Chapter 24

Someone who loves you

"So what do you want to do first?" Sakura asked as they walked along the road.

"I don't know, whatever you want to do is fine." Karena replied smiling at Sakura.

Sakura put her finger to her chin and thought, "Hm... how about we go shopping!" Karena smiled at her, "Okay."

Sakura pulled on Karena's arm, racing towards the stores.

Sakura and Karena soon arrived.

Sakura pulled on Karena's arm, "Let's go to that one!" Sakura pulled Karena into a shop with clothes.

"Wow! Isn't this shirt the cutest?" Sakura exclaimed when she saw a black tang top with ruffles at the edge.

Karena looked at the shirt. "Yeah it is!" Karena said as she looked at it.

Karena went over to the scarves. She saw a royal purple one that caught her eye.

"Wow this is pretty," Karena said as she picked up the scarf.

"Wow that is totally cute Karena!" Sakura said as she looked at the scarf, "I think it would go with you perfectly!"

Karena went over to a mirror, she took off her lilac one and she put the other one on.

"Wow that was made for you honey!" someone said behind her, Karena quickly turned around and saw the manager standing there. Karena looked at up at the huge woman standing in front of her.

"You think?" Karena asked.

"Oh yes honey! It is said that that very scarf was worn by a queen of the moon country! That scarf is expensive, but I suppose that I could bring it down a price for you, you just look so fabulous in it! I just can't resist!" The woman said. Sakura smiled at Karena. The manager pulled Karena over to the register.

"Okay, the scarf was originally 100,000 yen, but I suppose that I can bring it down to 50,000 yen for you." The woman said smiling.

'50,000 yen! That's way too expensive for Karena to buy!' Sakura thought.

Karena reached into the front of her bow that was wrapped around her middle and pulled out a bag.

"Here you go, 50,000 yen right there," Karena said as she gave the money to the woman. Everyone turned to look at Karena, even Sakura. Everyone became quiet as she said that. Karena turned around as the very large woman gave the scarf. Sakura came up to her.

"Uh, Sakura, why is everyone staring at me?" Karena whispered.

Sakura just stared at her. "You just spent 50,000 yen, and not many people carry 10,000 yen, let alone 50,000..." Sakura said while pulling Karena out of the store.

Sakura pulled Karena into different stores. The last one that they went to was the jewelry store. Sakura admired all of the sparkling trinkets that were in the boxes. Karena looked around as well, admiring all of the apparel as well. Something caught Karena's eye. It was a yin-yang necklace that came apart. It was for two people. Karena liked it, she decided to get it. It was only 500 yen.

Sakura walked out with Karena.

"Well I enjoyed spending time with you Karena!" Sakura exclaimed as they walked down the road. Karena carried the two things in one bag.

"Hey, Sakura, I enjoyed spending time with you too. Let's do it again sometime." Karena said.

Sakura smiled as she heard this.

Karena walked back to the house after she had done all of her shopping with Sakura. Karena walked into her house to find that Aiko was cleaning, as usual, and Mae was meditating. Karena smiled and went to her room. She put the new scarf that she bought on her dresser.

She looked at it, "Some how, am I magically drawn to you." Karena said aloud.

"As am I to you." somebody said.

Karena quickly pulled out a kunai and threw it at the person. The boy caught it and threw it down. Karena looked at the boy.

"Oh it's just you Neji." Karena sighed.

Neji looked at her, "Why? Were you expecting someone else?" Neji asked as he came down from the window sill. Karena stood up straight again, relieved. "Please don't scare me like that again..." Karena said as she went to Neji.

Neji smirked, "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He said as he sat down on the mattress that was by the window.

Karena looked at him, "Do you want something to drink?" She asked.

"No thanks." Neji replied. Karena sat next to him. Karena looked at him; Neji was looking at her, in a warm way.

Karena looked at him, "Do I have something on my face?" Karena asked, blushing a bit.

Neji looked at her, "Yes you do."

Karena looked at him, "What?"

Neji put his hand on her cheek and caressed it, "My hand..." Neji said as he continued to caress her cheek.

Karena blushed and took his hand into hers, "Neji what are you doing?" She said looking a little confused.

Neji rubbed her hand as he looked down, "Karena..." Karena looked at him,

"What?" she asked looking a little confused.

"I have a secret to tell you..." Neji said.

Karena lifted his chin so she could look into his eyes.

"What?" Karena asked. Neji motioned her to come closer. Karena obeyed and came closer to Neji. Neji pulled on her hand and kissed her on her lips.

"Neji!?" Karena said surprised as they broke it.

Neji leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I love you..." Neji said as he kissed Karena's cheek.

Karena looked at him with nothing to say.

Neji looked at her, "You're so cute when you are speechless..." Neji said as he stood up.

Neji started to leave; Karena pulled on his hand and stood up as well.

"Neji what was that for," Karena asked him.

Neji looked back at her; he smiled, and said, "I was just giving something to the girl that I love. It was my gift to you, and you can never return it." Neji folded his arms across his chest.

Karena blushed, "Well I don't know what to say, but I do have to say this, I can't love you." Karena said while folding her hands behind her back.

Neji unfolded his, "Why not?" he asked surprised.

Karena looked down.

"I already love somebody." she said as she looked down, her bangs covering her eyes.

Neji looked at her, feeling a little depressed, "Its Sasuke isn't it..." Neji said.

Karena looked up at him, "Neji-"

"Karena why do you love him?" he sobbed as he looked up at her. He fell to his knees, feeling weak in his heart to stand up.

Karena looked down at him, feeling guilty; she bent down to him, and lifted his chin so that he would look up to her.

"Neji," Karena sighed as she held his hand.

"You love him so much, and I love you so much. Why do you have to love him and not me?" Neji said.

Karena looked at him then pulled him into a hug. "Neji I love him for who he is, and I love you for who you are." Karena said while running her fingers through his black hair.

He started to calm down. His tears stained Karena's clothes as she held him against her chest.

He sat up, "Do you really mean that?" Neji asked as he wiped away one of his tears.

"Of course I do. Listen, I truly and deeply love Sasuke with all of my heart, I love you as a friend." Karena said saying it the most loving way that she could.

Neji looked at her. "Thank you Karena, for saying that, so you really do love me?" he asked as he hugged Karena.

Karena smiled, "I love you as a friend." Karena said as she hugged him back.

"The best?"

"The best."

Neji hugged Karena tighter.

"Your words are like music to my ears Karena, thank you." Neji said as he started to leave.

Karena watched him as he started to leave her room. He turned around, smiling at Karena.

"Karena..." Neji said.

Karena stood up and looked at him, "Yes?" She replied.

"Could I taste your lips one last time, before I give you to Sasuke?" Neji asked as he came closer to Karena.

Karena looked at him, "I truthfully don't know..." Karena said as she looked down,

"I love him more than anything, and I don't know if I should betray his trust."

Neji looked at her, "Not even one?"

"Not even one..."

"Alright, then I will leave. But just remember something." Neji said as he was about to leave.

Karena looked back up at him, "What?" She asked.

Neji bowed his head towards her, "I will always love you..."

Karena smiled, "That is good to hear from you. I will always remember that you do."

Neji smiled and left the room, leaving Karena smiling.