Chapter 6 : Sixth day

* Friday

" I got lost in the corridors of the Hospital, not knowing where to go. There were many doors, but I had no idea which one of them could be Neji's.

I opened some doors, apologizing to the ones who were inside and some other times I found empty rooms. I got close to a half-opened door and put my hand up to open it, but the sound of Gai's voice stopped me.

' The hit on his head was too strong.' – this was Tsunade who said – 'Neji is fine, he'll leave the hospital soon,but…'

' What? ' – I heard Gai asking. Just like me, he was confused because of her pause.

' Neji is blind, Gai.'

My eyes went wide open and something started turning around inside my stomach. Neji was blind and that was all my fault.

I still remember how I felt that day. It's not something you can forget so easily, but today it's not hurting like that. I don't say that because I feel less guilty or because the pain is going away. I say this because these last five days had given me good facts, things I couldn't even think in the passed one year.

After making Neji blind, I guess I blinded myself as a way of punishment. But Neji himself showed me he was not blind… at leat, not like I was.

I looked at the clock beside my bed. It was 3:00 in the morning. I wasn't surprised. That was not the first time my sleep was stopped by those "dark" memories.

I wasn't scared nor pulling myself into guiltiness, as I have always done after a bad dream. This time, I was just tired of my mind's stubbornness touching an already soundless key.

My day was tiring, and I really desired a good sleeping night, with no interruptions… especially that interruption.

I squeezed my sheets, closing my eyes tighter.

My hand seemed to be still feeling the kunai in touch with my skin - The cold material under my fingers, giving me anxiety and fear.

It was horrible to feel this way again.

Along the cold touch of the kunai, my fingers felt the warmness of Neji's hand over mine. Neji made me remember I was still alive. Neji made me realize I had to live.

A bitter smile was on my lips again while I slowly walked closer to the window. The night was clear, the moon was bigger as if it was closer than it had permission to.

The streets of Konoha were calm. The village seemed to be resting, everybody sleeping sound. I guess I hadn't noticed anything around me but my guilt and torturing memories.

I liked nights. I spent too much time hating one thing I used to have admiration for. Maybe something inside of me was coming back.

The practicing I had earlier with Neji made be believe I had always been the same Weapons Mistress, I had always been that short-fused girl. I had just choosen to hide those parts of me because I thought it'd be easier.

Silly thought. My situation just got worse.

" – I'll pause the time for you..."

I don't know if he kept his promise, but it seemed like he did. I don't know how, but Neji made me feel as if the time wasn't passing.

Funny.

It's a bit stupid to think about it, but Neji always made me go beyond the anger limits. That smart Hyuuga… he always knew how to get what he wanted. And to make me practice with him, he forced me to face my only two weaknesses: weapons and Neji himself. You're tough, Neji.

Outside, the wind touched the leaves from the trees in a slow and rhythmic way. I could hear the silence between the leaves crashing one in the other.

Every time me and Neji sparred on the training field was like this. The wind, the calm…

I liked that place. I still do.

The place where i became the Weapons Mistress, the place where I practiced tirelessly until I got as good as I wanted to and the place that would watch my decision. The place that would watch my rebirthing.

OoOoOoO

The moon had choosen the center of the training ground to receive the most of her light. The targets in front of me were not looking so scary like before. With a kunai in hand I prepared myself to go closer to perfection like once I did.

I felt my hands sweating like never before, but I wasn't shivering. My heart was beating fast and I knew it was not because of fear. It was adrenaline.

I took a deep breath, throwing the first kunai.

I missed the target.

The second kunai… I missed the target.

The third kunai… missed the target again.

The frustration was starting to come, but I wouldn't give up, not anymore. I would hit the center of that target, I would jump and invocate my weapons with my scrolls, I would be back. I'd do It for Neji. I'd do it for myself.

I was visibly tired, it was hard to breath, my mouth was completely dry and i was all dirty. My body seemed a lot heavier and my knees were hurting, begging for me to fall but still holding on.

I was on the limit. No, I was actually beyond my limit.

Seeing me now, I could perfectly understand what Lee meant when he talked about determination and willpower. My body was holding on in this two things: determination and willpower.

It may seem fantasy of dreamers, but your wishes can do miracles. Mine was doing.

I leaped one more time, the sun coming up with me. I got concentration and told myself I didn't want less than perfection. I threw exactly 8 kunais to the 8 targets around me. I fell back on the ground, protecting my eyes from the sunlight. The sun was already up.

My knees couldn't hold me anymore, and I almost fell. My eyes were as heavy as my body. I took a look around and my lips turned into a satisfied smile.

The eight targets were now holding my 8 kunais in their centers. Where they belong to. I had finally got to perfection.

Attending to my entire body's wish, I let myself fall hard on the ground. The sky was so beautiful, a perfect blue around a few clouds announcing the morning. My breathing became slow and I felt my muscles relaxing.

" Tenten? Is it you? You chackra is..." – a comfortable voice sang by my side and a body blocked the sun, making a shadow over me. I knew that face.

" Neji… " - I felt his hand in my face, passing through my hair, lasting a moment on my forehead. – " Neji, i… "

" Shhh… " - he didn't let me continue. His fingers got to my lips, making me mute. – " Time to rest, Weapons Mistress."

Obedient, I closed my eyes. I have done that and Neji knew it.

To be Continued...

Autor's note: I don't know if this chapter is cool and clear. The time, scenes... were kinda of written randomly. I like writing with this "spaces", you know…

We're close to the end T.T

- Ikaira