-We Will Never Part-
Disclaimer: I don't own any recognizable content.
-Chapter Fifty Two-
-Let's Give Us Something to Talk About-
"What the hell is Neji doing here?" Tenten asked, rounding on the one person who could possibly have pulled this off. For her part, Hinata looked the picture of innocence. Tenten had been restraining and repressing her emotions since returning to Konoha, but when she spotted the young haired boy, anger, shock, and irritation bubbled up over her carefully constructed wall.
"You're shutting down, bear," Ino spoke up, taking what was most likely meant to be a comforting step forward, "Hinata and I riddled out that it had something to do with your camp experience and then she reached out to Neji for help."
"We're worried about you Tennie and we tried to help you out in our own way, but nothing we were doing was working. This was our next best option," Hinata chimed in. "Just talk to him and if it doesn't work then Ino and I will do whatever we can to make it up to you."
Sakura then joined in as all three girls looked at her with their most intense and effective puppy dog pouts. It was quite obvious that the pink haired girl was not a part of the plan to bring Neji to the cabin, but she was now throwing herself wholeheartedly behind the plan.
Under the force of three strong pouts, Tenten felt her will power crumbling. A little reluctantly, she walked over to the awaiting boy. He was nervous, something Tenten wasn't sure she'd seen on him before. He kept ringing his hands and his normally calm, strong gaze flitted about the area as if it were a bird.
"You're here to talk," Tenten stated when she'd drawn close. It wasn't a question but a simple statement of facts. Neji nodded in response. "Follow me, I know a spot with a nice view."
Tenten then walked off into the woods, not worrying about whether or not Neji was following her. In her new robotic state, Tenten couldn't be bothered and walked much rather be alone. But her friends thought this could help and so she would give it a try, though maybe not her best try.
As she trekked through the woods, the sound of breaking branches and the crumbling of leaves alerted her to the fact that Neji was following behind her. Tenten continued on purposefully through the woods, not slowing down despite the trouble Neji was having. The amount of noise he was making made it very clear that the brown haired male was not having an easy time at hacking through the woods.
The silence of the forest allowed Tenten's mind to wander. She thought back through the last few weeks. She, for the first time in about a week and a half, allowed herself to feel all the emotions she had experienced. First, there was the excitement, and slight nervousness, of playing soccer again. The thrill of meeting new people. The rush of running after the ball. The joy of meeting Kankuro and the beginnings of feelings for him.
Then, the worse and more confusing emotions came. There was the confusion of her conflicting feelings for Kankuro and Neji. The heartbreak of realising Kankuro didn't have eyes only for her. The rush of kissing Neji and then quickly followed by the utter devastation of him kissing Kin.
All of the feelings came crashing over her and were followed by an intense sense of clarity. She knew in that moment. She knew exactly what she was going to do. With her feelings, with her friends, and with Neji.
Finally, as if matching her newfound clarity, the trees opened up and a cliff overlooking a valley came into view. There was a single fallen tree acting as a spot to sit and take in the view. This was one of Tenten's favourite spots and the place where she'd chosen to talk it out with Neji.
Still without a word, Tenten walked up to the tree and sat down. Neji, likewise, followed suit. She didn't day a word, just waited and watched the valley below. She knew what she wanted to do, but she still wanted to hear what Neji had to say.
"I didn't kiss Kin," he began, his voice quiet, but calm and forceful. "She kissed me and I was too shocked by it all that I just froze for several seconds. She was drunk and mad at her boyfriend, and probably you, and chose to use me as some sort of pawn in her sick revenge scheme. Nothing happened.
"I tried to find you after it all to talk to you about it, but I guess you were avoiding me." Neji finished his explanation a little sheepishly and waited for Tenten's response. She took a deep breath and prepared to speak.
"I'm sorry. I probably overacted to the whole thing. I don't have a lot of experience in the romance department. That's all Ino. And I was experiencing so many emotions, so many different emotions in such a short period of time. It was all quite overwhelming.
"I don't do good with extreme emotions. Haven't since my mother dies. When I start to feel too much, I just shut down and don't feel anything. It's not healthy and that is why you're here. My friends look out for me and Hinata, in her infinite wisdom, figured out that you had something to do with my current shut down."
Tenten became quiet once more. She'd sort of just spoken whatever came to her mind, just to get it all off her chest. With what she wanted to say next, she'd need to be a little more logical.
"Looking back on it, I wouldn't change anything. I had so many new and unique experiences and I learned so much about myself. In the moment, things may not have been all that fantastic, but with time, I realised they were important. That being said, I'm not sure I'd want to experience them again.
"It was all too much, too quickly and close together. This summer was truly a whirlwind and I am looking forward to being back home and back to normalcy, so to speak." Tenten felt like she was tiptoeing around the words she really wanted to say, but at the same time she wanted to lay down enough groundwork that her choice made sense. Luckily, Neji seemed to pick up what she was saying.
"It was a bit of a crazy summer. For you more so than me," he joked before turning to look her in the eyes. He seemed to be giving her the confidence to say the things she wanted to.
"I think the biggest thing I learned this summer is that I'm still dealing with the after-affects of my mother's death. I've still got things that I need to work through. On my own. And maybe with the help of my friends." Tenten met Neji's stare with one that she hoped expressed her unspoken words.
She wanted Neji to be in her life, just not romantically. She wasn't ready for that. At least not at that moment, but maybe someday. What she was ready for was a friend she could rely on.
"I can do that," Neji replied, understanding exactly what Tenten meant. The brunette smiled in relief and felt her body relax. She then turned and stared out at the sky, taking in and completely enjoying the view before her. This was her favourite spot in the forest for a reason.
-End Chapter 52-
-To be continued-
