Hello, hello! I'm back with another chapter of Hair Ties and lemme just say the way I loved writing this chapter, it just put me in my feels. I hope you enjoy reading it as well. I was really in my Neji feels today and I'd had this idea for this chapter for a few days now so today I decided to finally write it, and here we are. In terms of this story going on, I'm thinking of ending it at ten chapters but I'll see how I feel in future, plus there's a bunch other stories I'm still busy with plus new ideas keep coming in too... but anyways...

Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me.

Chapter 8: Sunflowers

It was a beautiful Spring day in the Land of Fire. Neji and Tenten had the next two days off and decided to spend their time together. Tenten had something planned and was leading Neji to it. They were travelling through the forest that surrounded the village. They'd been on the move for almost twenty minutes, jumping from tree to tree. Neji had no idea where she was leading him and he was growing more curious the further they went. He watched her move and manoeuvre with excitement clearly present, in fact she'd been excited to see him since she came to get him from his home. In all honesty, he really liked seeing her so happy. The way her eyes sparkled, brimming with joy and her angelic smiles, he'd never get tired of them.

After a while Tenten landed on the ground and he did the same. There wasn't anything particular about where they'd stopped, they were still in the forest and not too far up ahead was a clearing. Surely this wasn't where she'd meant to bring him.

"Okay from here on you have to close your eyes. We're almost at the surprise." She smiled at him and took his hand. He looked at her curiously before complying. Her hand fit so naturally in his as she held it tight and walked on, leading him along. It was a few seconds later when she'd stopped.

"Now you can look." The expectation in her voice present to him. He opened his eyes and was greeted by an enchanting sight. The clearing he knew they'd been walking to was didn't look the way it always did. The sight before him was the area almost completely full of big, bright and beautiful sunflowers. Tenten's smile widened seeing how breath-taken he was. A moment later when he finally looked away from the flowers, realisation set in.

"You remembered?" he looked at her.

"Of course I did." She leaned against him before they both walked into the ocean of flowers. Neji took one in his hand and admired the bright yellow petals before he turned to his girlfriend.

"But I told you that story when we were ten." He put the flower in her hair.

"It was important to you so I never forgot about it. I wanted to make sure you got to see a field of sunflowers." She put her arms around him and hugged him, also looking at the spectacular sight.

Back when they were ten years old, Tenten and Neji agreed to meet at the dock by the river. They sat with their feet dangling just above the water's surface. It was one of the times Neji had opened up to Tenten, he'd trusted her enough to tell her more about the lighter and fun times he'd had with his father. However this particular memory Neji had been told by his uncle because he was too young to remember the event.

"My uncle told me a story about me and my father. I didn't remember it at all because I was about two years old when it happened but it might be my favourite story. He said my father had a nickname for me at that age, he used to call me a sunflower." He chuckled at the childish but affectionate nickname. Tenten chuckled as well but found it cute.

"Why's that?" she asked, leaning her arms out behind her.

"It seems that I was like his shadow. My uncle's exact words were 'Just as a sunflower follows the sun's path wherever it shines, you used to follow your father everywhere, always so happy to be at his side." He smiled fondly at the thought of his younger self doing that. "And because of that my father used to call me sunflower, a bit silly but…"

"I think it's adorable. And two year old Neji was probably just as adorable." She put her hand on his shoulder.

"My uncle also said that one day when I'd be old enough to remember, my father wanted to take me to see a field of sunflowers and tell me that story but he never got the chance to." He sighed heavily and his smile faltered. It was a happy memory indeed but the pain of losing his father was still as powerful. Tenten could see how much he was still hurting but trying to hold back for her sake, to keep her from feeling bad as well. It was in that moment that she promised herself that no matter what, she'd make sure Neji got to see that sight, to give him that gift that his father no longer could.

The two of them sat down, completely surrounded by the glowing flowers and their sweet scent. Neji put a few of them in the buns of her hair, while she'd made a flower crown and put it over Neji's head. When she was back at eye level with him she cupped his face.

"So, did you like my surprise?" she kissed the tip of his nose.

"You've actually left me speechless. I can't believe it." He was touched, in fact it was more than that. He was moved. Such a small gesture went so far, she'd made it her mission to let him have this moment, yes it would be without his father but he was still sharing it someone he loved. It had been an average day when he told her that story and it was so long ago but here she was giving him a gift he'd cherish forever. In his heart he knew his father was watching over them at that moment.

It was rare for him to be so bold and so affectionate but he just couldn't help it. He pulled her close and deeply kissed her, a tear almost escaping his closed eyes. Tenten's arms went around him in an instant and she kissed him right back. When he pulled back he looked into her eyes and caressed her cheek, enjoying seeing how lovely she looked with the flowers in her hair.

Tenten had an idea and moved behind him and untied his hair. He already knew what she'd planned to do and smiled to himself. For the next few minutes he relaxed as she braided his hair in a long single braid and had decorated where his hair overlapped with sunflowers. A golden row of sunflowers fell down his back and she'd even added one in his hair tie. She'd shown him her handiwork by putting his braid over his shoulder, more than pleased with her work. He was completely decorated in sunflowers. They both were.

They'd stayed in the field for the rest of the day until the sun began to set. Seeing the flowers bathed in the golden glow of sunset against the rose gold sky was a sight they'd never forget. Once satisfied with the memories they'd made, they decided to head for home. Tenten stood up first and Neji followed however, before she turned to leave he caught her arm and hugged her and whispered in her ear, "Thank you for today." And kissed her hand before holding it in his own and they turned together, looking back one last time at the beautiful field of sunflowers.

As they headed back he thought about himself as a sunflower as his father had described him as a child. Even now the nickname still applied to him because Tenten was now the sun in his life and he was still a sunflower. She'd brought light, happiness and enriched his life so much, she meant so much to him. And just as a sunflower follows the sun in its path, he too would follow her anywhere.

Before heading home, Tenten stopped him and went inside to grab something. She returned with a small box with three hair ties inside. Two for her and one for him and they all had a sunflower charm.

*content sigh* so sweet, well there you have it, my sunflower chapter is done. Lemme know what you thought in a review. Ah my NejiTen heart feels so happy rn.

Well that's it from me-

Until the next chapter:

Ketsui Tasogare :-)