disclaimer: not mine because if it was this tragedy would have never happened.
dedication: to amy because we cry together over this. also because this is part one of her bribe.
note: chapter 614 kids. my soul died.
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Tenten stands, shell-shocked with eyes wide. She can't say a word and she doesn't know why. She wants to run, fight, scream, do something, but she can't. She only watches as time seems to slow down, everyone moving in slow motion around her. She doesn't see anything, doesn't hear the collective gasp, nothing but NejiNejiNeji.
Her eyes are glued to his face, propped up on Naruto's shoulder as the blond glares up at the traitorous Uchihas. The light is fading from Neji's milky cream eyes, ones so familiar to her, and the green markings on his forehead are fading as well. He's smiling as if he's proud to be dying, and Tenten wants to scream at him, "You idiot, why are you smiling?!" because he's dying and she can't do anything but stare.
Neji's body goes limp and all of a sudden, Tenten starts sprinting. She runs towards his body, towards Naruto and Hinata and danger, not crying nor screaming, but just running. She weaves around the frozen shinobi, panicking and desperate. She can feel his essence around her, and she looks up to see a white bird flying away.
Away from Naruto and Hinata, away from the ground, away from her.
Tenten arrives as Naruto and Hinata are setting down his body, Naruto's blue eyes aflame with anger and worry while Hinata's — Tenten doesn't even want to think of Hinata. She's like Neji, reminds her of Neji, and Tenten can't do it. She stands next to his body, oblivious to the battle beginning to wage again, shaking while clenching and unclenching her fists. She bites the inside of her mouth and wills herself — forces herself — not to cry.
Neji's smiling face hurts because it looks so natural on him and Tenten almost smiles because she's never seen him so at peace before. But she doesn't because, "Why are you smiling, Neji?" she asks, lips trembling.
But of course he is, Tenten thinks bitterly. He's free.
He's finally free.
A tear rolls down her cheek but she refuses to allow any more fall. She has to be strong now, carry her team because they're hopeless without him. Gai-sensei was barely hanging on and Lee — oh, poor Lee. She could imagine him snow, snivelling and crying, but she can't laugh, can't comfort him. Tenten never expected this outcome; shouldn't it be her who should be crying?
But Tenten has to be strong. She has to fight, because Neji would have wanted her to continue forward. She fights for two now: for herself and for Neji. For her fleeting love, ending as soon as it had started. She has to fight for her — their — friends, because Neji is happy. Tenten smiles and looks up, watching the bird soar higher and higher from her.
She will fight for their happiness, even if she has to follow him to death.
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note2: stupid kishimoto. they actually kind of had a chance.
note3: eugh, paragraph. my attempt at drabbles. ;o;
note4: review or not review. i don't care, but it would be great.