Disclamier: I don't own Naruto and you know the rest.
Chapter 3- "Fate of The Cursed Seal"
The agony was too long. Neji couldn't take it anymore, he had come to terms and decided to plan a mission to fix his cursed seal. A second and third seal covered the seal and the source was unknown, Neji hated taking off his headband to only see the curse progress. Not everyone knew and Nadia hardly got what he was trying to say about the barriers. Hinata noticed it was taking a toll on him and wanted to tell her father about it but Neji stopped her from doing it.
"No, Hinata...I have to deal with this on my own, no matter how bad the agony is." Neji replied. "Making everyone help would...endanger them."
"Oh. I guess it is...your decision." Hinata spoke quietly. "Everyday there seems to be another problem with you and it has to be painful."
Neji yelled out in pain, the curse was killing him again. Hinata ran to get her father, Hiashi. He came into the room and saw that Neji was trying to fight pain and fell to the floor in doing so, Hanabi even watched Neji struggle and wasn't able to understand what was going on. Hiashi took off the headband and saw the barriers, he gasped and stood away from Neji.
Something was wrong. He carefully approached Neji and noticed that the seal was in horrible condition, He worried about it costing Neji's life or doing damage to everyone else.
"Neji." He replied. "There is no way you can go on a mission to stop this curse without people aiding you. You can't...make this decision."
"I don't want it to cost the lives of others." Neji painfully replied. "It would be all my fault..."
"This isn't something your father would want, he would want it taken care of to ensure that no other damage would be done." Hiashi looked at the moon that was outside. "I know that's what he would say."
Hiashi walked out with Hanabi following him, Hinata stayed in the room and made sure Neji didn't get hurt anymore. Neji began to sleep and Hinata closed the door. Vivid dreams haunted Neji the entire night, several were nightmares until he saw himself surrounded by curses and his father, Hizashi. He stood watching Neji until he began walking up to him.
"Neji, you know you can't go on like this anymore...go on the mission." Hizashi replied. "If this continues you could suffer more than an ordeal."
"I can't." said Neji. "What about the lives of the others? They could also die."
"Neji. You are my son, I have a lot of fear over this matter and I don't want you to suffer."
It began to rain and thunder cracked across the sky. Neji looked at his father, it was hard to make a decision and Neji already had it with going through agony everyday of the week with not knowing when the pain would stop.
He looked into his father's eyes, it did reflect concern and Neji finally agreed to doing the mission, Hizashi looked into the distance and Neji tried to see what he was looking at until he saw a mirror image of himself walking on a path.
"The curse seems to be at its "Suffering stage" if it continues it could end up to ruining your mind or even...death could occur, you have to stop it."
"But father..."
"Neji, this is your decision. You either leave like this and end up dead or go on a mission and reverse it to save yourself." Hizashi turned to him. "I wouldn't want you dead."
Neji looked down at the path he was walking, it seemed like an endless road but it was lead to something and Neji thought about his options. Neji looked up at his father again, he stood serious and tall like a fort that couldn't get harmed or even damaged.
Neji wanted to ask another question but the dream ended with Neji walking up in fright, it seemed so real to him.
"Thank you father, I now know what path to choose and abide by." thought Neji. "I hope it is the right one."
A knock was at the door, Hiashi answered it and looked to see Nadia standing at the steps. She looked up at him and smiled, Hiashi greeted Nadia.
"Oh, hello." said Hiashi. "You must be Nadia, I've heard a lot about from my daughter Hanabi."
"Hello, Mr. Hyuuga." Nadia smiled. "Is Neji around? I hope he is at the house."
"I believe he is in his room, he must be practicing that's what he usually does when he gets up."
Nadia walked up the stairs and opened the door, Neji practiced his chakra use and began hitting targets. Neji stopped and saw Nadia walking in, he smiled lightlywalked toward her.Just before he could shut the door, Hanabi ran in the room and saw Nadia. S
he walked up to Nadia and hugged her, it seemed that Hanabi was getting more used to her when she came over.
"Nadia." Hanabi replied. "It is nice to see you again, are you visiting Neji?"
"Yes, I'm visiting Neji." said Nadia. "Neji, can Hanabi stay in here? I don't want to leave her out there by herself."
"Its fine. She won't bother the conversation." Neji looked at Nadia, every time he saw her she became more beautiful. "Nadia, you know of the mission but we have to pick a team."
"...I don't know where to start..." Nadia seemed unsure of placement. "Eight for this mission."
"Ok. I want Lee, Naruto, and Kiba. I choose for the boys and you can choose for the girls." Neji smiled. "Go on, choose a team that can work for you."
"Um. Ino, Sakura, and Hinata. That's the people I choose. Uh...Neji? I have to warn you about..."
"No...no..no, that's okay." Neji replied. "I know your team is good."
"No, that's not what I meant...All of them are on missions this week, I'm the only one Kakashi and Gai didn't want to go on one." Nadia blushed. "Its just you...and...me."
Neji stared blankly at Nadia. He began to get nervous going on a mission with the girl he adored the most, he was happy that it was going to work. Nadia began to laugh softly and look into Neji's slits, Neji returned the stare and peeredinto her brown eyes, Hanabi watched and knew something was going on between them.
Neji got closer and slowly went for Nadia's tender lips until Hanabi got between them and made a fuss over a broken bear.
"Neji. Is Nadia your girlfriend?" asked Hanabi. "It seems like she likes you."
"No...no Hanabi, that's not what it look likes." Neji looked the other way. "I'm a close friend of Nadia's, right Nadia?"
"...What? Oh, we are close friends." Nadia went closer to Hanabi. "What happened to your bear, Hanabi?"
"It ripped." Hanabi replied. "It had an accident when it got caught on a stick. I want a new one."
Hanabi walked out of the room and complained to Hinata about her destroyed toy. Neji suddenly had another "Agony attack" but it didn't last as long as the previous ones and Nadia quickly got some water and made sure Neji drank it, he began to drink and dropped the glass as it shattered. Nadia stepped away from Neji and watched as he shivered and shook in pain, the mission needed to be done now.
Another symptom had be found and if they wasted time it meant that Neji wouldn't have another chance to live. Nadia knew in her heart that she wanted to help Neji.
Neji muttered a couple words. "Nadia...you have to help me...please? You're one of the strongest kunoichi's and I need your help...don't leave me."
"Neji...I can't, not in this condition." replied Nadia. "You need my help and I will give it to you...don't worry."
Neji tried to crack a smile but couldn't but Nadia already knew that he was, she couldn't bare to see him like this anymore. She feared that if the curse kept going that Neji would be mentally ruined for the time beingand become more negative and probably forget his affection toward Nadia and lash out at everyone. She was beginning to start the feelings of her love that she would feel strongly about later on, she was starting to feel affection.
Neji also began to open his heart.
It isn't easy to open my heart but she...
She has opened the lock, the lock to my heart
The more I see her, The more I love her
The pain, it doesn't go away until I see her
The love for her, I'm starting to love her
Neji looked into Nadia's eyes, the pain began to weaken and it was gone. This time was the last time for wasting time, if they kept going at this rate then Neji would never get saved from his agony. Nadia helped Neji pack his bags and were stopped by Hiashi. He came into the room.
"Nadia and Neji." He replied. "I know where you are going and you need a special key to the shrine, no one has been there in years, so be careful. Nadia, take care of Neji."
"I will, I hope I can help Neji and save him. I' will do my best." Nadia bowed in front of Hiashi.
Nadia and Neji walked out of the house and ran far into the distance, Hiashi watched the both of them run together. He looked closely at Nadia and watched her determination rise.
"She is just like Usai." thought Hiashi. "He lead everyone to victory in the first war and it seems that power had spread onto her, I don't know why her clan thought having his power was an outcast, it wasn't. Usai was very protective of the ones he loved, Nadia is doing the same thing."
They were deep into the forest. Neji carefully followed behind Nadia, she withdrew her kunai and made sure no one was going to attack easily, Neji didn't know where his family shrine is. He had heard it was in numerous places but he knew it was in one place and that it was on this trail just like the endless trail in his dream, he began wondering if his father was trying to tell him something.
He got rid of the thought as soon as he noticed that Nadia was pacing in circles.
They were lost. Nadia used strong judgement and picked a pathway, Neji paused and stood by his pathway. Nadia came over to him and he looked at her. He wanted this pathway.
"I'm sorry Neji, I didn't know you wanted a different pathway then me." Nadia came over to him. "Let's take your way..."
"Nadia. I could be wrong, what if it leads to the wrong path? I guess we don't know until we try some of them out." Neji jumped into the trees and tracked. "I think the shrine is this way."
Nadia walked in front of Neji until she stopped, she let Neji lead and followed behind him. Neji looked back and noticed that she was admiring the birds that flew by, Neji walked slowly until he bumped into a hard surface: a wall was in the middle of the pathway. He studied it and realized it was high enough to climb, it was also sturdy.
Neji made sure Nadia got up safely.
Seeing that you care for me,
it makes a feeling come to me...
I don't know what it is to me
How do you explain it?
What this feeling is...
You feel attraction, then you feel lust
the kind of lust that involves another person
A type of lust that is strong...
One as strong as you
I can't hide from you anymore
When you know I can feel it too...
I can feel it because I love you...
Nadia got safely over and began to help Neji over. They continued on until they saw a passage that lead into a shrine then more shrines were around it, even the Uchiha clan had shrine here. The Hyuuga shrine was in the distance, a different marking was on the door as Neji pushed it away, stairs lead down to the dark entrance and Neji took the first step down, Nadia quickly followed him.
The door closed behind them, adrenaline began hitting them and Nadia hit the door and realized that it was no use.
Neji remained calm and saw a flickering light. He wondered off leaving Nadia trying to fix the door, he realized that there were coffins. Some in a circle.
"Neji. Neji!" yelled Nadia. "Where is he? It isn't good to be alone in this situation."
Neji heard her but didn't answer. He began wondering deep into the cave until he came to an unusual split of paths in the shrine, there were four path waysHe stopped and began to see which one lead to what and the curse shifted into the "Mentally ruined" mode, he had no sense of direction and choose the middle path without consenting Nadia.
He was beginning to think he was no longer with anyone, and he kept going. Nadia began running down the pathways to find him, and took the middle path and Nadia caught up to Neji. Neji looked at her in an odd way.
"Neji! I'm so glad I found you!" She exclaimed. "We have to stick together or we'll get lost, Neji. Neji? Neji?"
"Are you saying that is the name I go by?" asked Neji. "Who is Neji? Is he a Hyuuga like me?"
"Oh no. You shifted into the "Mentally ruined" stage, we have to perform this ritual before it goes to the next one." Nadia grabbed Neji as he followed behind her. "I can't let your father or Hiashi down, I promised that I would protect and look out for you no matter what."
"Nadia...What just happened? Did I forget who I just was?" asked Neji. "...This is horrible, I can't believe this is happening to me."
"Neji? How do you...do a ritual?" asked Nadia. "I've never done one maybe you know how to do one."
"...I don't know how to start the fusion." Neji confessed. "I thought I did...but I don't."
"...That's not good. We're really short on time and in a bad situation all in one place." Nadia looked down on the ground. "Neji...I don't want to fail this...if I do, I'll never forgive myself."
Neji looked at Nadia, he didn't want her to feel this way but if it happened...Neji stopped thinking and turned on his Byakugan, he wanted to see if he could find something but came up short. Nadia entered a door and brought a sapphire diamond, it was bigger then most diamonds. Neji knew that was one of the items used to do a ritual, he also knew that a few healing herbs were used and a talisman was put in place of sacred area
. Neji looked through hallways until he heard a vase hit the ground.
"Nadia! Did you...hear that?" asked Neji. "I have the worst feeling we shouldn't be here."
"...I didn't hear anything. Are you alright, Neji? You seem a little jumpy." she replied. "Maybe it did happen...I don't know."
As they walked on, Neji began falling more behind and was too weak to go on. Nadia carried him as much as she could until she tripped into the middle of the ritual circle. Nadia put Neji on the table and began fitting together the pieces to start the fusion, Neji opened his eyes and closed them, the fusion stopped. Neji breathing became rapid until he barely made noise anymore, Nadia panicked and looked at Neji. H
e lied still. He only responded if touched.
"Please Neji, I can get you out of this and I will." thought Nadia. "You can't...you just can't!"
Nadia removed the charm from her neck. It was a medium sized heart shaped charm that her mother had given to her on her tenth birthday. She treasured it and loved it. She looked at Neji again then at the locket, she hoped it would give him a chance but she knew the odds of that happening would be small. Tears ran down her face.
She had a decision to make and she wasn't going to give up. Neji barely was alive, it seemed like nothing was happening to him.
"This can't happen! I love Neji! I won't let him die...If only he knew...If only I had told him sooner! Neji! I wish he knew my feelings..." Nadia threw in her locket as it attached itself to the talisman. Nothing happened. Silence was the only thing that was heard.
Nadia cried into Neji's shirt. She felt like she betrayed many people sd she watched the useless charm do nothing. Then, a light began to shine from the middle of the talisman. Nadia looked back and cried softly, something was going on with her charm. It had unlocked something. She untied Neji's headband as the cursed seal glowed a bright green, the fusion began working and Nadia jumped back as she watched the fusion work.
The curse began to disappear as Neji opened his eyes, the curse was broken as Neji held his hand to his head. He looked at Nadia.
"Nadia...what happened to me? Am I...Am I dead?" asked Neji. "I...I don't know what just happened...Is the curse gone?"
"It's gone and I'm glad." replied Nadia. "I saved you, Neji."
"Hn...How?"
"Everything failed and the only thing that would work was my charm, it attached to the talisman." Nadia pointed to the jewel. "I don't know what made me do it..."
"I'm glad it's over...let's go back to the village." said Neji. "Are you coming?"
"I want to get out of this place, it's too scary to stay down here a whole day!" yelled Nadia. "I'm glad I came though, you're right, let's...go home."
Neji picked up his headband and looked at his reflection. The seal was back in place with no curse, Neji looked at Nadia as she walked in front of him. He smiled and stared charmingly.
"Thank you, Nadia. I know you did it out of love." He thought. "You are one determined ninja."
Neji and Nadia walked out into the distance until they reached home and was greeted by everyone. Nadia smiled at Neji. They both knew that they were both closer to finding out their love. Nadia had no idea that Neji knew that she had a thing for him. She couldn't wait to start training the next day with Neji. Neji could hardly wait either.
That's Ch.3, Please R&R.
