What's up peoples. This chapter was long overdue. It a little on the long side but either way. Enjoy

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and or the cover art.

Chapter 12

Sasuke was annoyed. Okay, so when was he not annoyed? The little prank on Hyuuga this morning was more than enough to put him in a fairly good mood. After running the scenario through his head, this only sullied his mood further. And not for the reason one might think.

He had shared a bed with Tenten before, a twin size mattress, I might add. So that wasn't the issue. But when had they become so close. To the extent that he clanged to her touch. To be fairly honest, their relationship had always been different. They bonded by way of the shinobi lifestyle, foremost they were comrades. Then overtime they became friends. Neither party would admit it but there was always some underline connection-something very physical between the two. Whether or not the attraction was attention other parties saw it too. And yet, this did not deter unwanted attention.

Add in the fact that he was stuck living with a Hyuuga and playing body guard against Puppet boy which was was another issue all together. One which was never mentioned but that was besides the point. Tenten clearly, wanted nothing to do with him. Sasuke found solace in that notion. He chased him away last night or so he though. But why the fuck was he here right now?

"You know, this is my favorite blend"

"Are you really that surprised? Of course, how could I forget?"

Sasuke frowned, displeased with his current behavior. Why was he wasting his time with this nonsense anyway? Tenten clearly wanted him here if he made at past the front door with harm being inflicted. Sasuke shoved his hand into pocket before turning away from the kitchen entrance.

"I have something for you" Sasuke stopped dead in his tracks.

"My mother gave this to me before she passed away. And, I want you to have it"

Sasuke ears tingle with the light ruffle of metal.

"Kuro, I can't accept this"

Sasuke pulled out his phone to send a message. Hyuuga, we have a problem.

"She said to give it to someone I love. Even if were not together anymore. I want you to have it"

Uchiha, what is it?Neji replies back.

Sasuke responds one last time. Puppet boy is here, I'll handle him.

"I forgot how pretty you really are"

Fuck it, Sasuke shoved his phone back into his pocket. He barged into the kitchen and making his presence known.

"Princess, what do you think you are doing?" Sasuke crossed his arms intimidatingly, his voice darker than he intended.

Both Tenten and Kankuro attention jolted in the direction of his voice. Tenten looked slightly mortified and Kankuro looked well peeved.

"I give you some space. And this is how you treat me."

Sasuke was pissed more than anything he felt disappointed. He shoved his hands in his pocket as he approached the kitchen table occupied by his current dilemma.

"Puppet boy, are you really pushing up on my woman?"

Sasuke mask was now void. Not even Tenten was able to read it.

"Your woman, Is this true?"

Sasuke turned his attention to Tenten, checking her over from head to toe. She was his only concern at this moment. "Are you okay?

Tenten nodded and he closed his eyes in relief.

"Okay, I see what's going on here" Sasuke watched happily as the Puppet Master stood up and fled their home. Kami knows what absurd ideas he constructed in his head about their relationship. He was most definitely pleased but by the looks of things Tenten wasn't. This was not good.

"Mind explaining, what that was all about?" demanded Sasuke

"Nothing to worry, yourself over" Too late, Uchiha thought

"This is my business; your fling effects my position too. Spill woman" Sasuke sat down in the chair across from her, where Kankuro previously sat.

"I use to mess with him but we broke it off a few months ago"

"You seem far more invested then you let on Princess. That doesn't explain why he was just here"

"He gave me an ultimatum. And apparently he wasn't satisfied with the results" Sasuke listenedattentively.

"Ultimatum being what exactly" Sasuke questioned, arched his eyebrows leaning in closer.

"He wanted me to drop everything and move to Suna. And when I wouldn't my only option was to break ties. But now he wants to get back together"

"What you choose to do on your personal time is none of my business but this I can't allow."

Tenten gawked at Sasuke. The nerve of this guy. This pleased him slightly.

"For work related purposes, stupid. Now go get ready. We have a guest"

Oo0oo

"So what do you have for me? "asked Sasuke, in a professional yet blunt tone.

The red head reached into his messenger bag which was slung over his shoulder and pulls out stack of folders setting them on the table.

"These are the extra reports requested by the Hokage. There are evaluation sheets in the striped folder. And this red folder is for your partner who works at the Academy "

"Well what did she have to say?" asked Sasuke

"She wants to reports first set of reports back to her by the end of the month" The messenger reaches into his standard shinobi vest pocket and pulls out a letter. "Instructions" He handed an envelope to Sasuke.

Sasuke nodded, being briefly distracted by a familiar approaching chakra signature. It was Tenten's. he turned to greet her as she reenter their living room.

"So, what did I miss?" Tenten stopped near the coffee table center in the middle of the room.

"TENTEN"

The brunette's jaw dropped in response to the man standing across from her.

"Kenji, why- I mean - what are you doing here?" Tenten clenched her fist pulling it to her chest. A nervous sweat traveled down the side of her face.

Tenten's very own stalker, sat before her nursing a cup of tea in her very living room. What the hell was going on?

"Nice to see you again too. But to answer your question, I came to deliver some paperwork for Tsunade Sama" He gesture towards the folders lying across the table.

Sasuke protectiveness started to set in. He pulled Tenten into the seat next to him, their legs now touching. Kenji did not look very happy; his accusing look said it all.

"Well now you can let yourself out" Tenten added

"So you two know each other" The Blunettes asked, but it was more of observation than anything.

"Yeah, we're acquainted….. Sadly" Tenten patience with their visitor was wearing thin.

"Acquainted? I'd say we were a little more than that" Kenji nursed his tea some more "We dated for a while. I had fully intended on marrying her before she broke my heart"

Sasuke frowned, at the Weapons Mistress. It was bad enough; he had to deal with the Hyuuga and the Kazekage brother but this frail looking son of a bitch.

Really now Tenten?

"Is this true?"

"He's twisting things around" She looked at Sasuke insulted by the mere gesture.

Sasuke frown, and turned his attention back to the other man. This guy seems vaguely familiar.

"What she means to say is? We went out for a while but her teammates put a stop to matters"

Sasuke arched his eye brow, he was not convinced. The tension radiating off of Tenten only proved to further his weariness towards the man.

"What? Are you really trying to pin this on them" Tenten repeated in disbelieve, letting the words roll off her tongue. "Remember the creeper I was telling you about a while back?"

oo0oo

"So what's eating you?" asked Sasuke, looking up at the approaching brunette. She flopped down on the ground next to him. And still doesn't say anything. Her attention was clearly elsewhere as her eyes drift off into the cloud covered sky.

"Don't ignore me" He scuffed, placing his hand on her very tense shoulders. She turned to him and couldn't help but chuckle at his scowling face.

"I had a long week. okay"

"An you drunk a little more then you probably should have?"

"I don't even know how I got home. When I woke up, you were there. So I'm assuming you brought me home right?" Asked Tenten

"Something like that" she and Sasuke are now facing each other back to back.

"Thank you" She chuckled, turning around

"What are you doing?"

"I need to vent. It's easier this way"

"Always so difficult but spill"

"So you remember that kid Kenji I was telling you about. Right?

"Yeah"

"Well, I hung out with him a few times"

"Didn't I tell you there was something not right about"

"Well yeah, but he was really nice to meet. I didn't think it was that big of a deal" She scratched the back of her head nervously. "Until he started popping up outside my apartment unexpectedly" Tenten sighed

"And then on another occasion I found him inside my apartment" She sat pressing her back against Sasuke more firmly in search of the sense of stability he always brought her.

"But I gave him the benefit of a doubt. That was before he started talking crazy"

Sasuke nodded

"He started questioning my relationship with Lee and Neji. Telling me how he didn't trust them around me"

"Did you sleep with him?" Sasuke asked, looking for a logical reason.

"What are you trying to say?

"That type of intimacy could easily make a man crazy. It wasn't a jab at you"

"I never sleep with him. I can count the might of time we hung out on one hand."

Sasuke nodded decided that maybe it was best to keep his mouth shit for a little while.

"Remember when my apartment got flooded? Lee let me stay with him for a few days. Kenji fell off his rocker. He starts following me around, begging me to take him back. Telling me I could stay with him until my repairs were done. Remind you, I never mentioned anything about my living situation. I cut him off before any of it. He must have been watching me that entire time. He starts talking about this being practice for the family that we would one day have" She turns around to Sasuke

"So what did you do?"

" I ducked him .Didn't really know what else to do" Tenten sighed.

"You could have filed a complaint with the Hokage" Sasuke ran his fingers through his hair "Do you need me to take care of him for you? Asked Sasuke

Tenten shook her head.

"Lee did. I don't think he'll be bothering me anymore"

oo0oo

Sasuke frowned after making the connection. Tenten crazy stalker and the man in front of them were one and the same.

"They intervene in matters that had nothing to do with them" Kenji pointed it

"You stalked me! And even after I asked you to leave me alone. Their family, they did what they were supposed to do?

"I was concerned for your wellbeing. So I tailed you, to make sure you were safe"

"Bullshit. What about when you tried to force yourself on me? "

"I thought you were just playing hard to get"

"Get out, I'm done talking with you" Tenten jumped up from her seat.

"I'm sorry; Give me a chance to make it up to you" Kenji lean over the table to grab onto Tenten hand.

"Get out" Sasuke demanded, blocking Kenji advances. Kenji glared at Sasuke.

"This is between Tenten and I. Butt out"

Sasuke straighten his jaw and posture. It took a lot more than that to shake him up.

"She is my business"

"Wouldn't be the first time you interfere" Kenji mumbled under his breathe

"Excuse me" Sasuke asked, arching his eye brow

"We'll finish this when you return home. Maybe by them you'll come to your senses" Kenji turns around and heads for the door.

O0oo

"Pops, do you remember the brunette I was with earlier? Sasuke, asked the bartender, an old gentleman with Salt and Pepper colored hair

"You mean Tenten? She left a few minutes ago. I assumed she was going home."

Sasuke nodded, thanking the old man as he left the bar.

He told Tenten he would be back. And as always, she did as she pleased. Intoxicated or not. She would have to pay for her little indiscretion. He shoved his hands in his pockets as he looked around for any signs off her. He quickened his pace taking too the roof tops. And even then, there was still not sign of his bun haired companion. Discomfort now sitting in the pit of his stomach. Sasuke sighed, next stop Tenten apartment complex.

The building Tenten occupied came into view. The building in question was 4 levels in height. Each floor housed multiple units aside for the very top floor which was where Tenten lived. Sasuke found signs of a dim light on the side of the building which his eyes traced to the very top floor. So, she was in her room.

He still wasn't able to shake the stirring in his stomach. In only seem to intensify by the minute. Maybe he should go check on her just to make sure.

The blunettes scaled the steps that lead to her apartment. Sasuke reached the top of the steps, his scowl grew more prominent. Why was her door ajar? Sasuke pushed open the door slowly and stepped inside. Shutting the door behind him, he made sure to lock it as he searched her living room for anything out of the ordinary. He felt slightly relieved as he headed towards the back of her apartment. Where the lone source of light pillowed into the darken hallway.

"I know your drunk and all but you could at least remember to lock your front door" Sasuke spoke, as he rounded the wall to enter her open bed room door.

The Young Uchiha froze dead in his tracks. Who the fuck is this? A dark silhouette hovered over what he assumed was a sleeping Tenten.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Sasuke yelled, the assailant turned his attention towards Sasuke when a kunai sailed passed his face landing on Tenten headboard.

This person was definitely a shinobi.

"This is between Tenten and I. I would appreciate if you didn't ruin this for us"

"Step away from her" Sasuke lunged for the assailant. He dodged the Uchiha and fled through the bed room window. Sasuke hopped out the window in pursuit. He needed to catch this bastard. Sasuke scanned the area and no signs of the concealed shinobi in sight.

"Tenten" Sasuke scaled the side of the building and climbed through her window. He rushed to her side. His onyx skimmed every inch of her body. She was okay, at least physically. But the creeper, had started to undress her. Her shirt was fully unbuttoned and he had already set his sights elsewhere. Her belt buckle was unclasp and stretched across the denim she wore. .

"Looks like I'll be staying here tonight"

Oo0oo

"I need to go take of something. Don't leave until I get back. You hear me?" Sasuke commanded

"Hey wait" Tenten reached to grab his arm before he could pull away.

"He won't be bothering you anymore after this"

Tenten jaw dropped, she was speechless as she watched the Young Uchiha vanish into the darkness. All she could do what hope he wouldn't do anything she would later come to regret.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my work. Let me know what you think. Much love.

S. Hollyhood 7/13/2016