Life IV

A/N- So there's been a few reviews for this one. But I would like more, but I understand to get that I must update more often and more consistently! So that is what I will attempt to do.

I had someone ask about Tenten's illness, and I promise that I will get to that soon. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten!

Chapter Four. Moving in.

Neji led Tenten into his home. He noticed how her brown eyes roved over everything in appreciation. She must have never seen a house like this before.

"I like your neighborhood." She said. "It's so peaceful compared to the apartments I live in."

Neji found himself smile without even thinking about it. "This is suburbia." He said with a shrug of his shoulders.

Hanabi was walking through the main hall when she saw Tenten. "Oh! It's the girl from the computer store!" She screeched at Tenten.

Neji frowned. "Thanks for pointing that out Hanabi. Could you please show her to a guest suite? I have to speak with Hiashi."

Hanabi smiled and took Tenten's hand. "Of course! Follow me. My name is Hanabi as Neji said."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Tenten." Tenten said as she was led away. She sent Neji one last fleeting look.

Neji mouthed that he would be there soon. Then he left to go speak with Hiashi.

The head of the Hyuuga clan was sitting in his personal office reading something in a newspaper. He lowered it and made eye contact with Neji when he heard his nephew enter.

"Is it true?" Hiashi asked. "Is it true that you have a girl here?"

Neji held up his hands in defense. "It's not in a bad way Hiashi, she's a friend of mine. She lives all on her own and I know we have room for her here."

"How did you meet her? It seems highly unlikely that you would meet someone like this at your school." Hiashi said.

"I met her at the various places that she works. Then I went to her home, and I do not deem it a worthy place of habitation. She could be murdered in her sleep, or worse." Neji said. "For some reason I do not like the way she has to live."

Hiashi was taken aback. "You feel generous? Are you really my nephew? Because the last time I checked you basically lived in your room and hardly spoke to any of us. Now you're out traveling the streets of Konoha and offering refuge to Chinese orphans."

"How did you know she was Chinese?" Neji asked.

"The security guards saw you drive into the driveway with a Chinese girl in your car. I was immediately notified." Hiashi answered.

"That actually makes sense." Neji agreed. "So can she stay here?"

"Yes she may. But not indefinitely, I can't have the word spread that the Hyuuga's are taking in homeless people." Hiashi said. "But I am really looking forward to meeting this girl. She must be truly something if she has caused this change in you."

"May I ask one other thing Hiashi?" Neji asked.

"Speak."

"I promised her that I would make a donation to the apartment complex she lived in, and that I would offer financial assistance to the family that lived next to her. I was wondering if you could do that for me." Neji asked.

Hiashi smiled. "I would be glad to." He looked out the window momentarily. "Your father would be proud of you, you know. He always cared for those that had less than him. I think he would be happy to know that you're following in his footsteps."

Neji sighed. He had no idea how to respond to that. So all he said was, "Thank you Uncle." And Neji left.

Neji shook his head as he walked away from Hiashi's office. Had Hizashi Hyuuga really been a philanthropist?

Neji walked until he heard Tenten's Chinese accent flowing out of one of the guest rooms. He walked in and she was sitting on the bed talking with Hinata and Hanabi.

"And then I told my boss that I was seventeen, when I was really fifteen. And a year later I became a manager, but I was really only sixteen. But they didn't know that." Tenten was saying. "And that was how I got my job at the bakery. I had to quit when they stopped donating the excess food to the homeless shelter though."

"Please don't give my young cousins any ideas." Neji said from the doorway.

Tenten turned and smiled at Neji. "They were curious about my past work history." She said.

Neji was mesmerized by the light that sparkled in her eyes as she smiled.

"Tenten has worked a lot in her past." Hinata said. "I feel a little bad, because I haven't ever had a part time job."

"You don't need to." Tenten said. "I would love to return to school someday. I loved learning so much."

"I've never liked school." Hanabi said. "But I never thought about people that had to quit and didn't want to." The little Hyuuga girl frowned in thought and stroked her chin.

Hinata smiled. "It was nice to meet you Tenten. I'll see you at dinner. I can't wait until our next conversation."

Hinata then took hold of her little sister and they left Neji and Tenten alone.

"You don't have to work so much while you're here." Neji said. "In fact, you don't really have to work at all. Hiashi has even agreed to let you live here for a while. You can get the education that you want."

Tenten smiled and walked over to the window. "Neji, why are you being so kind? Do you know that all my life I've only had people take from me, only ask me to do things for them? I think you're the first that had ever offered me anything." She said. "Thank you."

"I have never met someone as selfless as you." Neji said. "You deserve all of this and much more in my mind." He gestured to the large guest room and adjoining bathroom that would be all hers now.

She pointed out of the window. "Is all that your garden?"

"Yes. Would you like to see it?" Neji asked.

Tenten couldn't hide her excitement. "Yes!" She said.

In The Garden. (This is like the most cliché thing to do by the way.)

"I never get to be around this much nature anymore." Tenten said as she strolled casually through all the plants. "I really miss being outside in the sunshine."

Neji realized yet again, another luxury that he had taken for granted.

"I usually spend all day working or volunteering, and I work until late at night." Tenten kept saying. "The saddest days for me are the ones where I get up in the morning and got to work. Then when I finally come home the sun is set. So I never even saw the sun."

"I'm fairly certain that it is illegal for someone your age to work such extensive hours." Neji said lamely.

"Didn't you hear me tell your cousins? I lie about my age." Tenten laughed. Then her attention was back on the plants. "I want to build little gardens like this all through the city."

"Why do that?" Neji asked, he was genuinely interested. "Can't the city dwellers just visit a park? Or go traveling?"

"They could. But if they're like me, then they need to work. I never have time in my schedule to go out and visit a place like that. If there were little gardens in the city, then at least the people can see a little green." Tenten said. "Speaking of which, I have a shift at the computer store tonight."

"When does it start?" Neji asked.

"Five. And it lasts until eleven thirty." Tenten said.

"That's so late." Neji said. "But it does not matter because today is Saturday."

"Correct!" Tenten said. "So can you drive me there tonight?"

Neji nodded. "But you have to promise to start going to school."

Neji watched as Tenten visibly paled. "I can't go back to school." She said. "I've been out of it for too long."

"When did you quit school?" Neji asked.

"About three years ago." Tenten said. "When I was fourteen."

"Then it's not too late. We'll start off with a tutor to get you caught up, and then we'll enter you in a high school." Neji said.

Tenten shook her head. "No, I promise, it will be a waste for me to go to school."

"I disagree. I think you can do great things, but you need a diploma first." Neji said.

Tenten looked away from him. "Let's talk about this later." She said. "Right now, I need to get over to the computer store to work my shift."

In The Car.

"What are you going to do with this money?" Neji asked. "You don't really need it if you're living with me."

"I donate it to various charities." Tenten said. "The food banks, the homeless shelter, even an orphanage."

"How did you afford to pay rent after donating all that?" Neji asked.

"I work all the time. Plus the rent is very cheap in those apartments." Tenten said.

Neji shook his head. He was about to say more when he realized that they were at the computer store. She stepped out of the car.

"Will you get me when my shift is over?" Tenten asked as she leaned in through the window.

"Yes." Neji said. "Good luck on your shift, I hope you sell a lot of computers."

Later

Tenten walked out of the store. It was cold and dark, and she was very hungry. She sighed as she drew her coat tighter around herself. It would be a long cold walk back to her apartment.

She began walking but stopped when she heard someone call her name.

Neji was waving at her from his fancy car.

Oh yeah, she was living with him now. He was housing her. He wanted her to go to school. He didn't want her to spend the rest of her life working part-time.

He was the kindest person Tenten had ever met.

A/N- I'm going to incorporate more Tenten POV. I decided on that.

Let me know what you thought about this chapter. I was inspired to write it after a visit to one of the local libraries in my area. If you were wondering.

I hope you're having a wonderful day wherever you are! And please leave me a review if you can.