Title: Ah, Young Love!

Theme Set: Upsilon # 10- Romance

Rating: K+

Warning: Confusion abound!

Tenten tugged cousin's hand ruefully, but he wouldn't budge. They weren't supposed to speak but her uncle wouldn't hear of leaving her alone and unattended.

With that mandate Tenten now found herself sitting in the room with her cousin, who was too busy blushing and staring at walls and engaging in stilted conversation with Shizuka to pay much mind to her.

She turned to the silent boy before her. He had, in accordance with the pointed glances from his sister, offered her refreshments. Tenten had managed to down three cups of tea just to ease the awkward air.

If I have to ask for one more cup of tea, I might just have to strangle myself, or maybe just Naoshi, the mumbling did not go unnoticed by the silent boy sitting next to her. She managed to catch the edge of a smile and the beginnings of a plan.

I am so ridiculously happy right now. This is despite being caught in a downpour (I mean pour. I literally felt like I walked into a public shower) and a cold. My cold let up enough to not make my head hurt anymore.

Barunka, has made a wonderful query. She asked me how, if Shino's sister had died in childhood, did she grow up to be older than him now. To answer this, I have to illustrate the peculiarity that I noticed in the Japanese language. They do not distinguish between 'cousin' and biological siblings. Both are referred to as 'nii-san' or 'nee-san'. It's English that differentiates between the two. So I would like to add that Shizuka is a cousin of Shino's and not his own sibling. (Not that that is going to make him love her any less.)

Also, before you ask me, I want to clarify that Tenten has been disowned by her family. It was an attempt by her father to let his daughter live the life that she wants to. It was, in his eyes, a kindness to let her become her own person and fulfill her dream of not becoming a broodmare to some merchant or a smith. This does not mean that he is going to abandon her completely. As it is with all clans, there are bound to be branches cropping in different cities or villages. While he will not admit to it, he has asked his brother in law to keep an eye on Tenten.

I hope you won't hate him anymore so that I can stop him from hissing into my poor ears all the time.

It's funny but I've always written footnotes that are always longer than my actual 'chapter'.

Thoughts, queries, comments anyone?

Aurora