Disclaimer: Naruto and all Naruto related stuff is (c) Masashi Kishimoto. All OCs and original storyline/plot/imagination (c) of ME!!
A/N: I just realized something… I forgot to state my objective with this story (WHAT IS LOVE, the objective was to work on POV, my one-shots tend to have some purpose for developing my writing as well)… I think this time around my exercise will be to work on plot development. I confess W&D was NOT planned out (not even the later chapters)… neither was WIL… this time around, I've actually laid out the plot from the start, so that's what I'm going to work on. Either that, or flashbacks… hehehe…
THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS!!
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JOURNEY BACK
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Five years.
That was how long it had been since that day, in front of his clan's armory, when Ryoku had sent away the most precious person in his life; unsure whether he would ever see his beloved daughter again.
All those years living in agony, wondering how she was; what she was doing; whether she was healthy; whether she was happy… All those years without knowing whether she would ever return to the village she had been born in; the village that loved her and wanted her back.
At last, it seemed that day had finally arrived. They had been traveling for over a week; having taken their time; pacing themselves. But at last, they were within the borders of Fire Country. Soon, they would be able to see the high rising village wall that served to protect Konoha; soon, he would be bringing Tenten home again. (1)
"We should rest." Ryoku stated; observing the pale complexion on his grown daughter's face. As much as he wanted to get Tenten home, he didn't want her to over exert herself.
"Huh?" Tenten turned upward to face her father as the two continued walking through the forest path. "Why? We're almost there."
"That is true, but it will still take a half day's travel." Ryoku reminded her. "And you are tired."
An agitated expression crossed the kunoichi's face, as she continued looking up at the large ANBU. "I'm fine." She scoffed, before turning her gaze back toward the small group walking a short distance ahead of them.
"Are you certain?" Ryoku asked.
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"You worry too much." Tenten rolled her eyes.
That phrase seemed to be on constant repeat, since their arrival. Ryoku could remember hearing his daughter say those same words to her husband a number of times already. The more she said it, the more Ryoku wondered whether in fact it was true; or whether perhaps the white-eyed shinobi might have a reason for his obvious concern.
"Nonetheless," The Hyuga began. "I will not allow this journey to begin until I have heard Doctor Katou give her approval."(2)
"Fine." Tenten rolled her eyes again, before turning to the aforementioned doctor. "Can you tell my husband he worries too much?"
"hph." The middle-aged doctor sweetly smiled at the younger woman. "He's just being a concerned husband Tenten-san." The woman replied.
"But you mentioned last time that everything's perfectly fine, right?" Tenten asked; looking for support from the other woman.
"Well, I'm still concerned with these readings." The older woman began, as she looked at the file in her hand. "You're blood pressure is a little low. You're complexion is also a bit paler than usual, and you mentioned you've been feeling tired?"
"A little." Tenten sighed; her voice expressing her reluctant resignation to the topic. "But I've been resting, like you instructed. And I'm adding more iron to my diet, as well as drinking more water, like you told me to."
"Excellent." Doctor Katou nodded approvingly. "Well, you're hCG levels are rising; that's a good sign."(3)
"See!" Tenten addressed the white-eyed shinobi; happy to rebut his earlier assumption,
"Hn." The Hyuga pouted.
Observing the pair from across the room, Ryoku, who had been invited to join them by, none other than the white-eyed shinobi, could tell they were both inwardly relieved at the information. Ryoku was also glad to hear everything was not as bad as he had been imagining. He was grateful his daughter's husband had asked that Ryoku accompany the two; though he secretly suspected it wasn't to easy Ryoku's mind, so much as it was a tactic by the white-eyed man, to have someone on his side, should the news have turned out differently. Ryuku was glad it didn't, and that his beloved daughter was okay.
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"I am." Tenten assured him.
Having thought the matter over more, Ryoku realized that things might not be that simple. The fact of the matter was that at some point Tenten had not been fine. From what he gathered at the doctor's office, it seemed to him that the girl was probably suffering from anemia; which, as Ryoku recalled, was a common enough occurrence in pregnant woman.
But knowing that didn't remove the fear and anxiety.
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"Rest. Now." Ryoku gently pushed the petite woman's small frame down into a seating position, upon returning to their peaceful home.
They had just returned from Xiu- Juan's doctor's appointment.
"Ryoku, the doctor explained this already." Xiu-Juan sighed, as her husband roughly adjusted the cushions around her; he wanted her to be comfortable. "It's perfectly common for this to happen." She softly explained to the large man what the doctor had just told them. "I just need to make some adjustments to my diet and everything will be fine."
"And rest." Ryoku reminded her. "You will remain off of your feet until the doctor informs us that you are better."
"You're worrying unnecessarily." Xiu-Juan sighed. "Everything will be fine."
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Was everything fine?
From the moment she was born, Tenten had always been the single most important person in Ryoku's life. Xiu-Juan was the love of his life; the woman who gave him a reason to live. But Tenten; his precious daughter… Tenten was his heart…
As they continued walking a short distance behind the others, Ryoku turned away from his beloved daughter to face the back of the man whom the intimidating ANBU had charged with protecting his greatest treasure.
In the beginning, Ryoku had been resentful of the younger man. Until he had come along, Ryoku had been the most important man in Tenten's life; she had regarded him with great admiration and respect. But upon meeting the Hyuga prodigy, she had spent less and less time emulating and admiring her father, and more and more time praising the white-eyed boy's name. She had cut back on her training with Ryoku, and instead spent more of her time training with the noble youth. It had irked Ryoku at first; even more so when he finally meant the boy in question, and began wondering if perhaps something more than a mere friendship existed between the two sparring partners. From that moment, Ryoku had made it his mission to torment the Hyuga at any opportunity he received.
Somewhere along the way, however, the boy had grown to earn Ryoku's respect. Though he still didn't like how much time the handsome youth spent with Tenten, by the time the white-eyed shinobi asked Ryoku for his daughter's hand, the intimidating man didn't hate the prospect of allowing his Tenten to marry the Hyuga. If it meant she would be happy, Ryoku was willing to accept the stoic prodigy.
But had they been happy?
Away from their village; away from their loved one; did that man truly take care of Ryoku's precious daughter? Did he make her happy?
He still didn't have those answers.
"…" Sighing, Ryoku watched as the Hyuga pulled one of the twins up into his arms; the other having fallen asleep on the bowl-headed boy's back a few minutes earlier.
"I've missed home a lot." Tenten broke the silence that had momentarily fallen between the two. "I've been dreaming about the day when we'd finally be able to return and see everyone again." She paused; her eyes clouding for a moment. "I missed you all so much." She paused again; a soft smile slowly gracing her delicate features. "But despite that, I've been very happy these last five years." She repeated. "Neji's made me very happy. He's a good man. A good husband."
"Hn." Ryoku continued walking along side her.
Though not a hint of what he was thinking was betrayed by his expressionless face, Ryoku was glad to hear that.
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TBC
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FOOTNOTES:
(1) Yes, and Neji too… but come on, it's Ryoku's POV, he's not thinking about that guy… XP
(2) Katou… just a random Japanese surname. The name I gave the doctor.
(3) Human Chorionic Ganadotropin (hCG) is a hormone that can be detected in the urine and blood of humans. This hormone increases during pregnancy… But this isn't important all to the story… just something for the doctor to say XP
A/N: Come on… with a title like THIS, how could I NOT do flashbacks?