Wind blew through the trees as clouds barricaded themselves against the sun. Tenten, Konoha's weapon's mistress, looked up into the sky. The clouds were a steely gray that promised rain. Tenten didn't mind though; she loved the rain, perhaps more than any other type of weather. She sat down underneath a sakura tree, whose blossoms coursed through the oncoming wind. As she sat there, she remembered what it had been like before her parents had died. She took a creamy pink petal in her hand, and caressed it against her fingers, remembering how much it felt like her mother's arms when she had gone to hug her. She let the blossom go, and watched as the wind carried it away. Just like them, Tenten thought absentmindedly. Mum and Dad left just like that. Memories flashed through her mind's eye as she remembered the day her parents left for the deadly mission to the Sound country; her mother's hair, flowing in the wind, her father's voice, carrying over the breeze, telling her to be a good girl until they came back. It had all been so long ago, yet it felt as though it had happened just yesterday. Though her parents died when she was nine, Tenten kept having relapses of nightmares due to her cursed vivid imagination which foretold terrifying pictures of ways her parents could have died. The reason I'm getting them more now than I used to, thought Tenten, is probably because of all the intense training Neji is making me do. She smiled ruefully. It will all pay off in the end, I guess Tenten thought as she rubbed her arms to get warm; the weather was getting chilly without the sun's rays to warm her. She winced as her fingers sought a place on her forearm where Neji had wounded her during training. She was relieved that he had called it off today. She had a lot to cope with, and just needed some time to be alone to think. She hadn't been fighting her best lately, due to a lack of sleep. Tenten didn't know what to do about her nightmare situation; she hadn't told Neji because she didn't want him to think of her as weak. Besides, she thought, he has enough on his mind without me adding to his worries. Her thoughts were silenced as she felt something wet slide down her cheeks. Looking up, she saw that it had begun to rain. Smiling slightly, she remembered a time,five years ago, she was waiting for her parents to come home from their last mission…

Flashback-

Rain spattered to the ground as people hurried home. They came to a small house, and saw a little girl sitting outside, no umbrella or jacket. They asked her why she didn't go inside. She said nothing, but merely shook her head and looked away from the questioning faces. When it had begun to pour more heavily, Tenten still did not move. By this time, there were no more people wandering the streets.

"What are you doing out in the rain?" Tenten jumped. Until now, she thought she was alone; apparently, she was not.

"Oh, hi Neji."

"Don't make me ask again- what are you doing out in the rain?"

"Just waiting for my parents to come home. Is that a crime now?"

"No. It's just that you could get sick or something, and if you're sick and have to stay home, that means that I'll have to spar with Lee until you get better, and you know how much I hate that." Tenten smiled

"So, you like training with me better?" Neji's eyes darkened.

"I'm saying that you're a better sparring partner than he is. Now, go inside."

"Huh?" Tenten asked, taken aback.

"You heard me- go inside."

"You can't boss me around, Neji."

"Tenten!" Neji's voice was like thunder.

"Okay, okay, geez! Why get so worked up over a little thing like being out in the rain?"

"Maybe it's because I don't want you getting sick. I am your friend, Tenten! And just because I'm a Hyuuga doesn't mean that I can't care about other people besides myself!"

Tenten's eyes widened. He… cares about me? she thought, touched. Neji noticed the light blush creeping up into Tenten's cheeks, and decided to act fast.

"Go on," he said, pushing her gently into the house. "I'm sure that your parents are fine, now go inside and stop worrying so much." Tenten nodded, and Neji turned to leave.

"Neji?" Neji turned around halfway to Tenten

"Thank you."
"Hn." Was all he said before turning away.

End Flashback-

The next day, Tenten was summoned to the Hokage's office, and was told that her parents had died during their mission. Now, rain was not the only thing flowing down Tenten's cheeks. Tears accompanied the raindrops as they made their way to the ground. the sky grew darker as night began to fall, but Tenten did not move. Wind whirled about, making her hair fall out of her two buns. Still, she did not get up. Not even when lightning broke through the clouds, lighting up the darkened area, did she flinch. She was so deep in thought that she didn't even notice the light hail accompanying the heavy downpour from the heavens. Suddenly, without warning, lightning struck the tree she sat under. Thanking kami for her quick reflexes, she jumped out of the way just in time, but lost her footing on the wet, muddy, ground.

"You shouldn't be out the rain. Didn't you learn that lesson the last time?"