Chapter 10

The Pool

Sakura and Takara had just finished shopping. Getting things for Takara's apartment was easy, but buying clothes, especially a bathing suit, took longer than Sakura expected. Takara looked for a full body swimsuit but the store didn't have any, so Takara got the next closest thing: a tankini with shorts.

Sakura and Takara arrive at the public pool a little later than expected. Everyone is already either in the pool or tanning. Takara noticed a small family in the pool, a mom, a dad, and a young girl who looks about 3 years old and full of energy. Takara looks at the happy family and suddenly the family turns into Takara's family. Takara's mom and dad next to each other holding baby Takara is what she sees. Takara looks down and sighs. Sakura notices.

"Hey, chin up! We're about to go swimming!" Sakura says. "You need to switch into your bathing suit."

Takara nods. She takes her bag to the building that's at the pool. She walks into the building and goes straight to a changing room. Takara takes off her shirt and immediately gags at the sight of her scar. She quickly puts on the tankini top so she doesn't have to see the scar any longer. Takara drops her skirt and sees the bruise that won't go away. Takara sighs, drops her panties, and puts on the shorts. She puts her clothes and bag in a cubby right next to Hinata's clothes.

Takara looks at herself in the mirror. She looks right down at her bruise. There's nothing she can do about it right now. Takara just has to suck it up and deal with it.

"Maybe no one will notice? Ah, who am I kidding?" Takara says in her head. "I feel like I'm going to throw up, I don't know if I can go out there."

Takara hears the door slowly open. She immediately goes and hides behind a pillar, but it doesn't really hide her well.

Sakura walks in. Takara pokes her head out from the pillar to see who came in.

"Takara, we're all waiting for you!" Sakura says.

"I don't think I can go out there. I hate the markings on my body!" Takara says.

Sakura walks to Takara. She looks at Takara in her tankini. "Takara, you look amazing! I didn't even notice the bruise at first. Trust me, no one will make fun of you for it. It's not your fault that the bruise is there. If anyone dares make a rude comment about it, I will throw them into next year!"

Takara chuckles. "Okay Sakura. I... I, I trust you..."

Sakura's eyes get big. "You... you trust me?"

Takara nods. "You and Naruto have been here for me, and have protected me. I'm thankful for you guys."

Sakura smiles. "Good! Let's go out there."

"Okay," Takara says.

Takara takes a deep breath and starts to walk to the changing room's door. Takara exits and walks to the building's exit.

"I'm scared. You go out there first," Takara says.

Sakura chuckles and says okay. She opens the building door and walks outside. Takara slowly walks out behind Sakura.

"Takara? Is that you behind Sakura?" Naruto asks.

Sakura moves out of the way to show everyone Takara. Takara's face turns red real quick.

"Oh Takara! You look so cute!" Ino shouts out from the pool.

Takara looks down shyly. "T- thank you, Ino."

Takara slowly lifts up her head and looks around. She sees literally everyone looking at her, even the family she saw earlier. Takara notices that Neji looks away quickly. She cocks an eyebrow at him.

"What's wrong Neji? Can't stand the sight of a pretty lady?" Tenten teases.

Neji's face turns red. "It's... it's rude to stare at someone when they're clearly uncomfortable."

Tenten rolls her eyes in a playful way. "Yeah, sure. That's totally the real reason."

Neji turns his head quickly at Tenten. "Don't you have somewhere to be?!"

Tenten laughs. "Okay crabby. I'll leave you alone." Tenten swims away from Neji.

Neji breathes a sigh of relief when Tenten leaves.

The kid from that family jumps out of the pool and starts to run around the pool.

"Hinote, please come back to the pool," her mother calls out in a sweet tone.

Hinote completely ignores her mother and keeps running around. She runs up to Sakura and Takara and stays still.

"Hi there!" Sakura says to Hinote.

Hinote starts to giggle.

Takara looks down at Hinote. "Um, hi there."

Hinote looks up at Takara."You fweaky wookin'."

"I'm freaky looking?" Takara asks in a polite tone.

"Yeah," Hinote says. "But it cool."

"You're confusing me kid," Takara says.

"Hinote! Say you're sorry and get back in the pool before I have to get out and get you!" Hinote's mother yells.

Hinote looks at her parents and screams. "AHH! Fine!"

Before Hinote goes back to her parents, she looks back up at Takara.

"Yes?" Takara asks. Hinote doesn't answer Takara at first. She then looks up at Takara's tankini top. "Kid?"

Takara looks around and sees everyone watching, including Neji. Suddenly, Hinote grabs Takara's top and lifts it up enough to expose Takara's scar but not her breasts. Everyone gasps.

"You DO have a big tummy!" Hinote says and starts to laugh.

"Hinote Shota! We're going home right now! You are in big trouble!" Hinote's mother yells while she and the dad get out of the pool.

Takara is standing there in pure shock. Her eyes are huge and shaking. Her whole body is shaking. The whole world around her is silent. She can't tell if anybody was talking due to her pure shock. She starts to dissociate.

"T- ... Takara? A- are... you...-" Sakura says until Takara starts to cry.

Takara starts crying loudly and runs back to the building. Everyone stays where they are because they don't know what to do. Then, Neji stands up and walks towards the building that Takara is in.

"Neji?" Tenten asks.

"I think I know what to say to her right now," Neji says. "Please, I'd like everyone to stay out here."

Neji walks inside the building. He hears poor Takara crying her eyes out. He looks down and sees her sitting down crying into her lap.

"Takara?" Neji calls out in a calming sweet tone.

Takara looks up at Neji. "N- Neji?"

"May I talk to you, Takara?" Neji asks.

Takara takes a deep breath. "Yeah. Yeah, go ahead."

Neji walks up to Takara and sits next to her. "Takara, I saw your bruise and your scar. I just want you to know that nobody thinks less of you. Personally, I think your markings are cool, it shows how strong you are and that YOU survived something horrific."

Takara's tears start to slow down. "Do you really mean that Neji?"

"Of course," Neji says. Neji then wipes away Takara's tears, which causes her to smile just a little. "Takara, I.. I want to show you something."

"You want to show me something?" Takara asks.

Neji nods. He then closes his eyes and he slowly takes off his headband, exposing his curse mark.

"Whoa, Neji! You...," Takara starts to say.

"I have a curse mark, Takara," Neji says and opens his eyes. "I've had it since I was only 4. I always wear my headband to hide it because... I'm ashamed of it."

"Neji, don't be ashamed of it. You are you, don't let this curse mark make you not who you are," Takara says. "I know my advice sucks, but-" Takara stops talking because she sees Neji smile.

"I really hate showing my curse mark to anyone," Neji says.

"But, why me? Why did you choose to show me?" Takara asks. "I didn't think I was important to you at all."

"Of course you're important to me, you're my friend," Neji says with a smile. Takara smiles back at him. "And to answer your question, I know you're ashamed of your scar and bruise. I want you to know that you're not alone. We both understand each other with our unwanted marks."

Without thinking, Takara hugs Neji. Neji sits there in shock for a second. He drops his headband on the ground and hugs Takara back. He puts one of his hands on the back of Takara's head. The hug lasts for about 5 seconds. Takara lets go of Neji.

"Thank you Neji," Takara says.

"You're welcome, Takara," Neji says.

Takara looks up and smiles at Neji. Takara doesn't understand what she's feeling. When she looks at Neji, she feels happy and safe. She feels warm and wants to be around him more often.

"Let's go back out there," Neji says.

"Okay," Takara says. Her and Neji stand up.

"I don't know why, but I feel like I could just talk to you all day," Takara says.

"Oh really?" Neji says with a slight smirk.

"Yeah," Takara says. "I've never felt this way towards anyone. Like, I feel like I can tell you some horrific stories of my past and not get so upset."

"That's great Takara," Neji says. "I'm glad you feel safe towards me."

"I do," Takara says.

Neji looks down at his hands, barely shaking. Takara notices.

"Hey," Neji says.

"Yes Neji?" Takara asks.

Neji's face slowly turns red. "Um, would you... do you... um, want to hang out sometime?"

"Oh, you want to hang out with me?" Takara asks with a big smile.

"Yes," Neji says. "So what do you say?"

"Yeah! I would love to hang out with you Neji!" Takara says with a big smile. "You know where I live, you can come by whenever."

Neji smiles at Takara. "Okay."

Neji is trying to act cool, when deep down he's freaking out. This is the first time he straight forward has asked a girl to hang out. Also with his curse mark being exposed, he feels even more vulnerable

"Oh my goodness! I get to hang out with Neji sometime! I am filled with joy! What is this feeling I'm feeling towards Neji?" Takara says in her head.

Takara looks down and see's Neji's headband. "Oh!"

Neji turns around to see what Takara is doing. Takara picks up Neji's headband.

"I believe this is yours, sir Neji," Takara says in a playful tone.

Neji chuckles. "Why yes it is. Thank you, Lady Uta."

Neji playfully winks at Takara then he turns around to walk out of the building. Takara stands there in shock because Neji just winked at her.

"Neji?" Takara asks. "Are you going to put your headband back on?"

Neji smiles. "Nah."

"Wait what? Why?" Takara asks in total shock.

"Look, you went out there showing your bruises, then eventually your big scar to people you barely know. I know all those guys and they've seen my curse mark. If anyone should be more embarrassed, I understand that it would be you, but you shouldn't be. You should be proud of your badass marks. I'm going to go out there with my curse mark exposed," Neji says.

"But, are you sure?" Takara asks.

"Yes," Neji says. "You helped me gain the courage to show my curse mark to everyone out there. I used to be able to go to spas and other places without it, but lately I've been more embarrassed."

"Neji, I'm so proud of you!" Takara says.

Neji smiles. "Thank you Takara."

Takara smiles and nods.

Neji puts his headband in his cubby spot then opens the door to the building. Takara comes out with him. Everyone looks up at Neji and Takara. When everyone realizes that Takara is smiling, they smile. Then, everybody realized that Neji isn't wearing his headband.

"Neji! Your forehead! It is naked!" Lee points out.

"What happened in there?" Tenten asks. "Did you two start dating or something?"

Neji's face turns red while Takara chuckles shyly.

"No, we're not dating," Takara says. It pained her to say that.

"Oh?" Tenten asks, looking relieved.

"You two would make a cute couple!" Ino says. Sai nods in agreement to Ino.

"Okay, I'm swimming with Lee," Neji quickly says to try to change the embarrassing topic.

Takara watches Neji walk over to Lee. "I think I understand..."

"Understand what?" Sakura says.

Takara looks around and pulls Sakura away from everyone.

"Sakura!" Takara says.

"What?" Sakura asks.

"I think I'm in love!"