Unexpected Hero

Notes: I really wanted to end my series when it first started at only 10 chapters, unfortunately, I had not planned for this whole episode to happen, and thus, it will keep going. I hope it's not as long as The Distant Cry of the Wolf or even Crimson Ribbons, for I got aggravated in the middle and ended horribly. As I am with this one, how horribly jagged the plot line is and its extension from the previous summary, I'll try to patch this up.

Chapter 11: Regret

Her eyes gazed out into the sunset, the pricking spots a land they called home. They've been out of Konoha for three days, when it only took a couple of hours running; they still had only a few hours ahead of them before they could finally reach home.

Those three days had been silent for them. They lived off soldier pills and Tenten had to sacrifice many, too many in Neji's opinion, weapons and even whole scrolls to keep going. She hid them carefully, knowing she would full well be back to get them. Neji would have offered to help, his Byakagun useful to locating such secretly kept intricate places, but Tenten was still angry at him.

She glanced back at him, polite in her voice and dislike in her eyes, "Shall we get going?"

He nodded, shifting on the makeshift crutch under his arms. He had been finishing the mission report in a painfully neat scrawl, his attempt at keeping his characters from shaking and slanting was ill-fated. His mind had also been watching Tenten, her posture as she gazed out, the curve of her spine, the wisps of brown out of her short hair. (He hadn't liked it short, he liked her hair tied in buns and often wanted to be the one to see them untied.)

She wasn't the fairest of all creatures, even he must admit it, but she was the best in his eyes.

He stumbled ungracefully and she caught him swiftly. His ego had quite a deflation on this mission, and he forced the pale blush out of his cheeks, Tenten didn't need any more evidence to know that he was utterly ashamed. She had screamed words of hate at him, and even his heart, so deep down, could feel the frustration and the anger she was extruding. But not now, now she was shinobi, and now she was emotionless.

Neji bitterly regretted it all.

Her slim body pressed against his, and she hefted one arm over her shoulders.

"You still can't walk."

"Hn."

Her eyes stared holes into the path as they trudged together, small shots of pain rising up in his left foot as the right trailed behind them.

"I…I'm sorry," he muttered finally and Tenten stopped, still not looking at him. They stood awkwardly for a moment, before she cleared her throat, and continued walking.

"It's not your fault," she lied, mostly to herself, her voice wavering. She was, being Tenten, trying to make him feel better. He never apologized for anything, and it startled her.

"That, was a shameful mission," he blurted out, swallowing his deflating pride. Tenten wouldn't judge him anymore; she was the only one who really knew him, she knew he was a heartless bastard. Being honest was an improvement.

"All shinobi must go through shameful missions."

"I… did not want you to."

"You already put me through a shameful retaking of the exams," she sniffed softly. He looked away, still guilty.

"But…" she murmured almost wistfully, "You've made me stronger, so that I'll survive. If I had become a Jonin back then without your interference, who knows if I'll still be alive now."

He finally broke their opposite gazes as he stared at her, mouth unable to form words. Tenten had easily forgiven him for a mistake he had forced upon her for years. She had forgiven him now when she hadn't forgiven Naruto's excuse. She wanted to hear it from his voice.

"I… don't deserve it. Your forgiveness."

Tenten chuckled now, "You don't, Neji. And you're still not back in my good graces, it's just better for both our health to relieve some tension. We were teammates, that should mean something, and I know what you were trying to do. It was a stupid, selfish thing to do, and you could have at least told me, but I know you're still that heartless bastard."

He frowned. Her words bothered him, not her insults of his foolishness or calling him a heartless bastard (he was, sort of, still one), but that we were teammates.

"We still are. Teammates."

Tenten glanced at him, an ironic smile on her lips, "No, we're not, not anymore. You have your team, they're waiting at home. I'm going alone now."

"I can get you on an ANBU team."

Tenten laughed, high and tingly and so nostalgic it hurt, "Now you're actually offering me a status higher when you've first deprived me of it?"

He frowned, her teasing words were harsh, but he deserved it, he knew that. Tenten was bitter, and he was her sole target. He wasn't going to complain, because now she was talking to him.

"Will you return to the house?" he blurted out. Tenten looked at him, before shaking her head.

"No, I'm not ANBU."

"Neither is Uchiha."

"He has the status of one, the Hokage is still wary of him and the Council disproves of putting him on a team, but he's given the same equally dangerous missions. Remember, he proctored me."

"They miss you," he muttered. I miss you.

"I… I know, but I'm not coming back."

She promptly stopped talking, and they walked the last hour in silence.

---

Neji was firstly checked into a hospital, properly healed, and forced to stay the night. Tenten just so happened to be suffering from a head injury and her wounds, although not as bad as Neji's, hadn't healed quite as well, and also was forced to stay the night.

She didn't know if she was to dread it.

Shizune had checked on her, and she had stopped outside her room, where she heard Sakura chattering. Curious, she peeked her head in.

Sakura was healing a nasty wound on his arm, fingers brushing too long and smile too bright. Neji was staring at her, somewhat admiring. Tenten could feel the old flame she had recognized as jealousy, but had pushed it away. No, there was no point to feel it.

She had somewhat heard of a relationship, a while ago, between Sakura and Neji. She had remembered it, because Sakura had come to her for permission.

---

It was a clear afternoon after a solo training practice a few months after Neji's appointment to ANBU. They had stopped training altogether, not like their Jonin years where they had decreased the hours and the sessions, Neji was too strong to train with a mere Chunnin like her. He trained with his team now.

Sweat slicked her skin and the knocking on the door was persistent. She groaned, standing to throw the door open.

She had come to her frantic and nervous, green eyes pleading and seemed to be scared. The great medical nin of inhumane strength and prowess (but only an acquaintance to her, they both knew that) was standing there looking uncomfortable. Tenten had quirked her brow and stepped to the side to silently allow the girl in, she had gone to the kitchen in a trance to make tea and Sakura busied herself by admiring the cozy Oriental apartment of her clan.

When Tenten placed the tea in front of her, Sakura blushed, looking shy.

"Tenten-san," she started, "How, how are you doing?"

"Very well," the older kunoichi responded carefully, "May I ask why you've paid a visit?"

She seemed to jump at the question, and her eyes stared into the cup.

"Neji…"

Tenten's fingers gripped tighter into her cup and her eyes furrowed, "Is he hurt?"

"No!" Sakura piped, "No, he's fine, he's really fine."

Tenten nodded, relaxing, "Okay, so what about Neji?"

"I figured since you guys were teammates, I don't know if, you would mind if…"

Tenten blinked, knowing where this was going.

"Neji-kun asked me to have lunch with him, professionally of course, since I healed a… a wound of his, and if it bugs you, the slightest bit, I definitely understand and I'll make something up… like I'll say I'm sick or something… I just wanted to see if it was-"

Tenten interrupted, albeit emotionlessly, her shinobi voice, "What Neji does with his life does not matter with me."

"But you're teammates with him, and I wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable…" she trailed off lamely.

"Why would I feel uncomfortable?" Tenten attempted to smile, "Really, Neji and I are just friends. I'm not going to stop you."

Sakura stared at her for a moment, but shook her head furiously, "I feel guilty."

Tenten smiled softly. The girl was sweet, really. Her feelings for Neji must be so obvious even Sakura saw.

"I will, however," Tenten joked casually, "Find a way to avenge him if you break his heart."

Sakura's eyes widened, shocked, but Tenten grinned and the pink-haired girl allowed herself a small smile.

"Alright, Tenten-san. I didn't mean to bother you…"

"It's okay. Now go. Neji doesn't like to wait."

---

It had shocked her when she found out that Neji was the one stopping her, and she had first tucked it away as teammate protection. But his confession later had definitely shackled some foundations inside her, and she knew that her old harbored crush was cast away again to find him.

She wasn't pure, not like Sakura. She had only befriended Sakura later was because she was jealous of the girl. And befriending her just made her feel so much more lonely and useless. Sakura was perfect, if somewhat irritatingly cheerful, and she was an alcoholic failure.

But not anymore. Logic proved that there was nothing between Neji and Sakura, that had been the past and they had many a chance to rekindle the flames. Neji had confessed to her, not Sakura, Neji had wanted her. But Neji was a bastard, she was still mad at him. She had to be.

She felt the protective desire creep up and she set her jaw and walked in, startling Sakura.

"Tenten-chan!" she chirped happily.

Tenten smiled, she couldn't be mad at Sakura, the poor girl was too sweet for her own good. She flattened the sheets next to Neji, and sat down next to him. He stiffened visibly, and the medic looked from both of them, before smiling faintly. Sakura had quickly healed the rest of the wounds, before exiting, giving them time alone.

Neji lifted his arm to examine the healing. The bandage was tied tightly and expertly, just the way Sakura always did.

"Perfect job, again?"

He shrugged, glancing at her. She was swinging her legs, her short hair making her look devastatingly male.

"I don't like her."

"You used to," Tenten replied, fake cheerfulness in her voice.

He looked down, "No."

She gave him a sharp glance, and he didn't elaborate. Tenten sighed, standing, "Well, it doesn't matter to me."

He merely looked away and the silence enveloped them.

They had wordlessly come up to an agreement – that they were no longer Neji and Tenten, and may never be known as the sane ones of former Team Gai. They were now just Hyuuga Neji, ANBU captain, and Tenten, Jonin. The childhood bond was gone, and they had agreed (if not reluctantly) that it could not be obtained again.

However, they secretly wanted a greater bond, but both sides weren't willing to sacrifice anything for it.

Notes: Rushed, short, and corny. My gods, I'm sorry. But I'm off to nerd camp for three weeks and I couldn't bear delaying another chapter for another 3+ more weeks. So I made this rushed thing. Comments would be appreciated.