For what purpose am I here?
Why do I exist?
Am I important? To somebody? Anybody?
"TenTen! Time to get up! You're going to be late again! I'm sure your boyfriend won't appreciate it!" TenTen's older cousin, and only living relative, Sunano called from the kitchen.
TenTen groaned as she rolled out of her cozy bed at such an ungodly hour. "He's not my boyfriend! He's my training partner!" She yelled back. TenTen was not exactly a morning person, and it really showed around Sunano who loved to poke fun at her in the early hours of the day. TenTen looked over at her clock to make sure she wasn't actually going to be late for her training, and as usual, was right on time. She shook her head and smiled at her cousin's idea of fun. This is why I can never invite any of my friends over, Sunano will keep saying that Neji is my boyfriend, and knowing my friends, they'll go for it…
"TenTen! Are you leaving yet or not?" Sunano's voice got a bit higher, suggesting some sort of urgency in TenTen's departure.
"Uhhh, yeah, one sec!" TenTen grabbed her training gear and ran out of her room, past her cousin, and out the front door, "See ya tonight!" She called without looking back.
TenTen slowed down to a walk as soon as her small apartment was out of view. She and Sunano had lived there for as long as TenTen could remember. During the Kyuubi attack, TenTen's whole family was killed, minus herself and Sunano of course. Sunano was a waitress at a local restaurant and supported herself and TenTen until TenTen became a kunoichi. Now that TenTen and the rest of the Konoha 11 were Chunnin, excluding Neji (Jonin) and Naruto (Genin), she had enough money to help Sunano with the bills. The two cousins lived a modest and simple life.
TenTen sighed as she reached the edge of the familiar training grounds. She had grown accustomed to those specific grounds for Team Gai ever since she was 12 years old, five years ago. Ever since then, she and Neji still trained together. TenTen found it comforting to rely on Neji. He had always been there for her, not matter how cold his outward personality was. He had even gone to visit her parent's graves with her on the anniversary of their deaths.
Yes, TenTen was in love with her training partner. Not that HE would ever know that. After all, he was a Hyuuga, and Hyuuga's had their own way of living life, main and branch houses alike. TenTen just knew it would be best to stay out of his clan's affairs. So, the two teammates stayed as they were, teammates. Not a hint of anything other than friendship. TenTen was aiming to make the rank of Jonin this year, while Neji was beginning his training for ANBU. Neji had caught the ANBU recruiter's attention over the past couple of years, which made TenTen uneasy. ANBU was known for their strength, but also the price that came with that. Death. The death rate was high, being a ninja, but an ANBU member's life expectancy was five to ten years after joining the ranks. TenTen was not ready to lose her best friend to such a statistic.
It's not like she though Neji was weak, it was just the overwhelming horror of the idea of losing him. But TenTen never voiced her opinions. Neji was Neji, and he would do what he wanted with or without her support, but even TenTen knew that Neji would rather have her on his side.
Speaking of having someone on his or her side. TenTen jumped as she saw Neji sitting right next to her, waiting.
"Welcome back" Neji said, his way of commenting on TenTen's intense internal thought process. TenTen flushed red and hung her head in apology.
"Sorry, it's been a weird morning" TenTen semi-honestly replied. Normally, TenTen did not space out thinking about her best friend like that, but that did not exactly make it a weird morning… TenTen's thoughts were ripped away from her as Neji stood and turned to her, silently asking to start their training warm-up. TenTen tensed and nodded, jumping towards the center of the grounds and beginning the daily practice.
The two trained for hours, taking ten to fifteen minute breaks every hour or so, just to stay hydrated, until lunch. Silently the two walked to a sushi restaurant and quickly ordered their meals. Their activities had remained the same for years: Train, eat, train, train, train, avoid Lee and Gai's "youthfulness", train, eat, train, then part. Much of their time was spent in silence, for Neji didn't talk very much and TenTen felt no need to force him to.
Today was different though. As the partners sat down and began their meals, TenTen saw Neji stiffen suddenly, moreso than usual. She quickly looked at the nearest reflective surface (the tinted glass to her right) and saw the head of the main branch of the Hyuuga clan, Hiashi, and the Hyuuga elders sitting down at a close by table.
This was an unusual sight. The dominating heads of the Hyuuga clan, sitting, at an informal sushi restaurant, outside of the Hyuuga complex. TenTen had absolutely no idea what to do; Neji seemed very uncomfortable watching his fellow family members.
She leaned forward and whispered to Neji, "Are you okay? Do you want to leave?"
Neji said nothing but slowly nodded. He was normally all right with seeing his clansmen, as there were plenty of them, and seeing the heads of his clan, as he was closely related to them, but this was a shock. Neji was unprepared to see them; he was taking a break from training with a female teammate, at a restaurant.
TenTen waited for Neji to take the lead, and he did. Neji suddenly stood, dropped more than enough money to pay for the food, turned on his heel, and started to walk in the opposite direction of his clan leaders. TenTen stood to follow when she was suddenly halted by the sadly expected voice.
"Waitress! We need water," an impolite elder ordered. TenTen turned around, not knowing what exactly to do. She didn't have much time to think though as Hiashi sadly recognized her.
"Aren't you my nephew's teammate? Tenshi or something?"
TenTen was taken aback. He seemed to have no respect for her, not surprising really. TenTen was surprisingly saddened though; he couldn't even remember her name! It wasn't as if he had only met her once before. It was many times, due to team meetings, random encounters at the complex, and his observations of Neji's skills.
"TenTen," came a familiar voice sent from Heaven to rescue her from this embarrassment, "Hiashi-sama, her name is TenTen and she is indeed my teammate." Neji spoke formally, informing Hiashi of his error. He bowed his head to the elders and rose back up, protectively standing in front of TenTen, as if the Hyuuga leaders would bite.
Hiashi made no notion to acknowledge his error and focused his attention on his nephew. "Neji, you are taking a break from training, I assume?"
"Yes, Hiashi-sama, TenTen and I were just about to head back to resume our practice" Neji formally replied not breaking eye contact with his uncle.
"Very well, check on Hinata for me sometime today as well, her progress is slowing and I need to know how she compares with her teammates" Hiashi commanded causing TenTen to shudder at the coldness of his voice when regarding his eldest daughter. Neji nodded, bowed, and turned to leave when Hiashi's voice was heard once again, "Neji. You may bring her again," Hiashi said nodding to TenTen. Neji bowed once more and left, nearly dragging TenTen along for the ride.
Neji and TenTen quickly and quietly made their way back to the training grounds. Neither one mentioned Hiashi's odd final note referring to TenTen, for a while at least.
"What did he mean by that?" TenTen asked, breaking the silence and looking Neji directly in the eyes.
Neji shook his head and sighed. He honestly had no idea what was going on in his uncle's head. By stating that TenTen could be in Hiashi's presence again, he was inviting her to the complex for something other than training. Dinner, probably. This was not good. If TenTen came for dinner, she would see the formal meal of the Hyuuga, and if Neji knew her at all, he knew she would hate it.
"I think he was inviting you over for dinner sometime" Neji answered finally, looking everywhere but at TenTen.
"What?"