Disclaimer: No, I own nothing except the things I own right now, which includes no Naruto. Although I do have the series in my DVDs collection… -smack myself for going off-topic-
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Part Ten: Forever Goodbye
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Tenten clutched her pink kimono and folded it carefully before putting it inside her giant bag. Even when she realized she was meeting freedom after being inside the compound for days, she was not happy. Then again, not a sole positive feeling was in her heart - she was all angry, frustrated, betrayed, and sad.
Yes, sad - even when she didn't completely understand why. She needed to be happy - she ought to be happy, actually. She was finally going out there, never being bonded by those stupid Hyuuga Girls Rules or the Branch Member Rules - she will be free, and she loved freedom.
She ought to have no reason for being sad like this. Oh, she has enough reasons to suggest why she was angry, frustrated or betrayed - remember Shizuka and Reiko, and you will get what she meant. But sad? Why would she be sad, anyway?
It was not even like she loved living here in the compound, bringing heavy books with her every day, almost being punished throughout the week, and having to wear those troublesome yet colorful kimonos each time in the mansion.
If you look from the outside, maybe all the Hyuugas lived like a prestigious clan it really was, having fun almost every time, but no. Apparently, the word 'fun' never really entered Hiashi-sama's mind.
She sighed heavily and took the kunai slipped between her obi and her kimono before juggling it playfully, looking at her ruined wardrobe. She didn't realize that she has this much clothes - her parents must went overboard when hearing that she was going to marry a prodigy from one of the most prestigious clans of Konoha.
And now, she really was going to disappoint them badly.
She stabbed the kunai on an archery board in the room and resumed packing, this time taking a handful of socks and forcing them into her almost full gigantic bag.
Just as she gazed to the table, asking herself if she wanted to take the flowers' names dictionary Neji gave with her or not, the door slid open, revealing Tsuki behind it.
The Hyuuga woman stomped inside, her face red of raging, but she made no effort in saying anything to Tenten except, "I assume that you need help packing." and started to fold another handful of kimonos the weapon mistress has.
"Tsuki-sensei..." Tenten whispered. Yeah, she needed to say sorry to Tsuki, really. If she didn't get mad of Shizuka's or Reiko's evil deeds, she wouldn't get kicked out like this. Yes, kicked out might sound harsh, but it was all the truth. Why hide reality, anyway? "I'm so sorry." She said, bowing her body down, "I must have disappointed you so much. You have helped me many times, and I'm sorry that I have no time to pay you back..."
Immediately, Tsuki's face softened. "It's okay." She said at last, tying the kimonos up with their obis before forcing it into another bag of Tenten's. "I understand what Shizuka-san is like, but you did attack her and her sister, and that is what Hiashi-sama will never appreciate, Tenten-san."
"I never intended to do that-"
"Look, I heard the complete story from a servant passing by, Tenten-san, so I know exactly what happened." The sensei looked at Tenten quite sternly, "I don't think that there will be any other time, but as a teacher, I would just tell you to be more careful next time you face a situation like this." She sighed softly and gazed at the weapon mistress again, "Have you told Neji-sama about this?"
Tenten's face fell. "Oh, god. No, I haven't." She said mournfully, scolding herself. How could she forget about Neji while she was packing? He was the reason she was here from the first time, and she just forgot about him. "Should I... Should I go and tell him now? Where is he?"
"I would say no, Tenten-san." Tsuki said firmly, her face sad, "He might not say that, but I think Hiashi-sama will never let you meet Neji-sama ever again. He doesn't like girls who violate other people, and-"
"I never violated people!"
"You just did - or at least what you just did looks like violating to the clan leader's eyes." Tsuki finished her sentence, looking stern but there was a hint of uneasiness in her voice. "I'm sorry, Tenten-san. All I could assure you now is that Neji-sama is busy with his work and Hiashi-sama will allow nobody, let alone you, to meet him right now. Neji-sama works very well for the clan and Hiashi-sama would not want any distractions on him. Do I make this clear?"
"Crystal." Tenten replied sarcastically, her hands taking Shu-chan, her panda doll named after the weapon shuriken, and hugged it dearly. If Tsuki couldn't let her meet Neji, she will just have to speak to the clan leader himself, then. She silenced before slumping the doll into the bag, sighing sorrowfully.
Tsuki looked at her softly. "Do you have any one last wish, Tenten-san?" She asked gently. Even if they didn't really get along that well, Tenten was her first student ever, and even if she wouldn't admit it out loud, she knew that she liked this confident, clever and sharp weapon mistress and will miss her after she moved out of the compound. "I might not be able to change Hiashi-sama's decisions, but I could help you with anything. That is, if what you want is still under my expectations."
The weapon mistress looked at the now empty wardrobe, and then to her sensei for the week. She grinned mischievously. "Then... I would like to meet with Hinata, please." She said, "I want to meet the clan heiress. She's free, right?"
"Well, I guess so..." Tsuki said uncertainly, "Why would you want to meet Hinata-sama, anyway?"
"It's all for the best." Tenten assured confidently, "So can I?"
The Hyuuga woman tilted her head subconsciously, considering over some things for a while before at last she turned towards the weapon mistress, her eyes filled with determination. "Fine." She said sternly, "Meet me outside fifteen minutes more."
"Thanks." The weapon mistress said. She gazed at the dictionary of flowers' book once more as an idea dawned to her. She took out a paper and a pen before settling down on the table. She still has fifteen minutes more... It would be more than enough. She was no good in writing letters, and she disliked the job either, but for now, she will just give in to it. Tenten bent down and began writing...
--
Hinata was reading a book in her room before she heard a knock on her bedroom door. She slipped out of the chair and slid it open, only to meet to the eyes of the very weapon mistress of Konoha, who happened to also be one of her best friends. Her serious face immediately relaxed, and her flat lips curved into a cheerful smile.
"Tenten!" She greeted softly, "Come in!"
"I haven't seen you for days, Hinata." Tenten said slowly, entering the room. Hinata's room was very big, compared to her tiny one - this was no surprise for her. Even if Hinata was shy, she was still a clever, strong, and determined kunoichi and the clan heiress, too, earning her this gigantic room filled with all the luxury and expensive-looking things. "Where have you been?"
"Do-doing this and t-that..." The clan heiress replied, sitting down on her bed. She motioned Tenten to sit. "What brings you here?"
Tenten told her the complete story - on how she was betrayed by Shizuka and Reiko, and falsely accused by the siblings. Hinata's eyes widened and a sad smile grew on her face when she heard that the weapon mistress was kicked out of the compound, forever banned inside. That is, if her father still couldn't change his mind. There must be some misunderstanding between Hiashi and Tenten.
"So... Hinata, can I ask you for a favor?" There was a mischievous smile playing on the weapon mistress' slightly swollen lips, making Hinata wondering if Neji has kissed her or not. She tilted her head quizzically, as Tenten continued, "I would really like to meet your father, Hinata, and deliver some last words to him before leaving this compound forever..."
"Oh... I don't know about that, Tenten, but let's try." Hinata said, getting up. They went out of the room and Hinata led the weapon mistress to Hiashi's meeting room. The room was where her father was always seated during 10 AM to 3 PM these days, developing a new taijutsu style that the Hyuuga could use. The clan heiress knocked on it, and after hearing a soft "Come in." from inside, she slid the door open.
Hiashi's eyes darkened when he saw the reflection of the weapon mistress behind Hinata. He rose up, putting down his research notes on the table and motioned them to approach. "What are you doing here?" He asked Tenten, his eyes narrowing as Hinata scooted closer to her father, as a custom of what she should do each time they were in the same room. "Didn't I tell you to leave?"
"I just want to ask for one thing before leaving, if I may, Hiashi-sama." Tenten said politely, giving a small curtsy. She was sick of this whole 'be polite or else' thing, but the thought that she didn't have to do it ever again refreshed her mind, body and soul. As Hiashi nodded, she smiled politely again, "Thank you for letting me to live here. It is always a strange experience living in other places other from my own home, but still I thank you. And..." She paused for a moment before pasting a longing look on her face, "I want to meet Neji first before leaving, if I may, too."
"No." Hiashi immediately answered, "Neji is busy with his work. You will only be a distraction."
Tenten has expected the answer, but not this fast - and not with limited space to argue either. "But..." She tried, but soon found herself at loss of words.
"F-Father..." Unexpectedly, Hinata jumped to the rescue. The shy Hyuuga heiress blushed, but with all her might, she continued her words under the death glare of her father. "P-please let Tenten meet with Ne-Neji-niisan..?"
"No, Hinata. Such violent woman is not needed beside the man important to the clan." Hiashi said, "It is all decided."
"But..."
Hiashi sighed. "A no is still a no, Hinata." He said with complete and utter determination, "The elders have it decided just then - you will marry Neji, Hinata." This last sentence made Tenten and Hinata's eyes widened in surprise.
Hinata looked like she almost fainted from the pressure. Sure, she liked Neji - but not in that way! "He... He's my cousin, father!" She tried to argue, leaving the usually shy Hinata behind, "And... And I have a man I love already!"
"I know." The Hyuuga clan leader's eyes were cold as he continued his words gravely. "But you are the clan heiress, and it is your responsibility to do what the clan requires you to do. You are my daughter, you will not embarrass me. Neji is a very important man to the clan - he shows himself trustworthy. It is best for the clan to see that you marry him, Hinata. That way we could still protect the purity of the Byakugan."
"... This is stupid," Tenten murmured under her breath, but still loudly enough for Hiashi and Hinata to hear. She did it on purpose, she knew it, and that was why she felt satisfied when the two Hyuugas looked at her, one in anger, and another in surprise.
"Te-Tenten..." Hinata whispered in disbelief.
"It's okay, Hinata." Tenten said quickly, smiling innocently, "I will leave now. I have said what I want to say, and that is more than enough." She nodded slightly towards Hiashi, "Thank you, Hiashi-sama, and sorry for all the troubles. Don't worry; I don't think you'll ever see me again."
With that, she left the room quietly, nagging her heavy luggage behind her as Hiashi sighed and slumped back on his chair, as Hinata followed the weapon mistress out. They arrived at the gates of the complex, and Tenten turned towards her best friend, "Thanks for seeing me out, Hinata. Oh, and can I ask for another one thing from you?"
"What... is it?"
The weapon mistress gazed at the Hyuuga girl, smiling softly. If this girl really was going to marry Neji, then the least she could do for the cousins was just to let it happen. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but she knew herself that she was almost in love with the Hyuuga prodigy throughout the weeks.
His careful and limited attention, his somewhat protectiveness, his affections, his... arrogance towards her, and his smile reserved for her only.
She knew that if she stayed even a day longer in the compound with him, she will fall. Not literally, but… fall - for him, moreover. And now that she was banned forever from the compound, she will say that she was glad. Falling in love with him was the least thing she wanted right now - if only she didn't feel that empty, having saying no goodbye to the man.
Tenten closed her eyes to disperse all the feelings she has in her heart. He has given enough to her throughout her days here. He has given more than enough, and the least she could do was to wish him happiness with his new bride-to-be; his own cousin; the Hyuuga heiress herself.
She opened her eyes and smiled to Hinata, "If... If Neji hears about this and seeks for me..." She said slowly, mulling over words, "Please tell him not to look for me..."
Hinata's eyes widened by a tiny fraction. "Tenten... M-may I ask why..?" She asked softly.
"It's nothing." Tenten replied, smiling carefully, "He has gone through all the troubles helping me throughout the week I'm here, and this is how I pay him back, Hinata. Please tell him I'm sorry, too. He must be angry at me for causing these problems for him when he has enough problems without me on the top of the list." She laughed bitterly and looked at the Hyuuga heiress. Neji was going to marry this woman, that was what Hiashi has said, and the least she could give Neji for him was just to let him go and wish him happiness right now. "And... Hinata?"
"... Y-yes..?"
"Please tell him too that I'm wishing both of you great happiness on your new life together." The weapon mistress finished, closing her eyes to redeem those sorrowful feelings in her heart. She opened her dark orbs again, smiling at Hinata, "I really wish you a great life together."
"But-"
"Thanks, Hinata."
Without saying anything else, she left, pulling her heavy luggage behind her. Hinata's eyes narrowed sadly as she gave a painful sigh before leaving the gates of the Hyuuga compound too. After she left and the whole compound seemed to be very quiet, someone stepped out of the shadows of the trees.
"You fool." He whispered, more to himself than to anyone else, "I am never angry at you, Tenten…"
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Tenten juggled her kunai playfully with her left hand as her other hand held the remote control, switching the channels of the television in front of her. She yawned lightly as she lied on the sofa, snuggling Shu-chan close to her chest.
She was relieved that her parents didn't even get angry at her for getting kicked out from the compound - they said it was not her fault, and she was glad that at least she still has supporters.
Three days have passed after she lost touch with the Hyuugas; not Hinata, not Neji, and most certainly of all not Hiashi. Even if Neji didn't try to look for her or anything, just like she has asked Hinata, she still felt disappointed knowing that the man made no effort in finding her, just to talk or anything like that.
She juggled her kunai again and aimed it carefully on the map of Konoha hung on the wall, and threw it carelessly, making the kunai stabbed on the small dot that represented Sunagakure.
She sweat dropped - where was her usually one-hundred-percent aim when she needed it? Her aim was completely off, yet she has no motivation to go training.
The weapon mistress took out another shuriken and gazed at the map again. Maybe if she tried to do something different this time, her aim would come back. Well, she didn't know whether it will work or not, but surely it won't hurt to try. The worst thing that could ever happen was the shuriken boomeranged and flew back to her and killed herself.
She closed her eyes and threw the shuriken randomly to the map. After hearing a stabbing sound, she opened her eyes and examined her result. The throw was still around Sunagakure, this time at the spot where Suna really was.
Tenten tensed up quietly as she straightened herself. Maybe it was a sign for her to go to out of Konoha for a while - yes, maybe it really was. She happened to need a change of setting and faces for a while - maybe migrating to Suna wasn't that bad of an idea.
She could pack up her clothes and move there, just for about three months settling down there before going back to Konoha. Or maybe she could stay there forever - living in the desert sounded quite challenging, and Tenten loved challenges.
"Tenten? What are you doing?" Tenten's mother entered the room, sipping a cup of hot tea. She was wearing a Chinese outfit similar to Tenten's - although it's light green, not pinkish like Tenten's, and her hair was tied into one bun instead of two, with some strands of brown hair deliberately left out for fashion. She was very alike Tenten in appearance, only older.
She, too, like Tenten, was a weapon mistress on her own, and her husband was a blacksmith. She waved her hand in front of her only daughter's face quizzically. No matter how strange your daughter was, it was still worrying to see her staring blankly at a map stabbed by a kunai and a shuriken, really.
"Mom, I think I'm going on a vacation." Tenten suddenly said, smiling to her mom. Seeing Xinxin's - namely Tenten's mom - eyes widened, she giggled a little. "I just want a change for a while... You know, taking a break from everything that has been happening insanely." The twenty four years old weapon mistress smiled softly, "Please? It wouldn't be long. I'm just going around Konoha, not far. I'll be back in a number of... days, I think." Going for months would be fun, but she didn't want to get out of the family again. Not now, at least.
"Well, I don't know, Tenten..." Xinxin looked bothered. "You could, I guess, but are there no missions you need to finish?"
"No, there are not. I've been completely losing the outside world when caged in that... Hyuuga estate." Tenten replied, shrugging, "I just wanna take a break, I guess." She smiled again, "So can I? Dad is at home, right? He's not somewhere far away and not going somewhere unreachable for quite a while right, Mom?"
Xinxin nodded and looked at her daughter. Sure, she did look tired from all the excitement of the week. "You look thinner, child. Do they feed you well in the compound?" She asked, stroking the loose strands of Tenten's hair slowly. As she nodded, the mother sighed, "Fine, you could go..." She agreed, although reluctantly, "Just don't go too long, get back soon, okay? We've missed you and we haven't even have 'The Talk' ever since you came back, Tenten."
"I know, Mom, I'm sorry." The weapon mistress said, her face growing sad. 'The Talk' was the time when the three of their family - a small one - gathered in a room and just spoke about things that they were thinking about. The last time they ever have 'The Talk' was the night before Neji 'proposed' to her, and at that time they were just talking about marriage and stuff. Ha! Talk about coincidence! "I promise I'll come back as soon as I get my mind calm and we'll have 'The Talk' as soon as possible, too, okay? I promise!" She smiled with determination.
Xinxin laughed. If there was something that her daughter stood out more than the other girls in their big clan - including thirty six small families and over seventy girls about Tenten's age, it was her determination. Tenten was always strong-willed, no matter when she was overwhelmed by problems or not. She stood alone, trying not to get too dependent on things, and there she was, being a successful kunoichi she really was.
"How's Neji-kun, Tenten?" She asked, having heard no news about her daughter's so-called former fiancée.
Tenten's face fell as she shrugged, trying with all her might to keep herself composed. "He's okay." She said at last, not wanting to make Xinxin worried. "I think he's fine. I haven't met him since I went home." She shrugged once more and gazed at her mother, "Mom, could we not talk about him, please?" She asked, standing up and went to the phone to call Tsunade to ask for days-off.
Xinxin silenced, remembering the long-haired, white-eyed Hyuuga prodigy. He was gorgeous, that she wouldn't deny, but no matter how gorgeous he was, if he hurts her daughter, there was no way he could just leave it like this. She has only met Neji twice, once was on Tenten's surprise birthday party that the prodigy himself has unexpectedly planned, while the second was when it was his birthday party - where Tenten has unexpectedly planned, too.
There was something between her daughter and the man of Hyuuga - that she knew.
It was all too obvious for a mother to realize that her daughter was half-in-love, even when Tenten herself didn't realize it. Or she didn't want to realize it. In Tenten's case, it was the second one. Being a sensitive mother and having fairly good motherly instincts, Xinxin could see that through her daughter.
The sparkles in her dark eyes whenever she spoke about the Hyuuga prodigy, the smile whenever he did something nice to the others, the blush whenever he was around, and the soft side she only shown to him. Oh, and the lightness in his eyes whenever she was speaking to him, the cheerfulness so rarely seen, yet so skillfully hidden under his cloudy eyes whenever she was around, and the very slight blush of pink on his white cheeks whenever she did something to him. The facts that the two were in love were just obvious to her eyes, although still hidden by the label 'teammates' they held, yet the people involved were so oblivious to it almost made Xinxin laugh.
And so that was why Xinxin chose to just laugh when she saw Tenten bringing bag her clothes back to the house. Having mothers' eyes, she has seen through Tenten and has saw that her daughter felt very lost, indeed, but still chose to hide it from her parents. Her daughter was a proud, strong-willed, stand-alone kunoichi, and Xinxin trusted her. If Tenten wanted to keep a secret, let her be. It wouldn't be good to be nosy, anyway.
Xinxin, too, was grateful that her husband also didn't get angry at their only daughter. She wouldn't go as far as saying that he understood Tenten's problems, but it was safe to say that he, too, has seen through Tenten and noticed that she was lost.
If Tenten was still a teenager of seventeen or under, both of them will ask and will try to solve the problem together, but not now. Not when Tenten twenty four, an adult, whether they liked it or not, and it was best to let her deal with her own problems.
She should learn to be responsible when she was needed to, and she should learn to be happy when she should be.
It was all the rules of life.
"Tsunade-sama says yes, Mom!" Tenten called happily, jumping onto the sofa.
Xinxin smiled, "That's good news." She said softly, "Now let me help you packing. How many days do you say it's gonna be?"
--
Neji,
Thanks for everything you have given me in the past week, although I don't look like it, but I guess I could say that I receive too much and give back too little to you. Well, and sorry. I know I must have caused you a lot of troubles - remember Shikamaru? 'Girls are troublesome', so just label me as 'troublesome' and hate me for life if you want to. I wouldn't go as far as saying that you will look for me, but if you really do, please forget about it and just leave me live my own life. Thanks for that, and yeah... I'm sorry, too. Remember: don't go looking for me.
By the way, red roses look nice, don't they? I think some would be nice around the compound, Neji. The walls are too white that sometimes I freaked out for no reason. Well, don't mind me, though. It's just me and my stupid imagination…
Tenten.
N.B.: I know Hyuuga Girls will never say 'Thanks', 'Yeah', or write a corny letter like this, but since I'm not one, forgive me for this, okay:P.
The Hyuuga prodigy smoothed the crumpled peach-scented paper, on his face an unreadable expression. He looked at the book she left - it was the book he gave her; a book of flowers names' meanings. At that time, he was only going to tease her, but who knows that she will return the book to him like this? This letter was slipped inside the book, already crumpled because god-knows-why, but her quite neat handwriting was still readable.
He has heard about her incident with Shizuka and Reiko, and was enraged by the siblings' actions, although he knew he couldn't do anything. Sure, he was a branch member, but he was a branch member important to the head family. That alone made his life twice harder, remembering that Hiashi really believed and trusted him.
If he looked for Tenten now, it would meant that he was betraying herself, knowing that she didn't want him to look for her, and it would also meant that he was betraying the whole clan, since Hiashi-sama would hate him and probably punish him on looking for a girl who has, apparently, broke the clan's sacred rules. He could be hated for life, and he didn't want that to happen, now would he?
Unconsciously, Neji's hands flipped the colorful book to the page that contained the meaning of red roses.
Rose, Red: beauty, love, passion, prosperity.
The Hyuuga prodigy rose up, now utter determination reflected in his silvery eyes.
Damn her 'don't go looking for me's. Damn her sudden disappearance. Damn Hiashi-sama. Damn the clan. Damn this feeling that he couldn't seem to just let her go. Damn this nagging thing that he couldn't just leave her and live her own life. Damn his head for not wanting to forget about the problem. And most certainly of all, damn the part of him that says that he didn't love her.
He was going to look for her.
To be continued.
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End Notes
Umm, the letter is corny, I guess. That's one of the things that bothered me of this chapter, actually. The second thing is… the fact that I seem to write longer, longer and longer each time I write the chapters.
The writers' block has finally left me in peace (and guess what? After those three chapters of Bride-To-Be, it comes back right again), and I guess this is the result. Oh well, don't blame me for wanting to write long chapters, okay? I love NejiTen too much… (Grin) By the way, the next update will take very long. I remind you, very long. I haven't written one sentence of it, and that is why. Sorry about that.
I'm in a very good mood nowadays. Ah yes, Happy New Year!!
Please review, and thanks!