A/N: Naruto isn't mine, blah blah blah.
Sorry, short chapter.
xxx
Although they are only breath,
words which I command
are immortal.
- Sappho
Chapter 7 – Gossip
Sasuke struggled as the girls dragged him up a flight of stairs, chattering and giggling maniacally. He tried to shake off their grasps on his arms and shoulders, but failed. The Uchiha gulped as they pushed him into a room and closed the door.
"What are you going to do to me?" His eyes darted suspiciously from face to face.
"Find out who you like, of course!" Ino grinned.
Sasuke cursed, closing his eyes in horror. He hadn't realized the blonde ninja was in the room as well.
"Look. I don't like anyone," the Uchiha snarled, flinching as the girls closed in around him. Except Naruto . . . his thoughts whispered. He shook his head to clear it.
Ino rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. Everyone likes someone. I mean, even Naruto has a crush!"
Sasuke's eyes shot open. The conversation had suddenly become interesting. "What? Who is it?! TELL ME!" The Uchiha shook the blonde ninja by her shoulders, baring his teeth. "Spit it out, you idiot!" he growled.
Ino giggled, pulling herself closer to Sasuke. She batted her eyelashes. "He likes me. I have to admit, he has better taste than he used to, when he liked Sakura." She raised her eyebrows disdainfully and stuck out her tongue in disgust. "But none of that matters. Who do you like, Sasuke-kun, my darling?" Ino crooned, running a finger along the Uchiha's jaw.
Sasuke fell back against the wall, half-heartedly swatting her hand away. I knew he was only messing with me . . . damn it. Even Kakashi-sensei was wrong about Naruto. The Uchiha clenched and unclenched his fists, finally letting himself slip down to sit on the floor. I never should have kissed him! I never should have let my feelings get the better of me! Sasuke shut his eyes and groaned. The girls around him glanced at each other in confusion. The Uchiha's lids flickered open. He stared at the floor beneath him, discolored with the dark stain of tears.
He felt his heart grow colder. This is the last time I cry for that idiot . . . because he never cared . . . and I'll never care again.
Sasuke flinched as he felt handcuffs close around his wrists and ropes tightening around his ankles. "You can't escape now, my precious Sasuke-kun . . ." Ino whispered ominously. The Uchiha hung his head in despair.
xxx
"It's amazing how fast things spread in Konoha," Sakura mused, taking Lee's hand as they walked down one of the roads of the village. "Naruto just told me he likes Ino and suddenly there isn't one ninja who doesn't know about it!"
Lee nodded. "Of course, we both know he's lying about Ino, don't we, Sakura-chan?" He held a finger to his lips in thought. "Who do you think it really is?"
"Huh?"
"Who does he really likes? I think it might be Uchiha Sasuke . . ."
Sakura raised an eyebrow incredulously. "You have to be kidding me."
Lee shrugged. "I don't know."
xxx
Tenten was putting the finishing touches on a chocolate cake. She stood back and smiled. I hope Neji and Lee like this! She licked icing off her fingers. Well, it looks done to me.
"Gai-sensei! Gai-sensei! Come and see the cake! I'm done!" she called over her shoulder.
Gai stuck his head around the corner of the kitchen. "Tenten! My youthful student! This cake looks magnificent! Perfect for celebrating Valentine's Day with our team!"
Tenten swelled with pride. "Thanks, Gai-sensei! Where are Neji and Lee?"
The older ninja thought for a moment. "I just saw Lee outside so I'll go get him. As for Neji—"
"TENTEN! TENTEN!" Neji burst into the kitchen, panting. His hair had fallen out of his pony-tail and lay across his shoulders. Tenten stared at it. I never knew his hair could look so good . . . she sighed to herself.
Suddenly, Tenten realized that her teammate had been silent since he ran into the kitchen. Neji was standing quietly, watching her with intense eyes. "Uhhh . . . Neji, what is it?" she asked uncertainly.
"I LOVE YOU!" The Hyuuga scooped the startled ninja up in his arms and kissed her passionately on the lips.
Tenten sighed, smiling into the kiss . . . she opened her eyes suddenly. But she wasn't looking into Neji's beautiful grey eyes . . . she was staring at the kitchen counter.
Tenten removed her lips from the counter and picked herself up with a sigh. I fell asleep? With my head on the counter? She shook her head, blushing furiously.
"Tenten? How's that cake coming?" Gai's voice came from the other room.
The female ninja jumped and whirled around, breathing out a sigh of relief as she caught sight of the cake. She had, in fact, finished decorating it before falling asleep. "It's done, Gai-sensei!" she called back.
Her sensei poked his head around the corner. "Tenten! My youthful student! This cake looks magnificent! Perfect for celebrating Valentine's Day with our team!" He gave a thumbs up and grinned.
That's exactly what he said in my dream! Tenten raised an eyebrow, laughing silently. "Wow, Gai-sensei! Thanks so much! By the way, do you know where Neji and Lee are?"
"I just saw Lee and Sakura walk by. I'll go get them—Sakura will be our guest—that's alright, I assume? As for Neji—he'd probably be . . . actually I'm not sure where he'd be. Haven't seen him in a while . . ."
Tenten frowned as her sensei disappeared around the corner. I haven't seen Neji in a while either . . . where has he gotten too? I have to find Neji . . . after all, this cake is a present for the whole team . . . She shook her head and took off her apron, hanging it up on a peg. As she was about to walk out the door, she paused at a sound from outside.
Did I just hear—
"TENTEN! TENTEN!" Neji burst into the kitchen, panting. His hair had fallen out of his pony-tail and lay across his shoulders. Tenten stared at it. I never knew his hair could look so good . . . she sighed to herself.
Suddenly, she brought a hand to her forehead in dismay. Am I dreaming? This is all just like . . .
Tenten realized Neji had been completely silent since he ran into the kitchen. "Uhhh . . . Neji, what is it?" she asked uncertainly, not realizing the line was the same in her dream . . . that this all was unnervingly similar to her dream, in fact.
"I . . ." the Hyuuga faltered.
Tenten's mouth fell open. "Wh—"
"GAAAAAAAH!" Neji screamed, running out of the kitchen. The stunned ninja watched him disappear. He's acting so weird today . . .
Gai stepped through the door, followed by Sakura and Lee. "Kakashi told me that Neji's been eating nothing but ice-cream for the last couple of days. I guess that would explain why he's so hyper."
Tenten's mouth fell open again. "This is all so weird . . ." The female ninja shook herself. "Well, it doesn't matter. Hey, Sakura! Hey, Lee!"
The two ninja hugged Tenten and sat down. "Gai-sensei told us that you baked a cake in celebration of Valentine's Day!" Sakura said with excitement.
Gai nodded at Sakura. "Our Tenten is one of the best cooks in all of Konoha!"
Tenten rolled her eyes, beaming. "Well, who wants a piece?"
Lee's eyes watered. "MEEE!" His hand shot up into the air.
"ME!" Sakura squealed.
Gai gave a blinding grin and a thumbs up. "AND ME TOO!"
Tenten chuckled as she cut pieces for her sensei and her friends. She only wished Neji hadn't run off so suddenly . . .
I'll have to find him later and give him his piece of cake and maybe something else too . . . She smiled, remembering her dream. I wish that kiss had bee real . . .
I guess I'll have to make it real . . .
xxx
A/N: lol, Tenten was visited by Neji in real life and her dream. I really enjoyed writing that scene – dreams are fun to write. I think I might have been hungry at the time too . . . mmmm, chocolate cake . . .
Oh, and sorry that there was even more Sasuke angst in this chapter. Don't worry though, Naruto will rescue him soon enough! And if you're offended that I made Ino the bad guy (or should I say bad girl?) then . . . uh, I can't really do anything about that, but you know, I have to make someone evil, don't I? XD
Oh yeah, and reviewing wouldn't hurt. In fact, it would make me verrrryyyyyy happy indeed! :D