My Façade.

Chapter five.

Tenten…

Tenten…

Wake up…

I've given you…

A second chance…

My eyelids fluttered open and I found myself staring at a white concrete ceiling. The smell of antiseptic and medication filled my nostrils. The lingering presence of death. The steady rhythm of the monitor could be heard and I knew that I was in the hospital. No doubt, I was all alone in my room. Isolated….Like I was left to be throughout my whole life as no one has acknowledged my current state yet.

I turned my head slightly to the right and found a rather large window in the small box-like hospital room. It was still dark and heavily raining, I found out as I peered through the window. That means I had been unconscious for only a few hours. I used all my strength to sit upright with my right hand supporting my weight, tired of being bed-ridden. I shifted my weight on my bed, making my feet dangle from the ground and took out the needle that pierced my skin from my wrist.

I made my way carefully to the window and placed my right palm on the cold glass window. I briefly took in the darkness of the night and saw my pale reflection. I closed my eyes instantly, not wanting to see myself, I turned away and walked over to the door. As I inched closer to the door, I heard some voices and wondered who would make such a racket at night.

Sliding the door open pain-stakingly slow, I realized all the rookie eight, Gai sensei and Tsunade-sama was gathered outside my room. They seemed to be in a conversation as all of them seemed to have a grim expression on their faces, oblivious of my presence. I leaned on the wall, fatigue overtaking my body, wanting to hear their conversation.

" What has become of our precious flower? Will she not bloom again?" Gai sensei asked, his tone considerably low. A hint of exasperation and weariness could be heard in his voice. All eyes were on the hokage, waiting for her response.

" She…" Tsunade-sama paused. She had on a calm demeanor but I knew that in her heart, she was

in deep turmoil. For a fleeting moment, I was anxious for her reply. Would she keep her promise as she once assured me or would she tell them of my true demise. " She …"

" I didn't take the operation," I voiced, my voice brimming with confidence that even I wouldn't have doubted. All eyes were on me now, curious and taken aback.

" T-Tenten-chan…y-you're awake," Hinata's soft voice, proclaimed. Her white orbs looking at me with concern. The similar eyes that Neji possesses and I had to break my gaze in order to breathe again. Breathe ,Tenten…..just breathe.

" You should rest, Tenten," Ino declared, pushing me softly back into the room. " You look.. you look…" She stopped briefly and took a deep breath. " It's for the best." She eventually said.

I held my stand and her genuine concern went unnoticed by me. " There are missions that need to be taken care of. I must go." I shifted my gaze to Gai sensei and then to Tsunade-sama, asking for the hokage's agreement. Please let me go…please … I'm running out of time. I need to be remembered…

" No… Tenten… I can't let you… Not now." I didn't break the gaze that I had on her, still begging for her consent. " Damn it, Tenten. Why didn't you tell me that your wounds weren't healing? I could have done something… I could have…" She covered her face with her hands, defeated. I turned my gaze away from her as I saw the hopelessness in her eyes. What would she have done if she knew? Would she be able to save me yet again? Even I don't know but in the end…I would have the same downfall.

" Hokage-sama, what does that mean? Tenten-chan can't be saved anymore," Lee exclaimed, curious to know of my future becoming.

" The operation can still be done, hokage-sama. No matter how high the risk is you can still be able to perform it. After all, you are excellent in what you do. Tenten will live, " Shikamaru put in lazily. At that moment, Naruto, Tsunade and I had the same understanding in our eyes… of the truth and of what the others did not know. But neither one of us attempted to tell them. Maybe it was because Naruto and Tsunade respected my decision. Or maybe they expected me to tell them of my situation. Either ways, I just kept quiet, my eyes downcast.

Tsunade-sama removed her delicate hands from her face. And dawned a look of realisation, as if the idea hadn't occurred to her yet. " Yes, the surgery can still be done. I'll prepare for the surgery tomorrow morning." Her brown eyes met mine. I smiled at her for reassurance for she did the right thing….She did the right thing. She lied on my behalf and I could not repay her for that.

" Arigato, Tsunade-sama. That is all I could say for rescuing my student," Gai-sensei said, relieved. Lee, who stood beside him, nodded in agreement. Happiness clearly written on their faces and I finally realized on how much they cared about me. On how much I didn't realize I actually had, for I had been looking at the wrong places. Who knew that my contentment was right there in front of me.

Soon, Tsunade-sama walked away. A touch of regret and sorrow could be seen in her eyes. It sincerely moved me as I knew on what she just did for me. Lying to the others just to make that one person happy….that one person being me.

Arigato, Tsunade-sama…

Arigato…

" Neji, where are you going?" Lee asked, quietly. Noticing that Neji was walking away, Sakura tagging behind him.

"Tenten is safe. There is no reason for me to be here," Neji said in his cold, remote voice of his.

"Can't you at least stay for a few minutes? At least talk to her…say something," Lee said, frustration clearly in his voice. His idol remained silent beside him. The others too hushed down. However, Neji just glared at him, saying absolutely nothing. "At least come visit, Tenten, after her surgery tomorrow?" Lee replied eventually, unfazed by Neji's glare.

" I'm busy," the pale-eyed man concluded, taking Sakura's hand into his own and turning around to head for the exit. I was devastated… and my heart sank to the floor. Who knew that those two words could have that much of an effect on me.

Lee grabbed his arm and spun him around to face him again, punching him in the gut. " You bastard. The least you can do is apologise to Tenten or appreciate on the sacrifice that Tenten did on your behalf," Lee said in rage. Chouji and Kiba had to hold him back to prevent him from further hurting Neji. He took a few moments to calm down, taking deep breaths. " She saved your life, damn it….she saved it."

I gulped, knowing where this could go. I glanced at Neji, detecting a hint of crimson at the corner of his lips. Sakura was attending him, concern was etched on her face. " Lee…."

" No, Tenten," He looked at me sharply. He released the grip both Kiba and Chouji had on him. "I want to say a few words to this…this bastard of a prodigy. Don't try and interfere." I nodded slowly, knowing that I couldn't stop him. I just…I don't know. Maybe it was for the best. For me and for everyone else for that matter.

" She saved your life…" Lee said, his voice grew incredibly higher." She saved your life by saving Sakura's life. Did you know that…huh….did you. She got cut by a kunai when she was saving Sakura from that missing-nin. The kunai contained a poison that could kill her…that could kill your precious Sakura." Neji looked at me, an unreadable expression on his face. I averted my gaze elsewhere. I couldn't look at him in the eye. I just couldn't.

" Sakura was wounded in that fight, Neji. She couldn't have dodged it. If Tenten didn't interfere or push her away, she…" Lee pointed at Sakura, who seemed shocked with the douse of reality that Lee had given." She…could have died instantly. Now, Tenten is gravely injured for something that was meant for Sakura and you don't want to at least thank her for what she had done..." Lee paused, his face full of disappointment. The others too stunned by Lee's statement. " You're a bastard….you know that….A bastard."

A few minutes passed by and only Lee's heavy breathing could be heard. He turned away from Neji, not wanting to look at his face, disgusted and dishearten.

" Neji…come on. I have to treat your bruises," Sakura eventually said quietly, after a few minutes of silence. She pulled Neji to his feet, her arms supporting his weight. But before she left with him, she glanced back at me, her eyes full of sorrow and regret. For whom those emotions were meant for…I don't know….

" Why are you still here? The others are gone already…If you want to know," I said calmly. I was back in the hospital room, sitting on the white bed, body facing the window.

Naruto walked over towards me and joined me on the bed, both of us sitting side by side,watching the darkness and the rain pouring down in front of us. " Why didn't you tell them? You had the chance to… Why?" He insisted, ignoring my question.

" What should I tell them? That I'm going to die. That there's absolutely no way for me to survive. That even Tsunade-sama can not save me." I answered bitterly. Naruto didn't answer me and I knew that I was right. " Naruto-chan, normally one would like to hear news that brings hope and not despair."

Naruto grew quiet, he seemed to be pondering on a question left unsaid. " Why didn't you tell, Neji? He deserves to know…"

" Why should I?" I asked bravely, staring at the depth of his azure eyes.

" You love him don't you," he stated, smiling knowingly. I averted my gaze and made a 'tch' sound. But he lifted my chin up with his finger and forced me to look at him again. "Don't try to deny it, Tenten. I know."

" Am I that easy to read," I asked watching the pale moon blend in with the night sky. The rain, then heavy, was now in a drizzle.

" No… I didn't even notice that Hinata loves me until Sasu-teme pointed it out to me," he uttered. " It's just that no one would go that far in saving someone if they're not important."

" Souka…"

" Tenten…" I twisted my head to the side, facing him yet again, watching him continue to stare at the pits of the dark. " Promise me that you'll tell him…..eventually." I opened my mouth to protest but he stopped me with an intense glare.

I didn't reply just continued to look at the dark scenery in front of me, the even tone of the rain drops singing in the background. Naruto grew quiet and we sat there still looking at the dark, searching for something that remains missing or hidden by the dark itself. I don't know for how long we were there, staring at the scenery , maybe hours, but we were so comfortable that we didn't realize that time passed by so quickly.

Before, I knew it, it was dawn. The cold rain had long stopped. The soft orange and yellow hues touched the sky, illuminating the darkness. Then, a flock of white birds came into view, flying towards the sunset and disappearing into the early morning sky. I was astounded in the beauty of it all, the scenery and the knowledge of having to fly so freely, without the burdens of the world weighing down on one's shoulder.

It was beautiful.

" Tenten…" Naruto said quietly. His attention towards the sunset. " Birds sing after a storm. Why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?"

His words shocked me. " I….. Honestly, I don't know… Is that why you smile a lot, Naruto-chan. Not to hide something but rather because you're satisfied with what you've got," I asked him, gazing downwards at my lap. His words repeating endlessly in my head.

" Tenten… The worst thing in life, is not death but what dies inside of us when we live," He added knowingly, turning his head to face me. I froze instantly, those truthful words piercing through my heart.

" You're crying…" He said softly, resting his hand on my shoulder. I gazed at my clenched hands on my lap. Sure enough, warm droplets gathered, forming a tiny puddle atop my two hands. The tear drops continuously falling down.

" Naruto…" I cried. The tears still streaming down my face. I wiped the tears away furiously but the tears were never-ending." It won't stop….." I whispered. Feeling, vulnerable and weak for the first time in my life.

" I know Tenten…I know." He said, pulling me into a reassuring hug.

Finally, my façade was broken.

Ok…That's the end of the fifth chapter. Long isn't it. It's not finished yet as you can see. I decided to post up what I've got so far. The characters here are pretty ooc I have to admit. But in these situations who can be happy. Lol.

Anyway, I'd like to say that I posted my first-ever poem in naruto It's called Condemned Love. It's dedicated to all My Façade readers. I was just inspired to write it as I got a lot of reviews and the support from you readers were great. Knowing that people enjoy reading my stories is a great thing for me. Please check it out.

Thank you again for reading this chapter and as you can see it's not finished yet. Please leave a review.

Sincerely touched,

naash