A/N: Inspired by the Neil Diamond song "Shilo", which is where this story gets its title. The name Shilo means "His Gift", which makes it a perfect title for this story, don't you think?

This doesn't work with my personal canon at all, and is totally separate from that. It was just something fun for me to write.

WARNINGS: A bit of cursing and brief mention of sex.

Threads
Point of View

Shilo

We have been around longer than nearly any tree in the area. Some of the ones outside the wall have bragging rights, we suppose, but for a willow we have been around a respectably long time. We were here when they started building the houses where all the white eyed people lived, and they had built around us, leaving our roots room to spread into the pond in which they placed their fish.

We don't mind the company. Many people have come to sit under our drooping leaves, protected from the sun at all angles. We have seen many proposals, and watched as those who were once children playing under our branches grew and had children of their own.

Yes, for a willow our life has been quite long. But we are dying now. Our roots no longer take in water like they use to, and our head has gotten heavy with leaves that touch the ground and water, growing so thick that those closest to our trunk no longer receive sunlight. The end of our life is near.

We hope, however, to see one more moment of sweet love before we move on. These little ones have always been our favorite. The two we have seen many times over the years, though for the last several they have never come by together.

We remember the beautiful girl sitting in the protection of our branches as she used to be. Before, when her long hair was put in two braids instead of two buns, and the now flawless skin was covered in sun-kissed freckles. We remember her laughter, though it has been long since we heard it. She is waiting for her companion. We know this. She has waited many times, though he has not come.

Always, in the past, she had been the leader in their games. When they had played house, using our leaves for their home, she was the Mommy who went off and fought enemy ninja, while he was the Daddy that stayed home and took care of their baby doll. The boy, with his pale skin and even paler sad eyes, had never minded, except when she died on the battle field and couldn't come home to him and the baby. That's when he would protest and tell her he wouldn't play anymore if she kept doing that.

We had always laughed, as she had pouted at him. She always told him when they were grown up and married for real he wouldn't be able to just quit when it was hard; he told her he wasn't going to let her die when he was a grown ninja. They always argued after that, and it would be days before either would come to us again, and then they would apologize and be friends once more.

Betrothed, they called each other. Sometimes they laughed it, sometimes used it as a curse. The last time they were here together, she had laughed it and said the Hokage shouldn't put a husband and wife together on a team. They are not really, we know, but they will be.

After that day, something changed, though we do not know what. The boy would come often, usually just sitting between the roots of our trunk, with his white eyes closed. Every once and a while he would walk up to sit in our branches and read a scroll. Always the same scroll. Always it made him cry, and we would ache to make his pain stop.

The girl came too, at different times. Sometimes she would read books, or write on scrolls, or sketch pictures in a little book. Mostly, she would play with our leaves in one hand while she would stare at the houses across the pond.

Tonight was different. Tonight she was there, and the boy was too, slipping as a silent shadow through the curtain of our leaves.

"I'm glad you came, Neji," the girl whispers, turning around and approaching our trunk. She leans against us, and we offer her what support our failing body can. "I wasn't sure you would. It's been so long since I gave you a note telling you to meet in our place."

"I haven't forgotten." What he means by this, we do not know. From the lost look on his face, we do not think he does either.

"You're turning twenty next month," she says, and though it is a simple statement her voice wavers. "They're going to expect us to get married soon if you don't call it off."

The boy sits down, his curtain of dark hair imitating our leaves in hiding his face as it falls forward. "Is that what you want, TenTen, really? To break the contract?"

She reaches out for him, but pulls her hand back to rest against our trunk without ever reaching him. "Our parents made that contract when we were barely old enough to talk, Neji. It's another decision made for you, and I know how you hate those. I'd do it myself, but I'd have to refund the dowry and I…I can't. But there is no consequence for you. You can be free of this. Of me."

Silence for long minutes, and though we try and whisper to them that it is alright, they can love each other even if they were told to, we know they cannot hear. The boy looks up, no emotion in his starlight eyes. "That didn't answer my question. Is it what you want?"

"I don't want you to marry me because you have to." She says, eyes downcast and shoulders slumped. "I won't be another lock on your cage. What I want is for you to have the chance to do what you want."

He stands, closing the distance between them so their bodies are so close even our falling leaves cannot fit through, though they do not touch. "Why won't you give me a straight answer? Do you want to marry me or not, TenTen?"

The defiance in her spirit is back. We can tell by the way she lifts her chin and finally meets his gaze. "I love you, and that's why…that's why if you're still too afraid to make the decision I'll make it for you, consequences be damned. Someday, yes. I've always dreamed of being Mrs. Neji Hyuuga. Of being with you and starting a family with you. But I won't be a burden. Someone you begrudge going home to every night. Making love to. You mean too much to me for that. I'm worth more than that."

For a moment, we are afraid, as he once again says nothing. We do not want our last memories of this world to be the breaking of something that has always brought us such joy. But these fears are erased when he leans down and kisses her bare forehead lightly. "Then just wait for me a little longer. Let me help get things settled in the clan so you can bear that name with pride, and we will wed. Because we want to."

It is the perfect moment we hope for, as our leaves continue to fall in the soft midnight breeze. This is the close of our lives, but the beginning of their. A circle, and perfect.