After Scenic Route

Neji was fine. He kept track of time and switched legs at the appropriate time.

Love did too and grinned, "You are very good at this. Do you use your legs in combat often? If not, you should start. You can do great."

She did a front snap kick when the time was up to keep from getting stiff and stretched her arms reaching up.

Neji slowly lowered his leg and nodded. "Thank you for the compliment."he said and took her hand in his without thinking. "Let's walk now."

She looked down not moving her head and then away not exactly sure why he did that. "Um-okay. Where are we going?"

Neji shrugged and then,realizing he had grabbed her,he let go.

"Love! I am so sorry! Please forgive me!"he said.

She flinched thinking he'd hit her for something she did but when he let go of her hand she shook her head, "N-no it is okay. I-I do not mind I-" she blushed and looked away.

Neji looked at her and looked away,slowly holding her hand again. "Is this okay?"he asked.

"I guess so." she didn't see what was wrong with it and what made him so sorry before. She felt a bit closer to him in a comforting way when he held her hand never really noticing what made him react so strangely.

He suddenly felt very awkward. How he had the will to keep holding her hand was beyond him,but he did slightly enjoy the feeling.

Love walked beside him wondering where it was they were going. It was a nice day and she was relaxed.

Neji was enjoying the sun. It was bright and happy that morning and he didn't want to teach Love anything indoors.He took her to the park.

She looked at it and then at him, "A park? Oh my goodness! It is so cute!"

Love let go of his hand and ran to it looking at the different things. She stared at the slides and peeked through the gate at the swings.

Neji let her wander and atched from a bench. He was glad to see she was happy in the park.

Love pushed the swing and stepped back seeing it move back and forth. She did it again and fell this time onto her butt and pouted not sure what it was for.

"Neji-I do not think it likes me."

"You have to sit on the seat and swing yourself."he called to her and sighed.

"Sit on it?" she tried sitting down while it was still moving and fell before getting hit with the seat in the back of the head.

"Ow!"

He got up,seeing she was a hazard to herself and stopped the swing. "You have to stop it before you sit idiot."he said and stepped back waiting for her to do as he had instructed.

Love grabbed hold of it nervously. She was afraid of him for a moment. He had called her a name and it made her feel horrible.

I must really be a screw-up for him to get mad at me...

Once she had stopped it she let go and shook her head, "Um, never mind..." Love sat to the side outside of the fence separating the swings from the rest of the park. She preferred doingnothing over doing something that would get Neji mad.

Realizing his error, he went to her and picked her up. He carried her all the way to the swing,put her down on it and began to push her. "Forgive me for hurting your feelings."

Love was lifted too quickly to really have a reaction besides clinging to his shirt instinctively afraid of being dropped. When she was placed in the swing and pushed she began panicing thinking she'd fall off. Her hands were gripping tightly around the chains and she slowly calmed down as he spoke to her.

"No-why are you sorry Neji kun?" she looked back at him.

"I got angry too quickly."he said and pushed her again. "Now just hang on and swing your legs."

"Too quick? No, Elders got mad much faster. I think I deserved that..."

She swung her legs like she was instructed.

"I am nowhere near that cruel,but I must behave anyways."he said and pushed her really hard and stood to the side so as not to get kicked.

Love clung to the swing chains and almost slid out from not paying attention. She blushed and looked around for Neji as she went up and down.

"You are...too kind..."

"Thankyou. But it is you who are too kind to everyone."he said and stopped the swing. "You are much too kind to everyone. Don't let anyone take advantage of you."he said softly.