A Sorta Fairytale
A/N: Wow! We made it to a hundred, people! (reviews, I mean) Thank you so much! Anyway, I want to give a shout out to tomboy901, duckiechan87, nefaith, BitterLife, hrypotrox72 (of course), NJ, Serenity Silence, Luna Forest, Azul Luna, and everyone else who took pity on a poor girl writing (typing, whatever) her first fan fic and reviewed. Thanks for everything!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter Seven: I'm Sorry
"If your response if affirmative, please say, 'I do.'"
"I do," said Yukina, confidently.
"Neji?" asked the priest expectantly.
Suddenly, it was really hot outside. Whose stupid idea was it to have the wedding outside, anyway? Neji became acutely aware of all the people staring at him, awaiting his response. "I . . .," he stammered, an unlikely thing from Hyuga Neji. "I . . ."
Neji looked out at the crowd. What was wrong with him? He was a Hyuga, and Hyugas never stuttered. Well, with the exception of his cousin Hinata, but even she didn't stutter anymore. 'Just say it!' he thought. He was angry at himself for not being able to do this. It was two simple words, why couldn't he just say them? I do. That was all he had to say. But he couldn't. He just couldn't do it.
Scanning the crowd, he locked eyes with TenTen. She looked so worried about him, and it tore at his heart. How could he have been so stupid? He looked at Yukina, who looked equally worried, but both for very different reasons. 'Yukina is just worried because we won't get married if I say the wrong thing,' he thought, 'while TenTen is worried about me as a person. She's worried because she really, truly cares about me.' Meanwhile, Hiashi was giving him a death glare, as if to say, 'If you don't make the right decision, you will be disowned.' Hinata was looking at him expectantly, but her look was saying, 'I know you'll make the right decision. Not what everyone wants from you, but what your heart tells you.' Everyone else was looking pretty worried, considering this was a Hyuga they were watching, and normally Hyugas didn't behave like this.
"I . . . I can't!" Neji said finally. There was a murmur going through the crowd.
Then, turning to the priest, he said, "No. I don't. I'm sorry, Egoshi-san." Which he was. He was sorry, but he knew he'd be sorrier if he didn't do this. "I can't go through with this because . . ." he took a deep breath. Hiashi looked absolutely murderous, now, but he'd deal with that later. Right now, he only had one thing on his mind. "I love TenTen!" There was a collective gasp from the guests, but no one looked more surprised than TenTen herself. Or, actually, perhaps, Yukina was the most shock. Her face was white with pure rage.
TenTen's POV
TenTen had risen as soon as Neji had said her name. 'Wait,' she thought, 'did he just say he loved me? No way, that's impossible. Bu then . . . why does everyone look so surprised? Wow. I think he actually did say he loved me! And in front of all these people! I can't believe it!'
Suddenly, TenTen was aware of all the people staring at her. Her cheeks flushed red, and kept her eyes on Neji. It was a magic moment, as if everyone else was gone, and now it was just the two of them, looking into each other's eyes.
Normal POV
Then, a screeching voice snapped the two of them out of their reverie. "What?" shrieked Yukina. "You're ditching me for this?" She looked at TenTen disdainfully. "This . . . nothing? This ill-mannered, ill-bred piece of trash? She doesn't even have a family! She's an orphan, who probably spent all her life stealing from those of us who actually worked for what we have."
"Excuse me?" asked TenTen in disbelief, "what did you just say?"
"You heard me! Or are you deaf as well?" she sneered.
"Cut it out, Yukina," said Neji, not bothering to show respect. "TenTen is one of the most honorable people that I know. And to stoop so low as to call names? I believe that you are the ill-mannered piece of trash. Not TenTen."
"B-but Neji-kun," sputtered Yukina. "She's . . . she's . . ."
"She's a better person than you'll ever be," said Neji coldly.
"My father will not stand for this," cried Yukina, "right, Daddy?"
But the Head of the Egoshi Clan merely looked amused, and said, "Who am I to interfere with young love? Do you agree, Hiashi-sama?"
"Hm," said Hiashi. "I accept the decision, but we will discuss this after. Punishment will be issued as called for."
"Hai, Hiashi-sama," said Neji, bowing.
TenTen watched the scene in shock, and then it dawned on her. Neji had done this for her. He could be disowned, heck, he could be killed by the Head Family, but still, he had done it. Disgruntled, the townspeople started to file out, obviously unhappy about Neji's surprise confession. Yukina passed by with her father, seething; her father's hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her down. Hiashi passed Neji, who was now standing next to TenTen, his face unreadable. Last was Hinata, probably one of the few people who were smiling. She looked at Neji, and in her eyes he could tell that she was proud of him.
Then he was alone with TenTen. He swallowed hard and said, "I meant what I said back there. I really do love you."
TenTen took a deep breath and said softly, "I don't care."
A/N: Haha, bet you thought it was over, didn't you? Well, I've got some of the next chapter already typed out because I was going to just finish it up in this chapter . . . but I couldn't resist leaving it at a cliffie! But don't worry, I'll finish soon, promise! Besides, you didn't think it would be that easy, did you? Not while I'm typing this . . .
