Dedication: To all of you for sticking with me until the very end, thanks guys!

Song: Daniel Bedingfield, If you're not the one. This song helped me write this chapter and although it wasn't planned to be a song chapter, Daniel Bedingfield just inspired me.

Chapter 19

"The long awaited journey"

If you're not the one then why does my soul feel glad today?...

Previously…

"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?"

If you're not the one then why does my hand fit yours this way?...

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!"

Earlier…

2:00 AM in the morning

"Beep! Beep! Beep! Bee—"

His hand reached out to turn the annoying alarm clock to snooze, but by mistake (not so much a mistake on his part…) the stupid piece of equipment fell to the floor and shattered to about 5 pieces next to his head. He groaned at the rotten luck for the start of his day and turned over on his king sized bed to stare at the gray ceiling.

Neji thought about the past three months and how painful they had been for him. Everyday that he had to wake up, go to work and act like the thing with Tenten wasn't secretly chewing him up inside was like hell for him. He felt like an addict being deprived of his drugs every time he would return home and shut himself up in his darkness thinking of her.

If you are not mine then why does your heart return my call?...

It didn't take long for Neji to realize what the problem was. What the real reason why he couldn't get her out of his head was. Over the short span of a month, he had fallen; He had fallen, and hard too, for the stubborn, rude girl at the bar. For that idiot who left her bag in the fridge right next to the cheese.

For the one woman who made his heart speed up in happiness and painful at the same time just by walking into a room. He fell for her smile, her laugh, and the cheerful, stubborn attitude that he couldn't help but find interesting.

And in one dense blurry night, all of that was ruined. Because of jealousy and some thick annoyance at being neglected, Neji had taken away all that mattered to him, and hurt what he cared about the most.

Apologies weren't acceptable right now to her, and could she really be blamed? He knew about her past, and he knew she hated feeling belittled or pushed aside, and yet that's exactly what he did. Belittled her, pushed her aside, and to top it off, disrespected her in the worst way by laying his hands on her.

Everyday since that night Neji went home and mulled over what he did wrong, what he could've done differently or better, and in one night he came up with about a hundred things. He was to blame for his own misery, and he hated it. This time there was no fingers to point at, or anyone else to blame. Neji Hyuga was at fault. Point blank. No if's, ands or but's about the situation.

If you are not mine would I have the strength to stand at all?...

So, he's given up. If he couldn't have her as his own, then the hell would he stand by and watch some other man take her away. If he had to move to the other side of the world to get over her, then that's what he would do because Tenten deserved it. She deserved him out of her life, and moving to Japan was the only place he knew that would keep this possible, and him comfortable.

He sighed and got out of bed, glad that he had taken a shower before, and that all of his things were parked in his car. He didn't even bother to make his bed, thinking that Sasuke wouldn't mind doing it; he took the shirt on his dresser and placed it on. He kicked on some jeans, ran his hand through his hair and put it in his signature low pony tail.

No one knew that he was leaving, not even Sasuke, and Neji wanted to keep it that way. He didn't want anyone trying to stop him. Not now of all times when he felt most raw and vulnerable.

He stared at the picture of him and her on his dresser. It was taken on the night of the party, right before everything went downhill, and she was seated on his lap making the piece sign with a huge grin on her face. He smirked when he noticed one of her bangs sticking up in the air, and he couldn't but put the frame against his heart.

'Aishiteruyo'

He thought, imagining he was telling her that. He grabbed all of his things leaving no trace that he ever lived in that room, taking the picture with him. The door creaked silently as he closed it, but he still heard Sasuke's snoring down the hall so he knew he was still safe. Neji placed the letter he wrote for the man on the coffee table and silently, but swiftly left the condo. He looked back only once at the place he's lived for the majority of his teenaged life, but other than that one time, never looked back again.

He had one stop left to make, and this, was probably the scariest part of his journey. He unlocked his car and placed the picture frame in the back. Then he got in the car and raced to his family's compound. Neji never remembered the reason he preferred to keep his passport in his room at the family compound, but now he had to go back and get it, and he had to make it fast.

Neji opened the gate to the entrance of the home after parking on the sidewalk. He raced around the fountain of birds focused on what to do, but suddenly felt his feet pulverizing something, something squishy and brown and somewhat odd smelling. It took him a while to realize what it was, but once he did, a string of curse words rang from his mouth, and Neji bad mouthed the guard dogs for their rude and apalling behavior.

I never know what the future brings…

'Shitting, right next to the steps,' he thought, "What smart, evil, dogs you are."

He hoped on one leg hoping to take his shoe off. Luckily they were just sandals so he was able to get them off pretty quickly. After throwing the now soiled flippers across the lawn, he opened the front door with his front key, hoping no one of his family members or the workers would over hear the key through the lock and wake up.

Meanwhile upstairs, a sleepless Hinata was staring at her ceiling, and just as she was about to drift off into sleep, she heard a long line of curses from outside her window. "Kuso! ***8*, 4****$! Why the *^*(*& is this #^$& here?"

The young woman woke up startled in confusion and ran to her window to see her cousin hopping on one foot to the front porch. She watched as he threw his shoes across the lawn and disappeared out of her sight. 'Why is he here?' She thought hurriedly leaving her room in her night gown to meet up with him.

When Neji climbed up the stairs to the hallway in which his room was located, he did not expect to find Hinata waiting for him near his bedroom with her arms crossed. He sighed in his head, upset that she found out, 'Stupid Guard dogs,' he thought irritably. Neji didn't like getting his shoe "soiled" and apparently now, he was what they called in America, "Busted."

But I know you're here with me now…

Currently:

3: 16 AM

"I can't believe this," Tenten whispered fully awake, sitting cross legged on her bed. "He's actually going to leave."

Hinata shook her head. "Not if you stop him in time, sweetie. And time is something we still have! His flight leaves at four and if we head to the airport right now we can-"

"Oh noooo," Ino declared, "She's not going to leave this apartment to meet the love of her life looking like this!" She held up a strand of Tenten's frizzy hair for emphasis.

"Ino," Temari groaned with a glare, "This is NOT the time to be worried about appearances!"

Said blond looked at Temari up and down with her arms crossed before saying, "You got that right…"

We'll make it through….

Sakura cut off the fight that was about to be produced from the two blonds and stated to Tenten, "Hinata's right, you can't sit here denying what's happening. Take action! I know you're probably still mad about all that's happened, but do you really want to hold on to that anger and let him go without saying goodbye?"

The brunette stayed in silence and all eyes turned to hear her response.

"No," She whispered. "I have to say goodbye first!" Her eyes glazed over with determination, and she jumped from her bed running out of her room.

"Outa girl!" Sakura cheered on, "Fight for love!"

And I hope you are the one I share my life with…

Ino muttered something sarcastic along the lines of how she wouldn't be able to find love the way she was dressed, and Temari hit her on the head. Tenten appeared moments later screaming. "Oh my God, my car got stolen!" (She forgot that Kakashi was supposed to bring it to her today), and ran around the room in circles.

"What am I going to do?" She panicked, ready to pull out her hair. He couldn't leave yet, she had to say she was sorry dammit! Plus she had to say goodbye!

"I'll take you in my car." Hinata said getting up,

"I wanna come," Ino shouted. "This has got to be interesting and I want to be there in the front row seat watching it!"

"I'm in." Temari agreed.

"Me too," Sakura stated grabbing her phone in case Sasuke called her.

"Okay, I don't care who comes but we have to hurry," Tenten said. She raced around the room, grabbed a hair tie, some vanilla body spray, a clean shirt, clean jeans, a toothbrush some toothpaste, and the picture of him and her. "Alright let's go," She called.

All four girls stared at her like she was crazy.

"You're going to brush your teeth in the car?"

"And change?"

"I don't think any of that is necessary, you look-"

"…I think you forgot a clean pair of undies…"

"INO!" Tenten yelled, angry and embarrassed that she would call her out like that.

"Ok, I'll be quiet jeez…"

"Ano, can you grab a bra too?"

Everyone turned to look at the Hyuga female that spoke up. All the attention turned to her uncommonly large boobs and Hinata blush a deep red. 'How humiliating," she thought. 'Because of me, we're never going to leave now.'

3: 49 am.

I don't wanna run away but I can't take it, I don't understand

If I'm not made for you, then why does my heart tell me that I am?

Is there anyway that I can stay in your arms?

Neji sat reading his magazine from the 30 minutes that he walked through the airport doors and waited for his flight to be called. He was no longer worried about being stopped now, chances were no one would come after him, and if they did it would be too late considering his flight was going to be called.

As if on cue, a man through the intercom spoke. "Flight 456 will be taken off now in 10 minutes. Repeat, flight 456 to Tokyo Japan will be leaving in few minutes."

Neji checked his waterproof watch to find the time to be 3:50. 'Just in time,' He thought.

He stood up from his seat and stretched his limbs, glad to finally be able to move them. The Hyuga collected his luggage, and the magazine and walked over to the counter area with the small narrow hallway that led to the inside of his plane.

"Neji wait!" A voice called from somewhere within the heavy crowd, and at the familiarity of it, said man turned around to the person who had called him. He didn't seem to recognize anybody so he turned back around again to give the woman behind the counter his ticket.

Just as he was getting ready to board his plane, the same voice called him again, and there she was.

If I don't need you, then why am I crying on my bed?

If I don't need you, then why does your name resound in my head?

If you're not for me, then why does this distance name my life?

If you're not for me, then why do I dream of you as my wife?

Tenten had broken down all of his defenses, something no other woman has been successful in achieving. The woman standing across from him was gorgeous, sweet, nice and kind of a handful. He didn't know whether to believe that she was really there, or to pinch himself to check if it was really true.

He felt caught in a trance as he watched her run over to him, her hair; the lovely hair that he so much cherished and loved to run his hand through, flying in every other direction. Tears were streaming down her face, and she appeared to be screaming, yelling at him to do something.

'But what?' He wondered. The flight woman kept ushering him to get on the plane, pulling him towards his new future; His new life… without Tenten. It was at the same time that she got closer and that he decided to turn around that he finally heard her.

"Please! You can't go to Japan Neji! Don't go through with this!"

Her breathing was labored, and she pushed all people and obstacles in her way. "I-I love you!"

That got him to stop. Neji turned around, shocked at the confession coming from her. 'She…loves me?' It was safe to say that the Hyuga was now completely insane. His head was in a complete mush, nothing was making sense. It was all happening too quickly.

"Sir please," The stewardess ushered. "You have to board now, or your flight will leave without you."

He held up a hand, a sign that was meant to tell the lady to wait, and turned back around to face his woman; his own personal angel from heaven.

"What did you just say?" He asked her, in a whisper so soft, yet fierce that every person around had heard. If what he perceived was true, if she truly meant those three words than he couldn't go through with leaving. He wouldn't go through with leaving.

She was only two feet away from him now, glowing just as he remembered seeing her last. "I said," She began breathing harshly from all the running. "I said that I love you."

I don't know why you're so far away

But I know that this much is true

We'll make it through and I hope

You are the one I share my life with

And I wish that you could be the one I die with

And I pray that you're the one I build my home with

I hope I love you all my life

Rising above all impossibilities, the airport turned silent.

"I love you and I'm sorry that our relationship is crazy this way. I'm sorry for not believing you, I'm sorry for pushing you away when all you wanted to do was be with me. You have helped me through, so much. You have given me faith to believe again, to trust again, and all I've done is push you father away. "

"I'm not saying that you weren't wrong, but I'm saying that I'm over that now and I'm willing to forgive you. If holding on to a stupid grudge means not being with you, then I'll let it go, because I can't seem to function properly without you in my life."

Suddenly Tenten laughed, but it quickly followed a tearful cry. "You stupid jerk!" She called, "Can't you see what you have done to me? I'm standing in a freaking airport for Kami's sake, making a fool of myself! And you thought you could just slip away in the middle of the night to Japan and that I wouldn't care?"

The young prodigy silently watched her and whispered. "Tenten…"

"Ahem," The stewardess interrupted impatiently, gesturing towards the plane through the windows. "We are now officially about to take off for Tokyo, Japan. Are you boarding with us, or not?"

Neji looked at Tenten for a while, and then smiled at the friendly woman. "Maybe some other time,"

I don't wanna run away but I can't take it, I don't understand

If I'm not made for you, then why does my heart tell me that I am?

Is there anyway that I can stay in your arms?

She jumped into Neji's strong arms, kissing him and so desperately craving him. He wrapped his arms around her waist as they continued to kiss, each, savoring the taste of the others lips. Neji dropped his luggage, an indication that his decision was final, and ran his hand through her long beautiful brown hair.

The airport exploded into applause, as people circled around the young couple to admire their love. Neji and Tenten however could care less about all of the attention. This was their moment, and it was finally just all about them.

They pulled away and Neji leaned his forehead against hers. "Please, tell me I'm not dreaming OR hallucinating. Tell me that you're really here."

Tenten smiled and placed her hand on his soft cheek. "You're not dreaming OR hallucinating Neji, and yes, I'm truly here."

He pulled her close and kissed her some more before pulling away to pick up his luggage again.

"Let's get out of here," He stated, grabbing her hand.

Tenten simply nodded, too happy to speak, and finally, finally she allowed herself to let herself go into the protection of his chest as they walked through the whistling, cheering crowd together.

'Cause I miss your body and soul so strong

That it takes my breath away

And I breath you into my heart

And I pray for the strength to stand today

5:26 AM

Tenten looked back at him from across the bed. He was staring at her, just as she was staring at him.

Tenten…Neji's mind reeled.

Neji….Tenten's mind reeled.

Words between them went unspoken as Neji's arms wrapped around her from the front, but the words were known to the both of them.

" I've missed you so much," Neji whispered into her ear and lightly nuzzled her neck, taking a whiff of her vanilla scent.

"Neji," He could hear her tears escaping in one breathe and then he could see them as she looked up and faced him. "I missed you too, but I'm just glad you're here now. I'm so glad I wasn't too late."

"Shhh….Tenten," He whispered and gently yet urgently kissed the side of her mouth causing her to close her eyes. He watched as the tears slowly came to an end and he kissed her lips fully. Neji loved that she wasn't backing away from him. She was gently kissing him back and his heart felt a little bit more whole then it had ever been.

'Cause I love you whether it's wrong or right

And though I can't be with you tonight

And though my heart is by your side

She broke the passionate kiss and squeezed her man, yes ladies HER man, tightly. "I hurt you and myself, and I cannot describe how sorry I am."

"Tenten…" He said in a warning tone, upset at her apologizing…yet again. This had to be the 100th time that she did since they arrived to the hotel.

"No, Neji. I'm serious. I was afraid of getting hurt. I knew that you were a player and I knew you strived to break girls' hearts. From the moment I met you, I could already tell you were a stupid good for nothing bastard. Getting to know you helped me realize how wrong I was, and yet I still pushed you away!"

"Please stop apologizing so much, or attempting to at least. You're ruining the moment, and you're making me feel guilty."

A vein popped in Tenten's forehead. "You're a jerk, one that seemed to forget what he did to me." She pulled away and lightly play slapped him and then forced him into a kiss.

Neji was the one to pull away this time.

"You know how sorry I am about what I did, why do you love torturing me?"

"Because you're a jerk," Tenten said simply.

"I'm really not as bad as you make me out to be." Neji whispered.

"You're right," Neji was surprised by the stiffness of her words but he smiled when she said, "You're way worse."

He smirked at her while staring into her deep brown eyes. "Are you talking about the same jerk that you love?"

Tenten shrugged, blushing. "Depends,"

He leaned down so that his chest was pressing lightly on her breast, before seriously stating, "Well this jerk loves you, very much at that."

Tenten stared into his beautiful gray eyes, and knew how much he meant it. She screamed when he suddenly flipped them over so that she was lying completely under him. "W-what the hell?" She questioned, shoving him off. (Well attempting to anyway. Whatever he was planning to do to her in that position, she was not ready for.)

He bent down to her ear and alleged. "Move in with me."

Tenten blinked, slowly registering his question. "What do you mean?"

"I always want to be with you, but I don't think I can if we live in separate homes. So when we go back to our regular lives, I want to find an apartment just for the two of us, a place we can both call our home."

She inhaled her oxygen, greedily, and shakily. "That's sweet and all, but I don't know. It's kind of a big step don't you think? Moving in together so suddenly…"

"I know it's a big step." He brushed a strand of her hair to tuck comfortably behind her left ear. "But I'm willing to take it so we can start living our lives again, this time as a serious couple."

Tenten smiled up at him, "Ok, let's do it!"

Neji's eyes widened, surprised she was agreeing so fast. "Yeah?"

She giggled, "Yeah!"

I don't wanna run away but I can't take it, I don't understand

If I'm not made for you, then why does my heart tell me that I am?

Is there anyway that I can stay in your arms?

From a few doors down an old couples sleep was disturbed from all the shrieking coming from Neji and Tenten's room.

"Harold?" The old lady asked her husband. "Do you hear that?"

The old man scratched his beard before rolling back to sleep again. "Don't worry about it, Roberta. It's probably a new pair of, rowdy, newlyweds at it again like bunnies."

The old lady nodded and went back to bed. She quickly drifted off to sleep again, but not before she whispered. "I miss how we use to be rowdy, Harold."

'Aishiteruyo'- 'I love you'

A/N: Oh, oh. Looks like some old lady's horny again!

LOL!

And if anyone's wondering about Tenten's friends: They went back to her apartment to sleep while Neji dragged Tenten to a hotel so they could be alone. (The pervert :D)

Thanks guys for everything. Hope you enjoyed this chapter just as much as I enjoyed writing it. This entire fic was my very first on fanfiction and it's my most popular. Thanks a bunch for that. I know I have many mistakes, but everyone really just supported me the entire way. (For that I am greatly appreciative)

Does anyone notice how I didn't say the end?

There's an epilogue. Yay! But it's short though. AWW!

Yea, so look forward to that and it will be before May. I'm only adding an epilogue because I always planned for this story to have 20 chapters. [Wooh! For even numbers! No offense to all the odds though….] and also because I feel like after so much drama and heart break, one chapter won't be enough to lighten the mood.

You clicked on the title expecting a Neji and Tenten romance, and by golly I will give it to you! MUWAHAHAHA!

….ehm. Excuse the evil laughter.

THANK YOU ALL~! & Please ReViEw!

~Animehostess~ (See you one last time in the FINAL ch, (for real this time) before May! ;) :D