:D
I like this chapter.
'Nuff said.
And by the way, jeez, you guys really hate Neji in this Fic, don't you? I was shocked. :O
Mysterious Bluerose: Ah, my faithful reviewer and friend. :D Suspenseful? Me? Psh! ;) Yes, I have heard that song. Me and my mom used to hear it on the radio and be like, OMIGAH! :D Thanks for the review, dear.
HimeHikari: Thank you. :)
brenda: Sakura was just suggesting. Obviously, TenTen's against the idea. :) And I hate Sasuke. . . Yeah.
luv4labs: I made you hate him? Oh, be nice. :) I think you've gotta feel for both Neji and TenTen. Neji was forced into a marriage he didn't want, forced to have this kid with this chick he didn't care about, and forced to give up on the love of his life! It's been hard for both of them! If anything, TenTen had it easier. Nobody forced her into anything. :/ Now, I'm not trying to justify infidelity, but the circumstances are very . . . difficult. You're right, it's not fair to Neji's wife, or his son, but it wasn't fair to him or TenTen either. Make Neji feel TenTen's pain? What pain? Haha. I'm not lashing out at you, so don't misunderstand. I just want you to consider both sides of the spectrum. Thanks for reviewing. :)
HeavensPheonix561: It would hurt to an extent, but it's not like Neji's going home and having sex with his wife. They're very much . . . estranged.
Yeah. . . Keep an open mind, guys. I don't want you to go out hating Neji or hating TenTen. . . :) That wasn't my intention, after all.
Disclaimer: Bleach!!! Oh, wait, wrong fandom.
3.
TenTen pushed her face into the pillow and clutched it tighter, not wanting to wake up yet.
Neji shifted against her, dislodging sheets.
Irritated, TenTen wrested them back, making sure every bit of her was covered.
A second later, TenTen winced at the weight suddenly placed on her arm.
She turned to Neji, blearily glaring up at him.
"Ow," she muttered insistently, pulling her arm out from underneath him.
Neji considered her sleepily.
"You started it," he murmured back, tracing her jawbone.
"Did not," retorted TenTen indignantly, pushing his hand away. "You're the one who stole the sheets."
Neji rolled his eyes and pushed himself onto his back, sighing tiredly.
"It's so damn early," he commented, rubbing his eyes.
TenTen slipped her hand over Neji's torso, reaching over to the right side where his ribs were.
Neji responded by absently running his hand over her smooth back.
She watched his chest rise and fall with his even, relaxed breaths.
"You have a mission today, correct?" she asked.
Neji nodded.
"Unfortunately," he eventually responded.
TenTen smiled, mischievous.
"Well, you could just . . . skip it."
Neji smirked, opening his eyes to peer down at her.
"Are you suggesting I shirk my mission to stay here with you?" clarified Neji, rubbing her shoulder blades in a slow, gentle motion.
TenTen smiled and pushed herself onto her elbows.
"I'll do anything you want?" she offered.
Smug, Neji laughed.
"As tempting as that offer is, I'm afraid I must decline."
TenTen snatched her sheets off the bed, wrapping them around her as she stumbled off the mattress.
Craftily, she grabbed Neji's clothes off the chair where he'd left them and ran into the living room, turning to make sure Neji wasn't following.
He was, framed in the doorway of her bedroom, a towel hanging loosely around his hips.
"I will not fight you for them," he warned, his smirk fastened in place.
"Well, too bad, because that's the only way you're getting your clothes back," TenTen taunted.
Neji shook his head at her and advanced, his stride quick.
TenTen kept her distance as she edged towards the kitchen, watching him with bright eyes.
Neji beat her, pinning her against the wall.
He kissed her hotly, running his fingers through her hair.
TenTen forgot all about the clothes she was supposed to be holding and dropped them, gripping Neji's waist.
Neji reluctantly broke the kiss, swiftly bending down to retrieve his clothes.
"This is how all of this started, remember?" he teased, necking her face.
Before she could reply, the doorbell to TenTen's home rang.
TenTen's brown eyes darted to Neji's in confusion, but he was frowning as well.
"Go on," he said, moving further into the kitchen.
TenTen bit her lip and rearranged the sheets surrounding her into something more sensible.
She grasped the knob and pulled it open, the brightening day stinging her eyes.
TenTen met the eyes of her visitor, her heart stopping in shock.
"Kohaku," she said, eyes wide. "What are you doing here?"
Kohaku looked sheepish and shuffled his feet.
"I was looking for my dad. He didn't come home last night and . . . I don't know where he could be."
Frantic, TenTen searched for a lie, any lie, that would get her out of this present situation.
"Um, didn't he have a mission early this morning?" TenTen proposed, layering her voice to ensure it remained steady.
"Yes. But why wouldn't he come home before—?"
"He probably didn't want to wake your mom up," explained TenTen soothingly. "He might've just gone to Lee's and left for his mission this morning. He's done that before, right?"
Kohaku nodded, hesitant.
"I guess. Thanks, Sensei."
TenTen nodded quickly, waiting until Kohaku was on his way before shutting the door.
With a staggering breath, she entered the kitchen, finding Neji pressed back against the sink.
His head was down and he did not look at her, even after she coaxed him back into her bedroom.
—
"I need to talk to you."
TenTen wedged her foot next to the doorjamb, expecting Sakura to be angry.
Instead of slamming the door in her face though, Sakura tiredly invited her in.
Warily, TenTen moved past her, scanning the house.
Sakura led her to the living room, allowing TenTen to take the couch.
TenTen sat down carefully.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you yesterday," TenTen muttered, watching Sakura float over to the love seat.
Sakura shook her head weakly, dismissing the apology.
TenTen gazed at her.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. . . the baby's just being a bit difficult today."
TenTen's eyes floated to Sakura's bloated stomach.
"Now, what did you need to talk to me about?" asked Sakura before TenTen could interrupt.
TenTen flicked her fingernail against the skin on her thumb.
"Well, this morning, Kohaku came by."
"So? That's not that unusual."
"No, but the thing was, Neji was there. In my kitchen while Kohaku was talking about how he hadn't gone home last night."
Sakura's eyes widened, becoming glowing emerald orbs.
"How'd you dodge that bullet?" she inquired.
"I said that Neji had stayed at Lee's so he wouldn't wake up his mom," TenTen answered, closing her eyes in exhaustion. "It's a good thing it was true, because otherwise I'd have to pull a lie out of my ass."
"Not that you're not good at that already," commented Sakura in an undertone.
"Ha. Very funny."
"Which would explain why you're not laughing," Sakura shot back.
"On the inside, Sakura. On the inside," murmured TenTen, smiling a little. "Now what do I do about Kohaku? I feel like he's going to find about Neji and I any minute now."
Sakura sent her friend a sharp look.
"TenTen, you know as much as I do that the older Kohaku gets, the more he's likely to find about you and Neji. Are you planning to tell him, or is your approach to just let it happen?"
TenTen frowned.
"I don't know," she confessed, sighing heavily.
"Then you need to talk to Neji and get it straightened out before Kohaku starts getting suspicious."
TenTen pursed her lips and nodded curtly.
"Thanks, Sakura," she said, beginning to stand.
"Wait—!"
TenTen turned to look at her, curious.
"What?"
Sakura's face was pale, eyes wide and blank.
"Well, either I just wet myself or . . ."
TenTen stared at her, sweat slicking the back of her neck.
"Oh, shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!" TenTen cursed, rushing to Sakura's side.
Sakura regarded her calmly.
"TenTen, calm down."
"Don't tell me to calm down!" TenTen shrieked, slightly hysterical.
Sakura glared at her sternly.
"TenTen, all that happened is my water broke. All you need to do is get me to the hospital, okay?"
TenTen nodded, jittered.
"Okay," she said, her mouth dry.
—
TenTen tiredly returned home late that night, brushing her hair out of her face.
Sakura had delivered early, but the baby seemed fine, a perfect little boy.
TenTen smiled, exhausted to the bone.
She unlocked her front door and walked into her house, noting the lights were on.
"Neji?" she called, eyebrows furrowed.
His footsteps were level as he appeared, coming from the entryway of the living room.
His smile was strained.
"Where have you been?" he inquired quietly.
"Sakura. She had her baby today."
A real smile graced his mouth, light and pleased.
"What is it?"
"A boy. He's perfect."
Neji's gaze softened, and he watched her, considering every part of her.
"I want to talk to you," he murmured, taking a few steps toward her.
"About?" TenTen responded, her voice nervous.
"What happened earlier."
"With . . . Kohaku. . ." TenTen slowly whispered, meeting his eyes.
Neji inclined his head.
TenTen swallowed.
"TenTen, I can't. . ."
He shook his head, the words stopping in his throat.
"I can't do this anymore," he choked out, training his eyes on her forehead so he didn't have to look her in the eyes.
TenTen waited for him to continue, willing herself not to interrupt with her shaking emotions.
"I'm supposed to be a grown man, but . . . I've been acting like a child. I have to be a good example for my son."
"By deserting the only woman you've ever loved? A good example indeed," she quipped, eyes burning.
TenTen wasn't sure if it was because she was trying to hold back tears, or because she was staring him down.
Neji kept silent, not wanting to contradict her and dig himself a deeper hole. She would be upset, however he did it.
Finally, he said, "I have to conduct myself in an attitude befitting an adult and a father. What I've been doing is the very opposite, and I've been selfish, not only to my wife and son, but to you. For tainting you."
She smiled bitterly.
"'Tainting me'? What is that supposed to mean? That I'm defective?"
Neji sighed and met her eyes, wary.
"I stripped you of opportunities. I took away your right to have a happy, unhindered relationship."
"I don't see it like that."
"Of course you don't," Neji retorted, his voice edged sharp in barely tamed anger. "You've always been the one to see things differently, however dire the situation."
"This isn't one of our missions!" TenTen yelled. "This is real life, Neji!"
"I know that," he assured, dark eyebrows drawn together.
Silence eroded at the walls, stiffening the air.
"This is what I've decided," Neji ultimately murmured, insistent. "I can't see you and that's final."
TenTen crossed her arms, feeling the need to protect herself.
"I disagree."
"Don't make this harder than it has to be," Neji berated.
TenTen glowered at him.
"Get out of my house," she ordered.
Neji obliged, moving cautiously out of her range before reaching the door.
He turned, glancing at her over his shoulder.
"I love you."
He expected her to slap him.
Instead, she sneered harshly, "Save it for your wife. I'm sure she'd appreciate it a lot more than I do."
Neji clenched his jaw and nodded curtly, not saying another word as he left.
TenTen stared at the closed door for several seconds before locking it behind him.
As she started down the hall, however, she stopped and slammed her fist into the wall, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through her wrist and arm.
And TenTen left it at that, two big holes.
One in her wall, and one in her heart.
:(
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