While Hidden in the Trees

Tenzo brightened up when he saw Rin walk into the bar. The rain had come suddenly and she had grabbed a newspaper to hold over her head as she dashed into the Ramen bar. Tenzo sat with his steaming bowl of ramen untouched. Kakashi sat next to him, discreetly slurping his food away. She threw away the newspaper and looked over in Tenzo’s direction, catching his gaze for the first time.

Tenzo felt his face flush when Rin looked genuinely happy to see him. The smile that crossed her face and reached into her eyes made his heart palpate. He shifted uncomfortably in his stool as Rin took a seat beside him. “Hello, Rin chan.” He said. “Are you just getting back from the Hokage’s office?”

“I trust everything went well.” Kakashi said, adjusting his mask over his face.

“Things went very well, thank you.” Rin gave a half smile. Tenzo was happy for her. So the suspension was lifted. It was just as well. From the little he had gathered he felt that while Itachi’s suspension was deserved, hers was unjustified.

“Are you going to eat?” Tenzo asked. “Because you can have mine if you’re hungry. I haven’t touched it…”

“No, no, I just came in here to get out of the rain.” Rin waved her hand and shook her head when the bar owner started to approach her. Tenzo frowned. For being reinstated he thought she would be happier, but as it was she seemed wistful, and distracted.

He examined her face. She wasn’t the most beautiful of girls, but she was definitely pretty. Most people found the eyes of her Clan to be creepy. Once Tenzo even heard it referred to as monstrous. And truth be told there was something disconcerting about Hyuuga eyes on a body. The feeling of being looked completely through was almost overpowering. But Tenzo had known Rin long enough to know that it wasn’t her eyes that led to her insecurity, but the mark on her forehead that she kept covered in bandages.

Even so she had a softness to her that he always found appealing. He admired her for her skills and for her devotion to her Clan. But at that particular moment she appeared so preoccupied and far away Tenzo wondered what was on her mind.

“Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat, Rin? I can cover it.”

Rin smiled. “No, really. Actually I should be on my way.” She stood up and bowed. “I’m sorry for interrupting.”

“But you just got here. And you’re not interrupting a thing.” Tenzo looked over at Kakashi who was staring at Tenzo with a quizzical look on his face.

“I know, but I promised Neji kun I would be home as early as possible. He was excited about something today and was eager to show me something." Rin apologized. "Well, it was good seeing you---“

“WAIT!” Tenzo sudden protest made both Rin and Kakashi jump. Tenzo stood up, moving away from the bar. “I knew it was going to rain…” he bent towards the floor and grabbed the green umbrella that had been sitting by his feet. “I’d hate to see you get wet.” He held it out for Rin.

“Oh, Tenzo san, I couldn’t…” Rin shook her head.

“No, go ahead. I know you have a further walk home than I do. Hate for you to get sick just when you’re probably going to be assigned a new mission.”

Rin smiled again, a smile that made Tenzo’s heart float to his throat. She bowed. “ Domo arigato, Tenzo san.” She took the umbrella, and opening it walked out of the bar.

Tenzo sighed, watching her as she walked away.

“Want to tell me what’s going on?” Kakashi asked from behind him.

“Hmm? Oh, nothing, nothing.” Tenzo took his seat. “I think she’s a real nice girl.”

“I can tell.” Kakashi had flipped out a little paperback and was flipping through it half heartedly.

Tenzo looked over. “Why do you say it like that?” he paused. “What’s that?”

“I don’t know. Some book I found at the store, thought it would be nice to pass the time.”

Tenzo nodded, and looked down at his ramen, wondering what it was thta was on Rin's mind. Reluctantly he pushed any thoughts of Rin aside. “Don’t know how you can eat this stuff…” he grumbled to himself.


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He was quite a ways away when Rin first caught sight of him approaching her direction. He was soaking wet, walking with his hands in his pockets as if unaware of the rain that was all around him. Rin knew she appeared distracted to Tenzo, and had felt bad about it, but she was lost in thought about Itachi. And here he suddenly was, showing the same distraction she had shown to another.

Recently she had been keenly aware of his presence when he would not announce it. Whether sitting with Hinata and drinking tea, or watching Neji train, she often felt his eyes on her. Once she had activated her Byakugan and sure enough spotted him directly behind her, standing in the trees. He never approached her though, since that day she saw him in the field. He didn’t say any more than two words to her.

Even today, as he walked closer and was almost upon her, he looked at her but his face did not change. She may as well have not been there. The look on his face sent a stabbing pain into her heart.

Why do I feel this way?

He walked passed her, neither acknowledging or ignoring her existence. She lowered her head, slightly embarrassed. Reluctantly she turned to look at him, her hands tightly gripping the umbrella.

Itachi was walking away. He had not smiled his painful smile, did not say hello, did not even turn around. He simply continued to walk away.