Hope you like this chapter! sorry for posting this late, had to go to my brothers birthday dinner then a driving lesson :P The third chappie may or may not be posted today :P

Ino yawned in a very unlady like manner as she finally entered her room. Her eyes went to the clock, she sighed 'lectured for an hour straight? Must be a new record...' Yes, Yamanaka Ino had just been chastised like a small child by her father. He was not pleased, not one bit. All he yelled about was how worried he and her mother were, she assured them countless times that there was nothing to worry about, but they simply ignored her words. She sighed as she made her way to her trunk. She was lucky that they were even letting her go to see Shikamaru. It was all because they were childhood friends, but still... it was a risk that she should've thought through better. She felt a bit guilty, she would admit to that, but really they shouldn't worry so much. She was back home safe and sound without a problem. She absentmindedly fingered through all of her perfect kimonos. They only brought back the memory of her mother being hysterical when she saw how wrinkled her daughters kimono was.

She had asked her hysterically "Ino,your kimono! For God's sakes it looks as if you've been sleeping in it!"

She quietly chuckled, well her mother wasn't too far off from the truth. Finally, she settled on a baby blue kimono with small cherry blossoms and loose petals. Her face soured ' I do not sound like a dying boar.' Huffing, she made her way to the bath house and took her well needed bath. Skipping the lecture, insults and mild embarrassment that came with it all, the day seemed like a good one.

Neji arrived to the Nara compound door to already see Lee talking rapidly to an exhausted looking Shikamaru. The moment his dark eyes met with his light ones they turned into a silent plea. "I, uh, think you lost something?" Neji shook his head as he approached the two.

His presence immediately silenced Lee, and the stern look on his face caused Shikamaru to immediately straighten up. "What is it?"

The young Hyuuga appeared to contemplate his words for a moment before he simply said "may we speak inside?"

Shikamaru sat silently in front of his two guests. This felt like complete de javu, and he had an inkling that their conversation would not strain to far from the same topic.

The three boys remained in a strict silence before he finally decided to take a brave gamble at what they needed to speak to him about. "Is it Tenten?" He watched Lee's large eyes grow slightly bigger as they darted toward Neji. His moon like eyes were boring into the table as if an answer was there. Instead of a verbal confirmation, though, he was given a nod.

Shikamaru felt himself grow a slight bit tense, "is she alright? Did something happen?" Neji took another moment of hesitance before shaking his head.

He then looked up and began to speak, "we have had no contact with her since the day she left, but..." he bit his lip and their was obvious doubt in his eyes, but he continued to speak. "I..I've been having some bad feelings that she may not be safe.. wherever her travels are taking her. I fear for the future and what may come of them. Beijing is a relatively safe town, but others she may pass I am unsure, and she is one female... The probability of things going wrong are very high..." Shikamaru was left stunned, Neji Hyuuga running off of feelings? And feeling fear? Even being unsure? Those were details that did not connect back to him in the least bit. He was head strong, confident, always sure of himself, and feared practically nothing, but here he was going against all of those things. Trying to come over the slight shock, Shikamaru took in his words and took them seriously into consideration. He was right, he himself had thought of those things, but he would not dare voice them; now they were out in the open for anyone's pickings, and, he sighed 'better now than never..'

"Neji, there's something you should probably...know." He immediately felt a tenseness consume the room as the boys' shoulders squared and his jaw locked with a hard look in his already cold eyes. This was the moment that he could use a Lee outburst, but as he glanced at the boy, the likeliness of that happening was not even existent. His actions were the exact same as Neji's, now he had two people to confess the information to. He once again sighed 'tch, troublesome' he took in a deep breathe before speaking. "Tenten is not walking to her port, she is taking a boat." Neji's eye brow rose, "through the center of China, only a small walk from Chongqing is the Yangtze river. I assume that she has decided to take a boat up the t-"

"That river does not lead to Beijing Shikamaru."

His voice was strict with an underlying tone of.. panic? Shikamru ignored it, "I know, taking that boat will take her to the port of Shanghai, and from there she'll take a ship to Japan. She'll be much safer and probably won't run into as much trouble."

Neji felt his blood run cold the moment he heard the name Shanghai. There was a reason why he and his father never went there and would instead take the longer route. Shanghai was dangerous! One of the most dangerous towns in all of China! And now he was suddenly being told that Tenten, his childhood friend Tenten, his Tenten, was going to be arriving there! Were they all insane?! This situation was worse than he thought...

"Neji?" Lee peered at his pearl eyed friend in worry, he had shown more emotions in a single morning than in the extent of their friendship, that was frightening.

Neji's hands clenched as he gritted out "do you know just what kind of a place Shanghai is?" Silence, "at all?" receiving no response, but blank stares he angrily shut his eyes and attempted to calm his breathing before speaking. "Shanghai is one of the most dangerous towns in China. It is known for its thievery, murder, suicides,... rapes." He felt Lee stiffen at his side as did Shikamaru who's now, usually half lidded eyes, were widened.

They shot to the other boy, "Lee can she defend her self?" Neji's eyes snapped open. Lee seemed slightly taken aback at the attention that was thrusted on to him, but he soon enough responded. "Well... yes, she is quite skilled in fighting, and I was told that she was excellent at marksmanship, she never misses her target."

An unusual growl escaped Nejis throat as he glared icily at the two. "Self defense will not be enough. She's one female, at one point or another she could be overwhelmed. Can't we send anyone to her aid? Or find any way to communicate with her so she avoids Shanghai?" His pride was out the window at this point. He didn't care if he sounded needy, Tenten meant more than any of that. Is something were to ever happen to her he would never let himself live it down. If she were ever hurt in any way he'd hate himself more than anything. He promised many years back that he would protect her, be stronger for her; but what was the point of strength of she was in a completely different country!

"I already spoke to Sasuke about this." Neji looked at Shikamaru who crossed his arms. "It was useless though, he told me himself. If Japanese soldiers are spotted in China then who knows what would happen. Also, considering the rebellion that is taking place, it might be mistaken as Japanese interference. We can't risk anything." Realization once again hit Neji, the rebellion! How in the hell could he have missed it. Not only was she going to go to a dangerous town, but she was also sailing across the river that cut off the rebellion from the rest of China. His teeth were grinding together in utter irritation. Just how did this get so out of hand so quickly...A tense silence encompassed the room that not even Lee would dare to break.

Strangely enough, it was Neji who did. "So there's nothing we can do for her? We must sit here? Useless?" His words were bitter and cold, but he didn't give a damn anymore. He was furious: furious with himself, his uncle, his family, at Tenten, her father even! Everyone who was responsible for putting them in the situation they were in now. None of this would have happened if things hadn't gone the way they had.

"Neji." The Hyuuga's piercing gaze shot to the voice that called to him. Lee's stern eyes met his own head on. "do you remember what you told me? When we first discovered that Tenten would be coming to Japan?" The boys scattered brain was too frazzled to even recall the events of the last few days. All he felt like doing now was ripping his hair out. Receiving no response, Lee continued. "We must wait."

Sakura chewed at her bottom lip nervously as she starred at the large wooden door before her. All she had to do was knock and then she would be inside; she inwardly groaned. The action so much easier said than done. She felt painfully hesitant as she knocked on the large door. She was nervous beyond belief and felt like she wasn't suppose to be their 'what if this is a mistake? What if he wasn't really asking me? What id he meant someone else?' She immediately felt idiotic as she remembered that no one else in their vicinities name was Sakura, but why her? Of all the people and females why her? She just didn't get it, even her intellectual mind could not comprehend the Uchiha's thinking. So lost in her thoughts and inner lecturing she failed to notice the man that opened the door for her who was now simply starring at her. Her green eyes suddenly locked with his black ones immediately awakening her from her thoughts. She gulped slightly 'just what have I gotten myself into...' She stood in rigid silence as Sasuke starred, unwaveringly into her bright eyes. He appeared bored and already tired of her presence even though a minute had not even passed, but oh how she was mistaken. The young Uchiha's heart was beating a mile per minute as he starred at her beauty. The dark kimono that faded into and almost white pink clung snugly to her lithe figure. The branches of sakura only proclaimed her name proudly. When did he start feeling so vulnerable, and over come by her? This was a frightening change that he would not take easily to.

"Well?"

Her eyes widened as she snapped to attention, "well what?"

He sighed "are you going to come in or not?"

She bristled, "you haven't invited me in, baka."

Her pale face had gone slightly red from irritation, but it only grew as he let out a curt "hn." And then walked inside expecting her to follow. She was firm on defying him, though, as she continued to stay in place, and huffed as she crossed her arms. Hearing the noise, Sasuke gave her a bored glance before sighing in aggravation. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he drawled out. "Please come in Haruno san and bestow me with your presence." His words were laced heavily with sarcasm as her face was no longer red with anger, but with embarrassment.

How dare he say it like that? He had no respect for her dignity! She grit her teeth as she strode into the compound.

The pinkette sat stiffly in front of him, her glare did not slacken or move in the least bit as a nervous servant, who could easily palpate the tension in the room, set the fine tea set down in between them. He bowed before quickly shuffling out, and leaving the two to their own devices. They continued to stare at each other, but Sakura, knowing the type of male he was and the type of female she was, broke the stare down. She looked down and sighed as she reached for the tea and poured herself a cup, and, surprisingly, one for him as well.

"What happened between us Sasuke? He visibly stiffened at her very blunt question, but she did not take notice due to her still downcast eyes. He felt his chest tighten at her distraught and depressed look. He didn't want to cause her pain, but she should know how he feels about these...emotions. They practically grew up together, not very friendly with each other though, at least on his part. Yes he shoved her away and made her cry, but she would always come back, and that annoyed him. Was it because she was a nuisance, or because he couldn't understand her? He came to see it as the latter. His hand twitched in his lap as the desire to reach out and touch her was becoming overwhelming. He wanted to apologize, to explain everything, but he just couldn't. He cursed himself.

So instead of answering her question the right way: caring and kind, he answered it his way: cold and indifferent. "I don't know what you're talking about." Her head snapped up with a vicious glare, her sharp emeralds could've cut through diamonds if they so desired.

"How dare you.." she hissed. "You waist my time by having me come here to have tea with you, and then you do nothing, but insult and disrespect me?! Just what kind of man are you?! Since I've arrived you've only been rude and cold! And I'm..." She stood with clenched fists "I'm, I'm sick of it, Sasuke Uchiha! I'm utterly sick of it! You immature little boy!"

He suddenly stood "I am not a little boy."

He grit out the words with venom, but she was not affected, "out of all of that, that was the only thing that bothered you?! You really are a cold bastard."

He shook slightly with anger, "Instead of jumping to conclusions why don't you use that brain of yours and think, it seems all the years that we've known each other have done nothing for your denseness."

"Dense!? I, Sakura Haruno, am in no way dense!"

"Ha. I beg to differ." She was out raged, completely out raged with him. She hated arguing with him, but she hated letting him have his way even more. It was infuriating and demeaning.

She then snapped her head to the side. "I do not have to put up with this. I'm leaving." She began to march towards the door.

"What?"

She turned to face him "you heard me Sasuke. Leaving!" He grabbed her wrist, and she immediately began to struggle, "Let go of me!"

"Not until we're done talking!"

"We are done, and I wish to leave your horrid presence!"

"Stop lying to yourself you enjoy my company."

He spoke slyly and she immediately ceased her struggles and glared "you are so full of yourself its nauseating. Now," she tugged on her wrist "release me!"

Shikamaru sighed as he sat quietly in the tea room. The news that Neji brought was disturbing and had bothered him to no end; how could he have missed such a detail? He was groaning as he rubbed his forehead 'now what are we suppose to do, we have a hostile Hyuuga on our hands that will give hell is so much as a scratch befalls his "precious" Tenten.' He couldn't help the grin that split across his face. He recalled saying that to the Hyuuga and having the boy all but lunge at him to never say that again and to not be ridiculous. Shikamaru snorted. He knew, they all knew. The usually logical thinking Hyuuga had harbored feelings for his childhood friend, it was so obvious that it was almost laughable when he tried to deny it. This still, though, did not easy the situation that Tenten was in. She was truly in danger, and Neji was right; no matter the level of self defense skills she had she was still just one female, she could easily be overcome. He hung his head'I didn't think this could get anymore troublesome...'

"Shikamaru?"

He looked up and met a pair of sharp black eyes "kaasan, what is it?"

She smiled fondly before responding, "Change into a nicer kimono, your cousins will becoming by later for tea." He sighed dejectedly, the last thing he wanted to do was have tea or see anyone. Unfortunately, he could already feel his mothers piercing glare, threatening him to defy her.

"Alright then." He stood swiftly and approached the door merely slipping past her. As he walked down the silent halls he began to feel like he was missing something, or that he had something to do on this lovely after noon, but he didn't know what. He soon enough arrived to his bedroom and entered. His gaze flickered to his window admiring the baby blue sky that was littered with fluffs of white every now and again. He sighed once again 'maybe it was cloud watching?'

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