Good day all! I'm sure you're happy that Chapter 10 arrived much faster than Chapter 9 did. And I'm sure you're ecstatic to celebrate with me the reaching of double digits!
Thanks once again to Ne-0Nova. Without you this story (and many chapters) would not exist, or be possible.
Well nothing left to say... so here is Chapter 10. Enjoy.
She'd made her way to the shower, scrubbing at her body harshly. She still smelled of him. Despite the scalding water and the forcefulness of her scrubbing there would be no reprieve for her from the gnawing ache in her heart and the ever-present loneliness.
But she'd settled for this, because this was what she wanted. She'd always known that one day he'd leave and that there'd be nothing she could do. And although she wasn't quite happy with just this (she wanted more, she wanted him) it was all they had left.
After getting dressed, she'd gone into the kitchen to make breakfast, out of habit rather than any real hunger. She hadn't realised that she'd been expecting to find a note written in Neji's crisp and proper writing until the disappointment at seeing nothing on the table hit her.
"Why would he even leave a note anyways? We're shinobi, we're not supposed to leave evidence…" she scolded herself aloud.
Despair filled her, even she was not enough to make him stay. Still there was nothing she could say to change that part. There was nothing she could say to keep him with her.
She needed to quit expecting him to stay; she only set herself up for heartbreak this way. He'd left her alone this morning, to simply wonder why. Although life had never simple, and love was reputed to be even worse.
Tenten ate mechanically, not even tasting the food she had prepared. They needed to end this, and go back to their respective positions: him as a faithful fiancé, her as his loyal teammate.
But it wasn't that simple… she sighed softly. Giving up on these thoughts, because they only ever led her around in a circle, she went to go train. But even in her training she couldn't find the answer. They were now nothing more than a broken promise.
It was a strange pattern, existing during the day while anticipating and dreading living during the night. Two days and two painstaking nights passed quickly, quicker than she expected.
Still each night when Neji came to her, the only thing that really mattered was that they were together, as if it were not wrong in every imaginable way. At least until he was gone, she could pretend she was fine.
That morning when she woke up, disoriented for a minute, she couldn't help but think something was missing. Sitting up she noted the emptiness beside her, the sheets cold already. He'd left her again.
She'd always known, though she'd tried to ignore it, that one day he would leave. He was too good, too talented to stay on Team Gai. She'd expected him to leave sooner, but she hadn't quite expected it to be this way. And even if she had prepared for it, it was still just as hard, just as painful.
Her hands shook as she tried to pin her hair up in a different fashion, one that was less recognisable than her usual style and managed to keep her hair out of the way. She was… nervous; afraid no matter what promise she made herself, that she would run away.
Finally having managed to get her hair up in some sort of order; she began pulling on the kimono Neji had purchased for her… the only one she had. She tried not to think it ironic that on the night he was getting engaged, she his secret lover was wearing the kimono he had bought her.
Upon arriving at the Hyuuga Compound, Hinata had appropriately admired Tenten's kimono. Hinata was dressed befitting an heiress, her hair was worn up in elaborate curls and entwined with a violet ribbon. She wore a beautifully designed and expensive kimono. It was dark blue, the colour of night with the beginnings of a dawn breaking across it.
Tenten received further instruction, tonight she was filling the role of close guard, but her position was more tradition than anything. It was highly unlikely that anyone would try anything with so many Hyuuga and their Byakugan around.
It was maybe a half an hour later when Neji, accompanied by Hanako Sugi arrived. Hanako was a decently beautiful girl, with large dark eyes and long dark hair. She wore a simpering smile, and although she walked with grace as most noble families trained their daughters to do… it was clear she was not a ninja.
The two betrothed sat down at the head table; Hanako smiled brightly and then tried to coax the Hyuuga prodigy into small talk. Neji however ignored the girl, who continued her futile attempts.
From her position, beside Hinata, she could see Neji's face clearly he looked annoyed. Hanako was clearly trying to talk his ear off. It should have been obvious, even to this clueless little slip of a girl that he was disinterested.
Bored, Neji's eyes roved over to her location, and she jerked her eyes away from him after a brief glance. It was improper for her to be here.
This shouldn't be so complicated, she sighed. It was only another day, just one more ceremony. This was just another mission, one that she couldn't fail. She would have to look happy, even if she detested it.
Slowly after the meal was gone people began to dance; the bright colours of their clothes flashing. Hinata remained on the sidelines for a good while until Naruto whisked her off to the dance floor.
Keeping an eye on her charge, Tenten sat on the sidelines. Hanako had forced Neji into dancing with her, despite the fact that Neji was not one for public displays. Still he continued playing his dutiful role and danced with her. From over Hanako's head, she felt his piercing glance strike her.
She turned away, only to be offered a dance by some wealthy stranger. Smiling falsely she agreed. Only to end up, through the result of some strange switching of partners, in Neji's arms. She kept her eyes downward, watching her feet.
"It's been a while hasn't it?" Neji asked, she could hear the smirk in his voice although she couldn't see it.
"Indeed," she answered, not bothering to look up. "How have you been?"
"Good. You?"
"The same," she replied. It was awkward for them to be reduced to polite necessities, when they had known each other for such a long time. But there was little she could do, there was so much she wanted to say but could not, for fear of revealing their secret.
She risked a brief glance up, to see the look in his eyes. In his eyes she read, this dance was mourning, for him, for her, for them, for what this was. From this moment on, nothing would ever be the same, because things had changed.
Their dance finished and Neji was pulled into another one by his energetic little fiancée. Tenten saw Hinata was making her way towards her. "It's late. I—I think I'll retire for the evening. Would you like to stay the night?"
Hinata was right, it was already very late. Tenten did not relish the idea of walking home alone in the dark, but she didn't particularly want to stay the night in Neji's house. "No, thank you. It's not that late."
Even as they spoke the party was winding down. Hanako was already biding goodnight to Neji, standing on tiptoe to give him a chaste kiss on the cheek. The Hyuuga Elders sat at the head table, looking pleased with their efforts. Even the Sugi Family seemed satisfied with the evening.
The Hyuuga Household was large, and it was quite easy for a visitor to get lost. So rather than taking a shortcut that may have gotten her to the front door faster, but more than likely lost, she simply walked past Hinata's room going in reverse order. She also conveniently forgot that Neji's room was down this hall.
"Tenten," she turned at the sound of someone calling her name. Neji stood in his doorway, looking at her with pearl eyes. "Good night."
"Good night," she returned. Then felt his hand tug her into his room. "Neji!" she hissed. She shouldn't be in his room, especially on the night that he gets engaged. She shouldn't be with him at all.
But he had already closed the door behind her, and his lips forced their way onto hers. They probably should not be doing this in his house, with so many people who could accidentally overhear them. But it was the desperate way that he kissed her that made her give in.
"Tenten…" he whispered against her neck, eliciting a shiver. "I don't know if I can do this…"
She said nothing; they'd discussed this all already, every possibility and outcome, every regret and every fear. Slowly he disrobed her, concentrating on the task at hand. Every movement was full of sadness and longing, full of regret and impending loss. What they did now would hurt tomorrow, an ache that would never fade.
It was so twisted, she thought as her fingers gripped tightly in his hair, trying to pull him closer. Even though she knows it's wrong, she doesn't want to let go. She can hear the clatter of weapons falling to the ground as he undoes her hair.
He's pushed her unto the bed, and she can only stare dazedly up at him. He joins her on the bed, and stifles the gasp with his lips. Slowly the frenzy calms his lips roaming less and less often over her skin. His legs become entwined with hers, and his hand is draped possessively over her hips.
It was easy to lay here in his embrace, safe from the world outside that used duty to chain Neji to his family and a girl he didn't love far stronger than it could ever chain him to her.
She could hear footsteps echoing in the hallway, bringing with them quiet laughter and hushed voices. "Stay," Neji whispered into her hair. Of course she would, when had he ever needed to ask?
It was early that morning when she left; even the servants weren't up. Neji was still soundly asleep but his grip on her was just as tight as it had been last night. Carefully she wormed her way out, and got dressed. Before she left, she gazed at her still sleeping lover, her eyes filled with sweet sadness. She could not resist giving him one final kiss before she left.
She made her way quietly and swiftly through the halls, though the majority of people were likely still sound asleep. The guards, who knew her fairly well, let her out without questioning her story. She'd told them that Hinata had managed to convince her to stay the night.
The streets of Konoha were empty, and most of the shops were closed. Despite the early hour, Tenten had no wish to return to sleep so instead she made her way to their old training ground. Standing in the middle of the training ground, she smiled. It was just like it had always been, and would likely always be.
Just like when she was younger, and was waiting for her teammates to show up, she climbed into a tree. It seemed so long ago, although it wasn't really that far back. She smiled as she remembered happy moments in this place.
Maybe she would join the ANBU, it would be easier to forget him if she didn't have to interact with him on a day-to-day basis, she wasn't even sure if she could anymore.
After picking up a transfer sheet at the ANBU office in the Hokage Tower, she made her way down the stairs to the village. She wasn't really sure if she wanted to become ANBU, but she'd think on it. The man at the office had said there was no rush in returning it.
Back at her house she stared at the transfer form, filling out what she could, though she didn't sign it, that seemed too final. Giving up on it, she folded the sheet in half and left it on the table.
Well there was nothing much left to do. Changing quickly into some practise clothes she decided that she'd go train. Maybe she'd see if Lee would be willing to practise with her.