A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed. Really. I'm happy that everyone enjoys this fic so far. This is the next chapter. I hope I won't disappoint you all.
Heaven's Tale.
Previously on chapter two.Naruto grew quiet. "Did you say goodbye, Tenten-chan…"
"No, we'll come back." I squeezed his hand. "We'll come back."
The airplane took off, leaving our memories and heart-aches behind.
"Ne… Naruto-chan." I turned to him.
"Yes…"
"Did you know that the trick to live is to keep breathing?" I whispered to him. He squeezed my hand reassuringly.
"I know, we'll just take one breath at a time."
The tune fades into the night
Unheard and forgotten
As cries of broken feathers
Flutters away in silence
Chapter Three.
A teenager sat cross-legged on the wooden surface, his face a picture of serenity. He seemed to be meditating when one eye cracked open revealing his anxiousness."She's late…" He said, his voice breaking the silence.
One week passed by…
Knock… Knock… Knock.
The door creaked open. "Ohayo, my eternal rival." Lee exclaimed, surprised by his presence. Normally, Neji would call if anything was needed. This is a first that he would come to his friend's residence.
"Where's Tenten?" Neji demanded, brushing pass Lee and making his way towards Tenten's room.
"Neji… Tenten… She…" Lee tried to explain but his words came out broken.
"Tenten." Neji called out, pushing open the door that revealed an empty bedroom. He looked around for any sign of her but there was none. A hand was placed on his shoulder.
"Tenten went to Tokyo," Lee told him.
"Why wasn't I told?" Neji said, he sighed impatiently. "When will she be back?"
"In four years time," Lee replied, his eyes watching for Neji's reaction. Neji's face remained impassive but inside he felt an uneasy stir in his heart. "She decided to go to Tokyo University…"
Neji's orbs bore into Lee's dark eyes. "What made her come to this decision?" Neji questioned. He needed to know.
"You'll have to ask Tenten that when she gets back." Lee's eyes scanned the room and finally his gaze landed on a picture that was taken years ago. It was a picture of all of them, Neji, Tenten, Sakura, Naruto, Hinata, Gaara and himself. "I don't have the answer for that. Her decision was sudden."
"Hn…" For once, Neji was unsure of how to reply Lee. So, instead, he did the unthinkable. "Lee…" Lee lifted his gaze to meet Neji's. "Would you like to spar with me?"
A wide grin broke across his expressive face. "My eternal rival…" He jabbed a finger towards Neji's chest playfully. "I shall beat the crap out of you or I have to do 200 one-armed sit-ups."
Neji sighed for he knew that this was a decision that he would regret.
"Wow… Tenten. We're finally here." Naruto exclaimed, his voice loud and clear. I broke into a smile. It was clear that Naruto was excited and I was too. It's just that I was filled with anxiety. I tightened my grip on my luggage and walked across the campus.
"Naruto, don't just stand there. We need to find our dorms," I half-glanced at him and focused my eyes on the map in my hand. " This campus is huge. After this, let's check out the sports facility." No answer was heard. "Naruto…. Naruto." I glanced up to see no one. I sighed, wondering where he disappeared of to. In the end, I decided to go straight to the dorms. Naruto can find his own way there.
Loud squeals vibrated through the corridor of the dormitory. I flinched under all the pressure my eardrums were going through. It was as bad as Sakura's tantrums.
"Sasuke-kun… Sasuke-kun!!!" A group of girls were screaming.
A guy with the deepest set of eyes had a look of utter annoyance in them. I felt sorry for him.
I took out my acceptance letter and started waving it in the air to get his attention. "Sasuke-san." He looked my way, his eyes peering into mine intensely. I felt my breath get hitched in my throat. "The caretaker wants to see you. Something bout your room."
He licked his lips and excused himself politely away from the group of squealing girls.
Finally away from the fangirls, he stuck out a muscular hand and stopped me from walking. "What do you want from me?"
"Excuse me," I asked dumbfounded.
"What do you want in return from prying me away from those… people?" He asked impatiently. "A date, a kiss."
My eye widened in disbelief. "What do you take me for?"
"One of them," he pointedly said. His arms crossed over his chest.
"I just wanted to help. Who do you think you are anyway?" I spat, walking away from him. "Bastard," I said under my breath. From afar, Sasuke gave a small ghost of a smile.
Room 211
I unlocked the door and stepped inside. It was small but cozy. A single bed was in the corner over a bare window. There was a small closet, a full length mirror and a small desk with matching chair. After a few touches here and there, it'll be just like home sweet home.
"Yo, Tenten-chan." A person called out from across the corridor.
"Naruto! Where have you been? You just suddenly went missing," My voice raised a few octanes.
He rubbed his blond hair sheepishly. "Sorry. I got distracted by too many T&A."
"T&A?"
"Tits and ass," he explained. I laughed. "Guess who I just saw."
"Who?" He gave a small pout. "Just tell me, Naruto. You will anyway." I told him, unpacking my clothes and placing them neatly in the closet.
"You're no fun," he whined.
"Well, who did you see just now?" I pressed.
"I saw Yamanaka Ino." He declared with a dreamy gaze. "You know the model. She's so pretty in person but I still prefer girls with a little flesh in them. Though blondes rule," He told me, arrogantly, running his fingers through his own blonde hair.
I threw a hair brush at him and he dodged it with ease. I rolled my eyes. "Guess who I saw today?"
"Who?" I opened my mouth but he stopped me, preventing me to tell him. " the caretaker… the writer of icha icha paradise…. Oh I know…. The official mascot for ramen, rayman." He asked in child-like excitement.
I stoned, pursing my lips in agitation. Was he serious? "No…" I continued slowly. " I saw Uchiha Sasuke, the actor."
His face fell. "owh… you should have told me that.. You got me going for a sec."
"I tried to," I muttered.
"So what's he like?"
"Who? Uchiha-san?" He nodded. "He seems cold, maybe cause from all the attention he's getting. I dunno." I said, truthfully, remembering his just out of bed hairstyle, black polo shirt and ripped jeans. "He's cute but he's only a pretty face."
"Uh huh," Naruto nodded.
"What?" I demanded.
"Nothing… Anyway, I better go unpack too. My room is just across from yours, room 212. See you in orientation hall later." I nodded, closing the door shut after him.
A new beginning….
Four months passed by…
I lifted my head and faced the target. Raising my arm, I kept it locked, and drew the string back until my thumb is against my jawbone and my index finger is brushing against the corner of my mouth. Using my shoulder and back muscles, I pulled the string willingly. I took a deep breath to calm myself and held it. Finally, I released the arrow and it hit the center with a loud thwack.
"Bulls eye." I heard a deep voice behind me and I turned around surprised to see my sudden visitor.
"Uchiha-san," I voiced out politely, taking in his whole form leaning against the wall. I wiped the sweat off from my forehead with the sleeves of my pink Chinese top. "Hiding away from your fangirls again?" I asked.
He gave a quiet snicker. "Hnn…" He was so much like Neji. I noticed but somehow it didn't bother me at all.
"This is the 5th time you're here this week. Have they gotten more aggressive or do you just like to be in my presence?" I wondered, walking up to the target board and started to pry the 3 arrows placed at the dead center. It was rather difficult, the arrows being in rather deep.
"What are you trying to imply?" A monotone voice questioned.
I still struggled with pulling the arrows out. Maybe I shouldn't have pulled the strings so hard. "Nothing…" I breathed out. "Just wondering…" A hand was placed over mine and tugged at it, pulling the arrow out with ease. Then, he released my hand and continued to pull the other two arrows.
Onix eyes met my own as he thrust my arrows into my arms. I felt my cheeks burn at the close proximity. "Say it," He said, sure of himself.
I licked my lips. "I think… you're comfortable being around tomboyish old me." I smiled.
"Hnn…"
"So, I'm not wrong." I grinned. "What do you want, Uchiha-san?"
"You?" I was startled by his straight forwardness. It was meant to be a joke. I didn't really need an answer. "Be mine?"
A nervous laughter slipped through my lips. "You're serious," I stated as I found myself lost in his eyes. "You want me. Look at me. I'm covered in grime and sweat. I don't wear makeup and I'm always in baggy clothes. How could you possibly want me? I think Ino would be better. She has her eyes on you, you know."
"You're different and I think of her only as an acquaintance," He said quietly but confidently. "No one ever refused me before."
"I'm sorry but-"
"You'll think about it," He demanded silently and disappeared into the halls.
One week passed by….
I haven't seen Uchiha-san for a week now. I guess he wanted to give me my space and to think about it but people like him, like Neji, are not meant to be dating with a person like me, a tomboy who thinks of sports over their appearance.
"Sasuke-kun!!" Screams ran down the hallway and I stoned, knowing very well that he was near.
I bit my lip and breathed out slowly. For that one moment, I knew who I really was. I'm different because I take chances. I smiled, brushing down my loose fitting sleeveless top. Slowly, I made my way to the crowd and stuck an envelope in the air just like four months ago. Sasuke was in the middle, being suffocated by the amount of perfume in the air.
"Uchiha-san, Uchiha-san," I yelled over the crowd to get his attention. "Your lecturer wants to see you. Something bout your thesis." His eyes met mine and I gave a small smile.
"Do you think we'd fall for that again?" A fangirl spat.
"Yeah… you just want him for yourself," A bleach blonde girl said in my face.
"He's mine," I stated.
"You," She chuckled, taking in my boyish appearance. "Who says so?"
"Me," Sasuke held my waist and drew me nearer to him. I blushed. The fangirls had a look of disbelief on their faces and I don't blame them one bit. The university's heartthrob was not on the market anymore.
"Uh… let's go," I decided before they would start to claw at me and half-dragged Sasuke away.
"Why me?" I asked him, a safe distance from his fangirls.
"You're different," he answered.
I pursed my lips, knowing that I have to be content with that answer of his. "I have one condition though."
"You make it sound like a business deal." Sasuke said in monotone.
I blinked. Did he just make a joke? "I don't want people to judge me for what I look like. Make me look like I'm suitable to be with you," I explained, tucking a stray hair behind my ear. Suddenly, I was conscious about my appearance.
He nodded slightly. "I have one condition though that you call me Sasuke," he demanded. I was startled but gave him a huge smile. For the longest time, I actually feel happy.
"Alright, Sasuke." I voiced out softly.
Three and a half years passed by…
"It's good to be back…"
"Yeah…. It is…."
"Do you think they've changed, Naruto?"
"Naah… I don't think so."
Thank you for reading and so sorry for the really late update. I've been too busy. Thank you to tenten kunoichi for making me write faster. Lol.
Sorry again for the short chapter. The next chapter will be much longer. Much longer. Thanks for the reviews.