a/n: Wahh? I'm a day late with the updating. *bad bad bad* Forgive me, my life is just so busy right now. XD Hiashi makes his appearance. I don't know, he might be out of character. -_-

Enjoyy!

disclaimer: My birth certificate does not say Masashi Kishimoto. Nor am I a man. Therefore, I do not own Naruto.

Ahyongg
~Cel:D

BUTTERFLY WINGS
CHAPTER 7
~Requital~

Somewhere between scrambling into the backseat unceremoniously and tuning out Sasuke's reprimanding directed at Neji, Tenten had dozed off, oblivious to the world around her. To her relief, her dreams were pure and untainted by any winged insects, leaving her to hurtle through a serene dreamland where all was right.

And in a way, her peaceful dreams paralleled the start of her new life, one where she was wanted and everything seemed as sure as they could get. She was no longer homeless, instead living with a newfound friend – and a handsome one at that.

Of course, she didn't see it that way. Living the unusual life of isolation from other humans, Tenten was not brought up to pay attention or be able to comprehend those telltale signs of attraction: flushed cheeks, beating hearts, and desires to impress. To her conscious mind, Neji was nothing more than a kind-hearted person who did have some rough edges.

Soon, Tenten felt someone shaking her shoulders, bidding her to wake up. Slowly, the sleep retreated from her eyes and she was able to see that she had fallen on her side. As she sat up, she was acutely aware of the soreness that shot up her arms.

Sasuke stood outside the opened car door, looking rather amused, ignorant of the gaggle of girls giggling and pointing at him behind his back. They appeared to be in a strip mall parking lot. "Have a nice sleep?"

Tenten nodded distractedly, glancing at the empty driver's seat. "Where did Neji go?"

"He went to go get some ice for your…you know…the bruises he gave you." He fell silent, as if he felt that this was a touchy subject.

Frowning, she pushed the sleeve of the sweatshirt up and seemed to look right through the faint purple smudges that graced her upper arm. "That's nice of him."

"Neji was never the romantic type," Sasuke commented pensively. "Then again, he never had a girlfriend, more like one night stands."

If Tenten was confused about the terminology, she didn't let it be known. "Yeah…"

Sasuke smirked then looked up as he heard Neji approaching. "Here comes Prince Charming. I'd better go before he murders me for 'flirting' with his girlfriend." He climbed into the driver's seat and Neji took his place by the open car door, holding out two icepacks for Tenten.

She took them and placed one on each of her arms, sighing audibly in relief.

"Make sure they don't melt and drip onto the seats," Neji warned her. "The water will damage the leather." He shut her door and took up his own position in the driver's seat.

However, Sasuke felt the need to comment. "You treat her rather well."

"Shut up, Uchiha."

"Eventually you will come to understand that love heals everything,
and love is all there is."
~Gary Zukav

"The hospital?" Tenten murmured as Neji cut off the engine.

"We're here to visit Hanabi." Neji offered no more explanation as he exited the car and strode to the front door.

"His younger cousin," Sasuke explained. "There's no need to be jealous."

Tenten frowned and followed the other two into the lobby, where Neji walked past the receptionist desk. As she hurried down the hallways after him, she could hear the receptionist asking them who they were here to see. Glancing at Neji, he seemed unperturbed as he pressed a button on the elevator, watching the doors slide shut.

On what seemed to be the fourth level, the elevator groaned to a stop and the doors opened to reveal a pristine white hallway with the occasional splash of blue as a doctor walked into a room.

"This way," Sasuke pointed out, heading in the opposite direction of Neji. "Her room was changed."

Neji nodded and fell into step behind his friend while Tenten trailed behind, feeling awkwardly out of place.

Sasuke stopped in front of a closed door, the curtains drawn shut tightly over the windows. Neji did not hesitate to enter the room, although Sasuke and Tenten slowly made their way in.

The girl in the sheets couldn't have been more than ten or eleven with her shrunken frail body but the light of a fiery teenage spirit was reflected in her pale eyes. They widened in surprise when they caught sight of Neji and sent waves of gratitude to Sasuke. However, she kept her face impassive.

"Sasuke, I'm sorry," she said quietly. Her voice was not begging for forgiveness, simply stating her thoughts. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you would succeed."

"If I had been in your place, I would have been skeptical as well," Sasuke answered calmly.

Hanabi nodded and glanced at her cousin. "Neji-nii-san, I'm glad to see you."

"I'm glad to see you're still alive." Neji was aware of Sasuke and Tenten exiting the room but did not bother to turn around and watch them go, instead focusing his gaze on Hanabi.

"Are…are they gone?" Hanabi whispered a millisecond after the door closed.

"Yes, there's no need to act all tough now, Hanabi-chan," Neji answered, walking to the side of her bed.

Hanabi reached out and trapped Neji in a surprisingly strong embrace for one so sick. She sniffled and Neji could feel a dampness growing on his shoulder from the tears she fought viciously to hold back but managed to slip through. He returned the hug with perhaps a little less vigor but patted her back comfortingly all the same.

"Hey, don't cry. You're embarrassing me, Hanabi," Neji muttered.

"I'm just…just glad that you finally came back." Hanabi let go and gave him a watery, apologetic smile.

"I have a duty, don't I?" Neji smiled wryly.

She shook her head slowly, tears still trickling down her cheeks. "I have no need for you anymore. Your 'duty' is nonexistent."

Neji could feel his eyes bulging out of his sockets in surprise. "They, they found a cure? A match?"

"An alternative was discovered, Neji-nii-san."

Though Neji could not quite put his finger on it, there was something amiss with the look in her eyes.

"After all, everybody has secrets
and there are some things that
nobody knows about you."
~Halle Berry

"We need to give them some privacy," Sasuke explained. "Hanabi is very insistent on appearing tough and strong in front of people outside of her family."

Tenten nodded and took a seat on a bench a little further down the hall. Sasuke moved to sit beside her but was engulfed by a whirlwind of pink hair and white lab coats.

"Sasuke-kun!"

He did not look to pleased to see Sakura but had enough charisma to allow her to hug him for three more seconds before prying her off with some difficulty. Sakura looked unabashed, however, and proceeded to beam at him, her clipboard tightly clutched over her chest.

"You're back!" she breathed, as if not quite believing it. "D-did you find Neji? Is he ready? Because I can schedule the surgery right aw-"

She stopped speaking when Sasuke leaned in and positioned his mouth by his ear. "Shut up. She doesn't know."

"Who…?" Sakura slowly rotated on the spot – too puzzled to revel in their momentary intimacy – and caught sight of Tenten sitting on the bench. "Oh, dear, I must have made a mistake! Yes, yes, wrong person; terribly sorry, please forgive me." Her cheeks were flushed as she frantically flipped through the papers on her clipboard, refusing to look at Tenten.

"Sasuke," Tenten started quietly, "what are you keeping from me?"

He shot her a 'this is not the right time' look and felt herself shrinking away slightly – somehow, he was more intimidating than Neji. "You heard her, right? She made a mistake."

Perhaps it was lucky that Neji chose this time to walk out of the room, lest Sasuke completely bore a hole through Sakura with his withering, accusing glare. "Who made a mistake?" he inquired, looking from Tenten to Sakura to Sasuke before his eyes were drawn back to Tenten.

"I did," Sakura offered at once, giving Neji a quick bow. "I…I showed up at the wrong room. Anyway, I must go or else Tsunade-sama will be angry. Bye, Sasuke-kun! Bye…" She stopped, racking her brains for a name that hadn't been told to her.

"Tenten."

"Yes, yes, bye Tenten." Sakura flew down the hallway, nearly colliding with an oncoming nurse.

"I know my own name, Neji," Tenten protested, standing up and brushing nonexistent dust off of her pants.

"You looked too perplexed to answer," he said, sending Sasuke a probing look. Sasuke shook his head ever-so-slightly and Neji seemed to relax. "Anyway, we should probably head back to the mansion."

Mansion?

Of course, Tenten was fully aware of the prestige and wealth of the Hyuuga family – large vacation homes, money to throw around frivolously, strangers recognizing their kin at a second's glance – but never had she felt more intimidated.

These people were on completely different ends of the spectrum, nearly polar opposites. Experience had taught her that many well-to-do families often looked down upon those unfortunate enough to be cursed with poverty and a mediocre family tree. What would they say when they saw Neji accompanied by an orphan?

Of course, it wouldn't be the first time she had been ostracized for being homeless – a 'hobo' if a child dared to use vernacular. She hadn't had much interaction with 'normal' civilians but they all treated her as if she were a different species, unknown and alien; therefore, frightening.

In the lobby, the receptionist blocked their way, reprimanding them about 'inappropriate conduct' and 'the appalling lack of respect'. After a few well-said words from Sasuke, they soon left her blushing and made their way to Sasuke's car.

Tenten was once again shunted to the backseat as Sasuke took the driver's seat and Neji the passenger's. She folded her arms and sighed deeply.

That girl at the hospital had said something.

Something about a surgery.

"Sasuke," she called out, "who was that girl?"

"Her name's Sakura, one of the interns at the hospital," he answered, bracing himself for inevitable next question.

"Oh, well…Sakura, she was saying something about a-"

"Hanabi looks better after just seeing you, doesn't she?" Sasuke asked Neji suddenly, diplomatically changing the subject but keeping his eyes determinedly at the road.

"Yes, although she's worse than I remember." Neji turned around to see Tenten's infuriated face and smirked slightly. "Did the doctors ever mention a cure?"

Sasuke cocked his head, puzzled. "No, never."

"But Hanabi…" Neji shook his head. "Never mind." He turned around to look at Tenten, who was fuming silently. "Hiashi-sama will probably allow you to stay at the compound for a while."

"Hiashi-sama?" she repeated, furrowing her eyebrows slightly.

"My uncle," he explained, "and Hanabi's father."

"Oh."

Sasuke slowed down in front of a large wrought-iron gate. Beyond the fence, Tenten could catch sight of an imperial mansion with many embellishments surrounded by what appeared to be a courtyard and an elaborate garden.

He rolled down the window and spoke into the microphone. "Sasuke Uchiha," he said.

The miniscule light to the side flashed twice and the gates swung in to admit them and their car began the trek up the immensely long driveway.

The perfectly manicured lawn, brightly blooming flowers, and incredibly clear waters of the fountain reflected just how wealthy the Hyuuga family was. If she had been any other outsider, Tenten would have been led to believe that all Hyuugas lived this flawlessly beautiful lifestyle. But, knowing what she did, she realized that this faultlessness seemed to be hiding the truth about the family.

Underneath the luxurious furnishings and aristocratic impression, there was a darkness lurking just below the shimmering waters. Not many knew about it simply because they didn't know how to read the signs.

"I'm not going in," Sasuke announced, stopping in front of elegant white marble steps that led to a large gilded set of double doors. He exited the car and the other two followed him to the trunk. "You Hyuugas never like having company."

Neji nodded, deciding not to contradict, and pulled down his two suitcases with surprising ease. Tenten, determined not to be outdone, grasped the handle, tugged a few times, and was pleasantly astounded at how light it was. However, it wasn't until the suitcase hit the ground that she realized Sasuke had assisted her.

Because her back was turned, Tenten was not able to catch Neji's scowl as he lifted down her other suitcase. Sasuke took note of this and smirked outwardly before patting Tenten's shoulder lightly. "Try not to go too crazy," he advised her. "The Hyuugas can do that to you."

Tenten smiled good-naturedly and waved slightly as Sasuke drove away. Frowning, Neji gestured for her to stop and walked up to the front door.

"Our suitcases," she reminded him, giving her suitcase an extra heave.

He simply shook his head and knocked twice on the door. Within moments, the door swung open to reveal a middle-aged woman dressed in a simple white and black uniform. She blinked twice upon seeing Neji, looking awestruck. "Master Neji, is it…is it really you?"

"I'd like these suitcases-" Neji gestured to said suitcases and Tenten standing beside them. "-brought upstairs to my room. Tell my uncle I await his presence in the drawing room."

"Right away, Neji-san." The maid bowed her head quickly and ushered them in. Catching sight of Tenten, she glanced questioningly at him.

"She's coming with me."

The maid nodded once more and called for a butler.

The foyer floor was pieced together by slabs of iridescent marble that reflected the light from the crystal chandelier hanging above their heads. A grand staircase spiraled its way down, the railings carved delicately out of polished silver. The ceiling stretched for at least three stories and was almost lost amidst the grandeur.

Neji led Tenten into the drawing room, a large room off to the side of the house, and gestured for her to take a seat on one of the fancy silken couches.

As he sat beside her, there was the sound of rushing footsteps and a regal man strode in, his head held high with dominion. He wore a traditional white kimono that was the exact hue of colorlessness as his eyes.

"You've returned," he deadpanned.

"I went to visit Hanabi," Neji replied coolly, returning his uncle's gaze with one of his own. "She was happy to see me."

Hiashi-sama sighed and rubbed his temples, shaking his head slowly. "Are you even aware of how much her condition has depreciated since you disappeared without a trace?"

"I'm aware."

"I should denounce you as my nephew here and now."

"I advise you not to do so." Neji did not cower under his uncle's daunting gaze.

"Have you decided to accept your destiny?"

"I take on all responsibility. She will recover."

"Are you sincere?"

"She will recover," Neji repeated, "whatever the cost."

Hiashi held his gaze for a moment longer before dropping it. "I uphold you to your promise." He caught sight of Tenten on the couch and his eyes widened slightly. "And this is?"

"My friend," Neji replied at once. "Really, it was her who convinced me to return."

"For that, I am eternally grateful."

"She also needs a place to stay for a while," Neji added. "It took much self-sacrifice for her to accompany me all this way."

Hiashi called for a maid. "This young lady will be housed in the quarters beside Neji's."

Outside the room, Tenten was startled to see a young woman leaning against the wall outside, her pale eyes and dark hair a sure sign that she was a Hyuuga. Her face held an insecurity that Tenten couldn't quite understand and when she talked, she stuttered, as if unsure of her own words.

"Th-thanks for bringing N-Neji-nii-san back," she muttered, bowing once.

"It's a-alright." Tenten found herself parroting the girl's stutter and barely had time to realize it before she felt Neji herding her away. "Who was she?"

"Hinata Hyuuga," Neji answered swiftly, climbing the staircase, "my cousin, Hinata's older sister and Hiashi-sama's oldest daughter. She should be your age; sixteen, right?"

"Yes." She hesitated as they walked down a long dimly lit hallway. "And you are?"

"Seventeen," he replied, stopping in front of a closed door. "This is your room. The maids should have brought them up here. My room is across the hall." Neji jerked his head towards the parallel door.

"Right. Arigato, Neji. Really." Tenten gave a bow, focusing on her feet. When she finally straightened up, his door was swinging shut.

"No my friend, darkness is not everywhere,
for here and there I find faces illuminated from within;
paper lanterns among the dark trees."

~Carole Borges

The night could have gone worse, Tenten reflected while having a staring match with her ceiling. Upon entering the dining hall, she felt all eyes on her, iridescent and intimidating. As she took a seat beside Neji, she was aware of the amount of murmuring going on about her – this brown-eyed girl who seemed to have cropped up among them.

The elders that sat at the far end of the table quickly took to ignoring her, save for a kindly looking grandmother who smiled slightly when she caught her eye. The children came up to her at once, displaying that juvenile innocence all youngsters had, and began to converse about meaningless topics that left Tenten quite amused. Everyone in between – the middle-aged and teenagers – watched her curiously, deeming themselves neutral for the time being.

A knock on the door brought Tenten out of her pensiveness. Outside was Neji, holding a bundle of white silk. Upon seeing her, he thrust the cloth into her hands and only spoke when her eyes prompted him to do so.

"Nightgown," he said, giving it a slight tap, "I borrowed it from Hinata because we didn't have a chance to go shopping for some pajamas, remember?"

"Ah, thank you, Neji." She hugged the fabric to her cheek, perhaps in an attempt to further exhibit how grateful she was.

Neji cleared his throat and patted her shoulder lightly. "Just know that you owe me a lot." With that, he spun on his heel and strode into the hallway, taking great care to shut his own door with a resounding thud that permeated Tenten's thoughts.

Her shoulder where he had touched her burned, mimicking her cheeks.

"I must be coming down with a fever," Tenten murmured, closing the door.

a/n: Ahh, Tenten's so naive. In a way, she feels smart but in reality, she falls a little short. This stubbornness - and blindness to some extent - is a characteristic I think fits her reasonably well.

And since we're on the subject of characters, I feel that Hiashi wasn't spot-on as I had hoped for. I feel as if there is something missing. Try to enlighten me with a review, ok? XD

So, the plot thickens, blah blah blah. Are you interested in what happens next?

Yes, Sakura will be acting like an obsessive fangirl in this story. *shrugs* I rather like her character without this infatuation but ah, well. As for whether there will be any SasuSaku, it is yet to be decided.

And regarding the other characters - Ino, Shikamaru, Kiba, Naruto, Kakashi, Tsunade, Lee, Gai etc - they will be making their appearances slowly. Although, they might not be such a big deal, just show up as extras or part of the 'scenery'. Haha

PLEASE REVIEW :)

Ahnyongg
~Cel:D