Chapter One: Ending

Hyuuga Hinata had simply been looking for a bracelet. The one Tenten had given her a while back, the one with the pretty charms that the older girl had given her the day she got out of the hospital back after their first Chunnin exam. She had smiled, disappointment in her eyes as she reassured the shy girl that if he were to hurt her again, that Hinata should tell her and she'll deal with it.

Tenten was a sweet girl; she had been strong yet generous, her personality battling with that of her cousin, Hyuuga Neji. But Hinata knew of the secret looks he had given her, whether it was a mere glance to be assured that she was still there, or a barely noticable lift of the lips aimed at her when he thought no one was looking.

Tenten deserved anything she wanted, and Neji deserved her.

Byakagun activated, Hinata searched through the forests, giving up sadly. She settled on walking through the cherry trees, enjoying the lasts of the short bloomed blossoms.

Hyuuga Hinata enjoyed gazing at scenery, the magic chastity of the world as a whole, and the beauty of spring. And between the pink blossoms, her eyes saw something so pure, yet so forbidden.

They sat side by side by the calm river, their feet in the water, lilies and cherry blossoms splattering over the surface. Chocolate brown hair cascaded across her shoulders, as she rested her head against his, the mix of onyx and auburn across their backs. Fingers entwined within each other, the two gazed at the pink blossoms travel through the lazy current, the woman letting out a small sigh.

"The cherry blossoms are falling," she murmured, as Hinata watched her cuddle closer to the taller man.

"Hn..."

"It's so pretty," the woman replied, letting out a tinkly chuckle, "I wish it would last."

"I wish..." the taller man answered, leaning towards his lover, "this would last."

The two kissed gently, softly, sadly, so sadly that Hinata couldn't bear to watch. She knew of their future, they could not be, since after all, he was a Hyuuga, and she was just an average kunoichi.

Hinata turned her head back, shyly, only to see their lips part. Grief seeped through her heart at the sight of such pain that the two could not be together, before being ripped out of each other's arms.

"Neji, don't say such things," she answered softly, closing her eyes and turning her head to rest against his chest.

"Ten-" the Hyuuga stopped speaking, content in breathing in her womanly scent and holding her before he could not.

The two were silent, and Hinata gazed regretfully at them, the emotions they reserved for one another filling the air. The younger girl knew she should not be there, intruding on their precious time. The time that could not be taken back, the time that could not be replenished.

"I know..." her soft voice cut the air as she trembled against him. "I know it'll have to end."

"Don't say that... I'll make sure,"

"Neji," his name was sharp in her voice, before she softened it when he stiffened, "You know neither you nor me can change it."

The older boy was silent, holding her even tighter, before replying, "I'm sorry."

"Why?" the brown-eyed girl murmured, lifting a hand to stroke his hair.

"I'm sorry I started this in the first place, I knew that it wouldn't..."

"Neji, I would have wanted this even if my life had to end," she answered.

Hinata had never seen Neji so needy, so begging. It hurt, her heart thumped painfully at how the stoic unforgiving boy had fallen so deeply in love, only to know it will be yanked painfully out of his trembling body.

"Please..." he whispered into her hair.

"I don't want you to be sorry," she answered his plea, turning her head to brush her lips against his.

"Please forget about me."

The woman's eyes widened, as she gazed at her lover shocked. Ivory eyes gazed back regretfully as he gently untwined their fingers.

"Forget about me."

"I... I can't do that Neji..." Glistens of tears trailed down her cheeks, as Hinata felt her own waterfall push against the barriers.

"Do it for me, Tenten," he whispered, before lifting himself off his feet. He did not kiss her goodbye, but wiped the tear from his lover's chocolate orbs slowly.

"I love you, Neji," she protested softly, her hand reaching up to touch his cheek.

"Please don't say that, Tenten, it'll... it'll be harder to leave."

"I never can Neji!" her voice rose higher, "I'll do anything for you!"

"I'm sorry," he murmured one last time, "Do this for me."

She looked up into his eyes, and nodded, turning her own away from him, ashamed of the glisten of tears down her cheeks. Hinata followed, wiping at her own with the hem of her jacket. Witnessing such a pure yet heartrending sight had forced tears from her own pale, pale eyes.

The older man waited as his lover put her hair up back into the two buns, carefully placing the pins to hold it in place. He helped her up, holding her hand quite too long. Not that either of them cared for the perpetual contact to end. They gazed at each other, one last time, and they held each other just to know the other existed.

Hinata knew that she had stayed too long, and she lifted herself off her feet, only to catch a glimpse of one last kiss.

And she wished. She wished the two did not need to break; that the pure love the two had did not need to end. She wished they did not need to hide to be in love, that they did not need to mourn as they did.

She wished they could stay in love in the spring.

But like the petal pink cherry blossoms falling around them, nothing good could last.

A/N: Me and my angst. Neji and Tenten sure hate me for making them go through so much and so much angst. Ah well, it's fun. Please review!