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- No amount of bribery or threatening will ever make me the owner of Naruto. goes into a state of depression

"sup"- talking

sup- thinking

'sup'- Flashback

'sup'- Thoughts in a flashback

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A.N.- Yeah, school's been a pain. End of excuse.

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What happened last time- '"Where did you learn to heal?" Tenten looked up at Neji and sighed knowing that the question was bound to come around sooner or later.

"I got tired of having to wait two weeks or more for my wounds to heal." Tenten rolled over so that her back was now to Neji in her own way refusing to elaborate further. Neji knew that she wasn't going to say anything more so he let the subject drop. Tenten closed her eyes and with the sun warming her lightly tanned skin she soon fell into a dreamless sleep. Tomorrow she would finally meet the man who had caused her so much pain face to face.'

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Staying Alive

Chapter 7- Betrayed?

Tora opened her eyes and glanced across the fire at her sleeping comrade and then to the thief who lay a few feet away from him. Tora's face contorted into a glare as she looked at her. Tora rose from her blanket and slowly crept away from the fire. With a last look over her shoulder Tora raced off into the darkness.

"Sire, you have a visitor." Shinji Takahashi mumbled as he sat up from his bed.

"At this un-godly hour of the night?" The guard bowed respectfully.

"I apologize sire, but she insisted that it was very urgent." Shinji rubbed his dark eyes.

"Oh all right," he growled irritably. "Send her in." The guard bowed again but before he could turn around a girl walked in to the chamber.

"Well Shinji, did you miss me?" Shinji blinked and a happy smile crossed his tanned face.

"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite little girl." Tora glanced behind her as the doors to the chamber closed behind her.

"Careful Shinji, if someone hears you talk like that they may get the wrong idea."

"Why Tora, you never seemed to be the type to care what others thought." Tora shrugged and walked towards Shinji.

"So what brings you here so late at night?" He asked curiously as Tora sat next to him. Tora's face became serious.

"I've come to tell you about that thief you wanted."

Again Tenten was the first to awaken. She stared down at the dew covered grass and shivered a little. Her clothes were wet from the morning dew and her entire body was screaming from the painful position she was forced to sleep in during the night. Tenten watched sadly as the little pools of water bent and refracted the glow of the rising sun into small streams of color and light. Oh the small wonders of the world. A small depressing smile crossed Tentens face. She spent the rest of the morning watching the sun rise from behind the trees. Soon all three were awake and a new fire had been started.

"Let's get ready to go." Tenten rolled over trying to hide her discomfort as she looked at Neji. She glared at him warningly.

"You shouldn't be going anywhere for at least another day, minimum," she said a light threat evident in the undertones of her voice. Tora glowered at Tenten but she took no notice.

"We need to get going." Tenten growled threateningly in her throat but there was nothing she could do. If Neji wanted to kill himself just to get her to the castle so be it, it was none of her concern. Yet a part of Tenten couldn't help but worry for him. Soon the three had eaten and were on their way to the castle.

Tenten's breathing was slow and deep as she allowed herself to meditate a little. She was still aware of her surroundings but memories of her childhood drifted into her mind. She lingered on one in particular from when Neji had taught her a song for when she was scared or nervous. She had talked to him after overhearing her parents arguing. Tenten opened her eyes so that she could watch were she was going but her eyes were glazed over and she was lost in her past. She smiled unconsciously and started to hum the same song from when she was little quietly to herself. Tenten's eyes were half lidded as she relaxed letting the tension and pain seep out of her body. About five minutes passed by before something hard abruptly struck the side of Tenten's face sending her tumbling to the side. In her unprepared state Tenten found herself sprawled out along the dirt ground spitting dust. She glared up at Tora as she struggled to get back on her feet. Dust covered the side of her face where small beads of sweat had collected from the morning heat and the walking.

"Would you shut up!?" Tora shouted at her, her face flushed red in anger.

"That is so annoying." Tenten's anger flared as she struggled to regain her footing. She rolled onto her stomach and put her forehead to the ground to pull her knees up under her. With a minor amount of trouble she managed to stand the rope tying her ankles together hindering her ability to move. Tenten spat into the dust to try and rid her mouth of the dirt she had nearly swallowed upon hitting the road. Another bruise was rapidly forming the right side of Tenten's face to match the one Neji had given her two days ago. A wave of guilt washed over Neji as he saw the scabbed bruise on her temple where he had hit her to knock her unconscious.

Tenten raised her chin defiantly as she stood her full height standing taller than Tora by nearly two inches. She smirked proudly before turning away and continuing down the dirt road forcing her anger down. Now is not the right moment Tenten, bide your time, she thought to herself. The other two members of the group followed silently, Tora still enraged at the thief and even more angered by the way Tenten had stood up defiantly after Tora had whacked her. She was still steamed after they arrived at the castle gates. As the gate was slowly raised Tenten scrutinized the castles grey stone walls. Her chocolate eyebrows furrowed in thought. Something was off but she couldn't tell what it was. There was something very different about her former home and it wasn't good.

The three walked through the large stone arch way and into the castle court yard. They were escorted into the castles main hall. Tenten eyed Neji carefully a disapproving frown crossing her face as she noticed the tension in his shoulders. His jaw was tight as well and the tension in his shoulders traveled all the way down his arm to his hands which were wedged deeply into his pockets. Neji had put on a clean set of clothes to hide the bandages around his abdomen. He shouldn't have gotten up this morning, she thought worriedly. The frown lines across her forehead deepened as she watched her childhood friend. Scowling Tenten pried her gaze away from Neji to the long hallway in front of her stopping dead in her tracks as she saw the state of the walls.

All emotion was whipped from her face and her jaw dropped in horror. Tenten's heart nearly stopped and a stab of pain wretched at her heart. The once shining walls of the castle were now tarnished with dirt and dust; cobwebs clung to the corners of the walls and tapestries. The once proud and brilliant pieces of cloth now hung tattered and dull as if they had seen years of battle. Tears glistened in Tenten's eyes and threatened to fall but she desperately fought them back blinking rapidly to rid them from her eyes.

"Come on thief, get moving," Tora snapped shoving Tenten foreword. She stumbled and dropped her gaze to the floor to try and keep from crying. You would think she'd never seen the inside of a castle…oh wait, she hasn't, Tora thought smugly. Tenten felt her throat tightening as she desperately fought against the wave of tears that threatened to break free from the confines of her eyes and cascade down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and swallowed eventually able to collect herself. Feeling once again prepared to look up on the damaged state of her home she raised her eyes, but again she was wrong, she wasn't prepared for what she saw. Her golden brown eyes fell upon a maid scurrying down the hall. Normally the maids would have their heads held high and welcome anyone to the castle with warmth and comfort shining brightly in their eyes, but not now. This maid kept her head down and her eyes to the floor as she passed; her uniform was torn and covered in dirt. Tenten could see the bruises on her arms and face and she could feel her breath catch in her throat. I should have come sooner, she thought guiltily, as they reached the throne room. The two heavy oak doors were pushed open and the small group was escorted in.

"Well, well. It seems you were able to catch her after all," Shinji said to Neji who bowed respectfully.

"Yes your majesty," Neji replied. Tenten growled low in her throat her teeth clenching.It makes me sick the way Neji treat Shinji with such undo respect, Tenten lashed out in her mind. Shinji turned his burning gaze on Tenten who just glared back at him murderous intent glowing in her eyes. He only smirked at her reaction and nodded to the guards standing in the doorway. They nodded and walked to Tenten each one taking a hold of an arm and pulling her to the side of the room.

"You two may come foreword." Tora and Neji obeyed and Shinji smiled down upon the ebony haired girl.

"Tora, I want to thank you for informing me of the occurrences concerning the thief over the past few days." Tenten's eyes widened in horror. WHAT! Tenten turned to look at Tora who merely smirked in triumph. Tora turned and smiled lovingly up at Shinji making Tenten sick to her stomach. Neji remained unaffected by the comment. Tora walked up the steps to the throne to sit beside Shinji. What the hell? Tenten was getting really confused.

"Neji, why did you disobey me and question the criminal when I told you not to?" Neji locked eyes with the king.

"I simply wanted to know what was so important about her that you wanted her arrested," he stated simply but being careful with his words. Shinji's face clouded over.

"That is none of your concern," he hissed. Neji bowed respectfully.

"I apologize for my disobedience, it won't happen again," he apologized. Tenten rolled her hazel eyes and rested her wait on one hip in exasperation her stomach churning. Shinji studied Neji's tall figure thoughtfully.

"Very well, you are dismissed." Neji turned and walked towards the main doors casting Tenten a sidelong glance before leaving. A cold fist latched onto Tenten's heart as she watched him leave. He doesn't know it's me, she thought sadly. Another, more determined part of Tenten rose to the surface. I guess it's time for plan B…but what's plan B? Shinji turned and smiled at his niece who glared menacingly back at him.

"Bring her foreword." The guards obeyed and pulled Tenten towards the throne so that she was now standing only a few feet away from her uncle.

"You may go," he said addressing the guards who bowed and turned to leave the room. As the doors closed Shinji examined Tenten from head to toe slowly undressing her with his eyes.

"My dear Tenten," he purred. She could feel her skin prickle beneath his gaze. "How we have missed you over these past five years." His eyes one again rose to her face. His affectionate tone mocked her as he spoke and Tenten's glare intensified. If there was one thing she hated almost as much as her uncle it was being mocked. "In fact we missed your presence so much here that I decided to have a daughter." What kind of whore would bear your child? she thought vehemently.

"Have you met my adopted daughter…Tora?" Tenten felt like a steel beam had landed on her shoulders knocking the wind from her chest. This was not expected at all. Tora smiled cockily down at Tenten.

"Oh did I forget to mention that little fact?" Tora said cutely batting her eyelashes. Tenten quickly regained her composure.

"You know I should have found the sickening personality familiar, she acts just like you my dear uncle," Tenten's voice dripped with honey as she blinked innocently even though the thought of someone like Tora living in her home sickened her.

"I'm so glad to finally have you back safe and sound Tenten, all the while you were gone I had the castle guards out searching for you day and night. We all thought you were dead, but I knew better." Shinji played along with Tenten's banter but the hidden meaning in his words infuriated her.

"Now that I finally have you back I can sleep peacefully knowing that I finally found you." Tenten growled in pure rage.

"You bastard," she spat.

"Now, now. Is that any way to speak to your uncle my dear?" Tenten lifted her head in defiance.

"You are no relation to me. You are a coward, something my parents nor I have ever been nor shall ever be." Malice clouded over Tenten's face and pure raw fury blazed in her eyes.

"And you miss, are simply a common thief who's death no one will care about," Shinji growled as two guards re-entered the room. They took hold of Tenten's arms and pulled her to the side of the room. Tenten straightened up and raised her head proudly with an heir of nobility. She walked without protest through the door and down the steps to the dungeon. The two guards directed her to the far wall and slashed at the rope binding her hands and ankles. Heavy shackles were placed on her wrists and ankles trapping her against the wall. Tenten glared at the two guards as they turned and left.

"Oh you two are so fired," she hissed as the steel door clanged shut. Tenten's anger slowly faded away and she slumped against the cold damp wall of her cell. She slid to the floor resting her arms across her knees as she stared up into the dark ceiling her head resting against the cool stone wall. Now what?

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A.N.- I hope you enjoyed it. I'll get right to typing up Ch. 8. Remember, I don't have it edited yet so it could take a while to be put up…and I'm just really lazy. So yeah…