Intertwined
Written by BokchoiBaboy

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto
A/N: I know you all hate NejiSaku. To be honest, I DO TOO! XD I just wasn't sure who else to use with Neji, and NejiSaku instantly came to mind.

But yes, this is still angsty. Don't get me wrong. XD

Sequel to Intoxicating

Neji's POV.


Out of Reach
"Don't come any closer to me. I can get up, damn it."

"I hit all your vital chakra points. I need to make sure..."

"I told you; don't come any closer to me! I can get up, damn it. This spar isn't over."

"There won't be every time where you can get up like that."

"Then you don't know me well, do you? You haven't paid attention to anything all the years, have you? I CAN GET UP. I don't give up. And I never will."


I stared in surprise when I saw Tenten walking down the street with Uchiha Sasuke, the two speaking nonchalantly of ninja business. I don't know why it surprised me so much to see her with another guy; I guess I was just so used to her being there for me. I lost count of the days when I didn't see her. It was making me worried; even being with Sakura couldn't bolt down that weird feeling at the pit of my stomach. A weird feeling overcame me when I saw the two ninja laughing. What the hell is wrong me?

I'm in love with Sakura.

Right?

"Neji?"

I turned and faced my girlfriend, well, fiancée, Haruno Sakura. I let off a tiny smile, and she took my large hand into her delicate ones. The weird feeling I had felt when I had seen Tenten faded when I felt our fingers intertwine.

"Hey, it's Sasuke," Sakura pointed out.

I nodded indifferently. I didn't want her to know that I was looking at Tenten; Sakura could get quite monstrous when she was angry. And frankly, I wasn't in the mood to deal with a hard sore on my cheek and broken bones in my body.

"I need to go spar with Tenten now."

I noticed her raise an eyebrow with curiosity, but she let go of me nonetheless, and nodded.

"Yes. I need to go to Tsunade-shishou with Naruto and Sasuke, anyway. I think we have a new mission."

My heart fell. I felt so insecure when she wasn't around me.

I would have never felt this way before if Tenten hadn't left on that mission that took her a year to complete. Before, I would feel safe around Tenten, knowing that we both had each other's backs. Tenten was the only one that knew my one blind spot, how to defeat me, and how to read my one-worded answers like a children's book. I felt stupid, really. When she left, I knew she was expecting me to make a promise or a loving statement, to tell her that I was waiting and that I always would be. But, I couldn't. Those words weren't in my vocal vocabulary. Even though I knew that I felt that she was more than a teammate to me, I still couldn't bring myself to admit it. I felt pathetic for being scared of commitment, or scared that all I felt was stronger than friends, but not yet there to love her.

I wasn't ready for some intimacy.

But when she was out of Konoha, I instantly regretted not saying what I wanted to say.

After that, I was colder and more arrogant. Everyday, I'd watch the sunset and hope to see her there. Consequently, on one of those days, I ran into Sakura. Miraculously, she was not a fangirl of mine, and we had a rather decent conversation of "impatience". She had told me she was sick and tired of waiting for Sasuke, and I had told her that I wasn't sure what I felt about waiting for Tenten to return.

Soon, it was every day that she came to see me while I watched the sunset. Soon, it was every day that I could talk to her about anything, everything. She would hear me out.

Then, I don't know what the hell happened to me, but Tenten was pushed away. And, I think I fell in love with Sakura. So, we went out, and we're engaged now.

But I feel like we're both hiding in a weird, hidden shell. We're using each other for the protection for fear of rejection.

I can't help to feel like we're both hurting the people we want to protect.


"Well, you're late," Tenten whispered in a huff.

I stared at her, and I felt that same, weird feeling I had before when I had seen her earlier in the day with Sasuke.

"Why were you with Uchiha?"

I didn't intend to say that, nor did I intend to make it sound like I was scolding her. In return, she gave me a deep scowl and got up from her place on the forest floor, her giant scroll at the ready.

"Why would you care? Let's just spar and get it over with. I have a date."

I don't know why I suddenly got angry with her when she used that tone with me. I always used that with her, so it'd only be fair, right?

But it just seemed like things didn't fit the way things were.


Normal POV
"Sasuke, will you be able to make it for dinner? Naruto's treat," Sakura said.

Sasuke looked at his female teammate with an intensity that she had never felt before, and shrugged indifferently.

"If it's ramen, then I have a date."

"A date?"

"Yes, Sakura, a date," he said exasperatedly.

Sakura stared at him for a few moments, and let off a soft smile. She was in love with Neji. She wasn't supposed to feel this way.

"Oh, alright. I'll be sure to tell Naruto, then. We'll...miss you."

Sasuke shrugged and began walking away from her, beginning to grow irritated with her. She was Neji's fiancée.

"Sakura, you're Neji's fiancée. Why would it matter if I weren't there? We're friends, yeah. Don't make it sound like you want more. Besides, you're hurting more people than yourself right now," he said.

After saying such a mouthful, Sasuke inhaled deeply. Saying so much wasn't his thing. He supposed hanging around Tenten did that to him.

"I...what?"

Sasuke shook his head and continued walking away. Every step he took seemed to bring him regret, but he knew better than to let even more emotions get the better of him.

A part of him wished that she would follow him, hug him, and tell him to stop.

But that Sakura was long gone.


Neji's POV
I stared as Tenten lay facedown on the forest floor, her hands tightly clenched in fists. The leaves around her swirled as she breathed, dirt and other Earthly minerals flying as her warm breath moved them. I began to take a step forward, but I stopped when I heard her malicious tone.

"I told you before, damn it, not to help me up."

I stared at her softly, but didn't move forwards any farther.

"Why are you doing this?"

I didn't mean for it to sound like a whisper. I didn't mean for it to sound like I wanted more from her. She was my friend, my teammate; of course I would be concerned for her welfare and safety.

"No," she murmured as she got up, dirt sticking to her face from her wet sweat, "Why are you doing this?"

I stared at her for a few moments, but no words seemed to form. I didn't know what to say; I didn't know what I should say!

I am in love with Haruno Sakura.

I am not in love with Tenten.

Right?

"Right, of course you don't know. 'What the hell am I doing?' you ask yourself every day, Neji. You ask yourself about all your damn mistakes."

"Who wouldn't wonder about their mistakes?" I shot back.

She seemed taken aback by my harsh tone, but continued to glare at me nonetheless. I wasn't used to seeing this side of her. Before, she would always be so kind, gentle, and caring. Before, she'd be sure I didn't get too full of myself. She wouldn't use profanity unless she was caught in the bad moment.

She wouldn't reject me.

"I got over my mistakes a long time ago, Neji."

"You can never get over your mistakes, Tenten. You can't run," I said.

At this, I was surprised when she shook her head and let off that innocent smile of hers.

Everything about her was intoxicating. It was so wrong of me, to think like that when I was engaged. It wasn't right. But it felt like nothing was right when Tenten wasn't around.

It felt like Tenten was...

I was brought out of my thoughts when she spoke once more, this time in a more gentle and hurt tone.

"I got over you, didn't I?"

She smiled and began walking away, her body toppling over from her extreme fatigue. I wanted so much to go after her, catch her, and tell her everything was going to be okay.

I felt that my world was toppling down around me. Everything was crashing and burning, and I stood in the middle, alone.

Sakura wasn't there for me like I thought she would be.

Instead, I was alone, watching as Tenten walked farther and farther away from me.

She was out of reach.

I was too selfish to not realize what I had in front of me.

I was too selfish to not wait forever.

I'm a monster. I'm engaged! Why the hell should I care that Tenten got over me?!

I have Sakura, damn it; I have Sakura!

But it felt like it wasn't enough.

It felt like Sakura, too, wasn't completely in love with me like we both thought she was.

I made the biggest mistake of my life...

And now I lost the only person that could ever make me feel complete.

The only person that I loved is completely out of my reach.

And it is my fault.


A/N: Well, I think that's better. Something this lengthy shouldn't be part of my drabbles, but whatever, haha. I'm not sure I should make this two-parter a separate story, but if you'd like me to, just drop in a review.

I hope you liked this. I think I put in enough of Neji's suffering at the end. ...I think.

Let's see. Tenten sorta got the guy, sorta. But she moved on, in a way. Ahaha.

I PROMISE I'LL WRITE A FLUFFYFLUFFY NEJITEN FIC/ONESHOT.

Just because this two-parter totally depressed me, haha.

Though, it might take a while. I'm still trying to find a good storyline. If you want to throw in some ideas that you want to see or whatever, feel free to review. I don't check my email often. XD