Wings
Tenshi no Hoshi
A/N: This update wasn't as quick, mainly because I was spending time watching the anime for personality hints. I really hope this chapter will portray them alittle better! Although they are younger, they're personalities are still slightly different. With that said, I give you the second chapter! Enjoy!
"A leaf is a feather that no longer flies, and a feather is a leaf that descended from the sky."
The journey had officially begun.
Life with another clan seemed awkward to Tenten, who felt as if she had just awoken form a ten-year coma. She held no memory of her past, besides the place of her orgin. It was now up to her to find the remaining fragments of her past.
She felt as if she should have done something more about it, instead of waiting in a village that isolated Tenten into her own little world. What more could she have done? As they say: One who knows nothing, can understand nothing.
Everyday hardly seemed like an adventure. It was the same old routine every morning, but Tenten couldn't say the same during the afternoons.
It had been almost 3 months now since her unanticipated arrival. Tenten soon became thankful for their hospitality, providing her with shelter and food. Of course, all of this didn't come free. There had to be a price for it all.
A mushy pillow smacked sleeping Tenten in the face. Xiao Lang, who was in charge of the wake up calls, was never merciful when taking it out on Tenten.
"Hey, Tenten, enough snoozing! You have a job, you know," he whispered noisily in her ear.
Tenten, who had been fed up with the ranting, unexpectedly and swiftly took her own pillow and clobbered Xiao Lang, the perfect karma. "GAH STOP HITTING ME EVERY MORNING!"
Xiao Lang plugged his ears with his fingers. "Hmph, you don't have to be so loud. How do you have so much energy?" He walked out of her room. "Meet me downstairs in 5 minute, or else I'll leave for the garden without you."
Tenten stomped her foot on the wooden floor. "Grr, he gets on my nerves," she growled.
"Yo, other people are trying to get more sleep here," Belri mumbled under the covers. "How are you guys so loud?"
Tenten completely ignored Belri and dashed downstairs once she finished changing. "I'm going now, Belri onee-chan," she called out from downstairs.
She burst out the door and dashed toward the garden as she did every morning. From where she was standing, she could already spot Xiao Lang pacing back and forth, waiting for her arrival. How did he get there so quickly?
"Xiao Lang, I'm here," she stated, "we can start the gardening now."
"Hnn."
The Silent Garden was filled with such beauty and hard work, that it could be called the eighth world wonder. Flowers of all shapes and sizes, colors and shades, could be pointed out as they bathed in the sunlight. A sparkling fountain spurted out mist high enough to squirt birds, which were flying all over the place.
Tenten greeted the little birds as they fluttered around her in circles. "Ah, hello birdies!" She looked forward to meeting them on clear days such as today. They seemed to have become used to her every morning with a handful of sunflower seeds resting on the palm of her hand. Those seeds were supposedly for the birdhouse, but she always preferred letting them eat from her hand.
Xiao Lang, who was busy tending the flowerbed, took a tiny peek at Tenten. She looked like she was having too much fun for chore time. He couldn't contain the smile that leaked out after watching her dance around as she spilled the sunflower seeds all over the ground.
"Hey," he called from behind her, "stop dancing and get back to work, will you?"
Tenten stuck her tongue out at him. "Who said I couldn't have fun with chores?" She held her hand out to one of the tiny sparrows flying around her. "Do you wanna try?"
The corner of his lips curved into a tiny and faint, but visible smile. "I have enough fun watching you."
She smiled. "Ok then. It's my turn to water, right?"
Tenten took the watering can from the tool shed hidden in the back corner of the garden and dipped it into the fountain, filling it up to the brim. She always had a special way of watering the flowers when her turn came. Instead of pouring it over the flowers like every other person would, she threw the water up into the air, watching it fall onto the fragile petals. The falling drops would rain down on everything; including Xiao Lang and herself.
"Tenten, don't do th-"
"Too late!" Tenten threw the watering can in the air, feeling the water rain down on her skin.
Xiao Lang shielded himself from the raining water. "At least try not to hit me…"
Tenten's eyes lit up. "Ah, it feels great, doesn't it?" She plopped the can into the fountain once again.
His eyes widened. He dropped whatever he was doing and grabbed her wrist. "'I'm not planning on getting any wetter than this before practice, got that?"
Xiao Lang, who had been training as a ninja with his cousin Belri since they were six, had practiced everyday for at least eight hours. Tenten, who had no experience whatsoever with this exclusive ancient art, found it quite interesting to look at; almost like a dance of some sort.
She stuck her tongue out at him. He had always taken the fun out of their daily chores. It's been three months since she came; couldn't he lighten up even a little bit?
"Hmph," she sighed, "fine, I'll stop. I just finished anyway."
The sun was just over the horizon line as they finished up their morning chores. It was going to be a long day, just like it was everyday.
"Tenten, we're done here. Stop straggling behind, will you?" Xiao Lang hurriedly walked away.
Tenten rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
A little bird perched itself on her shoulder. She smiled and held up her palm to its beak. The sparrow hastily pecked at the seeds resting in her hand and took off into the open sky.
She sighed. "I better go meet him before he has a fuzzy outbreak."
&&Hidden Pathway&&
Two shuriken: one gold, one silver; clashed in midair. Xiao Lang stood in his natural stance, and Belri was in her attack mode. She charged straight ahead, then disappearing before his eyes.
He glanced around in a panic. Where could she have gone?
"Psst," Belri whispered. "Behind you!"
Before he could even blink, Belri kicked him at least 30 feet away as he was caught by the supporting leaves on the summer tree branches.
"Heh," he wiped the dripping sweat off his forehead, "is that all you got?"
"You'd better stop for now," Belri insisted, "You'll use up your chakra at this rate."
"I agree with Belri onee-chan, Xiao Lang!" Tenten, who had been sitting overhead on a tree limb the whole while, called out to him.
He nodded. "Ok then."
Tenten carefully climbed down the tree trunk. She lost her grip and slid down, landing with a thump. "Eeyeah…ouch…"
Belri snickered. "You make the weirdest sounds when you fall."
Xiao Lang came up to her. "What is this, the 73rd time?" He held his hand out to her as she took it to help herself up.
"Hmm…well, this wouldn't be happening if I had the skill of a kunoichi," she sulked.
Xiao Lang and Belri exchanged confused glances. Was she implying something?
Tenten placed her hands on her hips. "I want to start training too."
Belri smiled and jumped about excitedly. "Yeah, why not? It'll be fun with the three of us!"
Xiao Lang shrugged. "I bet she wouldn't be able to last two hours."
Tenten gave him an impish smirk. "We'll see about that."
"Can you make sure of it?"
Tenten nodded firmly, determined to prove him wrong. She stuck out her pinky to him as they linked them together.
"It's a promise."
Belri continued to hop around like a dancing bunny rabbit. "Yay, let the games begin!"
"Shut up!" Tenten and Xiao Lang asserted in unison.
Tenten made sure to keep her promise. Every morning before her morning chores with Xiao Lang, she would practice for an extra hour to catch up wit Xiao Lang and Belri. She didn't want to be left behind, after all.
Xiao Lang, who had secretly been watching her train every morning, was even surprised for her determination and effort. He had always thought that girls were weaker than guys for their own reasons, but he had never seen someone try so hard.
Tenten kicked the thick padding tied to the tree trunk. The impact of her kick vibrated in her bones and throughout her entire leg. She sank to the floor and wailed out in pain, clutching her injured leg.
Xiao Lang inched hesitantly from the shadows like a hidden wolf in the moonlight. The full moon's incandescence shone it's mystical light onto Tenten, creating a lonely spotlight in the middle of the silent abyss of trees. He wasn't so sure if he should have acted upon what he had seen, but he had confidence. He had faith in Tenten, and that she would be able to rise above her own problems.
"I want to see what you can do."
The injured girl rose to her feet with the support of a nearby tree branch, which was low to the ground. She wasn't finished training yet.
"I need…one more…chance," she weakly said to herself, her stance wobbling.
"I…can't –" Tenten's hand slipped as she collapsed to the floor, only to be caught by swift arms.
Her eyes widened. "W-wait a minute –"
"You really have some nerve, coming out here this early." Xiao Lang pointed up to the sky. "Even the moon's still out."
"But I –"
"No more. It's dangerous to do this by yourself." Xiao Lang placed Tenten on the ground. "Can you walk?"
She shook her head. "I don't think so."
He held her in his arms once again as they headed off to the women's cabin. Tenten could tell he was struggling, because of the way he wavered from one side to the other.
"Um, I don't really need to be carried. I can hop my way back to – "
"I'm fine. Just promise me you won't do something so extreme."
Tenten frowned. "I was only trying to keep the promise we made before," she said under her breath.
The moon had started to set by the time they had reached her room. Xiao Lang carefully placed the injured Tenten down on her loft.
"Let me see your leg," he ordered.
Tenten pulled away. "N-no, it's ok. I'm fine, really," she insisted. She poked her leg, trying hard not to flinch. "See? It's ok."
Xiao Lang kneeled down in front of her, keeping his eyes staring down at the wooden floor. "Hey, if you aren't ok, just say it." He looked up at her. "It's my duty to protect those who are higher than me."
Tenten gave him a confused look. "Huh? I don't follow you."
"Hmph," he breathed as he examined her pained leg. "I don't expect you to understand."
Tenten never felt so insulted. "Well," she folded her arms across her chest, "what if I could relate?"
"How?"
She smiled. "You told me to say something if there was something wrong. Shouldn't you do the same? Besides…" Tenten held out her hand to him as a signification of friendship. "I think it's time I help you, don't you think?"
Xiao Lang hastily turned down her offer. "I don't need your sympathy." He stood up and walked slowly out of her room.
And Tenten didn't bother stopping him.
"Hmm, that certainly went well," a voice from the back of the room echoed.
Tenten gasped, realizing there was someone watching them. "Belri onee-chan?"
Belri waved her hand from underneath the covers. Apparently, she still didn't wake from her sleep. She arose from the covers of her bed sluggishly. "I overheard what happened. Don't worry about it too much."
Tenten refused to listen. "But…but doesn't it bother you? I mean, he always tries to act tough and everything. You know he doesn't have to." She rubbed her bruised leg, dyed black and blue.
"It's his job, Tenten." Belri said sadly. "He has to lay down his life for others. That's the way of this clan."
Tenten shook her head in disbelief. "Why? It's his life, right? He can do what he wants with it."
"Not quite."
Belri sat upright and cloaked the thick blankets around her body, wrapping her like a mummy. "Let me tell you something."
Tenten was alert. "Is there something wrong with him?"
Belri looked depressed. "I think it's the village that's wrong," she said forlornly.
"This village," she started to say, " Has its own way of dealing with things."
She plopped back down on her pillow. "Do you believe in predetermined destiny?"
Tenten was silent, thinking to herself for a moment. She raised her head. "No, I don't."
Belri stared at the ceiling. "You could say that the destiny he follows, is like being a sparrow bound to its cage."
"Birds are supposed to fly freely, right?" Tenten questioned.
Belri nodded. "You could say that he's like that sparrow, yearning to break free."
"He wants to break free from his destiny."
Belri shrugged. "From what I've seen, he's already given up." She walked over to Tenten's bed and took her hand into her own. "Will you help him regain the will?"
Tenten was shocked. She had no idea Xiao Lang went through his life like a caged bird. "For his sake," she looked down towards the floor, "I'll help him see what it means to live again."
Belri smiled, her eyes filled with joyful tears. "Now," she said, "lemme take a look at your leg. Where did you go out so early?"
Tenten fidgeted. "Well, you see…"
&&The Next Morning&&
Tenten woke up extra early, as she did the previous day. Xiao Lang made her promise him not to train alone, but he also didn't understand the position she was in.
The full moon was still out as it shone like a pearl on the beach shore at twilight. It was low in the star filled sky, implying that the morning would arrive shortly.
Tenten snuck out of the cabin herself and dashed hastily into the labyrinth of trees. She constantly looked back to see if anyone was tracking her down. Her breathing rate increased as she huffed and puffed misty vapor.
Suddenly, the irritating sound of screeching metal rang through the empty forest. Tenten became alert, looking around for where the sound was being emitted.
Tenten tried her best to stay low and not attract any attention. She hid behind shrubs and fallen leaves to hear mumbling from a distance. A whole troop of hidden ninjas lined up, forming arrays of black in the pure moonlight. Their faces were masked and only their eyes glowed a sinister yellow.
One ninja, who appeared to be the leader, wore a different uniform; like those of a samurai. He seemed to have been discussing matters with one of his underlings.
"Did you find the descendants from heaven?" Their samurai leader asked, keeping his voice to the minimum low.
The hidden ninja nodded his head. "Both are doing fine, sir."
"That's good," he replied. "If anything were to happen to them, our five year plan would have failed. We've gotten so far. Let's go, men. Disperse!"
"You heard the boss! Don't lose sight of them!"
The array of ninja's disappeared in a flash as they followed their leader's orders.
Tenten held her breath. She may have witnessed something she shouldn't have. Frantically, she glanced around for any other hidden ninja. Once the coast was clear, she canceled her secret training time and ran as fast as she could back to the cabin. She wished she hadn't witnessed that event.
Once she reached her room, she flopped down on her bed and buried herself underneath the covers. As much as she wanted to fall asleep again, some heavy snoring in the opposite corner of the room kept interrupting her. Was Belri always this loud?
The sun was barely over the horizon. It was time to meet Xiao Lang in the garden.
"I should go before he comes here and smacks me with that annoying pillow," Tenten said in her mind.
&&The Garden&&
The sparrows danced around the garden as they did every morning. The moon had set, and all that was left in the sky was the dawn's light treading upon the village. Some of the stars had already faded away into the overpowering light.
Once Tenten reached the garden, she was surprised to find it empty, except for the birds, of course. She expected Xiao Lang to have arrived earlier than she.
Tenten let out a sigh of relief. "At least I won't have to tell him what happened," she thought to herself.
She walked over to the tool shed hidden under vines and behind flowers and reached for the birdseed sack. It was her permanent job as part of her morning chores to feed the sparrows that didn't hesitate to visit their village every day.
Gazing above at the free flying birds, Tenten began to wonder of the words Belri spoke about Xiao Lang the other day. "He's living his life as a caged bird," she thought out loud. "How he is any different than the flying sparrows?"
The tiny sparrow perched on her shoulder, as it did the previous day. Tenten stroked its head and held her palm full of seeds up to its beak. It pecked hastily at her open palm, and flew away in an instant. It floated high into the sky with the others. Tenten sadly gazed at the flying sparrows. "Why couldn't we have been born with wings?
"It's because we don't need wings to fly."
Xiao Lang leaned against the garden's entrance gate; his arms crossed along his chest. "If you really want to fly..."
He leapt in the air and gently landed on top of the spurting fountain water placed in the center of the garden.
Tenten stared in awe. "H-How-"
"If you really want to fly... you need to find your reasons, and turn them into wings."
Xiao Lang hopped back down to the ground and walked up to Tenten, bowing down before her. "I'm sorry for being late."
Tenten hesitated for a brief moment before shaking her head. "N-no, it's ok. I do it all the time!"
"That isn't something to be proud of."
She sulked. "I'm not proud of it, I'm just saying…"
Xiao Lang picked up the water can that was left near the flowers the other day and dipped it into the fountain.
Tenten remembered Belri's words. She suddenly became worried of Xiao Lang and wanted to help him in any way she could. He had been there for her since they first met. But…how do you help someone who isn't willing to give you a chance to try?
She was determined to get through to him. "H-hey, Xiao Lang?" Tenten immediately turned her gaze towards the floor. "Um…can I ask you something?"
"Hn," was his response. She couldn't even make out what it had meant.
"I-I want to know more about you and the village," Tenten blurted out. She suddenly clasped her mouth shut with her hands. Could he have taken it the wrong way?
Xiao Lang let out a tiny smile, hardly visible. He found it weird how she always thought of the million possibilities that could go wrong. "Did Belri tell you yet?"
Tenten sadly shook her head. "You…must be suffering, by the way you talk."
Xiao Lang was caught of guard, but tried hard not to show it. "Depends on how you define the word."
The wind grew stronger by the minute as it tossed around everything in its path, including the birds. Flower petals drifted past them like how time slips like sand.
Xiao Lang spoke up. "I'm not all I seem. I may seem strong to you, but to those higher than me, I'm nothing more than a servant."
He turned to Tenten. "Do you know who I really am?"
Tenten shook her head.
"Then don't bother worrying."
She shook her head in dismay. How could he be so calm when she was so serious?
"Hmph, what a jerk."
&&A Few Hours Later&&
Tenten couldn't get Xiao Lang's words out of her head. Today, she passed their offer to train with them, which completely took them off guard.
"Huh? You sure?" Belri spoke with concern.
Xiao Lang folded his arms across his chest. "Does it have to do with me?"
Tenten didn't respond at first. She didn't want to seem too nosey. "I-it's nothing, really."
Belri shrugged. "It's up to you. Come down if you change your mind, k?"
Tenten nodded absentmindedly. "Sure."
So many thoughts and questions raced through her mind. Who was Xiao Lang and what are the secrets behind the village? Something here didn't seem right. Maybe all of this was connected to the hidden ninja she spotted earlier this morning.
Xiao Lang stood in his defensive stance, waiting for Belri, who charged like an anger bull straight towards him. Xiao Lang closed his eyes and concentrated all of his energy towards his eyes. Before he could make a move, Belri pounced on him, pinning him to the dirt ground.
He wiped the sweat dripping from his face. "I didn't make it in time." His face seemed troubled.
Belri helped him off the ground and gave him a reassuring smile. "Eh, don't worry about it. I know nothing about your limits, but maybe we can work on something else for today. What do you say?"
Xiao Lang simply nodded.
Tenten slid from the treetop to solid ground. "Hey, Xiao Lang? Can I practice with you now?"
Xiao Lang looked up at Tenten. "Hnn," he mumbled.
Tenten raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Belri clapped her hands together. "Ok, kiddies, let's getting rolling!"
"You aren't much older than us, Belri onee-chan," Tenten called back.
The jumping kunoichi laughed. "I'm at least 3 years older than you, Tenten. Didn't you ever learn to respect your elders?"
Tenten stared at the floor and shuffled her feet.
"Uh, I didn't mean it like that, Tenten,'" Belri stuttered. "Let's just forget it, ok?"
Xiao Lang waited with great impatience. "You ready?"
Belri and Tenten saluted, mocking his impatience. "Yes, sir!"
Xiao Lang rolled his eyes. "You two have so much in common."
Tenten chuckled. "So then, what are we learning today?"
Belri skipped behind a nearby tree and held out what looked like a scarecrow. She showed great pride in…whatever it was. "Ta da! Today, we're going sharpen are accuracy." She pinned it to the center of the tree. "It's like playing a game of darts. Just try to aim correctly and hit the bull's eye, got that?"
Both sternly nodded, concentrating on their goal.
"Hmm…Xiao Lang, you go first," Belri insisted.
"Hnn." Xiao Lang stepped forward with a silver shuriken in his hand. He drew it back, aiming precisely and focusing only on his task. He grunted as the he thrust the weapon forward. It pinned itself at the very edge of the target.
Belri clapped her hands and jumped about. "Yay! Good work, Xiao Lang!" She eyed Tenten. "It's your turn now!"
Tenten took the silver shuriken from the target and fiddled with it in her hands. Mimicking Xiao Lang's moves, she drew it back, snapping her wrist forwards. The flying weapon pierced through the target, right in the eye.
Tenten couldn't contain her smile. "Oh wow! I did it!"
Belri's jaw fell open. "W-wait a minute, how did you do that?"
Xiao Lang shrugged. "Who would have thought?"
Tenten, instead of sticking her tongue out at him, gave him an even bigger smile. "Aren't you proud of me?"
Xiao Lang was at a lost for words, but didn't show it. "Well, yeah…"
She jumped about with following behind her. They looked like a couple of bouncing bunny idiots.
"They sure seem excited," he said to himself.
The hours passed like minutes as the sun lowered in the sky. Both Xiao Lang and Tenten were worn out from their new training exercises and plopped down on the grass.
"Well, looks like we're done for today!" Belri merrily called out to the both of them. She unpinned the targets from the trees. "Xiao Lang, go home for today. Tenten should have a chance to stay after, m'kay?"
Tenten sat up. "Oh, sure…"
"Hnn." Xiao Lang got to his feet and walked back to the village.
Tenten helped unpin the rest of the targets. "Is there anything else you need?"
Belri shook her head. "Nope, that's it." She walked over to her. "Lemme give you something."
Tenten tilted her head in confusion. "Huh? What is it?"
"Close your eyes, and open your hands."
Tenten did so. She felt something cushy being placed in her bare hands. "Can I open my eyes now?"
Belri nodded, figuring there wasn't any need for words.
The younger kunoichi opened her eyes, revealing a fuzzy stuffed kitty resting in her arms. She squealed in exhilaration and hugged it close to her. "Onee, thank you!"
"Nah, it's nothing." She winked. "Think of it as a little something for being our friend. From Xiao Lang's heart and mine to yours."
"This is from Xiao Lang too?" She looked down at the stuffed kitten. "I-I don't know what to say…"
"Heh, don't worry about it!" Belri took out a stuffed cat of her own. "See? I have one too! They're twins! This one is Kagura."
"Then…this one will be," Tenten raised it up in the air. "Kioku. The cat's name is Kioku."
Belri hugged Kagura. "Oooh, really? That's a nice name. Doesn't that represent 'memory' in our language?"
She nodded. "Yup, it'll resemble the memories the three of us share." She turned her gaze toward the setting sun. "This way, I'll be able to remember all the good time, even when I have to leave."
Belri chuckled. "That won't be for awhile." She nodded. "C'mon, let's go back."
&&The Next Morning&&
A fluffy disturbance smacked the Tenten's back. "You're late again."
Tenten sat up and rubbed her drowsy eyes. "Ugh…"
She tried to change her clothes as quickly as possible. Her body just wouldn't let her.
Once she was finished, Tenten grabbed Kioku and ran out the door, forgetting to tell Belri she was leaving for her morning chores.
Tenten raced herself to the garden, as she did every morning. It was something new she tried out, to train herself every moment she could find possible.
From a distance, she could see Xiao Lang standing in front of the entrance, but when she looked closer, there were at least three other people surrounding him. They all wore the same uniform; similar to those of the hidden ninja she spotted the other day.
She gasped. "I-It's the hidden ninja!"
Now wasn't the time to race herself. She was put up against time: one of the most difficult opponent to predict. Would she be able to defeat it?
One of the ninja's grabbed him by the collar and held him up against the concrete wall. He leaned up close enough to his face, that they could feel each other's breath creeping along their necks. "Tell me the truth, punk!"Xiao Lang tried to remain calm, but there were hints of fear flashing in his eyes. He stayed quiet in an effort not to worsen the problem.
Tenten crept up behind them, waiting for the perfect time to pounce and catch them all off guard.
Another ninja leaned in closer to his ear, and whispered, "If you don't tell us your REAL name, then –"
Tenten leapt from the shadows like a determined wildcat and tried to free Xiao Lang from the grasps of the three ninjas.
One of the ninja's caught her by the neck and held her up like a prize-winning fish. "Tell us your name, or she goes to hell," he threatened, holding a knife up to her throat.
Tenten squirmed to be set free, but couldn't even reach the ground. She felt her mind slowly slip away as her sight became hazy. Air wasn't getting through to her, and she was being suffocated.
"Why do you interfere with us, little girl? This doesn't concern you." The ninja holding her neck said.
Tenten knew her reasons, and she wasn't about to abandon them. "I'm here because I've found my reasons to fly. I need it, so I can gain wings."
He simply laughed at her morals. "Hmph, you're no better than a caged bird, hurting yourself from the inside out."
Xiao Lang couldn't take it anymore. He had to do something, or else the people he cared for would be doomed. "Let her go," he asserted. "I'll tell you my name."
"Spit it out, boy!" One of them said as Tenten fell to the ground gasping for air.
"Neji. My name is Hyuuga Neji."
Ending Note: Woot! Xiao Lang is finally revealed as Neji! Sorry for the tiny cliffhanger, but everything will be unveiled by the next two chapters, hopefully. And now...the preview of the next chapter!
Hikari no Naka E
A firm hand swiftly clasped Tenten and brought her into the shadows of the setting sun. Struggling to be set free, she kicked and squirmed in vain. If only she hadn't strayed from Neji and Belri.
A sinister voice cooed. "If you want to be free from the shadows, I can help you."
Tenten ignored his words and continued to struggle. Her muffled words would be useless in calling for help.
"Don't you want to know who you are? Or where you come from? I can help you."
Her eyes widened as she halted her rampage. Since entering the village, in hardly ever occured to her about her origin and her past. Why was it coming up now?
"You've been suffering, haven't you? Knowing that there really is no place where you belong." He pointed to the two arguing traninees from the trees. "They aren't who you think. Keeping secrets from you is all they do. The village doesn't really want you here, though they say they don't mind. It's such a pity."
Tenten never thought of it that way. Would the village really do that? Even after the months they had spent together? And then there's Belri. She wasn't originally part of this village to begin with! Why would they picking on her? Questions continued to swim in a whirlpool in Tenten's mind.
The man came closer to her ear. "Why stay in the dark? I'll bring you to the light. Your answers lie there, not here."
He let her go and as soon as he did, Tenten jolted straight for her friends, screaming her at the top of her lungs. She was within 2 feet of their space before feeling a sharp pain in her leg. Her screaming died down as she slowly sank to the floor. The forest became a blur of green and the sky was no longer visible. Her eyes became heavy as she fell into a deep sleep, not to be awaken for hours to come.
