Hello! This is the first time I have ever really tackled a subject like this. I hope that I did this story justice and that you enjoy reading this.
He remembers the first time he ever really saw her. It was raining that day and she was dressed in black. He remembers how she was surrounded by so many people but yet look so a lone, so isolated.
That day they were gathered to mourn the loss of a great man. A hero who died protecting his comrade. Sasuke couldn't recall when he noticed her but his eyes never left her once he did.
Her expression, her stance spoke of a strong woman bearing the pain but her eyes betrayed how badly she wanted to break. She was his wife. They were only married a year.
It was cruel.
Many people spoke of the man's greatness. One after the other, she had to listen to all the words of kindness and sorrow that they offered to her as if it would lift away the any pain she felt. Even as they put his body in the ground and handed her the flag, they whispered words their cruel words to her. But her strength remained through it all.
Sasuke watched as they ushered her to the car with his family. The door closed and like that Tenten Hyuuga, wife to the late Neji Hyuuga, was gone. A year passed and Sasuke thought about that woman every day since then.
"Teme." A hand slammed down on his shoulders drawing his thoughts away from her. Since he left the military Sasuke had been living alone, and there was only one person who had a key to his apartment. "You still coming tonight?" Sasuke turned to look at Naruto, his best friend and in a way his brother, who was wearing a stupid grin on his face as waited to hear his reply.
"Yeah, I'm coming Dobe." Sasuke didn't think his grin could get any wider but somehow Naruto managed it. Coming around the couch, Naruto plopped down into the matching dark armchair that resided next to the couch.
"Good. Otherwise Hinata would have your head for not coming." Sasuke stiffen at his comment. Naruto had been dating Hinata Hyuuga for almost three years now and she was probably the most innocent person Sasuke has ever met. However, any woman that can stand to be in a relationship with Naruto for as long as she has was a woman to be respected. Besides, the party was really a memorial for Neji and Sasuke knew of how close Hinata had been to her cousin.
"….and with Tenten coming-" Sasuke ears perked at the mention of her name. Sasuke would never admit that he had droned Naruto out for a second but at this moment he didn't really care.
"What?" Sasuke interrupted him. Naruto threw him a confused look.
"Tenten, you know, Neji's wif- I mean widow." Naruto caught his mistake quickly. Sasuke cringed internally at his mistake. Even though it had been well over a year since his death, Neji had been their Captain in the military and his death let a scar in all of them. Especially for Naruto.
Sasuke had only encountered Tenten handful of times before the funeral. He even vaguely remembers Neji introducing them once before at a military party, but now the only image Sasuke could recall was of the one in black. After the funeral Tenten had returned home to China. Neji's team offered to help her any way they could but she refused. No one, as far as Sasuke knew, had kept in contact with her. So, her to be coming to memorial shocked him.
"Hinata told me a week ago that she agreed to come. Apparently she returned state side about a month ago. I think she is even back in the city." Naruto continued. Suddenly it made sense to Sasuke. Of course Hinata would have kept in contact with her.
Sasuke released breath he didn't know he had been holding. He needed a drink. "Wanna beer?" He offered to his companion.
"Dude, its like one in the afternoon." Naruto replied, looking at his watch.
"Hasn't stopped anyone before." Sasuke remarked back as he got up to head to the kitchen. He really needed that drink.
"Sure, what the hell. You got any chips too?" Naruto shrugged. Sasuke scowled at his greedy friend but gave in all the same. When he returned to the living room, he had two beers and a bag of Naruto's favorite chips. He placed the beers down on the small coffee table and threw the bag at Naruto. "Yea!"
Dumbass. Sasuke thought with a smirk. He sometimes wonders how he ended up being friends with such the idiot but immediately remembers why he wouldn't trade him for anything. Naruto was his brother, his friend, and his comrade. He maybe an idiot, but he was his idiot.
"So…" Sasuke said as he returned to his spot in the middle of the couch. "When do we need to head over?"
"Hinata said to be back by four to help finish setting up." Naruto mumbled out through the chips while grabbing the television remote.
"Hn." Sasuke responded as he reached for the beer before him. Taking a big gulp, Sasuke watched as Naruto flipped through the endless channels. It didn't take long before his thoughts slowly began to return to the woman who has haunted his thoughts for the past year.