Tenten's Reflection
Hi 3rd fanfic ever! Yay! This one is another sonfic. Its kinda sad, but happy endings for everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own Mulan, Naruto, or love. Funny, I wish I did own all three…
"Hi Neji!" called out Tenten. Why both of them were at the training grounds during break was beyond her. She didn't care though. It was with Neji that she felt comfortable…despite the glare she was getting. Hold on… she just got here and already Neji's mad at her?
Neji turned to Tenten, white eyes piercing at her. He really didn't want to put up with anyone right now. One of his cousins had used that damned curse seal on him, leaving him with a head-splitting headache. 'Damn Main branch!' he mentally cursed. Focusing back on his sparring partner, he saw her flinch under his stare. Of course, he didn't mean to glare at her. He was just having a bad day so far. Although having Tenten around did lighten his mood, "Hn."
"Uh…Neji, do you…maybe want to sparwith me? Release some anger?" Tenten asked hesitantly. She saw how much of a bad mood her teammate was in, so she just played it safe, pushing her real intentions to ask him out for lunch aside. She didn't mind being used by a punching bag. Really she didn't.
Regarding her coolly, Neji nodded. 'I won't go too hard on her. After all, she hasn't done anything wrong.'
Four hours later, Neji was meditating, blocking out Tenten's panting. She was worn out. "Well, Neji, I'm going for lunch. I'll see you later."
Barely nodding his head in assent, Neji continued meditating. He failed to see the almost sad look on Tenten's face, or the pain building up in her eyes.
At Ichiraku Ramen, Ino, Sakura, Hinata, Temari and Tenten all were eating while Ino and Sakura once again pried at Tenten's love life.
"So…" Ino started. "How'd it go with Neji today, hmmm?"
"Yeah. Ino-Pig's right. We all have some sort of boyfriend, heck, even Hinata does! Its time you joined the group." Sakura added.
"Guys, its not like Neji's gonna like me back." Tenten feigned nonchalance, but inside she was ripped apart. 'Stupid Hyuuga. Damnit Neji, when the Hell will you figure out that I'm in love with you?' On the outside, she smiled and shrugged.
"Hyuuga's really dense if he hasn't found out that you like him, huh?" Temari deadpanned. "I thought he was supposed to be a genius. If he cant figure out a girl's heart, then he is about as smart as Naruto on a ramen-sugar-rush." All the girls laughed quietly.
Hinata lifted her chopsticks to her mouth, listening quietly until now. "N-Neji-nii-san has always d-distanced himself from us, hasn't he? A-Apparently he only tolerates Tenten's presence constantly. He hasn't spoken t-to me in all the years I've known h-him as much as he's talked to you, T-Tenten-chan."
Once again, Tenten shrugged her shoulders, thankful that she was a good actor. She didn't feel like having all of her friends mocking and taunting her over the fact that she couldn't say three words, eight letters, for five seconds, yet again, for all these years. She paid for the ramen and walked out of the store.
Tenten had spent the rest of the afternoon taking care of her house, cleaning it up. Afterwards, she went for a walk. Dusk was gust beginning, the sun balanced perfectly on the tips of the mountains in the distance. She smiled at the sunset, still walking, until she came to her spot. The spot her parents showed her before they died.
Sitting down at the edge of the pond, she stared sullenly at her reflection in the clear water. 'I hate having to hide from everything. It's just so tiring…when will it end? I can't keep up this charade forever.' She continued staring into the water, lyrics forming in her head. Tears, unbidden, streamed down her face. She had never cried since her parent's deaths, and doing so now scared her.
Look at me
You may think that you see who I really am,
But you'll never know me
She thought of how many times she put on a mask of happiness to conceal the pain of losing everyone close to her. She turned her eyes to the stars, now coming out of the sky.
Every day
It's as if I play a part
Now I see if I wear a mask I can fool the world,
But I cannot fool my heart.
'That's all too true. They don't know me at all.' She thought fervently. Looking back at her reflection in the pond, she continued to sing.
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me
When will my reflection show who I am inside.
Neji was walking back to the Hyuuga mannor when he heard the last thing he expected to hear – singing. Curiosity got the better of him, and he activated his Byakugan, finding the source of the voice sitting at the edge of a pond. He started when he realized the girl singing was Tenten.
Getting up, Tenten slowly walked around the edge of the pond, in perfect time to her song, not noticing Neji watching her.
'She sings beautifully. Of course, what else would you expect from the most beautiful creature on the earth?' Neji watched as the moonlight reflecting off the water, giving Tenten an ethereal glow. But what confused him were the lyrics to the song. Tenten not happy or helpful? Tenten sad? That just didn't seem possible to Neji, but he held his peace and continued to watch.
I am now
In a world where I have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world who I really am
And be loved for who I am.
Tenten stopped singing for a second, tears flowing again. "God damnit Neji!" she yelled out. Neji froze. Had she seen him? No, she was screaming her frustration to the sky. "Why am I not enough for you?"
'Not good enough for me? No, you've got it backwards. I'm not good enough for you.' Neji thought. He snapped back to attention when Tenten started singing again.
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me
Why is my reflection someone
I don't know?
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time
When will my reflection show who I am inside.
Tenten was now walking through a meadow, still in time to her own song, and Neji followed, at a good distance, captivated by the girl's beauty.
There's a heart that must be free
To fly
That burns with the need to know
The reason why.
Tenten now stood at the edge of a very steep cliff singing her heart out, not caring if all of Konoha heard her. She needed this out of her system. Damn, did it feel good to yell at the sky.
Why must we all conceal
What we think, how we feel?
Must there be a secret me
I'm forced to hide?
While singing, Tenten made a mental decision. She was done with all of this secrecy. She was going to tell her secrets, starting with a certain Hyuuga.
I won't pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time.
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside…
When will my reflection show
Who I am in side
Oh yeah yeah…
Tenten fell forward, exhausted from singing and yelling at no one so much. Neji rushed forward and caught her right before she went off the edge of the cliff.
Tenten looked up and gasped. "N-Neji? How long have you…" she started.
"Long enough to know that you aren't happy at all, are you?" he responded. She looked away, and realized that he still held on to her. Blushing bright red, Tenten scrambled up and tried to get away. She would have, too, had not Neji grabbed her wrist. "Wait. Please." He asked. Biting her lip, she allowed Neji to pull her back down beside him.
"Tenten… Look at me." Neji commanded. Tenten hesitantly complied. "First off, why aren't you happy? Not once my entire life have I seen you cry."
Tenten swallowed and looked away. "I lost my parents as a 4-year-old, so I don't even remember them. I lived with my aunt, before she died, too. Then there's you…" she stopped.
"What is it? What did I do?" Neji asked. "I-I don't know exactly how to say this… ugh! You know what? Screw it. I LOVE YOU, HYUUGA NEJI! There, I said it…" she gasped again, realizing what she had done. She tried to pull away, but Neji kept a firm grip on her wrist.
"Okay, so what's wrong with that?" Neji asked, although he had a pretty good idea…
"Ahh! You just don't get it, do you? I love you, but you don't love me back! It's so frustrating! Every time I try to do something, I feel completely inferior to you! And you don't even care! Wh-"
Tenten abruptly stopped her screaming when Neji's mouth came crashing down on hers. Shocked at first, she responded quickly, wraping her hands around his neck. Neji's hands moved from her wrists to the back of her head, cupping her jaw gently, while the other supported her waist. Hungry for a little more, Neji ran his tongue along the bottom of her lip, asking for entrance, which she happily complied with. He ravenously searched every corner of her mouth, making her moan a little bit. Breaking the kiss, Neji looked Tenten in the eyes and smirked a little.
"Who said I didn't love you back? And who said that that you were inferior to me? And who on Earth said that I don't care about you?" he challenged. She looked away, blushing slightly. Neji smirked again, and trailed feather-light kisses up her neck. Tenten gasped again, before moaning in pleasure. When he reached her ear, he stopped and whispered quietly, "I do love you. More than I can ever describe." He kissed her forehead before capturing her lips again.
A/N: CHAPTER 1 COMPLETE! But be warned…the next chapter is very graphic, even using my standards. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Oh, before I forget, check out my other two stories, No Ordinary Girl and If I Never Knew You. I still need some reviews for all three, so push the button! Late!
