finger at him and said, "You've been distracted, and I know it. At practice you were, you did it when practice was finished, and you're going it now. Is there something you need to tell me?"

Neji stuttered before shaking his head and saying, "No, Tenten. Let's just go home."

She sighed and turned, continuing to walk. Neji stayed close by, astonished that Tenten was acting in a strange way, not to mention that she looked completely different than before.

But whatever happened, he had Kami to thank for.

~

Tenten huffed and crossed her arms, looking elsewhere.

Neji blinked a few times.

It wasn't too long ago that she was fine and smiling.

Now it seemed like someone had taken her, beaten her up, and torn her clothes only to sow them up. Just the thought of anyone harming Tenten angered Neji. When he tried to reach out to her, she flinched before backing up.

"Don't act like you care, you bastard," she spat.

Neji not only felt insulted, but hurt as well. "Tenten," he said, "I don't know what's happened to you, but your wounds need tending to. Come on; let's go home, okay?"

Tenten hesitated.

Neji would usually leave her behind after she returned to the training grounds. But now he looked... Concerned. Worried, for her well being. It actually frightened her, because of who he was.

She gave him a look of disgust, but he didn't look any different than he had before.

She sighed and said, "Fine, let's go. But keep your hands to yourself, Pervert." She stormed ahead of him, and Neji felt that maybe she was acting out because of the answer he gave her about hanging out.

He really didn't mean any harm, he just had things to think about and work on. Calling him a pervert was a new one, however.

Neji wondered where in the world she got that word from.

~

When the duo made it to Tenten's apartment, she turned to him and said, "Thanks for walking me here. But you didn't have to go all the way; I know you're a busy man."

He nodded slightly, watching her curiously.

Tenten smiled at Neji and said, "Tell Lee I said hi. I know he's not feeling well." Neji nodded, knowing very well that Lee wasn't feeling well. Just not in the way Tenten thought.

"Of course, Tenten," Neji replied, smirking at her.

Tenten couldn't help but to smile at his smirk. She always loved it when he smiled that way. Waving once more, she walked up the stairs and unlocked her door, finding the place to be an utter mess.

There were dishes in the sink, scrolls and weapons where they shouldn't be; even a lamp was tipped over.

It looked as if someone ransacked her house and left with nothing.

Shaking her head, she got started on cleaning up the whole place as quickly as she could. Tenten was already tired, and cleaning up was on the last thing on her mind. But she couldn't stand to see the house as messy as it was.

By the time she finished, it was dark outside.

Exhausted, Tenten stripped down and got under the covers, not even bothering to wash herself. She sighed softly and closed her eyes.

'These covers need washing too,' she thought, yawning softly, 'I guess I know what I'm doing in the morning...'

She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

~

Neji walked a wary Tenten home and watched as she fumbled to pull out her keys.

She cursed as the key nicked her finger, and Neji stepped up to her and asked, "Would you like me to assist?"

"No," she snapped, trying to unlock her door, "I can handle this."

However, after being confused and still feeling dazed, she gave up and dropped the keys into Neji's awaiting hands. He smiled with uncertainty and unlocked the door.

When Tenten stepped in, her jaw almost dropped.

The place was all but clean.

No weapons scattered on the floor, no dishes in the sink; even her floor was swept. Neji came in behind her and shut the door, scaring Tenten.

She backed up and said, "You've walked me home; I don't need your help with anything else."
"Yes, you do," he replied, sitting on her couch and waving her over.

It took her a minute, but she eventually walked to him and sat beside him. He smiled before frowning as he laid eyes upon her chin.

It was slightly split.

He looked at her and asked, "Who did this to you?"
She glared at him and said, "You're funny, you know that? Don't play the good guy, Neji."

Neji sighed and said, "Tenten, if you're trying to accuse me of doing something like this, then maybe you should rest after I heal you. You might be seeing things."

"After you..." her words faded as she looked into his eyes.

He was dead serious.

She sighed and said, "Just get it over with." He nodded and slowly removed all of her bandages, noting how Tenten was reacting. She was confused, he knew so, but he didn't know why.

Nothing was making sense to Neji, but he swore to himself that he'd find out just what was going on with her.

~~~~

Soooooo? Is it cool, is it not? Ah, I don't care. I'm really enjoying myself with this. Let me know what you think, but regardless, I'm posting all that I wrote.

Until Next Time

~ Nimo