Dedication: Rivera

I've noticed that some of the old reviewers no longer review, please make my day guys and review anyway whether u liked it or not, or if you don't really feel up to it.

Disclaimer; Most characters are all property of Kishimoto. I only own the plot and a few minor characters.

Chapter 18

"Crossing the Line"

3 weeks after the incident…

Hinata Hyuga stood near the west wall of Konoha University watching as the other students piled out of their cars and headed to their respected classes. Her eyes caught sight of one of her friends from AD Lit who gave her a strange look before waving to her and walking over. "Hey Hinata," Lisa announced with a shy smile. "Why aren't you in class yet?" Hinata rubbed her hands together and played with her car keys to distract herself. "Um, I'm waiting for a friend."

Lisa smiled slyly, "Is it a guy?" Hinata blushed unsure what to say, but before she even opened her mouth Lisa hit her on the shoulder and grinned. "Just fooling with you Hina," She laughed. "I'll see you around!" She sang and waved before disappearing into the building. Hinata continued with her weight pressed against the wall and 12 minutes passed before she looked around dejectedly. 'Guess she's not coming today…again.' She took out a phone and punched in a number before a male picked up the phone.

"Hey, is she there?" The man immediately asked.

The dark blue haired women shook her head sadly even though she knew he couldn't see her. "I'm very sorry but she didn't show up again." The man on the other line felt a knot grow tighter in his chest and it remained quiet between them until finally he sighed heavily. "I see…"

At an attempt to cheer him up Hinata stated quickly, "But you can always try tomorrow and the next day after that…you know, until she does show! I mean, what's the point of giving up when-"

"I'm done Hinata-sama."

The tone of his voice got to her and her body registered what he alleged before her mind did. She stood in that same frozen position, shocked, scared, and confused while nearly choking on air. "W-what?" The question came out in one breathe.

"There's no point to this goose chase anymore. We've been at it for three weeks now and frankly I'm getting tired of running after someone who obviously just wants to be left alone."

"b-but," Hinata tried to reason, "She's incredibly hurt right now and I'm sur—"

"I'm hurting too, and apologizing isn't my best suite, but I'm trying."

Hinata didn't comment to this. It was in fact...the truth.

"Something came up Hinata-sama," the person on the other line stated. "I have to go." The line went dead before she could comment and suddenly, just like that, she didn't feel like going to class to hear her professor drown on and on about school crap.

So, Hinata Hyuga skipped her very first day of school.

Tenten Kurosaki came to her last class 5 minutes before it ended and she sighed heavily when Kakashi sensei dismissed his class. She looked around the room wearily, watching as the other students got their belongings and left to go run back to their lives off of campus. She ran her hand over her wet hair, still damp from a morning shower.

Slowly the students swarm out and she was the only one left in the room, seated in her seat. She gazed down at the only figure left in the classroom with her, silently watching what he would do. Kick her out? Stare at her in intimidation until she got up on her own and left?

She felt no energy or motivation to get up from her seat so it didn't really matter if he kicked her out or not. It's not like she was going anywhere. She'd probably just wander around like she did all the other times. She should've just stayed home, she scolded herself. What was the point of coming to class when you know it was going to end in less than 5 minutes from your arrival?

Oh yea, so it can serve as a reminder that your alive for a purpose. Not just to mope around your house eating junk food after junk food, feeling sorry for you're screwed up life. While wanting badly, oh so badly some kind reasoning for everything.

The mask wearing professor sat at his desk with his feet perched upon the table and a small orange book held firmly in his hands. She knew he saw her sitting there, but she could tell he didn't know what to say. Her eyes closed tightly willing the world to wash her away.

Because she however, couldn't forgot or ignore her problems so easily. Nothing felt right with the guilt that sat on her chest. It was weird because, a few nights ago as she was busy kicking him out of her life, she was positive that she wasn't wrong. That he was the only one at fault for trying to control her like all the other men who were once in her life.

The scene kept replaying in her head like a part from a horror movie, his choking her, yelling, him walking out. Tenten knew the situation had been beyond her at the time because of her anger and its control over her. Even if there had been a glimmer of her being wrong at the time, she knew it wouldn't have made much of a difference.

Tenten didn't like feeling guilty. It wasn't a nice feeling to have to wake up to in the mornings. Hinata continuously kept trying to talk to her. Trying to let her know how upset and broken Neji was, and trying to convince her to talk to him. Through text, phone calls, even emails! TCH! As if by hearing his voice she could stay this strong! As if by just thinking of him she could be the same women who kicked him out with a vengeance and not the lost, regretful mess she was now. As if!

Neji however, seemed to get that she didn't want anything to do with him, at least thought she didn't want anything to do with him. He didn't phone her, txt her, and although at first when she had forced herself out of bed to come to school he would be in the parking lot, both would go their separate ways without so much as a hello. He was being a lot more composed than she thought he'd be.

She shouldn't really be surprised though, right? Wasn't she the one that told him she didn't want to ever see or associate with him again? Yeah…of course she was.

Kakashi took his time packing his things into the bag he always took to work an hour later after his class was dismissed. He had been in the room reading his perverted book the entire time. Then it struck him that he had a wife to go home to and he started to pack.

While every now and then his eyes would search for the quiet figure in one of the seats, he knew that she wasn't awake. He came across the calendar glued on his desk and cursed at the turn of luck he was having.

He needed to write these papers months ago, and he hadn't even started yet. He opened the drawer to the right of his desk and searched for the black marker ink pen he used to grade paper work, or sign permission slips. He sat on his chair again in thought for several seconds, debating on a decent introduction for his Algebra workshop.

2 hours later, Anko's ringtone startled the gray haired man from concentration. He answered on the fourth ring with a lazy "Yeah…" and looked up to check on the brown haired women still fast asleep. Kakashi rubbed his eyes in exhaustion.

Where the hell are you? Anko's angry voice sounded through the quiet room like a blade with the same impact of being on speaker.

Kakashi cringed and answered "I'm still at work honey."

Don't 'honey' me! She barked, you had me cooking pasta for an hour straight, NOW your telling me that I can't enjoy this meal with my wonderful husband?" Silvers could be heard clanking together in the background and Kakashi sweat dropped.

"…." He rubbed his temple tiredly.

Next time you're staying late at work, how about you tell me?

"Something came up, well in this case," Kakashi glanced back at Tenten. "Someone, came up. Tenten came to class late again and I was just giving her some time to sleep. Plus, I had some extra things that needed to be done too, but alright, I'll make sure to warn you next time."

Good. Give me a call on your way there…alright?

"Alright,"

Thank you honey, bye.

Kakashi could swear he thought Anko was bipolar sometimes. Wasn't she just yelling at him? "Bye, Anko."

Oh wait! Kakashi!

"Yeah?"

Make sure she gets home safe will you? I don't want the life of that young woman on our hands.

"I agree but, won't that make me even later?

Yea, and as much as I want to have dinner with you, I know this is important. He heard the sincerity behind the words as she spoke them, and his visible eye crinkled in a smile.

"I love you, you crazy woman."

Anko laughed on the other end. Yeah, I love you too, twinkle butt. Get home safe!

It was after they hung up that Tenten finally stirred. She repositioned her head about three times before giving up and lifting her head. She blinked at Kakashi hazily before gradually recognizing the face and shooting from her seat. "Omg!" She said grabbing her things and blindly stuffing her bag of the things she had taken out before.

"I'm so sorry Kakashi-sensei—what time is it? -Why didn't you tell me that I was the only one left-"

"Tenten! Calm down!"

Wide eyed, the brunette silently stared with her hands in mid-action at the authority of his voice. Kakashi sighed and rubbed his growing beard over his mask, secretly reminding himself to shave the next morning. He stared at her hard in silence now, not really knowing what to say, and he took in the sight of her.

Red puffy sad eyes stared right back and he stared long enough to notice how dull she appeared to be standing before him that very moment. She lacked that "bounce" that she usually carried (not in the boob area either,) and her eyes looked sunk (a bit than normal).

Tenten seemed long faced, lost in thought, even though her eyes were focused on him, and she swayed side to side in a matter that suggested that she was struggling to carry the weight of her own body. Her appearance also told Kakashi that she hadn't even bothered taking the time to dress this morning. Her hair was in a sloppy bun, her shirt seemed old, used and now crinkled from sleep.

The quick observer that he was, it didn't take him long to figure out that something was terribly wrong with this women.

"Come on," he announced, "let me take you home." He turned to finish packing his things just as Tenten answered in a tired voice, "But, my cars still in the—"

"I'll pick it up for you with my wife tomorrow since its Saturday: If you don't have any plans that shouldn't be a problem." He continued to pack and it was silent behind him before a muffled, "No, I don't have any plans, so its okay then." sounded to his ears.

He grabbed his keys and carried all of his things in one hand. Tenten walked out the door first before he followed after and locked the classroom. He didn't tell her the real reason he wanted to drive her home, but the logic was obvious to them both: She was in no present condition to be driving.

"No!"

Kakashi pressed on the brakes, hard. "What?" He asked the person sitting beside him.

Tenten stared at the parking space under her apartment window dejectedly, "Please, just NO…"

"No what, Tenten?"

"Please, don't park under my window. Not in the exact place that he used to…"

Kakashi watched Tenten curiously as she stared at the ground. 'What the hell?' he thought. "Uh… ok." He stopped the car before reversing and parked in a different space.

"Better?" He asked her.

Tenten nodded and grabbed her things before getting out of the car. She handed Kakashi a copy of her car keys and waved sadly to him. "Thank you sensei, for everything…"

"Don't mention it," he stated. "Sleep well Kurosaki."

She watched it as he drove away and silently made it up the steps to her room. The person waiting by her door waved sadly in greeting when they saw her approaching.

All Tenten could think was 'No way…Sakura?"

"It's been so long…"

The pink haired woman stared at her cup sadly after having said this and raised her eyes to meet Tenten's. "How've you been?"

Tenten shrugged like it was nothing and then stared at Sakura coldly. "How do you think I've been?" She didn't mean to hurt Sakura. But the words were just slipping out on it's own and Tenten could barely control it.

"Well," Sakura stated looking guilty sitting opposite of Tenten in the living room. "If I were to lie right now, I'd say you look pretty good. But in all honesty, you look very depressed and unhappy."

Tenten snorted impolitely and Sakura merely smiled. She knew that Tenten would act this way towards her, cold distant and rude. That was just the type of person her friend was (Yes FRIEND, even after all the time between them Sakura still considered her a close friend.) After feeling hurt or betrayed by a person, Tenten wasn't one to stay for the ride. She would push you away until you were completely out of her life and she could move on.

The only thing about Sakura's case was that SHE had been the one to push Tenten away and it was a decision she found herself regretting every moment she thought of the best friend she lost.

"Sasuke heard from Neji, and I heard from Sasuke. I'm very so-"

Tenten shot up from her seat furious. "GET OUT!"

Sakura blinked in confusion, "What?"

Tenten laughed humorlessly. "You think you can just come up in here and act like my friend? Open your eyes Sakura! The day you chose your precious Sasuke over me was the same day our friendship died!"

Sakura stood up and placed her mug on the coffee table, hoping to talk some sense into the women in front of her. "I understand that, I really do. I'm only here because I know your hurting and that your probably shutting down every—"

"Don't talk like you know me! I'm doing just fine without you or that stupid so called boyfriend of mines. You both decided to betray me in the worst possible way so now you have to live without me. Sakura you of all people should know that I don't do second chances so don't come to my home just to tell me how sorry you are for me, just to pity me or ACT like my friend, because I don't need any of this bullshit!"

Sakura stayed silent, allowing her friend to throw all her anger out on her, it was the least she could do after all that happened. Tenten breathed heavily just as her eyes started to tingle, the urge to cry was coming, and it was coming fast, but she fought it. She refused to cry in front of Sakura again.

"Ever since that fire, I've been alone." She whispered, "So what difference does it make now? Huh? You think I can't handle being by myself each day?" In an outrageous inhale of breathe, the tear gates opened and Tenten collapsed to the floor.

"You think... you think that I actually miss you or him?" She cried in agony, slamming her fists against the floor. "I don't need you! I don't need anyone! So betray me all you want." She was crying so hard now that she had to breathe through her mouth, and her eyes were so blurry that she had to shut her eyes tightly.

"Leave me like my entire clan, leave little old Tenten to fight the nightmares-the fucking nightmares all alone!" She bawled her eyes out and Sakura crouched beside her and enveloped her shaking frame into a protective hug. "I don't need...anyone..."

Tenten cried for every loss, more than she had in a long time; for her friends, her family loved ones, past lovers, future lovers…and the not so old lovers. She cried for everything…and Sakura stuck by her the entire time.

Hinata didn't really know what she was doing when she pulled up to Tenten's apartment at 3 in the morning. All she knew was that she had to do this, if not for her cousin or her close friend but for her sanity.

She raced up the stairs regretting not having put on a bra, before finding the room and banging on it consistently. If Tenten thought she could ignore her like all those other times, then the brunette needed to think again, she was on a mission damn it, and she wasn't backing down.

Surprisingly someone did open the door, but it wasn't Tenten. "Sakura—san?" Hinata asked confused, "What are you doing here?"

"That's a long story," Sakura said rubbing her eyes. "I think the better question here would be why you're banging on Tenten's door at 3 in the morning."

The reason for her mission suddenly returned and Hinata side stepped Sakura inside the apartment. "I'll explain later, but first, where's Tenten?"

Sakura closed the door and replied with a yawn, "She's sleeping in her room, are you sure this can't wait until tomorrow?"

"No!" Hinata yelled, "If I don't speak to her right now, Neji is going to leave for Japan the next morning and they'll never see each other again!"

A/N: We have one more chapter left!

SINCEREST APOLOGIES FOR LATE UPDATE! Life is life and I had school and exams and a lot of studying to do. Pray that I pass!

ENJOY SPRING BREAK! And I'll try to update the last chapter next week!

IT'S ALMOST OVER! :D

I'm kind of disappointed that we didn't reach 100 but we need to be past 100 by the time I sign back in! oh by the way, if anyone is confused about the chapters i deleted the authors note so it may appear like everything is kind of upside down and you can't review if you already did for a chapter 18. Please forgive all the confusion( i'm really new at this but i think i'm getting the hang of it.) lol

Love all the reviews and favorites, please, please, please keep it up, and continue to review. PLEASE!

Thanks,

Animehostess