Your world is shattered, your breath is stolen from your lungs..your heart..all though it's beating, it's breaking. Oh poor broken child, you only see your mistakes after they are made.

It hurt. She hurt all over, from the very tip of her nose to the smallest point of her toes. She had never hurt so much in her whole life. Her head hurt, her heart hurt, her stomach hurt everything, pain was everywhere. The sun had woken her up and the cheerful sounds of song birds could be heard through the open window.

Instead of smiling at the joyful tune Tenten felt like crying. It hurt to even breathe, she had nothing to compare the pain to. She felt like she was drowning with a mixture of a complete body shut down. There was just nothing she had, training with Gai-sensei left her so sore but nothing like this.

She pulled the blankets up to her chin and cried for the third time since waking. Earlier she had tried to stop when her maid walked in but she just couldn't. There wasn't a reason anymore to hide, to hope for anything more. Neji didn't want her, didn't love, could never choose to live with her.

She hated him. Realizing now was to late, the damage was irreparable. She was pregnant, he was the father and her marriage was without a pulse. This was a built up, pent up frustration furrowed deep into the crevis of her being.

For years she had waited, years she had sat idle while he did what he had to do. What he wanted to do and Tenten, ever faithful..waited for him to return. How long could somebody wait with their heart in their hands? How much could somebody take before their life crumpled into meaninglessness?

How much longer was it going to hurt? She was a mother and her baby's father, her husband, didn't want it. Her baby girl didn't have a name and Tenten felt no need to think one up. Ama Kudari. The name flitted into her pain and she wanted the suspicion to fill her and push away the hurt.

It didn't help, the man was there..it had just been a day but... He was too close, too personal, too willing to help her throw it all away. No. Neji was the one to throw what they had away. Tenten though, would be the one to dump it in the fire.

She had a place here, she was Hyuga-san. Neji's wife but never the weapons mistress. Never Tenten-chan, never anything but Hyuga-san and she desperately wanted to be Tenten. To someone...to anyone..she wanted to be there with a friend. To be known and respected. Talked to as an equal not a superior she wanted..and that's all she could do.

The tears dried on her cheeks as she stopped crying once again. There was a knock on the door but Tenten didn't react. Cautiously the door slid open and Tenten smelled the food before the young maid set her breakfast down.

"You didn't come to the table so I've brought food Hyuga-san. I made rice and brought green tea for you." Tenten made no motion, she didn't want to turn and see this young maid, so full of life and happy. The Hyuga lifestyle taught that you should never be rude and Tenten fed the urge to rebel.

"If you need anything Hyuga-san just let me know." The maid padded out of the room and it shut with a snap. Tenten's stomach growled but she...she was not in the mood to eat.

"I hate green tea." She wasn't getting out of bed, not today, not tomorrow...never. Devoid of strength and the will to move, she laid back and let the dark sweep her from her dreary thoughts.

--

The next she woke the sky had brightened considerably and Tenten turned her back to the world. Her uneaten breakfast was gone and Tenten found she didn't care. Her thoughts, once conscious, swarmed her. It was wrong, Tenten knew this. Neji was wrong. Whatever he said, whatever he did, Tenten never made herself a burden to him. She had never made a burden for anyone.

Tenten was independent. Her face scrunched, she had lived in her own apartment. She had her own job, her own money, she was independent. The key word was had, Tenten knew this and started to cry. She had been independent but marrying Neji made her a Hyuga.

He wouldn't move out of his comfort zone, forcing Tenten to sell her apartment and belongings. He made her dress in formal wear and act formal, be formal, breathe formal! That man made her conform to what he had wanted and she didn't complain because she loved him.

Loved him. God that hurt, what love? Had she loved him one-sidedly for all these years? She was bringing love and life into her marriage but what was Neji bringing? Pain, misery, a feeling of yearning. Of love unrequited and the cold feeling that took over when no one was looking.

"Stupid man, I hate you." Tenten wished her words could reach him and it would knock some sense into him. Somehow bring him back home with happiness in his opal eyes. Eyes that her child might very well be born with. Would she ever be able to look her child in the eyes without thinking of him?

This child that she's pored so much love and attention into keeping safe. What would she tell her daughter if she can't look her directly in the eye?

I'm sorry honey, but you have your father's eyes.

Tenten kicked the blanket off.

When did it get so hot?

Fanning her face, Tenten sat up and looked around. The window was still open and a cool breeze entered into her room. Stumbling to her feet, Tenten went into the bathroom and started to fill up the water basin. With the steam filling the room Tenten peeled away the cream colored robe.

The only thing that had been hers originally. It had been a gift from her mother a long time ago. Her mother bought it while it was still huge and Tenten refused to wear it because of the size. That was before her mother died. After her mother's death Tenten often sought out the robe and clutched it to her. Crying just as she was now.

Tenten took the loose fabric and brought it to her nose. Smelling for a trace of her mother's perfume but knowing that, that was impossible. Now the silken fabric only smelled like her. She carefully folded it to the side and slipped into the tub.

She was burning up, even the hot water felt cool to her skin. She tried to relax but a twinge in her stomach had her clutching her swollen belly.

"Ahh!" There was another twinge but this time it felt as though someone was twisting her insides around a fork. Her eyes opened for a moment and panic rose within her. She was bleeding. Blood was escaping her womanhood and in a rush she clambered for the edge.

Her hold wasn't sturdy and she fell back into the tub. Her head hit the marble stone and Tenten sunk into the water. As a last ditch effort to not drown she jammed her arm between the knobs and the faucet hoping that it would keep her head above the water. Unconsciousness claimed her soon after.

--

Kinmotsu started his day like any other. He dressed, ate a hearty breakfast and left for his job. The things that changed were just the scenery and the place but it was still normal. He crossed the Hyuga threshold, was searched for weapons and then permitted in.

Today he was working on the western gardens near where the branch families stayed. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon when he pulled out the hoe and rake. There was a request to put more bushes in this area and Kinmotsu wanted to start early so the sun wouldn't make the heat unbearable.

He liked the hard work, the methodical placing of each and every plant had to be measured. Thought out, you couldn't make a garden without any sort of arrangements. It would just look sloppy and amateurish, something Kinmotsu despised. Licking his chapped lips, Kinmotsu visualized the arrangement in his head before taking measurements and scratching them onto a notepad.

Last night he devoted a few minutes to finding a flower store that didn't sell crappy plants. His requirements were crucial and since this was his choice the place would have to be grade-a. It hadn't took him long to find the right place, it was some family owned business on the strip.

Last night was too late to call them but he did find directions to the place. It was called the 'Yamanaka Flower Shop' the last name giving it away. He had done more research on the place and found it to be taken care of by ninjas.

That was a surprise but if the owner traveled he'd have some exotic blooms from the places he visits. It was Kinmotsu's best bet and one he was sticking with. The sun was right over top of him before he was complete with clearing out the place.

The weeds were overgrown and whatever plants they did have would need to be replaced. He filed that information away to inform the Heiress with. Placing his tools in his gardener bag, Kinmotsu walked and thought on Hinata-san.

She's trusting. Loyal, but there's always a look in her eyes that makes her feel the need to prove herself. She's nothing like Tenten. Where as Hinata's personality curves, Tenten edges you straight into a wall.

With a shake of his head, Kinmotsu concluded his thoughts whilst walking for the gates. He needed to get the bushes now that the manual labor was complete. Burying the plants into the ground would be simple and his work would be complete.

He passed by Tenten's room and heard her sobs fill the space. Taking a moment he peered into her room only to see her crying in her sleep. Her hair was a mess and the blanket was wrapped around her. He contemplated waking her but knew that wouldn't be smart. Tenten would kill him for something like that so he opted for continuing on his task.

That woman is all hard edges and rough falls but when she cries...that sound can break a man's resolve.

--

His trip through the village was much easier when he knew where the place would be. On his first visit to Konoha years ago, he was lost as easily as a child would have been. Not anymore though he had been accustomed to the place long enough to know his way around just like any citizen.

His arrival at the spot was the decorated name written in cursive on the front window. There were some flower arrangements on display and Kinmotsu admired how tastefully done they were. Someone knew what they were doing and Kinmotsu knew he chose right.

The bell dinged as he stepped into the air conditioned room and the scents of flowers bombarded him. There were rows and rows of flowers and off on the far side of the room were potted plants. Kinmotsu ignored the brightly colored and great smelling blooms in favor of his targets.

The buds on the bushes had yet to bloom but they looked quite healthy. No one was at the counter and so Kinmotsu preceded to scan the names for any he didn't recognize. His eyes scanned over several names which he took note of.

"Hello, I'm Ino! Did you know flowers have their own language?" Turning towards the voice Kinmotsu's vision was filled with a young woman with a dirty apron. She smiled secretively and her eyes held a bit of admiration. "All flowers have their own meaning. Take for example this hydrangea it means--"

"Frigidity." Ino had pale blonde hair and her eyes were many shades lighter than his own navy ones. She looked a little flustered that he had actually known and her blue eyes narrowed. "I'm here to buy some bushes and by your selection probably some other things as well." Immediately she crossed to the counter and smiled brilliantly.

"You wanted how many plants and what kind?" Shaking his head Kinmotsu turned back to the small bushes and shrubs. Taking his notepad out he scribbled down several of the names before arranging them in the diagram he had sketched. For the fun of it he added some different flowers in as well.

"I want six white oleanders, eight yellow snapdragons, four purple hydrangeas and six pink camellias. I also want ten magenta zinnia, eight each of your blue and white violets, and four red tulips." Her mouth dropped open and Kinmotsu rolled his eyes pushing ahead.

"That will all be one order, you can charge it to Hinata-sama. I also want a bouquet of anemone flowers with a single red carnation in it." The woman shook from her stupor and smiled.

"Okay! Who's the lucky lady?" Kinmotsu's eyebrow raised, was she flirting with him?

"She's a.." What was Tenten to him? Nothing but a target but he wasn't going to say that out loud. "Friend of mine. She's in this rut and I'm trying to get her out." Ino pursed her lips as she went into work mode.

"Why anemones and with a single red carnation? Anemone means forsaken while a red carnation means my heart aches for you. You'll just be contrasting the two meanings when you mix them together. Might I suggest a bouquet of chrysanthemums? A general variety means cheerfulness and rest, it certainly makes sense, don't you think?"

Kinmotsu agreed and Ino told him when the plants will be delivered. He walked out of their with a lighter pocket and a vase in his hands. The arrangement was nice and Kinmotsu had to hand it to that Ino woman, she knew what she was doing.

His walk back to the mansion was busier now that everyone was bustling through the streets. Kinmotsu reached the gates and the guards let him through, questions apparent in their eyes. Kinmotsu passed by two young maids on his way to Tenten's bedroom. He caught snippets of their gossip.

"She hasn't been out of there in a while."

"You think Hyuga-san is going to be all right?" Kinmotsu quickened his pace and was thankful to see Tenten's window still open. Entering once more into her bland room Kinmotsu noted a lack of a woman inside.

Setting the vase down near her bed, Kinmotsu was about to leave when a splash was heard.

"Tenten?" His question was left unanswered and dread coiled in his stomach. With careful steps, Kinmotsu crossed the room and slid the door to the bathroom open. Nothing could have prepared him for what he saw.

Tenten was underwater and the tub was tinted red. Her eyes were closed and she didn't appear to be breathing. Kinmotsu dove across the room and pulled the pregnant woman from her watery grave. She wasn't breathing, her lips and skin were paler than normal.

He didn't know in detail CPR and he never saved anybody with it. Kinmotsu only knew the basics and he did chest compressions before tilting her head up and breathing into her.

One, two, three and breathe. Nothing, she wasn't reacting and Kinmotsu scanned down her naked body. Blood was coating her inner thighs and he could see blood floating in the water by her head. Finally on his fourth try Tenten coughed up water and he turned her shoulder, allowing her to be rid of the fluid in her lungs.

He scooted up behind her and draped his haori over her shoulders. The fabric was long enough to cover down to her hips and she leaned against him in support. Her body was small in comparison and Kinmotsu was met with the sudden urge to wrap her up and keep her out of harm's way.

"Thank you." It was her raspy words that showed light on their situation. The sleeves of his haori along with his pants were soaking wet as loose strands of his hair were matted to the side of his face. While she was completely naked underneath his haori, leaning into his strong body as if she actually belonged there.

It was too much and Kinmotsu tilted her chin towards his. He was going to kiss her, she looked heart-broken, torn and undecided. Half in pain and half numb, he wanted to breathe a reprieve into her body just as he breathed life into her veins.

But at the last moment she cried out and clutched her stomach. Kinmotsu swept her into his arms and brought her to the bed. He laid her down just as the door was thrown open.

"Tenten!" Entering in such a rush was doctor Haruno followed by Hinata and some other man with spiky hair. Sakura was at Tenten's side as Hinata swooped in and plucked both men out of there.

"Please let Sakura-san work in privacy." Kinmotsu didn't remove his eyes from Tenten's prone form. Her lips were too pale, her body had been too cold and his worries were too much..far too much. The door closed behind him as he hoped.

Please don't die.