Disclaimer: to own this manga, you could wish, but owning it; it is improbable.
A/N: Questions, comments, concerns; all are accepted: THIS JUST IN! KICHO IS PLANNING TO ADD AN EXTRA CHAPTER (only if it is wanted) I SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU LEAVE YOUR IDEA'S BASED OFF OF THIS STORY IN THE REVIEW SECTION, AND I WILL PICK THE BEST SUITED IDEA. If nothing saying: EXTRA! Shows up then I guess you could already tell what went down…Carry on!
Chapter 11: Neji, Neji, Neji!
How do I always get myself caught up in this? Tenten asked herself as she stared in disbelief at the immense group of people that mixed and mingled, literally, in front of her each with something in their glasses and each with huge desperate aura's engulfing their whole bodies as they chatted about their likes and dislikes that probably got them single in the first place. I can't believe they dragged me here? Do I look that desperate? I'm not that desperate!
"I'm going to get some ice cream." She turned but was caught by Ino.
She spun her eager-less friend around and faced her with the crowd once again, placing her arm around her neck and holding her in place making her look at what could easily through off for a soup opera scene. "Ino I do not need to be there!" cried Tenten. "This is not the type of place I need to be at. I'm not like them. I'm not desperately looking for a man that bad!"
"Oh relax." Ino assured her. "These people aren't as bad as they seem. Give them a chance."
"Would you date one of them?"
"Hell no! Now get out there and mingle." She pushed her. Tenten didn't, or rather couldn't do much against it though. She just turned and watched as the rest of the people she called "friends" shrugged her way unsure on whether or not they should help her.
If only they knew what I've done. Tenten thought as she danced in and out of the crowd heading straight to the bar and refusing to stop to talk to the people that turned her way. If only they knew that I've had plenty of experience with sex, then they wouldn't be complaining about my love life. I mean, I'm perfectly happy with what I got know. I got friends, a decent job, privacy and a friend with benefits…wait-
"Hello." A charming voice cooed, making her turn. The boy that stood before her looked strangely familiar with his spiked hair and dark eyes. She would have found interest in him, if it wasn't for that lingering thought still dancing around, refusing to leave her be.
"Hi." She answered, not wanting to say much else.
"You look down. What's bugging ya'?"
You if you don't leave me alone. "Nothing really, I'm just not in a good mood."
"Well how you gonna' be here, and not be happy? This isn't the down in the dumps kind of place." He smiled, revealing a row of shinny white teeth and two small dimples on either side of his face. Tenten didn't answer him. She just looked him up and down, taking in his tall stance and tanned skin. He wore what looked like an expensive suit, black from head to toe, and a shinny Rolex watch, that he made sure to point out to anyone that he talked to. "See somethin' you like?" he questioned as his smile grew wider and his head cocked to the side.
Not really. "Actually I was wondering what you're doing here? You don't look like the kind of guy that would have to stoop to something as low as this." She motioned at the whole gathering before looking at the boy who only seemed amused by what was going on.
"Well" he began after finally sitting down beside her. "You look pretty fine yourself little lady. I guess we both don't need to be here, but um…I'm here 'cause I'm bad at finding decent people."
"So you come here thinking there will be decent people around." She mocked. Her interest finally perked, not enough to want his number, but enough to have her fully listen to him.
"Well yeah, I mean, look at this bunch. I doubt any of them would end up beein' a thief or a gold digger or anything senile like that."
"Unless they thought the same way you did."
"…Oh."
Tenten laughed, something she didn't think she could do around a play boy like him, but she did.
"So what's your name?"
"Tenten." She twirled her straw in her drink as she answered, watching his actions and making sure to not be taking in by him.
"Tenten? That's a cute name, sounds different? Where ya' from?"
"Here: My mom's Chinese and my dad's Japanese."
"Interesting. Well my name's Zaku. It's nice to meet you Tenten." He put out his hand, which she took firmly into a strong grip. "Nice grip. Didn't really expect that from a girl."
"You saying that girls aren't strong?" she teased, once again, enjoying herself way too much.
"No, no not at all. I was just a little surprised by your strength. Don't get me wrong, you look like you can take down any unwelcomed guest at any given moment- now, 'cause you did kind of give off a feeble appeal. No offence though."
"Ouch. I can't even say non-taken. That one really hurt just now." She swiveled in her chair to get a better look at the man hopping that it would at least get her attention away from a certain someone. It did, but not out of interest seeing as she's seen better dressed- namely Neji- men before, plus this guy in particular reminded her of someone, she just couldn't put her finger on it.
He smiled making the stress lines under his eyes move with his jaw line then leaned off the bar, tapping his diamond encrusted fingers against the hard glass before pushing off making sure to get himself closer to her. Tenten flinched back a little at this, but not before catching a whiff of the heavy amount of liquored he previously devoured mixed in with this horrible smell of cigarette smoke. She almost through up right then and there but held it in.
"So what do you do for a living Miss Tenten?"
She eyed him down before turning back in her chair, tapping the counter and asking for another drink before she faced him again. "I rather not talk about it."
"Not payin' well?"
"No. My pay's just fine. It's just that that's not what I saw myself doing when I was in high school and college. I mean I like it and all, but it's not my dream job."
"…So you bored of it?"
"Yeah."
"Well what did you want to be?"
"An author. I wanted my name to be heard from all over the world from Japan to the US to England even."
"Well what stopped you?"
"I hated publicity. I still do. I mean it's gotten so bad that I don't even tell people about my personal life."
"Hm." He pressed his lips in a fine line before sitting down next to her, legs open her way, back facing all others and eyes looking eager as they danced up her body stopping occasionally at her breasts and poorly hidden- thanks to Ino and Sakura- thighs. "So I guess I'm just an acceptation then."
Tenten looked up then back down at her drink tiredly. "I…guess." She cooed. Her heart nearly stopped when she heard his words. She hadn't even realized what she was doing until he told her, and now that she knew, she was defiantly unwilling to go back that alley. "So what about you." he quickly changed subjects. "What do you do for a living? Must be something big considering the finery you constantly keep showing off."
"Is it that noticeable." He laughed.
"You're practically blinding me over here."
"Well, I'm a Realtor."
"What and you get that much money?"
"Yes I am a successful one. Thank god for that though."
"That's amazing."
"Aw you flatter me. I'm not that first-rate to deserve those words from you."
"Well of course you aren't. I'm just being nice."
"Ouch!"
"Payback for the weak thing." She teased again. Zaku simply laughed a deep, trembling laugh that made her tingle with guilt as she watched him, his spiky hair forming in front of her into a different do, a longer one, a much longer one of slightly darker color and a much silkier texture. She blinked before rubbing her eyes then pushing her drink away from her before facing his now smiling figure. His skin seemed paler, his eyes, which were of a rich dark brown, turned a pale, lavender like color as the pupils disappeared. Stern eyes instead of lazy ones stared at her now and as he talked, though she couldn't really hear what he was saying, his voice lowered at least two octaves catching her off guard completely as the picture of Neji formed in front of her out of a completely different person.
"I really enjoy talking to you, Tenten." Zaku began but with Neji's voice, face and build. "I think we should talk more. If you don't mind-"
What?
"I would like to take you out. Anywhere you wanna' go I'll take you…as a date of course."
"What?" She croaked, hardly believing what she was hearing.
"I want to go on a date with you, Tenten." Zaku/Neji repeated. "I mean, if you want to go shopping I could take you around the mall too. I'll buy you anything you want and-ˮ
Tenten stared, not hearing him as he babbled on and on about things she could care less about as his figure came back up, not Neji's but his. She blinked, looking confused with every one as the picture faded in and out from Neji to Zaku to Neji again. Then she finally turned and grabbed her things, ignoring Zaku's rushed and confused apologies as she rushed out of the place, tearing through Her friends worried arms and heading straight for the nearest exit with only one thought, one person in mind now and guilt tainting her whole body with agony and despair and treason.
"Tenten!" she heard Temari scream. At the sound of her name she stopped and turned around. Her face was hard as rock as she stare at the blonde rushing her way. Dark eyes resembled glass with every passing moment. "Tenten, what's wrong? Why the rush? Did that guy at the bar say something to hurt you?"
She shook her head, answering ever question that was bombarded at her. She didn't say anything till her other three friends caught up each one breathing slightly faster than normal. "Are you sure you're okay?" Temari asked with concern.
"Yeah. It's just that I…I don't know. I just felt like leaving."
"Was it that guy's fault?" Hinata asked.
Tenten stared at her seeing Neji's face instead of the girls then quickly snapped out of it and looked at the other faces around her only to see him again.-(1)-
"No. he didn't do anything I just…I just needed to get out of there."
"Well where were you going?" it was Sakura's turn to ask questions, taking on as the mother-like-figure she was when in situations like this.
"I…don't…know?"
"Tenten what is wrong with you?" Ino breathed. "You've been out of it since this morning. You even sounded pretty bad when I called you to take you out to begin with! What's going on? You can tell us, we're your friends remember."
She eyed them down. Neji's face never once left her sight so she looked away, finding the ground suddenly more interesting than their faces. "I just want to go home. I think if I can get some rest I'll be better." She looked up; ignoring the many worried Neji's that stared her down then smiled to reassure them that things were fine when they really weren't.
"Okay." Temari spoke up with crossed arms not yet buying it, but falling slightly for it nonetheless. "My car is on the other side of the building. I'll drop you guys all off."
"Thank you." Hinata sighed, remembering that embarrassing moment when she crossed the street with her friends receiving hordes of honks and howls that she was not too proud of.
Tenten laughed beside her. Neji's face was finally gone and she felt a little less anxious now as she walked on hand in hand with Hinata and Temari, and Ino and Temari. Still, though she wanted to forget everything, though she wanted his name to be hidden or thrown off somewhere far from her head she still couldn't get him out of her mind.
"Oh! A sale! Let's go check it out!" Ino screamed dragging the group into the store, but not before Tenten could catch a glimpse of the sign on the front window that danced above the fully equipped manikins that read: Restocked on Destiny's finest! With Neji's taunting smirk to top it all off.
She found herself staring at it, imagining that it was smiling at her sweetly, wanting to talk, but not yet having the ability to do so.
Oh god no. why is he always in my head?
10pm That Night:
Tenten waved by to her friends as they drove off leaving her alone on her front porch. Her smile faded the farther they got and her hand dropped towards her bag with every passing moment. She rushed inside, closing the door behind her. She dumped the contents of her bag on the nearest couch, grabbed her phone and dialed the number that belonged to the name that has been stuck in her head all day.
"Neji, hey!...Listen…um, can we, um, meet somewhere…tonight?...The hotel?...Okay. I'll see you there.
Neji's POV:
I rushed through the doors of the hotel I wasn't supposed to be seeing often then looked around feeling my eyes pop out of their sockets as they searched desperately for that one girl that never failed to set my heart on max.
"Neji." A melodic voice came. I didn't even have to turn to know who it was. I felt my shoulders relax before I smiled to myself.
"Tenten." I turned watching her as she came at me slowly, shyly for once. "Have I kept you waiting?"
She smiled a weak smile before tucking her head under my arms, burying her face in my side. "You have something to talk to me about?" I questioned. She just looked up. Her eyes gave off this alarmed look before they fell into a more comfortable one.
"Yeah."
Sorry for the late update (time wise) I was tired. I had a lot of testing. So yeah...
-(1)-* hint hint*, that is till his face showed up on all of the others faces as well…*sigh* only time will tell.