Author's Notes: NejiTen. Tenten's POV.
A Demise
There is nothing quite like understanding that your dearest wish is also your greatest downfall. It's a bitter understanding between nature and duty, heart and mind. It's a lonely road you force yourself to walk alone.
And the battle is constant, an everyday war won and lost by careless touches and sidelong looks. You can't tell what the score is and you're not sure you want to know because you hate losing but long for it, knowing it's impossible. There is no room in this life for love, and certainly not for a love that could put others in danger - including yourself.
That thought is a small comfort and not nearly warm enough.
So you soldier on and try to forget what it feels like to be near him, forget those pearl eyes and long hair and winter nights spent huddled together while Lee sleeps. There is duty and honor now, pride of the tattoo stamped on your arm and the cold blade of your katana is your lover now.
And he's still there, right beside you, but you don't let yourself see. If you did, your gaze would fill with nothing but him.
So when he stops you in the twilight, those eyes of his flashing and says, "I'm losing the war," and his fingers brush your wrist, you realize that at least you'll fall together.
A traitor's wish, a hero's demise.
Sometimes, even failure can be a victory.
The End