Walk on the Lakeside

[Tenten]

Tenten walked slowly down to the lake. She had a frustrated look on her face. I am hating this thing more every minute. Of course. She's had the misfortune to fall on her face in front of Sasuke, due to this stupid Kimono. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! She thought while making sure her steps were far enough away from the hem so she wouldn't trip again. One of the most coordinated girls around, was being reduced to some...some...two year old who couldn't walk. Fun.

She turned her head. Sasuke was still walking behind her. She turned forward again and tried to brush some of the dirt off her cheek from when she fell. This make her loose concentration and start to trip again. And she wasn't even able to get the dirt! Uh. But at least she was able to catch herself this time. She stopped to get her balance.

"Sorry for being so slow..." She muttered embarrassed, once she was able to start walking again.

[Uchiha Sasuke]

Sasuke sighed. So glad I'm not wearing a girl kimono... He held out a hand to Tenten. "No problem, sometimes its better to go slowly." He looked around.

The lakeside was empty, for it seemed everyone was enjoying the festival in the city. Better that way, Sasuke always liked the silence better.

"When you go slower, you apperciate the beauty of thinks more." He stopped, picked up a rock, and skipped is along the surface of the lake.

[Tenten]

Tenten kept her gaze down, making sure that she wouldn't fall. She had done that enough thank you. She had glanced up to see that Sasuke had held out his hand to her. She sighed, and took it. She smiled though and stood up strait. That would surely help some.

She looked around as well. Not many people. That was good. No one to be loud and interrupt, or even just to watch them.

She listened to him. He was right if you think about it. She nodded her head. "To bad so many people rush." She watched as the rock Sasuke had thrown flied across the water and eventually started to sink. After, she smiled to bent down as well, picking up the rock and doing the same as he did.

[Uchiha Sasuke]

As the stones settled in the water, Sasuke could hear the people at the nearby festival. It sounded like they were having fun. He couldn't help but wonder aloud.

"Ten-chan, why don't you enjoy the festival with the others? I'm sure it's better than staying here."

He sat down and skipped another stone.

((Sorry for the shortness, I couldn't think of anything yet))

[Tenten]

((It's alright))

Tenten looked over her shoulder, towards where the festival was being held. She listened to the sounds of the large crowds. Yelling and the dull murmur of the blended conversations. She shrugged and sat down next to Sasuke.

"Not necessarily better. Who knows what's going up there at this moment." She said. She took a rock that lay besides her and turned it over in her hands. "I'm not sure. I think hanging out by the lake is what I want to do right now. Besides," She tossed it into the lake. Not a skip, just a toss into the water. The stone made a 'plop' kind of sound as it hit the surface. She turned her head towards Sasuke and smiled. "We have all day to do anything we want."

[Uchiha Sasuke]

Sasuke smiled back, however so slightly. The concept of it was rusty for him. "Of course." He picked up a stone did the same.

-In-

Say it.

Urgh...

Just say it.

Fine. Thank you for landing me the girl of my dreams.

And?

What you think I'm gonna keep talking?! It's already a lie enough!

I thought you really liked her.

I don't know! Maybe I do. Maybe I don't.

Well, at least she likes you.

Huh?

She's hanging out with you. She's talking to you like a real person. Every other girl would have left you for the partying or never pay attention, just drooling and repeating "Sasuke-kun" Over and over.

....

Now all we need to do is get her to kiss you....

WHAT?!

-Out-

Sasuke's face felt his face get warm. Apparently, his last thought caused him to blush. And this time, he had nothing to cover it up with.

[Tenten]

Tenten, seeing Sasuke smile again, smiled back. She wondered if he smiled if he was around anyone else too...

Eh? Of course he must. You can't be the only one that he seems comfortable around. He has plenty of kids in his class. She told herself, mentally rolling her eyes.

She turned to the lake and looked out onto the surface. The water was calm. The reflection of all the near by Sakura trees shone on the surface as well. The small breeze blew off the lake then, making the fabric of her clothes rustle. Tenten went to smooth it out, but she saw something in the corner of her eye.

Sasuke looked...red.

"Um, are you alright Sasuke?" She asked leaning to get a better look of his face. She couldn't tell if he wasn't feeling well, or what.

[Uchiha Sasuke]

Darn it, she noticed! But her stare only made it worse. Crap, crap, crap...

He got up near the water's edge and dunked his head in the water. The cold water had stopped the heat.

-In-
All I said was kiss!

Why am I still paying attention to you?

Get her attention somehow. Put your arm around her! This sitting here throwing rocks in the water is killing me!

Then leave me alone!

What, and ditch a hot girl?
-Out-

He pulled his head from the water, and walked back to the spot where they were sitting. "I'm fine. Just fine."

He sat back down, shaking his head to get the water out of it, and accidentally spraying Tenten.

[Tenten]

Tenten watched Sasuke as he got up and went down to the water. She had a very confused look on her face, which became more surprised when he dunked his head into the water. She watched with the mixture of the two emotions as he came and sat back down.

"I'm fine. Just fine." He said.

"Are you-" Tenten cut herself off as water started to spray her face. "Ah," She held up an arm and leaned away as Sasuke shook the water out of his hair.

Once he was done, she let down her arms and looked to the wet sleeves, then to Sasuke. She laughed a bit. "Thanks for that."

[Uchiha Sasuke]

He just raised an eyebrow. "Your welcome." He said. Soon it was silent. The peace allowed him to look over the lake. His mind was still in thought though.

-IN-
I wonder if she still remembers the rose?

The rose?

You know, the one you bought for her. I wonder what she did with it.

Look, you, I didn't buy it for her. I bought it for-

Our dead parents. I know. But aren't you glad I gave it to her?

Well...I...

Then it's settled. Now, about that kiss...

Don't start.

[Tenten]

((I thought I might keep it going with the rose thing, if that's alright lol))

Tenten laughed a bit more before attempting to squeeze what little water was in the fabric of her sleeves out. She then put her chin in her hands, and used her knees to prop-up her elbows. She smiled out onto the lake.

Peering over the side, she saw she still had a dirt on cheek in the reflection. She tried to rub it off. Sadly, it didn't seem to want to come off her skin. She scowled a bit before leaning back again.

As the quiet kept growing, Tenten kept looking to the person besides her, out of the corner of her eye. She took her hands away from her face and crossed them across her stomach. She pursed her lips before looking down.

"Um...Sasuke? Can I ask you something? It's about the rose you gave me at the cafe a while back..." She felt her cheeks becoming red. She tried to hide it, but it didn't seem to work very well.

The thought had been in the back of her head ever since she had received the rose. And every time she thought about it, she felt her heart start to race. Just a little bit, but she could feel it. It was odd. She didn't know why.

[Uchiha Sasuke]

"The rose?" Sasuke looked over to Tenten. She was blushing. He could see it. "Well..." He said, trying to keep the emotionless face.

Why did I give her that rose?

He closed his eyes. "This may sound crazy, but something in my mind just made me throw it to you. I wasn't really thinking." He said. "I guess, I might have liked you a little on the inside." He quickly caught himself.

-In-
You said it.

Oh my god...

You said you liked her.

Shut up. I don't okay? I have too much to deal with. A lazy ass brother, dead parents, and trying to find the one who killed them.

-Out-
He got up. He voice sounded emotionless at most, but with a little trace of sadness, and a tiny trace of anger.

"I'm sorry, it bothered you. Don't take it as it means anything." He stood in his place, waiting for her response.

I'm sorry...Tenten...

[Tenten]

Tenten nodded when he repeated, 'The rose'. "Yeah," She continued. She was going to ask him the question, 'Why did you give it to me?'. He already seemed to be thinking what she wanted to ask.

He had closed his eyes as he spoke. "This may sound crazy, but something in my mind just made me throw it to you. I wasn't really thinking." He said. "I guess, I might have liked you a little on the inside." Then he was quiet as he stood up. "I'm sorry, it bothered you. Don't take it as it means anything."

She stood up right after he finished. She put her hands up and smiled shyly. "No, no. It didn't bother me. Not at all..." She put her hands down and behind her back. "I...liked it actually." She turned her face away, afraid that if she looked at him, her face would become more red than it already was.

"I'm not usually one for flowers but-" She pursed her lips and turned her head back. She let her arms down by her sides, yet kept her gaze to the ground. She felt a sudden wave of sadness. Not like she would let Sasuke know that though. She had to keep some of her dignity at least. She kept her voice even and steady. "Never mind. If it didn't mean anything..." She shook her head as she trailed off.

[Uchiha Sasuke]

"Never mind...if you didn't mean anything." Sasuke held himself. On the inside, he cringed. On the outside, he didn't care. He should have never given her the rose. Whether it meant something or not, he shouldn't have. It only made him feel worse.

"...Good bye, then....Tenten-chan." He began to walk off, with each step he fought the desire to go back and swallow his words. But with each step, it became easier to ignore his inner feelings. All of them.

As he went more into the distance, one thing crossed his mind. He only hoped by trying to protect her, he didn't hurt her.

[Tenten]

Tenten stood, her body feeling as if it was going numb. She swear her heart dropped. Or it felt like it at least

"...Good bye, then....Tenten-chan." He said before walking away. Her head was scrambled with thoughts.

Go after him. No, stay where you are. Wait for him to come back to you. What if he doesn't though? Then go after him? No...you can't do that.

She bit her lip and took half a step forward. Her foot stopped mid-step though, her mind still trying to make up it's mind. She frowned before taking a breath and putting her foot back. She stood there, her hands hanging loosely by her sides. She let herself close her eyes. And knowing well that he was out of hearing range, she said in a steady voice,

"Goodbye...Sasuke."

She kept her eyes closed, and with one swift movement, scooped up hem of her Kimono, bringing it up a little past her ankles and walking towards the Festival. She defiantly felt her heart drop. But she would rather die than let anyone else know that. She promised herself she wouldn't let anyone know. She would put on a happy face for her own sake. She continued on, wondering what to do next.

[[End]]