Cursed

Chapter Three

Trapped

Since they had left from Konoha, the piercing glares that Neji saw Sakura send him for a few hours was enough to make him almost smile. She was highly spirited in her dislike of him. Narrowed jaded eyes glared at his back at every chance that she seemed to get. But, if he turned his head to look at her, he suspected that she was just brave enough to continue glaring at his face.

This had lasted for the first few hours of their traveling. She would glare at his back and then every now and then her lips would turn slightly upwards as she stared, her glare leaving her face for a moment before she would continue to glare once more. In that moment, Neji had to wonder what she could have been thinking about. Probley about his death to make that kind of smile.

Hours later, after all of the glares, Neji found it almost disheartening that the glares had left to be replaced with a tired look. 'How can she be tired?' He thought. Several hours of jumping tree to tree was nothing to Neji. It was almost as natural as walking now. There had been days when he would travel all day and all night, and only the next day would his body start to tire.

'Useless little girl.' The thought came to his mind. Nobody else seemed to be tired, just her. When she had started to hop her way to him, Neji had known what her game was as soon as she got to him and opened her mouth. Travel by ground and it would be easier on her. But it would also be dangerous. He couldn't allow it.

When she had dropped back into step behind him he watched her carefully, never taking his eyes off of her. An hour later, Sakura was stumbling more then ever.

Thin lips parted as Neji sighed in annoyance. 'Damn useless girl.' He thought. That seemed to be her name to him, 'Useless'. It was the only way he really referred to her after all besides the occasional Haruno-san.

Sighing, Neji took pity on Sakura. Or he was forced to. Any more of that stumbling and he knew the girl would fall from the tree causing him to leave his post to catch the useless girl. Naturally, it would leave the group completely open and vulnerable to any outside attacks from the sudden move of two team members disappearing. That's all it was. He didn't stop out of worry that she might really fall and hurt herself. Of course not. He was the emotionless Hyuuga, after all.

With another sigh, Neji halted his jump and stayed put on the next thick branch of a tree. Turning, Neji revealed his eyes that no longer held the byakugan to his teammates for that mission. "We've been traveling all day. Let's rest and continue again after." His deep voice said rather quietly. Nods from two of his teammates reached his eyes while the other one all but collapsed in spot, her legs giving out at the declariration as she plopped down fully on the branch.

Smirking slightly, Neji jumped over to her, his tall frame hovering over her. "Tired, Haruno-san?" He asked, his eyes slightly narrowed and the corners of his lips upturned in victory.

Frowning at him, Sakura painfully brought herself to her feet without any show of tiredness. With a stern and determined look, she stared back into Neji's eyes. "I'm not tired at all. I could go all day, if needed!" She replied. Her appearance looked sure of this with her narrowed hard eyes and her tiny hands on her hips. But her voice completely betrayed her. It was pitched several notches lower then it should be and it seemed to reek with tiredness.

"Oh? Then maybe we should start going again. And to think I was nice enough to want to give you a break." Smirking, Neji turned on his heel and jumped to the next branch, his pack held securely in his hands. "Minna-san, we're leaving." He said for everybody to hear. Ino and Lee stopped talking to look at Neji and then each other in confusion.

'That cold hearted snake!' Sakura screamed in her mind as she stared at him in disbelief. He knew she had been tired for a while now. Knew that she needed a break. And he did this on purpose. He dangled the option to rest in her face knowing she would say she could keep going. Then he snatched it away.

Haruno Sakura was one very mad lady as she glared at him, watching his smirking face glow at her with another victory. Narrowing her green eyes at him, Sakura jumped to the next branch that led to him. Glaring at him, she took a step closer to him so she was right in his face, their noses almost touching.

Blinking Neji almost moved to step back. But then she would win this little game of theirs. So, instead, Neji put on his best smirk and looked down at her. He was a whole head taller then the little girl, after all.

"You are the cruelest, most self centered person I have ever seen! What? You can't let me rest for a measly five freaking' minuets!" Sakura's voice yelled but almost none of her words could be heard as the sky decided at that moment to open up. Buckets of rain started to fall down onto them, soaking them completely within seconds.

Gasping, Sakura's eyes widened as she looked up at the sky. Lighting was flashing dangerously across the sky, and the thunder was rolling in loud booms all around them. Shivering, Sakura lowered her head and wrapped her bare arms around herself for warmth. The rain was ice cold, just as she said it would be.

Neji stared at her with narrowed eyes as she started to hug herself for warmth. 'If the useless girl would dress properly she wouldn't be so cold.' He thought as he looked over her form. She was wearing her regular outfit with her red zipped shirt. It didn't have sleeves, which explained why he could see the little bumps all along her arms from the cold. Letting his gaze go down he saw her regular shorts with the white skirt going over it. 'And she wonders why she's cold.' He scoffed.

Drops of water was slowly running down her face, moving down into her eyes, down her cheeks and nose until it would fall onto her lips where it would stay for a few seconds before it would role away from the lips that seemed to be getting slightly paler with each moment.

The water rolled down her chin and down to her neck in a fast motion before it disappeared beneath her shirt. Neji, who was watching the water fall onto her, had to wonder just how far the water was traveling down her body.

Blinking, Neji looked away from her. 'Those are improper thoughts for such a little girl, Hyuuga.' He said to himself as he glanced back at her. She was standing just a hairsbreadth away from him. Her entire body was shaking now. She really did look like a defenseless little girl to him.

Sighing, Neji put his hands onto her crossed arms and pulled her forward which earned him a gasp from her as she stared at him with wide eyes. In a swift motion he wrapped one arm completely around her and signaled for the others to follow.

He only grabbed her because he knew she couldn't travel any further. That was the only reason. She couldn't have made it to where he needed to go, which was a sheltered area under the trees where the rain couldn't get to her little shaking form anymore. Its not like he was taking care of her. He wasn't. This was only to make it easier on the mission.

Once they reached the ground, Neji released the girl immediately; not wanting to hold onto her for more then was needed. Ino and Lee appeared a moment later, both were soaked completely but they looked otherwise all right.

"We will wait here until the rain stops." Neji said. Somewhere inside of him, he noticed that Sakura hadn't moved from his side. Her body was still slightly touching his arm and her head was bowed down as she continued to shake. Blinking his dark eyes, Lee walked up to her and put one hand on her chin so she would look at him.

Blinking, Sakura stared at him with wide eyes. "Sakura-san! You're so pale! Here, you should rest!" Lee said as he grabbed Sakura in the same hold that Neji just had, with one arm wrapped tightly around her waist. Lee walked her over to a rather large tree branch that had fallen from the trees and sat her down on it while he placed his hands on her forehead to check for fever. Sakura just laughed lightly and pushed his hands away, saying she was fine.

'She didn't look that content when I grabbed her.' Neji thought before he could stop himself. 'Not like it matters.' He huffed and walked a bit away. "I will go scout the area, you three remain here." Was all he said before he disappeared from sight without waiting for any acknowledgement.

He had grabbed her. She hadn't expected it. Sakura had been so surprised that she didn't know what to say. That was an amazing feat for her to be shocked into not saying anything. 'Perhaps he isn't to bad.' She thought with a warm smile. At least he had taken care of her for once. Not that she needed taking care of. Sakura was a very capable woman.

Sighing, Sakura leaned back and started to relax her aching body. It wasn't long before she found herself asleep.

Blood. It was back. Sakura was covered in blood that wasn't her own once more. Shaking, Sakura went to run forward but she fell forward and fell hard to the ground, bruising her knees. Blinking, Sakura turned wide jaded eyes to see what had tripped her.

Pale cold hands were gripping her as hard as steel. Crying out, Sakura started to kick and scream for who ever it was to let go, but they didn't. Through the darkness she saw eyes staring at her with amusement at her not being able to get away.

She continued screaming as she scraped at the ground, the mud sliding under her fingers and not giving her a grip at all. Crystal like tears started to run down her face as she tried to get away. "Let me go!" Her broken sobs rang through the area. And then she was free. The cold steel like hands were ripped off of her being and an anguished yell was heard.

Blinking, Sakura looked behind her to see what happened. Neji was there and he was in his fighting stance, his eyes as cold as ice at her attacker. Whimpering, Sakura scooted herself away, her eyes wide in fear.

Her face had turned into a mixture of fresh tears and hair and mud stuck all over her cheeks, but she didn't even notice as she watched Neji fight her attacker. It wasn't long before her dark attacker fell to the ground unmoving. Sighing in relief, Sakura turned wide eyes to Neji who was, for once, not smirking or giving his emotionless look. Instead he was staring at her with intense eyes that were filled with worry and something else. "Sakura." His deep voice said as he stared into her jaded eyes with his translucent ones.

Sakura's heart skipped a beat. He had never called her by her first name before. Slowly, Sakura got to her feet and walked to him. He had the same look in his eyes as she approached him. Slowly, he reached up his hand and placed it on her pale cheek. His other hand came up then as he watched her closely and he delved it deep into her long pink hair and pushed at the back of her head, forcing her to move closer to him.

There was almost no space between them now, and his eyes looked even more intense as she stared at him in awe.

Neji continued to stare at her for a few moments before he did something she thought he would never do. The hand on the back of her head suddenly formed a tight fist full of her hair. Pink lips opened wide as she gasped as he forced her head up and in one quick movement his lips had decended over hers in a fierce kiss.

Sakura's eyes were wide as Neji took advantage of her mouth that was open from her gasp. Which, she suddenly realized through her haze, that's why he had pulled her head back.

Slowly, Sakura closed her eyes and leaned into him, finally returning the kiss. A moment later and her arms were wrapped around his shoulders and neck.

But then, he stopped.

Confused, Sakura pulled back to look at him and her once hazy eyes went wide in shock. Neji's eyes were wide and blood started to trickle down from his lips. Gasping, Sakura cried out in surprise just as he fell to the ground.

Sakura also fell to the ground. She fell into the mud making her dress that was covered in blood, turn a thick brown-red color. "No.." She mumbled, her eyes filling with tears as she started to crawl towards his unmoving form. 'Please don't be dead…' Those same haunted words formed in her mind, and Sakura stopped moving, she even stopped breathing.

It was the same dream she had that morning. But it was Neji that was lying in blood in front of her. Gasping, Sakura started to crawl towards him. "Ne…Neji!"

Sakura awoke with a start for the second time that day. "Damn dreams." She mumbled as she leaned over her knees, her hands in her hair as she stared wide-eyed at nothing.

The kiss started to replay in her mind, and the girl blushed brightly. 'I kissed him back. But only in a dream! Not like I would in reality.' She thought, not fully believing it. Sighing, Sakura got to her feet and walked away from her hard branch that had been a makeshift bed to her.

As she walked, the girl raised her arms high above her head as she yawned, stretching her tiny body. Once she was done, her slender arms fell to her side and her once sleepy eyes turned to look around her.

Ino and Lee were in a corner mumbling something that she couldn't quite hear. 'They seem close.' She thought, blinking her eyes in surprise. Since when were they close? Shrugging her shoulders, Sakura took a step forward as she noticed a certain dark haired Hyuuga not being in the area.

Giving the other two one last glance, Sakura ventured outside and away from the small shaded area. Tilting her head back, Sakura took in the color of the sky and the lack of rain. The sky was tinted with fiery reds and oranges that painted the sky. 'I must have been asleep for awhile.' Sighing lightly, Sakura started to walk, her green eyes scanning the area. 'Maybe I'll get lucky and there'll be a stream nearby.' Pink lips turned up slightly at the thought. It would be nice to relax and bathe for a bit.

She walked on for several minuets, making sure that she made note of exactly where she was going so she could get back. Slender arms were brought up in front of her as she easily pushed stray tree limbs and sticks away from her being so she could get past the forest. There wasn't exactly a clear path to take, after all.

She continued pushing through, a small smile coming to her lips when she heard the familiar sound of rushing water. She was close! Increasing her speed, Sakura swatted away the branches without too much thought. Until she felt something that wasn't a branch touch her arm.

Looking down, Sakura saw what looked like a small string blended in perfectly with the leaves. Green hues widened as she jumped back and away, but it was to late. Something snatched out and grabbed her delicate ankle and flung her up before she could do anything but gasp.

Crying out, Sakura felt herself falling as it threw her completely upside down. Gasping and loudly shrieking the girl blindly started to grab something to steady herself, but there was nothing there. For a few moments the girl stayed still.

When she was finally composed and the shock wore off, Sakura looked down, or rather up, to see what had happened. She was hanging upside down by her ankle. There were no flying kunai's flying her way. No shinobi coming out of the bushes to kill her. She was just.. Hanging there.

Suddenly, Sakura felt like an idiot. 'This was a trap to catch an animal.' She thought as she suddenly felt her ego fall somewhere below her head and land down in the bushes.

Cursing at herself for doing something Naruto would have done, she grabbed her kunai and quickly sliced the rope. Only to find that it would not slice. Green eyes widened as she tried again. More cursing would follow when it didn't budge.

"Need some help?" An all to familiar arrogant voice asked.

'Shit! Any one but him!' Slowly, Sakura tilted her head to see who it was, and her suspicions were true. "You trying to kill me, Hyuuga!" She asked, her face flushing in embarrassment and an attempt at anger.

Smirking, Neji walked slowly, to slowly. Almost like he was stalking his prey. "I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to land themselves in that kind of trap." He looked like he was enjoying this a tad too much.

Growling, Sakura suddenly had the mental image of him lying on the ground, beaten into a bloody pulp by her, and herself smiling happily. If she wasn't currently hanging upside down that's exactly what she would have done.

"Would you just help me down?" The small girl yelled at him, her arms flailing about. A smirk from Neji followed her questions as he suddenly stopped walking and looked at her. She had a bad feeling about that look.

"What will you do for me if I help you down?" The question rang out and it was followed by silence as Sakura stared at him.

"Nan-Nani?" Her eyes were as wide as saucers as she stared at him.

Smirking, Neji moved closer to her until he was face to face with her. One face still being upside down. "You heard."

"Nothing, you jerk! Now get me down!" Sakura burst out. She was mad now. She was planning on hurting him as soon as she got down.

Raising one eyebrow, Neji turned and started to stroll away. "If that's the way you want it.. I'll go back to camp." Sakura's mouth fell open.

'How…how dare him!' Her thoughts roared as she started to wiggle about, her kunai stabbing murderously at the metal like rope binding her all the while imaging it was him. Moments later, it wasn't broken. It didn't even break when Sakura moved her hands to the damned thing and tryed to rip it apart. Growling, Sakura did something she knew she would regret, but didn't have a choice in the matter. "Neji.." She half mumbled half called.

Even though it was a quiet call, Neji stopped in his tracks, a smirk covering his features. "What is it that you want?" His smirk widened. Slowly, he turned to look at her. When Sakura saw the ecstatic look in his eyes compiled with his arrogant smirk, she started to regret this already.

AN: This chapter.. Was not fun to write. I didn't like writing it really.. I thought it could have been better. It's kind of boring. The only part I liked is the end XD Which was hilarious to me XD! Oh what will he make her do! Bwahahahaha! Ebil ebil Neji!