A/N: Sorry for the late update. I'm really sorry to say this but the following chapters might take just as long because I have exams coming up but I promise I'll try to squeeze in some time for this.
To monzie: you're registered as a guest so I couldn't PM you but if you're reading this, thank you for the review! :D
Key: Italic words are thoughts and – points out who is thinking. XXXXX means end of scene. Any other you don't understand, feel free to ask. =)
Chapter 2 – The Other Side
"TENTEN!" a loud high-pitched voice rang throughout the house. "We're home!"
"Stop screaming into my ears, big forehead!" another similar voice followed, at the same volume.
"You're the one to talk! Look who's yelling!"
The gibbering continued, getting louder by every sentence as they approached to the kitchen. A vein in TenTen's eyebrow stretched against the skin, threatening to pop.
"Umm.. Sakura-chan. Ino-chan," a small fragile voice came, barely audible.
"Not now, Hinata," both girls said simultaneously and turning to the one behind the counter, "TENTEN, tell-"
POP.
The weapon mistress turned her head slowly, her nose flaring, her eyes glinting with anger and frustration at such intensity that the entire room instantly become chilly and dangerous.
"us.." the loud voices toned down dramatically like some invisible hands had plugged off their vocal cords and tied it around their neck. They recoiled at the fury, hiding behind Hinata.
They knew better than to mess with their friend especially when she's holding a knife. She wasn't the weapon mistress for nothing.
"TenTen-chan," Hinata's soothing voice broke the ice, "We brought ramen for you."
She placed the white plastic bag on the table cautiously, trying to act normal, "So how was your day?"
Looking at the frail girl, TenTen's wrath slowly ebbed away. She glanced at her frozen friends, and could not help but smile. It was impossible to be mad at them.
"TenTen-chan. What's wrong? You looked like you had the worst day," Hinata asked. She was always the sensitive one.
"Yeah. You are emitting this vibe that is so," Sakura paused, thinking of a right word.
"Choking," Ino finished the sentence. The others nodded in agreement.
TenTen threw the file on the table. It flipped opened and the girls saw the Mist symbol glaring at them. What really roused their curiosity was why the file was even in TenTen's house in the first place. Normally, the furthest any mission concerning the Mist, or as they like to call "Miss", went was right outside of Tsunade's office door, but never past the bin next to it.
"That's John," the brunette said in a strained voice.
"Oh," Sakura said carefully observing her friend who had kept her head down the entire time, "What are you going to do?"
The three girls watched their friends carefully but despite their 10 years of friendship, they still could not tell what is going on through the secluded mind of TenTen's but when she was in that state, it was best to leave her as she was.
"I," she finally said after a long silence, "I am going."
XXXXX
"Excellent!" Tsunade said, pleased, "I'll be sending the confirmation to them then."
"This mission requires someone with expertise in weapons and you could not be more perfect for this mission!" Gai backed, eyes glinting proudly, "Oh, how my students have blossomed..."
On and on he went. He might as well float up with his pride; it might be the weights in his legs that were holding him down. The team eventually made their way back home after confirming to meet in the evening just before dark.
XXXXX
Neji was certainly curious about TenTen and her anti-Mist attitude. He had done everything he can -even asked Hinata- but nobody could provide a solid detail on what happened. In fact, they knew nothing much about the girl herself. The most he could find out was that she had a rough childhood and well, that was pretty much it. Who was he to question her secrecy? He wasn't the sharing-caring type either.
Then why was he concerned when it comes to TenTen?
"Neji-nii-san," Hinata's soft voice broke his train of thought as he was about to exist through the main gate of the Hyuuga compound, "Wait!"
"Hinata-sama. Is something wrong?"
"No, I just want to say goodbye," she said, biting her lips.
"Thank you," Neji waited for her to finish.
"Take care of yourself," she continued and then looked up, her milky eyes filled with worry, "and please look after TenTen-chan."
"I will," Neji left.
XXXXX
By the time the team arrived at the gate, the three ninjas from Mist were already there and after brisk greetings, they filled them in on John; his powers and last informed whereabouts. TenTen already knew everything they were telling, which were right out from the mission file, but nonetheless she listened intently waiting for one thing she could never figure out; why they were after him.
"We should head off right now. We'll go through the Seek Forest where John's cottage will be at the end," Mist 1 said running his finger through the map. TenTen didn't bother remember the name because it caused attachment. "Hopefully we'll arrive by tomorrow evening."
The ninjas nodded and headed off to the Konoha forest which was separated from the Seek Forest by a river. Once they arrived at the river, they decided to camp out before tackling the foreign Seek Forest. TenTen decided to sleep on the trees, as the others prepared fire. The mist had not mentioned why John was consider a villain making the Mist all the more suspicious. She watched the clouds as they fly across the full moon.
XXXXX
[Flashback]
Ten-year-old TenTen stared at the adults yelling in pain, her chest heaving rapidly. It was her first time attacking a human.
"Run!" her inner voice yelled. Strangely, it sounded like a man.
Her brain took control and her legs scrambled up and ran towards the Konoha forest. She dared not take the paved path, scared that they might come after her, even though she had no idea where she was headed towards. Leaves slapped her face. Thorns cut her legs and arms. Tears clouded her visions. Stray vines tripped her but she kept running.
Someone was following her and on panic, she blindly turned left and much to her happiness, the grand Konoha gate stood mighty and welcoming. She rushed towards her sanctuary, heart pounding violently. Without greeting the guards, she ran desperately to her home. It was two-story building, years of abandonment and weather had worn out the pale pink paint but nonetheless it emitted a sense of security and warmth.
It was, after all, where she was raised by her parents.
TenTen burst through the wooden door and stumbled upstairs to her parent's bed room. Her injured limbs crawled up to the central of the white linen bed and she burrowed herself underneath the blanket ignoring the thick layer of dust. When her parents were alive, TenTen would always run to them whenever she had a nightmare. Her mother's soothing voice and her dad's sturdy, protective arms never failed to calm her down.
XXXXX
"TenTen," a broad hand grabbed her arm.
Startled, TenTen shot straight up, holding a kunai to Neji's throat. Neji simply raised his eyebrows.
"N-Neji," she stuttered, pulling her hand away apologetically. She sat on the huge tree trunk, letting her feet dangle. The others were sleeping circled around smouldering, slightly red branches.
"Bad dream?" he asked, sitting next to her.
"Yeah," she said, staring out at the moonlit forest. She didn't even know she had drifted off. The leaves rustled violently but TenTen didn't feel the wind. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Neji shivered slightly and turned to him.
"Do you wan-" TenTen stopped, finally seeing he was wearing only a thin shirt. That was when she noticed she had his long sleeved clothes wrapped around her. No wonder she didn't feel cold. She hurriedly took it off and handed to its owner.
"Thank you. You didn't have to," she said, turning away to hide the red creeping up on her cheek.
"Hm."
After a long silence, Neji asked, "What were you dreaming about?"
"Just," TenTen replied vaguely, "stuffs."
Neji shifted his glance to match with TenTen's. The sky had a beautiful array of colour across it. The silhouette of the mountains in the distance could be seen against the red backdrop which gradually split into different layers of colours upwards. The soft glow from the yet to rise sun gave it a breathtaking final touch.
Neji, however, just observed his teammate. The light did justice to TenTen's face. She was absorbed, not by the beautiful sky but something else completely. The prodigy couldn't figure out what, much to his frustration.
"We're moving," Lee joined them.
"Okay," TenTen replied, standing up.
Neji suddenly perked up, sensing a different chakra. He immediately activated his Byakugan. Sure enough, there was somebody at the other side of the bank. He quickly pulled his teammate down. They did not need to be told why; one of the benefits of years of training together. They jumped over to the adults and informed them about the new finding.
The team discreetly made their way to the edge of the bank. It was a man, he had his back turned to them as he worked on something, but Neji could make out the strong, sharp body features. His sea-weed green shirt was tucked out of the typical ninja black trousers. The torn pieces from the sleeves hang loosely out of the end of the broad shoulder, showing off the bulky muscle. His cropped hair had a colour that Neji adored; TenTen's hair colour.
He heard TenTen's gasped and without the Mist telling him, he immediately knew.
It was John.
A/N: I know, I know… The ending is getting boring. I promise the next chapter will be, well, I don't want to spoil anything so, let's just say it'll be more interesting. :D And as always, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Do review! :D