Hello, hope you all are up for chapter three! I originally planned to have her whole last week in this chapter alone, but I just kept having ideas and kept writing and writing, and BAM, too long… It'll be chapter five (maybe!) before she leaves. I also keep writing scenes as they pop into my mind, so I kind of have some of chapter four done, and half of chapter six… But don't question my bizarre methods! It works :)
Thank you to all of you who review! But I have to say, the number of hits and reviews is horribly uneven. How do I know if I'm doing a good job if you won't tell me? Or a bad job? One bad review is better than ten good reviews, because I can become better from it!
~SPECIAL RESPONSES~
C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only: yes, kind of. But, the letter said a minimum of three years; she could be gone for twenty :) But when you said that I was like WOW, BEEN DONE BEFORE and I felt all copy-cattish… The similarity didn't even occur to me! But it is what it is!
Kenzintor: Thank you! I hope I won't disappoint you either!
Also, I would just like to say, that I adore Kiba. Just, siiiigh :3 I love his whole animalistic persona. It's super sexy, in the sense that he's both wild and extremely loyal. And everyone loves a bad boy with a heart ;)
DISCLAIMER: Don't own anything except these words placed in their particular order. Yup.
That night, she had made her decision. It was a no brainer, of course, but it didn't make it any less daunting. Neji had told her that if she didn't take it, he would be furious, to say the least. His pearly eyes had told a different story, however. For him, the thought of her leaving for a minimum of three years made his heart beat erratically, but it was best for her, and he was going to be happy for her.
He had spent the rest of the day with her, talking mostly about things she could be learning, what her sensei would be like, and what the test he mentioned could possibly be. After the harsh rain dwindled to a slight drizzle, Neji decided to leave for the Hyuga compound. They agreed to meet up at noon the next day to finish the training that never started.
The moment he left, she felt drowsiness claim her body. Though it was still rather early, her body demanded that she get more sleep, and she complied.
Just as the sun began to peek through her curtains, Tenten stretched lazily and rose from her bed. Brown hair was sticking up everywhere it could and her legs were tangled in the sheets. It had been a rather fitful sleep, and after all that inaction, her body needed movement. She opened her fridge and found that there was little to survive on. Going to the market would be a good start to the day, she thought. Many people preferred the store, but Tenten loved the market: friendly farmers with fresh fruits and veggies, children walking hand in hand with their parents, everything alive and at peace. It was quite literally the heart of her village, as it pulsated with food, life, and community.
On her way there, she comes to the realization that it will be the last time she shops in the market for a substantial amount of time, and feels depression creeping up on her.
Tenten had no right to complain whatsoever; she had been struck with the kind of luck one rarely sees in their lifetime. She was horribly excited and just thinking about it long enough gave her goose bumps. But the thought of leaving her home, her friends and her village behind was nerve wracking. Inspecting some fuzzy green fruit, she felt a hand grab on to her shoulder.
"Guess you didn't need me on that mission after all, though I will admit I'm a little disappointed." Kiba had his mischievous smirk plastered on his face; she doubted she could get it off with a chisel if she wanted.
"Well good morning to you, too," she said with a hint of annoyance. She liked Kiba, but only as a friend, even if she was slightly attracted to him. He was making it difficult by trying to move past the platonic line and into romantic territory.
"I didn't know you come to the open market. I come here almost every morning, and I'm sure I would've noticed you," he chimed, picking up a kiwi to mock analyze it.
She jerked her head to move the bangs from her eyes to look at him clearer. Maybe he could read her eyes and tell that she didn't feel up to flirting. "I come here often. Fridge was empty, so…" she trailed off, turning her attention to some dried noodles. Her thoughts returned to their previous depressed state. She would be leaving for so long… No! She would be training and learning, she would be getting stronger, damn it, it was a good thing!
Kiba sensed her conflicted state, as he could practically smell the sadness on her. "You ok? You seem a little distracted."
Taken aback by his intuitiveness, she replied that she was fine, and flashed him a poor smile. "That's crap, Tenten. I have animal senses, remember? I can literally sense your agitation." His animal-like eyes were narrowed inquisitively and she sighed. It was nice that he was showing concern, but she really didn't feel like talking about it. But at the same time, it was better to tell him of her "mission" now than come back in three years and try to explain herself.
"Hokage-sama assigned me a…eh, special mission, one that involves a minimum of three years to complete. I have a week to get prepared… I'm just a little... I don't know, unsure? Nervous?"
Tenten watched his face twist into disbelief. "Three years? That's… That's… shit, it's three years! What would need three years to complete?"
"I can't really say anything about it, you understand." She placed the peaches she had just bought in her market bag, and looked up at Kiba. "It would be nice to tell you everything," she admitted, as she would love to tell people she was going to train with a man possessing highly coveted skills, "but this mission is a good thing." The more she said it, the more she felt it. Pausing for a brief moment, then with a beaming smile, she added, "No, it isn't good, it's spectacular."
Returning her huge smile was easy for him, he found her smile to be contagious. "So what do you plan to do with your last week in Konoha? You've got to have a list of all the places you want to see one more time!"
Now that you mention it… "I, uh… I haven't really had the time to think about that just yet. I don't know what I'm going to do. What do – "
Poor Tenten couldn't even finish her sentence as Kiba grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her through the market. No clue where she was going, and curious as to what was on his mind, she allowed Kiba to navigate them through the market and down a couple of streets.
"Where are we going?" She asked, laughing at the spontaneity of it all. Normally she would've punched people in the face for dragging her off somewhere like this, but her curiosity had gotten the best of her. Never hearing a response, she thought, what bad could come of it? Ok, so he was obviously into her, but it didn't mean she couldn't have some pure, friendly fun with him.
Not bothering to keep track of where they were going, she was surprised at the sight that awaited her.
"If you have one week left in good old Konoha, then I want to help make it count!" He stated, with a wink. "And this stop number one!"
They had arrived in one of the many public parks and gardens of Konoha. Where they were standing was a courtyard with winding paths and intermittently placed benches, surrounded by fauna of every color and texture. Dew was still visible on the flowers and grass, and it smelled only of nature. Beyond the courtyard was an enormous field that wrapped around in a crescent shape, and it was abundant with wild flowers and tall grasses. Wind blew through the field, creating a golden and purple ripple effect. The edge of the field, as far as she could tell, was bordered by forest. Two hills protruded from the ground, one of which decorated with a large oak tree and a bundle of white fuzz.
Kiba brought her back to the present, asking her if she would like a picnic. Tenten could think of nothing better than to have a picnic on such a lovely day. The storm had brought about the brightest blue in the sky, and not a cloud could be seen. Every green seemed to be amplified, and every yellow was magnified in radiance.
He started his way towards the tree occupied by the white fur, where she quickly concluded that it was Akamaru. The pup that once sat on his head was miraculously still growing. Clearly, he was the size of a small horse, as you could probably fit two people on him now! The moment he saw her, he rushed over to her and knocked her down, licking her face all the while. Kiba laughed at Akamaru's excited state and helped Tenten off the ground, and towards a quilt under the tree. "He likes you," he explained, though she knew his lingering gaze meant 'I like you'. She couldn't help but blush.
"Akamaru likes to come here some mornings and play with the kids, "he explained. "Personally, I come here for a nice morning nap! But, seeing as how your time here is limited, I figured I could kill two birds with one stone and bring you here."
"Kill two birds with one stone?" she asked, knowing that he had hidden motives.
"I'm taking you to a place you need to see before you leave, and it saves me the trouble of asking you out on a real date!" He exclaimed smugly while taking a seat on the quilt and placing a box of food before him.
Tenten sat on the quilt beside him, and huffed loudly. "A date? Even if you had asked, I would have rejected you. This is a simple breakfast with a friend outdoors, don't flatter yourself, Inuzuka."
He couldn't help but laugh. "You're feisty and playing hard to get, I like that. And I like a challenge," said Kiba, revealing fangs with his cheeky smirk. She couldn't help thinking how sexy his animal features were. Exaggerated canines, spiky, unruly hair, predator-like eyes; he was primal.
Looking away, she took out some fruit from her grocery bag. "Keep dreaming," she chuckled.
Besides the flirting, she found that talking to Kiba was quite nice. They ate and watched Akamaru play with some children who pretended to be ninjas, and about the silly things they did when they were kids. They talked for hours, and the subjects of conversations switched from memorable missions to petty gossip to current events. When Kiba wasn't trying to charm her, he did. Tenten was discovering a different side to the brash and hot-headed comrade she would often find herself on missions with. She saw that he was loyal, kind, and unselfish at heart, all of which were admirable qualities.
Maybe that brash, hot-headed nature was just how he expressed himself. After all, she could be brash and hot-headed at times. Although she prided herself on being extremely level headed and analytical when it mattered, these qualities had been somewhat eroded by the Green Beasts of Konoha. Tenten never thought of herself as an easily tempered woman, she liked to think of it as being feisty, which Kiba had so nicely pointed out. Smiling, she learned that she and Kiba weren't all that different.
"You know, talking with you is better than I imagined," he confessed, pleased with the blush that spread on her face. "Do you think I've proved myself worthy of a real kiss, yet?" Waggling his eyebrows, he moved in closer to her.
Closing her eyes and pointing her chin out and away from him in defiance, she replied, "Yet? You really are something, you know that?" Opening one eye hesitantly, she didn't see a look of discouragement, but one of determination on his features.
Like Shikamaru and clouds clouds, Tenten enjoyed watching the sun filter through the leaves, and placed her hands behind her head and leaned back to enjoy the view. Kiba followed suit.
"Better than nothing!" he chimed. "It will be a personal challenge of mine to get a kiss out of you before you leave. I think it'll be a piece of cake," he added, with a confident air swirling about him.
Winking at him this time, she tells him exactly what he told her yesterday. "Good luck!"
Kiba stared at her as the misshaped sun rays danced on her face. Already tanned skin was glowing in the morning light, and her big, chestnut eyes held a look of serenity and contentment. Sensing his focus on her, she asked, "What?"
"Hm? Oh, nothing," he replied, fang tattoos stretching over his smiling cheeks as she scoffed.
The children that had been playing with Akamaru ran up to them, wanting to know what it was like to be ninjas. Tenten and Kiba laughed awkwardly, and gave them answers that would suit the average five-year-old. One in particular asked for tips, and Tenten gave him a few pointers on accuracy while Kiba gave him useful tracking information. Not that the poor kid would remember anything the next day, but it was always nice to see future generations so excited about everything. Even though the ninja life was horribly glamourized, it wouldn't do any good to burst their bubbles anytime soon.
She proceeded to clean up the remains of her fruit she had eaten and throw them into the field before standing and stretching her torso. "I promised Neji we would train today, I should get going," she told him.
Kiba's face changed at the mention of Neji. "So, what's with him?" Tenten was confused at his serious tone. Before she asked him what he meant, she realized Kiba was mentioning his reaction to him the day before.
"Neji actually cares for Hinata, you know. Imagine if someone had accidently hurt Hana during a training exercise, you would react the same, if not worse," she added with a slight laugh. Putting some stray hairs behind her ear, she added, "He's protective, is all."
"Yeah," he started, unconvinced, "protective of Hinata or of you?"
"I don't know what this has to do with me, but of course he's protective of me. We're teammates, and best friends, it's only natural," she stated, still unsure about where Kiba was coming from. A feeling crept up her spine, and she hoped he wasn't going where she thought he was going.
"No, I mean… is there something between you two?"
Damn.
I wish, she thought. Turning her face away from him to mask her emotions, she replied, "That's absurd. The last thing Neji has on his mind is romance, more so with me."
He laughs to himself, and mumbles something about her being naïve. Dismissing the comment, she turns and starts to walk away.
"Tell Neji about our little date this morning," he called out, "and that we'll meet same time, same place tomorrow, and see how he reacts."
"Oh, really?" She asked, smiling. She might just take him up on that offer…
He nods and waves while smiling that brilliant smile of his. Tenten returns his smile and pets Akamaru lovingly before making her way back home.
Arriving just in time to prepare herself, she put her groceries in their respectable places and grabbed everything she needed. She decided that her loose red tee and tight black capris were more than suitable for sparring, and strapped the kunai pouch to her leg. The belt that held her scrolls rested softly on her hips, and gloves were the last thing to be put on, as they still rubbed her hand raw. With her water bottle in hand and a last minute inspection, she nodded to herself in approval and headed out.
"You're late."
Neji sat under a tree, meditating, clothed in simple shiobi attire. The man made simple things look so sexy.
"Sorry," she apologized, even though she was five minutes early. "I met Kiba at the market, and we had a breakfast picnic at the park."
Revealing narrowed white eyes, he felt the twenty minutes of meditating and collecting his reserve wash down the drain. "Kiba?" he asks with disdain.
"I told him about me having a few days left here, and said he wanted to make my days count." She smiled at his kindness. He might have been a huge flirt, but he had heart. "We're meeting up again tomorrow." Placing her water bottle near Neji's, she suddenly laughs loudly. He raises an eyebrow.
"He's declared it a personal challenge to get a kiss from me by the end of the week," she admitted with a shake of her head, "but all that aside, he's pretty nice to be around."
Neji fumed silently as he watched her stretch and walk towards the middle of the field. Kiss her? That mutt was going to taint her. Being her best friend, he knew she had never been kissed before. Although he preferred himself to bear the honor of giving Tenten her first kiss – and many other firsts – he knew it would never happen. The idea of her being with other people was painful, and Neji knew he had to get over it soon.
But he'd be damned if Kiba were the one to possess such an honor.
"You ready?" she calls out. Through the rigid movements of his body, she can see his agitation. That's funny, he was never tense after meditating. Was it what she said about her and Kiba? And earlier, had Kiba implied that Neji was jealous? Jealousy wasn't something she'd ever seen in him, how would she know what it looked like?
She mentally slapped herself. Neji wasn't jealous, and it was stupid of her to look for something that wasn't there. These thoughts had to be silenced, pushed as far back as her mind would allow. No hope in looking for hope. There were many things she still didn't understand about Neji, and she would stop asking questions and just add "dislike of Kiba" to the list.
A few strands of hair blew into his face as he took his place before her. The scowl on his face meant there would be no pre-spar banter, as he was already in a mood to fight. He suddenly remembered that she had a new technique she would be using on him today, so he tried to shaped his anger into awareness and concentration.
Neji made the first move. Aggression was not something Neji utilized often when sparring, but she could feel it. Upping her game, she remained focused, trying to do two things at once. Fists contacted abdomens, elbows hit backs, knees scraped the ground, and legs swiped at air. Tenten did her best to cover as much ground as possible, using the entirety of the field to her advantage. Jumping off trees, flipping through the air, coupling her agility and speed – all of which were evasive. It wasn't hard fighting with him, years of training with him made his moves almost predictable. Rarely did she land any hits, however.
Dodging many of his attacks was her current objective, and Neji noted. The use of defensive combat hinted to him that she was planning something. If she was too busy doing something else, say, setting up a trap, then she would be more bothered by that than actually landing a hit on him. Neji wasn't thinking clearly however, and simply fought harder, instead of keeping an analytical eye on her movements. In his current mind's eye, he would use his offensive combat to distract her as best as he could. He could take his anger out on her physically and use it as a distraction. And he thought it was working.
She tried to keep up with his speed, but found it difficult. Neji hit her once, twice, three times – she had to push onwards. Bouncing off a tree and landing behind him, Tenten hit him hard in the back, chakra centered in her hand to really send him stumbling. He growled in frustration, he may have the Byakugan, but kunoichis like her had grace and speed that was unimaginable. It was one thing he envied her for. At least she looked good when she flipped in mid-air.
Once, he thought he saw a flicker of something in her hand. His Byakugan wasn't activated though and he couldn't see it properly, because so far it was a simple hand-to-hand spar. Landing a blow to a pressure point in her shoulder, she gasped in pain. Knowing her arm was useless for the next five minutes, she was able to change her strategy to accommodate for her brief handicap.
About forty minutes into the fight, she flipped away from his oncoming attack and whipped out a kunai, seemingly from thin air. Neji learned early on that she had an uncanny ability to do that. Realizing that they were standing in the center where they started, he saw that she was unmoving. Tenten wasn't going to attack him, but didn't look like it was a defensive move. Huffing the bangs from her determined eyes, she waited.
"What are you doing, Tenten?"
Lowering her weapon, she stared back at him in confusion. "What am I doing?" She was sure he would've caught on by now. Was he distracted? Psh, she thought, as if. Maybe her little technique had been successful after all. Smirking, she threw the kunai into the ground and made a series of hand signals.
Chains were coming at Neji from all directions. After jumping every which way he could, and avoiding the chains the best he knew how, he still found himself wrapped shoulder to ankle in thirty or so strings of metal. Succumbing to defeat, he closed his eyes in fury. Only now had he known what she did, and what he did wrong. Because of his anger, he had under analyzed and underestimated her, and he was furious with himself. Instead of choosing to distract her, he should've been watching her movements between movements. That flicker of something on her hand was crucial to her new technique, and he had overlooked it. Neji prided himself on being controlled and logical in any situation, and now, because of her, he was neither.
Tenten walked up to him with a satisfied and smug grin on her face. "I could cut off your head if I wanted to," she sang.
He tried his best to not appear as enraged as he was. The last thing he needed was her rubbing it in his face, even if she did do a job well done.
"While you were busy fighting me, I was busy laying camouflaged summoning seals on trees. That hit on your back wasn't just my fist, either. I managed to make a target, infused with my chakra, so that when summoned, the chains would easily find and contain you. It took a while to work out some kinks, but I think it was totally worth it," she finished, brown eyes glowing in success.
Releasing the chains and reverse summoning them back to their seals, she watched Neji roll the discomfort and tension out of his shoulders. Hair was still untouched, and clothes weren't dirty. It wasn't really a successful spar on their part, but she always wondered how he kept so clean during training.
"So?" she asked rather impatiently, "what do you think?" Tenten was eager for his answer and rocked on her heels; she loved it when he complimented her.
"It wasn't as effective as you'd like to think," he spat. "I knew what you were doing the whole time, I merely wanted to see it executed." He lied. He knew he would feel horrible for it later. "If this had been a real battle, with a true enemy, it would have been a laughing matter." White eyes were piercing through her. What the hell was his problem?
"Bullshit." Livid, she couldn't help but bite back her tongue from all the things she really wanted to say. Trying to candy-coat her response, she said, "I spent weeks on this technique, it is flawless now. I don't know what your deal is, Hyuga. And don't lie to me, you're insulting us both." Tenten hated his pride. Normally, he would congratulate her on defeating him. Now he was just being twelve-year-old asshole Neji.
"Me, insulting? You're the one who will be insulting, representing Konoha shinobi with such ill-conceived traps. A genin would've seen through that in a heartbeat," he spat at her.
Damn, he hadn't meant to be that cruel. And the sad part was that he was lying. He hadn't even seen the seals in her hands, and he believed that even with a calm demeanor and a level head, he would've been caught by her technique. With the look now forming on her face, he was immediately regretting his words.
Anger was not agreeable on her ever happy face, no matter how cute her pout was, and her eyes glossed over with tears she would not shed and hatred she would not voice. Right then and there, she hated him.
Neji hated himself more, though; he was the source of her displeasure. As much as he wanted to apologize at that moment, he couldn't. It wouldn't be very characteristic of him to do such a thing, and he wouldn't allow her to change him completely. He would still retain his dignity and stoicism.
But Tenten was the cause of it all, anyways, he thought. If he wasn't in love with the girl, then he wouldn't have had this petty jealousy in the first place. As a result, he was taking his frustration out on her.
But he realized immediately that it made no sense to be mad at Tenten for something she can't control. So then the blame would be turned on himself, again. The fault was his, and his alone.
Wait, was he blaming himself for loving her? He had about as much control over it as she did.
Kami, when did he turn into a girl?
She opened her mouth to say something, but shut it and looked away. Turning to gather her seals from the trees, she gathered her things and walked off, all the while taking large, angry gulps of water.
All Tenten wanted to do was go home, post a picture of Neji on her target board, and throw large and extremely dangerous weapons at it for the reminder of the day.
Times like these made her wonder why she loved him. No! Not love, never ever love, she only…
Fuck.
There it was.
She said it.
Love…
She loved Neji; didn't know why, though. He could be rude, prideful, insensitive, unwavering, stubborn and forceful. There were days when he wasn't talkative, and she would know something was amiss, but he wouldn't tell her. Neji never really let her in. Granted, she had seen more of the real him than anyone else on the planet, but she didn't truly know the real Neji. There is a mystery that surrounds him, even to this day. Tenten had told him everything about her past that she knew, and she had confided in with him intimate details of her heart. Opening her own home for him, even though she was met with closed doors. At times she found his stoicism to be comforting, and at others she found it to be absolutely unnerving. She knew it had to be hard for him, but they had been friends since they were twelve! She still didn't know one thing about his mother, not even her name.
What on earth did she see in him?
Maybe it was the little things he did. Things like sitting on the lopsided stool at Kakaru's restaurant, because her legs were too short to keep her from toppling over. And giving her his rations when Lee had dropped her own in the river. Little things like remembering her birthday when she had forgotten it herself, and reassuring her that she would pass the chuunin exams the following year because she would be twice as strong.
When it came down to it, Neji was the kindest person to her through his actions. No one had given her the support he had, or the thoughtfulness he had. Through the past six odd years, Neji was the one getting her through her dark days and pushing her to her limits. He knew what she needed when it came to words of encouragement and criticism. Neji never held back from saying anything because it would hurt her feelings, because he knew it wouldn't.
Instinctively, he would know when something was bothering her. She had a nervous habit of tucking non-existent hair behind her ear, and Neji caught on quick, and would ask what was on her mind. When she missed a target, he insisted she go home and sleep it off, whatever "it" was.
One thing she couldn't forget is the things he's taught her. Not just in skill and physical combat, but with how he handles himself. Always calm and controlled, but not as cold as he was in his genin days. Neji was a beautiful contrast to her spunky and brash nature, and they complimented each other well.
It didn't help that he had gotten lucky with the gene pool. All Hyugas were attractive, she would admit, but Neji practically screamed sex. Those stern and comforting pale eyes, the long, silky smooth hair, the plush lips, that angled jawline, and the years of shinobi life literally carved into his body…
It was really hot outside, she noted.
Wiping some sweat off her brow and rounding a corner, her body collided with another. "Oh, crap! I'm so sorry, let me help you – "
"Tenten! Just who I wanted to see!" Sakura was already on the ground, picking up the items she had dropped. Bending down to help, she noticed they were an assortment of herbs, vials and bandages.
"Hm? For what?" The pink-haired kunoichi before her was the best girlfriend she had. Though they were both her friends, Hinata was still too shy about things, and Ino was much too loud about everything.
They stood and Sakura swept away at the dust on her shorts. "I was on my way to Kakaru's, and thought it would be nice if you joined me! Kiba said you were training with Neji, so I thought I'd look for you there, but it looks like you found me first," she ended, a content look resting in her brilliant green eyes. It had been so long since Sakura had been unhappy, and Tenten hoped she would stay this way, even after she was gone.
Gone. Tenten would be leaving. For at least three years. There was no way she could pass up an opportunity to be with friends, especially Sakura.
"That sounds great! I have worked up and appetite." Returning her smile, and letting go all thoughts of Neji and his pompous and wonderful self, she walked with Sakura towards the restaurant.
Once inside, Tenten ordered something hot and spicy, as she loved spicy foods. She told Sakura about her day, and brushed over details of her training with Neji. Doing the same, Sakura said she spent some time with Tsunade before going to get all the supplies she needed.
"What for?" She asked, slurping up her red hot noodles. The girl beside her stopped eating and blushed, pink cheeks clashing with her pink hair.
"They're for you, actually... Tsunade-sama told me of your mission, and how long it would take. She asked me to make list of all the diseases one could get in the mountainous regions, along with their remedies and preventative measures. But, as a personal going away gift, I'm making you a special medical kit, one that's fully stocked and expertly equipped!"
All she could do was blink at the girl before she engulfed her in a Lee-esque embrace. "Thank you, Sakura. I…I don't know what else to say."
"Say you'll come back well and alive," she said with a pinch of sadness, brows furrowed in concern.
"I'll come back better than that," she replied, suddenly remembering her training, and Ishi-sensei, and becoming a better ninja. The first thing she was going to do when she got home was read his letter over and over again, till every word was burned into her eyes.
When they finished eating, Tenten thanked Sakura for the hundredth time and promised they would get together again before leaving for her mission. She couldn't wait to get home now to read her new sensei's letter and write a list of all the things she would need. It was true: the more she thought about it, the more excited and impatient she became.
On second thought, she could have waited on going back so soon. Opening her door, she found Lee and Gai-sensei eating some of her instant ramen. They had been waiting for her… Now, she found herself unwillingly piggy-backing her sensei through the streets and rooftops of the village, who was proclaiming to all the blossoming of his youthful lotus. Sighing, she figured the Hokage would've told him everything. If she were completely honest with herself, she would say that she enjoyed being the center of his attention for once. For a brief moment, not caring who saw, she allowed herself to raise her arms and drink in everything she had.
She had a girlfriend who was making sure that, even though she wouldn't be there in person, Tenten would be properly attended to.
She had a moody, prideful, jerk of a best friend who she loved and who she was going to miss most of all.
She had a hot guy who was genuinely interested in her, and although it is unrequited and extremely irrelevant to her situation, simply added to her feeling of accomplishment.
She had a goofy sensei that was extremely proud of her, and showing it in the most embarrassing way possible, and she loved it.
She had a path she could follow, a sensei who could teach her and a future she could see more clearly.
Smiling up to the sun, Tenten felt lucky for the first time in in her life.
Yes, I ended this chapter with a still of Tenten on Gai-sensei's back with arms raised and triumphant face towards the sun.
BUT I LOVE IT.
Gotta have a little cheese, ya know? ;)
OH AND BEFORE I FORGET, I have thing for playlists. If I feel uninspired, I select songs that I think will help to get the gears turning and it always helps! Music's a very big influence in my life. And I might list some of the songs that helped me in my future chapters. Whatcha think? No? Awesome?