I can feel it. This is going to be completed very, very soon. :)
Kygolie: Hahahaha. Sorry if it's confusing!
Kunoichi-of-the-Leaf: They're still engaged, TenTen was just ticked off.
DarkAnonymous324: :) Thank you!
IAmHyuuga: Thanks much!
vicious-fluffy-bunny-llama: Thanks a bunch.
ghostangel: I'm not really sure in terms of chapters how long it will be, but the story's reaching the climax, so it won't be too long before I finish it. :) Thanks for reviewing.
Disclaimer: Masashi Kishimoto owns the characters. The plot is from my brain.
Ambivalence.
TenTen was weighed down with guilt.
Not just guilt concerning her kiss with Neji, but with her previous treatment of Kiba.
So, TenTen finally got tired of Kiba tiptoeing around her and she permitted him to come back to her apartment.
True to their agreement, Neji did not attempt to speak or acknowledge her, making TenTen feel all the more guilty.
–
TenTen and Neji's understanding lasted no more than two weeks.
Irritable and only having arrived ten minutes before, TenTen was radioed to the infirmary.
Somehow, she was not surprised to see Neji there sporting a black eye and a cut on his cheek.
"Did you lose?" she asked bitterly.
Neji smiled. Blood ran down his chin.
"Yes, I lost."
TenTen looked around swiftly for Sakura. She was nowhere to be seen.
"If you're looking for the doctor, she's not here. She's cleaning up the other guy."
TenTen angrily set down his file.
"Why did you do it? Naruto said you started the fight!"
"He looked at me funny," Neji stated, raising his eyebrows as if this were obvious.
"Shut up!" TenTen snapped.
Neji remained silent until TenTen calmed down.
"Why are you here anyway?"
TenTen frowned, angry.
"The booking officer makes changes to inmate's files, including medical histories and fights. Ino is on lunch break and everyone else is busy. I had to come myself."
Neji smiled crookedly. More blood spilled down.
"Does it really kill you that much to see me? I would've thought you'd be relieved."
TenTen perched an eyebrow.
"Relieved? Why should I? I have more work to do now than I did before. I have to remove you from your block, place you in solitary confinement for a few days as punishment, and then put you in a new block. Your stupid fight is causing more trouble, not just for me, but for everyone!"
Neji shrugged carelessly.
TenTen wanted to hit him. To restrain herself further, she crossed her arms.
Neji caught the flash of her engagement ring, resituated back on her finger.
"I see you found your ring," he stated flatly, eyes dark.
TenTen blushed.
"It was hiding under my coffee table," she replied.
Neji's mouth moved into a half-grimace.
When he spoke again, TenTen could detect the inflection of resentment in his voice.
"I guess the dog has come in from the doghouse?"
TenTen flinched.
"Don't talk about him like that," TenTen reprimanded half-heartedly.
Neji rolled his eyes.
"It's amusing to me that you're defending him, when a couple of weeks ago you were ready to dismiss him entirely."
TenTen glared at him.
"It's your fault that it happened," she blamed.
Neji raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"My fault?" he inquired, incredulous. "You kissed me first, TenTen."
TenTen's face flooded with color, shamed.
Sakura opened the door to the infirmary and stepped in, narrowing her eyes at TenTen's reddened face.
"TenTen, you okay? You look like you might have a fever. . ."
"I'm fine," spat TenTen, picking up Neji's file again and flipping it open. "Let's just finish this so I can take Hyuga to solitary confinement."
Obediently, Sakura tugged on surgical gloves and began cleaning Neji's wounds, unable to ignore the penetrating gaze that the convict was treating TenTen to.
–
TenTen silently escorted Neji to solitary confinement, where he was assigned and placed in a different cell block.
"You can't be mad at me for something you started," Neji murmured.
"I can be as angry as I want," TenTen contradicted.
Neji sighed impatiently as she unshackled him.
"I don't regret kissing you," he said quietly. "And I doubt you regret it either."
TenTen met his gaze sharply.
"It won't happen again," she informed him, brown eyes blazing.
"We'll see," Neji replied, just as serious.
TenTen shook her head.
"I made a mistake, alright? I made a mistake and it won't happen again because it's wrong. I have a fiancé, and you're a prisoner. It just . . . it doesn't make sense."
"Just because something doesn't make sense doesn't mean it's wrong."
"It is wrong!" TenTen hissed at him. "I could lose my job for that one mistake!"
Neji didn't respond, staring at her.
He glanced around a second before indiscreetly brushing his unshackled hand along the inside of her wrist.
TenTen felt a shiver descend down her spine.
Before she lost her control, TenTen gave Neji a light shove into the small white cell and shut the door, overcome with confusion.
–
"You seem edgy. What's wrong?"
TenTen stiffened, feeling her muscles clench tighter.
She didn't know if it was guilt that was making her so tense, or the fact that Neji still managed to pervade her thoughts, regardless if she was with Kiba or not.
Kiba reached up and attempted to massage the back of her neck.
TenTen twisted away, grimacing.
"I don't feel well," she lied, moving from the couch to her bed.
Kiba frowned, following after her at a casual distance.
"Are you sick? Did you eat something bad?" he queried, watching as she lied down and buried her face in her pillow.
"No," was her muffled answer.
Kiba sighed and sat down on the edge of her mattress, rubbing her back.
"Kiba, I really just want to sleep, okay?" muttered TenTen, hating herself for being so selfish.
Kiba paused, disappointed.
"Sure. I'll see you tomorrow," he said, quietly leaving her apartment.
TenTen flopped over onto her back, rubbing her eyes.
She felt like shit.
–
Neji was released from his solitary confinement a week later.
He was placed into a new cell block for his fighting, which personally he knew he deserved.
TenTen had not made any attempts to see him since his punishment began, and Neji had a slight distinction that she wouldn't make any anytime soon.
To his surprise, she appeared in his cell block the very next day.
Neji felt himself hold his breath as she sat down across from him.
Flatly, she met Neji's eyes.
"I can't stop thinking about you," she murmured.
Neji did not relax at this enlightening. It made him even more nervous.
TenTen wasn't done.
"You're a disease. And a nuisance. And crazy," she continued. "And if I weren't completely attracted to you, I would probably kill you."
Neji cracked a small smile.
"Stop smiling," TenTen snapped. "This is not something to smile about."
Neji managed to modify his expression.
"I've never been in a situation like this before," TenTen sighed, cradling her head. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I mean, you're a prisoner awaiting trial. I'm an officer of the law. I'm engaged to another person. I must be freaking insane."
Neji swallowed and discreetly braided their fingers together.
TenTen leaned her head on her free hand, staring at him with indecipherable brown eyes.
"I don't want to give in to you," she muttered finally.
Neji looked at the hand he was holding.
He ran his thumb over her engagement ring, thoughtful.
"You must do what you feel is right," Neji quietly advised.
TenTen smiled bitterly.
"That would make perfect sense, if I knew what was right anymore."
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