Hey guys,
Im Back!, i feel great and couldn't wait to get this chapter out to you!. Thanks for being so patient with me while i moved and had no internet and was ill and then my recovering days, as a reward i am going to promise you all a special individualised shout out and message if you review this chapter!. Anyway i don't want to keep you waiting anymore so... Enjoy! :)
Much Love
Temari93 x
Gai squatted a few times as i did my stretches and various warm ups, my adrenaline was racing and i was on a natural high, my shiny new toy was laying near my feet soaking up the suns rays and glinting sexily in the sunlight.
I did some sit ups, muscle stretches, jogging on the spot, jumping jacks and then i couldnt hold it off any longer, i picked up my new blades that Gai had gotten me for an extremely late birthday gift and began to swing them around.
It was as if they had never left my hands since i tried them out in Leona's parents shop, they were transitioning smoothly and slicing through the air. A soft slicing whistling noise could be heard as the blades flew through the air around me making it crackle.
With two blades whirring either side of me in close proximity anyone would think i would be tense or even a little cautious about the fact that swords sharp enough to slice my torso in half were barely missing my skin on every rotation but i wasnt worried in the slightest.
I had utter faith in my abilities, i knew my limitations and i could control weapons i had gotten to know extremely precisley.
With weapons it was all about dominance, you cannot afford to let the weapon own you, you must wield it as if it were one of your limbs, i try to treat each and every weapon i have as if it were my own child, complete with its own personality and they do have, all my weapons in my eyes have a certain flair that appeals to me.
My Kunai's have such precision and a beautifully artfull way of whizzing towards an oponant they make for a nice quick distraction and worked great for stratagies.
I love each of my summoning scrolls dearly, when i dont have them strapped to my back on a mission i feel empty as if my arms had been chopped off, my scrolls are the core of who i am: 'Tenten Weaponary Expert'. They are fast and effective, 12 kilograms of pure shining steel, deadly streamline and magical to watch zoom through the air.
Watching my shurikens leave my hands is like a little kid watching their first fireworks show, the excitement as you track the weapons movements through the air, the spinning disk sharp enough to penetrate skin.
My beautiful Kusarigama, metal picks that can swerve turbolence in the air and be thrown at high speed, their beautiful wooden handles glinting as they slice into an oponants flesh.
My pair of wooden hand carved Tonfa sticks, silent and deadly. I love the soft thud sounded when someone is conked over the head with one, and their stiffness in my hands, no flex, super strong structure, spectacular.
Sleek and stealthy my handy Manrikigusari chain is feisty, great for mid-combat fights, can be thrown extremely versatile, a brilliant back-up when your not sure of your opponants range.
My favourite wooden weapon is probably my deep red nunchucks, amazingly fast and extremely sensitive to bones, used the right way my nunchucks can crush a human hand, smash in someones head, fracture a knee cap.
I had plenty of other weapons to boast of, my swords, my chains, senbons, my chain wind staff i use to throw like a boomerang at my long range oponants and my various explosives and tags, i have smoke bombs, gas bombs, fire crackers, iron wire all sorts.
People have said i sound quite a morbid person when im talking about my weapons but they dont understand, the feeling of the impact through my palms as my Tonfa's smash into someone skull, the mental click of approval as my long range weapons zoom through the air and hit my target head on, the safety in knowing that i have so much at my disposal there is no way i can lose.
Ofcourse my one big weakness is speed, no matter how fast you are there is always someone faster, if i got jumped one day i would have no chance, if i didnt have that half a second it took me to pull out a scroll or reach for a kunai it would be the end of me. Im over average at Taijutsu and quite good at ninjutsu but if ever im in a situation that is in anyway dangerous or threatening i WILL reach for a weapon, its second nature.
I realised while these thoughts had been swamping me Gai had been waiting to fight, i shook my head and swung my airs round feeling the tension and upthrust in the blades, i could calculate the drag the blades had in the air, the time it took to rotate them full 360. Its not because im some amazing mathmatician, i have to do it.
I have to know these blades inside out, every fibre of it had to be owned by me.
"you seem to be doing a lot of thinking" Gai smiled competativly "Scared?"
"Just thinking of the fastest route to the hospital for you" i said slicing my blades through the air
"You are a cocky one you know that beautiful?" Gai said making a fist
He loved all this battle talk, we often teased each other about the things we say to people before fights whether they are friend or foe but its hard to stop yourself saying something cheesy and cliche when your in the situation all fired up and raring to go.
"I have good reason" i said smiling confidantly
"You'll be eating those words later... through a tube"
I laughed arrogantly "Oh really?, we'll see about that wont we old man"
"Who are you calling old? Im expirienced" Gai said flaunting himself
"expirienced in what? putting you teeth in or taking your vitamin B tablets?"
"Ouch, that one stung" Gai said looking hurt
Last time he had pulled this one i'd fallen for it and ended up with a facefull of dirt. I was smarter this time, i was not rushing into this and getting floored.
"I apologize, that was mean of me" I lowered my weapons naively
"Oh its fine, really" Gai said
Within the blink of an eye he was on me, i dove out the way quickly and he chuckled as i danced back.
"Didnt think i'd fall for that one did ya?" i asked grinning
"It was a long shot i kn-" He dove for my legs
I threw myself sideways but not in time, he clipped my knee and i stumbled, i managed to switch my centre of gravity and reach inside my shuriken poutch as i swiveled on my heel, i threw 3 of them but Gai was way too fast, he dodged all three and came at me again in a blur of green.
I rolled sideways and did a one handed cartwheel to miss his kick to my ribs, i dove again as he bore down on me.
"Your out of touch" Gai said as i stood again
"Nah, im going easy on you" i said already feeling a little bit puffed
"How considerate but please be my guest" Gai said playfully
I picked up my new blades from where id dropped them before the cartwheel, i stood in my fighting stance as Gai aimed a kick to my head. I aimed the blades flat side up to hit Gai's leg, his calf bounced off the silver and flew back. I took a slice of his bowl cut in my next advance, Gai had just ducked in time to miss decapitation.
"Getting a bit hot Gai?" i asked smugly holding strands of his hair
"Tenten, im always hot" Gai winked and flipped backwards
He threw 6 Kunais in fast succestion and i had to rotate 360 with the blade rotating to stop them all, the kunai's bounced off my blades and hit the floor with a thud, i sprinted up to Gai and we did some Taijutsu.
I gently dropped my blades aside as i ran, i aimed a kick to Gai's chest, he knocked my leg away with his wrist, he manipulated my leg around with his hand as it swung down and threw me off balance. As i went down i threw a punch to his face with the whole of my body behind it. Gai caught it in his hand and twisted sending me rolling to the ground.
I hit the floor with a thud and im sure i would have a bruise to prove it later.
I lay there for a second getting my breath back, my pride was hurt, i usually could keep up with Gai, i was sure at that moment Neji had let me win in the team train.
"You were foolish to take on me" Gai said
I got up, while i was still crouching i sent a sweeping kick to his ankles, he tried to jump but i made contact, he fell forwards and tried to regain composure, i jumped up and kicked him in the stomach, his hands came up but because he was still bent over my kick hit his arm into his stomach, he was winded, i hit again and again in the same place hitting his palms as he tried to scuffle out the way finally he threw himself onto the ground and rolled.
He jumped up rubbed his stomach and palms which were redening from my kicks.
"Your holding nothing back i see" Gai said shaking his hand
"You told me not to" i said innocently
"I didnt think you'd take it to heart" Gai said shrugging
I stretched working out the cricks in my back and neck, Gai watched glaring at the hidden incentive that i was relaxed because he wasnt a worthy oponant. I smiled and waved at him, i even turned my back on him and looked into the distance.
I heard his thumping footsteps and because i knew him well enough i knew what move he was trying, the good old fashion rugby tackle, at the last second when i could feel his presence on top of me i let my knees unlock and fell to the floor, Gai sailed over me and hit the floor with a thud. I chuckled.
"Good one" Gai grinned and dove for me again, i feigned left and aimed a kick to his hip, he dodged so it barely grazed him.
He turned and punched, it hit my shoulder but not hard enough to send me flying, i knee'd at his stomach which hit with a lot of force, Gai doubled over and i elbowed his back.
"Your looking a bit puffed" i said smiling as Gai staggered away
He stood straight with a blazing smile on his face, i looked down and saw he had planted a small fire cracker bomb. I flipped backwards a few paces and began running, Gai was already out of the blast zone by now with his speed.
I heard the tiny crack of the outer shell before the boom and sizzle of the actual explosion, i felt heat on the back of my legs and the rumbled made me stumble a little, I turned around but through the smoke i couldn't see Gai.
I decided the best thing to do in this situation would be to sit and wait, its energy conserving and i really am quite lazy. I made 4 kage bunshins and sent them different ways through the smoke for Gai to find while i hunkered down below eye level and waited.
It hadnt been one minute before i heard a poof meaning one of my Kage bunshins had been taken out, i knew it was one a few meters east of me, the puff of smoke added to the fire cracker smoke and kept it thick.
My second Kage bunshin got killed 3 minutes later, Gai was trying to be stealthy and quiet, i knew he was right behind me now, if the smoke thinned anymore he would spot me.
I stood in a crouch and if i peered i saw the green outline blurred with smoke, i picked up my smallest explosive tag and rolled it around a stick on the floor, i threw the twig and it conked the green blur on the head, i heard a melodramatic gasp behind me as i ran.
I was sprinting full out to behind the boulder on the side of the training field when the tag exploded, i dove and landed behind the boulder just as patches of grass flew past the edges.
I peeked out and saw that it had thrown Gai a few feet, poor soul never had a chance really, i stood and wandered over stealthily, well as stealthily as i could manage which wasnt that great really.
"Bite off more then you can chew?" i called from a safe distance away
"That was a smart move" Gai called from the ground
Something was wrong, i felt it in my gut. Was Gai hurt?. I peered over to see if there was any injury on show, i couldn't see him properly from my vantage point. I spottted my blades on the floor ribbon twisted a few feet to my left, i went over to them and picked them up before slowly descending on Gai.
"Your not as tough as you think you are" i called trying to keep my voice light and playfull
Gai went to say something but it came out as a grumble, he sounded hurt but this wasnt like Gai, he wouldn't do this and worry me... unless?
I turned and put my blades up in a cross over my head just as a foot swung down for a hammer kick to my forehead, the foot bounced off the blades and i jumped back and stamped on Gai's head on the floor. Poof.
"Clever use of shadow clone" i commended him with a smile
"Your smart Tenten" Gai said smiling
"You taught me never believe your oponant" i said grinning
Gai walked forwards, i tensed but he put his hands up, palms forwards as a show of peace. I didnt believe it for a second but i pretneded i did. He came closer and his arms came out as if to hug me, i pretended to lean forwards into it before suddenly jumping back so my body was horizontal in the air, i aimed both my feet at his chest, his arms flew up lightening fast and knocked my feet away.
We both stood grinning that we had out-played the other ones tactics.
"Good fight" I said gathering up my various blades and tags
"You too my flower" Gai said picking up his head band where it had fallen off during the fight.
I packed all my weapons away and we moved away from the field laughing and discussing what was good about our fight and what could be improved.
"You need to make your Bunshins more like you" i said "If you want them to be convincing"
"Hmm... but who-else knows me well enough to realise they are not exactly like me?" Gai asked pointedly
"Yh i guess but someone clever might work it out, its an unnecassary risk" I said
"Yes your right, i must train more" Gai said harshly
He was getting angry at himself for letting himself down but most of all he would be worried about letting the team down. Gai's a good caring sensei and he wouldnt ever do anything by halves if it meant even a speck of danger for the rest of us.
"Your speed needs to increase by atleast 20%" Gai said
"Yeah i need to get back into shape" I admitted
"Its not your fault you've been out of the game for a while" Gai looked over at me "You handled it wonderfully"
"Thanks" I said smiling at the praise
We were soon right outside out apartment, Gai juggled his bag with his keys as he tried to get the door open and talk, Gai was an amazing ninja and he could take an oponant out in seconds but ask him to multitask and he went back to being a normal man.
I shouldered past him gently and put the lock in the key and within seconds we were upstairs and dumping out stuff onto the sofa in the living room, Gai went into the kitchen to get me a drink and my healthy lunch. He had gotten better at cooking since he had to do it more often now and his combonations weren't that bad anymore.
"What are we having?" i asked packing my things away off the sofa and sipping my drink
"Seaweed salad with kelp pieces and tofu" Gai said
It all sounded very green.
"Sounds good" i said finishing off my glass of milk
I put the glass onto the table at the same time the doorbell rang I peeked out the peep hole and saw it was Neji, i asked Gai if he would stay in the kitchen and he agreed with a smile.
I pulled open the door my heart thudding in my chest.
"Hey" I said waving my hand to invite him in
"Hi" he stepped past the threshhold "I can't stay i just came to ask if you wanted to have dinner tonight?"
"Oh dinner?" i thought about my agenda for the day, i didnt think i would have anything to do but i had a nagging feeling something was going on later."Let me check my calender"
I quickly opened the door to the kitchen and ran to the calender, nothing was listed.
"Are we busy tonight?" i whispered to Gai who was silently dishing up
"Hmm... im going to Asuma's with Kakashi for poker" Gai said
I nodded as i remembered that was what i had planned, a night without Gai.
I returned to the living room to see that Neji had sat down on the sofa, he was eyeing the green bag laying there with the name tag 'Gai' on it. I ckuckled as he looked at me.
"Gai came round earlier and brought me a bag of training gear" i said pointing at the bag "You know what he's like, he wants me fighting fit again"
"I see..." Neji glanced at the door as something rustled in the kitchen
"So im not busy tonight, dinner would be great" I said smiling
"Good" Neji grinned boyishly noise forgotten "I'll pick you up at 6?"
"Sounds good" i agreed
He stood and we walked the few inches to the door where upon we said our goodbyes and Neji left quietly and without a fuss. I watched him walk down the hall through my door peep hole, he was so sexy.
Gai poked his head out of the kitchen and came fully out when he noticed Neji was gone.
"He's taking me to dinner tonight" i said happily
"That should be nice, two youths eating youthful food whilst sharing some youthful banter" Gai said smiling
He went back into the kitchen and brought my plate of green out and i began to eat it, there was a side of wasabi to dip the seaweed and tofu in, the kelp was moist yet crunchy. It was a delicious lunch and i thanked him for it happily.
"Your very welcome my little princess, how are you feeling?" he asked
"I feel good, no aches, no pains, no exhaustion" i said
"Good, following Tsunade's list seems to be working" Gai said optamistically
"Yeah, for now" i mumbled
Gai pretended not to hear, i know he did though, that man has bat hearing.
"What times your hot date?" Gai asked winking
"Neji's gonna pick me up at 6" i said glancing at the clock
"You have 4 hours to kill" Gai said looking at the living room mantle clock
I had something in my mind that i wanted to get over with so i helped Gai wash up the plates before grabbing my shoes and coat and heading out. Gai waved me goodbye at the door and wished me good luck, i was going to need it for sure.
I walked out of my apartment block and into the sunny bustling street, it was only 2 but already there were hundreds of people blocking the streets, i wanted to be done by 4:30 so i had time to walk slowely back to the apartment and to unwind afterwards.
I headed onto main street which was just across the road from where i lived, i trailed that path for a while before turning left at the cross road and then doing an immediate left, i stalked down the thin alley that was walled by wooden fence panels before turning right onto a wider more open street, at the end of that street was my destination.
The Hokage building.
I trudged along not really in any hurry to see Tsunade so soon after my release, all too soon i was at the bottom of the building, Sakura was kneeling at the bottom of the steps healing a bird who's wing looked broken. I waited until she was finished, after all i didnt want to break her concentration did i?.
It has nothing to do with the fact you don't want to see Tsunade?
A few minutes later the bird turned and flew off good as new, Sakura smiled to herself as she watched it fly off into the distance, she shaded her eyed against the sun and saw me loitering around by the entrance fence, she grinned and waved me over.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Sakura asked
"Hello!, im feeling a lot better thanks" i said nodding
"Thats good news, what brings you here?" Sakura asked wiping her hands on her pants
"Im here to talk to the queen bee" i said looking up at her high window
"I see, anything i can help with?" Sakura asked opening the door for me
"I wish, no im afraid not" I said sadly
Sakura lead me up the stairs that twisted around the building all the while chatting about something that happened the other day at the hospital, i wasnt really paying attention i was way to nervous to.
"Okay here we are" Sakura said
"Right" i said staring at the door
"Still time to turn back" she grinned
I chuckled a little half heartedly "No i should do this now" i said
She nodded and bustled off with a wave and a smile, when she had dis-appeared around the corner i knocked.
There was no answer from inside, i waited another 10 seconds and knocked again, still no answer. I turned around with a sigh of relief, Tsunade wasnt in. What a shame i couldnt go and speak to her, oh well!.
I began heading down the stairs when i heard the clomping of high heeled sandals on the floor coming down the stairs above me, i was torn between the urge to get the hell out of there and the urge to tell her what i needed to and get it over and done with. I stayed routed to the spot after all maybe it wasnt even her.
I knew in my gut it was her but still i tried to convince myself to calm me down, the steps got louder and i found myself leaning against the wall by the door as if i could squeeze inside and hide. The echoing steps came closer still and i was reminded of a scene from a horror movie i had once watched.
The first thing i saw round the corner were two huge boobs followed by swinging arms and finally the rest of her body emerged, she sauntered over to her office as if she hadn't left me waiting outside for her, she smiled at me as she entered her office leaving the door open for me to come in, the smile was scary.
"Tsunade-sama, i've come by to give you an account of what happened during my capture" i said standing in the doorway
Tsunade sat down heavily in her chair and leaned back with her ankles crossed and up on the desk, she eyed me for a second before waving me into the room further, i cloed the door behind me out of manners and walked over to one of the chairs by her desk.
"Im going to need a written account aswell" Tsunade said casually "How much time do you have?" she asked
"I have to be home by. . . 4:30 at the latest" i said nervously
"So you would be able to write me an account now while its fresh in your brain?" Tsunade asked me
I was about to make up some excuse but her eyes were burning holes into my skull as if she knew i was thinking of a way to get out of it. I looked out the window quickly to calm myself before eventually nodding my consent.
Tsunade grinned which i could tell by the lines on her face she did not do often, she handed me a pen and 3 sheets of paper and pointed to a small desk and chair in the corner, i grimly walked over and sat in the chair.
I took a deep breath before writing out what i could remember starting from the explosion all the way until i carried Ino and left her in a bush drugged up, i tried to remember in what order events happened like the carving of slut into my back and the continuous injections and Ino's hair cut but it was hard to piece all the right bits together from memory.
My written account was 2 and a half pages long and i thought it was detailed enough to give some insight to what happened, i had added descriptions of each man i had met and the plant life around the house and the house itself but i didnt trust my brain 100% to remember, drugs can do funny things to a person after all.
When i was done i handed the paper and pen over to Tsunade, she read through it while i stood there, her eyebrows rose at random points in the accountants and she asked me about a few things such as the injections.
"can you tell me what colour the fluid in the injections was?" Tsunade asked
"I think it was see through like water but a little thicker" i said trying to remember
"And the needles were they long like this?" She pointed to a picture book on her desk to a long thick needle "Or short?" She pointed to a shorter thinner one
"Uh.." i looked at the pictures, the needle was long-ish but it wasnt that thick it was quite thin if i remembered correctly. "It was that long but as thin as the short one" i said
"Like this?" She flipped through a few pages and showed me a picture of a needle that looked identicle to the one that had injected me. I nodded.
Tsunade dog-eared the page and circled it in red marker pen. before making a note at the bottom of the account i had written.
"And how many times a day would you say you were injected?" she asked
"More then 2 a day definitaly but i think less then 5" i said uncertainly
Tsunade nodded and jotted something down.
"And how many needles did they go through roughly a day?" Tsunade asked
"Umm, i dont really know" i said thinking hard "Well 4 or so for me and probably 4 for Ino so maybe about 8 a day give or take 2-3"
"So eight needles a day, and you were captured for 4 days?" Tsunade asked skimming through my account
"I dont know 4 or 5, maybe even 6" i said "I was drugged up and asleep for most of it.."
"You have to think harder Tenten" Tsunade said with a growl
"Tsunade-sama im sorry i can't remember..." I looked down into my lap
She looked at me and asked how i was feeling today, i told her i was feeling okay and she nodded happy enough.
"Been training much?" She asked casually whilst swinging on her chair as if that arguement hadn't happened
"Yeah i've been training everyday since my release" i admitted "Gai likes to keep me in shape"
"And the list?"
"I've been following it word for word" I flashed my water bottle in my wide pockets and she nodded with a smile
"Thats good, you look healthy Tenten i must admit"
"Thank you..."
We trailed off into silence and i peeked down at my watch, it was 4:45, i wanted to round off the visit so i cleared my throat and enquired as to when i would be needed to talk to the Anbu commitee.
"We will call you sometime in the next few days" Tsunade said jotting something down in her notepad
"Okay.. can you be more specific?" i urged
"Tenten am i sensing that your a little anxious?"
"No.. i just want it out of the way so i can live my life" i said
"Thats understandable" Tsunade said nodding
I stood up and stretched after having to sit for so long,
"So i'll be going then" i said
"One more thing..." Tsunade opened her drawer and rummaged around for a while
She pulled out a little bottled cup that was made of tan plastic, she handed it to me and i could see my reflection in the white lid, i read the little white label and saw that my name was on it along with instructions to take one pill a day.
"Your iron vitamins, take one a day after breakfast" Tsunade said
I pocketed them and nodded, she warned me not to take more then one a day and if i got side effects to come and see her. I nodded again and she looked annoyed.
"Are you even listening Tenten?"
"Yes Tsunade-sama, one a day, after breakfast, no more then one, any side effects see you" i said
Tsunade grumbled something that sounded like acceptance, i bowed and got the hell out of there, i wasn't going back there for a while i could telly ou that.
By the time i got home it was coming up to 5:15 i rushed into the shower and washed my hair and shaved before patting myself dry and brushing my teeth and washing my face, i painted my nails with a nail polisher that made them shiny and filed them down quickly. I ran across and dried my hair and straightened it in record time.
I checked the clock before i began to dress and saw that it was 5:55, crap i had 5 minutes to get dressed and put my make-up on. I pulled on some dark denim jeans and a red shirt, i put on a silver pendant necklace and some mascara and lip gloss.
I was brushing through my hair again when there was a knock at the door, i quickly sprayed some perfume on my kneck, wrists and yes over my cleavage, it made me feel more confident knowing i smelt good everywhere.
I answered the door with a smile, Neji stood on the other side of the thresh-hold.
"Come in, im just putting my shoes on"
Neji stepped in still staring at me, he was in particular staring at my shirt i thought. It was a red blouse with short sleeves and buttons at the front, there was a top button up by my neck but the next three button spaces under that did not have buttons to go with them, not because they had broken off, it was meant to be like that. There was a triangle sized gap and then the buttons clasped again leaving a small part of my chest on show.
No boob just chest.
There were small red ruffles feathering the button line and the waist area synched in to make my curves more excentuated. The shirt was not slutty, far from it. It was quite a classy shirt just not something i would usually be seen in.
I pulled on some low heeled red shoes that matched the shirt and worked with the dark denim, i peeked at myself in the mirror quickly and saw that my legs looked thin and long, my waist looked curvacious and i was practically glowing.
I turned and my eyes caught on Neji's clothes, he was wearing dark denim jeans like me and a brown shirt covered in a white button up shirt that was hanging loosely open to reveal the lines of his 8 pack under the thin brown material.
"You look good" i said smiling
"Thank you" Neji blushed
I grabbed my key and put my phone into my bag before leaving, as soon as the door clicked shut the world seemed to grow silent. We walked down the steps silently and out the door.
"Where are we going?" i asked politely
"I thought we could go to my house" Neji said looking ahead
Why would he want to do that?
Neji's house?, why would he want to take me to his house, his guardians knew me, i had been to his house loads, and why is he being so quiete?. He seems awkward.
Sex... thats what he wants.
What? no way, Neji isnt like that...
He's a man for god sake, did you see the way he looked at your clothes?
I don't really think he's taking me home for sex
Why else then? Look at him he stinks of testostirone and lust
He smells fine!
I noticed Neji was looking at me from the corner of his eye, i was taking to long to reply about the house thing, i didnt want to ask why we were going just incase.
"Oh good, is Hinata in?" i asked my voice sounded a little higher then usual
"Nope, she's over at a friends" Neji said with a tight smile
Empty house aye? Clever boy he timed it perfectly
I shook my head gently to try to stop my wandering thoughts, ofcourse Neji wasnt luring me to his house for sex, how paranoid was i?.
"So it would just be us?" i asked
Neji stayed quiet for a few seconds during which i managed to have a full blown panic attack, he slanted his gaze to me and im sure i was flushed red. I dont think i could even have sex yet even if i wanted to, would it put too much strain on my body if i did it?.
"Are you okay Tenten?" Neji asked uncertainly
"Sure, never been better?" i said manically
Neji stopped and looked into my eyes, i blinked and looked at his fore-head, he went to touch my arm and i pulled away anxiously, only a little but it was enough.
"Whats wrong?" he asked quietly
"I jus- I mean, why are we going...?" I mumbled strangely "... to you house?"
"You don't want to?" he asked
"I don't mind going to your house to eat dinner" i said truthfully
"Okay then whats the problem?" Neji asked smiling at me
"Well... are we just gonna eat dinner?" i asked my face redening intensly
Neji looked confused "Yeah what else would we do?"
I felt so embarrassed, sex had never crossed his mind, these signs i had been reading were all in my head and i had built it up into something much bigger then it was.
I shook my head "Im sorry... its just me being weird"
"Okay..?"
I gestured we keep walking again and we picked up the pace, Neji kept asking me if i wanted to take a rain check and i felt guilty for thinking of him as just 'another man' Neji wasnt like everyone else, he was sweet and caring.
We made it to his house and i was begining to feel more excited about the evening although Neji wasnt being himself still, except to ask me if i was okay he had barely talked during the walk, i was worried that he wasn't having fun, he seemed sad or worried or anxious.
When he opened his house door i saw why.
Hiashi came out of his office and walked towards the door, he leant down to greet me, his breathe stank of sake and he wasn't walking straight. Hiashi was drunk.
"Hello, thank you for having me over" i said politely whilst bowing
"T'is ohaay Teentem" Hiashi slurred patting the top of my head rather hard
Neji took off his shoes and i followed suite, Hiashi picked up my shoes and waved them around above his head.
"I saw a hooker wid tes shoos Teentem" He said grinning and waving my shoe
I simply nodded knowing it was the alcohol talking.
"Hooker shoos, Hooker shoos!"
Neji took my arm and walked me away from him, i followed silently up the stairs and into his room, i sat on the edge of his bed and he clicked the door shut quietly, as soon as the door was shut his shoulders relaxed and the air around him became less tense and more like him.
"Im sorry Tenten, i had a suspicion that he had been drinking but i wanted to take you out tonight" Neji said sitting next to me
"Its fine, it happens" i said
"I was going to go to a restaurant but then i was worried about him alone so i thought we could stay here tonight" Neji admitted
"Sure sounds good"
Neji smiled and nudged me with his hip, i grinned at him, his room was immaculate ofcourse i expected nothing less, there was a little lump under the covers, i reached under and pulled out the little teddy he had slept with during our mission with Toshika.
"N'aaw"
"It was a gift.." Neji said for the second time
"Okay" i said grinning
"You don't sound convinced" Neji said glumly
"Im not"
He chuckled
"So what do you have planned?" i asked
"I rented a movie.." Neji said leaning over to his desk
"Oh good, i havent seen a movie in ages" i said enthusiastically
"It might be a bit lame im not sure" Neji passed me the box
"I dont recognise it, but it looks funny" i said smiling down at the monkey on the cover
Neji took it and placed it into his dvd player, while he was doing this i moved to lay on my stomach on his bed as his tv was at the foot of the huge bed. My head was uncomfortable so i grabbed one of his three pillows to lean on, he turned around and grinned when he saw me.
"Talk about making yourself at home"
"I do try to make myself comfy" i said smiling
Neji clicked play and came over to lay next to me, he copied me with the pillow and laughed when i made a comment about individualism.
The movie started with a couple having sex would you believe it. I looked at the screen uncomfotably, Neji followed suite, it must have lasted 4 or 5 minutes which was a pretty long sex scene for something that wasnt porn. Finally it ended and the rest of the film turned out to be really funny.
"I can't believe that man fell into the cake!" i giggled
"What a dobe" Neji said grinning
We watched the movie happily for the next 2 hours until the credits began rolling. My stomach grumbled and Neji grinned at me.
"Hungry?"
"Maybe.. a little" i said innocently
Neji laughed "Fancy a pizza?"
"Sure why not"
Neji picked up the phone which for some reason i found hilarious. It was humurous to me that Neji Hyuuga would order pizza on a hot date. I was still giggling to myself when Neji asked what toppings i wanted.
"Tuna and sweetcorn and cheese" i said hungrily
He told the man on the other end of the phone before ordering his own pizza, when he put the phone down he swore.
"What?" i asked wondering what had brought on the outburst
"i forgot to order stuffed crust" Neji said sadly
I laughed again.
"How will you go on?" i asked melodramatically
"I think i'll survive" Neji said bravely
We played some more rock paper scissors until the pizza came, i won 6-4 outta ten, Neji was a sore loser and for a few minutes he was in a strop, i grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him.
"Don't be grumpy Neji!" i whined shaking him
After a few shakes he grinned and grabbed my arms, he pulled me over and i fell onto the bed and half onto his lap, he dug his fingers into my ribs which made me jump and squeal. I jumped onto him half heartedly and pinned his chest down, i blew into his ear which made him try to shuffle away.
"You can't run from me" i said smiling
"I can try" Neji said grinning
He twisted and threw me off, i hit the bed and rolled onto the floor, Neji jumped up and stood on the opposite side of the bed, i dove across and tried to grab him but he ran around the outposts of the bed, we were soon on opposite sides again.
I ran around and Neji tripped in his rush to get across the thick spongey matress, i grabbed his legs and yanked, he slid down towards me and i grinned. He tried to wriggle free so i sat on him and pinned his arms to his sides.
"I win" i grinned
Neji sighed heavily "I guess you do"
I laughed and our eyes caught, the moment was so intense i was suprised. I wanted to lean down and kiss him, and i know he wanted me to, i bent slowely and i swear i was so tempted. The door bell rang and i jumped up.
"The pizza's here" i said quickly
Neji nodded "I'll go get it"
He left the room and i collapsed onto the bed, i was about to kiss Neji. I was going to give in to the temptation and i shouldn't have, this is only our second date, it wasnt right. Not by my standards anyway.
I shook my head to clear it of the fog of lust for Neji, i heard the door shut downstairs and then a soft tread on the stairs, i sat cross legged on Neji's bed with a pillow across my lap. Neji came in holding two pizza's two glasses and a bottle of still lemonade. I smiled and thanked him as he handed me my pizza.
"Im so hungry!" i said as i bit into my first slice
"Does it taste good?" Neji asked
I closed my eyes to savour the taste and made a noise of satisfaction, Neji laughed quietly.
"Take that as a yes then" Neji said biting into his own pizza
The moment was forgotten as we tucked into our pizza and talked about my plan to get Lee a girlfriend, he laughed at my description of Leona but he looked impressed when i told him about her parents shop.
"Its amazing!, theres a cafe and weapons and all sorts of training clothes and items" i said my eyes sparkling
"You'll have to take me there sometime" Neji said finishing his last slice of pizza
"Yeah, its really cool in there" i said
"Hows the parents?"
"They're a little crazy, especially the dad, he's overprotective and over the top" I bit into my last slice
"Reminds me of someone" Neji said grinning "Him and Gai could become great friends"
"Yeah i guess" i agreed
I finished my slice of pizza and felt suddenly tired.
I yawned and Neji smiled at me "Someone a bit tired"
"No, im fine i swe-" i was interupted by a yawn which ruined the whole statement
"Come on i'll walk you home" Neji said pulling me up
I nodded
We made our way down the stairs and into the foyer where my shoes were, i strapped them on and stood, i realized i was almost as tall as Neji in these shoes which was a good confidence boost.
We walked down his drive, past the Hyuuga gardens and down the street leading to main all the while i was getting steadily more tired, my eyes were blinking shut by the time we reached the top of main which was the biggest street in the village, i groaned quietly to myself.
"Your really tired huh?" Neji commented
"Yeah i did a lot of exercise today and i didnt sleep too great last night" i admitted
Neji stood infront of me and bent down a little, he took me under my knees and lifted me onto his back. Neji Hyuuga was giving me a piggy back through main street.
"Thanks" i whispered into his ear as he walked me down main
His thumb was rubbing my under leg absent mindedly which was sending tingles up my leg and making me feel hot and bothered. Damn these female hormones. I was looking at his neck and imagining what it would feel like to kiss when he suddenly announced that we had arrived.
"Wakey wakey" he said shrugging me off gently
I laughed and gave him a gentle slap on the arm.
"Thanks for the piggy back Neji" i said when we were right outside my door
"No problem" he smiled and the intensity of it dazzled me
Our gazes caught again and it took everything i had just to breathe and not jump him in the corridor, Neji leaned forwards and i was sure if he went to kiss me i wouldnt pull away. But i didnt want to kiss him yet. I tried to pull away but i was too endulged in Neji to do it.
He passed my lips and planted a soft kiss on my cheek, i pulled him into a hug and whispered a goodnight into his ear. He stroked my back gently and it took every ounce of strength i had to turn around and walk into the apartment.
I closed the door with a final smile to my date. I watched through the peephole as he sauntered off with a grin on his face.
I slowly walked to my room and shed my clothes, i was so tired i just had enough energy left in me to crawl into bed. The second my head hit that pillow i was asleep.
My dreams that night were pretty steamy. It was that night that a seriously thought about me and Neji and i concluded that something was definitaly there, but was it love or lust?.
The smile on my face as i dreamt told me the answer.