DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto…-snivels-

WARNING: Evil OOC-ness can be noted in Rock Lee. He's evil. Don't like, don't flame.

Chapter 2: Coincidence.

Coincidence…

I hate that word. They say that everything in the world has a reason for occurring but what about those events that are regarded as coincidental? Ah, well, this one word seems to describe my life perfectly.

Everything that seems to happen to me looks like a mere coincidence. My parents died when I was a child, killed in the fight against kyuubi. Coincidence. I was forced to live the life of a beggar until I met a kind male who offered me a job to pay off my tuition. Coincidence. I was almost killed as a Genin due to my weak abilities in the battle against a grass-nin of great renown. Hmmmm…another coincidence. Me, breaking up with Neji a few days ago. Also, a coincidence.

And now, here I am lying in the Konoha hospital, almost beaten to death by Lee. Why? Because he was playing drunk bastard for the night… A coincidence, maybe? Pshh…

Lee had been drooling over Sakura for many years but she had always over-looked him. He had kept his emotions bottled inside for a long time. However, now I know that he was broken like I was when seeing Sakura with Neji. But still…Lee and I were closer than most siblings…Then, how did this happen? Why did he pummel me? Why do I have to pay the price for what actions I did not do? A sharp pain overwhelmed me suddenly and I declined my head to my bandaged limbs.

These wounds…

I stared at them as my eyes brimmed with tears. I could care less about the pain and the injury…but Lee…he would have to live with the fact that he'd hurt his friend…throughout his life. You must be thinking that it is strange…on how I feel pity for the one who had hurt me. But look at who it is… the kind, compassionate, over-helpful, ninja of the Leaf. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I tried to contain the sorrow that threatened to choke me.

Tsunade-sama appeared in front of me. What was she doing here? Not that I was complaining. I had never been important to anyone… So why? What was she doing here?

She held my gaze, noticing the fresh tears. "Tenten I know it hurts, but just hold on. Your wounds aren't so serious. You'll be healed in no time." I nodded but couldn't help but feel hurt as she had misinterpreted my tears.

No. Not one of the words she spoke was correct. Yes, it did hurt, but not in the way she thought. My wounds were serious. But no one would notice. And I would never heal. These wounds, this hurt…they'll leave marks…scars to remind me that my friend lost control to such an extent…that he sought to injure me.

Another wave of grief and agony came over me as I remembered what happened the night before.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

It was a normal night in Konoha square, I was strolling around the city during the after. An action I had taken to a while ago. Yet, tonight seemed to be different as if something was going to happen. A chill ran up my spine and I pulled my light windbreaker tightly around my too-thin form

I heard a person mumbling and, as was my naturally curious nature, decided to check it out. I walked a little farther ahead and turned right at the corner, constantly wringing my hands, which was my nervous gesture. But when I saw the person standing there, I sighed in relief.

It was Lee.

"Lee!?" I waved as he twisted around to face me. I hadn't seen him since our last ANBU mission with the Sai brothers, a few days ago.

"Hey…it's Tenten…" His voice sounded slurred. Was he drunk?! That…wasn't like my Lee. He staggered towards me in a daze and tripped on a crack in the road, falling on top of me.

I pushed him off, disgusted by the vile scent of alcohol protruding from his open mouth. "Lee! You're drunk!"

"Tell me…" He completely ignored what I'd just said. "What didn't I do for her? I tried to make her happy…I did…so why didn't she…" His voice trailed off.

"Lee? What are you talking about?" And then it hit me. How could I have been so stupid! Lee had been acting as if he didn't care the whole time. But he did…

He could only have been talking about one person. There was only one person he could talk about in that way.

Sakura.

I was irritated. What was it with Konoha guys and liking Sakura? What did they see in her? Well…she was really smart….and kind of pretty…and extremely nice, no doubt about that. She was always helping people and smiling. I sighed. Riiight…that was the reason.

I finally spoke, sounding like an insensitive jerk. "Deal with it, Lee. She doesn't like you, she likes Neji, okay?" I spoke slowly and clearly, as if I was talking to a mentally retarded person.

I didn't notice that Lee's ears had turned red, always a danger sign. He was getting riled up. I was babbling such discouraging things whereas he always was encouraging me in every step of my life.

I jumped when Lee started to yell.

"So you too think I am no good in relationships? After all the things I have tried to do for you, always being there when you needed me most! And you! You can't even talk properly to a person! You cannot even be kind in your words, Tenten. You have no heart!!" I stood rigid, stunned by his truthful words. I felt horrible. I couldn't believe I'd just said that to LEE! My best friend since the first grade! Moreover, I couldn't believe he had given me a reality check.

You have no heart! I never thought I'd live to hear Lee say that about me. After hearing him call me the 'youthful, benign spirit of Konoha' repeatedly, I had never imagined this.

Before I knew what happened, Lee had lifted his hand and landed a hard slap across my face. I staggered back, my eyes watering.

"Unh–– Le––" Be fore I could say another word Lee had grabbed my hand and turned me around to face him.

"LOOK AT THIS! AND THIS! MY MEMORIES AND HOPES!" He was screaming hysterically in my face. My lower lip trembled as I looked at the wad of papers he'd taken out of his pocket. I took the top-most piece of paper, a picture. Of me.

"Lee…I…" My voice faltered and I snatched the rest of the papers away. I skimmed through them. They were letters, addressed to me, poems. I read one carefully. It was written in bold ink, so it caught my attention.

I hope for…but woe upon me

I can find the one with whom I was meant to be

Remorseful my soul, restless my plight

My dear, Tenten, you are my light

I hated myself for the thought that entered my mind. It's corny…but sweet! I added on at the last minute.

"Lee…this…this is…" I looked up at him, my expression pained for I knew what rejection feels like. I decided to take a detour to the main question. I steadied my shaky resolve. I had to tell him the truth. "Lee. What….Sakura!?

He seemed surprised at my outburst and hiccuped slightly. "Huh? Sakura?"

"Yes! What about your feelings for her!"

"It was non-existent. Tenten, you were the only person who never realised my feelings for you. I felt uncertain…on how you felt. I know that you would refuse me. I didn't want that. So I projected my love to Sakura instead…" He sighed.

I was blown away by his confession. I took a few shallow breaths and tried to steady my beating heart. He watched me keenly and I braved myself to meet his brown orbs.

"Lee, I…don't like you…I really don't." I realized how wrong that sounded but when I tried to explain, the look on his face made me clam my mouth shut.

"You inconsiderate, little bitch!" He grabbed me by the hair and slammed me into the wall opposite of where I had been standing. I collided into the bricks painfully and slid to the floor. I felt the tiniest trickle of blood from my nose.

I had to remember that Lee was drunk as he can not hold his drinks. He must have drunk about 2 bottles of beer as he wasn't in his usual sober mood. He staggered towards me with a menacing gait that did not suit him. Lee lifted me by the collar of my faded pink top and lifted me to his eye-level.

"Lee! It's me, Tenten. I'm sorry. I just––I don't know! I wasn't in my right mind. Let go, Lee. You're hurting me."

He looked at me, his eyes narrowing maliciously, yet again, unlike him. He slammed me down onto the ground. I used my elbow to break my fall but it only injured me more. I cried out when my elbow made contact with the hard concrete of the sidewalk. The crack of my arm breaking, however, muffled even that.

He didn't seem to notice my pain. The Lee who could not stand to see one crying was purposely hurting his childhood friend. It must be a dream…no…This was a nightmare.

Lee, who was still holding me by my shirt collar, dragged me across the concrete as I futilely thrashed about in an attempt to make him release me. The sidewalk was tearing at my already scratched arms, uncomfortably.

I wept openly now, my tears blending with the blood that drenched my top. Lee…what happened?

At last, the dragging stopped only to be followed by my skull crashing into the wired fence.

I groaned, my eyes fluttering open to see what he was going to do to me next.

I saw Lee's silhouette, His chest was heaving and I could hear him panting. I tried to speak but fatigue overwhelmed me. Before my eyes closed, I saw Lee looking at me with hate and spite. Lee…? My cheeks felt damp and I realized that it was due to his tears.

I tried to comfort him but I was too far gone.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

I shut my eyes. I'm sorry, Lee.

We reached the ward where I was to be treated. I was tired of having to lay on the bed uselessly as I felt weak. I sat up on the bed that I had been assigned to, when I felt dizzy.

Tsunade-sama pushed me back down gently and I didn't resist.

"Please, Tenten. Relax for a moment so I could heal you. After that, you can go on in your unruly ways, hm?" She gave me a small, sad smile and suddenly pushed a senbon into my wrist.

I winced at the feeling of the needle entering my skin. "Whaa…" I begun to feel drowsy yet again. "Whaisdis?"

"It's an anesthetic. Rest for now, will ya?" I felt myself nod but I was uncertain on whether I did so or not. All I remember is that I fell into a deep slumber until morning came and went.

«§§§»

I woke up the next day to find that my hand was enveloped by a much larger one. A man's hand to be exact. I looked down at the man and saw who it was. My father figure, Maito Gai, was with me.

"Unh…Sensei. I…who brought me here?" It was the question that had been in my head since the day I'd woken up on the stretcher.

My question seemed to worry him. He answered with a single word. "Lee." He watched me to see how my reaction would be. My chocolate brown eyes widened in confusion and shock as I tried to grasp onto the answer that was given by Gai-sensei.

I tried to string everything together. First, Lee pummeled the crap out of me and tells me that he hates my very guts, and then he brings me to the hospital? It didn't make sense as it had no logic. A migraine begun to make my way from within my head. These thoughts of Lee weren't helping it.

"Really? I-I hadn't seen him all day…so h-how did he find me?" I lied as casually as I could, picking at the bed sheets. I knew that Gai-sensei would be saddened to know that his youthful student had acted in such a heinous way.

Gai-sensei pursed his lips, noticing me pick continuously at the white bed sheets of the hospital bed. He knew I was lying. I had a tendency to pick at anything within reach, in my anxious, lying state.

"Tenten. You're lying." I looked at him and shook my head, ignoring the throbbing in my head that ensued. He ran a hand throw my hair, gently caressing it, his own way of making me calm down. "Your heart rate is getting out of control, calm down, my youthful pupil. Lee had come to me while you were still asleep, so I am sure that you're lying. He told me he was the cause of your pain. He said that he had unintentionally wounded you. I know only part of the story, though. I wish to hear the rest from you, as Lee has made to confine himself at home, coming out only when truly necessary."

"Gomen ne, Gai-sensei, for lying to you. I'll tell you what happened but only if you promise not to hold anything against anyone at the end."

"I promise."

I held out my hand, pinky protruding. He interlocked his larger pinky finger around mine and smiled. I knew he thought it childish, but I honestly did believe in pinky promises.

I opened my mouth, words of truth spilling out as I told him what had happened. At times, I would blush and at times I would choke on my tears that I had failed to retain. By the end of the story, Gai's face was impassive with not a single emotion showing on his usually expressive face. My shoulders shook as I sobbed uncontrollably. I collapsed into his arms, crying my heart out on his shoulder. "Gai-sensei, I hate my life. It sucks. I've lived with sorrow all my life and now so much guilt has been added to that list of emotions. I feel as if these emotions will continue to crush me."

"Shh, youthful one. It's okay. I'll talk to Lee…it's been so long since we had a little chat…"

"NO! I-I mean, that's alright, sensei. I'll talk to him." I tried to sound as nonchalant as possible and I saw my sensei give a small smile at my effort. He was feeling sorry for me, I realized as pity was evident on his face. I sighed and averted my gaze to the window. "When am I getting out of here?"

"Your wounds aren't serious, they will heal overnight. The Hokage is an expert on what she does. Many of your friends came to see you. That kid, Naruto Uzumaki, was nearly in tears, asking the Hokage for an explanation of your condition. He nearly drove her crazy." He laughed, remembering. I was glad for the change to a lighter subject and laughed in earnest. Yes, Naruto could sometimes be a tad bit dramatic when it came to his friends.

"He'll be glad to know you've recovered. As will the rest of your friends." I nodded, knowing who the others were.

I was lost in thought and when I finally broke out of my reverie, I turned to my sensei and noticed that he, too, was in a pensive stature.

"Sensei?" I spoke suddenly, disturbing his trail of thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"Did…did Neji come by at all?"

"No…he didn't. Why do you ask?

My heart sank. "O-oh… No reason, I was just curious."

«§§§»

That very day, I was discharged from the hospital and I rushed out to find Lee as fast as I could.

I made my way into the sunlight, my walk slower than usual as my legs were still weak as I had spent the whole day laying in bed. I looked around, taking in the smell of clean, fresh air. I smiled as two small children ran past me laughing while holding out their wooden katanas. One of them slammed into me and I steadied him, sending the boy running after the others.

"Tenten!" I heard the familiar voice call out my name. I twisted my head around a little too fast and strained my neck as an unwanted creak could be heard. I massaged my neck as the blond-haired ninja ran towards me. Before I knew what was happening, he pulled me into a friendly bear-hug.

"Naruto-kun!" I laughed as I hugged him back. "It's been too long."

"You can say that again! What the heck happened to you though? I was on my way bringing you flowers." He gestured to the flowers he was holding, now slightly bent.

"Oh, Naruto, you didn't have to do that!" I gave him an affable punch on the shoulder.

He gave me one of his famous foxy grins. "I know. I just felt like it." I saw his ears perk up. "Hey! Let's go to Ichiraku for some ramen!"

"Okay. That'll be great."

As we walked off towards the ramen shop, I muttered, "You're paying," which Naruto rewarded me with a smile.

When we reached the ramen shop, we looked around and caught sight of Neji and Sakura, sitting at a table in the corner of the shop. Before I could stop him, Naruto had bounded up to the two and cheerily greeted them. I followed him sullenly, knowing that they'd already spotted me.

"Hey, Sakura-chan!" Naruto was blushing.

"Oh, hi, Naruto!...Tenten." She gave me a nod. For the next few minutes, the mood became awkward and tense. I clasped Naruto's arm and half-dragged him to the counter.

"We were here for ramen, remember?" I could feel Neji's eyes on me as I took him away.

"Oh, yeah!" We reached the counter and ordered. "Mizuramen for two."

"Can we…go somewhere else to eat?" I asked him, cringing at the feeling of Neji's stare boring into my back.

Naruto looked at me strangely. "Okay."

We walked out of the shop, slowly consuming our take-out as we found ourselves perched on a tree branch. I didn't notice Sasuke making his way towards us. Or the fact that he blushed when he caught a glimpse of me…

The next thing I know…Lee was walking towards me. Little did I know that it was really Sasuke who had transformed into him.

"Lee!"

It was still Sasuke, so he was acting bashful, keeping his head down. I mistook it for Lee being guilty towards his actions to me previously.

"H-hey Tenten…"

"Bushy brows!" Naruto called out to the so-called Lee.

"N-Naruto?!" I saw as 'Lee's' expression turned horrified and then angry at the sight of Naruto with me.

I watched, wide-eyed, as 'Lee' ran up to the tree and started kicking it, so that the tree fell over, with Naruto in it…

"Aarrgh! The ramen! TEME!" Naruto jumped towards 'Lee' and they got into an argument. I sighed, irritated. He didn't even apologize! I walked off, unnoticed by the two boys.

«§§§»

As I walked off, alone, I caught a glimpse of a shadow coming at me from my right side. I turned quickly and narrowed my eyes, seeing Lee (A/N: The REAL Lee).

I stormed up to him and stopped directly in front of his larger form. I glared up at him and he looked back, regret burning in his eyes….I slapped him.

"You…baka!" I pushed him back, moving forward as well. He looked at me bewildered. "You meet me and don't even apologize?! Instead you beat up Naruto?!"

He looked confused. "Tenten, what are you talking about? I have not left my room since this morning….I-I could not face you. But what is this nonsense that you are speaking?"

I stared at him. "Oh…I just got played…someone transformed into you… that Lee did seem different…somehow…" I suddenly smiled up at him, disappointed not to see him return it.

"Tenten, my flower, forgive me for my deplorable act––" His gaze faltered, refusing to meet my eyes.

"Lee…I've forgiven you a long time ago. It wasn't you back there, it wasn't." I gave him a sincere smile and he returned it. He suddenly took me into his arms, pulling me into a tight embrace. I hugged him back, awkwardly patting him on the back.

We walked off into the sunset until the fork in the road sent us off into different directions…towards our separate homes…

"You know…I do still like you…" Lee sounded hopeful.

I sighed, covering a side of my face with my hand. What a coincidence...I used my other hand to push him into a tree and continued to walk, leaving Lee grinning after me like an idiot.

I hope you like this chapter. I was feeling really lazy while writing this, so it's not my best work. DEAL WITH IT! I swear, if anyone tries to virtually beat me up because of the scene with Lee beating up Tenten….I'll…do something...bad… Please review this. I want you guys to enjoy the story and TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF IT…so if you'd be so kind to press that button there…