SasuTen 5.
A/N- I love writing SasuTen. I did not think that I would love writing it as much as I do, and I am pleasantly surprised. I've also received wonderful support from all my reviewers, and I'd like to send you all a mass thank you right now. I tend to respond to reviewers in pms, so if you're a guest or have your pm blocked, I'm sorry. But I still extend the greatest thanks to you! You all are the best.
Disclaimer- Naruto is not mine.
Warnings- There is alcohol consumption in this chapter, and I want to say that I do not support underage drinking. So don't do it. Your liver will thank you later.
Chapter 5. Lithium.
A week passed in much the same way. Sasuke and Tenten would train together during the day and then go to some restaurant at night to eat. Tenten slowly became better acquainted with the Uchiha.
It was a Wednesday and Tenten and Sasuke were sitting together against the tree. They both selected the same tree to sit against after their first training session, and it had become a habit to sit against it. Sasuke had his eyes closed, but Tenten's remained open as she looked up at the sky.
"Hey Sasuke." Tenten said.
"Hn? "Sasuke asked.
There it was. The 'hn' sound. Tenten thought that she would loathe the sound coming from anyone other than her Neji, but she actually liked hearing it again.
"I'm tired of eating at restaurants. How about we eat at my house?" Tenten suggested. "And I'm a little short on cash."
Sasuke looked over at Tenten. "I don't want anything spicy." He said with a smirk. Sasuke was trying to play it cool, but he was really excited about Tenten cooking for him. Many girls had offered to do the same thing in the past, and all had been rejected. But Sasuke couldn't bring himself to reject Tenten in the same manner.
"Well then how about you help cook if you don't like my cooking." Tenten said with a fake pouty look. "Or can you even cook, you being an Uchiha and all."
Sasuke smirked wider. "I can cook. I've lived on my own for years now. And I'll show you tonight." He said. Sasuke knew that Tenten loved challenges, and frankly he did too. "Let's go get some supplies at the store and then we'll sample each other's cooking."
"I bet mine will be better." Tenten said.
They walked side by side through the streets of Konoha. Tenten was still getting used to the stares. She had guessed that staring would happen if she began spending time with the Uchiha. He had been a traitor for years. It was only natural not to trust him. But he had earned Tenten's trust, and that was all that mattered to her.
Luckily, none of their ninja friends had really noticed the time they spent together. Neither of them would know what to say in that situation.
Tenten led the way back to her apartment after they had made their purchases. Sasuke's eyes roved around the tiny street. She lived pretty far away from him, but that was to be expected. She lived in an apartment complex and he lived in a mansion.
Her apartment was perfectly sized for her. It had one bedroom, and Sasuke noticed that the door was shut, and he guessed that the bathroom was back there as well. The door opened to a little living room and kitchen, both were part of the same room.
Sasuke's eyes landed on the pink apron Tenten was handing him. "Why?" He asked as he held it far away from him.
"You don't want your fancy Uchiha style shirt to get dirty do you?" Tenten asked. "If I had clothes with my clan symbol on them I would keep them spotless. That is, if I had a clan in the first place."
Sasuke sighed. "Fine, but you have to wear one too." He said.
Tenten put a plain white on one over her white and maroon Chinese outfit. They both got to work cooking. Tenten was not used to maneuvering around her little kitchen with someone else present. Sasuke was also much taller and had much wider shoulders than her.
When they were finished they set their dishes next to each other on Tenten's tiny dining table. Tenten frowned. Sasuke had made some sort of grilled fish, and it looked exquisite. Sasuke however, was eying Tenten's dish with fear, for he'd seen her using peppers.
Sasuke looked down into Tenten's eyes as she said, "Well, let's eat."
Tenten took half of Sasuke's fish and half of her dish and sat in a chair. Sasuke took the rest and sat across from her.
"You go first." Tenten said with a grin. She had simply made fried rice, and used mile peppers. But she wanted Sasuke to think it would be super spicy just to see his reaction when it wasn't.
Sasuke sighed and took a spoonful of the rice. It wasn't spicy. It was seasoned beautifully, and didn't even need soy sauce. It was perfect. "It's good." Sasuke said. "Now try mine."
Sasuke had simply made grilled fish with lemon. He knew it was a simpler dish, but he preferred simplicity sometimes.
Tenten took a bite of it. It was perfect. She had thought that she would hate it, because of the lack of spices, but it was pure perfection. She looked up to see the Uchiha's reaction, and he was smirking again.
"Okay, I like it." Tenten admitted.
"Good." Sasuke said. "So I suppose it is okay to say that we both won our little challenge."
"I guess so." Tenten said. "What should we do tomorrow after training?"
"Oh, about that. I actually have a mission tomorrow, it's a short one. Only some reconnaissance work. I should be back late on Friday." Sasuke said. "Will you be attending Naruto and Sakura's engagement party?"
"I heard a little about it, but I wasn't necessarily planning on it. Will you be there?" Tenten said.
"I have to attend. Since it is my teammates, I hope I can meet you there." Sasuke said.
"Okay then. I'll go." Tenten said. "I haven't been to a party in months."
When the meal was over Sasuke helped Tenten wash the dishes and then he bid his farewell.
The Next Day
Tenten threw some kunai at various targets in her training ground. It was a cloudy day, and rain threatened to fall at any moment. Tenten picked up her kunai and sealed them back into the scroll she carried on her back. She didn't want her metal weapons to be damaged by rain.
Tenten left the training ground; since Sasuke was gone she really couldn't train.
Sasuke.
Tenten's heart did this weird constriction dance in her chest when she thought of the Uchiha. It had been doing that a lot recently, but today there was worry clenched in her heart as well.
Am I worried about Sasuke?
That seemed to be the case. She was worried that Sasuke might be hurt on his mission.
That's preposterous. He spent years away from the village battling the most powerful scum, how can a simple reconnaissance mission cause him harm?
Yet Tenten was still worried. She'd gotten closer to the Uchiha during the past few days, and she didn't want any harm to befall him.
"Tenten!" A voice called.
Tenten turned to see Sakura walking down the street. The pink haired medic looked like she was positively glowing.
"Hello Sakura." Tenten said.
"Hey Tenten! I haven't seen you in forever. How have you been?" Sakura asked politely.
Tenten caught sight of the glittery diamond on Sakura's ring finger. Tenten's heart constricted painfully in jealousy when she saw it.
I wanted an engagement ring from Neji.
"I've been alright." Tenten said vaguely. "I heard about your engagement. Congratulations."
"Oh, thank you! It was such a surprise to me. We're having a party tomorrow night to celebrate, and I'd like you to be there. It'll be wonderful to see all our friends and make the announcement at once." Sakura said. "It'll be at my house. Can you make it?"
"Yes I believe I can." Tenten said with a fake smile.
With Sasuke
Sasuke perched in a tree about a hundred miles away from Konoha. He was on the border of the Rain. There had been reports of some rogue ninjas hiding out around this area, and Sasuke had been sent to check it out.
I wonder what Tenten's doing.
Sasuke shook his head after that thought. How strange, why was he thinking of Tenten right now? He was on an important mission, and didn't need to think about her.
But he was worried that she might cut herself trying to train. Or that she might not be eating again.
Sasuke took the binoculars back to his eyes and scanned the area. He could think about Tenten later, right now he had to look for rogue ninjas.
The Next Day
Tenten stood in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom. She was trying to decide what to wear to Naruto and Sakura's party.
Tenten hadn't seen Sasuke in two days, and was excited to see him tonight for some reason. But she also hadn't been to a single party since Neji's death, and wanted to look nice.
Neji…
Tenten looked into the mirror. Her hair hung down her back, kind of like Neji's when he let his down.
I miss you.
Tenten watched as a crystal tear dripped down from her left eye and onto the carpet below her. The loss of Neji still hurt her daily, but it had gotten a little better with Sasuke around.
Tenten shook her head. Tonight would not be about mourning the dead, tonight would be about celebrating the living and the miracle of love.
She stepped away from the mirror and looked in her closet for something to wear.
After half an hour, Tenten selected a long sleeved purple dress, and she tied a white belt around the middle. She then picked black flats and a thin cardigan. The end effect was lovely, but she didn't know what to do with her hair.
Tenten decided to lightly curl the ends of her hair. It didn't look too over the top, but it was a lovely touch.
When Tenten arrived at the party, it was already in full swing. People were milling about and laughing. Her eyes darted around for Sasuke, but she didn't see him. He said he would show up later, so it might still be a little bit before he showed up.
Tenten spotted Naruto and Sakura in conversation with Hinata. She stepped over to them and they smiled when they saw her.
"You look lovely Tenten-chan." Hinata said in her usual quiet voice.
"Yes you do!" Sakura said. "I'm so glad you could make it."
"We were just discussing Neji, and how we all wished that he could be here on this momentous occasion." Naruto said.
Tenten choked back tears. "Yes, I know exactly how you all feel. But I know that he would be here if he could." She managed to say.
Sakura laughs, "Well, let's not dwell on sad things of the past! I see Temari over there, I think I'll say hello!"
"I think I'll go get a drink." Tenten said as she stepped away.
So much for celebrating life. Tenten thought sadly.
Tenten sat down on a chair away from the other part goers. She looked out the window sadly and thought of her old teammate.
"Hey Tenten!" An excited voice said.
Tenten turned to see Hinata's teammate Kiba holding two glasses of soda.
"You look pretty serious, you know what you need? A soda!" Kiba said.
Tenten took one of the glasses. "Thanks Kiba." She said.
"It's nothing." Kiba said. "So what do you think of this party?" He asked.
Tenten took a sip of the soda. It tasted strange. "I think it is a lovely party. I am so happy for them." Tenten took another sip.
"I think so too. It's a little over the top though." Kiba said with a shrug.
Tenten finished the glass and felt the strange urge to giggle.
"Oh! You finished, I'll get you another!" Kiba said with a smile. He left and brought another two glasses.
Tenten drank half the cup in one swig and looked at Kiba with a giggle. "Where's your puppy?" She laughed.
Kiba smiled too. Akamaru is back at home." He said. "He doesn't care for big social events."
Tenten felt funny. She felt like laughing and dancing. She didn't feel like crying over Neji, for once. "Neither do I." Tenten said to Kiba. "But I'm being a good girl."
Kiba laughed. "That's good to hear! I'm so happy that you came. Because my teammate wants to see you happy. And if my teammate is happy, then I'm happy." Kiba said.
"Hinata is lucky to have you." Tenten said with a wide smile. She drank the rest of the soda and laughed happily with Kiba.
Tenten looked up when she saw Sasuke standing above Kiba. For some reason the Uchiha looked furious. Sasuke was glaring at Kiba.
"Don't you have a Hyuuga heiress to be courting?" Sasuke said coldly.
Kiba paled. "You're right!" He said and then he dashed off.
Tenten watched as Sasuke took the vacant seat next to her. He looked beyond mad and was glaring at nothing.
"How was your mission?" Tenten asked. She was looking at him through a fog, and it was weird.
"It was fine. The reports were obviously false."
Tenten giggled as she sat next to the Uchiha.
Sasuke POV
Just my luck. I come back and find her drunk. That stupid Inuzuka must have spiked her drink.
Sasuke sighed and looked at Tenten. At least she was a happy drunk. She was muttering some nonsense a she sat next to him.
Tenten couldn't be left alone like this. She was obviously new to drinking, and needed to be taken home.
Sasuke stood up. "Let's go Tenten." Sasuke said.
"Where are we going?" Tenten asked.
"I'm going to take you home." Sasuke said. "You're drunk."
"Drunk? How could that happen? I only drank soda!" Tenten said. However, she did stand up and allow Sasuke to lead her away. "Do you think I look nice?" She asked.
Sasuke looked down at her outfit. "You look very nice." He said.
Shikamaru waved at Sasuke. "Hey buddy. How's it going?"
Sasuke tried to act like having a drunk Tenten holding onto his arm was normal. "I'm doing great. How about you? How is Yamanaka-san?" Sasuke asked to be polite.
"I'm doing wonderful thanks for asking." Ino said from behind Shikamaru. "Oh! Tenten, how are you Love?"
"I'm great!" Tenten said with a bright smile.
Shikamaru was leaning casually against a counter. "You know, Kiba didn't know he was giving her spiked soda. Kakashi brought it for the adults, and Kiba thought it was just regular soda."
Sasuke felt himself relax. He wasn't so mad at the Inuzuka anymore. "That's good to hear." Sasuke said honestly. "If you could excuse us, I'm just going to escort Tenten to her home."
Ino smiled at her dear friend. "I hope she's happy." She said. "Good night, Uchiha-san!"
Sasuke left the party then. He'd already told Naruto and Sakura congratulations, so now he could leave.
Sasuke's dark eyes darted down to Tenten where she was lazily walking next to him. Her eyes were drooping. Sasuke rolled his eyes. This must be the first time she'd ever drank alcohol.
"Do you want me to carry you?" Sasuke asked.
"No! I can walk on my own." Tenten said. But she soon sagged against Sasuke.
Sasuke lifted Tenten into his arms and sped off toward her house. When he arrived on her porch he found that her front door was locked.
He looked down at Tenten in his arms. Her key must be somewhere on her person. But she was sort of asleep, and Sasuke felt that if he searched her right now it would be a sort of sexual harassment. So he hoisted her up further into his arms and sped off toward his house.
A/N- I just want to say here, that I have only drunk alcohol once. And it was much in the same situation as Tenten, someone spiked my drink. But they were very aware of their actions, unlike poor Kiba. But, I want to say here, that none of you should partake in underage drinking! And if some random person gives you a drink at a party, SAY NO! You have no idea what is in that drink, so don't drink it! Thankfully, my brother was at the party to help me out, so nothing happened to me.
Ha-ha, there's my health advice for today.
So this update came a lot earlier than planned, but that's just because I've had pink eye since Sunday and haven't been able to attend school. So I decided to write more. I hope you enjoyed it, and please review if you get a chance. I hope you're having a wonderful day!