A/N: ya know, I wasn't gonna update for a week or so, but I checked the stats on the story and the first thing I said was "holy crap! Five more people reviewed? And I had over 100 hits on the story too! I was so pleased, and even more so when I actually read the reviews. I was close to squealing in delight. So I updated. Usually I only write when 'in the mood' (the other reason I try not to post incomplete fics, I don't know if they'll ever get finished.) but I just had to. I had no idea reviews were so great at motivating people! Thank You all! You know who you are, and if you're a member I sent you a reply! (I hate seeing the answers to reviews posted, waste of paper in my opinion; I just skip right over them. If you do want me to post the answer to a review before the chapter, then sure, I'll do that. As long as it's appropriate and all that crap)
OK, PerfectInsanity really wanted to know where Sasuke lived, but I'll tell you right now, you won't know for half a week. Right now I want to focus on the relationship between the two, so here's chapter three!
Summary: Neji follows Sasuke back to clearing. Thoughts from both.
Warnings: umm…slight OOC since I haven't watched Naruto more than a couple of episodes. Ideas and characters come from fanfics, twisted, I know. Slight yaoi. (before you ask, yes I'm simply repeating these last two. Thank God-knows-who for the miracle that is copy & paste.
Disclaimer: Not mine, don't own. Never have, never will.
Meditation
Neji's POV (first person)
I didn't follow him right away this time. I had a sneaking suspicion that he was heading back to that clearing in the woods. After all, he took off in that direction. So I first circled around, then back. Just in case. You never know with the Uchiha. And if I stumble on him 'accidentally' it would look better if I hadn't been following him from the end of practice.
Aha! There's the clearing! I stop and stand on a high branch. Yep, I had been right, there was Uchiha Sasuke. …and he was sitting down again…hmm…must be resting before continuing. I settle down to wait. Knowing the Uchiha's reputation for training, this could take a while.
Sasuke's POV (first person)
Hmm…the Hyuuga is back. I thought he had given up since he didn't follow me from the training grounds. I was proven wrong when I heard his approach. Now he's high up in the tree to my right, watching me. He settled in comfortably, as if prepared for a long wait. I still wonder how he knew I was coming back here.
Maybe Kakashi told him. My sensei has followed me before. I inwardly smirk at the memory though my face remains impassive. He took one look at me and left. He knew that I was gonna be here for a long time. The Hyuuga seems to have picked up on this, but he obviously doesn't realize exactly how long I'll be here.
My gaze drifts to the surface of the pond and I lose myself in it's depths. My thoughts turn away from Hyuuga Neji, away from the normal training and away from Team Seven. My mind drifts far away, across the land, searching…(3)
Neji's POV (first person)
What the hell! (4) He hasn't moved in…three bloody hours! (5) he hasn't moved a single muscle! He just, just…sits there! Not moving! And he hasn't for the past three hours and one minute! What the hell is he doing? I expected training; physical, chakra, hell, if he pulled out a book I would be happy! But no! He insists on sitting there, all curled up…(6)
…all curled up. I never realized how vulnerable he looks in that position…his strong pale arms curled around his legs, drawing them up to his chest. He has his chin resting on his knees and his gaze remains fixed on the water.
But he's still prepared to fight, he's still wary. A kunai is close beside him on the ground and I can see him discreetly – yet absentmindedly – fingers the shuriken held in his hand.
I sigh imperceptibly, so pale, his skin contrasting well with his raven hair and ebony eyes. A pale, dark haired boy, nature's beauty accenting and highlighting his own. The way the breeze ruffles his hair, the way the dimming light falls across-
What the HELL am I thinking! I need to get away from here…and fast! There was something in that last line of thought…dimming light, sun's light dimming, nightfall…crap! I need to get back home now! I take off into the trees, for once not thinking about where the Uchiha lives…
Sasuke's POV (first person)
I feel a disturbance in the area surrounding me. I bring myself back to reality, snatching the kunai lying beside me. I turn swiftly to see a flurry of leaves. I relax slightly. That's right, Hyuuga Neji had been watching me.
He took off rather quickly though, wonder why. Even if he had a curfew, I would expect a more…dignified departure. Maybe he forgot to do something? That would be unlikely. The white-eyed genius is too organized and responsible for that.
I shake my head, trying to clear my mind of the image of the Hyuuga heir. I resume my previous position, still slightly worried. How could I have forgotten about him? I never forget about anyone's presence when I'm meditating. To do so would mean death. Do I trust the Hyuuga not to kill me then? That is a dangerous thought. I will confront him tomorrow. I know he will return. I know.
Neji's POV (first person)
The leaves slap against me as I run through the trees but I pay them no heed. I have to hurry home, I can't be late, my father (7) will be so angry.
I slow down to the much more respectable pace of walking once I reach the outskirts of the village. I sigh. I have plenty of time. And I knew it. I just needed a distraction. Those thoughts I had of Sasuke…what is wrong with me? Why do I keep seeing that image? The way- no! I will not go down that mental pathway again.
Since my thoughts fly to the Uchiha anyway, I might as well think about the real reason I followed him. I was trying to find out where he lived…and why he didn't go home right away.
What was he doing there? He can't sleep or live there, can he? No! Not out in the open. Not all the time…but still, he is a great ninja, as much as I hate to admit it; and ninja sleep out in the open, well – not in a house – on missions. Is he training for that? Training 24 hours a day? Or is he meditating? It looked like that. Tomorrow I'll approach him.
(3) I needed to give him a reason to meditate? And I like the sound of it…--'
(4) I actually don't use that much 'strong' language. The one I do use are: 'hell', 'shoot', 'bloody', 'damn', 'damnit', 'crap', 'sugar', 'blast', an occasional 'wtf' (now I'm really clutching at straws). Never 'shit' or 'fuck'. That goes for all my other fics too. shrugs just the was I was raised.
(5) I have no real idea how long they practice for. Let's just say they train until evening and it's summer so they have quite a bit of time after finishing…or however you want to interpret it.
(6) Neji's slightly pissed off after watching someone do absolutely nothing for three hours. So he's ranting. The paragraphs are inner monologues, remember.
(7) Again, got no real idea about the living situations (apart from Ino, Sakura and Naruto, thanks RitsuChanMonkey !)
A/N: I just realized that this whole, not-so-long chapter is in first person POV. That was surprising…
Also, this fic will occur over the days of the week. Chapter 1 was Monday. Chapter 2 was Mon-Tues. This Chapter is Wed. makes it easier for me and I thought you guys might like a timeline (of sorts…)
So, nothing but NejiSasu moments in there…don't know how well I did…this is my first time writing something like this…would it qualify as 'fluff'? Or just garbage…
Please tell me what you think, praise, one-liners yelling at me to update, cc, flames, all are welcome. Even criticizing the length of my author notes, but I can't promise I'll change that. I will finish this fic no matter what (otherwise that great outline would go to waste) but it's nice to know I'm appreciated
Btw, can someone give me the translation for 'I'm sorry'? Or better yet a website that translates it? Any sites I found translate them into Japanese characters instead of something like: Yes translate Hai. Russian would be good too! (Beyblade fanatic, why I'm writing Naruto fanfics is beyond me…)