Spiral
Summary: Between Friendship and Love, everything seems to spiral out of control as you try to comprehend the small fact that: Maybe you just do love your best friend.
.Standard Disclaimer Applies.
.By:Panda-chan.
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..
. :The difference between friendship and love is how much you can hurt each other: .
-7-
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"Umm... Neji, the reason I called you here is because..." The strawberry-blond stuttered, a blush growing on her cheeks. She played with her hands before looking up determinedly, her apple green eyes flashing.
"Yes...?"
"Neji. I like you. Please go out with me." The brunette that was leaning on the wall around the corner gasped and squeezed the books onto her chest instinctively, her hazel eyes shut tightly as she attentively listened to what his response would be.
"... Okay."
"Really?! Ooh wow!"
"I'll pick you up after-school... Sakura-chan."
If you listened closely, you could hear the sound of glass breaking into small, tiny fragments; falling to the ground and shattering on impact.
Because the heart of a girl deeply in love with someone is as fragile as glass; susceptible to any smudge, any crack.
--
Tenten
As the school bell rang, students spilled out of the classrooms; anxious to find their friends in the broad hallway. Through the crowd, a glimpse of chocolate brown tied into two identical Chinese buns can be seen walking towards her locker sadly.
She spun the dial on the locker and smacked the top, right of it, making the locker pop open with a resounding creak. She quickly spilled her books inside, the frown on her face never disappearing. she stared at the picture she had pasted up on the lockers inside, her heart gave a painful lurch, mind racing with negative thoughts about their relationship.
'Why can't I just tell him? This becoming way to much to bear...' The hazel eyed girl thought disdainfully. She shut the locker closed and looked around her, seeing the hall as clear as it was before the bell rang.
"I have to live with it..." She whispered sadly as she tightened her grip on her school bag before taking her departure. She walked outside, gasping at the rush of cold wind that blew on her warm frame. She trembled lightly before going out into the pathway and looking both ways.
"Just get over it..." She said to no one. The girl pushed her large glasses up and fiddled with the hem of her knee-high skirt. Just judging by the way she dressed and acted, it was obvious to anyone that this girl was a nerd in every shape and form.
Which was why she had very little friends; almost none. And which was also why her best friend, Hyuuga Neji, never hung out or talked with her in public.
It would stain his perfectly, popular reputation.
"T-Tenten-chan! Tenten-chan!" The girls attention drifted from the bleak wall to the violet haired girl that sprinted to her. A smile appeared on her face for the first time throughout the whole day; her once dull eyes brightened with a spark and her once hunched pose became straighter.
"Hinata-chan..." She whispered excitingly, eyes glittering at her loyal friend. The girl walked a few steps before the younger woman latched onto Tenten's figure appreciatively.
"Ooh, T-Tenten-chan! I-I am very sorry f-for Neji-nii-s-san!" She cried out as Tenten patted her back softly. The brunette sighed and looked up into the black and cloudy sky, bright flashes growing in the distance. It was about to rain.
"It's okay Hinata-chan, I don't mind at all. I bet Neji-kun is finally going to have a steady relationship, neh?" Tenten said, mentally trying to convince herself so she could quench the pain that lingered in her chest. The younger girl looked up at her sympathetically as she let go.
"But he b-br-broke his p-promise..." Hinata left off as she watched her friends expression go from angst to neutral. The pearl eyed girl grabbed Tenten'scold hands and brought them up to her chest with a small smile.
"I-I'll hang out with you T-Tenten-chan! I ha-have nothing b-b-better to do-do." Tentensmiled tentatively and shook her head, separating both their hands. She sighed again, the happy effect that her loyal friend Hinata Hyuuga had on her disappearing.
"No." She whispered rawly. "I don't want you to hang out with me just because Neji-kunis going out with his... new girlfriend" Tentenhid her pain witha large fake grin. "Besides! I have to study for the S.A.T.'s that are coming up next month!"
Hinata squinted her eyes in worry and nodded once, a sad smile coming up on her face, "I-I don't understand h-how you ca-can withstand s-so much r-re-rejection." Tenten looked up into the cloudy sky, blinking when a lone, frigged drop of rain hit her warm cheek, sliding down and seeping into her white shirt silently.
"Yeah, me neither."
-
The road home was anything but a walk in the park. Tenten had been drenched in so much rain that it looked as if she had taken a dip inside the local swimming pool. The poor girl had also tripped along the way, not being able to see properly because of the rain that obscured her poor vision.
'He's done this before... he would go out with a girl for a day or two then dump her and move on. And he would always say that he would stay with her... but in the end he would break his promise.' The hazel eyed beauty knew that if she dressed up, and maybe wore some make-up, she could meet Neji's standards.
But... she didn't want to be loved for physical beauty, but for her personality and character. Besides, she didn't want anyone to become suspicious because of her sudden change in clothes and attitude. From what she noted, Neji went for out-spoken, exotic and head-turning girls who the public would call 'Natural Beauties'.
Tentenwas a shy, insecure and timid nerd with hardly anything to call her own because her own family over-looks her. And the worst part of all of this situation was that Tenten had a deep, dark secret that she couldn't tell a single soul but her own.
She loved her best friend Hyuuga Neji.
And everyone know's if you dated a guy from the 'Cool Crowd' all you got out of it was a whole lot of heartbreak and misunderstandings.
Tenten knew that. Of course she knew that! She had an IQ of one eighty two! She knew that perfectly well, yet she couldn't help but to hope that Neji could somehow look her way and tell her he loved her. She knew it was even stupid to even think that, Neji Hyuuga didn't do 'Love'.
He simply used girls for his own benefits; just so he could see them grovel because he dumped them. And, of course, the other reason Neji Hyuuga used girl was to...
"Argh! God why!?" Tenten shouted at the sky, her bangs sticking to her moist face. She didn't even want to think about that; what Neji Hyuuga used his girlfriend's for. It just pained her heart to much to actually think about it.
Tenten growled as she shook her head like a dog shaking off water. She huffed angrily at the never ceasing rain that pounded on her thin body; hair in tangles and all over her face and shoulders. She vaguely thought that all of the water falling from the sky was wetting her paperwork; homework and notes.
The girl fisted her hands and grounded her teeth with fury; part of her repressed feelings of jealously towards all of her best friends girlfriend's being released.
Tenten glared at the ground, where her glasses had fallen. They just sat there, one of the legs bend inward the other out. They weren't broken, scratched maybe but not broken. If so, she vaguely wondered to herself why she purposely stomp on them and headed home, muttering profanities under her breath as she did.
Completely oblivious to the smoldering, dark eyes of a certain Uchiha.
--
Neji
"I'm going to court her; Haruno Sakura." He informed. "This time, I'll keep her for more then two days." He told his best friend, Tenten Takara, as they ate on the roof of the main building. This was a first for him, since he would always eat in the garden with his other companions.
He glanced at her normally bored face, inwardly sighing at the lack of response he got. He had to admit, he liked her. No, he loved her. But, she never did seem to show any attraction towards him, aside from the playful hugging and sisterly kiss on the cheek.
He had no chance, he knew.
Tenten wasn't interested in him at all! As Neji gazed at her longingly while she sipped her apple juice cutely; he couldn't help but to note the way her full lips curved upward into that, surprisingly, coy smile.
Her smile turned into a devious smirk as she pushed her glasses up, "Ah. So I guess this one's a keeper huh?" She strained out as she squished the juice box in her hand out of anger rather then the casual 'squish and litter' she always did.
The Hyuuga male didn't even notice, for he was to into his thoughts of one day making her his.
Neji couldn't help but to chuckle at her childish antics. He furrowed a brow as a wave of, what looked like grief, passed her features. And just as quickly as it came, it was gone.
"Tenten—" He abruptly stopped as Tenten quietly stood up and flattened her skirt down modestly. Neji felt the temperature outside rise as he caught a glimpse of her black, lacy panties. She was just half a head shorter then his six foot status; surprisingly tall for a girl her age, he supposed.
'Don't look...!' Neji thought discreetly as he averted his gaze to the metal door that stood on the other side of them; finding distraction on the bright, blinding shine of the silver knob.
"... I need to go return a text book to the library." Tenten said abruptly, cutting away the uncomfortable silence that surrounded them in that short lapse of time. She quickly bent down and grabbed her bag, smiling at him as she leaned over to him and pecked him on the forehead like a sister would to a brother.
Neji felt a twinge of pain stab at his heart as she smiled at him softly and bent upward again, grinning down at him just like a sister would to a brother. Neji could only stare as the woman he loved walked away from him and out the door.
"Bye Neji-kun! I-I hope you have fun with your new girlfriend! Please treat her well." He heard Tenten's muffled voice scream. Neji closed his eyes and sighed depressingly, staring apathetically at the spot Tenten stood before.
His forehead prickled with the soft feel of her pink-colored lips as he brought his hand up and touched it softly. He sighed and painfully ruled out any thoughts of her in his arms as he stood and brushed off any dirt from his black pants.
'If you wish... then I'll treat her right, Tenten.'
-
It had been exactly one week since that incident. And, in that lapse of time, Neji had been seeing less and less of his beloved Tenten because of his obsessive compulsive girlfriend, Sakura.
Neji growled in annoyance at his new girlfriend's behavior. She was staggeringly talkative and annoyingly spoiled. As they walked, Neji couldn't help to notice that whenever she looked at something she wanted, she always told him and pouted cutely.
But he remained unaffected because the only one who could really make him melt was his best friendTenten Takara. His unrequited, real, love interest.
The Hyuugamale glared at the mop of pink hair that blocked his vision. Green eyes flashed with curiosity as Sakura Haruno stared into the Hyuuga's cold gaze.
"What are you staring at? Gosh Neji-chan! You are such a weird guy!" Sakura squeaked out annoyingly as Neji's eye twitched. She grabbed his fisted hand and dragged him over to the cafe that stood a couple of feet away.
Nejigrowled and snatched his hand away, "If you want to be with me, then you should know I hate being led." He shot coldly at her slightly wounded face.
"Please treat her well!"
Neji gritted his teeth as Tenten melodic voice rang throughout his head, bouncing off the walls of his skull and repeating over and over again. The man sighed and gave Sakura a weak smile, one which Sakura squealed at.
"Oh my God! Neji-chan, you are so, like, adorable!" Neji grunted in distaste as Sakura hugged him tightly and lifted her head towards his, her plump lips coming dangerously close to his. Sakura could only brush them onto his as he turned his face away and harshly pushed her away, not caring that she almost stumbled and fell.
"If you also want to be with me, you should know I loathe public affection. And kissing, as well as any other intercourses'." Neji said coldly, hinting about his Absolutely No Sex rule. Sakurastared at him withshocked eyes which soon became glazed with fury.
"Argh! Fine then Neji, but you'll be missing out!" Sakura spat at Neji semi-startled face. The rosette gazed smugly at him before gasping at the sudden smirk that appeared.
"Hn. I will not, I assure you." He said as he snickered at her dumbfounded expression.
"Okay, yeah, whatever! Come on! I just love this cafe over here!" Sakura chirped as she dragged him over to the half-empty store that stood lonesome by the corner.
'I have to treat her right, Tenten requested it...' Neji thought tiredly as he quickly picked a seat and sat in it, rubbing his temple as Sakuraflirted with the man at the cash register.
The male looked out the window and to the swirling black clouds that lingered overhead. He clenched his jaw as a loud, ear-splitting noise came from deep within the black clouds.
"... Tenten didn't bring an umbrella."
--
Tenten
"What do you want?" The brunette asked as a man with radiant jet black hair, oddly shaped in the back, cornered her in her only sanctuary; the library. His loose jersey hid his well-built abdominal muscles and chest; black, saggy, jeans hung below his waist line rebelliously.
His deep, onyx eyes stared into Tenten's honey hazel, "I want to court you." The girl gasped, her eyes blinking at the sudden, blunt, statement.
"You—You want to what?"
"What I mean is, I want you to go out with me, Takara." The girl suppressed a sigh as she squeezed the books in her arms.
She averted her gaze downward to her shoes as she thought about what she should do. Tenten swallowed the lump in her throat, painfully thinking back to all the times her best friend Neji had hugged Sakura affectionately; kissed her, whispered silly things to her.
That was why she decided to spend all her time inside the library or outside the school premises; she couldn't stand to see the man that she loved with another women.
'... I should give him a chance, this might not happen again; I know for sure.' Tententhought briskly before locking gazes with Uchiha Sasuke.
"... Ok-Okay." She caught a glimpse of his haughty smirk before his lips crashed onto hers in a fierce but neutral kiss.
-
Tenten quickly finished writing her report and shut her binder before putting her pencil inside her pencil case. She stuffed the case inside her school bag and locked the latch on it before scooping it onto her arm and standing up.
It had been twodays since the incident with Sasuke and Tentenwasn't really liking the way he treated her. On their first 'date' he had stood her up; saying that he got caught up with some of his fathers business issue's.
It was not a good first impression, Tenten mused when she had received Sasuke's phone call. And in those two day's, Tenten hadn't even seen Neji; she got the impression that maybe he had really moved on.
The thought itself frightened Tenten.
"Takara," The girl turned to the side, grimacing as her boyfriend Uchiha Sasukewalked up to her and grabbed her arm roughly. Stoically, he leaned down and pecked her cheek, noting her obvious distaste with much amusement.
"Hello Sasuke." He smirked and brought her nearer to him, wrapping his arm around her frame.
"Call me Sasuke-kun." Now it was Tenten's turn to smirk. She pushed him away softly as he stared at her questionably.
"Sasuke, I know that you're doing this because Neji-kunwent out with Sakura-san." He stiffened, which was all she needed to know her assumption was correct. "You're using me because you think that Sakura-san will be jealous and come back to you, right?"
Sasuke shut his eyes briefly, "I see that your reputation holds no faults." He glanced at Tenten's mildly confused face. "There are rumors about you being a genius, almost scoring up to Nara Shikamaru." Tenten, feeling oddly happy that she was praised, nodded once. The sparkle in her eye not being missed by Sasuke.
"So I'm right, aren't I?" Tenten paused, not waiting to hear his response, "That won't help you though, you're not the only one who's getting hurt by this." Tenten momentarily gasped for foolishly exploiting that piece of information.
Sasuke smirked, "So, we were right." Tenten looked taken back for a moment, pondering whether or not her feeling's, somehow, showed through when Neji had personally came up to her.
"Were right of what?"
"That you seem to harbor feelings for the Hyuuga." Sasuke's smirk grew profound when her face scrunched in guilt. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and glanced around the area he was in, searching to see if someone was hearing this conversation carefully.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about... I don't love Neji-kun..." She said with a semi-broken voice. Sasuke averted his attention back to her, his eyes reflecting pity and humor.
"Hn. Let's make a deal." Tenten looked up and narrowed her eyes, ignoring the swirl of emotions in her stomach.
"What kind of deal?" The man scoffed lightly and ran a hand through his silky black tresses. Tenten stood straighter, the tight grip on her bag never lessening.
"I want Sakura back. And, you're going to help me by pretending to be my girlfriend. I know that Sakura's doing this because I kept standing her up on our dates." Sasuke explained. "Besides, this will work for your benefits also. If she comes back to me, you'll have your precious Neji-kun back." Tenten flinched at Sasuke's harsh tone.
"What happens... if it doesn't work." Sasuke's complexion darkened. Tenten felt the odd sensation of fear and dread creep up her spine as he walked to her, cornering her to the bookcase behind her.
He inclined his head to her ear, "Then you'll have to pay the price for wasting my time." Her breath hitched as Sasukestood straight and headed towards the exit, leaving her to dwell with the thoughts of what he could do to her. She knew she couldn't defend herself; she couldn't go to Neji for help this time.
She would have to do this on her own.
Sasuke was known to be the leader of a dangerous gang which he named 'Hebi'; snake. For once, thinking things through might just not help her. She cursed at herself for not taking those fighting lessons her, now deceased, grandpa wanted her to take.
"I guess..." Tenten glanced at the brightly lit desk, admiring the way the sun made it glow an unearthly color, "The battle lines have been drawn out, huh?"
In the background, behind the dozens of bookcases that stood straight and firm, a girl rushed out of the room with a frightened expression; having heard every single word uttered there that midday.
--
Neji
"Tenten! Tenten!" Neji called out as he swerved through the throng of passing students. He saw her turn to him before breaking into a sprint. "Shit!" He swore as he shoved students away from him and followed the path she took.
He stopped and looked both ways, panting. He was about to go straight when he caught a sliver of chocolate brown ease inside of a room. He smirked and ran towards one of the outside classrooms, opening the door just to see Tenten slamming the front one.
"God dammit!" He jumped over some desks until he was at the door, opening it and searching for a mop of brunette. Neji grunted at all the students who started to go to their respective classrooms, all but Tenten Takara.
The Hyuuga male ran a hand through his silky brown locks before walking down the half-empty hall and to his own class.
"Neji-chan!" The man looked up only to see a flash of pink. Sakura hugged him tightly, a smile on her delicate face.
"Hn. Sakura." He grunted and pushed her away, just like all the other times. He had started to get sick of her demanding attitude. She wanted attention; every single moment she could. Neji was never the one to bathe his girlfriend's in lovely affection, he usually just kissed them briefly before leaving.
Sakurawas one of those troublesome girls who saw a peck on the mouth as a make-out session. And Neji didn't really find that to his tastes.
"Ooh! Neji-chan! You never hug me anymore!" Sakura whined before entangling her arm in his. Neji glanced at her and sighed.
"I'm looking for Tenten." A dark looked crossed Sakura's usually vibrate green eyes at the name. She huffed and threw her hair to her back in a spoiled manner.
"Oh. I thought you said that you're not involved with her anymore!" Sakura simmered as Neji's expression hardened.
"I was never involved with her." Sakura raised an elegant eyebrow, her fill lips in a complete 'O'.
"Then what was she to you? A friend?" Neji suppressed a deep sigh and wiggled his arm away from Sakura's.
"She was simply my best friend. She will never be anything more than that." Sakura grinned cheekily and latched onto his arm again, earning a deep growl from Neji.
"You mean you'll, like, never date her and stuff, right?" Sakura pressed.
"Yes." He responded stoically.
"Soo, you hate her right? I mean, come on! So much for a best friend to run away from you! If she was reallyyour best friend then she wouldn't run away from you right?" Sakuraranted, unaware of the damage she was making. "I mean, she never hangs out withyou, if you hang out with her, she always leaves! Argh! I would totally, like, tell her to screw off and leave me alone!"
Neji, unable to keep himself from listening, digested each and every word. "... I suppose..." He whispered. Sakura laughed and slapped his arm playfully, the darkness coming back into her usually cheerful irises.
"I would suggest you tell her to back off. She's not your best friend if she leaves you for dead! I know that you, like, needed help two days ago and Tenten wasn't even there! Can you say, unreliable!?" For a moment, Neji considered that. He did need help and she wasn't even there. He knew that she always answered the phone, but she didn't that day. Why he didn't know, but, for some reason, Sakura's manipulative words were getting to him.
"I guess..."
"Kay'! See ya later, Neji-chan!" Sakura chirped again as she kissed him on the cheek and left, leaving Neji with his sudden dark thoughts about the brunette.
-
A pang of jealously, hatred and anger pierced Neji deeply as he stared at his best friend Tenten. She was laughing... in the arms of Uchiha Sasuke. The man that detested the most. The can in his hand got squished in as he angerly fisted his hand.
With a bitter glance at the happy pair, Neji turned his heel and stomped towards his group of friends. A flar of anger coursed through his system as he tried to get rid of the mental image he got from watching them. Sakura's words repeated in his head like a mantra as he sat on the fountain where his friends where laughing and chatting.
"... If you hang out with her, she always leaves...!"
Neji gritted his teeth at her words. Maybe she was right, maybe Tenten really didn't see him as her best friend, but as a simple friend. Or maybe as just an acquaintance. A sudden depressing emotion roused Neji's thoughts .
He knew that he shouldn't be mad at her; she wasn't his. She had every right to go out and date any person she pleases. But the problem was, she hadn't been talking to him for a while now, giving Neji the impression that maybe she had gotten tired of him and, honestly, left him for dead.
'If thats the case, then I guess Tenten isn't my friend anymore; but an enemy' He thought bitterly before directing his gaze to them again. He noted the way Tenten's smile seemed strained somehow. Ignoring them, Neji hopped off the fountain and walked to the roof, where he knew he would be safe from them until the end of break.
--
Tenten
It hurt Tenten so badly when she heard Neji utter those words. She would never be his girlfriend or anything with a deeper meaning. All she was was his best friend. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less, like he had said.
When Tentenhad heard that, she bit her lip so hard, blood seeped out of the slit-like cut she had created with her teeth. The girl had run all the way to the roof top and, just like had she predicted a while back, broke down and cried her heart out.
Now here she was, in the arms of the man she had come to hate; Uchiha Sasuke, pretending he had cracked a silly joke as Nejiwatched with a wounded expression.
When Tenten looked back, he was already talking to his friends as if nothing had happened; though she saw the distant look in his eye, she couldn't do anything about it because she was being dragged deeper into the rows of tree's.
"Sakura wasn't there, so this was useless." Sasukedrawled out with anger. He gave her dirty look before grabbing her arm and pulling her towards the inside of the school again.
"Can I go now!? You obviously don't need me anymore..." Tenten said briskly. She shoved her arm out of Sasuke's iron grip, rubbing it.
"Hn. I still need you for one last thing, and if this doesn't get me Sakura," He shifted his eyes to her frightened face. "Then you're going to suffer, not her." He finished. Tenten stood bolted to the stop, distorted images of her being hurt and mangles flashing in her minds eye.
"Ooh.. what am I to do now?" Tenten whispered as she slowly made her way to her next class.
--
Hinata
A violet haired teen sat on the lawn just outside the school premise with a trouble expression. She fidgeted with her hands as she thought of what she should do, or more importantly what she heard.
'It's been over two days since I heard Sasuke-san's threat to Tenten-chan! What should I do? Tell Neji-nii? But—But... I have no clue what to do!' She thought disdainfully.
"Hey, Hinata-chan!" The girl jumped and looked at the blond running towards her with a bag in his hand. "Here! I got ya some lunch!" He chirped before furrowing his brows at her guilty face.
"N-Naruto-kun..."
"Whats wrong Hinata-chan?" The girl shut her eyes, biting her lips as she contemplated whether or not she should tell him. She decided to tell him, her emotions spilling into the explanation of what she had heard and happened.
"... Tenten's in trouble, right? And..." Naruto stopped and clenched his jaw, "Nejilooks like he got in a fight with Tenten! That puts Tenten in even more danger! We have to tell him—"
Hinata appalled, "No!" Naruto shot her a questioning look. "We can't t-tell him th-that she's in trouble! Tha-That'll o-only make t-things wo-worse!" Naruto nodded once, his fingers stoking his chin thoughtfully.
"Yeah. True, true... so what do we do then?"
Hinata rubbed her lips inward, "We w-wait."
--
Neji
The male stared at Tenten's every movement as she scurried back and forth in the classroom. He noted how she would avoid his gaze everytime they locked eyes, or how she would walk around him whenever she had to go near his desk.
Sasukesuddenly grabbed her arm, pecked her cheek and looked directly upward afterwards. A pang of jealously coursed through his body as he picked up his pencil and slammed it onto his paper with more force then necessary. The tip broke, making Nejieven more livid as he muttered curses from under his breath. He slammed the pencil down, rested his cheek on his hand and stared at Tenten as she started to pack up her things.
"Alright class! If you finished this assignment then you have no homework, for those who didn't, I want this back in the box by tomorrow!" The teacher called. "Class dismissed!"
All students left the classroom quickly, talking and laughing as they exited. Neji stayed in his seat, seething as Tenten and Sasuke left the room together; hands intertwined.
Neji stood up abruptly, the only sounds present were those of the clock and the rustling of papers as the teacher gathered up his things. He stuffed his binder inside his pack and swung it over his arm, walking to the door before stopping.
"She's cracking." Neji listened carefully as Sasuke and Tenten spoke.
"... Can I go now? I have to talk to Neji—"
"No!" The man felt the urge to punch Sasuke in the jaw at the sudden demand. He was sure Tenten wouldn't listen to him, not the Tenten he knew anyways.
He heard her sigh, "Look!... Just go up to Sakura-sanand talk to her if you love her so damn much! The more time she spends with Neji, the more she's going to like him or maybe even... love him!"
"And that would be bad for you. Wouldn't it, Takara?" Neji noted the edge in his voice.
"N-No! Of course not... I just want you to leave me alone... I'm-I'm helping you really..." Neji glanced back at the teacher, who was busy talking on the phone to notice him lingering by the door frame.
A scoff was heard, "It's such a pity you fell for someone who wouldn't even glance at your direction." Neji heard Tenten'ssharp intake of breath; feeling angry, he fisted his aching hands. He vaguely noted to stop doing that so much.
"You have one last day, Takara." Neji furrowed his brows. "After tomorrow, if I don't have Sakura... you're dead."
With a sudden realization of what was happening, Neji gritted his teeth at his stupidity; while he was busy sulking, he failed to notice the obvious signs. The way Tenten would always look around for someone, the way she would always be straining smile and laugh... he didn't notice anything because he was to busy drowning in his most obvious jealousy!
"... Yes, Sasuke..."
"Good. Now come with me, I heard Sakura is meeting the Hyuuga out by the gate." Neji swore and waited until they were fully gone before dashing out of the room and towards the schools main gate.
--
Tenten
The girl walked next to Sasuke like a dog on a leash while he searched for Sakura. She honestly didn't know how she was going to get herself out of this situation, but if she was right, Neji was still inside the classroom when they left.
Meaning that maybe he had caught a snag of what they were talking about. She hoped so, because the only one who could really get her out of this was him; Neji Hyuuga. Her best friend. And if he cared enough, then he would have eavesdropped and listened. If he didn't because of obvious manners, then she was as good as dead.
'Yeah.. he probably didn't listen... What am I going to do now?' She murmured in her head. She saw Sasuke halt, and immediately stopped and watched the scene she had been desperately waiting to happen unravel before her.
"Hi Neji-chan! Where are we going today?!" Sakura said with a shimmer of emerald eyes. Neji made no move as he dropped the dreaded statement.
"Sakura, I'm breaking up with you." He said, deadpanned.
Sakura gawked at him, her eyes wide. "Wh-What!?" She shrieked.
"To be honest, I only went out with you to get rid of my denial and because I like to see the Uchiha pissed off." Neji explained with a candid face."I hate talkative girls and, frankly, I hate your hair color; pink. Why don't you dye it a normal color, like black?" Neji reveled nonchalantly as her turned his heel and casually walking away from the near-tears girl.
"You-You... Bastard!! Sakura yelled at him as small, droplets of tears skidded down her flawless complexion. Neji shrugged and kept his pace, not even noticing the death glare a certain raven haired man was throwing at him as he walked away from her.
A smile crept onto Tenten's face, relief flowing through her body like a rapid river. "... I-I think Sakura-san needs some comforting... why don't you go? This is your chance!" Tenten encouraged as she boldly pushed him towards the sobbing girl.
"Hn. You're still not off the hook, Takara." Tenten gasped. "If she doesn't become mine, you're still going to be the object of my anger." He walked away from her and neared the crying Sakura, wrapping his arms around her frame delicately, unlike the way he did to her.
"Yes... Sasuke..." The poor girl replied softly.
--
Neji
Neji stopped a block up, turning and running to the other side of the street, where he stopped a-top the hill; eyes scanning the land in search for a petite woman with chocolate colored hair.
He smirked when he caught her walking up the steep hill, a frown in tact. Neji backed up and hid in some bushes, waiting for the girl to walk up to him instead.
Distant foot steps became clearer as Tentenwalked up the sidewalk, her eyes swirling with denial and sadness. Nejisilently stalked out of the shrubs and poked both of his fingers inside Tenten's ribs cage.
"KYYAAA!!" The girl jerked away, jumping and inevitably stumbling forward with her hand over her pounding chest; waves of heat coursing through her body because of the grand shock. She turned her heel to see Neji smirking, his hands in his pockets.
She puffed her cheeks, "You asshole!" Tenten spat, her nose scrunched up in obvious displeasure. Neji snickered at her trembling form, not being able to stifle his laughter, he chuckled deeply and neared her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I see you're back to your normal self." The girl's breath hitched for a moment before going back to normal.
"I see you're back to being a bastard..." She muttered just loud enough for him to hear. Neji'schuckling soon ceased as they stood in the middle of the sidewalk; wind ruffling both of their hair as the clouds above them swirled angerly.
Tenten looked up, "It's going to rain..." She uttered almost silently. Neji nodded and grabbed her hand, dragging her off under some thick branches as small drops of rain slowly sprang from the darkening sky.
"We should wait it off." He offered as the girl stood by him, her face being masked by the enlarging shadows around them.
"Yeah... wait it off..." Tenten repeated absently.
Nejiglanced at her distant face, "I heard the conversation you had with Sasuke." He said after awhile of deafening silence. Tenten, he noted, didn't look that surprised, more like relieved.
"Ooh... Umm... I-I'm sorry for avoiding you Neji! But Sasuke! He didn't let me—" Neji raised a hand, stopping her useless ranting. She looked at him desperately, something Neji hardly, if not ever, saw.
"I know Tenten..." He started difficulty, "I decided to do the best for you and me and take care of this situation..." Tenten felt the cold tip of a knife pinch at her heart. Did that mean that he really didn't want to...? (1)
"S-So... that meant that... you didn't want to-to dump... Sakura-san?" Tenten tentatively said, her voice sore from crying. Neji involuntarily flinched at Tenten's depressive tone. He glanced at her and brought his hand to hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"... I never liked her." He said blandly. "I simply went out with her to try and eliminate a denial." Tentengazed at his content face with admiration at how smoothly he could say things. She looked to the pounding rain, finding comfort in hearing the distinctive pitter-patter as it ploughed to the ground.
"That's... good." She responded slowly, her eyes closed and listened to the rain. Tentenfrowned at the frigged drops of water that seeped into her shirt and made contact with her warm skin. For one, she wasn't wearing any sort of sweater at all.
Neji inwardly sighed in relief that she didn't press the issue. If she had, he would have probably told her his true feelings.
Tenten felt something warm and heavy place itself over her shoulders, she looked up to see Neji's head turned to his side, his arms now bare. She fingered the soft material of his jacket and tugged it closer to her, a silly smile wanting to appear.
"Thanks."
"Hn."
The two stood there under the shield of a tree, enjoying each others company as the cold rain steadily began to increase.
--
Neji & Tenten
A knock was heard inside a small, cozy house. A woman hummed a random melody as she opened the door, a grin growing on her face when she saw a young man around her daughters age stand by the frame coolly.
"Excuse me ma'am, is Tenten home...?" The middle-aged woman grinned widely and quickly brushed him inside, the grin on her face never leaving.
"Oh, don't call me that! It makes me feel old!" She scowled playfully, "Call me Okaa-san!" Nejiquirked his lip at the ladies obvious liking to him. She led him into the kitchen where she asked him to sit down and have breakfast with them.
Soon they were off to a good start by introducing themselves and having a light conversation.
"I assure you it's no hassle, Neji-san!" She chirped. Neji stiffly sat down in the chair, his fingers tapping the table-top nervously. "I'll go get Tenten-chan... Ooh that girl is so lazy!" She muttered under her breath, making Neji snicker.
"Tenten! Tenten! Wake up you lazy sack of potatoes!" Nejilet out a strangled laugh before covering it up with a cough. He could vaguely hear someone stumble and fall, then some heavy foot steps.
"There we go Tenten-chan! Come here and eat! We have a visitor today!" Neji straightened his pose and raised his brows at a very sleepy Tenten with a very disheveled appearance. Not to mention the short shorts and bulging chest that Neji couldn't help but to stared at.
"Who in bloody hell would come at... six in the morning!? Oh Mom! I'm going back to sleep..." Tenten whined, turning her heel and heading back up. Her mother growled and stomped back into the room, dragging her daughter out by her two braids.
"Oh no you don't! You're going to eat here, with your friend Neji-san." Tenten gasped and twitched as Neji sat in the chair across from her coolly. He smirked at her, waving haughtily before continuing his subtle staring.
"Neji? What-What are you doing here?!" The brunette questioned, her face red as she quickly sat down and covered her torso shyly. Taking note of her timidness, Neji's smirk widened; Tenten flushed and avoided his gaze.
"I came to walk you to school, why?" Tenten inwardly squealed, while outwardly groaned. Neji raised an elegant eyebrow and rested his chin on his hand amusingly, glacing at Tenten's mother before averting his gaze back to her.
"You've never done this before..." She muttered, shooting daggers at her mother who was intently listening to what they were saying as she cooked breakfast.
"That was because I didn't find the need for it... and I didn't know where you lived." He drawled. Tenten blinked and narrowed her eyes. The girl shyly highered her shirt before lowering her extremely short shorts.
"How do you know where I live."
"Hinata." She rolled her eyes and rested her cheek in her hand as her mother served both of them with a large smile. She served them before herself, grinning like an idiot as her daughter and, as she thought in her mind, future son-in-law started to eat peacefully.
"Eat up! And don't hesitate to ask if you want more!"
-
Tenten flattened her skirt, adjusted her knit sweater and swung her school bag over her shoulder before going down the stairs and out the door where Neji stood lazily.
"Take care Tenten-chan! And, it's okay if you're late today! Just be back by ten!" A red hue appeared on Tenten's face as she slammed the door and glared at Neji, who was innocently concealing his laughter by looking away.
"Not a word..." She muttered as they went down the steps and started their walk to school.
-
"Thank God..." Tenten sighed out as she watched Sakura and Sasuke lovingly walk around the garden, hand in hand. Neji yawned and grabbed Tenten's arm, pulling her towards the roof lazily.
"Let's go to the roof." He said to her quizzical face. In minutes, they were face to face with the metallic door of the roof-top. He opened it and they walked through it, Tenten's stomach doing flips because of the physical contact she was having with Neji.
She watched with a small smile as Neji let himself fall to the floor sluggishly, leaning on the bared wall that kept students from leaning over to much. Tenten sauntered to the fence and clawed her fingers through the diamond shaped holes, peering down the most she can as the wind weaved through her long bangs randomly.
"Are you going to choose another girl?" She asked, knowing perfectly well that he knew what she meant.
"I've already choosen her." A nostalgic smile appeared on her face. The horrible cold and churning of her stomach all to familiar to her. She swallowed the lump her throat and glanced at his stoic face.
"Who is she this time?"
"Why don't you look in the mirror."
A startled look appeared on her face as she turned fully and looked down at his serene face. She crouched down after the shock had worn off; tugging her skirt down and wrapping her arms around her calf's as she stared at Neji's face with a soft smile.
"Me?" Neji opened his eyes and poked his finger at her forehead, earning a light growl from the vexed girl. He smiled and leaned in closer, making Tenten lean out.
"No, the wall." He replied dryly. Tenten shot him a dirty look and before she knew it, Neji's lips met hers in a sweet and promising kiss.
-:-
"How do I know you're not lying?"
"Trust me, I'm not lying!"
"Alright... I'll trust you... but, you promise?"
"Yes, I promise Tenten. I'll never you leave you; ever."
It seems this Hyuuga managed to keep his promise after all.
-:-
... Argh, I'm not so happy with how it came out, but it's all up to you guys I suppose. I guess I should apologize for making these shots so damn long... so, sorry XD And thus this ends another shot for the NejiTen Challenge :3
(1) Did that mean he didn't really want to -dump Sakura?
R&R Please!