---Inevitable Love---

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Naruto.

And here's the next chapter! Sorry about that, guys, I got more homework… again… It's been so busy these past couple weeks, and I find myself crammed up with stuff. For those of you reading my other stories, I'm trying to get them up ASAP, but there's no guarantees until my summer vacation starts... I was just lucky this was already finished...

Chapter 4: Accomplishment

What is life?
What is life without you by my side?
For every step I take,
You beside me,
I feel taller,
And without you,
I would be nothing.

"...Yeah…I got that one from somebody I consider as a grandma" Kagome commented, pointing to her bow, which Tenten was currently holding at the moment. Kaede had given her that special, redwood one.

"It's structured very well!" Tenten replied, smiling, "Whoever gave it to you must care for you a lot! And that sword! It's very well made…! It seems like something that came from the feudal era!"

Kagome bit back a secretive smile.

Neji sat on the other side of the room, on a couch, and viewing their exchange contently, a half-smile across his face.

You could never see his half-smiles…

"…Really…?" Kagome faked, "That's so cool!"

Now, the Hyuuga raised an eyebrow, finally standing up, "Aren't you looking for a place to live instead of just sitting here?"

The miko's eyes widened, "Oh yeah! I'm so sorry Tenten, but I need to find a house!" Grabbing all her items off the table, she slid them back onto her body and snatched Neji's hand, half leading and dragging him out the door.

Tenten was left sitting there, blinking.

"Hey Tenten!" A voice shouted out enthusiastically, "Have you seen Kagome? I want her to meet Gai-sensei today!"

The kunoichi turned around, "Oh, hey Lee! … Sorry, but Kagome just left with Neji"

Lee's smiled faltered a bit.

Seeing her teammate's depressed look, Tenten encouraged, "…But I'm sure she'll be available tomorrow, or at least in the next couple of days! They only went out to find a house for her to live in! Maybe some other time?"

Lee lit up again, filled with hope again, "Okay, Tenten! Thanks!"

With that, she was left alone again.

Sighing, Tenten shook her head, taking out her weapons and a cloth to clean them. The teammates and friends she knew were just a bit too enthusiastic about life.

Neji and Kagome's POV…

"This place looks okay" Kagome pointed out to an advertisement, and then to the little house right by them.

It was one of the very few places in the village that actually wasn't an apartment, and was still small and affordable.

Refolding their used newspaper, Neji and Kagome approached the humble adobe, staring at the door for a second before placing 3 loud knocks on the wooden door.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Nobody seemed to live in the house, because nobody opened. But still, here was a possibility that the person just might be out shopping or on a mission, or –

"Could I help you two youngsters?"

This sudden voice made the two nearly jump as Kagome and Neji turned around, trying to settle their heartbeat.

"Oh…did I startle you? I sincerely apologize. How may I help you two?" It was an elderly lady carrying a bunch of groceries in one hand, and the house key in another.

"Yeah…I saw your house for sale on the newspaper. Is it still available?" Kagome smiled, answering with all the politeness she could muster at the moment.

"Oh yes! Come in! Come in!" The lady pushed Neji and Kagome into the door and got them seated with a cup of tea in hand in the living room.

"Just let me finish shelving my vegetables and I'll be right with you…"

After a couples minutes, the lady finally sat down in front of the two.

"Yes, so my friend is looking for a house to live in that is suitable" Neji finally spoke.

Kagome looked over to Neji, thankful that he would help her on this sort of thing, "Yeah… I'm just moving into the village, so I don't know much about it…"

"So, are you two mowing in together?" The woman winked, laughing as Kagome turned bright red and Neji gained a flustered look on his face.

"N-No!" Kagome choked out, embarrassed.

The lady let out a laugh and a secretive, knowing smile, "Oh, I'm sorry, I just thought since you two came in together and look so cute together…!"

"Anyways" Neji coughed, regaining his wits, "Back to the subject at hand?"

After a little bit of discussion, you could call the house sold.

The Park…

"Thanks for everything, Neji" Kagome grinned.

"No problem" He smiled wryly.

"I'm going to have to call my mom so I can bring the furniture in" Kagome explained, taking out her cell phone, "I'm hoping there's reception around here"

'Phone?' Neji nearly raised an eyebrow when he saw this unusual contraption resting on Kagome's hand, "Sure" He replied, acting as if he knew exactly what it was.

They had phones, yes, but not mobile ones yet.

It was remarkable.

After talking for a couple minutes, Kagome turned off her phone and faced the Hyuuga, "It should come in a week or so, what should we do now?"

Neji shrugged casually, "The sun's almost setting, why don't we just go a bit further up the hill?"

"Sure"

As they reached the destination, Kagome spread herself out onto the lush grass, right beside Neji, who was sitting down, hands propping his body up.

"It's the sunset again" Kagome sighed wistfully. A gentle breeze passed by, brushing some hair onto her face. She was about to brush it away when a slender hand intercepted, doing the task for her.

"Yes…The sunset…" Neji finally replied, drawing his arm back to support his body again.

He thought that, that pink shade on Kagome's face was just the reflection from the clouds.

Sometimes, Neji's perspectives could be awfully inaccurate.

"What's wrong?" Kagome turned towards the Hyuuga, seeing that he was thinking hard, creases forming above the bridge of his nose.

"It's nothing, really. I'm fine" Neji actually was a bit disappointed now, surprisingly. Kagome wouldn't be staying in the branch house anymore, "You can visit the branch house whenever you want to though. You're always welcome"

"Yeah…thanks. Thanks a lot" Kagome hesitated for a moment, and then gave him a bone crushing hug, "You're a great friend" She mumbled through his hair, her face buried in the crook of his neck.

Neji nearly turned bright red, slowly patting Kagome on the back, "Uh…no problem…?" What was that sudden change of heart?

Kagome laughed, releasing her grip on him. Then, she grabbed his hand and pulled him to the direction of the market, "Come on! We've still got the evening to go do something!"

Neji didn't object.

Instead, he hesitantly wrapped an arm around her waist, relaxing when she either didn't seem to notice, or didn't mind at all.

Streets of Konoha…

The streets were always brightly lit in the evening, just before the sun completely set. It was mostly quite lively around this time, with villagers chattering and visiting the small stalls set up by the stores.

Ino and some others passed by, but snapped their heads up, quite startled at the picture of Neji with somebody enjoying a time like this.

It appeared that they didn't seem to notice how the villagers were giving them stares, or how his arm just happened to fall around her waist, or how her head was just resting on his shoulder.

"Hey," Kagome pointed to a trinkets and charm stall, "Look at these, aren't they so pretty?" She marveled at all the jewels and silver, gold chains and jewelry displayed in front of the merchant.

"Kirei, ne?"

"Yes…" Kagome breathed out, awed, "Beautiful…"

"This one" The shopkeeper gestured towards two simple silver chain necklaces, "I think you'd like the best"

Hesitantly, Kagome's eyes dared to scan the other scattered jewelry, going back to the chains, "You know what…? I think…that you may be correct" she grinned, "But…" Kagome sighed wistfully, "I…I don't think I could afford these…gomen nasai…"

The merchant nodded in understanding.

Regretfully, Kagome cast her eyes on the chains one last time, before walking away with a silent Neji.

"I need to do something" Neji nodded to Kagome, pointing to the washroom nearby.

"Aa…" Kagome replied, reluctantly breaking from Neji's half embrace to let him go. She sat down on a nearby bench to wait for him.

'Neji's very…nice' Kagome inwardly blushed, 'He's been so helpful from the start and I haven't done anything…maybe I should…ne?'

A little while later, Neji came back, hands in his pockets, and sat down next to her.

"It's getting dark now…" Kagome commented, looking at the sky to find the wonderful hues of the sunset fading into the navy blue night sky.

Neji followed Kagome's gaze, "Aa…" While Kagome was still staring at the night sky, Neji stole glances at her, appearing to be nervous about something. No, it wasn't his facial expression, which was its normal calm, or his aura, that was still and controlled, not at all. Instead, it was the way his hands played with his fingers and how he kept looking at the woman, "…Could you do me a favor…?"

"Huh…?" Kagome snapped out of her trance, "A favor? What type of favor?"

"A simple favor, more of a request, actually..."

"Sure! No problem, what is it?"

"..." Neji looked into Kagome's cerulean eyes, "If you could…close your eyes"

She frowned. It was so simple, yet there was something about the request… "Alright then…" Pursing her lips, Kagome closed her eyes.

(Is hoping that everything will be better soon) Read and review onegai!

He's becoming very OOC, I'm aware, and I'm trying to refrain from that, but...yeah...

Sayonara,

Tenshi-Battosai