A/N: I've finally found a quick flash of inspiration! The only issue is, it's going to cause a flashback that will assist in you getting to know the characters better :). I won't say which one, but it'll be pretty obvious as this goes :).
Thank you to my reviewers DarkAngel2098, SparkDazzleDuez, Deidara-is-Beast, theAMAZing1, queen of earth.X (Still haven't changed your name, have you?), Katarina Wolffe, Sasukesbiggestfan, Ghostly Teardrop (Welcome! :D The MysteriousRed, you have Shino competition!), night dae, chuchuthepichu, Waymirec, rosesecret02, Panda-Lover35 (Rawr :P|), EmeraldHeart12, sumbunnyluvsu77, .BAHAHIMALOSER. (sorry :( ), chibi-princessa, Saicy, starhuda, GirlInStripes (Welcome to you!), Nibinowke (welcome to you too!), Musik Drache (Welcome again!), MollieBabiie (Welcome BACK XD), CecixRawrr, and bright-rebellious. You guys are still amazing, and your support makes me smile from head to toe.
I'm glad you guys were happy that I finally updated, and now I've also seen that some of you like Ryuu now. No hard feelings about Ryuu. I also noted that some of you liked the fluff at the end. GOOD because I KILLED myself writing that bit. But, hey, I'm staying alive!
To those of you who actually read this, hugs to you! And believe me, I don't give out hugs that easily.
ENJOY THIS CHAPTER!
Chapter 28: Moonlight
The bus barely shook as it tore down the highway at 100 km per hour. Nobody was doing anything as usual. The bus rides were officially the most boring part of the trip. That didn't seem to faze Neji though. He sat in a corner of bus on a beanbag chair with a scrapbook on his lap. His pencil scratched across the expensive version of something called paper while his eraser sat sideways in his teeth for safe keeping. His pale eyes were focused on the drawing that was taking shape on the page.
"Look..." Itachi whispered in an Australian accent. "The artist at work. Be careful not to disturb him... They can be short tempered when they are disturbed..."
"Itachi, shut up." Neji stated, not looking away from the page.
Itachi laughed and left Neji in peace.
Tenten watched Neji's pencil move across the page in short, smooth strokes. About half an hour ago, it was moving in long, imprecise movements. Tenten guessed that once he finished the outlines, he moved on to the details. Tenten walked over to where he sat in the corner.
"What are you drawing?" Tenten asked.
Neji's shoulders rose and fell as he took a deep breath and sighed.
"Nothing." He said simply without pausing to take his eyes off the page.
"Can I see?" Tenten leaned over the page and caught a glimpse of faint pencil lines before he snapped the scrapbook to his chest and looked up at her.
"No." He said in a monotone.
"Why not?" Tenten teased.
"Because."
"Is it because it's not finished yet?"
He continued to stare at her with his depthless pale eyes. He didn't answer her question.
"You just want me to go away, don't you?" Tenten asked, tilting my head to the side.
"Please do."
Tenten blinked at his bluntness. The tone of his voice was clear: Leave me alone. Go away. Don't bother me.
It hurt a little bit, but if Neji wanted to be left alone, let him be alone. Tenten walked away from Neji. She glanced over her shoulder to see Neji's focus back on his drawing. She went into the television room. Her eyes immediately fell on Hinata.
Tenten sat down on the couch.
"Hinata?"
Hinata looked at her.
"Have you noticed that Neji's acting differently?"
Hinata nodded. "Yeah."
"Do you know why he's acting like that?"
Hinata froze. Oh yeah. She knew.
"N-No. I don't know."
"Hinata, I know you're lying."
Hinata chewed her thumbnail. Tenten felt bad for making her nervous, but she wanted to know what was wrong with Neji.
"I-It's his business. I-I have n-no right to t-tell you."
In the other room, Neji continued to sketch out his drawing. It was a lunar landscape pockmarked with craters. However, off in the distance the Earth, the sun, and countless stars shone brightly. He knew where the inspiration for this picture had come from. It was a memory he thought he had long since gotten over. Clearly he hadn't.
Flashback
Sixteen year old Neji knocked on the door to his uncle's study. He had been summoned the moment he had walked in the door from school. Normally, Hiashi Hyuuga didn't summon him. He usually came to him with something. Today was different. Neji was worried about what awaited him.
"Enter." Hiashi's voice stated.
Neji opened the door and walked in. It closed behind him with a click.
Neji bowed to his uncle. "What did you need me for?"
Hiashi sighed calmly. "Neji, you are now sixteen years old. You are now of legal marrying age with parental consent."
"No." Neji said bluntly. "I am NOT getting married! I'm still in high school!"
Hiashi shook his head. "I never said you were going to get married now. Now be silent while I explain myself."
Neji clenched his teeth.
"The only thing I wish for you to do for now is court a girl who is your age from the clan."
"I'm guessing she's already been chosen?"
Hiashi nodded. "Her name is Mizuki Hyuuga, and in one week she will be staying in this house."
"Do I have a choice in this matter?"
Hiashi sighed. "I knew you would be like this." He rubbed his face. "All I ask is that you court her for two years. After two years, you'll be out of high school, and you'll be married to her. I want you to give her a chance, Neji."
Neji sighed with aggravation.
"You may go." Hiashi waved him out of the room.
"I don't want to marry straight out of high school!"
"Neji, leave."
Neji gave a groan of frustration and tore from the room, not bothering to close the door behind him. He walked into his bedroom and slammed the door shut.
Flash-forward
Neji stared at his half complete lunar landscape. He took his dark graphite pencil and began to carefully go over the lines.
Flashback
A week later, Neji sat in his room with his arms over his chest. Hiashi had told him that Mizuki Hyuuga would be at the front door at five o'clock. It was now four fifty-five.
Ding-dong
Neji mentally cursed. She was early. He continued to sit on the bed.
"Neji! Come down please!"
"I refuse to leave my room until five o'clock!" Neji called back to his uncle.
"...not in a good mood." Hiashi's voice became clearer as he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. "Neji!"
"Please! Give me five more minutes of peace!" Neji cried.
Neji smiled with satisfaction at the sigh and retreating footsteps. He then closed his eyes and cleared his mind for the five minutes of peace he was now entitled to have.
Five o'clock came too early.
"Come on, Neji. Let's go." Hiashi called outside the room.
Neji was seriously tempted to pretend he was asleep, but he knew he'd just be digging his own grave. Neji stood up and began to slowly stretch his muscles, smiling with satisfaction at the sharp pops of his stiff joints painlessly becoming unstuck. No wonder Yoga was so popular. Man, did it feel good to stretch. He attempted to keep that good mood. He had pushed the thought of Mizuki to a far corner of his mind.
Neji opened his door and looked at his uncle's face.
"HI NEJI!"
Neji closed his eyes in aggravation. He opened them and looked at the grinning girl with several bags of stuff in her hands. If Neji wasn't so ticked at the moment, he would've thought her cute. She had her brown hair braided in two pigtails, and her short bangs helped frame her face.
"Neji, be nice."
"Hello." Neji said simply. Then he backed into his room and shut the door in their faces, smirking. Revenge was sweet.
"Neji open the door." Hiashi growled.
Neji opened the door again. "Do you need something from me?"
Neji smirked in satisfaction at Hiashi's frustrated face.
"Yes. Leave your room and come downstairs!"
Damn. He was just too good.
Neji sighed and slid from his room, shutting his door behind him. He walked past Mizuki without sparing her a glance...
Flash-forward
Neji set down his dark graphite pencil and picked up the lighter one again. He began to draw in the smaller details including the fracture ripples that always spread out from the craters on the moon.
Flashback
"Neji-kuuun!"
Neji's eye twitched. He forced himself to focus on the book in his hands.
"Neeeejiiii-kuuuuun!"
"WHAT?!" Neji cried, looking at the girl whose hair was now tied up in a single ponytail.
She flinched. "What's wrong, Neji-kun?"
"YOU are what's wrong! Leave me alone!"
Her lower lip trembled.
Neji looked back to the book. Forget it. She was not going to land the guilt trip on him. She had only been living in the house for three weeks, and already, she was getting on Neji's nerves.
"Why are you so mean to me?"
Neji snorted.
"Neji-kun?"
Neji twitched. "First of all, stop calling me 'kun'!"
"Why Neji-kun?"
"It makes me twitch!"
"Should I call you Neji-san then?"
"Don't call me anything! Just leave me alone!" Neji stood up and trudged up the stairs. That was it. He was done. Into his bedroom with him. That was the only place he could have peace these days.
Neji only had peace for ten minutes.
The door opened, and there was Hiashi.
"Neji, don't be so harsh!" He barked.
"How would you feel if a girl you only just met was following you everywhere, squealing "NEJI-KUUUN" in your ear every thirty seconds?" Neji cried, throwing the book across the room.
Hiashi sighed. "All right, I know you're frustrated, but you just need some time to adapt."
"ADAPT? ARE YOU MOCKING ME OR SOMETHING?"
"Neji...relax..."
"NO! GET OUT OF MY FACE!"
Hiashi stood defiantly against the doorframe.
Neji growled in frustration and got off his bed. He grabbed the door and forcefully shoved it closed, pushing Hiashi with it.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" He cried once the door closed.
All was hell in the Hyuuga household. Every morning, Neji woke up to a peaceful, empty house. Luckily for him, Mizuki didn't wake up until seven thirty. Neji on the other hand, woke up at five every morning. That left him with two hours of peace to watch the sunrise, then make himself breakfast. When Mizuki got up, Neji hid immediately. She always found him and greeted him with an energetic, 'Good morning, Neji-kun!' before hugging him tightly. Annoying woman. Then she'd follow him to school and attract too much negative attention from his fan girls.
The annoying thing about Mizuki was that she was a fast learner. Just a month after her arrival, she began to notice that Neji was always up earlier than anyone in the house. Neji could only watch helplessly as she learned his sleeping habits, and began waking up earlier and earlier every morning. Two months after her arrival, boom. There she was right outside his door when he opened it at five in the morning.
"Good morning, Neji-kun!" She said with a grin.
Neji slammed his door in her face. "Get me out of this nightmare." He muttered.
There were a few light knocks on his door. "Neji-kun?"
Neji leaned against the door. "Leave me alone!" He said while pressing his palms to his forehead.
"Neji-kun, what am I doing wrong?"
"You're so annoying!"
"I'm sorry..."
Neji remained leaning against the door but dropped his hands to his side. He sighed and let his head fall back against the door with a thud.
"Neji?"
"What?" He sighed.
"Do you like it when I call you Neji-kun?"
"It's annoying."
"Do you like it when I say 'good morning' to you every day?"
"It's annoying."
"Is that all you can say?"
Neji sighed. "It's-" He stopped. A smirk crawled across his face. He could almost feel the smirk on Mizuki's face through the door.
"You're annoying." He finished.
Mizuki giggled on the other side of the door.
Neji sighed. "Please, get away from my door..."
Neji heard a shuffling outside his door. It stopped eventually. He sighed and opened the door, glancing over at Mizuki huddling in the corner. She smiled at him.
Neji snorted and let his door close with a click as he headed for the stairs. He heard Mizuki following him. Neji slid on his sandals at the back door and stepped into the east facing backyard to watch what remained of the sunrise.
For once in a lifetime, Mizuki stood silently behind him. For five minutes at least.
"Wow!" She gasped with awe, making Neji twitch. She had been so silent, he had no idea she was there. "Now I can see why you get up so early!"
Neji sighed and focused on the rising sun, ignoring Mizuki when she stepped beside him.
Fast forward
She was so annoying. It was now the first summer with that annoying Mizuki. Guess where they were today? In their new swimming pool! Hiashi had it installed during the spring time. Curse the Hyuuga clan and its riches.
"Neji-kun!" Mizuki called from the shallow end of the pool in her pale green bikini. "Come into the water!"
"No." Neji said bluntly. He was reading the only book that had gotten his mind off his constant problem. He had memorized it from cover to cover, and yet it never got old as a distraction.
He didn't see it coming. One moment he was peacefully dry, and the next, soaked from head to toe in freezing water.
"MIZUKI!" Neji cried, throwing his now soaked book aside and standing up.
Mizuki was now laughing at him, a bucket in her hands. She had just unloaded it onto his head.
"Come swimming, Neji!" She chided. "Stop being a party pooper!"
Look! She missed the 'kun' that time! That's the habit she had been getting into. When she wanted his attention, she would add the 'kun' because it ticked him off. When she wanted to remain on his good side, she skipped the 'kun'.
Hiashi came out of the house at that moment and laughed at the poor soaked Neji. Hinata came out as well and flicked off her flip flops before diving into the deep water. Annoyingly, Hiashi sat down in one of the lawn chairs to make sure nobody drowned.
Mizuki grabbed Neji's arm.
"Come on, Neji please!" She begged, dragging him towards the pool.
Neji tried to pull from her grasp. He was wearing his swimming trunks, but he did not want to take his shirt off in front of his latest fan girl.
"Let go!" Neji growled, yanking on his arm.
Mizuki only tugged harder, enjoying the game that Neji didn't want to play.
Screw this! Neji thought. He moved towards Mizuki, causing her grip to loosen on his arm before flinging her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and hurling her, squealing, into the water. She came up laughing, but Neji was already heading for the door. It closed with a click and Neji went upstairs to take off his now wet clothes.
In his room, Neji shut his door and slid the chain lock shut. He had bought the lock in secret. Hiashi had learned about it in early spring, but Mizuki had known about it the day he had installed it. He had bought the lock to teach Mizuki what was his space, and to respect his personal space.
He hung up his wet trunks on his chair and threw on his jeans before tossing his wet shirt on the same chair and pulling on a dry t-shirt. No sooner than he nabbed his scrapbook from his bedside table and sat down with his pencils at his desk, there was a knock at the door.
"Neji-kun?"
Neji sighed. "What?"
"Can I come in?"
Neji stood up and went to the door. "What do you need?"
"I-I just want to talk to you."
Neji sighed. He put his hand on the slide lock for a second. He thought about it. Finally, he found no reason why not and slid the lock back before turning away and sitting back down at his desk. The door closed again as he sat down and turned back to his scrapbook. He stared at the blank page, waiting for inspiration.
"Do you think I'm annoying, Neji?"
Neji looked up from the page and at the mirror above his desk. He could see Mizuki sitting on his bed, staring at the floor.
"You are very annoying." Neji stated simply. He looked at his page again. After a few seconds of staring at the page, he heard a sniff behind him. He looked up at the mirror in surprise. Mizuki's hands were clenched in her lap and her shoulders were shaking with silent sobs.
Neji's brow furrowed at Mizuki's reflection. "Why are you crying?" He said, almost without thinking.
She seemed to shake more. "Because I'm trying so hard..." She whispered.
Neji frowned at the girl in the mirror.
"Almost a year ago I was told by my father that I was betrothed to a boy named Neji Hyuuga. He told me I had a week left before I had to go live with him and his family. In that week I tried to let it sink in. I told myself that it couldn't be as bad as I thought it would be...I thought maybe this Neji guy is a nice guy..." She sniffed.
Neji could only stare at the girl on the bed.
"I was told by this Neji's uncle that he wasn't in the best of moods. I soon found out he wasn't even interested in being near me. Sometimes I got the feeling he hated me. I mentioned this to Neji's uncle many times, but he only told me to give him some time." She sniffed again. "Well, I've given him some time, and I've noticed that he only takes to me when I pretend he's not even there just as he pretends I'm not there."
Neji continued to watch her.
"But the annoying thing is, I know you can't be betrothed to someone who doesn't give a damn. I keep trying to take the stick out of his ass, but he doesn't care." She sniffed. She remained silent for a little while.
Neji watched her for those moments of silence. She wasn't shaking anymore.
"Stupid Neji."
My eye twitched as I stared at her.
"You don't get that I didn't have a choice in this either. I'm just trying to make the best I can out of it so I can live a good life in the future, and maybe it would all work out in the end!" She wiped her face. "But I can see you don't care. You don't care at all." She stood up. "You don't even have the guts to look me in the eye!" She spat. Neji turned away from the mirror in time to see her leave the room and shut the door behind her.
Neji watched the chain of the slide lock swing back and forth. When it ceased his movements, Neji fell back against his desk chair with a sigh. Why didn't she just come out and say that in the first place? How was he supposed to know she was forced to come here just like he was forced to deal with her?
Neji sighed and faced his scrapbook again. He owed her an apology, and he knew it. It was just overcoming his pride that would be difficult.
Neji began to drag his pencil across the paper.
Flash-forward
Neji gazed at his pencil sketch. He debated on whether or not he should colour it. He shrugged and pulled out his pencil crayons.
Flashback
Neji gazed at the picture he had drawn. It was a picture of a bright full moon framed by two dark pine trees. A few grey clouds hid pieces of the moon, and a small bird was silhouetted near the left side of the moon. He signed his name at the bottom left hand side of the page with his calligraphy pen. Normally, artists signed at the right side, but Neji used his left hand to draw, and so signed it on the left side.
He hoped this would get her attention. He knew Mizuki translated into 'Beautiful Moon', and because of that he drew the picture of a bright full moon. The trees, clouds and birds added affect, drawing your eyes to the moon. He had even drawn tiny craters, and the dark patches on it.
Neji gazed at it in the darkness of his bedroom. It was nine o'clock at night. He had spent four hours on the drawing. He still stared at it as if waiting for something. How was he going to give this to Mizuki? Making it was the easy part. Now he had to overcome his pride and give her the picture.
Sighing, Neji flipped the scrapbook closed. He climbed into his pyjamas and flipped off his light. In a flash of irony before he closed the curtains, he saw the silver full moon off in the distance. He hardened his heart and closed the curtains, blocking out all light so he could sleep in total darkness.
Fast forward
New Years Eve had arrived, and Neji still hadn't given Mizuki a legit apology other than putting up with her annoying calls of 'Neji-kun' followed by something random. Mizuki's respect for his space still had things to be desired, but Mizuki had a point in saying that they may as well get used to each other's company. Heck, Neji had gone as far as accepting her demands to call her 'Mizuki-chan' after several months of her whining at him to call her that.
Neji sat in his room, staring off in the distance. Annoyingly, the full moon was high in the sky. Neji hung from his bedroom window, one arm hanging into space while his other arm rest on the windowsill, his cheek on top of that. The gentle breeze blew a few of those random locks of hair across his face.
There were a few soft knocks at his door.
"It's open." He said dully.
The door opened. "Neji-kun?"
Neji wasn't surprised. "What is it, Mizuki-chan?" He sighed, without turning around. He felt the bed sag slightly.
"Nothing really. I just wanted to say hi."
"Hn." Neji murmured.
Neji continued to sit on his bed against the wall, gazing steadily out into the clear night.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing." Neji murmured.
"There has to be something. You've been staring out the window long enough. Have I mentioned it's freezing in here?"
"I like the cold."
"Clearly. It's like...negative thirty degrees in here!"
"Actually, for New Years, it's actually pretty warm."
Mizuki sighed. "That's true."
They lapsed into silence again.
"Neji-kun?"
"Hn."
"Why are you so quiet?"
Neji sighed. "I'm not one to flap my mouth off all the time."
Mizuki didn't respond at first. "You still think I'm annoying, don't you?"
"It's tolerable." Neji grumbled.
Neji could feel Mizuki's spirits lift. He remained in his window position, staring off at nothing.
Mizuki wrapped her arms around his waist. Neji stiffened. A wise crack, ticked right off comment sprang to mind. He clenched his teeth and glared over his shoulder at her, though he knew she wouldn't see it. Her head was on his back as she sat beside him, gazing out at the clear night with her arms around him.
Neji settled his temper. He couldn't keep brushing her off all the time. He was going to be married to her once he graduated high school in two years.
Fireworks shot into the sky. Better make that next year.
"You're pushing your luck, Mizuki." Neji growled at her.
Mizuki giggled. "Happy New Year, you grumpy Hyuuga." She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Happy New Year, annoying woman." Neji grumbled.
Mizuki's giggle turned into a laugh.
"Let go. I'm going to bed." Neji tried to shrug her off.
"You'll have to seduce me off you." She murmured in his ear.
"Mizuki, don't push your luck." Neji growled. Mizuki responded by biting his ear. Neji twitched. "Mizuki, stop it!"
"Mizuki-chan!" she ordered.
"Oh fine, Mizuki-chan, cut it out!"
Neji and Mizuki scuffled on the bed for a few seconds. To Neji's dismay, she won and he ended up on his back with her lying on his chest.
Neji sighed in annoyance. "Mizuki, leave me alone."
"Why are you so cold, Neji?"
I stared at the top of her head on my chest. "If I'm too cold for you, go find someone else to bother!"
"You're always brushing me off."
"Because you're annoying."
"I'm trying, Neji-kun...I really am."
Neji continued to stare at her.
"I'm trying to be a good future wife. I really am. We were both forced into this a little over year ago. We still have this year and then next year before we get married."
Neji let his head fall back onto his pillow. She just had to bring this up now.
"That time will come quickly. I know, because that happened to my sister...She told me to waste no time getting to know you."
"Mizuki, I'm not in the mood for an interrogation."
"Do you have any idea how hard you are to catch at a time when you're willing to accept my company?"
Neji thought about that. True, she only ended up in his room once last year, and that was what caused him to draw her that picture that she still hadn't received.
"Forget it, Neji. I'm not letting you go."
"What the hell do you want?" Neji grumbled.
"I want to be with you."
"You want to WHAT?" Neji stared at her head again.
She snuggled deeper into his chest. "Hold me, Neji-kun."
Neji's head fell back again. Now what the hell was he supposed to do? Happy New Year, Neji. Your future wife has just made a move on you. How does that make you feel?
Neji looked at Mizuki again. She wasn't about to move. Anybody could see that. Neji sighed with annoyance and put his hands on her. She jumped slightly.
"Get off me, Mizuki." He growled, shoving her sideways. She resisted. Neji gritted his teeth and shoved her sideways.
Mizuki grabbed a fist full of his hair and tugged hard.
"Ow!" Neji pinned her down with more force than necessary. "SIT STILL!"
"B-But-"
"Last I recall, about ten seconds ago you ordered me to hold you. I'm not going to do that with you on top of me!"
She froze.
Neji sighed in annoyance and flung the covers over both of them before putting one arm around Mizuki.
"N-Neji..."
"Shut up." He growled.
Neji flinched when her arms curled around his back. He stared at the girl now in his arms. He sighed and pulled her flush against him. It was the least he could do after the hell he'd put her through.
"Neji-kun..." She whispered.
"Hn." He instinctively grunted.
"I love you..."
"You don't even know me well enough to say that."
She giggled. "That's probably true."
Neji closed his eyes and tried to get comfortable with a girl against him.
"Will I get to know you better?"
"Unfortunately we're stuck together for the rest of eternity, so count on it."
"PAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Neji smiled at her laugh. She was okay at times. I mean, she laughed at his blunt, completely hopeless jokes. That was something. Neji sighed and closed his eyes.
"Neji-kun?"
"Be quiet. I want to sleep."
"I just want to tell you something..."
Neji sighed. "What?"
"Goodnight."
Neji frowned in surprise. "Goodnight."
Fast-forward
Neji sighed with relief and collapsed onto his bed. He just had his last exam for the year, and he was officially done grade 11.
Unsurprisingly, Mizuki didn't leave him a second of peace and knocked on his door.
"Come in, Mizuki-chan..." Neji sighed, rubbing his forehead.
She wasted no time entering and throwing herself by his side.
"Hi, Neji-kun." She kissed his cheek.
"Hi, Mizuki-chan..." He remained staring at the ceiling.
"Now that you're all done exams..."
"Not this again, please..." Neji groaned. For the last several weeks of school, Mizuki had been all over him, begging for a kiss.
"But Neji-kun!"
"I'm tired, Mizuki."
"You're always tired!"
"Mizuki-chan, please. I just had a long math exam, and I want to rest a little."
"Tonight?"
"Maybe. Depends on how tired I am. Let me rest, damn it."
"Fine, but I'm going to be here the whooole time."
Neji waved her away and rolled over to face the wall. He pulled the covers over him and jammed the pillow onto his head. Unsurprisingly, he conked out within seconds due to the fact he was up late practicing equations and was bothered by Mizuki most of the time.
When Neji woke up again, he ate dinner and returned to his room. He lay on his bed, not as tired as before, but still tired.
Cue Mizuki. She didn't knock this time.
"Neji-kun..." She whispered in a tone she hadn't used in his presence before.
Neji opened his eyes slightly and looked towards her. He was in the opposite corner of the room in half a second flat.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WEARING?!" Was the first thing that came from his mouth.
She was walking towards him, but his mind barely registered that fact. He was still in a state of pure an utter shock. Next thing he knew, she had him with both hands on the side of his face. He could only press himself into the wall, trying to get away from her.
"Stop hiding, Neji-kun..." She whispered, her breath brushing his lips.
Neji gulped.
"Besides..." She ran her tongue along his lip. "You might like it..."
"M-Mizuki...stop..."
Her lips pressed softly against his. He didn't want this! Yet he was forced to deal with this wretched girl! She pulled away once she realized Neji wasn't responding to her prompts. He didn't want to respond.
"Neji-kun?" She murmured. "What's wrong?"
"I never wanted this, Mizuki." Neji whispered. "I never wanted to even have a girlfriend until I was in college. Stupid Hiashi changed all that for me. I still don't want to have a relationship with somebody." Neji pushed her away and flopped back down on his bed.
"Neji...You don't have a choice anymore..."
Neji bit his lip, forcing the lump in his throat down.
"I don't have a choice either...but I like you, Neji-kun..."
"Shut up...Just shut up." Neji clenched his teeth. "I want nothing to do with you! You're nothing but a pain in my ass! Just like Hiashi! Go away!" Neji's heart sank at the sound of the door slamming shut. But it was necessary. He had to hide the few tears that had spilled from his eyes.
Fast Forward
Neji didn't have to confront Mizuki for another month. Actually, he went to her on a whim. He had calmed down and regained his sense of pride after a month, and so, decided he owed her a good apology. Late at night, Neji wrote a letter to her using his always artistic left hand. He folded it up and stuck it in an envelope before shoving it under her door. He hadn't expected her to get it almost right away and show up at his door an hour later. He had expected her to get it in the morning.
She entered his room without knocking, making Neji wake up at the sudden intrusion. He rubbed his eyes and looked over his shoulder at Mizuki. She held the letter in her hand. He stared at her for a few seconds. Finally, she tossed the letter on his desk and walked over to the bed before wrapping her arms around Neji.
"Neji..." She whispered. "Please...just this one time...kiss me..."
"What's the rush?"
"I-I don't know...I just get the feeling that I'm running out of time with you..." She gripped him tighter. "Please, Neji...Just one time..."
Neji regarded her for a moment. He sighed. "Close your eyes then."
She gasped and looked at him with surprise. "You're really..."
Neji jabbed her in the forehead with his palm before sliding his fingers down her face, closing her eyes in the process. He watched her for a few seconds before leaning in and softly brushing his lips against hers. She gasped and pulled away. Neji let her go, not expecting her to suddenly grab his face and crush her lips against his.
Flash forward
Neji stared at the completed drawing without seeing it. His mind was in the past with Mizuki. If he had known what was going to happen, surely he would've been a lot nicer to her for the next two weeks. Instead, he resented the make out session they had in the dead of night and didn't let her anywhere near her unless it was for good reason.
Neji stood up and walked out of the bus. He sat in the grass against the side and looked up into the sky. There was the full moon. It was taunting him as usual.
"Neji?"
Neji didn't respond to Tenten's call. Instead, he continued to stare up at the moon, seeing Mizuki's face in it. Was it possible that he had never gotten over her? No it couldn't be. He hadn't thought about the girl for four years now. So why was she coming back to his mind now of all times?
He felt Tenten sit down beside him.
"Are you all right, Neji?" Tenten asked.
Neji continued staring at the moon. He thought about Tenten's question. Was he okay? Was he okay with this? Was he okay with the fact that he was thinking about that annoying girl he was betrothed to? Tenten deserved to know. She really did.
"No..." Neji sighed. "I'm not okay..."
"What's wrong, Neji?"
"I never told you...there was someone before you..."
Tenten blinked. "There...was?"
"I didn't mean for it to happen, it just did."
"Neji..."
Neji sighed. "Hiashi betrothed me to a girl from my clan when I was sixteen. Her name was Mizuki. At first, I loathed her, but in my second year of knowing her, I'll admit it to you, Tenten. I loved her."
Tenten stared at the ground, trying to process the data Neji had just handed to her. Then she realized something.
"Neji..." Tenten looked at him. "If you were betrothed to her...then why aren't you still with her? Why are you with me?"
Neji closed his eyes.
Flashback
It was late August, and the smell of fall was just on the horizon. As was Neji's final year of high school. He had promised to take Mizuki shopping for new clothes and school supplies while he did the same. He dreaded it, but he was stuck being Mizuki's future wife.
"Neji-kun, don't worry! I don't take forever when I'm shopping!" Mizuki had told him.
So far, she was holding up to that. Still, she went through every rack that was her size, searching for clothes that were her favourite colour: pale green.
Soon, it was noon.
"Neji-kun...I'm hungry..." She whined, tugging on his shirt.
"Don't expect me to pay for it." Neji muttered.
Mizuki laughed. "I'll pay for it this time! You paid last time, remember?"
Neji sighed.
"Tell you what, there's a hot dog stand across the street over there. I'll go grab us some!" Mizuki smiled. "You wait here."
Neji smirked when she turned away. He sat down on the bench and watched her walk to the stoplight. The walk signal appeared, and Mizuki began to walk across the street.
Upon instinct, his head snapped towards a car speeding down the street that now had a green light. Neji never could've seen it coming. Without signalling, the car whipped around the corner.
"MIZUKI!"
The world went cold at the sound of a sickening thud followed by the screeching of tires as the car sped off.
Neji stood at the curb, not remembering when he had gotten up. People began to get out of their cars, no longer caring about the errands they were running.
Neji's legs moved on their own and soon, he was standing over Mizuki's unmoving form. Blood was already pooling around her head, and worst of all was the tiny amount of sick grey sludge that came from the crack in her skull upon impact with the concrete. Her eyes were open and glassy, yet in her final moments, the car had barely registered on her radar. Neji knew this because a small smile still played about her features.
People were dialling 911 on their cell phones, people staying a safe distance away from the girl and the boy who stood over her.
Neji snapped out of his trance at the sound of sirens. He stepped away from Mizuki's lifeless form. He didn't need to wait for paramedics to arrive to know that Mizuki was already gone. A small part of her skull had been crushed into her brain. The grey sludge was brain matter. Upon seeing it, he knew she was killed instantly.
Neji began to slowly walk home in a painful silence. He couldn't hear a sound. The world was empty and void of purpose. All it took was a second. One second took the life of Mizuki Hyuuga. One second was all that was needed.
"Neji?"
Neji looked up numbly, vaguely realizing that he was in his house. Hiashi and Hinata were watching him carefully.
"Neji, where's Mizuki?" Hiashi asked.
Neji heard the sickening thud and the sound of screeching tires again.
"She's dead." He said softly. He began to walk up the stairs to his bedroom.
"Neji come back!"
"Father..." Hinata whispered.
Neji closed his door. Now what? He stared at the wall. Two words began to echo through his mind. They were his words. He had just spoken them to Hiashi.
She's dead...
She's dead...
She's dead...
And what have you done? He asked himself. You treated her like she was nothing! NOTHING!
Neji leaned over his desk, his hands braced against the hard wood. How was he supposed to know this would happen?
You couldn't have known. It was all an accident.
But he had treated her like garbage. He had made her cry. He had hurt her in every way he could.
And she still loved you.
"Stupid Mizuki..." Neji whispered, his arms shaking. "Why'd you have to die?"
Don't show weakness, you fool. How could you have let yourself get attached to her? You're the stupid one, Neji.
He should've taken better care of her...
No sense in worrying about it now. What's done is done. She's gone now. What are you going to do?
He stared down at the puddle of tears that had collected on his desk. He angrily flung them off and dried his face. At least now he could sleep at night without her bothering him.
Yet, why did it hurt so much?
Flash Forward
"She's dead, Tenten." Neji whispered. "She was hit by a car four years ago."
"I'm so sorry, Neji."
Neji shook his head. "Don't be. She was annoying anyway. Nothing but a burden in my life."
"Was she?"
Neji froze.
"I think you're just too proud to show that you cared about her. You hated her in the beginning, so you didn't want to show that you truly loved and cared about her." Tenten murmured.
"Does it bother you, Tenten?"
Tenten didn't respond.
"You're not a replacement, Tenten." Neji told her. "You're this bright shining light in my life. When things get hard for me, I know you'll always be there, and you understand me more than anyone ever could. Who knows? Maybe Mizuki's death was fate. After her death, Hiashi never tried to betroth me to someone, so that left me free to be with you."
"You feel guilty, don't you?"
"About what?"
"About still being attached to her."
Neji looked at the ground. "Maybe a little."
"Neji, you can be guilty all you want." Tenten told him. "I know what you're feeling, though I never went through it myself. But...There was a time when I thought I had..."
Neji's lips curled into a soft smile knowingly.
"You wouldn't believe the pain I felt when you were in the hospital...Seeing you still alive scares me sometimes, because I know I almost lost you..."
Neji watched her. She looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"All I have to do is think about that feeling, and imagine what it would've been like if I had lost you, and all I can see is a world of pain...I would've cried for days...But...I get the feeling that you kept the pain inside, not wanting to believe that her death left an enormous gash in your heart."
Neji gripped his scrapbook tighter. There were drawings in the pages that supported Tenten's theory. His pain about Mizuki's death only came out in a series of drawings over a three month course that suggested the agony he was going through, though he never shed a tear.
"What was she like, Neji?" Tenten asked.
Neji sighed. "She was...quirky...she smiled and laughed constantly no matter how much it bothered me... small things kept her excited, and there was rarely a time when she wasn't smiling."
Neji was subconsciously flipping through his scrapbook. He stopped on the drawing of a girl sitting in the window. He had drawn it a week before she died, as she had found his scrapbook and begged him to draw her.
"That's her, isn't it?"
Neji nodded. "I drew that a week before she died."
"Why haven't you drawn one of me yet?" Tenten teased.
Neji looked at her sideways. Then he flipped through the book and stopped.
Tenten gasped. "Neji, when did you..."
"After I got out of the hospital. I drew you the way I saw you that day."
"There's more, isn't there?"
"How did you guess?"
Tenten laughed.
Neji closed the book.
"Aw, let me see!"
"I don't usually let people see my art. They all have a story behind them, and they're personal."
"Please, show me one more?"
Neji sighed. "Fine." He randomly opened the scrapbook and sighed at the sight of the image. This was one of his post-Mizuki pictures.
"Neji?"
"Hn."
"I can feel the pain you were in just by looking at this picture."
Neji gazed at it. She was right though. It was an image he had drawn after he had seen himself in the bathroom mirror three days after Mizuki died. He had noticed how his own eyes looked completely dead. Because of that, he had put his hand on the mirror as if to see if it was real. Furiously, he had broken it with his fist. Hiashi wasn't too impressed.
Still, he returned to his room, the image painted in his mind like the negative of a photograph. He had drawn the cracks in the mirror, and the way his face had been slightly distorted by those cracks, as well as the hand he had on the mirror, complete with the bloody knuckles. It was a painful picture to look at.
Neji flipped it shut. "Let's go to bed."
Tenten nodded and stood up. She entered the bus first. Neji followed, but turned around for one last look at the bright full moon.
"HI NEJI!"
He smiled. Those were the first words she had said to him.
"Hi, Mizuki." He said. "Don't cry anymore. A smile always suits you best. I'm sorry for the ass I've been. Please forgive me." He recited the words from the letter he had slid under her door. "Goodnight," He finished with a smile. He turned and went back into the bus, sliding the door shut behind him. Had Neji stayed out for half a second longer, he would've seen the dazzling meteor that streaked across the sky, seeming to have appeared from the moon itself.
A/N: Well? I enjoyed writing this chapter. Maybe I'm going to try and do a flash back to the most significant part of all the characters lives during this. I enjoy doing the flashbacks. They work as wonderful fillers that actually add sanity to my insanity XD. The flashbacks are how you know I've put thought into the characters. Ah well. This chapter is over 8,000 words. Hope you liked it! As for the mini cliff hanger ending, I'll leave you to think about what that meant. Was it simply a coincidence, or was some sort of force at work there? You decide. :P I know why I did it.
Anyway! On with the hug contest!
Hug Contest
Me: And we're back at the hug contest.
Renji: FOR SHAME ON YOU PEOPLE!
Me: Renji! That's my line!
Renji: Oh well! I wanted to say it.
Me: *sigh* Very well then. Ditto to what he said.
Renji: *buzzes lips*
Me: Guys, come on. We only have five enteries this time! FIVE! Just because Renji is a Bleach character doesn't mean you can't be a fan of him!
Renji: Yeah! Wait what? Did you just refer me to a cleaning liquid?
Me: No, that's an anime. Bleach.
Renji: Odd name for an anime.
Me: Yeah. I think it has something to do with the main characters orange hair...something about him bleaching his hair?
Renji: That makes sense...So who am I in Bleach?
Me: You? You're a wicked awesome Soul Reaper with an awesomely epic sword named Zabimaru that extends when you swing it. You fight monsters known as Hollows, and you're immortal.
Renji: SICK!
Me: Eat your heart out non competitors! Here's a link to a picture of Renji! media. photobucket image/renji% ?o=59 Just remove spaces.
Renji: Could you have found a better picture of me?
Me: I tried, okay? It doesn't help that your face is often twisted in a hilarious expression most of the time throughout the anime. It was hard to find a face of who you are without you looking either like an ass, or an idiot.
Renji: gee...that's a confidence booster...
Me: ANYWAY. In fifth place with 182 words was rosesecret02.
Renji: In fourth place with 191 words was Sasukesbiggestfan.
Me: In third place with 207 words was Katarina Wolffe!
Renji: In second place with 249 words was Ghostly Teardrop! First day, and already in second.
Me: In first place with 268 words...Chibi-Princessa! Rejoice people!
Renji: FOR SHAME!
Me: Okay, that is my music teachers line.
Renji: What? 'For Shame'?
Me: Yes. If we were to walk into band practice late, he would go "FOR SHAME! FOR SHAME!" and taunt them.
Renji: Has he done that to you?
Me: Heck no. I'm rarely late. Mr. Lepage loves me! XD. He says 'hi' to me in the hall I have such a good attendance!
Renji: Why does that sound creepy?
Me: Because I unintentionally made it sound creepy.
Renji: So what happens in those rare cases that you're late?
Me: Hmm...well I hear them warming up with the scales, and I go tearing down the hall and just tear into the room, throw my bag and coat on the floor, grab a chair and stand in record time if I need to, grab my book and sit down in my seat and set up my flute by the time the scales are over.
Renji: What does the teacher say?
Me: Nothing. He just gives me this look that says 'you're late.'
Renji: HAHAHAHA!
Me: Anyway, I am quite annoyed of the fact that we only had five legit entries, and even then, they didn't go over 300 words.
Renji: IT'S PAINFUL PEOPLE! *fake sob*
Me: Renji's a loveable guy!
Renji: I am?
Me: Yes...Yes you are...
Renji: Liar.
Me: I am.
Renji: Lia-wait. DAMN YOU!
*Please stand by*
Me: Okay...next time...the hug will come from...*glances around* Truthfully, I have no idea.
Neji: I have an idea.
Me: Do you now.
Neji: Yeah. Go through our rival.
Me: ...hehehehe...
Itachi: Neji...run...she's going crazy...
Neji: *backs away slowly*
Me: Eh...forget it...You guys decide! Who should we throw into the hug contest next? Should we do the girls?
Hinata: *blushes and giggles*
Tenten: *waves*
Azimora: *takes one step back*
Temari: *stands with arms crossed*
Sakura: *waves like Tenten*
Me: Or should we bring in Celestial Envoy?
Ryuu: NO!
Aria: Run, Ryuu, run.
Ryuu: *tries to take off*
Shino: *Grabs Ryuu's ear*
Ryuu: Noooeee.
Kankuro: *sniggers*
Gaara: ...
Me: So? Take your pick! Oh and just to let you know, Ryuu has fan girls. He just hides from them.
Ryuu: Do not!
Aria: You do.
Ryuu: *grumbles something unintelligible*
Me: Next chapter will come the announcement of who wins this, the girls or Celestial Envoy. Then we'll go through whoever wins, followed by the one who didn't win but still probably got votes. What we're going to do afterward, I don't know.
Naruto: Cookie contest!
Me: Oh yeah, Naruto. Chocolate Chip...
Sasuke: Dobe will replace the chocolate chips with laxatives.
Naruto: No I won't!
Me: That is an awful prank.
Sasuke: I know. That's why I'm warning you. Make them Peek Freans.
Naruto: Peek Freans aren't cookies! They say it in their slogan!
Shikamaru: Give it up!
Naruto: No!
Neji: You know she's gone right?
Naruto: Who?
Neji: Miss Author.
Itachi: I watched her walk out.
Neji: *Laughs*
Naruto: Whoa, hang on...
Neji: We no longer have control over ourselves. Once the author leaves for the keyboard, all hell breaks loose.
Itachi: Especially with the author we have.
Shikamaru: Therefore, we're her puppets now.
Naruto: I DON'T WANNA BE A PUPPET!
Sasuke: You don't have a choice!
Naruto: How does she do it?
Sasuke: You don't want to know!
Naruto: Tell me the truth, Sasuke!
Sasuke: YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
Shikamaru: SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!
Itachi: RUN! HE'S GOT A GUN!
Shikamaru: IT'S A CANNON YOU IDIOT!
Neji: *glances at Author through screen* You have a twisted mind.
Author: Hehehe...I know *winks*
