Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Chapter 16: "Neji-nii-san remembers almost everything about a person… Except their birthdays."
A/N: First of all, I want to thank everyone who've reviewed the previous chapters! Next, I just want to shout out; HAPPY BIRTHDAY TENTEN!:D
I was going to write for the Tenten week (courtesy of Heavenlyswirl;D) But changed my mind since I figured that I won't be able to write a decent one on time… (BTW, if anyone's interested, just send me a PM…and I'll give you the prompts, Again, thank you to Heavenlyswirl)
But, I'm hoping to write for one of the prompts… If I'll be able to finish one that's good enough,
Again, Happy Birthday Tenten!
Enjoy!
FORGETTING
"He didn't greet you? Again?!"
"Shhh…Ino!" The bun haired young woman hissed as she looked around their table. They were eating at a well known restaurant, and people were beginning to stare.
"Well it's true!" answered the blonde indignantly.
Tenten sighed. "Well, as Hinata says…" she stressed, gesturing to the timid pale-eyed kunoichi sitting beside her. "Neji does tend to rarely remember—no, scratch that—he tends to actually forget people's birthdays,"
"Other people's birthdays, perhaps, but how could he forget yours?"Ino pounded the table.
Again, many heads turned to them. Ino really did know how to catch people's attentions.
"Well, why does he have to remember anyway?" Tenten answered, in defense of her friend. "He doesn't remember anyone else's, so why does he have to make an exception and remember mine?"
"Because you're Tenten!" Ino stressed. "And why does he have to forget anyway? I mean, it's pretty easy to remember people's birthdays!"
"He probably thinks it's a waste of time, which I believe is true, of course," the brunette answered, leaning back to her soft chair. "I mean, what's the use of celebrating birthdays anyway? It's just another simple day, so why are we making it seem so special?"
Ino grimaced slightly. "I swear you're becoming more like that antisocial bastard every minute."
Tenten smiled sadly, but took the chance to glance towards the other kunoichi beside her. Her short pink hair was tied to a ponytail, pinned with small red ornaments they had bought four days ago. Brown, pleading eyes met her green ones, but upon seeing the evil glint in them, Tenten knew that Sakura was enjoying the conversation as much as her best friend.
"But, anyway, back to the topic," Ino continued, sparing no mercy for the bun-haired kunoichi.
"Just stop it, Ino," Tenten said, shaking her head. "Besides, I haven't even seen him today," which was actually true. Neji had been sent away on a mission, and word spread out that he had just arrived that evening. And since they had spent their whole time in the restaurant, Tenten didn't have time to meet up with her friend.
"But still—"
"I-ino chan…" Hinata whispered, silencing the other three girls sitting at the table. "I d-don't think we can really force Neji-nii-san to remember since…" she stopped, her face growing visibly red as three pairs of eyes bore down on her.
"Since what?" Sakura asked curiously.
"Since he sometimes he doesn't even remember his own," Hinata exclaimed, smiling.
"Whoa…" Tenten expressed. So that was why he always looked so surprised whenever she greeted and gave him his gifts.
"I guess that's what happens when you're too much of a genius," Ino said, giggling.
"But I still think he should have remembered yours," continued Sakura.
"Aye," Ino nodded determinedly.
Tenten inwardly groaned. Why couldn't they just drop it? Once again, her brown eyes scanned the restaurant quickly, hoping for something, somebody to save her from her friends' constant pestering. Only a few tables were left occupied, since, as Tenten found out when she glanced at the clock, it was already pretty late. Which meant, there was only a few hours left before her birthday officially ended (1).
"…so unlike your secret admirer," Tenten heard Sakura say, when she snapped back to her senses.
"What?"
"We said, he is so unlike your secret admirer!" Ino repeated, giggling madly.
"Wha—oh, him," Tenten felt herself grow warmer. She had almost forgotten about him—or her. The person Ino and Sakura usually referred to as her 'secret admirer.'
"Speaking of w-which, what did he give you this year, Tenten-chan?" Hinata asked, unable to control her curiousity.
"I don't know yet…" Tenten answered, fighting the blush that threatened to creep to her cheeks. Although she had never harbored feelings for anyone else, except her pale-eyed teammate, Tenten couldn't feel but help a deep connection between her and her 'unknown guy.' It all started some years after they had graduated from the academy.
She had opened the door to her apartment wearily that evening, having just arrived home from a mission. But before she could open her door, she had found a package placed on the concrete floor with only her name and a greeting on it. Inside, was a gleaming silver kunai. She never really found out who sent the gift, but the simple weapon became one of her favorites among all the other hundreds she possessed.
It had been like that every year. Whenever she would head home, she would always find a gift left for her. But she never found out who sent them.
"Maybe this time, it's gonna be more beautiful than ever!" Ino exclaimed, spreading her arms wide.
"Well, it's got to be," Sakura said. "Since it's dear Tenten's sweet sixteenth."
Despite herself, Tenten couldn't help but laugh. It felt so great to be spending time with her friends. They had been so busy lately, that they didn't even have time for get-togethers, but since it was her birthday, they had made an exception. She had wished that all the Konoha 12 would be present, but most of them had to be somewhere else, and other also, had to leave early. Only the kunoichis had made up their mind to stay.
Laughing filled the whole table as their conversations went on and on. Luckily, the topic about Neji and Tenten's admirer were never again brought out. They were so deeply rooted to their chatting that they only realized the time when a waited gently headed to their table and informed them that the restaurant was closing. It was only then that Tenten again glanced at the great clock hanging on the wall opposite them. There was only one hour left.
After Ino's failed attempts to convince the waiter, the four had to leave the comfort of the restaurant. As soon as they stepped outside, the light summer breeze greeted them. Although it was a lot more welcoming than the cold gusts during the past months, Tenten couldn't help but shudder. Immediately, she regretted not bringing her jacket along.
After walking together for a few blocks, Ino and Sakura had to wave goodbye to the other two, since they had to check on the hospital.
"I hope you don't feel too bad about Neji-nii-san…" Hinata said to her, after a few minutes of their quiet chatting.
Tenten smiled at her friend. "Don't worry Hinata, I'm used to it."
"But I still think Ino-san and Sakura-san were right," Hinata continued. "H-he should have remembered."
Tenten smiled, not knowing what to say.
"It really is weird," Hinata said, talking more to herself, as her moonlit eyes drifted to the sky. "Neji-nii-san remembers almost everything about a person… Except their birthdays. Sometimes I think he just doesn't bother remembering, but at the same time, it's like he tries, but just forgets." She turned to face her friend. "Sorry Tenten-chan," she apologized, "I shouldn't have droned on like that."
"That's alright," she answered, laughing lightly. She was really glad that Hinata didn't stutter too much when they were talking. Or maybe it just showed how much the two have attached. "I've actually thought about that too, I just can't understand if he's forgetting on purpose, or not."
"Hai." Hinata nodded. "But… I still really hoped he'd remember this time."
Tenten groaned. Hinata suddenly sounded like Ino. "Well, as I've said earlier Hinata, he's got no reason too," she shrugged.
Hinata sighed. "You and Neji-nii-san can be quiet amusing," She said, smiling. "I thought you'd confess to each other a long time ago… But I guess I shouldn't be one to talk."
"There's nothing to confess, Hinata…" Tenten answered, looking away. But even as she said the words, she could feel her whole face growing warmer.
This time, Hinata giggled. "In time…" she stopped, as they reached another fork in the road, it was their tuen to separate. "Oh… Well, again, Happy Birthday Tenten-chan."
"Thanks Hinata," Tenten beamed, hugging her friend.
Hinata waved away, heading the other way.
After she was out of sight, Tenten continued the rest of her journey alone. With the dim light the streetlights provided her, she caught sight of a silhouette meters before her. It was a young man, she could see, yet there was something familiar about him. Acting upon instinct, her hand made its way to the side of her pants, clutching the sharp kunai she had hidden there earlier.
As soon as the person was close enough for her to identify him, Tenten's grip on her weapon immediately lessened and found its way to her mouth.
"Neji!" She gasped.
Said person looked up in surprise, as if only then realizing that there was another person present.
"Tenten?" He asked, quizzically.
Aside from the confusion in his eyes, Tenten could see something else, but she couldn't quite distinguish what it was. She was too astonished. What was Neji doing in the middle of Konoha at eleven pm? She had expected him to be resting at the manor.
"What are you doing here?" He asked again.
"We and the others just came from the restaurant," she explained, "And besides, I wanted to ask you the same question." She said, raising her brow. The path he apparently came from was one people rarely went to. And about only ten buildings were located there, one of them, the apartment she lived in. So what had he been doing there?
"Mission," he said his voice final and absolute. But again, it seemed there was hesitation in his tone.
"But they sai—?"
"I need to head home," he said, walking straight ahead, but her eyes didn't miss the red liquid gleaming in his hand. Blood.
"Neji!" She shouted, surprised.
His gaze turned to her.
"You're bleeding!"she shouted, walking to him, but before she could even take one step, he already whizzed past her.
"Don't worry, I'm alright." He said, urgently, striding quickly past her.
Astounded at his sudden actions, Tenten just stood rooted to the ground.
"Oh and Tenten…" He whispered quietly, stopping in his tracks.
"Hm?" The kunoichi answered. She raised her gaze, but her back was still on him.
"Happy Birthday."
Before Tenten could even glance at him, he had disappeared, leaving a trail of dust behind her. After a few minutes of gaping at the space he just had been standing on, she realized her mouth was hanging open.
Had he just greetedher?
Snapping back to reality, she forced the memory out of her mind and ran. Again, as she reached home, there was a package left before the door, just as she had anticipated. Smiling from the past scene that had just happened, and also because of the present waiting for her, she sprinted to the white gift.
She hurriedly pulled of the ribbon and tore the gift open. She smiled, seeing the content of the package. It was a simple white rose, and again, like all the years before, there was her name and a greeting written beside it.
Her hands moved to pick up the rose, but immediately stopped when she noticed something blotched on the white, pure wrapping. She raised the box to level it with his eyes, and gasped when she realized what it was. Blood.
Blood.
"Blood!" Tenten gasped in surprise. It took her only seconds to connect them all. Neji… Blood…
Her grin reached her ears. They were all wrong… All those years, he did remember.
"Thank you, Neji." She whispered quietly, hoping that the winds would carry her voice to the young prodigy. But what she did not know, was that he was also watching her, from fourty five meters away.
"You're welcome," he whispered back, finally turning his back and walking home.
END
Footnotes: 1 Quiet literally… I only have a few hours to finish this one shot! Go me!
A/N: Finally! But I guess I was so concentrated on finishing this shot on time that I just jotted down words for the last part,..:). For me, the story's kinda cliché, so forgive me for that… but I just really wanted to post one for Tennie's birthday.:D
Thanks for reading!
Please review.
=)