Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

A/N: Spoiler- NEJI! NOOO! I am so torn up about the Manga Chapter 614, and now it is official, this is a NejiTen story, no backsies. But I will be putting them through some crap, because I really love the way Sasuke is turning out in this story. Not a whole lot of Tenten and Neji in this chapter, but soon. For the love of SasuTenJi, here is Chapter 14 of Don't You Remember... Enjoy.

Sasuke's POV

Why was I here again? I should be sleeping. I shouldn't be half-drunk wandering Suna looking for an ex-teammate of mine.

It is the middle of the night… And this was all too troublesome to be subjected to.

Why? Why am I here?

"Tch."

Right. I remember.

Because Tenten told me I should go find Sakura after she left the bar because of Sai.

"Go after her, she says," I imitated Tenten's command annoyed.

And before that, at the hotel it was, "Come on, Sasuke... The bar will be fun, you never have any fun." My imitation of her was horrid, but it helped as I walked the desolate streets in the dark. She had pulled on my sleeve when she said it and was obviously trying to annoy me, looking far too innocent and sexy all at the same time. She was giving me the pouty face that she did sometimes, with the big bright eyes of hers.

Anyone else, I would've ignored, told them to piss off, but not her. Even if it meant having to be around Sakura and the Hyuga, I would do it.

For her.

Biting my lip as I walked, I remembered the more recent conversation, this time she had come much closer. Not a tug on my sleeve, but something much more searing. Much more unforgettable.

"Follow my lead," she had said silkily. I fought the blush that attacked me full force at the memory. Good thing it was dark, I thought as I shoved my hands in my pockets.

It was just… her reaction was so genuine. I knew I was falling for her, but Hyuga... Hyuga had her heart. That much was obvious, but when she kissed me. It made me realize, that I might have a chance with her.

That kiss…

I had to shake away my thoughts that surrounded it. The whole memory was somewhat fuzzy from all the alcohol, but what I remembered was something that would haunt me, especially if I couldn't repeat it again sober.

So once the alcohol was mostly gone, I had to try again, because those fuzzy memories… I needed them to be more concrete.

Fingers digging into her hair, licking her throat and growling as I tasted the salt of her skin. Wishing to make my mark on her, and acting on instinct alone, my lips had dragged across her throat, teeth and tongue tasting and nipping as I went and she arched into me, driving me crazy.

Ahhh!

I was so lost I had forgotten where we were. It didn't matter to me who was there watching. To me, it was just us. And then all too quickly, she was gone.

She was too much. That's what she was… too much, and that's what I wanted, more.

She was stuck in my head now, immovable, glued to my cerebrum. I could see her form, her face… so beautiful, hair down, intelligent eyes, smooth tanned skin.

I could imagine more though, and it was so real, I had to remind myself that it was just my imagination running wild.

"Grrr."

She filled my mind, and even though I tried to keep her from my thoughts I just couldn't' let it go. Her go. Unlike her, I've been watching her for some time.

And now, she plagued me.

No matter the alley or road I turned onto, she was there in my thoughts, spinning, floating, dancing, deadly.

I was supposed to be looking for Sakura, but all I found was Tenten.

She wasted her tears on Hyuga. Crying over a man that took her for granted. I had no sympathy for him. I watched her break, and it was because of him. I guess that's how some people saw me though when it came to Sakura. Unlike Sakura though...

Tenten was strong and forgiving. That's what I thought Sakura was, but she refused me and I couldn't blame her.

Tenten kept going even through the heartbreak. I watched that man cement her broken heart day after day. I was amazed by her, because even through all of that, she was still loyal to him. Still devoted to him.

That was Tenten.

And I wanted her to be mine. Not just for those reasons but for everything that she was.

I wanted her to look at me the way she looked at him.

The more I thought about her, the more uneasy I felt about this whole self-imposed mission. She had the crazy idea to break up their engagement, and of course, I had to agree to help her with it.

Sakura and Hyuga…

They were making a mistake, anyone could see that.

It was a problem, for sure. The engagement, in itself, wasn't a problem for me. Hell, I'd break them up just for the fun of it at this point.

The problem was that I wasn't sure anymore… about my own reasons for helping. My motivations... My own intentions when it came to Sakura…

I knew I should be trying to win her over, plead with her, tell her I loved her…

It was true. I did.

But, honestly, more and more, I felt like she was an obstacle to me, and less like the prize I used to think she was.

I do love her, but I'd been trying to give her up and move on.

I mean really, when was the last time Sakura was interested in anything I did?

Until tonight? I can't remember.

She saw me tonight, but that didn't matter.

And just because she noticed me now, it didn't mean anything.

It didn't mean she'd suddenly decide I was worth a chance. I broke her heart and Sakura told me in no uncertain terms, that I was the scum of the earth and she'd never give me a chance.

She had told me time and time again how much I had hurt her, broke her beyond repair when I left, and then when I tried to kill her... That was the last straw.

No amount of apologies would help.

She said she could never be near me again without thinking of that day and how far I'd fallen.

I could deal with that.

I had been dealing.

Once the news broke of Haruno and Hyuga's engagement, I had even been given an angel that was struggling with the news herself.

Errant thoughts continued to assault me like waves crashing against glass pieces that sometimes scattered the shore. Again and again I was beaten until it was commonplace and expected. Even surrounded by sand, far from the sea, I felt like I was drowning.

Bogged down by the entire situation and had to slow my pace.

I had been looking for Sakura and Sai for a few minutes, lost in my own thoughts, not really paying much attention to my surroundings.

It didn't really matter to me anyway. I felt like I was pretending to look for Sakura. Just going through the motions, because I didn't care anymore if I found her or not.

What would I say if I found her anyway? Nothing about me or my own feelings for her like Tenten had suggested… That wouldn't get any results from her. The only thing I could say, would be to tell her not to marry Hyuga, because Tenten was already in love with him.

But, I just didn't think I could do it.

I didn't want to.

It hurt to think the words, let alone say them aloud, and certainly not to her. She'd have no compassion, especially not if I said it to her after tonight. I'd only solidify her decision. Out of spite, then again maybe not... Sakura had never been a spiteful person before I left.

I knew I should be concentrating a little more, searching for signs of Sakura's pink head of hair or listening for the sound of her voice, but I couldn't focus.

How could my life get so twisted up in the span of one evening?

Laughter and music from a small shinobi bar leaked from the building I passed. I wasn't sure if the billowing smoke atop it was from them or from the adjacent restaurant that looked like it had long since closed its doors for the night. I eyed one of the men outside who was nursing a beer and a cigarette. He seemed harmless, and mostly ignored my presence as I walked past.

Good thing we're allies, otherwise I would have never felt safe enough to have even one beer outside Konoha, let alone the ungodly number I had consumed tonight.

I smirked bitterly. That was how it all started, wasn't it?

Drink to forget. I said that to her.

My idea.

Damn it! I walked a little further before I realized, I honestly didn't care.

I didn't care anymore. Sakura was gone.

This mission was pointless.

And Tenten…

Teeth clenching in annoyance, I knew where she would be. Or more likely, who she would be with.

I could see it in his face before I left the bar on this useless hunt. He would try to talk to her, possibly more. Would he kiss her?

He acted like he was noble, but who's to say he wouldn't just use her and leave, breaking her even more than he already had.

And at the moment, I couldn't do anything about it. No matter how much I wanted him to just back off, or drop dead.

Heh. No.

She wanted him. She wanted… at least the chance to confess to him that she loved him. And, I knew I couldn't stop her.

Some sick part of me actually wanted her to succeed.

For her own happiness, because I wanted that, for Tenten to be happy.

But that desire was growing increasingly smaller, being overshadowed by a stronger part of me that wanted her for myself.

Hell! I was still reeling from all that happened tonight and the possibility of something more real growing from it.

An actual relationship with her, as her boyfriend… Then eventually, something more, lovers, marriage, all that.

I was selfish and I wanted it. I wanted it all with her, but I couldn't scare her, so I tried to play down my own feelings. But it was true. I had realized that I fallen in love with her.

And now here I was, forced to act like I didn't care. It was like my hands were tied. All I could do was wait.

Wait and hope… that when the morning came, it wasn't over for me, or for us, what we could be. Not yet.

Finally coming to the end of a small street, I decided I was done with this charade.

"Damn it, Tenten. You have no idea what you've done to me, without even trying too." I let out a long breath of air. "I'm so fucked," I murmured to myself as I stopped walking and leaned against the closest building.

Looking aroundI realized I was alone, but still, I was glad I was in the shadow of the building, because suddenly all I could see was her and him together. It hit me like one of the dobe's rasengan.

My legs became unsteady, and I slid back along the rough stone surface to the ground as the visions of her and Hyuga became more and more real in my mind.

Neji and Tenten.

He was a fool, but tonight, I could see that he was finally seeing her as she was. As a woman, not just a mere kunoichi in battle.

Maybe I was the fool, after all. What hope did I have?

Of course, he'd accept her.

He'd be stupid not to. Even if he didn't love her now, she loved him and Sakura didn't. She was his best friend, if he couldn't accept her, who could he love?

I don't care what he might say, but even Neji wants his wife to love him…

From the shadows of the narrow Suna alleyway, I studied the situation.

Neji had to get married. He was pretty much being forced to it. Sakura was a convenient match. Tenten and I were unfortunate casualties of their engagement.

My conclusion, with Neji, is that he didn't think he would ever have the luxury of choosing his bride, being a branch member of the Hyuga clan and all.

I've been on his squad long enough to learn a thing or two about him, and he wasn't as self-sacrificing as Tenten and everyone else made him out to be.

If the opportunity arose for him to be happy, he'd grab it.

That's why I was so shaken.

Tenten had proved herself as a kunoichi and his best friend. The only thing keeping him from marrying her would have to be clan politics and the fact that he was still unsure of her feelings for him.

This was where my hope lied… If he would still blindly follow family protocol, over all other things, like Tenten for instance, then I still had a chance with her.

I wondered what it would have been like had I been in the same situation. Sighing I answered my own question, "I would've fought for you, Tenten. I would've made my family accept you. It's his loss if he sticks with her."

Then sadly, I breathed in to steady my wildly beating heart. Sitting on the cold ground, I was aware of the pressure in my chest, and the burning in my throat. It felt like my heart was bleeding and that's when I knew just how far gone I was. Covering my eyes with one hand, I tried to push away the despair and cling to my last thread of hope. Fisting my hair, I pulled it taught with frustration and annoyance at falling in love yet again.

"I hope he does stay with her. Then I can have you for myself. I know that's a shitty thing to say, but I don't want to lose her…. Kami." My voice shook.

I tried to calm my breathing, and smoothed my hands over my face.

I felt tears prick my eyes, and forced the sensation away. In place of the pain, I attached something I knew all too well. Something darker. Something that had become second nature to me all those years I had been away.

Anger.

Rage.

It bubbled and crawled beneath my skin and threatened to take me over. Lifting myself from the ground with swift movements, I dusted the dirt from my clothes and blamed everything from myself to the dobe, to Hyuga, and even Tenten…

The anger served me well, because I quickly found myself nearing the hotel, wondering how I got there so fast. Good, I could sleep for a bit and tomorrow…

Whatever happens, happens I suppose…

I turned the corner and saw her, though.

It wasn't the head of pink I was supposed to be looking for, but Tenten… and Hyuga.

I was so surprised that I didn't even think to hide, not that it mattered they were far too lost in one another. I sneered as I focused in on them and calmed down enough to hide my chakra signature.

He had her pressed against the hotel wall, and was talking to her, but I couldn't make out the words. It was enough to activate my sharingan, out of annoyance. Suddenly, every detail was magnified to me. His hand playing with the hair that framed her face. Her noticeable blush. The speeding up of her breathing, and the chime of her laugh.

She looked so happy.

Until…

All of a sudden, she pushed him away and my heart jumped into my throat, as hope leaped in my chest. But it was quickly dashed as she messed his hair and though he glared at her, it was a look filled with something that I doubt Tenten could see.

But I could. He was finally noticing what she could offer him, that Sakura never could. He was contemplating her as a woman, and not just a friend.

Damn it!

I quickly turned around stalked off in the other direction, letting go of the sharingan, but not the rage. Fuck!

Fucking Suna! I fucking hate this place!

Hyuga!

Fucking Konoha! Everything!

And most of all, my fucking stupidity!

Fucking emotions! I hate them!

… and her for doing this to me!

No nevermind, it was my fault for being stupid enough to let her in.

With both hands, I pulled at the dark strands that had fallen in front of my face again as I had earlier, and walked, trying to regain control of my emotions. I trekked through the night with no destination in mind, just anywhere but here.

Visions of Tenten sprung up. Brown eyes, happy and smiling again. I compared them to the green of Sakura's. In the end, I was sure, I would have to admire both from afar.

Sakura was set in her ways, and Tenten…

I couldn't deny her the chance to be happy.

She deserved it, but damn it! I could make her happy, if she just let me, I know I could!

And anyway…

Hyuga may be a genius, but he could still choose his family…

It's not over yet.

I could still fight for her, and I would, but right now, I had to destroy something!

Fuck!

Unknown to the angry Uchiha who wandered off, there was another who had seen the entire encounter as well.

Sakura.

Her eyes were narrowed in thought and her arms were crossed as she tried to make sense of it all.

Neji and Tenten looked like lovers the way they had been standing. By body language alone, that was how it appeared, and it didn't matter how much they had had to drink, you couldn't fake that. But where did Sasuke come in? Was he just a means to an end? Why then did he look so angry? Was Tenten just playing with them both?

Neji pushed Tenten away from the hotel with a smile on his face, one Sakura had never seen. Though she was curious, she decided instead to put on a smile and walk into the hotel.

The old woman at the desk, saw her and grinned, remembering her from before. "Are those two gone yet?" she spoke with a laugh.

"Hmm?"

"The young couple that was outside? Had to send them away cuz they were making too much noise."

Sakura's eye twitched but somehow she managed to answer. "Yes, Ma'am. I believe they just left."

The woman nodded good naturedly. "Oh good. I was afraid I was going to have to find them another room and I'm all sold out. I hate turning customers away."

Sakura strained to smile at the woman and said goodnight the best she could before returning to her own empty room. Sakura wondered for a moment where Hinata was, but as she paced the small room, a strategy of her own was beginning to form.

She remembered her own training, and how she wasn't just some useless girl that waited for something to occur, she acted.

Apparently, Tenten was in love with Neji, her fiance. And it appeared that Sasuke was too, if she went by the way he had acted tonight.

She knew him, he wasn't that good of an actor, so it had to be real.

And then seeing Neji with her just now…

Sakura came to the decision that she had to fight back because Tenten had stolen her man's heart.

She would get him back…

Changing into her night clothes, Sakura laid down and turned to look out the window.

Tomorrow…

Tomorrow she would be ready to enact her plan.

Tonight she needed her rest.

But in all truth, she knew, he would be hers.

A/N: I am so sorry for disappearing, but I have new found inspiration with this story thanks to a certain scorpio. ) I am determined to finish this, For Neji, I will do it... LOL Thanks to all the reviewers and everyone who's read the story so far. I really do appreciate it. Also, I've been thinking of drawing a few scenes, so tell me what scene you'd like to see, and I'll post it up when it's done.

Hopefully on my profile or go to

steenta dot deviantart dot com

Also, shamelessly plugging my NejiTen story based on Chapter 614, called My Tenten, Her Neji, I promise if your a NejiTen fan, it is better than what Kishi wrote... Okay maybe not but you might want to check it out anyway.