~*~*~*~*~Dance Partners~*~*~*~*~
By: SunshineGirl09
Tenten's POV:
"Oh. My. Fucking. God!" Ino cried.
I sighed. Here it comes.
"YOU OWE ME MONEY!" Sakura broke in. "300 yen,"
I sweat dropped. Three bucks? "Sakura-"
"Why didn't you tell us?" Ino demanded.
"I just did dumbass!" I retorted, angrily, watching Ino give me the "eye".
"Y-You guys. I thought y-you said you a-already knew it was going to happen," Hinata put in.
Ino sniffed. "I like to be informed."
"Yeah," Sakura added. "Besides, we need confirmation,"
I raised an eyebrow, sprawled out on the floor of my bedroom. "Why?"
"Bragging rights," they shrugged.
All I did was roll my eyes. My best friends happened to be insane. It was just a factor of life.
"G-Guys," Hinata spoke directly to Ino and Sakura.
"What?" They chorused. "Oooooh!"
"Ahem," Sakura coughed. "There's been something we've been keeping from you,"
I listened, one eyebrow raised, as I reached for my food stash under the bed (I would have one). Breaking in half some instant ramen I looked at them to continue.
"Well," Ino started. "This has been going on for a little while now but-"
"You're going out with someone," I interrupted flatly, crossing my arms.
Ino and Sakura gaped. "How did you know?" They cried in unison.
I looked at no one in particular and replied, "Woman's intuition,"
Sakura scowled. "Well then, do you know who we're going out with?" she demanded.
I smirked, then bit off a piece of ramen. "Of course,"
"USO!" they jumped up. "You lie! LIES!" Ino danced around my room, flailing her arms.
"Sakura's with Sasuke," I ignored Sakura's death glare. "Hinata's with Naruto," Hinata's face couldn't have possibly gotten redder. "Ino-baby is with Shikamaru I'm assuming," A/N Sorry ShikaTema fans :( "Temari is with . . . oh God Kiba?" The two nodded.
"Yeah," Sakura continued on. "She was depressed over Ino and Shikamaru so she threatened Kiba to go out with her. They're actually really cute together!"
I shrugged. "Karin better have her ass with Suigetsu," more nods. "Is that it besides me and Neji?" I questioned.
Ino giggled. "Of course not. You don't know what happened yesterday do you?" She asked me.
Sakura was also grinning madly.
"Tsunade and Jiraiya!" they whispered hoarsely.
My jaw dropped. No. Fricken. Way! Those two were going out? Where the hell was I during all of this.
"I find this hard to believe actually," I stated. "You guys all suddenly started going out with people?" I interrogated.
Ino waved her hand dismissively. "Obviously not. That's highly unlikely. It happened over the course of the last few weeks . . . gradually. Only recently did Tsunade start going out with our favorite perverted judge.
I collapsed against my bed. "And you guys didn't TELL ME?" I demanded.
"We were," Sakura admitted. "But we wanted you to figure it out . . . obviously you did." She smirked then looked at Hinata. "Hina-chan here really wanted to tell you though,"
Hinata smiled sheepishly. I sighed. "At least there's one sane person here,"
""Anyways," Ino said. "We're all going to eat and you are coming with."
Sakura added. "And it's your job to bring Hyuuga!"
God help me.
We arrived at my oh-so-favorite restaurant that had bad memories with me. The Mixing Bowl.
Neji was with me, wearing a navy Polo shirt and jeans. I had on the same black dress as our previous visit (Which was not very fun.)
"Damn you, Tenten," Neji muttered.
"What?" I asked in disbelief. "You have to come,"
Neji groaned. "This is stupid,"
Hm. Stupid stoic bastard of a boyfriend.
"You're going whether you like it or not," I informed him. "Nonnegotiable,"
Neji didn't reply.
We walked in and found our wonderful table with our friends awaiting.
"How's it going?" I asked.
Ino smirked in her pretty skirt. "Wonderful, glad you could join us,"
Then Neji pulled out the chair. AHA! He didn't do it last time! Good boy . . .
"Well that was a pretty fun year of dance," Temari commented, putting her napkin on her lap.
"You bet," Ino smirked, glancing at me. "It was definitely fun. Wouldn't you say?"
I eyed her suspiciously. "What was that?" I demanded, glaring now.
Sakura smoothed her dress. "Now let's not do that," she spoke trying to be mature.
Naruto sweat dropped. "Why are you being so calm now?" he grumbled. "A minute ago you were breaking a glass on my head!"
Sasuke opened one of his closed eyes. "You deserved it, dobe,"
"Yeah you baka," Kiba added.
Sakura smiled, along with me. "Couldn't agree more,"
The waitress now walked up to us, grinning. "Would you like to order?" she inquired. "Or should we start off with drinks?"
"ORDER!" Naruto cried. "RAMEN PLEASE!"
"W-we don't have any," The waitress stuttered, shuffling her feet.
"Oh yeah?" Naruto challenged. "What do you have?"
"Well we have Udon . . ."
"-Oh I'll take that lady!" Naruto interrupted.
"N-Naruto," I could hear Hinata whisper. "You shouldn't b-be so rude . . ."
Naruto rambled onto her about something else but I wasn't listening.
Sasuke and Sakura both got Mango marinated chicken. Temari got lobster. God only knows whatever the hell Kiba ordered. Ino had a salad with *sweat drop* a side of french fries. Shikamaru didn't order so Ino got him a buffalo burger (Probably so she could steal some of his). ordered Soba noodles. I got to orders of steamers (clams yum!) and Sushi! Neji got . . . tofu. Plain tofu. Such a strange child.
"This is delicious!" Temari cried, breaking about her lobster and eating it joyfully.
"Not as good as ramen," Naruto commented. "But not bad."
"What the hell is this?" Shikamaru moaned, looking at his burger. Ino eyed him.
"Like the best invention ever," She told him.
Shikmaru glanced down at Ino's food. "Then why didn't you get it?" He asked her suspiciously.
"Ano . . ." was all she said.
I did my routine with my clams. Take out the clam, take of the skin on the clam. Move the clam around in hot water. Dip the clam in butter . . . DEVOUR THE CLAM! Uh. Sorry. Then I ate my sushi delicately. Most of the time I just eat it all whole but this stuff was especially good so I peeled of the fish, (separated the wasabi bits from the rice), ate the rice, then slowly gulped down the fish.
And Neji that weirdo just ate in silence.
Sasuke and Sakura were the idiots eating typical chicken, which only pissed me off momentarily. I got over it after about a minute.
Then again, there was stupid Ino and her idiotic salad that was also pissing me off.
"It was a great year," Sakura continued after a long time. "We laughed, we cried, we danced, we got kidnapped-" she looked at me. "We kicked some Konoha Gang ass-" almost everyone had good chuckle at that. "And we had fun," Sakura smirked. "What more could we want?"
"Vacation!" I cried laughing and everyone followed. I didn't realize before as much as I did now but I had made great friends that would not be easy to forget.
Does that include Neji?
You're a persistent bugger aren't you?
Yeah possibly.
Well I guess it does include Neji.
You love him.
Yeah. Unfortunately.
Why do you say that?
Only I would be able to fall in love with such a bastard.
Haha. You have a point.
. . .Geez, don't rub it in.
You're right. I'm actually proud, Hon, I can't believe you actually confessed.
Ha. Neither could I.
And bravery isn't even one of your traits!
. . .oi. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
I'm just kidding! Gosh! Can't I just say that I'm happy for you.
Which means your technically happy for yourself.
Oh calm down, you!
Shut up.
What is that . . .9?
God you're not actually still counting are you?
Maybe.
Stubborn.
Yeah. Just like you.
"Coming?" I stared blankly at Neji's outstretched hand. I didn't even notice the bill was already paid.
"Oh yeah!" I quickly remarked, taking it and I let him lead me out of the restaurant.
We waved a quick bye to our friends and headed off in different directions but Neji followed me.
"I don't suppose you're going to let me walk home?" I asked him.
Neji chuckled. "Not a chance,"
Well. That truly was the Neji I knew. He looked out for me . . . even though it sometimes pissed me off. But you probably already know that I get pissed quite easily.
We walked in silence when finally I asked, "Neji . . . did you ever hate me?"
Neji hesitated. "No,"
Good you better fuckin not or I'll- "Because it really seemed like you used to,"
Neji sighed. "Like I said before, the only person that I ever loved had died. I didn't want that to ever repeat." he looked downward. "I shut myself out from everyone else,"
I nodded, sympathetically.
"But then you-" Neji glanced at me. "Came along and you were so persistent on becoming my friend it just pissed me off at first. But I slowly started to take a liking, even though I hated to admit it."
My eyes widened, and I urged him to go on. He raised an eyebrow.
"You really don't know how hard this is for me do you?" he inquired.
I nodded vigorously. "Of course I do. Now go on."
Neji sighed. "When you were threatened by Kabuto it made me so angry and especially when I saw Orochimaru-" Neji paused. "It was the most anger I had felt since the night of my father's death," he closed his eyes. "You have no idea how angry I was,"
I slowly nodded now.
"You do?" Neji suddenly asked.
Then I shook my head realizing what I just did. "No," I said. "I nodded in agreement."
"Oh, anyways," Neji cleared his throat. "You basically," he swallowed. God this must've been really hard for him. We passed under a few streetlights. "taught me how to feel again,"
Tears swelled up in my eyes and I didn't even know why but I was so touched by his words. He noticed I was crying and knew that it must've been his fault; he looked angry at himself so I quickly wiped my eyes and cried, "Enough of that!" Neji glanced at me. "This talk is too depressing. How about something else?"
Neji's face was blank before he smiled (NOT SMIRKED XD). "And you always have a knack for being able to do that," he said.
"Doing what?" I questioned cluelessly.
Neji shook his head. "Never mind,"
We talked on and on until we reached my house. Neji walked me up to the front, up the steps. I hugged him goodbye before his kissed my forehead and left.
"Bye!" I called to him.
He returned it with a light wave.
My heart fluttered like and Otaku fan girl.
I loved Neji Hyuuga. My God I did. Though he was cold and emotionless. I loved that stubborn bastard.
I fumbled under the mat for the spare key and grasped it, then unlocked the door. One problem remained.
How the hell was I going to explain to my parents that I was going out with Neji Hyuuga, my dance partner?
~Fin~
A/N: So my lovable fans that I adore so very much. Did you like? It was kinda a bam ending. And there's one thing I'm pondering over. Epilogue no epilogue? Tell me what you think. If I make one I don't it to kill the story but if you guys want one I'll make it. Yes so Neji learned to love in the end. How wonderful, ne? Anyways, I'm back from Nationals . . . and BOOYAH! Zach and I took second place in the duets out of eleven peeps. Hurray! Our Tap dance got platinum, as did our jazz. Ballet/Lyrical go High Gold which is still good considering it goes bronze, silver, gold, high gold, platinum! Our tap dance got the encore award and Zazh and I got the Intensity award (our song is Set the Fire to the Third Bar by Snow Patrol: Good song check it out) yes. It was very fun. I dropped my phone from a high ropes course XD. It hilarious. Zach was like right behind me laughing his ass off. I got payback later don't worry. Me, my friends on my line and Zach did this one raft ride at the water park. Haha we got in so much trouble for standing up. Apparently it was a safety hazard or something. Lol. Yes. So epilogue or not. Tell me. I hope you loved this story as I much as I loved writing it!
With love,
~Sunshine
