FREYA: Heyo, Freya speaking. This chapter is really lengthy. SO expect one hell of a sit. Just a reminder, I don't own Naruto or it's characters if I did…I'd ask how Kakashi gets his hair to stick up so well…FREYA HAS SPOKEN!

Apologies…It took a lot longer than I expected to write this. The NaruxHina story is on Hiatus until I can get the inspiration back. This one might be on a sort of waiting list as well as I'm getting some writers block. You can either Alert it so you'll know when the next one gets in or you can go to my forums and give me more ideas to work with. Other than that, enjoy. Freya has spoken.

Chapter 3: Caught

"Ugh, what time is it?" Sakura looked at her alarm clock. 7:23 AM. Too early. Must sleep more…Sakura tried to lay her head down to fall back into her dreams. Unfortunately it didn't work. She stared at the ceiling of her room. What's on the agenda today? I can't remember. Finally giving up on falling asleep again she stands and finds her notebook.

"August…la la la….ah here. 'Pick up herbs from…'" Sakura rolled her eyes. From Ino's flower shop. What else? Take them to Hinata with the list to make some medicine. Sakura pulled out the list stuck in between the pages. OK sure. That's not a problem. "As long as I don't run into that snob…"

Neji let out a sneeze. It's not winter yet…am I catching a cold? Not possible. Hyuuga Neji does not catch colds. He disregards the sneeze and starts for the front door. I didn't get a chance to talk to The Fifth yesterday. I ended up returning home from the hospital for the rest of the day. I didn't get to talk to her the day before that either. She was too busy. I should be able to today though. Before he could even put a hand on the door Neji hears his cousin stammer.

"Neji-ni-san? Could you…um…" Hinata mumbled. Neji waited a few seconds more. If she didn't continue her sentence he was going to leave. He didn't have the patience to wait. "I need some…ingredients from the market…could you…?"

"Which ones?" He asked annoyed.

Hinata jumped when he spoke. "There on…this list…if it's ok…?" He turned around and took the list. He scanned it but didn't really read it.

"You can't get them yourself?" Neji seemed more and more irritated with each moment. He could have left by now. Been half way to the Hokage's office. But here he was stuck doing…servants work!

"I'm supposed t-to be making medicine today…for the hospital. You're already leaving so I thought…" Hinata was unsure her cousin would do it.

My cousin wants me to…to go grocery shopping! That's a woman's job! Neji remembered something about the hospital. The burned girl. Maybe some of the medicine Hinata was making would be helping her. Fine, it isn't like its difficult picking out healthy vegetables.

"Fine, I'll return when I am finished." Hinata looked surprised but she smiled and told him thank you. He grunted a response and left through the front door. Neji put the list into his pocket and walked in the direction of the market.

Sakura looked over her list again. I'm sure I didn't forget anything. Everything was crossed off except for one. Ginger? Oh yeah…I remember what ginger is for.

"Ino told me that she didn't have certain spices; that I'd have to look for a ginger root in the market." She put the list back in her pocket and fixed the bag on her shoulder carrying all the herbs and flowers. Right, to the market then!

I got all the herbs she'll need. The hospital really appreciates everything Hinata does for everyone. What a lifesaver. I think she even gave up her date with Naruto to do this today. I'll bet Naruto is pouting somewhere.

Upon arriving at the marketplace Sakura saw a vaguely familiar figure. She frowned when she realized who it was. Oh, the 'garbage prince'. What's he doing at a place like this? Mingling with the common folk? Sakura put the ginger on hold to get closer and see what the Hyuuga was doing.

"No way, he's…" Sakura had to put a hand to her mouth to keep from laughing. He's shopping for fruits and vegetables! The great Neji is doing his own shopping? Does he even know how to pick out good produce? Sakura bet he didn't. She got closer and tapped him on the shoulder. After he turned to see her smirking face his body seemed to tense up.

"Haruno…What is it that you want?" he asked in an icy tone. I've been caught, by Haruno no less.

"Grocery shopping? Have you ever gone shopping before, Neji-san?" Sakura was trying her best to embarrass him. He turned back around and began going through some of the things on the list. If I just ignore her maybe she'll leave. He picked up a tomato and was about to put it in the bag the vendor gave him. Is he crazy? Sakura grabbed his hand before he could drop the tomato in.

"What are you doing? Don't you know anything about picking fresh food?" She took the tomato away from him. She showed him a portion of the tomato was discolored and squishy. Not a healthy tomato. "Here, give me your list. Your list; the one with everything you need to buy, give it here." Reluctantly he gave her the list that Hinata wrote out. She's so pushy. Why do I always have to deal with this difficult girl? How does Naruto do it?

"Don't you have anything better to do than lecture me about produce?" Neji watched as she read over the list. While she went down the list she grabbed vegetables and fruits from the vendor. Sakura explained why certain ones were good and the reason others weren't. Pears should be smooth no bruises. The same goes for most vegetables. Tomatoes should smell earthy. Don't choose carrots that are too thick, they tend to have tough centers. After going through his entire list she gave it back to him.

"There, now you have a lot of healthy food and you don't look like an idiot when you take them home. Don't you feel better knowing that I could help you?" Sakura grinned with confidence. She was obviously taking pleasure in knowing she was smarter than him when it came to groceries. Neji didn't care about her flora knowledge. He was more anxious to know why she'd even care to assist him.

"Why did you aid me? What do you have to gain?" Neji couldn't figure out what her motive for assisting him could be. What reason could she possibly have to help?

"Are you serious?" she asked sarcastically, "It's no wonder no one likes you. Do you always think that to help someone you have to have an ulterior motive? Do you think that no one is capable of helping others just because they want to?"

For once Neji thought about her questions. Lee said the same thing, didn't he? But, isn't the reason we assist people because we hope to get something in return? No one is unconditionally helpful. Why help someone if it gets you nothing? Neji looked down at the bag of fruits and vegetables. Haruno helped me pick vegetables but says she wants nothing in return. I don't understand.

Seeing his confusion she elaborated. "I helped you because I wanted to. Even though you were a total jerk the other day, I decided that right then you needed a little help. I wasn't expecting to get something in return. You should try it once. People wouldn't know what to think."

Try helping someone? Without any personal gain? He looked at the vendor's wares and chose an apple. Is he actually thinking about what I said? After Sakura's veggie lecture he could pick out a good one. Neji turned it around in his hand. He paid for the extra apple and put it in his bag.

"Goodbye, Haruno." With that Neji started off back to the estate leaving Sakura in the dust for a second time. Sakura's jaw dropped in amazement at his rude behavior. What a prick! Just once, I'd like for him to say thank you for something! Sakura bought her ginger and ran to catch up with him. We're heading to the same place anyway!

After coming up beside him Sakura decided take a whack at being conversational. "So, why were you grocery shopping? Maid's day off?" As she expected he ignored her. Sakura let out an annoyed sigh and continued walking an arms-length distance from him; any closer would've been even more uncomfortable. After a few minutes of quiet Neji made Sakura jump by suddenly speaking.

"Why are you following me Haruno?" More than a question it was a statement that said 'you shouldn't be here'.

"I'm not! And even if I was…what're you gonna do to stop me? Throw a tomato at me?" Sakura knew that she was acting like a spoiled child but couldn't stop herself. Something about Neji-san is always ticking me off. Something made her feel like being defensive. "If you have to know, I'm taking some herbs and such to your cousin. You know, she makes medicine for-"

"-the hospital. I know." Neji was quick about finishing her sentence. An attempt to prove that he didn't need her to tell him everything.

"Sure you know. I had to get herbs for five different patients. Some aren't as seriously injured as others but it's good to get their medicine made by the best. Hinata's a genius."

Sakura seemed to have forgotten that they were arguing before. She always seemed to lose her anger after a minute to cool down. Already she was talking up a storm. "She's going to make medicine from all the herbs I got. I got Echinacea for a guy who has his horrible fever. And… some Comfrey for this ninja who just got back from a dangerous mission. He has a lot of cuts and injuries as well as a few broken bones. I hope she can make some extra for future use. That stuff is used up fast around here. Oh, guess what?"

She seemed to actually be waiting for a response. Absurd. He was listening to her ramble on about the hospital, even though Neji didn't really want to encourage her speaking. He preferred to walk in silence but she wasn't shutting up any time soon. Sakura continued her conversation anyway, and upon hearing the beginning of a new story Neji began to think it sounded familiar.

"I was helping out at the hospital yesterday and I whammed a door into some poor guy. I felt so bad but he acted like a jerk even though I was just trying to help him." Sakura kept going but this time she actually had Neji's attention. She's talking about me. "Anyway I used up the last of the Comfrey stuff on his cut. Even then he was still really pompous. I hope he decided to suck it up and say he was sorry to his girlfriend. Otherwise he'll just get hit again."

Neji was finding that he wanted the topic changed. He'd had enough of listening to something he already knew about firsthand. She didn't need to tell him, he was there. He coughed and interjected into her story, "What other herbs did you purchase?"

Sakura didn't seem to notice that he was deliberately changing the subject. Her eyes brightened as she described the rest. "Hinata's going to make this ginger and the chamomile into powders for teas. Ginger tea is good for stomach aches, you know? I also bought some aloe plants for…well; they're mostly used for making salves for burns."

Without thinking Neji interrupted again, "Was that one on your list?"

Sakura seemed stumped. How did he know it wasn't on the list? "No, it wasn't. I added it when I got to Ino's shop. It's for a girl at the hospital. I've healed a lot of the burns but I can only do so much. I'm a little-"

"-limited." Neji remembered her saying something similar when he went to the hospital with Lee.

A look of confusion plastered Sakura's face. "Yeah, that's what I was…going to…say…" It's like he knows my thoughts. That's crazy, he can't read peoples minds! Can he? I mean he does have that freaky eye thing going on…Sakura wasn't aware but her squinting glare was making Neji uncomfortable. What the…?

He was waiting for her inevitable question. It was coming soon and hopefully it wouldn't ask about how he'd finished her sentence. Neji heard Sakura take a deep breath. Here it comes.

"Neji, you didn't…" Sakura got closer and closer to his face with a slight glare in her eyes, "…read my mind or something did you?"

"No, that's ludicrous."

Sakura stepped back to her original distance and resumed walking beside him. Neji let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. What is it that keeps making me hold my breath? "Ok, but it sure was creepy how you finished my sentence. Hey, look we're here."

Neji hadn't noticed but they arrived at the Hyuuga mansion. Her conversations distracted me from recognizing the area. Neji opened the door and went in. Sakura stood outside for a moment. Do I follow him in or do I just wait for Hinata? Meanwhile, Neji was waiting at the door.

"Are you going to enter or not?" He asked impatiently. Sakura seemed to make up her mind and she stumbled in, almost tripping over the entranceway. Neji noticed and bit back a bitter remark on how clumsy she was. He led the way to the kitchen where his meek cousin Hinata was getting things ready; for medicine or for cooking, Neji couldn't tell. His cousin noticed his entrance and smiled weakly.

"Th-thank you Neji-ni-san. I hope it w-wasn't…too much trouble…" Hinata's habit of looking down had not yet abandoned her. It took her a second to realize that Sakura was there as well. "Ah! Sakura-san! I'm s-sorry! I didn't…see…"

Sakura had to stop her from looking the way she did. Hinata is always apologizing; always. You'd think being around Naruto would've made her a little more…well, like Naruto. Guess not. "It's alright, Hinata-san. Here are the things for the hospital. I was wondering how soon they'd be done so I'd know when to come back for them…"

Hinata rummaged through the bag with the herbs and such. The silver-eyed girl then asked which ones she'd want done first. Which were more urgent? "The t-tea powders would be the easiest…b-but anything that c-can be healed with tea is not usually serious."

"Well, we use the comfrey a lot but-"

"You should make the aloe salve first," Neji cut in. If he hadn't spoken the two girls would've forgotten that he was there. Both girls thought he'd already left the kitchen yet there he stood looking as serious as ever. They stared at him unsure of what to do. Did they not hear me? "You should make the aloe salve first," he reiterated.

Sakura took her eyes away from him to talk to Hinata. "Yes, I'd like it if you made the aloe salve first. Someone at the hospital needs it pretty badly. How soon can it be done?"

"I-I can have it done…in a few minutes. I'll get s-started!" Hinata grabbed all that she needed and quickly went to work. She told Sakura to wait and she'd have it done in no time. Sakura wasn't worried about that but she was a little concerned with Neji. Why had he…I mean, how did he know that…the aloe was the most urgent? There could be worse cases at the hospital that needed medicine desperately. Something's going on here…

"What?" glared Neji. Apparently she'd been giving him a look that was anything but friendly. She looks like…she's trying to figure something out in her head. He'd seen the look before when sparring with his teammates. When they were trying to think of a way to get under his guard, like they'd figured out a pattern. Uh-oh.

Sakura stared him down. He's hiding something. Let's think, what have I seen him do today that seemed very…un-Neji. He froze up when I tapped his shoulder. That's not normal is it? He questioned my actions. That's pretty much Neji. He then left me in the dust. That's very him too. Wait. Sakura just realized something about the walk back. He…that punk changed the subject when we were talking about the hospital. Come to think of it, he acted a little weird when I talked about the burned girl …Suddenly Sakura had a feeling about what was going on. If I'm right…

Sakura strode quickly over to where Neji was leaning against the wall; he didn't have time to brace himself. She got extremely close to his face. Why can't I move? "You…" Neji knew what was coming next. "You were at the hospital. Why were you there?"

There is no way on Kami's green earth she could know that. Why admit to something that could not be proven true? Neji turned his head away from her glare with difficulty. "I haven't a clue of what you're talking about." That's when she saw it. There was a faint line from where the hospital door had left a mark. She hadn't seen it earlier. Sakura hadn't been close enough.

"Interesting mark on your temple…I'll bet it came from a door," Sakura frowned. She was pretty much positive now that he'd been the guy she hit with the door. Was he spying on me? Why would he do that? Now that she thought about it she'd felt that the stranger had been rude and obnoxious and…familiar? Her first impression was that the guy had been like Neji. That's because he was Neji! I'm an idiot!

Sakura then remembered how she'd had that talk with him, about finding someone who'd like her. She even talked about him. Suddenly she felt embarrassed as well as angry. Her face was turning red as she slowly backed away from his face. "Why…would you…?" Sakura couldn't finish her sentence because of her anger.

"It wasn't by choice, I can assure you," Neji admitted to being there. "If you hadn't hit me with the door with your beastly strength I guarantee you would not have even known." Neji noticed that she'd backed away from him, giving him a little space.

"What reason could you have to…?"

Neji decided not to bring Lee into it. Lee is on good terms with Haruno so it'd be bad for our future teamwork if Lee was angry with me. "I just felt like it."

"You felt like spying on me?!" Sakura shouted. I can't believe this guy! I practically pour my heart out to a complete stranger and it ends up being him! This is so humiliating. Sakura could feel tears at the corners of her eyes start to form. I will not give him the satisfaction of knowing that he upset me this much. He will not see me cry! She ran out of his kitchen and slammed the door behind her as she went out the front.

Neji was dumbstruck at what'd just happened. Why is she making such a big fuss out of this? So I happened to be at the hospital. And I was in disguise the whole time. It's not like I have any obligations to be nice to her.

"Neji-ni-san…I think you made her cry…" Hinata whispered, as if the tension would tear were she too loud. She put the salve in a container. It's for the burned girl. "Cousin, if I'm not…b-being a bother…maybe you should say you're sorry…"

"I will not. I did nothing wrong." Neji held his ground. That's right. Haruno's the one who blew up in my face. She should be doing the apologizing.

"You're b-being stubborn, Cousin…take this to her…" Hinata handed him the container and an ice pack. "I'm going to finish the rest of the medicine…"

"What's the ice pack for?" Neji was confused.

"It's to put on her eyes. She'll need it if she…doesn't want them being red and puffy later." She went about working on the other herbs. Chopping them up and grinding them into powers. "And don't f-forget…to say you're sorry."

Neji was going to suck it up and go find her. I will not apologize. I will not. He used his Byakugan to find her on the east side of the village. He expected her to go home but Sakura was in the woods not far from the estate. This is ridiculous. He quickly caught up with her.

The first thing he noticed was that there were a lot of trees that were knocked down. Neji was sure that Sakura was the cause behind it. Many of the trees had been split in half. Her strength is insane; along with her temper. She was sitting on a few logs that she'd probably thrown into a pile in her rage. Sakura had her arms hanging off her knees and her head bent low. He could hear her breathing slowly, probably trying to calm down.

"Haruno," Neji finally interrupted the silence. He expected her to snap up her head and start throwing punches at him but she didn't. In fact she didn't respond at all. "Haruno," he repeated a little louder.

"I can hear you fine…What do you want?" She didn't raise her head at all. Neji didn't exactly know how to respond. Why did I come out here? He remembered the salve in his pocket and the ice pack.

"My cousin requested I give you these," he said as he pulled out the items from Hinata. Sakura didn't move to acknowledge the articles. She didn't seem to want to look him in the eye. Neji was glad for it. He didn't want to see her glare either. "It's the aloe salve and an icepack."

"Why would I need an icepack?" Sakura asked coldly.

Neji thought the answer seemed obvious. She's a medic nin so she must know about how crying makes your eyes red. Ice reduces swelling correct? Then again she wouldn't need it if I hadn't…

"Why did you bring them to me? What do you have to gain Hyuuga Neji?" Sakura had a lot of spite in her voice as she mocked him. Jerk. He saw her clench her hands and then unclench them. "You're not capable of doing something for someone else. All you have is your egotism and your self-reliance. Do you think you can change that?"

Neji was starting to realize how wrong it was to deceive her. Hell hath no fury…Neji had overstepped his bounds with Sakura. The hospital was the one place she could go to help people. She felt safe there. Felt that she was making a difference. The only thing Sakura ever tried to do was help others and he stomped all over it.

"Do you know why I like going to the hospital? I want to be of use to people. I don't want anyone thinking I'm useless. Or weak. Or pathetic. I like helping people. I even helped you. Yet you stomp on my ideals. You don't like helping people. You like hurting them…"

He recalled many of the things she said to him:

'I could help, what do you need?'

'I wish I could do more to help.'

'I'm going to help you whether you want it or not.'

'Be careful on the way home.'

She always seemed to put everyone else first. Why didn't I notice before? Suddenly being right wasn't as important as Neji thought it was. I feel…what do I feel? I feel horrible about this.

'I helped you because I wanted to.'

Neji walked closer to the log pile. He knew what he was going to have to say but he was worried she'd strike him down before he got the chance. Sakura seemed to notice that he was getting closer. She turned her head a little in his direction but avoided looking up.

"I…" Neji hesitated. "I apologize…for…everything I've said or done. It was…wrong…of me to trick you earlier." He waited for the onslaught, for some type of assault; whether it be verbal or physical, he was ready for it. It didn't come. Silence.

"Why did you do it?" Sakura merely asked as she looked up a little. Her eyes were a little red from her tears. He actually said he was sorry. Why?

"Honestly…" Neji was uncertain he should tell the truth but seeing how lies were what got him into this predicament he settled on honesty. He'd tell the truth but try his best to leave Lee out of the conversation. "I wanted to find out if you were the kind of person someone said you were. He said you were kind and unselfish…I have, uh, I had a hard time believing that. I thought I could find out without your knowledge. Hence the disguise."

"You weren't intending on getting hit with the door though…"

"No…I wasn't." Neji admitted. He found he was being less formal with her and was wearing an embarrassed look on his face. He heard Sakura giggle. "What?"

"I'm sorry it's just…I thought you'd rather take a beating than admit that something you did was wrong. I guess my guess was wrong huh?" She climbed down from the tower of tree trunks. But Sakura lost her footing and fell backwards. She braced herself for the fall; she was sure she'd hit the ground. Neji somewhat caught her after dropping the icepack and salve. A little embarrassed to have someone so close to him, he quickly helped her stand up.

"Hey, you caught me!" Sakura smiled triumphantly. I never thought…

"Wait, did you fall on purpose?" Neji asked astounded. It does sound like something she would do…

"Of course not! I'm just a little surprised. Why did you catch me?" Sakura asked as she bent down and picked up the icepack and container full of salve. It didn't open from being dropped so Sakura was relieved.

"What kind of absurd question is that? I wasn't going to just let you fall." Neji tried defending his actions. What's the big deal? I was just…helping her…He was suddenly feeling embarrassed again.

"Don't worry so much Neji-san. You want to know what just happened? You helped someone without hoping to gain something in return. You should feel good about it." Sakura stood back up and handed him the icepack. "I don't need that."

"Well, what happens now? Is that it? Can you really forgive me after such a simple apology?" Neji asked. He'd never had to say he was sorry to anyone before. He didn't quite know how this worked.

"Wow, Neji-san, have you never gotten into an argument with someone before? I'm sure you have but you've never apologized either? I feel kinda special to get the first Hyuuga apology! I sure have weird friends." Sakura started walking back to the village but noticed that Neji wasn't following. She turned to see him standing at the log tower still. "What? Something wrong?"

"Haruno, did you say…that we're…friends?" Neji had his teammates of course and he guessed that made them his friends; he had rivals too but that's not the same. Friends…with Haruno.

"You apologized and owned up what you did wrong…and I forgave you didn't I? So yeah, we're friends. Come on, I want to get to the hospital sometime today," Sakura continued through the woods pushing branches out of her way. Neji followed behind without a word.

Never in a million years would I think that Neji-san could do something without anything to gain. He was honest and admitted to his deception. Maybe Lee was right. Maybe he's not as bad as I thought.

Haruno just became my friend as if this huge conflict meant nothing. And for some reason I don't mind that she called me her friend. Did she do something to change the way I act? Or was it my own doing? Maybe by being friends with Haruno I can become a different. Stronger. Better. She didn't think I could change but I'll show her!

They continued toward the village in an understood silence leaving them both to think about what they had accomplished that day.

FREYA: So that chapter was extremely long…They just seem to get longer and longer. Hopefully the next won't be as long. It's tiring to type so much. Anyway, I explained earlier that it was hard getting these two onto common ground. They're probably still going to get into arguments but eventually they'll realize how much they care for each other. FREYA HAS SPOKEN!

It may be a while before the next chapter is posted. Be ready for a wait. Leave a review if you deem it worthy. Check out the forums if you want to help with my writers block (not just for this story but the NaruxHina one too). Freya has spoken.