Another short chapter. And kind of "bleh", too. Well, in my opinion, at least.


Inner Destruction: Chapter Six

"Izanami, you're bleeding."

Izanami put a hand to her neck. There was blood dripping.

"I know," she said dully. "The cut opened back up a while ago."

"Then why didn't you stop to bandage it up?" Tenten demanded.

Izanami shrugged. "No time."

Gai turned around to face his students and the prince. "Well, there's time now!" he said cheerfully. "It's nighttime, so I guess it's time to stop and hit the sack!"

"I'll go find some firewood!" Lee said excitedly. He dashed off into the woods.

"Good idea!" Gai called after him. "Tenten, you go get some wood, too! Neji, help take care of Izanami! And Takeshi, you just stay put!"

Izanami glared at Neji. "Don't bother," she said resentfully. "I can do it by myself."

"Who said I wanted to help you?" he replied icily.

Izanami turned away and grabbed a roll of linen from Gai's rucksack. She ripped a piece off and pressed it to her cut.

"You need to clean it first," came Neji's voice.

"I thought you didn't want to help," she said mockingly.

"I don't." he replied. "But I also don't want you slowing us down."

"Who said I'll slow anyone down?" Izanami muttered.

"The cut will become infected, and you'll end up in so much pain that we'll have to stop and get medicine."

Izanami smiled tightly. "Thanks for caring."

"Here," Neji gently pushed Izanami's hand away and dabbed at the cut with a wet cloth.

"Ouch!" Izanami pushed him away.

"If it stings, that just means that it's working." Neji said calmly.

Izanami muttered something incoherent.

Neji smirked and started cleaning her cut again.

"…Thanks," Izanami whispered.

Neji looked up in surprise. Izanami's eyes were cast downwards and she seemed slightly ashamed to actually be thanking him.

He smiled, genuinely smiled. It was probably his first real smile in years.

"You're welcome," he whispered in her ear.

She shivered. And she had no idea why.

Without thinking, Neji reached up and stroked her cheek. He fingered the slash that ran across it.

"I did that to you?" he murmured.

Izanami stared at him wide-eyed. "What are you doing?" she whispered.

Neji leaned forward; his breath ran down her neck, making her skin tingle.

'What are you doing?' his mind screamed. 'You hate her! Get away!'

Izanami found herself leaning closer, too. Their faces were almost touching.

"Hey, are you two lovebirds done yet?"

Izanami spun around and glared at Takeshi. "If you say that again, you'll wake up and find yourself alone and confused in a different country."

Takeshi cast a semi-frightened look her way and then sulkily walked away.

But it was too late. The moment was gone.