Chapter 2

A/N: This is the final chapter!

Ino had been thinking about what she was going to say.

Dare I say it. She was going to admit it. With the help of Sakura of course.

"So.... Neji.... I just wanted to tell you.... that... that... that...." Ino stuttered. This wasn't going to be easy as she thought.

"Look Ino, if you're going to stutter like that, then Neji would have atleast ten miles before you got to admit it to him. You're starting to sound like Hinata when you speak." Sakura said as she helped Ino practiced.

Ino has been gathering up the guts to admit to Neji. But it wasn't working up well as she thought it would. Neji had a totally different vibe than the other boys she liked. Sasuke had totally changed when Sakura opened up to him about her family problems. Naruto had been a bit less of a loud mouth ever since that Hinata had confessed to him. Since he had also like Hinata for some time now. Even Shino was dating a girl named Ayame who was three years younger.

"Oh face it Sakura. It's better that I just stutter in front of him. He'll easily find out that I've been practicing then. He won't be fooled easily. Anyone who is with Neji can't talk straight." Ino sat down on her couch.

Sakura also noticed it that anyone who has a crush on him can't speak straight to Neji. It was true. She has seen a lot of girls stutter right infront of him. And Neji always rejected them.

"Well, if you want to stutter infront of him, then that's your choice. I bet he'll give you a few more minutes before he rejects you." Sakura chuckled on that last sentence.

"That's not helping Sakura! Wait... a few more minutes? Why?" Ino asked curious at what Sakura had just said.

"Well... Neji has known you longer than his fangirls."

"That doesn't mean that he'll give me more time. He might give me lesser time." Ino buried her face in her hands.

"I know. Let's ask Hinata. She might know something!" Sakura immediately grabbed Ino's hands and ran straight for the door.

"Sakura! Wait!" Ino followed Sakura's lead.

Once they were at the Hyuuga compound....

Sakura knocked on the door. Ino was looking at the very large Hyuuga compound.

The door opened and found Neji opening it with a lot of little Hyuugas following him.

"What do you want? I'm busy..." Neji coldly said.

"We're just wondering if Hinata's home?" Sakura smiled.

"Is she your girlfriend Neji-nii-san?" one kid asked.

"I think the other one is prettier!" a little girl said portaining to Ino.

"No. The pink-haired girl is prettier!" the boy said.

"Stop it. None of them is my girlfriend!" Neji said.

The kids fell silent.

'Even his own relatives are scared of him...' Sakura thought.

'I don't have to be doing this. This is crazy!' Ino worried in her head.

'What are they doing here?' Neji thought.

'I bet the pink-haired girl is Neji-nii-san's girlfriend. He just won't admit it to us.' the little boy wondered.

'The blonde one is his girlfriend!' the little girl thought.

"W-Wh-What a-a-are you all standing there for?" Hinata came across them. All of them just stared back.

"They're here for you." Neji said and left. The little kids followed him.

"Wow. They must be his little fanclub." Sakura said.

"Something like that. All those little kids just adore him." Hinata smiled.

"Well, Hinata. We just wanted to ask you something." Sakura said. Ino still hadn't said anything.

"Oh sure."

"Well, if let's say that someone liked Neji... how does she tell him without his cold glare?"

"S-S-Sa-ku-Sakura-chan?! Are you telling me... th-that... you're... done with... Sasuke?" Hinata asked.

"NO!! NO! NO!! NO!! NO!! NO! It's for a friend of ours. Right Ino?" Sakura nudged at Ino.

"Uhm.. Yeah. For a friend of ours." Ino agreed.

"Well... the only time where Neji isn't cold or anything like that... is when... it's evening. Late evening." Hinata told them.

"Late evening?" Sakura asked.

"Yes. He's more relaxed when everyone's asleep. He has a habit of going out at night by himself. Sometimes, he even runs into Sasuke or Shino or even Kiba." Hinata said.

"A midnight Stroll you might say?" Sakura said.

"Yes. Exactly." Hinata said.

"Well, then... thanks a lot Hinata. We won't be bothering you much longer. See ya around and thanks for the tip. Our friend will love it!" Sakura waved.

"No problem." and she closed the door.

"Did you hear that? All you need to do is to go on one midnight stroll!" Sakura said.

"But still... I'm... just afraid that he'll reject me...." Ino said looking down.

"But, weren't you rejected by Sasuke?"

"Yeah.."

"And Shikamaru?"

"Yeah.."

"And that guy from Suna?"

"Sakura..."

"And Kiba...." (KIBA?!?!?)

"What?! "

"And... uhm... who else...."

"I get the point now!" Ino yelled.

"Well, then..."

"Ok. I'll try...." Ino finally agreed. And that ended for now.

That night....

'A midnight stroll... doesn't sound too bad....' Ino thought to herself, she was on her window. She was ready to give it a go.

And so she jumped her window.

It didn't take long before she could find Neji. He was in the park, dare I say it again, stargazing.

"I know you're there." He said as Ino walked up.

"I'm not going to attack you ya know."

"Why are you here? And how did you find me?"

"I couldn't sleep. And the stars are beautiful tonight."

It doesn't take much to learn

"They sure are..."

'He's not that cold...' she thought.

when the bridges that you burn

"Look Neji..." she started off.

Leave you stranded feeling alone

She was getting anxious.

It doesn't take much to cry

"What?" he replied.

when you're living in a lie

"There's something I wanted to tell you..."

And deceiving that someone who cares

She amazingly didn't stutter.

If I could turn back the time

But, that wasn't the end of it.

I would put you first in my life .

"Tell me..." He said.

And I would risk it all for you

"Neji...."

to prove my love is true

"I..."

I'll build a wall around my heart

"I...."

that would only break a part for you

"I like you...." she finally admitted. Tears were rolling down her face.

Can change the way I feel

"...." Neji didn't say anything at first.

so tell me what's the deal

"Sorry, Ino..." he finally said.

Don't say
Don't say it's too late

"I'm not just interested in relationships right now." He looked at her. She looked at him. His eyes didn't give that cold glare. Instead, it gave a heart-warming look.

"I undertsand." Ino replied.

And he gave Ino a kiss on the forehead.

A few years later....

And now

Ino had just came back from a mission.

The hills are getting hard to climb

Ino received a phonecall.

"Hello?"

I'm runnin' out of time

"I-Ino-chan?" Hinata's voice greeted her on the other line.

My decisions are pending on you

"Hinata-chan! I'm glad to hear your voice." Ino smiled.

"Me too."

And I will accept the blame

"Ino-chan... I just wanted to ask you if you're doing anything tonight?"

"Uhm... no."

"Well, would you like to come for a group party?" Hinata invited her.

"Sure! No problem!" Ino agreed.

for burnin' out the flame

"So... we'll meet later at 7. At the Le Cafe de Blanc."

"Sure!" Ino said.

"Ok. See you later."

"Kay!"

They both hung up the phone.

Hoping the story will twist once again

That night....

"Ino!" sakura hugged her friend.

"Sakura! You're squeezing me!" Ino caught her breath.

"Sorry. But you've been gone for weeks now!" Sakura released her.

"Ino!" Tenten greeted her.

Tenten had her hairdown. Which was a rare occasion.

"Hi Tenten."

"I'm glad you're back!"

"Ino!" Naruto exclaimed when he saw Ino.

"Hi."

"I was starting to doubt if you were ever coming back!" Naruto said.

"Well, I did didn't I?"

"NARUTO!! You owe me money!" Kiba yelled as he entered along with Shino.

"Ki-Ki-Kiba?" Naruto stuttered.

"You owe me money!"

"Well... I don't have it yet!"

"What on earth did you spend it on?"

"...." Naruto didn't answer.

"Not ramen again...."

"Sorry! *:D"

"I'm gonna kill you!" Kiba said and started to chase Naruto.

Naruto went for the door and came across Neji.

"Watch it." Neji said.

"Sorry." Naruto said and ran off.

"Hi Neji." Kiba greeted him and ran off.

'Neji still hasn't changed all these years....' Ino thought.

So the party started and ended. They had dinner and a couple of drinks. Ino walked up to the bar and sat down.

"Give me a Sea breeze." she ordered.

"Sure." the bartender said.

Someone sat beside her.

"A round of scotch." he said.

"Ok." the bartender said as he served the Sea breeze.

Ino looked beside her and saw Neji.

"Hi Neji." Ino smiled.

Neji looked at Ino and his expression changed as if he remembered something.

"Come with me." he took her hand and led her somewhere.

He led her to a garden where they'd be alone...

If I could turn back the time

"What do you want from me?" Ino asked.

I would put you first in my life

"Look... I've been thinking about what you've said to me a few years ago..."

And I would risk it all for you

"Oh... you mean...." Ino said.

to prove my love is true

"Yes..."

I'll build a wall around my heart

"And I've been thinking...."

that would only break a part for you

"That... I may have been... a bit too cold towards you...."

Can change the way I feel

"Sakura told me everything the day after..."

so tell me what's the deal

"And, I didn't get a chance from then to talk to you..."

Don't say
Don't say it's too late

"About... how I feel for you..."

Now I'm
Layin' it all on the line
For you

Ino was shocked by this.

"Ino..."

And I would risk it all for you

"Ino... I also liked you."

to prove my love is true

"I didn't even have the guts to say it then..."

I'll build a wall around my heart

Ino was still in a state of shock.

that would only break a part for you

"That's all..."

Can change the way I feel

"Wait Neji." she came closer to him.

so tell me what's the deal

And she kissed him.

Don't say
Don't say it's too late

A/N: Please review! How do you like it?