Title: Talk on Corners

Characters: Tenten, Hyuuga Neji, Rock Lee, Maito Gai

Special Guests: Nara Shikamaru, K11

Summary: She fell in love with another guy after the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Nara Shikamaru (reprise)

She fell in love with another guy after the Fourth Shinobi World War.

She didn't exactly fall out of love of Neji though.

And that was the biggest problem of all.

i.

The Fourth Shinobi World War crept upon them while they were all unawares, and the next thing they knew, they're assigned to different divisions, turned over to different commanders, made to fight side by side with shinobi they knew little to nothing of.

Tenten, it seemed, got the short end of the stick, as always.

Whereas Lee got teamed up with Gai, Neji got assigned to the division where Hinata, Kiba, and Shino were. She, on the other hand, was stuck with Neji's uncle and Chouji's father, both seasoned fighters, but nevertheless held no bond with her.

In a manner of speaking, Tenten, as always, ended up alone.

So it was almost a relief when her squad met up with the division that Shikamaru was leading. The war was only going to get uglier, so Shikamaru's serious-yet-lazy face, Chouji's worried-but-concerned half-frown, heck, even Ino's there-is-a-war-but-I'm-still-beautiful smirk, were a welcomed sight.

She couldn't help but wish that it was Neji's squad that got mixed up with hers though.

But beggars couldn't be choosers.

("Well, this is it," she said, smiling a small smile, hoping that her eyes wouldn't betray her. In front of her stood Neji, and to their side, Gai and Lee are doing some youthful stretching exercises. They were at the outskirts of the battlefield, on their way to their respective divisions. She guessed it was about the right time to say their farewells, so to speak.

"I'll see you after this is over, 'kay?" She tried to hide the shaking in her voice, because for all her fake optimism, she was very much afraid. Frightened that she might not survive the war, or worse, that one of her boys might end up dead.

"Of course!" Lee boomed beside her, giving her a thumbs up. "Youth will always prevail!"

Gai grinned in response, blinding all of them momentarily with his sparkling teeth. Then, putting his hand in front of them, he started with his infamous battle cry, "Team Gai . . ."

Lee immediately took his place beside their sensei, placing his right hand on top of Gai's. And although embarrassed, Tenten felt a sudden surge of affection for the twin bowl-cuts in green spandex. She placed her left hand on top of Lee's, giving it a little squeeze. To her surprise, Neji placed his right hand on top of hers, before Gai had to force him. Turning to her best friend, she watched as Neji offered her an exasperated little smile, as if telling her there was no getting around it anyway so might as well do it and get it over with. Tenten flashed him a small smile of gratitude.

"Team Gai . . ." Gai began, and Lee followed each call with a "Yosh!" Both Tenten and Neji chose to keep quiet, as was typical of them.

"Fight with the power of youth!"

The two Konoha green beasts blitzed toward the direction of their division, and Tenten was about to charge toward hers, except that she realized her hand was stuck . . . enclosed in Neji's grasp.

"Neji?" she half-gasped, stopping herself from stumbling forward. Neji caught her in mid-fall. "What are you . . ."

"You come back in one piece, okay?" Neji said suddenly, locking gray eyes with brown. Tenten felt her heart shudder in her chest; it wasn't in Neji's nature to remind her to be careful before she goes on a mission or fight without him.

"Of course," she barely managed to whisper. "You, too."

And Neji smiled, squeezed her hand affectionately, and whispered back, "That's a promise.")

ii.

When she came to, hours after almost dying from loss of too much chakra, she found Ino hovering above her cot.

"Ino?" she murmured, unsure why the Yamanaka heiress was watching over her when there was a war going on.

"Finally," Ino said, relieved. "I thought you were down for the count until the end of the day."

"What happened?" Tenten asked, pushing herself up to sit down.

Ino gently pushed her back before she could go very far. "You used too much chakra," she said by way of explanation. "One of the shinobi from the Sand brought you here for recuperation."

"Here?" Tenten took a look around, and realized that she was in a medics' tent, together with several other injured shinobi. "Oh."

"Yes. Oh," the younger kunoichi replied, shaking her head. "Seriously. Must you be so troublesome?"

Tenten couldn't help but chuckle. "My," she said, "Shika's been rubbing off on you, it appears."

Ino made a face. "Can't help it. Been with him for far too long it's almost a bother," she answered, checking Tenten's pulse. "Well, you should be fine soon. Just rest a bit more, and you'll be good as new. I need to go back to the field. Chouji and Shikamaru are waiting." A pause. "Speaking of Shika, that guy's really worried about you." Ino shook her head, snickered, and whispered to herself, "He's got it pretty deep, that one."

Tenten frowned. She would blame it on loss on chakra, but Ino's words made absolutely no sense. "What's wrong with Shika?"

Ino stared at her for a couple of seconds, unmoving. Finally, she shook her head again and chuckled, "Seriously, Tenten, you're older than me, but you're completely clueless when it comes to things like these."

Tenten's frown only deepened. "Things like what?"

Ino chuckled once more. "Not for me to tell you," she said, patting Tenten's shoulder kindly. "I really need to go. Come back when you can stand up. We need as many people in the field as possible. War's not getting any easier."

Tenten nodded slowly and watched the other kunoichi leave the tent. After Ino had left, Tenten rolled to her side, closed her eyes, and muttered, "Troublesome."

(More troublesome things would happen before the war was over.

More troublesome than the war itself, it seemed.)

iii.

She was up and about less than an hour after Ino had left. Back in the field, she was updated via her squadmates about the status of the war. It wasn't pretty news, but then again, nothing was pretty about a war.

Spotting Team Asuma a few feet away, Tenten headed toward them immediately.

"Tenten!" Chouji was the first to see her, and he flashed her one of his sincere smiles that Tenten had become so fond of. "You're all right!"

Tenten returned his smile. "'Course I am," she answered. "I'm a member of Team Gai. It'll take more than chakra depletion to get me out of a battlefield." And she suddenly longed for her teammates, her friends, and offered a silent prayer for their safety.

Shikamaru frowned.

"What?" Tenten asked, Ino's earlier statement coming back to her. He's got it pretty deep, that one.

"Don't ever do that again."

Tenten blinked. "What?"

But before she could press on, Shikamaru had already turned his back on her. Tenten would have smacked him, but Ino placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her head quietly. "He's under a lot of pressure," the younger kunoichi whispered. "Plus he's been especially worried about you."

"He shouldn't be," Tenten huffed. "I can take care of myself. I'm not his responsibility or anything."

She got a small, meaningful smile from the Yamanaka girl in response.

("Seriously, you didn't have to walk me to my squad," Tenten protested as she and Neji stood at the side of the First Division. "I know how to find my way around, you know."

"I know," Neji answered simply, but still, he stood there, smiling his small smile reserved only for her. "We have a few minutes before I'm required to be in mine. I'll stay here with you until then."

Tenten, for all the worry she was feeling, couldn't help but chuckle. "Getting sentimental, aren't we?" she said. "Not that I'm complaining. I barely know anyone in this team, save for your uncle and Chouji's dad." Then, looking faraway suddenly, "But I guess that's a good thing? Not seeing your friends get hurt in battle? I guess there's an advantage to being alone."

The weapons' expert suddenly felt Neji's hand on her shoulder, and when she turned to face him once again, his face was stone serious. "Don't ever say that again."

Tenten blinked. "What?"

Neji squeezed her shoulder, as if trying to give her strength. "You're never alone. We may be in different divisions, but we're still Team Gai, together or apart."

Tenten would have thrown her arms around Neji that very instant, but she figured that aside from being improperly timed because of the situation, her best friend would be mightily embarrassed about it. So she settled for a smile and squeezed Neji's hand in return.

"Thank you.")

iv.

The onslaught of Zetsu pretending to be shinobi put a strain in the ranks. They were forced to stay in circles until reinforcements, a.k.a. Naruto, arrived. Several chunnin were tasked to make the circles and assign random ninjas in them, but Tenten got the proxy division commander making her lot for her.

"Wow, special treatment," she chuckled, trying to lighten up Shikamaru's sour mood. "I can make my own circle, you know."

The Nara genius tched, and Tenten grinned. When the circle was finished, Tenten stepped inside, and offered Shikamaru a warm smile.

"I'm sorry for making you worry."

Shikamaru, for his part, frowned. "Just don't do it again."

Tenten raised her right arm in mock pledge. "Aye, captain." Then, "Thank you, though. It feels good to know that someone is concerned for my well-being."

The shadow jutsu expert started at her for a couple of seconds, and just when Tenten was about to apologize for sounding silly, he said, "Are you and Neji going out?"

Tenten blushed beet red at the question. "What?" she blubbered. "What kind of question is that? We're in the middle of the war, Shika!"

But Shika appeared to not hear her, and continued waiting for a more appropriate response.

"We're not," the kunoichi answered, after calming down a bit. "Seriously, of all the random things you could have asked . . ."

"Good."

Tenten stopped in mid-sentence, and stared back at her friend. "Good?"

"Because I plan to ask you out after all of this is over."

Ino's words suddenly echoed in her head, and finally, they made sense. He's got it pretty deep, that one.

Tenten's face turned red once again, and she tried to come up with a half-witty response. The shinobi beat her to it.

"It's troublesome, I know, but I'm beginning to realize you're worth all that trouble."

(Tenten realized, later, that she was really happy to hear from a guy that she was worth the trouble for anything. Neji never told her that, not even once, though she firmly believed, or at least hoped, that he shared the same sentiments.

He might not be in love with her, but they were best friends, right?)

v.

Shikamaru made good of his promise.

(They were in Ichiraku, her team and the rest of the Konoha 11, celebrating their victory over the Akatsuki, when Shikamaru, who was seated at the farthest chair from her, suddenly stood up, and walked to her side. She was flanked by Neji to her left and Lee to her right, but it appeared as if Shikamaru did not care.

"Tenten."

Looking up from her sesame dumplings, Tenten saw a determination in Shikamaru's eyes that she almost never sees.

Oh no, was the first thought that came to her, unbidden. Not here, please. Not in front of them all.

"Can I talk to you in private?"

Tenten almost breathed a sigh of relief. She was thankful that it wasn't in Shikamaru's character to be so blatantly open about his feelings, especially not in public. She was about to nod when a half-drunk Ino squealed, "Oh just tell her you love her in front of everyone, idiot!"

Both Tenten and Shikamaru blushed beet red.

Half of the guys—Kiba, Naruto, Lee—dropped their jaws, while Chouji, Shino, and Sai remained quiet—Shino with his face hidden as always, Sai smiling that creepy smile of his, and Chouji munching on a pork crackling. Ino giggled like a fangirl, while Sakura looked warily at her and Hinata tried to hush her down.

Neji, for his part, had his Byakugan on the ready.

Finally, Shikamaru closed his eyes in exasperation, and just when Tenten thought the worst was over, the younger shinobi opened his eyes, smirked warily at her, and said, "Ino already made my confession for me, so might as well go with a bang." And with a genuine smile, unmindful of Neji's death glare, Shikamaru continued, "Will you go out with me, Tenten?"

All eyes on her, except Neji's—he was currently trying to impale Shikamaru with his glare—Tenten felt the need to give a response. So a response she gave.

"Yes?")

vi.

She fell in love with the lazy genius somewhere along the way.

(She didn't exactly fall out of love with Neji, though.)

vii.

"I . . . won?"

Tenten stared incredulously at the shogi board in front of her, blinking. Opposite her sat a slightly smirking Shikamaru, who appeared to be trying to hide his chuckle.

"What are you laughing at?" Tenten growled.

Shikamaru shrugged. "You're not the first one to beat me at shogi, you know," he answered. "Don't act too surprised."

Tenten narrowed her eyes. "You didn't just let me win, did you?"

The Nara boy tched. "Of course not."

They were in the middle of Team Gai's usual training grounds, wasting time before Tenten's next sparring session with Neji. They already played five rounds, and the shinobi won four out of the five. It wasn't surprising that Tenten found her first win suspicious. Still, she let it pass. It wasn't every day that one won against Nara Shikamaru against a game of shogi, no matter how rigged the outcome was. Let him think he could patronize her. One day, she'll beat him for real.

"Well," Tenten said, collecting the game pieces and hiding it in one of her scrolls, "You better go, I guess. Neji will be here any minute."

The Nara genius offered her a wry smile. "Afraid that he'll find out about us?"

Tenten paused and looked at her companion, trying to gauge if he was serious or not. After a while, she shrugged, a small grin hidden behind her lips. "Neji already knows. Heck, half of the village knows. How could they not? You weren't exactly discreet when you made your confession six months ago."

"Oi," Shikamaru butted in, cheeks sporting a suspicious shade of pink, "Ino made the confession, not me."

Ever playful, Tenten tilted her head to the side and said, "So I guess I'm going out with the wrong person then."

Shikamaru tched once more and scratched the back of his head.

"I know," the weapons' mistress cut in before he could say anything. "I'm troublesome."

"Bah," Shikamaru answered. "Well, I'm going then." He stood up, dusted himself, and started walking off.

Tenten watched the lazy shinobi quietly for a few seconds before she stood up and jogged after him. "Hey," she called out. "I was only kidding." She offered him a sincere little smile, and when Shikamaru returned the grin, she found her stomach flip-flopping in return.

"I know," he said, taking her left hand and squeezing it. "I'll see you tonight for dinner?"

Tenten nodded in agreement. Then, as an afterthought, "Or you can pick me up here right after my session with Neji."

Shikamaru grinned so widely that Tenten couldn't help but smile herself. "Is that a yes?" she asked, hopeful, her heart beating out of rhythm.

"Definitely," Shikamaru answered, and, to Tenten's surprise, he bent down, and planted a quick, little kiss on her lips.

Tenten blinked at the contact. Funny tingles crept up and down her spine, and then zoomed to her toes in one big whoosh! She watched as Shikamaru smirked triumphantly, as if he won another game of shogi against her. She, in turn, chuckled and smacked him on the shoulder playfully. "Next time, let me know when you're going to do that, so I can return the favor!"

Shikamaru shook his head in amusement, and before leaving, whispered, "You really are quite troublesome."

(Neji arrived a couple of minutes later, face devoid of emotion, but it appeared as if he just came from a fight. Tenten watched him, curious, but didn't ask any questions.

She had her suspicions, but it was something she'd rather not confirm.)

viii.

Shikamaru sported an obvious bruise on the side of his face when he came back to pick her up from her session that afternoon.

Neji had already left when the Nara boy arrived.

Tenten feared that her suspicions were confirmed.

(For his part, Shikamaru denied any prodding that Tenten made about him having a fight with a certain Hyuuga. He said he fell down a tree branch while taking a nap. Tenten wanted to believe him, but she knew for a fact that the genius had taken countless naps on tree branches and has not, not once, fallen.)

ix.

"Ten."

The kunoichi turned to her boyfriend of eight months as they were both sprawled on the riverbank, lazily watching the clouds.

"Hmm?" She was a little sleepy, but she was by then used to the fact that afternoons with Shikamaru usually consisted of cloud gazing, games of shogi, and well, just lazing around. Truth be told, she welcomed the change in routine; for years, she had to endure rigorous training with her team in and out the field. To have someone who was not so gung-ho on youth and training themselves to death was something she truly appreciated.

"Do you regret it?"

Opening a sleepy eye, she turned to her companion. "Huh?"

Shikamaru, with his arms crossed under his head, was watching the clouds, his face peaceful, yet troubled. "Going out with me. Do you regret it?"

The kunoichi frowned. "Did you get your head knocked somewhere this morning?"

The shinobi turned to her, eyes all seriousness. "Do you?"

"Should I?"

A pause. Then, "Will you stop answering my questions with questions?"

A chuckle. "Does it bother you?"

The Nara boy tched, and went back to watching the clouds. After a couple of seconds, he said, almost a whisper it was a wonder how Tenten heard it, "Troublesome woman."

"I heard that!" Tenten chuckled, slapping Shikamaru's chest playfully. The shinobi caught her hand and, to Tenten's surprise, kept it on top of his chest. "Do you still love him?"

Tenten's face paled. Her boyfriend did not mention any name, but both knew who he was talking about. She was a little annoyed; what answer did he expect? Was he hoping that she'd say no, she was not in love with her best friend anymore? Was she not in love with Neji anymore? It was something she refused to think of, ever since the day she told Neji that she and Shikamaru were officially together. What did it matter? Neji didn't fight for her, probably because there was nothing to fight for. Maybe she was right all along, that Neji saw her as his comrade, his best friend, but nothing more. Was she supposed to delude herself into thinking that the Hyuuga felt at least a fraction of what she felt for him? Was she . . .

"Ten."

Tenten blinked, her train of thought interrupted. Only then did she notice that she was gripping Shikamaru's chest tightly, and the Nara genius was wincing.

"Oh," she said, releasing her grip and pulling her hand away. Turning away, she instead focused her sight on the still waters before them, willing them to calm her rapidly beating heart.

"It was a simple yes or no question." Shikamaru said it so matter-of-factly, yet Tenten knew he was straining to get the words out.

"What does it matter?" she whispered, eyes still on the river. "I chose you, didn't I?" But was there really a choice to make?

Silence.

Then, "I'm not asking you to stop loving him." This made Tenten turn, and when she did, she found that Shikamaru was smiling at her, was that, affectionately?

"What?" She barely got the word out.

Shikamaru answered by reaching out his hand and touching Tenten's cheek gently. "I'm just asking you to try loving me, too."

And she stared at the shinobi, the boy who took a chance and told her of his feelings, even when he knew she was in love with someone else, and her heart constricted to such a degree she thought it was impossible for her to breathe the same way again. So she cradled the hand on her cheek, and she offered him a smile that she used to reserve for Neji, and Neji alone, and she told him in her most sincere voice what she really felt for him.

"But I love you, too."

("Shikamaru asked me if he could be my boyfriend." A pause. "You know, officially."

She was met with silence, but she had expected that already. What was she expecting, really? She had long accepted the fact that she and Neji could never be, mostly because her best friend didn't feel for her what she felt for him. Still, she felt she needed to tell him personally, because he was bound to know sooner or later. Might as well do it herself than let him hear it from the grapevine. And Yamanaka Ino being Shikamaru's teammate—and probably their love team's number one fangirl—it was impossible for Neji not to know. It was a sort of closure for her as well, a way of getting over Neji for good.

Still, she was a little disappointed at the lack of response. Sighing, she gathered what remained of her weapons and tried to end their session with a light note. "Well, I'm off," she said, waving at the Hyuuga. "See you tomorrow?"

"Tenten."

She paused in mid-wave, blinking, surprised that Neji said anything.

"Yeah?"

"Do you love him?"

Another blink. Of all the weird things Neji could ask, she found that his question was the weirdest one of them all. Still, how was she supposed to answer him? He'd know if she was lying; he could almost always figure out if she was trying to hide something from him. Which was ironic, because how could he not know that she was in love with him?

"He loves me." It was as honest an answer as she could give, because, well, did she love Shikamaru? She was sure she liked him well enough to go out with him on a regular basis, but did that automatically translate into love?

She thought not.

"That's good enough for now," Neji said, and again, Tenten felt disappointed. So he didn't love her that way after all.

"Yeah, I guess." Her answer came as a whisper, because at that very moment, she felt like she was about ready to cry.

"I'm going home now," Neji said.

Tenten whispered a silent "okay" and hurriedly turned around so her best friend would not see her tears.

She was about to leave herself when she felt Neji's hand on her shoulder.

"Would your boyfriend mind if I walk you home?"

And despite it all, Tenten couldn't help but chuckle. Turning to face Neji, she answered, "I think he'd probably find it too troublesome to be jealous of you."

And Neji smiled, and he took her hand, and she did not pull it away. "I'll take my chances then," he said. "You're worth the trouble, after all.")