Possibly Perfect

NejiXTenten. It was the wrong place, the wrong time, the wrong reasons… and the right pair.

I don't own Naruto

Chapter Ten: Confirmed Affection, Broken Connection

"Would you like to join us for dinner?"

Tenten's disbelief that Neji invited Ino for dinner was manifested by a quick elbow to his side. He just looked at her and gave a mild shrug. She knew that it was polite but it was just too annoying. They were supposed to have dinner together- the two of them. The idea of having a stripper with them was unbearable.

"Neji, Ino-san couldn't be dressed like that for nothing! I mean I'm sure she's on a date- just like us, and they would want some time on their own too!"

"Oh that's alright, I'll stay with the two of you for a while." Ino smiled.

Her shoulders sagged. Just how dense could people be?

"I'll take them to their table, go tell Chouji that I need the documents now." She continued, winking at the waiter who was ushering them. "And please bring us some wine."

The waiter slightly lowered his head before leaving.

"So fast?" Neji asked, throwing a glance at Ino.

"Don't underestimate me, weren't you complaining about my professional fee?"

"Shikamaru suggested haggling."

"Did you know that I'm leaving for Europe with Chouji?" She said, switching topics. "I think I found my perfect match."

"The earrings are lovely." Neji commented.

"Thank you! Diamonds look lovely on me, I know!" She giggled.

"What a flirt." Tenten murmured.

"I heard that!" She gnarled at Tenten, although her face maintained that practiced smile. "Since I finished the job a week earlier, I think I deserve a bonus." She said, turning to Neji, unnecessarily fixing the lapel of his suit. "Ne, Neji-kun?"

Tenten shook her head, rolling her eyes. She thought of going to the bathroom to save herself from further sleazy antics but who knew what they would do without her around.

"Is a check alright?"

"Of course."

He started writing down on a check. Tenten's eyebrows furrowed. She felt totally left out. Just what the heck are they talking about? It couldn't be business related because, well, Ino just didn't look like someone business-related. Ino went through the check real quick before slipping it in her purse.

"You can take the papers tonight." She said as she turned to look at Tenten. "All that's missing are your signatures."

"Signatures?"

"Of course! After you and Neji sign it, it's over, a done deal."

"Done deal?" She said, almost a whisper. "Could it be…"

"Well, she seems clueless." Ino said, looking at Neji. "So this means…?"

"She's not supposed to know about it."

"I'm not supposed to know about what?" Tenten asked, tugging Neji's arm to no avail.

"She'll be shocked! What can I say? You sure know how to bring the element of surprise!"

"Shock… surprise…" She murmured.

They must be talking about the divorce- so much for all that preparation. They didn't have to be so secretive though. She knew that it was coming. She just hated it that Neji had to be so sneaky about it. Was he thinking that she wouldn't agree to it and that he had to ready the papers in advance? She knew that he could be vain, selfish, and arrogant, could even be aggressively stupid at times but was he actually thinking that she would want to stay married with him?

She thought he had no problem with it.

"I didn't want to give away anything until it's all finished."

"Give away what?" Tenten insisted, her annoyance was reflected in her voice.

"Tenten, I know you want this too. I mean no matter how domesticated you look, I'm sure you don't want to be stuck in that big house."

"Stuck in that big house?" She repeated Ino's last few words.

Ino nodded.

True enough, if we get married then I'll be stuck in that big house. It wasn't such an atrocious idea as Ino seemed to imply. But really- he's throwing me out even before the exchange of 'I do's'? She swallowed to ease that strange suffocating feeling on her throat. Wait- I look domesticated? Tenten cursed beneath her breath.

"Listen you…"

"I'm going to check on what's taking Chouji too long." With that, Ino avoided Tenten's upcoming upheaval.

The blond stood up at the same time that a waiter came to serve the wine that she asked for. Ino waved at Neji and he responded with a nod.

"She just called me domesticated!" Tenten complained to Neji.

"She did?"

"You weren't listening at all! I bet your eyes are glued on her cleavage!"

"Ino's not really the voluptuous type but no, I'm not glued on her cleavage." He responded coolly.

"I want to go home." She crossed her arms.

"We haven't had dinner."

"You think I'm in the mood for dinner after all that?"

"Yes, she used the word domesticated but she didn't call you domesticated. She used it as an adjective, simply implying that even domesticated women wanted some freedom."

"Fine. You're smart. I'm not. I want to go home."

Neji gave an impatient sigh. With that, she tried to stand up only to be held down by his firm grip.

"Let's wait for the papers, at least."

"I don't want to see any of that!" Her voice trembled- and it was a couple of notches higher than her usual volume.

"Huh?" Neji's expression of surprise was mimicked by those occupying the nearby tables who were either openly or discreetly watching them.

"I'll give you your freedom. I intended to do that right from the start. But somewhere along the way, I thought…" She paused before sighing. "I'm wrong. Now I know."

"Something tells me we're not on the same page."

"Just let go."

"How about we wait for Ino to be back and I bet, you'll be thankful for her efforts."

"I don't need to thank that stripper for anything! I don't owe anyone anything as a matter of fact!"

"Stop making a scene and calm down."

"I'll never be able to achieve your level of tranquility even if I take sedatives!" She composed herself. "I'm tired Neji. Let me go or…"

"Or what?"

"Look up."

Neji looked up to catch the cool sparkling wine on his face, instantly releasing Tenten's arm. She walked out of the establishment to the tune of the crowd's murmurs and glances.

The car stopped right in front of Tenten but she was looking far ahead as if she didn't notice the vehicle. Where the hell are those cabs when you need them? She bit her lower lip.

"Get in the car."

"I'll wait for a cab. Thank you."

"Get in."

The less words from him, the more serious the matter is. She wondered if it was a better idea to have spilled wine on any other body part- save the hair. He always took hair affairs to heart. She hopped in. Neji was a force to reckon with when mad. She saw how he was with Hanabi and she didn't want to share the same experience.

"You think this is funny." He started after long minutes of silence and being stuck in traffic.

"I was pissed off."

"You're pissed off for no reason. If we just waited for Ino to…"

"Don't mention her name in front of me!" She yelled.

"What is wrong with you?"

"I'm annoyed at you and her… that flirt."

"She's really like that. She wasn't flirting at all."

"So you're always like that?"

"That sounded so wrong. But yes, she's always like that with everyone."

"And what's up with all that eye contact?"

"I can't control someone's mannerisms, can I?"

"You're staring back at her!"

"It's rude to talk to someone and not look them in the eyes."

"You're not looking me in the eyes right now."

"For crying out loud, Tenten, I'm driving."

"Sure. And I bet you liked her skimpy dress."

"You're jealous."

"I am so not!" She balled her fists tightly. "Why, I will sign those papers as soon as we get them!"

"Those papers have nothing to do with this, believe me."

"I will divorce you as soon as we get home from the wedding ceremony! Let me tell you that I don't have the slightest intention to stay with you after I get my money!"

Lighting temporarily lit up the dark skies. He was groping for words in his head. She was just mad- and jealous. She couldn't be serious with those words.

"This is getting way out of hand." The traffic light turned green. "You heard it yourself, she's going out with Akimichi Chouji."

"Go ahead! Defend her some more!"

"I need her PR skills for the business, just how difficult is it for you to understand that? And damn it, why am I even trying to explain things to you when we're…"

He paused. Her words were painful but he didn't intend to strike back. That was the right time to just stay quiet and he blew it.

"When we're not really together." She completed his sentence. "That's exactly my point."

And so I have no idea why we're screaming at each other, she thought. The car drove past the major road and they made a left, taking a short cut. They had been silent, angry at each other- probably angry for no reason. If he had one mistake, that was to bring up the fact that they were a couple of convenience. He didn't mean to. It just slipped out. But didn't she just shove it to his face that she wanted the inheritance and nothing else?

"Sorry…" He said, giving her a brief glance.

She was looking outside the window. After everything said and done, it was still a hard fact that they were not really together. Sure, they slept in the same room and they had good moments together, but eventually, they have to part ways. The truth was painful. And she hated him for bringing it up.

"Tenten…"

"Watch out!"

He stepped on the break, immediately stopping the car.

"What?"

"I think you hit something!"

"Impossible." He said as he stepped off the vehicle.

"I'm almost sure that you did."

"But there's nothing here." He said as he checked a few steps from behind the vehicle.

The door shut and before he was able to react, the car zoomed away.

Hey everyone! Guess what? I'm still alive XD

Full details of my crappy hibernation on my profile page but I know you don't want to read any of that lol.

I'm glad to be back though and I hope to update at least every week.

Thanks for reading, thanks for waiting!

Oh yea, sorry if this chapter is hm… substandard? Haha! I'm just really excited to update.