Disclaimer: Naruto and all Naruto related stuff is (c) Masashi Kishimoto. All OCs and original storyline/plot/imagination (c) of ME!!
A/N: I was going to make this longer, and not post it until I was finished with the next scene, but I figured I'd go ahead and post this since the next scene will probably be long enough to stand on it's own… or at least I hope so. As for the title, I couldn't think of anything to really connect the scenes, so it is what it is…
WARNING: Cliff-hanger (need I say more?)
THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS!!
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ACCLIMATE
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Five Flags.
Neji looked up at the monument Tenten had brought him and the boys to see. She had called it "Five Flags." According to her, it was the place where Konoha had been founded by the Senju Clan of the Forest. He had always heard that the Hyuga clan had been there at the beginning, but Neji had never known that they had played such an important role.
"Five clans." Neji mused aloud as he looked up at the colored flags waving gently in the mountain breeze.
He looked down at his small family, as his beloved wife cradled their two sons, lovely in her lap. They had fallen asleep not too long after arriving at the monument; having been drained emotional and physically from the scene at the Hyuga compound. Neji was also feeling considerably worn out, but as he looked up at the royal blue flag bearing the Hyuga crest soaring across from the sky blue flag belonging to the Furi-iki clan, the tension that had been building in him since the four of them left the Hyuga compound began fading. Neji was grateful to his uncle Hiashi for coming up with a way to keep Ryuuken and Hitori from having to suffer through the same fate he had been plagued with at their age. But a part of him still felt a tinge of pain upon hearing the news that he and his family had been striped of their place in the clan.
Despite the fact that Neji spent more of his childhood hating the Hyuga clan and all that it stood for, he had actually felt a sense of loss when the elder's informed him he was no longer a member of the clan. But as he looked up at the monument standing before him, it all went away.
Neji had long since ceased believing in fate; feeling that one's future was not predetermined. He had grown to believe that each person made their own destiny. But as he looked upon the two circular crests, he couldn't help but wonder whether that was in fact correct. Up until that day, Neji had never known about the connection between his and Tenten's clans; and yet, there it was, standing before him. It was almost as if the heavens were telling him that their union was meant to happen; that it was their fate.
The similarities between the Hyuga clan yin-yang symbol and the Furi-iki manji almost paralleled one another. The yin-yang was a widely known symbol of the interplay of the forces in the universe. It represented the idealized harmonic primal cosmic forces of Yin, the feminine moon, and Yang, the masculine sun. The manji, a whirlwind within a circle, was also a symbol of universal harmony and the balance of opposites. It represented the joining of heaven and earth and the connection of yin and yang; its four arms whirling to represent the forces created by the interaction of those elements.
"You knew of this?" Neji inquired of his wife.
Tenten and the boys were sitting at the foot of the five poles, next to the leaf symbol at the center of the monument. The twins still fast asleep in their mother's lap, as she looked up at her husband questioningly.
"Knew what?" Tenten asked.
He could see the concern in her eyes. She was still worried that about how he was feeling over the excommunication from his clan. Perhaps that had been her reason for bringing them there; to show him that no matter what, there was still a connection between him and the Hyuga clan that could not be severed.
"Nothing." Neji calmly shook his head.
He really didn't need an answer to his question; it had not actually meant anything. Neji had merely been curious as to what Tenten may have thought when she first learned of their connection. Had she known before they met? Or after? What had she felt about it? Did she too see it as a sign that they had always been meant to be together?
Those were the questions that had been running through his head; but as Neji thought about it, he realized it did not matter. They were together. And they had gone through a lot to reach their current moment of happiness; so it didn't really matter whether there were signs or any other outer assurances that the couple was meant for one another; because they were. No matter what occurred in their lives, as long as they were together, Neji knew everything would be fine; that was, after all, how they had lived their lives for the past five years. If his clan disowned him, it didn't matter.
"As long as I have you by my side," Neji knelt down to face his beautiful wife; taking one of her hands in his as he gazed into her tender eyes. "Little else matters."
"Neji…" A wispy breath escaped the kunoichi, before the white-eyed shinobi leaned forward to softly kiss his precious wife.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.LATER THAT DAY.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
"I think the boys are starting to warm up to my dad." Tenten cheerfully stated, as she walked hand in hand, through the busy evening streets of Konoha, with her wonderful husband.
They were headed over to have dinner their friends at the same restaurant where years ago they had had their last peaceful breakfast in Konoha, before the couple was forced to flee from the village. Tenten's parents had volunteered to baby-sit the twin toddlers, while the couple enjoyed a night out with friends.
It had been a long and exhausting day, so it was nice to get out for a bit. They had only been back to the village for a little under two days, but already so much had occurred. They had spoken with the Hokage over their return to duty, as well as whether or not they would be reprimanded for their departure all those years ago. Of course, Lady Tsunade had informed them that they wouldn't be facing any prosecution; nor would there be much delay in their reinstatement as Leaf shinobi. But there would still be some inquiries and there would be lots of paperwork to fill out.
The couple had also been looking at possible houses that they could buy. Currently, they had been staying with Ryoku and Xiu-Juan, but that was only temporary. With the expansion of their family, they would soon be needing, a much bigger place then her parent's house. Not to mention, Tenten was certain neither her father, nor Neji would be able to survive very long living under the same roof. The one good thing about it though, was that at least the boys were getting to know their grandparents a little.
"Don't you agree?" She turned to observe Neji's reaction.
Though they hadn't been back very long, the boys had easily connected with Tenten's mother. In fact, the boys adored Xiu-Juan. Ryoku, on the other hand, was a different matter. The boys were still terrified of the gargantuan shinobi; which of course had been of great amusement to Tenten's godfather, Oushi, who had mercilessly teased his best-friend about the fact that his grandchildren looked at him with giant tears in their eyes, as if the mere sight of him made them tremble with fear. As for Oushi, who had been visiting the house as he always had when Tenten was young, had instantly earned the two boys' admiration. It didn't at all surprise Tenten, since she had also taken a similar liking to the amusing man when she was a little girl. She understood them completely; Oushi was just so much like a child at heart that one couldn't help but feel cheerful around him.
"Hai." Neji hesitantly replied as the two continued walking through the darkening streets of Konoha. He knew how much Tenten really wanted Ryuuken and Hitori to get along with her father. "Ryuuken seems less apprehensive when approaching Ryoku-sama." He offered.
"Yeah." Tenten smiled in response. "He seems to be taking a liking to dad, despite the glaring." She laughed.
It was just so amusing to see her eldest twin son acting so very Neji-like. Only three years of age, nearly four, and already the boy was glaring. It made Tenten wonder just how old Neji had been when he first started glaring at other people.
"Hitori is a more timid child." Neji observed; completely unaware at the amusing thoughts running through his wife's mind at the moment. "It may take him slightly longer to feel comfortable."
"That's true." Tenten nodded; attempting to suppress her laughter.
Ryuuken was very much like Neji, only he was far more talkative then his father. The toddler was growing to become the type who would never hesitate to voice his objection or his dislike of a situation. But usually that was Ryuuken's last resource, as he often preferred to figure things out for himself before asking for any assistance. Hitori, on the other hand, was much more shy and soft-spoken then his elder twin. Though he was still brave in his own way, he often relied on his more outspoken brother, rather than speak up for himself. Tenten worried slightly that Hitori might become overly dependant on Ryuuken. But seeing as he was only three, she tried not to let it trouble her too much; after all, he would probably outgrow it eventually.
"I would not be too concerned." Neji gently squeezed Tenten's hand as the two approached their destination; as if he could read her exact thoughts. "Hitori seems to have taken a liking to Lee and Gai-sensei." He pointed out. "Perhaps they will influence him to be more extroverted."
"…" Tenten slightly shuttered at the thought of Hitori in green-spandex. "Hopefully their influence will be slight." She softly chuckled.
"I concur." Neji laughed along with her.
"Hey! You made it!" A loud booming voice interrupted the couple's amused laughter; greeting them outside the restaurant where they had agreed to meet up with their friends.
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TBC
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A/N: I'm so very very bad… sorry I haven't replied to some emails and read the updates like I promised… I've been uberly busy… I will TRY to get to them tomorrow after I finish all my readings, but I promise nothing… I will try though!