Okay evrryone there may be some strong language in this chapter but for good reason. If anyone is thinking that Neji is a little out of character he might be. It all depends on how you see it. I don't like to think Neji is 100% emotionless, even in the anime he clearly showed way more emotion than someone like gaara. I'd like to think he is aware of what his is feeling but doesn't outwardly express it or just down plays what he is feeling. Anyway on with the story! Hope somethings are explained well enough any questions or confusion please comment and I will try my best to correct or explain. Thanks!

"Why are we here?", Neji turned to his mom.

"This is were you were brought up right? I wouldn't drop you off in Iwa, son"

'She's so sarcastic' Neji had to carefully school his stoic mask not to twitch a hair out of place to avoid his mothers back hand to his head. "I meant why are we here in front of the memorial monument"

"Oh, my panda cub should be here soon", his mother looked elated.

"What are you talking abo-"

At that moment a young woman walked out into the clearing. She was sporting two buns wrapped in braids which combined into one running down her neck. She had on a white dress with red trimmings and designs. Her large belt wrapped tightly around her narrow waist and supported the scrolls on her back. As she walked closer to the monument, Neji took in all the little details like a portrait coming into focus. Her brown hair was tinted red when it hit the sun just right. Her tanned skinned literally glowed. Her hips swayed as she walked as if she were born a gypsy dancer. Her chocolate brown eyes that once looked upon his face and lit up golden. Tenten. She somehow looked older, but he didn't let that distract him from her beauty.

All the emotions he spent years schooling into place came flooding in and drowning him. Regret. Confusion. Hurt. Longing. Happiness.

Love.

Without a second thought he ran to her. "Tenten"! Still running he started to grow weary as to why she was paying no attention to him though she was looking in his direction. Surely she should be happy to see him, if not at least freaked the hell out that he's alive and well. "Ten"? He slowed down just as she was in arms reach. Just as he was about to open his arms and catch her in a much needed embrace, she passed right through him. RIGHT THROUGH HIM. Neji stared wide eyed at the grass before him. He then turned to his mother to give her an incredulous look. 'What thee literal fuck just happened'?! Neji thought, feeling as if he was just jyuukened in the chest.

"Well if you payed attention to me earlier you would know we are here to do some research before you are actually brought back. She can't see you son...You see honey, some time has passed since you were brought up to the heavens. At lot has changed since you left and in order to complete your task you need to be more understanding of where everyone is at mentally and emotionally and stature wise at this point in their lives. Don't worry TenTen isn't the only person we will be visiting today."

"Hn" was Neji's only reply.

"Don't get upset Neji. You will be able to interact with her soon enough. For now just observe."

So he did. He watched as TenTen walked to the stone and paid homage to all that were lost. For 4 minutes she stood with her head bowed in silent prayer. She then rose from her crouching position and made her way to the cemetery that wasn't far from the memorial stone. Neji trailing closely behind her, careful to make sure that he was no more than 3 step away from her. He had been to far for too long he thought.

"How long was I gone for?" He questioned his mother.

"About 7 years. You were a way too early to make your entrance into the heavens which is why you woke up in between worlds. All this time your soul was struggling to manifest itself into being. You're father and I were quite worried."

Neji's mother followed him while he followed TenTen. Watching him as he watched TenTen, smiling knowingly to herself.

'7years... I left her and and all my friends 7 years ago. Do any of them still think about me? I'm sure they all moved on with there lives. I wonder who is in TenTen's life the way I couldn't be.' Neji too deep in thought didn't realize that TenTen had stopped in front of someone's tomb stone. With her standing in front of the stone and him behind it he didn't get the chance to read the engraving before he read the empty yet somehow somber look upon his former teammate's face.

He furrowed his brows trying to read her further as she just stood there. She looked deep in thought as if she were replaying memories in her mind. Her lips would quirk up in a semi-smile one second then she'd looked forlorn the next. He observed the emotions displayed on her face for about 3 minutes and decided there wasn't an expression she didn't look good in... Until...

She broke down and started weeping, kneeling and using one hand on the stone to keep her upright the other hand fisted against her stomach. Thinking that she was in pain Neji rushed to her side to try to help her up but it was useless. He couldn't grasp her. So he knelt beside her and whispered, "I know you can't hear me. But I am here with you. Please show me you're okay. I can't be at peace knowing you are hurting Ten." When she made no effort to stop her crying he tried again. "Ten please whoever is it that you are visiting can wait, you need to go to the hospital-" Desperate, he looked away from her out into the field to see if there was anyone else around that may be of some help, then his eyes landed on the front of the tomb stone. "Hyuuga Neji".

She was weeping for him. And his heart broke.

Forget that. He was angry. Angry with himself! How could he have left her and everyone else. Even if it wasn't his fault he somehow felt like it could have been prevented. If only he could have saved Naruto, his cousin and himself. But no, he is only a man and could only do so much. He wished he was more. He wished he could have done more. He wish he never died. For her sake. For a future he thought he couldn't have with her for reasons regarding his clan, which was now a future he couldn't have with her because he was technically - dead.

TenTen's sniffles finally subsided. He was thankful. He didn't know how much more he could take. He already felt like the biggest piece of shit because he left her but to see her like this was doing something to his insides that he couldn't handle. It made him wonder what her feelings were at the moment. Surely she had to feel worse. She had to deal with her feelings toward his death for all of seven years. To him the seven years passed as if it were only one day.

"She comes here no less than three times a week to talk to you. Only a few times has she been absent longer than a week due to missions but she always makes it a priority to some see you." His mother spoke deeply moved by his sons actions toward the younger woman. She had been watching him from above all his life and the only time she had seen him this worked up was when his father passed. She always knew her son held special affections toward TenTen - as everyone else did too - though never had he outwardly confessed or showed too much countenance.

"How did she fare when she first found out? It's been 7 years and she hasn't gotten over it?", Neji masked his face to a look of indifference. He didn't know why he was putting up a front, maybe because it was the only way he really knew how to be strong when he felt as if he could do nothing.

"She uhh... She was fine. Or at least acted like it didn't affect her. She must have picked that up from you... Well I wouldn't say she acted like it didn't affect her, she really thought it was a big joke. She didn't actually think you were gone... it didn't really hit her until two weeks after the war. When they gave you a proper burial. I won't say too much because I don't want to upset you. Just know your sensei and your other teammate were always there when needed be."

'I should have been there when needed be!' He thought to himself but never said aloud. Looking at TenTen who was still kneeling staring at his grave he turned to his mother with new resolve. "So where do we go from here"?