A/N: In my country, it is said that elemental spirits called Engkanto roam the mountains as its guardians, like fairies. The Flatrocks, in this story is a river with, obviously, a lot of flat rocks. It is prone to flooding and the current can be dangerous during a storm. Also, I read a lot of Nora Roberts' books, so my writing is heavy influenced by hers. That means a lot of cheesy dialogue and instances of throwing logic out of the window for love.

Part One

"Holy shit."

"Tenten, flower, that is such an un-youthful—"

"Shut up, Lee! Haven't you noticed that we've been going around in circles for two effin' hours?"

"The only thing that I am noticing is the increasing amount of youthfulness surging through my veins. Onward!"

Oh, Tenten, had had enough. She yanked at Lee's backpack with surprising strength and gripped it to still the wriggling boy. "We have to do something!" she exclaimed, noticing the orange tinge that was starting to devour the blue of the sky. "It'll be dusk soon, we have got to be at the cottage before dark, or else."

It was not the first time that they had hiked that particular trail. Mount Makiling was one of the most popular mountains to hike in the Southern Luzon area of the Philippines. Professor Gai, Lee's father and her maternal uncle, was a forestry professor at the university nestled at the foot of the mountains and frequently hiked the mountains as well. Whenever Tenten, Lee and Neji would visit him, their uncle would let them tag along, with him and some of the locals.

But that had been almost two years ago, and this time, there weren't any helpful locals or a wise professor, it was just the two of them.

Lee suddenly ceased his attempts in escaping her hold. He suddenly stiffened; shoulders tensed and taut. Then he turned back to her with wide (she almost thought his eyeballs would pop out) and fearful eyes. "Tenten!"

"What's wrong, Lee?"

"I think the engkanto are playing with us!" He choked out.

Tenten rolled her eyes. Trust Lee to be gullible and just believe some silly folklore. It was most probably just a tale that those local guides had spun so that the tourists would hire them. Tenten adamantly refused to hire one. This was hers and Lee's journey, and besides, they had a map and she had studied her Uncle Gai's notes about the trail extensively.

"Don't be stupid, Lee. We have a map; we probably just missed a landmark or something. Lee—stop crying!"

Lee was twenty-five and had a deep, booming voice. Hearing him sob like a frightened toddler wasn't what she needed at the moment. "I just—it's probably un-youthful for me to say, but, if Neji were here, he'd probably know the way."

Correct.

Her fists clenched, crumpling the piece of paper in in her hand. She did not need for Lee to voice it out. It was she had been thinking ever since they passed the Flatrocks where they had lost Neji. She clenched her eyes closed, and all too sudden, the past flashed underneath her closed lids. She could feel it—the unforgiving rush of muddy water and its acrid taste in her mouth, the numbness of her lungs as the water filled them, the blurring of her vision as she was gradually losing consciousness, and then the relief that washed over her as Neji's hand seized her own and heaved her up to the nearest flat rock, lastly, the crippling despair that tore her heart as she felt his fingers slip from hers, along with the muddy waters, away from her life forever.

They were supposed to be married the following month. They had been so close.

Ever since his death, she had stored her hiking gear away, along with their plans and dreams. She lived on his memory for two miserable years.

Now that she found the courage to hike again, she refused fail.

They had to reach the summit and finish the hike that the three of them failed to complete back then.

Swallowing the painful lump in her throat, Tenten wrapped an arm around her beloved cousin and pulled him close. "Look, Lee, I could really care less about those engkanto, whatsoever. Those aren't true. We can't just back out just because you're scared when the objective of this hike is to face what we fear. This is closure for me. I…I don't want to live in the past anymore."

What she said got through him, she supposed. Lee nodded, wiped his eyes and nose dry and then pumped a fist to the air, almost punching her in the jaw. "YOSH! I knew you'd eventually find your springtime of youth once again, my lovely cousin! Let us hasten!"

He was so much like his father sometimes, she mused, but nodded happily. They decided to follow the map's route one more time. After a couple of minutes, though, Lee stopped abruptly.

"Wait,"

Tenten sighed exasperatedly. "What now?"

"Maybe we should try to wear our clothing inside out, just like what the white-haired hermitadvised." Lee replied, smiling sheepishly.

That hermit that they encountered just past the Flatrocks had been looking at her lecherously the entire time he had talked to Lee, and his advice was utterly ridiculous, but if it would comfort Lee and speed up their journey, then she's willing to try.

"Alright." She finally answered. Lee wasted no time; he removed his pack and was already reaching for his sweat suit's zipper when Tenten stopped him. "Why are you stripping in front of me? Go hide behind that tree or something!" She hissed, pointing at the huge mango tree to their left. "I'll be changing behind this tree," She jerked her thumb to the one behind her.

"Sorry," He was flushing in embarrassment, but made a beeline to the tree that she indicated. She can only shake her head at his antics.

She hid behind an old Balete tree, some of its leaves already dry and raining down the forest floor. She tried to avoid them, just in case the leaves carried caterpillars. Tenten shrugged her pack off, sighing in relief as her shoulders were freed from the burden, and quickly began shrugging her shorts off, then her the unbuttoned button-up shirt that she wore over a plain white tank top.

She paused when she noticed it. Tenten failed to pinpoint the scent's likeness, but it was a very pleasant smell. It wasn't lavender or chamomile, but relaxed her loins and made her knees weak. The edges of her vision became foggy, and she found herself trying to locate the scent's origin, mindlessly donning the button up again to keep the chill at bay.

Her breath caught when she emerged from behind the tree.

It was a view straight out from a postcard. Jagged rocks, though unevenly cut, were arranged around the foot of a high waterfall, forming a sizeable pool of clear, sparkling water. The plant life around the area was healthier and more verdant than the plants along the trail, or the forests of the mountain in general. There were flowers of every colour clumped here and there, swaying along the gentle breeze. Dragonflies and other insects were merrily flying around, Tenten recalled that the presence of such insects indicated good ecosystem.

It was also the source of the smell, the fresh and pleasant smell that wafted through her nose. She blinked once, twice, her vision crystal clear once again.

Where was the trail? Where was the mango tree? Where was Lee?

Panicking, Tenten turned back, only to see that the old and dried up Balete tree has been restored to its former glory, the leaves green and attached firmly to the branches. She could only gape, too stunned to move or shout for Lee. Dimly, she recalled the stories, of the engkanto purposefully leading hikers astray, of engkanto preying on those with damaged spirits and taking them to their world. She almost got a whiplash when she turned back sharply to the waterfall.

Tenten thought she was going mad. She had to be hallucinating or clinically insane if she was seeing her dead fiancé, standing a few feet from her, cradling a bunch of long-stemmed flowers.

The corners of his lips were tilted in a slight upward angle—it was her smile, remembered easily. Neji had always been stoic and taciturn to the people around him, even to her, but he had always smiled for her. He had chosen to show her the other facets of his personality, he had made himself vulnerable. It was one of the silly things that love will compel you to do.

"Neji?" She said softly, her throat suddenly very dry. Her voice had been so quiet she wondered if he heard her, because Tenten was having difficulty in hearing her own voice over the rapid beating of her heart.

He appeared to have heard her, though. His long hair trailed behind him as he approached her, his eyes never leaving hers. It was a surreal and unearthly experience to watch the man you love walk towards you. It was a scene plucked from a dream, a figment of her imagination, something that she shouldn't believe in.

But when he stood right in front of her, as tall and handsome as she had first seen him in her college days, Tenten could only cover her mouth to stop the sobs from escaping.

His hand gently touched her cheek and instantly her sobs ceased. A thumb brushed her tears away and her eyes were dry again. Another hand went on top of her head, removing the pins on the left bun before the right, and her hair was loose and dancing with the wind. Then, his hands removed her own hands that covered her face, tangling their fingers together and let it hang in between them. When Tenten looked down, she was already dressed in a white sheer white gown that flowed down to the grassy ground. His last trick was with the flowers. It had been a bouquet, but when Tenten looked up, he was placing a flower crown upon her head.

"A woman as lovely as you are must not weep." Goose prickles broke out along her arms, and she shivered at deep, cool quality of his voice.

She did not want to believe, but he's making it difficult not to.

"Neji?" Tenten whispered, tightening her hands in his. His hands were warm and soft, much like how it had been before. She had always hated that his hands appeared more feminine then hers.

"Is that what you wish to call me?" He asked in return, brows furrowing. He looked eager to please her, to gain her approval.

"You look a lot like him." She answered, already starting to loosen her fingers from his grip. "A-Aren't you—"

"Do not let go." He pleaded, "Do not let go of my hand, please."

Letting go was the last thing she wanted to do, but it was what she had to do most. Didn't she decide that she'll live in the past no more?

Still, she did as he told.

"You aren't Neji."

His head bowed down, the curtain of his hair shadowing the sides of his face.

Of course, he isn't Neji. Neji could not perform whatever sorcery this man had done. Neji was human, and the man in front of her—Tenten gasped as an idea struck her.

"Are you…one those guardians of this mountain?" She asked.

To her delight, he nodded. "I am an elemental spirit, but Tenten, I do not wish to harm you."

His eyes were scared, afraid that she'd freak out, that she wouldn't believe.

He was holding her hand and he had placed a flower crown upon her head. He spoke with raw honesty and emotion in his voice, how could she not believe?

"If that is so, then what is your intention? What did you do to Lee?"

"My friends had delivered your cousin safely to the cabin." He explained. "As to my intention…" He looked at their intertwined hands. "I could not explain what compelled me to bring you here, but I was overcome by the need to hold your hand and make you smile. It was a foolish notion, especially for someone of my standing, but I just couldn't rest until I do so."

"That…was both creepy and romantic." She remarked. Could it be? Could it be that this spirit was Neji's? Is that why he wanted to sought her out?

The twitching of his right eye was a spot-on Neji impression. "I answered as truthfully as I can, I do not wish to be mocked." He glared.

Tenten smiled, amused at his apparent irritation. "Okay, I'm sorry." She said playfully, feeling a bit at ease.

His eyes softened at the sight of her smiling face. Tenten felt her ears turn pink. It was as if she was talking to Neji for the first time again. "You are beautiful when you smile, Tenten." He complimented.

Okay, this Neji is a smooth-talker. She thought as she felt the blush creep onto the apples of her cheeks. "Don't be weird."

His stern face was broken when he released a deep chuckle, shoulders shaking slightly and silver eyes alight with mirth. She might not have reached the summit, but with her hands in his, she did not feel lost anymore.

"Come with me," He tugged at her hand and gestured at the picturesque background. "Let me show you around."

Tenten tried to comfort herself by thinking that he would just be giving her a tour, she'll still be able to return to her world. The question was that, by the end of the tour, would she still want to go back?