Chapter X: Slenderman

Important notes; just in case you might not read this if it's in bold.

To make up for the lack of updates (and also, some shameless promotion) for this story, I encourage you awesome people to also give my other story a chance. For starters, that one is already complete, so you wouldn't be, hopefully, half as frustrated with it as you are with this.

"Divine Intervention" A NejiTen semi-AU (in which Neji survived the war, and all that happy ending clichés) where Hiashi is hell-bent on matchmaking Neji and Tenten, to the point where he enlists the help of Konoha 10 (yes, 10) and Hanabi, and everything just snowballs from there. There are twists, so I hope this would be enough to deviate from the typical matchmaking fics out there.

In case you might want to read more from me, I also have other stories you may check out. However, a word of caveat, I have not rewritten all my stories, and some of them are still very, very, veryyyyy cringe-worthy, so please don't wander too far into my account yet. For the sake of both our sanities. Please.

Other than that, have a nice read! And please give Divine Intervention a chance. And review, if you can, because reviews make me sugar-rush-high.

(PS: To those who've read Divine Intervention, you know I have a habit of misleading you guys with these author's notes. (/Laughs) Sorry!)

Now onto the actual story…

Neji was observing me impassively as I fumed my way over to him. Without a word, he relinquished my belongings when I roughly grabbed them from him. Turning on my heel, I stomped ahead of him, glancing backwards by a fraction to motion for him to follow. Dutifully, he caught up with me quickly but silently, regarding me in what I assume was a careful manner, "Tenten," he said.

"Yes, that's me." I growled. We exited the comfort of the building, and I cursed under my breath as the sky darkened and snow began to fall again. I ransacked my bag for an umbrella but came up empty handed. Neji silently offered me his, but I stubbornly stepped away. "No, Hyuuga, not this again." I said exasperatedly. He opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off, facing him so abruptly that he stopped in his tracks, "Cut it out, will you?"

"Tenten."

"Stop!" I gritted my teeth, "There, see, you're doing it again!" I stubbornly stepped out of his proffered umbrella, ignoring the biting cold that fell on my bare skin. I tugged my scarf higher against my cheeks, and my beanie lower against my forehead. "Why are you babying me? You think I'm some damsel in distress now, don't you?" I rolled my eyes. The argument escalated just as the snowfall worsened to a full storm. In spite of the near-violent chattering of my teeth and the relentless spasms, I went on with my tirade, anything but deterred. "Newsflash, Hyuuga Neji. Just because I broke down in front of you once, doesn't mean I suddenly can't stand on my own two feet. Well you know what, it if bothered you so much, I assure you it won't happen again." I snarled, "Because if you keep chaperoning me like this, I won't even try to show myself to you, stupid jerk—"

"Tenten! Shit!"

Stupid Neji…

The sound of rhythmic, mechanical beeping stirred me awake. I could not feel much of my body, only that it was excruciatingly warm and cold at the same time. An unpleasant chill racked all over me, and I shuddered loudly. I began to make sense of the unfamiliar surrounding, slowly making the connection between the immobility of my right hand and the handful of IVs attached to it; the soft hum and continuous jets of air right in my face, and the mask strapped on me.

I jerked awake, glancing around and seeing a teary Kurenai, fast asleep on the couch. I called out for her, wincing when my voice came out too husky for my liking. I cleared my throat, "Auntie!" I said. Kurenai began to stir after the tenth call, and finally woke up. She bounded over to me immediately, gushing.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Tenten! I was so worried."

Beep. Beep.

"What's going on?"

Beep. Beep.

"Honey, you're in the hospital—"

Beep.

"What! Is it serious? Life threatening?"

BEEP.

"Well, yes if—"

BEEEEEEEEEEP.

A sudden vertigo socked me violently, and I closed my eyes to assuage the pain. Moments later and I had lost consciousness again.

Am I going to die?

I woke up to the same sensations, only this time I was quicker on the uptake. An unfamiliar but friendly face peered down at me as I roused up, and she silently worked about me. After giving me, and all the death contraptions attached to me, a once-over, she scribbled on her clip pad, before placing the material down on the table. "Hi, Miss Fujisaki. I'm Dr. Rin Uchiha. How are you feeling?"

My first impulse, having just woken up, was to comment bitingly. But Dr. Uchiha's angelic smile was rather infectious, and I found all unpleasant remarks abruptly subdued. I smiled weakly in return, "Please call me Tenten, ma'am. And I'm fine. At least I think so. I don't really know the protocol when you just find out you're terminally ill." I glanced sideways to check on my Aunt, but found her previous lounge unoccupied.

She raised a brow, "Terminally ill? Who told you that?"

The hum of the device was becoming increasingly distracting, and I gestured at the apparatuses littering the hospital room. "My aunt was crying buckets."

"Did I say anything about you being sick to death?" Kurenai waltzed inside, carrying an armful of her favorite junk foods. She sat on the couch, depositing her newly amassed foods of death beside her. "I said nothing of the sort." She said defensively when Dr. Uchiha fixed her a look.

"You told me it was life threatening." I said.

"It is, Tenten, but only if it isn't treated early on." The doctor smiled her winning smile again, "You have pneumonia, but thankfully, nothing that cannot be fixed." She gingerly placed a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it slightly as reassurance. I eyed her mutely, pointedly, as I processed the information. I coughed, a little uncontrollably, and realized for the first time that the contraption on my face was not for oxygen alone, but for a handful of other gasses. A nebulizer!

I nodded sheepishly, finally coming to terms with everything, but remembered a detail that did not add up, "Then why were you crying?" I glared accusingly at my aunt. It was her turn to feel shamefaced. She smiled.

"I was watching some soap operas, and it was at the part where this guy was about to switch his body with the girl he loves so she could live—"

"Okay, I know where this is going." I said dismissively. The gusts of air gradually lessened until there was barely anything at all, and Dr. Uchiha summoned a nurse in the room. The nurse, younger than Dr. Uchiha and likely only a few years older than me, was cute. He removed the mask and began to clear the device away. He smiled at me, and I smiled back, feeling every bit like a giggly teenager. I was snapped out of it when an incessant beeping rang in the air shrilly, nearly making me jump out of my skin. Oh no. Was the ECG giving me away at a time like this?

"Whoa," the nurse spoke; his voice was a lovely baritone, "Looks like your IV's almost out again." The nurse nodded at Dr. Uchiha and smiled at me, before leaving the room. I glanced sideways to see a small screen bearing the percentage of the three IVs strapped on my arm. Two of them were almost out, and the 3 and 5 percents were flashing in red lights. So it wasn't an electrocardiogram. Guess I was just beside myself for nothing. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry or ram my cranium against the nearest solid object.

"Dr. Uchiha…" I turned to find my aunt deep in conversation with my doctor. Her name rang a bell the first time I heard it, and now that I had gotten my head out of a self-made gutter in which I was under the stupid impression that I was about to die, I realized that she was an Uchiha, of all people (how many Uchihas are there in the world anyway?). She laughed at something my aunt said, and I rudely (but so suddenly that I surprised myself too) interrupted their conversation.

"Dr. Uchiha?" She turned to me, smiling brightly, "How are you related to Sasuke?" I blurted out. She eyed me briefly, and it could have only been me, but I swear I saw a flash of disappointment in her eyes for a fraction of a second, before her winning smile was back.

"He's my nephew-in-law." She said, "Do you know Tobi?" I nodded,

"Yeah. He's in my class, too. And we're in the same clubs."

"His older brother, Obito, is my husband."

"Ah, so you know Kakashi-sensei!" The pieces were finally clicking. Wow, Konoha is such a small world! "This is so cool."

"We know each other by mutual acquaintances, Tenten." Kurenai said by way of explanation, "She's one of the best doctors ever, so you're very lucky to have her as one." Dr. Uchiha nudged her playfully. The doors swung open and in walked my nurse from earlier, carrying with him two bags of transparent liquid. Affixing them onto the metal rod, he began to make light conversations with me, just as Dr. Uchiha (whose shift was apparently over for the evening) and Kurenai bade goodbyes to catch up or something-or-the-other. I politely waved back.

"Hello, Miss Fujisaki." The nurse began, "I'm Kabuto. I'll be in charge of you 'round the clock." I glanced up, finding him focused on his task. His metal nameplate glinted beneath the light. Kabuto Yakushi.

"Call me Tenten, please. I'm not so big on the formalities." Kabuto turned to me, smiling.

"Hello, Tenten." I nodded. "Now I will check on you regularly, but in case I'm not around here and this starts beeping again," he tapped on the screen, "just ring me up." He moved around the bed, stopping in front of a small device just by its side. He gestured at it, "It's like an intercom of sorts. Anyway, if you need help, just give us a call down the nurse's station, alright?" I nodded in understanding, not really seeing a need to call him for anything else outside what his regular rounds should cover, but making a mental note regardless, in case of anything. Kabuto smiled, "Do you have any questions, so far?"

"Uh, yes," I snuggled more comfortably against my blankets, "Am I allowed to have visitors?" Kabuto looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Well, Tenten, if you're not having visitors under the age of ten, I'm sure they'll be fine." He jested good-naturedly. I grinned in relief, glad I wouldn't have to spend my days all alone in bed. "Would you like to turn in for the night? It's pretty late." He glanced backwards, eyeing the wall clock. 10:10. It read. I grinned childishly.

"Actually, I have one more question before I hit the hay." Kabuto was scribbling down some instructions on the small whiteboard. He hummed in acknowledgement. "Who brought me here?"

The doors swung open, and Neji walked inside, his sports bag hefted against one shoulder. "Oh, there's your answer." Kabuto nodded at him, pocketing the marker away. Our eyes met briefly, lightning-induced glares parried once again between us, before Neji turned away to deposit his belongings on the couch. "He'll be with you all night long, so you two," Kabuto turned to us, his expression grim, "No funny business. I'm not going to lie; there are not hidden cameras inside this room. But if you do anything uncalled for…" he trailed off, the threat being carried by the cold January wind. His eyes darkened as he turned on his heel. But he gave me a charming smile, and Neji, a knowing smirk, before he closed the door.

I turned to my new companion. "Thank you." I said simply, careful to maintain my cool, and my composure in general. Neji nodded, moving forward an inch, but finally deciding against it. He opted to seat instead.

"How are you feeling?"

"I've been better, to be honest." I shrugged, twirling the line of IV. "But it would be nice if we could have the talk now." Neji motioned for me to begin, and I inhaled deeply. "Well first thing's first. What happened to me?"

"You fainted." He seemed to be considering something, and quickly added as an afterthought. "Mid-rant. And then you fell down and… I had to dig you out."

I willed the earth to swallow me now. "Exactly… how, pray tell, did something like that happen?"

"We were in the Arts building, remember? You know that slope you and Lee made a challenge out of? We were there when you collapsed. And because the snowing was so bad, when you fell..."

Heavens; how embarrassing. "I didn't think I was sick."

"I didn't either." He shrugged.

"Thank you, again." I said, firmer this time, "For not only saving me from pneumonia, but from hypothermia as well, apparently." His lips rose for a fraction over the jab, and I felt better, "Now, moving on." A hush of somberness befell on us, and I almost regretted plunging our conversation south. But some things have to be said and gotten over with. "Neji, I'll cut to the chase. What happened between us—The Incident—I'm sure you know how much of a moment of weakness that was for me. You know me. I don't do waterworks. So I hope that you understand that by babying me—as you've been notoriously doing for the past month—is as good as rubbing it in my face." I held out my palms, silencing him and his impending arguments, "Let me finish. I know you have no intentions of doing that. Dare I say, you only have my best interest at mind, but still, Neji, you're going about this in the wrong way, you know? If people didn't think we were a couple before, they sure do now. In fact, the whole school had been buzzing with nothing for the last weeks. I don't know about you, but it's been extra troublesome for me lately with all the accumulated fan-girl hate." I took a moment to catch my breath. "That's one thing,

"I also happen to notice, Neji, because you aren't the most subtle person I know, that you've been incredibly rude to some of the boys I talk to." I said tartly, and Neji had the grace to look down, "The latest being Sasori, who was only my art partner. That was the last straw, you know? What were you being a big fat jerk for?" I crossed my arms, imploring him to answer with my raised brow. Neji looked at squarely, but his eyes seemed far away, as though he was piecing together something. He sighed.

"I don't know."

Excuse me!? "What."

"I don't know what I was being, and I quote, 'a big fat jerk for'." Neji mirrored my actions, crossing his own arms against his chest, "I told you before. I have my issues. And I know it is most rude to vent it out on other people, but… I can't help it. You're… at the heart of all this, to put it frankly."

I doubled over. "Issues? What did I do to you?"

Neji glanced up, and the same flash of hurt was in his eyes again. "Tenten, do you remember your first day at school?"

"Neji, I doubt anyone who'd been creeped up on by the student council president, of all people, will forget their eventful first day, so yes, I still do." He smirked, the pain slowly ebbing away.

"That was probably the first time I ever apologized to anyone. For anything."

"Why am I not surprised." I rolled my eyes, shaking my head in amusement.

"I don't like arguing with you, Tenten." He admitted solemnly.

"I don't either."

"I feel like when I do, it's…" he frowned, contemplating on the words, "… suffocating. It doesn't feel right. That's why when you apologized, I didn't know whether to leap for stars—which, I don't normally do, you know—or bury myself with all the guilt I was feeling. You didn't do anything wrong, yet there you were, putting yourself out there. I was a jerk. I still am. And I'm sorry; more sorry than you could probably even imagine."

"Well, given that you're actually saying paragraphs to me, speaks volumes, Neji." I chuckled, "I'm sorry, too. I said some mean things in my frustration, and some of them were uncalled for." A moment passed by in which we only smiled at each other, "I… I think I owe you an explanation."

"Tenten—"

"You deserve it. But after this, do you promise never to keep secrets from me again?"

Neji was gazing at me heavily, and I blushed under his intense stare. "I promise." I held out my pinky finger, and he hooked his around mine. A jolt of electricity passed by us, and quickly shook our intertwined fingers to seal the deal. We retrieved our hands, and I began to explain.

"The Incident… I... I've been having episodes like those even before. They go way back. I don't remember when they started; they were only there." I swallowed, "I've got a pretty messed up head, Neji, and a pretty messed up past. It's like having Slenderman on your heels; you know he's there, and sometimes you want to face him, but then you say, 'nah, better not', because you know you'll be crying like a little sissy in the night, scared out of your wits, if you do see him—and I'm rambling, sorry, I was playing Slenderman the other day, and Konohamaru and I had an impromptu sleepover in Kurenai's bed. With Kurenai and Asuma in it."

Neji was chuckling. The jerk. He was enjoying my misery. I cleared my throat.

"I was also playing Amnesia; I'm a little paranoid. Please don't leave in the middle of the night."

"I won't, Tenten. Your story?"

"What story?"

"The Incident."

"Oh. Yeah. Where was I?"

"With your Slenderman logic."

"Oh yeah. That. Well the point is, I'm a little screwed up in the head. I keep having these weird visions or some psychic stuff like that. I think they're memories, but I can't really connect them to anything solid, so I can't tell. When I had The Incident, I was thinking about where I came from. You asked me where I grew up, right? The obvious answer should have been Kumogakure, but a huge part of me was saying it's not. Konohagakure also pops in somewhere in the equation. It was so confusing, and, for some reason, ridiculously painful, and I didn't even know why, but every time I have these Incidents, I just start crying after." I glanced at Neji to gauge his reaction, but his perfect poker face was on once again. "I told you I'm messed up."

Neji sighed, "Not messed up; just confused. You need some rest, Tenten."

"What about you? Don't you have classes?"

"It's Saturday tomorrow."

"Oh. Well… tuck me in!" I grinned.

"Do I have to read you a story too?" Neji said, warily. I stuck my tongue at him.

"No, silly, I was just kidding." But he crossed to the bed regardless, pulling on the edges of the blankets, and nudging me down on my pillows. For a brief moment, I was almost hopeful that he would kiss me goodnight, but I was quick to squash such wayward train of thoughts. Instead, he ruffled my hair, smiling his small, private smile that melts my heart every time. "Good night, Neji. And I'm sorry again."

"Good night, Tenten. I'm sorry too. Sweet dreams." He padded over to the light switch, and the room was enveloped in darkness.

That night, I dreamt of Slenderman and Daniel, and in the craziness of it all, Neji was beside me with his trusty flashlight and sanity in tact.

But as luck would have it, the batteries soon ran out, and I woke up to the sound of Kabuto chuckling, and his reassuring, "There, there, the monster won't come and eat you because the stupid pull door won't budge when pushed."

There we go. Chapter 10 is up!

I got the idea for a hospital scene after I've been sick for four days, and had to be brought to the hospital—just in case. Luckily, it was nothing serious, only a viral infection (insert some nosebleed-inducing scientific terms here) that had something to do with my lungs. It would go away in a few days, but the doctor prescribed I take a three-day bed-rest, which I was only too happy to comply with. As for the rest, the being-diagnosed-with-pneumonia and that tangent, it did happen to me, on the summer before my senior year. Rest assured I am not entirely making things up. For the technical aspects, Google is, as always, an indispensable tool (thank you, Google!).

In case Tenten's apparent attraction to the male specimen is a little discomfiting for you, I've learned in my Psychology class that things like these are absolutely normal for the growing teenager. I am, for one, not really an overly girly girl, until I hit puberty, so I could also testify to how troublesome estrogens are. On a side note, I think boys don't have the right to complain about crazy female hormones because us females deal with this on a daily basis for the rest of our lives.

Also, Slenderman and Amnesia: The Dark Descent. I have a weird fascination with horror games (specifically survival ones), but always, always chicken out like a little bitch when the credits start playing, throw the console (or laptop—whichever I have in hand) to my dad, and peek out from the comfort of my pillows and blankets. Apart from Slenderman and Fatal Frame: Crimson Butterfly, I never actually gotten around to playing any of the games I am so fascinated with. /Pathetic.

K-pop references for the chapter: it's not a group, for the first time, but a drama! I don't know, but I'm a little too excited for something so trivial. Haha. So anyway, we have a tribute to Secret Garden. It was, I believe, episode 17 or 18, when Joo Won drove to a thunderstorm so he can swap bodies with Ra Im to save her. I cried like a little hussy over that scene because it was so, so sad (/sobs).

Thank you all so much to those who reviewed last time! More than anything, the fact that you guys read the Author's Notes really touched me.