Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi. I do not own the series, art, etc.
There are a few OC with minor roles. Parings include NejiTen with hints at other parings playing a very minor role in this story.
Dream Reunion
Neji sat on the patio looking out at the lightening sky. The sky started showing the first rays of daylight. Splashes of orange and yellow collided with purple and blue beneath the clouds.
"TenTen," Neji asked sensing someone in the doorway.
"Welcome home," she called out the doorway.
TenTen stepped on the porch. She made her way to the railing just above the stairs.
If she wanted to she could start to run. It was a fun game they played and she missed him even though she didn't have her memories. She had made new memories and she wondered how long it would take until Neji caught up to her. His eyes made escape impossible.
This was her fork in the road. She could run now and she would be on her own again. The second past was the hard one; she could stay and try to find her memories. A phrase kept repeating in her mind 'the tough path is the right path.' Neji's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"You're not going to run for it," he asked.
"I couldn't get far," she turned and leaned against the railing, "by my count you have at least two tracking Shinobi."
"Not that I need them but a little more than that but anyway aren't you tired?" The tracking Shinobi were only there when he wasn't. If TenTen continued to run who knew what would happen to her. Sure she could take care of herself but without her memories she could be lost and wander Kami knows where.
"I wake up pretty early when I'm in strange places. Anyway I was thinking about what you said about us being married."
"And…"
Would today be the day she finally remembered herself?
"And I wonder why no one on the team knows. Second where is my ring? Third why should I trust any of you guys? For all I know you could just be ready to take advantage of me."
This stung nonetheless he knew this routine. She didn't know him and she didn't know her own children. At first she summoned weapons against him at least she remembered how to do that. Being on the same team he knew her moves and her attempts in the past did not faze him. However she was erratic now and he thought she truly meant to kill him when she aimed for his blind spot.
Luckily things have calmed down somewhat and now it was more of a chase until they became exhausted and he'd have to drag her home. Being apart of the most physically fit Team helped tremendously after all but it was clear that TenTen had become evermore skilled at evading him. Nothing worked and Tsunade just figured her memories would return on their own time. It had been a waking nightmare ever since the day the Akatsuki invaded Konoha.
"Your right so there isn't much to argue. First there are more than a few others who know such as Kakashi-san. Second," he pulled a chain from beneath his shirt, "your ring. Third I guess trust is earned."
She moved over to where he sat and slid next to him.
"Can I see the ring," she asked and held the band closer to the light.
"I can take this off and give you the ring if you'd like."
"Keep it," at his surprised look she added, "When I remember why I left it with you then I might ask for it back. Don't tell me the circumstances I just find it a little odd that I would disappear and you would have my ring. Did I leave my ring with you on missions in the past?"
He had heard this line of questioning for a while now. Sometimes she forgot that she had asked him these questions. Some things she remembered some things she forgot. Everyday was a challenge.
"That question is a little misleading," Neji said thinking of how to phrase this without telling her about her past. The last time he did that she ran.
"Misleading?"
"Well…to answer the question no, you never left your ring with me, never."
"I guess I see."
"As far as taking advantage of you…I'd be lying if I said I didn't want you in my arms now. This whole experience has been painful. I never thought we would reunite like this over and over." He wasn't used to speaking in this way but Tsunade gave him the advice to open up more and perhaps TenTen would start to remember.
"How many times have I forgotten you?"
Too many.
"We shouldn't focus on that," he settled for saying.
"You had a mission…how was it," she asked.
This is new.
"They are not my usual teammates. I usually don't go on missions with this group," he said and leaned back looking up at the sky, "I never pictured I'd have to deal with memory loss."
"No wonder I liked…like you."
The dull ache returned to his chest. 'Like you' that sounded so juvenile not at all what he wanted to hear when they reunited.
Neji turned his head towards her, "how's that?"
"You're so calm like…like I don't know I lost what I was going to say. You have these really sexy eyes and were so close now. At least I know I'm attracted to you."
Neji grinned at her remembering something.
"I'm serious you are so sexy maybe it's the morning air doing something weird with my head but I can really see myself falling for you."
"I just remembered something you used to say. You would say I was 'calm like a lake but if you take a closer look a million things beneath the surface come to view.'"
She thought it sounded like something she would say. One thing she knew she loved was the water. She was a swimmer she knew that for sure. She slid over closer to him on the patio. Maybe she could run to the river and take a dive.
At his questioning look she said, "I'm choosing this road. Here, hold me, hugs never hurt anyone," she pulled his hands around her leaning back into his chest.
Enjoying the feel of her pressed delicately against him. It wasn't how he'd imagined his latest reunion after a mission but he'd take it.
"Do I seem fatter or anything," she asked beginning to relax in his hold.
"Ha, no. You never had all this stuff on underneath though."
She froze up a little and he instantly regretted saying anything.
After a beat she relaxed again, "Sneaky. No one told your hands to go wandering. I have to get used to you again remember. Should this jog my memory, think of it as like when we started dating."
"Uh, no you-
"I am a lady."
She couldn't have been that touchy feely on their first date she thought to herself.
"Whatever," he said moving his hands to rest innocently around her abdomen.
"Did you just smell my hair," she asked twisting up to look at him again.
"You'll ruin this if you keep squirming around in my lap like this."
"Oh," she said and turned back to the sunrise, "Hey do I still have the same taste in shampoo?"
"What," he looked quizzically back at her, "You seriously are asking about your taste in shampoo. You haven't changed at all."
"So do I still use the same scent?"
"Your hair smells the same it's just…you keep it longer." He was so used to her keeping her hair tied up that it took some getting used to her having it down.
This conversation was new.
"So I had short hair," she asked trying to picture herself with shorter hair.
"No you just wore it tied up and your clothes are…different."
"Different good or different bad?"
"Just different," Neji noticed her questioning look and added, "the bandages are gone but you have on all these layers and a skirt."
"No it's a girl thing besides you can fight better this way."
He doubted that TenTen would say something like that. At least she hadn't taken to wearing that stretchy green thing that Gai and Lee sported.
"I see but you're a lot less covered up than before."
"Oh, am I dressed so provocatively?"
"No, before it was definitely covered." Her legs were sporting all kinds of nicks and bruises from running around barelegged through the forest. The Hyuuga balm could only do so much healing.
"What kind of style did I have then," she asked then cut him off before he could answer saying, "How could I possibly win over a guy like you looking frumpy."
"I didn't say frumpy."
"Well I'm picturing a short-haired frumpy tomboy."
Neji was laughing so hard tears streamed down his face. She had changed so concerned with her looks.
"You are unbelievable," he said calming down.
"Was I a fat girl?"
Pictures in the Invasion of Pein years ago were destroyed. It made it harder to jog her memory with no evidence of the past. They hadn't really taken many recent photos either.
"No, just forget...no it will comeback to you."
