Series: Sensei

Letting Go

Tenten wasn't a dumb girl unless you counted when it came to men, and even then she wasn't stupid. (Although she couldn't deny that her level of naivety was higher than most girls.) So when Kakashi Hatake questioned her on how she had come upon the name Haniko Aibu she knew she had struck pay dirt. She was also well aware that she needed to proceed with caution.

"Does it matter?"

Tenten took a step away from the stone, turned and pretended like she was about to leave, but was in actuality, waiting to see whether or not he'd give her anything to work with. While it was true she had a name, more could and would be useful.

"Do you really want to be with Gai?"

The question surprised her. Kakashi, of all people, was the type of man that minded his own business. He didn't meddle in anyone's affairs. He didn't even want to deal with his own. Still, she knew he was close to Gai, probably his best friend and could very well be worried about him.

Tenten's eyes softened.

"I do, but it's starting to look like it wasn't meant to be." Tenten looked back at the Memorial Stone wondering what she'd find when she began her search. Actually, she was wondering if she should begin a search at all. It felt like she was on the verge of invading Gai's privacy and that was something she didn't want at all. Her business had already been spread throughout Konoha. She didn't want the same to be said about Gai. Not to mention there were just certain things she wanted him to be able to tell her when he was ready.

Why had Itachi brought her here?

"So you're giving up on him?"

She didn't like his tone. In just that one question he made it seem like she had put no effort in trying to reach Gai at all.

"What business is it of yours anyway?"

Somehow, she found herself on the defense and it made her angry. Why was everyone so hard on her regarding Gai? She could remotely understand there being a problem with their age difference and that was something she could ignore, but lately it seemed like no one trusted her to know what was right for her.

Although, maybe that was it. She was only thinking about her needs and not considering what it was that Gai wanted and Gai needed. Maybe she was just being selfish.

"It's my business because I'm his friend and the last thing he needs is another woman who'll walk away when things get hard."

"I don't know if you've heard or not, but I'm not Gai's woman. We're not together."

"I've heard, but whose fault is that?"

Tenten's eyes narrowed coming to a sudden realization. She raised her fingers and called out, "Kai."

The scene dissolved and she found herself once more with Itachi Uchiha at her side. Anger bubbled forth before she could stop it. She swung her fist in order to punch the living legend in the face for crossing a line that she hadn't even been aware was in the sand, but he caught her fist easily and held on to it a second longer than was necessary before releasing her.

The look on his face was apologetic, causing Tenten to sigh and let go of her anger. She was certain though that she was forgiving him entirely too quickly. He would owe her for this and she'd make sure he paid.

"What was the point of that?"

"It was to make a point." He had certainly done that. "If you want to be with a man like Gai you've got to go big or leave it alone. Actions speak to him, not words. You must stop your association with Neji and claim him as yours because he will not claim you."

Tenten's face flushed red at the thought of making any claims on Gai's person. She was shy, terribly so and what he was proposing wasn't something that would be easy for her to do.

"But who is Haniko and why won't he just-"

Itachi smirked and shook his head.

"Is it even important if you are truly what he wants?"

It wasn't and that was the point of it all. He wanted her. He was willing to do what it took to win her affections and all she had to do was reach out to him and do the same. She...was an idiot.

:::

She stayed by the Memorial Stone and that was where he found her. The day had warmed up considerably and from the grumblings of her stomach it told her it was approaching lunch time. He sat quietly by her side waiting for her to acknowledge her presence. Tenten turned and looked at him and couldn't help but smile at how poised and how beautiful he was. She had always admired that about him, and truthfully she had been a bit jealous. She was the woman and those words should have been used to describe her.

"We're teammates." It was a statement of the obvious, so he didn't bother to reply nor did she expect him to. However, her next words would be sure to catch his attention. "And that's all we were meant to be."

Neji's eyes narrowed. "You don't mean that Tenten."

"So you presume to know what I mean instead of letting me figure it out for myself. Am I that simple to you?"

"Tenten, we care for each other."

"And I don't deny that, but what is between us was never meant to be anything other than friendship. If it were, then don't you think something would have blossomed between us long before now?"

"Life isn't simple like that Tenten."

"It is a simple as we choose to make it. Neji, I don't want to be with you. I love Gai and I will come hell or high water be with him."

Tenten chose that moment to rise to her feet and walk away. She didn't look back, and that simple gesture told Neji she really meant her words. He didn't take them well.

See you guys in December!