Chapter 1
'How did I end up here?
In this dark alley?
With Hyuuga Neji pressing me up against a wall;
Keeping his right hand on the wall next to my face, for balance;
And his other hand on my hip, to keep me in place…
He's staring straight into my eyes, one more look and I think I'm going to faint.
His breath fans across my face; is he going to kiss me?
My first kiss? On a dark alley? With Hyuuga Neji? …'
Sakura taught hardly with her eyes closed shut as the Hyuuga was studying her inch by inch, measuring and thinking to himself of what to take her odd behavior as; teenaged romance fright or just awkwardness.
Analyzing her, he came to a concrete solid decision; he is to begin something that had boiled in him ever since she so adorably began this unconscious flirting of hers; almost two years ago, at the fireworks festival.
She didn't even know how attractive she was, although the flock of constantly following suitors never seemed to leave her back.
…FLASHBACK…
It was only a couple of minutes before the beginning of the fireworks and Sakura was running away, tears pouring down her face as she cursed the way Sasuke's rejection had affected her. She was wearing a traditional kimono which made her look like a princess, she looked absolutely beautiful; and still… he didn't want her affection.
Running toward the wooden bridge that crossed a small river, she didn't take notice of the person in front of her, and soon, head bumped into chest as his long, slender arms prevented her from falling; circling around her petite form.
She gasped and tried to apologize as the man was looking calmly at the nervous, still crying woman before him; Sakura looked up to see who had she bumped into, who had held her so warmly… Only to see Hyuuga Neji resting his eyes on the petite, pink-haired princess before him.
Her eyes were glimmering, still wet; her cheeks were flushed and her pink locks framed her face so wonderfully that even Neji was surprised to how beautiful she looked; but still, he kept it to himself.
Still sobbing, she didn't realize Neji was holding her hands, but when she did, she blushed and apologized again before trying to run away. Her face an adorable red, and Neji let a small smile curve his mouth corners up and began walking again toward his destination.
For that small moment, when she blocked with Neji; she had completely forgotten about Sasuke's rejection, and was thinking more about how soothing, and relaxing was Neji's mint scent. For that short moment when his arms had circled her and she was completely covered by him, she felt so good.
Now she wasn't crying anymore, she was staying beside the river, the beautiful colors of the fireworks that reflected onto the water and then to her face, making her look more like a goddess; and with her newly found smile, she was completely relaxed and non concerned about Sasuke anymore, at least, not in 'that' way.
…END FLASHBACK…
"Is this your strategy of avoiding a suitor?" He finally spoke, silver orbs staring strongly in emerald green ones.
"I … uhm …" she couldn't seem to find the words, as her widened eyes instinctively locked with his.
"You ask them out for lunch, spend a day, giggling and winking… teasing… and then you avoid them for two months?" Neji said, obviously hinting that he was talking about how she started avoiding him ever since their 'date'.
…FLASHBACK…
When Sakura wanted to skip her lunch again after finding some interesting medical condition on a patients lungs, she was practically kicked out of the hospital by the giggling nurses that kept reminding her how she had fainted the last time she got so intrigued with a new disease; and so, reluctantly she went for a small café, to where she was going to eat a sandwich and drink a coffee and then go back to the hospital. Yes, that was her plan; but things don't always go as planned.
On her way to the café, she met with Hyuuga Neji, who was obviously taking a lunch break himself; she approached and wearily, almost silently, like a whisper; she managed to ask:
"Are you eating 'at Marii's' Neji-san?" She said looking at him, cheeks lightened by a soft blush. After all, he was like Sasuke; one of Konoha's most powerful and most no-dating-interest person.
Sasuke had come back for about 2 years now, after he and Naruto defeated Madara; Sasuke finally rejected Sakura in the romantic part of their relationship, hurt but still strong, Sakura got over it; and now, She, Naruto and Sasuke were great friends (even though Sasuke didn't quite show it … )
Sakura had also gotten much stronger, being now Konoha's top kunoichi, even stronger than her shishou – Tsunade.
"Yes." Neji said bluntly, slowing his pace, being polite and waiting for the woman to keep up.
"Would you mind if I joined you? I was going to the same place." She said, calm filling her up again at the scent of his mint-like odor.
"No, it would not." He said now walking beside her.
Sakura told herself that she didn't have any romantic interest in the ANBU captain, but she had gotten to know him much better after he had always came to the hospital after missions; always being treated by her.
And in return, he had always signed her in for the most dangerous missions as a medic ninja and as a support line thanks to her insane, super-human strength; always in his team, always his second in charge.
He trusted her judgment, and credits be given, she was flawless in executing orders and doing a mission well. She was … the 'missing link' that every Konoha captain wanted on his team; and also, thanks to Neji's 'pushing her to the death line' with those missions so many times, she had proven herself worthy of becoming an ANBU herself.
All in all, they had a perfect comrade relationship; both were highly intelligent, both were stunningly strong, and both were always efficient in missions.
Lunch with Neji started out as pretty awkward, as he rarely spoke and the silence made her feel uncomfortable; but then she slowly broke the silence and a dialog began, and it continued for the rest of the day. Both of them happy with their findings about each other and some other news; still, that didn't necessarily mean that Neji broke his impeccable façade of emptiness just for Sakura's winking and cute remarks.
That day felt more like a date, and in Neji's point of view, he was one of Sakura's many suitors; which of course she was oblivious to… and so, he felt like a 'date' should end classically.
Walking her home, he stopped her before she could go inside and gently pulled her in his arms, warm whispers tickling her ear:
"You are completely oblivious toward me Sakura, I do not enjoy that."
Sakura was stunned, but she awkwardly enjoyed his arms around her, his breath in her ear, his lips brushing on her forehead as he said goodnight.
It all felt so wonderful that she feared it would evolve into something more, and she would even fall for him.
She didn't want to get hurt again, and so, there was only one way out of this;
'AVOID NEJI HYUUGA AT ALL COSTS!!' she taught to herself as she went inside her house, completely flushed.
For the next two months, her schedule was full, she had little time for herself and always paid attention to where she might stumble into Neji; and made sure to avoid those locations. Even when Neji came back from his mission, it wasn't Sakura on duty and so, he was healed by another doctor.
This was awkward and annoying, he taught as he planned on something; to make her break the shield she was currently holding shakily up to protect her already shattered heart; he knew what he wanted and it was obvious that he will get it no matter what.
And she would approve.
…END FLASHBACK…
She could feel his breath on her neck, breathing her smell into him, thinking about what to do next.
"I… I didn't think you would be interested in me that way." She said, her voice barely audible.
He rose his head once more, to look at her properly, waiting for her to continue her explanation.
"When you… did what you did, I was actually afraid; afraid that us getting involved would ruin our friendship, and I don't want that…" she said as convincingly as her voice could allow.
"Do not put up that excuse to me, I know the real reason why you are afraid; even though there is no need to." He said with a serious face as he stared into her eyes once more.
"Neji-san… I … I …" she managed to pull out as his hand gently caressed her thigh; making her blush and nervously close her eyes, she was so adorable like this.
All blushed red tomato, eyes half opened, darkened by emerging traces of lust; all so enticing… but Neji had too much self control to fall for that.
"I'm a terrible liar…" she said, tears slowly pouring down her cheeks as she placed her hands up to cover her face.
"I want you, and you will be mine; be our relationship all words or all passion. I will have you Sakura." He said, placing his hand on her chin, making her look at his face.
She didn't want to, but having no other choice, she opened her crying eyes only for them to grow wider at the sight at view.
Neji's face was so gentle, kind and warm… she broke into louder tears as his arms snaked up and encircled her into a loving embrace.
"Be it all passion and lust…" he finally whispered in her ear, sending cooling shivers down her spine.
"I … I'm not ready for that kind of contact yet, forgive me, I never even had my first kiss." She said lowering her head in slight discomfort.
"Than that is good, don't worry. I will not touch you in any improper way." He said releasing her and going back into the street, waiting for her to come out as well.
Once his body warmth was gone, Sakura felt empty… she quickly came after him, in the lonely, moonlit street; grabbing his right arm and holding tightly onto it.
"There are many dangers out tonight, I will take you back home." He said even though he knew she could take care of herself perfectly fine.
"Mhm", she said with a short nod, keeping her head slightly lowered, cheeks still of a pinkish color.
They started walking down the streets toward Sakura's house, with her being extremely tense and holding so tight it almost hurt; but Neji did not complain.
Looking up ahead, he felt Sakura tense up and shiver slightly; it wasn't from the cold night, he figured; but from the silhouette ahead.
Sasuke was amazed by the sight he saw, but his façade wouldn't stay off for long and as soon as the pair approached, his eyes were dark and cold again; face expression blunt and emotionless.
He wanted to look into Sakura's eyes and make her see his displease, but unfortunately for him, her eyes were closed shut, and she dug herself deeper into Neji's long sleeve; holding him tightly.
As they passed by Sasuke, a faint whisper could be heard, obviously addressed to the older Hyuuga.
"Don't play with fire . . ."
As the pair finally reached Sakura's apartment, he once again pulled her to him before she could slide into the comfort of her home and sink into the darkness of her room; but this time, there was no softness to his words… he was direct, face to face and serious expression.
"Are you going to agree with me?" He said, looking at her with his cold, emotionless façade.
Instead of an answer, she just closed the small distance between them with a rushed, tight hug; again, tears flowing on her cheeks as she cried out three words…
"Yes… oh… yes…"
"Good", he whispered in her ear as he then gently released her and walked on his path toward the Hyuuga Compound.
This would definitely mean the end of hopes for any of Sakura's admirers… which also includes the still undecided Uchiha Sasuke, because it was obvious that what he felt was actually jealousy.
A/N : Don't pretty much know where this came from, but I like how it sounds, and I really don't know if Sasuke is going to get anywhere with Sakura (darn bastard rejected her in the first place . )
But . . . I never wrote lemons in my life… sooooooo…. Be sure that in one of the chapters ahead, something is going to happen 3
Anyways, I just hope you enjoy reading it!