Last Chapter!

Neji did not sleep well. Once again he found himself questioning his actions. He was beginning to wonder if it was for logical reasons or for illogical, i.e. sexual reasons. He was losing himself in the idea of having a physical relationship with a woman he loved and therefore, he wanted to forgive and forget any folly that had occured simply to procure a moment's pleasure with her. Multiple times during the night, despite the attempts to rid her from his thoughts, he dreamt of her hands doing such amazing things. She had touched him once and he was bound to the promises of it for the rest of his life.

Logically, he was sure he had every right to walk away.

Just right at this particular moment, he didn't care for logic.

Neji rolled on his side, facing the wall. His whole life he trusted TenTen. He never needed to look over his shoulder because she was there. She protected his weak spot more than she protected herself.

But this was different.

This was more than life itself. This was everything he was. If they became more than friends, she would know him on a level no one else would ever. She would learn secrets. She would have access to his weaknesses. She would witness vulnerability. She would possess more than just his heart. She would own his being.

How can he readily agree to this, if she won't do the same? He will not be another man in her bed. He will not be a kiss in the dark. And sure, she admitted that she loved him, but how can she understand love when she is so flippant about her bed partners? Her lifestyle is not his. They have different cultures, different understandings of the word 'love'. Her love was meaningless. It holds no amount of weight behind it. It is as changeable as the seasons and as unpredictable as the weather.

How to make her understand this without insulting her? It will be near impossible. The only words that would make sense were simple ones. He wants all of her or none of her. Would she accept this as the 'independent feminist' that she was?

He rose if only to head to his meditation pad. He had more thinking to do before the day was through. He sent a servant to ask Lee for lunch. Perhaps some time with the positive thinking ninja would assist in his dilemma.

Regret was a typical feeling when meeting with Lee. And Neji was feeling it in quantity.

"Oh, this holy union. The gods are smiling. I can feel it in my bones. It was destined in the stars."

People were turning their heads in awkward angles if only to look in confusion at the obnoxious speech that seemed to echo through the entire cafe. They stopped mid-conversation if only to point and whisper, giggling and glaring. Neji had his eyes closed and his arms crossed. He did not need to see it to know it was happening. It's what always happens. And interrupting only made Lee louder so he had to wait until he ran out of things to say. It took five minutes before he started to pause, thinking, and soon he asked, "How did it happen? I must know every detail. The first look. The first word. The angle of the sun. Don't leave anything out."

Neji contemplated what he would say. Typically he wouldn't explain a thing but Lee was his best friend. He required more than just yes and no answers. He smirked, finding the most inappropriate detail. "Bondage."

"Hm? Come again?"

Neji took his drink and decided he didn't want to say anymore. "I am unsure if it will last."

The horror in Lee's face nearly frightened him. "Don't say that. This is the best thing to ever happen to either of you. Gai-sensei and I were worried you would be alone for the rest of your life", (Neji narrowed his eyes) "and grow old and bitter and never know the warmth of a woman's arms and die full of regret."

Oh, there was definitely regret.

"And TenTen?"

"Bunch of cats."

He clenched his teeth, wondering why he was the only one that got the whole bitter and full of regret speech. Neji threw his gaze out the window, contemplating. "Do you still spy on TenTen?"

"Of course. Why? Should I be doing so now?"

"No." Neji growled, frustrated. "Do not do it again." He fingered his drink, "Does she date often?"

Lee screwed up his face in thought. "No. Aside from the guy we saw her with, which I'm almost certain it's someone in ANBU and I think I've narrowed it down to six guys. She hasn't seen anyone, that I know of."

Neji did not realize he would feel relief from this.

"Except."

He winced.

"Remember when you had a date with that baron's daughter? You had to leave practice early. It was about two months ago."

A little more so than two months but yes, Neji nodded.

"I thought we all left together, so I came back to the training grounds to just do some private training when I heard crying. I found TenTen."

"Was she injured?"

"That's what I asked. But after checking her physically, there was nothing wrong that I could see."

"She was crying... for nothing?"

"Yes and no. She admitted she was in love with someone, who did not love her back." Lee's eyes widened at that moment, "Neji, I have just thought of something unimaginable and you will not be able to grasp it on the level that I have but I will dumb it down for you to understand. What if that someone, was you?"

Neji hadn't heard him. Two months ago she stopped coming to practice. She got a job. She pushed him out of her life, near completely. Why didn't she ever tell him how she felt? Why had she kept it all to herself? If it hurt her so badly, enough to make a woman like her cry, why didn't she do something about it?

He needed that answer. Neji stood, throwing money on the table. "Thank you, Lee."

The man started talking about eternal flames and love and glory but Neji sped out the door and his voice faded in the background. He made his way through the market, ignoring people as they greeted him, excited to see a war hero pass by. He was in too much of a hurry to deal with their gratefulness that he jumped to a rooftop if only to escape the hordes.

He landed on the steps to her building, rushing up the three flights before standing in front of her door. He knocked but couldn't wait and reached above the door for the key hidden there. Quickly he unlocked it and let himself in. TenTen was standing in her bedroom door, putting on a robe to cover her pajamas when she looked up with confusion.

"Neji. What are you doing, breaking into my house?"

He kept walking till he stood less than ten feet in front of her. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"The way you felt."

Her eyes drifted, maybe conjuring up a lie or looking for the truth. "I don't know."

"Tell me."

She ran her hand through her long hair bringing it over her shoulder to play with it, mindlessly for a moment. Then her confidence came and she flung it behind her and straightened her back, moving to the kitchen. "Why are you talking to me again all of sudden? I thought you were done with me."

She went to open her fridge but he slammed it shut, gaining her attention. "Tell me."

"It doesn't matter. I told you once and you didn't believe me. You push me away faster than I can handle. The end. Now I'd like to sleep the day away please." She shoved past him and went to her room.

He watched as she curled up into her blankets, hiding her head under them. The bed looked like a mountain of blankets now that she had disappeared. He continued to stare, waiting patiently for her to wear down.

He heard her sigh.

"Because I wanted you to be happy." She murmured. "I'm not like those girls, Neji. I don't dress fancy. I don't eat at expensive restaurants. Your culture is very different from mine. I was brought up an orphan. You were brought up with a rich traditional family. I'm sure they want you to marry some well mannered princess." She paused, shifting. "We are good together. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want to ruin our friendship. I thought if I couldn't have you, I'd be okay with just a piece of you. But everyday of seeing you was torture. I couldn't move on. I tried. I tried so hard but after what happened with Zero, I felt sick and horrible. I wanted to push you out of my life but you were always there. So I stopped coming to practice and stopped listening to rumors and just left. I couldn't handle just a piece of you when I wanted all of you." Her voice changed, becoming sharper and stronger, "Now that I've exposed everything to you like a pathetic fangirl, can you leave so I can keep some of my pride?"

Can he leave? How the hell can he leave after that?

All his fears, she neutralized and he didn't even need to say anything. She hadn't slept with anyone else. She had been miserable just as much as he had been. She said the words he needed to hear. Expressing the exact things he himself had been feeling. Did it not matter their upbringing? Their cultures? Their difference of lifestyles? Their love was equal.

She has always been his equal. There will never be anyone else. How to get her to understand without sounding, as she put it, a pathetic fanboy?

TenTen was worried about the silence. With trepidation, she slid the blanket down over her face and saw him. He held his hand out for her. With a sigh, she placed a hand in his and stepped in front of him, her head bowed if only to hide her embarrassment.

"Take it."

Brows knit as she looked up at him. "Take what?"

"All of it." He rested her hand on his chest, upon his heart.

There was confusion for a moment before her eyes widened and her breath sucked in sharply. He leaned down and grasped her lips with his and she surrendered completely, her arms encircling his neck, falling against him. But she parted, her lips just a hair away, "Are you sure? I don't want to stop again. Don't push me away anymore." He silenced her, their lips molding into one as he held her to him. He stepped to the bed, falling upon her. There would be no stopping, no pushing her away, only pulling her close for the rest of their lives.

All done guys! What do you think? Perfect Ending?

I have one more short story I'm finishing up, an idea given to me by a reviewer. If anyone has any idea they want to see put into action, let me know. I'm pretty much drawing a blank for NT fics. Make sure to check out my other works. I have oneshots that are full of gushing emotion. Check out my page. Love you all!