xxx
Tenten stood at the distance, waving her hand frantically in the air, mocha eyes glittering under the sun. Lee stood beside her with a wide grin and strong arms akimbo. He quickly dabbed his damp face with the hem of his dark cotton shirt and twisted the cap closed of the ointment. He tossed the small container into his messenger bag and got up from his kneeling position to find the two teammates running down towards him in a fast, excited pace.
At least Lee was.
"Sora-kun! What are you doing here?" Lee asked, ruffling his hair. Sora sighed and shrugged, hoping none of them would notice the additional scratches. "Just..stuff..."
Tenten giggled, "Well, it's getting dark. Ne, I don't think your mother would like it if you weren't home by dinner."
Relief filled the ten-year-old upon realizing their obliviousness. "A-ah yeah…better get home," he mumbled sheepishly, disentangling himself from Lee's affectionate patting and running off without another word.
"Good kid," Lee commented.
Tenten let her tight smile fell off and watched the boy run in the direction of home with a wistful look on her face.
"Yeah…"
Why won't you open up, Sora…If only Neji were alive…he knew what being ostracized felt like the most…he would have made such a great uncle…to open up to
Sora's father came to mind and she clenched her jaw.
Bastard…