TLSM: Ahh, a new project, I'm taking time off of my other stories to be more focused on the NejiTen LJ Community NejiTen Festival, since it is my very first festival, I'm taking part of as much as I can, therefore, resulting in my typing up the Twelve Days of NejiTen! More like twelve themes…
Theme One: Tree
Enjoy!
It had not been abnormal for Konoha to have a rather chilly morning after a thunderstorm. There were still raindrops dwindling on the smooth surface of leaves, and hanging off thin sapling branches. The skies were a pale, pale blue, and wisps of clouds could be seen over the sunrise, making the Earth warmer as it progressed through the day.
That evening, residents were told to say in their homes because of hazardous winds and an excessive amount of lightning around the area. Konoha, being abundant with trees, and a few rocky hillsides, was prone of several trees or high hilltops being hit by lightning, if such a storm rolled in. However, when Konoha had been built, it had grounding wires installed into every household, transferring electricity to the ground if a house was hit.
Tenten has always enjoyed time periods such as these. She slept soundly in the rumbling thunder and pitter patting rain. She enjoyed seeing the flashes of light through her window, and never felt in any danger whatsoever.
She felt at ease in the chilly mornings, her body, for whatever reason, being a bit more flexible in the cold while training, giving her the edge she thrills for.
She was looking forward to training. The day was crisp, the skies were bright, the clearing was…
Tenten abruptly stopped while staring at Team Gai's training area.
In the middle of the clearing, lay a large, thick tree that had been hit the previous night, Tenten's eyes wandered back to the splintering stump of which the tree had fell from, and back to the immense tree, unsure of what to do since their clearing had basically been cut in half.
"Lightning's prone to hitting the tallest objects in an area, that was the tallest tree, so I'm not surprised." A voice murmured, not to far from Tenten's ear.
Tenten immediately recognized it without difficulty.
"It was the tree we sat under for lunch; it always had enough shade for the summertime so we wouldn't get too hot…" Tenten trailed off, and felt oddly nostalgic, and a bit sad.
"Hn," The voice replied, though it wasn't any different from any other day, it was his usual response, "it won't be difficult to move it to the side for more room to train."
"I know," Tenten said, "but would we just leave it there or-"
"I suppose we'd just let nature take its course with it."
"I say we burn it."
The voice's pearly eyes blinked in surprise, "Burn it?"
"Why not? It's dead, and it's still wet enough so it won't burn other trees around it, I think it's a good idea."
"I think it's obviously dangerous."
"Oh please Neji; if anything happens we can take care of ourselves, I'm sure Gai and Lee are running laps around Konoha, they won't be back till half-pass noon at the latest.
"Would this teach us anything?"
"Nope, let's do it for fun, I'm sure we're entitled to starting a bonfire at least ONCE in our lives."
Neji had opened his mouth once to protest, but had not had time to speak before being pulled towards the tree by his arm, eyeing the matches clutched in Tenten's hand.
She pulled out a match and lit it, catching the leaves on fire, then a second one for the trunk, then finally a third one for the splintered end.
"I think this tree deserved more than being left off to the side only to wait for years of decomposing, this is far more efficient."
Neji only looked to the smoke rising to the sky, he gave a curt nod.
"There were many memories…"
Tenten blinked, "Yeah…", her eyes followed the flaming trunk to the rising smoke, the warmth felt out of place from the chilly morning air, but it somewhat felt normal to her, like she was used to it.
"Do you believe we can start new ones just as easily, Neji?"
"...I believe we can."
The smoke overtook the clearing, hiding its appearance from the world, as if it were hiding behind a mask.
If you were viewing from outside the clearing, you would not be able to see a thing through the smoke, unless you particularly paid attention to the couple holding hands while watching the morning sky.
TLSM: I think this is one of my best I've made! I'm proud of myself!
Theme Two will be coming out VERY soon!