Disclaimer: No, I don't own the brilliance that is Naruto…
Opening ThingyYeah, so I haven't updated in a while…(shot, stabbed, burned at the stake) sorry. GOD, since November? Geez, I guess I need to get on track, then…
Warnings: Nothing to warn about in this chapter. OOC-ness…maybe? And weird new character-ness…hmm…(suddenly craves Italian food) NejiTen in this one! …kinda.
Just a note, though: In this fanfiction, I plan to portray the "stereotyped" modern teenage population…as in those who worship Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton…aka the mindless "MTV-generation"…BUT, I am not IN ANY WAY saying that the ENTIRE teenage population is like this. This is just an extremely hilarious stereotype that I enjoy making fun of. So I don't want any flames, like: "Eeew, no I don't listen to that music/watch those movies! I h8 Britney! U suck! Not everybody is like that! You stupid prejudiced wh0re!11one". Obviously it's clear that you have no sense of humor.
Well, enough ranting…let's get on with the fic…
Chapter Five: It's Nice to Meet You…Again.
Tenten had reached a dilemma.
She needed to find an art store. She needed to find one NOW. She had broken her last easel when she got mad at her mother (who had told her that painting might bring down her future grades) and kicked the living crap out of the poor wooden structure. When questioned, she said that she had been dreaming last night of a kickboxing tournament and probably smashed it in her sleep. However nonsense this excuse was, her parents believed it, because, well… "Darling Tenten would never do something like that consciously!"
Oh, dear Mr. And Mrs. Haruno, how you underestimate the power of teenage hormones.
Either way, Tenten had gotten away with it and was on her way to buy a nice, new one. Something in black oak, she was thinking. Well, that is, if she could find someone to help her find the art supply store…
"It said when we walked in that they had EVERYTHING here. So WHY is EVERYTHING a clothing store?" she murmured under her breath crossly. She scanned the sea of teens she was walking through. Not one of them was alone. They all traveled in packs! Like some kind of animal species…lions, wolves, hyenas…all predators looking at her like she was prey. Fresh Meat.
No, that was just her imagination…but they did look at her strangely, though. They would glance at her with puzzled looks, and then whisper amongst themselves. For one of the first times in her life, Tenten felt a bit self-conscious. Thoughts raced through her head.
Why are they staring? Is there something wrong with the way I look? The way I walk? The way I breathe? Should I look back at them? Should I look away? Oh, god, what do I do?
Wrapped up in troubled thoughts, it was too late for her to realize that she was walking straight towards a timid-looking blue-violet haired girl in a white cashmere sweater and purple miniskirt with white sandals. This girl also seemed distracted by her own thoughts, therefore impact was sudden and unexpected. They were both walking fast, so the two girls were thrown backward maybe a couple of feet, landing square on their hindquarters.
"Aah—! "
"Ouch!"
It took Tenten a few moments to realize what had just happened. She looked around and saw that people were sniggering in their groups, trying not to be too loud. She went red with embarrassment.
"Oh…I'm so sorry! I didn't realize you were there…" Tenten apologized to the pearly-eyed girl, helping her up.
"It's—It's okay…" the girl replied, "I'm used to that…"
"Well…I guess we were both preoccupied, huh?" Tenten forced a sheepish smile, still aware of the stares that she was getting.
"Yeah…" the other said distractedly. She was glancing around her, as if looking for someone. "Um…speaking of which, have you seen a-a boy…a blonde boy with deep blue eyes and three little lines on each cheek that make him look like a cute mischievous fox?" she finished the question with a deep red blush and a dreamy look on her face.
Tenten blinked. The purple-haired girl blushed even deeper red and realized what she had said.
"Ah…! S-sorry…I-I got carried away…"she then began playing with her fingers nervously.
"Um…no, that's ok…I'll just pretend that I didn't hear that last bit…" Tenten was still slightly dazed from the impact. "And, no, I haven't seen a boy with that description…sorry…"
"Oh…ok…I guess he left…"
"But wait--! I don't even know your name yet!" Tenten smiled widely.
Talk about the wrong timing. But Tenten had just realized that this girl was alone, too! This was her chance to ask for help!
"Um…right…It's Hyuuga Hinata…"she replied.
"Nice to meet you! My name is Haruno Tenten!" Tenten gave a friendly smile and shook her hand. "Well, Hinata…could you help a new girl out?"
"S-sure…" Hinata said hesitantly, "It's not like I have anything else to do here…now that he's gone…" she mumbled, to no one in particular.
"Thanks, you don't know how much this helps me!" Tenten said gratefully. "Do you know where the art supply store is?"
Hinata gave her a curious look, silent. It was as if the question reminded her of someone else.
She snapped out of the daze and said, "Oh…oh, yes, there's one here. It doesn't have very good business, though…"
"Well, at least there is one! Can you take me there?"
"Of course…Here, it's this way…" Hinata gestured behind her, and started off in that direction.
"Right, thanks…" Tenten said, following. She smiled to herself. She was amused that this girl always finished off her statements with barely audible afterthoughts. She seemed nice enough. A little shy, but that was fine.
"Maybe…I've found a potential friend…?" Tenten thought. She liked that idea.
About ten minutes of walking through the mall, (with Hinata giving a small description of each store at Tenten's request) and they were there. The store was simple and inconspicuous, crammed in between the Gap and Old Navy. Lamely named "Arto Fantastico", it was owned by a man in his mid-50's with a toothbrush moustache, a small French beret, quite large hand gestures while talking, and a very thick Italian accent. He claimed that he was the descendant of Michelangelo, though his art seemed similar to Picasso, except more confusing.
His name was Mr. Antonio Richetto, and he was in a very odd mood.
"Oho! Customers! Grazie, grazie! Thank you for coming to my humble store! May I interest you in one of my paintings?"
He gestured towards a blob of paint on a canvas that looked like a bowl of mushed fruit flying in space.
Hinata did nothing but stare, trying to find some hidden meaning. Maybe there was something in that big red dot near the top of the canvas? She turned her head to the side, analyzing with difficulty.
"Um…well…Impressionism really isn't my thing, Mr. Richetto…" Tenten said doubtfully.
"Oh? Well then, what about this? I call it 'Rembrandt's Wife'." He led them to a painting of an extremely ugly woman, probably drawn up from Richetto's imagination. Nothing was right with it. Proportions were terribly wrong. Her dress was a disgusting shade of green-orange. There were no fingers on her hands…
Tenten's eyes widened in horror. Hinata clasped a hand over her mouth. That color made her want to puke…
"Ah-ha! You, with the buns! You like it, no? I can see it, the way you gaze, mesmerized by my art!"
"Uh…" Tenten couldn't find the right words.
"M-Mr. Richetto…" Hinata tried, "We were actually looking for supplies, not artwork…"
"OH! You are artists! What do you need?" He boomed, overjoyed.
"Thanks, Hinata!" Tenten whispered to her comrade gratefully. "Mr. Richetto, I need a new easel. Do you have any in stock?" she asked, finally getting to the point.
"Oh, yes we do!" Richetto waved his arms enthusiastically, "Easels of all sizes! Big, Small, Collapsible, Rigid! What kind do you desire?"
"I'll need to see them before I buy them, sir…"
"Good! Then I'll—"
At that instant, a loud, shrill ring went out through the tiny store.
"Ah, but alas! The phone rings! No matter! I will call upon my fantastico employee to assist you lovely ladies!" He paused and cleared his throat.
"Ahem—HYUUGA!"
"Yeah, yeah…" a teenage boy's voice answered, drawling from behind them. They turned to see that he was carrying an enormous cardboard box. Hinata's eyes widened.
"Mr. Richetto, the new 9x12 canvases are here…" he said, in a voice Tenten remembered. "And they're damn heavy, too. Why did you order 500?"
However, Richetto had sprinted off to answer the phone. The ringing ceased, and was replaced by the artist's booming voice going off rapidly in Italian.
The boy put the box down on the floor.
"So you need something, right—" he paused abruptly when his eyes came into contact with Tenten's. He looked at her for a long time, then focused his gaze at Hinata.
"Um…good afternoon, Neji-nii-san…" she stammered out, trying to avoid looking at him. He seemed to intimidate her.
"Hm. I didn't know you were interested in art, Hinata-sama." He said to her curtly.
"W-well, no, it's not me, it's…it's my new friend…" Hinata glanced at Tenten. "She's an artist, and her easel broke…so…um…we're here now…"
"IT'S YOU!" Tenten suddenly burst out, at the wrong time again, "YOU WERE THE ONE WHO SAID MY CLOTHES WERE WEIRD!" She pointed an accusing finger at the brown-haired, white-eyed, one-earringed boy in front of her.
There was a moment of silence. Uncomfortable silence for Hinata. Angry silence for Tenten. And irritating silence for Neji.
"I'm sorry. I don't remember meeting you before," the boy said calmly, "You must be mistaking me for someone else. Anyway, it's nice to meet you. May I ask your name?"
Tenten was speechless. Her mouth hung open and she looked at him like he was crazy. Hinata just kept looking back and forth from Neji to Tenten, utterly confused. Poor girl.
"B-but—you—I—the earring—the hair—you—" Tenten blinked and took a deep breath. She smiled brightly and said, "It's nice to meet you, too. My name is Haruno Tenten. Yours?"
"Hyuuga Neji." He held out a hand for her to shake.
Tenten took it, and while connected, she gave him a dirty look. He just smirked haughtily.
Letting go, they simultaneously crossed their arms, still watching each other.
"I believe Hinata-sama said something about an easel?" Neji started.
"Yes, mine broke, so I need a new one. Do you carry any in black oak?"
"Of course. Those are this way. Follow me."
The two went off, walking fast down the aisles, leaving poor Hinata behind.
"Um…wait for me…?" she tried, but just sighed and followed the two, walking normally.
End of Chapter.
Author Note-ness
Muahahahahahaa….I am so evil.
Why? Even I do not know.
Please REVIEW!
Tsune