K i s s e s


The first kiss, stolen in camp fire light. He's sleeping and she leans over, brushing her lips against his. Light, tender, chaste. And from his place on watch, Lee pointedly averts his eyes, but he can't help the smile on his face. Neji- still asleep and blissfully unaware smiles too and turns closer to the girl beside him.

Second kiss, standing outside the training grounds. She leans over and their lips make contact. It's brief and chaste and Neji's eyes are wide but she's smiling in that way of hers. And she waves goodbye, leaving the grounds with a skip in her step. And Neji just stares after her, touching his lips dazedly where hers were moments before. So brief, so swift and Neji knows that it was over all too soon. And he realizes with a start that he's still longing for more.

Third kiss, this time he is the one to make the first move. It's after training; her hair's coming out of her buns and he thinks that she looks so beautiful like that. And he pulls her close, kissing her like they never have before. Kissing her like he means it. And they pull away after neither have the breath to keep connected. And he looks down at her where she's flushed and breathless and he whispers in her ear; You look better like that…

Forth kiss, sitting on the monument mountains, looking over the view of lights and training fields. A moment frozen in time. And for the first time in his life, Neji knows why people don't want moments like this to end. And the hole in his heart, slow in healing, is completely closed with the feeling of her lips.

Fifth kiss; tasting of her tears. He's ashamed of her and ashamed of showing her to the world, she says. Her pulling away and leaving the room. Neji is left alone, left with the job of picking up the shattered pieces of their hearts.

Sixth kiss; her smile. Smirking at the expression of his sensei as he pulls Tenten close, kissing her for the entire world, unashamed and free, like she's always wanted.

Seventh kiss: salted with the taste of blood. And Neji pulls her closer, feeling her tears slide down his cheeks. She's shaking and the stench of blood is thick on the battle field. And selfishly, the only thought running through his mind is, thank Kami it's not hers. Because he doesn't know what will happen if he was to loose her.

Eighth kiss; hot and warm, soft, gentle and her touch. Only ever her. And it seems to take the longest time, but the shortest moment. But Neji knows his name has never sounded so sweet as at the moment his one and only love gave him the gift of her sacred flower.

Ninth kiss; special. Everything infused with the feeling of her and the scent of her. It can be nothing else.

Last kiss; a copper red on his lips. Her hand is at the back of his neck, pulling him closer, her whispered words for him to keep on living even if she cannot. Her limp touch. Her lips are cold. His heart is shattered. And Neji doesn't cry, instead he pulls her closer, and kisses her softly, stroking her hair, holding her like he longs to, whispering the words for the first time and now, for the last, because it's all he's ever wanted to tell her and he never ever had the chance; I love you.


What did you think?