Chapter 3

Here they were, standing underneath the largest cherry tree in the Hyuuga Clan Compound, wordless. It was rather annoying, Neji taught; having his pink-haired woman silent was awkward since she always tended to say something, be it good or bad… she always made conversation.

"Are we going to last?" She said finally turning her face to an extremely surprised Neji that was staring at her with pearly white eyes.

"By this you mean—"

"Exactly what your heard, are we going to be together forever?" she said, now more interested in his response than ever.

"Forever is a long time," Neji said looking into the wide emerald, almost frightened orbs of his pinkette companion. She seemed scared of his response, it was as though she feared he was going to leave her one day; broken hearted, and from what it seemed she just wanted a reassurance… she wanted something to cling on to, to be sure that what he had promised her wasn't just plain crap said by someone who she wanted to love. "But no, we can not be together forever." He finally answered bluntly, looking away and then again at her.

She was breathing fast, she couldn't believe her ears; she felt herself being pulled back to reality by Neji's strong arms and with his hand gently holding her chin up, it was all she could do not to cry. She didn't want to be weak, besides, he didn't fight so hard to captivate her attention only to let her go; so she looked at his face, with a serious expression that quickly melted at the sight of his gentle, warm smile.

"We still have things that separate us, your work at the hospital; my missions, and let's not forget the fact that we will have to go to the bathroom once in a while. Or should you rather I join you there?" He said with an evil grin as he struck her eyes with the intensity of his own; she started to blush and pushed him gently with one small punch.

"Idiot! You scared the hell out of me." She said looking at him all flushed with a pinkish color, face colored by a beautiful smile. "And you're also a teaser, I would never have expected Hyuuga Neji making sexual remarks so on-forward." She said, throwing him one of her cheeky smiles.

"Why should it be of sexual nature, I could just be there to hand you the toilet paper…" He said in a matter-of-factly way before Sakura burst into a fit of laughter at the image of her on a toilet with Neji offering her the toilet paper. "Is it that hilarious?" He asked with one of his sexy Hyuuga-like smiles on his face as he leaned into the tree with his left shoulder, looking at his lovely woman that was slowly coming back to her usual self.

"It kind of is," She said wiping a tear from her eye.

X-X-X

Even though Sakura insisted on him not to, Neji couldn't help but be the gentleman he truly was and escorted her to the safety of her home; soft giggles and gentles whispers echoing through the lonely moonlit streets, it was a beautiful night… truly beautiful.

Neji left only after he had seen her walk safely inside, it wasn't as if she wasn't capable of taking care of herself; quite the contrary, she was a wonderful kunoichi, the top one of Konoha. Her skills were beyond anyone's fancy critiques as she was sublime at doing what she knew best, make every mission a success.

It was only when Sakura entered her apartment did she feel her heartbeats increasing and her breathing becoming more erratic, she could feel her knees becoming weak as she turned a pale color; she needed to keep her calm, but how could she when he stood there oh so very peaceful, a calm look on his beautiful face.

The moonlight fell elegantly on his pale skin, lightning it along the process; he looked like some kind of supernatural being, more like a god rather than a human; but she steadily regained her composure. Fragile, beautiful little creature walked toward the man with an elegance that never failed to accent her well shaped body; taking a seat on the far end of the couch and waiting for him to acknowledge her presence, she took in a deep breath when she felt his eyes opening, looking out the window.

He looked at her with lazy eyes, all facades fell from his face as a gracious smile ignited fire in the body of the rosette; what was he doing? She couldn't comprehend a thing, earlier in the morning he wanted to kill her; now he was as peaceful as a monk?

"Wh… What are you doing here Sasuke-k- … Sasuke-san?" she tripped over the 'san' but it was good, she would get used to calling him that; it was a necessity, and she would abide to it.

He didn't answer with words, but he came closer to her; resting his onyx eyes on her petite form as his hand lazily stretched toward her face, caressing it softly before falling down in his lap again. She didn't have any words at all, what was going on she didn't know; she didn't know why she suddenly felt a coil in her stomach either, or why did she want so badly to kiss him… questions without answers she told herself, but she would have to suppress the urge to hug him; she didn't want to be disappointed by him again, besides, she was currently giving a chance to her old reading partner and very close friend – Hyuuga Neji.

"I don't like the 'san', so cut it." He said with a slight sigh, turning his gaze from her only to look at the window again; a sad expression staining his flawless features, there was something bothering him… she could feel his heart breaking inside his chest.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked on a soft tone, as she lifted herself from her current position only to go to the kitchen; she quickly took a small teapot and poured some water in it, before putting it on the stove to start boiling. While she waited she went near him again, this time her seat was dangerously close to his; but for once since he came back, she felt safe around him.

"Tonight…" he started, looking into her emerald orbs once more; turning his body so it was facing hers completely… "Tonight is the 12th anniversary of that night." He continued, speaking the words with visible sickness; and that's when she truly started observing, all the signs that he was giving her.

His paler than usual color, his sickened voice; façade thrown carelessly away while a sad expression replaced it almost fully. He was trying to show her, show her who he really was; she could see the confusion in his eyes, the sorrow that colored them as he took another glance at her stunned face. "Sasuke-kun…"

"I'm sorry…" he said looking in her eyes while his hand slowly made it's way up to her face again, stopping just before it could touch the warm cheek of her flawless skin; her eyes quickly grew warmer while a small smile made it's way up her lips, she took his hand in her own and helped it the rest of the way to her cheek. "For everything I did wrong to you." He finished leaning in toward her, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Can we be just friends?" she asked, the proximity between them not bothering her anymore; she felt at peace, as if he cast some kind of spell on her.

"Your wish is my command." He answered with a slight smile on his lips, a rare sight; a true smile from Uchiha Sasuke was something not many had the chance to see, but she wasn't lucky, she realized… she was actually his friend.

A few moments of silence passed and a sudden pain struck in Sakura's heart, she could feel it spread throughout her entire body; sending shivers in her legs and making her heart thump faster, she felt as though she couldn't breath anymore and there was nobody there to help her. The sudden jolt of pain was quickly ceased when strong arms encircled her fully, helping her even her breath as she rested her head on the fabric of his shirt; she was sobbing and tears just wouldn't stop falling from her face, but his soft lavender scent kept invading her nostrils as she tried her best to breath normally.

His smell, the way he hugged her, everything was different from the way Neji would do it; even though they seemed to be very much alike, they were truly not the same when it came to the way they acted. Sakura quickly realized that even though she enjoyed the way Sasuke's hands felt all around her, in this warm embrace; she loved the way Neji held her, and how his mint scent kept invading her nostrils, making every cell of her body relax.

What she had with Sasuke was chemistry, but what she had with Neji was deeper.

Sasuke really wasn't like Neji, his embrace was slightly awkward; a bit too tight, as if he were afraid to let go, as if he didn't know how to hug someone properly. He was unsure of his own actions and Sakura realized that it took all his willpower to keep himself from going mad, he needed someone to teach him emotion again; but right now, the only thing she could thank him for, was his help in her helpless breathing seizure.

His soothing smell helped her breathing get back to normal, while his arms prevented her from breaking apart; she stood like that for about five minutes before she gently pushed away from his embrace, looking in his onyx eyes with her own soft emerald ones. Telepathic messages were being sent between the two of them and a whole new understanding was brought out before their own eyes, everything seemed to make a lot more sense now; what happened was destiny's hand and they couldn't change it even if they wanted, but the truth was, they didn't want to change it… she at least didn't want to.

"Are you alright?" he said, an obvious glint of concern coming with his voice while he gently pushed her aside; looking through her jade eyes with his piercing black ones.

"I am now, thank you." She answered as she took his hand and squeezed it gently, a soft smile curving up her lips as her red-from-crying glimmering eyes looked warmly into his.

"Hn." He answered with a smirk on his face. 'He's never gonna change.' She told herself as she went to pour the water into two mugs, putting tiny mint-scented bags inside them; to allow the tea to prepare itself, while she again seated next to him. "So you're really into Hyuuga Neji?" he finally broke the silence as he brought one of the mugs to his lips, taking a slight sip.

"I think I am, I'm pretty sure I am." She said as a smile kept widening on her face while she started talking about what she found out about the stoic ANBU captain. She told him about the gentleness he would show her, the feelings she would have when around him and the dreamy sensation his mere presence brought her; she started talking about when they were smaller, after both he and Naruto left… when she would go to the Hyuuga compound as Hinata's guest and end up in Neji's quarters, reading with him various books from the vast and private Hyuuga library.

Sasuke was content with listening, a relaxed feeling flooding his body as he listened to his petite female comrade talk so openly to him; 'She hasn't talked so much to me since our genin days." He taught to himself as he once again lifted his mug, making teasing remarks every once in a while; earning melodious giggles from her, sometimes even a soft laughter.

Of course he wanted her for himself, but he understood that what he wanted wasn't necessarily what she needed; for once in his entire life, he would put his whims aside to think openly about her best interests. After all, she was his best friend… she deserved better. He started spacing out while considering the ups and downs a relationship with Hyuuga Neji might present, from what she was telling him; Neji was an absolute gentleman and he seemed to care pretty much about her, that made Sasuke feel a little better.

But against his wicked consciousness, he would make sure his newly re-found best friend would be happy; he promised he would protect his friends, and since Naruto was pretty easy to take care of, his whole attention was now on Sakura.

"You seem happy to talk about him." Sasuke remarked with an honest smile on his lips.

"Yeah… I guess I do." She said with a wide grin, accompanied by a soft blush along her cheeks. "But I'm pretty sure Sasuke-niisama is going to find someone soon as well." She continued with soft giggles.

"Sasuke-niisama, sounds good… though I feel to old when you call me that, Imoto." He turned to her chuckling slightly while she let out a full fledged laugh.

She pulled her tongue out at him while she playfully hit him with a pillow. "You missed just too much of my life Niisan." She turned a little more serious, falling deeply in taught.

"I suppose, but I still would have never guessed this was going to happen." He said, also gaining more seriousness.

"Well, we aren't children anymore, and we don't have time for old crushes." She finally said looking at him with a smile. "But the question is… are you content with me being your Imoto?" she held a curious look on her face, while looking at him with wide emerald eyes.

"Aah." He answered while closing his eyes, letting his head fall down on the back of the couch. "Only if you allow me to be your Niisama." He finally spoke with a smirk on his face, as he lazily turned his head to look at her.

The warm smile she gave him, reassured him and gave him power. Really, nothing changed since their genin days; except maybe for the fact that now they were much stronger than then. His taught were quickly interrupted as he felt Sakura's head press onto his lap, she was making herself comfortable while turning on the DVD; obviously preparing to watch a movie.

"It's late, you should go to sleep." He started, using a short and softly demanding tone that she chose to ignore.

"Niisan wouldn't want Imoto angry right?" she said, not bothering to turn her look to him; "Then let's watch this movie." She said on a lighter tone as she could see his smirk even without looking directly at him.

X-X-X

Sakura fell asleep at the near end of the movie and it was Sasuke's duty to carry her back to her room, gently covering her with her sheets while silently sneaking out; ninja style from the rosette's apartment.

He finally solved an issue as old as time between the two of them, and even though his heart stung a little; he knew that being together with her wouldn't have made him feel any different than how he was feeling for her right now, a perfect brother-sister relationship.

That was truly all he needed, her back into his life; then he would really feel accomplished with himself…

X-X-X

A/N: Hey everyone, hope you like the 3rd chapter of the Neji x Sakura story :3

I really taught I should make Sasuke and Sakura be friends again, and I'm really glad how their niisan-imoto relationship went :D I just hope you'll like it too; and next chapter will be there as soon as I can get it ;3