Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.
Chapter 1: Farewell
"We've lost so much..." Tenten's eyes filled with tears as she choked a little and looked away from the ceremony.
Neji put a comforting hand on her shoulder and stared forward in the open casket.
The room was silent, only a sobbing Lee could be heard throughout the room.
"Gai-sensei!" Lee sobbed as snot dripped out of his nose pathetically. He made a fool of himself but he didn't care. He felt broken, all the youthful hope that he knew was sucked out of him. Nothing mattered in that moment to him; only unending despair and crushing loneliness.
They were older now. They knew people don't come back from the dead and Gai was not going to be a special exception. The battle between Konoha and the Akatsuki raged on for years with the inclusion of other impossibly terrfiying enemies with strength of an unbelievable magnitude. The city was in shambles, people were dying left and right, the population diminished rapidly. And now one of their strongest warriors fell.
A white haired man bent down next to Lee and said softly," It's time to go Lee."
Lee shook his head, crying into his arms next to the casket," I can't leave him... We're always together... Always..."
Kakashi stood up and looked at Tenten motioning her to come to Lee's side. Her knees felt weak and she could barely remain standing. Neji noticed and let her hold onto his arm for support. Hot tears streamed down her face and she walked over to Lee in his black jumpsuit. She fell to her knees and moved a tendril of her disheveled hair that had fallen across her flushed porcelain face. She stared into the casket and then looked at Kakashi.
Farewell, even though you are gone, I will remember you. How much have we lost since that day? I don't know if I can bring myself to remember you anymore. Even in this world where you no longer exist, I promise I won't forget.