Hearts in love and denial chapter 8: Communicating.
By Gasha Aisu
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Nervously the girls stared at each other before going to the living room in a silent agreement. Sakura walked in first, and hesitated before slipping onto the comfy couch.
"I'll make some tea" Tenten stated the minute she stepped in to the room. She walked over to the kitchen, which was hardly separated from the room. A bar was the only line between the living room and the kitchen. Hinata was the last to walk in, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She took the seat next to Sakura, yawning as she did so. The three girls where silent, still thinking about the dreams and what they meant. Tenten came back, carrying a tray that held their tea. After giving each girl a cup, she went to sit on a chair directly across the couch. The girl sat in silence, drinking their tea, and wondering how to start.
Tenten figured someone had to start, put down her cup and looked at her friends.
"I had a dream" she started.
As they where talking the girls found their dreams had a lot in common.
"It's almost... as if... as if... it's something that really happened. Their way of communicating you know?" Sakura spoke, slowly formulating her thoughts into words. Her tone was uncertain, almost confused as the immages of the dream kept going through her head. She didn't have to say who they where. Hinata nodded and Tenten frowned.
"Yeah, it does seem like the dreams showed us what happened. Showed us their deaths... You think we'll have more of those dreams?" she mused. Tenten seemed to wonder on her own question. Sakura bit her lip in thought, her eyes seemed troubled.
"Ano...we could go to Tsunade-sama" Hinata's quiet voice broke the short silence. Immediately both girls brightened. Relieved on the fact that they weren't going to go through this alone. It was so simple! Surely Tsunade-same would know more of it!
"That's a great idea, Hinata-chan!" Sakura exclaimed. "I should've thought of that" she added, more to herself. Hinata just smiled.
"Hai, but we should get some sleep first" Tenten said, and got up. Yawning Tenten made her way back to her inviting bed. She did seem tired, but they all where. Despite it being in the middle of the night, the dreams where not very pleasing(downright scary). And tossing and turning does makes you tired.
"Did, did you guys also dream of an eagle?" Hinata suddenly stuttered. Tenten stopped, and Sakura stared at Hinata. Hinata immediately blushed, thinking she said something stupid.
There was an uncomfertable silence for a while. They weren't sure they wanted to share the last part of their dream. Somehow it seemed special. But weren;t friends special too? Wasn't friendship based on trust?
"You know, I kind of did. Only it was a dragon with me" Tenten said, walking back to her original seat and flopping into it. Sakura nodded.
"A tree salamander with me" she said and then she giggled, "It reminded me of Sasuke-kun"
Hinata's eyes widened but Tenten just rolled her eyes.
"Everything reminds you of your precious Sasuke, you sure Neji won't mind?" she sneered, and immediately regretted it. Tenten had thoughted they had worked it out. Why was she still angry at Sakura? She didn´t get it, why was she so sensitive about Neji? She didn't have the right to sneer at Sakura like that. Neverteless she still stood her ground, knowing she couldn´t take those words back.
"Neji and I have nothing between us Tenten" Sakura said in a dangerously low tone, "and it really did remind me of Sasuke. It was once kind and gentle, but the death of his master made it cold" Tenten just crossed her arms, but made no comment. Hinata nodded.
Everyone knew what happened to Sasuke's clan, it seemed logical that Sakura was reminded of Sasuke in that way.
"M-my dream, it had an e-eagle. It was bright, optimistic and it h-had s-something in it's eyes t-that m-made me t-trust it, t-the eagle...reminded me of Naruto-kun"Hinata said softly, averting her eyes. She hoped her words would somehow return the comfy admostphere she had felt before. Tenten blinked but then shrugged.
"I don't really know the guy" she simply stated. Sakura smiled.
"Well I do, and I think you're right. The way you described it it's really kind, cheerful and optimistic. And it won't give up, just like Naruto" Sakura explained. Tenten just shrugged again but Hinata smiled. She guessed it had worked then. Both her friends seem to relax, if only slightly, again.
"Aa...and it refuses to cry, like Naruto-kun. A-and I think it's caring, like Naruto too" Hinata added, her cheek pink and her eyes focussed on her fiddling hands. Sakura nodded, smiling. She really hoped Hinata and Naruto would end up, maybe she should talk to Tenten about fixing them up... Speaking of Tenten.
"What about you Tenten?" Sakura suddenly asked, forgetting or simply ignoring the comment Tenten made earlier. Tenten shifted uncomfortable, and Hinata and Sakura shared a knowing look.
"What about me?" Tenten asked, pretending she didn't know what Sakura meant. Sakura raised an eyebrow, and Hinata just shook her head slightly. What did she think they where, idiots?
"You know what I meant, who does the dragon remind you of?" Sakura tried again.
Tenten paled but gave in.
"Neji" she muttered. Hinata and Sakura shared a knowing look again.
"Why?" Sakura asked.
"Because it's distant, and cold and at the same time close and tender, just like Neji. They're both confusing, and hard to understand. The dragon is locked up, and in a way Neji is too because of his seal" Tenten explained, frowning in thoughts, at the end she just shrugged.
"Ah...I understand" Hinata agreed, and this time it was Sakura who shrugged.
"I really don't know him" Sakura said, looking Tenten directly in the eye, "but you two are probably right"
Tenten huffed and looked away. The tension was rising again. Hinata sighed softly what was unnoticed by the two girls. Which where to ocupied with glaring at each other.
"Of course not" Tenten said sarcastically, which caused the two girls to end up arguing.
Hinata looked between the pair, her eyes darting form one to another. Normally she was a quiet person, who didn't like to meddle in other people's business. But this was driving her insane. All was fine this afternoon, and now they where fighting again! She bit her bottom lip and frowned. Did she, did she really have to courage to speak up to her friends? Well, Sakura ha said she should, and so had Tenten.
"You know Hinata?" Sakura suddenly spoke up. Hinata looked up, but Sakura didn't see it, she was focussed on the box she was unpacking.
"I know you're shy, but I just want you to know that you can say anything to me. I think you should speak your mind more often, I won't hate you for it you know?" she said, and this time looked up to wink teasingly at the shy girl.
"Yeah Hinata, we won't hate you so easily, just say what you want to" Tenten said cheerfully, before putting a picture of her and her team-mates on a table.
Hinata smiled shyly.
"Okay" she simply said, and earned two smiles of her friends.
"I think you two should stop arguing" Hinata suddenly spoke. The three girls blinked as even Hinata was surprised about how confident she had sounded. Or that she had even been heared for that matter.
"Go on Hinata, tell us" Sakura urged Hinata. Tenten nodded, also wanting to hear what Hinata had to say.
"You talked it out, didn't you?" Hinata continued, her voice pleading, "I m-mean Tenten-chan is insecure, and you should... you should try to understand that, Sakura-chan. A-and Sakura-chan doesn't like Neji-nji-san in that way" Hinata adverted her eyes.
"I-I h-hate to see you guys fight. A-and I don't understand... why..." she didn't continue, and she didn't have to. Both Sakura as Tenten felt slightly guilty. Tenten bit her bottom lip and then decided; she needed to know.
"Do you still love Sasuke, Sakura?" Tenten finally asked, she really wanted to know the answer. If she did, then even if Neji did love her, at least it wouldn't be from both sides. She didn't think she could stand seeing Neji and Sakura together. No, she would rather die. although she didn´t know why exactly, and she didn´t know if she wanted to.
"Yeah, I still do" Sakura confessed, she sounded sad, her eyes directed to the ground. Hinata wordlessly placed a hand on her shoulder in a silent support. When Sakura looked up again she saw a hand in front of her face. She raised her eyes further to the sadly smiling Tenten.
"Let's just be friends and forget about it ok?" Tenten asked. Sakura nodded and shook her hand. The connection was stronger then before, they all felt it. Peace was restored in the little appartment the three shared. Hinata yawned.
"Ano... let's get some sleep, we have a long day tomorrow"she spoke, she seemed tired.
Sakura nodded and Tenten yawned. It wasn't untill then that they realised how tired they really where. They settled in brief comfertable silence. Their thoughts wandered and suddenly Tenten frowned.
"How the hell am I going to keep this a secret? Neji's got the byakugan and Lee is always encouraging me" she suddenly spoke up, and then she groaned, "I'm gonna die"
Hinata bit her bottom lip, now worrying for herself. Kiba was loud, but not stupid, and Shino would definitely notice. Sakura frowned as well, thinking about Sasuke and his sharingan, and Naruto... Then she shrugged.
"We need to see Tsunade-sama first about the dreams and training. So I guess we'll have to worry about that later" she spoke. Both Tenten as Hinata nodded.
"Yeah, but let's just at least inform our sensei's. I suggest we'll go to Hinata's first. Then yours, if Kakashi is there at least, and then mine. It easier to go to Tsunade's office that way" Tenten suggested.
"Because I really don't feel lik running fifty laps around Konoha"she added, and frowned at the thought.
They agreed. With that dealt with, the girls went to bed. The rest of the night was dreamless, and uneventful.
"Wake-up sleepy head"Tenten's ammused voice came form her doorway.
Sakura groaned. Was Tenten always this happy in the morning?
"Go away"she muttered, and burried her head in the pillow.
Tenten only grinned not faced in the least. She walked over to Sakura's bed and janked the sheets of her. Her response was a pillow thrown so quickly at her that Tenten only barely managed to doge. She blinked.
"You know, Sakura, if you want to keep your seal secret you'll have to control your temper. That pillow went way to fast for your normal compasity. They'll suspect something you know?"Tenten said grinning.
Her only response was a muffled responce wich sounded like 'I don't care' but Tenten wasn't sure. Setting her hand on her hips and frowning, Tenten made a verry good immitation of a mom, although Tenten never had any of her own.
"Sakura" she warned. Getting no response she sighed and tried something else. Emotional blackmail.
"You know, Hinata worked very hard on this break fast"
Still no response.
Getting annoyed, Tenten pulled out her triumph card.
"You're lazy, no wonder you're such a bad ninja"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
Hinata was quietly humming in the kitchen, happy to make breakfast. She always enjoyed cooking, but her father rarely led her. She sighed and glanced around again. Her house, their house. She didn't have to deal with her father again, at least not as often as she used to. Returning her attention to her cooking, she allowed a small smile frame her face. She was at peace.
Unfortunately for her, not for long.
"Save me, she's gone mad!" Tenten yelled, and jumped behind the table. Hinata blinked and turned to face the direction Tenten was staring at. She paled.
A very grumpy and very angry Sakura stood there, panting. However Hinata saw a slight sparkle of amusement. When she looked at Tenten she saw her grinning. Aah, the girls where just playing. Grinning herself Hinata faked a scowl.
"Tenten?" she asked, in a 'threatening' voice, "What did you do?"
Tenten grinned at her before twisting her face in a look of absolute terror.
"I didn't do anything!" Tenten exclaimed, "I just woke her"
Hinata giggled.
"And that's exactly what you did wrong" Sakura yelled, and slowly approached Tenten.
Tenten 'eeped' and scrambled to hid behind Hinata.
"Save me!"
Hinata smiled before speaking the magic words.
"Breakfast's ready"
To be continued.
I'm sorry it took so long, I know I'm a slow updater. No sign of the guys, I know you guys are disappointed, but they will appear soon enough. I have a few ideas, I just have to put them in the story somehow.
Bye for now.
Gasha Aisu.