"How long will this last?" Tenten asked.

Neji shrugged softly and said, "Not long enough, probably."
She pouted softly and looked away. It was torture to have to wait so long, but it was even worse when they had such a short time.

Neji gently patted her head and said, "Come on, you have me now, and that's what matters. Don't think about later."

Tenten nodded and asked, "Do you think it's weird?"

"How so?" he replied, looking at her.
She laughed and said, "What do you mean 'How so'? I mean, this isn't normal. I'm not supposed to be here."

"And yet, here you are," He said, raising his hands to the sky.

Tenten giggled and said, "And yet here I am. Why can't anyone else be here? Why me?"

Neji considered her for a moment. She was scared; it was perfectly clear. But she seemed happy. The sad kind of happy. Neji reached over and gently grabbed her hand, causing her to look up at him. He gave her a gentle smile and said, "You're the one shinobi who needed me the most."

Tenten shook her head in disbelief and said, "I don't believe that. Hinata needs you the most."

"Hinata has Naruto," he replied, pulling Tenten close. She blushed hard at how close and warm he was. It was almost unreal. "And Lee has everyone and Guy to cling to in his need of hurt. And I'm sure he has you. But who do you have?" Neji's voice sent chills down Tenten's back; she wasn't used to him sounding so soft. Neji held her tight and said, "This is the fourth time. Who knows how many more times we'll have? Don't think about the bad things, Tenten."

"But how?" she asked, closing her eyes and pretending they were in her bed.

Neji chuckled and replied in a soft whisper, "You'll just have to figure that out on your own." Tenten found herself blushing to his voice. After a moment of silence, Neji asked, "How are they doing?"

"They're doing quite well actually," She replied, smiling softly.

Neji sighed in relief and said, "I'm glad."

Tenten relaxed in his arms, feeling an unknown emotion in her swell up. Tenten bit her lower lip before asking, "Does it feel weird to be a ghost?" She felt Neji stiffen up at the question and quickly said, "Don't answer that. You told me not to think about the bad things... But there's so many questions I have that I'm afraid won't ever be answered."

Neji kissed the back of her head and said, "What if you asked me one major question each time we see each other?"

Tenten considered for a moment and asked, "Four?"

"Three," he replied, smiling apologetically at her.

She sighed and said, "It's a deal. Besides, I don't have too many questions to ask anyways."

Neji chuckled and turned her around gently. "Since you already asked about me visiting someone else, that counts as one question. And to answer your second question, it does feel a little weird. I feel free though. Physically free, mentally free, free of burdens and responsibilities. It's weird being so light of everything, but that's an alright feeling."

Tenten nodded and thought carefully about her last question. It would be the only one she could ask until next week. After a few moments, she asked, "Do you have any regrets stepping in and saving Hinata's life?"

He hesitated before saying, "Yes. And I feel guilty about thinking that way."

Tenten gripped his shoulders and asked, "Why do you regret that?"

Neji smiled and kissed her forehead, saying, "I can't say that, Tenten. You already asked me three questions."

Tenten blushed at how affectionate he was being and sighed softly. Neji gently frowned and asked, "Is something wrong, Tenten?"

Tenten looked up at him. She couldn't tell him how she felt or how confused she was. So instead she said, "I'm just happy I can see you again. I'm sorry about the first few times. I really did believe I was just dreaming it. If it hadn't been for the message you'd given to me earlier today, I would've figured myself to be crazy."

Neji laughed softly, and it made Tenten feel lightheaded. It was such a treasure to hear any type of joy from him. Neji smiled down at her, but it slowly disappeared as he studied her face. Tenten blushed and quickly looked away. Neji reached out to caress her cheek but stopped himself.

Tenten left the silence consume them a little longer before asking, "Could I...cuddle with you?"

Neji smiled and nodded, opening his arms. Tenten smiled and slowly but surely pressed her body up against his light green, almost-translucent body. She didn't know what else to say to Neji. But she wanted to wrap her arms around him tight. They had never embraced like this before, and it made her shudder to think about what could've been.

It was long after until Neji gently lifted Tenten off of him. She looked at him in confusion and asked, "Neji, what wrong?"

He gave her a sad smile and said, "I have to go now. It's almost time for you to awaken."

"Neji," she started to say, her tone almost distraught.

He placed his finger up against her mouth, even though she could barely feel it. "You'll see me again," he said, his voice fading, 'Just wait a little longer.'

"Neji, wait!!" She reached out for him, but it was already too late. She was reaching out for nothing but air. Tenten shed a single tear moments before her world went dark.

---

Chapter Revised (8/14/20)