Kankuro: Oh my gawd!
Me: -snaps awake- Huh? Huh?
Kankuro: What the hell is wrong with you?! You… You look like you spaced out then transformed into a gibbon!
Me: -arches brow- What the heck are you talking about you, Kankuro?
Kankuro: Alright, I'll say it straight: What's with the freaky face?
Me: Freaky… face?
Kankuro: Yeah, you've been wearing one for the last thirty minutes.
Me: I… have?
Kankuro: -hands pictures- Here, take a look. –pause- Don't ask me how I got the pictures. –smiles sheepishly-
Me: -takes a look at photos- Oh. That's my 'bombarded-by-tests-and-next-to-evaporating-coz-of-lesson-overload' face.
Kankuro: Oh. Scary. Don't do that again, it freaks me out.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and I am wearing my 'bombarded-by-tests-and-next-to-evaporating-coz-of-lesson-overload' face.
Note: Forgive any perverted-ness (That is, if you mind only. If you don't, well, thanks) and there are more swear words today than usual. Blame Neji and hormones. Lol. You have been warned.
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"I hate sunrises. They always mean a new day and a new day means new problems. My newest one lives with me."
It was strange how Tenten woke up three hours too early. Shockingly, it was four a.m. and not even Neji was awake. Groggily, she stood up, walking around the house in a randomly picked tank top and jogging shorts. It was such a relief to have her own space back.
Last night, she and Neji came home exhausted and were soon brushing their teeth inside her bathroom in the clothes they had on the whole day. Before heading home, they offered 150 dollars to any random guy who could break the handcuff chains. Neji knew it'd be futile, but whatever.
Of course, they headed home after a man came around with a chainsaw and a demented grin.
Finally, Lee came home and, as promised to Neji, he unlocked the handcuffs. Tenten didn't stop hugging and thanking him for doing so. And, finally, their temporary hell was over for now.
As Tenten walked around the veranda to simply stare at the empty horizon, she couldn't help but rub her cut up wrist, feeling every unintentional carve on her reddened skin. And with every sting, she couldn't help but recall yesterday's happenings.
She never realized that she's been immobile and still long enough to actually see the sunrise for the day. To her, the mix of the joyful yellow and golden glory didn't please her. Not this time.
Back when she was a child, she'd wake up early and watch the sun rise with her father. How she wished she could have those memories back…
"Dad," she'd ask her father in her innocent tone with her curious eyes peering up at the man who held her close, securely and warmly, "What's that big ball coming up to greet us? I forgot what we called it."
Her father would merely laugh and reply, pointing at the ascending sun, "We call that a sun, sweetie. And this thing we're seeing is a sunrise. It's the marking of a new day. New days are new opportunities for everyone and all my life, I've never missed a single sunrise."
She remembers how she'd look out in awe at the transforming sky, from the dull navy blue to the cheerful shade of sky blue and shades of citrus. Definitely, she was a morning person. Then, her father would always, always add, "Your mother loved sunsets. I didn't."
And, hearing her mother mentioned, Tenten would ask, "Do you miss Mommy, Daddy?"
Without a tear, without a frown, without a clench of a fist or a nip of lips, her father would simply answer, "I never will."
Maybe it was the reason why she woke up so early unconsciously. Maybe her Dad wanted to share the sunrise today… Maybe it was a sign that today would be different… better… brighter…
"How was your sleep, princess?"
The voice jolted her, waking her up even more. From what she knew, it was absolutely Neji. Reacting, she turned around, expecting to see him by the veranda door, but he wasn't there. Her eyes narrowed at this until the voice came back, saying, "Look up."
And as her gaze was thrown to the roof, she found him seated comfortably on the slant of the roof with a paper cup of coffee at hand. He had last night's pants and polo shirt on with his hair flying with the morning breeze from the sea's direction.
"Morning," she greeted him, snickering at him, "Up early, too?"
He shook his head and stated, "It's half-past six already. You know how I wake up at this time. Went to the store for a cup of coffee and decided to go here since I haven't spent a sunrise on the roof top for the past six days."
"You do that all the time? Drinking coffee on the roof?" It amused her to hear his habit.
He arched his brows in acknowledgement and said, "Yeah. I do it a lot. Refreshing way to start the day, escaping from my Dad's early morning nagging. He'd always tell me to get up and contact this guy, talk to this company, con Walt Disney… business at this time of the morning kills me."
With this, he took a sip of his black coffee and sighed in satisfaction after he did. He tossed his head back and asked, "Don't you sit on the roof?"
"I'm not one to know how."
"Should I teach you?"
"Nah. I'll stay here in the veranda. I feel secure here."
"You've got no excitement in your life."
She laughed and commented, "You're a mob boss. Of course, you have a little excitement with all those guns, chases, money and slips. I'm a College Student on vacation and currently working for a pub. Do you think small people like me have any excitement in our lives?"
"Don't worry," Neji said after taking another gulp of his coffee, "I know other species that have less excitement in their life. You're still lucky, even."
Hearing this, Tenten smirked and folded her arms across her chest and replied, "Oh yeah? Try me."
With this, Neji laughed and plainly answered, "Ever watched 'Godzilla'?"
"Who hasn't? What about it?"
"You know how Godzilla laid eggs despite the fact that he was the first giant mutant lizard to come around?"
Tenten nodded and recalled the fact in the movie. Honestly, she didn't pay attention to any of those factors. All she knows was: Godzilla's a huge iguana. Wrecked New York. Only monster that didn't eat people unless you reeked like fish. Died. Star of movie kisses ugly girl. The End. What more was there to know?
After Tenten nodded, Neji remarked, "Godzilla mates asexually."
When she heard this, Tenten snorted and shrugged, "Your point is…?"
"There are a lot of things out there who mate asexually. Just be glad you're not one of them. I mean, come on. Where's the fun in mating asexually?" He chuckled at his own lame joke and finished all of his coffee in one gulp.
Tenten, on the other hand, had her jaw dropped again and she commented, "It's not even seven o'clock yet and you're already giving off perverted comments. Seriously, if all men were like you, I'll never get married." And there, she stopped for a moment… then laughed at the fact. Her suddenly boisterous laughter melted with Neji's, and soon, her stomach hurt from laughing.
Okay, so it was true: There's no fun in mating asexually.
With this, Neji watched Tenten just keep laughing uncontrollably. Seeing her like this made him all warm and fuzzy inside, as if watching her smile and feel so happy made him glad, too. It's like her emotions were linked to his.
"Don't you have work today?" Neji questioned her, suddenly making his face straight for the moment.
As an answer, Tenten nodded her head and said, "Yeah, but my shift starts at 10. Wouldn't it be kinda early if I got ready now?"
"Better early than late, right?" Neji suddenly blurt out, holding up a persuasive look that had his eyes round like golf balls. A freaky smile was spread over his jaw and he added, "Who knows? If you get there four hours early, you'll get 40 dollars additional."
Seriously, Tenten wasn't going to actually think that'd happen.
She giggled and said, "Neji, I'm not that desperate to earn enough money anymore. A few days ago, I was really broke and I had no heart to sell anything. Now, I have around 8500 dollars in my pocket. I'm not really in a rush anymore." And there, she went back to the sunrise, finding the orb above the sea horizon by now.
But, with this, Neji bit his lip and heaved a sigh, quick and discreet. He tossed the empty paper cup over his shoulder and suddenly told her, "Tenten, I hope you don't mind, but I'm not going to work with you today."
And when the words were taken in, her eyes grew and she almost shrieked, "What do you mean you're not going to work with me today?" Her aghast expression got him taken aback, "Isn't it your job to keep an eye on me?" It was strange how she wanted him to be with her to work.
Neji simply shrugged and mentioned, "Well, I have to do a few errands… for the mafia. I may be guarding you for the next few days, but I have to do my other responsibilities, too, you know." They plainly stared at each other as nothing but the breeze made a sound.
She growled, keeping her arms folded across her arms angrily, "So, what happens if I get hurt or something? Without me, my income won't come. Without my income, you won't get your payment."
At her stubborn attitude, Neji rolled his eyes and said, "Contact me. Give my beeper a message or something, okay?"
"Any time?"
"Only if it's absolutely, positively, definitely important."
"Okay. Sure. Promise."
And at this, Tenten arched a brow all of a sudden and questioned, "Say, what'll you be doing all day, then? I mean, how're you going to run your errands? Will you just be here at home?"
Neji took his Blackberry out and explained, "Yeah, I'll just be here. I have my Blackberry, like always, and I can boss people around from here. Want one?" And there, he tucked his phone back into his pocket and proceeded to stand up till she interrupted.
"I have a few rules for you, Screw," she remarked, turning to him fully, "Don't break, steal, touch or even think of grabbing anything in the house. Don't enter the private rooms and don't poison anything." She kept her stare stern until she added, "And order pizza before I come home."
He rolled his eyes and replied, "That won't be a problem." And all of a sudden, his eye twitched, causing him to involuntarily and awkwardly blink his right eye uneasily at Tenten. His cheek rose with it oddly and he wasn't even aware of it.
"Are… Are you flirting with me?"
Her words took him by surprise, "Flirting? Not with you. What made you think I was?"
"Oh, so there must be another person behind me whom you are winking at, then?"
"Me? Winking?"
"It's early in the morning, Screw. Don't shit around with me."
"I'm serious! I ain't winking!"
And at this, Neji immediately turned away from her and excused himself, saying, "Uh… I have to start my errands early if ever I want to finish early. I'll… I'll see you later." With that, he hopped to the other side of the roof and slid down to the lawn.
Once his feet landed onto the lush grass, he clenched his fists and clutched his abdomen with a troubled expression on. Only, this kind of pain he was feeling felt… somehow bearable and normal. His eyes twitched again as he flinched once more and he groaned involuntarily.
Walking across the lawn, his face was distorted and anxiety was spread over his face. He knew the very reason why he was so.
Stupid hormones, getting out of control.
Immediately, he took his Blackberry out and speed dialed his apprentice, as if in a rush. The constant rings echoed, making time go slower. Impatiently, Neji paced around without sense until the other line was picked up.
"Eagle Eye." The voice at the other side greeted, "I thought you were going to take forever in calling."
Neji ignored his assistant's comment and snapped back, "Shut up for now, will you? Give me an immediate update now on Uchiha's movement."
The line was silent for a few seconds. Nothing but the clacking of the keyboard and the whir of a printer was heard until the voice came back, "You were careless enough to leave evidence of your presence in the hotel room—"
"Yeah, yeah, the hair strands, I know," Neji said, cutting the sentence, "I just want you to tell me: Who is Uchiha sending to get me?"
A rustle of papers came around and Neji's assistant stated, "Well, it's like this: Sasuke and Itachi knew of your presence. But, Sasuke was unaware that you were present when he was… harassing Tenten." The sound of that fact sent shivers and anger shooting through Neji, heating his blood.
"Anyway," his apprentice continued on the phone, "Remember how Itachi hired professional security guards? Well, he's sending a few to your destination to… well, get even for jamming his state-of-the-art elevator system. But, it's pretty stupid of Sasuke not to realize his ATM card's absence."
Damn rich bastard.
"Well," he said, panicky, "Tell me who's coming and what time! I have to get the chick out of the house coz she'll kill me if she ever finds out about any of this!" He tugged on his hair, creases across his forehead.
His assistant heaved a pathetic breath at the other end and explained accurately, "From the org's reports and our hired spies' documents, Itachi plans on sending two to deal with you as of now. One of them is a redheaded mass murderer… who's pretty hot…"
Neji couldn't help but feel gay at this. He needs a new assistant if this one's gonna go all gaga over his enemies.
His assistant added with that, "And the other one is some idiot who just ended up in jail for stealing candy from a baby… and I mean it."
It was strange, but it made sense. Uchiha's security is the best because he hired convicts. Ex-convicts, maybe. Convicts have practically mastered every move of offense known and beyond, every kind of weaponry, every technique and every code any police can set. They're almost invincible.
Neji is one, so he wasn't the least worried about them. He was worried about Tenten finding out that two more criminals will be coming over.
"Do you have their estimated destination arrival time?" Neji asked his apprentice in a rush, "I need to know that really badly."
The assistant didn't reply immediately, but eventually, Neji's question was answered, "According to the tracking devices the org planted on the thugs…
…One is on his way right now."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Someone's in a good mood. Morning, Tenten."
The greeting took her by surprise and she ended up yelping in shock when Lee came around in his office clothes and press camera. Tenten, on the other hand, had short khakis and a fit halter on. She was just on her way to the kitchen to make breakfast when she and Lee met in the hallway.
"Oh, it's you, Lee," Tenten replied, laughing at herself, "I got surprised, sorry. I'm on my way to make breakfast for the three of us. Will you be able to join us today?"
But, Lee shook his head and answered, "Sorry, Tenten, but I have a morning shift today. I'll be coming home very late tonight coz I have a photo shoot in the next city in a few minutes. I might end up late again." Strangely, though, he didn't seem to be in any hurry.
At this, Tenten simply nodded in understanding, saying, "That's too bad, Lee. You've been skipping meals more frequently…"
The two went down the stairs together, with Lee behind Tenten as she looked at him behind her. Lee fastened his tie and started talking, "It wouldn't matter. As long as I keep exercising regularly, I'll be—"
Lee's eyes grew at what he saw past the glass door that separated the house interior from the lawn. While on the stairs, Lee paused and Tenten stared back at him, facing her back against the scene outside…
Neji was wrestling with a redheaded thug, a little bruised and stuck in a master lock.
From what it seemed, Neji's features practically screamed, 'Don't let Tenten see this! Do anything! Just don't let her see me!'
To cover for the battle ongoing in her pocket garden, Lee grabbed Tenten's shoulders, keeping her gaze away from the view of the lawn, and began speaking quickly to keep her preoccupied, "Oh, and I also have an appointment later and an interview with the president in ten hours, but I'm sure you'd see my article tomorrow and—"
Seeing what Lee's doing, Tenten cocked a brow in slight suspicion and politely interrupted, "Uh, Lee, I have to make breakfast, so if you don't mind…"
"No!" Lee blurt out, glancing at Neji and the thug struggle every now and then. Clearly, Neji was still stuck in the thug's strong and firm hold, sticking his tongue out in exasperation and mild submission. But, when Neji could, he sent his leg up between the thug's legs, making the thug yell in pain. Luckily, hardly any sounds from outside came in.
At the sight, Lee jolted and exclaimed, "Oh my gawd, that has got to hurt!"
Hearing his remark, Tenten shot him a odd look and mumbled, "W-What hurt?"
Seeing his sudden laxity, Lee stammered, "Nothing, nothing. Nothing at all. Just my… foot… I think I hit it on the… floor…"
From then on, Tenten generalized that Lee could get hurt over flat surfaces.
Once Neji got away from the hold, he screamed to Lee outside, ending up with a muffled exclamation, "Don't let Tenten see this!" But, Uchiha's thug grabbed him again and started throwing punches down his cheek.
Hearing the muffled voice of Neji, Tenten proceeded to turn as she said, "Was that Neji?" But, immediately reacting, Lee took her by the shoulders again and tried to do something to keep her from looking at Neji's way. He, too, was getting panicky.
"Tenten, I want you to know that I love the color green, I'm allergic to magnolia, I like Lemon Meringue ice cream, I'm a fan of Elvis Presley's hair, I forgot to brush my teeth again last night, I use hair wax and… and…" But, it was no use. Tenten still found this senseless and was about to turn around and see the fight accidentally until…
… Lee pulled on her shoulders again, made her face him and without much thought, he pressed his lips against hers.
Lee knew he'd regret this. Tenten's eyes grew wide and her lips curved downward in disgust and shock. Neji, lying on the grass with blood near his lips, saw it and his jaw dropped. If he beats the thug, he's going to kill Lee next.
Realizing that Lee simply did it to distract Tenten, Neji reached for the thug's collar and pulled himself downwards with his grip on the man's collar still strong. And there, the thug hit his head against the glass door, stunned for now.
At the sound of the thud, Tenten squeaked and tried to push herself away from Lee. It was gross enough to find him kissing her and it got more revolting when she swore that it was his tongue that flicked on her hard palette. She drew away from Lee, spitting and she screamed at him, "What the fuck was that for?!"
When Lee saw that Neji was finally dragging an unconscious body across the lawn, Lee blurt out, making a slip, "Good, Tenten! That is how you must react when a pervert suddenly kisses you!" He showed her two thumbs up and added, "I'm glad you know how to be sexually safe!"
Tenten swears her lips and ears ached from the traumatizing and swift drift of events. At this, she let it pass and she simply mumbled, "Gawd, don't do that again, please?" With that, she rubbed her lips again and briskly proceeded to the kitchen.
Lee stayed behind and when he saw Neji eyeing him angrily from behind the glass, he flashed him a peace sign. But Neji replied to him by flicking his middle finger angrily at him with a glare that said 'I'll kill you and your shitty sex ed advice'.
After showing Lee his now growing hate, Neji paced to the thug he fought. The weary man's body had gone limp and his head was against the wall. Quickly, Neji grabbed him by the collar again and continuously beat his head against the wall, telling the convict as red showers came every now and then, "Tell Uchiha to go fuck himself."
When he was sure that the thug was really out like a light (and when he had already released all of his anger by hitting the man's head against the wall), he dialed his apprentice and muttered…
"Hey, I need someone to pick up the first bastard. I'm ready for the next, bet on it."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Shit this!"
The raven-haired exclaimed in exasperation, angered yet calm in his features. All there was to show his fury was his the creasing of his nose and the bearing of his teeth. Beside him was his brother, smoking a cigar coolly, as if unaffected by the situation.
"How can this fucker manage to beat up Sasori and Deidara before eight o'clock?" Sasuke mumbled, crumpling the contract the two convicts made with them Uchihas. After tossing it into the bin, Sasuke asked Itachi, "Those two have done away with stronger idiots before. How can this scrawny mafia boss defeat them without firearms?"
With this, Itachi simply smirked, blowing the smooth, silvery smoke from between his handsome lips. After propping his feet up onto the desk in front of them, Itachi chuckled, "Foolish little brother…"
It pissed Sasuke off every time he called him that, but he let his sibling continue, "We are dealing with the heir to the Caged Bird Mafia. His performance even went beyond my expectations." After another huff of smoke, he added, "But I think I know what to do to defeat someone like him."
Hearing this, Sasuke cocked a brow in interest. Hopefully, his brother would be some use for now.
"Remember: We're dealing with an adolescent boy. Like you, he's got fiery hormones that he can't control almost at all." Itachi said, breathing in another whiff of smoke, "And what do you think can… cease a young man's hormones?"
Without much thought, Sasuke replied reluctantly, "… I dunno…"
Seeing how pathetic his younger sibling is, Itachi hinted, "Fool. A man with angry hormones is like an Eskimo dying in the middle of the desert: He can never resist anything anymore and he'd take anything just to eliminate the hunger and suffering. Put it in the way of Hyuga."
After questioning things silently in his mind, Sasuke muttered, as if guessing, "Are you saying that Hyuga is currently… hungry?"
"Little brother, every man who doesn't have a girlfriend is hungry. You are, too; admit it. Must be why you just hopped onto that random girl the other night."
Immediately, Sasuke flinched at the memory of that night he suddenly dragged Tenten into his suite out of lust. But, as he tried to forget that lingering moment, he couldn't help recall how he had a girlfriend… how he had Sakura… and how he broke her heart…
"Just tell me how to pull Hyuga down," Sasuke snapped back, next to growling, "Enough of your crappy advice and all…"
Once a loud sigh escaped Itachi, dilating his nostrils, Itachi concluded, "Send the Angel of Kami."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"I'll be home as soon as my shift is over. Around 4."
"Sure, sure."
"I'll call you when I have an emergency."
"By all means."
"Don't steal anything…"
"Count on it."
"… Don't break anything…"
"Not a problem."
"And don't open my underwear drawer."
"… What the fuck are you—"
"I'm kidding, Neji," she giggled, slapping his back as if they were old chaps, "Can't you take a joke? You look kinda serious today, in fact. And since when did you get a bruise on your lip?" Gently, she tapped the tiny rip on his bottom lip, examining the blot of blood.
Concerned, she told him, "I have a first aid kit in the bathroom, so get that disinfected. I don't want fungi or Porcini mushrooms growing there." She shivered at the thought of mycological diseases and added, "Oh, and I'll bring something home for you if I remember to, okay?"
Hearing the sudden act of generosity, Neji snickered and joked, "Gawd, Twenty, I'm not a little kid who'd kill you for not bringing home a toy from work, you know." He chuckled somewhat nervously until his perverted and hormonal thoughts invaded his mind…
"Damn, why don't you kiss my lips to make it better, huh? Dang. And bring yourself home wrapped with red ribbon and nothing else. Oh, and some edible body paint. That'd be an awesome gift. Oh yeah! I have a girl toy! Shitty fun!"
When he realized that his abdomen is cramping from his swirling man hormones again, he flinched, twitching his eye again involuntarily.
Seeing this, Tenten sighed and answered, "There you go again, cringing with that stupid eye of yours winking. Is it some idiotic mannerism you've always had? Or is something wrong with you? Tell me now so I can bring home medicine or something, you know."
"What? Winking? I told you, I'm not winking at you and I'm absolutely fine. Shit." He answered anxiously, adding a laugh that came out unnaturally. Seriously, if he told her that his hormones were getting heated up coz of her, she'd single-handedly strangle him to death.
With this, Tenten nodded and continued, "So, yeah, I'll get home ASAP. My car's still screwed-up, so I'll be walking. Any questions?"
"Uhm… yep."
"Well, what is it, then?"
"What do you mean by 'screwed'? I mean the slang version of… or… uh…"
Immediately, after the foolish statement he made, he turned around, biting his sore lip in annoyance and holding onto his stomach, screaming in his thoughts, "Aw, fuck these hormones! Damn, damn, damn! I can't fucking believe I said that shit! My gawd! Okay, gotta keep calm…
…Must… resist… manly… urge… Damn it!"
After a series of stifled screams, abnormal breathing and more restraints, Neji turned to Tenten again and said, covering his mistake, "Well, that was completely random of me to say that! Hahaha! Sorry, I'm kinda hyper with the coffee I had this morning, sorry! Yeah, screwed… Haha!"
At this, Tenten shot him a worried expression, her mouth ajar in shock and her eyes squinted in question. She giggled uneasily and squeaked in reply, "Okay, from now on, you're drinking decaf. I'll see you later, Neji."
As quickly as she could, she went through her front door, closing it behind her in a hurry. When Neji was finally alone before the door, he murmured as if talking to Tenten, "Have a great day, Honey." Again, he immediately realized his unconscious acts and slapped his hand onto his face, yelling, "Shit, this puberty!"
On the spot, he once again clutched his stomach as if in pain and yelled in rage, "Damn hormones! If I end up making out with that bitch, I'll blame hormones! Hormones! My stupid, fucking hormones!"
"For a mob boss, you're pretty dense."
The voice took him by surprise, jolting him and forcing him to jump up from his ranting. He swiftly turned to find Lee in his office clothes, holding his brief case, listening to his complaints. Lee seemed like he understood what was happening to Neji… and it wasn't hormones, most probably.
"You know, Neji," Lee started, walking nearer to him with an entertained smile, "Hormones aren't to blame for the twitching, the awkwardness, the sudden goofiness and the perverted thoughts… and the 'screwed' question you threw at Tenten seconds ago…
… It's only natural."
Hearing the nonsense Lee told him, Neji snorted and opposed, "Lee, I think you don't know what's happening to me. A lot of guys get these certain days when we feel all weird and all… like today! It's like a girl bleeding every month. Damn, don't you get the same kind of feeling every now and then?"
"I'm… a very wholesome person. I don't get those kind of urges."
"Don't call them that!" Neji snapped, still aching at the stomach, "They're not that intense. A little porn can end it, you know…"
"My gawd, you read porn?!"
"No! I don't! Porn's like an anti-drug… I don't need those kind of things. Usually, I get through these days locked up in my room and not making eye contact with any women for the next 24 hours. Damn, Lee, seeing Tenten today in this condition makes me imagine her in shitty ways!"
"My point is:" Lee said, trying to calm Neji down since he was out of control of his emotions, "You're not feeling this way towards her because of your hormones. You just… feel this way coz you do."
At this, Neji arched a brow and asked, "Fuck, what are you saying, man?"
Lee laughed and pointed at him, saying, "My, you are dense. Let me just put it this way: Married men feel the same way towards their wives."
"What?! I thought this pain ended after puberty!"
"Eagle Eye, listen to me. Take these words seriously, okay: It's not puberty, hormones or lack of porn."
"Gawd, I know it's not lack of porn…"
"It's love."
"Stop that shit, Lee, you know it's not! I don't love her! Damn, it's hormones, I said! Hormones!"
Realizing the hopelessness in Neji, Lee just patted his shoulder and stated, "You'll see what I mean. Look at another woman within the day and you'll realize how you don't feel the same way. I'm telling you, Neji, it's not hormones."
And there, Neji heaved a sigh and told Lee, holding up his fist, "Yeah? And I'll kick your ass for kissing Tenten earlier."
"It just came out! I did what I could to hide the fight going on outside, right? She didn't find out, anyway…"
"I'd rather have her calling the police to arrest me than have her licking lips with you."
Amused, Lee snickered and started to sing in falsetto, "Jealousy! Eagle Eye and Tenny sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
"Damn it, man, get out!"
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Hyuga Neji of the Caged Bird Mafia? Humph, never heard of him."
"Well, now you have, missy." Sasuke told her, handing a picture of Eagle Eye to the azure-locked gangster. The hands on the stranger's hips tapped impatiently, as if the order was as petty as nothing at all.
The gangster's pierced partner snorted and told the Uchihas, "No amount of money can make me lend you Konan. She's not for rent or anything. In fact, we never take missions like these. What makes you think that we will now?"
Sasuke knew that this was coming, so he snapped his fingers smoothly and called out, "Kisame."
Immediately, the sound of two cocked guns were heard and the woman couldn't help but freeze, her blood chilling as she did. But her partner stayed firm and passive. He knew there was nothing to think of, despite this.
"I'll count from three." Sasuke threatened, still holding up the contract that Konan and Pein are supposed to sign, "Before I say 'one', I want your signatures on the dotted line and your little girl here should be one her way to kill Hyuga before I count to five. Now, shall we?…
… Three… Two… Two and a half…"
Konan could feel her lips quiver in fear and her eyes shook in suspense. Still, only Pein was stopping her from grabbing the pen and signing her name. He had control over her and unless he said so, she wouldn't make a move.
But, before Sasuke said 'one' and let Kisame shoot Pein and Konan without warning, Pein asked, "What is she supposed to do, anyway?"
Smirking, Sasuke motioned for Kisame to halt his fire and he said, "Your girlfriend here just has to get rid of someone for me. Payment is a million dollars if you're successful, of course. If you refuse, Kisame pulls the trigger at you."
Once again, Konan gulped, letting the thick lump down her throat. Pein comfortingly squeezed her hand, telling her that he knew what to do and she didn't have to worry. On that instance, Pein questioned the Uchiha, "Will she get hurt?"
"Maybe."
"That's what I don't want to happen."
"Well, there's no guarantee that she won't come back without bloodshed. The two other thugs, up till now, lay unconscious and bloodied somewhere in this shitty city."
"Consider your offer officially refused. I don't want Konan getting hurt. Send me."
"That can't be arranged, Pein. Besides, don't worry about your Konan getting hurt there. Worry about her getting shot this very second."
With the statement, Pein's eyes widened and seeing the no-win situation, he growled, asking, "When will she have to do the 'mission'?"
"Tomorrow. Afternoon or morning, the fuck do I care. Just get the damn job done."
Still, Pein's threatening glare bore through Sasuke, "I'll let Konan do your mission, but I want her back in one piece unless you want me burning down each piece of Uchiha property worldwide. Do you hear me, Uchiha?"
Now, it was also a no-win situation for Sasuke, too. After a few seconds of thought, he finally nodded and said, "Loud and clear."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Agent 007254 speaking."
"Hey, Rose."
"Oh, it's you, Eagle Eye. Are we meeting today to decode Uchiha's card?"
"Obviously. Know that new Bayside Carnival that opened last Thursday?"
"We're meeting there?!"
"Well, my hacker works there so what choice do we have?"
"Hm, I see. What time?"
"As soon as possible."
"Is Tenten coming?"
"Nah. She has work. I'll talk to you later there, okay? See you."
After hanging up, Neji took a look at the time. It was only 8:30 and he already felt dragging. To top it off, he was afraid to face Rose. He's not supposed to look at girls the very least with his state. But, still, Lee's words were repeating themselves in his head, haunting him.
Quickly, Neji paced out of the front door, his breath stiff and counted. Out of the house and finally rushing through the sidewalk, he couldn't help but recall a lingering memory that happened about a year ago that came around only now. He didn't know why, but it just popped back into his head…
"Hey, Dad. Are you awake?" he asked the old man that lay in bed, his eyes shut in relaxation. When he got no answer, Neji decided to repeat his question, "Pop, hey. You alive?"
"I'm fine, my boy," his father wearily answered, "It's in the middle of the night, son. Go to sleep."
"Look who's talking. Shouldn't you be asleep, too?"
Hearing where this was going, Kosa Hyuga reached for his bedside lamp's switch, asking his son, "Damn, Neji, what do you want? If you had some nightmare or something, that ain't my problem anymore."
"Shut up, Dad, I'm not a little kid anymore." Neji suddenly snapped back, eventually regretting it. Hastily, he gulped at the mistake. Here he was, standing in front of his Dad in slacks and a smeared t-shirt, disturbing the diabetic at 1:29 a.m. How embarrassing to one's dad.
At that remark, Kosa Hyuga chuckled at his son and said, "Not a little kid anymore? Look at you, Neji, you have smudges of mud cake and traces of jellybean scents all over your shirt and your slacks reek like gunpowder. Son, you still look like a little kid to me."
Rolling his eyes, Neji defended, "Well, I don't eat boogers anymore."
"Definitely. You're too old for that." After he managed to sit up, Kosa Hyuga questioned Neji's visitation, "So, what do you want from me?"
"Advice."
"Ah? Advice? Damn." The elderly man shook his head slowly, snickering at Neji's sudden humility to admit that he needs help, "Is this about your business meeting tomorrow or is it about the new machine gun your aunt got you the other day?"
After chuckling, Neji shook his head and rubbed his nape as he told Kosa Hyuga, "Actually, Dad, it's about this girl…"
Hearing the word 'girl', Kosa Hyuga's eyes grew, crystallite shining under the moonbeams that seeped through his window's glass. He suddenly burst into uncontrollable yet choked laughter. His wrinkles tightened as his features appeared amused and he finally said…
"A girl?! Gawd, how time flies, Neji. You used to think the word 'girl' was forbidden to your tongue, now you go talkin' about one with me." Kosa Hyuga kept on laughing until he added, "But, seriously, son… What about this… girl?"
Uncomfortable with the topic, Neji told his father, "She's nice." And there, he sheepishly smiled and shrugged without a purpose.
With this, Kosa Hyuga cocked his brow, making his skin fold again, "Nice?" he repeated his words, "Son, you saw a girl and thought she was nice?"
"Well, yeah," Neji said, his feet itching to walk around and pace as he stood there in front of his father, "I… I kinda met her in one of the clubs and… she's nice. And I wanted to ask you for advice coz I'd like to go out with her, that's all." And there, Neji bit his lip timidly.
"Damn, Neji, just because you found a girl 'nice' doesn't mean you can already go out with her! How long have you known each other?"
"Some time now, Dad."
"Damn, damn, damn, Neji. Why didn't I know of this?"
"That's the reason why I'm tellin' you, right?"
"You want my advice? Alright, here: Don't look for 'nice' in a girl."
As a reaction to his father's words, Neji's lip pointed to the side and he muttered, "I… I don't get you, Dad."
Heaving an exasperated sigh, Kosa Hyuga held out his shriveled finger out at his son and stated, "Neji, my boy, I have to remind you: You are my son. I am our mafia's main boss. Everything I own will go to you when I die of this shitty disease of mine—"
"Dad, don't say things like that!" Neji hated it when Hizashi talked about dying because of his diabetic hyperosmolar state. He always tried to believe that his Dad would live until he sees him seated as the head of the mafia.
"Bah, let me continue!" Kosa Hyuga simply snapped back, annoyed at how almost everyone cuts him off nowadays, "Anyway, this is all I want to tell you: I don't want you to marry some fragile bitch you just find somewhere!"
Neji was drawn back a little by the sudden sharpness of his father's words.
"Don't look for love. It'll find you. Plus, nice girls can't take the truth about you, about how you're a mafia boss in the making. I'm not telling you to hitch a gangster, Kami forbid, though. No nice girls, that's all. Get one who has a backbone and, if possible, someone who can handle a gun, kick some ass and trust you despite your status…
… You know? Someone like your mother."
At the mention of his Mom, Neji couldn't help but grin at her memory. She was the caring woman who served you cookies when your friends came over, but she always has a Berretta tucked down her belt.
At this, Kosa Hyuga smiled and questioned, "So, you want my full answer? Alright: I don't want you going out with Little Miss Muffet."
But, eventually, Neji dated that girl and she became his girlfriend, the very same woman who got shot by the Aburames.
Damn it, why did his Dad have to be right?
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Well, you're early." Ino greeted Tenten dully when Tenten arrived at the pub at 9:30, "Get to the back. You have about six deliveries and more might come within the day. Get on with it." After that, Ino went back to making her Tamagozake (Mixture of sake, sugar and a raw egg. Awesome cocktail).
But, before Tenten could enter the lockers, Ino added, "By the way, I have your uniform hanging by your locker's handle. Check if it fits. When you have it on, I want you to put on some smoky or light make-up. I'm making it a requirement from now on."
Something told Tenten that she wouldn't like it.
And, once Tenten reached her locker space, she grumbled inaudibly when she spotted the hung outfit that Ino referred to:
A chic midnight blue mini skirt with a frilly hem that went down to two inches above her knee's peak paired with an adorable button-down white blouse that had long sleeves with buttoned-up cuffs and a black-stripe vest that barely covered the white blouse inside with matching heels…
… Ino expects Tenten to make deliveries in it.
Immediately, Tenten swung her locker open and shoved her bag inside. Once she had shut it, she took the outfit and entered the dully-maintained public bathroom, entering a random cubicle and preparing to change.
After pulling her shirt over her head, Tenten unconsciously said out loud, "Neji, don't even think of looking." Then, she spaced out. When she realized what she did, she chuckled and thought, "Damn, I'm getting too used to having that bastard around."
As she slipped the skirt to her waist, she couldn't help but ask silently, "I wonder how Neji's doing without me in the house. I pray that I don't come home, finding it burning to the ground. And he has got to stop that twitching of his."
But, she knew that each time Neji unwillingly flinched, causing his eye to wink, there was a part of her that made her wish he was really winking at her…
Buttoning her blouse up, she giggled to herself all of a sudden, recalling how Neji was unable to button up his polo shirt yesterday with one hand. He looked so useless and pathetic in front of her, reminiscing how he looked so dismayed with those frustrated eyes, scrunched up nose and…
… that wonderful six pack…
"What the fuck—!" she shrieked when she finally snapped out of it, "Damn, I gotta stop that…" Finally, she thrust her arms through the vest's arm slots and got out of the cubicle. Meeting her reflection in the mirror, she grunted in frustration when she noticed how her ostrich butt was sticking out like a sore thumb in the skirt she wore.
She ran her hands down her sides and examined them in anger, thinking, "Gawd, I have huge hips. I'm getting cottage cheese off my diet first." Once she was done ranting and whining in her thoughts, she leaned towards the mirror in front of her and checked her face for any flaws. Without much thought, she left her old clothes hanging on the cubicle door.
When she was positive that she looked fine, she suddenly got the thought, "S-Should I check for hickies?"
At this, her jaw fell and she screamed at her reflection, pointing at the maddened girl she saw face to face with, "Look, Tenten, stop getting all those semi-flirtatious thoughts! It's totally not you! I mean… hickies?! My gawd, where would the hickies come from?! Neji? No fucking way!"
After huffing at her reflection, she paused to contemplate before concluding, suddenly inspecting her neck, "Well, we'll never know."
Then, as she ran her hand down her neck, she felt someone's presence near her. Knowing how she was in a public bathroom, she didn't think about it…
… Until she saw the reflection of a man in shades with an odd-looking afro holding onto the shirt she changed from behind her.
Her eyes widened in shock and when she turned to face the man, he had wrung her shirt up and held it like a pair of nunchucks. Tenten was totally speechless. Although she wanted to ask the man who he was, what he was doing with her shirt and what the hell he was doing in the girl's bathroom, she had no words to say.
And, without warning, the man lunged for her, locking the wrung shirt around her neck as if choking her, hitting her head onto the glass behind her.
"Ow!" she screamed when her skull crashed against the hard mirror, "What… What're you doing?!" She didn't find the man familiar to the very least and she had her hands trying to push the wrung cloth off of her neck since her breath was getting cut off slowly.
The stranger pushed himself against her, as if intending to crush her on the spot against the now shattered glass behind her. Tenten, on the other hand, felt chilly blood blot somewhere in her scalp and a stinging pain met in her arms, probably from bits of glass that sliced her.
Definitely, the man was stronger than her and as he kept his firm pull on the cloth strangling her, Tenten choked and squeaked in trepidation. She felt tears of fear form in her brown eyes and she found herself calling for help in her quivering voice, "Neji… Help… Neji…"
At this, the stranger smirked and stated, "No Eagle Eye to help you now, huh? Too bad…" And again, he gave the cloth choking her a sharp jerk, making the grip tighter and much more painful. Tenten yelped as it happened and she tried to push the man away, just so she can manage to give Neji's beeper a buzz. But her actions were in vain.
Her screams didn't cease and it was strange how no one could hear her. Finally, she decided to take one of her hands, keeping the other against the cloth in the intention to stall the choke from killing her totally. She'd reach for her phone to buzz Neji and make him get here.
But, when she did, the man noticed and took his grasp from the other end of her shirt to grab her hand and stop her act. When Tenten saw the opportunity, she swiftly swerved to the side, attempting to run out of the washroom and tell Ino about this, but her wrist was well under the stranger's grip.
With a panicky expression written all over her face, hair strands all over the place with the wrung shirt still around her neck loosely, she tried to pull her wrist from his hold. Then, out of desperation to escape, Tenten threw her foot above her head, hitting the man's cheek with her hard heel.
Not expecting this, the stranger found himself getting hit against the same broken mirrors. His face crashed into the pointed glass blades and with that, he gave Tenten an angered glare as he tried to get up. Now, he was absolutely pissed off. As for Tenten, she clutched her thigh and yelled, "My gawd, I never knew that'd hurt, shit!"
Seeing the situation, Tenten wearily thought as she straightened up, "Damn, I gotta concentrate. I can do this. I get into fights all the time, so why can't I at least try to beat this guy? If I can't, only then will I scream for help. Alright, I'm doing it."
When the stranger was walking towards her with one of his sunglasses' lens off and a little blood on his cheek, Tenten agilely dove between his legs, past him and now, she was behind him. Finally confident, Tenten slid the wrung shirt from her neck and pulled it onto the man's neck, choking him.
She held on to the stretched cloth, disabling the man for now. She pulled onto the shirt at maximum force and her feet were planted firmly onto his back, making the thug walk backwards frenziedly. He gagged and tugged on to the cloth in alarm, but Tenten didn't let any of that loosen her grip.
Cleverly, Tenten leaned forward a little so she could send his balance to his front. This made the man involuntarily head for the mirrors again. And there, he smashed his face against the shattered glass and concrete wall behind it. At this, he fell onto his back, tired and hurting.
Tenten tried to get him off of her and when she successfully did, she gave the knocked out man a stare before she thought, "What a mess. Neji should know about this."
She took her phone from her pocket and dialed Neji's cellphone number. As the rings came, she went on rubbing her aching thigh, recovering from the first high kick she has ever made. Her muscles felt tight and the pangs made her cringe. When Neji hasn't answered in twelve rings, she hung up.
"Damn, he must be busy," she thought to herself, "This is a bad time not to answer, Neji. Please pick up."
But when she was too preoccupied, the man picked himself up and mouthed in a bellow, "Now you're really gonna get it, you bitch…" Finally, his sunglasses were off and his fists seemed prepared for another round.
When Tenten saw this, she gasped in alarm and again, she pocketed her phone and watched the man finally stand in front of her. He wore a mad man's beam, exposing his bleeding gums. Again, without thinking, Tenten snapped at him, "Get one step closer and I'll… I'll really kill you!"
"Oh, yeah?" the man answered, amused at the threat. Smugly, the stranger took out a gun from his pocket then pointed it at Tenten, saying, "I hope you have a gun, too." There, Tenten froze, now afraid and stiff. She was out of antics.
As the man cocked his gun, he said, "Die, bitch." And there, his finger was ready to pull on the trigger…
Blam.
And there, a red shower explodes from the chest, ending with a dead body falling onto the tiled bathroom floor. Onto the glass, the victim now lies in an eternal silence…
… Good thing it wasn't Tenten.
"I-Ino?!" Tenten exclaimed, shocked at the sudden arrival of her employer. Indeed, Ino stood at the bathroom entrance with a rifle at hand, the smoking end pointed at the sunglasses-wearing man Tenten dealt with. With her heart beat pacing, Tenten couldn't help but scream, "What the hell is going on?!"
At this, Ino put down the rifle, her face completely passive and cold, then approached the now dead stranger and recognized him, "Gawd, one of Shino's subordinates again. How many more bastards do I have to deal with? Tsk. Pathetic bullshits."
"Excuse me!" Tenten shrieked at Ino, confused and still panicky from the situation, "Do you mean to tell me that you know this guy? Who is he? Who's Shino? And why did he attack me? And since when did you have a rifle?"
"Damn, Tenten, you ask too much!" Ino snapped at her worn-out employee, "But, here's the deal: This guy is one of Shino's men. Shino is the current mob boss of the Aburame Black Widow Mafia. I think they're after you because of Eagle Eye."
Hearing this, Tenten's eyes grew and her jaw dropped once again… and her breathing seemed to stop for a minute, "Oh my gawd! Who the hell are you? You know about Eagle Eye and the Aburames? Oh my gawd… my gawd…"
Rolling her eyes, Ino neared Tenten and pat her shoulder as if telling her to calm down, "Look, you had better shut up about this and the other stuff that I'm about to tell you, alright?" Her cerulean eyes didn't look girly and perky today. In fact, they seemed to swallow her like a whirlpool.
After Tenten nodded in agreement, Ino began, "I'm a part-time weaponry dealer. Mafias, the secret government organization and many other shit heads out there buy from me. They pay me and I give them what I want, so I know them well. Eagle Eye is the guy hanging out with you nowadays…
… Dang, Tenten, are you two an item?"
"No! I just owe him money and—"
"Shit, you do? Good luck with that. Anyway, you know about how the president's skeleton keys to the sewers, towers, city steam tunnels and all those unreachable authorized-personnel-only places is missing, right?"
"Of course. Police were dumbfounded."
With that, Ino smirked, her lips curving into a sly grin. She thrust her hand into her pocket and took out a metal ring that held onto two keys that had the president's seals. Ino had them. In fact, Ino stole them.
At this, Tenten couldn't help but halt her breathing. She gulped and murmured, "Oh my gawd. As of now, my head can only take so much. Shit."
Instantly, Ino pocketed the keys again and told Tenten, "Remember, not a word, okay? Now, I have no idea why the Aburames are after you, but I'm pretty much sure that it's because of Eagle Eye. You owe Eagle money, right? Maybe they want to get rid of you so Eagle won't get the money you owe him, which he needs." But, she shrugged in the end and added, "But the hell do I know, anyway."
Next to tattered, Tenten chuckled in an insane manner as she repeated, "Aburames? Eagle Eye? Ha… Haha… Ha… My gawd, I never knew that it was such a small, small, small world… Oh gawd…" And there, she fell onto the floor, out cold. Lamely, she fainted out of information overload, most probably, and trauma.
At this, Ino snickered and mumbled, "Shit, Eagle Eye has one feisty and bitchy chick. I can't wait to tell Shika."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Shit, Lee was right."
As Neji, Rose and Neji's hacker, Kabuto, sat in the dim, fortune-telling booth, the silence felt weird yet Neji couldn't help but think, "I can't believe it. Lee was right. I looked at Rose a number of times already and I haven't had a stomach cramp from hormones ever since."
When he should be concentrating on decoding Uchiha's card and forging the name, he was thinking of hormones yet again.
Kabuto typed at full-speed as his advanced technology scanned Uchiha's card. With the PSP theme song of DOTA playing in the background, Neji and Rose knew how much of a nerd this Kabuto guy was. But, hey, if he can help them, why not hire him, right?
"I have gained tentative access to the activation chips inside the information circulation," Kabuto told them, squinting at the laptop screen as he shoved his glasses back into position on the bridge of his nose, "All I need now is to deactivate it for the meantime so the bank's technical, tracking, transmitting and reading system won't be aware of both the minor and altering revisions undergone in the last 48 hours."
Hearing this, Neji buried his face in his hands while Rose grinned sheepishly as she told Kabuto, "Uhm… in plain English, please?"
Seeing how 'slow' these people were, Kabuto said, "Just give me 15.76 minutes. I'll have the code unlocked soon."
In the tiny teepee-like stall, the three of them felt like sardines and whenever a customer passed by to get his or her fortune foretold, Kabuto would poke his head out of the only opening in the stand with a wizard's hat on, saying to every customer, "You will lose weight today."
It was so weird how he earns more than 200 dollars daily.
As Kabuto busily did his work, Rose turned to Neji and questioned him, "So, how's life with Tenny?"
"Fine…" was Neji's shy answer.
Seeing this, Rose smirked and teased, "Fine? Hmm, from the look you have, it seems to be better than just fine. Intimacy? Any of that? I bet there has been. Just tell me, Eagle, and I'll stop bothering you about it. Just admit it. Lee told me of the handcuff incident…"
"I hated that day," Neji snapped at her, folding his arms across his chest at this, "Do you know how much we were suffering, Rose? I was forced into sitting outside the bathroom door with my hand wedged between the door and wall whenever she needs to dress up. And, don't remind me of what we did last night, damn it…"
"Last night?!" she half-screamed, making Kabuto flinch slightly till she went on, "Oh my gawd, I knew it! There was intimacy! Oh my gawd, Eagle, you little lover boy! That is so, so romantic of you to actually let that happen—"
"No! Damn it, Rose, I wouldn't even think of doing that to her!" Neji opposed, despite the fact that his hormones go nuts around Tenten, "All we did last night was drink a little and… dance…"
"Ahaha! Oh my gawd!" Rose reacted, nearly squealing in delight, "This is too much! Dance?! Oh my gawd, you two danced?! This is so awesome!"
Clearly, Kabuto was getting pissed off by the minute with Rose squealing girlishly. His face was sour and he looked like he was ready to kick Rose out to make her shut up. It was just that Rose was sure Neji and Tenten would one day get a little close, but she never expected them to actually dance… ever!
Beside the cheery girl, Neji couldn't help but bury his face in his hands again and think in irritation, "This is the last time I'm telling her about my days with Tenten."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
She blinked her eyes open, finally waking up. She stretched her arms snugly, feeling secure amid the duvet and pillows all around her as she lay in bed. A small, satisfied smile was spread on her face and she couldn't help but moan in delight.
The morning sun warmed her skin as it shone through her window. She pushed her blanket off of her legs as she still lay on the spot. She could feel the nice, fuzzy sensation in her stomach as she once again stretched her arms like a sweet kitten.
Her eyes remained gently shut as she lay still, absorbing the morning freshness. Soon, she smiled thinly as she felt a tender touch brush against her cheek, near her lip. She was positive that it was only her loving man, her husband, giving her a morning kiss.
She giggled in glee as the soft kisses trailed down her neck and with every mild stroke, she didn't want any of the dawn love to stop more and more. Still with her eyes closed, she felt his strong arms wrap around her, bringing her closer to him.
But, then, it occurred to her: Who is this marvelous guy that she finally fell in love with? Who is this man whom she's sharing her fairytale ending with?
And so, she turned to her right to see who he was. And there, she came face to face with him, his brilliant, lavender eyes locking with hers.
"Good Morning…"
Instantly, Tenten lifted her head up, waking up from the dream. Her breathing was quick, as if she was relieved from seeing a ghost. She felt herself shiver and with this, she rubbed her arms and whispered to herself in horror, "Oh my gawd, I don't know if I should consider that a dream or a nightmare…"
At this, Tenten looked around and realized that she was now seated in a booth in the pub, alone with a cup of warm tea on the table she laid her head on. All she remembers was falling over after Ino saved her from Shino's henchman.
When Ino spotted her finally seated up, the blond walked to her and questioned, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm… I'm okay… Yeah… I'm fine."
With that, Ino smiled and said, "Glad to hear that. Look, you got a pretty rough time back there, so I gave the first three deliveries to another deliveryman. I let you sleep for a while so you could… well, rest a little and get over the 'trauma'."
"So, you mean I've been asleep in this booth for some time already?"
"Just about an hour and a half. Don't worry about it. If other people saw you asleep, they probably thought you just drank too much. I made you something to drink to help you recover from that nasty headache of a morning you had. Tell me when you're ready to do deliveries, okay?"
As Ino walked off, Tenten took a look at the warm beverage before her. To calm her senses, she downed half of it and smacked her lips as she did. When the taste of the drink got to her, she concluded, "Quentao."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
The man picked up the phone and hastily stated, "79 crashed, mademoiselle."
"Bastard. The next time I see that useless man, I want him to be eating dirt and blood. Another attempt never hurt, though."
"Tomorrow morning?"
"As soon as possible, I wish, but if I have to wait that long to eliminate them, fine."
"Didn't you say you had a—"
"I do. But I have a traitor down my belt."
"… I see. Well, I'll try to see to it that it'd be carried out carefully."
Clack.
Ring.
"Send 'Smog' soon. Mademoiselle wants an 'accident'."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"I never thought Kabuto would fail…" Neji told Rose as they walked side-by-side, "We spent the whole day waiting for him to decode the card and we end up with nothing. He's been doing his job for me for years. Why, when I was a kid, Kabuto't be the one who'd give me cheats to my computer games."
"Well, chill, Eagle. Kabuto said the security was too high. Remember how Uchiha's touchy about safety and security. Don't blame Kabuto."
"I'm not. I'm just frustrated to find out that Kabuto… failed."
"You make it sound like it's a crime to commit mistakes."
"Mafias don't have time for mistakes when we have nepotism and genocide along with seldom fratricide, matricide, parricide, sororicde and uxoricide to deal with in almost every generation that we go through. It's driving everyone, especially me, crazy, damn it."
"How about fungicide?"
Hearing the juvenile comment, Neji rolled his eyes and replied, "Well, maybe you'd have to deal with that, but not me." And as he laughed, Rose couldn't help but bat his head forward in irritation.
"From the sound of your complain," Rose started as she and Neji walked down the sidewalk in the wind and drizzles with Uchiha's ATM card in her purse, "your life can turn into a bloodbath any time. Are you all mafia people like that? Killing and killing until you get the title, power and money you all want?"
"I have no interest in my father's fortune."
"Yeah, right." Rose snorted, sarcastically implying Neji's 'innocence', "I bet you get tempted sometimes to just stick a gun behind your father's head and—"
"Hey, I'm not like that. I'm the kind who'd actually want his father to live longer so the damn title 'Caged Bird Mafia's head boss' won't land on my head so soon. On the day I get that title, I could be the victim of all those –cides, especially with all my relatives envying my father's position."
Hearing this, Rose pouted and mentioned, "Do mafia bosses' wives get harmed?"
Neji cocked his brow at the question and he reluctantly replied, "If they're not careful, I guess. Without a wife, a mob boss can't have a future for his mafia, so it's some sort of weird voluntary requirement the men have to go through. It's a pain, but that's life."
"Aw, poor Tenny. She could get hurt when you two are finally married, huh?"
"Not really. If Tenten and I get married, I'll—" Stupid Hyuga doesn't know what he's saying anymore. "No! No!" he took his words back, "I don't have any plans on getting married! Cheers to being single, that's my motto! And, damn, Rose, I don't plan on getting married to Tenten at all!"
As Neji tried to take back the statement he made, Rose couldn't help but cackle like a crone in the middle of the pedestrian lane as they crossed the street. She could do this all day and not get bored to the very least.
Rose Pierce- 2. Eagle Eye- 0.
"Well," Rose added before parting ways with Neji at the next curb, "If ever you change your mind and decide to get married, ring me. I'll bombard you with the cutest and most creative proposal techniques you'll ever know!" She heaved a light-hearted sigh and whispered, "But, nothing really beats how Sasuke proposed to me."
Interested, Neji smirked and told her, "Humor me."
She smiled dreamily as she sighed again and began quickly, "Aside from being an international government spy, I was a newscaster. Of course, Sasuke would accompany me to the network during my broadcasts and all. Then, one day, about early November… Do you know what a TelePrompTer is?"
After a few thoughts, Neji said, "Is that the screen next to the camera that rolls what you have to say, like a digital script?"
"Yeah, that," Rose said, nodding, as they neared the curb, "Anyway, we were already on and I started the broadcast as usual: 'Good Morning, I'm Rose Pierce and today, we have breaking news'. I shifted my eyes to the TelePrompTer and read out loud like always. 'On New Year's Eve, I'd like—'. Then, I stopped. Damn, it wasn't my script!"
Neji chuckled at this and asked, "Well… what was the statement on the TelePrompTer?"
Remembering the moment, Rose continued, "The statement was: On New Year's Eve, I'd like us to get married. We'd have a double reason to celebrate the start of every year.' Then, Sasuke was standing beside the TelePrompTer, smiling at me. I cried in the middle of the studio and we had to go off the air for a few minutes."
At this, Neji laughed at loud and exclaimed, "Man, he sure got you off-guard. I assume you said yes?"
"I'd be a fool to say no. But, you know how things ended." She unconsciously grinned again and added, "If there's one thing a girl loves, it's surprises. Sweet surprises she'll never forget."
And with that, once they arrived at the curb, Neji swiftly turned to the left as Rose walked to the right. As they waved goodbye, Rose couldn't help but yell to Neji, "If ever you decide to propose to Tenten, you can use that method if ever she becomes a newscaster one day!"
Instinctively, Neji gazed upwards as thunder bellowed through and through. He inspected the sky, seeing signs of possible rainfall in the next few hours. He finally concluded…
"I'd better pick Tenten up…"
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Five-five-nine-seven-two-six-one.
Ring.
"Master, they have it."
"Excellent. How thoughtful of them. Got what we need?"
He referred to a slip of paper he had at hand and stated, "214365. Ask me and I say those two are idiots to make something like this."
"Good work. Estimation?"
"We'll have him soon."
"Marvelous. Eliminate the subject."
"Two million bid, sir?"
"Make it a four. And correction: Eliminate the subjects."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Walking home, delivery-girl?"
The question was shot at Tenten as she took her bag from her locker. Indeed, even if she only made four out of nine deliveries today, she was totally worn out. Ino happened to be passing by the lockers when she saw Tenten. Of course, the blond couldn't resist not talking to her new employee.
Tenten merely nodded as a reply to the question, "My car broke down the other day and I don't know anyone who can fix it."
"It's raining. Real hard."
"Oh? How hard?"
"There's a typhoon coming, I think."
"But, it's the middle of summer."
"Anything can happen in our little world."
Hearing this, Tenten heaved a sigh and answered, "I can't do anything. I have to brave the rain and wind, then."
"In that?" Ino mentioned, pointing at the uniform Tenten currently wore, "It's either you get someone to pick you up or you stay here till the rain gets lighter."
With the offer, Tenten immediately shook her head and explained, "I can't stay. I have to get home right away. Someone's waiting for me and it'd be rude to keep them waiting, wouldn't it?"
"Ah, your boyfriend. I understand."
Tenten failed to correct Ino this time with Acquaintance.
At this, Ino snorted and questioned her, "Damn, girl, what kind of a boyfriend do you have? He's not going to pick you up?"
"I… didn't ask him to."
"Good boyfriends don't need their girls to ask them for anything. They should know what you want or need before you even ask for it."
With this, Tenten giggled and remarked, "Seriously, Ino, he's not my boyfriend, anyway. Remember: I owe him money. We've only been together for… what, less than a week or so?"
"Eagle Eye Hyuga can make a pretty awesome boyfriend." Ino confessed, folding her arms across her chest, leaning on one of the lockers beside Tenten, "He used to have a girlfriend. You probably know about her. Gawd, everyone wanted to kill the bitch out of envy. He took care of her so lovingly, as if he'd die with her if she died."
Tenten declares it to herself: Talking about Neji and his ex isn't that pleasant to her ears.
As she shut her locker door, Tenten heaved a sigh and said, slightly disappointed for some reason, "Well, I'm off, Ino. Thank you for giving me this job and… okay, I love the uniform." After a forced smile, Tenten slung her messenger bag over her shoulder and made her way to the pub entrance/exit.
Pushing herself against the door, she went out into the pouring rain with no umbrella or jacket. The traffic made her groan in exasperation and the wet, sultry feeling was in the air, sticking to her revoltingly. Then, something took her by surprise…
"Yo."
"What the fuck are you doing here?!"
With the greeting, Neji drew back and chuckled, "Came by to… Well, it was raining and I knew you didn't bring an umbrella… Though maybe you'd want me to pick you up or something, you know? But, from the greeting I got, I'd better head home before you pulverize me for… meeting you here and—"
"N-No, it's not that…" she squeaked as he stood in front of her under an umbrella between the raindrops, "I… just didn't expect you to be here. Got me surprised."
With that, Neji beamed at her, showing his teeth through the dull, gray city downpour. And when the awkward silence overwhelmed them too much, she finally joined him under the umbrella, splashing the puddles as she walked past with him.
Again, the stomach cramps came back for Neji. "Damn, damn, damn!"
Both of them took hold of the umbrella handle, their fingers barely a few inches away. While Tenten's eyes were locked to what was ahead, Neji couldn't help but lower his gaze, down at her clothes and he felt a fiery sore grow in his stomach again.
"W-What are you wearing?" Neji shyly questioned, trying not to sound too… concerned. When she heard him, Tenten looked up at him with her sparkling eyes, quietly squeaking before finally answering him without hesitation.
"It's the pub's uniform," Tenten told him, still staring up at him, "I know it looks disgusting, but do I have a choice? After all, I think my boss is a whore, too. But, don't tell her I said that." With her statement, Tenten planned to laugh amid the pitter-patters, but the giggles refused to come out…
… because she was too busy looking into his lavender eyes…
When she blinked, returning to reality, she went on, "So, there. The stupid skirt gets snagged everywhere and the blouse's material is too thin to keep me warm. Obviously, vests are supposed to keep you warmer, but this one doesn't even serve its purpose. Plus, the heels are killing my feet. And the make-up makes my face itch…"
But, as she spoke, Neji couldn't help but simply stare back at her, fortunately nowhere below her collarbone. He was noticing the fine structure of her small face, from the porcelain cheeks to the hypnotizing iris her lashes towered over. And those, tiny, pink, glittering and luscious baby lips…
"I wonder…" Neji suddenly thought without realizing it, "I wonder how it feels like to kiss those lips of hers…"
When she saw his somehow flattering stare, she found it irresistible to blush and warily smile, slightly looking away. "So," she started a new topic, "How was your day, anyway? Errands went well? Any problems or such? Did you have an okay day or what?"
Of course, he was both incapable and forbidden of ever telling her about the two thugs Uchiha sent to get him this morning. He didn't want to tell her that the bruise on his lip was from the first thug and the second thug managed to burn a scar down his shoulder. And, with the thought back, Neji remembered Lee's kiss…
… Mental image scarring him…
"Fine…" was all he could tell her, another lie in another day, "You?"
But, Tenten knew it was urgent and important to tell him of what happened to her in work, "This morning, I was dressing up in the bathroom in the pub and then this guy in sunglasses popped out of nowhere and started choking me!" Her features came out as intensified and still panicky.
"I think he wanted to suffocate me or something. One thing's for sure: He wanted me… dead." The words came out of her dryly and very much choked, as if recalling the moment made her trauma come back, "If I hadn't gotten my nerve back there, if Ino hadn't come in, I'd probably be… Damn, Neji, it was so scary…"
Neji felt her shiver a little. He knew how it felt to be living all nice and luxurious in one minute, then in the next minute, random people are trying to kill you. His first ambush is still a great trauma to him, remembering all the blood on his hands, his clothes… all over the attacker… everywhere, there was a splatter of crimson…
Feeling her pain for now, Neji cautiously placed a hand on her shoulder as she shuddered some more. He mumbled comfortingly, "Hey, it's over, right? Chill. Look, this'll be the last time I'll leave you all alone for the whole day, so I'll be here to look after you from now on, okay?"
She nodded and felt tears of anxiety well in her eyes. But she plainly grinned and felt his hand hold her tightly. For now, she was just glad that Neji was finally here for her.
"But how did you manage to…?" The right question couldn't come out of Neji, as if he had forgotten what he wanted to ask her. But, Tenten knew what he wished to question, so she readily replied to him honestly, remembering to keep the secret about Ino being his own weaponry dealer.
"I… I just thought it over and did what I could," Tenten told him, trying to recall the hurried scenes that flashed before her eyes, "I remember kicking him… that's why my thigh's still aching. And… Ino came in with a gun and shot the man. She called the police and everything was… done." She needed to assure Neji that reinforcements came, when in truth, she doesn't even know how Ino got rid of the body.
"How are you now? Still scared?"
His question didn't catch her off-guard, but her only response was too instinctively stick nearer to Neji under the umbrella, making their arms rub and eventually press against each other. The falling rain fell harder and under the black umbrella, Tenten felt secure and safer since he was around, anyway.
And as they walked through the rain, Neji grasped the realization that Tenten tried to take on the thug on her own, relying on her 'street-fighter' skills, ability to pack a punch, nerve to fight back, taunts and perseverance. If he knew better, he should be impressed with her…
It was funny how he ended up having to watch over a girl like her. Fate has stupid plans.
"Don't look for love. It'll find you. Plus, nice girls can't take the truth about you, about how you're a mafia boss in the making. I'm not telling you to hitch a gangster, Kami forbid, though. No nice girls, that's all. Get one who has a backbone and, if possible, someone who can handle a gun, kick some ass and trust you despite your status…"
Damned Neji couldn't see that love has already found him.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Listen."
"What is it?"
"Kosa Hyuga gets a hot rod at dawn."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Suspense Questions!:
What did the anonymous voice mean by 'Kosa Hyuga gets a hot rod at dawn'? When will the Angel of Kami or Konan decide to strike? Why is Shino trying to kill Tenten? Is Ino actually a bad guy in the end? Will Kosa Hyuga's advice to his son actually help? Will Neji admit love and give Hanabi his birthright instead? When will they manage to decode Sasuke's ATM code? Will more of Uchiha's thugs come to get Neji?
I'm sure you have other questions, and I hope they'll be answered soon.
Kankuro: Where d'you get the information on male hormones, anyway? I mean, you're not a man…
Me: I have guy friends who experience it all the time. I'd like to see you get stomach cramps from puberty! –laughs-
Kankuro: Don't make fun of it, damn you!
Me: Don't worry, I know all about it, remember?
Kankuro: -mumble-
Me: Oh my gawd, 41 pages! And 13,067 words! New record!