Alrighty, so we're concluding the Star chapters.

I'm really excited to get into the Blade section of the story.

Please enjoy and review

Chapter 9- The Star: Blue

Tenten meant to pack her things a week before she was to leave Shukuba. Instead, she put off packing until the morning she left. Some part of her didn't want to leave the theater, yet another part of her knew it was time for her to return to the village. She enjoyed dancing and the stage, but it wasn't what she wanted to do long-term.

She was slowly folding her clothes when she heard a knock at her door. "It's me," she heard Takara say in the sing-song voice that once annoyed her beyond belief, but was not comfortingly familiar. "Come in," Tenten replied.

Takara entered the room with a smile, an intricately carved chest in her arms. She set the chest on the floor at sat on Tenten's bed with a sigh. Her lack of explanation about the chest made Tenten's curiosity blaze, but she held her tongue. "I can't believe you're not packed yet," Takara scolded beginning to fold a pair of pants.

"I know," Tenten murmured. "Something in me wants to stay."

Takara sighed. "If only. We'll all be off season for many months. But when our troupe comes together again, we all hope you'll join us again."

"That means a lot to me," Tenten replied, her face flushed.

"I took the liberty of having a cart ready for you when you leave," Takara said after a few minutes of packing. "There's no need for you to carry all your things."

"I could've managed," Tenten said, "But thank you. That was very thoughtful."

"Well, I have a few things for you," Takara replied. She stood and went to pick up the chest she brought into the room earlier. She gently placed it in Tenten's lap and sat next to her.

"These are some keepsakes I've collected over the years." Opening the chest was like looking into a kaleidoscope. At first, all Tenten noticed were rolls of silk and multiple different fans. "Some of my first costumes and props," Takara explained, her voice heavy with nostalgia.

Under the tightly folded kimonos was a smaller wooden box containing four sets of chopsticks, one red, one pink, one silver and one gold. The smaller box also had two combs, one set with pearls and one gilded in the shape of flowers.

At the very bottom of the chest was a small stack of envelopes wrapped together with a yellow ribbon.

"Love letters?" Tenten asked with a soft giggle. Takara's smile slightly faded. "No. They're from Satoru. I never opened them, but I didn't have the heart to throw them away."

Tenten stared at the unopened letters, a knot forming in her throat. "I'll leave you with them, then," Takara murmured, "I'll be with the cart when you're ready."

Tenten nodded absentmindedly. She picked one of the letters randomly and began to read. She immediately recognized his handwriting and that made her smile.

~She's tall for three, like you were, my treasure, but not as delicate. Every day, she comes home from playing with cuts on her knees and her clothes covered with dirt. Instead of picking flowers, she goes frog-catching. It's adorable.

~Your little one is already crawling. She's curious, completely in love with the world. I've decided to call her Tenten, because she's always moving about, never in one place for too long.

~I know I don't usually write more than once a year, but I'm ill, my treasure. I don't know if I'll get better. I want to know that Tenten will be taken care of if anything happens to me. She has no one else and it's time for you to take responsibility for her. Having you is better than being alone.

~She wants to be a warrior. When she told me that, I said that you would be proud. I wish you could see her grow as I have. You'll wish you had someday.

Tenten dressed for her departure in good spirits. She pulled on tight leggings with pink ribbons laced along the sides and stopped mid-calf. Takara left a pink, silk qipao that Tenten pulled on. The garment was rather sultry, the hem ending at her upper thigh with a slit up the sides. A cutout the shape of a teardrop decorated the bodice of the dress. It was lined entirely with a darker, sheer pink silk. Tenten felt strangely at home wearing it.

She finished dressing after putting on platformed sandals that had flowers painted along the heal and thick pink laces. She styled her hair normally and gave herself a final nod of approval in the mirror before leaving her room at the inn one final time.

The cart Takara hired was stocked with Tenten's possessions quickly and the driver told Tenten that they would be back in Konoha by early evening.

"Well," Tenten murmured to Takara uncomfortably, "looks like it's time for me to go."

"Right," Takara sighed softly. She gave Tenten a tight embrace, that lasted longer than Tenten expected. After a moment, she felt a warm wetness on her shoulder.

The embrace ended abruptly, with Takara quickly turning away from her. "I should be going too," Takara said, her voice wavering slightly. Tenten swallowed a lump forming in her throat. "Alright," she replied, but reached out a took Takara's hand before she went too far. "This is my address in Konoha, by the way," Tenten said handing her a piece of paper. "I'd like to keep in touch."

Takara inhaled sharply. When she turned to look at Tenten, her eyes were soaked and slightly red. "Of course we'll keep in touch," she said and briefly kissed Tenten on the cheek before turning and walking toward the theater.

Tenten took a calming breath and noticed Kaito approaching her as she started to walk back to her cart.

"I'm glad I'm not too late," Kaito said with a smile. Tenten returned the grin. "I didn't know you were still here. I though you'd returned home already," she replied.

"No, I have lose-ends to tie up here before I go," he explained. "Which includes paying you."

Tenten raised a brow, having never though about payment for what she did. "You don't have to–"

"Nonsense. We all receive a percentage of the sales. Financially, we did very well this season and you performed excellently. Here." Kaito handed her a small wooden chest filled with silver coins and bank notes written for amounts that completely shocked Tenten.

"Thank you, Kaito," she stammered, "This is so generous."

"You worked very hard and I'm grateful," he replied. "I also have a gift for you."

Tenten smiled and chuckled softly. "This is really too much."

She didn't notice that he had carried a box strapped on his shoulder. The box was long and lined with velvet, and Tenten immediately knew what it was.

"Kaminari's katana," she murmured.

Kaito laughed. "Yes. I want you to have it. I know it's dull and a prop and you can't use it, but I think it belongs with you. It will make lovely decoration on your wall."

Tenten opened the box and looked at the sword, still beautifully glowing gold, with a vibrant tail on the hilt. She wondered if she'd ever see a blade so beautiful again, even if it was just a prop. "This is too nice to just collect dust on a wall," she whispered.

"Well, it is yours," Kaito said, "So, you may do as you wish with it."

Tenten looked at him with a smile. She noticed an unwavering kindness painted on his face. When he laughed, he lightly cocked his head to the left and his eyes seemed to sparkle. She looked at his eyes and they reminded her of soil after a long rain.

All at once, thoughts came flooding into her mind. His eyes are brown and he's been so nice to me. He wanted to hire me even though I didn't have any experience and his eyes are brown. He and Takara are so close and have been for so long. His eyes...

"Are you–" she started, but her voice cracked and she was so nervous to hear the answer. Distress must have clearly shone on her face, because Kaito gently touched her shoulder.

"Are you–" she tried again, but the words stopped at her throat, completely unable to escape.

Kaito stared at her with swift understanding. He sighed heavily and gently squeezed her hand.

"No," he murmured. "No, I'm not your father. I'm sorry."

Tenten exhaled sharply and nodded. The thought was nice but fleeting. She wished he was, if only to know who he was, but she quickly resigned herself to never knowing.

"I wish I was," Kaito whispered. "Anyone would be lucky to call you their daughter."

The sun was setting slowly when Tenten saw the gates of Konoha looming over her. The ride was uneventful and she was happy to be coming home with a better mindset than the one she had when she left.

As she got closer to the gates, she noticed a small cloister of people gathered under them and their faces became clearer the closer she got.

Neji, Hinata, Lee and Ino stood at the entrance and waved when they noticed her. Tenten climbed from the cart and lightly ran toward them, beaming. Lee reached her first, and crushed her with a tight hug and his usual frantic ramblings.

Ino pulled Lee off of her and pulled Tenten into an even harder embrace, despite demanding answers about her behavior, answers that Tenten gave between breaths.

"I promised Hinata that I wouldn't give you a hard time, but you have no idea how worried I was for you," Ino raged dramatically. "If it's any consolation, I have an apology gift for you," Tenten murmured sheepishly.

Ino folded her arms stubbornly. "I won't be so easily won over," she said, though she curiously eyed the cart full of chests and boxes. "What's the gift?"

"Some earrings I found that I thought you'd like. They're shaped like flowers," Tenten said.

"Oh, that is so cheesy," Ino groaned, though the excited glint in her eyes betrayed her feigned stubbornness. "I guess I'll forgive you. But only because I don't hold grudges."

"Yeah, I'll ask Sakura to confirm that," Tenten joked. Ino rolled her eyes and put out her tongue at her, but smiled all the same.

Tenten then hugged Hinata amiably and gave Neji a casual greeting. With Ino and Lee around, Tenten didn't want answer anymore probing questions than she had too and she knew that between the two of them, an interrogation about her and Neji could last weeks.

After a few minutes, Tenten quickly excused herself to see her belongings back to her apartment while also promising to meet the group later, to celebrate her homecoming. "Will you need help unloading?" Neji asked her nonchalantly.

Tenten tried not to blush with delight and replied, "Sure. You can come."

They both rode the cart to her apartment and managed to get all of her things inside in a short amount of time. Tenten sighed and plopped on her couch when they were finished and smiled up at Neji. "It's so strange to be back here," she murmured. "But I'm really glad I'm home."

Neji took a seat next to her. "What do you think you'll do now?" he asked. Tenten was silent for a moment, weighing her options, before shooting to her feet and putting her hands on her hips.

"Plans are for tomorrow, Neji," she said resolutely. "Today, I'm jut going to enjoy myself as if I have no cares in the world." Tenten giggled and playfully straddled him. "Remember, I'm not meticulous anymore. Whatever happens, will happen. I'll figure out whatever I need to later." She leaned close and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips. "All I know is that you'll be a small part of my plans."

"Small?" Neji murmured and Tenten laughed. She nearly told him that he was the only part of her life she was certain of at the moment, but it wouldn't have been entirely true. She was sure of herself and all she did and would do, which was more than she could have said months ago.

Alright, end of Star section.

Blade Section begins next; can't wait.

I mean, it's called Blade.

What could that possibly be about?

Hmm?

What lose ends need to be tied?

Hmm?

Tenten's story continues down an interesting path here, so keep reading!

Please Review.