I've been having a bit of a writers block on this story but I'm still pressing onward. I'm determined to finish this fic if it kills me! If I don't finish it I'll write 20 one-shots in two weeks time, and if I can't do that, I'll write 50 drabbles, and if I can't do that...Goes on and on

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Memoirs of a Kunoichi

"Neji…Neji…Dammit Neji wake up!"

White eyes fluttered open first met with bars and a dirty floor. The Hyuga rose slowly, his head was still spinning from the gas. Was that one of the things developed in the experiments they were conducting? Only managing to lift himself up enough to lean against a nearby wall, his eyes soon fell once more a moment before opening again. His chakra felt erratic, there was something wrong with the flow of his system and he couldn't activate his byakugan to see what the problem was. His body felt heavy and it was taking an effort to keep his mind focused. Despite all this however the first words that escaped his lips were-

"Ino?" his voice sounded weak to his ears.

"I'm right here Neji."

He glanced to his side, there were bars between them but he could see his clear enough. Much to his surprise he felt something ease in his chest upon seeing her face. She was leaning against the bars, legs drawn up to her chest and head resting to the side on folded arms. Large blue eyes stared at him intently, examining him and he found himself putting up his guard so the Kunoichi wouldn't notice his condition. Ino was becoming steadily worried however; her studies in psychology gave her more insight then the normal person. Neji seemed weak; it was times like this she wished she had strength like Sakura in order to break the bars to free them. She had been waiting patiently for someone to come and check up on them in order for her to use her jutsu but so far she had had no luck thus the reason why they were still contained within the small prisons. There were a few people also within the prisons next and across from her own, people whose ages ranged from at least their early teens to their early twenties, who seemed used to the conditions and gazed upon her curiously. Hope was dead in their eyes and Ino wondered how long they had been there. She attempted to gather information but had no such luck as none of the children seemed wiling to speak with the exception of an older girl across from Neji's cell who kept commenting on the beauty of the male. Ino had been bristled for a moment at this but felt it was no time to be jealous when they were caught.

A sigh escaped her lips and she saw Neji raise a brow towards her. In his eyes she could already see his mind going to work in a plan to escape, always the genius. Though Ino was intelligent, she had already went through various ways to escape and none of them seemed likely to work. So she had sat back and waited, staring at her companion.

"Neji?"

He looked at her, hair falling off his shoulder with some strands staying stubbornly in his face. It made her breath stop and she found herself agreeing with the girl across from his cell. Neji was beautiful, breathtakingly handsome, it was no wonder that the women in the village squealed whenever Hyuga Neji was within their midst.

"What is it?"

"Do you remember when-"

"Stop it; this isn't a time to be reminiscing."

The tone of his voice was sharp, Neji knew what she was thinking but didn't want to bring it up. It was a time in his life when he felt he was most vulnerable.

"There is nothing to do but to wait. I don't want to wait in silence. Do you remember the festival?"

Neji said nothing but he did remember. The past was something he never did like to unearth as it brought very little pleasant memories. Ino remembered as well though she knew it was a bit of sore spot she continued to speak. Perhaps it was time to speak of the things they had buried so long ago. The Kunoichi stared up at the ceiling.

"It was in May…"

The Sakura bloom fest, anyone who was anyone would be there. Even the quiet ones of Konoha and guest from Suna had arrived ready to celebrate. The best however was the one five springs ago, when she was fifteen. It was going to be her year to show how fully blossomed she was, no longer a child but a young woman. The kimono had been beautiful, almost like a painting of blue flowers and a river outlined by gold and pink. It matched her eyes and went along nicely with her hair. The compliments she received made her feel even more beautiful and sent a warm feeling through her body.

They were having so much fun, the games and food stands kept everyone occupied until the fireworks that evening. This year she felt as though something special was going to happen. So when it was close to the time the fireworks would erupt, Ino felt the need to father everyone together. The entire rookie nine, Gai's team, and the sand siblings had settled upon a pleasant little hill that had the perfect view of the display.

"Hinata, Kiba, Lee, Tenten, Neji…where's Neji?" Ino demanded after going off her mental checklist, he was ruining everything she was attempting to do!

"Training, of course!" Lee exclaimed in his usual cheerful manner lifting him and Tenten's laced hands into the air in his enthusiasm.

Tenten blushed but smiled nonetheless, squeezing Lee's hand tighter to prove she had no shame towards her boyfriend. With her free hand she jerked her thumb towards the forest.

"Check in the training grounds, I'm sure he'll be there."

Ino scowled, she didn't look as happy as the two lovebirds did. Stomping her foot she turned on her heels and proceeded towards the training grounds.

"He'll ruin everything!"

She had to hurry before the fireworks erupted and her perfect evening was ruined. Damn that Hyuga Neji! Though Ino didn't seem like it, she was the type of person who cherished these moments with her friends and despite everything, Neji was included into that circle of friends. She had realized long ago that these times were rare and to experience them with everyone involved in your life was few and far between. Death, missing, captured all these were a possibility and one day perhaps she wouldn't see her one of her friends again. Ino had stomped up to the training grounds, the light from the stars and moon lighting her way allowing her to easily spot the Hyuga prodigy. It was nothing she was expected however, pausing behind a tree she gazed upon Neji and for the first time really looked at him. Neji was sweating profusely, his shirt was off and thrown upon a rock nearby and shoes discarded as well. His chest was well defined for someone who seemed to never get much of a workout do to his gentle fist technique but she should have had known better. Motions smooth and graceful, almost like a dance, it left Ino hypnotized

"You can come out. It's not like I can't see you."

Neji had paused in his actions, looking in the direction Ino was in, byakugan activated. He released his hold on it however and his eyes fell back into their natural state. A brow quirked in question and mild irritation he bent over to pick up his shirt. Ino's first reaction was to be sheepish, it was almost like she had stumbled upon a personal moment, but Ino never was the sheepish type and besides she was now remembering the reason for her being here. The blond had stomped up to the Hyuga ignoring the crease in his brows as she clearly invaded his personal space.

"Why aren't you aren't the festival?"

Neji had snorted, taking a step back from Ino and proceeded to put his shirt and the traditional Hyuga robes around his form.

"I don't have time for such pointless things."

"It's not pointless!"

"Yes, it is."

"It isn't who knows if we'll all be together like this again!"

Silence seemed to ring through the forest. There, her worst fears had been brought out in the open. She had never revealed her feelings to anyone, she hadn't wanted to seem weak, and there she had been spilling them out before someone who probably cared less. Neji though reacted curiously. He had simply stared at her for a moment whilst tying up his robe.

"Does it really mean that much to you…?"

Ino had sucked in a deep breath and nodded. She diverted her eyes towards anything, the trees, the training post, a rock anything to look at but Neji, she felt vulnerable and didn't want him to see the turmoil behind her eyes. Neji had been silent, quietly thinking before he had decided to speak.

"Then I will come."

Ino released the breath she had been holding. Why? She didn't know but it sent relief through her body that he didn't make a big deal about her confession. A small smile upturned the corner of her lips.

"Thank you."

"But in exchange…" she heard footsteps approach her but still refused to look. Then she felt strong fingers wrapping around her chin directing her face to meet milky eyes, "Never avoid someone's gaze. It doesn't suit your personality."

For some reason Ino's heart skipped a beat. The moment between them was almost intimate. After that they had went back to the hill where everyone was still sitting upon in enough time to see the fireworks. They had stood side by side and their hands had brushed against each other several times before Ino boldly grabbed his hand and held it. Neji didn't seem to mind very much as there was no reaction, good or bad expressed. They never brought it up again and no one really saw the interaction between them but it was the beginning of something…

This however was before Ino learned the rules of being a Kunoichi, whatever they shared had to be forgotten. Feelings after all had no place among a world of shinobi. Weapons to be used until they are useless than discarded like scrap paper to be freed from their guilt of the blood that stained their hands only in death, some sooner than others.

"I remember…" Neji's deep voice broke Ino from her memory.

She was back in the cell, the darkness and almost suffocating air around them made her miss the warmth of the memory.

"Hey, pretty boy."

Ino attention was drawn to the woman in the cell across from Neji's. She was leaning against the bar now and Ino was finally able to get a good look as the last time the woman had been shrouded in darkness. From the tone of her voice Ino would have pegged her for a older woman at least in her forties. Rather this woman appeared very young, long red hair tumbled down t her chest framing vivid green eyes and skin as pale as the moon. It almost made Ino jealous that such a woman had interest in Neji. Of which Neji looked directly at the woman, whose lips curled into an almost seductive smile.

"You are a cute one. Hyuga right? They've been talking about obtaining one of you for a while. Seems they got their wish. What's your name handsome?"

Neji's was taken aback, he glanced at Ino out of the corner of his eyes as though asking for help and Ino found she was happy that Neji didn't find this woman attractive. Neji looked back, not raised to be rude he slowly introduced himself.

"Hyuga, Neji."

"So I was right. My names Kyoko, I've been here the longest and I know everything that goes on around."

"Can you tell me where we are?"

"Sure I do the border of the cloud."

Do you know where everyone is?" Ino spoke up since the female, Kyoko, seemed willing to talk now.

Kyoko however said nothing to Ino. Rather in her eyes was almost a glare before she returned her attention back to Neji where her disposition changed. Ino blinked in confusion, why was the woman treating her as such? Ino's eyes narrowed as the woman smiled sweetly at Neji and realized what she was doing. She simply wanted Neji, Ino was just another person in a cell to her but Neji was something more interesting.

"Bitch…" Ino couldn't help but think.

Kyoko leaned lazily on the bars as though she was trying to get closer to the other side.

"You have a plan to get out of here, handsome?"

"Yes, as soon as someone comes in here. My partner and I intend on making a escape and everyone else who is trapped in here."

"Well you wish will be granted in 3…2…1."

The only door in the basement just above a small stair busted open slamming against the wall beside it.

Ah, now we know where Ino and Neji are and that they had interaction before hand. There's also another pairing introduced if you didn't catch it, Lee/TenTen. Next chapter we'll find out who has entered the basement, Ino and Neji's plans of escape, another new pairing in debt look, and some more of Sakura, Naruto, Gaara, and Hinata!

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