When It's All Over [NejiTen Fanfiction] | ✓

Chapter 1

"Who are you?" I asked with a burst of curiosity.

"I'm Neji Hyuuga. Who are you and what are you doing here?"

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He and I were only five years old when I went to Hinata Hyuuga's sleepover party for her fourth birthday. I didn't know her all that well, but I was invited and was forced to attend by my greedy mother, who wanted to see what the rich family had to offer as parting gifts. I would have preferred staying home and practicing with my plastic weapons.

I was fashionably late, and arrived just in time to play with Ino-chan’s vast collection of dolls, and to watch Sakura-chan burn up with jealousy. I didn’t really understand those two. One minute they were best friends and the next they were bitter rivals. When it came time to rescue Hinata-hime from the Village Hidden in the Mist, I began regretting not bringing any of my plastic kunai.

Soon enough, I got bored, and said that I had to go to the bathroom. I left the room to explore the irritatingly large home of the Hyuuga's. It wasn't until I ended up in the back garden that I realized I had no idea how to return to the birthday girl's bedroom. There, I saw a boy about my age attacking a thick wooden post, and I couldn't help but think that he looked so cool while doing it.

I watched silently from behind a sakura tree as he kicked and punched until he had scrapes on his knuckles and shins. He was really tough for a kid. I don't know how long I was there, but none of the other girls seemed to notice I was gone, and for some reason, I didn't mind. I tried to poke out a little more from behind the thick trunk of the tree, which would have been fine if my hand didn't slip on the grass. I tumbled out until I was in full view of the boy, who was now standing beside the post staring at the girl who had just fallen out from behind a tree.

The sun had already tucked itself behind the horizon, and the eerie silence in probably wouldn't have disturbed me if it wasn't already dark. I could see a small green tattoo neatly stamped onto the center of his forehead. It looked like an X with two lines on either side. At this point, his knuckles were swollen and his shins looked like they would spontaneously explode in a pool of blood at any moment. Soon, it became unbearable and I scrambled to my feet.

"Who are you?" I asked with a burst of curiosity, breaking the deathly silence that had surrounded him. He turned slowly with an amazed look on his face, as if he was surprised someone had managed to sneak up on him.

"I'm Neji Hyuuga. Who are you and what are you doing here?"

I swallowed. Neji Hyuuga was the strongest kid his age. As I answered his question, I tried to sound a little tough too. "I'm Tenten Mitsashi, Hinata-san’s guest." I puffed out my chest, which I guess I thought made me look a little dangerous.

"Oh."

The silence prolonged a little longer until he tirelessly returned to attacking the post. I took a few steps closer to watch.

"Why are you hurting yourself?" 

He paused to look at me. "I have to get stronger."

I rocked from toe to heel and back again, "What for?"

"Who else is going to protect Hinata-sama?"

His answer confused me, but I decided not to dig deeper into the subject.

I sat down and leaned against a tree to watch him continue to throw himself at the tree. I had nearly fallen asleep by the time he was done, or at least, until I thought he was done. My eyes were half closed when he walked over, crouched next to me, and tapped my shoulder.

"Hey, why are you still here? Shouldn't you go back to Hinata-sama’s room?"

"No, I like watching you, the other girls are boring." I remember him smiling when I said this, but Neji-kun never really smiled. "Are you done now?"

He shook his head.

"You should take a break." I really meant it, he was bleeding all over.

He tilted his head, "I'm talking to you, aren't I?"

I stood up, and without a word, lead him over to a small pond in the garden, and scooped up water to wash away both dry and fresh blood from his wounds. It must've stung, but he didn't cry. I liked him. It was nice having a friend who wasn't obsessed with dolls and hairstyling.

We both sat by the pond for a while. It was already 9 pm, which doesn't seem like a huge deal, but it was when your bedtime is 7:30.

By the time I snuck back into Hinata-san's room at 11, I had learned that Neji-kun was six years old, hated pumpkins and spicy food, and that his forehead tattoo was a brand and the curse mark of the Hyuuga branch family, which I didn't really get at the time. When I got to the room, all the girls were asleep, and I was surprised by the fact that nobody seemed to mind that I had been missing for a few hours. It didn't really matter to me; I had just made a new friend.

The next morning, we were served breakfast by Hinata-san's nursemaids. We ate with her father in a dull silence, as everyone was very tired. I ate slowly, waiting for Neji to arrive so we could eat together. Eventually, it didn't seem as if anybody else were waiting for him, and I realized he wasn't coming. I couldn't help but ask.

“Hyuuga-sama?"

"Please, Mitsashi-san. Call me Hiashi." He was soft at first, unlike Neji.

"Why isn't Neji-kun with us?"

He froze and coughed a few times before swallowing his food. He stared at me in a questionable silence. "How do you know Neji?"

"I bumped into him at the playground." I lied. I didn't want to get in trouble with the Hyuugas and wanted to be able to see Neji-kun again someday.

The other girls were quiet, but Hinata-san's soft voice spoke up, "But that's not possible. He's not allowed to leave the house unless he's with me, and I've never been to the playground." 

Hiashi-sama had a fist clenched under the table, I could see his arm stiffen. I had a sinking suspicion that Neji was in trouble now. I shouldn't have asked.

"I'm just kidding, I saw him last night, training in the back garden when I was looking for the bathroom." It was still a lie, but I saw Hiashi-sama's arm relax. He then turned to me and answered my initial question.

"Neji is eating in another part of the building." He smiled, but it didn't feel as if it was genuine. "I didn't want him to disturb you girls. I'm only here to make sure nothing happens."

I finished my breakfast in a gloomy silence, listening in on the monotonous conversations between the other girls. It occurred to me that I might not see Neji-kun again.

Ever.