(A/N: This is a Neji/TenTen version of my story Angel. I made some changes in the first chapter, so maybe this one will be better.)
Chapter One
As TenTen was trying to get her tie to stay in place, a male voice shouted from down stairs. "TenTen, you're going to be late, if you don't leave now"
"I'll be right down, Tou-san!" called TenTen, finally getting her tie to stay tied. "Kami I hate this thing", leaves her room.
Arriving downstairs, TenTen greeted her father. "Morning Tou-san" she said.
"Morning TenTen" said her father. "You need to hurry, if your going to catch the bus", holds out some money.
"Tou-san, I may be a little late getting home" said TenTen, taking the money from him.
"Why is that?" asked her father.
"I plan on going to the hospital, and seeing Kaa-san" said TenTen. "That is if it's ok with you"
"I don't mind" said her father. "Just remember that your mother is very sick, and tires easily. If you go see her, try to keep your visit short"
"I will Tou-san" said TenTen, looking over at a nearby clock. "I'm late!, kisses her father. "Bye Tou-san", runs towards the door, grabs her book bag, opens the door, and runs out of the house, heading towards the bus stop. She arrives at the bus stop just after the bus pulls away. "This is fu***** great!" she shouted. "It's all because of this stupid tie, I missed the bus", looks back towards her house, and sees that her father has already left. "Looks like I better start walking"
As TenTen made her way along, she grumbled to herself about how stupid it was for her school to make them wear ties, with their uniforms. She was so wrapped up in her ranting, that she wasn't paying attention to where she was walking, and ended up running into someone. "Watch we're you're going kid!" shouted a male voice. Looking up TenTen started to apologize, but stopped when she saw who it was. [Oh great, why did I have to run into him of all people] she thought. "I'm sorry Orochimaru-san" she said, hoping that he accepted her apology.
"You put a crese in my suit, kid" said Orochimaru, pointing at a spot on his clothes.
"I'm really sorry sir" said TenTen. "I know I should be more careful, but I missed the bus, and was frustrated"
"I don't care about your petty problems, girl" said Orochimaru. " Now then, how do you plan on paying for the damage, you caused when you ran into me?", reaches inside of his jacket.
TenTen starts to back away, as he slowly starts to pull his hand back out. Just before Orochimaru can fully remove his hand, a black Ferrari pulls up to the curb beside them, and the driver gets out. "Is there a problem here, TenTen?" asks the driver. TenTen looks over towards the person. "Neji, am I glad to see you" she said. As Neji comes to stand behind her, Orochimaru places his hand back at his side. "Do you know this girl?" he asks. "Yes I do" said Neji. "May I ask what she did to offend you, Orochimaru-san"
"She ran into me, and put a crese in my suit" said Orochimaru. "I want her to pay for it"
Neji takes out his wallet, and opening it, pulls out two one hundred dollar bills. "This should cover everything, Orochimaru-san" he said, holding out the money. Orochimaru takes the money from him, straightens his suit, and walks around them, heading on his way. After Orochimaru was gone, TenTen turned to Neji. "Thanks for helping me" she said.
"It was no problem" said Neji. " Shouldn't you be in school, TenTen?"
"Aww crap, I am so late" she yelled, starting to run off. Neji grabs her arm. "Come on, i'll give you a ride" he said.
"Thank you Neji" said TenTen, opening the passenger side door, and climbing inside. "You don't know how much this means to me"
"Hn" said Neji, going over to the drivers side, and getting in. After putting on their seat-belts, and closing their doors, Neji made sure the way was clear, and pulled away from the curb, heading downtown, and towards TenTen's school. Arriving at the school thirty minutes later, Neji pulled up outside of the front doors. As TenTen undid her seat-belt, and opened the door, he asked. "Should I pick you up, after school?"
"No" said TenTen. "I plan on going to the hospital, to visit my mother. I might need a ride from there though, if you're still willing to come get me"
"Call me when you get done" said Neji. "I should be at home, but if not you have my cell number"
"Ok" said TenTen, getting out of the car. "Thanks again for everything, Neji"
Neji just gives a slight smirk, as she closes the car door. Once the door is closed, Neji peels out of the parking lot, and is soon gone heading further downtown. TenTen just sighs, and makes her way towards the school entrance, and inside. Once inside she heads towards the office, to get a note for class, since she is so late. Going into the office, she steps in front of a desk, and clears her throat, getting the woman who's sitting there, attention. "Hello Miss Shizune, I need a pass for class, since I am late" she said.
"May I ask why you are late?" asked Shizune.
"I missed the bus, and ran into a little trouble" said TenTen.
"I see" said Shizune. "And your name is?"
"Imanari TenTen" said TenTen.
Shizune taking out a pad of paper and a pen, begins to write a note for TenTen. A few minutes later, she gives to the note to TenTen saying. "I hope this doesn't became a everyday occurrence, Miss Imanari" "It won't Miss Shizune" said TenTen, taking the note. "Very well" said Shizune. "I suggest you hurry to class, before Tsunade catches you"
TenTen once again thanks Shizune for the note, and quickly runs off heading towards her class room. Arriving at her class, TenTen knocks on the door, and makes her way inside. Soon as she enters the room, her teacher says "You're late, Miss Imanari"
"I'm sorry Miss Yuhi" said TenTen, holding out her note.
As Miss Yuhi took the note from her, she handed TenTen a piece of paper "You might have enough time to do this" she said. "If not do what you can"
Taking the paper, TenTen looked over it, as she headed towards her seat.[ Oh great, a history test] she groaned. [Maybe I should I have pretended to be sick], sits down at her desk, and taking out a pen, attempts to answer the questions, which are in essay form. Twenty minutes later, Miss Yuhi called for them all to stop working "You all should have had enough to answer all twenty questions" she said. "I will come around and pick up your test. For the rest of class, I want you to read pages two-fifty to two seventy-five of your history books, and write a essay for homework, on what you read", gets to her feet, and starts walking around the room, picking up tests papers, while everyone gets their history books, and begins to read.
Ten minutes later the bell to end class rings, and everyone puts there books away. "Remember everyone, I want a essay on what you read" said Miss Yuhi, as students got to their feet. TenTen put her book away, and got to her feet. She was almost to the door, when Miss Yuhi called out to her. "Can I speak to you, Miss Imanari?"
Turning around, TenTen made her way back to Miss Yuhi's desk. "Yes Miss Yuhi?" said TenTen.
"This is the third time you have been late, Miss Imanari" said Miss Yuhi. "Is everything alright at home?"
"Everythings fine, Miss Yuhi" said TenTen. "I was only late today because I missed the bus"
"Very well" said Miss Yuhi. "If you need anything, just let me know"
"I will" said TenTen, turning and heading towards the door. Leaving the classroom, TenTen stopped by her locker, got her algebra book, and headed to lunch.
_
Several hours later, TenTen grudgingly made her way out of the school. [I wonder if Tou-san would let me quiet?] she thought. [First a history test, then lunch, a algebra test after that, which I forgot to study for I might add, and on top of all that I have homework, for history, algebra, and science. Can this day get any worse?]
Leaving the school, TenTen made her way across the street, and headed downtown a few blocks, arriving at the hospital. Going inside she thought. [I hope Kaa-san is up to seeing me. For I could use some of her happiness right now]. As she passed by the receptionist desk, one of the nurses stopped her. "Can I help you miss?" asked the receptionist.
"I am just here to visit my mother" said TenTen.
"What is her name?" asked the receptionist.
"Imanari Fumiko" said TenTen.
As the receptionist looked over some papers, TenTen waited patiently. "Here it is" said the receptionist. Your mother is in room, two fifteen"
"Thanks" said TenTen, heading off down the hallway. [I didn't need her to tell me that, for I know what room kaa-san is in]
Reaching the room, TenTen knocked on the door, and opened it. "Are you awake Kaa-san?" she asked.
"Is that my little piece of heaven?" asked a female voice, as TenTen came into the room.
"I'm not that little, Kaa-san" said TenTen, coming to stand beside the bed.
"I know" said Fumiko." But no matter how big you get, you will always be my little piece of heaven"
"How are you feeling, Kaa-san?" asked TenTen.
"I am feeling much better" said Fumiko. "The doctor told me, if my strength keeps improving, I may get to come home soon"
"It will be great to have you back home, Kaa-san" said TenTen.
"How are things with you and your father, TenTen?" asked Fumiko, coughing a little bit.
"Everything's fine with me" said TenTen. "However, Tou-san said that there was a little trouble at work. Something about people being laid off, because of the economy and stuff"
"I hope he doesn't loose his job" said Fumiko. "For with me being in here, that's the last thing we need", coughs again a little worser then the last one.
"Maybe I should go, Kaa-san" said TenTen. "After all Tou-san, told me not to let you over do it"
"I'm fine, TenTen" said Fumiko. "You can stay as long as you like"
"I'll come back tomorrow, Kaa-san" said TenTen. "That way you can get some rest, and I can start on all this homework I have"
"Very well" said Fumiko. "It was nice seeing my little bit of heaven today"
This caused TenTen to smile. "Bye Kaa-san, I hope you come home soon", embraces her mother in a hug.
"See you tomorrow, TenTen" said Fumiko, returning the hug.
Soon as TenTen and her mother let each other go, Fumiko covers her mouth, and coughs violently, for about three minutes. Once the coughing stops, she lowers her hand, and TenTen sees that it is covered in blood. "Are you alright, Kaa-san?" she asks, concern in her voice.
"I'm alright TenTen" said Fumiko. "This happens every now and then, so it's nothing to worry about. Now i'll see you tomorrow"
"Ok" said TenTen. "Bye Kaa-san", turns and heads towards the door.
On reaching the door, TenTen stops and looks back at her mother, who gives her a reassuring smile, and a wave. Returning the smile, TenTen opened the door, and left her mothers room. Making her way back outside a few minutes later, she took out her cell phone, and dialed a number. After a few rings she heard. "Hello" said a male voice.
"Hey Neji, it's me" said TenTen. "Can you come pick me up at the hospital, please?"
"It will take me a bit, but I 'll be there as soon as I can" said Neji.
"OK" said TenTen. "I'll be outside waiting for you"
Hearing Neji hang up, TenTen made her way over to a nearby bench, and sat down. Thirty minutes later, Neji arrived to pick her up. As she opened the door, and climbed in, he asked."How was your mom?"
"She was ok" said TenTen. "She said she might get to come home soon"
"That's good" said Neji.
"Yeah it is" said TenTen, looking out the window.
"Do you want to go straight home, or would you like to spend some time with me?" asked Neji.
"What would you have in mind?" asked TenTen.
"We could go to the mall, and see what's playing in the theater, right now" said Neji. "Or maybe a early dinner"
"The mall sounds like a good idea" said TenTen. "And while i'm there, I can also look at that new fall ensemble they have"
"Since when do you care about girls clothes?" asked Neji, pulling away from the curb.
"I have always liked girls clothes" said TenTen. "It's just that I don't wear them very often"
Neji just shook his head, and sighed. [I'll never understand girls] he thought. Thirty minutes later, they arrived at the mall. Neji only managing to find a parking spot far away from the entrance, parked his car. As he climbed out, he looked up at the sky. "I really hope it doesn't rain" he said.
"Maybe it won't" said TenTen, getting out as well. "So what shall we do first? See what's playing, or check out the clothes?"
"How about I see what's playing, while you go check the clothes" said Neji. "We can meet up with each other, in twenty minutes"
"Are you afraid to go into a girls clothing store, Neji?" asked TenTen, teasingly.
"Not at all" said Neji. "It would just be faster if I check out the movies, while you look at the clothes"
"Whatever you say, Neji" said TenTen, walking towards the mall.
"I'm not afraid, TenTen" said Neji, catching up to her.
"Whatever, Neji" said TenTen.
"I'll prove it to you" said Neji, taking her hand, and pulling her towards the entrance.
TenTen just smiled, and thought. [He took the bait, hook, line, and sinker]
Arriving at the clothing store, Neji released TenTen's hand, and told her to do her worst, and that he would not flinch, no matter what she did.
End of Chapter One