Hey Mina! Thank you again for stopping by! :D I really appreciate you reading my story. Thank you for not flaming me. Please enjoy this story, as it continues! This chapter isn't as depressing as the last two. I'm going to try to make it more and more lighthearted, as the two continue the healing process in their lives. I'm sorry this chapter isn't as detailed as I would have hoped. :/ Once again, I'm thrilled you're reading, and I really appreciate reviews!
I do not own Naruto and I never will
Chapter 3 * welcome back Sasuke
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Tenten stared, wide eyed at the man before her. He carried the same presence that she had felt at the training grounds. Him He had been the one watching her in the forest. Sheheld out her Kunai to his chest. She gulped and tried her best to steady her shaking arm. Sasuke Looked her up and down as she pressed the tip into the skin of his chest. Although she was in heels, Sasuke stood taller than her. Sasuke hadn't noticed before, but she had a surprisingly curvaceous body. He noticed her arm shaking, and her round lips trembling from the freezing temperature of the rain. He knew it wouldn't be long before she lost consciousness. He had wanted to come out to pay his respects much earlier, but Tenten just wouldn't leave the site. She had sat there on the ground sobbing for what seemed to be an eternity, and she looked as though she hadn't eaten in days. Sasuke's thoughts were interrupted by her sharp, angry voice.
"What are you doing here?" She yelled, narrowing her eyes into a deep and intense glare, locking eyes with him. She wondered if he was here to mock the death of those who died protecting Konoha, or if he was just here to wreak more havoc on the village. Either way, she wasn't gonna put up with it.
"Tenten, I'm sorry for your loss." Sasuke started, he was about to speak again, but was cut off.
"Save your lies! You get out of Konoha now, or I'll have to kill you!" She shouted. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying, her voice cracked as she yelled and she was getting weaker by the minute, but she wouldn't back down, this was Neji's gravesite and she was not about to have a traitor tarnish it!
Sasuke didn't budge. He simply placed his hand atop her arm and lowered it slowly, staring intently into her chocolate eyes. "I'm not here to hurt you."
"How dare you think you can just show up in Konoha, and ruin someone's funeral! Who do you think you are?" She shouted, as she lunged toward him, aiming her Kunai directly at his heart. Sasuke reacted quickly, placing his palms on the side of her arm and deflecting the blade. He was impressed once more at the courage she showed. Had this been any other girl in Konoha, the girl would be throwing herself at him, begging him to take care of her and keep her warm. Tenten, however, didn't care about him, or his charms. She wanted to preserve the integrity of Neji's grave, and of Konoha itself. Sasuke had no idea how to convince to her that he truly wasn't going to harm anyone in Konoha, at least not yet, he hadn't made a final decision. But he knew for certain, he wouldn't hurt her. She didn't deserve it. She looked so broken as she stood before him.
"Tenten, stop. I promise I'm just here to show my respects, that's it, I... AH!" Sasuke ducked quickly as another Kunai whizzed by his head at high speed. Gees! She just won't stop will she? He couldn't blame her for her actions, he was a traitor. He had a lot of making up to do if anyone from Konoha would ever trust him again. She launched another barrage of weapons his direction. Sasuke swiftly dodged them, using his new improved mangekyo Sharingan from Itachi. He watched her trying to catch her breath, searching her person for more weapons but she appeared to have used her last scroll. Her body was now shaking and she dropped to one knee. The sky was getting darker as night time began to take over the day. Sasuke knelt down to her and placed his hands gently on her shoulder. Tenten looked away, not daring to look into his eyes.
"Get away from.."
"Where do you live?" Sasuke interrupted. The poor girl was shivering violently. Her lips were turning blue and she was desperately trying to catch her breath, still she wanted nothing to do with Sasuke. Part of him admired this. Everyone he knew was always trying so hard to drag him this way, or that way. There wasn't a particular time Sasuke found himself to be unwanted. He kind of liked it, it lured and pulled him in.
"I won't tell y.."
"Then I'll just walk you through the village until I find someone who knows." Sasuke answered quickly. Sasuke slid his arm underneath her legs and placed his other arm around her waist. He lifted her up and began walking away from the Hyuga complex. Tenten tried to break free, but her body was just too weak. As he carried her, her feet dangled lifelessly, her long hair did the same. The frigid rain didn't seem to show any mercy on the two. Tenten felt Neji must've been very upset.
Tenten finally looked up at him. He looked much older, she knew she probably looked much different to him, too. It had been a long time since they had seen each other, even then, they never really knew each other. His face was strong and as handsome as always. A lot more handsome than it had been when he was younger.Why is he doing this? Why is he here? Tenten growled in protest. "Just put me down, please." Tenten asked. She knew exactly what was coming. Ninjas everywhere would be groping at the chance to take him in to Tsunade if they saw him casually walking down the streets of Konoha, carrying Tenten about as if nothing was wrong and he hadn't ever left. Tenten could hear his heart beating rapidly in his chest, her ear was against hise warm bare skin. For some reason, she felt completely safe while he carried her. She concluded that she was delusional and she needed to stop thinking about everything. Her mind became foggy and her eyes were becoming more and more blurry. She spoke again, fearful Sasuke would be seen and she could face the consequences of being with him, and not defeating him. "P.. Put me down."
"No." He answered coldly. He continued walking at a steady pace, easing his ways into the village. He held onto Tenten tightly, holding her close to his body to keep her from freezing to death. He could hear her breath hitching and slowing in pace. The rise and fall of her chest was becoming less frequent. Damn. Sasuke quickened his pace as they began further into the village. Not much had changed about Konoha since he left, it was nice to be back, but what was most important to him now was getting this careless Konoichi into safety. He knew as soon as the people saw him, he was done for. He just hoped people would be hiding out in their homes, taking shelter from the ongoing rain. After all, it was monsoon season. Sasuke was lucky, so far he hadn't seen anyone. He periodically looked down at Tenten, to make sure she was breathing. Each time he saw her, her condition worsened.
"On.. the.. the left.." She managed to spit out. Sasuke stopped to the door she appeared to be gesturing to. He couldn't tell if it was a gesture or a tremor, but he decided to chance it and open the door. The faster he could out of the open, the better. He managed to swing the door open, while still clinging to the shivering girl and close the door behind them.
"Is this it, Tenten?" Sasuke asked, concerned, still holding her in his arms he assumed this had to be it, there were several weapons and scrolls about the entire place. Tenten's eyes grew heavy and she could hold them open no longer. She heard his voice fading away as he spoke but she managed to give a small nod. She was slipping and she knew it. The last thing she wanted was to be unconscious with this criminal. She tried her best to keep her mind awake. Once she gave him the nod, Sasuke rushed down the hall and found the bathroom. He barged in and set Tenten on the toilet and yanked the shower curtain open. His hand reached the knob to turn on the water but he paused when he heard her speak quietly.
"Why?" She whispered. Her eyes closed, and body leaning to the side, moments from falling onto cool, tile floor. Sasuke turned back to the shower and turned the water on. He knew her question was not about the shower, but about why he had taken the time to carry her home, and take care of her. Of course he knew why. Itachi wanted him back in Konoha, fate brought the girl to him, not once but twice, somehow, he knew he just needed to do this. She was hurt and obviously neglecting to take care of herself. Most likely due to sorrow and greif. He turned back around, once the water was warm, knelt down and slipped off her shoes. Tenten pushed on his shoulders weakly, as if to tell him to leave her alone. But Sasuke ignored her. He stood and wrapped his arms around her to lift her into the water.
"We need to get you warmed." Sasuke spoke.
"N..no, I..I'm f-f-fine." She pushed against his chest once more, but he stubbornly lifted the girl and stepped into the water with her in his arms. Gently, Sasuke set her on her feet, keeping his arms around her waist so she wouldn't fall in her weakened state. "Stop it." She said weakly. She wanted him away from her, for him to just leave her alone. Although she knew none of his actions were perverse, she still couldn't seem to understand just why he wanted to help her in the first place. He hadn't been to Konoha in over two years, and now, here he was, in her house, in her shower with her. Tenten shook her head, ashamed she had found herself in this awkward position with a man she barely knew.
"I'm sorry," Sasuke started, he looked away for a moment, feeling slightly guilty for putting her in this situation. But he wanted to help her. Obviously, Sasuke wasn't good at things like this. In fact, Sasuke was terrible at comforting, he was really terrible at having any sort of sympathy. But for some reason, he felt a great deal of sympathy for the girl before him. "I'll leave as soon as I know you're alright." Sasuke felt Tenten's body relax in the warm water. She sighed heavily, and rested her head on his shoulder. Which surprised him greatly. He looked down at her face as she rested on him. Color began to come back to her cheeks as the warm water rushed over them. Her brown hair was sticking to her face and shoulders. Something strange happened inside Sasuke's stomach, like a fluttering of some sort. Maybe it was the fact she had wrapped her arms around him and held him close. This surprised him, his black eyes widened. This was unlike the way she had previously acted. Sasuke wasn't good at comforting, he wasn't even really good at listening and being there.
Tenten, too, was surprised by her actions. She again concluded it was delusion. She knew full well that Neji was probably somewhere in the clouds looking down at her and shaking his head. He would be hysterical if he knew that they were in the shower together. But Tenten reasoned it was not at all sexual or perverse, he was merely making sure she was alright. She had no idea why he was acting this way, but she figured maybe he was there to kill her, and if that was the case she may be okay with it. But for some reason, she knew his efforts were pure in motive, and that eased her a little. She felt his arms easing her down to a sitting position, maybe he had felt as though he did his job. Tenten looked up at him with a curious look upon her face.
"I'll go get you some clothes." Sasuke stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel that was hanging from the door. He rubbed his head and dried himself the best he could before touring her home in order to find her room. Once he found it, he smiled and shook his head. It was as he imagined it would be, immaculate and as elegant as she was. He rummaged through her dresser drawers to find some clean pajamas. He blushed when he realized he was holding a pair of black, lacy panties. He tried his best not to imagine her in them, but it wasn't easy. He grabbed a clean pair of panties and a matching bra, and finally managed to find some fleece pajama bottoms and a baggy shirt. Sasuke returned to her bathroom and lay the garments neatly on the toilet.
"Sasuke." Tenten spoke as she looked out at him. Sasuke knew exactly what was coming, but he was okay with it. He knew she was alright in her own home now, warm and safe. The only thing he hoped for now, was that maybe she eat something before getting some rest. "You can go." She said. Sasuke gave her a nod and turned to exit the bathroom. "Thank you, for what you did." Sasuke simply gave her another nod, and made his way from her home. He stepped outside back into the rain and began walking toward the gates of Konoha. At this point, Sasuke didn't really care who saw him, if he got turned in, or if he made it out of Konoha unseen. His mind was simply on the brown eyed Konoichi he had just taken home. The awkward moment they shared was as close as he had been with anyone.
"I thought I saw you, Uchiha." A stern, loud voice said from behind him.
Sasuke turned around to face the person behind the voice. Tsunade. Sasuke shook his head and mearly raise his hands. "Tsunade Samma."
"Weclome back, Sasuke. Come with me."
