UTC Ch. 2
She was adjusting her veil and staring at herself in the mirror. It felt... unreal. Yesterday, she was just Tenten. Today, she would become Lee Tenten. Suddenly, she noticed a presence in the doorway. Glancing away from the mirror, she saw the familiar lavendar-tinted white eyes, the long and silky dark hair. Neji.
For a moment, she was so aware of him, she could hardly breathe. She turned back towards the mirror and continued to fix her veil. Oh no. Yesterday, he had kissed her with more passion than she had thought possible. Today, she was getting married. She felt a pang of betrayal towards Lee.
"So," he stated, "You're getting married and moving to Suna."
There was a questioning look in his eyes, but he didn't ask a question; he provided her with a completely true statement.
Her nose crinkled. "Yes, Neji. Thank you for stating the obvious. I'm fairly certain you got my save the date six months ago. I'm also sure I told you about the move to Suna."
Neji shook his head. "No, I mean that yesterday-"
She turned away from the mirror and glared at him.
"Forget about yesterday, Neji. I gave you every opportunity to confess under the sun since we were 14. I'm not going to leave Lee over what happened the day before my wedding day. You should go now."
And so Neji went to go tend to Lee. As the best man, it was his job to take care of the groom- not attempt to steal the bride.
And Tenten continued nervously adjusting her veil.
Neji carefully picked up a soba noodle with his chopsticks. He glanced across the table at Tenten, who was devouring some spicy Chinese food. Then, a thought occurred to him. He had forgotten something- something important.
"Ah, Tenten. I forgot to check in with the Kazekage. I need to receive temporary residence while staying here in Suna."
Tenten looked insulted. "Nonsense. You are my best friend, and you will stay at my apartment. I will prepare a futon in the guest bedroom."
His eyebrows furrowed. Lee had only been gone for a couple of days. Did she really think it was the best idea to have him stay in her apartment? How would it look to her neighbors? Her friends? The Kazekage?
He grunted. "Tenten, I do not think that is the best idea."
She continued shoveling the spicy Chinese food into her mouth. "Not only do I think it's a good idea, but I insist."
Neji was panting and performing various techniques he had learned while she was on her honeymoon with Lee. She was sitting on a tree stump, carefully observing every movement of his arms and legs. Then, he stopped and turned towards her.
"Tenten, you traveled all the way from Suna. You have to spar with me. I insist," Neji stated.
Tenten shook her head. "I'd prefer to see the new techniques you've been working on in my absence. Really, I'm perfectly content just watching you train!"
Neji's eyebrows furrowed. Tenten didn't like to sit out of training or spars unless she was injured or depleted of chakra.
Suddenly, she crossed her legs on the stump and casually lay a hand over her stomach lovinglgy. It was such a small gesture that most people wouldn't be able to tell what it meant. However, Neji was observant and put two and two together.
Tenten was pregnant. Lee probably didn't know yet considering he pushed her to her limits to get to Konoha quickly.
"You should tell Lee about the baby."
Tenten glanced up in surprise. Neji was gentle fisting a poor, unsuspecting oak tree. He wasn't even glancing up at her.
"How did you know?" she queried, tilting her head towards one side.
"Your body language," he said as another blow was dealt to the tree.
He glanced over the table at her. Her hand was over he stomach and she smiled down at the small baby bump. She looked up and noticed him staring at her.
"The baby's kicking," she said in explanation.
Neji inched his hand across the table and rested it on her stomach. There was definitely movement. Then, a sharp kick! A second and third kick proceeded to hit Neji's hand.
Neji jerked his hand back in shock.
"Yeah, he's really restless all the time," she declared.
Of course, that was to be expected. Any child of Lee's would undoubtedly be restless and energetic- even in the womb.
The waiter arrived. "Ah, what a handsome couple!"
He placed an extra bowl of herring soba on the table, as well as an extra bowl of spicy Chinese food. "Eat up for the baby! It's on the house!"
Tenten blushed, "He's not-"
Neji smirked at the waiter. "We will. Thank you."
Neji and Tenten were walking through one of Konoha's festivals.
"Look, Neji! A fortune telling booth!" Tenten exclaimed, going right over to the tent.
Neji followed reluctantly. Tenten stepped inside the tent.
The woman dressed in stereotypical fortune-telling garb smiled at her. "Hello, I am Madame Crystal!"
Neji inwardly groaned. The woman was a definite fake.
"Hello, I'm Tenten!" she said, handing the woman a couple of coins and sitting down in the chair.
Madame Crystal sat down opposite her and glanced into the crystal ball.
"You're a kunoichi," she asserted, testing the waters.
"I am," Tenten confirmed.
Madame Crystal grew more confident. "A Suna kunoichi, formerly of the Leaf."
Tenten nodded.
"A pregnant kunoichi on maternity leave," she continued.
"Yes," Tenten affirmed, "A barely pregnant kunoichi."
Madame Crystal looked up at her, no longer peering into the crystal ball.
"You will have many children. Your firstborn will not have as much natural skill as the others, but he will prevail."
Tenten smiled. If there was any one trait of Lee's she wanted her unborn child to get, it was hard working.
"You'll go on many missions with your husband. Lots of hardships in the coming years, but you will live a long and happy life. Both you and your husband will die of old age."
"Thank you," Tenten said, standing up.
Madame Crystal turned to Neji. "He gets more handsome with the years, Tenten."
Tenten twitched. Could Madame Crystal know of the feelings for her former teammate? She tried to hide them or destroy them, but they always came back.
"Congratulations, by the way!" she smiled, staring at Tenten's barely-there baby bump and glancing at Neji.
They were walking down the streets of Suna, passing by vendor after vendor. Tenten was fuming.
"Why couldn't you just let me correct her?" she asked, the fury clear in her voice.
"And have you go through the pain of explaining about Lee?"
She visibly flinched. Of course she didn't want to explain to anyone about Lee. It was a fresh wound. He was being considerate of her feelings. Her anger abated.
"Oh, that's why. Thank you, Neji."
He grunted in response.
"That woman was a fake," Neji's words were harsh and cold.
The duo walked down the streets of the festival.
Tenten sighed. "I know, I should have just corrected her."
Neji silently agreed. It was painful, being reminded of the fact that she was married to someone else.
They were walking back to Tenten's apartment when he started spotting the sings. It was unusual for Suna to throw a festival.
To his knowledge, Suna had only thrown two festivals in the past couple years.
One, when Gaara became Kazekage. The second, when he was retrieved from the Akatsuki.
Tenten appeared exciting and was rambling on and on about how she wanted to go.
"Tenten. If you wish to attend the festival, I will escort you."
"Really, Neji? Thank you so much!"
He had dropped Tenten off at her apartment before setting off to see the Kazekage.
He stood before the Kazekage's desk. He appeared to be mourning. Neji didn't blame him; Lee was one of Gaara's closest friends.
"I am here to request temporary residence in Suna, preferably close to Tenten's apartment," he stated nonchalantly.
"Request denied," Gaara coldly said.
Neji's eyebrows rose in shock.
"Why?" he inquired.
"There are only three apartments set up for temporary residence here. I'd prefer to keep those open, in case of an emergency."
"Thank you for your consideration."
He walked back to Tenten's apartment in a slight daze.
There was one inescapable reality: Tenten had lost her husband.
Their relationship was awkward, and both of them seemed to retain feelings for the other.
Tenten had known about the lack of open apartments set up for temporary residence.
She had offered him her guest bedroom out of necessity, not because she wanted to be closer to him.
He knocked on the door when he got to the apartment. No answer.
The blood in his veins quickened and he became worried. He knocked a second time.
No answer.
He raised his leg, connecting it with the door.
He barged into the apartment. She was nowhere to be found.
He ran around, slightly frantic, searching for her in every room.
"Tenten!"
No answer.
"Where are you?"
No answer.
"TENTEN!"
She was gone.
My updates might be a little spotty over the next few weeks. Until I go back to school, I will be searching for my birth father. I recently found out he wanted a child, but he was never told about my existence. Actually, this fic is kind of like my mom's life. Tenten would be my mom, the baby would be me, and Neji would be my stepdad.
