Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. I only own the plot.
Final chapter…Hooray
Just A Mission-Epilogue
Tenten's eyes snapped open.
The adrenaline and norepinephrine was kicking her body into over-drive. Immediately, she jerked upright, almost expecting Isamu was going to pop out of nowhere once more and attack her. Her heart was pounding loudly and she could practically feel the pulsation in her head.
Black spots appeared in her eyes, her sudden movement had caused the restriction of blood flow to the brain. It was her body's signal to her to lie down but she didn't want to relax her body until she knew where she was, who she was with, etcetera. Blinking several times, once her body adjusted to her position and such, she was able to observe the room.
There was nobody with her.
Only after that did Tenten slowly take in the surrounding around her. It was already morning, the sun shone through the thin white curtains that was attempting to block out the lights from the window. Right away, she labelled it as one of the hospital rooms of the Konoha Hospital, specifically the older wing of the hospital. If the powerful smell of alcohol from the antiseptic wasn't a dead give away, then the ugly bloody red uniform square tiles on the floor would.
Tenten gave a gentle sigh and calm down.
Then the pain came.
Wincing slightly as the throb in her abdominal had gotten worse by the minute with her sudden exertion, Tenten put her hand to the spot where she'd broken her ribs last time. Grunting, she slowly lowered herself back onto the metal framed bed. The thing complained with a large tweak. She adjusted the pillow behind her head and the covers, making herself comfortable.
Staring at the dropped ceiling above her, Tenten always wondered if the architect of the building had a sick twist of humour in him. Normally, hospitals preferred to have everything in lighter colours, a symbolism of hope, Tenten supposed. However, the older wing of the Konoha Hospital had all the dark morbid colours—black, dark brown, and crimson red—as if the people who were in the place wasn't worried or depressed enough already over their conditions of blood, injury, loss, and death. Tenten had never doubted for a moment that the old wing could've been used as a perfect setting for a horror movie.
She could almost sympathize the way infamous Kakashi, who could face up to everything under the sun, would avoid the hospital like a plague. Poor man was probably traumatized by the hospital environment. (Tenten had a bad experience with him as Sakura had once asked her to help chase down that mask-man so Sakura could heal his wounds—apparently he had escaped from Sakura's clutches as she was dragging him toward the hospital.)
Tenten blinked a few times, trying to keep her mind focus instead of dozing off.
Thank god they had closed it down and opened a new wing by the time Tenten had became a genin, which was the time when she'd received most of the injuries in her life; otherwise, she would never set foot into the hospital even if she was close to dying…Well, she suppose she would, but she would never have done it willingly. It was only recently that the older wing had been reopened after it had been refurnished. Tenten supposed Tsunade-sama didn't want to waste any resource if possible.
From the room, she could also tell she was in a Type C room, indicated by the lack of equipment and furniture in her room. Type C were private rooms, one would have to pay about 50 percent more than Type D, which was a large general room where eight to ten patients pack themselves into; however, it would be worth it. For Tenten was a private person, or maybe she wasn't used to sleeping with so much activities going on around her, she would never be able to rest properly when she was in the common room.
The room had all the standard items close to a bachelor's den. An individual washroom was on her left, next to the door. A small two-levelled wooden cupboard, that was slightly higher than the bed mattress, had a round metal tray on top of it. A 2L plastic bottle of mineral water, along with two glass cups, was placed on the tray. Her gym bag, dubbed as 'Tenten's Emergency Hospital Bag', was visibly placed on the top shelf of the cupboard. It seemed one of her friends had gone through the trouble of going to her house and getting it out of the coat closet. For that she was thankful. She hated to dress in those thing flimsy hospital gowns.
However, right now, Tenten just couldn't summon enough energy to change.
Lying there, Tenten thought about what had happened for the past few days. They seemed surreal, especially with the whole Isamu incident—the whole Isamu mocking her, the fighting…Neji kissing her…
It was funny, a few days ago; she would've done anything to keep her reputation as the top kunoichi, the one who had gone on S- or A-rank missions while having a perfect score of zero injury and a hundred perfect success rate.
She really had gone past the whole desiring for love stage, the thing about fantasying to be married to Hyuuga Neji (the wonderful, ever-loving husband) and to settle down with his children. She stopped dreaming with the impossibilities when she was thirteen, when she made up her goal to follow the footsteps of Tsunade-sama. She was fine with her choice about wanting to stay a platonic relationship within everyone.
That was until now where the damn Hyuuga had smacked her with the whole question of love again. Throwing it right at her face where she couldn't turn, couldn't play dumb.
She wondered if Neji knew what he did to her, making her going through such turmoil.
It would be five days later before she would be released from the hospital, during the whole time, Hyuuga Neji was nowhere in sight.
She supposed it was a good thing.
…Because she would've throttled him.
Tenten's left eye couldn't stop twitching.
She paced back and forth in her room as she began to wonder whether she could just ditch her damn 'escort'. She had been there; ready to go for more than half an hour!
The damn person had yet to show up!
She exhaled. Fine, have it that way.
Tenten was determined to find him down anyway. It wasn't important whether he showed up or not…She comforted herself, ignoring the feeling of disappointment and a slight hurt that was beginning to rise in her.
Shaking her head as she put her feelings aside, she picked up the duffle bag and headed out.
She stopped before she walked out of the main hospital entrance.
Neji was standing just outside, lodging against the wall next to the hospital gate, with something in his hand. He was dressed in the way as he always did when he was not on duty, in traditional white Hyuuga robes. He had a look of concentration in his face, like he was trying to burn what he was reading into his memory.
The glass door slid open quietly.
It was then did he look up. He shoved the thing into his pockets before he went and took her bag out of her hand without saying a single word, without even sparing her a glance.
Tenten had opened her mouth as she watched him approach, but hesitated as she saw him just there. Therefore, she missed the perfect chance to say anything before he walked away once again.
Tenten pressed her lips together into a thin line as she followed behind him, going down one of the main streets of Konoha.
He walked ahead, a few pace in front of her only to turn around when he found out she several paces behind. He turned around slightly, looking at her with questioning eyes, if she wasn't around him long enough to tell the difference, she would've never known since he was always expressionless.
Tenten gave a small sigh as she approached him, "Neji…"
Then she felt something cold and wet dropped onto her nose. It was the only sign they got before the rain started pouring heavily.
Immediately, Neji grabbed her by her elbow and pulled her gently toward the tiny flimsy plastic cover of the shop that was next to them. He took off his outer robe, draping it over her shoulders.
It seemed the rain was to continue for some time. She faced him, "Ne…"
"I'm going to grab an umbrella." Neji cut her off. "You stay here."
"Wa.."
And he was gone.
"God Neji." Tenten muttered. He couldn't even stand still for a second! She wanted to talk with him damn it!
In frustration, she shoved her hands into the pockets of his robe…
She narrowed her eyes in confusion, looking down; she pulled out a small piece of paper that had been crumbled up.
Tenten was still standing there when Hyuuga Neji returned. She was talking to Temari and Shikamaru, who were standing under a black umbrella together. From the groceries in Shikmaru's hands, Neji presumed that they had just returned from the food market two streets down.
That was a good sign...that she was still there, despite what happened. During the whole time that he had gone off to purchase an umbrella, he ran through what he wanted to tell her in his mind.
Okay, he could do this.
He was practicing his apology speech to Tenten as he walked back and forth near the hospital entrance as well as the night before (he could barely slept).
He had sighed then, wiping the cold sweat from his hands away as he got rid of the thought.
He knew he was probably…no really pushing it. It would be a miracle if Tenten forgives him, even more if he could savage what was left of their friendship.
No…he had to save it.
He knew Tenten couldn't have left, not before doing a final check at the front desks, and he had been standing there ever since the operation hour started for the non-emergencies. He was beginning to think that she had slipped out from the backdoor when he saw her walked out. He wanted to say the things then, only to forget what he had prepared.
He had run away from her when it started to rain. He knew she wanted to talk to him, with her slight displeased look, but he wanted her to hear what he had to say first. If he could just remember!
Funny…he could kung-fu S-class shinobi into oblivion with no problem yet his mind went blank with just being around Tenten.
Courage Neji, he told himself, Courage.
He approached the three, he nodded at the 'unofficial' couple (even though they were in everyone's mind). However, instead of looking at him in frustration or other types of negative emotion, Tenten gave him a smile when he saw her.
She surprised him when she ducked under his umbrella and waved at the couple.
"Hey Neji." Tenten started, interrupting his thought. "Give me the umbrella."
Neji handed it to her without a second thought.
Smiling even wider, Tenten went on…to hold his hand.
For the first time Neji panicked…What did he do? Why is she so happy? Should he continue on with his speech now? But she seemed to have forgiven him already, giving him her smile and all. Would apologizing now be a good time? What if it reminded Tenten of what happened and make her angry again?
Oh God; oh God, why was she holding his hand?
Maybe Shikamaru or Temari said something that changed her mood completely when he was gone…Shikamaru may not be the gossiping type but Temari definitely were.
What was he supposed to do?
"Neji?" Tenten asked when she realized he wasn't moving along beside her.
"Tenten, I…" Neji started.
He wanted to explain to her how much she meant to him, that he loved her since…well forever. Most of all, he wanted to tell her that he was sorry…for the things he did, and would do anything for her if that would mean she would forgive her…
If only he could get his words out!
Tenten hid her smile as she watched him fidget. After all, it wasn't a commonplace to see Neji like this.
"I…" Neji stammered on.
Tenten decided he probably had enough embarrassment, so she let him off the hook. "Neji, I understand."
"I…I…What?" Neji stared at her. The look of surprise and confusion was so unlike Neji that she chuckled.
"Neji." Tenten placed her other hand (the one that was holding the umbrella), over his. With a small smile, she gave a quick peck on his cheek. "You are very important to me too. Nothing can change that."
Dumbfounded, Neji could only stare at her as he touched the place where she kissed him.
"Come on." She urged as she dragged the still-frozen Neji down the street, their hands intertwined. "Let's go home."
Neji didn't notice as Tenten slipped a piece of paper back into his jacket.
By the later account of bystanders (namely Naruto), Neji apparently had a 'shit-eating' grin on his face with one hand still touching the spot the whole time he headed to Tenten's house.
Tenten,
I know that you are probably very angry with me right now…and I can completely understand…(Cross-out) I mean I would get angry if I were in your position (Cross-out). But before you leave, I just wanted to say a few words.
I felt very angry that night, not because of what you did to get Isamu to your room, it really is your job. [You did well…Tenten you are an extremely capable Kunoichi. I know without a doubt that you will succeed.
That night, I was angry at myself that I wasn't there to stop him sooner—that you had gotten hurt and molested by him. (An arrow was drawn from [You did well…, indicating the sentence was moved to here). (Cross out) I know that I can't form a protection bubble around you but(Cross out)
(Cross out) Isamu had no right to touch you like that. You shouldn't have… (Cross out).
What I wanted to say is, you meant a lot to me…more than just a team-mate…more than (A few more sentences were blackened out before it was slightly legible again) I care a lot about you and if you do for me maybe we could (The rest was erased)
I'm sorry.
(There were a few more sentences after but they were erased also.)
At the beginning, Tenten had thought that the piece of paper was some useless trash that Neji had yet to throw away. It was only by curiosity and boredom (as Neji had yet to return), did Tenten open the thing to have a look.
She recognized it was Neji's writing almost immediately.
To Tenten, that was probably the worse apology speech she had ever seen. It sounded like the speaker was confused himself but was trying his best to get the words out…and yet still failed miserably. At a few times he almost sounded accusing; like that night where he told her how she shouldn't have seduced Isamu and could've gotten easily hurt.
It was so Neji-like that her heart, for some reason, ached.
Being around the man for so long, she knew how difficult it was for him to even create a speech like that, he was an aloof man and he had always kept it that way. For him to try to explain himself to her…She saw the how much effort he had put into it, with all the erase marks, crossing out and whatnot. He must have been practising it the whole night too, with the paper all creased up as a proof he had hold it for an extensive amount of time. But as expected, he didn't make it through the first few words.
Therefore Tenten was determined. Whatever happens…They are going to have a long talk about their relationship.
Because his sincerity made her want to cry.
A/N: It may not be a good ending as they weren't together yet, but at least it has a promising start XD. For those who were looking for Neji doing a moving speech to Tenten might be disappointed, since he didn't give one. But I think that's what makes him Neji, I doubt that man, despite what he thought about Tenten, can suddenly start doing love speeches or something like that. Neji is a stoic man, he isn't used to talking about his feelings, but that's what I think makes him even cuter when he wants to give one and failed. But I also see it within Tenten to understand his actions speak louder than words.
Well, that wraps the end of the story. I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. Well, please review and tell me what you guys think.