A/N: Um, surprisingly, I don't have anything to say. Read on!

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies.

Chapter 10: "Kunai not Included"

The tenth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me
"Kunai not Included"
No training spaces
GIVE ME SOMETHIN'!!!
Get a job, ya bum!
Facing my family!
Five months of bills!
Yo-ho, sending Christmas cards
Oh, geez, look at this!
One light goes out, they ALL go out!!!
And finding a Christmas tree

Snap. The leather strap in Tenten's weapons holster broke in two.

"Aw, crap," she grumbled aloud. Now she had to go out and buy a new holster in addition to all the Christmas shopping she had yet to do. "Oh well, I suppose I was going to have to go out and buy some more supplies sooner or later."

She glanced over at the woefully small stash of weapons on her desk. Yep, she definitely needed some more shuriken, a few scrolls, and maybe a couple of kunai. Tossing the broken holster into the garbage with her usual remarkable accuracy, she grabbed her jacket out of the closet and made her way out of the house.

She strolled down the street dreamily, Christmas was such a wonderful time of year. Everything looked so quaint and perfect, plus two weeks off of missions to boot! She couldn't understand why Neji insisted on having such a bleak outlook on the holiday season. Lee certainly was taking the celebrating seriously, though perhaps dealing with a hangover every morning wasn't ideal. Sighing happily, Tenten came to a stop in front of the first weapons store she passed.

She'd never patronized this store before, but the display case was certainly enticing. The windows exhibited a beautiful pair of twin blades. The kunoichi's eyes sparkled as she took in their aerodynamic blades, sharp points, and fitted handles. Oh what she would give to own something like that! To the left of the swords was a small, red velvet box containing shuriken. Although they were not as ostentatious, these weapons were no less special to Tenten's knowing eyes. The shuriken were shaped like stars with five points, as opposed to the traditional four. There weren't many available with that special design. They were so beautiful, she could hardly tear herself away from the display.

But finally, she proceeded inside the store—well, more like she was pushed inside by a brisk old lady who had come out to see why some girl was gawking outside her window. Within, the store was even more breathtaking. Every inch of the wall was covered with weapons, the ancient ones right next to the novel. Tenten's eyes filled with hearts. She was in love! She longed to have them all, to feel the familiar weight of cold steal settle in the palm of her hand.

Suddenly, the woman's voice brought her back to reality. "Is there something I can help you with, miss?" Her tone was less than friendly and she followed the kunoichi's movements with wary eyes. Obviously she didn't trust the love struck girl among all these expensive weapons.

Tenten nodded her head. "I need a new leg holster, please."

The old woman went behind a counter for a moment. She returned with her arms laden with leg holsters of different sizes, colors, and fashions. Tenten had never seen such variety—who knew there were actually fashions for holsters?

Selecting a plain black holster similar to her old one, she said, "I'd like the kunai that come with it too, please."

The woman cocked her head and smirked. "I'm sorry, the kunai aren't included."

"What? But at nearly every store a pair of kunai comes with the holster!"

"This is a fine establishment, miss. We are much too prestigious to give things away for free. Shall I take back the holster?" She reached out her arm to snatch it out of Tenten's grasp.

"No, that's alright," Tenten growled. "I'll just take the holster." She'd be damned if she'd let this woman chase her out of this store. She had just as much right to shop here as everyone else—kunai, or no kunai!

The ringing of the cash register echoed throughout the store. Tenten grudgingly paid the exorbitant price for the holster—there was no backing out now. But that would be the last time she shopped there! As she left the store, she gave one last wistful look at the beautiful shuriken in their red box, just tempting her from the window.

That stupid old lady! "Kunai not included" her ass. Every shop she'd ever been in had thrown in a free pair of kunai with the purchase of a leg holster. What, was the woman's store too good for that? Tenten gave an unladylike snort.

She glanced down at her list to see what other supplies she needed. Hmm, a bunch of shuriken and some more weapons scrolls. The bitter wind numbed her skin and the weapons mistress was all too eager to escape into the warmth of another store, regardless of the fact that she'd never been to this one either.

Bells above the door jingled as she pushed it open, and a cheerful man came out to greet her. "Hello, what can I do for you today?"

Tenten smiled at him. Now if only the old woman had been this pleasant! "I need some shuriken. One of those small cases, if you have them."

The man motioned for her to stay where she was and disappeared into the depths of the shop. A moment later, he reappeared with a small wooden box piled high with shuriken. "Is this what you need?"

The brunette clapped her hands. "Perfect!" She followed the man up to the counter and prepared to pay when she remembered something. "Um, can I get the kunai that come with this?"

The man looked at her questioningly. "Kunai? If you want to by kunai we have cases of those as well."

Tenten twitched. "Er, no," she began slowly. "I mean the kunai that come with the shuriken."

"I'm sorry," the man apologized. "Kunai are not included."

He had to be kidding. Kunai don't come with the holster? Fine. But who ever heard of complementary kunai not coming with a case of shuriken? This was unbelievable! She'd been to nearly every weapons store in Konoha, and all—well, except for the last one—threw in a kunai or two with a case of shuriken. Did she say she liked this man better than that old woman? Well, she lied.

"Fine," she growled. Slapping the money down on the counter, Tenten grabbed her purchase and burst back out into the cold. She grumbled to herself all the way down the street. People practically leaped out of her way to avoid those smoldering chocolate eyes.

She finally arrived in front of yet another store. But unlike the others, this was one she actually frequented. She knew they gave complementary kunai here. Grunting in reply to the owner's familiar greeting, she made her way down one of the aisles to the scroll section.

Baskets and boxes of different sized and different types of scrolls lined the aisle walls, each with a different label. Above them all was hanging a paper sign with the words "Seal Your Own Scroll" painted on it in big black letters. Taking a deep breath, she relaxed, releasing some of the tension from her body. This was her favorite part of the store. She could take a blank scroll, seal a few weapons of her choosing inside with a few simple hand signs, and have it forever. But then she did a mental double take, had that fine print always been there? Stretching up on her tip toes and craning her neck, she read the tiny words aloud.

"Kunai not included."

She blinked. And then exploded. "What?! How can this be? I've been coming here for years—years, I tell you—and kunai have always been included! What, is there some new fad going around or something?"

The store owner came over to her to see what all the commotion was about. "Tenten, are you—"

He was interrupted as the weapons mistress grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and practically lifted him off the ground.

"What is this?! Can't I come in here and buy some damn scrolls and get my damn complementary kunai? Is that so much to ask? Do you still throw in kunai with the purchase of a leg holster or case of shuriken, or did you add fine print there too?"

The man's eyes were bulging and he tried to gasp some words out, but Tenten continued as if she hadn't heard.

"What, are you getting all buddy-buddy with your neighbors down the street? That snooty old lady and Mr. Deceivingly Pleasant, hmm? I expect it from their damn shops, but not from yours! Can't a girl get her damn promised kunai anywhere anymore?"

Her gaze shifted over the man's shoulder to see several other customers peering around the aisled dividers at her. She placed the store owner back on his feet and dusted off his shirt for appearance's sake.

"This'll be the last time I shop here," she hissed before stalking out.

For a weapons mistress, she was eliminating supply stores with incredible rapidity. But hey, who wanted to patronize a store that went back on its former policies? The shop she had just been in had always given out complementary kunai—why the sudden change? It didn't matter. She'd find a better store in the village, there had to be one!

Walking down the street, another display case caught her eye. She glanced inside at the colorful scrolls laid out behind the window. This was it, this was the one! She just knew it.

"Get your sealing scrolls here!" The sign read. "Kunai not included."

A/N: So, even though the anime doesn't really delve into Tenten's character, she struck me as a kind of Sakura-strong girl. Without the lovey-dove Sasuke syndrome, that is. I hope you enjoyed!