Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 12: Taking a deep breath, she took one step forward.

Note: Chapter 12 to 17 will remain unedited. I strangely feel happy with how they are, despite some things I would want to change. If that makes sense.

A/N: Wow… I'm sorry. I keep planning on updating earlier but it always ends up weeks later… =(. And my only defense for this is that I've been busy with school and also at home, (being it Christmas and all,), well.. anyway, I hope you all had a great year!

So.. this chapter will be based from the previous one, (In the dark), and will be focused to many years later… when they're all grown up. (Thank you to Shubhs,xD)

Enjoy!

IN THE SHADOW

"Ino, I just DON'T understand why you want me to wear this!" the brunette shouted while smoothing her skirt.

"Stop complaining, Tenten." Her blonde haired companion said. "You look great," she said, smiling slyly.

Tenten scoffed. "That's according to you, Ino," she said, rolling her eyes. "Look!" she pointed to her reflection, "I look like an overgrown kid!"

Ino laughed. "See? Wearing dresses makes you uncomfortable, which is exactly why I want you to wear it tonight."

"What?" Tenten asked, turning her head around to face her friend.

"You're nineteen Tenten!" Ino shouted, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"And?" Tenten asked, confused.

"Your single." Ino said, looking at her with pitying eyes.

Tenten sighed and looked back at the mirror. "I'm happy, Ino. I thought friends were supposed to be happy when you're happy."

"But you're not! I mean, how could you be happy without a boyfriend?" Ino asked, bewildered. "Even Hinata has one!" she cried, pointing to the girl quietly watching from the corner of the room.

"A-ano… Ino, I don—"

"Look, let's not drag Hinata into this," Tenten said, noticing that her best friend's face was already as red as the dress she was wearing.

"Alright. Sorry, but you should understand, Tenten!" Ino said, pleadingly.

"I don't understand anything you're saying Ino," she answered back, shaking her head impatiently.

"But you should!" Ino shouted, running to face her. "I know what you do with all those love letters you receive," she glared.

Tenten chuckled, but then stopped when she saw that Ino was actually serious.

"You shouldn't burn them!" Ino shouted like this was the most hideous crime a person on earth could ever commit.

"What else do you expect me to do with those stupid papers? Read and swoon over them?"

Ino nodded her head enthusiastically.

"Never." Tenten said, rolling her eyes.

"Ino's right, you know," Sakura said, stepping out of her dressing room wearing a black, strapless dress. "You never know if you'd like the person giving it to you."

Tenten sighed impatiently. She didn't want a boyfriend, what part of that didn't they understand?

"Besides, those letters are the instruments they use to declare their love and passion for you!" Ino said dramatically.

"What are we going to your house for again?" Tenten asked, ignoring Ino and looking at Hinata.

"Party," Hinata said quietly.

"For what?"

"For Pete's sake, it's New Year's eve, Tenten," Sakura said, peering at herself in the mirror.

"Oh…" She had completely forgotten… But she spent the last 5 years alone that she didn't even remember what it felt like to celebrate it,

"And why do I have to go again?" Tenten asked, peering over her shoulders to look at her best friend.

"Because Neji is there," Ino said, laughing.

Tenten rolled her eyes, but deep inside, felt her heart beat a little faster. Neji was one of her classmates, and oddly, they spent most of their time together. Which was mainly because he was the only one she could even connect with.

"Wow Ten, you suddenly became quiet," Sakura said, smirking.

"That's because I was observing my dress," tenten said, quickly focusing to the mirror in front of her.

Hinata suddenly chuckled, causing the three of them to turn their heads to her curiously. And in turn, caused her face to turn bright red.

"S-sorry," she said quietly, bowing her head.

"What are you apologizing for?" Sakura said, chuckling. "And… more importantly, what were you laughing at?"

"Tenten is very much like N-neji niisan," she said, smiling. "Whenever I mention Tenten's name to niisan, he always becomes suddenly quiet."

"Reeaaly?" Ino said, grinning widely. "You hear that, Ten?"

"That doesn't mean anything." Tenten said, looking away. "And anyway, Neji is always quiet."

Ino and Sakura chuckled, and finally decided to drop the topic.

"Not when he's with you," Sakura whispered slyly, walking briskly to the counter to pay for her dress.

xOxOxOx

"Y-you look so beautiful Tenten-chan," Hinata said sincerely after meeting her three friends at the door.

"Stop saying that," Tenten hissed angrily. She just hated being complimented.

"It's true," Ino said, eyeing her. "I envy you,"

Tenten rolled her eyes before tugging nervously at her dress. There were so many people around. She stared widely at the ornaments and the structure of the wide hall she stood in. Though she knew she had been here once before, the whole room didn't fail to amaze her.

She sighed, remembering the first time she entered the house. If only her mom would be here this time… she would have been so proud.

"Oooh! Look! It's Sasuke and the others!" Sakura said, pointing to Sasuke, Shikamaru, Naruto and Kiba sitting quietly on a couch. "And speaking of which, I have something to remind Sasuke, you three can wait here," she said, walking away.

"Sakura! Wait! I'm coming!" Ino shouted, winking and catching up with her bestfriend.

Tenten shook her head disapprovingly, "they never change."

Hinata smiled. She was glad they didn't. "Oh, wait Tenten, Otou-sama's calling for me, too."

Looking to where she pointed, Tenten easily spotted the great Hiashi-sama signalling for her daughter. "Sure, take your time," she said, forcing a smile.

Hinata nodded gratefully, "I'll be back as soon as I can," she whispered before dashing off.

Tenten watched her best friend leave sorrowfully. She hated being alone… especially in places she wasn't familiar with. She hated crowded places, which was the reason she quickly looked around for the exit of the room. Although she and Hinata were best friends, she had never been invited by Hinata to enter this part of their house, since it was only reserved for the most special occasions.

Finally spotting a door at the corner of the room, she ran quickly to it and opened.

A sense of déjà vu filled her body. A long hall met her eyes, just as grand as the one she had come from. Doors were on every side. Exhaling deeply, Tenten knew that she wasn't allowed to wandering off in someone else's house, but something was pulling her… Inviting her to walk the unfamiliar hall laying out before her.

It was like she had been here before… It was like this was place she had discovered something special… But what it was, she didn't remember, nor did she understand.

Taking a deep breath, she took one step forward.

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: again… I;m sorry, I was planning to finish this by now… But my eyes can't take it anymore… It's 4 a.m. in the morning and I really need to go to bed… But I'm gonna try to finish the next part tomorrow… oh, I mean later(No promises)…*yawn*

Anyway, Its finally 2010! This year was great and I hope the next will be, too…

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Have a Blessed one