Disclaimer: Naruto and all Naruto related stuff is (c) Masashi Kishimoto. All OCs and original storyline/plot/imagination (c) of ME!!
A/N: This chapter was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be… it's so hard to capture the emotions of everyone upon being reunited, so I just picked one.
WARNING: Kind of short… well it is the part I cut off on the last chapter when I got all sleepy so… but it's 1,268 words, so no "too short" complaints please (sorry… HUGE pet peeve of mine)…
THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS!!
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WELCOME HOME!
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Violet rays streaked golden skies as hues of pinks and reds danced upon the kunoichi's honey tinted eyes. (1) Neji watched as Tenten's gaze focused upon the tall green gates with red lettering. He was certain her inquisitive mind was slowing piecing together all the possible reasons as to why the gates, which were never shut unless there were some danger the village needed protecting from, were in fact closed that day.
Tenten curiously continued watching Ryoku and Gai as each took hold of one of the large doors, preparing themselves to open each heavy gate. Slowly, she approached Neji's side to wait with him and Lee, as the two older men used all their strength to open the doors.
"…" Tenten inhaled deeply; a mixture of excitement and apprehension mingled in her amber eyes as she quickly looked over to her husband.
Neji smiled reassuringly at his beautiful wife; taking hold of her hand, intertwining his fingers in hers, before giving her hand a soft comforting squeeze. Words need not be spoken, for she understood what the simple gesture meant: I'm here.
"…" She smiled back meekly, before returning her gaze to the two enormous doors that separated them from the home they had long since wanted to return to.
Soon they would be on the other side, crossing the threshold into their old familiar world; but in an entirely different and new life. This village was where they had been born and raised; where they had met and fallen in love; the village and people that had always been close to their hearts. For the first time they would enter, not as teammates, nor as friends or lovers, but as Husband and Wife.
"We're home." Tenten softly whispered, as she moved closer toward Neji; hugging lightly onto his muscular arm.
"Mommy?" Ryuuken began stirring on Neji's back; slowly waking up from his long nap to face both his parents for a second, before his head sleepily nestled back into in his father's long loose hair.
"Perfect timing." Tenten smiled back at the little one.
"It appears they are both waking up in time." Neji commented; observing Hitori's sleeping form also stirring on Lee's back.
"Is it morning?" Hitori drowsily yawned, as he attempted to stretch out on the younger green beast's back.
"Sunset." Neji corrected the boy, who he was sure had mistaken the multicolored sky for that of the breaking dawn.
"Oh." Hitori limply curled up against Lee's back; wrapping his tiny little arms around the bowl-headed man's wide neck, as he buried his head back onto the man's shoulder.
"YOSH!" Lee excitedly exclaimed; though in a much softer volume than he probably would have if the tired twins were not around. "Hitori-kun and Ryuuken-kun, this is the village where your parent's grew up." Lee proudly informed the two young boys.
"Really?" Hitori yawned; lifting his head back up to look at the looming gates ahead.
"Ko-kono…" Ryuuken scrunched his forehead as he deeply concentrated on trying to recall the name his father had often recited in the many night time stories they had heard before being sent to bed.
"Konoha." Neji reminded the boy.
"Konoha." Ryuuken repeated happily. "Does that mean all mommy and daddy's friends live here?" he asked curiously.
"That is correct." Neji nodded.
"Are we gonna meet them?" Hitori excitedly asked.
"Going to." Neji corrected the small boy's grammar.
"Are we going to meet them?" Hitori repeated his question correctly.
"Hai." Tenten nodded; smiling at the young boy. "You'll get to meet your Grandma, and your grand-uncle Hiashi-sama, your aunt's Hinata and Hanabi. They all live in Konoha."
"YOSH!" Lee cheerfully exclaimed. "And do not forget, Uncle Lee also lives here."
"They already met you Lee." Tenten reminded the peculiar man.
"Yes, but…" Lee began.
"They're opening." Neji interrupted; calling all four of their attentions back to the two large doors as Ryoku and Gai's inhuman strength began slowly prying them apart.
Little by little, the impossibly heavy doors that served to shield Konoha from the outside world, gradually began separating; slowly revealing the village behind it. Faint sounds and voices could be heard on the other side of the gates; the busy sounds of a lively village.
As the gates parted, the dragging of the massive doors created a large smoky cloud obstructed the group's view of the inside. Neji promptly covered Ryuuken's eyes; shielding them form the dust, while Lee quickly followed suit, covering Hitori's tender eyes as well.
As the dust slowly settled, Neji's eyes focused through the haze. He noticed shadows of figures seemingly standing in wait for something on the other side; for them perhaps?
"WELCOME HOME!" A booming crowd yelled out at the small group, as the vision of everyone Neji and Tenten had missed over the years came into view.
On the other side of the large gates, stood all the people they had been hoping to see for so very long; their families and friends, along with the Hokage herself had all come out to greet them.
Of course, Neji had already known they were there. Despite having been informed that no one in Konoha had known about the three men's mission to find the run-away couple, Neji had seen when Gai sent word, by messenger bird, of their coming arrival. Furthermore, having had his Byakugan activated as the group began approaching the village, Neji had noticed various chakra systems approaching the village gates one by one. He had deduced that his former sensei had enlisted his eternal rival to assemble everyone at the gates to welcome the returning couple home.
"Leave it to Gai-sensei." Tenten smiled as the group before them slowly approached the new arrivals.
"T-Tennie-chan!" A small, unbelieving, gasp escaped the crowd, as a petite older woman approached the front; her eyes firmly drawn upon the returning kunoichi.
"…" Tenten's strong front quickly began to crumble, as her eyes locked on those of the woman before her. "MOM!"
She ran to the woman's arms; completely forgetting everything else around her, as she clung to her mother's small frame. The emotional moment engulfed the surrounding area in a respectful silence, as all those assembled watched on, while mother and daughter lovely embraced one another; happy to once more be reunited.
"Ryoku." The petite woman called out in a whisper, as she tightened her hold on the younger woman; almost as if her mind still would not allow her to believe the reality of the situation.
In an instant, the intimidating ANBU was beside the two; protectively watching over his wife and daughter.
Placing a heavy hand on the older woman's shoulder, a silent exchange passed between the two; I promised I would bring her back, did I not?
'Hai.' Xiu-Juan nodded as tears of joy ran down her doll-like face.
"Mrs. Furi-iki." Neji's calm voice reluctantly broke the silence as he and the two boys step up beside the reunited family.
"Neji-kun." Xui-Juan turned to the young man; her eyes quickly widening in surprise as she saw the two timid boys standing beside their father.
"Mom." Tenten walked over to her small family. "We'd like you to meet our sons, Ryuuken and Hitori." She motioned for the two boys to walk forward. "Boys, this is your grandmother."
Clinging to the sides of their mother's legs, Ryuuken and Hitori bashfully waved hello to the older woman; both boy's eyes never forgetting to carefully watch the looming figure standing behind her.
'They'll get used to him.' Neji told himself; understanding perfectly the intimidation the two boys felt upon being close to the large ANBU looming overhead.
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TBC
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FOOTNOTES:
(1) how's THAT for a BAM Jue?...lol
A/N: BEFORE YOU ALL ASK… this is it as far as the big reunion moment… EVERYONE was there… so eventually after the momentous reunion between mother and daughter, Neji and Tenten got to say hi to Naruto, Sakura, Hinata, Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, Ino, Chouji, Hiashi, Hanabi. So there've all met… the next chapter will have them have already met… and that is when the side pairings, and the children, will be introduced okay…
Of course, that said, I will undoubtedly get a number of reviews saying "oh I can't wait til they see the rest of their friends" or "I wonder how their friends will react when they see the twins"… I found it was too complicated to get big "GASP" moments for everyone, so I picked one… and that was the grandma. So now I can pick up with (hopefully) some comedy… I need comedy in this fic now… lots and lots of comedy… think daddy play-dates, and oh I can't think of anything else right now… how about Ryoku and Neji building a swing set for the boys? Oh that would be fun… any other suggestions? XP The serious part of the story (i.e. the horrible horrible conflict that is necessary to built a story) is coming up shortly, but for at least 3 or 4 more chapters I want to have some fun and do comedy (and maybe some fluff)… lol