The bright morning sun poured into the window as Tenten stretched and yawned. There was multiple kinks in her back and shoulders that made her feel tense and uncomfortable.
The dream from last night plagued her mind and she for once just needed to find a distraction. She left her room, ninja scroll in hand and was out the door before the morning light filled her room completely.
Coming across her old training grounds Tenten dropped into a posture, stretching out her tense muscles. She did the best she could to release the tension but it wasn't enough.
Tenten flipped backwards releasing her weapons as she delved into the art of precise aiming. This way she would become so focused that nothing else mattered. Hours whittled away before she even took a break and that was only when she ran out of targets to hit.
The sun shone directly above her and Tenten decided that she had done enough for today. She went about to collecting her instruments when Neji jumped down from the canopy of leaves. It only took her one look to see that something was troubling him.
"Hey Neji, something wrong?" She may have worded it as a question but it wasn't really needed, she all ready knew the answer. His opal eyes met hers and she straightened to her full height.
"Tenten..how are you feeling?" A smile graced her lips before she could stop herself. Resuming to the task at hand, she finished up before replying.
"I'm fine. Why do you ask?" The Hyuga looked quite uncomfortable with whatever thoughts swam in his head. He only met her eyes once before he took in the wreckage around him. "I've never known you to be anything but blunt Neji, so out with it."
"What did he do to you?"
Tenten inhaled deeply, this wasn't the kind of conversation she wanted at any time of the day.
"Why does it matter?" She met his pupiless gaze defiantly. She dared him, challenged him to say something protective. Too say something she had been waiting far too long for. His gaze was the one too drop first as he watched the weeds blow in the wind.
"It doesn't matter, I...I was only wondering if this will effect your ability to fight." Even before the sentence was complete Neji knew that was the worse thing to say. But being the Hyuga that he was, he refused to apologize.
Tenten felt as if she was just smacked outright, she was just hit upside her head suddenly. This..this was her wake up call. She turned away from him, turned away so he couldn't see how that comment had hurt.
"Well...you won't have to worry about that. This won't effect me at all." Neji was silent and she refused to look at him. The tears were burning to be released but she refused vehemently.
Her teeth drew the blood from her lip as she restrained herself. Her fists were clenching and she didn't feel the need to control herself.
"That..is good...to hear." She heard his steps retreating but the anger was all ready at its' boiling point.
"Tell me Neji." Her eyes shimmered as she met his own. "What it must feel like to care about nothing but yourself." His face was carefully blank and Tenten hated that now more then ever. Finally he sighed and stepped close enough to rest his hands on her shoulders.
His fingers tightened on her shoulders as he bent and kissed her lips. By the time Tenten recovered her wits the chaste kiss was done with and Neji was walking. He stopped a few feet away and looked back.
"Gai-sensei and Lee are all ready at the restaurant. You coming Tenten?" Not knowing how to respond to the kiss and how to react she settled for nodding.
"Yeah let me finish collecting my weapons first." Neji nodded before silently helping her. Plucking the deadly tools from different targets before handing them over to her. Once or twice their fingers brushed but Neji showed no sign of noticing. Tenten on the other hand felt more confused and only slightly elated.
He kissed her! Her, the girl without a surname! Terribly strange but then again Neji didn't go around making friends with every girl he sees. Shaking her thoughts she tucked her scroll in the pouch at her thigh.
"You coming?" Tenten nodded once more and followed her comrade out of the training grounds. Her mind played on the short kiss that they had shared. It was soft and made the butterflies in her stomach flutter around. It was short, sweet and completely to the point. Who knew a kiss could defuse a temper?
But the kiss that Deidara had given her-- She wasn't just about to compare Neji and Deidara right? There was no comparison needed. Neji was her comrade, a close friend. Someone she had cared about for years. Deidara was a member of Akatsuki, a man who was more than likely insane. But still, no she wasn't going to think of how much she enjoyed that..whatever it was that had happened between them.
"You okay Tenten?" The question brought her out of her silent musings. Honestly, she didn't know if she was okay. Perhaps if she could stop thinking about that blonde haired murderer. Murderer, the word itself was like ice water over her head. But to some extent..weren't they all? They had killed in the name of their Kage and their village.
A warm hand pressed against her forehead and Tenten reprimanded herself for not paying attention. Neji tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes. "It doesn't seem like you're running a fever. Are you in pain? We can call off breakfast if you want." Was that concern? Tenten stared open-mouthed at his choice of words. After several seconds of that Neji blushed lightly and moved away.
"I mean--"
"I'm fine. Let's get going. Shall we?" She walked further ahead of him hoping to calm her rampant heart beat. Neji nodded before catching up to her and together they headed off to breakfast. All the while Tenten was still battling with her conscious whether or not Neji was actually worried about her.
--
Breakfast had gone smoothly. Up until the point where Gai-sensei had gotten over excited and flipped his second helping of noodles and eggs over his head. It landed on the primped and primed, blonde-haired Yamanaka. Who then preceded to strangle Gai-sensei as a giant vein throbbed on her pale forehead. After that little incident both Neji and Tenten excused themselves from the mayhem that is their team.
"Wow. Leave it to Gai-sensei to make a scene."
"And leave it to Ino to retaliate." Both teenagers shook their heads.
"Hey Neji I'm going shopping later to pick up some more explosive tags wanna join me?" The Hyuga glanced her way before catching sight of Naruto fawning over Sakura.
"No, I have other things to take care of right now. Maybe some other time?"
"Sure." Tenten didn't know how to react to this detachment. Had she read the wrong signals? For a moment back there she thought Neji would want to spend some time with her. But now as she watched the Hyuga speak to both Naruto and Sakura, she couldn't help but feel..put out. Which was absolutely silly because Neji always acted like this.
Stepping out of the way of others Tenten cut through an alley hoping to get to her favorite weapons store. Why would she expect him to act differently? Oh right, he had kissed her this morning. But why? Probably just a way to shut her up and meaning it didn't mean anything to him. Heading into the crowded store Tenten still couldn't help but feel comfortable amidst her chosen ninja art.
Off in a corner Shizune and Genma were chatting in front of a display of senbon needles. Further up in the rows was Kurenai standing next to Ibiki discussing the pros and cons of kunai over shuriken. Ignoring them and everyone else in the place Tenten trekked across the store towards the packs of explosive tags.
Leaning back she observed each and every kind. There were explosive tags that could be timed, while others could be set for traps. Suddenly a red packet snagged her attention. It came in packs of twenty and it was a type of tag that exploded upon contact. Written in yellow italic lettering across the bottom were the words "The only way to go out with a bang!"
Curiosity piqued, Tenten grabbed two boxes and brought them to the counter. She didn't miss the cocked eyebrow of the elderly man on the other side of her.
"You should be very careful with these young lady." Tenten handed over the money and raised her own eyebrow. "Make sure whoever you use these against, is someone you don't mind dying." That had sent a chill up her spine but she ignored it in favor of reaching for the boxes. One wrinkled hand stopped her descent and she found herself staring into dull, moldy-colored eyes.
A grin formed and it revealed several missing teeth while the others were stained black. Tenten restrained from visibley flinching. That's disgusting. His hand tightened around hers and she tugged it back. Relinquishing his hold on her, his grin grew as he pushed her items closer to her. Snatching them up she turned to leave as a younger woman came out and hit him over the head with a magazine.
"Grampa behave or I'll have you cleaning gutters!" Tenten didn't care at this point. She just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Exiting the small weapon shop she took a deep breath of air. That was too wierd, and she certainly knew wierd. The door opened behind her and a hand landed on her shoulder. She turned to see the young woman from before bowing.
"I'm sorry but my grandfather is very superstitous and he's somewhat like a fortune teller." The woman rose and pushed a strand of hair from her plump face. Tenten could feel her eyebrow rise again. It felt like she couldn't control her facial expressions anymore. Maybe she was hanging around with Neji too much?
"He must have sensed what I am now. There's a bit of destiny with you deary. So please, do be careful." A smirk crossed both their features and Tenten waved, because what else was she supposed to do?
"Thanks. I'll be careful, you don't have to worry about me."
"Oh good and thanks for shopping! Come again." Tenten let her feet take her further from the store and it's strange owners. This time on her way home she laughed outright.
"A bit of destiny huh? I wonder if that could ever be good."
"Tenten-san?" She turned to see an Anbu member kneel before straightening.
"Yes, I am she." The Anbu nodded once, his eagle mask concealing his features.
"The Hokage has requested your audience."
"Thank you." Then it was as if he was never there, disappearing with the coming wind. Seriously, somebody should think about putting bells on those guys or something. Nobody should have the capability to move that fast. Taking to the rooftops took her half the time as walking would have.
Three cheers for chakra. Where are all these random thoughts coming from anyway? Tenten shook away her odd thoughts in favor of her sanity.
Making her presence known in the lobby she was quickly ushered into the Hokage's office. Inside Tsunade was pacing a dent in the floor but stopped once the door opened.
"There you are Tenten! I have a new and urgent mission to get too. But I'm limited on people right about now. I want you to leave in an hour, pack for an extended journey. You'll be accompanied by this Anbu member, he'll debrief you while you get ready. Now off you go!"
Tenten nodded her consent before noticing that the same eagle faced Anbu was the man to join her on this mission.
"Shall we?" The man nodded before both transported to the front of the building. Making sure he'd follow Tenten raced to her apartment in complete silence. What was she suppose to say to a man in an eagle mask? She unlocked the door and wordlessly welcomed him inside. Usually she didn't do this because she valued her privacy but today she'd make an exception.
The Anbu nodded her way before quietly shutting the door behind him. She crossed her chinese decorated apartment before pulling out her travel pack from a closet. Turning towards the Anbu member she noticed he hadn't moved an inch, preferring to stand guard by the door.
"First off, what am I suppose to call you?" The Anbu snapped to attention at her voice instead of surveying her furniture.
"You will call me Tomi." His voice was slightly muffled and Tenten tried to manage what it would be like to hide under a mask all the time.
"Simple enough. You can take your mask off to debrief me. I'm going into my bedroom and I doubt from in there I'll be able to hear your muffled voice." Without waiting for a response she turned and entered her cluttered room. "Don't worry, it's not like I'm going to jump out to try and see your face. I could care less."
When the silence persisted she just rolled her eyes and began sorting through her available clothing.
"Your mission is simple." Tenten nearly jumped out of her skin. Turning around she noticed that he was leaning casually against her door. Facing the other way and giving her at least a sense of privacy.
"Geez I was right! Somebody needs to put a bell on you guys!" He turned to her then and those carefully blank eyes regarded her for a moment before turning away.
"Yes, well that would defeat the purpose of being absolutely silent. Wouldn't you agree?" Tenten opted to ignore him as she set out three casual outfits fit enough for travel.
"How long and where will this take us?"
"If we take a minimum amount of breaks it should take us four days hard travel." Tenten nodded before taking out a fourth outfit, just in case. She doubted she'd have the time to change every morning. "By the end of four days we will land in a smaller town right around the edges of Iwagakure but still quite a distance away."
"It is halfway there that your mission begins. You are too intercept the Daimyo's son when he crosses the common trade route." Tenten paused in packing her equipment and clothes.
"And where will you be?" She looked back to meet the Anbu member's eyes. He shrugged nonchalantly before continuing.
"I'll be carrying your things. After you convince the Daimyo's son to take you with him I will trail you into the city."
"Wait a minute. He's going to have guards and you want to send me in there with no weapons whatsoever?" He fully turned to regard her, his dark eyes taking in her stance and crossed arms. Finally he reached her face and nodded, his next remark only easing her discomfort minutely.
"You can hide your weapons can't you? Just add something extra to your hair style. Ribbons perhaps? Either way they'll search you for weapons, so it'll be pointless to carry them with you." She resumed her task of laying out her scrolls and fitting them with the appropiate instruments of death.
"So after I get in then what am I suppose to do?"
"Act as a bodyguard, look for any suspicious characters. Don't use chakra nor anything that can't relate you to being a ninja." He stepped across the doorway one hand reaching out and untying her headband in one swift motion. "This will be left behind." He took the headband and laid it on her dresser as Tenten bit her lip to keep from protesting. A headband is a ninja's pride, rarely was it not worn.
"So I'm to be the helpless maiden in need of rescuing?" Her eyes met his and the glare was evident. His darker eyes narrowed. Why was it this young Chunin was picked anyway?
"The Daimyo's son has been threatened. Do your acting well and it will be you protecting him. Stick to the plan and everything might turn out easy." Tenten finished packing and shook her head, never being the one for optimism.
"Or everything will fall apart. This is a ninja's life, few things are easy." Taking her stuff Tenten entered the living room leaving the casually dubbed "Tomi" smirking. Ah, so this is why. She certainly has spunk. I only hope she doesn't get herself killed.
Tenten plunked down at her table as Tomi spread out a large map. She committed what she needed to know to her memory and they left together when the time was right. This mission was unique and she had to be especially careful to not let the wrong people catch onto her acting skills. If they did, she'd have a reason to use the new explosive tags sealed within her white ribbons. The mordant irony of white on red was not lost on the seventeen year old Chunin.
I like this chapter, well right around the middle I like it a hell of a lot more than the beginning. Neji wasn't suppose to kiss Tenten. Honest! I just sat down and started typing and this is the result. Read, review! Tell me what you think! I'm outta here. Oh yeah and mordant (Last sentence) is a synonym for sardonic. Which is like a grim sort of humor. Just wanted to add that in for you folks! Deidara will be coming in soon too so no worries!
