A/N Yep, this is a new project I'm working on! Hoorah!
You know, I wish I had people to PM me for story requests and stuff like that!
No one ever does that for me.
Oh well, I suppose I'll get over it.
Anyways, on to the story I guess... and au revoir for now!

Disclaimer: Nope... I don't own Ino, Neji, or Naruto in general... and that really sucks.

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1: Depressed
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It seems like everyone has someone but me. The blonde kunoichi sighed, picking one of the tiger lilies in front of her and twirling it between her fingers. She sat amidst an ocean of flowers, dancing and swaying in the breeze, their sweet scent on the wind, filling her nose. Even the cold Kazekage has found happiness with someone. Why can't I then?

She stared up at the cloudy sky, then carefully touched the petals of the bright orange lily she held. Since Kiba and Hinata had announced their engagement, she began to wonder if there even was someone special out there for her.

Even forehead girl had gotten married to Naruto almost a year ago, their one year anniversary would be in three months. She let out another sigh, putting the lily up to her nose. The flowers usually cheered her up whenever she felt depressed, but now even they weren't enough. It was unbearable for her to walk down the streets of Konoha and seeing couples arm in arm or hand in hand.

She remembered the last relationship that she was in, and the bad breakup that went with it. Now she was just alone. Sure she had her friends, her family, but where would they be in ten years? Probably either dead or married with children.

Oh well, She stood up, picking a boquet of the wildflowers that surrounded her, I'm sure I'll manage. After all, guys aren't everything. I can just spend my spare time working on my jutsu and training. Ino knew that was a poor excuse, but there were worse things she could come up with. She could lock herself in her room, pig out on ice cream, and cry over the guys she would never have. Sakura would get a kick out of that, that's for sure.

She examined one of the yellow daffodils. Satisfied, she started walking back towards the flower shop. Suddenly, she bumped into someone, falling to the ground, her flowers spilling out of her arms and spreading out around her.

"Are you alright?" He held out his hand for her.

"Yes, I'm fine." She grabbed it and he helped her up.

"Your flowers seem to be ok." He picked up a wild violet, looking over it with his white eyes. She gathered the rest up herself, taking care not to step on one.

"Thank you Neji." She said, but before she could walk away, he grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"It's pointless, avoiding me." He said.

She shifted her gaze, not looking at him, "I can try."

He got closer to her, her body tensing, "I meant every word I said." He whispered.

She broke away from his grip and walked slowly past some girls that were watching them. As soon as they thought she was out of earshot, they started talking to each other, "Neji Hyuuga!" A brown haired girl said excitedly, "He's so cute!"

"Miwa! He can hear you!" The black haired one warned, playfully slapping her friend's arm. Suddenly, he turned around, looking in their direction.

Miwa squealed, "Oh, Haru! He's staring at me!"

"Get a grip, I think he's looking through you." Haru laughed at her joke.

"Yeah, you're probably right. No doubt in shock from being rejected by that cold, evil, blonde girl!" Miwa crossed her arms, nodding.

"What a fan girl you are Miwa, what a fan girl you are." Haru sighed, shaking her head.

-

"Sakura, I have no idea what to do." Ino sighed, lying back on her friend's couch. She had told Sakura about what had happened with Neji. "I'm still a little depressed from breaking up with the guy four months ago." She confessed, tracing circles with her finger on the tan cushion.

"I don't think you can forgive him too easily for- cheating on you with Ten-Ten," Ino groaned, she hated it whenever someone brought that up. She just hated talking about Neji period, but it couldn't be helped, she had to deal with it now. "But, don't worry! You'll figure something out. You always do."

"I'm afraid not this time Sakura." Then, Naruto walked in and sat beside her friend, putting his arm around the pink haired kunoichi.

"Come on Ino! You have to, believe it!" He encouraged, a huge smile on his face.

"You have no idea how sick I am of hearing it, believe that." Sakura whispered in Ino's ear.

"Hey! I heard that!" Naruto pulled her close, and kissed her cheek.

"Um- Sakura, I think I better go." Ino said, standing up and walking towards the door.

"Alright Ino, see you tomorrow." Sakura waved as Naruto pulled her into his lap, and Ino closed the door.

-

Ino stood in front of the door to the flower shop as the rain started pouring down. Great. She walked in, completely drenched. "I've been waiting for you." Suddenly, Neji's voice made her want to go back out in the rain.

"Neji, I told you already that I don't want to talk to you." She said, staring at the puddle of water by her feet.

"I realize I was wrong." He walked closer to her until he was standing in front of her. He reached his hand out to touch her cheek, but she slapped it away.

"Yeah right. You can't just think that after a little apology, I'm going to forgive you and everything is going to be fine. Well, it doesn't happen that way. I thought you of all people would know that." Ino was happy that she was soaked in water, he wouldn't notice that she was crying. She still stared at the wet floor, her tears dripping into the puddle already at her feet.

"Ten-Ten... she could never mean anything to me the way you do. I couldn't see that until now."

"Until you lost me... you mean." He put his arms around her, stroking her damp blonde hair. "Please Neji, don't make this harder for me than it already is." She pushed him away and walked back towards the door.

He stared at her with sad eyes, "There's nothing more to say, then."

She didn't answer or look at him as he walked out, leaving her alone.

-

Next Morning

Neji woke up suddenly. He sat against the headboard, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and looking at the empty space beside him in his bed. It was her special place that he had reserved just for her. Until Ten-Ten violated it. He shook the thought off, just like he did everything that he didn't want to remember lately and got dressed.

He decided to leave his hair down this morning, then put on his headband. Now all he had to do was figure somewhere to go. He hadn't been on a mission in weeks, he had declined all of the ones that had been offered to him. It wasn't that he was particularly sad, or depressed. Yes, he did miss her, but that should have motivated him to go out and do something, anything.

Instead, all he would do was stare off into space, walking around Konoha, or (not mope) but lie around. He didn't even feel like training. Lee would pester him constantly, begging for a match or at least for them to go out and train together, and every time he said no, Lee would bring up her again. This happened to be one of those mornings.

"Neji!" Lee ran up to his teammate as he was walking towards the bridge.

"What do you want?" Neji stopped, looking straight ahead.

"Please just a little training session! Or do you not feel like it again?" Lee asked, putting his hand on his commrade's shoulder.

"No, I don't and I wish you would quit asking me." Neji brushed it off, and started walking again.

Lee sighed, "Ino must be really special for you to get so worked up about her."

"Look, this has nothing to do with... Ino-" He couldn't even say her name anymore, "Ok?"

"I never realized- the sheer importance of Sakura, until she was... gone!" Lee was crying now. Neji rolled his eyes, and left.