A/N- Finally Neji and Sorano's day out draws to a close. Enjoy the fluff while it lasts!

Disclaimer: (shakes coin jar) Nope. Still not enough to buy Naruto.

The Insignificant

Chapter 26

Due to her restless nature and constant wanderings, Sorano frequently woke up to confusion, needing a few moments to place her whereabouts. The first thing she noticed was that she was cuddled up to something warm and strong. Instantly the confusion gave way to an overwhelming sense of security and she knew exactly who she was with without ever opening her eyes.

They had been sitting above the monument and she had managed to fall asleep against Neji's shoulder, something she never believed herself capable of doing. It was frightening how lax she had become in his presence, her carefully constructed guard slipping so easily with a mere touch or a glance of those quicksilver eyes. And don't even get her started on that deep, penetrating, purely masculine voice.

Somehow, she had worked her way onto his chest, but she had a niggling suspicion she couldn't take all the credit for that. His fingers were currently trailing through her loose hair and she felt herself sinking back towards lazy slumber with the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear.

"You have developed a habit of falling asleep on me," his voice rumbled softly with undisguised amusement.

Sorano snuggled into his chest and breathed deeply of his fresh, clean, earthy scent. "Your fault for being so comfortable."

His answering chuckle shook them both and Sorano smiled. Twisting slightly, she folded her hands on his chest and propped her chin on them, both ignoring and enjoying the fact that she was basically draped over his body like a contented cat. She sure felt like one.

His pearlescent eyes radiated amusement and a smug little smile curled his lips while his fingers continued to play with her hair.

"How long was I asleep," she asked after a moment.

"Two hours, give or take."

Sorano blinked in surprise. "Why did you let me sleep so long?"

"You needed it," he said.

"But, surely you had something better to do than..."

Neji shrugged and tilted his head back to look at the sky. "I think I know why Shikamaru likes to watch clouds so much, now."

Sorano wasn't sure what to make of that, but then she suspected Neji wasn't in the habit of lazing about and just relaxing. It was his matter-of-fact acceptance of it that amazed her. He honestly didn't care that he had just spent the last two hours as her pillow. In fact, he seemed to have enjoyed it. She certainly had given him a lot to think about while she slept.

She would never know what possessed her to tell him about Raidon. She tried so very hard not to think of the man, but ever since the mission, he kept popping into her thoughts, disturbing her nights, and making her over-conscious of human contact.

She had spoken the truth all those nights ago when she told Neji that she could still walk away from this albeit with great difficulty. Despite the fondness she had for them all, she still expected betrayal. Loyalty was something she had never experienced before, never expected from anyone no matter how her heart felt. She had learned to disregard its pain and pleasure a great many years ago.

But when Neji looked at her as he was doing now, she felt something within her break. The child who still longed for recognition, the warrior who still longed for forgiveness, the woman who still longed for love, would no longer remain silent.

So she told him, and he kissed her hand and held her close, saying in his own silent way that every thing was going to be all right. He didn't ask what evil she had committed or how deep her feelings for Raidon had been. It made her heart hope just a little bit more and she felt brave enough to take another chance, another risk.

Her body moved on its own accord and she felt his hand slip from her hair down to the small of her back when she pushed herself up on his chest and leaned forward. He watched her silently with bright, curious eyes and she almost smiled at how childish he looked then, at once hopeful and suspicious.

Hesitantly, she placed a soft, lingering kiss on the corner of his mouth and felt him still beneath her. Butterflies erupted in her stomach and she pulled back slightly to meet his gaze, apprehensive of his reaction. His stoic features were carefully schooled like a beautiful ice sculpture, but fire simmered in his eyes, frightening in its intensity.

Slowly his hand began to move along her back, trailing feather soft up and down along her spine while he studied her for the true nature of her emotions.

"What was that for?" He asked quietly. It hadn't been a lover's kiss, but it had possessed a good deal more than the one she had given Sasuke.

The wariness in her eyes faded and she smiled a true genuine smile. "You have never treated me like I am broken."

His eyes softened at her insecurity. "You're stronger than you think, Sorano. Anyone who can handle Lee, Sasuke, and Naruto is never to be underestimated."

She laughed and laid her head on his chest. "I must be slightly insane or masochistic. Maybe both."

Neji chuckled as he languidly stroked her back. "I'm not going to argue with that."

Her retort was a sharp poke in the stomach that instantly made him release her with a grunt. Sorano sat up and smirked at his disgruntled scowl as he rubbed the offending injury.

"Like I said, too much time with Sakura," he groused but was pleased with the amusement in her eyes, even if it was at his expense. Her defensive walls were slipping back into place, but he noticed it wasn't as swiftly as it should have been. The woman sitting beside him now was vastly different from the woman he had greeted this morning.

She had confided details of her past and initiated contact several times, not to mention the kiss that was going to keep him up nights until he could claim a proper one. Some of the darkness in her eyes had receded and he wondered if she would still flinch from his touch after today. Perhaps the change he imagined was only in his own perception of her.

He had known from the first day he met her that she was damaged, though he didn't know to what extent. Maybe this was what he admired so much about her. Sorano did not submit to the hand fate dealt her. Her spirit was simply too strong to admit defeat.

"I didn't realize we were up here so long," her soft voice pulled him from his thoughts and he sat up to see the sun was beginning its descent. Their day together was coming to an end and disappointment surged through him. He wanted more time, needed more time, fearing that tomorrow might not be any different than the days before.

"Can we take the stairs this time," Sorano turned to him, eyes smiling, and he felt his heart do a funny little flip, relieved that she was reluctant to end the day as well. "I've never seen the monument up close."

"Sure," he agreed. He quickly gathered up the blanket and basket while she stood and stretched the kinks from her back. A swift breeze tangled in her hair and she reflexively brushed it back, a frown creasing her brow. With carefully concealed amusement, he watched her glance around the area they had claimed, one hand holding back her obstinate hair.

"Neji, have you seen my hair sticks?" she asked in confusion, not remembering having removed them in the first place.

He only looked at her blankly. "Are they irreplaceable?" he asked.

"No, but," she brushed at her delinquent hair again. "Oh well," she sighed and turned away in time to miss the smirk that flashed across his face.

He followed her to the path leading down the face of the monument, carefully tucking the small sticks into the basket where they would remain unnoticed. Her hair was beautiful unbound, end of story.

The descent took them longer than anticipated, but neither seemed to mind. Sorano stopped a few times to ask questions about the Hokages and laughed without restraint when he told her about Naruto's display of artistry back when he was still in the Academy.

Halfway down she was struck silent by the brilliance of the sunset and pressed eagerly against the railing like a child hoping to be able to walk into it. Neji found himself watching her more than the sunset and was drawn inevitably towards her. Carefully grasping the railing on either side of her, he stood just barely brushing her back, surprised and relieved that she did not flinch or recoil. It was almost like she didn't notice him at all and just when he was beginning to believe that, she looked over her shoulder at him and smiled so brilliantly his heart froze in place.

"Have you ever seen the sun set over the Land of Water?" she asked, eyes dancing.

Neji valiantly suppressed the urge to kiss her senseless and forced out a reply despite his sudden lack of oxygen. "No."

Turning back to the view, she tucked a bit of hair back that continually blew across her face in the evening breeze. "When the colors reflect across the water," she said with fond memory, "the sky seems twice as big and you feel twice as small."

He could imagine what that must feel like. The only thing that had ever made him feel insignificant was the cursed seal branded upon his forehead and it was anything but beautiful.

"And when it's gone," she continued, pulling him away from his dark thoughts, "You feel blessed for having seen it." She turned to him then in the circle of his arms. "Have you ever experienced that?"

Staring down into her wide, cerulean eyes, he felt himself fall further into the abyss of his own heart. "Yes," he whispered.

The fire was back in his eyes, burning as brightly as the dying sun behind her and that single breathless whisper penetrated every nerve in her body. She felt weak and strong, hot and cold, fear and joy all in one single moment. But when he kissed her…all was still and silent.

His lips were tender, hesitant, and infinitely sweet. There was so much he was holding back from her and she felt him tremble when she reached up as if to push him away, only to rest her hand lightly over his pounding heart. This small gesture of acceptance eased all of his fears that he had acted too soon, but he refrained from pressing her further. His hands remained firm on the railing, knowing to touch her would be his undoing and he could not risk scaring her, no matter the strength of his own desire.

He had been waiting all day for this and savored the softness of her lips for a lingering moment before pulling away. When she opened her eyes to meet his, he saw only slight trepidation amongst the calm and the faintest of blushes dusting her cheeks.

Knowing what his own eyes must be revealing just then, he leaned his forehead against hers and took a moment to rein his emotions in.

"I bet you say that to all the girls," she said after a few minutes and he almost choked on his laughter, feeling slightly hysteric from euphoria.

A sweet, calm smile was in her eyes and on her lips when he finally stepped back from her. One could hardly guess that she had been kissed just minutes before, but there was a softness in her expression he did not miss.

Did she ever look that way at Raidon? The thought no sooner crossed his mind and his brows creased in agitation.

Sorano felt a pang of worry strike her when she saw the change. "What is it?"

Neji quickly smoothed his expression. "We should hurry if we want to reach the bottom before we lose the light."

Deciding to let it slide, she nodded agreement, suddenly grinning in a manner that made him raise a suspicious brow.

"Last one to the bottom buys dinner," she said and she bolted past him.

"Hey!" he yelled after her but she refused to stop, knowing she needed the lead she had stolen if she honestly wanted to beat him. It felt good to be in motion again, the pleasant nap on her human pillow having refreshed her latent energy. She was still huffing a bit when she reached the bottom, but in her defense, it was a heck of a lot of stairs.

Pausing to catch her breath, she turned around to see how far behind Neji was, but he was nowhere in sight.

"Took you long enough," his voice spoke behind her and she whipped around to see him leaning against a fence, arms crossed and looking arrogantly bored. Sorano frowned, trying to figure out when he could have passed her. She hadn't even heard him getting close…

"Hey, that's cheating!" she said, pointing an accusing finger at the smug Hyuuga.

"You never said I couldn't use a transportation jutsu," he said with a smirk.

Sorano very nearly smacked herself in the head. Clarification, moron.

He chuckled at her irritated glare, knowing she was more irritated with herself than him because of her miscalculation. No matter, he had no intention of letting her pay for dinner anyway. He just liked to win.

"So how much money do you have to spend on me," he said, unable to resist the opportunity to tease her.

"Enough," she said as she fell in step beside him. "As long as you don't eat like Naruto."

"I'm sure we can work something out," he said haughtily and Sorano merely groaned.

They settled on a quiet little restaurant and talked about places they had been, beauty they had seen. Sorano was indeed wide-traveled and he enjoyed her perspective on life and nature. She had a childish enthusiasm that fascinated him. There was so much darkness in her life and yet she vividly remembered the vibrant colors of the trees in autumn in the Land of Bears, the exhilaration of standing in a blizzard in the heart of Snow Country, and the freedom of standing all alone in the expanse of the wilderness in the Land of Wind.

He decided she had much time for contemplation on her travels with no pressing need to be anywhere and it had strongly shaped her perspective. Sorano had a great respect for life from the least to the great, but it was haunted by a darker secret, one he didn't dare to touch.

They argued over the check, though disagree would be a better word for it. Sorano was not a confrontational person but she was stubborn and insisted that it was only fair for her to pay since she did loose the race. Her protests were silenced with a firm, no-nonsense, Hyuuga glare and she sulked all the way back to her apartment.

Her petulance amused him, but he was not about to let the day end with them at odds even over the smallest thing. He waited patiently for her to unlock her door but before she could disappear inside, he pulled her to him and kissed her tenderly on the cheek.

"Good night, Sorano," he said and she blinked up at him for a moment before a sweet smile brushed away all signs of annoyance.

Good night, Neji."

To my cute readers:

La- (blinks) That's a lot of questions. Um, let's see now. Timeline wise, it has been only two weeks since Sorano and the others returned to Konoha from the Daimyo's palace. Keep in mind the people who are after her are from Earth Country which is way up north, so it's going to take a little while for them to get down to Konoha. No, Sorano has not shown Sasuke the technique she showed Lee. She wants to increase her chakra control and stamina before putting it to full use as you will see soon enough.

Your concept of Sorano's use of twin swords is interesting, but not the one I decided to go with. Incidentally, while Sorano is very handy with a blade, she doesn't channel any ninjutsu through them. That technique has already been used in the anime and I don't want to imitate it. The blades are more of an accessory to her technique that she can make do without but is considerably more deadly with. Naruto will be back in the next chapter. There will be no visit from Suna since I don't know how to work it into the plot without making it look contrived and no, Sorano has never been to Suna. Konoha is the only Hidden Village she has ever been to as it was extremely important for her to avoid shinobi, never knowing if they had been hired by her enemy or not. There, I think I got all your questions.

Well, the fluff overdose must end here. Everybody ready for some thicker plot work? Good. Please keep all arms and feet inside the cart at all times. It might be a slow climb, but it's going to be a wild drop on the other side. (buckles chibi shadow readers in)