DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. Though we all know everyone would be more happy if I did… ¤

Just something that popped into my head one day, and I decided to play off of. Not really that good, but whateves.

NEJIxTENTEN

Poetically Pathetic

I poked you once, back when we met in the academy.

I remember because that was the first time you gave me that ‘holier-than-thou’ expression that said so many things with no words at all.

And then I remember when you just turned around and walked away like I was nothing.

And it hurt.

But I guess you wouldn’t really understand that, would you?

Everyone always told me how much of a jerk you were, despite that cool, collected exterior. But everyone always loved you.

I envied that.

…

I chased you once, back when we were kids at the academy.

I remember because it was tag, and I was it, and I always wanted to catch you… to make you realize that it was me.

But you were always faster than me, so I was always stuck in your shadow.

And I remember all the girls would sit back and watch me play, and laugh because they thought that it was stupid, and I was too much of a tomboy.

But I guess they never realized that in the end I was always closest to you.

They were sitting along the sidelines, goggling, but I was actually pursuing you…

I was always the closest, no matter what they tried to say.

…

I talked to you once, back when we started our three-man cell.

I remember because that was the first time I had ever really spoken to you in all the five years I had known you.

I don’t know if you wanted to know me, or even cared if I existed.

You were always so indifferent like that… I could never truly know what you were thinking.

All the girls had given up on trying to catch you; I guess they must have realized something that I never did.

You were an outcast, like always; a genius of a boy…

You never lost, no matter what…

I remember sometimes wishing that I could just stay in your presence… I thought that maybe that would help me become half of what you were.

But then again, I was never fast enough to catch you; how could I even imagine staying with you if you were always ten kilometers ahead of me?

…

I fought you once, back before the Chuunin Exams.

You told me I was too weak, and I needed to work on my form.

You know, I hated you for that; I guess I never really realized how far behind the both of you I was until I finally tried to beat you.

But what could I expect? It’s hard to beat perfection.

You were always so dedicated to your art, and I was too busy trying to get you to notice me…

To see me…

I just stopped really thinking there was a way for me to win.

But God, you’re so cruel. The way your harsh words would just bite and gnash until it ripped a hole into my heart.

I don’t even know why I wanted your attention. You never would say anything that would make me feel even the least bit better.

You probably never liked me, or cared to even try.

…

You know, I cried for you once…

But just once, when I was broken.

You were back, without Sasuke, and almost knocked to the end of your life.

And you looked so peaceful even though you were dying, like it was what you always wanted.

And I cried, because I lost you. And I had never been able to catch up. And you had never really seen me. And I thought I would never see you again.

And I cried. And I trained.

And I wanted to be what you told me to be, but I couldn’t because my mind wouldn’t let that image of you escape.

It was so tense… everyone was hurting.

But you were fine… you were better…

And I could breath again because I still had you.

…

I failed so often; almost every instance that occurred ended in my incompetence.

In my chuunin battles… saving Gaara… I was never strong enough to be the winner.

I was drowning in that water ball; I was caged and unable to breathe.

Another failure… a false limitation…

No matter how hard I tried I could feel my body giving up.

And I wondered what you would think when I collapsed. Would you realize how much I wanted to be you?

How much I needed to be by you in order to survive?

How much I really cared, despite what everyone else told me?

I was the child in the shadow of your shining sun; even though I never grew, I was happy to be near you.

And my mind was so relaxed…

And my body was so numb…

And in the rush of my suffocation, I saw you… staring at me…

And you broke free, like you always did.

But I guess closed eyes are more comfortable than affections.

…

But you saw me…

And you saved me…

And you held me…

And I knew in that moment that you knew me…

And I existed…

And you cared, despite not deserving it.

And you whispered, almost inaudibly, that I was perfect. And to hang on.

But you were wrong, see? Because how can perfection see that in me?

I was weak and couldn’t stand, and you told me not to worry because you were never letting me go.

And you didn’t…

You always kept your promises.

And I always wondered what you saw in something as incompetent as me. But you always smiled and closed my mouth, and you would show me the green mark on your forehead, just to remind me…

Just to tell me the truth…

And you would whisper that I was freedom, and I was beauty, and I was truth, and I was love…

And that, without me, you were caged.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.