Saving Us (NejiTen Fanfic)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Once I reached the garden, it wasn't that hard to find Pein. Not only because he has a tour guide that attracts...attention but also because he, himself, was an eye-catcher. All I had to do was look for a place people were avoiding. Besides, Pein's orange hair drew attention like a moth to a fire.

"I am sure youthful Tenten is around here somewhere!" I heard Lee enthusiastically said as he looked around while Shikamaru barely gave a grumble in replied.

I raised my hands and called; "Pein!"

The walking torch turned around and he had quickly spotted me. With a smile, I waved at him. I saw Lee and Shikamaru looked at me in shock and curiosity; Lee more scared than curious though. I dropped my hand and started walking towards them. But suddenly, Pein opened his arms and his lips rose to a small smile.

My own smile turned to a grin as I run. I literally jumped in his arms but Pein hadn't even budged in his stance. He wrapped his arms around my shoulder as I hugged him. Shit. To think that I even missed this pain in the ass. I must be really going soft.

I pulled back a bit to look up at him. But that was a mistake. My whole body froze when I saw the clear displeasure in his eyes. I took a step back. Turn and run.

"Ahh!" I screamed when I was suddenly pulled back.

I stumbled into Pein's and before I could move again, he fisted his hands and grilled them in my temples. I raised my hands and gripped him in the wrist but he was stronger than me.

"Let her go!" a few voices shouted and Pein and I stopped.

Though, both of us hadn't moved. We both turned to look at the direction where the voices had come from and my eyes widened in surprise. The whole gang was there; even Hyūga and little Uchiha. The girls were behind the boys. And from the sound of the voices it was Naruto, Kiba, and Lee that had spoken.

"What are you guys doing?" I asked; genuinely clueless.

They all stared at me as if I had grown two heads. I blinked at them as they did to me. Then, Shino stepped up from behind Lee and answered; "Aren't you being attack?"

I couldn't stop the laugh. It seemed like even Pein found it funny. But the people in front of us couldn't see the humor. All of them staring blankly at us and some like Hyūga and little Uchiha were glaring. As soon as I could control myself, I waved a hand up and down in a dismissive manner as Pein removed his hands from my hand.

"No, I'm not. Though, thanks for the concern guys," I started, then I gestured to the man behind me. "This is Pein,"

Pein gave a slight bow of his head. "Thank you for taking care of Tenten. I'm her father,"

"Ehhhhhh???!!!" Everyone screamed in shock.

Yes... Even me.

"You call your father by his name!?" Kiba and Naruto asked in disbelief.

"Eh? That's what you're worried about?" Sakura muttered as she stared worriedly at me and Pein.

"Wait—why are you shock as well?" Shikamaru asked; of course—that damn smarty-pants had caught on that.

I rubbed the back of my head as I gave Pein a sideway glance. He secretly gave me a smirk and a 'get your act together' look. Who was it that suddenly just blurted out something big? Things like that should have been talked about before speaking off.

In irritation, I stomped on his foot by pretending to move. I heard a small growl let his lips but his expression hadn't change at all. Not even a little twitch.

"He certainly doesn't look like a father, does he?" Sai remarked; completely poker faced.

Why can I clearly hear them mentally agreeing with him? Well, I do agree as well.

"Excuse me?" Pein replied, clearly offended. He crossed his arms over his chest and I saw most of my friends visibly shook.

Shit about to go down. I quickly raised my hands between us and gave them a smile. "Uh... Well, talk to you guys later,"

Without waiting for an answer, I quickly tried to pull Pein away from them. Tried was the keyword there. But the damn man was being childish, he wouldn't budge. People were starting to gather around us. I was becoming more or less irritated. Without warning, I kicked him in the shin.

Pein turned to glare at me and I glared back, my chin held up to say I wasn't scared.

"Somehow..." a voice, Temari probably, spoke in a loud whisper. "I can see a resemblance,"

What resemblance was she talking about? With this old man? I turned to her to argue but a hand suddenly patted me on the head. I looked up to see Pein sighing in defeat and titled his head to the side. I nodded and turned to the gang.

"I'll see you guys later," I said with a roll of my eyes for repeating something I've already said.

I could feel them following us with their eyes as I wrapped my hands around Pein's arm and walked as far away from the crowd. The man with me seemed to be so amused with everything and I rolled my eyes at him without looking.

When I found a secluded enough place, I let go of his arm and dropped to the ground. I had no idea why but I suddenly feel so tired. I heard the man with me chuckled before he sat down beside me on the grasses.

"What's with the sudden visit?" I asked, exasperated already.

This time, he was the one that rolled his eyes. "It's not sudden, is it? I clearly remember telling you I'm visiting,"

I sat down and turned to look at him. "Yeah, you did. But why?"

The man scowled at me as his hand gripped the top of my head and forced to look straight in the eyes and I felt a shiver ran down my spine. His anger was so intense I got the urge to run away but I know it's useless.

With Pein, no matter how much you run away from him; he'll always catch you.

"I did not approve of this mission, Tenten," he growled.

I tried prying his hand off of me but the damn man wasn't budging. I groaned as I gave up and let my arms fall to my side. "It's not a mission, Pein. I asked for a vacation to do this. I don't get paid,"

His grip tightened more. "And I never did approve your request, did I?"

"Konan did," I argued.

Pein sighed and let me go. "Honestly," he groaned. "You and Konan are so alike I don't know how you're not related at all,"

I laughed at his statement. "Well, you guys are the one that brought me up. I'm bound to pick up one or two of your personalities, you know?"

Pein gave a side smile which made his feature so much more striking. "So, what did you got from me?"

I put my fingers on my chin as I pretended to think. After a few second, I snapped my fingers and pointed at him. "You're stubbornness,"

And that answer received a smack in the head. I gave him a pout as I rubbed the sore spot. After joking around, Pein turned serious and asked me about how things were going. If there was indeed a threat or none. So, I told him the truth. That for the moment everything looks normal.

"But I still want to see how things will go," I added and he stared at me. "Until I'm perfectly sure she's safe, I'm not leaving,"

Pein gave another sigh as he stood up. I looked at him in confusion as he offered his hand to me. I took it and he pulled me up. "Fine, if that's what you want,"

My eyes widened in surprise. "Seriously?"

He rolled his eyes at the obvious disbelief in my voice. "Well, as you've said, you got my stubbornness. So, I should know better that whatever I tell you right now won't work and you won't listen. I'll just be wasting my breath,"

I gave him a grin before I jump towards him for a hug. This time, he wasn't as well-prepared as earlier so he stumble a step back to accommodate my sudden weight. And a happy laugh escaped through my lips as he hugged me back.