Chapter 9

Friday

Tenten stood in shock with her arms dangling by her sides as she began to try and comprehend the madness unfolding before her. There in front of her, as she was standing in the middle of the main hallway by the front office, were delivery men moving in and out of the schools' front door with boxes. Not just regular boxes, we're talking ones that go up to the ceiling. The men put each box into a nearby classroom as Tenten gawked.

Tenten's POV

What in the Hello Kitty is happening?! I slowly removed my eyes off the strange boxes that were shipped from kami knows where, and put them on my teachers and office members that were staring at the scene in confusion. I felt embarrassed. More than that one time I accidently peed in my pants because Ino and Sakura placed a…you know what. Never mind. Wrong time and place to be mentioning this. Anwho, I swear I don't remember ordering these things! What the hell is going on? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE! AND WHY AM I STILL NUMBER-….oh. wait I'm number one. Hehe..he.. sorry. I just always say that after a rant.

As I re-entered reality, I noticed everyone in the hallway and doorways were staring at me. I slapped my forehead mentally. They should have medication for this because I really believe this "inner voice thing" isn't working. What's the point in having one if it's not internal-

"You're just now realizing there's something wrong with you? I could've told you that a while ago."

I turned around to the snotty voice and glared. I was frustrated with myself for not speaking in my head, than at the group of girls snickering. They didn't know I was mad at myself… So I will just continue to glare at them. I hope they catch fire. I hope all of these damn people catch on fire! I hope Zeus strikes them! And gives me pandas in return! Pandas raining down from heaven!...what? Don't look at me funny. A girl can dream can't she?

-"Miss could you please sign here?" I turn back around to face the delivery worker that interrupted my moment. He holding a pen and some weird signing sheet. I looked up at him confused and asked him:

" But are these Box-"

"They're the shipments you ordered miss. Sorry we couldn't deliver them on Thursday; we were kind of backed up."

"Okay but what is inside these box-"

-"It's okay we'll take it from here." One of the girls from the group behind me grabbed the pencil and clipboard the form was on and quickly signed it. She smirked and shook her head.

Kami! If someone interrupts me one more time I WILL-...

…A strange sound came from a box inside the classroom….

-...On second thought.. I'll just stay back here. Right outside the range of that box.

"Geez Tenten you really are a lousy leader. You don't remember signing the order form is on Tuesday?" My right eye twitch to as my glare intensified.

"Too bad sucks for you….actually it sucks to be you . Thanks for the packages!" she giggled and held the clipboard and pen to the man who then nodded and left. The whole entire group of girls laughed demonically and entered the classroom filled with boxes. Satan totally has a theme song and it plays every time I pass those group of pansies. Ugh. They're so...

I felt panic come over me as my stomach made a noise. I grabbed my bag from the floor, and I ran as fast as I could to the restroom. I opened the door to the restroom and 2 freshmen were by the sinks. One smiled at me and began to form words with her lips but before she can even say something I yelled at her "Shut the hell up don't you see I'm busy! "

I thought I yelled it nicely like with flowers and hippy music playing in the background…. however it kind of came out demonic and very raspy, which ended up scaring the two girls out of the bathroom. I grumbled as I went past them and into the last stall far away from the door. I just stood there with the door shut once I got in the stall, and began holding my head with my hands.

All this pressure was really just getting to me. I don't see how people could stand and handle everything that's been going on all week. From crazy requests, to crazy threats, and not to mention my class load too? Being number one was so stressful! Having to act certain ways because everyone wants a piece of you is just…hell just everything about being number one is not what I had anticipated.

I sighed and sat down on the closed toilet seat.

No POV

Tenten felt weak, a weakness she hadn't felt in a long time. Grasping dreams and making them into reality seemed to always cause Tenten to fall short. Maybe it was the dreams she was trying to reach ; had always been an overachiever. She sat there and for once she really questioned if she wanted to be number one. Just look at Neji. Maybe he just masks or has mastered how to deal with stress. He's so calm, and use to all these things. She never really pondered deeply on what Neji's number one spot consisted of. It wasn't like she was making excuses for why she can't perform good, or even complain. Tenten was told and experienced firsthand just how incompetent, weak, and insignificant she was. Perhaps it was time she finally accepted the truth instead of trying to change it.

Tenten is only having a slight slip with reality. She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly as she tried to calm her stomach. With her eyes closed she thought about the other night and how she lost control of a very old habit; one she buried and promised herself she was overcoming. All to become the best person she could possibly be. But now after these few days, she reverted back to it.

Tenten quickly reached deep into the bottom of her bag. A shaky hand finally came across a small oval shaped container and she pulled it out, then twisted the cap off. It seems like she was becoming less and less of her; drowning into this number one position. Trying to be somebody who she feels like maybe she's not. Her hand continued to shake slightly with nerves as she pushed back her head while holding the canteen to her pastel pink lips. She shook the canteen vigorously when nothing touched her lips. She hissed out loud and threw the canteen on the floor. Tears started forming in her eyes and she brought her hands up to cover her face. What was she doing? What would people say? What would Neji say?...They'd probably be like 'what happened to Tenten? She used to be so carefree and fun! Now look at her.' She let out a loud sob and quickly hushed herself. She needed to pull herself together. She was only having a breakdown and next week Neji would be back. Then she wouldn't have to be number one of this school anymore.

Tenten wiped the remaining tears off her cheeks and gathered herself together. She has overcome so much and she'll be damned if this one thing stopped her.

11:32pm

Class A Room

Hinata took a seat at the counter in the kitchenette and placed a small plate of fruit in front of her. She was particularly in a good mood, meanwhile Ino was deep in her thoughts. She wasn't too sure of the feelings she had been having in the last few days. Which is why she and Kasey called everything off. Everything between them was perfectly fine until…well. Ino couldn't pinpoint where they went wrong. Kasey was the nest relationship Ino had ever been in so who knew? Maybe everything was too perfect and that's why Ino lost interest in Kasey.

Ino looked down and shook her head. The tears that streamed down Kasey's face the night they broke up, still played in her head. Kasey was devastated and why? All because Ino was having second thoughts…because…because…because?! That she found it pathetic she couldn't even tell Kasey why she lost interest in their relationship. She left all formality for something in the unknown. 'Nice job Ino.' She thought to herself.

Ino looked up and placed a sushi section between her chopsticks and brought it to her mouth. Naruto made a loud sigh as he entered the room shutting the door behind him. A blue gym bag was hanging on his left shoulder as a soccer ball was under his arm on his right side. With slight sweat above his eyebrows, he threw his s things on the L shaped sofa and relaxed with another sigh. His bag and ball nearly missed Nara Shikamaru who was extremely involved in his Call Of Duty video game. He had been playing it for over 2 hours now; "accidentally" forgetting about his anatomy class at 9.

"Good morning Naruto –chan." Hinata voiced once the said person walked into the kitchenette area. Naruto smiled showing slight nervousness and scratched his head.

"Hey Hina-chan. How are you?"

"I'm good. I cut some fruit up for you; it's on the island." And sure enough when Naruto's eyes landed to his left, there was a small plate of fruit sitting on the counter. Hinata made her way around the counter to sit on a bar stool.

"You didn't have to so that for me..." Naruto felt heat rush to his cheeks.

"I knew you might be hungry after your practice, plus I already made some for myself…I remembered you don't like strawberries so I left them out. She smiled softly at his appreciation.

"Thanks Hina.." Naruto made his way to Hinata's side and sat beside her. Hinata looked over at Ino who was now leaning against the fridge looking down at her phone.

"You said you would tell me what happened with Kasey Ino-chan." Ino's eyes quickly darted to Hinata.

"I sure did, didn't I? " She looked back down at her phone while carelessly finishing her sentence.

"We broke up the other night."

"Oh no! What happened?!" Hinata voiced lightly but her concern was evident.

"Honestly…I'm not even sure." Ino took her back off the fridge and put her phone in one of her Hollister skinny jean butt pockets.

"I mean…she was so perfect. She was kind, and even a better influence on me. We barley even argued." She traveled to the trash can to throw away her food scraps.

"Something was just off. I don't know why but something was changing and I'm not sure if it was me, her, or both of us." Shikamaru's' ears picked up the last sentence and he became interested in the topic captivating Ino's thoughts suddenly. No one noticed that he lowered the volume on his video game slightly because he still continued to play the game.

"Our relationship just wasn't what I wanted anymore. Something was off, like, I don't know why either."

"But are you okay?" Hinata knew the process Ino usually went through after breakups. She had normally been there to help her cope through things. Naturally Hinata was more concerned about her present state.

"Yeah, I'm fine but that's the thing. I'm okay…I'm supposed to be all distraught and drowning myself in a tub of non-fat frozen yogurt!" Ino liked to think when something horrifying happens in her life she coped by eating 'bad food'. In her mind Non-fat frozen yogurt was one of those 'bad' foods.

Hinata looked back down at the half gone plate of fruit in front of her. "Maybe you weren't focused on her anymore. It sounds like you became distracted by something." Hinata took a small bite of her fruit.

"Yeah…-.."

In that one split second Ino and Shikamaru locked eyes. His head was turned slightly from the TV screen as his hands rested on the game controller. The gaze that shifted her nerves only deepened as she wondered how and why she felt the way she did. Ino slightly squinted her eyes just out of thinking and wondered…Wondered about what this was. It was like Shikamaru held the answer. He knew the answer to her non understandable questions of her and Kasey separating. Why she had become so distracted, why she was feeling confused, why she left Kasey and wasn't bothered, why she stepped out into the unknown knowing she was deserting all that she knew and had with her relationship. He was it. He was the answer to her confusion and many other things. Ino still never put that possibility into her mind. To her, they never really shared a moment, ever-

They did. And Ino realized that it was after that moment everything began to shift with her and Kasey. Or maybe they were never really meant to even be. Because according to Ino, these mixed emotions she was experiencing now she also experienced many months prior. Her eyes widened. Maybe what had shifted was her-

A loud noise came from the video game; commencing Nara to look back at the TV screen. Leaving Ino trapped in this pool of bliss that all of a sudden turned to mess once more.

"Maybe…" Ino whispered answering Hinata's question, but also subconsciously answering her own.

1:50 pm

Meeting Room No.3

Tenten gawked at the mass of humans in front of her. She had already spazzed twice but now she ran out of spazz moments because of earlier today.

"STOP YELLING AT ME!" Tenten yelled to an overbearing crowd of students in one of the meeting rooms. There was a small stage with a podium and several dozen seats in the room. It wasn't too big but large enough to hold a grade level debate.

The students present in the room varied in grades and reasons for wanting to destroy Tenten. They all wanted her. Dead or alive.

Tenten's POV

"YOU PROMISED US FREE SUSHI EVERY WEDNESDAY!"

…Wait what? No I didn't..

"YEAH! AND KARAOKE SESSIONS DURING LUNCHES!" another voice boomed from somewhere in the mob. Forget crowd. Crowd means adoring fans and right now, I wish I had some. These Hooligans are irritating the hell out of-

...Wait...what?..

"YEAH SHE SURE DID!" Others began to chime in and agree that Tenten had been lacking in her leadership.

"No I didn't! I never stated any of those things! YOU PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!"

"Oh yeah?!" One hurled something at me. But thank the Lord my volleyball reflexes kicked in and I dodged it in time. I looked at the object on the stage next to me.

"...Is that a squash?!"

"I say we take over the committee and relinquish Tenten of the number one spot until Neji comes back!" Others agreed. NO THESE BABOONS AREN'T TRYING TO OVER THROW ME! I worked HARD for my number one position, okay!? And these fools just think they can sign a few papers and be called number one. Maybe if I squint my eyes they will all combust into fire and burn. OH! And if that happened then I can be satannnnnnn! Or at least pretend. Then the entire room would be hell! And I'll have little cute flying pandas on my shoulders to help me conduct evil deeds. SOUNDS GOOD TO ME! I almost squinted my eyes until I felt something hit my forehead which snapped me back to reality.

"Well I think we should make her life even more hell!" Even more voiced their agreements. Wait now, I'm still trying to figure out what the hell hit me! They wanna what!?

"I SAY WE SING SONGS OF LOVE AND-" The whole room got quiet and glared at a senior in the back of the mob. Except for me; I was shocked.

"WHO SAID THAT?!" I yelled and everyone looked at me then back at the girl. Oh Kami I can't believe someone is standing up for me!

"I agree with her! I think we should all-

Several students crowded around the poor girl and sounds of help came from her. After they finished everyone turned to glare at me once more. My palms became sweaty as I shakily held up one finger in the air and laughed nervously.

" Hahaha…Or not...War is fine too..." The chaos intensified and I screamed because I saw something being thrown at me again so I sank down to the floor and hid behind the podium.

What is wrong with these demons! I AM SATAN OBEY ME YOU COMBUSTIONS OF FIRE!

"BACK! GET BACK I SAY!" I kicked my foot at the group of students who were trying to get on the stage but because there were so many, none could actually get up here. Good thing this stage was 5 feet high. Or these baboons would be going ape shit over me. Wait. They already are. I hid behind the wooden podium again in fear, holding myself like a psych patient who has paranormal dreams. I think I have those. Does that mean I'm crazy?

"YES!"

I jumped at the crowds' reaction to my thoughts. I swear I have problems, like ones that require medication. But I know I don't and everyone else is crazy.

"GET HER!" Someone screamed over the mob and they all began making more chaos in the room. I pulled my knees to my chest as I sat on the floor behind the podium. I don't wanna be Satan anymore; I lost control of my demons! Kami I love you again, please come save me!

…

Neji strolled down the quiet, empty hallways on the second floor. There was still a chill in the air and it reached into the building even though the windows were closed. His long locks of thin dark brown hair swayed backwards as he moved. A shoulder briefcase strap was over his right shoulder; the meetings he had earlier held him shorter than expected. Apparently an assistant to a partner of their coorp, forgot his notes and presentation. Working out perfectly for the Hyuga. He was actually supposed to come back on Monday; however another raffling of unfortunate events happened so now he is back at the school. Hiashi chose to stay and finish attending to some business. Which is weird because he normally goes with him; however Hiashi gave him the weekend off. He thought he'd be able to take a quick route home before coming back to school and staying late. But unfortunately Hiashi knew how to still ruin a day. He demanded the reports of next month be turned into him by next week. 4 weeks early. On top of that the merger with Hiro Clans' cooperation fell through so now they've lost over 200k. All of course Nejis' fault. As a result Hiashi restricted Neji from his activities after school. Not that he really had any, but still. That's probably why he gave Neji the weekend off. Not because he was kind, but because he didn't want to look at his face for a few days.

Neji sighed hoping it would create some space in his head.; breathing out clusters of stress. With all this stress in him from the last few days he didn't even manage to mediate. There were only two things that he looked forward to that helped him stay calm. Meditation and Tenten. He missed her soft shade of pastel pink lips. She didn't even have to do anything to them; if she pouted that would be enough to send him into heavy breathing fits. He missed her sent, her hair that she routinely washed every morning and tied into buns because the sent was the most strongest in the morning; that's how he knew. Then during the day the sent became lighter but still sent a slight chill through his nasal airway passage. He missed her always trying to compete with him; he even missed her voice. Tenten affected him so much that he spaced out several times during multiple meetings. All this was hidden from such girl. Such a girl with light brown eyes; pools of happiness that filled his empty pools. Flooded all the time he became because of her. She won't notice because he won't let her.

Neji smirked as he approached a room filled with shouting and yelling, and…..'was that a squash?' He thought to himself as he saw something fly into the window on the door. What was happening he was confused but he knew it was time to end it.

"HEY."

The whole entire mob froze and turned to the person standing by the door.

"What is going on." Neji's glare was going down in history! It was one of the most threatening, pissed, and emotionless glares he's ever made in this school. His sentence was more of a statement than a question.

No one dared to answer him. They all just either looked down or away. Neji slowly placed his briefcase on the floor beside him and began walking while looking around at everyone. The group of mob like students split like the red sea as Neji walked towards them.

"I said what's going on. Who the hell is in charge?"

…Tenten's eyes widened. Neji? She thought to herself, only to grow nervous and fearful of what he might think of her. If he knew she was here and in charge of this meeting he would probably never offer her his position again. She couldn't even control these students, let alone make half of the school like her. He would think she failed miserably and should be ashamed. In that case she stayed behind the podium and hoped no one would see her, or at least not Neji. She didn't want him to think she was incompetent. She rolled her eyes and started thinking of an escape route.

The group of students pointed to the podium on the stage and Neji turned to look at the podium.

"No one is there. You all can't speak for yourselves?"

Then all of a sudden a fan of Neji's club stepped up and spoke: " W-well Neji kun, we are all here because we needed to solve some of our issues with-

"Like what. What issues." His voice was so monotone, yet stern.

"Well, we were told certain things would be ours like, activities, and stuff, b-but we-

"What activities."

"Like every Wednesday sushi…day…" One student stated but then grew quiet as Neji shut him up with a glare.

"You all have no reason to be requesting these outrageous things. None the less while I am gone. Taking advantage of who is left in charge is immature and shallow. Now that I'm here, you all can't even form the sentences to ask me." Neji continued to scan the crowd with his glare. All the students were silent and were beginning to feel bad.

"As your leader for this school, it is my damn job to make sure all goes right. Even if you all decide to take matters into your own hands. Like this squash. Really? Who threw this?" Neji pointed at the smashed squash in the door window. No one answered Neji.

"Get out of here all of you. There will be an announcement on Monday, and you all will be cleaning this up. As of now, just leave." Neji finished his lecture and not even 5 seconds after, half of the room was empty.

As students continued to rush out of the class, Neji took the time to scan the stage and look around the other side of the podium from where he was standing. No one was there however an odd form on the floor caught his attention.

Tenten's POV

"Tenten."

"Uh?..." I looked up to see no one other than a Neji. Yes, a Neji. A Neji is a man who is made of gold with the features of…..oh…oh god…I feel a little hot.

I coughed. So I was crawling on the floor trying to escape out so Neji wouldn't see me, but like the illuminati and his "all seeing eye" I was caught. And what do I do? I play it off.

"OH! There's the back to my earring I was looking for!" I quickly grabbed the imaginary earring back and stood up while dusting myself off.

Neji looked unphased. "Tenten. You don't wear earrings."

I paused and thought…

"But I do have a belly ring." I really do actually.

"…."

"…..?"

"…!"

"Okay, Okay! It was horrible Neji! Those demons were going to skin me alive! I never even made them these promises they were talking about." I looked down at my shoes

"I'm sorry…I let you down Neji. I must've embarrassed you huh?" I asked sheepishly with slight nerves.

After about 10 seconds I wondered why Neji didn't say anything so I looked up, only to find him…smiling.

"Tenten I was actually expecting you to fail miserably and burn down the school. But you didn't at all."

…..what? Was he on something, like drugs?

"Wh-what?" I stammered shocked in a soft voice. Neji continued to look down at me with a light smile.

"You held up pretty longer than I expected. I'm not embarrassed by you Tenten. I could never be." He turned to grab his briefcase he left by the door. I just stood there stunned. He was so harsh a few minutes ago, but now, he's being so gentle to me. Little old me. Tenten. The girl who can't do much—

"That's not true. You do enough, and quite fine for yourself." Neji said turning back around to face me.

"I'm proud of you Tenten." I stopped breathing. OH KAMI I STOPPED. DID I DIE? IS THIS THE TWILIGHT ZONE? I managed to remember to breathe as I watched Neji turn to the door and walk out.

He just….what?...He's proud of me? I felt heat travel all over my face. And in a rational decision I made an out of character move.

No POV

Neji moved several steps in the hallways that was empty by now. His hair moving with him as he continued to walk aimlessly while thinking. He was too in depth to realize what was about to happen.

"Thank You.."

Neji froze dead in his place with wide eyes. He froze not because of what was just said, but because he couldn't move. Behind him, a girl was standing, no clinging to his body. Slender arms wrapped around his waist as something warm was against his spine. Tenten's head stopped right below Neji's chest, which meant her head was against his spine.

Tenten was silent. The blush from earlier still stayed in place as her lips poked out slightly. Her head was buried into Neji's back. Her arms cupped around his ribcage, or at least attempted. Her hands almost touched but the width of Neji was slightly larger than hers even though he too was slender. She stood on her tippy toes so she was able to reach him and capture him where she wanted. She didn't know what to say.

And in this moment Neji abandoned all rules of competition and pride. He softened his stiff self and turned around to face Tenten as she loosened her hold around him. They both met eyes while facing one another; Neji looking down and Tenten looking up. He then took his left hand and brought it up to one of his favorite features of her; her cheek. They were hot and instantly he felt the feeling he had when they first kissed, run through him. She stayed paralyzed with large brown pools of depth. A depth Neji would swim in for the rest of his life if he could. He hollowed out her name which echoed in his mind as well.

"…Anytime..." Tenten bore witness once again to the way the ends of his lips widened and rose.

Neji's smile slowly turned into a smirk.

"TwoTwo" Tenten's face was frozen until she registered what Neji just said.

"BAKA DON'T CALL ME THAT!" She yelled as she pulled away from him.

Neji smiled again. He had to keep her guessing. Part of his reasoning for doing this was to please his satisfactions of her. A guy does have needs. And as for now, he needed Tenten to not suspect anything else….Not one thing. So if this was how close Neji could get to her, then that would be the boundary line. He was okay with that. Until another urge would arise.

E N D

Who would've thought that I'd be back. So odd. Well alot has changed. Im in college now, earning my AA this semester, moved out of Japan, Live in Florida, don't listen to screamo as much lol, and...that's about it to put it lightly. I have not been into Naruto as I use to be, but reading Neji and Tenten Fanfics are my weakness. Plus with the Naruto Shipp. series ending I thought that for the sake of my dedication to Naruto ( even though I haven't read/watched it in about 3 years) I should honor the ending of it with my view lol. I watched the series and started fumbling with this story. I have changed BUT this story hasn't. My writing has matured more, and so has my spelling. Which I am horribly embarrassed about lol but I updated every chapter with spelling corrections lol. So if you saw something that was not right SHUT UP AND STUFF IT :) Glad to be back. I'm kind of old school, so I have no idea what is going on with the new generation of fanfic writers...I'm more from 2006...ehhh...Hi newbies to the fanfic world from 2010! Anyways. Review and let me know how you all are. This story will still have the same plot and character personalities. I won't dare change a thing :)