Tenten2020 Week

The Boneyard - Sports Medicine
abandoned concept. NejiTen

Normally when Neji entered a store, it was with a purposeful stride and a singular determination to locate the items on his list in as perfunctory a manner as possible. His air was perpetually cool and exquisitely formal in that way that left no invitation for interaction, and left lesser mortals stammering "yes sir" before following whatever politely phrased directive he offered.

Today, however, he entered the small, neighborhood grocery with an aloof curiosity and no list – like he made a last minute decision to grab a few essentials and get back across town before rush hour, rather than hailing from the other side of an even larger town much farther away where others did the shopping for him.

He had noticed her, naturally, the way he noticed everything around him, but he soon found himself wondering what it was about her that caught his eye.

It was hardly outside of his experience to notice a woman of similar age shopping while in workout clothes of a recognizable brand. It was novel, however, to note that she looked as if she actually intended to work out in said outfit, rather than to buy expensive coffee and photograph her food.

He saw heard greet the old man in the motorized cart, calling him by name and asking if he needed anything from inside the small refrigerated section while she was in there. By the time Neji had reached that end of the aisle, she had put several items in the old man's cart and was reminding him to shout if he needed something else. She disappeared up another aisle, and he pretended to be interested in the selections in front of him, allowing his mind to wander. He was just thinking that her smile might have been the most cheerful thing he'd ever seen, when he was struck by the interesting color of her eyes – a strange sort of brown. Hazel, maybe.

That last observation was made in the half of a second he met her gaze as they rounded a corner into the same aisle and collided into one another, sending them tumbling to the ground, and the contents of their baskets spilling onto the floor. He had just enough time to turn so that he would be the one to hit the floor, but she had the wherewithal to brace them both so that one arm slammed the floor behind him, and the other cradled him to her as much as possible to absorb the impact. All in all, it was not a horrifically jarring landing, even if it was an awkward one. She snapped her head up, immediately concerned for him. She shifted her weight quickly to sit by his side and try to help him into a sitting position, all the while visually inspecting him for injury. If she registered his good looks, she certainly was not distracted by them; nor was she intimidated by his expensive suit or unusual eyes. In his experience, women reacted very strangely to him whether he said something or nothing, and that was without having been sprawled on top of him.

"I am so sorry," she said immediately. "Are you alright?"

"I am fine," he said calmly.

"I didn't mean to plow into you," she quickly righted his basket and refilled it before standing and offering him her hand. "My mind must've been somewhere else."

"It's alright," he assured her, accepting the offered hand and then dusting himself off. She bent to retrieve their baskets and handed him his. "No harm done."

"I'm glad neither of us needed eggs," she quirked a smile, holding up her own basket.

"As am I."

"Tenten," she held out her hand with a warm smile.

"Neji," he returned the handshake, noting her firm, dry grip.

"Headed to checkout?"

"I believe I've finished here, yes," he said mildly.

"Maybe you like to go first," her eyes danced impishly. "It's probably safer."

"I'll take my chances," he motioned her forward and followed her the short distance to the sole open checkout line in the tiny market. She reached for the plastic divider and placed it behind the twenty tins of cat food being purchased by the whitehaired woman ahead of her in line.

"Sure I can't do something to make up for it?" She asked, unloading her purchases onto the conveyer belt before flicking a glance to his basket. "Pick up your groceries?

"No," he assured her. "That is not necessary."

"Haven't seen you here before," she remarked, tossing a magazine in with her selection. "I figured I know almost everyone that shops at this place."

"Just in the neighborhood," he shrugged elegantly.

"Well welcome," she beamed before turning to the cashier. "Hey Kaede. How are the grandkids?"

"Great," the clerk smiled, scanning the groceries quickly. "Sota's ankle is much better; thanks for the tips."

"No problem" she shrugged. "Got to look out for those athletes," she grinned. "Those all-stars are my retirement plan."

The woman laughed and scanned the magazines and gave the other woman a knowing smirk.

"Guilty pleasure," she shrugged, unembarrassed. "I skim through them and then stick them in the waiting room."

"Sure," the clerk rolled her eyes. "Your total is $25.98."

"Thanks, Kaede," she handed out the exact change. "Give my love to Gramps and the kids."

"Will do," she smiled cheerily.

"And sorry again," she turned to him. "I'll be more careful that the next time I run into you in this neighborhood it won't be so literal an encounter. Take care," she waved and made her way out of the door.

He lifted quiet eyebrows to the chuckling cashier. "That's our girl," she smiled. "Always on the move."

Neji's smile was small and polite as she finished picking up his groceries. He dropped some change and took the opportunity to bend down to pick it up and pocket what he had seen flutter from the girl's wallet.

The older woman didn't notice, and politely handed him his change. He walked out of the door and down the block, stopping at a local newsstand for a newspaper before getting into his sleek car and driving away.

He went to his favorite quiet place for tea – where the staff knew him and the rest of the world did not. He pulled out his over-the-shoulder brief case and set up his laptop.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the simple, professional looking business card. It took only a moment to double check the website to see if it was what he thought it was.

Konoha Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine.

Doctors Rock Lee and Konoha Tenten.

In her professional photo, she wore minimal makeup, and her hair was pulled up. Other photos showed her working with kids, athletes, and waving from the stands the camera, or standing between two giant rugby players. It said she enjoyed recreational sports such as taijutsu, target shooting, and archery, as well as working as the official therapist to the Konoha Fire – the professional soccer team.

He was officially intrigued.

He pulled out his mobile and dialed a familiar number.

"Neji!" Lee answered on the first ring. "I just had an appointment reschedule – it must be fate you called now! Have you made it into town yet?"

"I have."

"And how have you found it so far?"

Neji studied the business card between his fingers.

"A surprisingly friendly place."

"It is, isn't it? Can you see yourself moving here?"

"I found a rather charming neighborhood on accident," he admitted, "but I do not know that I am ready to pack my bags just yet."

"You will one you see the team," Lee said seriously. "The current owners want to move them out of Konoha, but that is a huge mistake. You are one of the only potential buyers interested in keeping them in Konoha, and probably the only one that has a solid plan on how to go about it. The trick is knowing which contracts to pick up – that's where Tenten can help you."

"Tenten?"

"I'll introduce you when you come – she is our lead physical therapist, a licensed athletic trainer, and an incredible athlete. She made it through Gai's regimen, so that should tell you something."

"I look forward to hearing her opinion," Neji smiled to himself. "Shall I see you at our appointment tomorrow? Two o'clock?"

"She will be there. Are you sure you don't want to come out for curry tonight? My treat!"

"Thank you, but no. I have to finish the paperwork and communicate with the investors before we move forward with this deal. With any luck, by the end of the week, Hyūga Corps will hold the controlling interest in the Konoha Fire, and we can begin taking the steps to keep the team in place."

"You're doing the right thing," Lee said, his tone serious. "The Fire have to stay in Konoha – it is the best thing for everyone."

"I have to prove that the numbers work," Neji allowed, "but I agree with you. We'll chat more tomorrow, Lee."

Neji sat back in his seat, and sipped his tea. Lee was right – he did think that buying the Konoha Fire and keeping them in Konoha was the best investment. Unfortunately, there were members of the board that remained unconvinced, and wanted Neji to negotiate the sale and relocation.

Neji had no intention of following that directive.

He absently picked Tenten's card back up and studied it. "Perhaps you are the key," he murmured. He tapped it twice before putting it away in his breast pocket where he decided it would stay until he knew the outcome of his labor.

"For luck," he told himself even as he remembered her kind smile, and the weight of her body against his.

No matter the outcome, Neji was sure he was going to enjoy the ride.