A/N- Many thanks to those that review and keep me going!

narutoluvin101

minniemousemom

yunie13

Chapter 10- Self Torture

Neji had finished training early that day, spring had given way to summer and the Konoha heat had brought

the village down to a lazy crawl. Neji made his way towards the lake.

"Hey, I want to come too!!" shouted Lee. Neji sighed, he'd really rather have a nice, quiet, peaceful swim.

Tenten, sensing his slight disappointment, wrapped her arm around Lee, "Never mind him Neji, we've got

something else we need to do!" She waved as she dragged Lee away with her.

Neji stepped in, he allowed the cool water to slide down his back, he closed his eyes and sighed in relaxation.

Further up the lake, unknowing the whereabouts of Neji, Sakura and her white bikini, had the same plan in

mind. She had been over worked for so long, she needed this moment to herself. She closed her eyes and

began floating on her back, being calmed by the rainbow colors underneath her eyelids.

Neji opened his eyes to a sudden "bump" against his chest. He looked down to those evergreen eyes,

"Sakura?" he looked at her with surprise on his face.

"Ooof!" She tried to stand, but her foot slipped against a rock and her head sank under the water. Neji reacted

quickly, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her up for air. She coughed a little.

"Thanks" She said once she caught her breath. Her heart had jumped into her throat and began to pound

relentlessly, his hands were around her waist again, her bare waist.

"Sakura...I wanted to talk to you."

Sakura panicked and struggled to get out of the water, "We shouldn't be here, you shouldn't be holding me like

this, Neji let go of me!"

"Fine." he let go of her and he slipped once again and fell into his arms, she looked up at him blushing, partially

in anger at herself, and partially from embarrassment.

Neji smirked, enjoying the rosy hue of her cheeks. "One last shot" he thought to himself.

He met her lips almost forcefully, taking full control of this opportunity, her pushed his tongue into her mouth,

tasting her once again. He grabbed her hips and pulled her body against his.

Sakura whimpered feeling his bare chest against hers, her nipples grew hard rubbing against him. Neji could feel

it through her top and it only served to make him more aroused. He suckled her neck passionately, he wanted her

to know he still desired her, wanted her, needed her.

Sakura closed her eyes and allowed herself to be enveloped in his embrace. Then without warning... "NO!"

She pushed herself away. Her voice became shaky, "I'm sorry Neji, I can't do this, I just can't let you do this!"

She ran from the lake fighting back her tears.

Blindly she ran, her vision blurred from the useless attempt to keep her tears from falling, her body his a rather hard

object. A hand reached down to help her, "Getting clumsy as Naruto I see..." a monotone voice spoke. "Sorry

Shikamaru...I wasn't really watching where I was going."

"Sakura." Neji had caught up to her.

"I have to go, sorry!" She ran past Shikamaru.

"What's going on?" Shikamaru asked.

"She just ran off..."

Shikamaru shook his head, "Troublesome woman if you ask me"

"Indeed."

Sakura sat down, her hair still dripping wet, at the ramen shop, she swirled the noodles around in a bowl.

"Someone who plays with noodles must have alot on their mind." Shikamaru sat down beside her.

"Like someone who stares at clouds?" she eyes till fixed on the bowl. "I just don't understand Shika, why would

he risk everything? It's not like him at all. To go against the Hyuuga clan, if they only knew..."

"Knew what?" She had actually made him curious.

"About the kiss..." she whispered.

Shikamaru put Neji's chase and her frantic actions together. "You and Neji?"

"Shhh! Would you keep your voice down?!" Her eyes grew big.

"When did you and Neji become an item?"

"We aren't Shika, Please I beg you just forget about it. If they found out he was cheating..."

Shikamaru's eyebrow curved, "He's cheating?"

"No! No! No! He's faithful, blame it on me or whatever, just don't tell his wife!"

"But Sakura, Neji's not mar..."

"I gotta go!" she grabbed her ramen and ran off.

"Married..." Shikamaru finished his sentence to the air.

"Hey Nara, Did you happen to see her?" Neji asked as he sat down on a stool beside him.

Shikamaru grinned, "So when were you going to tell me about Sakura? Your'e the last person I ever would have

thought would fall for her."

Neji was taken aback, but Shikamaru's power of deduction rivaled his own. "Long story, I just can't figure that

woman out, why does she push me away?"

"Perhaps it's because your'e married..."

"What are you talking about Nara? I'm not mar..." Shikamaru could see the light go off in Neji's head.

"Excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be." Neji smiled to himself thinking "This should be fun."

A/N- And here we see why Sakura's been avoiding our favorite white eyed man, For someone so smart

Neji can be a bit thick headed ne? Conclusion in next chappy! But first, a lil preview of my next story,

a Jiraiya/Tsunade piece. Hope you'll continue to read and review!

(Love's second chance-excerpt)

Tsunade was furious, she was the hokage for kami's sake, they couldn't possibly expect her to go

on a mission, and with him!?

Jiraiya sat writing the newest chapter for his book, his mind completely focused on the ink slowly

being etched onto the paper.

"Jiraiya..." a man with a raspy voice spoke.

"Hm?..." he asked, his head never moving or loosing focus.

"We require your services for a top secret mission."

"Tell Tsunade I'm not interested."

The man seemed undeterred from his goal, "You will be posing undercover, we've already notified

your partner."

"Partner?" Jiraiya looked up.

(two hours prior)

"Lady Tsunade..." The raspy voice began. "You will go to the hidden village of fire..."

"I know what needs to be done, but I see no reason why I can't send some ANBU veterans."

"You are the only one familiar with the layout of the village."

Tsunade sighed "And you don't think they'll recognize the Hokage of Konoha?"

The man sat a box of brown hair dye down on her desk. "Jitsu's can't last forever, this is permanent.

Anymore protests?"