Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act should no longer remain a barrier to the relationship. Forgiveness is a catalyst creating the atmosphere for a fresh start and a new beginning.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
"Do we have to?"
Tenten couldn't help but roll her eyes at that, but kept walking.
"Tenten."
The person in question blinked.
Did he just wine?
Then, she shook her head.
No. Hyugas, especially those named Neji, don't whine.
Her eyes twitched when she felt a poke at her back. Then another, and another, and anoth-
"What?!" She growled, her murderous shout making the villagers jump. Neji smirked, though very slightly. Tenten had the sudden urge to punch his handsome face.
"Do we have to?"
She sighed, exasperated. Then, she frowned.
"You're his family, Neji. The least you could do is introduce yourself."
Neji only looked away. He could stay angry at Hinata all he wanted, but he couldn't hold a grudge against Kazue. Hence, the reason they were her now.
Shaking her head, Tenten tugged on Neji's hand.
"Come on. We've almost reached Kurenai's."
Nearing Kurenai's apartment as she tugged Neji along with her, Tenten's eyebrows furrowed when she saw Kurenai step out of her house.
"Kurenai-sensei?" She called, speed-walking towards the woman, her eyebrows raised slightly.
"Is everything okay, Kurenai-sensei? Where are you going?"
The woman in question smiled.
"Yes, everything is fine. I was just going to Kakashi about something."
Then, slightly cocking her head, she led her confusion show.
"Was there something you wanted?"
Tenten shook her head.
"We," She began, gesturing to herself and Neji, "just came to visit Kazue."
Kurenai's eyes lit up at his name, as she cocked her head.
"Oh! Sasuke took him and Mirai to the park."
Neji's head shot up as he looked at her as if she had gone crazy.
"What?!"
Tenten only blinked.
"Sasuke? Uchiha Sasuke?" She asked slowly, incredulous, wondering if they were talking about the same person. Kurenai nodded, amused at their reaction.
"And you let him?!"
It was Neji.
For a moment, Kurenai stared at him. Then, she nodded, all amusement gone from her face.
For the past week, Sasuke had paid frequent visits to her to meet Kazue, and had left behind necessities that he might need. Like clothes. Especially clothes.
Kurenai couldn't help but feel relieved about it, as she earned just enough to support herself and Mirai. Though she still had her savings, she knew that they would not last forever, especially with Kazue in the picture. So she let Sasuke do what he wanted, even if the clothes he had chosen for Kazue were... questionable.
He had often stayed for a good few hours, saying that he preferred to stay at hers rather than the Uchiha Compound.
Too many memories, He'd said.
Kurenai hadn't known what to say to that.
As the days had passed, she'd grown to trust him, enough to leave the kids with him for some time. Of course, she was hesitant at first, but she soon realized that as close as she was to Kazue, Sasuke would be a familiar face. She wanted them to be on good terms.
He was the last person she wanted as an enemy.
Regarding Neji silently, Kurenai raised a single eyebrow.
"He really loves the boy, Neji. And Kazue is happy with him too." She explained softly. Then, her eyes hardened.
"Kazue is his family, and unlike some, Sasuke treats him as such."
Neji couldn't help but flinch at the insult. Beside him, Tenten squeezed his hand, reassuring.
After brief goodbyes, they left.
Tenten sneaked a glance at her teammate as they made their way to the park. He seemed to be deep in thought.
"We're here." She announced, once the park came into view. It did the trick as Neji blinked, snapping out of his thoughts.
At the entrance, he stopped, slightly hesitating. Then, he sighed.
Might as well get it over with.
Stepping into the park, they surveyed the area.
"There." Tenten whispered to him, gesturing to where the three were.
They were standing next to an ice-cream cart, the children on their toes as they strained to see their treats. Neji watched as Sasuke grabbed the ice creams, and bent down, handing one to Kazue and one to Mirai, smiling slightly as their eyes lit up and they grabbed the dessert enthusiastically.
Tenten watched with great interest as Mirai giggled when the ice cream spread around Kazue's mouth, then took out a tissue and wiped it away. His face turned into an impossible shade of red, as he hid his face in the long collar of his shirt.
Tenten squealed, much to the unfortunate of Neji's ears.
Kawai!!
Tenten grinned and raised her hand in a wave.
"Kazue!" She called out, "Mirai!"
Hearing their voice, Neji watched as Kazue turned, first to the right, then to the left. The motion gave him the perfect view of the boy's back.
Neji's breath caught in his throat. Even Tenten gasped softly.
Proudly emblazoned on the back of Kazue's blue shirt, was the Uchiha Fan.
"Making quite the statement, isn't he?" Tenten remarked, though she couldn't care less.
Neji's blood went hot, as he clenched his fists, everything Tenten had said to him about Hinata--about Itachi-- going out his mind.
That bastard...
Though which Uchiha he was cursing, Neji himself didn't know.
Tenten noticed his mood change, but let it be for now. If things got worse, then she would step in.
Instead, she ran towards the kids, showering hugs and cuddles on them.
Stalking closer, Neji stopped about a metre away from Sasuke. The two men stared at each other, maintaining eye contact, daring the other to back down.
The silence was thick, waiting to be broken. An eternity seemed to pass before Sasuke spoke.
"Hyuga." He addressed as a form of acknowledgement, his face blank.
"Uchiha." Neji replied with the same monotony.
Both narrowed their eyes, scrutinizing the other, deciding if they were a threat or not.
"What are you doing here?"
Sasuke blinked at the question. His lips twitched as he raised an eyebrow.
"Can you not see for yourself? And here I thought that Hyugas were known for their eyes."
Neji's eyebrow twitched as he forced his face to remain neutral.
"Just answer the question, Uchiha." He gritted out.
Sasuke cocked his head to one side, the very picture of innocence, as the smallest of smirks appeared.
"Why, spending some time," His smirk grew, "with my nephew."
Sasuke could feel the annoyance radiating off the normally stoic Hyuga. They were all stuck-up bastards, from what he could recall. The rivalry between the clans had run deep. So, of course, Sasuke was going to rub it in that a Hyuga was wearing the Uchiha Ensemble. What made him even more smug, was the fact that Neji could do nothing about it. As strong as the Hyuga was, he was still no match for Sasuke. And they both knew it.
"Take that immoral symbol off of him."
Neji's order was blunt, his eyes daring the Uchiha to defy him.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the slur made on his clan. Still, never the one to back down, he only raised his head an inch higher, the arrogance of an heir coating his voice when he spoke.
"Make me."
Neji clenched his fists, his blood boiling. He was reaching at his wits end. His Byakugan activated.
"You will regret ever taking me on."
Sasuke smirked again, placing a hand on his chest as he shook his head, feigning hurt.
"My, is that how you will be treating me?" Looking up into the Hyugas eyes, he activated his own Sharingan, "We are family, after all "
And just like that, Neji snapped.
"Damn you!" Neji shouted as he lunged at Sasuke, watching as the Uchiha tensed to defend. Neji watched him glance at Kazue once. Just as they were about to make contact, something stopped them.
Tenten stood in the middle, her eyes glaring, but smile sickeningly sweet.
"Girls, girls, you're both pretty." Her smile grew, as she turned towards Neji, "Can we all please calm the fuck down, now?"
There was silence.
In other circumstances, Neji would've yeilded. He didn't want to fight against Tenten, and her involvement would have been enough for him to step away. But this was about Hinata.
Tenten would probably kill him after this, but at least he would be able to have a 'talk' with Sasuke. Call him a masochist, but in the end, it would all be worth it, all warnings be damned.
Neji coldly turned towards Tenten, ignoring all the sirens in his head that told his how much of a bad idea this was. Tenten hated it when he went all emotionless with her.
"Let me go." He said icily, though his tone was quiet. Tenten narrowed her eyes, her lips lips curling in a snarl.
"Neji..." She growled out, warningly.
Neji ignored her, turning back to Sasuke.
"This Uchiha," He began, spitting the word with venom, "needs to answer some questions."
Before Tenten could even blink, Neji was in front of Sasuke, his hands fisted in the Uchiha's shirt. He looked at him with such hatred, that Sasuke couldn't help but flinch ever so slightly.
"Just who the fuck gave your brother, the right to touch my sister?!"
Neji didn't bother to keep his voice low, finally catching the attention of the kids. They both look up startled, eyes wide at the sudden change in the atmosphere.
It suddenly occured to Sasuke that the things he was going to hear today, were the things Neji wanted to say to Itachi. Tenten seemed to come at the same conclusion, as she clasped Neji's shoulder in a bruising grip.
"That's enough, Neji! You asking the wrong person!"
Neji ignored her, only tightening his hold in Sasuke's shirt.
"She's always been naïve, kind, innocent to that way the world works." Now he bowed his head, his whole form trembling as his voice cracked.
"I've always feared that it would result in her being taken advantage of, and the fact that it's your brother makes me sick to the stomach."
Finally tired of hearing his bullshit, Sasuke calmly took a hold of the wrist holding his collar and ripped it away from him. Looking up at the Hyuga, he glared, coldly.
"My brother," He began, calmly, "was a hero. And it makes me sick to think that the pathetic existences he gave up his life for belonged to the likes of you."
He paused.
"They had a son. Get over it."
Neji clenched his fists, until he felt something warm and wet oozing from between his fingers.
A single drop of blood fell on the ground.
"The sharingan." Neji began, catching the attention of the Uchiha, who narrowed his eyes.
Tenten tightened her hold on Neji's shoulder, her teeth gritting as she realized where this was going.
"Neji, we talked about this. Don't you dare-"
But, Neji cut her off, completing his question.
"Can it alter memories?"
The atmosphere suddenly went cold, killer intent filling the park.
"Just what are you trying to say, Hyuga?"
"Do you want me to spell it out for you, Uchiha?"
But before Sasuke could say anything, he felt a tug at his cloak.
Looking down, he blinked when he realized it was Mirai. Her eyes were wide, panic radiating off her in waves. She looked like she was about to cry any second.
Tenten, too, noticed. Immediately kneeling to the girls height, Tenten smoothened Mirai's dishevelled hair, as she took a deep breath to calm herself, her tone soothing when she spoke.
"Hey, Mirai, what is it?
Suddenly, Sasuke's eyes widened as he furiously scanned the park, coming to a sickening realization.
At the same time, Mirai burst forth, her tears now falling.
"It's Kazue! He ran off!"
THERE IT IS!!
God, I had so much fun writing the Sasuke and Neji interactions. They were so funny to me.
"And here I thought that the Hyugas were known for their eyes."
Plus Tenten was so damn badass. Definitely one of my favourite characters.
XD.
Anyway, what were your thoughts??
Where do you think Kazue ran off to? And why? Will he ever be found, again?? No one knows..
MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
heh..
So, we are only four chapters away from the first Itachi/Hinata interaction.
Are you all losers excited? I know I am.
Until then, enjoy!!
-Your funny author.
