Title: Simple
Characters/Pairings:
Neji/Tenten, Hiashi
Length:
500 words
Rating:
K+ or PG (whatever turns your crank)
Warnings/Notes:
This is post timeskip for those up on the manga
Summary:
Every instinct screamed at him to go to her. Or get away as fast as
possible.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. This is fanfiction.
They stood just outside the city gates, waiting as Hiashi spoke quietly with some of his family, explaining how he wanted things taken care of in his absence. She had come along, insisting on seeing him off.
"I don't want you go," she whispered, the sound coming out small and strained, betraying her calm countenance. She was trying to remain composed for him. "But I know… you need to."
And he wanted to touch her so badly at that moment, he almost ached for it. The clarity, the potency, of the feeling so sudden and so unexpected he wasn't sure how to digest it. He felt lost as she stared back, hands clenched together in front of her, smiling a weak lopsided grin at him. His chest felt tight. Every instinct screamed at him to go to her. Or get away as fast as possible.
He settled on frowning. "It is necessary, Tenten." He watched as she nodded, smiling with a short knowing chuckle, eyes now clearly revealing her worry.
"I know," she said, approaching him with slow certain strides, making the action, the bridging of the chasm that had always been between them, look so effortless. And he wondered at it, frown deepening. As she reached him, she slid her arms over his shoulders to hug him close. "You'll beat this, I know it," she whispered into the hair pooled at his shoulder, "And I'll be waiting."
He pulled away to look solemnly down at her, not knowing what he was supposed to say. She held his gaze, eyes soft, telling him it was okay. He didn't have to say anything.
It was Hiashi that broke the silence, "Neji, it is time to go."
He nodded and looked back to Tenten as she stepped back. "I'll explain to Lee and Gai when they return from their missions," she said, an anxious smile lighting on her face. He tilted his head forward in acknowledgment and turned to stand next to Hiashi. "Take care," she said, turning back to join Hinata, Hanabi and several other Hyuugas through the gates.
"She's a good woman, musuko," Hiashi said quietly, small grin curving across his noble face, as they strode away from the village.
Neji looked sharply over to the older man, surprised by the Head's uncharacteristically personal statement. Hiashi closed his eyes, still faintly grinning as they walked.
Quietly, Neji cast a glance over his shoulder to see Tenten standing amongst his kinsmen, a flash of bright color in the sea of pale yukata, and the feeling washed over him again. He thought of the change his life was about to take, about the change his family was willing to make for him, about his former team and their dependability, their constant loyalty in spite of it all. And he thought of her.
And in that moment, he understood. It was simple. As simple as she made it look. And he shared the grin with Hiashi, turning back to look forward into the Konoha forest, "She is."
