Tenten closes her eyes, feeling the cool breeze running through her skin. Laying the beautiful sunflower bouquet on his grave, her lips curl up into a small, rueful smile.

"Hello there, Neji…"

She sits next to the grave of Hyuga Neji, nonchalantly looking at the bright blue sky. Today is a beautiful sunny day and yet, the bright sunlight doesn't seem to light up her heart like it used to be.

Ever since that fateful day, when Neji sacrificed himself to protect both Naruto and Hinata, Tenten has lost her most important person. The death of Neji Hyuga takes a toll on the brunette, her eyes no longer shine that bright and energetic light, they're only covered in grim and sadness.

"Hey Neji…" she whispers, just enough for her to listen "Up there… Do you still remember me…?"

Her smile is wry and lifeless, the girl that was once the heart of Team Guy is nothing more than a lifeless doll. She can feel it, how her eyes become watery at her own question. Biting her bottom lips to stop the sob from escaping, Tenten wipes away the tears that are threatening to fall down, blaming herself for having such a negative reaction like this.

"Stupid Tenten, you shouldn't cry like this…" her shoulders shake lightly as she tries her best to keep a calm mind "You can't cry, Neji can't see you cry… Today is his birthday after all…"

But how can she not cry? How can she not cry when the person she loves the most is no longer here with her…?

This love, just like what Neji had said, was not going to work. Despite not wanting to remember his words, Tenten can't help but wonder, how can his words turn out to be true?

She can still remember that fateful day, just before the war began, Neji had asked her to come and see him at their training ground. It was a lovely night, the moon and stars were shining brightly, lighting up the training ground with its warm and cozy aura.

On that day, Neji had tied a red string on her pinky finger, making her blush at the sight. It's the red thread of fate…

Neji proposed to her that night, asking for her hand in marriage. He had made a promise to always be by her side, to love her with all his heart and to never let her go, even when death tears them apart. He had promised that after the war is over, he would bring her back to meet his uncle and then, they would build a happy, loving family together.

Neji Hyuga was never a man of many words and yet, that night, when he told her everything with such seriousness in his eyes, Tenten could not hold back a chuckle. She trusted him and his words because she knew that her man, Neji Hyuga, never lied. His words held such truth that made her smile, that night, she was indeed the happiest woman in the world.

But fate was cruel to them when it decided to take him away from her… Forever…

That day, when Neji sacrificed himself to protect Konoha's hero and his beloved cousin, Tenten was not there. When she arrived at the scene, it was already too late. Neji was lying in Lee's arms, his Byakugan eyes were lifeless as his teammate held onto him, crying at the loss of his friend.

Neji left her before she even had a chance to say goodbye…

"Neji… I miss you…"

When those words escape her lips, so are the tears. Before Tenten can even realize what she is doing, those tears already stream down her lovely face.

"So you are here too?"

The brunette flinches at the cool, deep voice behind her. Trying to maintain a calm face, Tenten forcefully rubs her eyes, hoping to wipe the tears away. She can not let anyone see this pathetic sight of hers…

"L-lord Kazekage…" she forces herself to smile at the man, nodding her head "H-hello…"

The young man lays a sunflower on the grave before making himself comfortable next to her.

"How long have you been here?"

"N-no, I've been here a couple of minutes ago..."

"I see…"

His calm manner is somewhat soothing to her, at least he's not making a scene or doing anything that makes her feel uncomfortable.

Tenten takes a deep breath, stealing a few glances at the man right next to her. His auburn hair flows with the breeze, creating a touch of color in the bright blue sky. It seems like many years of being a Kazekage, along with the war, has turned him into the fine young man he is right now. She can still remember that one time she had a mission at the Sand Village and was taken by surprise at how all the young ladies were swooning over the handsome Lord Kazekage, Gaara.

"How was your mission last time?"

"My mission?" she blinks a few times before realizing what Gaara is talking about "It was fine. Lee and I were able to protect the scroll and returned it to Lord Hokage."

"That's good, but what I meant was if you guys were safe on that mission. I heard that you and Lee took a different route and yet, you both still faced the bandits who wanted to steal the scroll."

He turns his attention to her, still holding a steady gaze and causing the brunette to shift lightly in her seat.

"We were fine. Shikamaru brought reinforcements under the Hokage's order, which helped us out a lot."

The young man nods his head, processing the answer he just receives. Tenten can't help but smile, even when they are not close friends, it warms her heart to know that Gaara cares enough to ask her about this.

"Then… How about you?"

"M-me?"

"How have you been?"

His question carries an ambiguous tone like he knows something that he should not have. The way he looks at her makes the brunette shiver, questioning why he is asking her this question. Those eyes, they are staring into her soul…

"That is such an odd question coming from you, Lord Kazekage…" she smiles, regaining her composure "I have been well, if that's what you want to know."

But the way she shifts uncomfortably in her seat does not escape Gaara's eyes, as well as those slightly wet eyelashes, because he is reaching out his hand to wipe away those tears that are still forming in the corner of her eyes. The brunette flinches at his touch and brown eyes stare at him in pure shock. Like a self-defense mechanism, she shoves his hand away.

It doesn't matter if the man in front of her is the honorable Lord Kazekage, he doesn't have the right to touch her like that, not when they are in front of Neji's grave…

"W-what are you doing?"

"You said that you are well, but it's not very convincing when your eyes are still red and puffy…"

He holds out his fingers and Tenten notices it, a droplet of tears still resting on the tip of his finger. She turns away, hoping to hide her face from him but Gaara is faster, holding her face still in his calloused hand.

As Lord Kazekage, he knows very well that this can cause major scandals, and yet, he can't help himself. He can't just ignore her, not when he had a conversation with Lee last night…

Flashback

"Lee, you should stop drinking…" Gaara takes away the bottle of sake in his friend's hand, patting the young man on the pat "Why are you drinking like this? Did something happen?"

"Gaara-kun…hic…you are my…hic…best friend…" Lee speaks up, his hand still searching for alcohol "Please let me drink to wash away this sorrow…"

Lord Kazekage raises a brow, not understanding what is happening. In some of the rarest cases, Lee is able to maintain his composure and not let the alcohol carry him away. With each word leaving his lips, Gaara is able to piece together the reason why Lee chooses to drink his sorrow away.

"What do you mean by 'Tenten deserves so much better'?"

Lee's eyes tear up at the mention of his teammate's name. He is so disappointed in himself for not being able to protect Tenten, Team Guy's precious flower. To see her drowning herself in sadness and sorrow every day after the death of Neji only fuels his guilt even more.

That day…

If he was there, then maybe Neji would…

"Lee, you can not blame yourself for that…" Gaara tries to talk some sense into him "And your teammate doesn't seem to have any trouble the last time I met you guys…"

"Gaara-kun, you don't understand…" he rubs his tearful eyes "Tenten is not the same anymore. Her eyes no longer carry that bright light anymore, only grimace and sorrow…"

And Lee keeps on and on about his teammate's current condition. How she no longer sees happiness in her life. How she is punishing herself for the death of her beloved man. How she locks away her heart, too afraid to open it up for anyone ever again.

Once a bright and beautiful blossom of Team Guy, Tenten is no different than a walking corpse herself, drowning in her own suffering as she refuses to move on, to let go of the memories of her beloved Neji…

End flashback

She stares at him, angrily and in pure shock.

Lee told him all of this…? How could he…?

No one should know about this, she has made it very clear to Lee and Guy-sensei that she doesn't want anyone to know about this. Tenten even makes them promise her that they will tell no one and yet, Lee was so full of himself, telling Gaara everything.

The brunette pulls herself back, escaping his grasp. He can not know, she refuses to let him know. Lord Kazekage had many other things to worry about, a low life like her should not be a bother to him.

But Gaara, once again, refuses to grant her the peace she wishes to have. He has been through this before, the hopeless feeling of losing someone so precious to him. Although their circumstances are different, Gaara understands how painful it is and without any help, he is afraid that Tenten might turn out as hideous as he was years ago…

He knows that it is wrong for him to pry her like this, but Gaara has to. He wants to be there for her, just like how Naruto once was. If he is able to help her, even just a little bit, then surely, Tenten will…

"Lord Kazekage, you can't…" she speaks up, hands pushing him away.

But her voice soon falls into silence as she sits there, still as a statue when his arms circles around her, pulling the young woman into a warm hug. Her brown eyes open widely, her whole body shakes lightly against the hold, she can't believe this…

This has to be a dream...

Because the honorable Lord Kazekage of the Sand Village is sitting right here, holding her in his arms…

"N-no…!"

Tenten pushes him away, going as far as to hit him as hard as she possibly can. Her hand curls into a tight fist as the brunette hits his chest, still saying no to his kindness and doing everything in her power to escape his embrace. They are right in front of Neji's grave, her beloved Neji, and this man has the audacity to hug her?

No, Neji would not like that… What kind of man likes to see his woman in the hands of another man?

Tenten needs to escape, she doesn't need this kindness or pity, however Gaara wants to call it. Even Lee and Guy-sensei can not hold her like this, let alone a stranger she meets only a couple of times a year.

Gaara winces a little every time she hits his chest, but he is also too stubborn to let go. While he understands that his action might not be the best way to soothe Tenten right now, seeing her holding her pain and refusing to tell everyone makes him want nothing more than to lend her a shoulder to lean onto. Tenten needs help, if she can not accept it from Lee and Guy-sensei, then maybe… maybe…

"Let go!" the harder she hits him, the wearier she becomes "Let go…"

Her shouting soon dies down, replaced by quiet sobbing as she lets her hands fall down to the side. Tenten uses all her will to bite her bottom lips, trying her best to not let the sob escape. She has a pride she needs to protect, no one can see this pathetic side of her, even when lord Kazekage is right in front of her, witnessing the ugliest part of her.

But he still holds her in his arms, gentle and kind. The warmth of his body soothes the brunette as she slowly calms down, eyes closing and allowing his body to support her small frame. She should not do this, she should not let this man hold her, especially when they are at Neji's grave. However, the more she stays in these arms, the more Tenten realizes how much she misses being in someone's embrace.

It feels so warm… So safe…

"It's okay now…" his voice, so gentle and soothing "You don't have to suffer through this alone anymore. We are here for you, every one of us…"

With that, Tenten breaks down into tears. She cries like a little kid, letting all of the sorrow, the ugliest part of her heart out. She has tried to build this image of a strong-willed woman for such a long time that she ignores the little girl inside her, the little one who has always called out for help. This false image has followed her for many years, blurring her eyes from the truth, and when reality hits her hard in the face, so is the pain that is growing in her heart.

"He's gone…Neji…He's gone!" she cries harder "Why? Why does it have to be me?"

"I know, I'm sorry." Gaara holds her even tighter, feeling the wetness on his clothes.

The pain of losing someone she loves is truly unbearable…

She cries her heart out, asking question after question. Why she is like this? Why Neji did what he did? Why fate is so cruel to them? Why take away her happiness when she has done nothing wrong? And why is she still here, in his arms?

Why though…?

Is it because of how warm and safe it feels? Or is it because his words touch the deepest, most painful part of her heart? Or because of how weirdly reliable he is right now?

Too many questions and yet, she can not answer any of them. She doesn't care anymore, not when she feels so safe in these arms.