Chapter 11: Grief
"So, how's Lee doing?" Shikamaru whispered as the door to Lee's room clicked shut.
"Not so good. He hasn't talked to me since last night and he refuses to eat anything. He just stares into space." Sakura replied sadly.
"I see." Shikamaru scratched his head. This would be harder than he thought. "Well, did you, by any chance, get to read the letter that Tenten wrote to him? Tsunade-sama asked me to relay what was written on it."
"No. Sorry Shikamaru."
"Is there a chance you could you get it from Lee then?" Shikamaru asked hopefully.
"Well, I'm not sure." Sakura scrunched her eye brows in uncertainty. "But I'll give it a try.
Shikamaru sighed with relief. "Thanks!"
(Flashback)
A series of knocks echoed from the door.
"Come in." Tsunade nonchalantly stated as she continued to glance at the papers Shizune stacked on the side of her desk. To say that they were endless would be the understatement of the century.
Shikamaru voiced a greeting before walking towards the Hokage's table.
Tsunade paused from reading to give the Nara prodigy a questioning glance. "What's the matter?"
"There's something that you need to know." Shikamaru began quietly. "Someone left the village last night."
Tsunade blinked half incredulous, half surprised. "What do you mean 'left the village'?"
"The same way with Sasuke's." Shikamaru elaborated.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes as she placed her chin above intertwined fingers. "Who?"
"Tenten."
Tsunade searched her memory for a moment before realizing who it was the Naka genius meant. "Tenten? The one from Gai's team?" Tsunade failed to conceal the surprise in her face.
Shikamaru nodded in affirmation.
"When?"
"Last night. The night of the day she was released from the hospital."
"Is there a chance you would know why?" Tsunade asked with a raised eye brow.
"Unfortunately I don't. But I heard she left three letters behind." Shikamaru scratched the back of his head.
"Letters?"
"For her teammates. One for each." Shikamaru answered plainly.
"Did they receive them already?"
"Gai-sensei hasn't yet since he's still not back from his mission. Lee and Neji, on the other hand, have." Shikamaru confirmed.
Tsunade let out a long contemplative sigh. "I see. Gai is on an S rank mission. It would probably take time before he gets back. Did you get to take a look at any of those letters?"
"No. Neji was the one who found them."
"I understand. I want you to find out what those letters contain. We might get a lead on where she disappeared to." Tsunade ordered with finality.
Shikamaru blinked. "C-Come again?"
Tsunade raised a perfectly arched eye brow. "Is there a problem?"
Shikamaru sighed as he shook his head. Bowing to take his leave, he couldn't believe he's gotten himself into yet another troublesome situation.
(End of Flashback)
Lee continued to stare at the ceiling with a vacant expression.
"Lee, you know you should eat. Your condition will get worse if you don't." Sakura pleaded.
There was no response from the seemingly catatonic boy.
Sakura's gaze fell on the two letters Lee was clutching with his hands. One was opened while the other remained sealed.
Sakura made her way to Lee's bed and sat beside him."I-Is it ok if I take a look?" She asked as she slowly moved her hand towards the letter.
When she finally touched it, Lee's hand stiffened.
"Please Lee. I just want to know why you're like this. I want to help you. But for me to do that, you have to let me." Sakura pleaded.
Lee's grip slowly slackened on the now crumpled piece of paper. Sakura interpreted the gesture as permission. Easing the letter gently out of Lee's hands, Sakura began to read.
Lee,
I hope you're out of the hospital by the time you're reading this letter. Please don't be mad at me for leaving. And please don't get the wrong idea. I didn't leave because of guilt. I didn't leave because of what happened to you.
There's something I need to do. I can't explain it since I don't even understand it myself. But I just feel that if I don't do it, I'd regret it for the rest of my life. I know you have a thousand questions running through your mind. But rest assured I will be fine.
I love you Lee. You're the brother I never had. A day won't go by where I won't miss you. So get stronger, you hear me? Because the next time we spar, I definitely won't go easy on you.
Aim high. Never give up. Your potential is endless, Lee. So please don't ever think you're not worthy of something. You can do anything you set your mind to. Take care of yourself, you hear me? Don't over train yourself. Don't go jumping in head first against the enemy like you always do! Train your mind the same way you would train your body. That way you'd be one formidable ninja for sure!
I will always cheer you on no matter where I am in the world.
Tenten
Sakura wiped a fear tears that escaped from her eyes. She watched as Lee turned his gaze from the ceiling to her tear-ridden eyes. Putting the letter down, Sakura placed her arms gently around Lee. She knew what he was doing. He was detaching himself from feeling anything at all. So she would cry for him. She would cry the tears he couldn't bring himself to shed.
Hinata knocked on Neji's door for what seemed like the umpteenth time that day. It was already late in the afternoon and he hasn't come out of his room since his arrival last night.
(Flashback)
"N-Neji-n-ni-s-san…" Hinata stood in shock at the drenched form of her older cousin. Vacant white eyes looked back at her, framed by silky strands of black hair dripping trails of rainwater on the floor. She shivered involuntarily. She felt as if she was looking at a ghost.
"Hinata-sama. I apologize if I scared you. I'll be heading for my room now."
Hinata wanted to call out to him. To ask if he was okay. But she couldn't even bring herself to move. The image of Neji climbing up the stairs in silence as the lightning and thunderstorm raged on was haunting.
(End of Flashback)
"N-Neji-ni-san?" Hinata called out one more time as she tried to turn the doorknob. To her surprise, it clicked open. Pushing the door slowly, Hinata allowed herself to peek into the room.
"N-ni-san?"
All that greeted her was the cool breeze from the opened windows of the empty room. She watched the swaying curtains in dismay.
Neji sat cross legged on a thick branch as he stared blankly at the sky. It was a clear blue now. No evidence of last night's raging thunderstorm could be scene at all. The warm rays of the sun on his skin felt like one big joke.
"Nice day, isn't it?"
Neji nodded nonchalantly.
"One wouldn't think a storm surge happened here just a few hours ago, don't you think?"
Neji nodded again.
"It's amazing how the forces of nature can either destroy or create life."
Finally realizing it wasn't his mind talking to him, Neji snapped his head towards the source of the sound. "Hiashi-sama…" He whispered in surprise.
"Neji, how many times do I have to tell you? Uncle is fine."
Neji nodded curtly before dropping himself down to stand beside the Hyuga clan leader. "Is there something that you need me for?"
Hiashi shook his head.
"I see." Neji answered quietly, confused as to why a man of Hiashi's standard would be out alone in a rundown training area.
They stood in silence for what seemed like hours to Neji.
"I heard about your teammate." Hiashi finally broke the silence. He saw his nephew stiffen from the corner of his eyes.
Neji nodded in acknowledgement but refused to provide any more elaborations. He wanted to make it clear that it was something he didn't want to talk about.
"She was a friend, was she not?"
"A teammate." Neji corrected.
Hiashi nodded, not missing his nephew's limited words.
"Was she-"
"Hiashi-sama." Neji stated with poorly veiled exasperation. Hiashi gave him a knowing look before he corrected himself. "Uncle."
Hiashi allowed himself a small smile. "You do not wish to talk about her?"
"No." Neji answered with finality. After all, what was there to talk about? She was just another kunoichi who he just happened to be stuck with in a team. She wasn't weak, but she definitely wasn't strong. She wasn't particularly smart, nor was she reliably level-headed. She had no real special skill that demanded merit and her looks were average at most. In short, she didn't really make that much of an impression. So what was there to talk about?
Hiashi remained silent as he scrutinized his nephew.
Realizing he had been lost in his thoughts, Neji blinked several times to compose himself. "If you wouldn't mind, Hia-Uncle, I would be taking my leave now."
"I understand."
Bowing his goodbye, Neji headed out of the clearing.
Letting out a sigh, Hiashi watched the retreating back of the Hyuga clan's prodigy. His brother would no doubt be very proud of his son. Hiashi has long accepted the fact that both his children would never be able to live up to what Neji was capable of. Deep down, even he doubted he would be able to equal his nephew's potential.