Finally started writing again, after 2 and a half years. My writing is rusty, but not too bad, I reckon. :) This will be a series of NejiTen vignettes.. Rated T for now, but I foresee the rating upped to M in the future. Prompt used is from 50_shinobi on LiveJournal.

Bingo Book

"Do you think you'll ever wind up in a Bingo Book?" Tenten flops onto the grass under Neji's favorite tree, beads of sweat trickling down the sides of her throat. The rest day, spent on training, is almost over, and orange hues are beginning to creep up the far edge of the sky.

"You're referring to those of the other hidden villages?" A foot away, Neji barely shifts in his meditation. He is looking a touch beat, and Tenten envies how he is always able to stay so composed after hours of spinning in his kaiten. "I would assume so, as we become better shinobi."

"No, I meant Konoha's Bingo Book."

This time, Neji cracks his eyes open and levels a gaze at her. "What makes you think I'd even become a missing-nin?"

Tenten heaves a dry chuckle and pulls a kunai out, twirling it so she wouldn't have to return his stare. "Oh, I don't know. What if you fall in love with an unworthy lady one day and decide to elope with her? You know, to escape the Hyuuga elders' fancies."

He snorts, un-Hyuuga-like, leaning back against the tree. "Like that's ever going to happen."

"And why not?" Curious now, Tenten rolls onto her belly and scrutinizes him. She nudges his knee with the rounded end of her weapon. A sudden idea tautens her stomach. "Do you have someone of higher stature in mind?"

Neji doesn't answer her for a long moment. She is rapidly starting to regret her question, and thinks she really doesn't want a reply. They are just best friends, after all. Not that he would become a missing-nin or anything like that for her sake.

"Maybe," he yields at length. A smirk curves his lips. "Why do you ask, Tenten?"

"Can't I be curious?" she snaps, caught off guard. Her eyes flick towards the warm metal in her hand, and back to him. "I was just wondering what it'd be like if you were in Sasuke's position."

He seems content with her excuse. "I wouldn't betray our village like that."

Tenten forces the tension to deflate within her, and scoots over to sit alongside him. Their arms brush. She rests her head on his shoulder, allowing herself the luxury of a stolen touch. His earlier response returns to the forefront of her mind. "Who is it? Will you tell me someday?"

"Maybe."

Unseen by Tenten, Neji smiles and lets her warmth lull him back into the quiet of meditation.