Chapter Nine
The target had to die.
I don't give a fuck if it wasn't alive, it just had to be obliterated.
I know it's irrational to take out my anger and sadness on a dummy but it's not like I could take it out on the real person.
Naruto means a lot to me, even if I am pissed off at him.
Two days ago, we broke up...he thought I was better off with Neji which is total bull shit. I don't want to be with Neji. I want to be with him but he won't listen.
I yell out a battle cry as I rip out my katana from it's sheath and attack the dummy. In seconds it's just a bunch of straw and cloth.
I stand there, my katana's blade touching the ground, huffing to catch my breath.
Tears begin to blur my vision.
The asshole!
I drop the weapon and pull out a scroll.
I take a breath to calm myself before I viciously bite my thumb. I jump up as high as I can and pull the scroll open, spinning rapidly. As the scroll unravels I run my thumb down it, summoning weapons left and right. For brief seconds, they appear to hover before they begin a descent to the earth. I grab them up almost as soon as they begin to fall and throw them.
This time, I have no target, just throwing to relieve my stress and tire myself out so I don't try to kill someone, anyone who happens by. The dummy didn't do much for me, other than anger me even more.
When I dropped back down to the earth, the scroll floated down, landing on the ground beside me. I let out a sigh and picked it up, rolling it back up.
This time, when the tears come, I cannot stop them. I fell to my knees, the scroll falling out of my hands, rolling out again, as I cry bitterly.
My sobs echo in the deserted forest area surrounding me.
Nothing ever goes right for me, nothing...
....
....
....
The first drop of rain hit my nose, and I just sat there.
And waited...
After about two more minutes, it began poring down, and I was soaked in less than a minute of just sitting there.
The cool rain felt heavenly against my heated skin.
When I knew I was in danger of catching a cold, I got up and began walking slowly back to my home.
The streets were deserted.
Everyone was sitting inside their homes, dry and warm and cozy.
I just moved mechanically, not registering my feet moving on their own accord.
My shoulders were slumped over in defeat.
When I walked past Naruto's apartment complex, I felt a sting of tears and soon they were mingling with the rain.
I wondered how my team mates would think of me if they saw me now.
My hair was a tangled mess, the perfect buns now in disarray and all over the place. My clothes clung to me like a second skin. My nose and eyes were probably red from all the crying.
...but then again...I don't care what they think anymore. Not Gai-sensei, not Lee, and especially not Neji.
All they do is judge.
Especially Neji.
Gai and Lee both think everyone is good. we're not.
Neji thinks we should strive for perfection. No one is perfect. No one. Not even him.
When I get to my apartment door, I automatically open it and kick off my shoes. Only a few seconds after I close the door, there's a knock. I stiffen and turn to it before yanking it open.
In my doorway stands a very wet Naruto.
Just as I'm about to slam the door in his face he puts his foot in the way.
"Tenten! Wait! Can I talk to you?"I glare at his foot.
"Well, I'm guessing I'll have to let you since I know you won't leave me alone." I pull open the door and turn my back on him, dropping onto the sofa, wet clothes and all.
He sighs and sits down on the sofa next to me after he closes the door. I scoot away as far as I can to have as much distance between us as possible.
"Make it quick. I'd like to take a hot shower if you don't mind."
"Look, I...I was stupid." It was quiet for a moment. "I know you wouldn't leave me for him."
"Then why are you here?" A part of me, the stupid part, hopes it's because he wants to be with me again. The other hopes he'll leave soon because I know I'm going to cry soon. Again...
"I wanted to let you know...I'm going out with Sakura. We got together yesterday." It takes everything in me not to attack him.
"...out." I murmur.
"Huh?"
"Out."
"Ten-"
"GET. OUT. NOW." I'm up on my feet. "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
He jumps up, puts his hands out in front of his, backing away slowly.
"I'm going, I'm going!" He almost trips over his feet as he makes a mad dash for the door.
I'm breathing heavily.
When the door shuts behind him, I almost collapse to my knees, but I use the hallway wall to get to my bathroom. I slowly strip my clothes off, tossing them hap hazardously onto the floor and yank out my hair ties. I then step gingerly into the tub and turn on the water, taking a long, hot and steamy bath for the first time in ages. I usually only take them to get rid of stress, otherwise it's all showers.
....but I think this day calls for one...
Don't you?
A/N: I think I'm going to only update this story twice a month...maybe three times. I wanna work on origional stuff and other fics.
