Hi there readers! I hope you've enjoyed my recent updates. Truly I hope that this story has entertained you all. I'm ever thankful for the positive reviews I have received in the past. I'm hoping that my faithful fans will come back once more. But it is my fault for taking nearly 6 months or so to update. However, I am passionate about this story so I will NOT stop. I love you.

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

Internal Affairs

Chapter 13: The past- part 2

"Seriously dad, boys are so dumb." Ino whined as she sipped her coffee.

Inoichi merely rolled his eyes and looked at his daughter. "What did Neji do this time, Ino?"

"He's just being so forgetful... Forgetting we have dinner plans, saying he'll call back and then he never does... Dad it's getting really frustrating lately." She sighed and rested her chin on her hands and gave her father a pitiful look.

"Well, honey, you two have been dating for what, two years now? Maybe he's just not the type of guy to commit for very long." He informed Ino, doing his best to encourage her. Being a male himself, Inoichi knew what this type of behavior insinuated, but he wasn't about to tell Ino and break her already fragile heart. "You know, I told you that if a man doesn't treat you properly, you best be ditching him.''

"Daddyyyy..." Ino whined. "I know, I know. And Neji used to, but lately he's just stopped."

"It's probably time to move on, honey." Inoichi admitted. "You're young, you still have plenty of time! When you leave Konoha you'll find lots of suitable and respectable young men out there who will give you the attention you deserve!" He said smiling.

"You sound so eager to get rid of me..." Ino pouted playfully.

"I'm not trying to get rid of you, I'm trying to keep you from making the same mistake I did when I was your age."

"And what was that mistake, dad?" She inquired curiously, quirking her eyebrow.

"I didn't follow my dreams, and now I'm old and have a boring job!" He said with a chuckle, despite the fact that it really was a tough subject for him. There was no way in the world that he would let his daughter go through the same pains he did. She would go after what she wanted even if he was the one to push her off the ledge in order for her to fly.

Ino smiled fondly at her father's kindness. "Alright dad... And by the way,'' she paused, "I started writing something."

"What?! Let me read it!" He exclaimed excitedly, leaning over the counter.

"No! No way! I just barely started. I'll let you read it when I'm done." She giggled and shook her head.

Inoichi frowned deeply. "That's not fair. Could you at least tell me what it's about?"

"Nope!" She said stubbornly. "I gotta go, pops! I'm gonna go visit Neji and see if we can't figure out what's going on."

Inoichi frowned once more, fearful of what the outcome of this meeting could be. "Just be careful." He warned.

She arrived at his house and knocked on his door a few times before stepping back and waiting. A few moments passed before he finally swung the door open.

Neji looked exhausted, and his eyes were bloodshot and weary. His hair was dishevled and he seemed more than a bit confused.

"Neji, what happened to you?" Ino asked worriedly as she put a soft hand upon his shoulder.

He pulled away and scowled at her. "What are you doing here?" He barked angrily.

Ino gasped and took a step back in shock. "What do you mean? Neji it's me, Ino... What's gotten into you lately?"

It hadn't been very long since his father had passed away, and ever since then Ino had noticed that the man she had grown so fond of had changed drastically ever since.

"I-I'm sorry." Neji admitted, shaking his head regretfully. "Ino... I've got a problem." He admitted, sheepishly looking down.

Slowly, and very hesitantly, Ino approached him once more. "What is it, Neji?" She whispered, her heart pounding and mind racing. What could it possibly be? He's scaring me. She thought secretly to herself.

"I... uh..I don't know how to tell you this."

"Tell me what!?" Now fear was gripping her like a vice as she awaited the confession.

"I'm a drug addict." He admitted, still looking down.

"Wh-what?!" She exclaimed in shock. This was certainly something she had not expected in the least. The Neji she knew, would never stoop so low. The death of his father had changed him drastically, but still Ino didn't ever expect her perfectionist boyfriend to have fallen so hard.

It was then that he rolled up his sleeves to reveal several track marks and bruises on his inner elbows. Ino knew he was telling the truth, though she desperately wanted him to be lying to her.

"No!"

"I'm sorry..." He whimpered as he looked at her.

"Y.. You need help. And until you're clean, you and I are done." She said with trembling lips. "I can't have this right now, Neji."

He only nodded, shamefully. "I understand." He whispered.

Ino turned her back to him and walked back to her car. She covered her moth and held back a sob. How could he? She thought to herself Should I just leave him like that? What if he hurts himself?

She climbed into her car and headed straight for the edge of town. It was the only place she could think to go. It took her all of about ten minutes to arrive at the cemetery and once she got there she took a deep breath and parked her car.

She made her way down the cement pathway that was riddled with weeds and cracks. She clasped her hands together and looked about, gravestones and flowers in every direction that her eyes could see. She saw a few families burying their loved ones, and it only reminded her of when she and her father buried her mother nearly eight years ago now.

Finally, she had reached the end of the walkway near the fence that marked the border of the cemetery grounds. Her mother was buried at the very back, and there was a plot next to her grave where one day her father would lay to rest.

Kneeling down, she touched the face of her mother's gravestone. "Momma..." She whispered. "I don't know what to do." She said, looking down as tears began to fall from her cerulean eyes.

"I don't want you fighting anymore." Itachi said, as he glanced at his brunette companion.

"Are you telling me you're not taking me to the gym?" Tenten inquired, looking back at Itachi.

The raven haired man continued driving and gave her a nod.

"What? Why!?" She exclaimed, getting more than a bit frustrated. He was only her boyfriend, he had no right to control what she did or did not do.

"Because." Was his simple response and he didn't say another word to her. He knew that she was pouting, but she would have to get over it. Things were about to change for the two of them, and that meant she had to make some big changes as well.

A while later, their vehicle came to a stop in front of a large building, that was seemingly brand new. It looked as though there was a sign upon it, but it was covered by a white sheet draped over the top of it.

"What is this?" Tenten questioned as she looked out the window of his car.

"I'll show you." He said, stepping out of the vehicle and rounding it to get to her side. Tenten knew better than to open her door, Itachi always scolded her when she did so, but this time she was too preoccupied by the mystery of the building and she hopped out of the car on her own.

Itachi frowned deeply, but decided against lecturing her for now. He walked with her to the front of the building and unlocked it with a shiny looking key. "After you, beautiful." He smiled, holding this door open for her.

Tenten gave him a nod and walked inside. It was rather large and intimidating, especially since it wasn't furnished whatsoever. "Okay... So what is it?" She asked, looking at him curiously.

"This is our business." He admitted as he approached the girl.

"Our? You said 'our'..." She noted, looking at him with an inquisitive expression on her face.

"Oh, yes. I did, did't I?" He retorted, smiling even more.

"Yes, you did." She folded her arms, still unsure what he was getting at.

Suddenly, the man dropped to one knee and looked up at her with meaningful and glistening eyes. "Will you marry me, Tenten?" He asked.