A Naruto Fanfiction
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and gang. Just playin' with 'em ;P. Any OCs you see in the story are mine.
Notes: I'm so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so sorry for the lateness. I had an extremely bad case of writer's block over the past weeks, coupled with the fact that my stupid school is giving more and more tests > I'm really, really sorry. Anyway, thanks for all the wonderful reviews. You guys made my day!Thank you very much! YOU GUYS ROCK!

Oh, and I've lowered the rating. And I have started re-writing the earlier chappies for more details.

Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven: A lull, a pause, a stillness in time.

The moon was a beautiful circle, alit with a white, silvery glow as it looked down onto the village of the Leaf.

Haku sat atop the still stone monuments, oblivious to vivid lights dancing below her. Her hazel eyes focused on the small scrap that fluttered slightly in her hand.

A sigh escaped through her mouth. Her sensei had silently slipped the paper (which had Narashi's address written on it) into her hand, before walking away with a knowing smile.

Haku looked up, facing the loud bustle of with a air of slight annoyance.

Baka sensei! As if I really wanted, really needed to see Narashi! I'm not that desperate to go look for his house!

Leaves twirled on the night breeze, rolling wilding around her. Haku drew her legs up to her body, resting her head on her knees as she continued looking at the scribbled words on the paper.

Another sigh escaped her mouth. Slowly, she stood up, looking out at the village, before gracefully and effortlessly leaping towards the ground.

I guess sensei is never wrong. . .

The taut loops of bandages was strained against his body as Neji strolled into the hospital, towards the counter.

To the Hyuuga, it was a constant reminder of how he always took Tenten for granted. And how he never noticed it till a few hours ago.

"Hyuuga's Hinata's room please," said Neji softly while he bent slightly over the counter towards the receptionist.

"Room 105, second floor," replied the girl, almost lazily.

"T-thank you," the Hyuuga replied, tripping over the word he was not used to speaking.

Then he turned, and walked off towards the staircase. Walking past a window, he paused, and looked briefly at the creaking, shadowy trees. The sky was a sapphire blue, with streaks of azure highlighted by the glittering stars.

A sad smile flashed across Hyuuga Neji's face, before disappearing as the boy continued on.

Naruto retched loudly, spitting blood into the sink. His hand clutched his bare chest, digging deep into it. His cross-shaped scar throbbed with a sharp ache. Blood streaked down in thin, wobbly lines, dripping onto the white tiles.

He staggered backwards below the shower, slamming into the wall with a dull thud. Naruto gasped painfully as he slid down to the floor. His eyes was glazed over and unfocused.

Quickly moments of hot brands and cold kunai whizzed through his mind. A dark, guttural growl echoed from the back of his mind. A tinge of excitement and anticipation filled him. His blurred vision faintly noticed the wild fluctuations of his shadow as it slowly morphed and grew to a large, snarling fanged mouth.

No!

He clamped down on tightly, ignoring the cutting throes of his body while he willed the looming chakra back.

Consume! Devour! Eat! it hissed and sneered, slamming against Naruto's mental shield.

A single black tendril rose from the blonde's shadow, rising ominously. It was poised, taut like a snake, before it darted in, flicking a singular slash on the boy's face.

Go. . .BACK! Naruto screamed, pushing with all his strength.

The tendril reared back again, before rushing in, its fangs open and ready to bite into the blonde's flesh.

Then a silent howl echoed throughout the room, striking Naruto's mind with a searing sting. The tendril exploded into a liquid-dust, and his shadow reverted back into its true form. The blonde sat there, gasping while his eyes were closed in exhaustion.

GOOD JOB. HOPEFULLY NEXT TIME YOU'LL BE SMARTER AS TO NOT GET INTO A FIGHT WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY INJURED.

Naruto managed a weak chuckle when he heard the sarcastic remark of the demon fox.

Doubt so, Kawaii-bi, I really doubt so.

The door creaked open, jerking Hinata out of her reverie. The blue-haired heir looked up, stifling a startled gasp when she saw her cousin walk in. Her eyes widened, but the girl held her fear down.

"Hello Neji-san," she said politely, refusing to stammer.

Neji looked at her, his eyes blank and expressionless as always, but Hinata's keen perception picked up twitch of nervousness in his steps.

The long-haired boy paused, as if contemplating his next move. The two stood there, silent and unmoving.

"Are you alright, Hinata-sama?" Neji spoke up, his voice barely a whisper in the dead night air.

Hinata felt her eyes grow incredibly big. "W-what?" she stammered, shocked at her cousin's sudden concern. "I-I mean. . .I-I'm f-fine."

Neji gave a small smile. "Hinata-sama. . .I," he started, before looking away.

"Neji-san. . .?"

Suddenly, the older Hyuuga dropped to his knees, facing the surprised heir with regretful white eyes. The night suddenly stilled, and the strange silence rang shrilly in Hinata's ears.

"I beg for your forgiveness, Hinata-sama, for this and all previous times," he said, bowing deeply. "I do not expect that you will, but I must let you know that no one forced me to do this; it was of my free will, and only mine that I apologize."

A half-hearted grin appeared on his face, despite the wet streaks on his cheeks.

"I guess. . .we all have free will. Just because I have a seal doesn't mean I don't," he wondered aloud. "And I was so blind. . .so blind to never notice it. . ."

Hinata bent forward, gently pulling her cousin upright.

"Neji-san. . .I n-never blamed you f-for anything," she said quietly.

"I know. . .and yet I had chose to ignore it," Neji said, letting go and freeing his first tears since his father's death.

The boy collapsed onto Hinata's lap, murmuring his apologizes over and over again while the girl silently held him.

Outside, the crickets continued chirping.

Haku glanced nervously at the door, her gaze flickering back and forth between it and the paper.

Here goes nothing. . .

She rapped hardly against the wood, and heard the faint echo of her rap resonating in the room.

A few minutes passed, but the door remained unopened. Haku furrowed her eyebrows.

Strange, the light's on. He should be in.

Haku shrugged, and was about to walk off when the door suddenly swung open, revealing a dishevelled looking Naruto, with a towel slung around his neck.

"Haku-chan?" he said, surprise evident in his voice.

The girl smiled cheerfully. "Gomen, Narashi. Can I come in?"

"O-of course y-you can!" stuttered Naruto, before stepping back tot allow the girl in. "It's a little messy, sorry."

Haku just nodded, before shyly sitting down on the couch.

Naruto hurriedly dried off his hair, disappearing into the kitchen. out with two cups of tea.

"Um. . .this is a surprise," Naruto spoke out, slowly setting the tea onto the table.

Haku scratched her head, a faint, pinkish blush tingeing her cheeks. "Hehe. . .well, I just thought we could catch up. . .but I-I can leave i-if it's too much of a bother. . ."

"N-NO!" exclaimed Naruto, before reddening deeply when he realized his explosive reaction. "Um, I mean you can stay. . .it's no problem."

"Oh, ok."

An awkward silence descended onto the two. The moonlight was splayed across the floor, slowly creeping on carpet. A small breeze ruffled the curtains, stirring them.

"Hey, Narashi."

"Eh?"

Haku pointed to his left arm, at a cut peeking out of his sleeve.

"I-It's nothing, Haku-cha" said Naruto hastily, pulling his sleeve down.

"Don't worry, I should be to fix it up in a jiffy," reassured Haku, prying Naruto's fingers and lifting the sleeve upwards.

A large bruise laid above the cut. Haku widened her eyes, before narrowing it in suspicion. Her hands, bathed in a green translucent glow, shimmered vividly.

"Take off your shirt," she spoke, her voice hard and stern, leaving no room for argument.

Naruto sighed, but pulled his shirt over him. The soft, green light embraced him, ebbing over his faint tan, highlighting the purple bruises and long, dried cuts.

Haku hissed in shock, her hands already tracing the long, thin wounds, slowly healing them.

"What in the world did you do today!" she asked almost angrily, but Naruto could feel a urgent undertone of concern seep through.

"I, um, kinda fought with that Hyuuga kid. . ."

"YOU WHAT!"

Naruto bowed his head in fear as Haku towered over him. Her hazel eyes shifted emerald, while her chakra flared up, snapping out angrily. He smiled weakly at Haku, but the girl jabbed his head painfully with her finger.

"WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE YOU THINKING!" poked Haku, her voice drawn out in a low, hissing whisper.

"Eh. . .sorry Haku-chan," Naruto smiled weakly, wincing when the girl bobbed him on the head. "Really, really sorry."

Haku sighed and calmed down, before sitting next to the blonde and checking his wounds.

"Did you win?" she murmured, after a moment of silence. Her hands deftly closed the dried cuts, leaving a pale white mark that soon faded.

"Yeah," he replied.

At this, the girl raised an eyebrow, while surprise flashed in her eyes. Naruto chuckled at her reaction.

"What? You thought I would lose? Hah! I'm too awesome to lose!" said the boy, grinning madly.

A fist went to his head, pushing the blonde off the chair onto the hard floor. Haku sat calmly, her right fist in the air.

"Ouch. . ." groaned Naruto. "That hurt," he muttered while struggling up.

Haku huffed, but helped the boy back into a sitting position.

"So. . .how did you win?" asked Haku, curiosity oozing out from her question. "Hyuuga Neji is extremely skilled in the Jyuken."

Naruto chuckled. "Chakra Chaos, remember? Jyuken doesn't affect my chakra, only causes pain. In fact, I can replicate the painful effects of the Jyuken with my chakra," he snickered wickedly, as if he had just pulled a big prank.

Haku rolled her eyes at the cheery blonde, but only smiled sadly when she remembered about his illness.

". . .Haku-chan? You alright?"

Haku looked up, stuttering an answer to the sudden question. "O-Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

Naruto stared at her, his cerulean irises serious. "You had a sad expression. Don't try to lie, I know I saw it."

The raven-head sighed, and turned to look out the window.

"Your. . .chakra chaos. Does. . .does it hurt?"

A large grin spread over Naruto's face with only a flicker of hesitation. "Of course not! Why shoul"

"You're lying Narashi," spoke Haku, her tone soft and whispery.

The blonde stopped. An awkward silence hung in the air, occasionally broken by the slight rustle of the curtains.

". . .every time I use my chakra, Haku-chan. Every time," Naruto murmured, his voice seemingly loud in the ringing stillness.

The girl gingerly reached forward, and wrapped her arms around the blonde in a tight hug. The boy clutched her hands gently, silently thanking her.