Here it is, the last chapter! Yays! It's a bit long, but I hope you'll enjoy it. This chapter has a fighting scene, and I'm not very good at it ;
Akamaru: Arf arf arf! Arf arf! (Luna doesn't own anything!)
Right…
Black and White
Chapter 12
"So what are we supposed to do with this girl now, leader?"
"She and her stupid mutt killed Higoru! We can't let her get away with it!"
Tenten gritted her teeth and squirmed around as much as she could as two of the thieves tied her arms behind her back. She was out of weapons and out of breath. Her artillery lay on the floor all around the room, proof of her struggle.
Earlier, when she and Akamaru had heard two bandits entering their camp, they attacked and gave chase to them over a great distance, but soon two more appeared. They managed to take down one of them, but Akamaru was beaten while two of the guys dragged her away, not letting her see what had happened to the dog. She fought back as best as she could, but was eventually overpowered and brought to their hideout. The thieves' hideout was a large wooden treehouse way up high in a giant sequoia tree, so high you could barely see it. A lot of stolen scrolls were in there.
"Let me go! Or I'll kill you!" the girl hissed, still struggling to free her hands while a man held her in place.
"Such bold words," said the leader. "Don't get your hopes up. Whatever teammates came with you, they must've have been blown up to pieces along with the dog by now."
Tenten was rapidly getting scared by now. Not because she feared for her friends' lives, but without Neji's Byakugan or Kiba and Akamaru's noses, her teammates' chances of finding her were slim.
"I know what we can do with her," smiled one of the thieves. "We can practice our techniques on her!"
"Yeah! There's this interesting katon jutsu in this scroll I'd like to learn! We'll need a proper target."
Tenten struggled some more and shouted. "Stop it! Let me go! I won't let you get away with it! Let go of me!"
"Be quiet!" the man behind her snarled and slashed across her back with a kunai.
She let out a pained scream, that was Kiba's cue to burst in the opening that served as a window and he knocked away the guy holding his girlfriend.
"Kiba-kun!" she exclaimed, then wondering if she was seeing double because she was dizzy from the blow, but realized that the second Kiba she saw was actually Akamaru. She was relieved to see the dog had survived.
"Who the hell are you?!" shouted one of the guys as he lunged for Kiba.
"The one who's gonna kick your ass for hurting my girlfriend and my dog!"
While Kiba and Akamaru engaged in batttle with the three brigands, Neji appeared behind Tenten and slashed the rope holding her hands together.
"Are you okay?" he asked as he faced her.
"Neji! I'm sorry, I just…and then I..."
Fatigued from her battle and the loss of blood, she collapsed into Neji's chest. He placed her on the ground and was shocked to see that the hand he had touched her back with was covered in blood. He cursed. They had to get out of here fast and get her first aid.
Meanwhile, Kiba's duo had managed to destroy half the walls of the hideout with Gatsuuga, but succeeded in knocking one of the robbers down the tree doing so. The tree was too high for anyone to survive the fall.
Kiba saw Tenten's fainted figure and called out to his partner. "Akamaru! You go over there and protect Tenten!"
Akamaru did as he was told and Neji joined Kiba. He couldn't use the Kaiten, because hundreds of Tenten's weapons were on the floor. The rotation would blow them away, easily hurting his friends in the process. That, and he'd be destroying the floor as well. He couldn't use Jyuken either, because of his defective Byakugan. He would have to make do with regular taijutsu. Kiba was holding out nicely even without Akamaru, for now.
It seemed like the two strongest enemies remained. The leader did some handsigns, while the tallest man watched, smiling. The two young ninjas evaded most of the various ninjutsu attacks the smaller man threw at them, remembering how Tsunade had said that they were able to use a lot of skills they had learned from the stolen scrolls.
While they were distracted, the other thief sneaked over to where Tenten was. Akamaru, still as Kiba, attempted to slash him with his claws, but the faster man dodged and striked a punch to the other's stomac. Already wounded from earlier, Akamaru turned back into his dog form. He stood in front of Tenten's body and growled and barked. The thief took out a knife.
Kiba suddenly took notice of it and leapt at the armed man, but the tall man summoned chakra to this hand and promptly punched the dog-boy across the room. It was Neji's turn to try. He succeeded in deflecting the man's arm just in time and used his speed to quickly stab him with one of Tenten's weapon he had picked up from the ground before the enemy could prepare a second punch. The man fell instantly.
Dizzy from the blow, Kiba realized that, had it not been for Neji, both Akamaru and Tenten could be dead by now. He couldn't help but feeling weak. He had to come back to his senses right away, however, because the leader came at him with a vengeance. He got out of the way just in time, as the thief's fist punched through the wall. Infuriated that he was now alone, he used a fire technique on the boy, that Kiba was unable to avoid because its range was too great. The scorched boy collapsed on the floor, unconscious.
The leader was too frustrated to realize that the wooden hideout would easily catch on fire due to such an attack, and that's exactly what happened. The wind coming from the destroyed walls and the many scrolls everywhere only fueled the fire faster. Soon there was smoke everywhere.
Neji looked at Kiba's body on the other side of the room and at the coughing leader in the middle of the flames and turned to Akamaru. The dog was in a state of panic, as most animals fear fire, and the flames were gaining on him. He wanted to run to Kiba, but he was unable to leave his protecting duties. Akamaru whined as the wooden planks around him started to crack.
Neji gritted his teeth. Kiba was out, the leader was still alive, Akamaru couldn't do anything and Tenten was still losing blood from the wound on her back, and he still hadn't retrieved the scroll the were supposed to get in the first place. The whole place was breaking apart and it was getting harder to breathe. He had to figure something out fast! He placed Tenten on Akamaru's back and grabbed the dog's snout to force him to look at his eyes.
"Listen! You're going to take Tenten out of here to safety!"
Akamaru protested as he eyed his unconscious master but Neji insisted. "Only you can do it! Don't worry, I promise I'll save him! So go! Fast!"
Neji pushed Akamaru down the tree to make sure the dog didn't have a choice, and Akamaru bounced safely on branches all the way down. The Hyuuga was grateful for the dog's growth spurt. Had he been smaller, they would have been lost.
"You!" the leader screeched. "Months of work ruined! You're going to die here!"
The enraged man came at him with a sword Neji recognized as Tenten's, and the young man knew he had to finish this quick because the smoke was getting to him and the flames were closer to Kiba. He prepared himself and called up the Byakugan once more. He ignored the incredible pain and ran towards the thief at full speed. The leader's sword grazed his shoulder but Neji striked the man's heart with his palm. The bandit fell to the ground, just as burning debris dropped on him. Neji backed away just in time.
There was no time for him to catch his breath; he had to get the scroll but if he waited any more, Kiba could die. He eyed the burning scrolls, then looked at the injured boy and easily made his choice. He threw the younger boy over his shoulder and jumped out. Just as he bounced to another tree, what was left of the treehouse crumbled all the way down. Almost like a blessing of nature, the rain started soon after, preventing the fire to spread to the whole forest.
--
--
Neji was relieved to finally touch the safety of ground as he jumped down the tree. He wanted to run to Tenten's side right away, but making sure Kiba was alright had to come first. Ignoring the pouring rain on his own injuries, the Hyuuga got worried as he placed the younger boy on the ground and inspected him. His wounds were not life-threatning, but he had inhaled a lot of smoke. Too much. He brushed some wet hair out of the Inuzuka's face and looked closer. Neji was horrified to notice that Kiba wasn't breathing.
--
--
Akamaru had run away as he was told, all the way back to what was left of their camp. He dropped Tenten carefully on the grass and licked her face. She was still unconscious. The dog started pacing back and forth, shaking his wet fur nervously occasionally. The rain had stopped but it had washed away any chances he had of sniffing Kiba and Neji's scent, all he could do was to wait for them to return. Tenten needed help, help his canine paws couldn't give her. And he was dead worried about Kiba. Was he okay? Neji had promised he would save him...
Akamaru 's tail started shaking as he heard footsteps. When he saw Neji approaching, followed by Kiba, he couldn't help running to his master and jumping on him.
The boy petted his dog's head and smiled. "Good job, Akamaru! You protected Tenten!"
Neji smiled at the two. The fact that he had to perform CPR on Kiba for several minutes until he was finally revived was a secret Neji would keep to himself. He never would've forgiven himself if Kiba had died. That, and Neji prefered no one, especially Kiba, knowing he had "kissed" a man.
The older boy now went to check on Tenten. Her wounds were not that serious, except for that huge gash on her back. It was deep and still bleeding slightly. Neji looked between what was left of their supplies that the thieves had gone through and was pleased to find that little bottle of ointment Hinata had left him with and he thanked her mentally for it. He also found bandages that had been luckily spared from the rain.
Kiba observed the cut on Tenten's back with deep concern on his face when Neji handed him the items he had picked up. He was surprised to see that Neji possessed some of Hinata's medecine, but more so surprised that the Hyuuga wanted him to help Tenten.
"It's best if you're the one to do it..." Neji said simply. "I'll come back in a little while." He got up and left.
Kiba then understood that Neji had the decency to leave because treating the wound on the girl's back meant removing her shirt to do so. Leaving it to her boyfriend was probably the best thing to do... Akamaru felt a bit out of place, so he ran after Neji.
Now alone with his girlfriend, Kiba was hesitant to undress an unconscious girl, but this was no time to be having pervert thoughts. He slid his hands under the young girl's chinese-style shirt and pulled it up slightly, but dropped it instantly when Tenten stirred and slowly opened her eyes.
"Neji..."she whispered.
"Tenten! You're awake!" he smiled. "Are you okay?"
"Neji! Where is he?" the girl asked, panicked as she did not see her teammate anywhere. "Is he okay?"
"He's fine," Kiba reassured her with a sad look. "He saved you. He saved all of us..."
Kiba felt helpless. He had failed at saving Tenten's life while Neji succeeded brilliantly, like someone who had done it many times before. He had helped Akamaru as well, and also, Neji had saved him. Kiba hated to admit it, but he was glad Neji came. He cursed mentally and promised to himself that next time he wouldn't need help to protect someone dear to him.
"What about you?" the girl continued. "Are you okay? And Akamaru?"
Kiba felt hurt that she'd ask about them after asking twice about Neji, but he forced a grin for her. "We're fine! We wiped the floor with those guys!"
"That's good," she said softly, then she winced at the pain in her back.
"Oh, right!" Kiba remembered what he was about to do before Tenten had woken up. "I'm gonna clean your wound for you so, um... if you could please raise your arms?"
The girl understood and did as she was told, not really caring under the circumstances. Kiba was relieved to discover that the rear of her bra had been slashed along with her back. (How to unsnap that contraption was beyond his comprehension).He carefully helped her out of her shirt and washed the blood before applying Hinata's ointment on the injury and he wrapped the bandages around her chest.
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
"Not much..." she replied sleepily.
She put her shirt back on, and soon after, Neji and Akamaru came back. Tenten and her teammate shared a look, but they did not say anything to each other. Words were not needed. She did notice that Neji's left eye was a darker shade of pink now, a result from using the Byakugan again. Kiba offered his back to her.
"Get on. We need to get you to the hospital quickly."
Tenten climbed on the boy's back, too weak to walk, and they were off. They were all tired and injured and it was very hard to see their way in the middle of the night, but they had to go back to the village as soon as possible. Akamaru's nose would have to be enough to guide them back. Kiba jumped from tree to tree, careful not to shake Tenten too much, while Akamaru followed him and Neji was slightly behind.
"Kiba-kun..." Tenten whispered weakly. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you."
Kiba didn't say anything and prepared himself for what was coming. Her head was resting on his shoulder, so he could hear her well despite the girl's faint voice weakened by fatigue, while Neji strained his ear to hear what he knew she was about to say.
"Neji lied. He never forced himself on me or used violence. He said that to protect me..."
"I know..." Kiba had caught on by now.
"We kissed for real..." She paused before continuing. "And...that night he came into my room and we kissed again. Also...I let him sleep in my bed, but nothing else."
Kiba's face was darkened by this sudden revelation, but he kept listening. In the back, Neji felt guilty and was grateful that he couldn't see Kiba's eyes right now.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I really like you, Kiba-kun, but I love Neji too."
"I see..."
Then, tired due to the blood she had lost, Tenten fell asleep on Kiba's back. Neji's heart jumped as he had finally heard her confirm what he had been dying to know lately. Kiba kept jumping from branches to branches, not turning back. No one said anything until they arrived at Konoha's hospital at dawn. After making sure Tenten was going to be taken care of, the young men left her, avoiding each other's gaze.
--
--
Tenten was okay to leave the hospital three days later. Neither boys came to see her during those days. Neji explained to Tsunade that they had failed the mission, unable to bring back the stolen scroll. He took full responsibility for it. The Hokage was unhappy, but could tell that something more had happened between the three young ninjas, so she did not scold him. Neji also finally swallowed his pride and went to see a Hyuuga eye doctor. The doctor was able to repair his eye, but would he have used his defective Byakugan another time, his left eye would've become blind forever. He also got a medic-nin to heal the scar on his face. Likewise, Kiba's nose returned to normal soon after, as promised by Neji.
It was this very nose that guided him to Tenten now, as the girl was walking back home from the hospital. At first he hesitated, but decided it had to be done.
"Tenten..." he called out to her.
She jumped a little, startled by the younger boy coming from behind her suddenly. "Kiba-kun..." She had trouble facing him.
They were alone in an empty street, surrounded by trees colored by the beginning of fall. Kiba approached her and searched in his head for the words to say, even though he had thought this over times and times again while Tenten was at the hospital.
"Tenten," he repeated. She stared at him with gloomy eyes as he carried on. "I really love you...but..." he paused. "I can't be with you if I'm not the only one for you..."
The girl was hurt. She looked to the ground. "I-I understand."
"I'm sorry..." Kiba sounded pained as well.
She looked back up at him and gave a weak smile. "Don't be. It's best this way. I'm the one who's sorry. It's mostly my fault.."
The two stood in silence for a few moments as the wind blew past them, taking all their hopes and memories along with it.
"Let's stay good friends, at least?" Tenten asked.
"Yeah..." It was his turn to look at the ground now. "We had a lot of fun..."
"Yes, we did... I hope you can find the person who's made just for you," she said warmly.
"Thanks. Well...I'm gonna leave now." His voice was trembling, he turned around. "See you soon?" he asked just like he had on their very first day together.
"Sure..."
They both knew that was a lie. It would take some time before they were able to look at each other easily. Kiba disappeared and Tenten now stood alone in the street. She gave a big sigh, then heard familiar footsteps behind her. He had been there all along.
She didn't show him her face, she knew he had heard eveything. "I'm sorry. I'm going to need some time..."
"I understand," he said and watched her run away, unsure if she was crying or not.
--
--
"Kiba-kun?"
The dog-boy had been so lost in thoughts that he had not heard nor smelled Hinata approaching. She sat next to him on the park bench he was on. Akamaru sat on the groud with his head resting on his master's knee. He wasn't there when Kiba had broken up with Tenten, but he quickly understood what had happened. Deep down, Akamaru felt terrible. Even though he had learned to like Tenten, he was still happy that they weren't together anymore. He felt awful for thinking that way, but he couldn't help it. He felt sorry for his master, but was glad he'd get Kiba all to himself again.
"Are you...okay?" Hinata asked with concern in her voice. "You look like you were crying."
Kiba forced a grin. "Me? Crying? Real men don't cry!" Then Kiba must not have been a real man..
Hinata knew her teammate very well, she could imagine what had happened since she had seen how depressed Kiba and Neji both looked when they came back from their mission. She ignored her friend's fake smile and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him closer so his face was buried in her shoulder.
Kiba started to shake as he fought back tears. Hinata knew he was in great pain. She knew he wanted to cry. And that's what he did. Touched by Hinata's tenderness, he grabbed the sleeves of her jacket and cried into her chest. He forgot how uncharacteristic, unmanly and shameful that was and let his tears fall without restraint. He cried hard as Hinata gently stroked his back.
He cried because he really did not want to leave Tenten. He did it for her sake. Because he knew Neji was the one she really wanted to be with.
He cried because Neji really wasn't the cold bastard he thought he was. Neji knew and loved Tenten much more than he ever could.
He cried because Hinata was just so kind. It hurt him that she had to see him like this, but she was the only one he'd ever be able to show tears to like this.
When Kiba finally stopped crying, he wrapped his arms around Hinata's small frame and the two of them stayed like that for a little while.
--
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One month later
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--
Kiba watched the fresh October air blow through Hinata's longer hair as she looked inside the bag carrying the shopping they had done together this morning.
"Do you think that...Naruto-kun will like the present I got him?" she asked bashfully while blushing.
Kiba hid his sad look behind a smile. "Yeah, he'll like it for sure. If he doesn't, I'll beat him up!"
"Oh no! Please don't hurt Naruto-kun!" the shy girl protested. "It's okay if he doesn't like it..."
The boy laughed at Hinata's cute innocence. "I was only kidding!"
He then spotted Tenten and Neji heading their way. It had been a few weeks since Kiba had seen either of them. Were they doing some shopping too? He doubted it. They were holding hands. Hinata greeted them politely. When she saw Kiba, Tenten instinctively let go of Neji's hand and turned away.
"Hey, it's fine," Kiba assured. "You don't have to do that. I don't mind at all. I'm glad you two are together."
"Kiba..." she staggered. "Let's hang out together sometime, the four of us."
The dog-boy couldn't help but notice she had dropped the kun at the end of his name. Yet, he gave her a warm smile. "Sure. See you soon?"
Tenten nodded and both groups went their separate way. As they walked passed the other, Kiba and Neji smiled at each other.
Hinata still only had eyes for Naruto and though it hurt him to accept that fact, Kiba was able to see her with a smile. Being with her alone like this was enough. And if his adventure with Tenten and Neji had taught him anything, it's that feelings can change with time. His turn would come someday. He knew it.
Things had happened exactly as Shino, the perceptive observer that he is, had predicted. Yet he kept it for himself. It's not that he didn't feel sorry for him, but he just knew that Kiba's true feeling went to Hinata. And Lee, he was just happy Tenten had made the choice her heart desired.
"That went good," Tenten said when the other two were gone.
"Yes..." The boy extended his hand for his girlfriend to hold it again.
"You know, holding hands is silly. I don't think it's necessary. Just you being beside me is enough."
Neji smiled. "I was thinking the same thing."
--
--
Two days earlier
--
--
Tenten's mind felt lighter today. She had spent the last few weeks thinking about the recent events in her life. She couldn't blame Kiba for broking up with her. She knew what she had to do now.
Neji had acted normally with her during training and missions. He knew she needed some time alone, so he kept his distance. He wondered when he'd get an answer from her, if at all. It wouldn't surprise him if she chose not to be with him in the end. He had caused her pain. He didn't deserve her.
Tenten found her teammate training alone in the sunset. He sensed her coming but continued to train.
"Care to spar with me?" she asked. "There's something I'd like to tell you. If I can land one punch on you, will you hear me out?"
"Fine," Neji replied, serious as ever.
Though he really wanted to know what Tenten had to say, he'd never let himself be hit on purpose. He fought seriously against her and was surprised by how good she was doing. The girl had decided she would tell Neji no matter what, so it was no surprise when her fist made contact with the Hyuuga's cheek. He touched his face in semi-disbelief and gave her a smug look.
She sat beside a tree and invited him to join her, which he did.
"Did it hurt?" she asked proudly.
"Not really," he lied.
"Neji," she began. "You know, I've been thinking and I...well I...I want...I..."
Neji knew where this was going so he made things easier for her and pulled Tenten closer to press his lips on hers. She was taken slightly by surprise, but wrapped her arms around him. That was their real, right firstkiss. When they pulled away, Tenten blushed and he smiled at her.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too, Neji. I've had for a long time but...I'm still mad at you for messing with my love life."
"I know. I'll make it up to you somehow."
She shook her head. "You don't have to. This was mostly all my fault. Maybe it's better that you did mess with it. I really loved Kiba, but both of our true feelings belonged to someone else, it was wrong for us to stay together that way. In the end, Kiba was more like a playmate to me. He needs someone better suited for him, like Hinata... While I need someone like you. You and I acted wrongly. So us wrong-doers have to stick together, I guess."
"I'm sorry for not listening to my feelings before," Neji apologized.
"It's fine. I don't regret what happened. Being with Kiba taught me a lot of things and..." She smiled. "Nevermind. It's not important. Things are how they are and I'm glad."
Neji smirked and allowed her to rest her head on his shoulder. Just like Lee had said it would be, Neji would remain quiet and moody, would still work her until she dropped while training and his attitude towards her wouldn't change a lot.
Except for these little moments of tenderness where he'd long for her presence, where he'd be grateful that she doesn't see him as a cold bastard, where he'd find himself able to open up to her even more, where she'd bring out the best in him.
Where he'd thank God one more time for her existence.
-.-.-.-
The End
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Gaaah! It's oveeeeeeer! Oveeer! Did you like it? Did you enjoy this fic till the end? I hope you did. I had lots of fun writting it.
Of course she ended up with Neji. Did you see it coming? I feel bad for Kiba. I wish Tenten had stayed with him... Though actually, I myself believe that Neji and Tenten did terrible things ;;; That's why Kiba needs to be with Hinata. He didn't end up with her though, because that would've made the ending too perfect. If I were to make a sequel to this fic, which I'm not, it would be all about Kiba, Hinata and Shino the perceptive observer XD I love you, Shino! Would Kiba end up with Hinata in the would-be sequel? I don't know myself.
PLEASE you guys, it's the last chapter, so review! Come on! Even if you only say one word, I wanna know how many people actually read the story to the end. Everyone, please review! Do it for me! I need this! o.o Please please please!
I want to write more Nejiten one shots and ShikaIno one shots next...But I'm gonna take a little break from fanfics right now because of school. See ya later!