Hola, readers. :) I hope you're doing well and enjoying July.
Blade Redwind: Thank you for the review and criticism. :)
Drea1284: Thanks. :)
DarkAngel2098: Oh, I'm no genius. Trust me. ;) But thank you for the compliment, regardless. Thank you for the review!
MB: Haha. Really? I didn't mean for it to be read so emotional or whatever. . . Hm. Oh, no, not the pinecones! XD YESH! I love Studio Ghibli films. In fact, the next one I'm going to watch is Princess Mononoke. I'm excited. :D Which one is your favorite? Mine is Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. :D Really? I like the majority of the voice actors. . . Hahaha. I watch the show every now and then at night. :)
Nokito-chan: Very true. :D She couldn't really help how she was acting though. In her eyes, she was at a moment of weakness and her enemy saw that. So, understand her point of view, as well. Yes, choppiness is something I had a lot of trouble with last chapter. Hopefully this chapter is smoother, transition-wise. Thanks for the amazing deducing skills as usual! :)
eternalsmiles: Yes, yes he is. :D Thanks.
ferbfletcherlover: Thanks! :D
AnimePrincessAnika: Your wish is my command. ;)
Disclaimer: If I owned this, Sasuke would be dead by now. Which, clearly, he is not. So, no.
- Impasse -
TenTen remained quiet the remainder of the night, reflecting back on what Neji had told her.
There had been a natural outrage at Lee's murder, the Ivory House shinobi all working together to locate the killer.
TenTen flicked her eyes to Neji.
It was hard for her to believe that her search for Lee's killer was over, that it was over the second she'd met Neji Hyuga.
This whole thing stinks of irony, TenTen thought to herself, staring at Neji. Both for he and I.
In the natural order of things in the shinobi world, TenTen would have already avenged Lee's death, but . . . the mission she was currently on complicated things.
Her own life was at risk if she killed Neji now. Not to mention, Ino and Shizune wouldn't be able to understand the violence, even if it was justifiable.
TenTen sighed and closed her eyes.
Lee's funeral came to mind.
It had been hard for her to even attend.
Deep-seated anger and grief burned her veins; she was inconsolable.
Lee had been the closest thing she'd ever had to a family. He was her brother, in all intents and purposes. Her brother and best friend.
Suddenly, the grief and anger seized her again, returning with intense vengeance.
TenTen stood abruptly and went to her small cave, where she would be sleeping for the night.
She retreated as far as she could from the main cavern, mentally battling the issue.
She bit her lip til it bled, anxious.
TenTen closed her eyes and leaned her head against the cool cavern wall, hoping it would calm her down some.
No such luck.
She continued to see Lee's face.
—
TenTen waited until the fire was banked in the main cavern to venture out from her sleeping place.
The long-bladed dagger she carried reflected little light when she passed by the cave opening.
It was easy enough to find where Neji was sleeping, and easier still to crouch at his side.
TenTen was possessed by unsettled retribution.
Before she could plunge her dagger into Neji's back, however, he rolled over, swiftly knocking the dagger from her hand.
With a quickness TenTen had rarely seen before, Neji jabbed his fingers into several of her joints, effectively paralyzing her from moving her arms or legs.
TenTen stared up at Neji, surprised.
"I thought you might try something tonight after you left the main cavern so early," Neji murmured, walking over to pick up the dagger he'd knocked from her hand.
"Then why did you just lie there when you knew I was coming?" TenTen retorted spitefully.
Neji looked down at her long-bladed knife.
"I guess I was expecting you to come to your senses."
"You killed my brother!" TenTen hissed, hot tears welling up in her eyes. "Your life is mine to take!"
Neji crouched beside her, considering her face.
"It is, but not like this," he ceded.
TenTen glared at him.
"And which way do you prefer it, then?" she asked sharply.
Neji pursed his lips and ran a tapered finger down the blade of her dagger.
"Like you said before. After Lady Ino and Shizune are transported to the daimyo." Neji paused, then went on, "Did you even think about that? The consequences of killing me now? Even though we're far off the beaten path for travelers, we're still being watched, you and I. Shinobi watch us, out of sight. They would know instantly if you killed me. Shinobi from the Jade House would come and murder you to avenge me. And then where would we be? Both of us dead, and with our mission left incomplete."
As an afterthought, Neji said, "They would be disgusted with us."
Some of the wrath in TenTen's head cleared.
"Besides," Neji muttered as he slowly released the paralyzation in her joints, "you owe me your life, remember? The least you can do is kill me in a befitting fashion."
TenTen narrowed her eyes at him.
"You said only hours ago to forget that we owe each other anything. Why should I keep that in mind now, knowing what I know?"
Neji silently met her gaze, pale eyes hardly visible in the dim light of the cavern.
"Because you're not heartless, as much as you try to be. Don't try to be like those who kill without feeling anything. You're not made for it."
TenTen found this somewhat offensive; she flinched.
"Are you saying I'm not worthy of my title? Of being a shinobi?"
Neji shook his head and handed the dagger back to her, handle-first.
"I'm saying that not all shinobi have cold hearts. And you're one of those who doesn't have a cold heart. Don't try and act like you do. It'll cause you more harm than other people."
TenTen stared at him, unsure of how to respond.
Neji sighed, glancing at her.
"If my being around will be a temptation for you to take vengeance, I can go on ahead to the daimyo."
TenTen was surprised by his offer.
Still, she found herself shaking her head.
"No, I can keep my emotions under control. This . . . this won't happen again."
Neji nodded, taking her word for it.
Hesitantly, she murmured, "Since I already know your name, and since you deserve to know the name of your future murderer, I suppose I should tell you mine. To be fair."
Neji started to shake his head, but TenTen stopped him.
"It's TenTen. TenTen of the Ivory House."
Neji blinked, looking at her warily.
"You just broke a rule, you know," Neji told her mildly.
TenTen snorted, shrugging her shoulders.
"That's not the first one I've broken," she responded, standing and returning to her area of the cavern.
—
Neji was restless the remainder of the night.
It wasn't the lack of sleep that bothered him, but his previous conversation with TenTen.
After wasting an hour looking up at the cavern ceiling, Neji got up, easily strapping his ninjato onto his back.
Neji silently left the cave, examining the sky as he emerged from the dark into a lighter darkness.
The moon was out; the sky clear.
The storm had run its course.
Neji wandered slowly in the dimly lit night, trying to locate a place where he could meditate.
He finally settled for the flat top of a boulder, a few feet from the cave's entrance.
Gingerly, Neji sat down and closed his eyes, breathing out evenly.
With patience, Neji emptied his thoughts, focusing entirely on the oxygen entering and leaving his lungs.
—
"What are you doing?"
Neji slowly opened his eyes, regarding TenTen.
It was misting; TenTen's hair looked faintly wet.
Her hairpins gleamed.
"Meditating," Neji responded softly. "It's not an art they teach you at the Ivory House."
TenTen shook her head, confirming Neji's statement.
"No. We aren't taught to meditate."
Neji's mouth quirked for a second, as if he was tempted to smile but thought better of it.
"Shame. How else are you able to clear your head?" he inquired.
TenTen shrugged, noncommittal.
She noted the dark half-moons under his eyes before meeting his pale irises.
"Have you been out here all night?" she asked, incredulous.
"I couldn't sleep," Neji replied.
TenTen examined him, brown eyes curious.
Neji stared back, held by her expression.
The gaze prolonged, TenTen cleared her throat, looking towards the trees.
"I was going to go get some food for the journey. The mountains won't have as many animals as these woods. And since the storm's passed, we should start traveling soon. . ."
Neji stood, stepping down from the rock.
"I'll go. You've done most of the hunting so far anyway."
TenTen opened her mouth to argue, but Neji silenced her by placing his hand over her mouth.
"Don't argue with me, please," he murmured. "I'm too tired to argue."
He withdrew his hand and retreated into the forest, his steps silent and sure.
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