Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Chapter 4: He would never love someone like her.
DUSK
She was tired. They had been sparring continuously for hours, and it didn't help that she didn't have enough sleep last night, courtesy of the same man she was facing now.
Without meaning to, her body slumped down, screaming for rest.
"Again," he told her in his baritone voice.
And although she wanted so badly to say no, that she had had enough, she forced herself to nod, and flew to the trees. She would not allow herself to be seen as weak in his eyes. Moving as fast as she could, she darted from one tree to the next. She was so much slower than him, but she hoped that without the use of his byakugan, she would be able to momentarily confuse him.
And she was right. She watched as the man she had long come to love turn to face a tree to her left. As quietly as she could, she pulled out the scroll in her back and pulled it open, just as she leapt high into the air.
His surprise gave her enough time to jump high enough. And the kaiten he performed afterwards enabled her to jump close enough and engage him in a short range combat. The pattern that emerged afterwards, she had long memorized. The way he was able to block every single attack she threw at him reminded her of how she had come to admire him.
Admiration was undercutting it, though. Even at a young age, she had known that it was something far more serious than the teenage crush every other girl in the village felt towards her teammate. She knew she was deeper in than any of them. And it was inevitable. While they had only his looks and family to base their incessant squeals and swoons on, she had the chance to watch his unending determination and dedication to the way of the shinobi.
While distracting him with a kick she performed to bring him to his knees, Tenten pulled out the kunai from behind and continued her onslaught with the familiar feel of the weapon in her arms.
These were the moments she had come to love; the rhythmic call of the kunai she held and the one in his arms as they clanged with every deadly bite. But she would not allow that emotion to reach her eyes. She was scared he would think her silly; or worse, one of those fan girls whose only happiness was to be close to him. She wasn't a fan girl, though. She wanted to tell him that so badly. Because lately, it seemed as though that was what she had become to him. It was the only explanation she could think of as to why he had begun to shy away again.
He talked to her less and less now, and there was a constant angry glint in his eyes, just like the one he had on his face now—
"Ah!" she shouted in surprise as a powerful blow from him brought her to her knees.
Usually she would come to help her, but now... now he only stood and watched as she sat on the ground.
So you really do think me as one of them. She thought bitterly. And why shouldn't he? With how weak she was being?
He stepped towards her then, and she had to look away. She couldn't bear to let him see the shame and pain in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she mumbled instead, pushing herself up. I'm sorry for being so weak. I'm sorry for loving you when it seems so obvious that I am not worthy of the Hyuga prodigy. And why would I? I have no family background to speak of. I have no special jutsu that would claim the envy of other shinobi. I am nothing.
"No," he heard her answer. And she looked up to see him staring at her.
And for a moment, they just stood there, looking at each other.
And she realized then that even if she wouldn't love her, she would still be there for him. She would bear the pain. She knew now that nothing would ever become of them.
After all, he would never love someone as simple as her.
END
A/N: This two shot was inspired by a story I heard of two people who both thought they weren't good enough for the other, when actually, they only wanted to be together.
And please Review! Thanks!
Editted: 5.09.13 Like the chapter before, this has been completely written.
If anybody is interested, just PM me and I can send you the original version. Lol.