Wow chapter 4 were moving up!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

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Tenten was on her way back home, the jumping from tree to tree was her constant theme these days, it had been months since she had trained with Neji, weeks since she had seen him. The last time she saw him was when she had run up to the Hokage's mansion for her next mission, he was in there talking with Tsunade and by the sound of it, it was a little heated. Tenten had walked in and Neji just turned glanced at her and walked out Tenten acted like she didn't even notice, that she could really care less. But when she walked up to the desk and waited for Tsunade to give her an assignment her voice sounded unlike herself. It sounded cold, quiet, and deadly, not her usual charming self. Tenten wondered when she had started to become this way, to actually have a cold shell around her being. She felt like Sasuke, or as she thought with a pain, she felt like Neji acted, hell she acted like Neji acted. With this piece of information in her mind she smirked, maybe the jerk needed some of his own medicine.

Her mind was now finally slowing down, thinking of the nice warm bed at home, that was accompanied with food, and a shower. She smiled a real smile and sped up, thank goodness even if you don't have a nice friend you always will have a nice bed and meal. Her heart scoffed in protest of that, but she forgot about it, all the thing had done was bring pain, and fancy. Seeing the big gate ahead she raced through it, and into her house without a second glance at the people's exclamations of annoyance. Throwing her stuff on the floor she ran into the bathroom all supplies in hand and jumped into the shower. She hung her head in tired defeat as the hot water sprayed on her untying all the tension knots in her back, she shivered when she let her hair down from its dirty mess and let the water get to work. Her last mission was just disgusting, the man owned a farm, and really liked to get down and dirty, literally, He had her down in the mud and rain before she could pretend to be interested in him. She grabbed the shampoo off the side and scrubbed her head lazily soaking in the goodness of clean hair. After feeling satisfied with her work she jumped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself.

She walked into the kitchen lazily and opened the fridge, there was a small thing of fruit on the side and she decided to pick out of it. Holding it in her mouth she also grabbed a chunk of cheese and closed the door with her foot. Tenten set the food on the counter and then remembered she was in a towel, and ran back into her room changing into a sports bra and shorts, her hair was down and wet. She proceeded to sit on her counter and look out the window while munching on random fruits and some cheese.

For a second Tenten was content and happy and almost back to her real self then remembered how Neji totally and completely gave up on her, because she had all the assassination missions. She suddenly felt tired again, and determined to forget it. Tomorrow she would go back to the Hokage's mansion and get another mission then she would be so focused she wouldn't notice the pain in her heart. Eating the last bit of cheese and fruit she hopped off the counter and into her room, ready for bed.

When the knock at the door came Tenten peered out the side of her door curiously, how would anyone know she was back already? When it came again she grabbed a shirt out of her drawer and walked to the door wondering who it could be. The sight that met her surprised her, Sakura, and Temari were standing in front of her with equal looks of determination on their faces.

"Err…..can I help you guys?" Tenten said pulling the shirt on over her head.

"Yeah you can damn right help us you little-"

"Temari!" Sakura had shushed Temari who was probably going to go on with a string of curse words just for Tenten, who stood there still wondering why the hell they were there.

"Tenten were going out…" Sakura said lightly as if it were the weather.

"Ok have fun." Tenten said with a shrug of her shoulders, she really did not want to go out tonight, she had gotten into the routine of shower, eating, and then moping off to bed and she was perfectly fine with that. She didn't want to be bothered really. Temari growled obscenities under her breath.

"Tenten you know Temari doesn't get to come that often." Sakura said still polite, but Tenten could see a small fire being lit behind the sea foam green eyes. Tenten shrugged again shaking her head.

"I really just do not want to, I'm sorry."

"Oh you're sorry?" Temari said hands on her hips, her teal eyes gazed on Tenten with a certain knowing, Temari was one of the people that understood Tenten the most, and she knew it.

"Oh ok fine, it's probably best because you're in such a crappy mood." Tenten cocked her eyebrow at the statement the sand kunoichi made.

"Temari, you're not guilt tripping me into this." Temari cocked a very similar eyebrow back at Tenten.

"So are you coming or what?" Tenten stood there for a second deciding, then nodded and put on a pair of flats. Temari grew a huge grin across her face as Sakura just shook her head but grinned none-the-less. Tenten walked out the house willingly, albeit still grumpy and complaining inside but really saying no to Temari is as easy as trying to push an elephant up a slippery hill.

They walked along quietly, Tenten brooding, Sakura looking around playfully and Temari holding her arms behind her head as she walked, a quiet relaxation surrounding her. She glanced over sideways at her two friends and laughed silently inside, Sakura's playful yet airy expression was just a mask for the true wit, and strength the girl held, and Tenten…well Tenten was seeming to hide no emotion at all today, her eyebrows were knitted together and her lips were pursed. Her long brown hair slightly damp was around her face was an odd sight to see, than the two buns that usually resided on her head.

"So Tenten, what has Neji done this time?" Sakura still focusing on what seemed to be a leaf floating through the air smirked at the remark. Tenten looked up and crossed her arms, pretending that the tree the other way looked particularly interesting.

"Nothing…..why do you even ask?" Temari removed her hands from behind her head, and stuck them into her pockets.

"No reason, you just seem to be avoiding him, and everywhere he goes."

"Well I have just been busy. Look lets go get something to eat." Tenten said rather passionately seeing the sign for Ichiraku ramen bar as her get away place, Sakura moaned.

"Seriously! You know I have Naruto for a team mate and you want to go there?!" Tenten grinned for the first time in a long time, it felt stiff and unused.

"C'mon Sakura I haven't had Ramen in forever."

"Yeah me either Suna doesn't have one this good you know" Temari said quietly, Sakura just hung her head silently, knowing that her two most head strong friends had made up their minds, there was no way out. When they had gotten their food, Tenten seemed to dive right in, very quickly stuffing her face so that she could barely speak, which is exactly what she wanted. Temari cocked an eyebrow knowing this and Sakura just looked green in the face, having to see the same damn food almost everyday. Eventually she just pushed it away, and sipped on her drink. Tenten was nearing the end of her bowl and was debating to order a second one before she got done, but her stomach was already protesting at how much she had already eaten, stupid fruit and cheese.

"So, you and Neji?" Temari said setting down her fork and placing her chin on her hands which were folded neatly underneath it. Tenten's eyes almost popped out of her head.

"Err- what?"

"Not like that! I mean you two are fighting, why?" Temari said rolling her eyes, Sakura continued to sip on her drink and had a small smile on her lips.

"Its nothing really, I just have had a lot of missions."

"That's not what Tsunade said." Sakura stated finally letting go of the straw. Tenten looked at her angrily, the at Temari.

"Well, its mine and his business isn't it? I mean if he doesn't want to train with me that's his decision!" Tenten stopped and closed her eyes, in her momentary out flow of the anger she held inside she let out too much. When she opened them again, her friends looked astonished.

"Wait, he doesn't want to train with you anymore?" Sakura said leaning in closer. "Why the hell not?"

"Because he doesn't like to train with me after assassination missions." Both girls sat back against their seats again both knowing exactly what "assassination" missions were.

"Well…..damn." Temari said blowing up part of her bangs with her breath thinking. Sakura's eyebrows knitted together. Tenten looked down into her empty bowl of ramen wishing she was just at home sleeping and then she could leave early tomorrow.

"Look guys I think I'm going to go." Both of her friends seemed a little surprised but did nothing but nod silently both obviously perplexed by the situation and did not have any immediate advice for her. Tenten sighed and bid them goodbye. She walked out and bumped into Shikamaru who was not at all surprised to see her.

"Sorry, Shikamaru." Tenten said quietly he shrugged and said it was no big deal. Tenten had started to walk away trying very hard to keep the tears from overflowing until she got into bed.

"Tenten." He said her name as a way for her to look at him. She did tears just brimming her lids.

"Don't let his stupid mistakes rule your life, your smarter then that, and stronger." Then he walked into the ramen bar. Tenten shook her head a little confused and walked home.

Shikamaru sat down at a table with two girls, they looked slightly put down.

"See I told you, it wasn't what you expected." He said looking rather bored, Temari looked at him.

"Oh so you knew? Thanks a lot cry-baby." She looked down into her hands, her face frowning in concentration, Sakura was sipping her drink again but in a more thoughtful way. Shikamaru studied them both with a quiet air about him.

"Temari, Sakura, its not going to help to just sit there and let yourselves get down by it."

"I know its just, that was a bitch move, even for Neji." Temari commented looking at Shikamaru her eyes dark with frustration.

"Yeah and it has a huge effect on Tenten, and she pretty much the only one that can take his shit!" Sakura said.

"Well its not our business, they'll figure it out eventually."

"And how would you know?" Sakura said a little skeptically

"I knew that this was a bad idea didn't I?" He said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"But even you don't know everything."

"No…he really does actually." Temari said reluctantly Shikamaru chuckled and the three ninjas left, still a little worried about their friend.

Tenten lied in her bed breathing deeply she felt like she had just run a race, her chest was tearing. The sobs she tried to keep back broke open and she cried herself to sleep. Having to tell her friends, even though it was a little was painful, and then Shikamaru, he knew of course he knew, he knows everything. But the thing he said seemed to help her get a hold of herself and she fell asleep after a little while. Her pillow damp from her tears.

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Wow sad chappie, ha oh well! Tell me what you think!