Kankuro: … What the hell are you doing?
Me: Cooking.
Kankuro: -speechless- Oh. –slaps hand onto my forehead-
Me: Hey! What the heck—?
Kankuro: Weird. You're not feverish…
Me: What made you think I was?
Kankuro: Wake up, Ruki. You don't cook. In fact, you can't cook. You just sit around the house, ordering everyone else to do your commands like some spoiled brat.
Me: I just decided to make dinner tonight. No specific reason. Don't worry, you're having your share.
Kankuro: Oh. –silence- Stay there and wait for a moment…
Me: What? Why? And where are you going?
Kankuro: I'm off to get my cellphone. The minute I take a bite out of your dish and start to gag and suffer from food poisoning, I have 911 on speed dial on number 2.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and… fine, I don't cook.
NEW FEATURE: Chapter Summary-
"His words took her by surprise, like this morning's sniper shots. Unexpected, he had complimented her in the most simplest of ways. It has to be an accident. It had to be. It wasn't like him to do shitty things like that.
Maybe, just maybe, there was something in the wine. Yes, it had to be that, because he was calling her beautiful and she wanted him to say it again."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The blade threatened him silently, without a word, as it shimmered near his neck. Throughout the whole negotiation, it's been held there, ready to kill him with an ear-to-ear slash. Of course, the captive couldn't do anything but listen to his prosecutors.
"…Do we have an agreement?" an evil-eyed man standing in front of the calm and sickly victim questioned as he had his arms confidently folded against his chest. His eyes glared straight at mimics and the same stare bore through his.
"I said, do we have an agreement?" He repeated impatiently when there was no response.
"Through all my years in this business, this has been the shittiest offer yet. It's practically worst than a no-win situation."
After clicking his tongue in irritation, the capturer growled, "You have a choice, you idiot. Option A or Option B?"
"How abut Option C, where I make you burn in hell, huh?"
At the comment, a punch was sent down the defending captive's cheek, making him groan and fall onto the bunk he sat on. Blood dripped from the ill man's lips, making him cough due to his state. The tiny-faced little boy at the corner of the room couldn't help but cringe as the man was pulled up from his fall, the blade positioned under his chin again.
His eyes glimmered with fright and he found it unbelievable that all he could do was watch and stand still as everything happened in front of him, and he did nothing to do about it.
"Shall we try this again?" the man told the moaning and hurt captive before him, "Option A or Option B?"
Still, the bleeding man shook his head and choked, "Neither."
With his nostrils dilating in anger, the man's temper ran thin at the captive's stubborn attitude.
"I don't care if you kill me now," the captive snapped softly in fury as the blade seemed to poke his skin, "You've already killed Aimi long ago. What else can you take away from me now?"
Hearing the sudden statement of self-pity, it amused the prosecutor to no zenith, "How about your own flesh and blood?"
At this, the young boy's eyes grew and his adrenaline heightened. Eyes were shot at him and if only he could, he'd run from this place and escape this hell. But he didn't want to leave his father all alone in this room with the demons all around.
"Don't touch my son!"
"Well, if that's what you don't want to happen, I suggest you pick an option now."
To the captive, it was no use. He benefited from none of the options. And, sharp as ever, the old and wrinkled man shot forward and grumbled, gritting his teeth as he did in spite, "I said," he growled with a scowl and a terrifying and ominous tone, "Burn. In. Hell."
And there, the merciless man gave the signal, motioning the thug who held the knife by Kosa Hyuga's throat to finish the job.
On that moment, the lad's legs felt numb. A gut feeling ached in him and all he did was instinctively shield his eyes with his tiny hands, trying to conceal himself from the nightmare before him. The last thing he saw before his world turned black was his father's somnolent frown…
In a second's time, the knife slid smoothly across skin and muscle, spilling vermilion rain all over the place. On the spot, dying Kosa Hyuga shut his eyes in distress as he fell back, still and lifeless forever, silent…
"Now, kid, it's your turn…"
A shrill scream escaped him and before he knew it, a firm hold ran through him, sending a stinging scar through his chest…
"Neji! Wake up!"
Hearing the panic-stricken call, Neji sat up immediately, beads of cold sweat rolling down his pale yet flustered features. He felt his skin crawl and while he tried to catch his breath in fright, he felt her hand grip his. It was as if she's been thinking of what was happening to him for the last few minutes.
"My gawd, are you alright?" she questioned him, near to hugging him out of relief, "You overslept! It's already 9 o'clock! And what's wrong? What's with the sweating and all? Were you having a freak-show nightmare? And, goodness, there are tears running down the corners of your eyes! What's wrong?" Simply placed, her voice ached with concern.
As his chest heaved up and down, he looked around frantically, eyeing everything before him. He and Tenten were in his tent out in her pocket garden, like always. Twinkle-top was curled up in one corner of the tent and everything seemed pretty normal.
Not knowing what to say, Neji simply exhaled and threw his gaze on Tenten, who returned a worried look at him. "N-Nothing," was his plain and very untrue answer, "I'm fine. Very."
"Damn hell, you're not!" she exclaimed, more of comforting him rather than scolding him, "There was something wrong with you, I can tell! I was worried when I didn't find you in the table to have breakfast with Lee and me. When I came to check on you, I—"
"You didn't need to check on me," Neji snapped at her, pulling his hand from hers, "I'm fine. Get a grip."
With that, he threw the blanket on him to the side and pushed himself out of the sleeping bag like every morning. It was very much unbelievable that he managed to over-sleep. It was already part of his everyday life, waking up at half-past six. In years, this has been the first time he missed the half-past six alarm.
As for Tenten, she found it unbelievable that a guy like him was having… nightmares. He imagined little kids having those kinds of things, but him? Each day is a nightmare for him, more likely, with the people trying to do away with him. If this was so, why did this nightmare almost kill him?
From what she saw, he looked like he's been running, as if for his life. It was as if he's been going through one of those times when your legs go gelatinous and your breath runs out in a blink of an eye. It was the unjust kind of situation where the monster behind you will finally get you…
"Excuse me," Neji murmured as he crouched on his feet, hastily walking out of the tent in his bare feet and nightclothes, his same rugged cargos and shirt. Seeing him like this, Tenten tried to catch up, getting up on her feet to follow him.
Once out of the tent, Neji took out his Blackberry and hurriedly dialed for his assistant's number, his finger shaking in anxiety as he did. Tenten watched him do so and in a moment's time, he was talking to his apprentice yet again, not minding Tenten's presence.
"Shit, you gotta tell me my Dad's alive!" were the first words Neji blurt out before his assistant on the other end had managed to greet the caller. The words got Tenten taken aback, too, and it made her wonder if it had something to do with Neji's nightmare…
"Damn, Eagle Eye, calm down," the voice on the other end replied coolly, "Of course Kosa Hyuga's alive, you idiot. In fact, he's still in his bedroom, asleep like a log. What made you ask, huh?"
Hearing the good news, Neji heaved a much-relieved sigh and mumbled, "Oh… nothing, I just… got worried for a minute back there. Yeah… Thanks, a'ight?" And there, he hung up reluctantly, pocketing his phone again.
When she realized what it was all about, Tenten smiled and approached him, patting his shoulder comfortingly, "Gawd, Neji, is this what it's all about? You thought a simple nightmare actually happened? Seriously, I—"
"I'll dress up in a minute. Your shift starts in an hour and I don't want you to be late."
And there, he shoved Tenten's fragile hand from his broad shoulder as he walked into his tent to get a new set of clothes. Even so, Tenten couldn't help but think…
"Damn, for a mob boss, he's touchy when it comes to his family."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Shit, you gotta tell me my Dad's alive!
Damn, Eagle Eye, calm down. Of course Kosa Hyuga's alive, you idiot. In fact, he's still in his bedroom, asleep like a log. What made you ask, huh?
Oh… nothing, I just… got worried for a minute back there. Yeah… Thanks, a'ight?
Click.
"Suspicions, anxiety…?"
"Distress, sir…"
"I see. Well, no worries… No one'll know."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
The walk to work was dull, having the sultry weather enveloping them. As she walked ahead of Neji, Tenten felt a little insecure and somehow naked without him strolling beside her, not tailing her. Usually, they walked to work side by side, but today, he was lacking behind.
Out of curiosity, she'd turn her head to check on how he was. Was his stupid nightmare still bothering him? It's pretty juvenile. Whenever she looks at him, she finds him throwing his gaze onto the ground with his pockets shoved into his pockets, like some degraded fool.
As for Neji, he never knew that Tenten was often checking up on him. He was still in the state of recovering from his hormonal 'disease' and every time he gazed upwards to see if Tenten was still in front of him, he'd only notice how the skirt makes her ass seem seductive…
"Shit. Hormones again? When will this hell stop?"
As they got farther through the blocks and streets, Neji felt the need to walk nearer to Tenten since the crowd was getting more packed. More people were pouring in, mixing with the other pedestrians and passersby. There was a feeling he got that he could lose Tenten in the intensity of the crowd, so he made an effort to stay by her side.
Irritably, the people kept on sweeping in, compressing in the middle of the sidewalk enough to make you feel their blinks vibrate within your league. Every accidental shove, every crunch on the foot and every cough on his face seemed unbearable, especially since he had almost lost sight of Tenten…
…until he realized that someone was pushed out of the crowd, sending the poor person to the street.
"Oh, shit!" Neji yelped as he could only watch Tenten roll into the middle of the black-tainted road, moaning. Instinctively, Neji swam his way through the crowd in the effort to rush to her side. His movements seemed to be swallowed into an invisible void as the people screamed in panic at the sight of Tenten. Then, there was a loud and resonating honk from nearby…
A lorry was coming her way.
At this, Tenten could only shriek and defenselessly put her arms before her as she lay on the cold ground. The headlights grew brighter before her eyes and without much thought, she held her arms over her head, sobbing and waiting for the truck's wheels to crush her.
The horror-struck onlookers on the sidewalk were filled with fear for her life, but they only stood there, immobile. As for Neji, he still tried to push his way out of the crowd and into the street. But he felt like it was too late.
As the lorry passed the passersby, there was a tugging sense in Neji that made him sick. Either it was a feeling of pity or a feeling of emptiness. The dry starch that parched his mouth seemed to grow thick with every beat.
"Shit, shit, shit!" the echoing curse felt like a pang. His sight seemed to be blurred as everything turned into nothingness. His world had turned blank.
Onlookers had negative reactions and alarmed shrills…
"Oh my gawd!"
"The girl!"
"Eeeek! Save her!"
"It's too late!"
With this, Neji wanted to scream her name over and over again, but nothing came out. It felt the world had been torn apart. Like he was dead, too. Cold, breathless, lifeless, empty…
But, soon, as the lorry passed, gasps and exclamations came about.
They got the shock of their life when they found the girl still curled up and safe.
"Sh-She's fine!"
"She's safe! Oh, goodness, call an ambulance just in case!"
"Oh my gawd, she's not dead!"
"What a miracle!"
Seeing this, Neji couldn't help but feel relief and a dumbfound air amid the commotion. Immediately, he started to draw away from the gathered crowd and rushed to her side, as she still remained still and scared.
"Hey, Tenten!" Neji called to her with a choked tone, "Get up, you! Get up! You're alright… perfectly fine!" It was a very odd yet rare miracle. If it was analyzed, it was understood that the wheels didn't crush Tenten. Instead, she remained low as the lorry passed her by. Being under the large vehicle, she stayed unharmed.
Her sniffles grew louder as Neji tried to make her stand up. "Tenten, Tenten!" his voice resonated in her ear, giving her the thought that it was the last thing she'd heard, "Get up! Tenten, come on, you're fine! Please get up!"
Finally, Tenten pulled her head up from the ground and looked around in surprise. "My gawd, I'm alright?" she thought in shock, "What the fuck…?"
With that, Neji bit his lip as he grabbed hold of her arm and questioned her, "Shocking?"
"D-Definitely… I… I thought I was dead for sure…" she admitted, slightly shivering as she looked around, specifically at the crowd. In vain, she tried to see who it was who had pushed her violently enough to send her down the street, but she'd never know, of course. Everyone seemed to look the same, like their faces blended together.
"Same here," Neji mumbled as she finally was on her feet with a few cars halted before them, "But I'm glad you aren't dead, anyway…" At this, he held onto her shaking hand, firmly grasping it as if in protection.
"Did you trip over a flat surface and end up tumbling into the street?" Neji asked her, not the least sarcastic and very much maddened in the sense that she was almost killed a second ago. His grip on her was tightening, as if she was slipping away.
The commotion grew and police were soon coming their way. Seeing this, Neji's breath quickened. Police knew who he was. Chances are, he'd get caught once someone recognizes him. So, hastily, Neji pulled Tenten by the wrist, pulling her into the crowd again.
"This is bad," Neji thought as Tenten tried to catch up from behind, "If Uchiha's still after me and is already involving Tenten into this, the day's going to be long." But as he remembered how Hinata's trying to get rid of him along with the Aburames, he added, "A really long day."
Tenten was hushed the whole time, simply silently thanking the heavens that she was alive. She didn't know what to say, and everything she wants to say was at the tip of her tongue, held back by nothing. With this, she pulled closer to Neji and questioned in a shocked tone, "Someone… pushed me. I know… I could tell"
"Well, we'll never catch the bullshit," Neji exclaimed, half-crazy, his voice choked with happiness, "Gawd, I thought I lost you there…"
As they passed through everything and everyone, nearing the pub, all Tenten could think of was how nearly missed the accident was. And she enevr got to know who was the jerk that actually had the nerve to push an innocent civilian into danger.
Everything didn't feel like a coincidence or an accident.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"I paid you enough, right? Then, kill them!"
"The hit-and-run plan was miscalculated…"
"Then, do a direct hit! Just don't get caught."
Click.
"Fuck this…"
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"… What?"
"I said you're doing bartender duty. Starting today."
It was a little hard to believe. Days ago, even before she was employed, Ino said she'd make a good guard for the pub. Eventually, she was 'instantly promoted' into becoming a delivery girl. Now, she's 'promoted' again? And this time, she's a bartender.
"Ino, no offense, but…" Tenten tried to oppose of the decision without getting fired, "Remember when I first tried to get a job in the pub? One of the reasons why you didn't get me immediately was my lack of… experience with shakers, crushed ice and alcoholic what-hell-are-these-shits."
At this, Ino snorted and commented, "If you can make warm milk for yourself in the middle of the night, then you can make a cocktail." She took out a pocket-sized book from her front pocket and added, "This is a complete recipe book for cocktails. Try practicing. Good luck."
Forcefully, Ino slammed the paperback onto the counter in front of Tenten then left, walking into the storage room. At this, Tenten whimpered, picking the book up, "How am I supposed to memorize and master all these crappy cocktails within one shift?" Slightly frustrated, she sighed.
Leaning on the counter, Neji couldn't help but chuckle and comment, "It's really simple, actually. The only necessary thing you have to know is the difference between port wine and Inglenook, which is easy to know, actually." With that, he smirked without much reason.
"I don't know what the difference is between port and Ingenvo-whatever!" she exclaimed as she heaved an irritated breath, tugging on the loose strands tucked behind her ears. She leaned onto the counter, too, beside Neji and muttered, "So, do you know anything about this?"
"I wouldn't survive if I didn't."
Unsure of what he meant, she then asked, "Well, can you help me out with this?"
"Fuck. Knew that was coming. Why not, though?"
Hearing this, a smile crept onto Tenten's jaw and she entered the counter's interior, saying, "Thanks, Neji. Now…" Randomly, she chose to take what seemed to be a glass and she questioned him, "What do we call this glass and what drink's supposed to be served in it?"
Instantly, Neji laughed and answered correctly, "That's a miniature spittoon and I don't think I want to know what kind of shit goes into it."
Disgusted, Tenten returned it, wiping her hands on Neji's sleeve as he passively snorted, saying, "Let's start with a simple daiquiri. Grab a bottle of white rum, lime juice and some Gomme syrup. It's real easy. Just mix the ingredients into a shaker filled with ice cubes. Then pour into a cocktail glass."
At the simple procedure, Tenten giggled and exclaimed, "My gawd, it can't get simpler than that!" And, with a swift turn, she gazed at Ino's shelves of alcoholic drinks, various glasses, mini ice crusher, drink artificial colorings and garnishes. Tenten swears that she felt her fingers twitch somehow.
"So… how can I figure out which on is the rum… the limes… the Gomez syrup…" she murmured, almost in gibberish. Funny how variety can cause migraines with one look.
Amused, Neji joined her in the counter interior and pointed out, "The white rum is the one in the unique-looking bottle since Ino doesn't keep it in barrels. To make sure, either check the label or smell it. It's a little less fragrant than everything else…"
"Fragrant?!" Tenten shot at him, arching her brow as Neji brought down the rum from the shelf, "Everything has that nasty smell that makes my nose itch, my stomach churn and my eyes water. How can rum be less fragrant when—" She was cut off with a luring scent that came from under her nose.
Turning her gaze downwards, she found an open bottle of white rum positioned under her nose. Neji then asked, "Take a good whiff. Rum's made from sugarcane and it smells like candy sometimes. But it sure as hell doesn't taste like candy." After a few seconds, Neji poured 9 parts of the rum into a shaker.
Tenten watched him reach for an 8-ounce bottle of lime juice, adding 4 parts into the shaker. It was as if his moves were choreographed and everything about him was perfect. Staring at the mixture inside the shaker, Tenten seemed to be more interested than ever.
After licking his fingers clean from the sticky bottle of homemade Gomme syrup he held, he shoved a few ice cubes into the shaker. His swift movements got Tenten following his arms as he shook the mixture together in a professional manner. Once the daiquiri was poured into a cocktail glass, Neji once again smirked at her and said, "I told you it's simple."
"Gawd, you make it look simple, actually," she admitted, picking the cocktail glass up, inspecting the impressively made beverage, "But I'm sure that if I were to make this, I'd take forever and a day. And on the last day, I'd end up with a glass of sour syrup instead, maybe."
He rolled his eyes and said, "Stop pitying yourself and get over here so I can teach you a little of what I know. I'm no expert, but I can hopefully help you." He gently took the glass from her hand, rubbing fingers with her, and he said, "One requirement for every 'bartender' is that you must actually like what you make. Get my drift?"
Definitely, Tenten got the drift. She stuck her tongue out in slight disgust and she mumbled, "Uh, no thank you, please. I really don't drink. I told you before: My system doesn't always agree with alcohol and all." She was wishing he'd eventually drink it himself.
Her words made the utterly despicable images of her and Sasuke in the Uchiha's suite come back without an invitation, memories and a real-life nightmare that he has tried really hard to eliminate from his record. Only know did Neji wish that he had short-term memory loss.
"Still," he urged her, trying to wipe the annoying images off of his mind, "Just one sip won't kill your system, right?" He first took a small sip, showing her that he was into it, too, and when his lips parted from the glass rim, he stated, "One little sip."
A little convinced, Tenten shrugged and repeated unknowingly, "One little sip."
And there, she carefully took the glass from Neji and after a little contemplation, Tenten stuck her lips onto the rim and downed about a gulp of the cocktail, savoring it somehow.
Quickly, she drew it away from her and told Neji, "Okay, fine, so… it's a little… good. But, don't you think it lacks rum?"
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Her brows shot up as the alert went off. A pleased grin ran across her face as she rushed to the computer. But the grin immediately faded away when she read the words on the screen…
ACTIVATION TRACKED. ERROR: COUNTER ACTIVATION ENABLEMENT TRIGGERED. ACTIVATION CANCELED.
"I knew the bitch was a traitor…" she thought angrily as she pounded her fist onto the monitor's top. Her partner nearby jolted at the sudden impact and she asked, "What the hell's wrong now?"
"It's the poison." Black Ivory stated, gritting her teeth, "Eagle Eye's assistant sent the upgraded antidote. The poison's effects were negative. Unless they get another dose, they're not dead."
"Impossible!" Blue Gun Shot yelled, snapping at her sister, "I'm the only one who has the record of the upgraded antidote."
"I know," Hinata growled, biting her lip, "How Eagle's apprentice got the antidote is beyond us, though. If the assassinations aren't successful, another dose never hurt…
… But, this time, I want no antidotes."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
She lifted the glass up, holding it up under the light and questioned him, "So… this one's called a… flirtini?"
"Stupid as it may sound, it is."
Experimenting on their sixth cocktail, from a margarita to a Cape Cod, Neji and Tenten have practically made a mess out of the counter. Whenever a customer approached the counter to order a drink, Neji would be coaching Tenten on what to do, how to make the cocktail and what glass to use.
So far, Neji would admit that she's doing fine for a beginner.
While waiting for anyone else to place an order, Tenten squinted her eyes at the swirl of colors inside the glass, saying, "Vodka, champagne, pineapple juice… I don't think it's a good combination, really. I mean, would it taste weird?"
Neji snorted and shrugged at her question as he tossed a small shooter around, playing with it. Again, Tenten seemed to be intrigued with the cocktail they made. "Why, exactly, is it called a flirtini?" She turned to him, seeing that he had stopped tossing the shooter around and was now looking at her blankly.
Once again, he smirked and began, "The flirtini is a wine cocktail that isn't in the IBA or International Bartenders' Association Official List." He kept his gaze on her as he skillfully answered.
He took the glass from Tenten gracefully holding it up before her, "My first flirtini was the other year, when my cousin turned thirteen." As he said this, his words darkened with every syllable. Tenten looked at him as he seemed to be pressing nearer to her, as if cornering her on the counter she had her back against.
"The champagne gives it a bubbly spark, a sense that just grabs you in one sip," he continued, still closing in at her while she appeared to have been immobile, captivated by his growing spell, "The pineapple juice bursts with a painful yet comforting smack of sour, forcing you to lick your lips with the tingle…"
If she was right, Tenten felt like Neji was… seducing her. As she felt the counter's edge press on her behind as Neji felt closer to her, the dim atmosphere also contributed to everything. His breath felt so near, as if his lips were brushing against her skin on the very moment. Everything was like it was set for the moment…
… Like the world was screaming, cheering…
"Then, the vodka?" Neji added, now leaning one of his hands on the counter surface behind her, towering her with his build. Tenten felt small at this, but she didn't know why Neji was acting this way, explaining the flirtini in such an elaborated way… in such a seductive… mysterious… way…
"It's like a bittersweet tang that swirls in your mouth, making you let go of your senses, immobilizing you," Neji whispered, placing his lips by Tenten's ear. Definitely, they were literally pressed together, "And you know why it's called a flirtini?"
Hearing this, Tenten really felt like he was asking her, as if he wanted to hear her say:
"W-Why?"
Her voice was quivering. She didn't know, but it was. There was something about Neji's sudden strange behavior that made her shake yet there was a sense of pleasure in it. Cornering her in the dim-lighted counter of the pub wasn't a bad idea, maybe… for him, that is.
His warm breath traced down her ear, making her shiver even more. Tenten froze on the spot, her legs brushing against Neji's pants. She thought, "My gawd, I can imagine the morning news: Girl makes out with mafia boss in bar. Gawd, why am I not doing anything to stop this before it even starts?!"
Tenten proclaimed it silently: She was giving in to the temptation named Neji Hyuga.
There, Neji spoke again, as if in conclusion, "It's called a flirtini because it's like the greatest thing that has ever happened to you…
… It's like a kiss… Only a kiss is always better…"
With the word, Tenten unconsciously and gently lowered her eyelids, closing her eyes without much thought. And there, she waited for the presence of his lips against hers, his hands twirled with hers, as she felt his breath draw from her ear. She was waiting for a dose of flirtini…
Unbelievably, she was waiting for a kiss.
"I'm kidding." The words took her by surprise. Hastily, she shot her eyes open, somehow disappointed. Neji laughed and said, "I'm kidding, I said. It's called a flirtini because it was shown in Sex and the City, I guess. And we all know that Sex and the City is a real hell of a flirt movie."
At this, Tenten's mouth opened ajar, no words came out.
Seeing this, Neji snickered and asked, "What, you thought I was serious when I already tasted a flirtini? I haven't, honestly. But I know how to make one. In my opinion, I don't think it'll be so good. I'm not really a fan of pineapple juice." And there, he smiled wholesomely at her.
Immediately after he did, Tenten flashed a joker's grin and chuckled as she scratched her head in embarrassment, "Y-Yeah, I'm not really someone who'd like pineapple juice, too. But, how'd you know that a flirtini would taste like that? I mean, like a… kiss?"
"I don't. I made it up. Really, Tenny, it's pretty easy to make things like that up."
Laughing, Tenten threw her head back and stated, "Well, you're good at it, definitely!"
She shot her eyes back at him to watch him laugh with her, but his eyes were dead serious. His iris shone with sternness as he looked past her. Tenten wasn't sure of what he was looking at, but he seemed to be dismayed or mildly shocked. But then, his next move shocked her in turn…
"Get down!"
"Wh-What?!"
Without telling her anything, Neji lunged for her, pulling her onto the floor. She found herself on the cold, dirty pub floor with Neji's firm hand tackled on her shoulder as he sat gently on her stomach to keep her down. As she looked up at him in surprise, he took out his .45 and started turning everywhere.
"What's wrong?!" Tenten questioned as she spotted beads of sweat down his face. She could tell that he was panicky. Before he could even answer, gun shots came from nowhere, resonating in the pub, causing the other customers to scream and flee.
When she heard the shots, Tenten shrieked, "W-What's going on? Neji!"
"Stay down. My gawd, Tenten, stay down. Stay down, stay behind the counter and stay unseen."
And there, he got off of her with his gun. He whispered to her, "Stay hidden. Sniper shots."
Hearing the word 'sniper', Tenten's senses seemed to snap, as if her presence of mind had drifted away. Fear melted into her eyes and she scampered in the nearest bottom shelf behind the counter in the intention of hiding.
Slightly shaking, she threw her hands over her head as she squeezed herself into the open shelf by the glasses. More shots came around, making her feel more scared and tears formed out of panic. She couldn't hear her own screams over the havoc happening nearby.
She found Ino rushing out of the storage room with Shikamaru, cursing under her breath. But, eventually, their eyes grew and Shikamaru carried Ino off, bringing a suddenly unnerved Ino away. "Ino ended up cowering?!" Tenten thought in distress, "What's happening?"
Indeed, the gunshots went on and all Tenten could see was the shut cabinet before her. She didn't dare get out of where she was scrunched in to check on Neji. Everything felt like it was too much, like everything was eating her away.
Neji, on the other hand, was standing in the middle of the deserted pub, holding his gun up and ready to shoot. Frantically, he was looking around to try to see where the close-shot sniper was. He was absolutely sure that he was still here, whoever he was.
Then, all of a sudden, more shots came from nowhere, distracting Neji for a second. Once Neji analyzed where it came from, he pulled the trigger of his gun, shooting at the fifth booth at the far right. Quickly, a cloaked man came rushing out of the booth.
As the man ran across the room to try to get away, he aimed his shots at Neji, his target. As a reaction, Neji tried to dodge a few, but one hit his side, giving him a minor injury. After a swift recovery from the shot, Neji tried to hit the man, but he was too quick.
"Who is this guy?" Neji thought to himself as he felt the bullet force him to quiver, "Who sent him? Black Ivory? The Aburames? Damn, that Kiba guy? Shit, whoever sent him wants me dead and they want me dead now."
Again, Neji fired a few shots, trying to hit the assailant, when another shot came from the other direction, nearly missing Neji. "Fuck," Neji thought as the shot passed him, "Are there two of them? Or is he really just fast?"
Turning to the opposite direction, Neji tried to get a glimpse of the other shooter, but another shot came from the other side, confusing him a little. With this, Neji concluded that there were two thugs around.
One of them swerved, trying to move across the room. Luckily, Neji caught sight of him and rushed to the man, catching him by the waist. With a thud and a groan, they both fell with Neji's hold firm on the man. "L-Let go!" the man said, trying to kick Neji away. But Neji didn't even budge.
At this, the attacker turned to Neji with an angry glare and when he did, Neji paused. "A… A girl?!" The thought shot through Neji, sidetracking him from his actions. Seeing the opportunity, the girl called out to her partner, saying, "Master Zabuza, now!"
Five shots came and as the bullets flew sharply through the air, Haku managed to duck, giving the bullets a clearway. Everything caught Neji unprepared. All he did was stare at the coming bullets and fail to react.
As the shots hit, Tenten simply shut her eyes tightly, clenching her fists in fear. She bit her lip, mumbling, "I'm not scared. Not scared. Neji will handle this. I'll be fine. Fine…" But then, something diverted her from her mumbling.
And, at her right, after the counter, someone fell over with three shots through his chest…
At the sight, her mouth shot open to scream, her shrill voice echoing and haunting her…
"Neji!"
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
She kept on running, her legs getting numb as if every ounce of her energy had disappeared at the moment. Her breath has gone short and with every blink, everything turns into a blur.
"Tenten! Come here! I just want to slit your throat!"
"Yeah! And I'm gonna shoot you to kingdom come!"
"Let me run you over, Tenten! Kukuku!"
Their calls were taunting her to stop, but if she did, they'd get her. They'll kill her with their merciless acts, harming blows, painful attacks and sinister glares. The attackers tried to get to her, running right behind her with knives and guns.
"No! No!" she screamed, half-crying, "Leave me alone! I don't want to die! Not yet! Not yet!" Her shrieks were futile in halting their chase. Her chest tightened as everything closed in at her. The path she was taking grew narrower and her feet seemed to liquefy into the cement below her.
More of her cries came out of her mouth as the wicked brutes seemed to come closer. They were nearing her, almost there. She was afraid of what could happen next. What would happen to her? How did this even turn up this way?
Suddenly, straight ahead, she found a familiar face, a passive and cold one. Relief struck her at sight of him and she ran faster, motivated. Once she had thrown her arms around his neck, she buried her face in his chest and cried, almost screaming, "Neji, I don't want to die. Save me…
Please, save me! I don't want to die in their hands!"
Rubbing her tear-streaked face against his shirt, she couldn't help but bawl louder as he held her back. At this, she lifted her gaze up at him to see what he was going to do to stop the gaining men who wanted to get rid of her. But, then, what she saw frightened her even more…
Neji held the same evil grin of death.
She tried to push back upon seeing this, but his grasp was too strong. A red glow in his once lavender eyes pierced through her and she could feel his hand nearing her neck. Intensity grew in her as Neji mouthed these words in the most intriguing and horrifying way…
"Don't worry, Tenten. You won't die in their hands…"
She felt a prickly surface by her neck's skin and with every second, it pressed deeper. She could feel the warm blood starting to blot from the slice and her throat felt choked up. Her grip on Neji's shirt tightened as she stood at the tip of her feet, feeling the last minutes to come.
Finally, Neji concluded, "You'll die in mine…"
And as the blade ran across her neck, she screamed…
"Agh! No!"
She quickly sat up on her bed, gasping for breath. She had grown more terrified now and the darkness of her room ate her away. Looking around, she was in her bedroom, safe and sound. Seeing this, she smiled thinly and fell back onto her pillow, relieved.
"Oh my gawd," she thought, nipping her lip, "That was such a horrible nightmare. Damn it. And Neji just had to be in it, huh? Shit."
The rain blew against her window's glass, giving everything the disgustingly humid sense in the atmosphere. Again, it was raining in the middle of summer. It really is the worst summer of her life, indeed.
Sitting up again, Tenten threw her gaze on the clock hanging on the wall and found out that it was a quarter to 1 am. Ever since the incident in the bar this morning, she has not been feeling well. Ino managed to contact her counterfeiter friend about what was happening and Lee arrived.
No one knows how Lee and Ino's friend were able to contact each other.
Tenten was found sobbing in the shelf and Neji was on the floor, grunting. When she passed him, she thought he was already dead. She had plans of crying her heart out and regretting her rude actions towards him, but he eventually stood up and started plucking the bullets off his chest.
"Bullet-proof vests." He remarked as she looked at him in amazement, "Gotta love them."
She ended up crying harder and screaming at him as Lee tried to pull her away, "You stupid, stupid mafia shit! Don't you realize how worried I was? How fucked up I was back there when I saw you?! I thought you were dead! Gone! And now you stand up and tell me all about bullet-proof vests?!"
Eventually, police arrived and Neji had left before they could. It was for his own sake. Tenten was there as the police examined the area and tried to see if the goons were still in the perimeter, but it seemed that they weren't anymore. Ino's pub needs major renovations.
"How am I going to pay for all this shit?!" Ino shrieked, kicking a broken table, "I'm not a millionaire!"
So, Ino would have to be closed for a few days and because of that, Tenten would have to accept her pay in advance. Before Tenten left with Lee, Ino handed her 500 dollars, additional money for the trouble. As Tenten got into Lee's mini van, she asked, "Where'd Neji go?"
After heaving a sigh, Lee answered honestly, "Neji got a shot on a spot where he didn't have any bullet-proof material on. Mafia members are, as you know, careful of their identity. They wouldn't go to hospitals if they're hurt and—"
"Lee, where'd Neji go?"
"I… I don't know, okay?"
It bothered her to no end that Neji wasn't home. He had simply rushed off from the pub without even telling her a thing. In fact, he didn't tell her that he was bleeding. So, she stayed in the living room with Lee trying to calm her nerves down from the situation earlier.
Still shaking and a little fearful, Tenten waited for him to knock on the door, fall from the picket fence from outside or even just appear out of nowhere. Within the rest of the day, he hasn't shown up. Eventually, Tenten fell asleep in her room, waiting for him.
Rising from her slumber, Tenten stood up and ran out of the door, a little frantic. She ran down the stairs and nearly missed a step then hurried to the glass door leading out to the pocket garden. Quickly, she thrust herself into the tent and was devastated when she found the sleeping bag empty. Twinkle-Top, though, was curled up nearby.
Saddened, Tenten crawled out of the tent and thought in consternation, "He's not yet back? But it's been hours. 12 hours. Where did he go? The bastard better be back by morning." And there, she walked back into the house.
Locking the door again, she was about to go back up to her room when the parked car in her garage honked loudly and disturbingly. Her eyes twitched with question and she decided to investigate. Unless it was Lee trying to smuggle a cow in, it's got to be Neji.
And she was right.
She opened the door to the garage and found Neji lazily seated on the passenger seat, looking at her like a child who has broken a Ming vase. All at the same time, she felt thankful and pissed off.
"Hi." He mumbled plainly.
"Hi?!" she responded, maddened, "When did you come home? I was worried sick about you. And what are you doing in my car?"
But he just snorted at her and muttered drowsily, "Stop acting like a housewife, Tenten, I just went somewhere to get my wound treated. Nowhere special, really. You don't have to think about it, really. So, quit thinking about it, alright? Alright." And there, he held out a wine bottle and drank straight from it.
Tenten breathed through her nose in irritation and muttered, "What are you doing here? I told you before: If it rains, you sleep on the couch. I never said that you could sleep inside the car, right?"
"I wasn't sleeping in the car."
"Then, why the fuck are you in there?"
"I was bored. So I decided to open your garage door, watch the rain and drink… wine."
She was silent for a minute but she noticed how relaxed and calm Neji was. She spotted the bandage that was poking out at his side then sighed. "Mind if I join you?" She was hoping he wouldn't. She wants to be as composed as he was right now.
All Neji did was shrug and mumble, "You sure? Get in, then."
Not exactly conscious of what she was supposed to do now, she chuckled and entered the passenger seat, sitting beside the muzzy Hyuga. She uncomfortably fixed her loose shirt and tugged consciously on her shorts. Yet, something about it felt right.
"So…" she tried to start something since everything felt stupid and awkward at the moment, "You want some music?" She tried to get a decent word out of him, beaming at him cheekily and happily. Neji only raised his brows and mumbled something inaudible. He didn't seem to be in the mood, ironically.
As the music came out, Tenten tried to start a conversation in an ugly state, "Mind if I ask you about your night? Like… your nightmare. What was it about that you were so tensed out, so panicky. It kinda surprised me, actually. I never thought you'd get nightmares."
"Everyone gets nightmares, Twenty. Maybe you haven't. But I admit that I do."
Tenten screamed in her head as she played with her fingers as Neji muttered all about the dream of his father getting killed in front of him. As Neji kept talking, his words were warped in her head, "Oh… his eyes do have color, though. Lavender, periwinkle, baby's cough… Nah, baby's breath. Wonderful, actually…
… And my eyes are colored shit."
"You're not really listening, are you?" Neji questioned her, throwing her an irritated glare, "It's a waste of breath to me if you aren't even going to pay attention, you know…"
"I'm… I'm really sorry, I just spaced out and started thinking of something else and… and… Yeah, there and I thought you thought I was listening and not thinking of anything else, but I wasn't, really. I was thinking of what you were saying and—"
She decided to stop when she found him laughing at her. His somehow drunken laughter echoed through her and she didn't understand why he was cackling hysterically. Nothing was funny at all. "Why're you laughing?!" she exclaimed, humiliated in a way.
His laughing reduced into stifled chuckles and he shook his head shyly as he said, "I'm sorry if I offended you, really. I just couldn't help but laugh. You reminded me of someone, actually. Someone I knew." He smiled at her somehow lovingly and added, "Someone special, I guess."
Hearing this, Tenten managed to grin back at him and ask, "Yeah? Who?"
"My mom." And again, he started to laugh, "Why, did you expect anyone else?"
"I thought you were going to mention your ex, honestly. Just thought."
"Nah, she's way behind me. She's way beyond us, actually. But she made me learn a lesson and it's to never fall for anyone. It could be a great regret."
It gave her a lingering doubt in her mind since he was two-sided in his own reflection. Earlier, as he was explaining everything about the flirtini, he said a kiss would be the best thing that could ever happen to anyone. But now, he was mentioning how love is a regret to all. Can't he make up his mind?
She giggled softly at the immaturity of the sense. Looking at her, Neji held out the half-empty wine bottle before her and remarked, "Want a little wine? It'll sooth you, really. It calms your nerves. And don't worry, I'll watch your alcohol intake. I'd know if you've had too much."
A little confident, Tenten nodded and took the bottle cautiously. The dewy exterior felt damp on her palm and as the aroma seeped through her, she already felt collected. And, once she had made her choice, she tipped the bottle and let the liquid slide down her throat.
Smacking her lips, Tenten breathed in and murmured, "Yeah, I guess you're right. It's a little heavenly, I suppose." She handed back the bottle to him when she felt the wine swirl in her stomach, "What did you used to do before you became the official heir of your mafia? Just curious, okay?"
He arched his brow and began, "I was like any other teenager." He took another sip of wine and added, "I was home-schooled, went out with my friends, bullied, got bullied, cared about what kind of car I had, started a fraternity as a freshman in college… The usual."
"I spent Saturdays in my friend's house, counting stars and reading Gossip magazines. That's usual to me. I'm very much sure you have another definition for usual. Tell me more."
"Usual Saturdays, huh? Blue Gun Shot and I would grab a donut and sit in the sidewalk, doing any random thing from playing Black Jack to holding a burping competition. We'd crack lame jokes, sing songs with my guitar… The guy's kind of usual. It's weird how Hanabi's good company."
"Jokes? Songs? Guitar? It doesn't sound like you."
He grinned and flashed her a sarcastic face, saying, "Oh, so you thought I'd spend Saturdays shooting anonymously in the street?"
"Maybe?"
At this, Neji laughed with her. They'd bury their faces in their hands and just let their laughter out, choking in the process. Honestly, they never thought that the other would actually act this way eventually when given the opportunity.
The night flew faster than they thought and the wine was running out. More laughter came around every now and then with the occasional wait-a-minute-I'm-choking-on-my-saliva coughs. Truly, they felt like they've been friends for so long.
As the silence came in again as they tried to catch their breath from the boisterous laughter, Tenten asked once again out of curiosity, "You know, I noticed that you're close to your family. Usually, people are closer to their friends, right?"
"True," Neji honestly replied, "But mafias, generally, are closer to family since the business is like a monarchy in a country. Besides, with all those dangers you get as a mafia, your family's the only ones who'd look out for you. But in some cases, murders are committed among family members."
At this, Tenten flinched and asked, "Like your case with Hinata, huh? Why is she after you, anyway?"
He just shrugged. But seeing her eagerness to learn more, Neji pulled his wallet out and took a few pictures out of the pockets, placing them on the space between them. With the photos all laid out, he pointed at a picture of a middle-aged man and a little boy. They boy was obviously the man's child.
"That's me and my Dad." Neji said with a grin, "We look alike, no? It's weird, actually. I think I'm only paler than him." To Tenten, Neji looked like he loved his father more than anything in the world. From the photo alone, it showed.
Tenten picked the tiny photo up and stared softly at little Neji in his messed-up over-alls. She smiled cheekily and whispered particularly to Neji, "You have your father's eyes."
Blushing out of embarrassment, Neji took the picture from her and muttered, "Yeah, but everyone in my family has the same set of eyes. I told you before, didn't I?" He then handed her another photo, "This is a family picture. It's got me, my parents, Hanabi, Hinata and their Dad, my uncle, in it."
Perceptively, Tenten noticed how Hanabi and Hinata's eyes seemed to somehow differ from Neji's. It was as if Neji's were more beautiful, like it had a magical sense in it… or maybe she's seeing things again. Still, Hanabi and Hinata are gorgeous. Even a girl would say so.
"My Dad and uncle are twins. That's why they look the same, no duh." Neji mentioned, twirling the wine bottle's neck around his fingers, "Once, I went up to my uncle and called him Dad then I got so embarrassed." She noticed how he sheepishly grinned again.
When Tenten returned the photo, Neji handed him the last one he wanted to show her. It was a picture of him, about a year ago, beside some girl that seemed to look familiar. "This… This is you, right?" Tenten questioned, "So, who's the girl?"
"Satori."
"Pardon?"
Neji was quiet until he explained, "Her name's Satori. Met her in a club. You know the story. She's my ex."
"His ex?!" Tenten thought in her head, overwhelmed, "My gawd, this girl is Neji's ex? Look at her! She looks so fragile, like she'd cry if I poked her. With those brown locks of hers in that tiny ponytail, she even looks insecure. My gawd, Neji, she really looked like the wrong choice, no offense."
She couldn't help but look up at Neji and tell him, "But, she looks so… so…"
"Delicate? Flimsy? She is." Neji replied quickly, taking the photo from her without a smile nor frown, "I admit it: She's scared of everything. Spiders because she could get bitten. Trucks because she could get crushed. Laptops coz she can get electrocuted. My Dad because he hates her…"
"What did you see in her?" Tenten found it irresistible to ask, "I mean, look at her. She looks like she'd run away when she sees you."
"She did when we first met."
"And…" There was something Tenten wanted to add, but it was out of reach… until she fully realized it, "And she looks like… me."
Hearing her comment, Neji chuckled and proclaimed, "Well, she does." He slid the photo from her fingers and explained while returning the pictures into his wallet, "Satori was annoyingly paranoid, seriously. That was why my Dad didn't want her around me, too. I think I liked her because…
… she didn't hate me for who I was."
At this, Tenten got more interested. Was that all Neji wanted in a girl? To accept him? Does he mean that if Lee turned into a girl and Lee accepted Neji then Neji would fall for Lee? No, she doubts that too much.
"It's a funny and screwed-up story, really," Neji said, his eyes mesmerized in hers, "In the end, she wasn't for me, so I'll have to let go. You know that feeling, I'm sure."
"I don't think I do. Can you at least remember how I've never fallen in love, Neji?"
"I really doubt that! Anyone, at least once, will fall in love. I've had my once-in-a-lifetime-love-shit and because of it, I'm through with love. I think you've found someone or at least you will soon. Look at me. I'm a sloppy mob boss. I've fallen. How can you not?"
"Because," Tenten wanted to argue all night about this, "it's like this: People see what's outside first. You look at me! I've been contemplating on how both my hair and eyes are hued shit and how my lips look pinched. And have you seen my scrawny arms? Seriously, Screw…
… It's easy for anyone to love you because you're, in a manly way, beautiful!"
"And you're saying you're not?"
"Yes!"
"I disagree, Tenten. Really disagree."
His words took her by surprise, like this morning's sniper shots. Unexpected, he had complimented her in the most simplest of ways. It has to be an accident. It had to be. It wasn't like him to do shitty things like that.
Maybe, just maybe, there was something in the wine. Yes, it had to be that, because he was calling her beautiful and she wanted him to say it again.
"Thanks?" It was the only words she could make out as of now. Things were getting too strange for anything else.
Again, silence took its place between them with both of them staring at each other's eyes. And Tenten saw the same nightmare in his eyes. Once, she saw paradise in it. Now, the evil stare of the devil in her dream returned…
The traumatizing fear shook her again and her thoughts shifted from the flattered maiden to the suddenly distressed victim. "W-Wait," her mind opposed, "This isn't right. I swear there's something in the wine! Because I'm falling for him on this moment. I am never drinking wine again!"
A battle raged in her head, "You're supposed to be afraid of him. He can eliminate you any time. He's trying to play around with you and soon get to your good side. Then, bam! He's got his knife down your throat just like in your dream. He's a nightmare!"
Yet, Inner Tenten only prevailed in controlling the words that were sliding roughly out of her lips as she whispered unknowingly to Neji, "Neji, it's real nice of you to say that and it ended up somewhere in me and…" Her tongue couldn't be held back in talking some more.
"In the past seven days that we've been together, I…" Her whispers grew softer as she realized how much she was giving in to his magic spell. Neji, like her, had his eyes half-closed as if in a squint, and their heads were in a tilt as their faces neared.
Each second felt prolonged and it was like laxity had gotten the best of them. Tenten forgot that she was Neji's captive, not girlfriend and Neji had forgotten his promise never to even find a girl attractive ever again. If Hanabi knew what he was trying to do, she'd immediately get his birthright.
"Tenten," Neji's luring voice felt so near as their faces were near to closing in involuntarily, "You talk too much."
At this, Tenten kept her eyes gently closed and she simply giggled amid her mind's shouts, "Tenten, you idiot! Idiot! Don't kiss him! Damn you, don't kiss him! You had a plan, remember?! A plan! Do you still want to be a target? Will you get used to sniper shots popping up every morning or the car chases that risk you and your car? Do you have a death wish?!"
Still, the voice in her head didn't change Tenten's mind. She could already feel Neji's presence before her, pulling on her, tempting her. Everything felt like it's taking forever. Why couldn't she just reach for his lips and end the wait but start everything else? Why couldn't she? Then, she tried to pull back…
"W-Wait, Neji…" her whisper sounded like a sigh with its faintness. She knew that it was Neji's lower lip smoothly brushing against hers, "I… I can't do this." Even if she said this, she was still leaning in, "I'm not supposed to be in love with you. It's… not right… It's…"
But, eventually, she felt his full lips pursed against hers lovingly. And what was odd was that her conscience still screamed "No!" but her arms were actually already around Neji's neck. She had won over her conscience. She admits it: She's in love with him.
All of a sudden, Neji pushed her away, ending the kiss at that. Once they were back to seated at least 5 inches away, their stares seemed shocked but delighted. They weren't sure with what was happening to them. It was like they had done a crime against their own will.
"It's…" Tenten still had the thoughts stuck in her throat, "It's morning…"
Indeed, the rain has turned sun-dappled outside, shedding some golden sun on the drenched ground. Neji nodded and muttered, "Yeah. It… is." He cleared his throat and reached for the car door's handle. He pushed the door open and excused himself, saying, "Uhm, I have to call my assistant for… business affairs."
Tenten remained in the passenger seat, staring at him as he walked away, towards the door. When he was already inside, possibly in the living room, she whispered, "Sorry, Neji. This was the best Bella Notte ever… but it can't end that way."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Shakily, she dialed the number onto her cellphone, feeling guilt consume her. Yet, everything feels like it'll all be fixed after this one phone call.
The ringing increased against her ear as she wearily listened. She could regret this eventually or she could actually save her by doing this. She didn't know anymore. She had a choice and she chose this. It was called betrayal, but in another sense of it.
It was the right kind, if ever there was one.
"Hello?"
"It's me."
"Ah, I knew you'd agree with me. That's my girl."
She paused and slightly opposed, "I am not fully agreeing with you yet. I… I just…"
"I know. Come over today. We'll talk."
"Yes."
Click.
And there, she felt tears form in her eyes again. Instinctively, she brushed her wrist against her eyes in the effort to try to wipe them away.
There was no reason for her to cry. None at all. She had to be convinced that he wasn't enough reason.
And with that, she rushed to the coat hanger, grabbed her jacket and ran down the stairs.
She'd become a traitor.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Does the brief kiss mean that Neji and Tenten are (finally) in love? Is Tenten starting to live in fear of her life with all those attempts to harm her from numerous people? Is Kosa Hyuga really dead or was it really just a dream? Will Tenten one day be successfully be killed by one of the thugs? How will Hinata and Hanabi give them another dose of the poison? And who was talking in the last portion?
And will the 28 days shorten somehow (Oops. Shouldn't have given that away)?
Find out soon.
I finished my exams today! I'm free again!
Kankuro: Damn.
Me: And to celebrate it, I posted this 10th chapter.
Kankuro: It freaks me out how you know so many cocktails. It's like you're an alcoholic.
Me: I'm not. I just know.
Kankuro: And what was that weird cocktail in the story?
Me: … Flirtini? I just saw it in the internet.
Kankuro: Is it true that it was shown in Sex and the City?
Me: -shrug- Wanna find out?
Kankuro: Sure.
Both: -walk out and rush to the nearest DVD rental store-