damn! huge delay lmao so enjoy
"There is a chance that Takashi may not wake up."
Okay, so maybe everything wasn't going to be okay. "And you want me to explain this to her?"
"Actually, I was wondering if you knew how I could approach her about this," Sakura replied, her smiling façade long gone.
Neji contemplated this, Tenten hated being left out of the loop, he has learned that the hard way a few times. But this? She would probably be more pissed off if she found out later than sooner. "Just come in and explain it to her," Neji decided, much to the Kunoichi's shock.
"You're not going to leave all of this to me while you go and train with Hanabi, are you?"
"No, I'm not leaving." With that, Neji walked back into the room.
Seeing Takashi alive seemed to have given Tenten strength, she stood on once wobbling legs that stood straight and strong. Her hand still gripping her brother's. "Nani?" she asked. Her voice sounded stronger and less strained, she must have had some water while they talked.
"Um, Tenten, I need to explain something," Sakura started. When it came to these explanations, they never got any easier. Even after the Shinobi War.
She proceeded to explain the situation, however the only words that rang in Tenten's head were "Takashi might not wake up." They repeated over and over again, first in Sakura's voice and then transforming into Takashi's kind, strong voice, "I might not wake up." She lost it again.
Her knees buckled, tears already streaming her face. She wobbled only to land in Neji's arms once more. This was just too much. She sank down in a fit of tears that were a mild variation of her earlier meltdown. She could only sob.
It really had been a long day, and it was only five in the afternoon. But in those few hours so much had happened. What had once been a day full of fun and joking around turned into one of pain and sorrow. If Tenten had this bad of a reaction to it, how would Natsuki fare? And what would happen to Tenten? If anything happened to her brother before she turned twenty-one, she would be sent away. Did this count as anything?
Some more time passed. Neji and Tenten still huddled like they were, unaware of the rest of the world. How long had they been like that? When did Tenten stop crying? Wait, did she pass out again? Did Sakura leave? When?
Tsunade walked in at that moment, seeing the two teammates in each others' arms. She was very tempted to make some sort of comment about this, but veered against it . This wasn't the best time. "Neji? Tenten?" she started, making her way over to the two.
Tenten came out of her trance at that moment, wiping the remnants of her tears from her face, and standing up on shaky legs. "H-hai, Tsunade-sama?" she said, her voice hoarse, face puffy from tears.
"Considering the circumstances, Tenten, you're excused from missions for the time being."
"But, Tsunade-sama-"
"No buts, you're in no condition to be on a mission," Tsunade ordered sternly, but her eyes soften a little. "With the amount of missions you've done recently, I think you could use a little more time off."
Tenten sighed reluctantly. "Understood, Tsunade-sama."
"Neji, tomorrow I expect you in my office," Tsunade ordered, turning to leave.
"Tsunade-sama-" Neji tried to protest.
"Someone has requested your assistance on very important S-ranked delivery mission. You will be given details tomorrow and expected to leave in two days time. I'll see you in my office first thing in the morning." With that the Hokage left.
It was cruel, but also necessary. Neji had just seen one of the strongest people he knows crumble to pieces before his eyes. Just learned why she tries to see things with more optimism, why she always tries to smile, and never sheds a tear, no matter the pain. He wanted more than anything to help her, but he realized, what could he do? He was not very well equipped to help anyone who was emotionally distressed, especially Tenten. He knew how much she was hurting, but it was also hurting him, maybe even more. He was helpless. Weak. He couldn't do anything, but hold her when she cried, which only seemed to make her cry harder.
This mission was given to him so he could gather his thoughts. So that he could come back more equipped and having a better understanding of the situation, and to a possibly more stable Tenten. Him being given this mission was also to force Tenten to get over this on her own. In hopes that she would learn to be strong for Mika and Shun's sake.
Sakura walked back in then, she looked sympathetically towards the two sparring partners. "I guess you'll be spending the night, Tenten?" The brunette nodded numbly, the pink haired nurse turned to Neji. "I hate to do this to you, but Hanabi came, saying Hiashi needed you urgently."
"Hn…" Neji nodded, as Tenten sat back down. She let the idea that she would be alone sink in. She wanted to cry again, but her tears were all gone. It had been years since she cried, yet in those couple hours, she used them up.
Neji placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, she became stiff. "I'll be back tomorrow," he assured her softly, and turned to leave.
He and Sakura were almost out the door when Neji heard Tenten's small reply. "Arigato."
Outside, Neji got Sakura's attention, for one message, no, a plea. "Keep an eye on her," he said, Sakura nodded.
"You don't have to tell me twice."
Hiashi only wanted to help prepare Neji for the upcoming mission, not much else. Until he asked how Tenten was. Neji explained to him the current situation, as Hiashi felt guilty for recommending him for this mission. Their conversation after that was brief. Neji was never one for talking, but he definitely did not feel like speaking now. Except to request Hinata to go to Tenten's house and pack some clothes for her and take it to the hospital.
The next morning, Neji was given his mission. A few rogue ninja, who in the past had been on the side of the Akatsuki during the Fourth Great Ninja war, were spotted hiding out in the forests near Tanigakure. His mission, meet up with Shikamaru, Kiba, and Shino at the front gate, travel to Tani and meet up with Temari, Kankuro, and Baki there to track and capture the ninja.
Should return within two weeks. That certainly gave him plenty of time to think the situation over. But the mission and his talk with Hiashi were not on his mind. The only thing that he couldn't stop from popping up, was Tenten. How was she going to be today? After all, Natsuki and the kids were coming back today.
As Neji walked toward the hospital, he somehow was sidetracked, and was pulled toward Tenten's house by some unknown force. He was about to turn away when his fears truly became inevitable. "Neji-kun? Hey! Have you seen Tenten? I thought she might be with you!" a cheery voice call out from the front door.
"Natsuki?" he barely managed to say as the nine and six year old came running out.
"Neji-Ni!" they shouted, running up to him.
Neji could only imagine what his face looked like. Natsuki's smile faded. "Oh my god…" It was only then did Neji realize his mouth was open. He must have looked like someone died, Natsuki had her son in her arms as she closed the door and ran over to the three of them.
"Did something happen, Neji-Ni?" Mika asked, tugging Neji's pants leg.
"Is Tenten-Nee okay?" Shun added.
"Mika, Shun, calm down. Neji, what happened?" Natsuki gently ordered, surprisingly calm.
Neji sighed, better get this over with. "Just come with me." Everyone followed him to the hospital.
"Oh my god…" Natsuki's voice trailed off, the scene before her was almost too much for her. It took everything she had to not burst into tears.
"Um...Natsuki?" Sakura appeared in the doorway, as the girl she was trying to speak with held her husband's hand.
"Yes?" Her body felt hollow, her legs like jell-o.
"May I have a word?"
She nodded and turned to Tenten, who hadn't changed her clothes since the day before, or even slept. "Hold Rikuto for me?" Without saying a word, Tenten reached for her nephew, cradling him in her arms. Natsuki walked out of the room.
Sakura explained the current situation, including the chance of Takashi not waking up. It was only the possible outcome that was able to break Natsuki. She cried in the young Kunoichi's arms. After some time, Sakura had to leave and Natsuki was sitting against the wall, tear tracks staining her cheeks. Neji walked out.
He offered her a hand, but she shook her head, declining, as she patted the spot on the floor next to her. He had some questions, but this was most likely not the best time to ask them, he thought that [art too late though. "So, Tenten told you, am I right?" she said, wiping away the tears as best she could.
Neji was in slight awe, his cold and indifferent mask was weakening more than he had anticipated. Before he could reply she caught him off guard again. "Calm down, it's the only reason why you wouldn't be in there helping Tenten calm down Mika and Shun."
Natsuki took a long deep breath. She tried to find the right spot to begin, it seemed like she was talking to herself, as the Hyuga decided not to respond. "Takashi explained a lot of the situation back when we were dating. Tenten explained it to you yesterday or even before, right? About her family?"
Neji could only nod, waiting for her to continue. "She mentioned that if anything happened to her brother before her twenty-first birthday, she would be forced to leave, right?"
Again, a simple nod was all he could do. "And you want to know if this qualifies as anything." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. A fact.
"H-hai," he managed to choke out as Natsuki uttered the words he feared the most
"Well…" she thought for a moment, finding the right words. "I don't know."
short? i kno i kno lol but i hope you guys still like it i'll have this one finished in another chapter or 2 and then there will be a sequel plz review and check out my profile and take the poll to tell me what you think of my writing there r no wrong answers lol jaa nee! :D