Abstruse 12 –

Author's Note: Two chapters in less than a week! If all goes well there may be another before the weekend. This chapter brings us back to our pairing, which was missing last chapter. I hope you enjoy! Comments/critiques much sought and appreciated as always!

Sai leaned against the railing encircling the interior garden of the Takanoha home and tried not the frown. After their brief audience with the Lord of the manor Neji had been called into a private office while he, Tenten, and Lee had been escorted to the gardens to wait. It has been half an hour at least and Sai was growing uncomfortable.

Said discomfort may have had something to do with his current companions. Lee was doing pushups, loudly exclaiming each count for all to hear. Meanwhile Tenten sat with her back against the wall, sharpening her kunai and sending Sai contemplative looks. The weapons master seemed to be looking for some unknown response or reaction from him, brown eyes glimmering with intent. The artist-nin had quickly tired of her attempts to catch his eyes and had retreated to his current position, back to the disconcerting kunoichi.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The last few days he'd felt his tension growing till it seemed ingrained in every muscle of his body. Being on a team other than his own was more difficult than he had imagined. He was comfortable with his teammates, barring recent strains they moved in sync; they knew one another's quirks and motivations. He had assumed all teams shared a similar dynamic and surely the former members of Team Gai had such an unspoken familiarity, he was simply having difficulty finding where he fit in dynamic. He concentrated on this as his source of unease, adamantly refusing to acknowledge his other concern…that he was here as a member of Root.

He shifts his weight from one foot to the other and lets his head drop to rest upon his folded arms. He turned his gaze down the hall they had used to come here, looking for signs of guards or the movement of servants; and certainly not for signs of their team leader he reminded himself. Lips turning down into a frown Sai ignored that thought, whatever was developing between he and Neji had no place in a mission…even if the memory of their kiss in the woods days before still made his heart flutter.

With a growl he pushes away from the banister and begins to pace the en gawa. He ignores the feel of Tenten's eyes boring into his back, resolute in his determination to ignore her questioning gaze. He inwardly curses himself for his behavior, secretly blaming Naruto for this new impatience. He had clearly picked up the blond's near constant sense of urgency, his inability to sit idle more than a few minutes. Yes, he assured himself. It was totally Naruto's fault he was acting so unlike himself.

Approaching footsteps quickly halted his steps. Sai turned eyes ashamedly hopeful and felt his tension ease slightly at the welcome sight. Walking steadily toward them with a small frown on his elegant face was Neji himself. He nodded at Sai and motioned him into the room with their teammates. In the span of a moment Tenten's blades were tucked away and Lee slid into a kneeling position, both eyeing their leader expectantly. Sai slides past Neji and takes a seat near the slightly perspiring taijutsu user and waits for the Hyuuga to let them in on the state of things in Kawamachi.

"I apologize for being kept away so long," he begins with a grimace. "My uncle had little to say about the current situation but many questions to ask about myself. He is however arranging for us to meet with the village council tonight. There have been few incidents on this side of the river and from what my uncle told me, the majority of the occurrences in and around Kawamachi have involved the loss of produce or livestock."

"No violence towards the villagers?" Lee questions.

Neji shakes his head, "It would appear not."

Tenten frowns, "Why are we here then?"

"To determine if this is a concerted effort against Kawamachi or the activity a of a few rogue ninja and to act appropriately," Sai quietly intones.

Tenten quirks a brow at the artist-nin, "Did you really memorize the mission parameters?"

"Hai."

The kunoichi shakes her head, "Weird."

Lee begins to comment but Neji interrupts him. "Regardless of our personal feelings on the validity of the mission, that is our orders and we shall follow them out thoroughly."

The three seated nin's all nod in agreement. Neji smiles grimly, "In a moment someone will come to show us to our accommodations. My uncle is quite insistent we stay here and not in the village."

Lee blinks, "Is that wise, the incidents in question took place in the village, not here."

The Hyuuga teen nods, "I agree with you. I have been assured that the village is less than two kilometers from here, an easy distance for any of us to cover. We'll have more information when we meet with the council, but I suspect we will utilize Sai's Choujuu Giga(1) technique and do aerial surveillance. The rest of us will fill in as needed on foot. Tenten, you have the communicators?"

The kunoichi nods, "Yes, they are in my pack."

"Good," Neji nods. "Then we'll leave things as they are and make changes as necessary after the meeting tonight."


As dusk falls over the Takanoha orchards, the Konoha shinobi gather on the small, ornately decorated bridge awaiting Lord Shinsui and his men to join them for their journey into Kawamachi. Tenten and Lee were quietly arguing over whose exercise routine produced the best results to one side while Sai lounged against the rail on the other. Neji considered his options a moment before going over to stand next to the artist-nin.

Sai glanced up and gave him a brief, half-smile before turning his attention back to the leaf twirling in his fingertips. Neji watched the leaf spin through the other teen's agile fingers wanting to gap the silence but unsure how to do so. He inwardly cursed the fact that neither of them were known for their conversation skills and attempted to at least make small talk.

"You've been quiet."

Sai shrugs, "Aren't I usually?"

"Yes, but this feels different."

The leaf stills. "Does it?"

Neji sighs in exasperation, "Sai."

The ebon eyed shinobi turns and spreads his fingers wide, letting the leaf glide to the lake below. He watches it spin lazily on the calm surface before answering.

"You, Lee-san, and Tenten-san and a team; I am an outsider."

Neji turns to lean against the rail as well, shaking his head, "Sai, that's. rid-"

"Let me finish."

The Hyuuga's mouth snaps shut and he nods for Sai to indeed continue.

"I have never been assigned a team mission with anyone other than Naruto-kun and Sakura-san. The only variance has been whether or not we were led by Kakashi-sensei or Yamato-sensei. I have learned how to work with them, to anticipate their needs. I have no such experience with your team."

"That doesn't mean you aren't important to the mission Sai. Hokage-sama chose you for this mission for a reason."

Sai shakes his head, "No, Danzou placed me on this mission."

Neji gasps softly, standing a little straighter as he glances at Sai with sudden concern, "For what purpose?"

"I am not at liberty to discuss that."

Neji growls, hands tightening on the rail. "Sai, I need to know."

Coal black eyes slide towards him, the artist-nin's face is carefully blank as he answers, "The less you know the better."

"That's not acceptable and you know it. You may be keeping something from me that could be vitally important to this mission and my team."

A small rueful upturning of Sai's lips stills Neji's rant. Something dark and bitter in that expression makes him regret his choice of words.

"Yes, exactly Neji," Sai whispers. "They are your team and I am not. I assure you that I am not to undermine what you were sent here for, and I am to aid you as best as I can. But I have Danzou's orders to follow as well."

Tenten suddenly clears her throat loudly and Neji turns to see his uncle and Teuchi approaching them on horseback. Neji shoots Sai a look that says the conversation is not over and greets the other men. As he discusses the route with Teuchi he is painfully aware of the questioning looks his teammates are shooting the silent Root Member. He knows he will be questioned later and he will be unable to assuage their concerns. Sai was risking much by telling him what he had and he couldn't betray that, even in the thought of it sits sour on his stomach.

(1) [Ninpou] Choujuu Giga – Super Beast Imitation Drawing