Author's Notes: Kind of a filler chapter but it should be interesting to those of you who read "Acheron". I'm thinking the next chapter will be the last so we're almost there! ;D Enjoy!

The Bridge to Mnemosyne
Chapter Four

In all her years as a kunoichi, facing swords and knives and fatal intentions, flying through darkness and tree branches, barely escaping death on the rayed edge of a shuriken, she had never faced anything more intimidating than sitting down to tea with Hyuuga Hiashi.

They sat on the floor in the traditional style, facing each other across a low wooden table whose surface gleamed in the golden sunlight of autumn that streamed through her windows. Bright dust motes danced in the air, almost like fireflies, and she stared with wide eyes at the leader of the Hyuuga clan, her fingers tightly pressed together in her lap. He had struck her silent with his words at the door and she had no idea what to say to him, or even what words she should use if she found her tongue. It wasn't as if she could hide the fact that she was pregnant, the curve of her stomach had been quite obvious for the last few weeks. Still, she couldn't image how he could know it was Neji's. She had been careful, oh-so-careful, in avoiding any white-eyed ninjas so how could he possibly know for sure…?

Hinata, of all people, served them tea in cracked porcelain cups Tenten's mother had left her. She moved with the quiet grace of a dancer and the modesty of a servant, never lifting her eyes, never uttering a sound. Hiashi ignored his daughter completely, his gaze fixated on Tenten. He calmly took a sip of his tea and she suddenly felt sick to her stomach, the clink of his teacup against the saucer almost too loud in her ears.

"It's not his," she blurted abruptly, voice hoarse and dry. Beside her, Hinata went very still, but Hiashi only raised an eyebrow, the expression so reminiscent of Neji that Tenten felt herself quake. She hadn't meant to be the first to say anything, but the pressure of Hiashi's presence was breaking her slowly. And, in a flash, she instantly understood Hinata's shyness and Neji's hatred. This man could evoke both without even trying.

"You and I both know that's not true, Tenten-san," he said finally, after taking another sip of tea. She lowered her head a little and watched the steam rise from her cup. "The child you're carrying is the last bearer of my brother's legacy, and the only Hyuuga with Neji's potential power. It would be dangerous for you, and the baby, if our enemies learned of your existence."

She raised her eyes again, somehow feeling as if she were being scolded. "I know what my child is," she said strongly, eyes flashing. It was a surprise when Hiashi smiled slightly in return, seemingly impressed her reaction.

"I can see why Neji chose you," he remarked after a moment, and her mood swung from agitated to sad and she had to look away from those all-seeing eyes. Hiashi shifted slightly. "I ask that you come to the Hyuuga compound, Tenten-san. For your safety, and that of your child's." He hesitated and she blinked, caught by the strange look of sorrow on his face. Strange only because she had not expected to see it there. "I failed Neji a long time ago, Tenten-san. Please allow me to do this for him."

And for you, she wanted to say, because she knew it wasn't truly a selfless act, but it was beyond her to question something between him and Neji. She was being backed into a corner and she did what any ninja would do in that situation. She lifted her head, met Hyuuga Hiashi's eye, and spoke steadily.

"And if I do not come with you?"

The line of Hiashi's mouth hardened and his voice was stern. "I will send Branch members to watch over you, even to live with you if I must. It will be uncomfortable for you, of course, but that is the price of your choice." The price of your freedom. "And the child will be brought to me at the correct age, with or without you. I will not allow a Hyuuga to be put in danger because of his mother's stubborn nature."

Tenten's fingers clenched against her leg. Here, at last, was the dominating patriarch of the Hyuuga clan, patient and firm one moment, and bitingly cold the next. What was perhaps more frustrating was that she understood the necessity of his words, though she hated them as well.

And she understood also what she must do.

Forgive me, Neji, for not being strong enough to fight him, but I'm not even sure I should. Our child, he or she will need them, their power and their protection. And I… I need them as well.

Forgive me.

"I accept." She exhaled quietly and lowered her shoulders in defeat. "I will come to the Hyuuga compound." A brief pause. "Hiashi-sama." And she bowed to him, the deep bow of a Branch member to the patriarch. A soft gasp left Hinata's lips, too breathless for sound, and when Tenten straightened, Hiashi looked pleased.

"A wise choice, Tenten-san," he said, rising swiftly and bringing all of them to their feet along with him. "Hinata will see to everything." He caught his daughter's eye. "I leave her to you."

The door shut behind the Hyuuga's retreating figure and Tenten's knees immediately gave way as she collapsed backwards onto the couch, exhaling with relief and nerves. She sat there, lost in anxious thoughts until a soft voice made her realize Hinata was still there. Tenten looked over at the small girl and felt immense pity for her. The poor thing had a way of standing absolutely still so to be constantly overlooked. Something she had learned at an early age, no doubt.

"Are you alright?" Hinata asked carefully, seeming unsure of herself. Tenten slid a hand over her stomach for comfort and nodded once. "My… My father… He can be very stict b…but he really wants what's best for you." She fiddled with the hem of her shirt nervously until Tenten finally patted the seat beside her, beckoning the girl to her side. Hinata approached cautiously and sat with the trepidation of one expecting a blow of some sort.

"Not for me," Tenten said quietly. "He wants what's best for a Hyuuga." She patted the mound of her stomach in emphasis. Hinata looked at her with surprisingly gentle silver eyes, the first kind look Tenten had seen all morning.

"Isn't that the same thing?"

Tenten blinked and surprised herself by smiling, wondering if Neji had ever been astounded by his cousin's mild way of speaking the absolute truth. "I guess you're right," she answered with a sigh. "Still, I don't think I'll make a very good Hyuuga. I'm not very… refined."

"I… I will help you, Tenten-san. I c…could teach you our ways." She looked down at her lap, her fingers moving nervously. "If…If you want me to."

Watching Hinata's awkwardness, Tenten knew the younger girl was just as lonely as she was, perhaps more so, surrounded as she was by a sea of family and yet never feeling as if she deserved their attention. She knew also that the Branch members were in charge of protecting the Main house and all of the Hyuuga's secrets. When her child was born, she would be a honorary member of that line. Maybe, maybe she could help Hinata, in her own way…

Reaching over the space between them, Tenten laid a calming hand on Hinata's, smiling warmly when startled white eyes lifted to meet hers. "I would like that very much, Hinata. And please, just call me Tenten. After all, I suppose we're family now." She winked in reassurance and Hinata's mouth twitched into a shy smile. The Hyuuga heir stood and bowed slightly, formally.

"Welcome to the family, Tenten. I'm sure your son will be very strong."

Tenten jerked, startled. "My…my son?"

A blush rose in Hinata's fair cheeks and she lifted a hand to her mouth in what must have been a nervous habit.

"You…you didn't know? The baby you're carrying… It's a boy."


"So, this is your new home," Lee said, walking beside her, holding two huge bags, one full of clothes, the other full of weapons. He had insisted on helping her move in to the Hyuuga compound though Hinata had offered practically a herd of Branch members to get the job done in five minutes. Tenten wasn't taking much with her, just her personal belongings. Everything else in her apartment, including furniture, had been sold. Hinata had said all the necessities would be provided and that leaving those things behind was a sign that she was no longer the person she had been.

She was a Hyuuga now.

Tenten had declined the offer of help from Hinata, though, knowing that Lee had his own reason for doing things. He had been strangely serious when she had told him of her decision to live with Neji's family, telling her he thought she was making a noble choice. Just to cheer him up, she had let it slip that she was having a boy and watched his smile creep across his face, staggering backwards a little at his enthusiastic hug. She had also asked him to be an honorary uncle to her son, along with Gai of course, and he had practically burst into tears on the spot. It had not been until that moment that she realized just how much Lee was hurting, too.

"Yes," she answered, stepping into the courtyard. "My new home…"

She had been on the grounds before but it somehow looked different now that she knew she would be staying. The sloping roofs, the perfectly manicured bushes and trees, the elegant architecture, it made her feel older somehow. Her shoes clicked against gleaming wooden floors, paper doors sliding back silently and smoothly. It was a beautiful place, but she wasn't sure she could ever call it home.

Hinata came to greet them, a little off balance upon noticing Lee but she recovered quickly and smiled, linking her fingers together. "Welcome, Tenten, Lee-san. Everything has been set up for you. Would you like me to show you to your new room?"

"Hello, Hinata-san," Lee answered, and Tenten nodded.

"Please, this suitcase is getting heavier by the minute."

Hinata frowned worriedly. "You shouldn't be lifting such things in your condition." Lee nodded vigorously.

"That's what I said, Hinata-san! In her delicate condition, she should not be-"

"I'll show you delicate," Tenten grumbled. "Next time, I'm having you carry all the bags."

Lee flashed a big smile and Hinata laughed softly. "Well, come this way. It's not far."

And, indeed, it was not. Her new chambers looked out upon the courtyard, the room large and spacious and so dustless that she knew it must have been cleaned that morning. However, that was not what halted her in her tracks, her suitcase falling to the floor as her eyes widened, fingers trembling.

"Tenten," Lee murmured.

"M…My father thought y…you would want this r…room," Hinata stuttered, anxious because of Tenten's reaction. "But there are o…others…" She trailed off as Tenten reached out to touch the wall, fingertips skimming its surface lightly.

"This," she said quite clearly, "was Neji's room."

She and Lee had been in it a number of time during their days as genins. Neji hadn't liked it much, preferring his freedom from his suffocating cage, but his presence still seemed to linger there. She thought she could even smell his unique scent of wind and sandalwood if she tried hard enough.

Closing her eyes briefly, she turned to Hinata and smiled softly. "Thank you," she whispered, and the younger girl shifted, blushing.

"There's also a small room next door," the Hyuuga heir added helpfully, "for the baby."

Lee set his bags down and rolled up his sleeves. "Well then! Let's get this unloaded! Otherwise, we'll have to do 100 push-ups, and if we can't do those, we'll have to run 200 laps around the village, and if we can't do that we'll…"

Tenten tuned her friend out as the three of them got to work, personalizing the stark room with her meager belongings. About an hour later, Lee continued to unload boxes while Hinata took Tenten on a tour of the compound, introducing her to family members as they went. Most of the Hyuugas welcomed her politely with small smiles that were more curious than indifferent. She found it rather amusing that every pair of white eyes immediately when to her stomach when they heard who she was. She wondered, too, what they saw when they looked at her.

By the time darkness fell, all three of them were exhausted, Lee having fallen asleep on her bed, snoring and drooling into her pillow. Tenten pulled her comforter over his shoulders and left him there, walking out to sit down next to Hinata on the edge of the patio, a tired sigh leaving her as she took her weight off her feet. Hinata glanced at her with concern but she waved it away with a self-deprecating smile.

"I'm alright," she said, "Guess I'm still not quite used to being pregnant." Her lips quirked. "Silly, isn't it?"

Hinata shook her head. "I don't think so." A blush stained the other girl's porcelain cheeks and Tenten's eyebrows rose.

"What is it?" she asked, curiously. Hinata's fingers moved together in that nervous habit of hers. Tenten smiled. "Whatever it is, you can ask."

White-silver eyes glanced at her shyly. "Did… Did you love my cousin?" Tenten jerked as if the wind had been knocked out of her and Hinata immediately sat up straight, looking frightened. "I..I'm sorry! I shouldn't have asked! I..It's not my place to-"

Tenten shook her head. "No, it's alright, it's just…" She took a breath. "It startled me is all."

Hinata sat back again but she looked uncomfortable, and somehow guilty at breeching a subject usually keep silent. Tenten wanted to tell her it wasn't her fault, but she was still unused to talking about Neji with others. It still hurt to refer to him in the past tense and it was inevitable that the moment she said his name she would be overrun with memories of the past. Only Lee was aware how much this affected her and he rarely mentioned Neji in her presence, sparing her the instantaneous realization that, yes, he really was gone.

It was time, though, that she learned to say his name without wanting to cry.

"I loved him," she said very quietly. "Very much." She turned to look at Hinata, offering her a painful smile. "Did he love me?" A shuddering breath left her. "We'll never know."

The sun set in a glorious blaze of autumn golds and reds, burning the sky before flaring out, the dark clouds of night rolling in from the east. Tenten eventually rose and went inside, smacking Lee over the head and berating him for falling asleep when she was still awake.

Hinata stayed seated, watching the stars come out one by one. Though she was often uncertain around Tenten, she felt… safe with her, unjudged. It gave her a warm feeling whenever they laughed together, something Hinata had never experienced with Hanabi. Was this what having a sister was supposed to feel like? Whatever it was, she wanted to hold onto it.

Folding her hands in her lap, she looked up and spoke to the ghost of a memory.

"I like her, Neji-ni-san," she whispered. "And you did, too, didn't you."

It wasn't a question.

To be continued…