A/N:

Shout outs and Quick thanks: , luckycharms, Hasagashi-chan, innesgirl, xxBoneBabexx, sasusakublossom26, lil shan, luv4labs, HeavensPheonix561, Mi3staR, wildreader1475 and all the others that have recently, continuously, or previously reviewed. (Your comments I swear, bring a smile to my face no matter how many times I read them so, thank you all!)

Dedication:This chapter is dedicated to you wildreader1475, thanks for being the 70th reviewer and I hope you enjoy this chapter. (That goes for the rest of you too.)

Story Notes: Chapter contains, tears and it took me for ever to write it because of my schedule, but, here it is. Please read the Author's Note at the bottom its Important!

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine but the sweet, lovely drama.

Chapter 15

"True tears"

Sakura woke to find herself on a familiar bed, in a familiar room, and with the cold feel of a warm towel pressed to her forehead. Blinking a couple of times, she brought her surroundings slowly into focus and began to stretch out her legs.

She squinted at the sun that tried to peak through the window and onto her pillow. She squeezed her eyes and turned her head when the heat seemed to only increase at her, from her comfortable cocoon.

Her mind felt awfully foggy, like it was protecting her from remembering something that would, in someway, harm her. She stared at the ceiling and forced her brain to remember the details. Party, Friends, Happy, Cake…Tenten…Sasuke…

Her eyes unconsciously reopened as her mind briskly shed a light on the confusion, like a painter with his brush stokes, she slowly got a picture. Shock, betrayel, sadness... it all made sense now. What she felt and why she felt it…so much more sense now.

She stayed in that position for around twenty minutes before she heard the door open and a person walked in. Before he even spoke, Sakura knew who was in the room with her, "Are you awake?" he said softly in her direction, and at the voice, she almost cried.

Almost, being the key word in that sentence. She had trusted that voice, believed in him too, hell she even loved it, and yet that wasn't enough. Not for him at least. She wished she was sleeping like he had assume seconds before, because in a place remote and far away from this nightmare she was currently living, her heart would be safe.

Did he really do this to her? Or was this just that of a long meaning less dream?

As she faked sleep, Sasuke walked up to his bed and sat near her head. He slowly lifted her small hands into his own, and placed them on his lap. "All I ask of you is to hear me out. I don't expect you to forgive me because in all honesty I was at fault too; But not for the reason that you probably think. When I left you and the group to go use the bathroom, that's exactly what I did, I left for my bedroom."

"When I came out she was standing there waiting for me. Just standing there casually like it wasn't unusual to be in a place without being invited. And I swear to this, I did not invite her! Karin works with my family's company as one of our business partners. That's all she is to me, and nothing more."

Sakura pulled at the bed sheets through her fingers with the hand that was lying by her side. She wanted to scream, do something, but all she managed to do was say, "Then explain what Tenten saw," Kami, how scratchy and dry her voice sounded. Like she had been crying, and Sakura knew the last thing she'd want him to remember-if they truly were over now, no longer an item-was the image of seeing her cry.

"What Tenten saw was only part of what was really going on." He assured her, looking so lost, sad and desperate that it almost turned pitiful. "She was all over me I did nothing to provoke it, and I even tried to get her off of me. She kept talking about some party her family was hosting, and to invite my parents to come and attend it. We didn't think about meeting up with just the two of us, or leaving the party to go somewhere and fool around. I'm sorry if you feel like I betrayed you, but I promise Sakura, that's not how it is. Please say you'll at least consider still talking to me."

She opened her eyes and stared at the white painted ceiling again-just as she had after first coming to consciousness. The warmth of the sun beamed near her feet and she quickly hid them, under the comforter. As a pregnant pause filled the room, Sakura thought about Tenten and her reaction to what she'd seen. She thought of her best friend and the trust that she harbored for the older women.

She loved Tenten, trusted her with her life even, so why did her heart so badly want to choose the man? Unlike all the other times where Tenten's trust and logic came first, why was this time so different? Why couldn't she just walk from the room right now and leave his sorry two-timing butt behind?

"You swear Tenten misunderstood and that this is a just a big confusion?" She asked while carefully sitting up and swinging her legs to the side.

He stared into her eyes, his normal calm and collected resolve melting with each movement of the clocks handle. "I swear on my life!" he declared, distress clear in his posture. "I'm so sorry about this." He repeated his regrets for the 50th time since the accident, his eyes boring into hers-conveying how utterly helpless he felt at not clearly being able to portray he's feelings.

"I believe you," She finally whispered after staring at his face in concentrated silence. The light in the room now, giving him the presence of an angel made it that much easier to trust him: to believe in him again, even if for the last time. "It's ok now, I understand."

Sasuke closed his eyes firmly, portraying his losing battle against his emotions. Why was it so hard to remain calm around her? He felt like just pulling her into his arms, and forgetting all of this: whatever it was. To take all of yesterday and its drama away, to give her the best 18th birthday any women ever had. Because, as hard as it was to believe, he really did care for her, so much that vast array of emotions were always ready to burst at the seems when she was near. It was because he cared…it was all for her.

Sakura smile shyly and took his hand in hers. She had to admit that all of this time, some part of her still hoped something was off to the situation. To see Sasuke breakdown so heavily in front of her, that was all the proof she needed.

This was one of the few times when she was able to see his vulnerability, open and honest, just as it was. When she was reminded that he was just as human-and thus just as viable to get hurt and make mistakes-as she was.

"It's ok." She whispered again, this time pulling him in a tight hug, very unwilling to take a chance and let go.

In fact, she hoped she never had to…

Neji walked into Tenten's bedroom with a glass of orange juice and a tray filled with her breakfast. His girlfriend was still asleep in her room, all of yesterday's performance finally having taken its toll. She had been passed out since the moment he attacked Sasuke at the party yesterday, she hadn't awoken since. He doubted she even stirred!

And afraid as he happened to have been at that moment, the small ups and downs of her chest kept him calm. Calm enough to get her the hell out of there, and apologize to the guest for the strangest (and Neji did mean strangest) turn of events.

Un-capable of helping her undress without fear of waking her (and possibly getting slapped for being a pervert), Neji had left her on her bed to sleep. He didn't dare go back to his family compound for a change of clothes for himself either—even if the musty smell of sweat and blood had started to irritate his normal good hygiene-, and besides he hadn't felt very comfortable leaving her by herself so late at night..

At least when they were together he could protect her. Without him there who would take his place as her shield? And although Neji knew very well what kind of women Tenten was, he still secretly loved the idea of her being helpless and for him to come at her rescue. For now, even if secretly, he'd just wait in the shadows for her silent plea. For that call, that although inexistent to others, was loud and clear to his ears, and his alone.

He set the glass of orange juice and the tray of food next to her head on the small table situated to her left. Before leaving the quiet room filled with nothing but the sound of her heavy breathing, Neji kissed her forehead and walked out. It was a habit of his now, to kiss her forehead when they were to be apart.

That way her smell would follow him, wherever he'd be.

He was later reminded of the bruise on his cheek as his shirt grazed it roughly. Although he had taken a shower before falling asleep the night before and wearing one of Tenten's overly large t-shirts, he still found himself unpleased with his state. The bruise that Sasuke left on his cheek was part of the reason but there was something else; something else that he just didn't know yet.

Getting under the warm shower head Neji leaned onto the tiled wall and allowed the water to soothe away at his aching muscles. He closed his eyes at the comfort that the steam gave on his mind. Systematically, he began to wash his body and hair without paying much attention, his mind wandering to a different issue that seemed to slip his mind in the chaos of the night.

He had forgotten about Hinata! That's it! She had certainly been at the party too. How on earth could he have forgotten about his own cousin?

It was at the point of hysterics (well as close to hysterics as a Hyuga can be), that Neji finally realized that the only way Hinata could have left the party was with one of her friends. Or maybe one of his friends took her home…? Either way, she was very safe at home in their compound this very moment. Neji made himself promise to call as soon as he could to make sure.

Stepping out of the shower after around fifteen minutes, he toweled himself dry and wrapped the towel unsteadily around his waist.

Walking out of the bathroom, he smiled when he saw the figure sitting on the bed rubbing her eyes. "Hey, sleepy," he said while walking up to her, hardly taking note that his hair was still wet and he was wetting her carpet.

She looked up at him in surprise, but-to his delight—she didn't seem at all uncomfortable with him being there in only a towel. "Hey." She greeted back silently. He did not miss the fact that her words came out slowly or that her eyes seemed sad, that all the light and radiance from her had died.

He knew exactly the cause for her state, and Neji was a bit unsure on how to tackle the subject. Should he convince her that everything would be okay, or pretend like yesterday never happened?

In the middle of his debating, Tenten spoke up for him. "She hates me doesn't she?"

Surprised that she was being so straight forward with this, unlike him who was afraid that any mention of Sakura or the birthday party would break her completely, he grabbed the t-shirt he had borrowed and quickly placed it on. He disappeared in the bathroom, and came back with his jeans on. After tying his hair back in his low signature ponytail, he sat with her on the bed.

"How in the world could she ever hate you?" He hated to do it, hurt her that is. But if that's the best way she wanted to get through this, then they were going to talk, seriously.

She scoffed and gazed at him. "Wouldn't you hate me? If I ruined one of the most important moments of your life, in front of all your friends, all over a stupid …well girl, wouldn't you hate me?"

"Well that's an unintelligent question." He grabbed the tray of food, and proceeded to feed her. Tenten silently ate her breakfast without argument; she wasn't up to the stake at challenging Neji today anyway. "First thing, I would NEVER hate you, over anything. Second, what kind of friend hates another for trying to protect them? I certainly wouldn't. (Truth be told, he actually would since he hated getting help, from anyone. But, if telling a little white lie would help Tenten feel better, than he'd do it.)

"….did she call?" She asked after swallowing. "No not yet," He answered honestly, "But I'm sure she'll call later, it's still pretty early."

The rest of her meal consisted of nothing but awkwardness and silents.

After returning from the kitchen and placing the dishes in the dish washer, Neji came back to find Tenten still in her previous position.

He lifted her by the waist and lifted her from the bed in irritation. The fabric of her party dress danced as he carried her bridal style to the living room unwillingly. "Let go of me, Neji! I swear if you don't let me go…"

He carefully sat her on the couch and began to place the heels he had taken off of her the night before. "Hey! Quit it, why are you putting on my shoes for me?" she tried to wiggle her feet away but his grip was too strong.

"We are going to see her right now. Both of you will speak of this together, as friends. All will be well, and I will have my girlfriend back. I refuse to have you in this mood forever." He finally got the hand of the clasp, and managed to get both wedges on safely.

He left her sitting there long enough to get both of their cell phones, his car keys and their jackets.

"Do you even know where she is?" She asked him as she gazed at the floor, "Or if she'll even speak to me?"

"She'll speak to you." He promised, purposefully ignoring her first question in fear that if he told her, she wouldn't give this meeting a chance.

Tenten walked out of her apartment after putting on her coat, she had just woken up, didn't even brush her teeth or take a shower yet, and already she was about to start the drama all over again. The way things were starting to look, she doubted she would even be able to go to church today. Sundays were always her day of recovering.

She didn't know why she was even agreeing to this, maybe it was to talk to Sakura and make sure she was okay. Make sure that she was dealing with the break up well. She didn't mind if Sakura hated her for the rest of her life for what she did, usually they all had problems letting go of someone they trusted. All that mattered was that her friend was loved, and cherished respectively; because every woman, her friends and her included, deserved only the best of the best.

Neji closed the door behind him and held her hand as they made they're way out of the building and into his car. She glanced at the sky, and at the dark clouds that floated in it. It was going to rain. Usually her Sundays were sunny and full of laughter. It was ironic now that she thought of it, how this Sunday will stand out from all the others. This Sunday will undeniably be a Sunday full of tears; true tears.

"I can not believe this!" Tenten screamed. "Your still with him!" The very first thing she said after Sasuke opened the door and Sakura appeared from behind him was this statement. From the very moment Neji parked his car, she had refused to even come up there. It was only by sheer force that Neji was able to get her to stand where she stood this very moment.

"Tenten…" Sakura said sadly.

"Its true isn't it?" Tenten growled angrily. At the awkward silence that fell on the four of them, she knew Sasuke and Sakura had gotten back together.

"I'm leaving." She declared, her bangs covering her eyes. She barely took a step forward before Neji pulled her back. "At least hear her out." Neji whispered in her ear. "We already came this far."

Sakura stepped back and Tenten came in the large condo, hesitantly at first, but gradually she was fully inside. Sasuke excused himself along with Neji so the girls could be alone, not that Tenten wanted to be left alone with Sakura in the first place. She couldn't take seeing her get sucked in by his lies.

Sakura closed the door firmly behind them, and leaned against it. She looked at Tenten's back after taking in a deep breathe. She knew what her friend's silent's meant, so she began with her explanation.

"We talked and he explained everything to me. He wasn't making any advances on the girl; she was coming on to him. She just showed up at the party unannounced to see Sasuke. Her name is Karin and she works for his family's company and I guess she's had a crush on him for a while now, so she came to invite him to a party she was hosting. Sasuke never lied to me or any of us, she just showed up and you happened to have seen them together. Sasuke has assured me that nothing was going on and…I believe him."

Tenten turned around, disbelief written everywhere on her face. "How could you believe that? How on earth could you sit here and take all this crap? All of his crap?"

"It's not crap!" Sakura defended her voice rising too as she got off from the door. "It's all true Tens, all of it is true!"

Tenten shook her head and dropped her cell phone on the couch.

"How? How is it that everything you just told me sound like complete bull? If he was so okay with telling you who she was, what she told him, isn't it odd that you didn't know about her until now? Isn't it odd that of all days, dates, time, it was on your birthday!"

"If no one invited her, why did she show up at the exact same time when he left to go use the bathroom?" She stopped when she saw the look that crossed Sakura's face. Her rosette hair covered her face and Tenten could see her trembling.

"Sakura he is lying to you." She said, her own eyes misting. "Nothing makes sense. Ask anyone and they'll tell you! I knew from the very begin-"

"Exactly! From the start you never liked Sasuke, you never like the thought of us being together, or the fact that we met online! How do I know your not just saying this to…to break us apart!"

Tenten choked on the air like she just got punched in the stomach and all the air was knocked out of her. She could hardly breathe. Hearing those words coming from her mouth was so painful, so agonizing.

"BECAUSE WERE BEST FRIENDS!" She screamed. "We've been there for each other for as long as I can remember, why would I throw that all away now just for a guy? For a guy that doesn't even deserve you!"

"Tell me," She suddenly alleged quietly. "How would you feel if I said all of this about Neji?"

Tenten's eyes widened. "What?"

"If I told you the kind of reputation your boyfriend has had as a playboy, would you believe me? If there was ever a time where you where in my situation, what would you do?"

"I would believe my friend!" Tenten said, "If you told me right now something about Neji that I didn't like, I'd dump him right now!" She ignored the way her heart squeezed when she said those words, and the tears that were falling silently down her face.

"See something? You know how you don't believe me or Sasuke?" Sakura wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I don't believe you. I can't believe that you would just believe me like that, without even talking to him or anything. I just don't believe it. I love Sasuke, I told you that before, and Tenten when you love someone, you can't just erase them from your life that easily."

"What…what are you saying then?" She asked her. This was getting absolutely no where! Neither of them wanted to back down from what they believed and this was really starting to be ridiculous.

"…Maybe we should stop being friends for a while."

She had to blink six times before she realized that those words came from Sakura. That she had actually suggested such a thing. "Wait, what? Stop being friends?...Over this?"

"Not forever, just until we can understand one another, when I can understand you and you to me. I hate to do this, believe me. But I don't think we can be friends this mad at each other anyway. So just as a break from all of this, and once we cool down we'll…"

"Get back together?" Tenten sneered. Sakura remained silent and more tears fell to the ground. Tenten took her cell from the couch and walked to the door. Her hand paused on the door knob.

"Ever since 7th grade, I really thought we'd be friends forever. Never did I think a guy of all things would get in between us. I get what you're saying though, you love him and right now he's the one thing you need in your life, but I hope you remember all the fun we had before him. Before either of us had boyfriends and we were still single. No matter what happens from now on, whether we talk again, or never become friends over this, know that you would always be the first person I confided in, the first person I ever truly considered a "best friend." For your sake, I hope your right and he loves you. I hope…I hope he makes you happy."

She chocked up at the end and bolted from the door. She didn't even remember closing it. She raced down the stairs and on the last step she ran into a person's chest. She squinted through the tears to see Neji's face staring back at her in concern.

"It was a bad idea," She said, "I shouldn't have come here."

Tenten ran and pushed past Sasuke to the parking lot, Neji right behind her. "Hey! What happened? Why are you crying?"

"Please, can you just take me home?"

Neji said nothing and quickly got in the drivers seat. The drive back to her house was really quiet. No one even bothered turning on the radio. After passing through the gates and parking under her window like always, Neji turned off the ignition. As he was about to get out of the car with her, Tenten stopped him.

"Wait. I want to be alone today. It might be selfish of me but…can you? For just today, can I be alone?"

Neji stared at her solemnly before placing a strand of hair behind her ear. "That's completely fine. I just thought you might have wanted company but, yeah, I understand."

She nodded and smiled forcibly at him, gratefully. Before she left the car she kissed his cheek and whispered, "See you at school tomorrow?"

"Sure,"

She waved once as he drove away. It wasn't even three yet, and the sun had already disappeared. Somehow it hadn't rained, the sky was still dark ,but, no rain.

She walked up slowly to her room number and it wasn't until after she let herself in her apartment, the reality of what had just transpired, finally having hit her, that she let herself break down. She threw herself on the bed and started to cry.

Just as the tears fell on her pillow, thunder clashed and it started to rain. 'Cry,' she told the heavens. 'Cry and weep with me, Shed true tears for all that is wrong with this world, for all the suffering and pain that exists. Cry!' Obediently, thunder clashed again, and the rain fell even harder.

A/N:

Story bits: Did you like, was it too sappy for you? Leave me a review and tell me what you think.

Here is a preview of the next chapter:

"You don't need to force yourself for me."-Neji

What's been going on with me: I'm pretty sure most of you know that I'm taking algebra 1 Honors right now, and let me tell you its is NOT easy. Luckily though I'm passing with an A (Yay all of the studying paid off) I personally strive to type a little each day, as much as it is, and it doesn't sometimes work like that. Plus, now I'm staying after school too and everything's just a big mess.

I've been thinking of a new way to update new chapters for my stories. What do you guys say to just typing all the chapters at once so that I can regularly update every week? I have all the story figured out already so all it is typing. Because honestly I hate letting you guys hang like this.

Or should I just continue with this method, and update when I can? Leave me your thoughts in your reviews.

Random: Other than all of that, I love you're reviews; you're support and all the faves that this story gets. This was my ever first and most successful so thanks for making it possible.

You made it this far to read the authors note, think you can spare a few minutes to review?

Hoping so very much to update again soon (lol,)

Animehostess.