18 roses

Author: HeavenlySwhirl
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5973671/1/18_Roses


18 Roses

"What movie?" Tenten kept mumbling and mumbling to herself while browsing on her movie collection.

It was another one of their Sunday movie nights- a tradition she established ever since she and Neji became a couple. And as had been always, Tenten was spending another 2 whole hours wondering what movie they should watch at the struck of 8:00 pm which is the exact time he would arrive.

Sighing, she stood up and opened another one of the drawers beside the TV set.
And, something caught her attention.

"What's this?" She inspected the case that had the title or '!8th Birthday' with a picture of her. "Oh," She smiled knowingly. The VCD contained the video of her 18th birthday, her debut.

Glancing at the time for a second, she read the digital clock. "6:31 pm." She still had an hour and 29 minutes left.

She decided to put the optical disk on play. She sat lazily on the couch with the DVD player remote in hand.

"Happy Birthday Tenten!" Her friends appeared on the screen, waving with cheerful smiles painted on their faces, except for the 4 stoic boys.

Then, the next video featuring each of the girls telling their birthday wishes for her followed.

Ino waved to the camera. "Hey Ten, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope you find a great boyfriend!" She said with a cheeky grin.

Tenten shook her head but smiled; Ino's wish for her already came true.

Sakura was next, "Happy Birthday Ten! I hope you like my gift." She smiled cheerfully at her.

Then Hinata came up who was fidgeting in front of the camera. "Anou... Tenten-chan, h-happy birthday. God b-bless you."

And lastly Temari, "Happy Birthday." She smiled proudly. "Best wishes and more birthdays to come."

Their messages were short, but she knew... they wanted to say more at her birthday. She had no doubt that these clips were filmed days before her birthday.

The boys were next but it seemed that only a few of them were glad about it, namely Chouji, Naruto, Lee, Kiba and Sai.

Naruto was first. He started with, "Yo!" His arms were crossed in front of his chest, and he was looking like he was deep in thought. Clearly, he was pretending to be cool.

"She's not going to buy it, Dobe." Sasuke's voice interjected.

"Heh teme!" Naruto directed his head at another direction for a second, before turning to face the camera again.

Tenten smirked, amused.

"Happy Birthday Tenten!" He scratched his chin, thinking of another thing to say. "Etou, I don't really know what to say but... I wish you the best birthday ever!" He grinned and gave a thumbs-up.

Lee showed up, "Oh our youthful flower! You are now becoming a full-fledged woman! Shall the power of youth must be with you! Happy birthday, Tenten-chan!" He did his favourite mentor's pose.

Kiba was next. "Happy Birthday, Ten. Hope you have a fun birthday." Something on his face said that he had no idea what to say.

Kankuro faced the camera, "Hello Ten, happy birthday to you." He smiled.

Chouji then followed; scratching the back of his red hair and a sheepish green was apparent on his face. "Ah... I wish you the best, happy birthday."

Shikamaru was next; his arms folded lazily at the back of his head. He was staring at the camera with a bored gaze. He muttered "Troublesome" under his breath before saying "Happy Birthday." That's what he only said and then he walked off.

"Shikamaru!" Naruto's screamed behind the camera.

After that, very short messages came from the silent boys of their group.

Sai smiled at the camera and showed a painting of a kunai on his sketchbook with the words "Happy Birthday" in Kanji form. "Happy Birthday," He said.

Gaara came up with his arms crossed, "Happy Birthday." A calm expression was written on his face.

Sasuke followed, "Hn. Happy Birthday."

Then, it was Shino. "Happy birthday," He muttered.

Last but not the least was Neji, "Happy Birthday, Tenten." He greeted, staring straight at the camera.

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She smiled, she was very thankful to have thoughtful friends like them.

She postponed the video for a second and checked the time once again. Those series of clips lasted 10 minutes; it was now 6:41 pm.

She still had plenty of time left. She turned her attention back to the TV, deciding to continue watching the video of her debut.

The background music played and the camera focused on her entrance. She was dressed in a long strapless fuchsia gown that reached past her knees. Beads were scattered at her bust line and it had a design of beaded hearts at the hems. She was also wearing light make-up, a silver necklace and also high-heels at that time, with heels 1 inch long.

She looked more beautiful than ever, she almost didn't seem like a boyish girl.

She was so glad that her friends filmed this. It was one of the best days of her life.

"Welcome to our guests" Her father started his welcome remarks." Ladies and gentlemen! Today, we are going to celebrate the coming of age to adulthood of our daughter, Tenten."

She proceeded watching the video, unconsciously ignoring the time.

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The video shifted to the multi-media presentation, missing the prayer.

The camera focused on the slideshow that her girl friends made. It showed photos of when she was a baby, her toddler years, her tween years and finally her teen years. There were also some photos of her with her friends having fun together.
Then, the camera captured the moments of when she was taking pictures with her relatives and classmates at every table of the cotillion room.

But, she wasn't very happy with everything because her friends were missing. The camera clearly captured her sad expressions and sighs.

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"Now, it's time for the Father and Daughter dance." Her father announced through the microphone.

Smiling, her father took her hand and they danced a classic waltz with the guests silently watching.

Her father started his short lecture. "You're finally at the marrying age, my dear. If there are any potential suitors, let me meet them. I am not going to allow you marry a fool."

"Yes, Dad," She nodded, inwardly grinning at her father's antics.

"But if you consider that Hyuga…" Her father smiled knowingly.

"Eh? Dad!" Tenten immediately flushed in embarrassment.

Her father only chuckled in amusement.

She sighed, "He's not even here." Her eyes roamed the whole place, searching for a man with a long coffee-brown hair. "And the rest of them,"

'You deserve a surprise this day, my daughter.' Her father smiled proudly to himself as he continued to dance with her.

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Up next was the 18 roses dance.

Beforehand, she had picked 18 men whom she would dance with. They were the 18 men who were important to her. They were her older brother, her 2 cousins, grandfather, 2 uncles, 2 nephews, her neighbour Suigetsu, her Karate seniors (Deidara, Sasori, Obito, Jugo, Itachi) and her teachers (Gai, Kakashi, Yamato and Asuma)

She had also selected the 18 songs for each of her dance with the 18 men.

They greeted her "Happy Birthday" at first before taking her to dance. They told her their birthday wishes as they danced, and gave her their advices now that she was a full-fledged woman.

"Remember the move I taught you umn?" Deidara asked.

She smirked, "Of course."

"Good. You can use it those college perverts who will be after you umn." He said before he let the last person dance with her, Suigetsu.

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After she finished dancing with them, it was time for the 18 candles.

The 18 candles were composed of 18 ladies she chose, days before her birthday. They were the women who knew her very well. The 18 women were her mother, grandmother, 2 nieces, her idol (Tsunade), her teachers (Kurenai, Anko, Rin, Konan and Shizune), Kiba's older sister, Hana who she was very close to, Hanabi, and her favourite aunt.

She sat on a special chair at the platform of the cotillion room while the 18 ladies stood beside her.

Her mother, grandmother and her aunt shared a little bit of stories to the guests, and one of their memorable moments.

"When she was still a toddler, "Her mother began. " When she hears the ice cream truck pass by, she keeps jumping and jumping before she rushes out of the house with a scream of 'Ice cream!'" Her mother giggled.

Tenten smiled, 'I was a pretty childish kid.' She thought.

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Soon, it was time for her to blow the 18 candles on her cake.

"It's time for the cake!" Someone shouted through the microphone, making Tenten's head turn from where the voice came from. Also, it was because of the voice's familiarity.

She grinned happily, seeing the familiar faces. Her friends were here.

"Happy Birthday to you…" They started to sing as they approached with a cake in Sakura's hand. "Happy Birthday… to you."

And the rest of the guests joined. "Happy birthday to you…"

She immediately blew the candles when the cake was at her reach. Claps echoed around the room.

"Where were you guys?" Tenten curiously asked them.

"At the balcony, filming everything," Sakura explained.

Ino pointed upwards, "It's Sasuke's brother who's handling the video camera now, though."

Tenten confirmed it and smiled. "I see."

"You thought we would forget you?" Temari asked, amused.

"Kind of," Tenten replied nonchalantly. Her eyes scanned the people around her. Someone was missing-a certain Hyuga. "I guess… someone did." She sighed.

Her friend smiled knowingly, 'Not really.' They were thinking the same thoughts.

"Ten! Cut the cake!" Kiba shouted, changing the subject.

"Oh yeah,"

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'So, I guess. I'm closing the ceremony now.' Tenten told herself. She rose to her seat and asked for the microphone from her father.

"Thank you guys-"She was cut off by a certain melody. "Huh?" She wondered, confused. Her friends were rising up to their seats and positioning themselves.

'Dancing positions?' She raised a brow; Sasuke was with Sakura, Naruto with Hinata, Ino with Sai, Shikamaru with Temari, Shino with Shiho, Gaara with Matsuri, Kiba with Hanako (1) and Lee with Rio (2).

"May I have thi-"

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"I don't think that's a movie." Tenten's head jerked at the sudden sound of his voice. She automatically pressed the 'pause' button.

Tenten faced a smirking -certainly amused Hyuga. "I found this VCD in my collection." She explained.

"I see." He sat beside her.

"How come I didn't hear you knock?" She questioned him.

Neji raised a brow and smirked even more. "Weren't you distracted?" He said.

"Ah." She smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess."

Neji turned to the TV screen. "This is your debut 3 years ago, correct?"

"Yeah," She laid her head on his shoulder. "It was when you confess and," She heaved a dreamy sigh. "Kissed me,"

"Ah, yes." He smiled and wrapped his arm around her, leaning back on the couch. "Play it then."

She smiled knowingly at him. "Okay."

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'May I have this dance?'

Tenten instantly turned around. There were more surprises for her than she thought.

It was him.

"Neji?" She said, flabbergasted at his sudden appearance.

He smiled and took her hand. "Happy Birthday, Tenten. This is the highlight of your debut." He said. "This is the Grand Cotillion Dance." He handed her a bouquet of 18 colour-assorted roses. 18 roses; 1 blue rose, 3 red, pink, yellow, white, lavender and 2 orange roses.

She heard about a Grand Cotillion Dance. She needed to dance with an escort, along with a court of 9 boys and girls. She thought this wouldn't happen since her friends did not appeared at first, and the fact that she didn't know who her escort was.

Because, it was her parents who took the responsibility to decide for her…

And it seemed like Neji… was their chosen escort.

He was her escort.

Tenten was about to react in words but Neji suddenly pulled her to waltz with him. He placed the bouquet of 18 roses on the platform.

"Ahh…" She mumbled, noticing how their situation was very awkward.

He gave her one of his rare smiles. "You look beautiful tonight." He complimented her.

Blood rushed to her cheeks, "T-Thank you," She stuttered.

"Ten, according to your parents... it's alright for you to have a boyfriend now, right?" He said, a small smirk forming on his lips.

"I guess..." She averted her eyes off of him.

"I see... then..."

And then he moved his fac-

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"Hn." Neji grunted and pressed the 'pause' button.

"Why did you stop it?" She questioned.

"Ï think we already know what happened here." He smirked at her.

"So?" She raised a brow. "I want to see it again." She retorted.

"It's better to relive the moment." He told her and played the video.

She looked at him, very puzzled.

And then, he inched closer to her ear. "I love you," He whispered before capturing her lips.

She smiled through their pressed lips. 'Hmm…yeah, just like that day.' She said, staring at the TV screen.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes.

What was happening now… also happened 3 years ago.