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Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View
Chapter Six: Reasonable Questions
"Human reason has the peculiar fate ... that it is burdened with questions that it cannot dismiss ... but which it also cannot answer."
― Immanuel Kant
To say he was miserable would be an understatement.
Naruto had spotted him with a flustered, "Oh, shit!" and sloshed over to him, helping pull him out of the lake. Unfortunately, he was one of about 100 others being jostled along the bank and trying to get to dryer ground, and he quickly got swallowed in the swarming throng of people.
He was just about to run back toward the lake to escape when he felt a warmed blanket being draped around his shoulders as someone began to push him forward.
"Come on," Tenten braced an arm around his back. "Let's get you back to West."
With a singular determination, she steered him through the jumping, cheering, and (as far as Neji was concerned) absolutely insane people while he halfheartedly looked for Hinata and Hanabi.
"The girls are fine," she spoke loudly over the noise, tugging him to the side and out of the way of some careless revelers, her eyes darting over the crowd. "Ino made sure they were somewhere they'd stay dry."
Neji could only nod dumbly, certain any attempt to speak would devolve into an unintelligible chattering of teeth.
The sea of people ebbed as they neared the house, and Tenten had to do far less glaring to get them through the crowds. She stopped short, though, when she noticed a small group near the back entrance. She swore softly under her breath and scanned the area.
"Did Shikamaru give you your key?"
Neji nodded.
"Good. Head in through the side door there," she pointed. "Go right up to the third floor, last door on the right. Lock it behind you, ok? I'll meet you up there." She glanced over her shoulder. "You'd better hurry – the party is going to make its way back here."
A quick glance over his shoulder told him that she was right, and with a parting nod, he hurried to follow her directions.
Neji, who had officially exceeded his threshold for dealing with other people, hurried up the stairs as best he was able, and made his way to the third floor, last door on the right. His fingers were cold and clumsy, but he did manage to get the door unlocked and then re-locked behind him.
He sighed as the door clicked shut – it was much quieter in this small space. Warmer, too. He stood in the small entry way and saw one end of the hall led to a door, and the other to a quiet sitting room. Since his key failed to open the other door, he made his way into the warm room and looked around appreciatively. Hinata would have called the place 'cozy' with its overstuffed couch and books, and basket full of blankets. A small space heater hummed in the corner, and he went to it eagerly, suddenly feeling very cold and tired. That was how Tenten found him – blanket clutched around his shoulders, and hands outstretched for warmth.
She stood with her arms crossed over her over-sized hoodie and considered him.
"You look miserable."
"A fair statement," he tightened the blanket around him as a shiver skittered down his spine.
"Didn't anyone warn you about staying behind the heaters?"
He glared at her, and she chuckled lightly.
"Sorry – that was unhelpful. C'mon. Let's get you dried off."
He followed her down the hall to the locked door, surprised when the door revealed another small set of stairs.
"That is different," he said, pleased to note he didn't chatter.
"This used to be the servant's quarters," she said, heading up the stairs. "It'll lock behind you," she added over her shoulder.
"I thought there were only three floors of rooms," he offered, his voice bouncing in the narrow dark of the stairwell.
"We don't count this level," she shrugged. "At the time this house was built, there were back stairs that went from the room you were just in down to the kitchens. The staff would have lived in the attic where it would've been hottest in the summer and coldest in the winter. Luckily," she paused at the top of the stairs. "That is no longer the case." She disappeared into the darkness even as Neji reached the top stair. The room was cool and dark, and he had a momentary sense of stepping into nothing but night.
"Stay put," she said, presumably over her shoulder as she walked away from him. There was the nostalgic sound of a lamp pull chain being tugged and retracted, even as the ancient reading lamp blinked to life, illuminating a corner bookshelf and a comfortable looking chair.
"Hope you don't mind," she crossed to another corner and reached up to the faux hurricane lamp suspended by a chain, and twisted the metal key, bringing another lamp to light - this one hanging over a secretary desk. "These are left from when there were no overhead lights up here. I like them better."
"On the contrary," he watched as she walked over to a far wall. "I find it to be quite soothing."
"Me, too," she smiled. "Although this is my favorite part." She aimed the remote control at the wall, and a gas fireplace flicked to life. At his look of mistrust, she gave a light laugh. "Don't worry. They re-did this level a few years back, so everything is up to code and safe."
She made her way toward the other end of the room, leaving Neji to look around the re-finished attic. The exposed beams of the old rafters had been preserved, and there was a surprising amount of room.
"What are those stairs?" he asked, nodding to the small, tight staircase in the corner, that curved out of sight.
"They used to go up to the widow's walk," she said absently, putting a large totebag (in the same Konoha green as her hoodie) on the desk and beginning to sort through the contents.
"Catch," she tossed him a silver tumbler which he caught easily. "Figured you'd need a spill proof lid until you warm up. Drink up."
"What is it?"
"Green tea," she went back to sorting. "If you need something stronger, you can have it after you shower."
"Shower?" Neji blinked. "Why would I shower?"
"Because you just went swimming in the lake?" she snorted. "You can't tell me you aren't completely skeeved out by the whole ordeal."
Neji's grimace was answer enough.
"That's what I thought. Here," she handed him the tote bag. "I keep a stash of clothes around for when my family visits. I raided the supply closet for a new comb, toothbrush, etc. Towels are in the bathroom. Put all your wet things including the blanket in the laundry basket and put it outside of the door. I'll get everything in the wash while you shower."
"That isn't necessary."
"Have you ever smelled dried-off lake clothes?"
Neji sighed his defeat.
"Where is the restroom?"
Her smile was one of triumph as she led him to the surprisingly large and well-lit bathroom.
"Take your time," she had one hand on the restroom door. "No one can come up here but me, but lock it anyway. I always do."
Neji stood very, very still.
"I thought his was just another one of your hidden common areas."
"It might be some years," she shrugged. "But as the only girl resident, Tsunade thought it would be best if I had the space to myself."
"This….this is your room."
"Technically my room is up there," she jerked a thumb toward the spiral staircase in the corner. "But yeah, close enough."
Neji looked puzzled.
"But… but no one comes up to your room."
Tenten shrugged. "Desperate times, my friend. Now get cleaned up. I'll wait until I hear water running to check back for the laundry."
"Why?"
He met her eyes squarely, and he was surprised to find that while there was no hesitation there, there was also no discernable motive.
"I am Hinata's friend," she shrugged. "And Naruto's. And you looked spectacularly pathetic when they fished you out of the lake. Seemed like a good idea at the time."
He studied her a moment longer, and when he decided no other reasoning was forthcoming, he asked "I realize how highly you value your privacy. Is it alright for me to be here?"
Her smile was small, and perhaps a bit tired. "Provided you don't start snooping in all of my stuff or use up all of my shampoo, its fine, Neji."
"Then… thank you, Tenten."
"You're welcome. See you in a bit." She stepped away from the door, pausing only long enough to toss him a smile over her shoulder, that he caught somewhere between his heart and his lungs.
Neji closed the door, locked it on the inside, and blushed.