Author's note: A big huge thank you goes out to all those reviewers. You guys are great. Really motivating. I'm really glad you enjoyed it so far, as I am enjoying the pleasure of writing it.

Neji and Sakura… Man, the more I write and read more about this couple, the more I love it. I really hope that SOME interaction happens between them in the newer mangas. It would make for an interesting twist in the storyline.

Oh, to xLindsayx, haha sorry bout that! It's KLUTZ. Got it! Hhehe.

Anyway, enough babbling. Enjoy!

Zarrah-chan

Chapter 3

The kunoichi was awake before her eyes were open.

Her body felt as if it were in slumber for days, yet her mind pleaded for a longer rest. Warm drafts hovered over her face, carrying the comforting aroma of fresh herbs and morning mist. The pink-haired ninja couldn't remember the last time she slept so soundly, nor could she recall the last time she rested on something so satisfying.

Her breathing deepened as she attempted to recover the lovely rest she was awoken from.

Then, it hit her. Sleeping? She did not remember falling asleep… In fact, prior to waking up, she couldn't remember a thing.

Was she dead?

Something stirred under her head that caused the kunoichi to bolt up in alarm. Green eyes flew open as little red flags flashed in her head. She was in danger! She was vulnerable! She was…

"Awake?" a gruff voice asked behind her. She froze at the familiarity of his tone and inwardly scanned her memory of an image to match the speaker behind her.

Then, a striking pain pulsed through her head and she instinctively moved her fingertips toward her temples to ease the agony. A firm hand grasped her shoulder and pulled her back down. His strength was superior to her own, so after a moment of struggling protests, she finally surrendered under his authority.

"Oi. Take it easy."

When her eyes opened again, she was staring into the same white eyes she remembered before blacking out. When her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she blinked blankly at the handsome face glowering over her.

"You." She breathed, unable to immediately interpret the face into a name. His stoic face remained untouched.

"I usually prefer to be called Neji." The Hyuuga unemotionally retorted. However, her attention towards him soon evaporated, as he founder her emerald eyes circling to examine the room. He followed the direction of her baffled gaze.

The kunoichi rummaged through her brain, trying to figure out her location. The room was dark, small, and cluttered, and the only people occupying it were herself and the white-eyed stranger.

"We're in a closet…" she mumbled absently, unaware that she had spoken aloud. She heard the man kiss his teeth.

"A brilliant observation, genius." He spat. "I take it you're still spaced out?"

The girl was definitely clueless and Neji instantly regretted bringing her here. Just something about the reaction of waking up beside a total stranger (who, by the way, was the opposite sex) did not sit well with him. He knew the immediate ignorant response. She'd scream "Rape!", "Molestation!"… or worse… "DATE!"

Neji cursed the fates for torturing him with head-aching predicaments. He glanced back at the girl, and inwardly braced himself for the high-pitched scream.

Surprisingly, there came none.

"Why am I here?" she simply asked out of genuine confusion.

Neji silently thanked her from the bottom of his heart for not jumping to any conclusions.

"You don't remember?" he questioned, one eyebrow elevated. She paused a moment to ponder, then shook her head. The Hyuuga let out an aggravated sigh.

"Geez, Haruno. You stepped on one of these and then collapsed." He explained, dangling a syringe only inches from her completely baffled face.

"I passed out?" she heaved.

"You're the nurse. You figure it out."

More silence intervened as the Hyuuga allowed more time for the girl to pull herself together. She was a smart girl, though, so he knew it wouldn't take very long.

In the background, beyond the door outlined with blinding light, were sounds of footsteps, rolling carts, and monotone voices echoing on the PA system. The girl instantly recognized the building.

They were in Konoha Hospital.

…Correction. They were in a closet IN Konoha Hospital.

Why?

When the kunoichi got up from the Hyuuga's lap, Neji moved as far away from her as the closet would allow. It was terribly indecent for him to be so close o a girl he barely knew.

The pink-haired nurse eyed him carefully but then decided that he was no threat.

"You didn't leave me there? On the streets?" she suddenly stammered, indirectly speaking of her gratitude that he had not abandoned her. Neji kept his gaze fixed on the wall.

"Well, you're here, aren't you?"

More silence. The Hyuuga was beginning to strangely grow hot in the face. Dammit, how did he get tangled in this?

"Why didn't you just bring me to a nurse?" she curiously asked. It was a question that boggled her mind. Sure he had rescued her, but bringing her to a closet was not the brightest plan for the supposed Hyuuga genius.

Neji felt like he was in an interrogation room. The young man grunted.

"The closet was closer."

"Were you afraid the nurses would see you?"

"I don't care if they see me."

"Ah, so you were afraid they would see me WITH you."

Neji shot her a warning look at the steering direction of their conversation, but knew full well that she hit a bull's eye with her statement. The Hyuuga became surprised when he found her flashing him a warm smile in return.

Now, she was toying with him.

"I take it you're feeling better." He stated, trying to coast the topic into a different direction. He resumed his staring contest with the wall. "A simple thank you for saving your life wouldn't kill."

She chuckled.

"Ahh, but you didn't save my life because my life wasn't in danger in the first place." She smirked, holding a syringe. "They're just powerful anesthetics. Nothing life-threatening."

Neji lowered his eyebrows in rapid-growing anger for being nearly scared into a heart attack at her collapsing incident.

"Fine. Then maybe I should have left you on the streets. That way, I wouldn't be extremely late for training, and I'd find people more grateful for my assistance than you, Haruno." He bitterly spat, while shoving his hands into his sleeves. Why he was so angry, the Hyuuga had no idea.

The kunoichi's smile faded into a half-frown at his sudden change of mood and Neji half-regretted being so touchy. She was only trying to lighten him up.

The conversation was soon forgotten when their attention was turned to the announcement on the PA system.

"Haruno, Sakura. Haruno Sakura. Please report to the Hokage's office immediately."

The female ninja turned to look at the brooding Hyuuga, slouching in the corner. He made no motion to leave, nor was he affected much by the page.

After moments of remaining still, she finally decided to do her bidding. Getting up, she brushed the dust off her white nurse uniform, while running calloused fingers through her blush hair. However, as soon as both feet were planted on the ground, her knees buckled and she limply fell over, knocking brooms and buckets off their resting shelves.

The ruckus was colossal and Neji could not understand how the whole village of Konoha could not hear it. This girl had trouble written all over her.

As if a new found instinct, he moved to aid the girl in untangling herself from series of brooms and mops. Geez, he'd take his eye off her for ONE bloody second and…

"You're hopeless, Haruno." He condescended, unimpressed. Sitting her upright, he pressed two fingers on the foot that was punctured by the needle.

"Feel that?" he examined. She shook her head and sighed.

"I completely forgot. It's not uncommon for bruising and numbness to occur after being injected with these fluids." She informed. "Nor is it uncommon for feeling to delay in returning to the patient after their awakening."

Neji lifted an eyebrow.

"And they let YOU become a nurse?"

The two were silent for a moment, before a sweet, serene laughter echoed in the closet. Neji was stunned at her light and carefree mood that contrasted his. Why the heck was she laughing?

"And they said you had no sense of humour…" she chuckled. He still made no effort to even pretend to be amused. He was completely in the dark.

"You're too serious." She exhaled, still smiling. "I pity the woman you marry."

Neji 'hmphed' and looked away before she would notice the darkening hue of red spilling across his cheeks. It was terribly childish of him, but hey. If anyone else knew that the all powerful Hyuuga Neji was blushing like an idiot in front of some girl, they'd never let him hear the end of it.

After some time, the girl patted her thighs and rotated her ankles. When all felt right, she got up and headed for the door, leaving the aloof young man to himself.

"Well," she started, "Guess I better go see what they need me for."

Neji waited for her to finish what seemed to be a trailed-off sentence. When she reached for the handle and opened the door to a small crack, Neji's fist clenched in anger at what she had forgotten to say before she would leave.

As if sensing his tension, she paused and grinned triumphantly, leaving her back to face the irritated young man.

"By the way," she chimed, "Thank you for taking care of me."

Neji's eyebrows went in up in surprise, but then came down again in aggravation. He had gotten his thank you. Why, then, was he still so pissed off?

"That was a lucky shot on your half, Haruno. I'm not doing it again."

The grin grew on her smug face and she turned her head slightly, so he could see her smile.

"I usually prefer to be called Sakura." She said, mimicking his earlier tone.

With that, she exited the room and closed the door, leaving the Hyuuga to stare at her retreating form. She had to be the most intriguing girl he had ever met and he wondered how he could have ever missed her in his ninja academy years.

Shaking off that thought, he too, stood up and brushed his robes off. Now, he could return to whatever business he had prior to this embarrassing incident.

Neji paused. For a moment, he couldn't recall what he had been racking his genius mind for, before their little encounter.

As he turned the knob to open the door, he cursed as it all came flooding back to him.

That's right… he thought. A wife.

Author's note: hahahah, I'm sorry if you think this was a terrible chapter. When I was writing it, I was laughing my head off at this scenario, but I do apologize if you don't like it. If so, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I think there will be more of these battles of sarcasm and wittiness throughout this story. It really seemed very entertaining.

Anyway, again, reviews are TOTALLY appreciated. It keeps me writing!