EDIT: So, I don't know what happened, but I was looking over the story and most of the flashback was gone, and kinda cut up. Sorry it didn't make sense, BUT IT HAS BEEN FIXED -yays-. Also, pleaseeee don't tel me to update more often. I'm trying, I promise, but I'm also busy. I was at boarding school this year, so I try to make as many plans with my friends as possible, in between working at the horse barn and babysitting. Thanks for all of the support, and I love you guys. Lots. :D
Pre Story A/N: Okay, so in the last chapter, if you even remember, I alluded to TenTen and Rock Lee being together. That would be a slip up on my behalf. Pretend that didn't happen… O.O
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Neji slowly followed behind Hinata as she led the way to Shikamaru's party. She had dressed him again, it was a little scary that he was getting used to it. He hadn't even known he'd owned jeans, let alone the looser, faded pair that he was wearing now. Whether he was getting used to this or not, it was still an annoying process. She had laughed at him, when he first walked out dressed, very loudly.
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"What's wrong
with it? You're the one who picked this out." Neji replied to her
giggles as he shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. He wore
the faded jeans, with his burgundy dress shirt buttoned up and tucked
in, the most casual thing Hinata had found. He'd done everything
she had asked, there couldn't be a problem. "First of all,
just because there are buttons doesn't mean you have to use them."
Neji looked pretty uncomfortable with his shirt closed at his neck.
"Is this how you did your green shirt the other night too?" "Yes…"
he mumbled. "Well that's different. It was a dress up
occasion, this is a
Neji did have to admit, he was much more comfortable now, the shirt was less stuffy, but as they came to the front door of Shikamaru's house, he began to regret his decision to come. Music blared loudly out of every crevice, and a figure slumped on the balcony suggested that people were already drunk. Audible over the music was the chatter of every young person (not just Nin) in Konoha, along with laughter, and the occasional shriek. This was not Neji's scene.
Not that he had a scene.
Hinata caught sight of Neji's apprehensive state, and quickly pushed him in the front door. As soon as he stumbled past it, Neji's senses were assaulted. The lights were dim, the music was loud, people shoved by him, and everywhere was the smell of sweat and too much perfume or cologne. What an unpleasant atmosphere. Neji made a face. He was already uncomfortable. How was he supposed to act, who was he supposed to talk to, and they called that dancing? It looked rather profane.
Rather confused, and already abandoned by Hinata (who had ducked past people to a place by Naruto), Neji made his way to the couch. Sinking into his deserted island in the middle of an unknown, chaotic sea, Neji sighed. He began to look around, as to avoid staring at the couple making out on the opposite couch, and soon found his island wasn't as uninhabited as he thought. There, at the opposite end of the large, pinstriped four-seater, was Sakura. Neji was relieved to see her. It was good to find someone else was uncomfortable with the party. Or so he thought.
Before Neji could say 'Hello' in a cool and nonchalant way, yet another person joined them. Kiba, with Akamaru tagging along behind, sank down onto the couch beside Sakura. Or, more like, onto Sakura and beside the couch, as Neji saw it. Either way, Kiba was very close to the pink haired kunoichi.
"Hey." The brown haired boy grinned wolfishly, slipping an arm around Sakura's shoulders.
"Hey yourself." She giggled.
Kiba gave her a quick look up and down. "I like the outfit."
"Thanks. The top is new." Sakura smiled.
Neji had to admit, the outfit … showed off… good … aspects of Sakura. Aspects that made her a great Ninja of course, nothing attractive. Except that jean miniskirt. That was interesting. And the green silk, kimono-like top. She looked pretty cute in that. Besides that though…
Neji's thoughts were broken off when he heard another giggle. Kiba had lowered his head and was whispering something into Sakura's ear, as a light blush spread across her cheeks. Sakura gave him a slight playful push, and he laughed.
What was going on?
Kiba said something else that Neji couldn't hear. As he and his dog got up to leave, Sakura called after him.
"Yeah, Yeah, Kiba. I'll dance with you later."
What had that exchange meant? Were Kiba and Sakura together? He felt so betrayed.
Wait. Why should he feel betrayed? It wasn't like anything had ever happened between them. It wasn't as if Neji liked Sakura. Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, Neji swallowed down his anger. Why was he angry? He had no reason to be. Just say hello, he convinced himself. Just lean across the couch and say hi.
As Neji moved towards her, another figure appeared at the Medic Nin's side, this time sitting on the couch arm beside her. Not as close as Kiba had been, but still there. Still annoying, and angering.
"Nice." Shikamaru winked at Sakura.
She rolled her eyes, with a smile on her face. "Hey Shika."
"You know, pretty girl like yourself, I'm surprised you aren't out there." Shikamaru made a lazy gesture with his hand towards where people were dancing.
"Well, I was actually waiting for Neji to show up first. Just 'cause, you know, its his first party. I figured he'd need someone to show him the ropes…" Sakura trailed off, blushing.
Shikamaru glanced over Sakura's shoulder with a smirk on his face.
"I haven't seen him all night."
That was the last straw. Neji couldn't explain this anger. The sudden hatred for Shikamaru, and Kiba. The way his stomach shrank and his fists shook. The thing Neji did know was that he couldn't take these strange, unreasonable sensations anymore, he had to go somewhere else. He quickly got up and strode by Sakura, whose eyes widened at the sight of him. Confusion swirling through his mind, Neji grabbed an unopened beer from a table laden with food, and took a quick sip. Neji wasn't a fan of alcohol, but the bitter taste stole his attention, and that was all he wanted.
As Neji took another swig from the bottle, as a small hand brushed his shoulder.
"I didn't know you drank."
Sakura.
Without turning around he made a bitter reply. "Run out of admirers?"
She walked around to face him. "That? It isn't what you think. This is your first party, so you don't know how these things work. What was going on with Shikamaru was 'party flirting'. It didn't mean anything."
Neji couldn't disguise his look of bewilderment.
Sakura sighed. "Here, I'll show you."
Sakura stepped closer to him, and looked into his eyes.
"Neji? I was waiting for you."
She put a pout on her face.
"Oh the things you do to me. I mean, you are such a good ninja. The best." Sakura giggled.
Now she placed a hand on his stomach.
"Do you have a six pack too? Wow. You are such a…" here she stood on her toes to whisper the last word in his ear. "…hottie."
The hot air from her lips brushed past his ear and sent shivers down his spine.
"See? Just screwin' around. Having fun." She winked at him and stepped away, removing her hand.
"…"
"Neji?"
He gave a slight jerk, snapping out of his trance.
"That's stupid." He said irritably.
"Whatever," she shrugged, and glanced at the bottle he still held in his hand. "Another thing you need to know about parties, is you had better stop drinking now if you want to remember this tomorrow."
Neji looked at Sakura's smirking face. He definitely wanted to remember this. Neji slid the beer back onto the table.
"There you go." Sakura flashed that pretty smile. "Now, you need to dance. A definite required activity at all parties."
Neji was horrified as the pink haired kunoichi grabbed a hold of his and dragged him in the direction of the blaring music. The room she brought him to was dark, with only slivers of light falling onto the sea of hot sweaty skin. Guys and girls were pressed against each other, moving strangely to the pulsating of the music.
"Come on!" she shouted over the roar of the speakers.
With a quick smile, Sakura disappeared into the mob of limbs and hair.
Neji was one of the top ninja in Konoha, and he felt helpless as he dove after Sakura. He was jostled about. At one point Ino was chest to chest with him, dancing away. Another time, his hand brushed Naruto's, and he snapped it back quickly. Finally he found Sakura, in the very middle of the group.
She laughed as she danced, arms half raised, knees partly bent, and hips moving. Neji stood stiffly, hands shoved into his jeans pockets. As he waited for the song to end, someone knocked into him from behind, and he was pressed up against Sakura. His hands flew from his pockets and found their way to her waist as he tried desperately not to knock her over.
"There you go; you're getting the hang of this!" Sakura reached up and put her arms loosely around his neck , and swung her hips to the fast pace of the music.
Neji didn't know what was going on. For some reason it felt right, his hands resting lightly on her sides, swaying and stepping to the thunderous beat. In the dim light, Sakura looked beautiful, with shadows spilling down her ivory cheeks.
Did he just call Sakura, beautiful? She was. She most definitely was. Neji was getting to like the idea of these parties.
As the music faded into another song, Kiba appeared at Sakura's side, and he tapped her shoulder. She looked at him and then looked back to Neji, taking her hands from his neck.
"I promised a few dances. Find someone else to dance with, 'kay? You're doing fine."
Kiba and Sakura began to dance in a way that made him sick. Her back was pressed against his chest, his hands were low on her hips, and Sakura moved against him. Suddenly disgusted, Neji struggled out of the mob to go sit down. Obviously his dance with Sakura hadn't meant anything. He was so stupid. What was it she had said to Shikamaru? She wanted to show Neji the ropes. Hah. Like teaching something to a little kid, an amateur.
"Are you hurting from unrequited love as well, Neji?"
Neji just sneered at green jumpsuit clad team mate that sat down beside him. He didn't have time to even pretend to be nice to Lee right now, that kid was crazy.
"Well it seems as if you are. I myself pine for a certain pink haired girl, who has the fire and loveliness to capture my heart."
"What did you say?"
"Yes. Haruno Sakura, is my one true love. One day she will be mine."
Neji's stomach churned. Shika, Kiba, those two were enough, but Lee? No. That was it. He was not going to deal with this anymore. He didn't quite know what it was he felt, but he just couldn't deal with Sakura anymore, or her little troupe of groupies. He just needed to leave, she was screwing with his mind. He hadn't even trained for two days because he'd been thinking about this party. HE must be the crazy one.
Overcome with emotion, Neji stood sharply and turned to leave, as Lee continued, unaware of Neji's sudden movements.
"…yes. That beautiful hair, those soft lips, her womanly shape…"
As an after thought, Neji turned back, and punched Rock Lee as hard as could in the jaw, sending him flying. Lee landed in a heap on the other side of the room, tangled in other party guests.
"Don't talk about her like that." He said quietly.
People had stopped dancing and were watching, but there was nothing left to see. Kicking over a chair, Neji stormed out.
The dark, cool night air was calming to him as he ran home, bounding through the trees. Step, woosh, step, woosh. Neji was so concentrated on his motions that he didn't even know she was coming until Sakura was right beside him, heaving for breath.
"Neji! Stop! I need to talk to you! And honestly, I'm not exactly dressed to keep up with you."
He hadn't even noticed the rain before he looked over at her. She was shoeless, it was probably easier for her to follow him that way. The rain was pounding and running down her face in streams, plastering her pink hair to her face. He knew she wouldn't go away, and so he skidded to a stop at the nearest branch.
Sakura opened her mouth to call to him from the tree where she had stopped, but thunder crashed loudly above.
"What?" he called out.
Sakura landed on the branch where he stood and yelled. "I said WHAT THE HELL!"
Neji stood impassively.
"You don't just go to parties and HIT PEOPLE! What were you thinking? And where do you think you're going? I went to that party in the first place so I could see YOU. Don't you think I should be training? My back KILLS ME. I am so weak right now, catching up to you just about finished me off! Okay, so sure. I was flirting with some guys, but how stupid would it be if I was all over you? I mean, you are the ice king of Konoha. You don't talk to anyone, you don't let anyone close. I've been trying so hard, trying to figure you out! Neji, I want to get to know you. Please let me." Sakura panted slightly from yelling.
Lightening flashed, while they stood, facing each other, separated by sheets of rain.
With a quick motion, Neji closed the distance, and gave Sakura a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Come over tomorrow, and I'll help you train."
And then he left, jumping into the darkness, leaving Sakura behind in the storm.
A/N: First off, sorry about the flashback in the beginng again, those are just fun to do.
Amd don't ask me how an outfit can show off someone's Ninja skills, that was pure Neji. He's just in denial.
Aww. Wasn't that sweet? It'd be even sweeter if everyone left comments about it ;) Now it's very possible that I COULD just leave this as the end, but it feels kinda , unfinished. I think Neji is still pretty confused, and we should clear that one up. I SHALL CONTINUE UNTILL HIS FEELINGS DEVELOP INTO HOT FLAMES OF PASSION.
This may take a while.
--Jyezrah