A/N- This is my first fanfic EVER. I'll post more chapters once I get a few reviews- if nobody reads it, I won't bother. Rated T for abuse, some graphic descriptions, language and romance. It'll be fluffy, you just have to be patient with me. All in good time. I'll be quiet now.
Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto.
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Tenten POV
"This is crazy", I thought to myself. "There's no way I can do this."
My steps were uneasy as I walked through the school that would now be my home. I folded my arms tightly, attempting to still my shaking hands.
In reality, this wasn't my first time here. Last week, I had visited the office to finish enrolling, and taken a tour of the school and dormitories. I had been previously homeschooled, and the massive buildings were intimidating.
Konoha Institute of Education was a university, with a boarding school sector for high school students. Despite this, almost all of the high schoolers were day students. The high school dormitories were separate from Residence, which was for university students. (A/N: due to their lack of importance, the university section and students will not be mentioned again. 'student' will now refer to high school students, etc.) I would be one of ten teens living at the school, and the only one in my building. The entire place had been deserted during my tour.
Not so now. As I made my way through the throng of students, hundreds of eyes flashed towards me, then looked away. I was of no importance, something to be forgotten. I couldn't see anyone at all that I recognized.
"Tenten! What the hell are you doing here?" Finally, a familiar face. Albeit an angry one. Though I had heard it daily for years, the sound of his voice still made me cringe. Wishing I had continued unnoticed, I acknowledged the person now forcefully steering me through the hall.
"Neji. This is my school now. You know that."
"Whatever. English is about to start, come on."
Surprised out of my thoughts by the harsh tone of a bell, I noted that I had been pushed into a classroom and into a seat. I adjusted myself into a more comfortable position, then glanced sideways at Neji. He had a bored expression on his face, and was playing with a piece of his hair. He made no further indication of anything, and went on as though I wasn't there.
I had known Neji for two years now. When I was fourteen, he had shown up unexpectedly at my doorstep. That was before the accident.
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FLASHBACK
I was in my room, shaping a piece of art when the doorbell rang. My parents were downstairs, one of them would get it. I continued.
"Tenten, a friend is here for you!" Weird. I spent almost all of my time carving stone and working on schoolwork. Being home schooled and distinctly antisocial, I had no friends.
Bewildered, I set down my work and went downstairs. In the doorway stood a tall youth with lavender eyes and dark hair. I had never seen him before.
"Come for a walk". I was surprised by his voice, and the unshakeable firmness in the tone. It didn't sound like a request.
I looked back at my parents, who were smiling. Did they plan this? It wasn't unlikely, they worried about my solitude. They thought that I should know more people my age.
Pulling on my wrist, he led me outside and down the road. Confused as I was, it was hard to remain polite. It wasn't like he was trying either.
"My name is Neji Hyuuga. It is the wish of my parents and yours that we get to know each other."
Sighing, I pulled away. This had happened before.
"That doesn't mean we will, or should. I don't know you! I don't have time for this." I was being blunt, I wanted him gone.
"That is not my concern."
"Excuse me?" We had stopped.
"Starting today, I am your boyfriend. It has been arranged that we be married when you have turned eighteen. We will be engaged at seventeen, and it is advisable that we become acquainted before then."
I was stunned. Who the hell did he think he was, telling me this stuff with a completely blank expression? When did this stop being MY life?
"I'm sorry, but no. Just…NO!"
"It is not your decision. Meet me here tomorrow, around seven in the evening."
He strode away without another word.
I sprinted home, finding my parents beaming. My mother spoke first.
"Do you like him? Just think, our Tenten married to a Hyuuga! I was so pleasantly surprised when his uncle approached us….think what this will mean for our grandchildren!"
"Mom, I'm fourteen! I don't know him! I won't do it!"
Both of them pretended not to hear me. It would stay that way.
End Flashback
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I looked up, hearing my name.
"Well?" the teacher prompted, a sneer spreading across his face. Apparently I had missed a question of some sort.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear." I tried my best to look remorseful.
"Well LISTEN!" His face was way to close, screaming the last word. I could see every detail of a scar that ran across his nose. Before I finished my stuttered apology, he strode away. Neji gave no sign that anything had happened.
A pair of dark-rimmed eyes flashed up to meet mine. I matched his gaze, curious. Why didn't he look away? The boy had blood-red hair and a matching tattoo. Isolated, he sat apart from the rest of the class. Eyeliner surrounded his still-staring eyes, and his clothes seemed Gothic. They looked good on him, but nobody paid any notice. Without thinking, I spoke softly.
"Who's that?" Neji yanked me to my feet. The others were getting up and leaving, the bell must have rung. Instantly regretting saying anything, I let Neji pull me through the crowd. It was lunchtime. I must have blanked out for a while.
Neji's face was stony as he escorted me away from the building. Once we were out of sight, he turned on me.
"Are you trying to embarrass me? What's with the staring contest? Did you even notice I was speaking to you? What the hell do you think you're doing?"
I stayed very still and closed my eyes, waiting for it to be over.
"Mm!" A small cry forced itself out of my throat as he punched me hard on the shoulder. I lost my balance, and fell. I tried to get up, but was stopped by Neji's foot in my side. My body shook, but I said nothing. His face was livid, and he kicked me one more time. I fought back another cry as his toe connected with a still-healing rib.
Then his face was normal, and he was helping me up.
"Come on, I eat over here." I followed him in silence, still shaking.
It wouldn't be mentioned, and nobody would know. The marks on my skin, hidden by my clothes were the only evidence. And after the…accident with my parents, there was nobody to notice if I limped.
We rounded the corner again, headed for the eastern courtyard. Glancing to the right, my eyes once again connected with the redhead from earlier. He was alone, leaning against the wall adjacent to where Neji and I had just been. Had he heard?
I snapped my gaze forward before Neji noticed, but couldn't erase the dark stare from my mind.
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So that's the first chapter. There is more, but because I haven't typed it out yet, you need to review and tell me if you want more. I'll still post, but if it's going to be regular then you need to tell me. Come on, review- how long does it take?