Amaranthine
by layniebleargh
:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x::x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:
Chapter 2: Promise Until Death
The rain is over. The earth is a lush green, and the sky an azure. In the dense forests of Fire Country, the animals are waking up from their slumber, and the habitat is stirring of life.
"Tenten…" Neji muttered in his sleep. His hand reached to the space beside him. There is nothing but air. The Hyuuga instantly felt wide awake. "TENTEN!"
The training grounds is empty. Today, Team Gai is celebrating Hyuuga Neji's promotion to jounin.
"As expected of my youthful student!" Gai said proudly in his booming voice. Neji is just turning sixteen and his achievements are already remarkable. "Hiashi will be proud."
Neji smiled at that. Yes, Hiashi-sama has been proud when he heard it last night. Later, he would be giving Neji a formal dinner with the respected Hyuugas.
"Neji-san, I congratulate you of your youthful success. I wish you all the best and I hope you'll still be joining us in group missions." Lee formally said to Neji, resisting the urge to stuck out his thumb and give him a Ping! of blindingly white teeth.
Neji nearly choked on his hot tea. "Of course," he thought, "I have forgotten that jounins are given special missions of their own. But I would be giving my time to you guys." He turned to Tenten, who is somehow fidgeting with… discomfort?
Tenten fumbled with something she is holding. Deciding to go ahead, she leveled her gaze and her eyes met with Neji's. "Congratulations, Neji." Tenten trusted her gift to Neji's unsuspecting hands and gave him a swift and gentle hug. "Wish you all the best."
Later, before Neji went to sleep, he placed Tenten's gift upon his bedside table. It is a shiny hand-crafted katana, with a dragon symbol skilfully engraved on both sides. A tiny calligraphic writing is hidden just beneath the decorative red cloth of the handle.
I love you, Neji.
Neji found Tenten standing on a cliff's edge. She looked so serene, her eyes gazing at the glorious sunset. Neji breathed a sigh of relief. "I have been looking for you since dawn."
Tenten did not reply. However, she motioned for Neji to come near. Neji gladly obliged.
"The sunset is beautiful here."
Neji looked at the sunset. He nodded. "I cannot possibly disagree."
"My life is like a sunset." Tenten quietly said. She sat down. Neji followed suit. "It is beautiful, yet beneath all of its loveliness, there is the knowledge that it will end soon and the night will swallow it up."
"You've lived up until now. You've encountered many dangers and you've overtaken them. You're strong. The night will never succeed in swallowing you."
"When I woke up this morning," Tenten said a bit more loudly, "I left to bring us food." Tenten's eyes began to water. "I encountered a wild beast. I used my hands to make a seal. My ninjutsu did not work. I tried many times, even doing various jutsus, yet I cannot conjure results. I lost my strength, I lost everything." Tenten is practically crying now. "I cannot imagine how I lost my power. I think I'm just stupid. You can leave me now, Neji. I ain't worth anything. I-I can't even t-throw a kunai d-directly. I-I am n-nothing."
Neji felt himself stiffen at the sight of tears. Tenten never cried. Never.
"You didn't loss everything." Neji whispered. He grabbed Tenten by the shoulders. He hugged her tightly. "You have me."
Tenten couldn't believe her ears. "R-Really?"
"Yes."
Tenten totally submitted herself to Neji. She cried all her anguish out on his chest, soaking his clothes. She hold on to him, silently accepting dependence. Neji sat still all the while, stroking the back of the poor nymph.
"Now, I am the one who will save you. I will protect you, and cherish you. I will never make you suffer again." The Hyuuga prodigy vowed silently, engraving the promise on his heart. "I will be yours forever, Tenten."
