Double Trouble!
By: SuperHyuga Yoshi-chan
Chapter 10: When you need me, I'll be there
The next day, I went to work.
It's not like I wanted to, but I had nowhere else to go. I mean, it might be the place where Tenten broke up with me, but I guess it's better than working at Foot Locker with her. I think I would break down if I saw her again, and that would be embarrassing. After all, I would be working with Tobi, and that's better than nothing. I e-mailed him this morning about the news, as a matter as fact...
E-mail:
Hey Tobi,
You won't believe what my Uncle did yesterday! My Uncle got a job at your restaurant! Some zany coincidence, huh?
Response:
Hey Neji,
Yeah, Tobi heard. I saw your Uncle. He looks a lot like you. Anyway, Tobi's glad you're working here. Welcome to Akautski's!
The fact that Tobi was there was already lifting my spirits. And maybe that Deidra character won't be so bad either...
I put on a lavender silk button-up and some black pants. I then put on some black Air Jordans, grabbed my wallet and cell phone, and went downstairs.
{Akautski's-8:30 a.m.}
"Good morning, Akautski's!" I greeted the place in a (surprisingly) cheery tone.
"Good morning, Hyuga-san!" Tobi scampered out from a corner. "Sasori said that I could be your guide for the next two weeks! Isn't that great?"
"Anou..." My mind went blank. "Sure, I guess."
"Awesome!" The swirly masked boy seemed to beam. "Now, let's get started!"
{The kitchen}
"Sasori said that you're on janitorial duty; so you'll be doing stuff like mopping floors, washing dishes, cleaning stations clean, etc...etc..etc..." Tobi said. Then he looked around from side to side and grinned. "But if we have a really busy day, Sasori might let you wait tables, cut veggies, or frost cakes!" He giggled.
"Really," Now that piqued my interest. "and how often is that?"
Tobi just broke out laughing. "In our last city district, Suna, it was too often. But don't worry. Hopefully this place won't be packed all the time." He chuckled.
"Yeah." I found the mop bucket and the mop." Konoha is a big district, but has that 'small-town' feel. That's what I love about this place..." My thoughts then wandered to all the places i've been here as I started to mop.
Then my thoughts started to wander to Tenten. The places we would hide out, when we would just hang, when we snuck out to Ichi-Raku's at night...
Tobi must have noticed somehow because he asked me something I didn't expect.
"You still miss her, don't you?" Tobi asked me.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I said icily.
"Woah, man. Don't try to get all hard with Tobi, now." He sassed. Then he got quiet, and his eye-holes seem to look downcast. "Besides, you're family now."
I sighed. I guess I could try to open up to these guys. I don't know why, but I kinda felt like I could open up to Tobi.
"Yeah, I miss her." I sighed. "I miss her like crazy. I spent the whole weekend and Monday crying over her."
"Tobi's sorry, man." He pulled out some red bell peppers and the cutting board. "But to be honest, Tobi thinks your lucky."
"Are you crazy, man? You think that having a broken heart is a good thing?" My mouth was agape with shock.
"Well, it's kinda like Itachi said once- "It's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all." Tobi must have been mimicking Itachi's voice, because I swear it got an octave lower.
"Hey," I started to say. "Isn't Itachi Sauske's older brother?"
"Yeah." He responded quietly. "But that's a story he has to decide to tell you. I mean, I would tell you myself, but you have to earn his trust first."
"Oh. Okay." I said.
'I wonder what that's all about?' I thought.
Just then, Konan walked in with empty tubes of frosting. "Hey, Tobi. Kisame's out today, so do you think you can make me another batch of frosting? I would do it myself, but I really have to start baking those cheesecakes."
"Well, don't look at Tobi. Tobi's already started on today's creamy Alfereado ramen special, so he can't help you."
"Well, somebody has to!" She sighed in exasperation.
I looked at the dilemma unfolding in front of me. I was just moping, and I needed something that would really take my mind off of Tenten.
"I'll do it." I spoke up. "I'll make you another batch of frosting. Just tell me what to do and I'll do it."
"Wow. Thanks, kid. Now what's your name?"
"Neji. Hyuga Neji." I reached her hand out to shake it.
"My name is Konan. Just 'Konan.' " The blue-haired woman smiled. "Now I have the ingredients laid out for you in the bakery kitchen. All you have to do is read the instructions and follow them."
"Okay, 'Just' Konan." I smiled.
"Wow. Seems like the new kid's gotten lucky. Not only does he get to make frosting on his first day, but with the cutest girl in Akautski's! How lucky!" Tobi's mask seemed to be radiating with pride. "Tobi's so proud of you!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Get back to work, you silly little nutcase." Konan chuckled and swatted him with an empty tube.
Tobi laughed with glee while Konan beckoned me to follow her. I did as she silently told me.
{20 minutes later}
"Wow, Neji! You're really good with this frosting thing! And to think that this is actually your first day!" She beamed. Then her smiled faded for some reason. "I can't believe that Sasori gave you a guide like Tobi."
"Tobi's not that bad." I said as I turned off the mixer. "He's actually pretty nice."
"Nice? Nice?" The blue-haired woman scoffed. "That kid is a total goofball, and you think that's-"
"Hey! Leave him alone, okay? He's a cool friend." I snapped.
"Gosh! Touchy and on our toes, aren't we Hyuga?"
"Hn."
"What's that mean?"
"HN."
"Gosh, fine. But don't expect any favors from me, kid." She stormed away to put some cakes in the oven.
I looked at her and nodded my head side to side.
'That woman has got to be crazy!' I thought. 'I have to talk to Tobi about her.'
{1:00 p.m.-Lunchtime at Akautski's}
I had no idea why, but the lunch rush at Akautski's wasn't really a 'rush' today: maybe Konoha and Suna were two totally different districts.
"Hey new kid," Deidra nudged me with his left arm. "You want some New York style cheesecake with chocolate and strawberry syrup, yea?"
My mouth watered at the sound of those words. "Sure! That sounds great!"
"Come to the kitchen then." Deidra ushered me into the pastry kitchen. Sasori, Itachi, Tobi and Konan were also there, chowing down on Akautski specialties like fried sushi, Danish dumplings, and of course, New York style cheesecake with chocolate and strawberry syrup. I helped myself to a heaping slice and took a huge bite. The cheesecake melted in my mouth wonderfully, and the chocolate and strawberry syrup made it taste even better. I was just about to take another bite when the bell that was hung at the door rang.
"Hey new kid," Itachi spoke up quietly. "would you get that for us please?" "His name is Neji. Hyuga Neji." Konan spoke up.
"I didn't ask you, now did I?"
"Hey! I'm just sayin'-"
"It's okay! I'll go take their order." I set my plate down and got up to leave the pastry kitchen.
"Tobi will go with him!" Tobi jumped up to follow me as well.
I gave him a questioning stare, but he nodded his head eagerly at me.
'Whatever.' I thought.
I walked out of the kitchen and behind the counter with Tobi on my heels. That's when I saw something that made my mouth drop open in shock. Yoshiro was here, and he brought Tenten with him! I simply watched in shock as he pulled her chair out for her and pushed it back in after she sat down. He then had the nerve to bend down and kiss her cheek.
"That's the girl-snatcher, all right." Tobi shook his head in shame. "I sensed his presence as soon as I heard the bells ring."
"Hn." I grunted. 'So that's why he decided to follow me.' I thought.
My blood was simmering just a while ago, but my blood started to boil as soon as he started walking towards me.
As soon as he got to the counter, he leaned on it and smirked. "I heard you were working here."
Why, the nerve! First he goes about stealing my girlfriend, then he comes up in here like he's totally innocent and that we're cool! What's he here to do; rub it in my face? I don't motha' ^%$*&#! think so!
"Listen, Yo-shi-ro," I snarled quietly. " I'll admit won. I get it. You got Tenten, okay? You stole her away from me. Now what do you want?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Ne-ji."
That's when I snapped. "Listen, Yoshiro! I'm no gonna stand here and let you belittle me, nor am I gonna let you insult my intelligence! I know you're here to rub the fact that you have Tenten in my face!"
"Why, i'm here to do no such thing!" He feigned innocence and put his hands up to his chest, but the devious look in his eyes was still there.
I leapt across the counter to hit him. Tobi grabbed me by my waist before I had the chance to snatch him, though.
"WAIT, NEJI! DON'T DO IT! DON'T GO FROGGER ON THE CUSTOMERS! THAT'S WHAT GOT ZETSU PUT ON PROBATION!" Tobi yelled.
I kept on fighting his pull, and I eventually broke free. That's when I saw Tenten coming to the counter. She looked pissed, too.
"Neji, what the hell is going on?" She asked me.
"Your boyfriend here is insulting my intelligence and being a total ass-hole." I told her.
"Yoshiro, go sit down." Tenten told him.
"But-"
"Go. Sit. Down." She growled.
"Fine, but if you need me, then just call me." He stormed off, leaving Tenten and I alone for the first time in days.
At first, the two of us were just silent. Then Tenten broke the silence.
"He's not my boyfriend."
"Then what is he to you?"
"He's just a friend, okay? And why do you care so much, anyway? We're over, remember?" She looked away from me.
Her brown orbs seemed empty and hollow, but I saw a silver lining of hurt inside of them.
"Tenten, look at me." Her head didn't move. I cupped her cheek in my hand and turned her face towards mine. "Look at me."
"I'm looking at you, Hyuga." Tenten replied harshly.
"But not like the way you used to." I stroked her cheek softly. "Listen, Tenten. If you need anything, and I mean anything, all you have to do is call. Okay?" Before I knew what I was doing, I brushed her lips gently with mine; knowing that this would probably be the last time we would kiss. I deepened it before she pushed me away.
"U-um...t-thanks N-n-neji. I...I'd like the special, one dècafe coffee, and one caramel frappè." She stuttered.
"Okay." I said quietly. "I'll be back in a second."
I went back into the kitchen feeling out of sorts for some reason.
"What was their order?" Deidra asked.
"T-the special, one dècafe, a-and a c-caramel f-f-frappè..." It took me a while to realize that my eyes were clouded with something wet and that my voice was choking up. Then a lump in my throat started to grow.
"Dude, Neji are you alright?" I heard Deidra ask me.
"E...excuse me..." I ran past them and headed into the supply closet. I shut the door behind me, crawled into a small corner, and started bawling my eyes out.
"Neji? Neji, what's wrong?" I heard Konan's voice next.
'No!' I thought. 'I can't let them see me in my moment of weakness!' But I couldn't stop crying, even when Tobi, Itachi, and Deidra came in also.
I also didn't stop crying when Konan and Tobi wrapped their arms around me to give me a hug; nor did I stop when Itachi rubbed my back, while Deidra rubbed my hair saying, "The kid has it rough out there. It's the hard-knock life for all of them nowadays.
{Later that day-Tenten's Point of view}
"Thanks for lunch, Yoshiro. It was great." I smiled.
"You're welcome. After last week, I thought we could try it again without the interruptions, you know?"
"Yeah." I looked up. "That was almost better than last time."
"Tenten, are you okay? You've seemed a little bit...well, distant since you and Hyuga last talked."
"Well, we exchanged some words... he said that if I ever needed him for anything, that he would be there for me. And then... he kissed me."
"He did what?" Yoshiro exclaimed.
"He kissed me." It upset me the way Yoshiro was acting.
"Why that little...coming onto you like he didn't do anything wrong. He's a real coward, crawling back to you the way he did." He grumbled.
"Yoshiro, I know you have a right to be upset with him accusing you of things you didn't do and whatnot, but please don't."
"Well, you said I had a right to be mad at him. So why shouldn't I?"
"I just don't want you to dwell on that too much. It'll just make you even more upset." I rested a hand on his shoulder. "Besides, I don't want to see you upset."
"Tenten, just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Just promise me you won't go back to him."
"Why?"
Yoshiro took his hands into mine and rubbed them gently. "Because...just don't, okay?"
"That's not clear enough, Yoshiro."
"Well...it's because he doesn't deserve you. And besides," Yoshiro blushed and looked away. "I like you."
I blushed. "Thank you, Yoshiro. Oh," I grasped his hands a little bit tighter. "and, I like you too."
"Good." He kissed my cheek. "Now, I believe this is your stop."
I looked up only to see that we were, in fact, in front of my house.
"Thanks again, Yoshiro. For everything." I smiled.
"No problem. Anytime, okay?"
"Okay."
I grinned as I walked onto my front yard, up my porch, and into my house. For some reason, I just felt giddy and happy. The real kind of happy. It felt like forever since i've been happy like this. So I was surprised when I saw my mom on the floor, trembling and crying.
"Mom?" I asked and squatted down to rub her shoulder. "Mom, what's wrong?"
She turned to look at me and said:
"Tenten...your father's been released from prison."
*(*
U
Author's Block!
Wow! Pretty damn unexpected, huh? Tenten moves on while Neji stays down in the dumps. Or so we think...
-till next time though,
imma stay posted
Yoshi.C!