Chapter 10: Distance

"There it is." Tenten announced.

Lee and Tenten could see the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village down the road. Tenten smiled, happy to see her home again. Lee smiled at the thought of seeing his old friends.

It is nice to be back, but home is not the same without Neji and Guy Sensei, Lee thought. I should visit them now that we are back.

"Hey, Lee. Do you mind if we stop to visit Neji and Guy Sensei?" Tenten asked.

"You read my mind." Lee said as he smiled.

The pair entered the gates after showing the guards their IDs. Their legs felt weak, but they marched straight to the cemetery. They visited their late Sensei first.

"Guy Sensei, we are back from our trip." Lee said as he stood by the grave. "I swear I saw a path to heaven across the sea as the sun rose. I sincerely hope you are enjoying your rest."

"We miss you, Sensei. Your fighting spirit lives on in your student, Lee." Tenten stated.

Tears escaped Lee. He looked at Tenten, whose big brown eyes were watery. She managed to smile at Lee. He felt his heart flutter deep in his chest.

"Tenten, you are too kind to me." Lee said as he sniffled. "Thank you for being such a good friend in my time of need."

"Likewise." Tenten said as she hugged Lee.

Lee smiled. The two walked over to Neji's resting place. The smell of incense around the graveyard wafted through the air. Songbirds in the nearby trees sang. Their songs filled the spring air.

"Hey, Neji." Tenten greeted as she looked at his tombstone. "Lee and I traveled to the coast. I decided to open up a weapon store here."

"It is going to be a huge success, Neji! I can feel it." Lee said enthusiastically.

"I wanted to apologize for my outburst here last time." Tenten said. "My shinobi days are over, but I can still use my skills elsewhere. I don't know what the future holds, but right now, I'm optimistic." Tenten explained. "I will come back to visit some more, but right now, I need to get home and rest."

"Tenten, do you mind if I speak to Neji in private before I walk you home?" Lee asked.

"Oh, of course." Tenten said as she stepped away. "I'll wait by the entrance."

Tenten walked away toward the main gate. Lee turned back to Neji and waited for Tenten to be far from earshot.

"Neji, you always gave me great advice. I know I did not always listen, but I am listening now. I need your help." Lee pleaded. "I am so confused. I think I am in love with Tenten, but I can't pursue her. It does not seem so bad now that we are not teammates, but I know it will ruin our friendship." Lee explained. "I have tried to bury my feelings, but every time I talk to Tenten or look at her, I feel even more strongly about her. What should I do?"

"Whoa, Bushy Brows…"

"Eep!" Lee squealed in fright.

He turned around to see Naruto and Kakashi standing behind him. The blonde's blue eyes widened as he saw Lee turn crimson.

"What did you two hear!?" Lee asked.

"Everything." Naruto said bashfully.

"You tell no one!" Lee yelled.

"Ah, a forbidden love between teammates. It's more common than some realize." Kakashi commented.

"That is the thing. Tenten and I have only been friends since she quit." Lee explained as he looked down at the ground.

"Well, there you go. That should make it even easier for you to tell her." Naruto said.

"Naruto! I cannot tell her. That will destroy our friendship!" Lee exclaimed. "I cannot lose another friend… My mind cannot bear the thought."

"Sounds rough, Bushy Brows…" Naruto sighed. "I'm so sorry for all that has happened."

"It is okay. It was hard to accept, but I am on the mend." Lee said. "I need to stay busy, is all."

"Perhaps some distance away will do you some good." Kakashi said.

"But Kakashi Sensei, I just returned home today." Lee said. "Tenten and I were gone for a week."

"I mean distance from her. You two have been spending a lot of time together." Kakashi said.

Or, it may have the opposite effect, Kakashi thought as he tightly gripped his cheesy romance novel.

"Oh, I understand." Lee said as he considered his words. "You are right, I must do something. Tenten will be busy working on her new store anyways."

"Good luck, Bushy Brows. Just be prepared for boring missions. There isn't much going on nowadays aside from highway robberies and village security work." Naruto explained.

"Right. Thanks, Naruto." Lee smiled. "See you again soon, Neji." Lee said as he waved at his friend's grave.

"Later." Kakashi said coolly.

Lee walked toward the gate, where Tenten waited. She smiled as she watched Lee approach. He appeared flustered.

"Sorry, I kept you waiting." Lee apologized. "Naruto and Kakashi Sensei were there."

"It's no trouble." Tenten smiled. "Let's get going. I'm exhausted."

Lee walked Tenten home. Tenten smiled once she entered her apartment.

"Thanks, Lee. Will I see you tomorrow?" Tenten asked.

"Maybe. I have some things to do." Lee responded.

"Oh, okay." Tenten said, surprised as he seemed nervous. "Get some rest."

"Thanks, Tenten." Lee said before he left.

What is up with him? Tenten thought. He's probably just tired.

Tenten carried her bag to her room, letting it slip off her shoulders. She reclined in bed and thought about her trip with Lee. The trip was a needed getaway from current events, but she feared her growing closeness with Lee had reawakened some of her old feelings about him. Pursuing Lee would be much easier for her now without worrying about being part of a team. However, Tenten felt some reservations.

Tenten rose to her feet. She undressed and took a cool shower, wincing as the sunburn on her back stung under warm water. She combed her wet hair at her sink and looked at her reflection. She peered closer at her eyes, trying to understand what Lee kept talking about.

"Like looking at gold, huh?" she said to herself as she frowned. "I'm not seeing it at all."

She felt warmth on her face as she thought about Lee. Her smile crept back to her face.

The following day, Tenten was looking at buildings for her business. She walked through the village, scrutinizing each space for rent or sale. As she walked, she noticed Lee down the street. He was dressed in his green jumpsuit and appeared to be looking for someone. He turned and located Tenten.

"Lee!" Tenten shouted across the crowded street as she walked toward him.

"Tenten!" Lee yelled as he smiled and ran to her.

"Back to training already?" Tenten asked as they met.

"Not quite. I will be away on a mission." Lee said.

"Oh." Tenten said, surprised.

"There has been a string of travelers and merchants reporting that bandits attacked them to the west." Lee explained. "I will go with a small group to help make the roads safer."

"I see. How long will you be away?" Tenten asked.

"I am not sure." Lee admitted. "I was told it could be for a few weeks, maybe months."

Months… Tenten thought as a frown formed on her face.

"Alright. Stay safe, Lee. Maybe by the time you get home, I'll have my store up and running." Tenten forced a smile.

"Great! I look forward to seeing you." Lee smiled. "Oh, I meant, look forward to seeing it." He corrected his sentence as he began to sweat, embarrassed. He turned away.

"Lee, wait." Tenten said.

"What?" Lee asked nervously as he paused and turned back to her.

"About my headband, I think you should keep it. Use it as a good luck charm or something." Tenten blushed.

"Oh, I left it at home, but have one with me." Lee said as he reached into a small pocket in his bag.

He opened his large hand, revealing a peach-colored seashell in his palm. Tenten remembered it immediately. It was the same small shell she had found along the beach. Most of the shells had broken apart in the surf, but it was one of the few pretty ones that were perfectly intact. Tenten's eyes widened, and heat returned to her cheeks. She gazed at Lee's onyx eyes, which fixed on hers.

"…"

The pair stared at each other wordlessly.

"I should get going…" Lee said as he averted his gaze. "I will see you when I return." He said abruptly as he jumped onto the rooftop of the building next to them and disappeared across the village. Tenten stood dumbfounded still as she stared in the direction Lee went.

There's chemistry, Tenten thought. But Lee couldn't love me after what I did to him… I abandoned him in his time of need. If I can't be a good teammate or a decent friend, I would make for a terrible wife…

Tenten continued her search as she fought back her tears. The village felt lonely with her best friend away. She thought about Lee's growth over the years she had known him. Tenten frowned as she thought about how little she changed over the years compared to him. To make matters worse, she felt she was going in the opposite direction, folding easily under pressure and giving up instead of sticking it out.

No reasonable man would want a weak girl like me, Tenten thought as she looked at the final building available.

She scanned the space from the window outside. The location was decent, and it seemed promising. She wrote down the address before walking home, thinking about her future and her dear friend.

Miles away, Lee was traveling westward, away from the village. He turned to look back at the village gates as he thought about Tenten.

It's better this way, Tenten. I will not let my feelings destroy all we have together now, Lee thought. I hope that while I am away, you find someone worthy of your love.