A/N: Hey everybody! I know, its been a while since I updated. I've been busy. College is rough. But I'll try and update once every couple of weeks, but no promises. As a heads up, the next couple of chapters will give more depth to the relationships of Tenten and Sakura. Naruto and Hinata will be side characters for the next two or three chapters. And to those who have stuck with me this far, thank you. Here's to a hundred chapters. Well, that's all I had to say. Onwards with Chapter 51!
Chapter Fifty-One: Wedding Plans
A month had gone by since Hanabi's first mission. Tenten arose on May 23, sick to her stomach. She hurried to the bathroom and she barfed into the toilet. It had become a morning ritual. Neji was still sound asleep, blissfully unaware of his fiancée's predicament. He still did not know that Tenten was pregnant with twins. Tenten washed her face and she walked back to her room and she sat on the bed. Neji stirred when she shook his elbow and he opened his eyes groggily.
"What's wrong? It's too early Ten."
He whispered and he closed his eyes again to go back to sleep. Tenten sighed and she tore the sheets off of him. Neji sighed and he looked up at her.
"You win. What's on your mind?"
Tenten sat on the bed next to him. She took his hand and she laid it over her stomach.
"Neji, we're having twins."
Neji's eyes went wide and he closed his eyes.
"Twins? Well, this is a nice shock."
Tenten looked over at him and she nodded.
"Yes, twins. A boy and a girl; just like Naruto and Hinata. And they are due in about four months. We need to start planning our wedding."
Neji nodded and he sat up, looking over at her.
"It shouldn't take us too long. Where and when did you want to have it?"
Tenten looked at him and she grinned.
"Right were Hinata had hers. That's a special place for us all. And how about in a month?"
Neji nodded gently. It really was their special place. They all had been there at least once, and it made Neji happy to see that Tenten wanted it there as well. Tenten moved closer to Neji and she wrapped her arms around him, keeping her close to him. Neji slid his arms under hers and he held her for a long time.
"Why don't we go out for a while? We could both use the exercise. I've been cooped up for far too long."
Tenten nodded and she smiled.
"Sounds good. Let's go soak in the bath and then go out for an early lunch."
Neji led her to the bath and he turned it on. Their bath was about the size of Naruto's tub. They could fit their comfortably. They disrobed and they sank into the water. Neji's hair was so long that it hit the water before his chest did. Tenten scooted close to him and she held his hand. Neji brought his hand to cup her cheek and he kissed her. Tenten then scooped some shampoo into her hand and she washed his hair.
"You sure like washing me Ten."
Tenten laughed. It was something she enjoyed, when she could be intimate. Tenten just nodded and she washed his back peacefully without saying anything. She then let her own hair down and she smiled.
"Wash me."
Neji grinned and he rubbed her back passionately, and he then started to wash Tenten's back and hair. When they had finished, they dressed and they hurried out the door. They had taken about three steps when Tenten saw Sakura walking down the street.
"Hey Sakura! No Sasuke today?"
Sakura stopped when she heard Tenten's voice and she nodded.
"He's off on a mission with Naruto. They'll be gone a couple of days. Are you two headed out?"
Neji nodded and he squeezed Tenten's hand. Tenten's eyes opened like she had seen a million Ryo lying on the ground. She looked up at Neji and she smiled.
"Why don't the three of us go out to lunch? And maybe we can bring Hinata and Hanabi too."
Sakura grinned. Her stomach was growling and she nodded.
"I'd like that, if you'd like me to come along."
Neji nodded and he smiled.
"Gladly. Let's go get the Hyuga sisters then."
The traveling party wound their way through the village and they arrived in front of the Uzumaki residence. Neji knocked on the screen door and he backed off a little. After a few seconds, Hanabi opened the door and she beamed up at her cousin and sensei.
"Hi Neji! Do we have another mission?"
Hanabi backed up a little to let them in and they sat on the couch. Hanabi was tending to a pot of tea on the stove. Kushina didn't seem to be home. Neji assumed she was visiting Minato again. Neji then smiled as Hinata brought Syaoran and Lyndis into the room. The twins were growing very fast. They were almost a year old now. Hinata smiled at her family and she sat down, handing Syaoran to Hanabi.
"What do I owe the honor of this visit?"
He said happily and she looked at everyone. Hanabi was sitting by her cousin and she beamed up at him.
"Actually, it's a recreation visit. Since we're all free, Tenten and I wanted to take you out to lunch. We have something to tell you all."
Sakura giggled. She was good at reading people's emotions, so she had a good idea of what they were going to talk about. Hinata agreed and she picked up Lyndis and they walked out the door. Hanabi was walking hand in hand with her nephew Syaoran. Syaoran had become much more active in recent days and he was becoming more talkative.
"Uncle Neji!"
He said and he held his arms open widely. Neji bent down and he picked up the child, setting him on his shoulders. Syaoran laughed happily and he held on tight to Neji's hair. They all walked and talked until they reached their restaurant of choice. They decided it was time for barbeque and they all entered the building and they took a booth. Hinata strapped her children into the high chairs and she poured some dry cereal in bowls for them to eat. They still couldn't eat real food, but they were getting there.
Neji wrapped his arms around Tenten and he kissed her forehead gently. Hanabi giggled, a dreamy look on her face. She had been with Konohamaru for a long time now and they were becoming more serious. Villagers had spotted them kissing and hugging all over the place. Hanabi loved Konohamaru as much as Hinata loved Naruto, and she hoped that nothing ever came between them. She broke out of her trance as Hinata shook her.
"Waiter's here. What are you having?"
Hanabi looked over the menu frantically.
"Cheeseburger and fries, no lettuce."
Hinata laughed, because she knew her sister had been thinking about Konohamaru. Hinata patted her sister's head and Hanabi smiled.
"So what was your big news?"
Hanabi asked, breaking the silence that had fallen over the table. Tenten smiled and she stroked her ring gently.
"Our wedding is one month from today. We're having it at the lake."
Sakura cupped her cheeks and she closed her eyes happily.
"Congratulations! Gaara is getting married here soon too. In about six days I think. He's asked Naruto to be his best man."
Hinata nodded and she chuckled.
"And he won't shut up about it. He's been even more energetic than usual. Who's your best man Neji?"
Neji closed his lavender eyes and he sighed.
"I was going to ask Lee."
Sakura winced gently and she sighed. Lee and Sakura had had a long talk and they had decided to remain friends, but it was a tense friendship, considering all they had been through. Sakura also knew that Lee was dating Ayame. He was a more frequent customer at Ichiraku than Naruto, and that was a scary observation to make. Sakura missed Sasuke a lot when he was gone.
Hinata broke the silence between them all, and she grinned as their food came. Hinata had ordered a large plate of rice and beef broccoli. They ate and talked about many things, particularly the mission Naruto and Sasuke were currently on.
"What was their mission anyway, Hinata?"
Tenten asked her friend as she stuffed a piece of her steak into her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully. Hinata swallowed her food and took a drink of water before she responded.
"Its an S-Rank. They had to go and retrieve a body from an enemy camp."
Everyone at the table stopped eating and they looked at Hinata with very grim looks on their face. Someone from their village was dead, someone they considered part of the Konohagakure family. No one had to ask the next question, because they knew Hinata was about to tell them.
"Raido Namiashi. He was killed by a Sound Shinobi."
Sakura shook her head and she shed a tear. As a Medical Shinobi, death made me feel like she wasn't performing her job properly. The table was silent, until Neji spoke.
"Sound Shinobi… What are they up to? Who's commanding them? And with Madara, Suigetsu and Jugo still at large, we could be facing multiple attacks. Damn. I hope Naruto and Sasuke are ok."
Sakura and Hinata looked down at their food, eyes closed. Naruto and Sasuke were probably the strongest two Shinobi in Konoha, and they wouldn't be taken down easily. Still, the thought of losing either of them caused pain to everyone at the table. Hanabi shot a look at Neji and he sighed.
"Sorry."
He said and he finished his food in silence. Hinata turned to Sakura and she whispered.
"They're only due to be gone for two days after today. They'll be fine."
Sakura nodded and she smiled. She knew Naruto and Sasuke better than most people. She knew it would take a lot to bring either of them down. They smiled and they looked over at Neji.
"You don't have to apologize Neji. You're just wishing them well."
Neji closed his eyes and he nodded. The rest of the meal was silent. Hanabi left first, citing that Konohamaru was waiting for her at their secret spot. Hinata let her sister go and she turned back to her children. The twins had long finished their food and they were now drinking milk out of their bottles. Hinata took Lyndis out of her seat and she held her daughter. Hinata then noticed that Lyn's teeth were growing in fast. Sakura bent in to look and she nodded.
"No doubt about it. They're growing faster because of the Kyuubi's influence. I can see Syaoran is too. I can only wonder what Rise will be like."
Hinata then remembered what Syaoran had down a month ago.
"He used a Wind Jutsu not too long ago. Is that normal?"
Sakura shook her head.
"I'm not sure. I've heard that some Shinobi grow fast. Kakashi grew faster than normal, and so did Itachi. But it was probably a fluke."
Hinata nodded and she smiled.
"I should get home. Kushina wanted me to help her make dinner."
Hinata rose, laid the Ryo on the table for hers and Hanabi's food, took her twins and she left. Sakura too rose and she smiled.
"I have to get back to the hospital. Tenten, come see me before the month ends. We need to make sure those two are healthy. And Neji… You're due for some immunizations. Well, thanks for having me along."
Sakura left them, leaving Tenten and Neji alone. They paid for their food and they went back home. They decided to call it a day early. They stayed inside all day.
Deep in the desert of the Wind Country, a man sat on a large rock, playing with a falcon on his gloved hand. The man had long black hair and dark piercing eyes. Another man approached the first and he bowed low.
"Lord Kenshu, we await your orders."
The man named Kenshu nodded and he cracked a grin.
"Finally… Time to bring Otogakure under my complete control. You may leave Kimaru."
TO BE CONTINUED…
