You're On

...

'He doesn't recognise me.'

There was no denying it. She had been sitting in plain sight and the man that she now knew as Sasuke had been as casual to her as she would expect from any other acquaintance. Not a flicker of recognition, realisation, or - better still - resentment.

As much as she tried to run from the past, it had a funny way of creeping back and surprising her in the worst ways possible. Not that he had any significant impact on her in particular, but her ex would most certainly say otherwise. She still remembers mopping up the blood drench floor after the midnight assault that he had been a part of along with his group of debt collectors as they swept their shack for anything of value. When they had finished picking through the last of their dismal stash, they had left their mark across his body and left her to pick up the pieces. He promised a better life, she believed, and they the cycle continued - same story, different town.

That was a few years ago now. He had grown a lot since then, having only been a teenager at best during that encounter, but she distinctly remembered that fair skin against those dark eyes that twisted into black. Though he was no longer chasing after them, he most likely was still involved in criminal activity. And she knew firsthand how your past may not be as far behind you as you might like to think it is.

She could warn Naruto and the rest of them of this potential danger, but what evidence did she have against him? What could she possibly say that wouldn't mean her giving up her own story? Hoping that her silence would keep her freedom, she said nothing.

Naruto soon after Sasuke had entered had dismissed the rest of the group to go about their daily activities and to prepare for their scouting mission tomorrow. Lee had excused himself to prepare privately - mentioning something about wanting to break a personal record of running to the mountains and back - and had left Neji and Tenten to wander to the stables. She assumed that she was still under his primary watch and Neji had said nothing to correct her.

As they wandered towards the stables, Neji eyed his newfound accomplice who had taken to standing to his left. He had been waiting to catch her in private to somehow inquire about what had happened between her and Sasuke to make her so uneasy. Though a perfect opportunity had come, there wasn't exactly an indirect way of asking her without approaching sensitive topics that he wasn't sure they were quite ready for. Though there could have been a million different reasons why she did react the way she did, he was certain that it couldn't bode well for them.

Naruto had been so keen to welcome the help in return for getting intelle on the bandits, and Neji would be the first to admit that the information had greatly aided their understanding of the enemy much more than they would have hoped. Yet, he couldn't shift the bad taste in his mouth whenever he saw him. Respect was earned. For him, though she wasn't quite there yet, Tenten was slowly becoming a prime example of that.

"Tenten," Her name slipped from his mouth like butter, and she obeyed his call. "Show me how to shoot like that."

"Huh?" Her features pinched together in bewilderment. As he simply looked back without an essence of trickery, she felt herself released of all tension. Whether he knew it or not, he was inviting her to escape her swarming head and she wasn't about to refuse. "After our rounds?"

"After our rounds. If you're not busy?"

"What would I be doing otherwise?"

"Maybe preparing for tomorrow?" The words slipped out before he could catch what he was saying. "Sorry.," His body slanted towards her as he gave her his full attention. "I wasn't prying about your decision."

"You're quite well-mannered when you aren't wandering into people's rooms and pinning them down." Neji bounced back into his own space with an exacerbated sigh. Tenten in return let out a laugh from deep in her chest that got the pair a few strange looks. "Sorry, Sorry, I had to. Now we're even."

Rather than be annoyed, Neji fell back into his natural near unemotional expression as he watched her. There was something curiously exotic about the way her entire body moved with her amusement, like she would burst if she didn't fully let it go - or it had simply been a while to do so. "If you say so." He shrugged. She calmed and joined him in comfortable silence.

…

Sasuke had quickly evaded another invitation from the beaming Sheriff, thankful he was so gullible to his excuses - how many times could a person buy ammo, take care of his horse, or buy groceries? Though he was excruciatingly overbearing, he had to admit that the blonde had good intentions behind his behaviour. He was, afterall, only expressing gratitude for the apparent help Sasuke had willingly provided. If it had been under happier circumstances, perhaps in another life they would have been friends.

Sasuke's primary task remained in his true operation: Helping The Famous ten gain access to the town's ammo and money. Konoha, like the towns before, was just another pawn in their game of life. It was a dog eat dog world, and The Famous Ten were no strangers to being at the bottom of the barrel. With money and ammo came power. With power came a chance to not just survive, but thrive for the rest of your life. And when you have that promise dangling above your head as you neared the border between life and death, the decision is obvious. As far as Sasuke and Itachi were concerned, their assistance merely aided in their own survival and nothing more. If another one of their members took advantage of the situation and rolled a few heads as a reward, it was none of their concern. Once they secured enough money to make a better life for themselves they would be gone.

However, this particular attack was entirely different.

Though he had not let her into his cryptic life to keep her from danger, she was incredibly perceptive. He had vaguely told her that he merely travelled from town to town to chase the dream of a better life. She never pried further, but her emerald eyes had searched deeply between the shaded truth before he enveloped her in passionate distraction. Never had he meant to get involved with her. Never had he wanted to rob her of authenticity and endanger her life. But never had he been so taken by the allure of another. She was everything he wasn't - safe, secure, and good. He had gorged on the feelings his body had been starved of for so long. Now it was time to right those wrongs and set her free.

He had headed straight towards the ranch to confront her, spew words of hatred, and finally cut the ties so he could retain his focus. The path he had taken each night since they had met in the dead hours looked different in the high mid-afternoon sun, but as usual he wasn't spotten. He tapped lightly on her window and the curtain snapped open almost instantly.

'Sasuke?' Sakura breathed, her muffled voice soft and full of surprise. 'What are you doing here?"

He motioned without sound for her to roll up her window and let him in. She obliged, sensing a matter of urgency that was unlike the last few times they had been together. When he stood upright his mouth opened to start but he stopped. From the beginning at the winehouse they had only ever met at night. Now in the daylight hours she seemed ever more virtuous than before. Pale skin kissed blushed hair as the wind flowed in from the open window, and those same fields of green locked on tenderly without judgement.

"You're leaving, aren't you?" He didn't react. Moments ago he was bent on repulsing her, now he wondered if there was a way to convince her to join him. Though their paths had not meant to cross, perhaps there was a way of bending the rules further. If he could just put into words how the way things worked in his world, maybe she would…He stopped his tempting train of thoughts in defeat. To drag someone like her into his world was as good as murdering her. All he could do was at least try to sever the blow.

"Yes."

"When?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Her eyes never left him despite them filling with tears. When she blinked, they finally dropped and traced the outlines of her sad smile. "I see." Seconds went by without another word. Sakura instead took a couple of steps forward until she met his space, not quite invading him just yet but inviting the temptation all the same. "Then, there's still time."

His firm stance melted at her words. The last opportunity she had to force his hand and spill his soul in truth, and she simply accepted him as he was and let him be. Without thinking he met her lips in the space in between and cupped both hands under her jaw, delicately stroking the stray pieces of hair at the nape of her neck. She fell into him as though it was the most natural thing in the world to her. Time pressed on and the intensity of the kiss continued to boil until it seemed to burn, their breath hot and laboured as they drank each other deeper and deeper with each kiss. He knew he should stop, but he was already in too deep. Just like before, he let her hungry fingers continue inside of his shirt and relished in each moment that came after.

…

This time their rounds had been completed without a hitch. Once Naruto had relieved them for the day, Neji and Tenten headed straight towards the same shooting range that they had visited just that morning. There were a couple of other good-for-nothing stragglers that all looked as rough as the stories. At first they just scoffed, amused at seeing a woman weidling a gun, but otherwise paid her no heed - until she started shooting. Some left quietly more humbled than when they arrived, others became visibly upset at being shown up. Tenten merely smiled in delight as she stared them down, still shooting as she did and hitting her targets perfectly.

Soon enough they were left alone to their own devices and their lesson started.

"First," Tenten began as Neji took position next to her with his gun in his right hand facing down. "You have to relax."

"Relax?"

"Trust me. People like to wield the gun but don't take the time to respect the damage it can cause." She dropped her pose to look at him before closing her eyes, prompting him to copy. Peeping a beady eye, she crooked a brow as she saw him still staring at her with an inquisitive face. "When you shoot out of fear, stress, anger, or anything other than to focus, you might as well hold the barrel to your head."

This time, he heeded her words and did as he was told. As his head returned to facing toward the target he could hear her take a step closer to him. When she touched the underside of his right arm to raise it, he jumped.

"Breathe." She was almost uncomfortably close for his liking, but he once again complied. His features untensed and he felt his chest let out a hushed breath. ""Good. Now," She continued to raise his arm towards the target to aim. She released the latch. "Shoot."

A single bang echoed from the barrel as he did as he was told. Cracking his eyes open, he saw his bullet had violated his target.

"You got really lucky." though impressed, he kept his tone light. "My gun shoots a little to the right."

"I know." Neji spied her through his side eye - again, not a slither of deceit was etched into her face. "That's why I stood to your left. From where I can see, I knew it would hit perfectly."

"How did you-"

"Hit 3 in a row without pausing and I'll tell you."

Neji let out a soft chuckle. "You're on."

Training went on like this for the next hour or so. Neji was not one to curse, but once progress was made and then lost again he couldn't help but let out an intimate cuss under his breath. Tenten would gently chime in at times but otherwise let him work it out for himself. The sun raged against them and Tenten felt the sticky beads of sweat coursing down from the back of her neck to the curve of her back. Being so caught up in the uncomfort, she casually removed her poncho and unbuttoned the top of her shirt to wipe away some of the clamminess. At that moment, Neji turned.

Catching her as she leant her neck to one side, the rainbow of bruises, gashes, and claw marks she had was undeniable. They started from her collarbone and winded their way beyond her shirt. He inadvertently winced as she wiped delicately against them. When she noticed his astonished gaze and realised her state, she didn't even attempt to hide. When she redressed, Neji wondered if he should have looked away. Too late to dwell on the missed chance, he decided to press the topic.

"Whatever you want to share is up to you. I won't ask. It's your story to tell, or not to tell. But," He placed his gun back into the holder and walked toward his horse. "denying the past won't help you or prepare you. You have to release yourself before you can be truly free. The only way to do that is to be better than the you of yesterday."

Bay eyes stared, hooked on every word. Yet another person from this town that simply accepted her and her past. No questions, no qualms. Yet, what he stated next would top it all.

"It's obvious you're extremely gifted in long-ranged attacks. But you won't always have your gun with you, and even if you do there are…times you can't use it. In exchange for you teaching me how to shoot, I'll teach you how to do close-combat fighting."

When he mounted his horse, Tenten had expected him to ride off without her. Yet he sat on his horse without budging; and she simply echoed his movement. "Think I'm up for it?"

"You're probably more capable than all of us put together." But, I could say that all I want. Until you believe that about yourself, you won't be."

…