I'm really soory if I took so long to update. You see, I have a limited time using the pc and it's really hard to write on such a short period of time. So please bear with me. Thanks so much for those who reviewed, you know who you people are. I really thought I'll be greeted by neji/saku bashers… you made me happy! Finally, I present to you the 3rd chapter! Pls review! J

This chapter and the other coming chapters would be about those two weeks, so not much of Sasuke. Enjoy reading!

-Inner Sakura speaking-

the italicized words meant she's reminiscing

To Midorikosan: I''ve been writing fanfics for an anime for quite sometime i think it was digimon under the penname insaneinsane. and i've been using japanese words and it's been the first time i had a negative review about it. XD so anyway, i intended to write the meaning and i actually forgot it. i'm sorry, i will try to limit it however.

For the other reviewers: If there's something wrong with the chapter that you don't like e.g japanese words, list them on your review. for the mean time, meanings will be supplied for the japanese words here.

Again, thanks and pls review:)

Three: Two Weeks Ago

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

She could get used to this. "There's no turning back anyway." Sakura muttered as she zips up her bag and flopped down on her bed with a heavy sigh while thinking of the wide grin Kakashi sensei must have been giving her when he told her of he new mission.

"Ah, Sakura-chan!"

The familiar voice of her sensei ringed in her ears as she waited for him on their usual bridge. "I know I should have been used to it by now but…" Sakura clenched her fist and screamed. "You're over an hour late!"

Kakashi scratched his head and underneath that mask, Sakura knew he was grinning. "Ne Sakura-chan, you're so patient. You should be given some award."

Sakura gave her sensei an ungrateful look then waved her hand in the air. "Okay, okay. What do you want to tell me?"

Kakashi jumped down from the ledge. "You see Sakura, they were looking for someone to do a little surveying on this small island just off the east coast. The island is very near Sound Country, and we don't want to risk the lives of our people – "

"And?" Sakura cut in, wondering what everything he's saying to her.

"I volunteered you for the job!" he exclaimed. "You'll do so well!"

Sakura's eyes widened. "Wh-What!"

Kakashi straightened up and gave Sakura a thumbs-up sign. "Oi, don't be so upset. It's not like you're the only one who'll be stuck there."

Sakura gave her sensei a questioning glance. "I'm not the only one?"

"Tsunade-sama will pick out the one who'll be with you there since none of the other sensei's volunteered their own students."

Realizing what her sensei just said, sakura gave him a wide grin and said, "Sensei, why don't you volunteer Sasuke-kun too? Oh, I'll owe you so much if you do it sensei!"

"Gomen ne Sakura-chan, I already volunteered you from my team." He told her while seeing her face now with a sad smile. Wanting to cheer his only female student, he continued talking. "Who knows? You might be paired up with Hinata and the other girls."

Sakura looked up at him and gave a foolish grin. "Of course, that would be nice! I don't think it'll be such a hard task so if I'll be with Hinata or Tenten, we could always consider it as going to the beach!"

Kakashi gave a sigh of relief. Good thing he said something better or Sakura might end up ripping the bridge they're standing on.

"Now Sakura-chan, Tsunade-sama wants you there at exactly 4 pm today. By then she might have picked up your partner."

4:00 PM

"Ah, Sakura-san, just right on time." Tsunade greeted as Sakura stepped into Tsunade's receiving room. Smiling in return, Sakura sat down on one of the empty seats.

"I'm glad you are okay with Kakashi's decision. You're partner would be here soon."

-Let it be Hinata! Let it be Tenten!- The inner Sakura cheered on as Sakura asked Tsunade who she's going to be with. Flipping her blonde hair aside, Tsunade flashed a smile. "Oh, you'll meet – "

"Tsunade-sama, sorry for being late."

That voice. Sakura felt all hopes of fun and happiness fall down as she realized who had just entered the room. –What happened to my all-girls night out!- The inner Sakura retorted while Sakura slowly turned behind her.

"Hyuuga Neji?"

The brown-haired Hyuuga cast his white eyes on her, then back to Tsunade. "I thought I would be alone."

"Tsk Tsk…" Tsunade massaged her temples. "Lee must've given you wrong information. He was bribing me to choose him but I had to do it in a fair way."

She got a bottle where in it were folded papers and showed it to the two. "Just so happens that it was Neji's name that I picked up. I do hope you're satisfied with each other."

Sakura shivered. Alone on that island? With Neji? And what importance would he give credit her for? A training material? Sakura gulped down on her fears. Could this get any worse?

"I want it to be a full two-week mission– "

"Nani!" Did she just heard right? –Kami-sama, I don't wanna die in an island with a cold-blooded Hyuuga Neji!- The inner Sakura wailed.

The sudden outburst of their pink-haired companion caused the other two to stare at her. "Any problem Sakura?" Tsunade asked, puzzled.

Sakura bit her bottom lip in embarrassment while her cheek flushed lightly. "Iye… Gomen nasai Tsunade-sama…" she whispered, sitting back quietly.

""I want it to be a full two-week mission but it depends on the output of your surveillance in the area. Peace negotiations are still being worked on between Sound Country and there have been revolts there wanting to wage war against us. I don't want any more lives endangered."

When both kept quiet, Tsunade continued on while pacing around the room. "If the area is okay, okay meaning zero disturbance and interruptions, then your mission will be scaled down to a three day stay."

Exhaling a big sigh of relief, Sakura smiled inwardly. "But if there was something not right, it'll be no less than two weeks. If reinforcements are needed, they'll be sent. Are there any questions?"

"Three days…three days…" Sakura murmured while Neji looked at her blankly. "When will we pack up?"

"Tomorrow morning at 5. Meet your sensei's by the dock."

Now walking towards the dock, Sakura sighed yet again while clutching her bag. "I just hope there's nothing wrong there…"

"Sakura-chan!"

Tilting her head up, Sakura smiled upon seeing her blonde comrade Naruto waving at her. "Sakura-chan, be careful there! And if there are any actions there, I'll save you and kick their butt off."

"Thanks for the concern Naruto-san." She looked up at her masked sensei and shrugged her shoulders. "So much for my all-girls plan Kakashi sensei." Kakashi gave her a wink. "It'll be fun, don't worry."

Her gaze soon turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun." He looked at her with arms crossed. "Don't do anything foolish." Sakura gave a small smile,having thought he'll say something …better. –Well, what do you expect to hear from Sasuke?- The inner Sakura teased while she rolled her eyes.

Gai and his students finally came. Naruto's eyes widened. "Sakura-chan, don't tell me you're going with bushy eyebrows!"

Lee showed Naruto his clenched fist and pouted. "If I was, I would have told you earlier. It was Neji who got lucky."

Dead silence.

Naruto was the first to break the silence. "Neji! Why you white-eyes, if you messed up with Sakura or make her cry or – "

Tenten stopped Naruto's rambling by cutting in. "Naruto, don't worry, Neji keeps his own space."

After much intermission from Naruto being over-protective, Lee being jealous and Gai showing off to Kakashi his no.1 student Neji, it was finally time to depart.

"See you in two weeks Sakura." Kakashi shouted while the others waved back at them. It was only a matter of time before their voices were drowned by the sound of the paddle hitting the water.

It's been nearly 30 minutes since they left the dock yet and the silence was beginning to irritate Sakura. I cannot take this anymore…

"Eh, Hyuuga-san? How long do you think we'll be on this boat."

After a few seconds, he didn't reply.

What is wrong with you white-eyes! I'm gonna bonk you on the head if you don't talk to me!-

Sakura sighed, probably thinking her question was too stupid. "Don't you hope wie'll just stay there in three days?" she asked again, looking at her comrade at her side who was looking out at the open water.

He turned his head to her. Finally…he'll talk… Sakura mused happily.

"Did you say something?"

Sakura fell flat face on the floor then, in-between gritted teeth, turned her head away from him. "It…was…nothing."

When they reached the island, sakura immediately hopped down from the boat and looked up. They were soon greeted by an elderly woman, with gray hair tied in a bun and was shorter than her by two inches.

"Welcome to Spring Village. We were informed of two people who'll come aid us for the next two weeks. She cast her chinky eyes on Sakura. "Dear boy, you look so pretty."

Sakura almost exploded upon hearing the old woman's compliment. Not wanting to be rude, Sakura clenched her fist and tried to correct the lady.

"Obaa-san, I'm a girl. I'm Haruno Sakura and this is my companion Hyuuga Neji."

The old lady placed a hand on her cheek. "Oh dear, follow me…"

The path was dusty, rocky and there were parts that were slippery that Sakura stumbled/fell/tripped five times. "I was told that there will be two boys who'll be coming. So I'm sorry for what I said earlier Sakura." She laughed while slowly walking on the trail followed by Sakura then Neji.

Reaching the end of the trail, the old lady pointed to the cabin a few steps away. "You'll be staying there."

Sakura looked ahead and her moth dropped open. "That cabin? That just one cabin?"

Neji walked past her and stared at her. "What do you except, a hotel suite?"

Sakura gave an annoying glare at the Hyuuga prodigy. "We're staying together alone for two weeks!" she exclaimed like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Neji hid his hands in his pockets and grunted. "So? It's not like I would do something to you anyway."

­-Strike Three! I will pulverize you!-

Sakura clenched her fist in anger and stepped up to him with glaring eyes. "You…You!"

Neji looked at her with puzzlement. So, she finally tripped on her patience. He thought as Sakura exploded in front of him. "I didn't mind that you ignore me. I didn't mind that you weren't listening to me – "

"And when was that?" he retorted annoyingly while the old lady watched them.

Sakura looked bewildered. "When? When! Hyuuga Neji, You just made this mission a nightmare for me." Sakura hissed, stomping away from him and towards the cabin.

"Well you make it worse." Neji hit back while following her. The old lady shook her head and called back at them. "I'll be in the wooden house below. The village is not far away."

When Sakura entered, what she saw made her less interested in their mission. It's a big room with two beds adjacent to one another, a small kitchen by the corner and a small table with two chairs beside the kitchen. "Where's the bathroom?"

"It's outside."

Sakura gritted her teeth and shouted her frustration. "What did I do wrong to deserve this?"

"Will you stop your whining? You're already annoying me." Neji pointed out and took the bed near the door. Sakura turned to him with an eybrow raised. "Why you arrogant…" Sakura breathed in and out and tried to quell her anger. "Well I am not going to take a bath outside."

"Suit yourself. Don't bathe for two weeks. It's not my problem."

Sakura reached in her bag and whatever it was she got aimed it at Neji. The latter on the other hand knew what was coming and immediately grabbed it with his hand. "What is it with you?" Neji said exasperatingly as he looked at what Sakura just threw at him.

He stared at the picture and obviously knew who it was. Sakura snatched it back from him. "I hate you." She muttered as she walked grumpily to her bed, clutching her mother's picture on her other hand.

"Well, you annoy me." Neji snapped back, lying down on his bed and staring out at the window beside his bed. "It's gonna be one long mission."

Gomen/Gomen nasai- sorry

Obaa-san - i think it's grandma. sorry, i'm not sure...if someone ouh there knows what the japanese word for grandma is tell me and i'll correct this chapter.

Nani - what

Kami - god/lord

Iye - No

Hai - yes

One reviewer asked me to make long chapters. So I hope this one satisfies you. Not mush of NejiXSaku here, just a lot of bickering from those two. Ha! You'll be reading more of those and then they actually try to get to know each other. All those next chapter so please continue reading! Thanks and pls review!