Virtue (Temari, Hinata, Sakura, Ino, Tenten) SLOW UPDATES

Heaven - Heaven 6

PART ONE: TENTEN

HEAVEN - HEAVEN

CHAPTER SIX

Tenten stumbled back to her humble abode in emotional turmoil. The new revelation did not settle too well in her and it made her physically weak and weary. She dazedly passed by Anko's stall in the market and made no stop to greet her mother in law like she normally did which had the older woman very worried for her.

She called out to her but the younger didn't hear. Now Anko was seriously concerned about her daughter in law. "Tenten!" She called again, dropping the embroidery she was doing in order to catch up to her, but Tenten continued to mindlessly walk down the street, Anko's voice left unheard by her.

"Tenten! Tenten! Goodness gracious child, Tenten!" Grabbing the woman by her arm did the trick of getting her attention. Watery cocoa eyes wavered for a moment before finally taking in the figure of her mother in law. Then, Tenten broke into a sob.

"Mother!" She cried as Anko drew her unto herself in an embrace. She wrapped her arms around her tightly and sobbed into the crook of her neck. No questions were asked by Anko, instead she offered her ever present comfort that Tenten needed most at the moment.

The two women drew away from each other's embrace after a while. None of them cared that they created a scene and that the marketers were already speculating reasons for their tears. They packed up Anko's market wares amidst the looks they got and bade Kurenai goodbye.

The red eyed raven was worried for Tenten but she knew that only Anko would be able to help her this time. She only expressed her concern and the young woman appreciated her gratitude before she left.

In the safety of their home, Anko asked Tenten the reason she was so distraught. They both sat on mats with a tray of melon seeds each to peel out of their pods. It was going to be a long process but their talk served as a good distraction for them.

"Did something happen at the farm? You brought nothing home today." Anko started by asking that question. Tenten heaved a sigh but otherwise remained quiet. Anko knew the silence was to gather her thoughts so she did not say anything.

Some minutes passed before Tenten finally spoke up. She discarded the melon seeds she was peeling with a sigh and looked up at Anko. "I told you of a man that assists me in the farm, did I not?" Tenten began by asking.

Anko, of course, knew of the man that Tenten talked about. The amount of times her daughter in law grumbled about him and sometimes even fondly recounted the things he did gave her feelings for him away. And Anko fully supported Tenten even though she had not quite met the man yet.

He was a kind and respectful man from what she heard about him and Tenten seemed to like him a lot even though she was being adamant about not letting him court her. What could have happened between them that made Tenten this upset?

"Ah that handsome young man that fancies you? What is the matter with him? Is he married?" Anko asked for lack of knowledge as to why her daughter in law was so down.

She had only ever seen Tenten upset twice and that was when her husband and son passed away. It was only normal that Anko was at a loss here. Although she surmised that for Tenten to be this downhearted about this man the situation at hand had to be serious.

Tenten shook her head. "No. He is not married."

Now Anko was at a total loss. "Then what breaks your spirit?" She asked.

"I discovered today that the lord of the farm, Hyuga-sama, was the same person as Neji."

That was not what Anko expected but it was a shocking bit of information. To think that Tenten attracted the attention of one of the wealthiest people in the land. While other women would be happy about this though, Tenten was not.

"I should be glad that I have a chance with someone that wealthy, shouldn't I?" Tenten asked with a humourless chuckle. "Instead I feel pale in comparison to him for some reason. The likes of him has numerous women better than me waiting in line for his hand in marriage. I am nothing but a brutish widow, not even a virgin, there is nothing I have to offer him. The idea that he chose to court me seems like a fallacy. Perhaps he just wants me as a concubine."

Anko could not stand any more of Tenten's self depreciating words. She set her tray aside and shifted till she could grab the younger woman's face in her palms. "Perish that thought." She commanded when she had done that. She had no idea where this unconfident side of Tenten was coming from but she hated it with passion. The Tenten she knew had an ego as bright as the sun and the courage to back it up. This was not her daughter in law.

"Listen to me Tenten. Any man that chooses to court you has a good head on his neck. You are beautiful, strong, proud and resourceful. I am merely lucky to have been your mother in law. You are a diamond amongst dull gold, Tenten and this Neji man recognizes that. It is why he chose you."

Anko's lips widened in a wry smile.

"Are you perhaps worried that you would be leaving me behind should you get married again?"

Tenten was fast to shake her head. "I could never! You are a mother to me, Anko. In no way would I leave you behind." She replied.

"Then what stops you? What people would say?" Anko asked.

"Well, Hyuga-sama is well sought after. I'm afraid he would become a laughing stock if he chooses to have a widow as his first wife." Tenten murmured bitterly.

"Nonsense!" Anko slapped her cheeks. Tenten cried out more with shock than with pain. She was not anticipating that Anko would do that but the slap served to do her good. "People can only say as far as their mouths let them. It is left to either listen to them and let it ruin you or ignore them and continue living your life. You are the one Hyuga chose, not a virgin, not an adorable house girl but you."

If the fact didn't sink inside Tenten's head before it certainly did now. She was smiling goofily before she even realised it. "Me." She repeated. "Neji chose me."

"That's the spirit." Anko patted her shoulders merrily. "There is nothing to worry about! If he turns out to be a dud, you can always kick him in the family jewels and make sure he has no chance of reproduction!" She exclaimed with sinister laughter.

Tenten sweat dropped. Sometimes she forgot that Anko had sadistic tendencies. Her face suddenly paled over when she remembered a crucial detail. "Anko, I walked out on Hyuga-sama today! I have no chance of meeting him now. Ah I am so stupid!" She cried.

Anko chuckled. It was a scheming sound, one that showed that a plan was cooking up in her head. Knowing Anko it would not necessarily be a nice one. "Do not worry your head little one, leave it all to me." At this point did Tenten have any other choice?

***

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