Author's Note: HIya! Thank you for reading! Better get some tissues, Tearjerker warning.

Chapter

Neji returned to the compound late that night. He had walked blindly contemplating the future of his relationship with TenTen. He had come to the conclusion it was out of his hands. It was her choice if she wanted to keeping fighting for this awkward and difficult union. He knew he wanted to be with her. But it all depended on what she wanted.

He instead decided to focus on a problem that he could deal with: Asumi.

He knocked once on her door before sliding the bamboo screen open. She had been sleeping and upon seeing him, fear lit her face and she reached for the mysterious chains under her mattress. He kneeled down a good distance away to calm her. He had no plans of ever touching her again.

"What do you know?" He began.

She shifted and relaxed, burying the chains before sitting on her knees, straightening out her nightdress. "Enough."

"How did you find out?"

"It is interesting the emotions that pass during intimacy. You are a very cold man and very hard to read. But you let your guard down in a way only I have been witnessed too." She smirked then, "Perhaps not only me. Now you are an open book."

Neji analyzed her. If she had an intellect as high as himself then she would use this knowledge for her gain. But what gain is that? "What do you want?"

Her brows widened, "What makes you think I want anything?"

"You haven't told anyone."

She nodded her head, perhaps realizing her mistake. She cannot underestimate him.

"Perhaps there is something."

"Let us not waste time. I do not like being blackmailed. I will go and tell Hiashi the truth. And you will having nothing to barter." He stood, watching her face.

She was unthreatened. "Go ahead. He's already disowned his daughter. Let him disown his new son as well. Then Hanabi will rule and this clan will drown in her incompetence. Future generations will blame you, the man who could have saved us."

Neji returned to his knees. He stared at the ground, unsure what his next step was.

"My desire is simple." She began. "I want you to marry Hanabi to Hitoshi."

His brows knit, looking at her. "Why would that sedate you? You have me cornered and that is all you ask?"

"Do not touch me again."

"That is a blessing to me still. Is there more?"

"Do you wish for more?"

"I expect something grander."

"I am not an evil woman if that is what you are hoping for. I could twist you on my finger but I do not want that. I married you to become leader of this clan. I cannot do that if you do not prosper. Your failure is my own."

Neji folded his arms. He wasn't expecting this. He didn't know what to make of it yet. "They will expect a heir."

Her eyes dropped. "And perhaps there will be one." She whispered softly. "Let us hope."

"No." He shot out. "Take something."

Her eyes widened in confusion. "Why would I do that?"

He spoke before he could think. He shouldn't have said it and yet he couldn't stand the thought of having a child with her. That wasn't how life was supposed to go. That wasn't what he had promised TenTen. None of this was going the way he wanted it too.

Her whispered sounded in his ears, "You love her."

He swallowed, "Yes."

"I misjudged you then. I thought you incapable of such a feeling."

It was quiet after that. He knew it was better if she did have a child growing inside her but the thought of it was making his mouth water with bile. It brought up the memory of last night. Her cries. The way she pushed at him. And how she crumbled to the floor when he was done.

Neji put his hands to the floor and bowed, "It will not happen again." It was the best version of an apology she would receive.

He stood and walked to the door, "I will visit every other night."

"That much?" She whispered with disappointment.


Everyday Neji stood by the entrance of the village at mid afternoon and waited. His Byakugan spanning as far as he could see, searching the trees, nearby villages, and a vacant cave out of curiosity. For six days, she did not return.

On the seventh day when he arrived, the guard at the gate informed him his teammate had already made it inside. He was assured she was fine but still, Neji hurried to locate her, his gaze scanning the village, zooming over to the Hokage's office before ending at their apartment. She was in neither place. He tried the hospital next and every room come up empty. By the time he found her, his chakra was low.

She was smiling, talking with Lee. It wasn't possible to see the exact detail of her body but her chakra readings were a bit low and there were no life threatening wounds. It was enough to calm him.

He returned to his compound for lunch simply to explain he was leaving for the weekend. It was common for him to 'train' in the woods for two days. And though he was sure Asumi figured it out, she said nothing, simply nodding. "How can I reach you if something goes wrong?"

"Hinata-sama will know how to reach me."

As usual he brought a small bag with him but it was only for show. He wouldn't have even bothered packing it if the Hyuuga couldn't see through it.

He walked to the front gates and continued further south until he was out of his Uncle's Byakugan range. Not that the man was watching but it was habit. His Uncle and himself had the farthest sight in the clan and though it took an extra hour, it was necessary. Ten minutes later he stepped back into range and checked on every member of his clan that he could find. None of them paid any attention as he knew they wouldn't. He ran across the woods, along side of the wall and up to the north gate as usual. He made it to the apartment without a problem.

Blade greeted him, meowing and running to her bowl. Neji had come everyday to feed it despite the difficulty it took to get here. And though he could smell the litterbox, it was beneath him to do anything about it. Cats were not his favorite animal. But then again, neither were dogs. He preferred birds. There were smart, low maintenance, and were free.

He didn't know when she would return so he laid down on the bed and rested. Her scent was all over the sheets and it was welcome. It was becoming a possibility as time moved on that she would end things. He wouldn't blame her if she did. In fact, if she didn't, perhaps he would. This was becoming harder than he anticipated. He didn't want their friendship to be ruined as well and he feared that if he didn't end this soon enough there would be nothing left of the love they shared.

It was hard to believe they would have been brought to this situation. In the beginning, he would have never imagined this. It had been so innocent, so pure, and so hopeful.


TenTen followed him, though she didn't understand why. She kept asking as she raced behind him, but he knew they needed to go deeper into the woods. They weren't far enough away yet. He wasn't completely healed from his near death wounds and he was breathing heavy, leaning against each tree more heavier than he intended.

"You shouldn't be doing this." She remarked, noticing.

But he kept pushing until he past the familiar tree. He went another couple of feet before he lowered to the ground, his knees nearly giving in. He caught himself, resting down. He panted, clenching his eyes shut. A low pain burned in each of the four lacerations. A hand rested on his heart, the worst one yet and he rested back on his butt to lean his back against a tree trunk.

TenTen kneeled down in front of him, concern in her large brown eyes. "Are you alright?"

Neji pushed himself forward, pressing his lips against her. She was shocked at first but with his hand resting against her cheek, she slowly sank into it and pushed back.

He broke away, to breathe once again. Her cheeks were red but there was a smile on her lips. "Whatcha do that for?"

"Research."

She giggled and her brows rose, "Oh? And what kind of research is this?"

"To discover why you affect me when no one else seems too."

She rested her fingers over his hand and the touch sent tingles along his hand. A sensation yet known. "I think I know."

"Tell me."

She smiled wide, playful, "Because you love me."

"Hn." He scoffed pulling away, "Doubtful."


Neji heard the door close and he sat up, placing his feet on the floor. He heard her voice as she greeted the cat. He glanced at the clock. It was near five. He had fallen asleep. It was always easy sleeping here. Her weapons sounded on the table as she unpacked.

"Did you miss me? Did your daddy feed you while I was away? I got to change your lidder box, don't I? You're so cute."

He suppressed a smile. He would never thought she spoke to the cat in such a manner. It seemed out of character for her and yet somehow fit her.

"Let me shower and I'll take care of you."

He straightened his back as he heard her footsteps approach.

She stopped in the doorway, meeting his eyes. Her smile falling from her face. He was quick to look her over. There were several areas of gauze and blood seeping through. Her clothes were torn in multiple places and dry blood stiffened the white of the cloth. She was a mess. "Go to the hospital." He stated immediately.

She shook her head, "It's nothing. They're almost healed anyway." TenTen stepped to the bathroom, "Why don't you order dinner? I'm starving." The door closed before he could reply and he continued to sit there, unsure what that exchange was.

Something had changed.

There was a distance and he was coming to realize what it was.

She was going to break up with him.

He sighed heavy through his nose staring at the floor. Should he stay? Should he go? If it was inevitable, why should he subject himself to it? But she deserved her final say. He hadn't the right to take it from her. Neji grabbed the phone and ordered from their preferred place. He knew all her favorite meals and needn't ask what she wanted. From there he looked around the apartment. There were several pictures of them hanging. Over the years she had captured rare moments of happy occasions. Their year anniversary. Their five year anniversary. The opening of her shop. The day he became an adopted son of Hiashi. And then before their relationship began. Their genin days. It was everywhere. Their life together.

Neji went into the closet and grabbed a bag but then he stared at his clothes. He didn't need any of them. He had enough at his place in the compound. He turned around and looked at hers. His fingers drifted over her shirts. Her dresses. The one she wore for valentines' day.

The bag remained empty as he stepped out into the bedroom. He had a book on the nightstand that he was reading. On the vanity was his deodorant and cologne but again, he already had all the necessities at the Hyuuga branch.

Neji stepped out into the living room. The large TV, the picture frames, the elegant couch. Everything they had picked out together. It was all them. How could he leave this behind? How could he leave her?

The food came and he set it on the counter. Blade jumped up, interested but he knocked her down and waited on a bar stool for TenTen to come out. It was a long hour before the door opened. He listened as the drawers shut as she got dressed. She soon approached.

"What did you get?" She snatched a bag, looking in, "It smells good."

He watched as she dug out different plates setting them out. His muscles were tense. He simply wanted her to get it over with if she was going to end it. Just like a kill, slice the throat and be done with it.

She got a cup from the cupboard, "What do you want to drink?"

He replied simply. "Water is fine."

She set a bottle on the table for him and he took a sip.

"Want to watch a movie?" She piled a few different plates and carried them over to the coffee table, setting them up. She waved him over, "I think a new one came out, in the series we like." He sat beside her though keeping a subtle distance to make sure they did not accidently touch. She opened a tray of food for him and set chopsticks down before grabbing her own and snuggling back against the couch. Her wounds were out in the open now, having been cleaned. They were healing as she claimed, scabbing over but with the shower some bled just enough to smear. She was used to these little nicks having sustained these injuries dozens of times daily since she was a genin. They were nothing to her.

He ate at the edge of the couch, as was his typical seat. He did not, 'snuggle' or relax as she and eating on the couch was a relatively new action despite the years they've been together. A proper gentlemen did not lean over his food but he only ended up taking two bites before setting down his chopsticks. He could not force himself to eat. Not with the ball that weighed in his stomach as he waited for the conversation that would ruin any happiness in his future.

"How was the mission?" He began lightly.

She shrugged, watching the TV intently, "Went fine. Isao is crazy." She laughed.

"Who?"

"He's the guy I had to find. He's really fun. Crazy, but fun."

"He was the target?" She nodded. "You succeeded?"

"Yeah. But I'm going to go tomorrow to partition for his release. He told me what happened and I believe him. He doesn't seem like the guy they're looking for."

"He murdered a family."

"That's what they say. But I've talked to him. He wouldn't have done that."

Neji shifted with narrowed eyes, "You've talked to him?"

She glanced at him momentarily before shifting her eyes back to the movie. "We are both weapon artists. I was interested."

"That is not protocol."

TenTen heaved up as she put her plate on the coffee table and grabbed her drink. She took a long sip before she set her cup on the table again. "We were out in the middle of nowhere for four days. I got bored."

"Your boredom does not permit you to make friends with enemies."

"He's not my enemy." She stood, bringing her plate back to the kitchen. "He was someone to talk too." She opened the fridge, hiding herself, "I needed someone to talk too."

Neji rounded the couch and approached, slowly. He folded his arms, watching as she simply stood inside the fridge not really doing anything. "You told him."

She nodded.

He swallowed. He had wanted to talk about it and now he was unsure if he wanted to continue. Suddenly, he wondered why had he pressed it? Why couldn't they go back to sitting on the couch and act like nothing was wrong?

"What did he say?" It didn't really matter but for some reason, he needed to hear it.

"That I should move on."

She shut the door but she kept her stance, her fingers playing with a magnet. There was a picture of them on the door and she glanced over it.

Neji once again pushed. "And what did you decide?"

TenTen turned with a bowed head and rested her back against the door. "I can't." She whispered low.

He took two more steps closer, "Can't what?"

"I can't move on. And I can't stay." She admitted biting the inside of her lip. "I hate you." Her brows knit and hands fisted. "I hate what we're doing. I hate what's happened. I hate it."

Neji stayed where he was. Despite the desire to grab her, to beg her, to ask her to keep fighting, he remained standing and kept every emotion held tight behind the doors. "Then let's end this." The words fell out of his mouth and regret built in him instantaneously but he could not, would not take them back. Especially as she stood there, unmoving, making no effort to stop him. And that's what hurt the most: She was letting him go.

"I cannot undo what I've done. To ask for forgiveness is unreasonable for I cannot grant it within myself. I did not know to what extent I would go, to gain my Uncle's approval and now it seems I have no limits. I will not drag you through this dishonorable period in my life to obtain a goal that may not be worth it. If I had any decency, I should have ended this before I married. It is another regrettable offense in a long list. In conclusion, I free you. May I be a burden on your life no more." He bowed at the waist and stayed there for longer than he meant too. He knew the next step would be to leave and to not look back. And despite how hard his words had been, that would be even harder.

Neji spun on his heel.

He was unprepared when TenTen wrapped her arms around his back, her face against his shoulder blades. She squeezed with all her strength. "I love you." Her muffled crying voice sounded.

He touched her hand, felt her soft skin. And knew despite her love, it was not enough. It didn't fix what had been broken. It didn't make right the wrongs. And it didn't make the world a friendlier place.

When her strength began to weaken, Neji stepped out of her hold and went to the window and jumped out. Her cries following behind him.