smashcon | [2010] Just Dinner by Aleeta

Title: Just Dinner

Author: Aleeta

Rating: G

Category: Over 18s

Fandom/Series: Naruto

Prompt(s):

Theme: Ambition
Proverb: It is easy to remember your enemies, it’s easy to forget your friends

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Naruto.

Just Dinner

“Calm down Tenten” I said taking a deep breath and checking my reflection in the mirror. “It’s no big deal, everything will be fine, you can do this there is no backing out now”

But who was I trying to kid, I couldn’t lie to myself and I knew I was nervous. My heart was frantically trying to escape from my chest.

And yet I still couldn’t believe Neji has said yes. I smiled at my reflection and she meekly smiled back.

I looked different tonight, pretty maybe even a bit older. I was wearing my long brown hair down tonight instead of pulled up into my usually chignon which I wore for practicality unlike how Sakura usually wears her hair into battle. Females could be just as good as any male ninja, lady Tsunade is living proof of that, but why make the job harder with loose hair getting in the way. I looked nice with my hair out and truly hoped there would be no battles tonight.

Very carefully I applied mascara onto my top lids and thought about how I has approached Neji after the first exam.

“Um Neji” I had started somewhat lamely “So what did you think of the first test” play it cool Tenten.

“Oh hi Tenten” he replied looking at me “with my Byakugan we would never of failed”

“That’s right” I teased him “you see everything don’t you?”

He smiled at me and I decided to plough on

“We’re going into the forest tomorrow” I said “Anything could happen in there and I was thinking perhaps we could get some dinner to build up our strength”

“Yeah” he replied somewhat distracted as Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura made their way out of the exam hall. He only had eyes for Sasuke. “Sounds great”

“I was thinking we could go to that new noodle place, you know the House of Noodles I think it is called, about seven?”

He didn’t answer his eyebrows met in a slight frown as he watched Sasuke’s retreating figure.

“Neji?”

“Sorry” he said dragging his eyes off the Uchiha boy.

“The House of Noodles, at seven?” I was starting to loose confidence in this plan already.

“Sure” he replied suddenly “I’ll see you there” and he turned and walked down the hall way without looking back.

So here I was looking in the mirror trying to make myself into a normal girl. Looking in the mirror again I could hardly seeing the ninja inside. I glanced at my watch. It was six forty five! I had better get a move on or I’d be late.

I sat down in the booth in the House of Noodles. I had gotten here first.

Guy Sensei and Lee had plans to go over some of Guy’s special moves tonight so I knew neither of them would bother us tonight. Lee looked up to Guy like he was his hero and I knew Guy liked the attention. It would be very unlikely if either of them got much sleep tonight even thought they both knew everyone on the squad would need it tomorrow.

I looked up startled as Neji slipped into the booth opposite the table from me. I hadn’t seen him coming and I chided myself for being surprised, a ninja should never be snuck up on.

“Sorry I’m late” he said “I got caught up”

“That’s okay” I was nervous again “would you like to order?” I said as I handed him a menu.

He looked at it for a moment not really seeming to read it and nodded. The waitress came over at my signal and I ordered my dish. Neji the ordered the same and I wondered if he had even read the menu.

We sat in silence for a moment.

“You seem distracted?”

He looked at me “I have had a lot on my mind lately”

“Let me guess his name in Sasuke Uchiha?” I said leaning across the table towards him.

“Yeah” he started “how did you-”

“It’s kind of obvious”

He smiled at me seeming amused.

The waitress came and placed our bowls and a jug of water on the table. I poured myself a glass and took a sip.

“Well” Neji started “He is my biggest rival here, and with his Sharingan I may have at last found someone worthy to meet in battle.”

“If anyone else said that to me I would think they were being arrogant but after being on your squad and training everyday with you… I know you” he had never read into my true willingness to train with him. I did enjoy the practice and being able to be help him and just spend time with him.

He seemed unsure what to make of my complement and poured himself a glass of water.

“It’s not just him” he looked a little embarrassed as he continued “there is that other one from the Sand Village, Gaara I think his name is” he said pensively “I haven’t heard anything about until now and I don’t have a good feeling about him”

“What about Naruto?” I teased “perhaps he will be the one that defeats you”

“Naruto is a joke” he said looking up at me “beating him will prove nothing to anyone least of all the …” he trailed off.

“Do you mean the Hyuga main family?” I asked feeling my cheeks redden and I looked up to see him staring at me open mouthed “I’m sorry I didn’t mean, I just know you feel some animosity towards them, please forgive me I didn’t mean to pry Neji”

I looked down I felt kind of sick I hadn’t meant to go there I had know for sometime how he felt but it was always left unsaid. I looked up and him and he seemed to study me for a moment.

“Not in the way you mean” he said “all my life no matter how good I am or how strong I have become my fate within the family has never been good. I’m nothing to them and my cousin, Hinata, no matter how weak she is will always be royalty. So I try every day, to change my fate, my ambition to be the strongest ninja I can and will never be good enough for them. As far as they are concerned I’m a servant”

“Neji don’t say that” I said

“But” he held up a hand to let me know he was going to continue “I shall always try, it’s not in my nature to give in and I will keep looking for strong rivals to keep me sharp I can’t let anyone or anything get in the way of that dream. I have to prove my worth to everyone and to my self and I can’t get distracted. One day I may come to terms with my place in life but I will never stop fighting.”

He seemed lost in thought again and then suddenly looked up.

“Wait a minute where are Guy Sensei and Lee?” Neji asked

I couldn’t believe it! We had been here all this time and he had just noticed it was only the two of us, not the whole squad. Well he had seemed a little preoccupied it reminded me of the proverb: It is easy to remember your enemies, it’s easy to forget your friends. It seems amongst all his rivals, and as I had just found out there were a few, he had forgotten us.

“Tenten” he said tentatively “is this a … date?”

I looked down at the table. He didn’t need a relationship at the moment, not when he had so many dreams and ambitions of his own. He didn’t need to worry about anyone as he was going out into battle. If we were involved would he be able to concentrate on his missions or at the first sign of danger would I just distract him? I could take care of myself and I didn’t need anyone taking care of me but the thought of it, of him wanting to take care of me was nice. But I couldn’t do that to him, he had too much on his plate.

I took a deep breath and looked up into his eyes.

“No Neji” I said as calmly as I could “its just dinner.”

-End