The Girl With Two Buns. A NejiTen Fanfic

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Neji had never been more blessed. He had a beautiful wife and an adorable baby on the way, he couldn't ask for anything better. Tenten was five months into her pregnancy and was already showing. Neji soon found out that his new favorite thing to do was to rub the baby bump.

Seeing Tenten with a baby bump was so endearing and enticing so he could not help it if he wanted to take her right in the kitchen. There were things he had to go through like Tenten's mood swings and cravings at ungodly hours but he was happy doing them.

Neji smiled serenely as he imagined his family in the future. After this, they would have another child and another. Eight children should be enough, right? They would be one big happy family... But Neji knew that was not the case.

His vision was already dimming and his strength waned daily. He found it difficult to lift a simple mallet and had to push himself in the smithery. Neji was afraid he would never live to see his child. He was afraid of leaving Tenten alone in the world with their child. He was afraid of how he was going to break the news down to Tenten.

His wife would be sad and angry with him for hiding his illness but he did it thinking about her. Neji made up his mind to tell her by the end of the week but as usual, Tenten was always one step ahead. It happened one afternoon in their house.

Neji had just dropped the basin he used to fetch some water for Tenten's use when he figured that he could not breathe. It felt like his chest was constricting and his air passages were closing up. Trying his best not to make a noise that will alert Tenten, he wanted to move to the smithery but his legs gave way beneath him and he fell.

"Anata?" Tenten called from their shared room and when she heard no answer, she came outside only to find her husband heaving on the ground. "Anata!" Tenten ran to him and helped him to sit up but Neji still could not breathe.

The latter coughed suddenly and blood and mucus splashed unto the floor. Tenten's eyes swelled to the size of saucers as Neji kept coughing up blood and mucus. He kept heaving and trying to catch his breath but could not and the only thing Tenten could do was to watch with horror stricken eyes as her husband died before her.

"N-Neji!"

After a few minutes of heaving, his chest finally opened and he was able to catch breath. Neji took a lungful of the much needed air and looked at Tenten. She had tears in her cocoa eyes and she was angry with him.

"Tenten..." He started but she cut him short.

"Do not Tenten me. How long were you planning to keep this a secret from me?" Tenten asked spitefully.

"I was going to tell you..."

"Tell me when?! When I wake up one morning and you refuse to rise?! When I suddenly hear news that my husband has kicked the bucket?! Tell me when, Neji!" The tears flowed from Tenten's eyes freely. She though he was well! She thought she would be able to grow old with him!

"I am sorry for keeping it from you Tenten, I did not want you to worry is all." Neji apologized but he was just making excuses and he knew it. Tenten deserved to know.

"How could I not worry? You are my husband, it is my obligation to worry for you. I am your wife, I was supposed to be your confidant! You- you have been suffering alone all this time when I was supposed to share in your suffering!" Tenten yelled. Neji just knelt there, speechless. He had no words to say. "You put on a facade for me for my wellbeing but you did not put my feelings into consideration. I do not want to lose you, Neji...!"

Tenten bawled and started hiccupping from her tears but Neji could not help but love this woman even more. He stood up and embraced her without caring about the blood on his clothes. "I am sorry Tenten." He whispered. "I was selfish in my judgement. I thought I would ease you from your worries but I did it in my best interests only. I am deeply sorry. Please forgive me."