Author's Note: Hey, I'm banging these stories out like crazy! Who's on a roll? ME! I have three up right now but I will have four and they are all written already so none of that incomplete crap. I hate that most about writers that don't finish. This is My first multi-chapter TenTen and Neji fic. Yay! Really happy with how this came out. No OCC except for Lee at some points because his enthusaism drives me insane and he's annoying to write. It's about ten chapters and there is a sequel.

If you like TenTen and Neji fics, I have one-shots called Waiting and Waking. They are a two part one-shot. Take a look.

Summary: A mission brings the team to Rain where they must wait undercover. TenTen and Neji begin to find that playing pretend is a lot better than reality. T/N and a little bit of Sas/Sak.

Chapter 1

TenTen had waited for this moment. A mission. Finally a mission worth her time. It's been eight months and D-ranks were not cutting it. C-ranks weren't coming close. B-ranks held some interest for a minute or two.

No. This was an S-rank mission. And she was ready for it. She packed every weapon in her arsenal, staying up all night to sharpen and clean, placing them in order just the way she liked. She couldn't wait to use the new ones she had recently bought. This would be it. She felt brand new again.

TenTen hurried into the Hokage's office, slowing upon meeting familiar faces. Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke, Neji and Lee had managed to make it here before her. She glanced at the clock but she wasn't late. She stepped in line beside her teammates only to find that the Hokage himself wasn't sitting at his desk.

"He's late?" She whispered.

Neji raised an eyebrow, "Isn't he always?"

Lee tried to contain his excitement, "I can't wait to hear it. What will it be? Taking out an evil villain? Restabilizing a disabled country? To what will our honed talents be put to use?"

She leaned backward, noticing the quiet Team Seven. Sasuke Uchiha stood silent and still at the end of the line.

She leaned in to Neji, "What's he doing here?"

He gave his own weary glance but then straightened his lavender eyes ahead, "I doubt he's coming."

There was whispering on the other end. She leaned backward again to find Naruto and Sakura bickering beneath their breath. Sasuke had a smirk but remained silent staring ahead.

It took a minute but then Sakura snapped loudly, "No. He's Hokage now. He shouldn't be making us wait!"

Naruto shushed her.

"Don't shush me. Do you hear him?" She asked the Uchiha. "He's shushing me."

Lee took a step forward, boldly supporting her with his everlasting love, "Don't let anyone step on your vibrant sunshine, Sakura-chan."

TenTen reached around Neji to slap his shoulder, "Don't, Lee."

Sakura stepped out of line as Naruto reached for her arm, "Don't touch me. We've been waiting for ten minutes. He's probably sitting at a restaurant somewhere reading a book." Naruto reached for her again and she smacked his hand, "I said don't touch me."

Sasuke added, "She said don't touch her."

"Thank you, Sasuke."

"Shut up, idiot." Naruto growled. "He'll be here soon. Just calm down."

Sasuke dropped his head.

Even TenTen winced, but she kept her head straight, doing her damnedest to ignore the building drama happening five feet from her.

Lee put a hand over his mouth, leaning into Naruto, "I don't think anyone likes being told to calm down, Naruto-kun."

Neji barely opened his lips, "Stay quiet, Lee."

"Calm down?" Sakura grit through her teeth. "Did you just tell me to calm down?"

Naruto shook his head, "Nope. Nope. I uh."

"Good Morning." Kakashi greeted happily as he entered the room. He had a smile though the usual wear of a mask hid half of his face. "Sorry I was late, meetings." He casually explained, taking his seat at the desk. "Now, I'm sure you are all excited about our first s-rank mission. I've picked you for this mission especially so I expect it to be successful." He held up the scroll. "Have you decided who would lead?"

Neji, Sasuke, Sakura, TenTen and Naruto all took a step forward.

Kakashi smiled. "Lee, thank you for volunteering."

"What!" Naruto bursted out. "Brusy brows? He's the lowest rank here." He swung his head back, "No offense."

"None taken."

"But seriously."

Kakashi held out the scroll to Lee and tentatively, the man reached for it, bowing in thanks. They reformed the line, sending glares to the defective ninja.

"Two weeks should be enough time for this. If you need an extension send word. Dismissed."

Neji stepped forward, stalling the line from leaving.

Kakashi glanced up with a brow, "Yes, Neji-san?"

"Sir, I cannot, with a full conscious, leave this village with Uchiha Sasuke on our team. We put ourselves in danger. The risks are too great and I ask that you consider them before we leave."

Naruto opened his mouth but Kakashi put a hand up to stop him. Sasuke himself said nothing and did nothing staring ahead.

"Your concerns are noted, Neji-san. Do you think I would put you in danger mindlessly?"

He shifted just slightly. "Of course not, Hokage-sama. However, as you were his sensei, perhaps you see differently."

"Than what? Facts? Sasuke has cooperated with us in every way since his return. He was imprisoned for two months and chose to expose every secret he possessed. From his constant cooperation and the facts that circled his length of leave, the council, not only me, deemed him qualified for release. But I do not need to explain these details to you. I am Hokage and I have made a decision. Do you follow this decision? Or not?"

Neji took a second to gather up his pride and stepped back in line.

"Dismissed.

Naruto smirked but Neji spun the other way, ignoring his delight. So he shouted after him, "That's right!"

"Shut up." Sasuke mumbled following everyone out.

Naruto stumbled after him, "What? He was being an ass."

Sakura shook her head, "Just shut up."

"Hey! You guys have been teaming up on me and it sucks!"

TenTen and Lee watched Team Seven walk down the opposite way. "It's been a long time since we've been around them, huh, Lee?"

"It will be invigorating!"

She rolled her eyes. "Let's go find Neji."

TenTen and Lee found him in the Hyuuga Training grounds. A wooden peg board stuck out of the ground and was currently taken a beating from his powerful palms. With every hit a wave of energy swept across the dust ground creating small tornadoes.

Lee sat on the ground spreading the scroll out and began reading the details.

TenTen folded her arms, glaring down at him, "I guess I'm dealing with this."

Lee stuck up his thumb, "With youthful exuberance!"

She scoffed, slapping his hand down.

Slowly, TenTen approached, keeping one hand on her scroll. There were ways to deal with a disgruntled Hyuuga. One was walking the other direction. The other was fighting. However on the Hyuuga grounds the location wasn't big enough to use any of her defense mechanisms and be sure, she would be on the defense. So she would try an alternative method not practiced often: Talking.

"Uh. Neji?"

"This is ridiculous." He began.

Slap, slap, slap.

"He is a traitor."

Slap, slap, slap.

"A murderer."

Slap, slap, slap.

"He should be in prison."

Neji stalled a moment to look at her, "Am I wrong?"

TenTen eagerly shook her head.

Slap, slap, slap.

"Then why didn't you say anything?"

"Me?"

"You, Lee? I expected my team to support me. Instead I was humiliated."

Slap, slap, slap.

"Neji…"

"You may have forgotten but I have scars because of him. I nearly died because of him."

Her brows knit. "Forgot? You think I forgot?"

Neji left the totem and snatched gauze from the ground. He began wrapping his arm with vigor, each wrap taunt and painful, meant to shut his mouth from saying stupid things.

"In case you forgot, I was the one sitting at your deathbed. Both times. So no. I haven't forgotten. Sorry you felt humiliated. But I think you're overreacting. And I won't be your punching bag."

He turned his head slightly only to watch her leave. Neji ripped the gauze and tossed the roll to the floor, flexing his fingers.

It never failed. He always managed to say something insensitive.

"I got it!" Lee shouted, looking up with a bright smile.

Unwilling to hurt another teammate, he gave light praise, "Good, Lee."

TenTen was sick to death of that arrogant man. Everything was about him. If the sky was falling, it would somehow be about Neji's fate. If the ground gave way, it would be because of Neji's strength. If the sun didn't rise, it was because Neji had a dream. Everything in this world was about Neji and she was done.

She thought eight months would help her. But here she was, pissed off again.

Back in her small dorm, TenTen emptied all her pockets of mini scrolls dropping them into a bucket. She unstrapped each stowed weapon and they clanged as they hit the battered old table. She undid her hair, undressed and shoved herself in the shower.

Eight months ago, she thought life was over.

She watched Neji nearly die in front of her. He took so many hits to save Naruto during the war there was no way he could have survived. In order to keep fighting, to keep sane, she had pretended it wasn't real. Even as Lee and Gai gushed and cried, she was emotionless, saying it wasn't happening. He was fine. That mantra repeating in her head even as his lifeless body laid on the battlefield.

With Tsunade and Sakura working harder than ever, they managed to save his life. But not without cost. He ended up in a coma for weeks and they were unsure if he would be the same when he woke.

And it was within that time, TenTen dealt with the fact that he almost died. She cried. She cursed. And she made promises to a god she wasn't sure existed.

When he woke up, she was the first person he saw.

And she kissed him. She threw herself on him and kissed him with tears coming down her cheeks. She was going to make it right, she had told god. She was going to tell him everything.

But then the door to the room shifted and Neji pushed her away.

Hiashi and HInata entered the room, ignorant to what they had interrupted. Neji appeared normal, bowing his head in greeting. And though he was breathing slightly heavy, he passed it off as a headache. She had excused herself and ran out the room.

They didn't talk about.

Neji made a comment in later weeks how she had been excited to see him. And she let it go. If that was how he wanted to play it, then she would roll with it. There was nothing else to be done. He pushed away. Her affections denied. Now she had to move on.

So she did. With missions, with dates, with stupid, pointless dead end jobs. She was currently attempting to open up her own weapons shop and this S-rank mission will give her all the money she needs to do it. It was the only reason she was going.

TenTen turned off the shower and with a towel around her she went into her room. Lee sent word that they would be leaving at midnight tonight. She didn't know when she would be clean again and took this last opportunity. With four hours left, she rolled on some pjs and grabbed a microwaveable dinner before sitting on the sofa. She flung her wet hair over the sofa to dry.

The knock on the door tweaked her temper a bit.

TenTen put her eye against the peep hole and nearly cursed at the sight. She swung around, looking down at her outfit, rubbing her mouth, deciding there really wasn't helping her appearance and took a breath before she slightly pulled the door open just enough to stick her eye out, "Hey, Genzo."

He held up a bag of take out, "Throw away that microwavable dinner. I got dumplings." He pushed against the door.

She stutter in an attempt to make an excuse of her outfit, crossing her arms in front of her chest to hide the fact she wasn't wearing a bra. She watched him set up at the bar, taking food out, "I'm leaving soon."

"I know, I got your message."

She chewed her lip unsure if she should let him stay. He was considerably the best date she's had so far. But he was older by five years. He wasn't a ninja. He was actually a owner of a bookstore that was recently given to him by his father passing away. He was intelligent and funny and good-looking.

And if she could get her mind away from Neji, he might have a fighting chance.

TenTen smiled when he held up her favorite food. How could she turn it away? She took a seat, yanking it out of his hands.

"Are you... not wearing a bra?"

"Shut up!" She flung the bag at him as he ducked. Her cheeks reddened.

He grinned as he took out his own food, "Looks good on you."

"Keep quiet."

"What are you watching?"

"A fighting movie."

He rolled his eyes, "Of course, what was I thinking? Let's go to the couch." He gathered up the boxes and set them up on the coffee table.

TenTen grabbed her food and heard a soft knock at the door. She set it back down, "Hold on."

She swung it open, "Neji."

With a quick step, she came outside, shutting the door behind her. She kept her eyes to the floor, shame quickly spreading over her like wildfire. What would he think if he knew she had a man in her apartment? He was so proper and old school. She would be branded a whore in his eyes.

Then her arms came up over her chest, cursing her herself for not putting on a freaking bra.

Neji cleared his throat, turning his head slightly, pretending not to notice,

"I came to apologize." He bowed his head.

TenTen watched him confused. Her heart beating faster as he stood there.

"I acted selfishly. I was upset and I did not consider your feelings."

She shook her head, turning away to go back in, "It's fine, Neji. I'll see you at twelve."

He reached for her arm, stalling her. She looked down at his hand. Her breath heavy. She knew it was her imagination. It was always her imagination. But when he touched her, she felt more than just his hand.

"There's another reason why I came."

She lifted her eyes and caught his.

"Lee decided to leave an hour earlier. I thought I would tell you."

She felt stupid for being disappointed. He had shown no interest in her a day in her life. Why did she read into his words so easily? She swallowed and forced a smile. "Okay."

"Are you alright? Your face is flushed and you're breathing heavy." He felt her forehead, the back of his fingers pressing against her cheek. "No fever."

She grabbed his hand, pulling it down, more aggravated with herself than him, "I'm fine."

But his fingers turned in hers and tightened around her hand.

Her breath hitched as she met his gaze again.

He released her hand and slid a fingertip up her arm, it was the barest of touch, almost not there at all, and he stopped at her elbow, to pinch a strand of hair off of her skin. "It's been a long time since I've seen you with your hair down." He looked at it between his fingers, rubbing the wet tip, "You look different somehow."

"Neji," TenTen pressed herself against the door. It was her imagination. The look in his eyes, the way he was leaning. It was her imagination. It wasn't real. He didn't want her. He was meant for princesses and emperor's daughters. He could have any girl he wanted and a girl like her didn't fit into the type he desired.

There was a sudden change in his demeanor as he lifted his eyes up to the door behind her. He took a step back, all contact falling away and his face drastically reverting to the expressionless visage she knew so well.

The door opened and Genzo leaned an arm above the doorway, "Hey." He greeted, "I'm Genzo. This guy's your teammate, right, uh, Neji, right? You coming in?"

Neji attempted to meet her eyes but TenTen kept them glued to the ground, refusing to answer the question lingering in his expression. Her arms went back to covering her chest and then he figured it out. He had interrupted something. He bowed, "Excuse me. Thank you but I have a previous engagement."

"Sure. Nice meeting you."

Neji hesitated for a second, giving TenTen one last chance to say anything but still she refused. He left.

"Guy seemed uptight. He always like that?"

thanks guys, review!