DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto.


BETWEEN THE TWO

By KeepMeInspired

CHAPTER 9


It took Sakura the rest of the afternoon to cry her eyes out and, in a way, impart her goodbye to her blonde best friend. By the end of all the distressing drama Ino had cajoled her into, it was already dusk. At last, she said goodbye to her friend who was, for some reason, extremely unwilling to let her go.

"You should stay." Ino said, unaware that these three words may well be her last words to her departing dear friend.

"I really can't." Sakura shook her head sadly but allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of her mouth so as to reassure Ino.

"But no, I insist." Ino took hold of Sakura's hand and looked deep into her eyes. "For some reason, I feel this is what I should do."

There were moments when Sakura was convinced Ino could sense when something was about to happen. This was one of them.

Unfortunately, her best friend couldn't have done anything to prevent what was about to ensue.

Again, tears threatened to well up in her eyes.

Damn it, Sakura. So weak.

She turned slightly away from Ino and pressed them shut as to force back the tears back.

She pulled Ino into a tight hug, trying to convey through this simple innocent gesture how much she means to her.

"Take care, love" and with that, she turned and never looked back.


Ino saw the determined posture of Sakura's back as she departed and knew that whatever her beloved dear friend was about to do, she had already committed to it unwaveringly.

All she could was watch her leave and wish for her safety.


Sakura was aware that she had only several hours left.

She had completed her task.

She hoped that her friends would carve that last one day with her in the deepest recesses of their hearts.

She had said goodbye to her dear friends, all of them.

She had had her last moments with all of them.

All but one.

Neji.

For the last two days, she had never stayed long at her apartment. She woke up early everyday and spent the rest of the day with her friends. She would return home very late at night to ensure she wouldn't have another confrontation with Neji.

However, it was clear that he was also giving her space.

Always, when she comes home, she'd find him already in his room. He'd control his breathing then, attempting to deceive her and make her believe he's already sleeping.

Sakura, fortunately, was a medic-nin and an exceptionally good one at that. She'd know the difference even from two rooms away. However, she appreciated what he was giving her and was thankful.

It would definitely be of no help at all if he was following her around, trying to extract her secret from her.

For this, she was grateful.

At that moment, she turned the corner and found herself in the marketplace.

A sad smile formed upon her lips.

She decided then that she'd cook him dinner.

He deserved that much.


When Neji arrived home, a delectable scent wafted through his nostrils from the kitchen.

Curious and not having a single idea what was going on, he peered cautiously into the archway.

There he found Sakura 'happily' preparing a meal.

He pursed his lips and surveyed her.

He doubted that she hadn't noticed his presence.

For some reason, she's choosing to continue what she's doing rather than acknowledge him.

He cleared his throat. She looked up and hitched up a 'surprised' smile.

He raised his eyebrows at her.

If she was playing a game, then two can play at her game, he concluded.

He crossed the full length of the kitchen floor and came to a stop in front of her.

"And what do I make of this whole thing, Haruno-san?"

She gave him a tight-lipped beam. "It's my way of apologizing, Hyuuga, for my undesirable behavior the last time."

"Oh so you realize that only now, huh?"

Damn this man, always making things uncomfortable for me, she seethed and forced out a "Yes."

They sat down to eat and a sullen silence engulfed the table.

Sakura ate with her head bent down. Surely the act she just did was enough to put him at ease, right?

As she allowed herself a moment of silence, she felt the dull ache once more ensnaring her senses.

Tired of it all, she gave up trying to push it away.

It's like a wall. The more you try to push it off, the more it hurts you. And it doesn't even go away one bit!

If only she could erase the existence of her family and friends in her mind, all would be a hell lot easier.

But no, she knew she couldn't and wouldn't do that.

They were her strength; the only well she was sure would never dry up on her.

In this choice she's been pushed to make, the only thing that could save her would be their memories.

Forever, they would always remain in her heart. No matter how violently and cruelly it would tear her heart apart to remember them when she's already gone, she knew that's what she would be inclined to do.

Her mind lapsed into another poignant rumination.


Neji, on the other side of the table, chewed on his food silently.

Sakura never had the ability to hide her emotions from him. Even from way before, he could already read Sakura like a book.

Now, he sat there, across from her and was held witness to the turmoil of emotions reflecting all over her countenance. No matter how hard she tried to keep an impassive face, Neji could see through her façade.

It was apparent though that she was trying her best to keep it all inside. Still, he could see, however not without difficulty, all the internal conflict raging war inside her.

He cleared his throat, trying to save her from drowning in her own emotions.

She heard him clear his throat and her head snapped up.

That was a mistake, she realized too late. For as her head went up, her eyes met his and they got trapped in his mesmerizing stare.

Such a cruel thing to do, Hyuuga., she thought as her heart swelled from the sudden rush of a different genre of emotions.

She tried to tear his gaze away but of course she wasn't able to.

Neji opened his mouth and the deep voice sent a tingling sensation down her spine. "Spill.", he said.

For a moment, she considered crying and using that as a way to avoid the inevitable moment.

However, she knew it could probably lead to a situation where she cries in his arms all night.

That should definitely not happen! Everything would go awry!

She needed to be strong.

This was the final moment, the last obstacle. She decided to give it her all.

All the deception techniques… the impassivity, the insensitivity, the mendacity… she decided to bring them all out.

She knew she'd probably not be able to match Neji's usual aloofness. But she could try.

She hitched up a shaky breath. "I have nothing to spill."

Neji weighed her words and tried to figure out what she was getting at.

"Nice try, Haruno."

"Nice try too, Hyuuga."

He raised his eyebrows at her. "Seriously?" He asked the question in an exasperated tone. "We're chasing amongst ourselves again here!"

She kept her calm demeanor. "It's a wild goose chase, Hyuuga. You better not bother."

"You're not normally calm, Haruno." That, for a fact, was true.

"Yes, so? There's always a first time." She pushed back her chair and abruptly stood up.

"Stop playing games, Sakura."

Back to first name terms now, huh?

She fixed him with an unblinking stare. "I assure you. I am not."

Neji slammed a fist on the table and abruptly got to his feet, causing his chair to topple over noisily. "Then what the hell is this all about then!"

"What in the world are you shouting for, Hyuuga!" She whirled to face him. "I'm tired. Stop your nonsense already!"

"I am not, as you say, speaking nonsense. I know that something's up. I have already sensed that early on. Or do I still have to emphasize that further?"

"There's nothing at all! I've also emphasized that many times over!"

She turned away from him and approached the sink with her plate. She was doing well, she convinced herself.

I can't stop now. I must see this through the end.

"Fine. Ignore me. But I cannot ignore this issue anymore, Sakura!" Neji neared her, she could feel his footsteps drawing closer but she kept her back to him still. "I've given you two days. I stayed away from you. I feared that you were distancing yourself away from me because I was suffocating you. I gave you two days to clear up your mind but I see that in those two days, all you've managed to do was practice more at lying."

The statement hit home. Practice more at lying.

Yes, she'd definitely done just that.

Damn you, Hyuuga Neji and your stubborn ways.

She wanted to scream at him "This is hard for me, can't you see?"

But there was a huge lump in her throat.

She couldn't speak. She couldn't defend herself.

All she wanted to do was lock herself inside her room and spend her last hours in Konoha in silence.

But no, this obstinate guy just had to put her through all of these again.

She was smart and she also wasn't stupid. She knew that when it comes down to it, Neji wouldn't stop until he gets what he wants.

Deciding this would be the best move for this situation, she dumped the dishes on the sink and headed for her bedroom.

A few strides were all it took for Neji to implant his feet on the space right in front of her. He had his hands folded across his chest.

Sakura stared at him coldly.

"Stop butting in my life, Neji. Tonight, I've already made you speak a thousand more words than you usually do. Back off."

"You're hiding something from me."

"What right do you have to pry?" Sakura's eyes registered anger. "Are you my boyfriend? Are you?"

Still, Neji was calm and cool in front of her. This ability of his to sound cold yet at the same time somewhat concerned frustrates her to no end.

"You can hide the reason. But you can't hide the pain."

Neji approached her. He reached out a hand and cupped the side of her face. "I can see the anguish… clear as day."

Her breath caught in her throat. She shook her head as if this could dispel the awful truth revealed before her.

She was drowning in Neji's eyes, she knew. She slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me."

Sakura pushed him away and made her way to the bedroom.

She was already a step away from entering her room when his statement made her pause. "You know you can't just run away like this."

She was beginning to get accustomed to the constant pang in her heart. She felt that pang again now. Unconsciously, her fist clenched maybe out of frustration at her obvious helplessness in this mission.

"I'm not running away." She said in a voice so discreet he nearly missed it. "I'm facing it."

Neji's voice was tender. "Then why can't you face me?"

Cause I can't.

Cause seeing you might make me change my mind.

Cause seeing your face makes me hurt all the more.

Cause every time I face you, all I want to do is cry in your arms.

Cause you make me wish I'd rather die than leave you.

"Sakura…" Neji broke her silence. "I need you to answer one question." The graveness in his voice surprised her.

She remained silent.

"Who am I to you?"

Sakura's breath caught in her throat. Who am I to you?

Nobody, she wanted to say. But even as she thought this, her eyes stung from the expected tears.

She could fool the world but she couldn't possibly fool her heart.

She loves him.

And damn him for it!

A sudden rush of anger filled her. She whirled around to face him. "You just had to come along, didn't you?"

Neji was perplexed at this unexpected fury coming from her.

"I would've been perfectly fine if you hadn't barged into my life!" She threw up her hands in exasperation. "If only you had left me alone. If only you weren't stubborn as hell!"

Angry tears splashed down her face. "If only you didn't push yourself on that mission of yours, you wouldn't have needed any medical assistance from me at all! And why must you be on the verge of death at that time! If only you were not, you couldn't have ended up living with me!"

"You're blaming this all on me then?"

"YES!"

"Look, I-"

"Stop it! I don't want to hear anymore!" Her façade crumpled down right in front of him. Her tears were gushing out and she gave up trying to contain them. "Why must you make this difficult? Why must you make me feel this pain?" Just beneath those words was an anguish cry.

Neji felt as if a hand squeezed his lungs out, causing his heart to constrict.

Sakura, strong-willed Sakura, was crying now because of him. For the first time in his entire life, Hyuuga Neji felt pained.

He closed the distance between them and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"NOOOO!" She pushed him vehemently away.

He caught her flailing arms, and pinned them on the wall.

"I hate you, Neji! I HATE YOU!"

"I love you, Sakura! Damn you!"

"Don't go cursing on me you-what?" Sakura visibly stiffened. Her vision blurred. Her head spun as air failed to circulate through her. She literally stopped breathing.

"What? What did you-No, don't say it! I don't want to hear it again!" Confusion and doubt flooded her. Her resolve left her. Then, suddenly, unexpectedly, like a flower blooming, delight overpowered despair and she could feel the joy seeping in into her nerves.

For a moment, she forgot she wasn't supposed to feel happy about this confession. It'd just make it harder for her to leave.

She pushed the happiness away and rushed back into her corner of despair. But the feeling of hope had already surged through her and even though she had managed to dismiss it away, the feeling lingered.

Inside her, pandemonium reigned.

From feeling overjoyed then to feeling pained. Then back again!

Her feelings were in chaotic disarray! It's like her world had been turned upside down!

Turned upside down by mere words!

"No." She eyed Neji through her tears. "I couldn't have heard you right."

Neji took her hand. She shook her head.

And though she knew she should put a stop to all of this before its too late, all she could do was stare as he took her hand and placed it over his chest.

"My heart." he said. "It beats for you and you alone."

Sakura's eyes widened. The blood was ringing in her ears. "No. You're making a huge mistake, Neji." She took a nervous gulp. "Stop this now."

"No." Neji fixed his white orbs on her, willing her to see through him. She was in denial. He must chase her out of it. "No I'm not. Open your eyes, Sakura."

"No." She tried to pull herself away but he only held on to her more tightly. "I can't. I can't do this, Neji." She shook her head and her pink locks bounced lightly on her shoulders.

She pulled away, this time exerting all the force she can manage upon Neji.

But she was weakened. Weakened by the state of anguish she was in. She couldn't escape from his grip.

"Don't do this, Neji." Fresh tears traced the previous tearstain on her beautiful face. "Please."

Please. I'm begging you.

You're just going to get hurt.

We're both going to get hurt.

"I know what you're hiding from me."

Sakura was taken aback.

"I know it's some sort of a mission, involving Sasuke." Neji's hand caressed hers and she could feel his heart beating underneath it. "I'll help you." he said. "If you were tasked to bring him back, I can ask Tsunade to let me accompany you."

Despite herself, Sakura smirked. "Nobody can help me in this mission, Neji." She spat bitterly. "Nobody… not even you."

"What then is so hard about this mission that you've been crying these past three days!"

"You don't understan-"

"How can I? How can I when you've been hiding it all from me?"

"It's not like what you think, Hyuuga. Everything is not that simple." She seethed at him furiously.

"Then tell me, Sa-"

The rest of the sentence drowned as Sakura kissed her.

Neji was caught off guard.

The warmth of her lips, the sweetness… it engulfed him. All he could think of was the feel of her soft lips against his.

Then Sakura pulled back and rested her forehead against his.

He stared at her and was lost at the intensity of her emerald green eyes. "Be with me tonight, Neji."

Neji stared at her and failed to give a corresponding reaction. The raven-haired Byakugan-user was certainly surprised.

Sakura stared back at him. What the hell was she thinking? Of course, he wouldn't.

"Never mind. I'm sorry." Neji's grip had slackened and it was with no difficulty that she pulled away.

Her hand had already twisted the doorknob to her room when suddenly she was yanked around and strong lips claimed hers.

The kiss seared and was full of pent-up passion.

Neji's tongue teased the side of her mouth, seeking entrance. Impatiently, he ran a hand through her pink locks and pulled. Sakura's mouth opened in a moan and Neji slid his tongue right through.

Her hands went around his neck and they tightened, pulling him closer in a hot kiss. She felt electricity flow through her whole body. He lifted her skirt with one of his hands and caressed her leg. She nipped the side of his mouth and he moaned. Neji's mouth left hers to trace kisses along her cheek and down to her clavicle. This caused Sakura to release an irritated sound followed by a satisfied moan. Everywhere Neji's mouth touched her bare skin, it burned her. His mouth left a trail of fiery kisses. Impatient, she pulled his head up again and engulfed his lips in hers. She tangled her fingers in his long, smooth hair as the kiss deepened and she was lost in him.

They pushed their way into the room until they tumbled upon the bed. Though the room was dark, moonlight spilled through the window. For the split second that they stopped kissing, as Sakura raised Neji's shirt over his head, as she traced the nice contours of his abdomen with her hands, she caught Neji's unguarded eyes and for the first time was able to see right through him.

What she saw behind the cold impassivity made her heart melt.


A/N: omg friends! Sorry I took so long in updating. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Again, I'll appreciate it very much if you'd review. Please do! =)))