Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Naruto.

Destined to Love
By: Chigiri Sasaki

Summary: He was a prodigy, with a damaged past and no future. She was a commoner, with a hidden secret. Strung together by fate, it was only a matter of time before she changed his life forever. [AU, NejiTen]

Chapter Eighteen

Winter had come in Konoha, and although there usually wasn't much snow, it was still quite chilly. Leaves that were dyed in glorious shades of deep crimson, orange and gold had long fallen, branches now bare as they swayed back and forth in the cold, crispy air. Back at the Hyuuga estate, all the training grounds they owned were filled by hardworking ninjas who couldn't train elsewhere due to the ongoing epidemic. Being the one who had walked through these areas, Hiashi was most surprised to see that Hyuuga Neji was, yet again, not there.

The clan head frowned. It was impossible that Neji was sick—and even if he did catch a cold, he would probably still be outside training. There was a tournament today, and knowing Neji, he would be at least practicing his hand-to-hand combat. He definitely wasn't affected by the epidemic, seeing that the virus had not reached the neighbourhood yet. So what was wrong with that boy? For the past few days, Neji had himself locked up in his room, only coming out to eat his meals. He ignored anyone who tried to talk to him, unless it was an Elder or the clan head himself, which was expected but Hiashi thought that the boy had at least the courtesy to reply to Tenten.

That was basically the reason why he had given him the letter in the first place. Not only did he owe it to Neji, he also wanted to make Tenten's job easier. Tenten made changes of her own, but he thought Hizashi's letter would change the Hyuuga prodigy completely. After all, Hizashi's death was what caused him to be this way, wasn't it? All these years, the clan's leader kept the letter from Neji—whether it was out of selfishness or cowardliness or something else, he didn't know. But Hiashi realised a few days ago that he had one last opportunity to clear the misunderstanding. He had waited long enough. He could wait more, theoretically, but a few weeks from now, Neji would be forcefully engaged to some other girl. The clan head doubted anything could change the boy's perspective then.

Hiashi sighed. He didn't want to show that he treated Neji differently, as it would be unfair to the rest of the Hyuugas that were forced to marry at the age of eighteen. However, he saw too much of Hizashi in Neji—and it wasn't just because of all the potential the sixteen year old had. Hiashi didn't have the heart to trap the son of his own twin brother.

His twin brother Hizashi died for him years ago, even when that thought had not been suggested. Of course, Hiashi was unwilling, but Hizashi carried out with his plan anyway. Hizashi left his four year old son, and couldn't even live to see him grow stronger and stronger. Neji had potential to become the strongest member of the clan, yet Hizashi would never be there to see it. Was that fair? Perhaps that was the reason Hiashi was so lenient when it came to Neji and his freedom—Hiashi owed Hizashi that much.

Yet, Hiashi couldn't be so sure of Neji anymore. His views and thoughts were constantly changing as he grew older, yet there was always that underlying bitterness. Hiashi shouldn't have waited so long to reveal the truth, but he truly hoped that the letter still had some value and weight to it. When Neji first read it a few days ago, he simply looked moved and shocked. And then, when he was done, he swept from the room, not giving Hiashi a chance to apologise. It was so Neji-like of him to do that, yet the letter must have done something to Neji—it must have. Otherwise, why would he just stay in his room?

"Neji, open the door," Hiashi commanded when he was in front of Neji's room. "I must speak with you."

The door immediately slid open, and Neji stood there, bowing. He looked perfectly neat and healthy—he didn't look strained, wounded or tired, which was expected since the prodigy had not been training for the past few days. However, despite his healthy appearance, his eyes were dull and blank.

"Neji, may I come in?"

Neji nodded a bit and made way for his uncle. He stood there, waiting for Hiashi to speak.

"Well," Hiashi started, but he was almost at a loss for words. Since when had Neji been like this? There was no life to him at all. "I just wanted to remind you of the tournament. It's today, yet you haven't been training much. Why is that?"

There was no response; Hiashi could tell that his words had not reached him at all.

"You should ask Tenten to come. And I received a notice from the rice country. The new candidate for your wife is supposed to arrive today. You should get ready to meet her."

Finally, Neji looked up, but Hiashi knew it wasn't because of something he said. Instead of the usual fierceness and determination, there was a hollowness to the boy's eyes. "Why?"

"Because she's going to be your future wife," Hiashi replied solemnly.

"Never mind that," Neji said scathingly. There was a tremor to his low, deadly voice. "Why? Hiashi-sama, why did it take you twelve years to give me that letter?"

For a moment, Hiashi could only stare at Neji squarely in the eye. Neji no longer had to look up to his uncle, for he had grown a lot over the years. Hiashi seemed to notice as well, and with a pang of remorse, wished that Hizashi was here.

"Did you keep the truth from me because you thought I was too young to understand? Did you do that because you knew I would train harder than ever?" There was no more bitterness in Neji's voice—only acceptance of the harsh, blatant reality. "Or perhaps you wanted to see me suffer all these years. You knew it would motivate me to train harder."

His eyes were so dull and pained, yet wise from years of suffering. Hiashi, speechless, was the first one to glance away. "I'm sorry, Neji."

"Is 'sorry' the best thing you can say to me? Is that what you said, when you were powerless to prevent my father's death? And is your apology going to make up for all the nights I spent having nightmares of my father's dead corpse? I spent my entire life believing something that wasn't even true. You could have saved me so much pain, Hiashi-sama." He gave a lifeless, short laugh. "Is this why you were chosen to be the head of the clan? Because you're ruthless and despicable? You truly do represent the true nature of the Hyuuga clan. It's a good thing you were born to the head family and not my father."

Neji knew he had crossed the line, and was ready to receive the punishment for insulting the clan like that. But instead, Hiashi's expression crumbled and did what Neji thought he would never do.

The clan head, looking defeated and almost forlorn in a way, fell to his knees, bowing so low that his head touched the floor. He no longer had the certainty of a leader, but rather, the vulnerability of a guilty child.

"Forgive me, Neji," Hiashi managed in a choked voice, almost as if his voice would break if he spoke any louder. "I apologise for never giving you that letter. I don't know why I kept it from you for so long. I let you believe that we forced your father to die. I was a coward—perhaps, I had always thought you were strong enough already, or maybe you got over it without me explaining the truth. I simply never found the right opportunity, anyway—maybe deep down, I was too afraid to approach you because I felt guilty for Hizashi's death." His shoulders shook the slightest bit. "But I had no choice. I never wanted Hizashi to die, but he stepped up himself. The Hokage and the Elders wouldn't let me refuse. And at the end, I agreed, simply because if neither one of us died, a war would most likely break out. That would kill many more lives. That letter that Hizashi wrote—that explained the truth."

Neji couldn't find anything to say. Finally, he exhaled sharply and let his tensed body relax. "Please stand, Hiashi-sama. I believe what my father said."

Upon hearing those words, the clan head simply looked up and his gaze met with Neji's. There was still anger and resentment, but the burden on his shoulders was much lighter. "Then why?" he questioned, still on the ground. "Why did you lock yourself into your room?"

"I suppose I needed time to think," Neji replied in a far-off voice. For the first time in his life, he felt like he was speaking to his uncle, rather than the noble Hyuuga clan's leader. "There were some concepts my father mentioned, which completely opposes mine." He eyed the leader for moment, whose head was still touching the floor. "Please, Hiashi-sama. Stand."

Hiashi stood up, almost reluctantly. He dusted his clothes and there was that air of nobility around him again. He cleared his throat. "Very well, my nephew. You are to clean up now."

"I already am."

"I suppose you are, but you are meeting your future wife, so present yourself nicely."

For a moment, Neji's eyes flashed with anger, but then he was expressionless. "Fine. I suppose I cannot defy the traditions of the Hyuuga clan."

This took Hiashi by surprise. It felt like a very long time since Neji had first refused to meet a candidate, who was actually 'Mikya' back then. It felt like they had come a full circle since that summer day. The clan head smiled, feeling more relaxed than he did in months. "And then, you have to attend the tournament. I hope your lack of training won't hinder your performance."

"It won't."

"And I suppose you want Tenten to come?"

"No," Neji said automatically. "She shouldn't come. The invitation says only family members are to come. How would the Hyuuga clan look if a commoner came?"

Hiashi raised an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't care about the clan's reputation."

"I never said that."

"Then you have something against Tenten personally." When Neji didn't reply, Hiashi added, "she's coming. Now, go meet up with Yamamoto Leiko. I want you acquainted with her before we leave for the tournament."

Neji sighed inwardly and nodded respectfully. "Yes, Hiashi-sama."

When the clan head left, Neji fell back onto his bed. It felt so different, knowing the truth behind his father's death. He had been so shocked at first, but now that he thought about it, what his father did was reasonable. In fact, it was honourable, protecting a loved one. However, even though his father had opted for his own death, even though the clan wasn't as ruthless as it once seemed like, it didn't change the fact that Hizashi and Neji were both branch family members. They still had the curse mark embedded into their forehead, and they were both damned to hell. It was only a matter of time before Neji died as well.

It was fate, wasn't it? Everything was predetermined. Just like how he would be forced to marry this new girl—her name was Yamamoto Leiko, if he had heard correctly. What was the point of refusing? He had done so before, but his efforts were in vain. Not only did they bring 'Mikya' in to bother him, Hiashi also threw in that annoying, nameless commoner. Besides, the entire clan were all forced to do engage at the age of sixteen—who was he, refusing something that everybody else had gone through?

No, they all didn't have to go through the same thing he was. No one had to suffer the constant pestering of a girl who constantly talked about her dreams and hopes. No one had to bear that light, fruity scent that filled the air whenever Tenten walked in. She was an annoying girl who bothered, manipulated and injured him. She probably thought he was just some antisocial child who needed consoling, and was doing everything out of pity. Oh, and she needed the money too, because she was poor and useless.

Yet, he couldn't quite recall the reason why he hated her in the first place.

In the room across from his, Tenten laid on her bed, flat on her stomach. She was flipping through the glossy pages of a fashion magazine that Hinata had bought yesterday. When she was done, she tossed it to the chair on her left with uncanny accuracy; it landed neatly on top of another magazine. Then, she turned to her desk and took the next magazine from the stack.

Hinata had bought them for her. She felt bad for Tenten, since she too, had noticed that Neji hardly left his room. Tenten couldn't go out due to the epidemic either, so any outing she might have planned for her and Neji were automatically cancelled. The Hyuuga heiress herself couldn't accompany the brunette, since she had to leave early every morning to work at the hospital, and other members of the Hyuuga clan had to serve the village as well.

Suddenly, her room door slid open, and in came Hyuuga Hanabi, slightly out of breath. Strands of her dark hair fell onto her forehead, covering her eyes, and the tiny girl brushed them off impatiently. "Tenten! Tenten!"

"Hanabi, what's wrong?" Tenten was rather surprised that this girl, out of everybody, came into her room. She hadn't seen the young Hyuuga in a while, and they were hardly ever on good terms.

"Tenten, the new girl for Neji is here! I was training at the training grounds, and I saw her by the gates!"

"Who?"

"I don't know what her name is, but come, I want to meet her!"

"Sure, I'll come." Tenten, more curious than she was in days, stood up and followed Hanabi out of her room. She vaguely recalled Hiashi telling her about the new girl the clan chose for Neji. Hiashi had said that she would come soon, but she didn't expect her to arrive within a week.

They found the new arrival in the main living room. She was grabbing onto her bags, even though the maids offered to carry them for her. She simply asked for what Tenten guessed to be her room number, and started to head towards the corridor Hanabi and Tenten were peeking from.

"She's coming this way!" whispered Hanabi. "Well, see you Tenten!"

"What—Hanabi!" Tenten whispered back fiercely, but the little girl had already disappeared. She looked up, and Neji's future wife was standing before her. "H-hello!" Remembering her manners, she bowed slightly. "I'm Tenten."

"Hello, I'm Yamamoto Leiko." Leiko was stunning; Tenten felt a pang of jealousy looking at her angelic features. Tenten remembered that back then, Mikya was quite pretty as well, except she was more of a striking, deadly beauty. This new girl, however, had a softness and sweetness all around her. She, like Tenten, had creamy porcelain skin, but had strangely light golden amber eyes, enhanced with a bit of makeup. Her long, violet wavy hair tumbled halfway down her back, with a few strands in the front, framing her face delicately.

"My," Leiko said in her soft, melodic voice, "you and the rest of the maids are all so polite. Thank you, but I can carry my own things."

"I'm not a maid," Tenten replied hotly, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I'm just staying here at the Hyuuga estate for a while."

Leiko bit her lip, looking abashed. "Oh, I'm sorry. I really didn't mean that—it's just that you don't have their eyes, and you're not… well."

"I've been told quite a few times." Expertly changing the subject, she said, "so which room are you staying in?"

"Oh, well, they say it's next to Neji-san's room."

"Oh! That's exactly the room where Mikya last stayed." Sensing Leiko's confusion, she quickly added, "it was just another guest that stayed here. Hinata—you know, the clan head's daughter—is staying across from you. And I'm on her left, so—"

"Enough with the complicated visualisations," Leiko laughed. "At least I know I can talk to someone I know. You see, I'm actually really scared of this place. I don't know, it's like the Hyuugas intimidate me."

"That's no surprise. I was afraid the first time I came here. They all looked down on me, and I was pretty much the topic of gossip for the entire week."

"They looked down on you?" Her golden amber eyes were slightly uncertain. "But they stopped, eventually, right?"

Tenten chuckled as they reached the hallway where all their rooms were located. "Nope. I just got used to it. You see, the Hyuugas are like a—"

"Do not say anything about the Hyuuga clan."

Tenten was actually shocked that Neji spoke; there were many times where she talked in front of his room, knowing that he could hear. However, he never bothered to come out or say anything, even when she and Hiro were talking about him. It was almost refreshing, listening to the scolding voice she hadn't heard in a while. Yet she expertly covered it up and smiled blithely. "So, you finally decided to say something for a change, Neji. You do realise that your tournament is today."

"Yes," his voice, his voice coming through his door. "I don't need you pestering me about it day and night."

Leiko seemed to piece things together. "Tenten-san—"

"Call me Tenten."

"Tenten, are you here for Neji as well?"

The brunette nodded. She was about to add that she was merely his peer tutor, and that was the reason why she appeared much poorer than someone with the likes of her, but the door slid open before she could even utter a word. Neji stood there, tall and proud, looking immaculate and dignified in his Hyuuga robes. Maybe it was because she didn't see him that often anymore, but she never recalled him looking that darkly handsome.

"Hello, my name is Hyuuga Neji," Neji said formally, nodding politely. "You must be Leiko-san."

"Please, just call me Leiko."

Although Leiko's voice was calm and steady, Tenten could tell that her cheeks turned slightly pink. Actually, by now, Tenten figured that it was kind of a natural response. The brunette was already used to girls flustering or blushing around the Hyuuga prodigy.

"It was nice to meet you," Neji said curtly. "We should leave for the tournament in ten minutes. You're coming." Then, eying Tenten, he added slowly, "Hiashi-sama wishes for you to come as well."

"Sure," both Leiko and Tenten replied at the same time. They exchanged glances, smiled, and went into their own rooms.

By the time Tenten met up with the others at the main gates, Leiko was already there, chatting with Neji. The violet-haired girl looked effortlessly beautiful, as usual. Somehow, within those few minutes, she had changed into a new outfit. The outfit consisted of a simple blouse and skirt, which peaked through her long white coat. It was rather plain, but it looked elegant and sweet on Leiko's slender figure. Every strand of her long, wavy violet hair seemed perfectly in place, even though it was blowing in the wind. And on top of that, the white she wore made her look even more angelic.

Now that Tenten thought about it, Leiko and Neji made quite the striking couple. Both had dark, perfect and long hair. Both had such sharp, distinct features. Leiko had unique, pale golden amber eyes, while Neji had strangely beautiful pools of ivory. Leiko, being shorter than Tenten, reached only Neji's shoulder, but the height difference seemed natural as they were talking. Actually, they looked like old friends. Leiko was happily conversing, her cheeks rosy from the cold, while Neji simply listened and gave short answers. They stood out from the group that were at the gates. The two seemed so intimate that Tenten almost didn't want to intrude.

Wait a minute, she thought. Why was Neji so unexpectedly nice to Leiko? He was definitely not as social back then.

"Hey," Tenten said when she finally reached them. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Oh, nothing much," Leiko said, still smiling from something Neji had said. "I love your shirt! It's adorable."

"Huh?" Tenten looked down at the compliment, and smiled. She didn't button her coat, which revealed the pretty red top Ino had given to her. "Oh, thanks."

"You're welcome. So, are we all here? Hanabi-chan and Hiashi-sama just arrived."

As a clan, they all walked towards the fighting arena together. Tenten vaguely noticed that most Elders and children weren't attending, or maybe they were already there. A good half of the clan was still present, however. Everybody, including Hiro and Hinata, were all excused from their duties and were allowed to watch the tournament. Tenten decided that it felt nice, being able to talk to Hinata again. Lately, the heiress had been so busy she barely had any sleep. It looked like the hospital had sapped her of all her energy, and the fact that it was winter didn't help much. Yet, despite her weariness, Hinata still bore a tiny smile as she talked to the eccentric brunette and the newcomer Leiko.

"And t-then, we opened a large room where kids can stay and play. All their parents are sick by the epidemic and can't take care of them," Hinata explained. "Supervising them seems like one of the simpler jobs, but in actuality, the kids can be q-quite loud and problematic. And dramatic, too. One of the boys actually got down on one knee and proposed to a nurse that worked there. The nurse, w-who thought he was joking, simply ruffled his h-hair, laughed and walked away."

"Poor kid," Tenten murmured. "Was he serious, though?"

"I'm not quite sure, but the nurse is n-now not supervising the room anymore."

"He probably did like her," Leiko said thoughtfully, "but he definitely wouldn't marry her. Which kid in his own right mind would propose at such a young age?"

Tenten laughed. "True. And she's obviously way too old for him."

"A big age difference is hard to deal with," Leiko agreed.

"Then I'm assuming you have some experience?"

Leiko chuckled good-heartedly. "Well, you know how I'm supposed to serve my country and marry off to a powerful family. Well, this powerful but hideous man wanted to take my hand in marriage. My father was fine with it, but this man—he was fifteen years older than me." Her soft face contorted slightly in disgust. "I don't have anything against the age difference, but I was only fifteen then. I wasn't even half as mature as I should have been."

"I know what you mean," Tenten said, nodding. "So what happened then?"

"I just declined, even though he was really rich and everything. He should have asked someone older."

"Perhaps you were t-too pretty to resist," Hinata said.

"Or maybe," Tenten added, "he's just a pedophile."

Leiko giggled. "I guess that's one way to put it. And hey," she added, looking around. "Is it just me or are a lot of people looking at us?"

"People don't seem to be used to seeing the Hyuuga clan," Hinata replied slowly, finally noticing the villagers that were staring at them with round eyes. Yet, their gazes kept landing on Tenten, who seemed slightly smug about it all. "Actually, I think they're looking at y-you, Tenten."

"They're probably surprised to see someone like me with someone like you," Tenten said, shrugging. She suppressed, yet again, another smile; unlike Hinata and Leiko, she had been noticing them for quite a while. The brunette decided that it felt nice to be caught walking and talking with a member of such a noble clan. Tenten didn't know much about its reputation when she first started out, but slowly, over time, she began to notice how popular and powerful it was. People naturally turned their heads to look at the proud and imperious clan. It was so exclusive; not many people were allowed to live in the large estate. So it was no wonder that so many people were shocked to see such a seemingly poor girl tag along. Tenten actually wanted to laugh at their faces.

However, she started to frown when she noticed strange, white posts. They were built at every corner of each street. They weren't there before; she hadn't gone out lately, but she was positive that they weren't there before. When she passed one of them, she realised that they were actually dispensers for some kind of medicine. And above each dispenser was a poster indicating to swallow a round, black pill. It claimed to give one immunity to a deadly disease.

Tenten narrowed her eyes; Tsunade must have put up so many dispensers in an attempt to protect the villagers. Was the epidemic really that serious? It was frustrating, really, to not know anything about it. The process of finding the cure was completely unknown. There was nothing more unnerving than having nothing to do but wait.

"Something wrong, Tenten?" Leiko asked kindly. "You look disturbed all of a sudden."

Tenten shook her head and smiled. "I'm fine. I just thought of something, that's all."

Her tone made Leiko drop the subject, and the three continued to talk about frivolous and trivial matters. Meanwhile, Neji was walking way behind them; somehow, as the girls started to talk, they picked up their paces as well. Yet, despite the distance, he noticed Tenten looking at the white dispensers. He knew what she was thinking; he noticed the first one they came across and had been pondering about it for a little bit. Yet, the expression Tenten bore on her face when she saw them seemed to be imprinted in his mind. She seemed so disturbed and scared that he wanted to tell her that it wasn't that much of a big deal.

No, he didn't want to do that. She could wither in all the misery and he wouldn't care.

"Who are you looking at? I can't decide between Tenten or Leiko." Neji could hear the smirk in his smooth, sly voice. "Or perhaps, you're checking out your own cousin. I never thought you were the type for incest, Neji."

Neji turned to the speaker with a glare. "What do you want, Hiro?"

"Oh, nothing, I'm just trying to distract you before your tournament. You look quite tense." There was a slight smirk on his face. "Or maybe, you just can't decide between choosing Tenten or Leiko to be your new wife."

"There is no decision. It's already made. Not that I bear any feelings for either of them anyway." Neji and Hiro both slowed down; they were now at the end of the pack, trailing behind children that wouldn't eavesdrop on their conversation.

"My," Hiro said, "you're getting even more tense. You shouldn't deny something like that. And don't be so rigid, staring at me like that. You have a tournament coming up."

"I won't be so rigid if you would stop accusing me of such a ridiculous matter."

"How is it ridiculous if I can see it with my own two eyes?"

"You won't have two eyes if you continue bothering me, head family or not."

Hiro smirked easily, unaffected. "Ah, and now you threaten me. When did you become such a spunky kid?"

Neji could merely stare at the taller boy, feeling more and more stirred. "You're only a year older than me."

"And that's one more year of maturing and becoming more knowledgeable."

"Then if you're so knowledgeable, why do you keep talking to Tenten?"

"And why should I not?" Hiro's lazy grin grated against Neji's nerves like no other. "She's a lovely girl."

"What about your fiancée, then? You ignore her to talk to some random commoner. Does Tenten know that every member of the Hyuuga clan must engage at the age of sixteen? Or maybe, she does know, but by the way you're wooing her, I doubt that even crossed her mind. I cannot believe you spent that much money on that necklace for her. Did you ever get your real fiancée something that expensive? Have you no shame?"

Hiro's usually confident eyes suddenly darkened for a moment. "I had no choice but to engage," he said finally. "And neither do you."

"It's a Hyuuga tradition," Neji replied flatly. "Everybody goes through it, so stop acting like you're the only one trapped."

"So is it wrong for me to try and break free?" Hiro stared at Neji, his eyes cool. "Your father felt the exact same way."

Neji narrowed his eyes. How did he know that Hiashi gave him the letter?

"Oh, I knew about your father's past for a long time," Hiro replied, smugness lacing his words. "That's the difference between someone like you and me."

Neji's eyes suddenly regained a cold edge. "My father protected the clan. He sacrificed himself for a noble purpose." He turned to Hiro, his eyes cynical. "I'm curious to know. What is your reason? In what way do you gain freedom by talking to a commoner like her?"

"That has nothing to do with my freedom," Hiro replied dangerously in a low voice. "I have a right to talk to whoever I want."

And with that, the older Hyuuga boy walked off, leaving Neji at the very end of the pack.

It was only a short matter of time before they reached the battle arena. It was, by far, much larger than Tenten had ever expected. Clearly, they had some work done to enlarge the area. Hoards of people flooded the place, and people of all ages were entering, filling up the entire entrance and beyond. The overwhelming amount of people were entering slowly, however. Everybody had to swallow a pill before they entered the arena, which caused a very long line-up.

The Hyuuga clan, unsurprisingly, were let in through a different entrance. It was the entrance for the participating fighters and for special guests and clans. The door was much smaller and rather hidden behind the bushes, but there was no line at all. The guards there still made them swallow the medicine before entering, however. They briefly explained the potential danger of an infected person in a crowd of vulnerable targets, and that made Tenten shiver slightly.

Neji was long gone from the pack, as well as Hiro and some other Hyuugas that were participating in this competition. Apparently, they were all to report to a room for some quick examinations. Whoever didn't have to fight yet were to wait there as well, supervised by professional doctors and paramedics.

Tenten didn't find it that surprising when she saw that the Hyuuga clan got their own section in the seats. It was probably due to the fact that a good quarter of the participants were Hyuugas. Tenten specifically chose the aisle seat for convenience, but was delighted to find out that she was sitting right next to Ino.

"Tenten! What luck that you're sitting here!" Ino cried, smiling brightly. It didn't quite touch her eyes, though. They somehow seemed hollow.

"Tenten, I love your outfit!" Sakura added, peering from the other side of Ino. "Wait, isn't that top and coat Ino's?"

"Yes. I gave them to her," Ino replied smugly.

"Yeah, and that was a good choice. She looks way better in it."

"Why you!"

The two started to bicker, in a friendly manner but there were still shouts and cries nonetheless. Tenten didn't even bother to stop the two and began looking around, and simply observing this magnificent place. She hadn't seen this much life in a while. Finally, when she scanned her own section, she realised that she knew quite a few people. They were all basically ninjas that worked together. She then noticed Hinata and Leiko, among some people she recognised, sitting on the other side of the aisle. The three exchanged smiles.

"Who's that beside Hinata?" Sakura asked, finally noticing.

"Whoever she is," Ino added, "she's insanely gorgeous."

"That's Leiko," Tenten explained, leaning backwards so they could have a better look at her. "The clan picked her to become Neji's new wife."

"Oh? That's the new girl? Then I don't really like her," the blonde declared, crossing her arms like a stubborn child. "Although I love her sense of style."

"She's really nice. I've only known her for a day, but she seems genuinely nice." To be frank, Tenten felt rather intimidated by Leiko. She was honestly the perfect candidate—she was kind, pretty and rich. Tenten felt jealous, but she couldn't find a speck of hatred for such a perfect person. "And Ino, I never thought you were the type to judge people like that."

"I don't. I'm doing that because of past experience. I still can't believe Mikya was actually Akira in disguise."

"Well, either way, Leiko seems like a good person. Mikya was mean to start with. And by the way, do you guys have an inkling as to what Akira was after? She must have been really desperate. She did a good job. I wonder if she ever got what she wanted."

Both girls silenced at this. "Well," Sakura finally stated, "either way, she's gone now. Neji doesn't like to talk about her, so I think we should all keep mum about the topic."

"It's kind of sad, always being kept in the dark." Tenten sighed. "So how are things going at the hospital? How's Amaya?"

"Amaya's fine," Ino replied promptly, twirling the ends of her ponytail. "It's kind of strange. She isn't getting better, but she isn't getting worse. And somehow, the disease in her is no longer contagious. It's the same for all the other patients. Anyhow, I'm glad, because that's the only reason why I haven't died of exhaustion yet. Because Tsunade-sama sees that their condition is sort of stable now, she's a little less stressed now. She figured that she has a little bit more time to find the cure."

"Did she cure anyone yet? And I noticed the immunity pills at every corner. She also had ninja hand them out to every home. How many of those things did she reproduce?"

"A lot." Sakura shrugged. "Everyone's in danger. Everyone knows about the epidemic, but we want to keep it out of the public as much as possible. So far, most of the village thinks that it's just some cold that a lot of people have. Hopefully, they won't realise it's that serious for a little while. Tsunade-sama is working really hard, and I have faith that she'll find a cure soon. In the meantime, we should just relax and make it as least suspicious as possible. There's no need to cause any more panic."

"Well, having a pill dispenser at every corner is totally inconspicuous."

"It's better than nothing! How else are we going to protect Konoha? Apparently, it's been spread to different areas of the Fire country." Ino was suddenly nudged by Sakura, as if to indicate that she had spoken too much. The blonde shook her head slightly. "So," she continued brightly, "you do realise that we're trying to recruit as many volunteers as possible. All ninjas, including us and most of the clans—including the Hyuugas—are required to defend Konoha or help out at the hospital. So, do you want to help, Tenten?"

The brunette shrugged. "Sure. I want to help out as much as I can. "

"Great!" Ino smiled. "So, did you hear about the new additions to the festival?"

"Haven't heard much about anything," Tenten admitted. "I'm not sure if I even have the time to go."

"You are so coming," Sakura insisted firmly. "The planning committee found the perfect theme—it's like a winter wonderland. Forecasters predicted that there will be the perfect amount of snow that week, but the sun will be out and everything. The temperature will be just slightly below zero, which will prevent all the ice sculptures from melting—unless some pranksters from the academy to blow fire on it or something."

"They even added a lot of fun activities," Ino continued animatedly, regaining a spark in her dull eyes. "There won't be just displays and whatnot. There will be snow cones, toffee and even ice cream stands along the way. We'll have so many contests and competitions, with snow forts and snowball fighting and everything. And, this is what I think is the best part. Are you ready for it?"

Tenten laughed at the dramatic pause. "I think I can handle the big news, Ino."

"Okay, Tenten. So, if you buy an extra ticket, you'll get to eat dinner at a huge ballroom. It's specifically for couples, but singles are welcomed as well. It's a five course dinner—which, one of them includes a delicious Japanese dessert from the one and only Watanabe Izanami. Did you know that he just broke up with his wife? Just because he gained weight from trying out his new dishes. Oh, that is really tragic. Anyways, there will be dancing too—they organised a room that looks exactly like a winter prom scene, which Takashi Akio designed. He's the famous artist slash photographer. There will be more draws, and of course, a girl and a guy will be titled as Ice Queen and King."

"But of course," Sakura added, "this ballroom is for people that are underage. Tsunade-sama doesn't want the youth getting drunk. Not that that rule will prevent people from brining in alcohol anyway."

Tenten giggled. "I think I can imagine that happening."

"There are only five hundred tickets being sold. I know one of the organisers, so do you want me to get you a ticket too? Everybody's going—you know, the usual group of ninjas we hang around with." Eyeing past Tenten, Sakura added, "should I get one for Leiko as well? Or perhaps you want Hiro to go too."

Tenten laughed, flushing slightly. "I don't think either of them will have trouble getting tickets. The clan has a lot of clout."

"True." Ino grinned, almost catlike in a way. "So, you know that for the dance, you pretty much have to have a partner, since it's supposed to feel like a ball. Is there anyone that you might want to go with?"

"No," Tenten replied truthfully. "You?"

"Well, nobody in our group was really asked. I was kind of hoping I'd get something out of you." Ino sighed. "I know we're all busy at the hospital, and that there's an epidemic, but I thought everybody would be less lifeless. You know, out of everybody, I expected Naruto to ask Hinata. I know he's oblivious to pretty much anything, but still!"

"You were asked out, Ino," Sakura corrected. "I'm pretty sure I recall you turning down two guys. They were pretty nice, too."

"Yeah, but they're old. At least, too old for me anyway. If they're asking someone five years their junior, then that probably means that they couldn't get someone their own age. Isn't that enough reason to reject them?"

Sakura sighed. "You should give people a chance, Ino. Stop obsessing over Sasuke and move on."

"Who said I'm still obsessed with Sasuke? You're the one who still gazes at him longingly."

"We've been over this some time ago," Sakura retorted, but she smiled nostalgically. "You know, I still get quite bitter from time to time."

"I can't believe we grew our hair long for him. Then we just ended up cutting it."

As the two started to laugh, Tenten simply watched in envy. There were years and years of friendship between the two, regardless of their constant bickering and whatnot. Why didn't she have a bond like that? She felt like she could always run up to Ino or Sakura or Hinata, but it was evident that that trust wasn't reciprocated. Tenten only had them, while they had other people to rely on. The brunette always seemed like the one needing advice, and never the friend with a lending ear.

"I wonder who's going against who," Tenten heard Sakura muse. "I'd really like to see Sasuke go against a Hyuuga… he's been talking about it for quite some time."

"He has a good chance." Ino tapped her chin with her slender finger. "There are so many Hyuugas competing."

"I wonder how Sasuke would do if he went against Neji."

"That'll be really interesting. Both prodigies. Some luck needs to be involved. Seriously, look at all the snow that's on the ground. That'll be some pretty bad luck if someone slips on some black ice or something."

Luck. The word struck Tenten for a moment, and then she suddenly recalled the amulet she had bought for Neji. She had mentioned that it was for good luck, hadn't she? She wondered if he actually considered wearing it for the tournament. He probably didn't, but then again, Neji was full of surprises. More than often, he would surprise her by showing that he was actually a goodhearted person. He was a bit bitter and twisted, but he was still something genuine underneath the cold, exterior layers.

Tenten found herself biting her lip. She didn't speak much to Neji today, so she couldn't remind him about the amulet. So if he actually remembered to wear it, then—

Tenten abruptly stood up. "Hey, where are the fighters staying?"

"They're in the room, next to the door of the special entrance." Ino tilted her head questioningly. "Why? I don't think you're allowed in there. The competition's going to start soon."

"Well, I just want to find out something," Tenten muttered quickly, gliding out of her seat. She quickened her pace, eager to find out whether he was wearing it or not. Why did she care, anyway? It wasn't like he needed much luck. It was only the first round; chances were, he was going to go against a weak opponent. Well, they would be weaker than the finalists, anyway.

She didn't have much of a problem, getting in; contrary to what Ino had said, she found her way to the room easily enough. Instead of crossing directly through the battling ground, she went back outside and entered through the door that was left ajar. The room was filled with either angry or serious ninjas. A good half of them sat by themselves, simply staring off to some random spot on the wall. She saw a familiar back—and although all Hyuugas looked similar, she was quite certain that those broad shoulders belonged to Neji.

"Neji," Tenten said, tapping gently on his shoulder.

Neji spun around, his eyes tense. They relaxed slightly when he caught sight of her. "Why are you here?"

"Um…" Tenten couldn't quite find the words to say, especially when quite a few ninjas turned to look at her. She felt silly all of a sudden. What was she going to say? That she would feel really happy if he was wearing her good luck charm?

"If you're asking about that amulet you gave me, then no, I'm not wearing it."

It took a second for the cold words to register. "Oh."

Neji raised an eyebrow at her crestfallen expression. "Is that all?"

"No, not really, since I was—well, yes." She scratched the back of her head awkwardly. "So, well, since it's winter, don't catch a cold. And um, don't slip on the ice."

There were a few chuckles, and Tenten immediately left the room, abashed. She shouldn't have done such a stupid thing. Now they probably thought she was one of those silly girls who practically worshipped the prodigy. And to begin with, he didn't even deserve her concern. No, he didn't forget about the amulet—he remembered that she gave it to him and decided not to wear it. Tenten's hands balled into fists. This was going to be the last time she was going to do something like this for him.

"Tenten, why'd you go?" Ino asked when she got back into her seat. Hinata, Leiko and Sakura turned their heads to her as well.

"Nothing. You know, just a little curious."

Tenten was thankful that before Ino could open her mouth to protest, the stadium lights darkened, and the only thing visible was the centre ground. A tall man with a strange, bowl cut hairdo stood in the middle. He grinned. "Welcome all, to the annual fighting tournament! This exciting event will declare who is the best fighter in all of the Fire country. People of all ages, clans and genders are allowed! The top fifty contestants were handpicked by the Hokage herself. Now, I'm sure all of us youthful people are simply dying to see what will unravel before our eyes. So do give a hearty applause for our first two competitors. May the best fighter win!"

All lights were dimmed, and his booming voice was drowned by the roaring claps and cheers from the audience. Tenten actually felt the urge to block her ears. She turned, and noticed that Leiko had already done so.

When the lights came back on, there were already two people in the middle. One was tall, while the other was short. There was probably ten years of difference between the two; Tenten wondered why such an odd combination was chosen. Clearly, the taller one was more skilled. He was taller, bigger and probably wiser as well.

Before she could blink an eye, the tall one had already sprung into action. He ran towards the smaller one with lightning speed, leaving a very faint trail on the snow that covered the ground. Yet, with equal speed, the shorter one jumped up, throwing various weapons down with deadly accuracy. The other dodged, and began to clone himself. The dozen people surrounded the tiny one, yet he didn't even seem fazed by it. He closed eyes, and began to deflect every weapon being thrown at him.

"Wow," Tenten breathed, unable to tear her eyes away. "How can he do that with his eyes closed?"

"He's actually blind," Ino replied. "They're the same age, you know. Just, one of them is a midget. And if that wasn't hard enough, he had his sight taken away from him too. He beat all odds; he became one of the stronger ninjas in Fire country. It's insane, seeing him fight. You can literally see all the years of training and sweating and efforts. Even though he was put at so many disadvantages, he trained hard and pulled through. That takes a lot of guts, courage and persistence."

Tenten didn't reply; she was too engrossed in the fight. Now that she actually knew something about the contestants, she could only gape at the blind man's abilities to fight. Surely, he trained ten times—if not more—harder than her.

In the end, he lost, but he had gained respect from many viewers, including her. She probably clapped harder for him than the winner himself.

Each battle passed by rather quickly; she didn't even notice time passing by so quickly. Each fight had something unique to them, and she watched intently for each and everyone, which surprised her. She thought she was going to be bored by the twenty five battles. Some were short, while some were much longer. She recognised quite a few people; amongst the people she was introduced to recently, Sasuke, Naruto, Hiro and Kiba made it to the next round. She recognised quite a few Hyuugas, but surprisingly, only half of them made it in. Neji wasn't out yet.

"Shikamaru would've done really well," Ino said, sighing dejectedly when another person was announced as the winner. "I can't believe that he got sick. Shikamaru never gets sick. Chouji, well, he usually gets sick if there's something going around, but Shikamaru is too smart to get infected."

"He'll be fine soon," Sakura murmured soothingly to the blonde. "He'll be able to join next year's competition. Just have faith in Tsunade-sama."

"I hope so."

The stadium darkened once more, and when Tenten was able to see it again, she saw Neji standing there. Her breath hitched; finally, it was the battle she was anticipating to see. Across from the prodigy stood Shino, the strangely quiet boy who always wore dark shades. Tenten sat back and forced herself to relax. She wasn't sure what Shino was capable of but she knew how strong Neji was. He was a Hyuuga—the name itself was literally self-explanatory. On top of that, Neji was hardworking and was called a prodigy for his outstanding skills. It would take quite a lot to beat someone like him.

Tenten eyed Ino for a split second before gazing at Neji again. "What does Shino use?"

"Bugs." Ino's eyes were glued to the scene as well. "Lots and lots of bugs."

Before Tenten could register what she had said, the referee waved his flag, signalling the start of the match. Neji fell into his defensive stance, Byakuugan activated, and Shino immediately raised his two arms. Tenten had no idea what kind of stance that was, but she slowly realised what he was doing when tiny, black bugs came out from his sleeves. They came out in such large black masses that Tenten felt slightly nauseous.

The bugs shot out to Neji all at once, looking like a large black blob flying in the air. Just as it was about to engulf the prodigy, Neji stood back, and made his palms perpendicular to each other. A big burst of chakra formed at his hands.

"Hakke Kūshō!"

The large gust of wind Neji produced blew everything away from him. A large bundle of snow and bugs was directed towards Shino, who seemed slightly shocked. However, his lips instantly pressed into a thin line and his figure dispersed into millions of bugs. They began to circle the prodigy, and a black figure suddenly formed behind him. However, before Shino could strike down, Neji spun around and slammed his palm onto his chest. Shino stumbled over for a second, and the bugs momentarily froze.

"Well, I guess the match is pretty much over." Ino leaned back onto her chair. "Shino can fight on for a little longer, but the bugs feed off his chakra. So if Shino's chakra flow stops, then so do his bugs."

"And Neji specialises in blocking chakra points," Sakura finished. "I guess it was just a matter of who got hurt first. If Shino got his bugs to envelope Neji first, then Neji would be the one in a tough predicament. Shino's bugs sap its opponent of their chakra."

Tenten turned her attention back to the match. Neji was on the other side of the battling field, while Shino appeared to be thinking.

"The battle is over," she heard Neji say in his cold, sharp voice.

"Not really."

"I blocked one of your main chakra points."

There was a scoff. "Hyuugas are always the same. It's always the same, predicable technique to beat their opponents."

"It's just that effective. Hyuugas have been beaten before, so it's only a matter of how strong the user is." Neji fell into another stance. "Let's see what you can do."

Shino smirked, tilting his head cockily. "Oh, so you haven't noticed?"

Neji looked down, and sure enough, bugs had begun to crawl up his feet. Some were already at his wrists, binding both his hands together behind his back. Neji's eyes widened for a bit, but he kept his gaze cool as he directed it at Shino. "Impressive, Aburame. You've made your bugs, which emit chakra, undetectable to the Byakuugan."

"And I also used the advantage of the snow," Shino said coolly, his sunglasses glinting. Tenten had never heard him talk much, but now that he did, he sounded rather scary and almost like a maniac. "Otherwise, they would be visible on the ground. I know you can exert chakra from your hands to block chakra points—which is particularly why I tied them up. What can you do, now that they're bound by bugs? Your chakra is being sucked at this very moment."

Neji raised an eyebrow.

"Guess this means it's the end, Hyuuga."

Tenten thought the indifferent expression Neji bore was an acceptance of defeat. She had understood a little more about Shino's techniques. It wasn't impossible to escape his bugs, but once they attached themselves to one's body, it would be pretty much fatal. She couldn't believe how fast the tables had turned. One minute she thought Neji would be the winner, but a minute later she was already thinking otherwise.

She looked down at Neji, her eyes hopeful. Neji was strong, she thought determinedly. He wouldn't lose without at least partially killing himself in the process. Half of his body was currently covered with black bugs, yet he looked calm and relaxed.

Ino blinked in surprise. "Neji's giving up? Shino's… going to win?"

"No," Tenten replied defiantly. She stared at the prodigy; she recognised that expression. "He closed his eyes. He's thinking of something. He definitely has something up his sleeves."

The crowd watched intensely at the scene, their eyes fixed upon the Hyuuga. The bugs were travelling up closer, already at his chest. Yet, Neji still did not look stressed, intimidated, or even disgusted. He suddenly smirked and his eyes snapped open.

In an instant, Neji expelled chakra from all the pores of his body, killing every bug that surrounded him. He broke free faster than anyone could imagine, defying all odds, and he was already running before Tenten could exhale in relief. The crowd could only gape as Neji appeared behind Shino, with a murderous intent gleaming in his pale, ivory eyes. Shino didn't even have time to turn around and block himself because Neji's hands had already started to block his chakra points. Shino's face slowly contorted, his glasses fell off, and his body went rigid before falling to the ground. His bugs, as a result, stopped moving as well.

"Poor Shino," Tenten murmured. She could only imagine the pain of having all her chakra points sealed. And on top of that, each of Neji's strike was quick yet undoubtedly excruciating.

To her surprise, Shino didn't let the referee announce the end of the match. Although his arms shook, he slowly rose, pressing on his knees for support. He didn't like the feeling of having no chakra running through his veins; without his chakra, he couldn't use his bugs. It felt like an important part of him was stifled, but he refused to lose—the match had barely started.

"You shouldn't push yourself beyond your limits," Neji said impassively. He looked down upon the boy, who struggled to stand—who else had such perseverance? Oh, there was that Tenten, the stupid girl who kept bothering him. There was also Lee, and Naruto, the idiotic kids that were determined to beat him.

Shino simply grunted, but he lunged forward anyway. He punched, kicked, shot weapons—basically anything that didn't require using his bugs or chakra. He proved to be quite the hand-to-hand combat fighter, especially when he managed to kick Neji in the shin. Neji's knee buckled, but instead of falling, the prodigy swung his other leg, bringing the younger boy to the ground. Yet, before the he fell, Neji's knee connected with his stomach. Shino coughed out blood.

"You should forfeit," Neji intoned. "You can't go much farther."

"I'm not going—"

His words were cut off when Neji kicked him hard in the stomach. Shino flew several feet away, and by the time he actually landed and stopped rolling, he was already unconscious.

Neji's eyes displayed nothing as he stared at the limp corpse. He simply turned to the man that would determine his victory. "Well?"

"I guess this wraps up the battle," the referee muttered, coming forward. He held up Neji's hand. "And the winner of this match is Hyuuga Neji!"

The audience's cheering and claps for the infamous Hyuuga prodigy were deafening. It was a short match, and most of them knew Neji would be the winner in the end anyway, but it was still interesting to watch. The Hyuuga simply gave a nod and a quick wave to the audience before walking off the arena, looking as cool and stoic as ever. Tenten could swear that she could hear girls squealing from all around the stadium.

Why did so many girls love him? Sure, he had the looks and the strength, but he was unfeeling and merciless. The way he ended the match was a little cruel, even if he was supposed to show no mercy when it came to defeating his enemy. Come to think of it, Neji really was the perfect fighter; he was strong, talented, smart and ruthless. Someone like him didn't need a guilty conscience—someone like him didn't need an amulet for good luck.

Tenten sighed.

That night, Tenten found Neji in the middle of the training grounds, panting and sweating. The rest of the day had gone by quickly after the —they all simply walked home, and then proceeded to do whatever they usually did. Neji ignored her, as always, only giving a slight nod when she congratulated him of his victory. At least, she thought vaguely, he treated everyone else in the same way. He was still his old, usual self, and it was only confirmed when he decided to go to the training grounds. She honestly didn't know what drove him to train this hard; who in their right mind trained only a few hours after a tournament?

She sat down by a tree, shivering when a chilly wind passed. She looked at him; his face was still pale as ever and there was no indication that the cold weather bothered him. Around him were targets of different heights—clearly, he had made them from scratch since they were so shabby and randomly done. A target board hung from each wooden cross, each brutally pierced by various types of weapons. Tenten smothered a smile when she noticed that one or two shuriken were on the ground. He wasn't perfect; he could still improve his aim and weaponry skills, even though they were nearly flawless.

"What are you doing here?" he intoned, still shooting at the battered targets. "It's late."

"Well, same reason why you're here." She tilted her head questioningly when he missed the centre, yet again. "You missed."

"I can see that."

Tenten fought the urge to giggle. "You do have good aim and strength, but it looks like you don't often practice shooting from a distance. You can't use the same technique for short and long distances, you know."

"It's basically the same," he muttered.

"See, when you do that, you have to rely on luck to hit the target. That's what happens when you don't throw the weapons correctly."

"And you do?"

"Well, my methods work for me." She stood next to him and summoned some weapons of her own. She eyed the target carefully—she had chosen the board that was the farthest from where she was standing. Vaguely, she noticed that he only missed this particular target. "See, when you're shooting something far out in the distance, you have to really focus. You have to execute the right amount of energy and chakra. There has to be an even balance of precision and strength—if you lack any of the two, your attack won't be successful. But you know what I do? I just really concentrate on where I aim—then I just throw it as hard as I can. When you're farther away, you have to rely on your torso for strength and your wrist for aiming. Of course, it's a lot harder than it seems, since you have to calculate the distance and take how much wind there is into account. Then again, it also depends on which kind of weapon and how heavy it is."

"I already know that," he said flatly.

"Well, I can't explain properly so just watch me, alright?" With a quick flick of her wrist, Tenten shot the kunai from her agile fingers. The next second, it was seen lodged directly in the centre of the target board. She smirked triumphantly. "See? It's not really that hard."

Neji turned away from her, refusing to be impressed and resumed back to his previous stance. It was impossible that she knew more than him. He shot once again, and he hit the target board, but he didn't hit the centre like Tenten did.

He fell back into his stance, preparing for another attack.

"Neji, you're doing it wrong! If you continue to do it like that, you won't hit the place you want to hit. That can be fatal in your future tournaments. What if you wanted to hit someone's heart but then you hit their neck instead? Oh wait, no, that's kind of fatal too, but—"

"Go away. You're bothering me."

"But—"

"Go away."

Tenten exhaled sharply, glanced at the cold prodigy. Why couldn't she change this boy? It was like he specifically didn't change because she was here. He wasn't this rude, even when he was talking to Leiko, whom he had only met for a day. Why did her presence aggravate him so much? She sighed once more, this time softly. Before she left the training grounds, she gave him a half-hearted smile. "Well, don't stay up too late—"

"Whatever."

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A/N: I updated in less than a month! Wow, that's a first. And this chapter is a long one too. I used to make my chapters like two thousands words, but that was two years ago. I even had extra events to squeeze into this chapter, but I figured I would never get the chapter out that way. Oh, and by the way, the past few chapters (including this one) are unedited, since my editor is busy now and I have quite a bit of work myself. (High school isn't consuming, until they decide at the end of the year that you had it too easy.) Hope you look past the mistakes & typos.

Well, Boston was super fun. I slept half the time when we were waiting in the bus—this bozo that sat in front of me wouldn't stop bothering me. Shopping was really fun, except we only had two hours and a half to go shopping (within the span of three days). That's pretty sad, if you ask me. I still managed to get over 200 bucks worth of stuff, so it's all good. I love Boston. It's so full of American stores (no duh), and I get to go shopping at stores that we don't have here in Canada. I have to bug my parents to drive there this summer.

Oh, and what is up with the swine flu? I seriously hope it goes away sometime soon. I'm scared, haha, especially since my sister's grade went to New York, and is coming back this weekend. I hope she doesn't catch anything. And there's one confirmed case at where I live—oh God, I'm not going to take the bus. I'm going to walk home. It's only a twenty minute walk anyway.

I want to write this new story (I have a few chapters written out), but I'm not sure if I can handle updating two stories. (One story is already bad enough, since I'm the worst updater in the world.) Yeah… okay, well that's enough of my ramblings. They are not even relevant to the story. I hope you enjoyed this and please review! They make me happy and motivate me to write more. :)

Love always,
Chigiri Sasaki