Tied up together.
Author: windbeneaththewings
Genre: Romance, Crime
Pairings: Tenten/Neji and, side pairing: Ino/Shikamaru
Summary: AU modern world. She went from being no one to him, to ''buns-girl'' and then to Tenten. He went from being famous male model to her, to Hyuuga and then to Neji. Dead body tied them up together and there is no way to break this connection.
Rating: M for sexual scenes.
Warning: OOC of characters, not that big, though.
From Author: Well, second story and in the same genres ;p This is last story when I'm trying to be detective, I swear. However, hope this story will find its readers, who will love it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Tenten was running. Her heart was ready to jump out of her chest and her legs were aching with pain because it seemed like they would give in any minute, but she keep on running. Ignoring pain in her whole body, Tenten didn't want to stop because she most probably won't run again after that. Sight of the familiar shop made corners of her lips go up and she swallowed, trying to run faster. So close. She stormed into the shop, almost knocking over table that was set near the door and, tripping on her own legs, Tenten held two hands right in front of her, preventing her fall on the wall.
''Oh my… Ten!'' Kakashi exclaimed loudly, raising his hands and looking at the girl in front of him. ''Are you okay?''
''Where is camera?'' She asked, standing up straight and looking at the man with half-opened mouth. ''Is it here? Did you sell it to anyone?''
Kakashi looked her all over and then turned his head to the left, where not big table leaning on the wall instead of standing firmly on the floor. Tenten made apologetic smile and quickly fixed table, turning back to man. Excitement in her eyes made him chuckle and shook his head.
''You can start breathing normally, I didn't sell it to anyone'', he replied and made a sign to follow him.
Tenten sighed in relief, putting her hand on the chest, which was rising up and down in too fast tempo. Taking deep breath, girl tried to calm herself down a bit. She followed him and stopped on her tracks, when he put out little box from the shelf and held it to her. Kakashi laughed quietly, when Tenten took box from him like it was the most precious thing in this world.
''Open it'', he said in a whisper and girl swallowed, nodding.
She put her bag on the floor and opened box, handling box to him and taking camera in her hands. Yashika-Mat LM was in her hands and she could honestly start crying right now of happiness. For how many months she searched for this Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) camera and how many times she heard ''Girl, you won't find it anywhere'' before she finally is able to hold this treasure in her hands. Her fingers caressed it and she looked up to Patrick, who was smiling at her.
''6x6 format, just like you wanted'', he said and gave box back to her. ''It's yours.''
Tenten opened her mouth to say ''thank you'' but nothing really came out apart from strange sound, which Kakashi recognized as sob. He smiled and looked at the girl next to him. He owns this little vintage shop for more than ten years and never anyone was that passionate/interested in any thing from here. Looking at the pure happiness in her eyes, he didn't even think of money. There was something amazing in the realization that he made someone that happy just because he had this camera on shelf in his shop.
''For free'', he said quickly, when Tenten picked up her bag and started to search for something there.
Girl raised her head and stared at him in shock. She couldn't understand how someone could ever sell this treasure for free. Blinking, she wanted to continue her searches for purse. Strong hand lay on top of hers and she looked up, meeting Kakashi's gaze.
''I said for free. Or, maybe, you don't want to have this camera?''
''But-''
''Ten!'' He called in a warning tone and she closed her mouth. ''I'm happy that I helped you.''
For a week she was coming to him, asking about all cameras and when she saw needed one, she keep on asking him to not sell it to anyone. He got used to see her here, looking around like a kid in the shop full of toys. He loved seeing fascinated expression on her face and it was a bit sad to understand that she won't come here anymore. Tenten smiled and suddenly hugged him tight, hoping that with this hug she would let him know how thankful she is for this camera and his help. Kakashi tapped her back and leaned back, smiling.
''Come around sometime and show me photos'', he said, pointing on camera.
''I will'', Tenten said honestly and put box in the bag, holding camera in her hands. ''Thank you so much. See you!''
Man waved to her and she turned around, going to the door. She pulled it and turned around last time. Her wide smile made Kakashi smile back and wave again. Girl exited shop, feeling so uplifted. She was happy and even weakness in her body after long run didn't make her sad. Looking at her camera and smiling, she put her phone out of the pocket and dialed familiar number.
''I got it!'' She screamed loudly, when her friend picked up. ''I still can't believe in this!''
''Oh wow, whatever it is, wow, happy for you!'' Cheerful voice answered on the other line.
''Ino'', Tenten mumbled, furrowing her eyebrows. ''Whole week I was telling you about-''
''Yashika-Mat LM, camera that will make you so happy, yes, I remember'', she answered and let out small laugh. ''So you got it? Like, in your hands? Are you happy right now? Because I swear I was thinking of plans to kill you so I won't hear one more word about this camera.''
Tenten laughed and sit on the bench, not looking at anyone. But everyone was looking at her, because this girl was just shining. There was no way that you could look at the girl and not smile after seeing her smile. She reminded every waking by stranger of a sun: her laugh put smile on everyone's faces and smile made you want to stare at her forever. And she was a sun to everyone else, not even realizing this by herself.
''Yes! This camera has an 80mm f3.5 lens, which is still very shallow due to the larger 120 format film'', she said, looking at camera in her hands and turning it around.
''Mmm, yes, I understand everything.''
Tenten laughed along with the girl on the other line and she shook her head a bit. It was good to be able to share your happiness with someone else.
''I'm happy for you, I really am'', Ino said easily. ''I have classes, gotta go. Don't forget to buy me something from burger king. See ya!''
Tenten smiled and ended call, putting phone back in her pocket. She looked around and blushed, noticing that most of the people were looking at her. Not understanding this, she stand up and keep on going. Her direction was very obvious – her flat. She was twenty and lived in her parents' house, even though they didn't leave with her anymore. Year ago her family decided to stay in Osaka, but insisted on having their girl live in Tokyo. She didn't protest and few months after, she had little but comfortable flat in the center of big city. Tenten loved it for two reasons: first, it was very close to her university and second, it was situated in the center of the city. Walking down the road, she started to take photos of almost everything what she could see. Shops, trees, people, paparazzi. Girl stopped and raised her eyebrow, looking at the crowd of paparazzi. Curiosity got the best of her and she came closer, trying to see what is going on.
''Neji, Neji! Neji Hyuuga!''
Tenten finally saw famous male model, who closed door of his car and tried to make his way through paparazzi, which were trying to take as many photos of him as possible. Following some kind of instinct, Tenten aimed her camera and took photo of Neji, who was close to her at that moment. Flash made him cringe and he turned to the source of it, bumping to the short girl with brown hair. Growling and muttering something about noisy people under his breath, he simply took camera from her hands and gripped it, turning around.
''What?'' Tenten asked and then her mouth opened, when she realized what happened. ''Hey, hey! Give that back to me!''
Neji, who didn't even hear her screams, keep on making his way through the crowd and finally managed to get into free space. Camera was still in his hands and girl, whose height now was making a problem, couldn't reach him. People were pushing each other, pulling each other and some even punching each other and Ten feared to get into all of this. Girl looked around and quickly run to the other side, hoping to get Neji from there, but her knees betrayed her by shaking. Not now, please. Tenten leaned on the tree, looking at her knees and suddenly feeling weakness overwhelming her. Today she run more than she did in a whole previous year and now she felt like sitting and never ever standing up.
''C'mon, c'mon'', she whispered, squeezing her knees in her hands and hoping that everything will be okay.
She needed to eat something or at least drink something so she won't fall down right here. Being too concerned about her state, she didn't even notice paparazzi finally getting away and leaving man alone. Because her attention was on her knees, she didn't see how he looked at camera in his hands curiously. He saw this kind of cameras for the first time, but then deciding that he has nothing to do with it, man put it on the bench near him and started walking towards main road. His car was left near the bench and he couldn't care less about it. Neji needed to have break and by saying that he meant that he just needed to have time for him and behave like a normal person. And that included walking around streets without paparazzi following him. At times like this Neji really wished he wasn't that famous. No, he loves his job, but the part of following him irritates him like nothing else. Narrowing his eyes on the sun, Hyuuga fixed his shades, hoping that in this way people won't notice him. It was yet another sunny day in Tokyo and he wanted to enjoy it on the fullest. The official presenter of D&G in Japan was passing some excavated canal. Little sign ''Don't come close!'' didn't matter to him. ''Making parking lot, probably'', he thought and stopped, looking down. It looked like a huge pit and Hyuuga shivered of the thought of falling there. Little did he know that soon he would be the one, who will be falling right there. He was too caught up in his thoughts to hear someone running. And that someone was Tenten and she was running to him, being determined to get her camera back. Her plan was to get to the man, take her camera and run away. Sudden shiver down her spine wasn't in her plan and her tripping over some stone wasn't in her plan too and of course, falling on Neji and pushing them forward – to the pit – was most definitely not in her plans. Loud female scream broke silence and echoed through walls of the pit, scaring all the birds who were there. Quiet ''oh'' and then loud ''ouch!'' followed after two bodies fell on the ground.
''Aaah'', Tenten let out, opening her eyes.
''Get off me'', husky voice said and she raised her head, looking at the cringed with pain expression face of Neji Hyuuga.
''Hurts'', she mumbled but rolled off from his body, lying on the ground, which was extremely cold.
''What can possibly hurt in your body, I was the one, who met the ground and saved you.''
Neji coughed loudly and sit up, touching back of his head. It was suspiciously wet and he had strong headache. Hyuuga looked around and cursed quietly. They were surrounded by darkness and the only light was coming in form of little sun lights that somehow get into the pit. He leaned on the cold wall and shivered uncontrollably. His eyes quickly get used to the darkness and he could see girl, who was slowly sitting up. Sun lights were shining right on her and he could see her more clearly. Her brown hair was the first thing that he noticed. What a strange to combine your hair. Two buns from each side were making her look like a little girl to bangs were falling on her face, covering it from him, but then she turned around and he attentively stared at her. Big brown eyes that now were narrowed, button nose, full rose lips and little chin. Like she felt his gaze, girl turned her head in his direction and raised her eyebrow.
''Why the hell did you push me?'' Neji asked, looking right at her and crossing his arms on his chest.
''Why the hell did you take my camera?'' She asked, her loud voice echoed and he crunched his nose. ''Do you know how much this camera means to me? Why did you even take it, huh?''
''What camera?" Neji asked and then sighed. ''Oh, that. You just annoyed me with your flash and I take it away from you, so you won't be able to make me blind with your flashes.''
Tenten opened her mouth at that. Was he even being serious right now?
''This camera belongs to me, you can't just take it away without my permission'', she said, getting angry.
''And you can't take photos of me without my permission'', he replied, glaring at her. ''And because of that, we are both here, in the pit and by the way, no, I'm not fine. I have horrible headache, my back is hurting from kissing ground that you, actually, could have kissed if it wasn't for me. But yes, this is state in which I am in, thanks for asking and no, of course you're welcome, I would most likely never save you again.''
Little sense of guilty made her bite her lower lip, but she wasn't in the mood to apologize. She didn't like his attitude and certainly didn't like how he just put all the blame on her.
''Because of you taking my camera away from me, we are here'', she corrected and then quickly started to get closer to him. ''Is camera with you? Where is it? Oh my god, what if it's broken?''
''We fell in the pit and all what you care about is your camera?'' Neji asked in awe, watching her coming or better, sliding, closer to him. ''And no, it's not with me. If you were more attentive, then you would see how I put it on the bench.''
When girl didn't answer, he put his phone out form his pocket and dialed any number. After few seconds, he cursed loudly this time. No network. Man looked up and his eyebrows furrowed when he saw sky getting darker. Switching his gaze on the girl next to him, he watched as she tried to stand up, her legs were shaking. Sudden thought that she might be injured run through his mind and he cleared his throat, trying to get her attention, but she was too interested in her phone. Neji sighed and looked down at his legs. His back was hurting immensely, dull pain messed up with his brains, not letting him think properly and find solution for this situation. Tenten put phone back in her pocket and looked around. They don't have network, they both are feeling themselves pretty crappy and darkness around was not making anything easier. She looked down at the guy, who cleared his throat and looked to the left. Following his gaze, girl swallowed. Tunnel. Dark tunnel and who knows where it leads.
''Hello?'' Hyuuga shouted loudly.
His voice echoed through walls and they both heard his ''hello'' like ten times more. Neji cursed for already third time and, ignoring the pain in the back, managed to stand up. He leaned on the wall and looked at girl beside him. She was scared. He could see that in her eyes, in her face and the worst thing was, that he was getting pretty scared too.
''What's your name?'' He asked quietly and she turned to him, raising her eyebrow. ''I asked what's your name, buns-girl?''
''Don't call me like that'', Tenten said in rather offended tone, looking at him. ''I don't like it and just for your information, I love my buns.''
Neji only rolled his eyes on this and took out his phone. Turning ''Light'' app on, he sighed in relief, when they both could finally see where they are. Cold and rather stinky tunnel.
''Show'', he let out, looking around.
''What?'' Girl asked, turning same app on her phone and smiling, when now they could see absolutely everything. ''What show?''
''They put up the show like they are building something, when the truth is, that nothing is going on'', he explained and started to slowly go further. ''See? No bulks, no cement, no any kind of iron. Nothing.''
Tenten just nodded, trying not to stay away from him. She was scared, but most of all, she was tired. Her legs were hurting and she was surprised that she still can walk. With every step she was feeling herself more uncomfortable, but biting her lip, she didn't say a thing.
''And did that camera even worth it all?'' Neji suddenly asked, not turning to her.
''Of course it did'', Ten replied. ''It incorporates a light meter in front of the ground glass, so you'll have less of hassle exposing for the bright reds after you just washed it.''
Neji turned his head to her and she closed her mouth, not saying anything else. He was very surprised with what he heard, because in all honesty, he didn't get a thing and for second, that camera looked really old. And, as or a third, he never heard anything smart from any girl of his surrounding, so what he heard now really surprised him. He just kept on going, gripping his teeth to avoid letting out small groans of pain.
''Where are we going?'' She finally asked.
''Not like we have many options'', Neji answered, keep on going. ''Every tunnel always has two exists. We are going to the second one.''
Tenten nodded and bite her lip, deciding not ask anything else from him. It was quiet unbelievable that she was here now, walking beside Neji Hyuuga and she doesn't fangirl, even though she knows exactly who he is and has like twenty pics of him on her phone. Few hours later all she could think about was getting to her flat and learning more about her camera and now she's in the tunnel with Neji Hyuuga and they both are kinda injured. She felt like apologizing for tripping over stone and pushing him to the pin, but this would be something that he won't probably need to hear. Suddenly, he turned off app on his phone, making his side fell into darkness. When girl was about to ask what happened, she felt his grip on her wrist and then he pulled her closer to him.
''Did you hear that?'' He asked in a whisper. ''Turn phone off.''
Tenten did turn off her phone and at first she didn't hear a thing, but then she heard some sound of footsteps. Neji gripped her wrist tighter and it was painful, but she didn't say a word. For some reason she was sure that whoever came here was not a good person and by the way Neji started to breathe, he agreed with her on this theory. Being pulled that close to him, Tenten only now understand how actually cold it is here. His body heat was making her a bit warmer and she took deep breath, inhaling his cologne. He smelled like something spicy and something so manly that she couldn't help but smile.
''Come'', Neji whispered.
Unlike Tenten, his all attention was on the sound of footsteps and by them he understand that there are at least two people with them here. And he didn't think that they were good, because well, who will walk around dark tunnel on the purpose? Unless, of course, someone fell down too, but he's not that naïve to think of this option. Feeling responsibility for girl beside him, Neji was sure to not let her go, while he was going further, leaning on the wall. He heard whispers and understood that those two people are men. There was a silence and then something big fell on the floor. Tenten flinched and Neji gripped her wrist. His hand went down and now her hand was in his. In any other situation she would be flattered that Neji Hyuuga is holding her that close to his body, but now she was just thankful. Without him here, she would totally break down. Neji looked down at her and raised his eyebrow. Her eyes got used to darkness and he could see worried expression on his face, like he was asking if everything is okay. Well, nothing was okay, but she nodded and he turned around. They started to go closer and footsteps now were sounding pretty dull, which meant that those two men went away. Tenten turned on her phone and shine light on the ground. Gonzalo was standing close and from what he saw, his blood froze in his veins. Woman. Dead woman. Tenten, who couldn't really see everything, stepped closer. Loud scream broke silence of the tunnel. She was screaming on the top of her lungs and Neji put his hand on her mouth, making her shut up. He was sure that they heard it, those two other men probably heard this scream and that means that now they need to run.
''Go, buns-girl, go'', he muttered, pushing girl forward.
It was hard for her to move, when shock just didn't let go of her body. Dead body is not something what she used to see and now, she was just moving automatically. Pain in her legs was long forgotten, especially when all she could think about now was dead body on the ground.
''Come on, I can hear them'', Neji mumbled, gripping her hand and pushing her towards him.
He stopped and pressed her on the wall, hovering on her and putting his hand on her mouth. He could see little stairs from the right of them and he tensed up, trying to hear any sounds. All he could hear was footsteps, but he couldn't understand from which direction sounds are coming from. Feeling her lips moving under his hand, he looked at her and then his gaze drop on her lips. She was repeating one word over and over again.
''Phone'', Tenten whispered.
''What?'' He asked, not getting what she means.
''Phone is there'', she let out and his eyes widened. ''It fell from my hand. It's still there.''
''Are you serious?''
It felt like his head will explode from all the tension. The fact that they are most probably chased by people, who killed another person is already enough for him to start going crazy, but when she told him about phone, Neji was sure that he would lose his mind there. Tenten, still being in the tight arms of shock, couldn't really get whole tension. But he knew that when they would get out of this place, she would have hysterics and he thanked God that she is not having them now.
''Phone'', she repeated again.
If those people will find her phone then they will find her and even though Neji doesn't even know her name, but he can't let her get in the danger. He needs to get back to get that damned phone. Swallowing, he gripped her shoulders, trying to get her concentrated on what he's about to say. Tenten shook her head and he harshly shook her shoulders. Her gaze focused on him and she blinked, trying to concentrate her attention on him.
''Listen to me, buns-girl. Listen to me attentively. See those stairs?'' He asked and picking up her chin, turned her face to the side of stairs. ''See them? He asked and she nodded. ''Good. Now, right now you're quietly going there and quickly, without any hesitation go up, don't even dare to stop for a second.''
Tenten simply nodded, her gaze switching from his face on stairs and back again. Neji pressed her on the wall, now being able to clearly hear footsteps. Adrenaline was pumping in his ears, he couldn't get rid of the strange noise in his head that didn't allow him to think normally.
''What about you?'' Girl asked quietly, looking at him.
''Don't think about me. Just go up those stairs and you'll get from here on the main road. Take cab and go to your flat. Buns-girl, listen, don't look back. Don't look back, did you hear me?''
Tenten nodded and he let out small smile. Neji stepped back, letting her get out from the wall and go to stairs. Suddenly, he gripped her wrist and pulled her on him. Tenten closed her eyes when his dry lips pressed on her sweaty forehead for few seconds before he let her go. Without looking back, she went to the stairs, starting to go up. Neji watched her going up and turned around. He didn't look back and therefore he didn't see how girl stopped and watched him going in the darkness.
A/N: Hello there! Hopefully you loved the beginning of the story and yes, Neji is model because I want him to be one ;p What do you think about this story? Be sure to let me know in reviews! Love you! - Nizza. xx