Thank you for the love! I'm so glad so many of you have read this story and as promised I'm here to give you the next chapter. Honestly, the next two will make up for how this one goes lol! Okay well maybe the chapter after the next you'll like me again :D. Meanwhile, I'll shout out those who've reviewed the previous chapter and this chapter in the next chapter (if that made sense). Thank you so much, I hope you all enjoy!
xoxoxoxoxox
7:12 PM, Friday
Gunma, Tokyo
"So what's your point."
Neji's abrupt interruption only heightened his irritability and disdain for their current conversation. He tugged the driver's door handle several times before placing the key in his pocket. Shikamaru watched his friend several feet away, leaning against his own grey 2005 FAIRLADY Z-Z33.
"Stop projecting your unresolved bitterness with your uncle onto Tenten. It's beginning to feel like a mellow drama these days."
Laziness thick in his voice as his eyes shifted from Neji onto the sliding glass door of the pale pink building ahead. Shikamaru would rather listen to his girlfriend rant about Sakura's lack of tidiness at this point instead of being where he was. An audible sigh caught Neji's ears; it was his own. Neji rolled his eyes but remained close lipped as he removed the space between him and the clear glass door. It's automation responded eagerly, waiting until it sensed no one in its path before closing.
To the right behind a cashier's counter stood an old bald man with white facial hair, his toothless expression earned a single nod from Neji and eye avoidance from Shikamaru. Mamaku was a reliable mechanic with reliable parts for several of their cars. One of them needed a "new" transmission gear, while the other had a dead starter. With an index finger Mamaku pointed to a closed door at the back of the small shop, provoking Neji to step until his hand reached for the silver doorknob. In truth, Mamaku rarely received sportscar customers Neji's age, or anyone under 50, which makes Mamaku out of touch with several generations. A positive for him seeing as how Mamaku's prices also reflect a 1998 japanese economy.
Upon opening the door, Shikamaru momentarily stopped breathing, completely caught off guard and a smirk formed across Neji's face. Mamaku's short form stood behind both guys, his voice echoed throughout the no longer operable garage shop. Several equipment pieces remained, lined against the furthest, cement wall from them; the 2 skylines in view made Neji smile for the first time in days. Parked diagonally from each other, both black vehicles, clearly from the nineties, looked almost like new. Neji's eyes sought Shikamaru, before shifting to Mamaku once pleased with Shikamaru's expression.
Neji cut off the still speaking Mamaku and spoke Japanese.
The wire like hair above his eyelids rose. He responded in the same language before shuffling quickly through the door they'd just entered. Neji reached for his wallet as Shikamaru walked around the front of one of the vehicles to look under the hood, hinting at how easy the release lever on the side footwell responded.
So much for boredom…
...
7:19 PM
Kawasaki- Kanagawa, Tokyo
…Or not.
The 1960 Mid Century modern zero table fan only had one speed.
Loose strands from Tenten's lopsided bun atop her head flared around in the thick humidity, away from her flushed cheeks. Small sweat beads stuck to her forehead forbidding to fall downwards into her eyebrows, which remained creased in annoyance at the timeless table fan close to her face. Despite the lukewarm temperature outside, her father's auto shop kept nothing but non circulated air, car and human scents, and stale cracker crumbs. Tenten stared at the rust spots on the faded turquoise machine; her eyes shifted-the small possessed device in front of her.
She rolled her eyes.
It's only been one day since Sakura and Ino left for their Cheer Competition. She knew their cohabitation would turn into world war three at some point, but not this early. A different name and message displayed on the screen; her eyes widened.
From: Naruto
7:18 PM
He Tenten, wanna come to a house party tomorrow night? All the beers you can drink and no Neji!
Tenten pondered momentarily. Considering her week: two of her friends were out of town while another was on house arrest, Hinata, plus Neji verbally and mentally lashing out at her yesterday has all but made her realize her limited interactions with Naruto, Shikamaru, and Sasuke. What did she have to lose? The end of her lip twitched and tugged into a half smirk. Her fingers scanned across the screen before pressing send and with one hand motion the small device was returned to the cluttered countertop.
2:11 PM, Saturday
Hiashi Hyūga Estate
"Your gold card is paid off again. Use it to take Hanabi shopping today." Hiashi, not bothering to look up from the annotated pen markings, approved contracts with japanese stamped signatures, and blanketed letterheads, remained monotone and disengaged. Neji blinked slowly, taking in the direction this conversation was headed.
"She specifically requested you, and I can't be bothered by her this week." Neji's upper lip slanted before returning to its expressionless position.
Finally, pale eyes lifted to meet Neji's.
"Did you schedule the second meeting with Tatski & Maru from Zhou Headquarters? Our presentation from Tuesday went better than I expected, wouldn't you agree?"
...
3:59 PM
Shinjuku City, Tokyo
"Why are you using my gold card."
Neji watched Hanabi's head swivel to him, her eyes wide in shock momentarily before shrugging her shoulders.
"Because two are better than one. Besides, I maxed my card last week." One of Neji's eyebrows lifted. He was about to question her further; however she spoke again.
"Anyone can build a fast CPU, but the trick is to build a fast system. Seymour Cray." An audible sigh filled the space between them.
"Hanabi, I don't have patience today for this shi-"
"-My gaming system broke down, so I've been building a new system. Do you know how much a quality RX 4090 costs? Over four thousand and that's in us dollars on a good day! I still need other parts too." Now the $4,612 charge on his card made sense.
"So we're shopping for parts today."
"Wrong arrogant cousin." Neji raised another eyebrow silently warning Hanabi, who wisely partook it.
"We're shopping for seasonal outfits today. My boyfriend seems to think-"
"Boyfriend?" Neji stopped walking and finally looked down at his younger cousin. He truthfully assumed her hobbies limited her social skills, but apparently they didn't. She was already advancing further than her older sister. It was Hanabi's turn to raise an eyebrow as she folded her arms across her chest. "Yes, boyfriend." She glared at Neji who rolled his eyes in response.
"Do you see acne on my face? Do I eat junk food all day or wear thick-framed glasses with an even thicker prescription? I didn't think so, nerds look completely different from when you were my age." Neji blankly blinked.
"Now let's go!"
...
6:28 PM
Neji's ears and his attention shifted along with his head. Suddenly searching, scanning rather, with his narrowed lavender orbs in between the streams of people walking towards and away from him.
And again the sound occured.
Still, remaining in place, Neji's eyes traveled to the open-door storefronts in the area, until finally landing on the sound. His breath caught in the back of his throat.
She was standing close to an arcade machine, her hands shifted on the machine's knobs while her eyes remained engaged with the visual overstimulation on the screen. Her tan complexion was covered by the black long sleeves against her arms and a simple dark-washed pair of jeans against her lower half.
His lips slanted downward.
She finally turned to her left, but someone appeared, smiling just as much. Neji recalled seeing that mutt a few times in school. Kiba handed her something and then it happened again, the damn sound that fixed his attention onto her.
She laughed.
She laughed and placed what Kiba had given her into a part of the arcade machine. Thus, another round of visual overstimulation began. Her smile didn't leave her face once. Why would she smile this much? She looked happy, more so than usual and carefree.
Something he knows nothing about but….
The arcade machine made a high-pitched sound, signaling a win. She raised her hands in the air and screamed in excitement.
…he can easily identify it on her.
She turned around to Kiba who gave her a high-five and shoved her out of the way so he could play next. Ten-
"Helllooooo!" Neji, caught off guard, quickly looked down to his left, seeing an annoyed Hanabi glaring at him. He released a breath he didn't know he held.
"Hn."
"Are you done zoning out, because we still have places to go."
Neji's baritone voice was laced with annoyance. He needed more than a cigarette at this point. "What would you say if I raised the credit limit on my gold card and let you use it for the next 5 months."
Hanabi's eyes widened. "Really!?"
"Tell your father I was with you all day when he asks."
"Wait, where are you-!"
"Anywhere but here." With that, Neji hastily departed, leaving a no longer-bothered Hanabi to enjoy her shopping excursion; she walked in the opposite direction while texting her boyfriend who was 20 minutes away.
...
6:34 PM
Shikamaru's phone vibrated for the second time in less than a minute. He rolled his eyes off Call of Duty Modern Warfare, pausing his place in the game before using his other hand to reach for his phone across the futon. Sighing expecting Ino, his eyes widened slightly when someone else's name emerged.
Shikamaru quickly unlocked his phone and entered the group chat. Before he could respond, Sasuke commented. Neji replied with his usual minimal response.
Shikamaru resumed the game, deciding to speak with Neji briefly later.
...
11:03 PM
Edogawa City, Tokyo
Tenten tugged on the hem of her black cargo mini skirt for the final time. Her eyes moved across the glass that reflected her frame, outfit, and hair…
Shit.
Her wave pattern was returning. She'd taken Ino's advice, who spoke for nearly half an hour, verbally commanding her about what to wear and how to style herself for this party. Tenten gathered strands of hair framing her cheeks and pulled them behind her ears. Straightening her hair sounded like a good idea until he realized he had no hair spray. Honestly, the way she planned to party tonight, she doubted hairspray would helped. Her black bralette against the thin black mesh short-sleeve top irritated a certain area on her back or wait. No, it was her hair, false alarm.
Tenten stared at herself in her mirror, making sure her mascara was still in place. But then she fidgeted with her skirt. Again.
Why was she so nervous? Tonight was her first night out in Tokyo by herself mostly, at a house party in a different city she knew nothing about. That wasn't why. Maybe it was because Ino and Sakura weren't here to be with her. That wasn't why either.
Neji wasn't coming.
Shouldn't she be excited? Talking to new guys and just having fun, hell, that's what she did with Kiba today. Since Hinata couldn't join, they still decided to go to an arcade spot downtown, and then grab food from seven-eleven. She'd had fun taking her mind off Neji and what happened this week, but when she found herself alone, he returned to her mind. Why couldn't she just forget about him?
Tenten sighed audibly and grabbed a black hoodie, before stomping out of her bedroom.
Thank kami for beer. Tonight was going to be a good night.
...
11:57 PM
Somewhere in the Kanagawa Ward of Yokohama
From initial observations, the neighborhood was decent.
Tenten nodded her head and paid the driver before closing the backseat door. She looked at her phone, walking forward along the side of the overall quiet street. As she passed each Japanese modern house, the quality of the homes grew increasingly dismal, until-Tenten looked at her phone which informed her she'd arrived at her destination. Her feet stopped moving but her eyes couldn't stop once off her phone screen. The amplified speakers should've caught her attention, but instead the visual of the condition of the house occured first. It was as if she was back in Chinatown, visiting a rundown apartment complex.
Tenten walked onto the pavement of the short driveway belonging to the two-story rundown, western style house. Several windows on both floors that faced the street were wide open, with pools of lights flooding out, which meant someone paid the utilities. The front door was wide open, revealing more light, smoke, and a loud mixture of voices. Truly there were people everywhere. The little bit of grass in the front of the house was littered with plastic bottles, cups, and an assortment of wrappers.
Now walking, she quickly crossed the lawn attempting to avoid the trash. A couple making out that needed a room stood off to the side of the front doorsteps, while someone else spoke in an irritating pitch on a phone. A black 1998 Honda sat at the end of the short driveway to the left of the house; an excited scream caught Tenten's attention, and she looked through the front door entrance. Then finally it hit her. The undeniably voluminous thumping beneath her feet. How did she miss this? The bass from the amps in the house was outrageous and for the first time all day, she felt her nerves disappear.
Warm temperature lights casted dancing shadows on the wall, as she approaches the open door. To her right, she walks into a space with tattered Tatami, an abnormally large burgundy corduroy sectional sofa complete with the occasional throw up stains and torn fabric, scattered books lopsided across the few wooden shelves on wall. Tenten managed to scope those details as she pressed her way between the moving bodies seeking another room. Moments later she managed to locate something, a doorway opening into the kitchen. Although small, there was a make shift beer pong table in the center. Wooden cabinet doors above and below the sink were open and deprived of food. The cream countertops preserved an early 2000's aesthetic, giving way for the white microwave, gas stove, and.. hold on, why was the refrigerator door open?
"Tenten you made it!" Tenten's gaze shifted; a smile formed.
"This party is alive to say the least." Naruto's wide grin grew. He lifted a japanese branded sliver can in the air.
"Just what we all need! Say, do you know how to play this? I'm losing because of him," Naruto pointed towards a guy near him who shook his head and rose a middle finger.
"And I don't like losing." Tenten nodded her head before stepping towards the alignment of red cups.
...
12:48 AM
Tenten squinted her eyes again, unsure of which beer can belonged to her. Balancing her weight with the palms of her hands, she pressed them against a wall as she maneuvered into another room, lazily smiling as the music grew louder. Suddenly the song changed. Tenten withdrew from her temporary stable position and walked further into the semi full room, moving her body with the low bass guitar chords. She smiled again when tall, new face approached her, unresisting against his pull at her waist she wrapped one arm around his neck. Using the other to extend her hand and remove the beer bottle he held, tilted her head back, and swallowed the remaining contents.
"Damn idiot."
Sasuke grumbled as he placed his empty beer can on the cream countertop, glaring at the sprawled Naruto on the laminate kitchen floor. His was body contoured but he somehow managed to fall asleep.
"You have a cig?" Shikamaru appeared through an entrance , nodding his head before shuffling through his pant packet. It was a few moments before either spoke.
"Some party Kosei managed to pull off."
Shikamaru eyes Sasuke before breathing out. "Yeah, surprised how many people made it tonight."
"It's the last weekend before this place gets remodeled. Interested to see where else his money's gonna go."
Shikamaru smirked, hearing a faint scream in the background. "Probably another-"
"DUCKS! The city is paid for by..." The outburst caused Sasuke's foot to collide with Naruto's left side. The irritated blond turned away from Sasuke, and gripped his (seventh) semi full beer can tighter into his bare chest.
"Fucking pigeons..shewww.." Shikamaru chuckled as Sasuke rolled his eyes.
...
2:19 AM
Wrong room.
Tenten walked to another door in the narrow hallway.
Locked door.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"Can I help you." Tenten's eyes widened and looked to the voice.
A tall, slender man, no more than 25 watched her humorously. The thin cigarette pinched between his thumb and index finger managed to cloud a portion of his face; although his brown hair was noticeable. She made no movement but he did, and he now stood mere inches from her.
"Can. I. Help. You. " Tenten blinked several times before responding.
"Point me to the bathroom-a working bathroom." The man smirked.
"Take the stairs, second door on the left."
Tenten took another second. "This your place?"
The man nodded while blowing smoke from his mouth. "It's a shithole." This time he smiled at her bluntness. The dim overhead light exposed his features. At least all his teeth were in his mouth.
"You staying around for a while?" Tenten smirked and lifted what was her sixth japanese branded silver can.
"As long as there's beer." She smiled to herself before deciding to leave the stranger alone.
...
It'd been hell navigating through the crowd downstairs, but several minutes later, after dodging several unwarranted situations including throw up, she made it. To be honest there were only four doors on this floor. No one from the party made it upstairs, rather didn't linger, and their voices didn't travel all the way up here either. Her feet stopped at the closed white bathroom door. Glancing down, she noticed light spill from the gap between the door and floor, indicating it was in use. Fuck this shit. She'd been waiting for a long time to use the bathroom and had zero patience remaining.
No response came when she knocked loudly on the door. She hastley twisted the door knob but paused when it resisted. Knocking again, this time with force,she heard a sharp intake of breath from the other side of the door.
"Be out in a sec!"; the voice of an agitated woman traveled.
Tenten rolled her eyes and twisted her hips slightly to alleviate her discomfort. Maybe if she counted from fifty, time would pass quicker? Worth a try.
As she mentally counted, she heard more sounds from the bathroom; moaning, heels sliding across the floor, and zippers. Turning around, Tenten's eyes landed on a white wall and before she knew it she began zoning out. She reached zero long ago, hearing a faint click she turned around.
Pulling the door was a woman, few inches taller than her with shoulder length jet black hair. The eyeshadow she wore was as noticeable as the eyeliner and eyelash extensions she wore. Strands of her hair rested against her flushed red cheeks. The maroon smeared lipstick wasn't a lip stain because it spread across her chin and down to the left side of her neck, which, paired with her pale complexion, only highlighted the growing hickey. Flecks of mascara residue rested atop her cheekbones below the bottom of her fake eyelashes; she repositioned the fallen, thin spaghetti strap on her right shoulder before locking eyes with Tenten.
Tenten took a side step, allowing said woman to exit the bathroom, her heels sounding as she walked through the hallway in the direction of the stairs. She sighed in relief and eagerly stepped into the bathroom. Removing her eyes off the departed woman, they landed on...fucking hell another person. Why would there be another person in here when if the woman really needed the bathroom she a she should've...
Wait.
Paused, mid way reaching for a japanese branded silver can atop the no longer ivory bathroom countertops, was a stilled hand. A hand attached to the slightly tan forearm with biceps underneath the short sleeve black cotton fabric with the other hand hidden from view. In unison with the pitch black jeans and black tennis shoes he wore, the outfit only emphasized his espresso hair strands that were slightly out of place. Tenten's eyes roamed across his slightly tinted cheeks, noting how dark the half moons under his eyes echoed a depth alcohol and sleep couldn't cure, to the small beads of sweat on his forehead that glistened in part to the horrendous avantgarde light fixtures above the chipped rectangular mirror. His mouth was slightly opened and she couldn't help but return to his eyes. Shock was truly an understatement because out of her mind flew the need to use the bathroom. Out of her mind flew the need to comprehend anything right now. Out of her mind was herself.
It was official.
Tenten wasn't sure which was worse. The 1998 wallpaper, the beige western tub coated in dirt, the lack of ventilation in this space, the damn can of fucking hairspray that randomly and ironically was placed on the no longer ivory countertops mocking her existence, or maybe what was worse was the scene she literally walked into. Why? Because out of all the possible scenarios that played out in her mind this wasn't one she could've ever pictured. And oh kami was there even ventilation in the hallway?! She felt more sweat accumulate across her forehead. Tenten slowly shook her head.
After what felt like an eternality of trying to find the fitting words for this situation and attempting to register what just happened, she felt her lips move on their own. Her voice carried to his ears so clear it paralyzed him.
"You win." More words spilled out.
"I wish I never met you."
End of Chapter
Ohhhhh let the fun begin! Have no fear, things will get better I promise ! Don't forget to favorite, add this story to your alerts so you know when I upload a new chappie and REVIEW! I see how many of you read my story and I'm so grateful and blown away :D. See you soon, in three weeks to be exact!
Preview of Next Chapter:
She was beautiful.
Breathtakingly beautiful, from light pink shade in that spread throughout her cheeks, to the downward curve of her lips. Her still frame posed absentmindedly, causing him to mentally screenshot the view. She straightened her hair, which disappeared behind her back, except for the few strands that framed her face. He wondered if it still smelled of strawberries. His eyes trailed across her outfit of choice for the night, before eying a slender finger that remained on the silver doorknob.
Why is she here?
Out of all the nights, how did she manage to be here, right now, standing before him?
xoxoxoxoxo
