Woot!
The Uploader is finally working!!!!! :D
Well, guys, I've had a time trying to get this to post, not to mention the virus that appeared on our computer. . . I'll save you the details, but it was very frustrating trying to post.
And, I'm one year older!!!
Yep. . . I'm now a legal adult. . . who can go to jail. XD Great.
Chirisaa-chan: Of course it's reasonable, but that doesn't mean it's not painful for either of them.
HimeHikari: I wasn't intending to, but we'll just have to see. Have you been reading? :/ Neji didn't marry his wife of his own free will, the clan kind of . . . forced him into it.
keane: And so I have. :)
Orz QUEEN OF RANDOMNESS Orz: It's not. Trust me. :) Thank you! :D
luv4labs: Eh. . . That has two sides to the argument. . . :/ Hm. Thank God someone agrees with me. ;) You'll feel for him more this chapter. I put some things in perspective from him.
Shubhs: How do you know she hasn't done anything wrong? We haven't read from her yet, dear. :) I feel like this is stressing you out. Take two deep breaths. ;D
endry: Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't see their relationship ending like that just yet. :)
HeavensPheonix561: :D
AnimeFreak218: No, it's not over. Chill. :D
Toph43: Thank you!
Mysterious Bluerose: Don't cry!!!!! It's not worth it! Sweet! :D Thanks. It was fun talking to you on FaceBook! How did your football game go? . . . We lost. :(
e1nav57: Heheh. I'm trying. :) :(
StrawberrySmoothie99: Yeah, and that's okay. I just felt like everyone was doing the Neji/TenTen hate thing. XD
Alright guys, a few notices about this chapter: There is some naughty action (shield your eyes!), but it's not that bad, honestly. Not worth bumping up the rating for, if that's any indication. There is quite a bit of scenes with the Hyugas: Kohaku, Neji, and Neji's wife . . . who still remains nameless. XD Beware of that, but I had a good time writing it. :) Hehe. Angst.
Alright. Read.
Disclaimer: Shoot. I need to read the newest chapter. Back next week with a more wittier Disclaimer. . . Cha.
4.
Two months later. . .
"You're going to the Christmas party, right?"
"No."
Sakura sent her a blistering glare.
"Yes, you are. You're my friend, and you're going to my damn Christmas party."
TenTen sighed, glancing at her.
"I don't want to go, Sakura," she complained, shaking her head.
"Too bad. Your team is gonna be there and all of our friends. You're going and that's final."
TenTen raised her eyebrows, but did not protest further.
She didn't have the energy for it anymore.
—
TenTen had to psych herself into going, whatever she had promised Sakura.
Ultimately, it was her team she was going for, not to assure everyone else that she was okay.
. . . Not that it was any of their business.
It hadn't gotten cold very much in Konoha, and snow had not fallen either.
TenTen dressed in a sleeveless blouse and dark tapered pants ending at the mid part of her calves.
As she walked up to Naruto and Sakura's house, she felt underdressed and embarrassed.
Frowning, TenTen glanced around, wondering if she would be able to skive.
But her developing plan was thwarted when she heard footsteps behind her.
Noriko arrived at her sensei's side, smiling up at her.
"Sensei? Are you going in?"
TenTen looked the twelve-year-old over, considering the tinsel woven through her braids.
"Sure. Let's go."
Noriko smiled happily and charged up the steps, leading TenTen into the house.
Christmas music was playing softly over the buzz of conversation of the crowded house.
TenTen quickly made for the drinks set aside in the kitchen, avoiding the glances she received as she passed.
She sighed in relief as she poured herself a healthy amount of sake, downing it in one gulp.
She filled her cup to the top again.
"Starting early, I see," came a voice to her right.
It was Kiba Inuzuka, grinning wolfishly.
"I have to if I'm going to survive this damn thing," TenTen responded.
Kiba snickered and did not even try to hide the flask he stashed back into his jacket.
TenTen eyed him.
"Give me some of that."
Kiba let out a short bark of a laugh and handed the flask to her.
TenTen let it trickle down into her sake glass, her head growing increasingly lighter as she drank.
She and Kiba analyzed the party, cynical.
"So, you and the Hyuga," murmured Kiba.
TenTen turned to him, wide-eyed.
"What are you talking about?" she stammered.
Kiba raised his eyebrows at her and said, "Kohaku? That's his name, isn't it?"
TenTen released a breath, relaxing.
"Yeah. What about him?"
"Well, is he as much of a genius as Neji or not?"
"He's got . . . talent."
Kiba nodded, seeming pleased.
"How's the Police Force?" TenTen asked in turn.
"Fine. It's different, but good."
TenTen reached for the flask, but when she held it over her cup, nothing came out.
"Damn. Empty."
Kiba frowned and gingerly took it from her hands.
"Come on," he said, moving towards the back door, filching a bottle of mulled whiskey at the back of Sakura and Naruto's refrigerator.
The two trudged down the steps of the back entrance, standing loosely around in the full moonlight.
TenTen blinked and took the whiskey bottle offered to her from Kiba.
Her body felt disconnected from her head, like a balloon tied to a tree.
Kiba eyed her greedily.
TenTen allowed him to kiss her, letting the whiskey bottle fall from her clumsy hands.
Everything about Kiba was hot and avarice.
He pinned her to the back wall, forcing his tongue down her throat.
TenTen ignored the warnings in her head and caught hold of his skin, fingers trailing the sweat on his lean back.
Her knees felt weak.
TenTen did not notice when light from the backdoor spilled out onto the yard, but she was aware when Kiba's mouth was ripped from hers, an angry figure towering over them.
"Go home," Neji ordered Kiba, shoving him toward the door. "Forget everything and don't say a word about it."
Kiba threw him an annoyed look but obliged, stumbling away into the dark.
Neji waited until he was out of earshot before he turned his splintering gaze to TenTen.
"What the hell are you doing?" he grumbled, staring down at her.
TenTen was still braced up against the wall, her hands gripping the texture so she wouldn't fall.
"Nothing," she muttered, trying to sound angry.
"That didn't look like nothing."
TenTen identified the rise in his tone as unnerved.
"Well, what do you expect? It's not like I'm getting any from anybody else."
Neji flinched as if she'd slapped him.
TenTen's eyes floated to the ground, defiant.
"You're acting like . . . like a . . ."
"Whore?" TenTen offered, sharply glancing at him.
Neji stared at her.
"I heard about . . . about Kankuro."
TenTen blinked.
"You've been keeping tabs on me?" she prompted, an edge of curiousness in her voice.
"No. But it's not hard to figure it out when he's coming out of your house at ungodly hours."
TenTen glared up at him.
"Do you blame me?"
Neji sighed and turned away from her, eyes on the sky.
"It's been hard enough these past few months without hearing about you sleeping around," he called out lowly. "And I know you're doing it because of me. Which makes it worse."
Neji shook his head.
"I love you, okay? I do."
TenTen sniffed, trying to prevent salt tears from running down her face.
"I know," she said in a small voice.
Neji turned and sauntered over to her, stealing breath from her mouth when he kissed her.
Every nerve that had been repressed with their relationship's two month absence returned again in a rush of electricity.
TenTen's leg snuck up Neji's thigh, fastening behind his waist.
Neji pushed her further into the wall, pulling her legs around him.
TenTen moaned deeply, her body feeling heavy and drunk.
Neji swiftly created space between them, ingesting gulps of air.
Finally, he breathed, "I don't want to hear about anymore late night visitors. You belong with me. You're mine."
TenTen nodded and swallowed.
"Now," Neji murmured, leaning back until her legs untangled themselves from his waist, "go home. You're drunk."
"No. I want to see them get their presents."
Neji considered her and nodded tiredly, leading her to the door.
"Fine. But then you're going home and you're going to sleep all of this off."
TenTen rolled her eyes but trudged up the steps, entering the kitchen.
"I'll be in there in a minute, alright?" Neji quietly muttered.
TenTen's fingers twitched in response.
She went to the living room, swiftly pulling her young pupil's gifts out of her pocket.
TenTen loosely approached the three, Noriko sitting on the love seat, Kohaku and Hayato at her feet.
"I got you all presents," she said, handing the gifts out to the respective students.
Hayato unwrapped his quickly, casting the paper on the hardwood floor.
Noriko and Kohaku were more respectful, carefully taking off the paper and folding it in their laps.
TenTen waited patiently for their reactions, her eyes roving over Sakura, who was glancing at her insistently and Neji, who had just come in and was meeting her eyes intensely.
"Sensei?" came Noriko's sweet voice.
She was holding up the shobo, seeming confused.
"What is it?"
"It's a shobo. You use it on people's pressure points. Your fingers go in the rings, and then you strike your enemy with it. It's a paralyzing weapon, but if you use it a specific way, you can kill enemies quickly. I'll show you how to use it when you're ready."
"Thank you, Sensei," Noriko said, smiling up at her.
Kohaku and Hayato were still examining their gifts, taking them in.
"Well?" TenTen prompted shortly.
"Thanks, Sensei," the two murmured in unison.
She sighed, about to reprimand them when she felt Neji's presence by her side.
Silently, he reached down, lifting the gift from his son's hands.
He blew into the crafted wooden whistle, a low, willowy sound spilling out.
He smirked.
"You tease them too much," he said, shaking his head.
TenTen looked at him but said nothing in response.
She turned to her students.
"I'll see you all after New Year's. We'll resume practice then."
Kohaku's brow wrinkled.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"She's tired, Kohaku. She's going home," answered Neji, interrupting before TenTen could speak.
She held up a hand in parting, saying a general, "Merry Christmas" before walking toward the door.
Neji followed her out the door.
TenTen waited sleepily for him to speak.
"I'll come see you tomorrow morning to see how you're doing."
TenTen stared at him, her focus starting to unhinge.
"You haven't changed your mind, have you?"
"We'll discuss this tomorrow, TenTen," Neji responded firmly.
She sighed and stumbled down the steps, slowly finding her way back home.
—
"TenTen didn't look well tonight."
Neji sighed quietly to himself, closing his eyes for patience.
"She was drunk. I wanted to make sure she was alright."
She quieted, her Hyuga eyes flicking over her small garden before flitting to Neji.
She considered the features she'd known for the past thirteen years, blinking at the familiarity.
"Was it the holiday that compelled her to alcohol, or the lack of someone to go home to?"
If Neji hadn't known her any better, he would have considered her to be pitying.
But she wasn't.
Her tone was strictly vindictive and bitter.
"Perhaps it was the critical stares," he offered loftily.
She bit her tongue from shouting a retort.
Kohaku trailed behind his parents silently, his feet shuffling tiredly against the grass.
He didn't like it when his parents did this, approaching the sharp cliff of bickering before tumbling down the avalanche of animosity.
Parents shouldn't fight on Christmas, he thought, assailable.
However unhappy now, Kohaku had certainly enjoyed the party the Hokage and his pink-haired wife had held.
Kohaku reached into his pocket, fingering the present his sensei had given him.
He whipped it out, running his fingers over the maple wood before slipping it back into his pocket.
It had been nice to spend time with his two teammates.
Noriko had given him two rolls of twine for various forms of attack, which Kohaku found useful. And Hayato had presented him with a rope-woven bracelet, saying it was a bracelet for friends that wanted to be bound forever.
Kohaku had suspiciously thought that he wasn't too sure he would want to be bound to Hayato forever, a few weeks were enough.
"Kohaku," Neji called from ahead, his voice reading exhaustion.
"Yes?"
"Come with me."
Kohaku's forehead wrinkled, but he obeyed, skipping before his mother into the house.
His father led him to his study, where he easily sat down.
Kohaku stood awkwardly in front of the desk, blinking rapidly.
"Your birthday is in a few months," Neji stated.
Kohaku nodded, unsure of where this was going.
"Yes."
Neji studied him, analytical.
Kohaku felt unnerved; he hated when his father did that, stared at him like he was something to be gawked at but not spoken to.
Neji flicked his eyes to his desk, pulling out a drawer and rummaging in it.
Curious, Kohaku leaned forward, peeking.
Neji pulled out a slim package, presenting it to his son with a glance.
Kohaku showed the same reserved expression as he slipped off the paper, opening the lid in anticipation.
Inside lay a thin, but long, silver dagger. The hilt was pure chrome, inlaid with black leather for grip. The blade itself gleamed with a luster that outshone any property in this world, the tip being hooked with a curve.
Kohaku looked at his father in astonishment.
"Is this—are you giving me this?"
Neji paused before nodding a single time.
"Don't let your mother see it," Neji murmured, standing and exiting out of the study.
Kohaku frowned but sat at his father's desk, running his fingers over the blade.
From upstairs, he heard their separate doors shut, not speaking.
Kohaku bit his lip and reached into his pockets, carefully laying out his gifts in a perfect line.
It wasn't a bad haul, but Kohaku felt strangely inclined not to use his gifts.
If anything, the blade his father had just given him was a token of gesture, not a toy.
And the gifts from Noriko and Hayato, they too signified something of a different nature.
Kohaku turned his eyes to the present his sensei had given him.
He had no use of a whistle, in all honesty, but he supposed his sensei disregarded practical presents.
It was a kind thought, though.
Kohaku had never been musically inclined, but perhaps his sensei was proposing he try and be more well-rounded.
Or maybe she was just drunk.
Kohaku sighed.
He had noticed she'd been upset behind her dilated eyes, but she was always so deflective.
Kohaku stored the gifts back into his pockets, beginning to trudge up the stairs to his room.
However, he couldn't help but feel a weight on his shoulders appear as he ascended upward.
Aw, poor Kohaku.
Maybe the alcohol was a bit much, but I needed to explain just how upset TenTen was, I suppose. XD
Okay.
Review.