Authoress Note: Okay, this is not funny. I seriously need to get my priorities straight. It's been so long since I've updated my stories that I'd be surprised if anyone's still reading. Well, this is none of your concern. You clicked a story, and now you're gonna get it! Oh, and no matter how irrelevant, I'm only 13!
P.S.: Sorry if the chapter comes on as a bit, corny.
Warning!: Angst approaching!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Lost Love Returned
Chapter 01: Reflections
All she could do now was dream, hope, pray, and wish, for his return. Her wanting of this, she realized, was too far-fetched to even be imagined.
Twelve years...the number alone was enough to send her into a spiraling depression. She hated it, that wretched number, the constant reminder her of what killed her most. 'Twelve years ago… he disappeared without a trace.'
Shifting in the window sill, the tears spilled over once again.Every crystal that fell from chocolate colored eyes illuminated her disconsolate face in the blue moonlight. 'I hate him…'
She told herself every time she had a breakdown. When he left, she learned to hate everything: the damned clothes for which his scent still lingered, the dreadful silver heart pendent that caused her pain, but she refused to remove. There was almost a point where she began hating her own child, only because the father was an apathetic Huuyga.
But most of all, she hated him, and the fact that no matter how much she wished to forget, she would always love that prevaricator. Yes, prevaricator. 'He promised… and I was crazy enough to believe him… foolish me.'
And no matter what, she would always hate that night. The same night she told herself she could trust in him.
She quivered as Neji watched her, pale eyes narrowed in disbelief. He wasn't ready to hear it, what she had confessed. As a cool summer breeze rushed by the rooftop, it only seemed to tense the air between them even further. Stray strands of hair whipped her face, every one feeling live a poisoned needle. Tenten closed her eyes tightly, but the attempt to hold back tears was futile. "Neji… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-" "Don't… Tenten," he spoke, voice clipped in a silver moonlight. "Don't apologize for something you had no control upon." "But what should I do?" She continued quivering, her voice beginning to crack. "Neji what should I do? What should… we do?" He watched her standing, fidgeting with her fingers anxiously and incessantly. "It's not a choice to be made in a day…" She slapped her hand over her lips when a sob escaped her lips. "What am… What am I gonna do? We were supposed to… it wasn't supposed to happen this way. Neji…" The male cursed himself for being so damn irresponsible. It was only once… and that once was going to redirect both their lives in an entire opposite direction. "Come, Tenten…" "No, I won't. Tell me what you plan to do this instant! Neji, this isn't a time of procrastination! Just…" She rubbed the endless tears away. "Tell me." His expression remained placid, staring at emotionally unsteady woman. "Come." A strong, ivory hand went in her direction. "Please… sit beside me." Shaking continuously, the brunette made way toward him, and sat beside him, legs hanging from the edge of the rooftop. "You'll have it." Puffy chocolate brown eyes widened. "What?" Neji continued his stare off into the distance. "I don't believe in killing an unborn life. Fate has brought us to this position for a purpose, we will face it head on. I promise to do what I can to support you, Tenten." "Are you… sure this is what you want to do?" "Absolutely." Reaching a calloused hand into his pocket, he retrieved a narrow silver chain. Hanging, a matching heart shaped silver pendant, that reflected Konoha's village lights. She looked from it back up to the Hyuuga, brown eyes glittering. "What is it for?" "A symbol of undying love," came the answer as if it were obvious. "As long as you hold on to it, guarantee my love is there." She moved her forward a bit, allowing him to hang the light reflecting object around her neck. She smiled in a melancholic fashion. "Thank you." He, in response, nodded. "It should have been expected." Both their arms went out, and they embraced one another. A new chapter of their lives was soon to begin.
Soft finger tips traced the smooth metallic item. It held so many of her emotions in check. And no matter how foolish it seemed, it still allowed her to believe that he still until this day loved her. In fact, the day he disappeared, she thought that they were doing perfectly.
She rocked the baby excessively, sweating as she scoured the house for anything to calm it's constant whine. "Shh, calm mommy's here," she forced behind gritted teeth. 'I should've know that doesn't work.'
And so she did, cried for them both, for twelve long and wistful years.
The kunoichi herself couldn't realize why she still loved him, but she did nonetheless. Every time she thought of it, why she couldn't forget him, it only stirred anger and grief.
Soon finding the mere thought unbearable, she grasped a vase tightly in hand before shying it across the dark room.
Bursting in at the shatter, her daughter stared at her worriedly, her inherited pale eyes widened. "Okaa-san, what ails you?"
She stood from the window sill, wiping away the moisture on her face. "Nothing, Kiyumi, I'm…" Tenten took a deep breath. "I'm okay."
Kiyumi's eyes traced the room until she found a glass vase shattered at her foot. She looked back up to her mother. "Why do you insist on doing this to yourself, Okaa-san?"
"What do you mean?"
"Red and pink carnations and a pink camellia - they mean something. Pink carnations are a symbol of lifelong remembrance, red are of a heart aching for admiration, and pink camellias of longing for another. Okaa-san, you know what they mean."
The mother forced a smile. "Well, nice to know you've become a flowers enthusiast - it's definitely something to be admired. Have you by any chance been with Ino-chan lately?"
The young female genin felt pity that her mother had been reduced to this, avoiding all confrontation. "Only once in a while."
"Very, well. Now, It'd be best in your best interest if you head off to sleep."
"Okay. Night Okaa-san."
"Sleep well Kiyumi."
With that, she left her room, heading off to her own. Tenten turned back towards the opened window, eyes once again wistful. 'If it takes twelve more years… Neji I'll wait for you.'
For the night, her sleep was long and sorrowful.
It was the biggest mistake he'd ever made in his life - choosing obedience over happiness itself. Leaving Konoha completely for years, no, it wasn't his decision. It was an order, 'a duty' his uncle called it.
Neji had been miserable for years, after he was exiled from his one only true home.
Neji refused to face the clan leader. Instead, he hung his head low as he knelt before him in humility.
"Your irresponsible actions, dear nephew, have frowned upon the Hyuuga name quite drastically." Hiashi spoke, hands behind his back in a nonchalant manner.
"I apologize, Hiashi-sama."
The older male cast a disappointed stare on the younger male before him. "Never before has it been know of any Hyuuga to father at such a young age."
Once again, "I apologize, Hiashi-sama."
"Apologies will do you no good in this affair, Neji. If this is to become known, it would cast shame over the clan as we know it…"
There was nothing he could say to defend himself. Nothing.
"This is why, I believe it would be best for you to leave Konoha… permanently."
Head still bowed, he arched his eyebrows angrily. "What?" He spat in discontent.
"Yes, it'd be for the best." The elder spoke simply. "If you were to separate all ties with that woman, it'd be untraceable who the father is: a Hyuuga."
"That is not acceptable Hiashi-sama." Neji hissed behind gritted teeth, fighting the urge to scream rudely at his uncle. "I refuse to leave her with an unborn child."
"Either that or abortion."
"Are you not going to attempt reason?"
"No, it's to maintain the reputation of the clan."
"Does the blood that run through our veins mean nothing to you?! Can you not put the clan aside for a moment and think of what is in my best interest?! Does our being related compare nothing to those you lead?!" Neji finally veered up at him, pale eyes ablaze.
Hiashi was unmoved by such a stare. "Watch to whom you're speaking to."
Went his head went down again he hissed, "I apologize… Hiashi-sama."
"Very well; you are granted to weeks prior before your leave to explain to her. After that period, since this is a direct order, you will be forcefully removed. Are we understood?"
"Yes… Hiashi-sama," came the gritted response.
"Neji, I truly do appreciate your obedience." The older man then left the boy in silence.
Neji stood from his degrading position, frowning all the while. It was a terrible fate. How can anyone - even a dignified clan leader - tear someone away from their child? It was inhumanly.
"Itouko Neji, you aren't going to leave… are you?" Came the voice of the eavesdropper, Hinata. She fully revealed herself from the corner of the door, dressed in an orange and pink kimono. "Are you…? Do you plan to obey?"
"I have…" Neji balled his fists and frowned. "I have no choice."
"I… apologize… on his behalf. I have no idea why Otou-san is being so cruel." The soft-spoken female bowed. "I wish I could help… or make him reconsider-"
"Don't bother. He has a one-track mentality." He turned to face her, a threatening scowl on his face. "Promise you won't tell her. This is a matter I must deal with on my own."
"I swear."
As he approached the outskirts of Konohagakure, he shoved these hurtful memories to the back of his mind. There was no need for sadness now. He was going back to what was his, to what he should have never left no matter what.
He was returning to his sole reason for living.
To Be Continued
Author's Note: Just in case there may be any questions concerning Hiashi and his cruelness, sorry, he was intended to be that way. Oh, and I'm not particularly sure what the Hyuuga's customs are.. But yeah. It's my story so what I say goes! Remember, review!
