I don't own Naruto, Neji, or anything else.

Neji-san, I am so sorry! I had to do it... Please forgive me...

Curse Mark Activation

He didn't even know who he was. All he knew was the pain, searing, ripping, shrieking pain. The fire. It shredded and slashed at him, digging its hungry fangs into his very soul.

He screamed – he didn't mean to, it just tore itself from his lips before he could stop it.

He didn't even know.

On his knees, clutching at his head, tearing at his hair, someone was screaming! Who? Him?

Praying for an end, a sweet, black abyss.

Please! Please let it end! Let it stop! Make it stop!

Who was he? Where was he? What was he?

How could he stand it? It felt like his skull was splitting – no shattering into millions of red-hot pieces. Surely he would die. He wanted to die. Anything was better than this; any end to this torture would be bliss...

...............

Neji's face was pressed against the cold floor. Sweat dripped off him in small rivers. A dull throb in his forehead.

He tried to push himself up, but his arms were shaking too much to support him. Gasping like a fish out of water, he pressed his forehead to the cool marble.

Neji, that's who I am, I'm sixteen. A Shinobi. Hyuga Cadet...Caged Bird. Hyuga Neji...

Someone's voice cut through his thoughts. He knew the language, but the words made no sense, he couldn't comprehend their meaning..........

His mind felt fuzzy. Blackness was closing in. Unconsciousness drifted by him, tempting him. Neji fought the urge to give in weakly.

Not yet... I'm not safe...Not yet...

Footsteps moved away.
Neji forced himself to his feet, shaking uncontrollably. He staggered forwards, backwards, leaning on the wall for support. Breathing heavily, Neji sank back down to the marble. He squeezed his eyes shut, gritting his teeth. He felt hot tears sneak out from beneath his eyelids.

Have...gotta...get out of here... Away.

His head still hurt. It was a splitting ache from the centre of his forehead and spreading out, down and all over his body.

Using the wall as a ladder, he hauled himself up, panting. Neji had not the slightest idea of how long it had been since his Curse Mark had been activated. Maybe it had been minutes. Maybe hours. He didn't know, he didn't care. His whole being was centered on escape. On...on away. Neji didn't know what came after that. After away, he didn't know. Even then, the pain was still there, clouding his consciousness. It hurt still. He didn't know why it still hurt, how it hurt, all he knew was that it hurt.

Anger flared up inside of him. Hatred of the Main Branch, long dormant, awoke. As these emotions spilled over, his Mark exploded again.

"N-no!" Neji gasped, grinding his teeth. With his right hand, he held himself against the wall, standing. The left clutched his head.

The pain subsided slightly, his mind cleared just enough for him to think.

Neji drew several shuddering breaths, opening his eyes.

Away

Instinct took over, and he bolted.

Outside. Buildings flashed by. Wet. His feet flew out from under him, and he crashed face down on the sidewalk.

Mud? He sat up slowly, looking around him. It's raining...

The rain felt good on his face. On his Mark. Tentatively, he reached up and placed a finger on it. Neji regretted it instantaneously, as a wave of nausea washed over him. He groaned, retching painfully. The spasm brought another shockwave to his skull. As the sick feeling passed, Neji staggered to his feet again. This time he didn't run. Couldn't run. He could barely even walk. The adrenaline rush of earlier was gone. Neji reached the training field on the verge of collapse.

Safe

He stumbled forward the last few paces, leaning against a tree, sinking to the ground, welcoming the darkness...

............

I'm not planning on continuing this...but if anyone wants me to...just say it in a review, and I'll try. WARNING: If I continue, there will be NejiTen

Please don't kill me... I just wanted to find out what would happen if I activated it... I'm not even sure that this is acurate in any way, shape or form...I just re-read the chapter with Hizashi...and used that as a base....

-hides- I'll come out when Tenten runs out of weapons... or at least decides that she doesn't want to kill me anymore...

~Wulfeh