Chapter 130: House Visit

Tenten Pov

I glanced around in worry as I sat in my seat, searching for my closest friend Ami.

The purple haired, prideful, sometimes arrogant, yet sweet girl was nowhere to be seen, and I frowned as I continued to watch the door, hoping to see her burst in.

However, she never did.

Kokoro-Sensei noticed that, and she gave me a small smile as she shook her head, making me slump in my seat slightly.

Ami hadn't been to the Academy in a week and a half, and that worried me.

I had heard some rumors going around that she was being punished for beating on some civilians, but I knew her better then the rest.

Ami wouldn't beat up innocent people!

Sure, she could get... carried away in a spar, but she never went out of her way to hurt someone!

My classmates all thought the same; the girls, mainly, but some of the boys did too.

We all knew that she was sometimes insufferable, sure, but she wasn't crazy!

I think...

A-Anyways, I tried to listen through Kokoro-Sensei's lecture on anatomical weak points and what each part of the body did what, but I kept glancing at the door, hoping to see that purple haired girl walk in.

I was... lonely, these last few days; I was used to her boisterous attitude as she loudly made jokes or teased me, before she would backtrack and apologize for what she thought was 'out of line'.

So when we went outside for Taijutsu Class, I approached Kokoro-Sensei and tapped her wrist, the auburn haired woman turning around with her small smile.

"U-Uhm... Kokoro-Sensei, w-when is Ami going to return?"

She looked down at me for a few moments, her amber eyes slightly narrowed as her smile grew.

"Oh~ Is Tenten feeling lonely, hmm~? Don't worry, Ami should be back next week. She just... needed to take some time off, to think a few things through. It's alright, she'll be fine~! Now come on, show me your moves~!"

Nodding, I felt my heart ease slightly, that small knot that had been forming unwinding somewhat at Kokoro-Sensei's words; she was a Jonin, so she obviously knew what she was talking about!

Besides, Kokoro-Sensei was both strong and cool, and really, really knowledgable, so of course I should listen to her!

But, even with that...

That knot remained, and I couldn't truly rid myself of my worry...

So that day, after the Academy let out, I decided to go see Ami myself.

It wasn't hard; she had mentioned that she lived near a certain few stores, and I knew where those stores were.

All I needed to do now was locate those stores and look around, asking the owners and vendors where I could find Ami.

Wandering the busy streets of Konoha, I pursed my lips as I asked the third person today a question, getting a worried look and confused words.

"Excuse me Miss! Do you know where Granny Chi's Ice stall is located?"

Staring up at the tall, thin woman, I saw her frown slightly as she looked around, before she sighed and said "Granny Chi's is a block that way; look for the red sign with a cone carved into it. Kid, where are-"

"Thanks!"

Rushing off in the direction she pointed towards, I ran through the crowd and looked around, taking in the various signboards with a small frown.

Finding the red signboard in the sea of other red signboards was a pain, but eventually I found it.

Approaching the stall, I glanced inside to see an elderly woman yawning as she fanned herself, her serious expression making me gulp.

However, when she saw me she shifted into a smile, her eyes gently narrowing as her dimples appeared, making me relax.

"What can I get for you, little one~? A strawberry ice?"

Taking a breath, I shook my head as I asked "Granny Chi, right? I was wondering if you know where my friend, Ami, lives?"

Tilting her head, the woman frowned for a moment before nodding, her eyes brightening slightly as she said "The purple haired girl? Yeah, she lives just down the road in a two story house. It has deep cream walls and a red roof, and the garden is filled with roses. Is that all?"

Grinning at her, I nodded my head as I waved towards her, slipping out of the stall and bolting down the road, scanning for a red roofed house.

It didn't take long, and I took a deep breath, the scent of roses washing over me instantly.

Approaching the door, I rapped my knuckles against the red painted wood, listening intensely to the sounds from inside.

Or lack thereof.

Though, eventually, after knocking again, someone said "Gimme a minute...", which made my heart race.

My palms were growing sweaty as I stood before her door, and I wondered if she would be happy to see me, or-

Shaking my head, I waited another moment before looking up at the messily dressed teen that stood at the door, her long violet hair out of place as she yawned.

Her warm brown eyes were the same as Ami's, and her slightly cocky smile was just like hers too.

Looking down, she yawned again before tilting her head at me, the question in her eyes obvious.

Wringing my hands out in front of me, I asked "U-Uhm, is Ami home? I h-hadn't heard from her in a bit, s-so-"

Her eyes turned cold suddenly, and she leaned forwards and growled "Who're you? Another of those 'Silver Tiger' brats that want to cause trouble? Huh!? I already told y'all that if I find another one of you loitering around this house, I'll fucking break your arms!"

I flinched at her words, and I stared to tremble slightly as her anger washed over me.

Shaking my head, I gulped as I stuttered "N-No, I'm o-one of her c-classmates, T-Tenten... I j-just wanted to-"

Her cold, angry attitude vanished instantly, being replaced by a wide grin and a mirth filled gaze.

"Oh~ So you're Tenten then~? Hehe~! Alright, come in..."

Stepping back, she made space for me to enter the house, and I took a deep breath before entering.

Taking off my shoes, I followed her into the main room, sitting on the fluffy red pillows while she entered the kitchen, grabbing a pitcher of some kind of tea.

"Ami speaks about you quite frequently~! Oh, I'm her sister by the way, names Kana. Ami... will be back in a few minutes, she just needed to get some things done..."

Her voice trailed off, before she turned back and grinned at me, pouring a small glass of what smelt like mint orange tea.

Taking a sip, I asked "W-What does she say... about me?"

I blushed slightly as Kana grinned more, and she was about to say something when the door opened, and she gave me a wink.

"Mama~! How'd it go?"

Someone grumbled at the door, and I heard a high pitched, faux squeal as someone bolted into the room, instantly rushing towards Kana as she shouted "It was SO~ boring! They kept-"

I gulped as Ami froze, her eyes locked on mine as she realized I was there, before glaring up at her sister, who grinned down at her.

"Ami, I swear to the Sage! Just... reign it in you little demon! Sit still for just five minutes, please!"

A mature looking version of both Ami and Kana walked in next, her tired expression and pinched nose making me gulp again, before she too fell quiet and stared at me.

"So..."

Looking towards Kana, the woman raised a brow as she jokingly said "This ones a bit too young, Kana."

Blushing furiously, Kana glared at the woman and sputtered "M-Mom! I said I like-! Argh!"

Growling, she let out a huff and turned away, much to her mothers amusement.

"Alright, I know~! You like that older store vendor a few doors down, right~? Hehe, the one that told you she wanted-"

"MOM!"

I looked around the boisterous household in silence, mainly to avoid Ami's confused and piercing stare.

Rolling her eyes, Ami's mother chuckled as she plopped down in a chair, sighing gently before smiling at me.

"So, if I had to wager a guess... Tenten, right? Only way that little demon child will sit still is if I chain her down or her cru-"

"MOM!"

Now Ami screamed at her mother, who's grin widened as she looked between her two equally furious daughters.

"U-Uhm... y-yes, my name is Tenten... I uh... I-"

I was about to get up when Ami frantically asked "Wait, don't go yet! You h-haven't even finished your tea! O-Or-!"

Kana finally simmered down, though she did glare at her mother one more time as she asked "Or say why you visited~?"

Ami blushed slightly, nodding, which made the older sister and mother smirk at one another.

"I... I was curious... and w-worried, about why y-you haven't been back at the Academy..."

My voice trailed off, and Ami flinched for a moment before scratching her cheek, a large smile on her face as she said "Oh, nothing major! Just some... medical checkups! That's all."

I could tell she wasn't entirely truthful, especially considering her mother flinched slightly while Kana looked away.

Sure, I was still a 'child', but I was being trained to notice these things, and well...

I was good at that, at lease; noticing things about people.

She was lying, and it wasn't just something small as a medical checkup.

The silence in the room was deafening as I stared at her, before I gave her a smile and nodded, deciding that, for the moment, it was best to let this slide.

Whatever it was...

She would tell me herself.

Eventually.

So, I began to tell her about the things she missed; how Naruto and Sasuke fight more often, especially when they think Kokoro-Sensei can't see, how Rock Lee let slip that he was training with three hundred pound weights, the fun lessons Kokoro-Sensei was teaching us now...

I was happy to give her a distraction, answering all her questions as she learned about the things she missed, all while her sister and mother watched on warmly, occasionally teasing her and I.

When I left that night, after dinner, Ami sent me off with a big grin, and I felt my heart flutter slightly as I walked back home...