So, I'm back and I have a huge art project and I'm gonna go cram for the three tests I have tomorrow after starting this. Sigh. Oh, Tayuya is in a starring role here. Man, I wish I didn't have to make her evil. She's my fave out of the Sound Four cuz she has a sense of morality. Dammit. Well, pretty dramatic here on out. Oh yeah, Neji's hairstyle is the one he has in Shippuden. I forgot to mention that earlier.
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Ch.42: Liars and Fairy Tales
Hands smoothed over pink gemstones set into a flower-shaped pendant. Fingers danced up the lace chain and back to the flower. Tenten sighed, a soft smile on her face as her heart warmed at the fond memory of that night.
flashback
"Neji, what is it?"
Music pulsed in the background as two figures stood on the cement walkway outside the gym. It was Valentine's Day and the dance was in full swing inside.
Neji turned, a slight nervous look in his eyes and Tenten frowned. She took a step forward and he unconsciously took a step back, keeping the distance between them ever the same. Tenten huffed, but her eyes pleaded. "Neji, what's wrong?"
Neji took a deep breath, thumbing the small velvet box in his hands as questions zoomed across his head. Would she like it? Would she hate it? Would she want to break up with him after this? 'Stop acting like a coward,' he scolded himself, 'whatever happens, happens; such is fate.' But fate couldn't stop his palms from sweating or the loud gulp he took.
"Well Tenten, we've been going out for a while and I wanted to—you see, I went to the—"
Neji wanted to kick himself. He was stuttering like a fool and probably looking like one too. "Aw, screw it. Here," he said throwing her the velvet box. He didn't trust himself to hand it to her. Besides, she'd see just how bad his hands were shaking.
Tenten stared down at the black velvet, brushing her fingers over the material. Placing her fingers over the lid, she lifted it. Inside, sitting on a white satin pillow was a pink Hibiscus pendant outlined in white gold.
Neji watched as she stared at the box's contents and turned his head. He heard the gasp and felt his spirits soar, but the deathly silence that followed sent them crashing back down to where they were, maybe even further. His hands clenched, teeth gritting against the painful squeezing in his heart. Everything had rested on that moment and now…now she was kissing him?
Pale eyes widened in realization and felt her lips pressed against his. His eyes were dazed, his mind bewildered. How did she get there? When did she get there? Why was she kissing him? Didn't women generally not kiss someone after getting a horrible gift?
"Why?" he whispered against her lips.
She looked up in confusion and he continued, hands holding her arms, his eyes meeting hers. "I thought you hated it."
She laughed. "Why would you think that?" she smiled.
He felt his breath hitch. How did she manage to do that? Just smile and make him want to melt into a puddle at her feet?
"You didn't say anything for so long and I…I…"
"It's called shock, Neji," she said before shaking her head.
Neji stared at her and he felt her arms wrap around his neck. "I love it, Neji, and I love you," she said looking into his eyes, a hand on his cheek. Neji blinked and leaned into the touch, moving to kiss her palm before leaning back into it, a serene smile on his face. "I love you, too."
end flashback
"—en. Tenten! OI!"
Tenten looked up, startled, her pendant falling against her collarbone. Megumi shook her head and smiled knowingly at her. "Daydreaming again?" She flushed and denied it with a curt 'no,' and Megumi shook her head before leaving the class.
Tenten sat petulantly in her seat, her arms crossed over her chest defiantly. "I was not daydreaming," she muttered to herself, sulking. A tap was felt on her shoulder and she looked back to see pale eyes. "Neji," she breathed. His response was to tap her forehead lightly with his textbook and smirk. "Ready to go?" She nodded, rubbing her forehead and pouting before going into the hall.
They walked in silence, fingers laced between them when a voice was heard over the dull roar of the hall. "Neji-kun!"
Neji looked back to see Tayuya coming towards them. "Tayuya-san," he acknowledged. She gave a quick nod to Tenten and looked up at Neji. She let her fingers trail up his chest. "How about afterschool, we have a little fun?"
He glared, brushing her fingers off him. "No," he answered flatly and walked down the hall with Tenten, her nose still in her book and turned down the hall, but not before hearing a frustrated scream.
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Neji tapped the cement under his feet anxiously. It was afterschool, but Tenten was still in the building. She said she had to do some last minute things with Priscilla and Amber for the project Iruka gave them. He shook his head. "I told her not to procrastinate," he grumbled. And as he waited, the day's events replayed in his head.
Kakashi glaring over the top of his book at the wall (something he was starting to do a lot recently), Naruto falling out of his seat trying to beg Shikamaru for his ramen, Hinata caring for the injured idiot, and Tayuya…
He shuddered. It wasn't the first time she propositioned him for a night of sin, but he wasn't going to give it to her. He wasn't going to be swayed. He was saving that for Tenten when they got married. Call him old-fashioned or a dreamer, but he honestly thought that they would get married in the future; the whole 'fairytale ending' thing.
Neji sighed, a hand raking through his hair. 'I'm getting soft,' he frowned.
Footsteps brushed against the grass and he looked up. "Hello Tayuya-san."
"Neji," she responded. She walked over to him, fingers walking up his chest. "So, when are you going to accept my offer?"
"I'm not leaving Tenten for you."
She chuckled. "You think I want to be tied down? No Neji, it's just one night of sin. No strings attached. We meet, we have fun and we never have to talk about it again."
"No. I'm not going to risk my relationship with Tenten."
Tayuya glared, her foot stomping into the ground. "Tenten, Tenten, Tenten! All you ever think about is her! What about your needs? I'm sure you have them…" she purred.
"If I have Tenten, I don't need anything else. I'm perfectly happy with her."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes. I don't think I'll ever need anybody but her," he stated firmly.
"Need and want are two entirely different things. You want her, but you don't necessarily need her."
"How would you know what I want and what I need?" he snapped.
"I know you want her, but what you need to loosen up and you can do that with me…"
"I don't want or need anything from you at all. Look Tayuya-san, you're a nice girl and all, but—"
Tayuya laughed. "Nice? That's new. You're cute, you know that? Tell you what. Just for that, I'll leave you alone, but answer me something."
"Yes?"
Tayuya smirked. "You say you love her, correct?"
"Correct, now I have to be—"
"Whoa, wait a minute, that wasn't my question. You want her and say you need her. You love her and you're sure that she feels the same, but are you sure that it's enough? Are you sure that your love will last?"
"What?"
Tayuya tapped her foot impatiently. "Just answer."
Neji sighed heavily. "Yes, I love her and she loves me too. I want to be with her forever and I think we will last, now if you'll excuse me, I—Mmph!"
Pale eyes widened as he felt lips crushed against his. He grabbed her arms, trying to push her off, but her hands were fisted in his shirt. He tried harder and then…he heard it.
"Neji?"
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Tenten walked out of the school, her fingers playing with her necklace as she smiled. The project was done and she could afford to relax now. Her fingers found the flower once more and she giggled. It felt good knowing that Neji cared for her so much, that every time she wore this necklace, it felt like he was there. It's probably why she never took it off.
She walked to the front of the school and spotted a familiar head of hair. She grinned to herself at the thought of him, but then she noticed red. Then she noticed what they were doing and felt her heart leap into her throat as tears stung her eyes.
"Neji?"
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Neji looked up, tearing his lips from hers. "Tenten," he panted, "it's not what you think! I—she—"
But it was too late; she was taking off towards the forest.
Neji looked at her retreating back and felt his heart wrench. He looked down and glared spitefully at the woman in his arms. "What the hell'd you do that for?!"
She cackled, her head thrown back before smirking sadistically. "Because I like watching people suffer."
He stared at her in shock, but shock gave way to fury and he shoved her from him roughly and ran after Tenten.
'Please, Tenten, please believe me.'
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It didn't take long to find her. All he had to do was follow the trail of broken branches. When he did find her, her arms and legs were covered with scratches and her eyes held tears that she refused to let fall, but her lip quivered and her eyes held so much pain. He watched a tear fall and reached forward, but she slapped his hand away.
He looked at his hand, saw the red shade on the back of his hand and studied it. A throb of pain told his brain that it was hurt and he looked up, confusion and sadness etched in his features and voice. "Tenten…" He reached out for her and she moved her hand away, but he was too quick. She glared at him.
"Let go of me," she seethed.
"No, Tenten. Let me explain. I—"
"That you what? That you were cheating behind my back?!" she shouted.
Neji shook his head. "No. Look, Tayuya—"
She looked up at him and he froze when he met her eyes. He saw pain, sadness, anger, and…regret. It even laced her voice as she spoke.
She withdrew her arm, nursing it like it was burned. "I should have never let you lead me on."
"Tenten, I didn't lead you on!" he said exasperatedly.
Anger flashed in her eyes. "So what? It's my fault then?!"
"No! Tenten, listen to me. I love you and if would just let me—"
SLAP.
Searing pain erupted in his cheek as Tenten panted, eyes narrowed, her hand hanging in mid-air. "Stop lying to me and save it for someone who cares, Neji; I won't be your whore anymore!"
He watched her as she reached up and pulled on her necklace, the chain snapping. She threw it at him and he felt the small weight hit his chest, leaving him feeling winded. As she ran from him, he sank to his knees, his pale gaze bewildered and lost. Everything seemed so surreal. Was he dreaming?
Suddenly, everything flooded into his brain and he looked at the small flower in his hand. It was mocking him.
He reached up, his hands fisting in his hair as he let out an anguished cry. He fell forward, beating his fists into the ground crying at the unfairness of everything around him, cursing the world for all its worth. He felt exhausted, but he tried to stand, running solely on the will to find her, but that alone wasn't enough. He stumbled as soon as he got to his feet and fell against a tree. Dirt stained his face and tears stung his eyes as his body was wracked with sobs.
Happy endings weren't real. Fairy tales told lies.
