A/N: This in between chapter is just gooey filler stuff, since the ending was already in the first chapter. For those who like gooey fillers.

Interlude

They hung out. It was awkward at first, but their shared goal helped them stick to the plan.

"I dunno," Tenten looked doubtfully to where their hands were joined. "it's a bit too early for this."

The dark-haired boy kept his eyes firmly averted, "Not for me."

"Really," Tenten sighed, "would you like to entertain me with tales of your previous amorous exploits?"

"Hn."

"No?" she correctly interpreted. Prodigies and geniuses shared common vocabulary terms, she was learning. "Want to train me in genjutsu then?"

"Hn."

"Ah," she thought for a moment. "Your training grounds then."

They started off.

She gasped and swung at him. He wasn't even there. Tenten went still as she felt the warm breath ghost behind her neck.

"Sasuke," she said quietly, "Have you ever considered a career in creating horror films?"

She knew he had had a traumatic family past, and that he had spent years with the sannin who had dabbled in forbidden jutsu that dealt in unnaturally prolonging one's lifespan at the cost of other innocent lives, but she also felt that he was actually a gentle, quiet boy by nature, and did not have any sadistic tendencies nor did he inflict death and pain unnecessarily. Yet there was something innately creepy about the scene he had caused her to experience using his kekkei genkai.

"It was a scene of your choosing," he said, noting the fast pulse on her neck. "A training field, a blue sky, a bright sun, a quiet atmosphere."

She exhaled, shaking her head slightly, "But it felt so wrong. It was horrible."

"It was around the fifteenth hour of the genjutsu that you began to panic," he watched her, coolly interested in her reaction. "You have no past, do you?"

She looked over her shoulder at him. The genjutsu he had shown her was her very first memory. She had no recollection of events before entering the academy. She had been found in the middle of one of Konoha's training fields, seemingly fallen from the sky, a little girl with a sunny smile and a short letter in her hand addressed to the Hokage. It had entrusted her into the care of Konoha, and said her name was Tenten.

"Just because everyone has one doesn't mean it's a bad thing not to," her smile was a well-practiced defense. "I'm me, and I'm here. What I will be is even more important."

He remained silent for a moment, both of them knowing the unspoken question was why she had begun to freak out after being trapped too long in such an innocuous illusion. Rather than pry, he looked away. "Better than my past, I suppose." he acknowledged.

"I wouldn't know," she said soberly, "You dealt with it. We all have obstacles to surmount." He was surprised to see her take his hand, till he read her expression. They were no longer alone.

"I thought you weren't ready," he half-smirked and she blushed.

"You're just too irresistible," she tried for a compliment, with downcast eyes and a scuffing one toe in the dirt for added effect. He almost rolled his eyes.

"I- don't like it when girls pull that kind of act." He told her flatly.

"I know," she cooed, tilting her head to one side coquettishly, "But you're making an exception for me."

"Not really," his grip on her hand tightened to a painful pressure. She wanted to add chakra to her hand and squeeze back, but the byakugan might detect it. Well, she didn't tote around a giant scroll for nothing. Her natural strength would do.

They engaged in a hand-crushing contest, all the while staring at each other down.

"They look so sweet together," Lee observed. Neji 'tsked', deactivating his Byakugan, and withdrawing from their hiding place. He didn't even know why they were bothering to spy on Tenten!

She had decreed they would not waste money on lavish pretend dates, but as a result they were forced to do mushy things to show how they cared; she would cook for him and he would present her with thoughtful little gifts that they both poked fun at when they were alone together. In public he would always gravely thank her and lightly buss her on the cheek, and she would giggle and blush. They were seen on various rooftops, trees and overlooks watching the sunset or the sunrise, but stopped holding hands. They compensated by sitting or standing nearer to each other.

"Your riceballs are improving."

"Thanks for the feedback," she practiced a sword kata as he sat reading a mission file and ate the packed lunch she had brought. "You'll be gone long?"

"Come with me."

She paused, stared at him, "What, like tag along?" she held off on being offended until he elaborated.

"It's a two-man mission. I'm allowed to pick my partner," he tossed her the scroll and she caught it with one hand, katana loosely swinging from the other.

A quick scan revealed a medic would be more suited to accompany him on this mission, "I'll need time to decide, maybe ask Sakura for her opinion." she said with a straight face, tossing the scroll back at him and resuming her stance.

His smiles were still barely there, but they were becoming more frequent.

The smell of smoke alarmed her, and she rushed to the kitchen. Nothing was burning however. Confused, Tenten glanced around for the source of the reek. The bedraggled ninja standing at her door would explain it.

"Sasuke!" her arms stretched out automatically as he pitched forward.

He thought she had caught him so he could collapse on her for support, but she just angled him away from the couch, where his sooty body would leave a stain, and perched him on a stool by the dining counter.

"Thanks," his sarcasm was evident even if it was only a ragged whisper.

"Anytime," she said and meant it. A quick check showed no injuries, just bone-tiredness evident in every part of him. "A dramatic attempt to obtain sympathy that backfired," she concluded.

"You know me well," He had asked Sakura if she wanted to train a bit after the rather easy mission they had just completed, and this was the result. He had barely avoided his own Katon no Jutsu as she had punched up a wall of earth right in front of his fireball, causing it to ricochet back at him. She had healed him of some minor burns afterwards, but had to rush to the hospital for her shift.

"You keep underestimating the girl," Tenten complained, feeling much empathy for Sakura and not for the charred shinobi in front of her, "She could beat you with her pinky, you know."

Sasuke sighed, wondering if he really wanted a woman who could do that. It was a blow to his ego. Yet, it was also an assurance he wouldn't have to worry about her much while on missions.

"It went well though, the mission. Welcome back."

He glanced up at the knowing look on Tenten's face and accepted the glass of water she offered.

"Hn." Sasuke looked pointedly at the simmering pot on the stove. She laughed at how he expected her to feed him regularly now. It was no surprise when after dinner he gave her a high-quality weapon sealing scroll that he had found in Rock country, and told her how Sakura had tried not to let it look as if it bothered her while he bought it during the mission.

"Have a drink, Ten."

Before Tenten could touch the proferred cup, Sasuke reached over and took the tea from Sakura, downing the steaming liquid in one gulp, to the surprise of both kunoichi and the rest of the rookies in general, who had gathered for an after-mission meal.

"Sasuke?" Tenten pounded on his back to help him stop choking.

"Thirsty," the Uchiha managed to give her a watery glare. "Tenten. I forgot something at your place."

Tenten nearly cringed at the bald-faced excuse. "Let's go, then," With a shrug of apology to her team and Sakura, she allowed Sasuke to drag her out from Ichiraku.

"So what was in the tea?" she murmured when they were out of earshot.

"A REAL aphrodisiac." Sasuke shook his head, trying not to look at her, or walk funny, for that matter. He sped up until they were both just blurs leaping across rooftops towards Tenten's apartment. Tenten puzzled over this information. Why would-

"She doesn't buy our lovey-dovey act, and this is a test. She knows you hate girls who throw themselves at you, and was hoping the tea would make me clingy and you wouldn't be able to stand it." Tenten thought it was a rather lame ploy, but she supposed Sakura was getting desperate.

"Hn," she politely looked away as he cursed under his breath. They were both glad for the loose hakama he favored.

"I want you to tie me to the bed."

"I'll assume that's the tea talking. You aren't going near my bed. You're getting into a cold shower."

"Yes." What was he thinking? He didn't need to see her expression to know Tenten was going to rag on him about this for a long time. "Want to practice genjutsu, though?"

"Cold shower, Sasuke. And thanks for drinking the tea for me. Seems like lethal stuff."

"I could repopulate the Uchiha clan, the way I feel right now."

"COLD SHOWER!"

"What did Sasuke 'forget'?" Neji asked icily during training.

"Feathers, dumplings and chains," Tenten giggled and regretted it as the Hyuuga prodigy began to intensify his attack.

Sasuke looked with some bewilderment at the girl with Neji. He was sure it was Tenten, but her hair was down as she sat patiently while her team mate unblocked her tenketsu. She was not acting flirty, as she normally tried to with Sasuke, and in fact looked rather worse for the wear from sparring, but she was giving Neji a smile that Sasuke recognized belonged to the Hyuuga alone.

Everything was as it should be then. Sasuke assessed himself, and found no traces of any drug or foreign jutsu that might affect his mental or physical state. There was no reason for him to react one way or another. He looked back at Tenten.

Neji was aware of his scrutiny, he was sure. The Hyuuga's touch lingered on her body.

He went over and interrupted their conversation.

"The hell!"

Tenten reeled and managed to break out of the tsukiyomi in time to keep from going insane. "That- that was nasty, Sasuke!"

His expression was stony, "Your resistance is improving. I normally reserve that genjutsu for the worst of my enemies."

"No one -" Tenten spat blood onto the grass, as she had bitten her tongue badly. "- deserves to be trapped in THAT. What is a "high school AU" anyway? No, I don't want to know any more." She looked at him suspiciously, "What's been eating you? You're in a bad mood, even for you."

He ignored her question and raised a chakra-laden finger, "Let me heal your injury. I need to touch it though."

She grudgingly opened her mouth.

"You wearned weird techniquew under Kabwutwo." her lips pouted around his index finger as he shushed her. She could tell his mood was improving though. Probably because both Sakura and Neji were concealed behind some bushes and watching in shock. Tenten tried not to blush when he withdrew the digit and some of her saliva trailed out after it. Should she have sucked on it first? "Ah, sorry..." she was stunned when he licked it casually off.

"Dinner at my place."

She nodded dumbly and followed. Something was different, and there were warning bells going off in her head. They needed to break this off soon.

The deed was done. It was nearly that time of the month. Tenten just knew it, because why else was she so emotional? She curled up in her bed and dashed away the tears that kept leaking from her eyes.

"Tenten?"

"Ah," before she emerged from beneath the covers, she dried her eyes completely, then sat up and faced Sasuke, bright and cheerful, "Hey. We're supposed to be having a fight."

"I'm here to make up with you."

"No," she didn't know why she was so panicked, "It doesn't make sense to do that now. Neji just found out, you know. And have you even told Sakura?"

He just looked at her, and Tenten could say nothing when she saw the misery in his eyes. They stayed that way, frozen at the implications of it all.

"It was just for show," she said softly, and still he stood. Finally, she beckoned at him with a sigh to sit. He settled on the edge of the bed as she scooted over to lean on him so they were sitting back to back. They both sighed.

"You didn't have to slap me so hard." He was always letting her hit him, it seemed.

"I'm sorry," she slipped her hand into his and squeezed lightly, "You can crush my hand if you like." His own remained limp, though warm.

"It's just proximity Sasuke. You know that as well as I do. We've just gone through the motions so much that it's started to feel like the real thing. Of course, I understand completely if you couldn't help falling for me, I mean, with my being so gorgeous and all," her faint attempt at humor made him emanate an even gloomier air behind her.

"Out of sight, out of mind they say," she tried again. "This 'fight' we're supposedly having is a good thing you know. It's supposed to allow our intended 'others' a chance to make their move, but it will also be good for the two of us to get some distance and take stock of how we really feel about each other."

His silence continued. Tenten was getting impatient, "And don't worry. If it ends up that Sakura comes back to you, but- but- Neji doesn't even try to court me, that'll be fine." She sucked in a breath, "I can finally give up on that hope and start some real dating. There will be closure for us both, at least."

"You're crying."

"Am not. What, your sharingan has divination now too?" she made sure he wasn't looking as she quickly blinked away the excess moisture her tear ducts kept producing.

He finally squeezed her hand. "I don't like it when you cry."

"It'll pass," she had to smile. He sounded so lonely when he said those words. "I'm just a little confused now Sasuke. It'll be ok. I've really started to care for you, you jerk. If I think long and hard enough about it though, I'll probably realize that I love you like a brother or something."

He turned to stare at her fully, with a look that was definitely NOT that of a brother. Tenten stopped breathing for a moment. And when he leaned in closer, even her heart felt like it had stopped.

"I'm going to kiss you." His tone was both low and very matter-of-fact.

"It'll make it worse," she really wanted him to, though. It was just... not in the plan. None of this was.

"Hn." As always, she knew exactly what he meant.

This was the test, Tenten thought, as she finally met his eyes and nodded her consent. Maybe if he kissed her, it would be a disappointment. It was the best way to bring home to them both what a total charade they were acting out. Heaven knew that there had been no sparks between them at the start. He was cute, of course, but she had loved Neji.

Had loved Neji. Crap.

Tenten saw another flaw in her logic. The kiss would be a disappointment for as long as he was not a good kisser.

But he was. His mouth pressed against hers gently, then pulled back and she found herself straining not to follow. The next brush of his lips held the hint of a smile and Tenten's hand went up on its own accord to cup his cheek and hold him in place. His own fingers brushed away her tears, then settled behind her head as he deepened the kiss. When she made a small sound like a sigh, she felt him restrain a shiver, and then his tongue swirled along her lips, and entered her mouth.

Tenten was distantly aware that she was moaning, but was more concerned that the only movement she could make was to allow him to push her down and kiss her with growing urgency. Her hands were tangled in his hair and his were still very properly caressing behind her head and back, not roaming to inappropriate places, but it was obvious that this was not a disappointing kiss at all.

He broke off the contact, and she panted beneath him. She stared up at eyes that looked both grim and satisfied.

She shut her eyes tightly to block out the sight of how yummy he looked, like a dark god. "You're sulky," she muttered, "Rude. Snobbish. Proud."

"You daydream a lot," he told her, "You're impractical, overly emotional. allow others to boss you." She heard a grin in his voice as he added, "And your elaborate schemes keep falling through. Although your acting skills are beyond reproach."

"So," she opened her eyes and pleaded with him, "This isn't going to work out, right? I don't want to have a fling with you."

"Neither do I," he was insulted. "I think," his head bent lower and she stifled another shameful urge to raise her lips to his, "that we should just see where this goes. I care for you too Tenten. Not as a sister, probably."

Her giggling against his mouth felt wonderful for them both.

End.