A/N: Presenting a short and (bitter)sweet little drabble for all of you after a three month absence. If you have reviewed my stories during that time, I know I haven't been replying, but please do know that I have read and cherished all of your feedback.

Enjoy!

In another life, Tenten ruefully yearns, she will not love what she cannot have. Before her the village of Konoha is bright enough to erase any traces of stars from the night sky. Villagers stroll languidly through the streets, ducking in and out of bars and restaurants, and Tenten thinks they look like perfect little dolls from her vantage point on the hill. Perfect little dolls living perfect little lives, she muses, all at once jealous and repulsed by their carefreeness. The sounds of music and laughter drift from open windows, melding into an unintelligible mix as they echo and dissipate into the night air. But to Tenten the sounds distinctly mean friendship and family and love.

Konoha, the village filled with big dreamers, the village filled with hope, and the village she must leave. She had realized early on during her time as a genin that the life of a shinobi is futile. And yet, she looks again at the village, and her heart swells; she wishes she could be as blind as the rest of them. But Konoha has no room for orphans like her, and why fight to protect a home that does not wait to welcome her?

And besides, the war is looming near and Tenten does not want to be a nameless sacrifice. Pride, perhaps that is the real reason she wants to leave. Absently she wonders if Lee will miss her.

She spends a few more moments watching the village before Neji appears at her side in a flurry of dark robes and ebony hair. "Ready?" he asks, though his eyes are on the village as well. They stand shoulder to shoulder. Tenten swears she can hear Gai's boisterous shouts in the distance, and she wishes again that she had never realized she could not stay.

She hesitates to answer, suddenly overwhelmed with the feeling of taking a step off a precipice into a dark and great unknown. "Will you miss it?" she asks, wondering if he feels the same tightening in his chest. Neji does not look at her.

"Somewhat," is his quiet, honest reply. He is silent again, the lights of the village reflecting in his eyes.

"But ultimately, Tenten," he unfolds his arms and turns her to face him, "my loyalty lies with you."

Warmth blooms in her chest and in her next breath she exhales the tension from her body. There is no hesitance as she steps into his space and leans against him.

This, she thinks, as her ears pick up the first notes of a love song, this means home.

A/N: Thank you for reading and please review! I'm debating about writing additional chapters to accompany this piece.

~M.I.