Like Water, Like Love
Chapter 2: Truthfully
Summary: nejixten, sasuxsaku She pushed him away, he drew her in. She wanted an embrace, he wanted to embrace her. She loved someone childishly, he loved her passionately. Their relationship was like water, like love.
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If we could have shared a deep love
Even if someday, our time were to end
I could imagine loving you for eternity
Reaching out for you, forever
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Neji
My white eyes roam over the textures of the ceiling. It seems to be a landscape of tiny hills that never seem to have complete tops. I close my eyes lightly, imagining having to walk through all those hills. A labyrinth of mysteries…
Opening my eyes once more, I squint out my window from my bed, realizing it's already training time. I don't need a clock; my internal clock is accurate enough. It's around nine right now, certainly after breakfast and definitely before lunch. Not too cold, not too hot.
The perfect training time.
After slipping easily into an overly large grey shirt, I open the double windows, allowing the summer breeze into my nearly bare room, which consists of a desk, bed, and dresser. Looking around my uneventful niche, my eyes come to a rest upon the dresser. The intricate wooden texture swirls is almost dizzying as I trace them with my gaze. My heartbeat halts as I walk slowly, deliberately towards the memory that lies within. Pulling out the top drawer, I dig through the piles of useless items that I should have thrown away a long time ago for a special kunai.
Finally, under a stack of random papers, I find what I am looking for. Still polished, sharp…
My fingers fall to the long-used handle, wrapped securely with a ribbon of soft cloth.
You…
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"Team Nine…." Iruka-sensei's eyes fell upon me. They were menacing, as if telling me to be cautious of my actions. In response, I narrowed my eyes, glaring at my soon-to-be-ex-teacher.
Straitening under my unwavering glare, sensei continued, "Hyuuga Neji, Rock Lee, and…"
He paused here, uncertain how to continue. Slowly, I followed his unsteady gaze to a girl who looked vaguely familiar. She was sitting quietly in the back of the room, dressed in a pink, flowing Chinese-style blouse and dark pants that fell loosely to her ankles. Her hair was done neatly and thoughtfully into two perfect, even buns.
I remember something about her being a transfer student from a lower grade, but there was something else about her too…
Something…
"Hyuuga Tenten."
Had I not been a perfectionist at containing emotions, my jaw would have dropped open right then and there and sputtered out meaningless syllables.
Hyuuga?
Hyuuga?
The Hyuuga clan?
Where were the white eyes? Where was the traditional Hyuuga symbol? Where…
And then I remembered.
"Neji, this is Tenten. She'll be your new step-cousin."
Immediately, my features hardened. So she was the one adopted into the Hyuuga clan to take the place of Hinata and Hinabi.
Silently, I endured the murmurings of the students around me. Just like I was at first, they were shocked, astounded at how such an ordinary girl could carry the name of Hyuuga. Curiously, my eyes wandered her face. The perfectly curved nose, the hazelnut eyes, the brown bangs that came over her eyes…
And the expression of utter pain under a mask of indifference.
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The chirpings of some outrageous bird outside interrupts my ponderings, forcing me back to reality. Swaying my head from side to side slightly, I decide today isn't a day to use this kunai. Not yet. It's too important to me.
Tucking it away securely in the back of the dresser, the summer breeze calls me to train. Turning away from the room, I grasp the window sill, preparing to jump out.
However, my mother walks in at that moment.
"Neji-kun, breakfast…"
I turn around quickly at the sound of the door, slightly annoyed at what I know will take place next.
"Neji! You know you can't…"
… see her again.
Before she can finish her sentence, I've already landed on a tree outside. Smirking back at her angered face, I make my daily journey to the residence of Hyuuga Tenten.
The wind runs easily through my hair as I jump through the lightly forested Hyuuga complex, knowing exactly where my destination is. For years, I have made this journey to the main house tirelessly every morning at nine, just to show her I care.
But she wouldn't see, and I certainly wouldn't tell.
A Hyuuga has to keep his pride, you know.
Landing soundlessly on the all too familiar tree branch, I brush my fingers against the bark, confirming my balance. A slight breeze rustles the leaves above my head, causing some to fall to the ground. Straightening, I stare intently into her window, knowing that she will be asleep on her desk as always.
Tenten was always an early riser, usually awakening at six or seven, but as soon as she began to work, she was always hopelessly exhausted. Sooner or later, she would lie down on her desk, tracing circles until she fell into a deep sleep.
And over and over each day, I watched her awaken to the same dream.
A slight tremor travels through my body as I see her rise for the hundredth time from that same dream. Her delicate fingers brush her porcelain-like lips, reminiscing an imaginary kiss.
Stiffening, I watch as her expression droops to an almost lifeless stare.
All because of that dirty, disgusting, arrogant Uchiha.
I grit my teeth as she stands up slowly, steadying herself with her left hand, right hand still at the surface of her parted lips. Slowly, she makes her agonizing walk to the window, while I stand outside, invisible in her world.
Sighing inwardly, I gather the chakra in my feet, rushing into her room through the widely opened window before she has a chance to touch it.
Instantly, she removes her fingers from her lips, although I can tell that they are screaming to linger for a moment. Presently, she turns to me, and with that surreal smile painted once more on her face, asks me, "Is it time to train already, Neji-kun?"
I flinch at her words. I know she would much rather stay in that dream with a certain Sharingan-holder than spar with me endlessly until the sun sets. However, I can't lose that easily to an Uchiha.
"You know you shouldn't be here, Neji-kun."
The suffix she adds to my name is refreshingly strong.
"Aa."
Softly, she smiles at me, hazel eyes lighting up slightly.
"Father will be angry."
Almost involuntarily, my hand shoots out, grabbing her wrist tightly. I feel her momentarily, instinctively squirm, but relax almost immediately.
Almost.
My eyes harden at her immature movement. Just for a second, our gazes meet, but she quickly turns, unable to look at me in the eye. I follow her gaze as it travels outside the window…
In the direction of the Uchiha district.
Realizing her thoughts, an unforeseen fire begins to grow in my chest, burning its way to my throat, almost forces me to spit out the words of hatred. Valiantly, I try to force it back down, but in vain. Suddenly, the words I never meant to say slip off of my tongue like venom,
"He doesn't love you."
Her head snaps painfully back to face me, sorrow suddenly replaced with anger. Suddenly, she brings her right hand up, eyes hardening to an extent I didn't know was possible on her part.
If I had been any other person, I would have cowered; I would have known what was coming next.
Almost as if in slow motion, her hand cuts through the air, making contact with my cheek. The deafening slap that accompanies the motion reverberates through the air, increasing the tension.
Truthfully, I hadn't expected her reaction.
Then again, I hadn't expected to say those words to her.
Slowly, hot tears stream down her face, traveling down to her perfectly formed chin and making the treacherous journey to the floor. I flinch at the complementary splash of tears against tatami mats, but force myself to not cradle my cheek.
I'm a shinobi, not a love-sick fool.
My right hand still grasps her left wrist as the tears continue on endlessly. She hasn't said a word to me, but her lower lip is quivering, as if she were about to scream. Knowing that her yelling would only cause me trouble, I struggle to find a way to stop her.
Just as she parts her lips, the raging fire inside of me explodes again, sending my heart pounding. I need to think of a way to make her shut up before she even starts, but Tenten is stubborn. There's no way I can make her keep her lips closed with simply words.
And so, I, Hyuuga Neji, do something that I swear is not by my own accord.
Swiftly, as I hear the first hints of a high-pitched screaming erupt in her throat,
I, Hyuuga Neji,
Let me repeat,
I, Hyuuga Neji,
Bend down ever so slightly
And claim her soft lips as mine.
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Notes: I realized I end chapters like this… a lot. XD;; Sorry for my lack of creativity. I've been pretty busy these past few days, so this chapter's not as well written as the previous one. Hope it's still acceptable though :D
Oh yes, I know there will be confusions, but I promise to resolve them in the next chapter :D Hopefully the entrance of Sasuke will be in the next chapter too XD
Thank you for all the reviews:D You don't know how much they mean to me :DDD