Tsunade eyed the strewn pieces of parchment on her table in disdain. It was moments like these that she questioned her decision for ever agreeing to be the fifth hokage. She slumped down on her large desk as she thought of what her life could have been – daily gambling, sleeping in until late in the afternoon, lazing around without a care in the world. Wait. Why the hell did she agree to do this thing in the first place again?
Feeling a presence by her window, Tsunade shifted her gaze towards a familiar mask.
"Mission complete."
Tsunade watched in silence as the man in ANBU clothing approached her desk, dropping yet another pile of paperwork on her already haphazard table. Her eye twitched.
"Is something the matter?"
Tsunade shook her head with a dismissive wave. "I'll call for you once I review your-"
A startled scream made the man flinched as he eyed the sudden frantic demeanor of the usually laidback woman before him. He decided to stay silent.
Tsunade cursed as she stared at the thick folder tucked carelessly under her table. She took the unbelievably thick file and slammed it on her desk in exasperation. She tried to calm herself down. There was no use panicking now.
"Uchiha Sasuke." Came her commanding tone. She had gained her composure once again.
The mask he wore showed nothing as Sasuke stood there unflinching. He had an inkling as to what may have caused the Hokage's earlier discomposure. He sighed.
"I have an important task I need you to do for me." Tsunade's tone was serious, leaving no room for argument.
"You need me to deliver that mission file to a certain ninja in the village." Sasuke deadpanned. The expression on the Hokage's face said it all – she had forgotten.
Tsunade clicked her tongue in annoyance at being found out. Her silence was enough of an answer. The file should have been handed out three days ago, and yet here it was, still lying in her office.
"Who's the unfortunate person?" Sasuke added nonchalantly, adding insult to injury.
Tsunade felt her eye twitch yet again. Little brat thinks he can be sassy with her huh? "Now you listen to me-"
"Tsunade-sama, the report for Sunagakura had just arrive-" Shizune came rushing into her office with yet another pile of paperwork, but she immediately froze when she saw an all too familiar file on the Hokage's desk.
"Tsunade-sama?! You still haven't given that file to Tenten?!"
Both women began getting in an altercation that made them miss the way the lone ANBU in the room froze at the mention of the mission file owner's name.
"That mission is the day after tomorrow! You expect her to learn all of those things in just one day?!" Shizune screamed.
"Tenten is an excellent Jounin. She'll be able to learn what needs to be-" Tsunade paused as Shizune stomped towards her.
"But Tsunade-sama, this mission is incredibly dangerous! That's why at least five days of preparation was given!"
Tsunade coughed to hide her irritation at being screamed at. "I know. I know. That's why Sasuke here-"
Both eyes darted around the now empty room. The mission file was nowhere to be found.
Sasuke stood by the entrance to an apartment he once became familiar with. It felt nostalgic but at the same time, somewhat suffocating. He didn't understand why. It's been almost two years since then, but for some reason he couldn't fathom why it all suddenly felt like it was yesterday.
They'd been together. Once. A long time ago. Back when he had just been back a few months in the village. People were either afraid of him, shunned him, or just wanted to have sex with him. They were all the same. Except for her.
They were assigned on a mission together. Just her and him. He expected her to act accordingly, just as everyone had been. But she didn't. She was professional, amicable – unapologetically herself. It didn't seem like she was watching what she would say, nor did she seem like she wanted to get his approval in any way. He was just another ninja to her, just another partner assigned on a mission.
Before he knew it, the more he got to know her, the more he'd find himself looking out for her in town. He'd strike a conversation whenever he could, and would look forward to any missions he'd share with her. It was strange, the feeling she invoked in him. She seemed so familiar, so grounded. With her, it felt safe to be himself. There were no pretenses, no need for walls or facades. She never looked at him only to see his past. She looked at him as he was in the present.
They were together for a good six months, hidden from the eyes of any observer. No one knew. No one ever found out. It was strange – actually being with someone. Before then, sex had always been enough. He felt no need for the romance. But with her, he understood. He finally understood why the sentimentalities matter, why it felt so good to actually have someone to share those with.
He ended it. He chose to end it when he accepted a position in ANBU. So he didn't have the right to be wistful. He shouldn't be glaring at every guy he sees her talk to, or anyone who so much as touch her in any way.
"Did you hear the news?! Neji and Tenten are finally an item!"
He destroyed quite a couple of trees that day when the news came out. The Hyuga had been offered a position an ANBU as well, nearly a year after he had been instated. But he refused. It was the same year the news of their relationship broke out. So he chose a girl over a promotion? He never pegged the Hyuga to be that type. But then again, he never really knew him well enough.
Sasuke's hand hovered over the door in uncertainty. He could sense she was home. Should he knock? How would he face her once she opened the door? He glanced up at the window of her bedroom. It was dimly lit. The door to her terrace was open, and he could see the curtains fly freely with the wind. His heart skipped a bit. If he went up there, he would surely see her again. Would he dare?
Throwing caution to the wind, Sasuke jumped up to the terrace in silence. He landed gracefully just a few inches from the door. As if sensing his arrival, the curtains stopped swaying. He stood up slowly as he eyed her sleeping form on the bed. His mind was racing, his heart going a mile a minute.
Should he wake her? Or should he just leave the file and never come back?
He walked over to her slowly. She had her back to him. He watched as her back slowly rose and fell to the rhythm of her breathing. How could she be so unguarded?
All of a sudden, Sasuke felt a presence behind him as the figure on the bed disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Hya!"
Tenten yelled as she kicked the intruder on the head. She narrowed her eyes in confusion when the intruder exploded into smoke to reveal a thick file with her name on it.
"What the hell-?"
Tenten cut her sentence short when she sensed the intruder again.
"Not bad." He heard him whisper.
Sasuke avoided two quick elbows to the face before raising a leg to block a low kick. She'd gotten quite fast. He watched as a kunai slid from the right long sleeve of her red sweater.
Stabbing the man on the chest, who she now saw was in ANBU clothing, Tenten narrowed her eyes in confusion yet again. "Who are you and what are you doing in my house?"
All she got in response was a puff of smoke. It had been yet another shadow clone.
Sensing another presence behind her, Tenten whirled around in defense, kunai raised as she eyed the silhouette of a man leaning on the wall right in the middle of her terrace and bedroom door. She narrowed her eyes. He was making it difficult to escape.
"Who are you?" Tenten demanded as she narrowed her eyes. She heard the intruder grunt. The sound he produced was a sound of amusement. What the hell was so amusing?
"Nice sleepwear." Was all he gave as a response.
Tenten was wearing a large red oversized sweater that fell off her one of her shoulders. She had no bra on and the sweater ended just slightly below her hip revealing the black lacy underwear she donned. Her hair was down in waves, flowing softly from the caress of the cool night breeze.
Sasuke stared hard.
Showing no signs of self-consciousness, Tenten slipped another kunai from her sleeve onto her left hand. "Answer me." Came her low but dangerous tone.
Sasuke pushed himself of the wall to walk towards Tenten. A kunai went flying towards his head. He caught it with ease, but noted how it nearly touched the tip of his nose. His mask hid the grin he was now sporting. He had forgotten how fiery she could be when she was angry. She wasn't the type to explode. She was the type to simmer, capable of being ruthless and unfeeling if crossed.
"Stay where you are." Tenten warned as yet another kunai slipped from her sleeve.
Tenten saw the intruder stop, tilting his head to the side.
"Is that a challenge?"
Tenten felt her mouth fall open slightly at the intruder's tone. The bastard sounded amused. This felt like a game to him. Just who the hell was this asshole?
"Well?"
"Shut up and tell me what you're doing in my house." Tenten replied.
Sasuke's head tilted to the folder. "Delivering that."
Tenten looked towards the file, realizing it had been a big mistake. The ANBU intruder appeared right before her in the blink of an eye. He took possession of both her wrists in a grip that forced her to drop her weapons.
She felt the intruder push her roughly against the wall, banging her head in the process. She bit down a moan. He had both his legs between hers, pinning her successfully against the wall.
Boiling with rage, she moved to head-butt her assailant, only for her head to meet his shoulder as he evaded. She bit down a curse as her forehead collided with a blunt bone.
She had one eye closed as she winced. But when she finally raised her head to eye the intruder, she felt all the color in her face drain.
"Uchiha… Sasuke…"
She saw him tilt his head slightly to the side as he smirked. It seemed he had removed his mask sometime before he had her against the wall.
"Yes?" Sasuke replied in a rather teasing tone.
Tenten couldn't breath. This couldn't be real. There was no way that he could be here right now. "What are you doing here?" She sounded breathless, her face clearly disoriented.
Sasuke still had both her hands pinned, his body crushing hers in a very intimate way. "I told you. I was delivering a mission file from the Hokage." His voice was husky, his breathing slowly becoming uneven. He could feel her, all of her, right beneath him. She was trying to pull out of his grasp, but every squirm she made made him want to push against her even more.
"And you've delivered." Tenten was getting a semblance of control back, her initial shock was dying down steadily. "Now let me go." She pulled on both her hands for emphasis.
Sasuke gave no response. His gaze on her was intense, his hold unyielding. He didn't want this to end. Not yet.
Sasuke closed the gap between them with a soft kiss.
Tenten's eyes widened in surprise. She froze not knowing what to do. She gasp feeling Sasuke's tongue lick at her bottom lip. His mouth was hot against hers, his tongue eagerly coaxing hers out to play. He placed both her wrists in one grasp over her head, using his other hand to tilt the back of her head for better access.
It had been so long. So long since he last felt this way.
Finally realizing what was happening, Tenten started pulling her head away but his hold on her was strong. Her hands were useless in his iron grip. His body kept grinding into her in a sensual way that made it hard for her to think straight.
She let out a moan she hadn't expected to and she felt Sasuke smirk against her lips. She kept fighting against him as much as she could when he felt him draw her lower lip in his teeth before diving his tongue into her mouth once again. She felt dizzy. Since when had he been so good at this?
Sasuke deepened the kiss even more when he finally felt her respond. He let go of both her wrists, snaking his arm around her waist, while his hand kept her head in place. Tenten brought both of her hands behind his neck to pull him closer.
Tenten felt her knees slowly buckle. This wasn't making anything sense. None of this made any sense at all. This was wrong! She tried to pull away, tilting her body to one side freeing herself from the wall. She pushed her hands against the solid torso against hers. "Stop it!"
Not wanting to let her go, Sasuke continued to press himself against her, both hands still on her. They continued to fight for dominance until they reached the edge of the terrace.
Tenten felt her lower back connect with the wooden frame keeping her trapped against Sasuke once again.
"Let me go-"
Tenten's protests were drowned by Sasuke's passionate kisses. He still had one arm around her waist, and one hand on the back of her head. She began pounding on his chest and pushing at his shoulders to make him stop, but he was solid. He wouldn't even budge.
The wind blew Tenten's hair softly as Sasuke continued to kiss her out on the patio under the moonlight. It was perfect. Just perfect. He could feel her slowly give in once again. Her hands were now clutching the front of his shirt, her head angling itself better against his lips.
Just as Sasuke began to slacken his hold, Tenten suddenly pulled away breathing hard. She bowed her head down and pushed against his chest yet again.
Sasuke tightened his hold on her waist, but brought his other hand on the side of her face, cradling her cheek.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm with Neji now."
Sasuke stared at the hurt eyes before him that were trying their best not to shed tears.
"If you're with him, then why'd you kiss me?"
Tenten's eyes widened at the accusation as she pushed against his shoulders once more. He finally let go. "You didn't exactly give me a choice!"
"You had a choice!" Sasuke yelled as he followed her retreating form back in the bedroom. "You could have fought me off but you didn't!"
Sasuke grabbed Tenten's arm just as she reached the bedroom door. He was not letting her walk out of this. "You wanted this just as much as I did, so don't put the blame on me."
Tenten turned around in anger. "What the hell are you trying to achieve by coming here, Sasuke?"
Sasuke stayed silent, unsure of what to answer.
"You can't just come barging back into my life like this, acting like you have the right to, when you were the one who called it off!"
Sasuke didn't say a thing as he watched her frantic form shout at him, pointing a finger roughly against his chest.
She was furious at him, screaming bloody murder at him, but she never looked more beautiful. He couldn't concentrate on a word she was saying. Her insults were all left unheard as he continued to drink the very sight of her in to make up for all the years he hadn't been able to.
"I love you."
Tenten stopped talking, her accusatory finger paused in midair. "W-What did you-?" The gaze he was giving her left her speechless. It was as if he was incapable of seeing anything or anyone else but her.
"You know I don't like repeating myself." Came his breathless tone. His hand went against her cheek, his thumb tracing the outline of her bottom lip. "It was you. It will always be you."
Sasuke leaned in for another kiss. Tenten tried to push him away but he already snaked an arm around her waist to keep her still. His lips were on her once again.
Tenten continued to push him away, but her resolve slowly withered. He was like a drug she couldn't completely get out of her system. She couldn't fight it anymore. Even though she denied it, she still felt something for him. She'd never wanted to kiss and kill someone both at the same time.
Tenten pulled away from the kiss, tears now flowing from her face. "Why are you doing this? Why come now after all these years?"
Sasuke leaned his forehead against hers in a silent apology.
"I was over you! I really was! But then here you are again and… And now I'm confused!" Tenten looked back down and clutched Sasuke's clothes as she tried to silently quell the tears.
Sasuke looked at her quivering form as he placed a chaste kiss against her temple. He knew he could never give her the kind of love and affection she deserved. He was too messed up, too selfish. He would tear her up and drag down her with him. She deserved so much better than him. "Tonight. Just for tonight. Can you think of just me?"
Tenten let out a shaky breath at the soft whisper she heard by her ear.
"Just this one night." Sasuke place both hands on the sides of Tenten's head, bowing down to look her in the eye as he tilted hers up. He smiled at her. "Just me. With you."
Sasuke leaned towards Tenten for another kiss. Tenten closed her eyes, finally giving in.
Tonight.
Just for tonight.
She would think of only him.
