Ah, another chapter. I really need to outline this thing so I don't abandon it like everything else I start. XD
Also, I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving this coming week. Enjoy the time with your family and friends, do good deeds, etc.
And SnowyChan: I would give up hope, if I were you. Sorry. :(
Disclaimer: Kishimoto owns all of it. Except the plot. That's mine.
"Who's the father?"
Ino's face softened and she smoothed her hand over her stomach.
"You think I trust you enough to give his name?" Ino shot back without quip.
TenTen frowned slightly.
From what TenTen could tell, Ino had gotten used to her presence every Thursday when TenTen would pull her from her cell. Sometimes they would just talk, and sometimes TenTen tried to get information. Usually, Ino was not very forthright.
"I thought we were acquaintances, at least," TenTen said. "It's not like I know where he is so I can have him arrested. And I'm sure your people are too cautious with strangers anyway."
Ino was thoughtful for a moment.
She eventually shrugged.
"I'm going to die anyway, right? His name is Sasuke." Ino looked down at her stomach. "I was going to name the baby after Sasuke's father."
TenTen's forehead creased.
"You know it's a boy?"
Ino's lips formed a half-smile.
"I call it a future mother's intuition," clarified Ino, sighing.
TenTen watched her for several moments, privately envious of the glow that emitted from the blonde's person, despite her precarious situation.
"How did you meet him?" TenTen inquired.
"When I found my new family, Sasuke was already there. I kind of fell for him from the start."
TenTen was considering if she should pressure her for more information, when Ino said, "Miss Yamaguchi?"
TenTen raised her eyebrows.
"Yes?"
"What do you think about all of this? Of the Intimacy Law and everything else."
TenTen mulled over in her mind what to say.
"I've been wondering lately, if it's really necessary anymore," she divulged secretively to the blonde, shrugging. "I mentioned it to my partner, but he thinks I'm crazy to think like that."
Ino slowly shook her head.
"Being curious does not make you crazy," Ino declared in a firm tone.
In a serious moment of trust, TenTen leaned forward towards Ino.
"I think it's wrong that they're planning to kill you."
Something softened in Ino's blue eyes.
Ino stared at TenTen, expression unreadable.
"You sound like you might be having second thoughts then, of the government's way of running things."
TenTen sighed and sat back in her chair.
"I just don't see how it benefits anyone anymore," TenTen muttered, closing her eyes briefly.
Ino watched her in silence until TenTen showed her back to her cell.
-xxx-
"Let's go have a drink."
Neji raised his eyebrows at his partner.
"TenTen, it's noon," he informed.
TenTen shrugged carelessly.
"I'll buy, if it'll persuade you to come."
His eyes followed her as she went to her desk and got her wallet and coat.
"Fine," he muttered, standing.
-xxx-
TenTen led him to a particularly seedy bar a few blocks from the station. In the daylight, the establishment passed for decent, but Neji knew as soon as the sun set the place would lose all its appeal as citizens crowded inside its dingy walls.
TenTen sat at the bar and ordered sake.
"What do you want?" she asked Neji as he slid onto the stool next to her.
"Water."
TenTen rolled her eyes but told the bartender, who shuffled down to the end to prepare the drinks.
"What's driving you to drink in the middle of the day?" Neji inquired, looking at his partner with some concern.
TenTen received her sake from the bartender and nodded her head in thanks. She stared down at the cup a long time before drinking from it.
"Neji, I'm troubled."
Neji glanced at her brown eyes, detecting the worry hidden there. It made him nervous.
"About what?"
"I'm questioning why things are the way they are," TenTen said, glimpsing his face. Neji read a small amount of shame written on the lines of her face.
Neji stayed quiet, waiting for her to elaborate.
"I've been thinking that maybe the way things are have become irrelevant," she said softly.
Neji took note of the bartender; he would have no idea of what TenTen was insinuating, but it was enough that they were in public and she was sharing these thoughts.
"Careful," Neji advised.
TenTen's cheeks flamed.
"See? I hate being censored like this," she hissed lowly. "I should be able to say what I want without fear of being arrested!"
Neji paid for the drinks, even though TenTen had claimed she would. He ushered her out of the bar quickly.
Outside, he stared down at her, confused.
"What is going on with you?"
TenTen looked at her feet, her fists shoved in her coat pockets.
"I've been thinking. The way the world is right now isn't the way it should be. It isn't the way it was intended to be."
Neji shook his head.
"What are you saying?"
"Neji, haven't you ever wondered why? Why do things have to be the way they are right now? Why aren't we allowed to touch other people and get married and have families? Why can't we say what we really think? There used to be freedom in that, right?"
Neji's fear was mounting the more TenTen said.
"TenTen—"
"I don't want to be censored anymore, Neji."
TenTen seemed reckless, and it made Neji wary of her.
"What are you going to do? Go and join the rebels?" he said. It came out sharper than he intended.
TenTen flinched and uncertainty returned to her features.
She clutched her forehead.
"I'm sorry. I haven't been feeling well lately, and—"
"Let's get you home. You must be coming down with something," Neji hurried, grateful for the excuse.
He deposited TenTen off at her building and took the long route back to the station.
At the time, he had been more than willing to take the excuse TenTen had offered, but now Neji knew what it really was. He had been clinging to a false hope to regain his footing in the slippery tumult TenTen had unloaded on him.
With slight trepidation, Neji began to consider the alternative TenTen had unknowingly voiced.
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