"An ANBU found her unconscious under a tree around five hundred meters away from the village's gate before dawn."

Even though today still felt like a dream to him, Neji stood silent and listened to the Hokage. He had seen Tenten five minutes ago and had intended to stay and wait for her to wake up—she'd been deeply asleep when he'd entered her room—but Tsunade had ordered him to come to her office.

He hadn't believed his own eyes the moment he'd seen Tenten, the real, alive Tenten.

He had known her too well for all these years, he remembered everything about her too well to tell that her features hadn't changed at all. Her chocolate hair, however, was longer than the last time he'd seen it. Other than a few bruises and scratches, she had no fatal injuries. Her pale face and chapped lips represented her extreme exhaustion and it was likely the lack of food that had made her look thinner.

But the most important thing was that she was alive, she was still breathing now; she wasn't dead.

"She regained consciousness when I came to check her." A faint smile curved Tsunade's lips. "Even though I told her to go to sleep and get some rest, she insisted to tell me everything first. She said she didn't want people to be worried while waiting for her to wake up again. Also, she told me to tell this to you first."

For the first time after all that had happened that day—no, the first time in four months—his heart warmed because even after their separation, after all this time, her trust in him hadn't changed.

However, Tsunade's smile faded this time. "What happened to her… it's unbelievable, but it did happen. Kintaro, the man that Tenten and Lee fought back then, didn't actually kill her. Tenten jumped to save Lee, however, the katana didn't touch her vital organs. The wound could still be healed."

Neji's eyes widened. That was impossible. "But Lee was sure she was dead. He would never tell a lie."

"He didn't. But he was poisoned, remember? He couldn't clearly see what actually happened. She wasn't dead. She didn't fall off the cliff."

"Then what happened to her?"

"After blocking Shikamaru's team with the explosion, Kintaro took her to his friends who had intended to kidnap her since long ago."

"Kidnapping her? What did they want?"

The blonde Hokage took a deep breath. "Not kidnapping, actually," she said carefully, "it's more like taking her back. Neji, Tenten's father was originally from The Land of Lightning."

Neji's breath stopped.

"I'm sure you know very well that there's always some tension between our village and Kumogakure. Don't give me that look, I'm not going to talk about your father and Hyuuga affair that happened years ago—we're talking about Tenten."

The Land of Lightning. His father. Tenten. Tenten's father.

"Tenten's father came from Suchiru clan, a small clan that possessed unique abilities in weapons and sealing techniques. Even if they had no bloodline limit or any notable lightning jutsu, they had good reputation as the most skilled weapon users in Kumogakure. In a fight between Konoha and Kumo years ago, almost all of Suchiru members were killed. However, one of Konoha shinobi found Tenten's father who at that time was still around one year old. Not having a heart to kill him, the shinobi brought the child to this village. With Hokage's permission, he was raised as Konoha shinobi without any surname."

Kumogakure.

"He married a Konoha civilian several years later. Unfortunately, she passed away after giving birth to Tenten. As if that wasn't enough, her father died on a mission when she was no older than five."

His father.

"The Third Hokage kept this as a secret even from Tenten herself. In fact, Tenten only knew about the truth of her father after she was taken by Kintaro to the other remaining members of her clan." Tsunade closed her eyes and sighed. "Actually, there are five members of Suchiru clan in The Land of Lightning left. They survived Konoha's attack back then."

Years ago.

"Kintaro was happened to be their friend. Knowing that the remaining Suchiru had discovered Tenten's father existence in Konoha and had targeted Tenten ever since her birth, he got a good chance when he fought Tenten and Lee—he didn't kill her and took her to them instead."

Tenten's father.

"She was held in a small house far enough from the busy village. A few days ago, they were attacked by some unidentified shinobi who sought revenge for something Suchiru clan had done in the past. One of them found Tenten locked in a room and they fought until she injured him. Seeing her clan members, no, her kidnappers engaged in the battle with their own opponents, she got a chance to escape. She passed out from exhaustion when almost reached here last night. That's how the ANBU found her."

Tenten.

"Think about this, they're obviously still holding a grudge against Konoha for destroying their clan. They want to claim Tenten back. Not to mention, they've wanted Tenten since long ago, knowing that she inherited Suchiru's great abilities in sealing techniques and using any kind of weapons."

Neji was sure he was going to wake up now. This was too much.

"Tenten asked me to tell this to you only." Tsunade tucked her hands under her chin. "This is a sensitive matter and you're expected to keep this as a secret, even from Lee and Gai. As for the next actions, the rest is up to me as a Hokage."

"Understood."

"Well," the Hokage's lips lifted upward as she eyed him. "I'm very glad about Tenten's return. You're allowed to stay with her now."

She'd better wake up soon. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."

Neji's hand barely reached the doorknob when the door suddenly opened. Lee was standing there.

For a moment, somehow, no one spoke.

"Lee." Normally, it was Lee who would have spoken first, would have initiated a conversation first. Not Neji.

Lee only nodded at him. "Neji."

"How is she?"

"She's still asleep." Lee glanced behind his shoulder, voice low as to not wake his friend. "Sakura-san told us not to worry though. She's supposed to wake up at least tonight."

Neji eyed his old teammate, and for the first time in four months, he no longer denied that their interaction was always awkward now. Gone was the rivalry—even if he had never admitted that Lee was his rival; the unlimited energy his teammate had once possessed; the feel of rightness when they were together because Team Gai was a family. Had been a family. Lee was just as important to him as Tenten—in a different way.

Four months was too short for a time to change anything, yet, it had happened to them. Neji knew he was the one responsible for this.

Lee was staring at him as if waiting for him to say something again, forcing him to break the silence. "You… don't want to stay here?"

"No." The taijutsu master shook his head once. "I think you both will need some privacy. Besides, Hokage-sama was kind enough to let me see her—not everyone is permitted. Gai-sensei will come back from his mission tomorrow morning and I'll visit her with him."

The Hyuuga prodigy only nodded. "I see."

Lee stepped past him, revealing the sight of Tenten lying alone in bed. Something heavy burdened Neji's feet, preventing him from walking to her even though his eyes focused on her form.

"See you later, Neji." Lee said and began walking away.

"Wait."

Lee stopped. "What is it?"

Neji struggled with his inner self. He wanted to say that he had never meant to distance himself from him, that he had never wanted to hate him. That he was sorry for ruining their bond.

But he would be lying by saying that.

Because he had actually hated and blamed Lee for Tenten's "death". He had created a distance between them.

He had hated Lee the way he had hated Hinata years ago. Just this morning, he'd lost his mind, he'd felt great anger that had almost made him hurt or even kill Lee just like he'd wanted to hurt Hinata years ago, without thinking of the consequences, without using his logic and self-control and composure.

His hate for his cousin back then had been worse and far longer than this, but still. He had blamed Lee even if Tenten had done the sacrifice by her own choice, the same with Hyuuga Hizashi. Shortly, once again he had made a blind assumption and he felt like the stupidest person in this world.

Now that Tenten was back, he wasn't sure if he could put everything back in order.

"What is it, Neji?"

Neji closed his eyes. "I'm sorry." Hyuuga Neji had never said sorry often, so when he said it, he truly meant it.

Lee smiled, but his answer surprised him. "Just forget it, Neji."

"I don't want my fault to ruin our friendship. Neji… please forgive me. I'm sorry."

Neji remained still and didn't even look at his friend. "Forget it."

With that, Lee walked away, leaving the echo of his footsteps in the hallway. Leaving Neji who was staring emptily at Tenten.

Tenten tried to move her tired limbs when she felt calloused fingers stroking her hand.

Her eyes shot open in a way she'd been used to for the past four months. She was afraid. She was scared.

However, in her sight now was the person that had haunted her dreams for four months that had felt like four years, the eyes that had made her always search for moon every night even when she could never see the sky; the sharp jaw and perfect nose and long hair. His name finally rolled off her tongue—God, how she'd missed uttering it so badly.

"Neji?"

His hand covered hers, interlacing their fingers together. "Tenten."

The moment she heard his voice, tears started to gather in her wide eyes. Konoha Weapon Mistress didn't cry, but crying was the only thing she wanted to do right now, as the realization where she was now dawned on her.

She was in Konoha. She was home.

"Neji, I…"

"Shhh." He pulled her hand and pressed it to his chest just so she could feel his heartbeat. Tenten's eyes widened when she was completely sure now that this wasn't a dream. He was real, his voice was real, his heartbeat was real. "You're safe."

For a moment, they simply stared at each other, her eyes filled with hot tears as he watched her with his calm, magnificent eyes—moonlight coming from the window reflected on his eyes.

"Neji… you jerk."

He blinked, obviously hadn't expected this from her. "What?"

"I want to hug you." She said and sobbed at the same time. "Help me sit up."

Even though she caught a hint of amusement in his eyes, he did as he was told, supporting her back gently as to not hurt her more. She held back a sob when he sat beside her, wrapped his arms around her and let her head rest on his shoulder.

"I…" her voice trembled, "I've missed you. I'm tired."

"I know." He whispered back, hands rubbing her back soothingly. "I know. I'm here."

Tenten let out a snicker. "You're supposed to say you've missed me too, you know?"

He didn't answer and she felt him tense around her. "Neji?"

Neji pulled away and put his hands on her bruised cheeks carefully. Tenten gazed at him warily, only to see him wearing an expression she had never seen in all this time she had known him. Anguish, frustration, and fear filled his features. She almost gasped when she saw them; Hyuuga Neji had never showed this side of him, no. Not even to her.

It was the first time she saw him so weak, so vulnerable.

"Please," he said in a low whisper. "Never do that to me again."

Swallowing hard, Tenten shook her head frantically. "Never." I won't make you feel like that again.

She wanted nothing but to comfort him. Ignoring her sore muscles, she leaned to his chest to relish the feel of his warm body pressed against hers and the scent of him filling her nose.

All of the fear and longing vanished.

They didn't even talk about what had happened to her for the past four months. The Hokage had obviously told him everything, and now he was wise enough to let them enjoy this quiet moment. The talk could always wait. Silence had always been an element in their relationship and they both knew it.

Tenten smiled. She was finally home.

She didn't realize she was stretching and yawning rather innocently until she heard someone made some sort of sound in his throat. That sound… it had to be Neji's weird way of laughing, for sure.

She opened her eyes and smiled when she saw his gentle lavender orbs. "Good morning."

"Good morning." His calm voice never failed to soothe her. He also looked much more relaxed this morning. "How are you feeling?"

Last night, Sakura had checked her—and had hugged her tightly with teary eyes, expressing her joy and relief to have her friend back. She had said that their comrades had been waiting for permission to see the Weapon Mistress, but Sakura had told them to wait until tomorrow. Tenten was sure the news about her return had been heard by everyone now.

Neither Neji nor Sakura had said a word about what had happened to her. Tsunade had probably told her apprentice not to ask anything about that. Tenten had a feeling that the pink haired medic had to struggle with curiosity but was wise enough to not ask her. And Neji… even if he had known everything, he was likely waiting until she was recovered enough to talk about that.

Tenten was afraid of what he would say. Neji had an unpleasant memory about The Land of Lightning, her father's homeland.

How would he react?

Neji didn't take his eyes off of her, expecting an answer, and she smiled at him. "I feel better." She could barely feel the pain from her bruises and minor wounds this morning. Sakura had done a great job. "Did you sleep last night?"

Neji smirked and she felt some familiar butterflies in her stomach—she hadn't seen that annoying but gorgeous smirk of his in four months. "What do you think?"

"Neji," she sighed, glancing at the chair he was sitting in. That wasn't a good place to sleep, obviously. "You could have gone home, you know. Your family must've been looking for you."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Hinata must've told them."

Smiling up at him, she accepted his hand as he helped her to sit up. "Thank you for staying then."

He leaned down to kiss her gently as a response. Tenten closed her eyes, content with the familiar taste of him. This was heaven, Konoha with Neji was heaven. This was…

She pulled away right when a thought struck her—it had been bothering her since last night. "Do you think Lee will come this morning?"

Tenten doubted what she saw, but she caught something unfamiliar in his eyes for a brief second. She ignored it anyway. "He will."

The morning before, Tsunade had reassured her, telling her that a team had saved Lee from that last mission. Neji had also told her that Lee and Gai-sensei were doing fine, but it did nothing to ease her urge to meet them. Especially Lee. The past four months she had been afraid that something had happened to him after she'd been stabbed, after she'd tried to save him.

She really missed Lee. Imagining how Team Gai's reunion would be made her excited and nervous at the same time.

"Do you want me to talk about that now?"

Tenten blinked. "W-what?"

Neji's eyes closed while his grip on her hand tightened. "You know what I mean."

Staring down at their hands and letting her brown bangs obscure her eyes, she murmured. "I… I don't know what you're going to say."

"I was shocked." He said softly. "I have never imagined this. I have never thought your father—"

"What do you think?" She asked, interrupting him. "Even after living with him for almost five years, I knew nothing about his past." She closed her eyes, remembering the old picture of her parents she kept in her room along with her team's one.

"No one has ever told you before. Not your fault."

The brunette kunoichi chewed her lower lip. "Yes. But of all villages, he was from Kumogakure. Your clan…"

Neji caught her chin with his fingers, lifting her face up so she had to look at him. "You have nothing to do with it."

Tenten sighed mentally. That was right. Even if half of her blood was Kumogakure, she would always be a kunoichi of Konoha and she had nothing to do with what happened to Hyuuga clan years ago.

"I'm sorry I couldn't escape sooner," she murmured. "If those shinobi hadn't attacked them, I wouldn't have been able to escape."

"Don't say that. I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

Shaking her head firmly, Tenten squeezed Neji's hand. "No, Neji. It's not anyone's fault, not your fault. I'm here now."

In silence, pale orbs eyed her intensely that she almost couldn't breathe.

"Is there something else?"

Her heart raced madly all of a sudden and she pulled her hand back. No. Not now. Please, not now.

She was not, and would never be prepared.

The Hyuuga watched her silently but she kept her mouth shut.

"It's alright." He said finally, making her breathe easily again. He rose from his chair and walked to the window. "Do you need some sunlight?"

She cleared her throat. "Yes, please."

Neji opened the window quietly. Warm morning sunlight and fresh air trickled into the room—she'd been longing to feel this—as she finally saw the blue sky and a few little birds flying outside. It was like Konoha welcomed her back.

The kunoichi was drowning in the sight outside the window when the Hyuuga turned around and faced her. "I'm sorry. I have to go now."

"Why?" A childish and non-kunoichi part of her felt scared of being left alone after all that had happened. As sappy as it sounded, she felt safe with him.

"I have a few things to take care of at home." Neji made his way to her bed. "I'll come back soon, I promise. I won't be assigned to any mission today."

"But Lee and Gai-sensei will probably come here soon. Don't you want to be here when they come?"

"I want to," Neji kissed her forehead briefly. "But I need to go."

Reluctantly, Tenten nodded.

"Don't be scared. Sakura told me the access to this room has been secured. No one will be able to come here without permission."

Tenten smiled. Neji had always understood her better than anyone else. "Okay. Don't take too long."

"I won't." He leaned forward again, this time to capture her lips. He broke the kiss after a few seconds and squeezed her shoulder gently before leaving.

After the door closed, Tenten let out a sigh and shifted to lie down again, staring at the white ceiling above. As much as she wanted him to be here, he had his own business and other things to be done.

And when Neji said he would come back, he would come back.

Not until a minute later someone knocked on the door, almost making her jump in surprise. Whoever it was, that would mean Sakura had finally allowed their friends to come. Excited and hopeful, she turned her face to the door. "Come in."

Her teammate, her best friend she had almost given her life for, appeared after the door slid open. He smiled at her in a way she had missed for so long.

"Tenten."

Tears had formed in her eyes before she knew it. "Lee?"

(A/N): Is it too late to squeal while watching episode 398, particularly over another Neji-silently-protecting-Tenten scene in that? You see, this couple is still alive!

Please review even if this chapter was dissatisfying. We haven't reached the crucial part yet.