G r a v i t y

by SunshineGirl09

Moving from America to my home country Japan was never a bright idea. The highly unpracticed but very skillful hobby I excelled in was weaponry, so let's say I didn't fit in. That is until the crew of misfits from the circus took me in for the summer as a trainee. With this unlikely mob, I began to realize that different is good and Neji Hyuuga might not be hopelessly stoic.

10. According To You

~G r a v i t y~

NejiTen FanFic

Chapter 10: According To You

"Tenten! Hurry up!" Neji ordered.

I turned around, sighing. Neji was waiting by the trapeze, being pestered by Naruto and Lee about something that slipped my mind.

"Neji," I remarked, walking over. "You're being extra cold today. Something bothering you?"

Neji's eyes narrowed as he turned his attention away from Naruto and to me.

"It's none of your business," He hissed, angrily.

I faced the other direction and shrugged at no one in particular. It was always worth a shot.

"Yeah but if you plan on being merciless, I want no part in your training." I informed him, stubbornly crossing my arms.

"TENTEN YOU MUST-" Lee was cut off by Neji.

"You must learn some discipline." He put in.

I raised an eyebrow. Stupid Neji. I was immune to his icy remarks by now.

"Oh really?" I challenged. "Well then. If you keep talking to me like that then you're going to have an amateur at the circus because I won't learn from you!"

I smirked. Neji was such a cynical bastard.

"You're immature," Neji grumbled, storming passed me.

I stuck out my tongue at him.

"You're impossible," I counterattacked. "And a jerk!" I added loudly so he could hear as he left the dome.

Naruto and Lee were gaping.

"Care to teach me?" I questioned, turning towards them.

"Ah, sure Tenten-chan," Naruto smiled.

"I WILL DO MY BEST TO TRAIN YOU! AS HARD AS POSSIBLE!" Lee cried. "WITH POSITIVE METHODS AND ENCOURAGEMENT!"

I sighed. Why couldn't Neji be a bit more like these two.

"Thanks," I grinned. "I'll...try...hard...too." It was hard to match Lee's enthusiasm.

---

Of course we didn't do the trapeze. Neji was just the master at that. Note my sarcasm. He may be good at the trapeze but he sucked at being a teacher. Naruto-kun and Lee-kun were great. Like seriously. They were nice, encouraging, and most of all, they didn't lash out at me for making mistakes. With them, I worked on my juggling.

After I worked with them, they handed me over to Sakura and Ino, who both taught me how to do a backhand spring. It took me a million tries but I finally got it. They yelled a lot but the difference between them and Neji is they were girls and were becoming my good friends. Typically, with me, when I become good friends with someone, we scream and throw shit at each other, but will put our lives on the line to save each others asses (1).

Kiba perfected my senses. He taught me how to rely on my nose and ears, not only on my sight. Of course I had already been quite good at this, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to perfect it. Kiba instructed me correctly though. Before I was just assuming random things when relying on my ears and nose. Kiba taught me the right way...and the result was pretty sweet. I could now through my weapons at a moving target, blinded folded. Of course it was a scented target board but cut me some slack. I hit bulls eye with my eyes closed.

"Well," concluded Tsunade. "You did good today without Neji. I just wonder where the hell that bastard went."

I shrugged.

"He was pissed about something." I said.

"Something that you didn't do?" Tsunade asked skeptically.

I nodded.

"Hard to believe right?" I answered. "But yes he was pissed about something before this,"

Tsunade closed her eyes.

"I'm never going to understand that child." She mumbled, mostly to herself.

She had a point. Even I wouldn't be able to tell, in my youth. And yes, the only reason I'm saying that is because it is so fun to tease Tsunade about being old.

"Whatever," Tsunade waved her hand in dismissal. "You're free to go,"

I sighed.

"See you later then!"

Walking out, I was in deep thought. Neji...showing emotion. Normally the only emotion he showed was annoyance but this time he actually seemed angry. Almost hatred. That was the type of aura coming off of him. Of course it wasn't directed towards me because I would've been able to tell and kicked his ass...or at least attempted to. There was something else that pissed him off though. Something other than me, which I found hard to believe because I was the only person he actually yelled at. Oh. But except his father who- Could it have been his father?

I rounded the corner onto the next street. Darkness was now falling over the sky.

No. That was really only a one time thing. I would be mad over that probably, but not hate my parents for it. So what could it have been then that made Neji so mad? He wasn't really taking it out on me because he always shouts at me but there was seriously something wrong with him today. But what could it have been...?

"GOD DAMMIT!" I heard a voice cry from behind me.

"What the hell?" I whipped my heard around.

Heh. The devil himself. How did I miss it?

"Oi Neji!" I called, strolling over the the fuming Hyuuga who had just kicked a park bench. "Why are you so mad?"

Neji turned towards me, spewing fire while he was at it.

"I told you!" He hissed. "It's n-"

"None of my business," I barged in. "Yadiyadaya..."

Neji was literally giving off an even more angry aura.

I rolled my eyes.

"I'm just surprised you're not concealing your emotions," I informed him, taking a seat by the bench.

Neji kept standing, he seemed calmer, but kept his intense stare. Cough cough. Hyuuga Stare (c)

"What?" I asked, tauntingly. "Are you going to keep staring at me like I'm poisonous or are you going to tell me why you're so pissed?"

Neji seemed taken aback slightly.

"It's none-"

"Do you really think that if you keep saying that I'm going to stop asking?"

"Stubborn," Neji muttered.

I smirked.

"Exactly. So spill,"

"Why should I?" Neji demanded. "You're nothing but-"

"An amateur," I finished. "Yeah I know that. You make it clear everyday that I train with you."

Neji didn't answer.

"Gonna say something?" I questioned, leaning back on the bench.

"Hn,"

"You know that's not a real answer," I told him. "I'm starting to question whether your human o-"

"Shut up," Neji sighed, taking a seat next to me.

Geez. You could be a little less of bastard.

"Hmph." I laughed. "I don't know why I bother with such a jerk,"

"Hn,"

"So are you gonna waste my time or tell me?" I asked. "I'm not staying out here all night, that's for sure."

"Why the hell are you so persistent?" Neji asked, obviously annoyed.

I shrugged.

"Curiosity...and did give me some old saying on 'Curiosity killed the cat because you know I won't give a shit." I said.

"Hn. It did," Neji replied.

"You could say so," I answered. "But it also made the cat more knowledgeable."

Neji gave me a strange look such as, "How the hell did you come up with that?" kind of a look.

No response though.

"Alright Hyuuga," I reasoned. "Tell me what the hell it is or so help me God I'll-"

"I got into a fight," Neji admitted.

Whoa. Neji. Alright here we go. It was time for me to weasel it out of him.

"With who?" I nagged.

"None of your-"

"Seriously Neji?"

"My uncle," Neji retorted, his face showing extreme discomfort as it scrunched together.

Hey. A new expression from Hyuuga Neji. Progression.

"About what?" I pried.

"I'm not going to tell you," Neji informed me. "No matter what,"

I pouted.

"Well that's no fun." I added. "But as long as it was verbal-"

"It wasn't verbal," Neji cut me off. "Not at all,"

"Seriously?" I cried. "A fist fight with your father?"

Neji nodded.

"I used to have them all the time when I was twelve. With him." Neji looked up at the sky.

"You were so angry you couldn't work today," I murmured, staring ahead to nowhere in particular.

"No," Neji corrected. "I was kicked in the stomach. So I didn't feel like-"

"What?" I demanded. "Really?"

Why was I concerned about this?

Without further notice I lifted up his shirt and got a peak at the nasty bruise that covered the left half his stomach. Holy shit. It was ugly.

Neji slapped my hand away.

"Stop it," he hissed. "Just go aw-"

"Neji!" I exclaimed. "That should be treated or something! Your uncle did this to you?"

Neji raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. It doesn't really mat-"

"Come on!" I grabbed his arm.

Okay. There was something officially wrong with me. I really wanted to kick Hiashi's abusive ass right now. It was also wrong because part of me on the inside was happy Neji was disciplined but most of me was just pissed that anyone could do that to their nephew.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Neji growled. "You're insane!"

"Tch. Better off insane than average."

I left Neji to ponder with that as I pulled him all the way to the Hyuuga Compound.

"You're not really-" I interrupted Neji.

"Of course I am!" I cried defiantly.

Neji wretched free of my grip.

"You have idea what the hell you're doing!" Neji scolded. "He'll-"

"Come off it Neji." I grumbled. "I'm pissed and you can't stop me now."

I couldn't really tell why I was so upset. Perhaps it was the fact that someone had struck down the cynical, conceited Hyuuga Neji. Or perhaps I just didn't like child abuse because Neji compared to his full grown uncle was considerably a child, even though he was strong.

Fiercely, I knocked against the door, repeatedly until it opened.

I was just about to say something until I saw who answered the door.

"T-Tenten-chan!" Hinata stuttered. "And Neji-nii-san,"

"Hina-chan," I greeted. "Where's your father,"

"In the living room. Why do y-you-"

I stormed passed her, Neji running after me.

"Tenten you're such and idiot. Why are you-"

"HYUUGA HIASHI!" I cried.

"Tenten?" He turned around, sitting on the couch, playing shogi with some Elder that I didn't recognize.

"WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?" I demanded.

"My pro-?"

"YEAH YOUR PROBLEM!" I continued.

"I don't know what-"

"OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'VE BEEN FIGHTING WITH NEJI SINCE HE WAS A KID HE'S GOING TO TURN INTO A COLD JERK BY THE TIME HE'S FIFTEEN! SO WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM? DON'T YOU KNOW THAT HE'S BOUND TO BE EMOTIONLESS? OR AN ICE CUBE? IT PROBABLY NEVER CROSSED YOUR MIND! BUT SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH HIM THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND YOU KICKING HIMDOES NOT IMPROVE THE SITUATION! IN FACT IT'S PLAIN CHILD ABUSE-"

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about!" Hiashi countered.

He raised his fist.

"I liked you at first, but now I think you're plain disrespectful,"

Hiashi narrowed his eyes.

"You should be punished also!"

I closed my eyes, waiting for his punch to connect with my face, but I was surprised by a sharp jerk to my arm.

"You idiot!" Neji hissed lowly under his breath. "God you're worse than an idiot!"

"Neji...?"

Neji's eyes were narrowed, and his face was in a new expression. Was it possibly...concern? No. No possible way. But his eyes were seriously straining.

"BAKA!" he cried, towards Hiashi. "You can't touch anyone outside of the family! It's against the law! What were you thinking?"

Hiashi narrowed his eyes again in my direction.

"I've never met such a disrespectful or rebellious child in my life!" Hiashi spat.

Ouch. That hurt a bit. My eyes showed it. They were watering, but still tears refused to come down my cheeks. I wouldn't allow them. Not now. Definitely not in front of Neji.

"Tenten," Hinata murmured, by the door frame. I heard it.

I bit my lip.

"WELL I'VE NEVER ME SUCH AN IRRESPONSIBLE ADULT!" I shouted. "WHO FORCES THEIR KIDS TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT AND SERVE THEM WHILE THEY GET DRUNK-" I stopped. Why the hell did I just say that? It was totally my parents.

"Tenten," Neji growled. "Get out,"

I looked up at him and was about to respond, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me out the door before Hinata or Hiashi could say anymore.

"You're more of an idiot than I thought!" Neji insulted.

I looked down, my bangs covering my eyes, my hands in fists and shaking.

"Well." I said. "According to you, I'm an idiot and I'm useless. You think I'm a fool. If that's so then...then...WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU LET ME GET PUNCHED, HUH?"

"Hn. I only saved you to save my clans reputation." Neji answered, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"THAT'S IT!" I tore off running. "NEXT TIME GET SOMEONE ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR WELL BEING HYUUGA NEJI BECAUSE I. DON'T. CARE!"

I didn't look back.

A/N Another chapter! Yay! I love being able to update often. But technically in your guys' book this is late isn't it? Well. I was just at my friends house getting rid of a virus on her computer. The main one was a .AV gen31 virus. But I was annoying because non of her .exe programs were like running! So I couldn't turn off system restore in order to get rid off it. In the end I got rid of every virus except one. It was really tricky so I told her she was screwed and let her spew for five minutes before telling her to send it in to Best Buy and some nerd there could fix it. Lolz. Anyways. Neji's kinda a jerk in this chapter and kind of not. He's like a devil and an angel. Sorta. So my loves, for all I'm worth, please review~!

(1) There always mentioning this in Naruto. "But he's a comrade and I'll put my life on the line to save him," and it just pulls at my heartstrings you know? I'm just like awwww Konoha ninja are all buddies. Cough cough. Except for stupid traitor Sasuke, but if you realize before that bad Uchiha left, he and Naruto worked really well together when it came to fights. THEY WERE ACTUALLY BUDDIES DEEP DOWN! Stupid Orochimaru...sorry! I'm ranting.