Trace Memory: Trace the Past

Prologue

A/N: I came up for this idea after thinking about the game Trace Memory and how close it was to Neji's family. XP I found it an interesting idea for a fic so I figured…why not? And well…you get this as a result. I hope you guys will like it.

Warning: There are a few odd time lapses in my fic…and a few pointless OCs to fill the spots of other characters in the fic. And when I say time lapses, I mean in terms of the Naruto characters. For instance, Naruto could be 58 and Sasuke would be 20. (Not that that's the case. Just an example.) I hope you guys will be okay with that. I just did whatever would fit best character-wise…and for the plot. I also wanted to use more of the familiar characters so you wouldn't get confused with my OCs… I hope you guys will be okay with that. Some people (like Neji) will be a bit OOC…I hope you guys won't mind too much. n-n;; I'll just label it as AU in case…

This is a fanfiction based mostly on Tenten. Neji is the second main character, but there will be no romance for reasons explained in the story. In other words, it's more of a NejiTen Friendship fic than anything else.

This fic is heavily influenced by certain speech patterns from the game.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Trace Memory. (Also known as Another Code: Two Memories.)

It's the day before my fourteenth birthday. I'm feeling kinda antsy. It's morning now… The sun is bright. And now I'm on a boat headed towards… Blood Hyuuga Island.

The sea is very calm…But my heart is a storm of emotions. I'm shocked, happy, upset, confused, nervous and excited. My heart feels like it's stuck in a blender, and my stomach is on spin cycle. I don't think I've ever felt like this before. I just found out that…

My father is alive.

--

2 Hours Ago

DTS System Startup Complete. Opening message:

Dear Tenten,

I'll be waiting for you here on Blood Hyuuga Island. I want to spend your fourteenth birthday with you.

Your father, Sasuke

--

"Daddy?" I whispered. I pulled one of my mother's jackets over my body. The closet was dark. Mother shoved me inside and told me to be quiet. It's been a long time since then. I called for my father. I was scared. I didn't see mommy. I couldn't see mommy. She never came back. I wiped at the tears cornering my eyes.

"Tenten?"

"Daddy!" I cried. It was my father's voice. I threw off my mother's jacket and pushed open the door of the closet. "Dad!"

"Tenten! Oh Tenten…" He rushed to me and pulled me into a tight hug. "You're okay…"

My hands clutched his shirt and I buried my face in his neck. And then I sobbed. I was scared and happy. Dad was here. I felt his strong and comforting hand behind my head.

"Well, here we are."

"…Huh?" I mumbled, lifting my head out of my arms. I looked around me. The room was bleak, and looked somewhat rusted. That's right. I'm on a boat right now. I stood up and stretched my back, hearing it crack a little. Raising my hand to my mouth, I struggled to stifle a yawn, but was unsuccessful. I opened the door and walked to the front of the ship. The boat bobbled up and down gently as it parted the water. Waves rolled off of it. The wind was gentle, and it blew my hair from the right to the left. I directed my attention to the island ahead of me.

"So that's Blood Hyuuga Island, huh?" I leaned over and put my arms across the rails, staring intently at the island.

"Yup, that's it. Dunno what it is that you need to do here, but I can't exactly say that I'm jealous. No one's been by this island as far back as I can remember. And let me tell you, I've been around for a very long time, kid." The captain of the boat leaned out of the window. "You're lucky I even agreed to take you here."

"Well thank you, sir…" I mumbled, drifting off into my thoughts once again.

Just a little while ago, I received a package. Inside it was this little machine with the engraved letters "DTS" on the outside. Underneath it was a note addressed to me from my father. The note read, "Happy Birthday Tenten." I easily traced the both the letter and the package to this island. Dad should be there. He should be waiting for me.

TBC…