Title: Just You
Paring: GaiTenNeji
Author: Juniper11
Warning: There are parts that seem completely random and of course they are, but they have purpose.
They went their separate ways with Tenten's friends showering her with encouraging words. She felt a little better about her situation with Gai but the truth was she was still lost.
Gai was no easy nut to crack. Kakashi Hatake had his mask to hide behind while Gai had his positivity. They were both still masks, even if Gai was mostly a positive person. How the heck was she supposed to get past the mask and to the man?
The streets were quiet as she walked home and Tenten found herself lost in her thoughts. Perhaps that was why she almost didn't notice him when he slipped out of the shadows. But she did notice him and she paused in her walking because it seemed like he was walking directly towards her.
When he stood directly in front of her and Tenten slowly raised her head to look up into his eyes.
"Tenten." He said quietly.
"Uchiha-san." She was certain she was gaping at him. What woman didn't when he showed her a bit of attention? A smirk flitted across his lips then disappeared.
"Walking home?" He inquired and Tenten nodded her head since she seemed unable to utter a single word. "Then I will escort you."
Tenten nodded once more and began to walk but stopped when he didn't move on with her. She looked back at him and saw that he was waiting for her to grasp his elbow. It was then that Tenten knew that someone had knocked her out and pumped her full of drugs because there was no way that Uchiha Itachi would escort her home.
But she went along with it because, really, even the hallucination of the man was something wonderful. Tenten moved back towards Itachi and slipped her arm in his allowing him to walk her home. She worked hard not to twitter.
He said nothing the entire trip and that was fine for Tenten because she didn't want to be alone nor did she want to talk. The man was perfect in so many ways.
When she arrived at her home he smiled at her and in response she sighed. "Have a good evening Tenten."
She would—now. She thought as he disappeared.
:::
"That was completely random." Ino said privately wondering if Tenten had been smoking something because why would Uchiha Itachi appear out of nowhere to walk her home? And Ino in no way cared if that was her own secret jealousy talking.
Sakura and Temari were out handling private business which made Ino suspicious that something was going on that she didn't know about but that was something that she would handle at a later time and Hinata was busy with wedding stuff. They would be helping her but the Hyuuga Clan put up such a fuss when they tried to 'meddle' in Hinata's wedding that Hinata herself shooed them off and told them it was alright if she handled things alone.
No bride should have to plan a wedding alone but that was a different story altogether.
"I know, right? He just completely brightened my day."
"Yeah, but why did he do it? Itachi's not the type of man to appear for no reason at all. Something's up."
"Maybe he wants to date me." Tenten said with a large cheesy grin.
"And maybe the sky is falling."
Tenten scowled and Ino laughed causing Tenten to throw the closest thing available at her—which just happened to be a book. Unfortunately for Ino she was laughing too hard to dodge and the book hit her in the arm.
"Ow!" Ino said and looked down at the book that her friend had turned into a weapon. However, when she saw the book her brow rose incredulously. "Are you really reading this?"
"Shit!" Tenten said and made a dive for the book but Ino had already snatched it up and moved away from Tenten.
"A Kunoichi's Guide to Handling her Shinobi—Are you serious?"
"Give me the book Ino." Tenten said extending her hand.
"Hell no…I want to borrow this."
It was Tenten's turn to ask the question. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah, I mean what harm could it do?"
"What does it matter? You're going to Suna."
"You're damn right I am and I'm landing me a freakin' Kazekage… or his brother. It doesn't really matter which. What does matter is that when I get him I keep him and I'm not opposed to using any method that works."
Tenten stared at Ino's impossibly arrogant face knowing that behind it held a world of pain—pain that was possibly much deeper than her own and said, "Okay, but if you're going to do it go for the Kazekage. Gaara is so much hotter than Kankuro."
"Really? I've never seen Kankuro without all that," Ino waved a hand over her head, "stuff."
"I have and trust me you'll get prettier babies from Gaara."
"They're brothers. I imagine it'll be nearly the same."
"About the same as humans and gorillas."
Ino laughed. "Temari will kill you if she hears you say that."
"And that's exactly why you won't tell her."
Ino and Tenten smiled at each other.
:::
Tenten was heading for the training grounds for another sparring session with Sakura when she felt his presence. She'd recognize it anywhere but she chose to ignore it. She really didn't feel like dealing with him right that moment but she suspected she had very little choice.
"Tenten." Tenten closed her eyes and counted to ten only to open them and see Neji before her. She said nothing in response. She only looked at him waiting for him to say whatever he had to say and go away. "Tenten, I'm sorry." Tenten blinked slowly but still remained silent. "I meant to tell you. I was going to tell you that night."
"Why should I believe anything you say, Neji? You lied to me. You used me. Do you have any idea how dirty I feel? How cheap? I can barely stand here and look at you." Neji reached out to lay and hand on Tenten's shoulder but Tenten quickly moved out of reach. "Don't touch me. You lost that ring a long time ago." Neji's hand dropped to his side.
"I'm in love with you Tenten." It was simply said and blunt. It was exactly how she always imagined he'd say it, but she wasn't going to believe it.
"Bull shit."
"I have been for some time. The marriage was—"
"An arranged one?" Neji paused clearly wondering how she came about that knowledge. "It didn't take a genius to figure it out. Once I met her it didn't take me long to put two and two together."
"That doesn't matter. What matters is—"
"She adores you Neji. I think it's quite possible that she loves you more than I once did."
"Tenten—"
"And that has to be a whole lot because Neji I loved you. I loved you so much it hurt. You've overcome so much with your family, as a ninja. I was damned proud of you. There was no one I respected more than you. I would have waited for you forever if you had just told me the situation."
"I wanted to but I didn't want to hurt you."
"Yet that was something you did anyway." Tenten sighed before bringing her hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose. "It doesn't matter Neji because I've moved on. I'm not in love with you anymore. I love—"
Tenten's words were cut off when she felt Neji grab her arm and pull her flush against her chest. Her eyes hadn't even closed before he claimed her lips. Her body was initially stiff and unyielding but magic danced across Neji's lips and lulled her into compliance.
Her eyes, which suddenly had a will of their own, fluttered closed. His lips coaxed hers into parting and she felt his tongue slip inside to have a taste of her sending unexpected thrills throughout her body. His hands slipped around her resting against the small of her back and pressing her closer to him. She felt her arms rising slowly in order to bury her hands in the hair she knew felt like silk to the touch but suddenly stopped herself. She pulled herself away from Neji before she did something she would regret. She opened her mouth to say something—she wasn't sure what, but Neji beat her to it.
"I'll do what I must to win your love back, Tenten."
He stepped around her and walked away then leaving Tenten slightly bewildered. Once she got her bearings she realized that she and Neji had and audience.
An audience of two to be exact.
Sakura stood staring at her with her jaw slack and her eyes full of shock.
And not too far away also stood Maito Gai. Emotions flickered rapidly across his face before he flashed her that megawatt grin and gave her a thumbs up and then disappeared right before her eyes.
"Gai!" She called out a moment too late. Sakura turned and looked at the spot where Gai once was and then back at Tenten. Tenten ran to Sakura's side and grabbed her friend.
"Please, you've got to help me find him. He shouldn't have seen that. I love him. I really do."
"Do you, Ten?" Sakura asked peering at her closely. "Because from where I was standing I'd say you didn't."
:::
Temari took one look at Tenten's face and opened her arms. Said arms were suddenly filled with the Tenten's trembling form that wept profusely in her arms. Temari patted her back soothingly murmuring words of nonsense all the while wondering what the hell happened. She turned her back for two seconds to deal with a 'situation' and the world goes to hell in a handbasket.
She had been staying in Ino's apartment and had opened the door to see Tenten. If she had to go by the expression on her face she'd say her heart had been broken into a million little pieces. But she hadn't gotten the news report confirming that so she guided Tenten inside and lead her to Ino's couch. Tenten buried her head in her lap and Temari was glad that there was a box of Kleenex nearby. Temari grabbed a few and handed them to Tenten who blew at her nose furiously.
She cried nonstop for about an hour until she had fallen asleep. Tenten still lay in Temari's lap when Sakura entered the room quietly with Ino at her side. Temari gestured to the kunoichi in her lap and Sakura, without a second thought, moved over to Temari, picked Tenten up, and carried her to Ino's bed.
"What happened?" Ino asked immediately but Temari just shrugged.
"I don't know."
"She kissed Neji today." Sakura said after rejoining them. "And Gai saw her do it."
Ino and Temari were shocked to say the least. "How did that happen?" Temari asked recovering her voice first. This time it was Sakura's turn to shrug.
"All I know is that Gai came to the training grounds where I was looking for her. She was late so I offered to help him find her."
"I'm sure you did that out of the goodness of your heart." Ino said sarcastically.
"Yes, pig, yes I did."
Temari rolled her eyes. "Finish telling the story."
"Not much else to tell. When I found them the two were going at it like there was a bed nearby."
"There's more to it than that." Temari mumbled to herself. That didn't sound like Tenten at all. She wasn't the type of girl to guy hop. That was Ino's gig or maybe she had just been hanging around all of them too long.
"Is there?" Sakura inquired. "We all know how much she loves Neji."
"Loved." Temari corrected.
"I personally think it's still very much in the present tense." Sakura turned and looked at Ino to see where she stood on the issue but Ino shook her head.
"Of all the people in the world I'm the last to know where someone's heart lies. I don't know. I'll wait and see what she says for herself and I'll believe what she tells me."
Tenten awakened about an hour later to find her three friends waiting on her. She didn't make eye contact with Sakura because honestly she had hurt her feelings and she knew that she'd lash out at her at the first opportunity.
"What happened Ten?" Temari said softly and Tenten moved to her side and collapsed onto the sofa.
"Neji said he's in love with me."
"And how do you feel about that?" Ino inquired.
"How am I supposed to feel besides shocked?"
"Are you happy?" Temari inquired.
"How can I be? He's engaged and I'm in love with someone else."
Sakura opened her mouth but a glance from Temari silenced her.
"Sakura told us you and Neji kissed." Temari started.
"He took me by surprise."
"You didn't push him away?"
"…No."
"Why not?" Ino asked jumping in.
Tenten thought about that question for a moment. She hadn't pushed Neji away. Why was that? It didn't take her long to come up with an answer since it was staring at her straight in the face. "Because I've been waiting for that moment for what seems like all my life. I mean who would have thought that Neji Hyuuga would ever want to kiss me? How could I stop my destiny?"
"You have been hanging around that man for too long." Ino said with a shake of her head muttering about predestination.
"So you wanted to kiss him." Was Sakura's input and Temari scowled at her. Tenten turned her head and looked at Sakura. Their eyes locked in and battled for a moment.
"Yes, I did. I wanted to kiss Neji even though I want to be with Gai. I admit that. So don't come to me with your righteous indignation. I'm single. Neither Neji nor Gai has any claim on me—and at least I'm not fucking clones of my sensei while I'm dating someone else."
"No, you're just kissing a man that's engaged to someone else."
Both Sakura and Tenten jumped to their feet with every intention of fighting but Ino grabbed Sakura while Temari grabbed Tenten.
"Stop it you two! We're all friends here and you're being ridiculous." Temari looked at Sakura hard. "Sakura leave your personal bull shit out of Tenten's life."
Sakura raised a hand and covered her face for a moment or two before lowering it. Tenten immediately saw the contrite expression on Sakura's face and wondered what was going on with her lately. "I'm sorry, Tenten. I've…"
"Don't worry about it." Tenten said with a wave of her hand. The fight had drained out of her the moment Temari touched her arm. The last thing she wanted was to fight Sakura—outside of the training field that is. On the training field it was a completely different story.
The two sat down and Sakura, who had composed herself, asked, "Did you feel anything when you kissed him?"
"You mean besides his tongue?" Tenten asked causing Ino to snicker and Sakura to narrow her eyes. "Oh, don't be such a stick in the mud, Sakura. I'm just joking. I think we needed a joke to cool things down since we almost tried to kill each other." A smirk crossed Sakura's lips which made her look more like the friend she had always known.
"Whatever, Ten. Just answer the question."
"So I suppose you want me to tell you if fireworks exploded in my brain or something."
"Mmm-hmm." The three chorused.
"Then the answer to your question is yes."
"Tenten—" Sakura began but Tenten raised a single hand to forestall her.
"I know what you're going to say Sakura but before you say it let me tell you this. Yes, I saw fireworks when Neji kissed me…but the world stops moving when Gai just touches me. So what does that mean?"
"It means," Ino began, "That you've got a mess to clean up."
:::
"You look disturbed." The matter of fact way he said that should have grated at her nerves, but he tempered his statement with a becoming smile—well it was Uchiha Itachi so she supposed it was more of a smirk than a smile. Normally she'd be swooning over him but she was just too depressed to do it today although she did make a mental note to do so the next day.
"Is this becoming a habit?" Tenten asked lightly when Itachi offered her his elbow and she latched onto his arm with a swiftness she didn't know she had.
"Perhaps." He replied and Tenten peered up at his now expressionless face.
"You're not falling for me are you?" Tenten asked and saw that smirk appear on his face again.
"Would you like me to?" Tenten rolled her eyes. He would answer a question with a question.
"The idea does have some merit." Tenten nodded her head and almost gasped with the smirk slowly began to stretch into a smile. The man was just too cute for words.
"Really? I was under the impression that your interest lie elsewhere." Tenten sighed. She supposed the rumors about her and Gai would have gone so far as to reach Itachi's ears. She felt her shoulders slump at his reply.
"It does…but everyone knows you're the exception to every rule." Itachi laughed out loud at her reply and Tenten's heart lightened immediately. How many people got to see this man laugh? She was betting not many. She was flirting shamelessly but she had a feeling he knew that she wasn't really serious about it-even if he was the exception to every rule.
They reached her home all too soon and Tenten slowly moved away from the Uchiha heir. "Thanks again for walking me home—although I still want to know your motives."
"Must I have a motive?"
"According to a friend of mine, you do."
"And would this friend by any chance be Sakura?"
Tenten paused, studying him closely wondering why he mentioned Sakura. "No. It was Ino. Why-"
"Good night, then." Itachi said and disappeared not giving her a chance to say another word. She stood there quietly a while after he left and determined soon thereafter that it was time for Sakura to have the spotlight shined on her.
:::
The man disappeared off the face of the earth. It was normally easy to find Gai. Search the training grounds and he was there or if not that find Lee. Where there was Lee there was Gai and vice versa. However he wasn't at the training grounds and Lee hadn't seen him and was, in fact, worried about him. He had missed several training sessions and that was simply unheard of.
She went to the Hokage to find out if he had gone out on any missions only to receive a negative answer. Under normal circumstances she would have gone to Neji next but since that wasn't the wisest of ideas she went to Hinata.
When she found the Hyuuga Heiress she was in her bedroom…on the floor…trying to smother herself.
"Hinata…are you okay?" Hinata removed the pillow slightly and peered out at her friend. With a sigh she pushed it away realizing that she looked a little crazy. Her cheeks flushed red and she sat up quickly. Tenten moved over to her offering her and hand and hauled her to her feet. Hinata ran her hands over her clothes in an effort to look anywhere but at Tenten.
"I've always thought weddings were so lovely. I never knew how much preparation it took to get one together." Tenten sighed. She figured that it was something like this.
"Hinata you know we'll help you."
"And if you do the elders will find some reason for me to not marry Naruto. I won't allow that."
"Is it that bad?" Hinata nodded. "Well, can't Naruto help you? You know he would."
"Yes…but…I don't want everything to be orange."
Tenten barely choked back a laugh. "Maybe if you talk to him…" Hinata just stared at her and Tenten knew that if Naruto had any major flaws orange was one of them. Since she couldn't help Tenten did what any friend would do in a situation like that.
She laughed—hard. It didn't take long for Hinata to join her. After a while their laughter died down to quiet chuckles and eventually the two women just smiled at each other.
"So what's going on?" Hinata asked knowing that Tenten had come for a reason. The others had been giving her wide berth knowing that they were major distractions when it came to…everything.
"I'm trying to find Gai. Can you help me?"
"He's not on the training grounds?" Tenten shook her head. "Lee?" Tenten shook her head once more. "Is everything okay, Tenten?" She asked studying her closely with her all seeing eyes. Tenten gave her a wry grin.
"No, it's not, but I'm going to fix it."
Hinata studied her for a minute before nodding her head. "Okay, just know that if you need me I'm always here. I'm never too busy for my friends." Tenten smiled just as Hinata uttered, "Byakugan."
It wasn't long before Tenten had her answer and went on her way.
He was on top of the Hokage Mountain sitting idly and staring off into space. Tenten was sure that if she hadn't masked her charka that he would've made a run for it. But she had masked her charka and he was still there. So she took a moment to just…look at him. Her heart fluttered in response to his presence and nervousness almost took a hold of her and encouraged her to leave quickly. But she couldn't take the coward's way out. There was too much at risk for that. So she cleared her throat to announce her presence. His head turned slowly and Tenten held her breath until his eyes met hers. The surprise on his face would have been evident to anyone who happened to walk by but Tenten chose to ignore it.
"I've been looking for you." Tenten said sitting down at his side—close but not close enough to make him uncomfortable.
"Ah, Tenten it is good to see you. I've—"
"Is it?" Gai blinked momentarily thrown. "Is it good to see me?" Tenten clarified. Tenten didn't give him a chance to reply. Instead, she launched into the discussion that she knew they would never have if she didn't force the issue. "Neji and I kissed. It happened and it's not something I can take back. In fact, even if I could I'm not sure I would."
"That's wonderful Tenten. Your youthfulness—"
"Is it?" Tenten inquired again not giving him a chance to give the 'I'm so happy for you speech'. "Because I've been under the impression that you don't think it's so wonderful." Gai didn't reply but Tenten sort of wished he would. Still when she came she knew it was going to be a one-sided conversation, but just because she knew it didn't mean she had to like it. "The fact of the matter is that Neji wants to be with me and I don't want anyone but you. I also think you want to be with me too."
"You're mistaken, Tenten." A part of her believed he was telling the truth and it cut her straight to her heart to hear the words. However, Kurenai sensei told her that she already had her fish on the reel and Kurenai got Naruto and Hinata together. And if anyone could perform a miracle of epic proportions like that then she couldn't possibly be wrong about Gai. She only had to believe.
"One of the things I've always appreciated about you was that of the many things you are, I could never say you were a liar. Are you going to prove me wrong?"
"…"
"Neji wants to be with me and he's willing to fight to win me back over. To win me away from you. He's challenging you, Gai. The man that I've grown to love and respect never backed down from a challenge. Or am I wrong? Are you not the man I thought you were or am I just not worth it?" She received no response to her question even though she was hoping that he was say something to give her a hint as to what he was feeling. However, all she got was a lengthy silence so Tentenrose to her feet. "I don't know whether or not I'll fall in love with Neji again. I'm no seer. However, right now, at this moment, the only man I want to love is you. Just you. No one but you. So if you want me, Gai, you'll have to come get me. Because while this moment is certain the next is not. If you're not willing to do something to keep me on at your side…."
Tenten then left Gai alone to ponder her words…not at all seeing the gleam in her old sensei's eye.
:::
Neji wasn't alone. He didn't need his Byakugan to tell him that. His sensei's presence was one that was always easy for him to pinpoint even if he was the last person he wanted to see at the moment.
He slowly opened his eyes, knowing that mediation at this point was a lost cause, to find the man standing before him looking at him in an eerily creepy way. His hands were on his hips and there was fire in his eyes that Neji normally only saw when he was going to push them to their limits in training. It made him slightly uneasy.
Neji arched a brow instead of asking him what the hell he wanted and it wasn't long before he got his answer.
"Tenten tells me you intend to court her."
Neji rose to his feet and looked Gai in the eye. "I do."
"I was under the impression that you already had a youthful blossom."
"That situation has been handled."
"So you are a single man, then?" Neji didn't reply. He didn't feel he should have to since he had just confirmed that fact, but Gai didn't seemed to notice—which wasn't all that unusual. "Well then I've come to inform you that you have a rival for the affections of our fair Tenten."
Neji's eyes narrowed as he looked into the eyes of the man that he knew Tenten had moved onto and felt something ugly churn in his gut. "And who would that be?"
"Yours truly." Gai replied giving him a megawatt grin and a thumbs up.
:::
"I'm going home in a few days." Tenten raised a brow surprised. Temari had seemed determined to do all she could to bring two of them home to meet her brothers and for her to give up this easily—
"But I'll be back and when I do come back somebody is coming with me." Ino, Sakura, and Tenten all shared glances but otherwise said nothing. "Now Tenten tell me what's with this look you have about you."
"Why do we always have to talk about me? I'm pretty sure Sakura has some stuff that she needs to share." Tenten looked at Sakura's who's mouth dropped in astonishment.
"I'll deal with that bad apple later."
"I'm not a bad apple!" Sakura yelled but, really, none of them believed her.
"Anyway," Temari said going into her meddling friend mode. "What's up with you, Neji, and Gai?"
"I haven't seen Neji."
"Not even at training?" Ino inquired.
"…"
And then they all knew something was up.
"Tenten you've been going to training haven't you?" Sakura asked.
"Because it's one thing to have a fucked up love life." Ino started.
"But it's quite another to let it interfere with your line of work. We're ninja first and women second." Temari finished.
Tenten held up her hands to ward off the verbal blows that were soon to come. "I've been training but it's just been me and Lee. Gai and Neji have sort of disappeared."
The three women looked at each other flabbergasted.
"Disappeared?" Sakura muttered. "Why would they disappear?"
Tenten's eyes darted away but only Ino's eyes caught it and immediately pounced on it.
"Uh-uh. What did you do Tenten?"
"I didn't do anything!"
Temari pursed her lips and gave Tenten a once over. "You know…Hinata told me you came to see her. She said you asked her to locate Gai for you."
Tenten smacked her face and wished that she had asked Hinata to keep that between them. That was the bad part about her circle of friends. Keeping secrets was nearly impossible.
"You did do something!" Sakura yelled. "Come on, Ten. You can't keep it to yourself. We're your best friends."
"My best friends are busy-bodies."
"But we mean well." Temari said. Tenten tossed them all a skeptical look but in return they all shouted with undisguised glee, "Please, Tenten."
"I really do hate you guys." Which was Tenten speak for 'fine I'll tell you big jerks everything.'
"I sort of, kind of, pitted them against each other." Silence greeted her statement so Tenten went on to elaborate. "Kurenai sensei told me that I was the one who knew best how to reel Gai in well after thinking about it I realized that the best way to motivate Gai is to challenge him, to give him a rival."
"No!" Sakura said her eyes getting wide as she realized exactly what Tenten had done.
"I told him that Neji wanted me that he was willing to do whatever it took to win me away from him. I kind of hinted that it was possible that I could fall in love with Neji again if he didn't essentially man up."
Tenten looked at her girlfriends whose faces were wearing varying degrees of shock. Temari was the first to come out of her stupefied daze and let out a loud whoop.
"That's my girl!" Temari yelled and moved to pull Tenten into a fierce hug causing the younger kunoichi to laugh.
"Get your man!" Sakura shouted and moved to form a group hug as well.
And Ino simply smiled and decided to make a point of speaking to Kurenai sensei no matter how awkward the situation may be.
To be continued in Ino's Story.