Staying Alive

A Neji x Tenten Story

Summary- AU fic. Doesn't really have a set time. NxT When Neji is hired to capture a criminal he doesn't expect what he finds. Can the thief reach her life long goals of killing the one man she utterly loathes or will her Uncle get in the way of things? More twisted than it sounds.

Disclaimer- The only thing I own is the lint in my jeans pocket, sorry.

"sup"- talking

sup- thinking

'sup'- Flashback

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What happened last time- 'Still feeling a little shaken Tenten decided to burn off a little steam. She put her things back into her bag and raced off through the trees letting her long hair hang loose to dry in the wind.'

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Staying Alive
Chapter 3- Ill Tempered

Tenten stopped and listened, her hair now tied neatly up into its braided bun. The footsteps of soldiers patrolling the forest could be heard. Sighing irritably Tenten stole away towards her home as quickly as she could. Today was going to be a bad day. Why do they always come out when I'm ready to go hunting!? she thought with an ill-temper. Tenten vaulted into the higher branches careful to not make a sound as she moved to the top of her tree. The branches had grown out and up to create a small bowl in the top of the tree. Tenten would often lie in the basin and stare up at the sky when she could no longer take the darkness within the tree itself. The warm summer breeze caressing the leaves of the tree had a calming effect on her and Tenten drifted into a light sleep.

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"Sir, this is the most recent place that we have found so far."

"Very well, you are free to go."

"Yes sir." The guard bowed respectfully and left the young man to do his work, after all, this is what he had been hired to do. Hyuuga Neji examined the shop and looked down at the list of things that were missing. Looking back up he examined the birds hanging from a rafter raising an eyebrow. From what he had gathered so far the thief that he was supposed to track and capture really wasn't a thief at all, she had just managed to irritate the king a little. All of the shops that had been "raided" always had something to replace them in the morning, like a trade of some sort. Most often the item would be a catch of some kind, mostly meat. Sometimes a few other things were left behind such as mushrooms, a few herbs or pieces of clothing. Neji was able to determine that the thief was female by a set of boot prints in the dust outside the shop, the impressions where small and light. There was a very good chance that the thief was a girl but what did it mater? Girl, boy, thief, or not, he was not hired to analyze, he was hired to catch a criminal for her crimes because no one else seemed to be able to, and catching her was exactly what he was going to do.

The day passed by quickly, Neji gathered what evidence he needed and began setting up camp in the forest. He was accompanied by Tora, a girl that had been assigned to help him by the king. She had a temper and a slight mean streak but she was good at what she did and Neji knew that she would come in handy, not that he needed the help.

Her short black hair hung down in her face accenting her hard golden eyes. Before either had noticed the day was already reaching late afternoon, but something was in the air. Neji lifted his head and looked around the breeze playing with a few loose ends of his dark brown hair as his pale eyes scanned the area. The feeling sent shivers of apprehension down Neji's spine, a feeling he couldn't identify churned in the pit of his stomach and as time passed…the feeling grew.

Tenten awoke with a start, her breathing heavy and a thin layer of sweat coating her face. She looked around. Something is different. Nothing that she could see was off but something that she could feel, there was some type of electricity in the air around her and in the forest. The feeling prickled at her skin covering her arms in goose bumps. The feeling was sending shivers though Tenten's body and she was going to find out what it was.

Tenten came to a stop landing softly on a limb of a tree her soft leather boots not making a sound. She slowly crept foreword so that she could see through the lush green leaves of the tree. She peered out through the foliage and saw someone crouching down below her close to a fire. The person had short black hair and their back to Tenten but she could tell that it was a girl. The girl seemed to be talking to someone and looking around. Tenten's eyes narrowed. Tora. Tenten really didn't like this girl. She had nearly found where Tenten lived at one point a few years back. No one would ever do that.

Tenten's eyes moved and traveled from Tora to the other person with her. She blinked rapidly. Could it really be him? She recognized the young Hyuga Prodigy. Her eyes stung with tears as she looked upon the young man she had been friends with as a child. They had been best friends before her parents were murdered. Tenten's parents had been good friends with the Hyuga clan and she had played with the young Hyuga boy quite often.

Flashback

'An eleven year old Tenten was sitting in an open grassy field staring up at the bright clear blue sky. The soft breeze tickled her rosy cheeks and she giggled lightly. Turning her head Tenten looked at the young boy lying next to her.

"Don't you just love being outside in the sun?" She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of the sweet grass around her and the crispness in the air mixing with the wind, the scent was intoxicating. When Neji didn't say anything Tenten opened her hazel eyes to look at him.

"The sun is the one thing that remains constant in life. Everyday it rises and every night it sets, you can always count on it to be there even if you can't always see it."Neji monotoned, looking at the expansive sky.

Tenten smirked and looked back up at the sky.

"I'll take that as a yes."'

End Flashback

"Neji…" she whispered, the name slipping between her rosy lips before she could stop it. Tenten then inhaled sharply. If Neji was alert, and he always was, he probably heard her and her position was exposed, but she didn't move. Instead she just watched him closely checking his movements for any sign that he might have heard her.

"Neji why did we make camp here, it's to out in the open." Tora grumbled and looked around the spot he had chosen to make camp.

"Because I said so." His voice was icy and lacked any emotion. Tora just rolled her golden eyes.

"Whatever." Neji walked towards the olive green sleeping mat he had prepared. He would start his search for the thief tomorrow, it was getting late and he wouldn't have enough light to search by soon. Besides, it would also be easier to start out earlier in the morning while the air was still cool. Neji's ears perked up as he heard as sound. He squatted down to re-adjust a sack that held some of his supplies. It sounded like someone whispering his name and then inhaling sharply from a tree of to his left. Neji mentally marked the spot in his mind. Well it looks like our friend is already here. Neji allowed a small smirk to appear on his face. And so it begins.

Thoughts and memories started to whirl through Tenten's head. What if he catches me? What do I do? This is kind of what I wanted isn't it? I mean, how else did I expect to get into the castle? Tentens blood started to race and her breathing quickened. But of all people why him! Couldn't it have been anyone else? Tenten could feel her anxiety returning and she desperately tried to fight it back, now was not the time to have an attack. If he's out here who else is here, they know my position they have to.' Tenten's paranoia was beginning to get the better of her. Tenten's concentration was broken and Neji used her distracted state to his advantage. A kunai lodged its self in the bark of the tree right next to her bare hand. Kuso! Tenten cursed, sending her heart into a frenzied pattern. Like lightning Tenten jumped from the tree branch and took off through the forest. Neji was right behind her. Tenten's breathing came in rapid gasps and all she wanted to do was get away. The hunter had once again become the hunted. She was partially shocked to see Neji after so long, he had really changed. She shook her head violently as she continued to run at a frenzied pace. Now is NOT the time to be thinking about how much he's changed! she mentally scolded herself.

As Tenten ran forcing chakra into her legs a whizzing sound raced past her ear. A kunai embedded its self in a tree ahead of her as she jumped from limb to limb. He's enjoying this isn't he? A slight frown crossed Tenten's soft face. She tried to speed up but she wasn't fast enough. A second kunai was thrown at her this one entrenching its self in her right arm. Damb you Hyuga and your tracking skills! she thought bitterly as pain laced her arm. She looked angrily up at the orange sky. If she could outrun him long enough for the sun to set maybe she would have a chance, but it was doubtful. Beads of sweat began to form on Tenten's forehead and her throat began to tighten as her anxiety rose. Her pulse boomed in her ears at a deafening level. If she had even the slightest chance of getting away she would take it.

A playful smirk crossed Tenten's lips despite her shaky emotional state. Come on Hyuga let's play. Tenten jumped up into higher branches trying to distance herself further from her pursuer even though it was probably a futile act. Tenten's heart pounded in her chest the pulsing sound echoing in her ears making it hard to think. Neji was going to find her but she would do what she could to try and delay him.

Tenten leapt to the side taking a well worn trail to the left through the branches. The path doubled back on its self and maybe Neji would fall for it. Finally Tenten reached the underground tunnel. She jumped to the ground and raced in without a second thought. The tunnel eventually rose behind a large rock that concealed the hole beside a bush. Tenten held her breath and listened. She heard and saw nothing which only made her worry more. Tenten pinched the bridge of her nose, mentally sighing. Tenten was beginning to get a throbbing headache and she would need to get to her home soon or she might pass out. Tenten rose carefully on top of the boulder and vaulted back into the trees without a sound. She headed back towards her home in the center of the forest. A pair of pale lavender eyes followed her every move. Found you. A smirk crossed his thin lips. You're making this to easy.

Tenten gasped for air and collapsed onto her bed her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her anxiety level was getting worse and sweat covered her entire body. She was getting even more worked up and she needed to calm down before her muscles started cramping. She reached out with a shaky hand and grabbed some Valerian Root from the shelf next to her. She quickly swallowed the herb dry and collapsed down onto her bed. He's going to find me. She resigned herself to that thought and fell back onto her mattress.Tenten's sweaty body stuck to the fabric of her makeshift bed and she passed out.

She had heard something. A noise had awoken Tenten from her dark slumber. Still a little groggy and not thinking strait she sat up on weary arms and looked blindly around the darkness. She shifted and sat up a little further only to have something hard impact with her left temple.

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A.N- Ok, bear with me…school has started and I won't be able to update quickly so sorry for that. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'll get the next one up as soon as I can, I promise!!