A/N: From Burning Flames and me to you: MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR!
Disclaimer:I own nothing but the idea for this fantabulous story! ;)
Burning Flames
Chapter 10
"In condition of an art exhibit: prt 2"
. ! ~ßµrñïñg £låmê§~!Wrêñ ߥ: ÄñïmêHö§†ê§§~!
Saturday July 22, 2006
12:10 am
Less than 25 minutes later, they were in the east side of downtown Konoha, cruising down its bustling streets. The shops were hidden by the many people out running errands. Traffic was moving mildly slow thanks to all of the activity and Neji's hummer was caught in the middle of all the hectic commotion.
As the popular Japanese singer, Aimiki Sugai, filled the air of his car with her melodic voice, Neji and Tenten sat awkwardly in the silence of the moment, unsure of what to say. Miley of course didn't mind the quiet, now used to the lonely silence that often came with being an only child.
Neji gripped the steering wheel with one hand and glanced outside at the many people that seemed too much to count in one glance. Tenten sat beside him nervously, liking the music but too self-conscious to sing along to it. She wanted to look at him, knowing his charming features would be more interesting to her than the scenery, but she didn't want him to see her do it, so she sat stiffly, looking straight ahead.
As they slowly eased out of the traffic to the art gallery, Tenten started feeling overwhelmed and anxious. Was it right for her to be doing this? Would Miley behave during the exhibition? Would she be able to behave and keep her mind out of the gutter and more onto her fallen husband of 3 years? Better yet, could she even trust Neji, they've known each other for less than a month, that wasn't long enough to trust anyone. Saito might not be ok with another man getting so close to his daughter or his wife.
She filled the rest of the car ride with scenarios of things that could go wrong and the ways she would handle them. Miley trips and falls? Emergency was already on speed dial. Neji turns out to be a perverted freak? Pepper spray has never failed before and she has about 6 bottles in her bag, along with a stun gun. In her imagination she was incredibly powerful, and superhuman.
When he spoke she was startled back into her anxiety. "We're here."
She looked out of the window. They were parked in front of a huge building and a small restaurant. They got out of the car and Tenten quickly went to hold Miley's hand before Neji could. It was overprotective of her but she couldn't help feeling uncomfortable and a little bit suspicious. After all, it's not every day a man was this friendly to a single mother.
She tried to ignore the feeling in her stomach when Neji held the door for her. It was quick, and barely showed in her demeanor, but it left her feeling queasy. They went inside the gallery and signed in, arriving just in time to hear Clair Claimante introduce the event. His intro lasted about 10 minutes before the tours began.
Clair was a fairly handsome, graying middle aged man who seemed pretty outgoing and funny. As the exhibition began even Miley was enjoying it. His stories were never boring or too long. He told you what he had to tell you and personalized it with his artistic opinions.
If there was one thing she liked more than him, Tenten realized it had to be his art work.
One of his pieces tugged at her heart and left her breathless. It was of a darkly covered figure, to broad to indicate whether man or woman, pushing against the walls of its white room while crying tears of blood. Shadows could be seen from the window, and it was sunny outside, but the room was painted in dark heavy strokes to indicate the night and the darkness in the figures wide opened eyes.
Immediately she knew, without having to wait for Clair Claimante to explain it to her, that it was sorrow in the form of art. Just like the figure, people struggle to let go and move on with their lives. Just like the painting, life never waits, regardless of readiness. It cycles and moves on without wait… life continues to pass by.
Tenten gasped, bringing her hand to calm her nervous heart. She felt a pull to the painting before, and not understanding why, she had left the groups tour to walk up to it. Staring at it now, she finally understood why. That figure was her. Maybe not literally, but in some twisted symbolic way- her eyes widened and she blanked out staring, unseeingly at the red puddle at the figures feet- it was her.
'Hey ten,'
The brunette snuggled closer to his chest, wishing they never had to get up for work.
"hmm?"
'What would you do if I died?'
Her brown orbs widened and she jolted to a sitting position to face him. Frowning she questioned him. "What are you saying? We're having a good morning so far don't ruin it by speaking crap, Saito!"
He grinned sadly at her and laid a hand on top of her bed hair. 'I'm serious. What would you do?'
"….." For a moment she said nothing. Then looking up to meet his deep endless eyes she whispered, "I would die with you."
Saito stared at her, searching for a sign of humor or trace of a smile. There was none.
'What makes you think I want that?'
Honestly, she answered him. "It's not about what you want. It's just the truth. You're my entire life now. If you die, I will too. So please let's just stop thi-"
'I want you to live! Even if I am dead, I want you to live. My ending should only be your new beginning.'
He brought his face down to hers, and closed his eyes. 'Don't ever say that. I love you Ten, and I would want you to live.' He opened his eyes and grinned, his warm breath tickling the bridge of her nose.
'Ok?'
She slowly nodded, unsure and bit uncomfortable at the topic. And he kissed her fiercely after that, right before making love to her. The entire time, she replayed the conversation in her head. Trying to convince herself that she would live on. That she could be that strong. But somewhere deep down inside a small voice told her that she couldn't and did not have that strength. With Saito's end, there could be no new beginning.
"Tenten!"
The deep voice startled her to reality and shattered her flashback. She blinked, and no longer was she a young teen in bed with her lover. Instead, she had an eye patch again, a person tugging at her dress, and a strong warm hand over her own. Brown orbs met white, delicate lavender, in shock.
"Are you alright?"
As she came back to focus she realized it was Neji holding her hand. He was talking to her, asking if she was alright. The entire tour had stopped to see what was wrong and as Miley was close to tears, they were the center of attention.
Tenten blushed when she realized this. "Yeah, I'm fine." She nodded to him, but he still looked unconvinced. So she made her voice louder and turned to the crowd. "I'm ok, just spaced out."
Clair Claimante looked at Tenten, turned back to the painting, and smiled kindly at her. That brief eye connection was enough for her to know that he understood. "Alright group! This next piece I want to show you is one of my favorites…" As he began to leave the room, the group of watchers started to follow suit, leaving behind the three.
"Mommy…" Miley whimpered still pulling on her dress.
Tenten smiled to reassure her and bent to pick her up. Miley was no longer the light baby she knew, Tenten could barely catch her breath but she managed to carry her and speak confidently.
"I'm ok, Miley. Just spaced out." The little girl sniffed and placed her head in the crook of her mother's neck. Her small hands held on to Tenten for dear life, because she was all she had in this world. After, grandmas, and god-daddies, and god-mommies, her mommy was the only true person she had to count on.
Neji tugged at her hand gently. "Let's go, we're missing the exhibit."
She nodded and followed his lead, Miley in her arms, and her mind racing.
As they moved on to the next piece of artwork, Neji didn't let go of her hand, and instead, he kept it warmly in his own, wondering what he was doing. The moment of instant worry was gone, and although she no longer seemed interested in the exhibit as much as before, she was a big girl and could easily walk on her own. She wasn't making any indication that she wanted him to let go though.
But still….He had a fiancé and she had a child to care for. If anyone saw them in that position the situation might get complicated and misunderstood. Neither of them needed the confusion, but yet he couldn't seem to control his want, his need, to be closer to her.
"Okay, we're going to take a break before continuing on. There are plenty of stores and restaurants around here to pass the time. Enjoy yourselves and we'll meet back here at 2:30 for the 3D art movie."
A couple of people laughed but Neji didn't find it amusing. Tenten moved her hand from his own to arrange Miley on her arm. He felt an instant loss to her warmth but said nothing on the subject.
"What time is it?" He met her gaze as she asked the question and checked his cell, quickly noting that Sally hadn't sent him anything.
"1:57."
She groaned and scratched at her eye patch, "What do you want to do now?"
He looked at the sleepy Miley, and then at her. "I don't think we're all cut out for the entire exhibit."
Tenten smiled at him and rubbed Miley's back. "True."
They left the building and walked over to his car. Tenten said nothing as he took Miley from her to put in the back seat. She felt too mentally drained to fight with him about trivial things, and she knew she could trust him.
He got behind the wheel just as she placed on her seat belt. They were out of the parking lot, quicker than anyone could have of noticed they were missing.
As they drove on he looked briefly at her silent form. If he were being honest with himself, he would admit that he didn't want their evening to end just yet.
"Do you want to have a late lunch on the way back? There's a great Mexican place I know of, if you want to try it." He treated her like an old pal, someone he's known and cared about since forever. "Or…you know what? I've actually got some nice steaks at my place. I can cook lunch instead?"
Tenten turned from the window to him, surprised but pleased at his offer. Her mind wanted to rest and think over everything she discovered in that memory flash from before, but she loved spending time with Neji. They had a great time together, connected on many things, and he made her feel warm and safe.
She raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Hmm… steaks, lunch…why Neji, this sounds like a date."
Before he could compose himself, she caught the light pink on his cheeks and felt her heart flutter.
"Is that a yes or a no?" He asked again.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! I love steaks!"
They both turned to the back at a grinning Miley. Tenten sweat dropped. Of course Miley would ruin the mood to the very first romantic moment she's had in a long time. That was just so typical of her daughter. And hold on….wasn't she sleepy just a minute ago?
Neji chuckled at the child's response.
Tenten sighed and leaned back. "I guess that settles it then."
2:46 pm
"This is yummy!" Miley giggled from her seat at Neji's dining table.
He looked up from his plate to smile lightly at her. "Thanks Miles."
The nickname slipped off his tongue before he could realize it but no one seemed to take notice of the change.
Tenten nodded to him. "She's right you know. How did you learn how to cook like this?"
"I was taught as a child. In my clan everyone is required to learn how to cook, clean, and take care of themselves." He smiled at her too, but with something more behind his eyes.
They stayed like that for a while, just staring at each other.
"Can I get more juice please?"
Miley shook her empty cup in the air and made them both jump.
"Uh, yeah." He got up to get her drink quickly and patter her head before going into the kitchen. Tenten watched the content look on Miley's face as the child continued to eat; she listened to the beating of her own heart and wondered if that exact moment was just too good to be true.
After eating, Tenten and Neji sat in the dark silence of his living room watching Miley sleep on the opposite couch. The shades were still pulled in so no sun came through the condo, the TV was off and they sat in the dark, silently talking. They talked about everything that didn't matter but needed to be said. Between them, there were no lies.
"Things were hard…really hard, after her father passed away. But somehow I've been fortunate throughout the entire thing." She brought her teary eyes to meet his own, "Family and friends have always been there, and they've pretty much guided me through the entire process."
The tears slipped out freely then, and she felt embarrassed at herself for crying in front of him. Out of all the people in her life he was the first person she had been completely honest to. The first one that she didn't feel the need to brush off or give the occasional 'I'm fine.'
Neji said nothing; he simply moved closer to her and held her as she sobbed quietly. Normally, when a woman cried he felt awkward and annoyed. But with Tenten he only felt sympathy, understanding and a need to comfort her. The pain in her eyes was making his heart troubled, and his only concern was to make it stop.
They held each other like that for what felt like hours, just listening to Miley's silent breathing, and their own.
"I can't believe I've been ranting so much," She sniffed and pulled away from his embrace and wiped her eyes. "I must be boring the hell out of you." She laughed weakly and looked away.
She looked uncomfortable, but he couldn't quite fathom why. She was the only woman he had talked seriously with in years. Not even Sally could connect with him as deeply as he and Tenten did.
"You don't bore me. You're a wonderful woman and I'm enjoying learning more about you." He turned her face to his. He appeared very vulnerable, and it touched her heart deeply the way he said it.
"What kind of songs from the Beatles do you like?"
She laughed. No one had asked her that in years. "The Beatles…? Well if I were to narrow top 5. Free as a bird, All You Need Is Love, A-"
His eyes suddenly glinted with interest. He leaned involuntarily closer to her. "Free as a bird? That's my favorite."
She smiled at him. "Really?"
He nodded and smirked at her. He got up and walked over to his stereo; he grabbed a CD from his many stacks from his shelf and popped it into the player. As it begun to play, he walked over to her and held out his hand. "Would you like to dance?"
She smiled at him and accepted his offer. A minute later they were dancing in place as the soft soothing lyrics of 'Free as a Bird' filled the room. He held her at the waist as she placed her hands securely around his neck. Her head lay comfortably on his shoulder and their body's mingled almost as one as they moved in tune to the song.
Miley was still soundly asleep on the couch and for once after so many years of waiting, she felt at peace. She felt safe, warm, and peaceful, like nothing could harm her with him there.
"I had a good time today," she whispered as they swayed to the final lyrics of the song.
"So did I," He smirked gently at her before pulling her close. He suddenly wished he could spend a lifetime with her instead of an evening. If only the world would really melt away and just leave only them behind.
The sound of the door opening made them both froze, and had reality tumbling down like bricks.
"Neji sweetie…I didn't think you'd be home this early."
They didn't have time to pull away; the light being turned out was harsh to both of their eyes.
"I have-" Sally froze mid step in shock. No one moved, breathed, or said anything for a while. Until Tenten realized something was wrong with the situation and pulled away from Neji.
"I-I-" She began, but didn't get the chance to finish.
"What the hell IS THIS?" Sally slammed the door and was in his face in less than a minute.
'Damn, damn, damn it!' Neji thought angrily, but he said nothing. No words could explain their situation so he let her blow up.
"Huh?"
She moved right under him. "HUH?"
"So this is how you repay me, Neji? Everything I've done for you, all the crap I've put up with in this relationship, and you betray me LIKE THIS?
"You have this, this BITCH RIGHT UNDER YOU LIKE SHE'S YOUR FIANCE. HUH?"
"Sally…" Neji warned her to stop, pissed that she was speaking about Tenten as if she wasn't even there.
"Don't Sally me!" She began to cry in anger. "DON'T FUCK WITH ME! AND DON'T USE MY NAME LIKE IT'S YOUR DAMN RIGHT! IT'S A PRIVELAGE!"
Miley was startled awake from all the noise. She sat upright and quickly began to cry after sensing the tension in the room. "Mommy…" She called out afraid at the angry blonde. Tenten quickly moved to her daughter and held her shaking form. She said nothing, not really understanding what Sally, the hospital receptionist, was doing in Neji's home, but respectable enough to keep her mouth shut and stay out of it.
"Aww how sweet? Isn't this sweet, she brought her daughter? WHAT A BEAUTIFUL FUCKING FAMILY YOU'VE GOT HERE NEJI!"
"HEY watch your language!"
Tenten at this point was frightened too. She covered Miley's ears and sat with her on the couch, suddenly very aware. They were a couple, and she and Miley shouldn't have been there.
"Don't tell me what to do. Don't you dare tell me WHAT TO DO!" She threw down her purse in anger, hot tears streaming down her face, and her words coming out so fast and loud, they were barely coherent.
"YOU LIE TO ME CONSTANTLY! YOU HIDE THINGS FROM ME, BELITLE ME AND EVEN THEN ….I loved you. I don't care about what anyone says to me about your past. I don't even care even if that stupid letter is true and you are a criminal! But this…Kami!
"Everyday I ask myself 'is this what I want to deal with for the rest of my life?', a cold husband that can barely look at me. Let alone care for me! I TRUSTED YOU! Even in doubt, I trusted you. But lately you've been leaving earlier for work, you've been extra distant with me, and ALL FOR WHAT? FOR WHAT? FOR THIS SLUT THAT GOT KNOCKED UP AT 18 WITH THIS PSYCHOTIC CHILD IN HER TRAIL?"
Something in Tenten shattered at her words and she brought a hand up to her mouth to cover her sob.
"I LOVE YOU WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING AND I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME TOO BUT APPERANTLY THIS IS THE TYPE OF WOMAN THAT INTERSEST YOU ISNT IT? Single, pathetic, weak pieces of trash like her. HUH!"
"You need to re-evaluate who you're talking to. I'm neither your puppet nor your damn dog! I'm allowed to see whom so ever I wish and I DON'T appreciate the way you're speaking to me. NOTHING HAPPENED! NOTHING HAPPENED SO SHUT UP AND TAKE TIME TO ASK INSTEAD OF JUST ASSUMING!"
His voice was calm, and even when he yelled he did so with so much ferocity that it shook nearly the entire condo. But Sally wasn't having it. "THEN EXPLAIN THIS! Explain what this woman I barely know is doing at my house, dancing with my fiancé, sitting at my couch."
Neji said nothing; there was no explaining what had come so naturally from his heart with Tenten. Even if he tried, he couldn't.
"EXACTLY!" Sally grabbed the vase sitting on the coffee table, walked up to the kitchen counter and slammed it to the surface. Pieces of glass flied in all directions as she turned around and walked towards Tenten.
"Either way this bitch is responsible and I'm going to make her pay!"
Before she could even get an inch closer to the brunette, Neji was blocking her, and he slapped her across the face. The echo of his hit was all that was left after the glass slipped from Sally's hand as she nursed her cheek.
She squinted through the blur of tears, shivering, and so, so hurt. "We're OVER!" She yelled up at him. She rose wobbly from the floor and threw her engagement ring at his head. She watched it fall to the floor and having had enough, she grabbed her purse, and ran out the condo, leaving all that mattered to her behind.
"Take us home!" Tenten shouted to Neji.
He looked back sadly at her, if only she understood. "Tenten…"
"Take us home Neji…NOW!"
As he pulled up to her driveway Tenten was unbuckling her seatbelt. She did not allow him to get Miley, she did that on her own. She walked up to her door with her daughter in tow in silence. She was angry, hurt and confused.
"Tenten…please," Neji stated quietly. He hated lowering himself this way to people. He hated to beg. But he also didn't want to lose her, the way he feared he might after all that has happened. The brunette simply unlocked her door, and after getting it opened she pushed Miley inside and turned swiftly back to Neji.
"Leave us alone!"
She turned to leave and he touched her arm but she pushed him away, and then she closed the door in his face. She slid down the door and held Miley to her in silence, taking in all that has happened in the last hour, and repeating Sally's words in her head, over and over and over again.
A/N: PLEASE Leave me with your thoughts on this chappy! :D
I luv you guys, hope to be back with an update for you soon in 2011.
Be Merry,
~Animehostess~