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.

AN: I wasn't going to write another chapter for this story, but I felt like there were too many open ends that couldn't be bridged with the other two parts of this series. There's also a stand alone, which I posted for Neji's birthday (July 3rd), and the sequel, 'A new beginning'.

It took a bit of holding her, and exchanging a few chaste kisses on various places such as her cheek, forehead and hair. That had escalated into a light make out session, which had progressed into something he hadn't anticipated doing yet didn't regret. She finally fell asleep in his arms, her head resting on his chest, over his heart. Currently they were under the thinnest bed sheet he owned and beneath it he wore only his boxers while she was also in her underwear, the green straps of her bra visible at the tops of her shoulders. He was laying on his back, one arm behind his head, and a leg bent at the knee. His other arm was holding her close to him, and her legs were tangled with his leg that was closest to her. In truth he felt like he was sharing his bed with a spider monkey, but that thought made him sad.

It gave him the knowledge that he was important to her, but it also confirmed that their time together going forward would be sporadic and uncertain. He'd carry on with his life as if he hadn't met her, he knew this—he had already endured enough loss to know that much about himself. He'd be lying though if he tried to say he'd feel whole without her.

He'd been whole before, but she had come along and become an extra whole that added to his own. He wouldn't be empty, or incomplete without her, but he would be less than he is with her. But he was alive, and for all intents and purposes, she was not.

He almost laughed at the improbability of it all. What were the odds that her birth father would escape their prison and come to this world? What were the odds she'd be walking by as he activated an off world gateway? What was the likelihood of him seeing her when she arrived? All of these unlikely events aligning so perfectly for everything that had happened to fall into place seemed as probable as air spontaneously turning into gold.

He caught sight of his Polaroid camera and smiled as a thought came to him. If this was her last day here, he'd make it a day she wouldn't forget, and he'd make sure he couldn't forget her.

A small box resided on his dresser. He knew the contents, but he also knew she was trustworthy enough to keep it in his room. He inwardly sighed, hoping she'd like it. He had intended for it to be a birthday present, but in the chance that she couldn't be with him for her birthday, he'd gotten it early for her.

He shifted so he was on his side, facing her as she stirred and opened her eyes. The amber instantly connected with the pearl she looked to him and gave a small sigh before asking, "any regrets?"

He shook his head from side to side as a double confirmation as he stated, "no. are you having any?"

"Only that I have to leave," she admitted.

"But you could visit, that's possible, right?"

"Neji—we crossed a line we said we wouldn't," she pointed out.

"Chiaki—I—I can control myself pretty well. I don't give into urges easily. The idea of you leaving and not exploring all that we have together? That I would've regretted. I knew before I chose to lay next to you that you were leaving in hours, or a day—and I made a choice," he reminded her.

She nodded her head slowly, taking in what he was telling her. He ran his fingers through her hair and pulled her in, lightly brushing his lips against hers and revealed, "I have something for you though."

She raised her eyebrows at him as he left the bed, showing he was still in his grey boxers and grabbed the small tan box off the top of his dresser. He turned to her and climbed back onto the bed. He sat above the blankets, crossing his legs at his ankles, and wrapped his nearest arm around her. She was sitting up now and had the bed sheet covering her body, tucked under her arms as she accepted the box.

"What is this?"

"It was supposed to be a birthday present—but since we don't know when you'll be back," Neji answered with a shrug of his shoulders. She blinked but opened the tan box, her mouth gaping at the object inside. A golden link chain necklace with a matching bird pendant resided within. It was strikingly similar to her cartilage earring.

"Oh wow, Neji," she uttered in amazement as she removed it from the box. He smiled as he took the necklace and unfastened the clasp. He then placed it around her neck, fastening it at the back.

She smiled at him while she leaned in, and they shared another kiss. He then asked a question he knew they were both dreading the answer to, "when do you have to be back?"

"I have forty-eight hours, before I'm declared a defector," she answered.

He nodded and suggested, "then let's have a few more little adventures and build a few more memories before you go."

He smiled before hinting, "we've never had a picnic."

"That sounds nice," she agreed with a nod of her head. He grinned as he basked in the moment. There were other things to think of. What to do about his friendship with Tenten, if they should continue on as friends or try to once again be more than that. If he wanted to build a family life here in the living world, or if he'd rather wait to share that with Chiaki. Right now, in this moment, he was happy. To him, that's all that mattered. He'd figure out everything else as he went along.

He glanced to her, his smile broadened while he thought to himself, 'this is a bitter sweet moment but the sweetest thing I've ever seen Chiaki, was when that pain you'd been carrying around left you and I saw the confidence I knew was hiding inside reflecting in your eyes. If I was somehow part of that- then I think that destiny may have played the biggest role in us meeting.'