I hope you like it!
Thoughts are in '' now cuz I'm tired of italics.
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, Tenten and Neji would have been together a looooong time ago.
And Kabuto would've died.
Enjoy!
Seven Years
Chapter 1: Returning
Seven years since I last saw his face.
Seven years since I last saw his smile.
Seven years since I last felt his kiss.
Seven years since I last saw those eyes…
Seven years...
and now I'll see him again.
I've heard rumors about what has happened in Konoha over the past years. I've missed so much, it's depressing. Uchiha Sasuke returned with his brother's head. Uzumaki Naruto became hokage, after Tsunade-sama, well…I don't really want to think about what happened. Hyuuga Hinata took control of her clan and stopped the main family-branch family rivalry.
Branch family...
Neji…he joined ANBU. Became a captain, even. And now...
I'll see him again.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I walked into Konoha. It looked exactly the same, and yet, so different. I saw people walking around, some I recognized, some I didn't. They were all talking to each other, no one noticed me returning. I guess I did look pretty different. My hair was down, it went a little past my shoulder. I wore a light green top that went down past my knees, it kind of reminds me of Sakura's 12-year-old outfit. I had a pair of blue, baggy pants underneath. Still sleeveless, but I doubt that'd be enough for anyone to recognize me.
I walked along and saw someone I knew I could recognize.
"Sakura?"
She turned around and looked at me for a second. It was obvious she had no idea who I was. "Uh...can I help you with something?"
I smiled. "Does the name, 'Tenten,' ring a bell?"
As soon as I mentioned my name, her eyes windened. She looked into my eyes and I saw sparkles in her. "T-ten...ten...?"
"Hi!"
"Tenten!!!" She ran up and hugged me. "I can't believe it! What happened? Wh-where did you go!?"
I smiled and giggled a bit, but it all faded. "That's not important..." I backed away from the hug and looked straight at her. "Do you know where my old team is?"
Her smile faded as well. "Your-your old team...?" The medic nin turned away from me. "W-well Lee...he's doing fine...he still lives in the same place. He's known as Lee-sensei now!"
"That's good..."
"And Gai-sensei...he-he's good too...same as always..." She forced a smile, but I could see she didn't want to say anything else.
"That's good, too..."
"..." She turned away from me.
"...a-and Neji?" I tried not to look as worried as I felt. "I-I heard he's in ANBU now."
"Y-yeah...he is..." Sakura didn't even try to look at me. "..."
Silence.
"S-sakura?"
"Y-yeah?"
"Is...is Neji okay?" I sounded worried, and I was. She wasn't telling me something important.
"Yeah...he's-he's doing fine!" She smiled weakly.
"Then why won't you tell me about him?"
"Be-because he's...he's..." I could swear she was about to cry. "He's at home...with his wife!"
I felt my heart sink. I know I'd been away for a long time...but it never crossed my mind that Neji would get married. "O-oh..." I really wanted to cry, but I told myself otherwise.
"Oh, Tenten!" She hugged me again. "I'm so sorry!"
I came out of the hug. "Who?"
"Well...after you left, Neji kinda went into depression after you left. He wouldn't train...he hardly even ate! But...well...Kireiko always helped him, brought him food. I guess, eventually, Neji fell for her."
I didn't think my heart could sink any lower. "Kireiko?"
"Yeah...you remember her?"
"Unfortunately..."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Hey Twenty!"
I turned to see the face of a girl I dispised. "What do you want, bitch?"
"Ooo...some colorful language you've got!" She poked me in the forehead repeatedly until I smacked her hand away.
"And some ugly face you've got!" I mocked her annoying voice to add to the insult.
Steam poured out her ears. "You're just jealous of me!"
I sighed. "Please. I wouldn't be talking. You weren't even interested in becoming a kunoichi until I enrolled in the academy."
"Well, you know what?!" Her face was completely red. "I-I..." Her face went back to normal, and I felt worried for a second. "I have the upperhand in this argument."
"What?"
She pulled out a piece of paper and started reading it. "'Dearest Neji-kun...'"
My face turned completely red with embarrassment. 'How'd she get that?!'
"'I really like you, and I want you to like me, too.'" She kept on reading the page from my diary.
"Th-that's from my diary!" I screamed and pointed an accusing finger at her. "You bitch! You went through my stu...EEP!" I saw a bunch of guys entering the classroom. Including Neji.
"'I know you'll never read this. I'm glad. I'd never be able to take the rejection...'" She read it more dramatically as she saw the Hyuuga walk in.
"Hey guys...what's she reading?"
"More importantly...who's it for?"
I covered my ears and slowly crouched under the desk.
"'I know you'd reject me, but that will never stop me from loving you, my darling...'" She almost continued until my friend Kyari jumped in.
"Cut it out you jerk!" She punched Kireiko right in the face and grabbed the note.
"Is it Kyari's?" Lee was asking his friends.
"Here Tenten..." Kyari handed me the paper. "Don't worry, nobody is gonna hear the end of that."
"My. Darling." Kireiko slowly got back up and started to finish the sentance. "N-"
Kyari quickly punched her again. "Don't you even try to finish that or I'll finish you, bitch!"
I uncovered my ears and smiled up at Kyari. "You're the best, Kyari!"
"'Hyuuga Neji!'"
Our smiles turned to frowns as Kireiko finished the passage. We could practically hear Neji frown.
"I told you not to finish that, Kireiko! Now you're gonna get it!" Kyari chased her around the classroom until our sensei came in.
"Kyari!"
She stopped where she was and turned to see our sensei glaring at her. "What did you do to poor Kireiko?"
"Well...she...I..."
"You're coming with me!" She grabbed Kyari by the arm and pulled. "Time for your punishment!"
Kireiko wiped the blood off her mouth. "'Love, your future girlfriend Tenten!'"
I could feel all those guys staring at me, especially Neji.
"Nice, Neji!"
"You've got a cute girl crushing on you!"
"YOSH! Her love for you burns like the flames of-" Lee was cut off by Neji punching him in the face.
"Please. It's nothing but a pathetic schoolgirl crush. I don't believe a word of it."
I sighed and felt like crying that day. It was horrible, and it wasn't just a schoolgirl crush. I really loved him, but back then, I didn't know it.
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"Well...do you know where he lives?"
"Yeah...he's still at the Hyuuga compound...he could never leave there."
I chuckled a bit and frowned again. "Same old Neji...I-I think I'm gonna go see him..."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" She put her hand on my shoulder and turned me around. "Everyone knew you liked him...except of course him...but..."
"He...he didn't...you don't know?" I stuttered. I figured somebody would've known about what had happened that night so long ago.
"Know what?"
"The night I left...Neji...and I..." I recalled what had happened. "He told me...he loved me..."
She started to cry. "Tenten...I'm so sorry!" She hugged me again. "I'm so so sorry!"
For once, I hugged her back, but forced myself not to cry. "You...you shouldn't be crying Sakura, nothing bad happened."
She looked in my eyes. "I...I know you don't mean that. You still love him, don't you?"
I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. I came out of the hug. "Y-yes..."
"Why didn't you move on? It's been 7 years..."
"I could never love any guy like I loved Neji," I said.
"Are you sure you want to go see him again?"
"Yeah...I've gotta...just let him know I'm back, at least."
"Ok, Tenten...I'm here for you if you need me..."
"Thanks Sakura..." I left her standing there.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I stood there in front of the Hyuuga building. Then knocked on the door.
"Hello?" I saw him standing there. I knew it was him. He looked just like his uncle did way back when.
"N-Neji?"
"Can I help you?"
"I can understand that you don't recognize me...it's okay..." I looked into his eyes and he looked back into mine.
His eyes widened more than I thought possible. "T-Ten...ten...?"
"I really missed you Neji." I smiled, then gasped as he quickly hugged me.
"Tenten..."
I pushed him off. "Neji...I did missed you, but I know you're married."
His face darkened. "Y-yes..."
"I waited...I never accepted any dates from guys who asked me...I guess...I never assumed you'd get married..." I tried to avoid looking in his eyes. His beautiful eyes...those wonderful eyes...
"Tenten..." He looked into my eyes, I couldn't stop it. "I-I didn't think I'd ever see you again..."
"Heh...same he..." I tried to finish but couldn't...he kissed me. I felt so horrible, but I couldn't move an inch.
"N-Neji...no..."
"Tenten...I still love you..." He let go of me.
"N-Neji...you can't..." I cried. "You're married n..."
"Hyuuga Neji!!"
Our peace was interrupted by a voice. The voice of someone I wish I would have never seen again.
End Chapter
Well I guess this'll be a multiple chapter sequel!
Bwahahahaha!
I torture you peasants!!!