Second Chances

Chapter One: Nightmares and Plans

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'Marry me Tenten' he said as he pushed forward a midnight blue ring case, in it perched a pure sparkling diamond ring, glistening in all its' majesty. She could hardly speak as she reached out to grasp it with trembling hands, caressing it lovingly and gently.

'Aren't you going to put it on' he said bluntly.

'Trust Neji' she thought, eyes brimming with tears as she slipped the ring onto her finger tentatively.

He was never the most romantic, but this engagement however lack luster was very surprising to say the least. They started off as a team filled with strange bedfellows, a chirpy girl, stoic and taciturn boy and two overly hyper green freaks. Through the years a relationship developed, family relationships and of course a secret romantic one between her and her white eyed team mate. Keeping the relationship a secret and out of the Konoha market gossip was an equally hard task, especially where Yamanaka Ino was concerned. The day they were caught 'sparring' by a blushing Shikamaru and Choji and a loudmouthed, boisterous Ino, the two year secret relationship had come to an end. Despite jokes and cat calls, the rest of the Konoha 11 proved to be surprisingly good at secrets from the suspicious Konoha villagers, well, except Ino, who had to be bribed, thought Tenten with a smile.

'Tenten. What is your answer?' said a voice, breaking her away from her peaceful reverie.

Staring at the sparkling ring enclosing her finger, the answer became simple, obvious even. With a warm smile, her mouth formed the simple syllable he had been long waiting to hear.

"Yes'' was all she whispered as she ran into his arms and locked him in a passionate embrace, crying into his shoulder, sobs of happiness racking her petite body.

Neji held her in an awkward embrace, unsure of what to do he patted her back gently albeit awkwardly.

"I love you Tenten. Never forget that' he whispered softly into her hair.

"I love you to Neji. More than you can ever Know. You never forget that' she replied through her tears.

'I never thought I'd cry at a proposal. Hell, I never thought I'd be proposed to. Guess it proves I'm really a girl' she thought with a smile.

'My life is finally coming around. I'm happy, nothing can bring me down' she thought as she closed her bedroom door with a free foot.

Tenten, the weapons mistress of Konoha was finally getting married to her long time lover Hyuuga Neji.

Screams of terror slashed through the night air, waking Tenten with a start. Flames leaped all round her, with the onomatopoeic clang of metal was almost obscene, breaking the midnight peace of the grassy plain where she lay. With a quick glance, she noticed her comrades were absent, probably absorbed into the vicious battle unfolding in front her very eyes. Grabbing her scrolls with a feverish urgency, she ran wildly into the battle, she ran wildly into the raging battle ahead.

A stab. A punch. A kick. A slash., she goes, with increasing fury, stumbling over the bodies of her fallen soldiers. It was an ambush, instigated by the Sound Village, still bitter about their last surrender to Konoha during the last war. Now the tables were turned completely, Konoha was fighting a loosing battle. Snapping her head back, she quickly assessed the situation: three comrades plus herself left, five dead and one incapacitated.

'Inevitable-Konoha will loose. But I WILL live' she thought while fighting furiously wielding three katana at once in a taijutsu dance of death.

"Haaaaa!!!!' came a foreign roar from her mouth as she buried one katana in an enemy's stomach. She hardly heard the thud of the body, while she swerved on her heel thrusting another into a next enemy's side. On the third swipe a shuriken parried her blow with great force as the two struggled for dominance over the other; a kunai embedded itself in her abdomen. White spots flickered before her eyes, as a torrent of blood flew from her opened mouth. Struggling to maintain consciousness, left hand grips the offending weapon and transfers it to the heart of her enemy.

The two slump together to the ground in the same position they had been standing, except she landed weakly on her knees, and he fell on his stomach, dead.

'The guy of my dreams proposed to me last week, at the very least I should try making it to the wedding. I wish my team were here' she thought, touching the wound gingerly. She was on this mission virtually alone, stuck with comrades she was on simple acquaintance level, but were her friends nonetheless. 'But now they are all dead' echoed in her mind as she surveyed the battlefield. She could sense approaching familiar chakra signatures. Help would be arriving soon, and this war would be won, she believed, getting up with renewed confidence.

'Well upsy daisy Tenten' she thought while biting her thumb wildly and unfolding her large scroll with great determination. Before she could smear her blood over the scroll to activate a rain of projectiles, a heavy blow struck her behind her head and her world went black.

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'Is she awake yet' asked one voice.

'She's coming through' replied another.

"Tenten sweetie, do you feel okay?' asked the third quietly.

Tenten slowly sat up, using her two bruised arms to prop her up to see her guests. A bolt of pain suddenly shot up her body and her arms and head felt sore and throbbed with a vengeance.

Glancing at the nearby hospital mirror, a pitiful image greeted her. A battered and bruised body, bandages wrapped across her forehead, usurping most of her face. Looking down her small feet were barely visible, both encased in hard plaster casts. Most notably she did a double take when she looked at her face in the mirror yet again. The bandages made it impossible to notice the first time, she grabbed at her hair as a silent scream passed upon her lips.

'Oh God!' she exclaimed as she clutched at her falling strands. Her beautiful hair no longer tied up in buns, but hung loosely around her ears. Her signature twin buns were replaced by a complacent bob. Looking to her left she met only pitying and guilty eyes that quickly averted their gazes.

'Should we tell her' whispered one nurse to another

'No. That shock might give her a relapse' was the reply

'But its' her right to know'

"Yes it is. Someone should tell her'

'Tell me what?' demanded Tenten as her eyes examined each nurse standing before her, none of whom could meet her stare.

"Is there something I should know about?' she asked with no response only a thick deadly silence permeating the air.

In an attempt to make conversation and break the ice she asked 'How'd my mission go?'.

Still, no response.

'Guys, you're creeping me out…' she started, as figures burst open the door, and in came and angry Shizune.

"YOU GUYS ARE THE WORST!!YOU ARE THE MOST…' she screamed at the heavens, voice falling as her eyes met Tenten's.

'There's definitely something going on' thought Tenten worriedly 'Even Shizune-san? Maybe I failed my mission'

'Did you tell her?' Shizune asked in an oddly soft voice.

'No. I will now' replied Sakura in an equally soft demeanor. Facing her target, she began in a soft voice 'Tenten…'

'You have to listen to me' she began slowly 'None of this is your fault and we still love you, me, the rookies, your team and Neji. No one blames you, not even the Hokage, okay…' she said intertwining her hands tightly with the young girl's.

'Sakura's crying?' Tenten thought as she examined the girl who held her hand, sitting on a small wooden stool beside her bed. Everyone had left the room except Shizune who cradled her head in her arms, leaning against the wall for support.

Heaving a sigh, brown eyes met green and she replied 'I promise I won't get mad Sakura. Please tell me. I beg you'. Though she wanted to know the truth, she was deeply scared to hear it, somehow knowing that her life would be changed forever.

Sakura breathed in heavily and continued through her tears 'You were ambushed at Kikyo Pass with your squad by the Grass Nins. The battle you woke up to was merely a genjutsu under which you were placed, you fell into it the minute you ran into battle…' she trailed off.

'How can I be so stupid!!' Tenten cried angrily beating her mattress with her fists with suppressed frustration. Tears fell from her eyes as she slowly registered the news. Another failed mission she thought as she grasped fistfuls of the bedspread. How could I ever be the next Tsunade if I can't pass a mission and not get demoted? She lowered her head and let the silent tears fall.

'W-what did my team leader say? Am I demoted to chunin?' she asked through her blinding tears.

Sakura wiped away her stray tears with the back of her hand as she struggled to continue. 'Please don't cry Tenten…'she managed to say before breaking down again. Both did not notice Shizune walking up to the sobbing pair.

'Let me continue Sakura' she whispered as she took a seat next to the crying Sakura.

Shizune lowered her red eyes as she continued Sakura's story 'Your leader is dead. He and your other team mates are also dead though the back up team did damage control. You have been out about four days and were rescued form the Grass nins upon defeat of their army two days ago. But…'and she trailed off, zoning out on Tenten for a moment, lost in some other world.

"But what?' asked Tenten, resting a warm hand on Shizune's cold shoulder, tears subsiding momentarily.

'But you were violated Tenten. Raped. Some ninja captured you and repeatedly raped you after hitting you with a blunt object on the battlefield' came the response.

'WHAT!?' she screamed, her heart slowly breaking as she heard the news. That's why no one could meet her eyes. She felt like damaged goods now. 'Neji…' she thought, as the pain ripped through her heart. Looking at Shizune's face, she felt inclined to ask 'That's not all is it…'.

'I was raped…' she whispered to her self, shaking her head in disbelief.

Sakura tearfully gave a nod of confirmation before she added 'And you're pregnant as well. The Hokage gives permission to terminate or go through with the pregnancy…'

A look of horror passed across the 17 year old's face, as her world suddenly went black yet again as she succumbed to her shock and pain.

Next Chapter:

Will Tenten keep her baby? See what happens when her friends find out and the tough decisions she has to make for her romantic and professional life based on her decision. Find out in the next chapter: Dealing With It. Coming soon. Please review and tell me if you liked it. This story is definitely going to get dramatic.