A Meaning In Life

By Natsumi Mizuki

Chapter 9: Hidden Feelings

It was now after midnight in Sunakagure. In about 6 hours, the two Konoha nin will have to come back to Konoha being accompanied by Haruka. Tenten's plans of starting a new life pretty much plummeted once she was kidnapped by the Akatsuki. In an isolated section in the Kazekage's headquarters, there was one room that Sasuke and Tenten had to spend the night in. With each other. The authoress can literally hear the SasuTen fans' hearts leap with joy. Tenten was all cuddled up in a tiny ball in her bed under the covers while the Uchiha leaned against a wall looking into the shrouded dark distance. It was quiet, for the two of them didn't speak a word once Temari had showed them their room. It was small yet quaint. Nothing fancy, just two futons((A/N: Shame for lemon people.)) and a heated table. Basically it was pretty much barren. Maybe because they hardly had any visitors...

The little ball Tenten curled herself up in slowly unwinded. Her body was yearning for sleep but her mind was restless and refused her aching body. What would happen once she stepped in Konoha again? Would everything still be normal? Would anyone acknowledge her disappearence? Would Tsunade give her punishment for trying to run away? And the weird question rang in her mind ever since she was in Suna. Why in the holy hell did Sasuke come to her rescue?!?! Her eyes shut tight trying to block her much needed to be answered questions. Simple sounds of a clock ticking become loud. Minutes seemed to be hours. No one spoke since then except the two could hear Temari's complaints and yells to get Kankurou to get to sleep. Must be hard having a little brother who wears a cat suit, wears purple paint on his face that makes him look creepy as hell and plays with puppets who many claim he plays with dolls. ... Poor poor Temari.

"Once we get back to Konoha, are you gonna try to run away again?" The Uchiha broke the silence with those words. But no response from her. He didn't like to repeat himself so then came another round desolate silence. A silent motion of hand signs fell upon his hands. The last hand sign he made before he put down them he glared at Tenten. A few seconds later she finally spoke.

"... I don't know." She spoke softly. But she didn't want to... like it was against her will. "Why I wanted to run away... I thought I had every right to. I was unappreciated. Neji only used me as a training toy ever since our academy days. I got easy missions when I really wanted a challenge. Hell, I bet even every kunoichi in that whole damn village gets better missions then I do. It just pisses me off." Her eyes widened and her voice let out a faint gasp. The words she just spoke against her will were the actual reasons why she had ran away in the first place. Her hands pushed the covers down as she sat up. Her eyes were dark that made her look like she was possessed. Her hair was messily made into a ponytail with several strands covering her face. The clothes she had bought from the old woman were slightly wrinkled. Her lifeless eyes looked up only to see another dark pair of onyx eyes glaring at her. "... So you got it out of me... you happy now?"

Now he was pissed off. Was this girl suicidal or did she lose her goddamn mind?! He clenched his fist, trembling. Tenten just stared up at him awaiting his response. He bit his lip, mind in flames.

"What the hell do you mean by that? I'm trying to help you not make the same fucking stupid decision I made."

"And why the hell do you care anyway?!?!" ... Damn. That very question. He couldn't answer it right away... he just didn't want anyone to follow his footsteps. His life was so screwed up. His brother, the Sound, the curse mark... now this. 'She's right... why do I even care? We barely even know each other...'

Not knowing what else to say he looked down at the hard floor, his mind warped around that very question. "... Never mind. Just go to sleep." He removed his place from the window and slipped into his futon and resting for the rest of the night. At least, tried to...

-The Next Morning-

The next morning was pretty much... odd. Tenten rose up and outstretched her arms thinking about last night. Her eyes lingered to the side, seeing another messily made futon next to her... Sasuke's futon. It still had his scent... she could smell it... so nice... then realizing what she was doing she blushed madly and shook her head wildly. Tenten stood up abruptly and made her way to the bathroom. There were two bathrooms, on opposite sides of the hallway. One was being occupied by Temari and Kankurou yelling at each other.

"Grr... TEMARI!!! GET YOUR LAZY FAT ASS OUTTA THE BATHROOM!!!! I GOTTA PEE!!!!!"

"SHUUUT UP!!!! USE THE OTHER ONE!!!!"

"NO, THE DAMN UCHIHA ALREADY WENT IN THERE!!!!"

"SO?! HE'S HUMAN!!!!"

"NO HE ISN'T!"

"SHUT UP BEFORE I HIT YOU WITH MY FAN!!"

"I'M NOT SCARED BY THAT PAIN IN THE ASS!!!"

"Uh... excuse me?"

"KANKUROU!!!!"

"TEMARI!!!"

"KANKUROU!!!!"

"TEMARI!!!"

"STOP FIGHTING NOW... PLEASE?!" Kankurou turned around to meet the voice and was about to yell right back, but recognized who it was under that black attire and messy bed hair. Temari opened the door also to see who it was, with her hair partly in her usual style. Two short ponytails up while the other strands laced her back.

"... Could you not yell...? And sorry about yesterday, I didn't recognize you in that disguise..." Kankurou said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I could ask you the same thing... that's why it's called a disguise... anyway, when will I make my departure to Konoha...?"

"Oh, in about an 30 minutes, so get ready soon. Haruka's ready and Sasuke... I dunno where he is. Probably training I guess." Temari replied, stepping on Kankurou's feet and locking the door quickly. The puppet boy screamed in pain and tackled the door yelling multiple swear words. Tenten chuckled softly and entered the other bathroom, getting ready. Then she went out to the kitchen and ate breakfast, then off to find Haruka and Sasuke. Once outside she immediately say Haruka leaning againest the building with onigiri in her mouth.

"Mmfh... ohewwo wenwen wan." Chewing and swallowing the rest of her little breakfast, wiping off the rice from her cheeks she stretched her arms and waved passively at her.

"Heard everything... pretty bad excuse to run away, Tenny chan." '... did she just call me tenny?'

"Uh... thanks... don't call me that please."

"Ahh... alright... Uchiha should be rearing his ugly ass right now..."

"Excuse me?" The kunoichis were met by an insulted, annoyed Uchiha, glaring daggers at Haruka.

"Heh. You heard me chicken butt head. Now, if everyone's ready.. let's go." And there she went. '... Chicken Butt Head?' Tenten stifled her giggles and sprinted right behind Haruka. Sasuke had a face that read, "WTF?!?!"... along the whole way. They were running for 4 hours until she called for a little one hour rest stop. Haruka went into a little area near a river, washing her face. Sasuke and Tenten were along, both supposedly blushing.

"Anou... I'm sorry about last night..."

"Hn. Whatever."

"... Why do you keep saying that...? It's like you're acting you don't care, but you do."

"What makes you think that?"

"You didn't answer my question last night... about why you care about me..."Not wanting to continue this any longer she turned around and began to walk away from him in search of their 'guide', Haruka. Sasuke's eyes dimmed and then closed gently. Taking huge breath and thinking carefully about this situation he went after her and embraced her from behind. The back of her head nestled comfortably on his chest, his hold growing tighter by the second. His lips touched her soft hair, inhaling her sweet scent.

"I told you... I... don't know. I just do." Tenten's face glowed a bright red and struggled helplessly in his lock. In the process she somehow slipped and fell... holy crap...


"Ahuh... right... I get it, stop pestering me with that."

"I won't stop until you complete your mission."

"I. Get. It. Urusai."

"No. Anyway, are you almost back to Konoha?"

"Halfway there... I think."

"YOU THINK?! YOU LITTLE... AGHH!!!!"

"Oi, you want me to do this or not?! It's a pain in the ass to do this anyway so maybe I will give this up..."

"NONOI'MSORRY!!!"

"... I thought so."

"... idiot."

"I'm giving up on this mis-sionnn."

"NUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY HARUKA CHAN WHYYY?!?!"

"... Shut up. We'll be leaving now, Godaime san." Closing up her scroll she slipped it in her sleeve. The kunoichi sighed helplessly and rubbed the back of her neck in frustration, yawning occasionally.

"Oi... this is gonna be difficult..." she muttered under her breath, silently making her way to the two Konohagakure nin. Her eyes widened at the amazing sight infront of her...

"... Or maybe not."