Along with my other one-shot, "A Simple Mission," I have tinkered with this story (March 6, 2014). As I have already stated in my earlier edit, I will not tamper with the actual content (much), because I understand that this is the story you all embraced, despite its many flaws. Feel free to look in my profile for more explanations and news about my writing status.

In addition to the depressing fact that I do not own Naruto, I cannot even claim that I own the lyrics (or anything, for that matter) of the song, "Nakushita Kotoba" by No Regret Life. For one, I certainly have regrets in my life. :)

Nakushita Kotoba
(Lost Words)

"Neji-nii-san!" Hinata's voice was loud and rushed, neither a soft murmur nor a whisper.

19 year-old Hyuuga Neji looked up from his training to find his cousin scampering towards him. He immediately felt that something was wrong. He watched Hinata run across the garden.

"Hinata-sama," he said in greeting. "Is something wrong?"

Hinata's face crumpled up. "It's Sakura-san," she panted, as if she had been running for several miles and only paused now.

"Sakura is on a mission," Neji calmly replied. Despite his calm demeanor on the outside, his heart started beating erratically. Deep inside, he was growing more and more concerned. "Did anything happen?"

"She's in the hospital, Neji-nii-san!" Hinata grabbed Neji's arm. "Go before it's too late."

Neji instantly understood. He felt sick to his stomach as he jumped from rooftop to rooftop. Sakura...

The doors of the hospital swung open as Neji rushed in, his mind only screaming one thing. "Where's Sakura?" Neji demanded.

Before the shaken nurse managed to reply, she was cut off.

"Hyuuga Neji." Neji looked up from the nurse's face to see none other than the Hokage's face.

"Hokage-sama?" His unasked question was quite clear.

Tsunade's face was solemn as she responded, "Follow me." She then turned and walked briskly down to a secluded corridor, with Neji at her heels. She stopped in front of a white door, its unmarred surface in stark contrast to the tension roiling within the ANBU captain.

"She's in there," Tsunade confirmed, as she stepped aside. As Neji was about to go in, Tsunade simply said, "I'm sorry."

White eyes widened and he abruptly stopped and turned to the Hokage. He just stared at her, speechless for the first time in his life. The Hokage turned away and said quietly, "Go on in." With that, she left as quietly as they had come.

Neji turned back to the door. After a few deep breaths, he proceeded to go in. He entered and shut the door behind him. He activated his Byakugan and neared Sakura.

Hearing and seeing were two completely different things, and with that realization comes the bitter truth. She's really gone… He could not believe it. He deactivated his Byakugan, deeming it useless. He raised his hand and gently touched Sakura's cheek. It was cold. Like death.

"Why?" Neji voiced out the only question he wanted to ask.

Knowing that no one was there, he continued. "You left without..." Hesitating, but at the same time knowing that she would never hear it, he went on. "That I love you…"

Closing his eyes, he thought of all the memories of Sakura.

One by one, as I look back at my memories,
(Hitotsu, hitotsu, omoidaseba)
I thought I knew everything.
(Subete wakatteita)

Neji thought that it was better for him not to tell Sakura about his feelings. He felt that she wound have understood what she meant to him, through his actions and things left unsaid. They seemed more than enough, didn't they?

However, Neji knew that it was stupid not to have told Sakura what he really felt, because he might never get a chance to tell her. After all, the life expectancy of a shinobi is not by any means high.

But I was a fool,
(Ki ga shitaita noni)
Faded words
(Inoaseta kotoba wa)
Were left at my side
(Boku no sugu soba ni oiteatta)

Now, Neji knew that it was too late. Nothing has to be said for they were...

Lost words
(Nakushita Kotoba)
These thoughts are…
(Kono omoi wa…)

He suddenly felt something hugging him tightly.

"Neji-kun! I love you too!"

Startled, Neji opened his eyes, at the same time, activating Byakugan. Her chakra system is back to normal! Neji deactivated his Byakugan, simultaneously trying to glare at Sakura. He could not keep glaring though, since his relief overpowered any irritation and fury that formed with the realization of the entire ruse. Unwilling to let his relief soften his ire at being fooled, he simply kept quiet, silently demanding for an explanation.

Sakura sat back down on the bed, already knowing what was going through his mind. "Neji-kun, I asked Tsunade-shishou to help me make a small potion to make me have a 'death sleep.' This potion makes me sleep so deep that I really appear to be dead, that even your Byakugan cannot tell the difference. I could still hear, feel and I can also decide when to wake up."

Neji found his voice at last. "Why did you do it?" He had a suspicion, but wanted to hear it coming from her lips.

Taking a deep breath, Sakura proceeded to tell him. "Look, I didn't want to trick you but…" Hesitating a while, she continued, "Neji-kun, we've been going out for over a year! You never told me what I was to you."

Neji opened his mouth, but Sakura interjected. "Neji, I learned from Hinata that you may still be shy, so I did this." Sakura quickly grabbed Neji's hand. "Besides, it feels good to reveal your true feelings, ne?" Sakura smiled.

Neji knew that he could not stay mad at Sakura for a long time. "Hn." Thinking of it, it did feel good. Still, it does not mean that she will be let off the hook so easily. It really felt like he lost a few years of his life with the shock he dealt with only a few moments prior.

Smiling mischievously, his green-eyed prankster stood up and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips, which he returned automatically, deepening it even more. With the scare he just received, he conveyed his relief and frustration into the kiss. After a few minutes, they broke apart, both breathing hard.

With a smile, Sakura said, "Dinner at my house?"

"Hn." Although his reply was curt, his eyes told her everything.

"Hinata-chan, do you think he fell for it?" Naruto said, looking at the Hyuuga heiress in question, seemingly oblivious to her steadily reddening face brought about by his attention.

"B-Byakugan ca-cannot tell th-the di-difference so I-I believe that Ne-Neji-nii-san fell for it. Prodigy or n-not, it do-doesn't ma-matter," Hinata replied as best as she could.

"Hai, I think so too. After all, we have Tsunade-baa-chan on our side!" Naruto happily exclaimed.

"Hai, Naruto-kun," Hinata smiled. "Do you thi-think Shikamaru-san re-revealed his true feelings to Temari-san yet?"

Naruto looked up from the empty ramen bowl. "Old man, another bowl please!" After receiving a nod from the old man, Naruto turned to Hinata, who started twiddling her thumbs in addition to the prolonged blushing.

"We gave the same thing to her, so I think it worked. Besides, Shikamaru is smart but he cannot tell the difference anyhow." Naruto smiled at Hinata before continuing, "Good thing Temari came for a visit."

"Hai, Naruto-kun," Hinata agreed.

He suddenly gave his fox-like grin. "You should have seen the look on Shikamaru's face when I told him! Too bad I couldn't use my camera."

Hinata adored his grin. She softly smiled at him and turned back to her half-eaten ramen.

"Hinata-chan?"

Hinata turned her steaming face towards Naruto.

"If you aren't going to finish your ramen, could I have it?"

Hinata smiled in spite of her slight disappointment. "Hai, Naruto-kun." She pushed her ramen bowl towards Naruto. However, when Naruto smiled at her with an accompanied, "Arigato, Hinata-chan!" Hinata's disappointment dissolved as quickly as it came.

In another part of the Konoha Hospital…

"Hokage-sama, where's Temari?" Shikamaru's face was etched with worry, normal laziness gone.

... Another cycle repeats itself.

The End