Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Naruto. Only the OC is my idea, her backstory, abilities, appearance, etc. I do not make any money from this story. Some characters may be a bit out of character.


Neji blinked a little as he bowed his head a little in agreement, "I understand." Chiaki listened intently while Tsunade looked to Chiaki and nodded, "Alright. Chiaki you know your comrades better than I do so you'll select who will go with you."

"That's easy enough, only two of them are former Stealth Force," Chiaki stated.

"Neji you'll lead the team of leaf Shinobi to back up Chiaki's group. I've assigned Hinata's team to the case. Kakashi will also be joining on this mission along with a member of the ANBU black ops," Tsunade concluded.

"Hmm, I should make a quick wardrobe change," Chiaki thought out loud.

"You aren't going to fight in a dress?"

"I'm not in the habit of flashing my underwear," Chiaki pointed out indignantly. Neji's shoulders shook as he quietly chuckled at her reaction.

The blonde Hokage's eyebrows arched in surprise before leaning back in her chair, "I don't believe it."

Chiaki met Tsunade's gaze and asked, "What?"

"You got Neji Hyuga chuckling. Is the world about to end?"

Chiaki shrugged her shoulders a little at the suggestion but then added, "I doubt it. Even if it were, my comrades in Soul Society have already prevented two potential apocalyptic events in recent times. We're pretty good at what we do."

"Evidently, I had no idea," Tsunade replied.

Chiaki gave an assuring smile as she turned to leave Tsunade's office, "I'll get changed and round up my comrades. Where should we meet?"

"Near the village gates, I would think," Neji stated. Chiaki nodded in acknowledgement as she left the room and closed the door behind him.

"I'll collect the others," Neji stated as he headed out of Tsunade's office, his hand was on the door knob when he heard her voice again.

"Neji, she isn't part of this world. I'm not going to tell you what to do. I'm not a good person to go to for advice on things like that, however do or don't do what you need to so when the time comes it won't be too difficult," the experienced woman cautioned.

The words weren't meant to be harmful, simply a warning to be heeded, Neji knew this. Yet the pain of a thousand shards of glass pressing into his heart didn't change. Logically Tenten was the better choice. Logically, he shouldn't feel the way he felt about Chiaki. Yet he knew if it came down to protecting her or himself, he'd throw himself in harms way to keep her safe without any hesitation. The brunette teenaged boy closed his eyes momentarily before admitting, "I know. Thank you for the reminder, Lady Tsunade."

With that he opened the door and exited her office, he closed the door behind himself and briefly thought about where to find Kiba, Hinata, and Shino before deciding to try the Hyuga residence first, if that didn't work maybe one of the training grounds, but first he should gather a few supplies from home.

Back at his apartment Chiaki had changed into a pair of dark brown fitted leggings, black sandals and yellow long sleeved shirt with a vest that matched her leggings. She gathered a few things that Tsunade had given her, kunais, shurikens and then tied her hair back into a messy bun with the red ribbon she always wore.

She then gathered a few non-perishables from the kitchen, knowing that they'd be making a bit of a journey and traveling with humans they'd have to go at their speeds. She was a little surprised she heard the apartment door open and close but she knew exactly who it was. She'd know the sensation that person's chakra gave off anywhere.

She slung the backpack with the few good in it over her shoulder as she looked to Neji with a smile, he returned the greeting but then hesitated in the doorway.

"What is it?"

"You could be leaving soon," He stated as he observed her. Chiaki kept her face stoic though her heart sank into her stomach. She nodded in agreement, not trusting herself to speak.

"I'll miss you," Neji revealed.

"I'll miss you too," Chiaki replied, her hand gripping the strap of the bag that was residing on her shoulder. Her eyes adverted from his form, even though she sensed him coming closer to her, she didn't realize how close until she felt his hand gently landing over her own. He delicately intertwined his fingers with hers, and she looked up into his pearl eyes knowing she had a light dusting of a blush across her cheeks.

His expression was as soft as his touch as he cautioned, "grip that strap any tighter, you could end up hurt yourself."

She realized then that her hand was in fact a bit pained. She opened it to examine her palm, and saw red lines where her hand had been clutching the bag. He lowered his head to her hand and gently placed a kiss on the palm. Without hesitation he looked to her wordlessly as he massaged the pain stricken part of the limb.

Chiaki could feel the heat of her blush intensifying as she noted how open and vulnerable he seemed in that moment, she quickly realized she'd seen him somewhat open around Tenten, but not to this extent.

Neji smiled at her as he inquired, "is your hand better?"

"Y-yeah," Chiaki stammered in response. Neji grasped the strap of the bag and her hand flew to the strap again.

"Let me carry it, Chiaki. I have somethings to add anyway, it's only going to become heavier," he offered.

"Well if you're adding things then, okay. Just don't look at the contents, alright? We're going to be traveling for a few days," she hinted.

Neji chuckled from where he stood in the kitchen, gathering more non-perishables as he inquired, "and how am I going to add to the bag if I don't organize the contents accordingly?"

Chiaki blushed a little and he considered her attire before nodding in understanding, "I won't say a thing."

"It's embarrassing that you even know," She conceded. She looked defeated in that moment and that look didn't suit her. It caused a pain within him the likes of which he had nothing to compare to. Even his fight with Kidomaru hadn't caused this much pain, the only thing comparable though still greater was when his father had passed.

Neji thought for a moment before admitting, "I - alleviate myself some nights before bed." He carefully selected his words as he offered something he considered equally personal about himself to her.

"Most people void-"

"That's why I take baths or showers at night," Neji interrupted as he looked at her pointedly, there was a touch of pink to his cheeks. The two sentences flicked a light bulb on in her mind as she realized what he meant.

"Oh," she managed to utter in acknowledgement.

"Knowing that about me, does it feel a little less embarrassing that I know that about you now?"

Chiaki was about to answer but instead retorted with, "but that's so personal Neji! Why would you tell me that?"

"You were uncomfortable that I knew that part about you, so I decided to even the scale a little, at least as best as I could. It's not something that I really tell anyone. In fact even Tenten doesn't know that about me," He confessed as he headed towards the bedroom.

Chiaki shook her head a little at the information he'd just given her before following him, and insisting, "but why do you care that much over whether or not I'm embar-"

Her question was cut off when he turned and brushed his lips against hers swiftly. In that moment she felt warmth flood her from her mouth, straight through the rest of her face, into her chest and down to the pit of her stomach. Her lips tingled a little at the contact. In reality the kiss was only a second in duration but it was dense with concealed emotion that she was now able to process. He shook his head as he explained, "I know the rule about Shinigami and Humans not being together like that. I'm fine with being your friend but I thought you should at least know, there's more to how I feel."

"Maybe Tenten did have a reason to be jealous," Chiaki suggested.

Neji gave a small nod of his head as he began gathering some of his clothes, "maybe. I was too blind to see it at the time."

His breath caught in his lungs when her hand landed on his. He swallowed the lump of nerves in his throat before looking to her, she leaned in close to him and he readily welcomed her lips pressing against his own. He gently cupped her face, a thumb brushing away a stray tear that made its way down from her eye as she pulled away and remorsefully whispered, "we can't-"

Neji placed a finger upon her lips and silently nodded with a declaration, "I know. We won't. Doesn't change that you're the one I value most, and whenever you've need of me in this world, I'll be there."

"You go on missions for days at a time, Neji. Don't make promises you can't keep," she gently scolded.

"then I'll be there to help shoulder whatever it is you're facing when I return from that mission," he amended the previous declaration.

"I hope I don't leave before October," she confessed.

"Hmm, why's that?"

"It'd be nice to spend my birthday with you, and if I can get him here, Tetsuya," Chiaki replied with a smile. The corners of Neji's mouth tugged upwards before his lips parted and he had a toothy grin on his face as he informed her, "I'd like that."