Author's note: Sorry it took so long... I just have a very terrible disease for authors called 'lack of idea' (to make the situation worse I got Herpes...).:sigh: I hope you guys enjoy this one!
NARUTO'S FIRST DATE 12
"Here..." Neji said, dumping the herbs he'd found on Temari's extended hands.
"Thanks a lot! I know you're reliable!" Temari smiled widely and hurried over to Shikamaru's side, exclaiming to her boyfriend that Neji helped him and how he should say thanks. Shikamaru was almost fell asleep at her speech, but he shot his lazy eyes at Neji and nodded as his thanks.
Neji nodded back and stretched out his body. He felt tired, extremely tired. All he wanted now was go to his cozy, comfortable, and soft sleeping bag. He yawned before started walking upstairs.
Neji climbed the stairs slowly, saving any energy he has now. He reached out to his hair tie and pulled it loose. His marvelous hair cascaded over his back as a result of his previous action. Keeping his hair tie safe in his pocket, he slowly reached out for the door handle and turned open the door that lead to the bedroom.
His eyes widened when he saw that another person already equipped the bedroom. Not just that, it happened to be the first person on his list of 'People I Hate'.
"Uchiha..." he muttered.
sssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Naruto cleaned his wound, then he applied some of the herbs Temari gave him and wrapped the bandage around it carefully. He smiled at his handiwork. Not bad... he praised himself.
He sighed and leaned on the couch. Beside him, Kankurou was reading a 'Doraemon' manga he brought, sometimes laughing at the jokes. Akamaru and Lee seemed to have a very exciting conversation (Lee tried to talk with dogs just like Kiba) near the fireplace (But it was a one-sided conversation where Lee was babbling about springtime of youth while Akamaru was practically asleep). Chouji sat on the floor beside the couch, munching on the mochi he brought from the cake store (remember chapter 3?) While Temari was with Shikamaru in the kitchen.
Where's Neji? he thought and scanned the area. Nope, no sign of a certain, gorgeous brunette he's owing a thanks.
"Kankurou..." he called the puppet master, who chocked on his own laugh before turning his attention to Naruto.
"Y-yes? What?" He asked, and coughed slightly.
"You see Neji?" Naruto asked.
"Umm... I remember seeing him walked upstairs...but," Kankurou put his hand on his chin in a thinking pose.
"Oh, I see... thanks!" Naruto jumped off the couch and started his journey upstairs to find the brunette.
sssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
"Hyuuga..." Sasuke muttered back and stood up from his sitting position on the windowsill, facing Neji who glared at him.
"Hey... don't make a face like that..." Sasuke quirked his brow at Neji's killing expression.
"My face has nothing to do with you, Uchiha..." Neji crossed his hands on his chest, his glare became more intense.
"Drop that, I'm here to finish a matter between both of us..." Sasuke explained. His eyes locked with Neji's.
"About what, if I may ask?" Neji leaned on the wall behind him as a support, his eyes never leave the smaller prodigy.
"Well, I—let's say I know your 'little secret', Hyuuga..." Sasuke prompted himself on the nearby chair.
"And what secret is that?" Neji asked, still keeping his calm attitude.
"About... Uzumaki Naruto, you like him, right?" Sasuke asked calmly.
Neji destroyed his own calm attitude by blushed crimson and broke his eye contact with Sasuke rather harshly. And the worst of all, he stuttered his reply.
"W-what are you talking about?" he tried to sound normal and failed miserably.
"You're bad in acting like that, Hyuuga..." Sasuke gave a look.
"So?"
"Tell me," said Sasuke simply.
"If I say no?"
"I believe I've mentioned that you're bad in acting like that."
"You know what? You're not giving me any option, Uchiha..." Neji frowned.
"Then I pick that you said yes..." Sasuke concluded. He rose slowly and looked at the Hyuuga in his eyes.
"You see, Hyuuga... unfortunately, both you and I share the same attraction to a same person here," Sasuke started.
"I can see it..." Neji cut in.
Sasuke ignored it and continued, he paced around the room while talking. "To be honest, you're on my way," Sasuke pointed at the brunette.
"My pleasure..." Neji said innocently.
Sasuke gritted his teeth. "How 'bout a fight with me, Hyuuga?"
"Why should I?"
"Let's make this one a bet. If you win, I'll leave you and Naruto alone, but if I win, you must forget your feeling for him..." Sasuke opted. "How about that? Not bad isn't it?"
Neji stared at the floor, considering it. But he knew more than anyone that he was not in a good condition to have a fight, and to mention a one with Sasuke...
"Not interested..." he said finally.
"Are you scared?" Sasuke asked, half mocking.
"Only in your wildest dream..."
"Then why not? I'll meet you near the hot spring..." and without waiting for a response from the brunette, Sasuke leapt out through the opened window, heading to the place he'd specified earlier.
Neji stared at the window. Should he do this? It's not that he was afraid to lose, he knew he WILL lose if he fight with his current body state. He was at disadvantage. His body was too tired, right now, just keeping his balance was a hard work. His body was protesting with every move he made, asking for a rest after the whole-day training, not to mention a short–trip of searching herbs for Temari...
And the prize he must pay if he lost...
"Crap!" He banged his fist to the nearby wall. No, he won't run away, this considered his dignity and pride, and a certain blonde he wouldn't give up to.
Neji snatched his kunai pouch and positioned it on its usual place on his pants, he took a deep breath before he disappeared in a blur, running after the Uchiha.
Unnoticed by neither Sasuke nor Neji two pair of eyes were watching them ever since the beginning. After Neji was out from eye range, the owner of a pair of black eyes sighed and scratched the back of his head.
"This is what I call emergency... ain't it, Gaara?" Kiba asked to his 'partner'.
Jade green eyes rolled in annoyance. "I can't believe both of them are stupid... can't they settle it with just talk?" he agreed.
"Sasuke is always like that..." Kiba stepped out from their hiding place, followed by Gaara.
The redhead went to the window and peered outside, sensing Sasuke and Neji's chakra. "Neji will reach the hot spring anytime by now..."
"Should we tell Naruto?" Kiba asked.
"And you'll have your head chopped off by Neji?" Gaara asked, still monotone.
"Euh... maybe not, then..." Kiba thought of something to do.
"Let's chase them..." Gaara suggested.
"Eh? But... we couldn't just butt in into someone's matter like that!" Kiba protested.
"If you don't wanna go then fine..." Gaara said and leapt outside.
"WAIT FOR ME!" Kiba shouted and whistled, calling for his partner.
Akamaru's eyes snapped open when he heard his master's familiar whistling. Akamaru rose and ran upstairs to find his master ("Akamaru-chan! Where are you going?" asked Lee.). He barked when he found his master, seemed in a hurry.
"Akamaru, quick! Let's go!" Kiba picked up the little dog and jumped outside.
sssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Naruto turned the doorknob and peered into the bedroom. No Neji in sight. In fact, no one in sight.
"Weird, where does everyone go?" he asked to no one in particular. He stepped in to the bedroom and noticed something out of ordinary.
The window was opened, cold air rushing in.
It shouldn't open up, especially in a cold time like this... he thought, he reached out and pulled the window close.
The window was shut with a 'click'. Yup, it's settled.
Naruto felt something in his mind told him that something was wrong. And he had a very very bad feeling, about what? He didn't know himself. But he felt that it was something with a certain brunette involved in it.
Naruto shook his head in an attempt to rid those thoughts. Just my feeling... he reminded himself.
The blonde boy walked out from the bedroom and decided to wait for the Hyuuga to come.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Gaara and Kiba rushed to the hot spring. Akamaru was tucked under Kiba's jacket. They ran in silence, only the rustled voice of grass they'd pass accompanied them. Each occupied with own thoughts. And like Kiba, silence was not his style. He was about to open his mouth when Gaara raised one arm, halting him.
"Ack!" Kiba bumped into Gaara's gourd. "What do you—" But Gaara silenced him by covering his mouth with his hand. He forced Kiba to duck with him in a nearby bushes.
"Sssh..." Gaara pointed. He looked a bit shocked. Kiba frowned and focused to the direction Gaara pointed.
He paled. "Neji!"
Indeed, a few meters from their hiding place, laid in his side, was Hyuuga Neji. Blood was pouring out from his right thigh like a waterfall, where a kunai embedded in it. Neji clutched his right thigh and tried desperately to stand up. Not too far from him, Uchiha Sasuke was standing, sweating and had a minor injuries. But he wore a satisfied expression.
"That Sasuke..." Kiba whispered. Damn, I know that Sasuke is serious... but I'm not expecting something like this...
"That stupid Hyuuga, he fought even though he knew he was not in a good condition..." Gaara muttered.
"So, Hyuuga... giving up?" Sasuke asked.
Neji coughed and spitted blood. But even in his current condition, he could still summon a glare for the Uchiha.
"Ne.. ver..." he forced himself to stand up, and gritted his teeth when it shot more pain to his nerves. Damn... he thought, his vision was starting to get blurry.
"Dammit that Neji, can't he just give up? He'll... he'll die in this rate!" Kiba paled, panic and confusion clear in his voice. "Shh!" Gaara warned.
Neji tried to take a step forward, but fell to his knees when another pain stung. Shit!
"I'm going to finish this..." Sasuke muttered and made a few seals.
Neji's eyes widened. Uma, Tora... hell no.
"Katon! Goukyaku no Jutsu!" and a giant fireball came whirling at him in a breakneck speed. Even though it was a few meters away from him, the heat already sent a hot sensation on Neji's skin. The Hyuuga just shut his eyes, preparing himself for the blow.
"NO! STOP!"
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Naruto's head snapped up. What was that? He was sure he heard someone screamed. He looked around his surroundings to find the voice's source, he frowned when he didn't find anything strange.
"What's wrong, Naruto-kun?" Lee asked.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Lee brows knitted in confusion.
"That voice! Someone's screaming!" Naruto informed, those bad feeling he got came back again, worse than before. Did that voice belong to Neji? Did Neji get hurt? Where IS that bastard anyway?
"I didn't hear anything..." Lee scratched the back of his head. "Maybe you're just imagining things..."
"But I'm sure I heard something... something... bad..." Naruto lowered his voice, he massaged his temple. The bad feeling got worse. Something definitely happened!
"Naruto-kun, calm down... nothing is..." but Lee's words were cut off by a loud bang indicating that the window was practically been slammed repeatedly.
Kankurou noticed that something small and white was trying to get in. "Hey! That's the dog boy's pooch!" he opened the window and Akamaru stormed in.
"Akamaru!" Chouji exclaimed. "There you are! Where have you been? Where's Kiba?" Chouji tried to pet the little pooch, but Akamaru jumped back and barked loudly, earning attention from all of the occupants in the small cottage. Even Shikamaru walked in to see what happened (he walked lamely since his ankle was twisted).
"What? What? Where's the fire? Save yourself!" Lee was running in a circle, panic.
Temari came in and bonked the all-green shinobi with her fan.
"There's no fire, idiot! This little dog wants to tell us something!" She told everyone to shut up and looked at Akamaru.
"ARF! ARF! ARF ARF ARFARF! GRRRRR... ARF ARF!" Akamaru said anxiously.
Temari got a TT; expression. She nodded and turned to face the others. "Anybody understand dog language?" she pointed the little white dog with her thumb.
"Not me, anybody brought a dictionary?" asked Lee.
"Where do you think this is? Circus?" Naruto asked in a mocking tone.
"Hey, there's always an opportunity..." Temari defended herself.
"Hey look! He's trying to say somethin'!" Kankurou practically silenced everyone.
Akamaru jumped around, sometimes he made a moves as if he was ducking attacks from invisible enemies.
"Playing?" Lee suggested.
"GRR!" Akamaru growled.
"Not that idiot!" Temari bonked Lee again.
"Ah, I know! Bungee jumping!" Kankurou said.
"GRR!"
"No? Then... dancing?"
"Does that look like a dance to you?"
"A... fight?" Chouji suggested.
"Arf Arf!" Akamaru barked and nodded.
"Hey, you've got brain sometimes!" Shikamaru praised, Chouji just smile proudly.
Next, Akamaru laid down and started whimpering.
"Die?" Naruto guessed.
"No, coma?" Lee suggested again.
"Frostbite?"
"Insomnia?"
"Look clearly, dummy... injured?" Shikamaru said.
"Arf Arf!" Akamaru barked and ran towards Kankurou's Karasu. Who was laid down near the fireplace. Akamaru walked around it, sometimes touched his nose on the white bandage that wrapped around the puppet.
"Coffin?"
"Wrapped?"
"Then... white?"
"Puppet?"
"Bandage?"
"GRR!"
"Not that too... ummm, ugly?" asked Kankurou, remembering Karasu's face.
"That would be you..." Shikamaru said slowly.
"What did you say?" Kankurou turned towards Shikamaru, ready to punch the shadow-user.
"Calm down! We need to find out what is this dog tried to tell!" Temari clutched Kankurou's shirt so he couldn't approach Shikamaru further more.
Naruto scratched his head. I don't understand at all... White... bandage... bandage... something with bandage... something... wait a second... bandage, missing, right arm...
Naruto's head snapped up and his heart started throbbing a bit faster.
"Neji?" he suggested. Everyone turned at him.
"That couldn't be—"
"Arf Arf!" Akamaru jumped happily.
"Hey... that's right!" Lee gave Naruto thumb up.
"Then... ummm, Neji got in a fight and now he's injured?" Shikamaru asked, combining the things they've guessed.
"Arf Arf!" Akamaru nodded.
"..." everyone was registering the sentence into their brain.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT? WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY EARLIER? WHERE IS HE NOW!" Naruto grabbed the white dog and roared into Akamaru's little form, shaking the poor creature violently.
"Naru—"
"Temari!" came Gaara's voice.
"Gaara?" everyone turned their heads to the front door, where Gaara was standing. Usually, Gaara wouldn't shout like that, except...
Naruto's eyes widened in horror.
There, in Gaara's arms, was an unconscious Neji. Blood dripped from the wound on his right thigh, staining the floor, his pants and Gaara's clothes. His face was a lot more paler than usual, cuts and bruises all over his finely sculpted feature. His clothes were dirty and Naruto could saw a slightly burnt mark on his upper left arm.
Kiba and Sasuke were behind Gaara and Neji. Kiba wore a 'This-is-not-my-fault-but-his-and-I-want-to-kill-him' expression. While Sasuke had a slightly guilty expression.
"Neji!" Naruto hurried over to Gaara's side, but his eyes didn't leave the Hyuuga, he was about to freak out. Temari also came and checked Neji's pulse.
"He's alive... but we need to treat him soon, or else, he'll die!" Temari gestured Gaara to put Neji on the couch.
"Everyone please leave, I need to concentrate! Gaara, stay here and help me..." Temari put down her fan and started taking the bandages and herbs.
"But we wanted to help!" Naruto said stubbornly.
"I know! But please... just... pray for him..." said Temari and shooed everyone out except Gaara. Slamming the door shut on their faces.
-TBC-
Author's Note: That's it... I feel bad, this chapter is kinda rushed for me... anyway, tell me about what you think (click on that cute little 'submit review' button there). And I can't believe this story is going to end soon (maybe). See you on the next chap!
-REVIEW CORNER-
Sakuranbo Nayamu: OMG! GOMENASAI! I FORGOT TO REPLY TO YOU IN LAST CHAPTER:bangs her head on the nearest wall: Anyway, thanks for reviewing and I'm terribly sorry! bows
koku-kirin: Arigatou ne! (by the way, I held Niji's binder today). And I couldn't believe that you actually PRAISE me! (Touchan I love you!). Oh, so you're writing NejiNaru too? I'll be waiting! (by the way when I've brought my cosplay photos to school you're absent!)
Princess Kitana: Thank you:blow snot:. I'm so happy that you said that! Thanks for reviewing! (err... keep on, please)
Jen: Thanks for reviewing! And thanks for your advices! Since a lot of people said the same thing I wouldn't make SasuGaa! Thanks to you!
Naaja: Hehehehe, I'm on my 'romantic mode' when writing that so it's fluffy (you could add the fireflies on your own imagination). UI? No, actually not... I'm still 14 and I'm on my last year in junior High School (you know SMPN 216? That's it!)
Momochi Zabuza: Ah! There you are! I thought you wouldn't review again. thanks! And for the SasuNaru... you'll see that in next chapter, 'kay?
animlvr4evr: Thanks for reviewing. You said it, everyone too! Lee's annoying and that and this... but there's always second chance, isn't it:runs away from animelvr4evr:
astarigituloh: Hehehhe, some inspiration I got from STPDN... thanks for reviewing!
Kemiko3955: Yaaay! A new reviewer :hug Kemiko: Thank you! I hope you enjoy this story!