Chapter 18: Apologies

The four guardians sat together as they ate dinner in silence.

"The exams are in two days." Griselda stated plainly.

Yue cleared his throat. "It should be no question that we would be able to watch, am I correct?

All three turned to Lucas for affirmation.

He nodded. "We need to be there just in case anything happens. It's perfect opportunity since not only the ninjas of Konohagakure are taking the exams. It's open to all other nations. Visitors would be common during that time. We would be able to slip in easily."

Yue sighed in content. "Finally."

"We'll get to the Tenten-sama again!" Mifuyu beamed.

Griselda remained in silent contemplation. "Am I the only one who thinks that exam is a bad idea?"

Yue scoffed. "Of course it's a bad idea. There's no argument there."

"So why are we allowing her to participate?" Griselda insisted.

"Do you think she would withdraw if we asked her to?" Lucas stated rhetorically.

Mifuyu nodded. "She'd have gone through with it even if we demanded her not to."

"What's so important about this exam, anyway? Doesn't she realize she's risking exposure?" Griselda pushed her plate away. She had lost her appetite.

"We all have something we want." Lucas began. "Do you not remember her reason for returning? She wants acknowledgement. And what better way to demand that than in a stadium full of people watching humans fight to the death?"

Griselda grunted. "Why does she seek the approval of others so badly?"

"Even the strongest man will not know he is strong if he has no one to compare himself to, no one who tells him he is strong." Lucas stated plainly.

"But she has us. Is that not enough?"

Yue sighed as he rolled his eyes. "Think about it Zelda. If you were raised knowing all your life you were a sheep, then one day you meet a pack of wolves who made you realize you were one of them; wouldn't you want to march back into that pathetic flock of wool and devour them all?"

Griselda was slient.

"I'm wholeheartedly against it as well. I think the whole thing is just one big mistake." Mifuyu began. "But sometimes you just have to let kids make mistakes if they can learn from them."

"There really isn't anything we can do except watch from afar." Lucas concluded. "But rest assured, in any event that her life is threatened, we will do whatever means to save her."

Lee sighed as he continued to walk around Konoha aimlessly. A few odd looks were thrown in his direction. It wasn't every day that Gai's apprentice would be seen strolling the streets of Konoha casually. With the Jounin exams coming up, it really was a novel sight to see.

Lee sighed tiredly. How could he focus on training when all he could think about was Tenten?

Deep down, he really wanted to welcome her back. But just couldn't bring himself to. He felt betrayed, like he wasn't even worth a personal goodbye. She just cut off all contact as if they meant nothing to her, not even bothering to give a decent explanation.

He sighed again. Team Gai was ever the same after she left, especially Neji. He became colder and more distant towards people. Conversations with him were always professional.

Reaching the park, Lee sat down on an empty bench and stared at the sky. It was a beautiful day. Looking at the children play with cardboard kunais and shuriken, he couldn't help but feel a mix of fondness and envy. How nice it was to be blissful with innocence, ignorant towards the brutal realities of life.

Sometimes he wished things could go back to how they were before. Back when they were all just kids living without a care in the world.

(Flashback)

Sakura sat in silence as she propelled herself softly on the iron swing. "Lee. Why didn't you welcome Tenten back?"

Lee stiffened when at the question.

"I can't. I can't just welcome her back with open arms."

"Why?"

Lee was silent. His eyes darted on the floor permanently.

Sakura sighed as she glanced up at the stars.

"You know, when we successfully brought Sasuke back to the village? I was so happy! I couldn't stop welcoming him back. I was so glad he was home. So glad that I could finally be with him again."

Lee turned to look at the pink haired kunoichi as she stared up at the sky, a wistful expression on her face.

"I lost him. But now he's back. Even though he left without telling any of us, I was and am still more than happy to welcome him back."

Lee remained silent. His gaze brought back down to the ground. He hated it whenever Sakura talked about Sasuke. But what could he do? She loved him. And no matter what he would do, he knew that Sakura would never love him back in the way he wanted her to.

"If Naruto hadn't asked me to join him at Ichiraku's that time, I never would have seen him walking away." Sakura added, a wistful expression on her face. "But Tenten, she left you letters. She cared enough to let you know."

"It still wasn't a personal goodbye." Lee stubbornly pushed on.

Sakura sighed, giving Lee a look of exasperation. "Lee, don't you get it? That 'goodbye' I had with Sasuke was by chance. I'm sorry but I can't understand why you're being this way. She came back of her own free will. We had fight with our lives to bring Sasuke home. So why can't you give her the chance to even explain?"

Lee was silent. His eyes looking at anything other than Sakura.

Realizing she wouldn't get anything out of him, Sakura decided to take her leave. "It's getting late. I should get going."

Lee stood up with a nod. "I'll walk you home."

"It's okay. You don't have to."

Sakura began to walk away as Lee watched her retreating back in silence.

Stopping in her tracks, Sakura gave Lee one last look.

"You never know what you have till it's gone, Lee. So cherish it while you still can."

(End of Flashback)

Lee ruffled his hair as he groaned out loud in frustration. He didn't know what to do anymore.

Darting his eyes around the park, he froze. Sitting the bench a few paces to his right was Tenten. She had her arms folded and her head tilted to one side in deep thought. Her eye brows were scrunched and her lips seemed to be mumbling incoherent words.

Lee swallowed the lump forming in his throat. What was he supposed to do now? Should he approach her? Or should he just walk away?

Balling his hands into fists, he stood up hastily and began to march out of the park. But after taking a few paces, he felt himself stop. What was he doing acting like a damn coward? This was his chance. His chance to finally get the answers he wanted.

Groaning in annoyance, Lee turned back and began marching his way to the bun haired girl who seemed oblivious to his presence.

"I-Is the seat taken?"

Tenten glanced at the orange leg warmers in utter surprise. Raising her head up slowly, she was greeted by a constipated looking Rock Lee.

Staring at him with uninhibited shock, Tenten found herself speechless.

Lee cleared his throat and repeated his question. His eyes looking at anything but her.

Tenten blinked as the question finally dawned on her.

"Oh! No. No. It's not."

"Then, d-do you mind?" Lee stated with uncertainty as his eyes darted to the empty space beside Tenten.

"N-No. Of course not." Tenten continued to look at him in surprise.

Lee stiffly walked to the bench, sitting robotically near the edge.

An awkward silence followed suit. It was getting late in the afternoon. They watched as the children slowly left one by one, their hands wrapped around their parent's own. The sun began to set, leaving the park somewhat abandoned under the glow of diminishing warm rays.

Tenten turned her head towards Lee and smiled. She was glad to see hasn't changed that much. With that expression one his face, it was either one of two things – Sakura turned him down again or he had something very important to say but didn't know how to.

Tenten turned her head to look at the sky in a gesture of ease.

"Lovely day we're having."

Lee's eyes rolled to look at Tenten. He was met with a smile.

"Y-Yeah…"

"You're taking the exams too right? I hope we pass." Her smile never left. Her look emanating nothing but fondness.

Lee looked away.

"Did I say something wrong?" Tenten asked with poorly veiled apprehension.

"N-No! Nothing's wrong. Really." Lee assured as he shook his head and glanced back to the ground.

"Oh. Well, that's good then." Tenten said with another smile as she gazed at the now empty park.

The suffocating silence returned.

Tenten waited patiently for Lee to speak.

Lee remained still, his mind racing with unspoken words. Was exactly were you supposed to say to someone you haven't seen in years?

Tenten allowed herself a small smile. Lee wasn't ready yet. She didn't want to force him to speak by staying there. "It's getting late. We should head home. The exams are tomorrow and I guess we both need to get some rest."

Bowing down in a gesture that exuded politeness, Tenten turned her back and walked away.

"I'M SORRY!"

Tenten turned around in surprise to see Lee standing up stiffly, his hands balled into fists on his sides and his head hung low.

Tenten couldn't bring herself to speak.

"For the way I've treated you… Ever since you came back…"

His eyes were finally able to meet hers.

"I'm sorry."

Lee bowed his head low.

"How I acted in the tower when you first arrived. During the joint training with Team Kakashi. I'm sorry… I-"

Lee stopped speaking when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"That's enough Lee. I should be the one saying sorry. Not you."

Lee couldn't hold back his tears anymore. In one swift movement, he enveloped Tenten in a hug that spoke volumes. All the words, the anguish, the relief. They came flooding through in that single gesture.

For the first time in years, Tenten allowed herself to cry.