First Meeting

By Elli Cole

Neji x Sakura

"Haruno Sakura."

She said it so quietly that he almost didn't hear her. But her emerald eyes had told him so much of her character already that he didn't even dare judge her at their first meeting. Her eyes held such determination and passion that he doubt that her flame would go out. He looked at her with a blank expression and nodded in acknowledgement.

"Hyuuga Neji."

She smiled lightly at him and held out her hand to him. He looked at it questioningly and ignored it. He was not the friendly type, as he was told, and he knew that it would bother the pink-haired girl. But it didn't.

"So Hyuuga-san," she started happily. "On what team are you in?"

"In Gai-sensei's." He replied in a beat. He wanted to finish the conversation as soon as possible. The girl was too overly happy and giddy. And didn't he hear that she was one of the fan girls of that Uchiha brat?

"Ah," she lifted her forefinger to her lips in thought. "I'm in Kakashi-sensei's."

He nodded his head and looked away. He wished that she would go away and leave him alone. His thoughts were rattled as she continued to talk to him with that deliriously happy glint in her eyes. Neji was sickened of it.

"Haruno-san," he interrupted her ranting about butterflies and ramen after a few moments. "I would like to ask for some privacy."

"Ano," she visibly blushed, her eyes widened in a fraction of guilt. "Am I bothering you, Hyuuga-san?"

Yes. "Not at all, Haruno-san," he lied through his teeth. "But I am quite preoccupied with my thoughts at the moment and would like some peace."

Her eyes lightened. "I will talk to you after your meditation then?"

"Uhn," he replied carelessly. He just wanted the girl gone.

She squealed lightly and relentlessly told him about her loneliness. "Naruto is out buying ramen again while Kakashi-sensei is reading his stupid book! Sasuke-kun…" Here, she blushed. "Well, he really doesn't want to talk to me…"

And I now know why… He mused dryly.

"—And I saw that you were alone here so I came to talk to you!" She finished with a wide smile. "I've seen you with Lee-san before and I wanted to meet you."

Neji nodded his head and sighed.

"So Hyuuga-san, would you like to be friends with me?" She asked, her bright green eyes glistening. Long pink hair billowed across her back and her hands clasped together hopingly. Neji sighed again and nodded his head with an inward roll of his eyes.

Sakura gasped and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Neji-san!"

Neji choked on his words as he tried to pry the over-excited female off of him. His cheeks were red as she finally let go with a grin. It was a first that any female tried to get close to him. Being a resident "ice prince" had its perks sometimes and now he knew why he had taken that reputation to heart.

Fan girls were seriously touched in the head.

He only hoped that this weird pink-haired girl wouldn't become his fan girl. He was already too troubled with his own family problems and didn't want to add up to the list that he would have to problem fan girls as well. He let out curious glance at the girl when she had taken his slightly larger hands in her small ones and gripped it tightly.

"I'll treat you to some ice cream!" She exclaimed gleefully. "Mum would love to see that I've made a new friend today!"

Neji closed his eyes and felt a tug at his lips. As much as the girl was annoying… she was quite charming as well, in a crazed sort of way.

oOo

End Note: You can tell that I'm still quite new with the coupling. I'm not familiar on how the Neji and Sakura met but this is my own interpretation of it. They're both in their younger years (on what specific age, I cannot tell). Anyways, anymore requests?

Please review! This had gain so many hits and alerts but so little had reviewed. It breaks my poor little heart, really.