Warning: Fluff ahead. Read at your own risk.. Achooo.. Spring fever much.. And a bit long. Neji-centered so prepare for crack.

Finally, I present to you, my dear beloved readers, the one, the only…..

The Talk

The Epilogue

Tanabata Troubles

He didn't have look sideways from time to time since his 359 degree Byakugan gave him an almost full view of his surroundings, yet the desire to turn around was there. What if someone saw him? What if someone was following him? With his resolve firmer than before, he clutched the wrapped package he was carrying even tighter, crumpling the two inch thick wrapping.

With that done, he walked faster than before, not fast enough to warrant suspicion but quick enough to efficiently arrive at his destination. The weight in his pocket reminded of him of why he had to do this and why he, Hyuuga Neji wanted to do this. Oh the things he does for…

"Good morning Neji-niisan."

A petite figure was standing before him, unknowingly blocking his way to the compound's entrance. He wasn't sure if he had imagined the mischievous glint in the pale pearly eyes of his cousin but he shrugged it off.

'It is a bit warm today.. Maybe I'm seeing things…'

"Good morning Hinata-sama."

"Where are you going? And what's that?"

He instinctively clutched it tighter, a few beads of sweat trickled on his forehead destroying the calm façade he so much wanted to portray.

'Shit, what if she's seen it? Duh Neji, she's got the Byakugan too you know, she's what, a first degree cousin?'

"See you in a while, Hinata-sama."

And with that he sped off, leaving a giggling Hinata behind.

"Ganbatte, Neji-niisama."

--

'I knew this was a bad idea. Stupid Naruto, digging into my business..'

He remembered a few snippets of his conversation with the blonde a week ago, and he wasn't amused, yet as much as he hated to admit, he was convinced. He internally chanted stupid, meddling blondie during the whole conversation.

"Hey Neji, what are you planning for next week? Huh? Huhh? Sakura-chan doesn't say it but she wants you do something. Anything at all. Do you know why? Because next week is-"

"I know Uzumaki. Is that why you barge in again while I'm meditating? If so, get lost."

"Mou, so mean. I'll be marrying Hinata sooner or later so we should be nice to each other! And I'm waiting for her, we have a date. Heyy! Don't change the topic! So what are you going to do? Don't think I'm gonna copy your idea! I won't because I'm the number one ninja of Konoha and I'll be the Hokage! So what is iiit?"

'Stupid, meddling, blondie…..'

'Yeah, Neji, we don't have anything planned for that yet.. What are we going to do. God if she doesn't get what she likes she might..'

"And Kiba was saying that Sakura-"

"What!"

"Oi you're actually listening! I was gonna say that Kiba was going to give Sakura-chan the biggest surprise of her life! I dunno if he really really likes her, but they are close. And since Sakura-chan gave everyone chocolates last Valentine's day…"

Indeed she did, everyone including Kiba received cute miniature chocolates she herself baked.

'HA! They received those really small chocolates but we got the biggest one! And, do you remember what we did after dinner! Take that Kiba!'

"Oi Neji, you okay? You're blushing! Nyahahah! Neji is blushing!

"Shut-

BAM!

-up!"

"OUCHHHHHH! Sakura-chan you're here too! What did you do that for?"

"You're SO LOUD! Hinata and I can hear you all the way from her room. We sparred a while ago and we just finished showering.. Why are you shouting anyway?"

"Oh.. hey Sakura-chan I was shouting bec—"

In her life, she doubted she'd ever seen a stranger sight. Well maybe Gai-sensei giving Kakashi-sensei a fricking piggyback ride back in Suna was to put no other words into it, the top of the most disturbing list but this one, might make the top 10.

Hyuuga Neji, her boyfriend (blush blush) was waving a couple of tickets which could only be free ramen stubs at the Ichiraku as evidenced by the flood of water aka saliva from Naruto's parted really really big mouth which was currently soaking up the tatami mat. The blonde followed each movement of Neji's hand, like a doggie waiting for a big slice of steak, just add the tail and it's ready to go!

'I thought I might need this someday. Thank you kami-sama…'

And with a flick of a wrist he sent the tickets flying out of the opened shoji screens and away Naruto went, taking with him the possibility of divine humiliation. Him? Hyuuga Neji, prodigy of what could be the most revered clan of Konoha, blushing! Unheard of!

"I'll see you later, Sakura-chan. Neji-niisama."

Hinata smiled and winked at Sakura and bowed to them politely.

Sakura blushed and looked away. It seems like Hinata and Sakura were sharing some private joke. Hmph, as if he would stoop so low to see what got Sakura worked up. As if he'd ask something as…..

"Why are you blushing?"

He could feel his inner self snickering at the background.

"EH? Oh probably because it's soooo hot and all. Well I'm getting sleepy after all that workout, I'm going home kay?"

She was about to stand up when his warm hand enclosed her wrist in his grasp. She looked at his eyes and couldn't help but blush. You'd think after eight months of blissful dating she'd get used to his worshipful manliness.(drool..)

"Er.."

"Stay.."

Neji wasn't very much for public displays of affection. Sure his hand would hold unto hers or rest at her shoulder or at the small of her back but that was it. In private however.. She really didn't notice that she was blushing so much or that Neji had gently lowered her beside him.

"Sleep."

Well he was also a man of a few words and when Sakura's oversized brain didn't take the hint, he nearly rolled his eyes and he patiently and gently placed his large hand on her shoulders so that her head can rest on one of his stretched thighs. (Lucky girl..) Finally getting the idea, she closed her eyes and waited for sleep to claim her.

"Thanks, Neji-kun..

"Aah.."

He watched her carefully, from the closed eyelids that hid her emerald eyes, to her small nose, to the curve of her enticing lips whose color looked like a freshly picked strawberry.

'Bad Neji.. Tsk tsk…'

Her glossy pink hair slid on his thigh as the woman on his lap changed position and he couldn't help but stroke it gently as he always did when she slept on his lap or shoulder.

'So silky.. Maybe we should give her a silk ribbon next week..'

'Nah.. Too common..'

'How about a silk handkerchief?'

'Nah…. she's got plenty of those already..'

'A silk kimono?'

'She might think you're gay, thinking you're dressing her up..'

'Oh yeah? How about a silk nightie, I bet you she won't think something as stupid as that!'

' HA! Try giving her that and you wont be able to look at each other in the eye for weeks! Just like what happened on valen—

'SHUT UP..'

'Sheesh, touchy, you know you want to..'

'….'

'Or how about we ask her? She's half asleep, it's not like she'll remember it..'

"Sakura..."

He whispered to her ear gently, taking the chance that she might answer his question..

"Hmmmm?"

It was a low rumble, barely inaudible but knowing Sakura's sleeping habits, she was probably in the verge of sleep and consciousness.

"If someone gave you a gift, what would you want it to be?"

"Hmmm…."

Or maybe she was really asleep this time. Stupid luck. He sighed and continued to caress her smooth locks of hair.

"It doesn't matter.. I've got you..'

His eyes widened and he looked at her immediately. To his disbelief, she was still sleeping. A gentle smile, seen only when the two of them are in private graced his lips- the one reserved for his cherry blossom.

Then again, she really hadn't told him what she wanted other than him of course, because whether she liked it (she better) or not, she was stuck with him. Which leads to the problem at hand.

'What on earth am I going to give her?'

'Yep, no doubt about it. This is stupid.'

He looked at the glossy pictures of the opened book on the table, eyes practically burning holes at the page. I mean, these look easy to do but, well, you know what they say, looks can be deceiving.

After banning everyone from entering the kitchens and without doubt no one would dare enter his current lair, he prepared the ingredients of his future masterpiece while he glanced from time to time at the book. This was supposed to be easy after all, there were lots of people who knew how to cook, and he was a prodigy, one of the generation's best according to the hokage. So this was supposed to be easy. Right?

Wrong.

He was waiting for the cake to finish baking, wondering what on earth would his father, should he be alive would do when he sees his only son like this. Probably yell Egads! On the top of his lungs.

A pink frilly apron was tied on his waist, smudges of cream on the poor abused apron, as well as stains of milk and other things that should have been on the cake-unless he had changed his plan and decided to wrap himself up in a box with glossy paper and a ribbon and get himself delivered to Sakura's apartment tonight as the cake's replacement.

Crap. Oh the things he does for her.

Ding!

He looked at the finished cake and felt like it was egging him, mocking him, daring him to taste. With a gulp he sliced a portion and tasted his creation.

"Salty. It's salty!"

The maid who happened to pass the kitchen doors cringed and decided if she wanted to stay alive, she'd stay away from her master for a while.

Anyways, he checked the poor unsuspecting container of sugar and he tasted it for himself.

'That explains it, it's salt.. '

You know, when you mix an acid and a base you get..

'salt..'

The one used to preserve food..

'It's salt'

A crystalline compound NaCl…

'…. It's salt.. '

Here we go..

KABOOM!

Here comes the firemen..

"I have to do this again."

Or not. Maturity has set in.

'Maybe we should have gone with the nightie idea..'

'Shut up..'

Or maybe not.

Inwardly, he was considering changing his present for her but he couldn't come up with anything that would best convey his feelings for her. He opened the box he hid on his pocket; a solitaire diamond ring was placed on the velvet. It reflected the fluorescent lighting in the kitchen and he suddenly remembered why he wanted to do this. He looked at the sun which was high in the sky and figured it was probably lunch time. So without as much as looking, he closed the box and placed it on his pocket, and with renewed energy and an irritated grunt, he grabbed the mixing bowl and started dumping ingredients again.

'The things I do for you..'

After five hours, eleven batches and 6 dozen eggs later, he finally got it right. All he had to do now was put the frosting on and the sliced strawberries he prepared earlier. This part was easy, like pretending to hold a kunai and twirling it effortlessly. After placing the last strawberry, he gently placed it on a box and proceeded to tie the ribbons on it quickly. With only one hour left before his meeting with Sakura, he rushed off to his rooms and prepared himself.

It's weird that she hasn't seen even Neji's shadow today. Or maybe he forgot he was supposed to go to her house at six. Nope, Neji never forgets anything.

"But maybe he forgot what today is!"

"Or what if he doesn't know what today is. I mean, hello, I don't think he bothers with these types of stuff; I mean can you remember what he was like when we were kids. And hello, he's not sentimental.'

She cringed at the mountain of presents she placed on the living room. Well, she did give chocolates to all her friends during Valentine's day. However, she sincerely doubted that each of the numerous shiny boxes of all sizes were from her friends. After all, her suitors didn't diminish when she started dating Neji but they did lie low-who wouldn't? Her boyfriend can kick their asses to Uranus on any given day of the month if he felt like it.

"Neji won't be happy when he sees this.. Might as well open a few.."

"Naruto's..Naruto's..Naruto's.. Ah here we go!"

It was a box that reached her waist, covered in shiny neon orange metallic wrapper. Geez, it was really hard to find. After getting rid of the attention grabbing wrapper and opening the box, she felt like laughing.

"I should have known!"

In the box were instant ramen of different flavors.

"Let's see, chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, oyster, crab, eel, salamander? Liver? Deer? What the? Jellyfish!"

She was too busy digging the box for more 'special' kinds of ramen to notice that a certain someone has opened the door and was watching her with interest.

"buffalo?"

"I'm afraid not. Guess again."

"sheep?"

She removed her upper body from the box, looked at him sheepishly and flushed in embarrassment.

"Hi!"

He nodded in greeting then looked at the heaps of presents on her living room. If things don't turn out very well tonight, there'd be bloodshed tomorrow.

"Oh this is from Naruto. He gave me instant ramen this time, predictable."

Her heart leapt when she noticed that he was holding a box of some sort, with a pale pink ribbon holding it together. Neji followed her eyes and felt himself almost sweat in anticipation.

'What if she doesn't like it?'

'Then more cake for us!'

'………..'

'I don't even like sweet things..'

"What's that?"

Sakura walked towards him and looked at the box, a huge smile on her lips.

"Nothing.."

She laughed, used to his slightly developed behavior, well you could say Neji developed a sense of humor over the past few years. Without another word she took the box from him and after clearing her coffee table of other gifts, placed it in the middle.

"You might not like it.."

"Hmm.."

But she wasn't listening to him.

"Aha!"

She pulled on one end of the ribbon and it untied, making the box open for her to see.

"It might not taste good.."

But Sakura ignored him and went to the kitchen to get a plates and utensils. Neji grasped the box inside his pocket and brought it out immediately.

'At least she'll like this..'

He opened the box to see the brilliance of the stone one more time, just for good luck when. Er let's just say there will be a long speech composed of words such as destiny, unfair, bastard and other expletives.

There was no lustrous gleam of reflected light. In short the ring was..

Uhm.. not there.. You know, missing..

Sakura had come in the room again and nearly ignored him in favor of the luscious strawberry shortcake before her. Not that she'd notice anyway, his back was turned to her and if Neji wasn't Neji he'd be shouting something like..

'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!'

Actually his inner self is doing a great job.

'That was my salary!'

Well he has been saving up for you know, a couple of years for five things, the engagement ring, the wedding and the rings, the kids, the retirement and contingency plans. He was after all pretty organized. There it goes down the drain. Insert speech about destiny here again. Sigh.

"I think it's a bit salty.."

'And now she doesn't like the cake.. Oh, woe is me..'

'Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.'

But he couldn't help but feel disappointed with the outcome of today's events. Really and he was even planning on asking her to marry him. He wasn't prepared for this, and he also wasn't prepared for the sudden hug from behind, and he wasn't prepared that he almost fell on the floor face flat, and he wasn't prepared for her tears, currently soaking up his shirt.

'And I've even made her cry. I'm that horrible?'

"Thank you.. Thank you.. That was the best gift ever! You made it didn't you? Who else would've known I like salt with strawberries! And I thought you forgot what today was! Neji-kun you're the best!"

His face which she couldn't see, twisted in anguish a while ago was replaced with shock and then shortly after relief.

"So that means you owe me, right?"

'Ring or no ring..'

"You're not getting away from helping me clean up my apartment tonight. God knows what I'll do with all these stuff…"

He pocketed the box again and then moved on top of her hands still wrapped on his waist. He turned around and gazed at her eyes fondly before a smirk tugged at his lips. She blushed from head to toe reading his message the wrong way.

"Ehhh.. But what if someone.."

"Not that..

"Then what?"

A loud knock on the door and a boisterous voice shouted over the door.

"Wait a sec Kiba! I'm coming!"

"Oh no you don't.."

Neji kept her in his arms and glared at the door.

"Can't a guy propose!"

Sakura looked at him in shock and before she could say something, Kiba replied.

"Damn and I thought I was early! Naruto's gonna be disappointed! Good luck you two! And I want nieces! I left your gift at the door Sakura! Ja!"

Sounds of retreating footsteps could only be heard and there was terse silence.

"So, what do you say, Sakura?"

She smirked at him impishly.

"It's not like you asked me anything right?"

"Do I have to?"

And instead of the reproving and playful scowl he expected, she jumped on him, lips on his.

"I guess that's a no then.."

She laughed and before she could taunt him further, he kissed her, hard.

Well you know what they say, he's a man of a few if any words..

So there….

"Hinata-oneesama.."

Hanabi was having her routine tea after supper with her older sibling.

"Hai, Hanabi-chan?"

"Why is the tea salty?"

"Eh?"

She swirled the teacup in her hands and a soft ting was audible with each twirl.

"And what's this?"

Using a fork, she fished out a certain something that made the elder woman pale before bursting into uncharacteristically, a fit of guffaws.

Who wouldn't, there shining in the moonlight was Neji's engagement ring.

In Hanabi's teacup.

Really, the heavens sure had a sick sense of humor.

FIN

As in really, its finished.:)

I think the previous chapter was funnier though. This one had more fluff than comedy. Thank you to everyone who supported and read this fic and because of you guys, even if I was sorely tempted to leave it at 6 chapters especially after the virus accident, managed to get me out of my laziness. And since this is finished, I can now work on my other fic, Something Wonderful without the guilt!

To my beta ed, Akuma who is lurking out there somewhere, thank you for editing! And no, you can't have my shirt. Too small for you.

Again, thanks to all my readers! Ja ne!