It was also disturbing.
Since Tenten was a genin…no it was before then…she admired Neji Hyuuga. You could just look at him and tell he was totally focused on the path that he was going to take. He had drive and she admired that.
When she found out that they were going to be on the same team she had been ecstatic. She had ambitions to be a great kunoichi—greater or as great as Tsunade the Slug Princess. To be put on the team with someone like Neji who was the best in their class was sure to put her on the path to success.
Then she started to get to know him. Little by little admiration had turned into something else. Something that at first she couldn't explain or understand. Something that made her nights become sleepless ones. Something that made her heart race whenever he was near or the times when he offered words of praise to her.
Funny enough it was Gai that pointed out the symptoms of love.
She trusted no one as explicitly as she had him and she thought—even if he wasn't attracted to her—that he felt the same. So to find out that he had a fiancé…was a blow that she wasn't sure their friendship would be able to survive.
"It's nice to finally meet you Airi. I've heard so much about you." The nervousness that was obvious in Airi's face slowly began to ease out. Tenten didn't dare look at Neji; afraid of what she might do if she did. Like pick up her steak knife and show him why they called her the Weapon's Mistress.
"Oh, so what are you two doing here?" Her voice was pleasant. Nothing grand or spectacular but Tenten could tell just by her voice that she was a genuinely nice person. Tenten's smile slipped slightly before she replied.
"My date is running late and Neji was kind enough to join me so I wouldn't be lonely until he arrived. Actually, I'm starting to think he's not going to make it." Tenten looked at the door hoping for some form of escape from this highly uncomfortable moment but saw none forthcoming.
"That doesn't explain why you were here in the first place." Hiashi said to Neji disapproval etched on his face.
"Actually," Tenten said interrupting again for reasons unknown, "Neji was just telling me that he heard the two of you were going to be here. It was his hope to join you two for dinner."
A smile lit up Airi's face. "Ah, Neji. That's so sweet." Hiashi, on the other hand, said nothing. Tenten could tell he was still slightly suspicious and it was at that moment that out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of green. Her head swung around and her eyes widened. A wild hope flared within her. The idea was stupid but when you were desperate you grasped at straws. Tenten waved her arm and beckoned him over. He moved towards them hesitantly at first and then with more confidence as he saw more people standing around the table. Tenten rose to her feet the moment Gai stood next to her table slipped her hand in his and squeezed it tightly. "I thank you all for waiting with me, but as you can see he's here now so…" Tenten shrugged and smiled still squeezing Gai's hand tightly.
Gai glanced around the table and then looked down at Tenten briefly before saying, "Since we're all here why don't we eat together?" He slowly pulled his hand out of Tenten's grip and signaled a waiter and asked for a larger table. Tenten met Neji's eyes then and the horror she felt was reflected in his gaze.
They were ushered to a booth large enough to fit the five of them where the awkward continued—and worsened with the next question issued.
"How long have you two been dating?" Hiashi asked Tenten.
"Not long." Tenten said quickly.
"I must admit it comes as quite a surprise seeing the two of you together." Hiashi stated.
"Not really." Gai said with a boisterous laugh. "I've seen this coming for years."
"Years?" Hiashi said his eyes narrowing, "Just how many years?"
Tenten eyes widened with the realization that Gai didn't realize that he was currently on a date with her. Shouldn't the whole 'hand holding' thing have tipped him off? Now Hiashi was currently thinking that Gai had a thing for under aged girls. What a way to impress the head of a prestigious Clan.
Tenten laughed a little hysterically and said, "Years is an exaggeration. You know how Gai is." Tenten waved her hand in the air dismissing the subject. "So who's ready to order?"
Her questioned was ignored and Tenten nearly died when Gai asked, "And who is this wonderful flower of youth?"
Airi twittered and Tenten felt a pang shoot through her heart as she watched Gai turn his attention to another woman, but she suppressed it and turned to Neji sneering at him. She really didn't care if Hiashi saw her or not—luckily for Neji he hadn't.
He hadn't been any help at all. He was simply sitting there staring into space. What was going on with him? His behavior was totally different from what she was used to.
She should kill him. Honestly, how many people would miss him?
Okay, a lot of people—including a huge clan worth but he deserved it. He deserved to die in whatever way her twisted imagination could come up with. There was a reason that she kept her weapons extra sharp so that she could carve up people like him. Although she had a feeling that she was mentally venting on Neji so she wouldn't have to think about Gai being pleasant to another woman.
"I'm Airi—Neji's fiancé."
Gai froze and honestly Tenten couldn't help her next statement. "Yes, sweetie, I forgot to tell you about Neji's impending nuptials."
And from there the evening went everywhere but up.
:::
Tenten awoke the next morning to pounding on her door. She grabbed her pillow and put it over her head hoping to drown out the sound but found herself unsuccessful—especially since whoever was at her door was apparently an ass.
"Tenten, open this door right now!" Tenten groaned as she heard Sakura's voice. Yep, definitely an ass. She was tempted to just let her break the door down since she really wanted to stay in the bed for the rest of her life but decided against it. Regardless she'd still have to pay for repairs and there was no way she was going to do that.
"Tenten!" Sakura yelled once more and Tenten shoved her blankets off her and moved out her bedroom and to the door, swinging it open. Her hair hung down her back tangled in knots since for some insane reason the previous night she had decided to let it down. She had on a ratty old T-Shirt that said, Sex: Do it for the kids. This was kind of ironic given that Tenten was still a virgin although thankfully Sakura didn't remark upon it.
"Is there a reason you're here this early in the morning?" Tenten barked but Sakura only rolled her eyes.
"It's almost ten o' clock. You shouldn't still be in the bed anyway—and yes there is a reason why I'm here you secretive little bitch."
"Now you're resorting to name calling." Tenten said turning around knowing Sakura would follow her inside. The click of the door wasn't even heard as Sakura started in on her barrage of questions.
"How did you manage it?"
"Manage what?" Tenten said yawning over her words with coffee on the brain. She strolled into the kitchen with Sakura so close behind her Tenten could feel her breath on her neck. It was actually kind of weirding her out. Was personal space too much to ask for?
"I mean everyone said that I had the best chance of accomplishing it but you do it with such ease and managed to keep it in the dark. I should be so pissed off at you but I can't be because, damn it, I'm happy."
"Sakura," Tenten said, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the date you had with Gai last night." The mug that Tenten had just wrapped her fingers around slipped out her hands and crashed to the floor. "It's all over the village that the two of you are together now. It kind of sucks that I had to hear it from someone else, but I forgive you Tenten….Tenten?"
"What do you mean it's all over the village?" Tenten whispered panic slowly making its way up her spine.
"Tenten, there's something going on that I don't know about, isn't there?"
Tenten nodded. "I'm not dating Gai."
"Then—"
Sakura's words were halted by a knock on the door. Tenten just leaned on the counter and placed her head against its cool surface taking slow deep breaths in order to calm her nerves. Sakura shook her head and moved to answer the door for her thinking it was one of their friends that had heard the 'news' only to find herself mistaken.
Sakura was soon staring into the opalescent eyes of Neji Hyuuga. Sakura's brow rose quizzically but before she could say anything he asked, "Is Tenten in?"
Sakura opened her mouth to say 'yes' but Tenten called out, "I don't want to speak to him, Sakura. Tell him to go away—better yet tell him to go to hell."
"Go to hell." Sakura said folding her arms across her chest and giving Neji the nastiest look she could come up with—and since it was Sakura it was pretty nasty. She didn't know what the hell was going on but if Neji Hyuuga had found some way to make Tenten angry it had to be bad, and she had no problem backing her friend up if need be. Besides, he had caused Tenten enough trouble as it was.
"Let me pass, Sakura."
"Hell no."
Sakura watched as Neji's eyes narrowed and knew he was going to pull some nifty ninja act to get past her but before he could move a hand landed on his shoulder.
"You should leave, Hyuuga." Sakura smirked at the arrival of Temari and the rest of their gang. She really didn't want to have to smash his pretty little face in—but she would have done it although she had a feeling that Tenten would have interfered before things got that far.
"This is none of your business. Let me pass so that I may speak with Tenten."
"Did you bring your fiancé with you? Cause maybe she'd like to be in on the conversation." Ino sneered getting in Neji's face but the Hyuuga didn't back up instead he merely stared at Ino while Sakura picked her gaping mouth off the floor.
"What the hell is going on here?" Sakura yelled.
Ino turned her head and looked at Sakura. "Where have you been, Forehead? You've missed all the juicy gossip."
Sakura bit her bottom lip and looked away but Ino didn't notice because her attention turned once more to Neji.
"Hinata." Neji said imploring his cousin for help but Hinata turned her back on him and said not a word, although her actions spoke volumes to the people around her. Hinata adored Neji. He was like the brother she never had so to turn her back on him showed just how pissed she was at him.
"Just leave, Neji, before this gets messy. The village already has enough to gossip about, don't they?" Temari said, for once, being the voice of reason.
Still, Neji was stubborn. "Tenten, if you want me to leave then tell me to go."
Shortly thereafter Tenten appeared behind Sakura. She leaned her chin on Sakura's shoulder. Sakura didn't move somehow knowing that Tenten needed the physical contact at that moment to help her—whether it be to strengthen her resolve, or to keep from killing him or even to keep from giving in she didn't know so she said nothing, nor did she move. Tenten's gaze locked with Neji's.
"Leave." She said simply before turning and walking into her house. A moment of silence reigned while all of them digested the cold tone in which Tenten spoke to Neji. It was shocking that Hinata had given him the cold shoulder but it was downright apocalyptic to see Tenten do it too.
"You heard her." Ino said and turned to walk inside followed by Temari. Sakura allowed the two to pass but Neji grabbed Hinata before she could follow.
"Hinata, you know how—"
"I know, Neji, but you went about things the wrong way."
"I was going to tell her."
"You should have told her before you asked her out."
Hinata then extricated her arm from Neji's grip and went inside firmly closing the door behind her.
:::
"I still don't know what's going on." Sakura said with a huff collapsing on Tenten's sofa as if it were her own. "So dish." She looked first at Tenten who didn't look like she was going to say a word then back to her other friends.
"Tenten went out on a date with Neji." Temari began.
"Okay."
"Neji has a fiancé." Ino supplied.
"Shit." Sakura replied.
"I met her on our date." Tenten supplied and all four women turned to her. It was a piece of information that they hadn't known. Temari and Ino had filled Hinata in on Tenten's date with Neji who revealed that Neji had a fiancé. The trio had then flown to Tenten's place to talk to her before things got any…worse.
"She showed up?" Temari said incredulously. "Did he invite her?"
Tenten shook her head. "It was a coincidence."
"Okay, so how did Gai end up being in all this?" Sakura said and Tenten ran her hands over her face.
"I used Gai to cover for Neji."
"You covered for his lying cheatin' ass?" Temari yelled. "What were you thinking?"
Tenten said nothing while all her friends began shouting obscenities. It took a while for them to settle down but Tenten was certain it was only because she wasn't answering their questions.
"I never should have let you guys talk me into going on the date in the first place." Temari and Ino exchanged a guilty glance.
"Tenten, if it helps, Neji really does care about you." Tenten looked at Hinata and saw that she honestly believed her words. To a degree Tenten felt that way too but the more than anything she felt betrayed. She never, ever would have thought that Neji would use her to aide and abet him in cheating.
"If Neji cared about me, Hinata, he would have told me about her a long time ago."
"He's a man." Ino supplied. "They don't know a thing about honesty."
"You're defending him?" Temari said turning to Ino.
"No." Ino shook her head slightly. "I'm just telling the truth." Temari paused for a moment then nodded her head.
"You guys really shouldn't stereotype men out there like that. They're not all bad." Sakura interceded.
"No, they're not." Temari agreed. "My brothers are fine men." Temari looked at Sakura pointedly causing Sakura to groan.
"Would you please not go there, again? I mean, seriously Temari I-"
"Guys, we're here to talk to Tenten not discuss any of our love lives." Ino interrupted with a roll of her eyes.
At her statement all eyes turned to Tenten who squirmed uncomfortably.
"Gai agreed to cover for you." Ino started off and Tenten nodded her head. "Why?"
"I kind of backed him into it." Tenten said wryly. "I think he figured out what happened as soon as Neji's fiancé introduced herself."
"Did he take you home?" Sakura asked.
"…Yes."
"Did you two talk about it?" Temari demanded.
"Talk about what?" Tenten asked seemingly oblivious then tried to ignore the hard glares that was sent her way but failed. "A bit."
"Spill." Tenten's friends said simultaneously. Tenten sighed.
:::
Flashback
He said he'd walk her home but the silence between them was definitely uncomfortable. Tenten silently wished this was one of those moments where the ground opened and swallowed her whole…unfortunately there wasn't a crack in sight. Of all the times for Sakura to not be around…
Still, she owed him a great deal for what he had done tonight. She at least figured she should start off with a, "Thanks for tonight."
Gai looked down at her and Tenten was unnerved by his unusual reticence. He was bothered then…by what they had done. "I didn't mean to drag you into all this. It was just a really uncomfortable situation and—"
"How long have you known?" Tenten blinked confused about what he was talking about.
"Known what?"
"That Neji was engaged." Tenten paused realizing for the first time how bad the situation actually looked. Although she did find the stirring of anger building up at the insinuation that she would date Neji if she knew he already was involved with someone else.
"Why?" Tenten asked valiantly making an effort to keep her voice level.
"Because I find it hard to believe you'd spend an unyouthful evening with him had you known."
Tenten glanced up at the sky briefly before turning her gaze back to the ground. Her anger deflated almost immediately but she didn't feel any better about herself.
"I found out maybe thirty minutes before you did."
"So what will you do now?"
"What do you mean?"
"If you love him you should fight for him." Gai said giving her a megawatt grin and a thumbs up. "Woo him until he realizes that there is no other woman for him but you."
"Is that the way you go about it?" Tenten asked. She stopped walking to turn around and face Gai.
"Of course! In love you must be bold! If you hesitate then you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"
After some time Tenten nodded her head and said, "You're right." And then she took a step closer.
:::
"No!" Ino shrieked. "You didn't?"
"You've got some huge balls, Tenten. I never would have thought it of you. You constantly seem to surprise me."
Hinata, unable to speak, simply stared at Tenten with those large Hyuuga eyes. Her expression was matched by Sakura.
"You guys never would have 'thought it' of me. For some reason you all seem to believe that when it comes to men I'm a coward. Well, I'm not."
"Is it me or is Tenten prickly?" Ino asked.
"She's definitely prickly." Sakura concurred.
"That means she got rejected." Temari surmised.
"Guys you're really being mean to Tenten." Hinata interjected.
Ino held up her hands. "Okay, maybe we are being mean, jumping to conclusions and all that jazz. The simplest way to clear things up is to simply ask. Tenten did you get rejected?"
"I hate you all."
:::
Tenten rested her hands on Gai's chest looking up into his eyes. "Be bold, right?" Tenten verified sliding her arms around Gai's neck.
"What are you-?"
"Not regretting." Tenten said and rose up on her toes sealing her lips against his. And found that it was like kissing a brick wall, but she wasn't immediately dissuaded. She was a kunoichi, after all. She coaxed and teased Gai's lips until she felt him soften and for a brief moment he kissed her back.
Then his hands reached up and detangled her arms from around his neck and brought them down to her side. He took a few steps away from her and gave her a look that was full of pity.
"Tenten, you're hurt by what Neji has done but—"
"Neji doesn't have anything to do with you, me, and this moment. I'm not in love with Neji…I'm in love with you."
Gai chuckled at her like she was some naïve young miss. "Tenten-" He began.
"I'm twenty-two Gai, not twelve. I know my own mind. I want you. I want to be with you."
Tenten didn't know whether or not he was taking her seriously or whether or not he was just humoring her but a small smile formed on his lips. It wasn't malicious or mocking. If Tenten would call it anything she would say it was self-deprecating and it truly didn't belong on Gai's face.
"That's not possible."
"Why not?"
He didn't reply. He only smiled at her in a way that made butterflies fill her stomach and said, "Let's get you home."
:::
"That's it?" Sakura demanded. "You didn't press the issue?"
"Why? So he can pity me the way Kakashi pities you?"
Temari immediately put an arm on Sakura to keep her from jumping Tenten which is what she obviously wanted to do.
"Your situation bothers me, Ten." Temari said, "I'd swear on the life of my brothers that the man wants you." Ino's brow arched and the seriousness of that statement because Temari by no means played with the lives of her brothers. "So I say we do this—we go to some of the older kunoichi and talk to them. Maybe they can help you. Give us some insight."
"I really don't want to drag my business any further in the mud than it already is." Tenten said, "Actually the only thing I do want right now is a pint of ice cream—preferably butter pecan."
"It's not even afternoon yet, Tenten." Hinata said.
"I think she's doing well. She could have said 'sake'." Ino countered. "Cause I would have said sake."
"I think Temari's idea is a good one." Sakura said completely ignoring Ino's statement, "I mean what could it hurt? People already think we're a nutty horny bunch of kunoichi—and it's not as if they're lying. What else could they say?"
"Kurenai sensei helped me with Naruto."
Hinata's statement was enough for all them. They rose simultaneously. Tenten ran into her room to shower and change and after that they were gone.
:::
"Should I be nervous? Because I am." Kurenai said when she found herself surrounded several kunoichi one of which looked guilty, one who looked hopeful, and the other three looked at her like she held the secrets of the world—which she did because her name was Kurenai Yuhi.
"We'd like to talk to you." Temari began, "If you don't mind."
Kurenai shrugged. "How about lunch?"
"Yes," Tenten said, "I'm starving!"
"No one told you to laze about in bed all morning and not eat."
"Shut up, Sakura."
"I'm just saying." Sakura said with a shrug.
"Sakura, why are you picking on Tenten?" Hinata asked.
"Because I'm bored and have nothing to do?"
"…you've been spending extra time with Temari, haven't you?" Hinata inquired.
"…yes." Sakura said her voice a bit sullen.
"Stay next to me until you return to normal." Hinata said cutting her eyes at Temari who had a big grin on her face. She was such a bad influence.
"Yes, ma'am." Sakura said and moved closer to Hinata.
"You're all weird." Kurenai interrupted. "Let's go."
Kurenai took them to the place that sold the best seafood in Konoha. They had the freshest fish, the biggest shrimp, and the best chef in the world—or at least in Konoha.
Kurenai surveyed them all briefly before asking, "So what's on your mind ladies?"
Ino spoke up first, "We want to know what the hell is wrong with your generation of shinobi."
"Um, that's not exactly why we came to her Ino…" Hinata began.
"It's why I came." Ino declared
"Wow, Ino, way to show the love." Tenten said shaking her head.
"It's all related anyway." Ino said with the usual flip of her hair and a wave of her hand.
"It's true." Sakura interjected.
Kurenai shook her head and said, "What do you mean what's up?"
"Are they against relationships period or is it just with younger women?" Tenten asked.
"Did you ask him?" Kurenai inquired although she was starting to realize that the rumors about her and Gai were just that-rumors. Although, obviously Tenten wanted a bit more than that. She wanted to ask about the Hyuuga but it didn't seem the wisest course of action at the time.
"Yes." Tenten said rolling her eye and stabbing her fish in irritation.
"What did he say?"
"He didn't say anything. He just smiled at me."
"Who does that?" Temari inquired. "I mean we ask a question, we expect an answer. A smile is not an answer. It's an evasion. Stuff like that is okay on missions but seriously we're in the village right now so answer the freakin' question, you asstard! No offense Tenten."
"None taken."
"You're a lively bunch, aren't you?" Kurenai said a smirk covering her lips.
"Temari's a bad influence." Sakura said blaming it on the older girl. "Those Suna chicks are something else."
"Keep talking." Temari said a threatening note entering her voice.
"Okay, can we please get to the subject at hand? You guys can't focus to save your lives." Tenten said.
"I focus!" Sakura yelled indignantly.
"On something besides Kakashi's ass." Ino said with a smirk.
"…Touché." Sakura said laughing and soon the whole table joined her.
"Okay, seriously, what do I have to do to get his attention?" Tenten said waving her arms around the air dramatically. "Prance around naked?"
"That's a disturbing image." Ino said.
"I think my imagination just died." Sakura said.
"Check please." Temari called out.
"Have I mentioned that I hate you all?" Tenten asked ignoring Kurenai's laughter.
"Sakura, Temari, Tenten, and Ino. Stop it and let Tenten and Kurenai talk." The stern note in Hinata's voice shook them all into silence. Hinata then turned to Tenten and nodded at her.
They didn't talk immediately. They all sat for a moment thinking about how not long ago their little Hinata was so shy and quiet—and they could run all over her most of the time. It was fun stuff. However, now that she had gotten with Naruto she somehow grew a backbone and wasn't afraid to use it. Although most times she just stayed quiet and smiled at them all through their antics or she either worried quietly but every now and then she would assert herself and they would fall in line like the soldiers they were. Of course, that generally only happened when something important was going on and Tenten being happy was important.
Kurenai began to speak silently proud of her former student, "It's not a matter of you getting his attention. From the sound of it you probably already have it."
"How did you get that from the little I told you?"
"Well, I'm still not completely sure yet. I have one question for you."
"Okay." Tenten replied.
"How did he smile at you?"
"…how does one smile at anyone? I don't get what you mean."
"It's simple. For Gai, with women, it's how he smiles at you that tells you his interest. Does he give you the typical 'Gai' smile all the time?" Kurenai then proceeded to imitate Gai's good guy pose causing an uproar at their table once more.
"Don't ever do that again!" Ino yelled.
"I want my mommy." Temari said shivering slightly.
"First my imagination, now my eyes!" Sakura said clutching her face frantically.
"That was actually a rather good impression." Tenten mused tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"Please don't do that again, Sensei." Hinata begged.
Kurenai rolled her eyes. "Just answer the question."
"He gives me the typical smile but not always."
"When he doesn't give you the typical smile how do you feel when he does it?"
A goofy grin formed on her lips that they usually only saw Tenten was talking about weapons, or Uchiha Itachi—sometimes both.
"I see." Kurenai said studying Tenten's face. "Look Tenten it's not a matter of getting his interest. The fish is already on the hook you just have to reel him in."
"How can I do that when I don't even know why he's keeping his distance?"
"Tenten, you're on a team with the man. If anyone can figure it out, it's you."