Hiya!
This is my first one-shot/chapter story involving Neji and Tenten as well as Lee, so kindly don't yell at me if they're a little OOC.

Full Summary: After Tenten is almost fatally struck while training with Neji, she has been unable to be in his presence, let alone train with him. Meanwhile, our favorite caged bird is wondering about his sudden lack of focus now that Tenten isn't around...

"Talking"
'Thinking'
/Loudspeaker-ish thing/

-x-x-x-x-

Accidental Aftermath

Chapter One:
Accidents Happen

Neji ground his teeth in frustration as Hiashi read him an impressive lecture on how he was not doing his duty to the clan, and how Hinata was bound to be hurt, or worse: captured. After verbally ripping him to shreds, Hiashi sent him along, advising him to be back well before his curfew.

It was only years of training that kept him from loosing his composure, but even after all that, it was slightly cracked. Keeping his face blank and his blazing emotions from his eyes, he resisted the urge to stomp off to where he and Tenten usually trained. Forcing himself to walk calmly and slowly only doubled--no, tripled--his frustration.

By the time he reached their training area, Tenten had already begun and completed her warm-up. Startled, she glanced up into arctic-cold white eyes.

"Hi Neji," she greeted before returning to her stretches. His stony nod was a reply, all she was going to get out of him. He had warmed up to the sound of kunai and shuriken striking the center of the target every time. Still seething but determined to hide his anger, he stood in preparation of his and Tenten's daily match.

"Ready?" He nodded again. Frowning slightly, Tenten paused. 'Something's not right...'

"Well?" Neji growled; he was getting impatient. Startled, this time out of her musings, Tenten automatically threw a barrage of shuriken and kunai at him. Not even fazed in the slightest, Neji immediately activated his Byukugan and blocked or dodged every one.

In a light trance, trying to escape or eliminate his anger, Neji automatically lunged forward. Eyes wide, Tenten just barely managed to dodge the first, second and third strikes. Frantic, for it seemed like he was trying to kill her, Tenten tried getting away, but it was no use.

The Hyuuga prodigy followed, mirrored or knew her every move. The brown haired konouchi knew it was just a matter of time before she made the slightest of errors, gave him an opening, and was a goner.

'This is not how I thought I'd die,' was the only thought she had time for before she was forced to keep moving. 'Someone...anyone...please!' With every move, Neji came closer and closer to hitting her the same way he nailed Hinata during the Chuunin exams.

"Neji! Stop!" She tried to reason with him, but it was no use. Now she was really frightened. Sure, they trained and both worked as hard as they could, but Neji had never tried to kill her before. If any of his attacks connected, Tenten knew she was a goner. It didn't matter if he hit her heart; as soon as she was hit, she would end up slowing down and he would have her. To her shame, tears began to stream from her eyes as she kept moving.

"Neji!" Almost stumbling now, she tried again. As good as she was, she couldn't keep moving this quickly up for long. Even Lee would have started to tire, since Neji wouldn't have given him the chance to take off his weights.

She knew it; she didn't know how she did, but she just...did. In her heart, she knew he connected before her body even felt the blow dealt directly to her heart. Shaken and terrified, her teary brown eyes looked up to connect with Neji's Byukugan one last time. When they closed, one last tear slid down her cheek as darkness claimed her...

Dead to the world, she didn't feel the blood trickling out of her mouth, or her body falling against Neji's and going slack.

-x-x-x-x-

Short. I know.

I shall update ASAP! 3
Emma