A/N: Sorry about the wait! No, seriously, I am! My computer crashed and blah. So anywho. Nice cliffy huh? Well, I hope you like this chapter... Review please! I love them all!

-------------

Sasuke's cold gaze moved from Sazona to Sakura's emerald orbs. "Yes." He replied coldly.

'Oh shit… this could complicate things.' Neji thought as his gaze dashed from Sasuke, to Sakura repeatedly. Sasuke was getting into the water, staring at Sakura like he had seen her somewhere before, while Sakura was hiding behind the empty tray, shaking slightly.

Unfortunately Sazona noticed Sakura shivering and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him, "Are you cold Nima-chan?"

Sakura nodded as she quickly glimpsed up at the sky, a cold breeze was blowing, and the sun was hidden behind dark rain clouds, but that wasn't why she was shivering. She was shivering because the man that she had loved for basically her entire life, the very man that left her for dead and hated her, was sitting right in front of her, very much alive, and very very naked. Her eyes traced the outlines of his muscles as she felt a blush cross her cheeks. Closing her eyes, she heard Neji move beside Sazona.

"It's about to rain. Do you have an indoor hot spring?" Neji asked Sazona.

Sazona looked over at Neji, frowning a bit, "How do you know it is going to rain? And, yes, I do have another hot spring… I don't use it because it gets too hot inside that cave."

Sakura shivered in Sazona's arms, "Sazona-sensei? Could we move to that hot spring? It is going to rain…"

"How do you two know it is going to rain?"

"Air pressure." Neji and Sakura replied in unison.

Sazona sighed heavily as he finished his sake. "All right… let's move to the other hot spring."

Sakura closed her eyes as the men got out of the hot spring, blushing as she held onto the tray tightly with her shaking hands. Feeling familiar hands wrap around her waist, she opened her eyes to see Neji staring back at her. "It's him-I can't-"

Quickly silencing her with a kiss, Neji pried the tray out of her hands. Finishing the kiss, he helped her up. "I'll be right next to you. Everything is going to be okay."

Sakura shivered more as she stood up out of the warm water and into the cold air. Looking up, she saw Sazona and Sasuke talking in the doorway. Quickly climbing out, she wrapped her towel around her and turned to see Neji tucking the edge of his towel in place so it would hold on its own.

"I can't..." Sakura whispered as she placed her hand onto her quivering lip.

"Come on." Grabbing her free hand, he led her out the doorway and past Sasuke and Sazona, who were deep in conversation.

Sakura quivered as she allowed Neji to drag her around like a rag doll. "Neji… What if he recognizes me?"

Neji had had enough of her, turning her around he slammed her against the wall of the hallway, "Shut up."

Sakura looked up at Neji with teary eyes, why was he doing this? Why was he being so harsh all of the sudden?

Softening his gaze, he lowered his lips to hers, "I said, I'll take care of you. Just forget about him."

"Easier said then done. He-" She was silenced once more by his kiss, but this one was much different from the last one. This one was much more soft and slow and much more intimate. Sakura felt her hands move up to lock behind his neck as she felt his tongue slip into her mouth. She let out a breathy moan as she felt his hands slowly remove her towel and press his hot flesh against hers.

"Hey you two… save some of that for the shower." Sazona called from down the hallway. "We'll need the entertainment."

Sakura shivered as Neji breathed upon her neck. She watched with half-opened eyes as he slowly wrapped the towel around her again.

"I'm sorry…" Neji quietly apologized as he stepped away from her.

'Don't be. It was wonderful.' 'Ah! I haven't heard from you in a long time! I thought you-' 'Died along with the old Sakura? Nope. Sorry, can't get rid of me THAT easily.' Sakura allowed a smile to escape her lips as she touched them gently with her hand. What could be better than this? She had just been kissed in the buff by a half-naked gorgeous man, and she had her inner self back. Well, having Sasuke there killed some of the fun, but… did she just think gorgeous? Shaking her head, she quickly followed after Neji and the others to the other hot springs as a light and steady rain started to fall.

Sakura faked a cough, for she had a feeling she would be needing it. And just to add on the drama, she faked a cute sneeze.

Sazona noticed her little cough and sneeze and turned around to look at her. "Are you feeling unwell Nima?"

Sakura sniffled as she flashed him a smile, "Oh, I'm fine. It must have been that cold air… don't worry about me." Faking one more little sneeze, she looked up at him and froze when she saw his brow frown in anger as he stared at her upper arm. Sakura's gaze traveled down to her arm and her eyes widened as she realized that her ANBU tattoo was showing.

"Nima. What is a Genin like you doing with a tattoo like that." Sazona asked with a growl, catching the attention of Sasuke and Neji, both stared at Sakura's tattoo.

'Stupid stupid stupid Sakura! Why couldn't you have put makeup on it!' 'Um… hot springs… duh.' 'You could have gouged it out!' Sakura mentally slapped her inner self. The thought of gouging out a tattoo was stupid. Beaming up at Sazona, she grabbed Neji's arm and clutched onto it tightly. "Well, sensei told me that if I had this tattoo, ninja's wouldn't mess with me!"

Sazona's gaze traveled up to Neji and stared into his white orbs, "A good idea. Well, she doesn't look too good to sit in that cave, so I'm going to give you your mission briefing and send you two back to rest. Tomorrow, we're going to meet outside the gates. Uchiha, you two and I are going to take out a large village with these new scrolls he brought for us. Dress to fight and flee." With a quick wave, he turned and walked off with Sasuke.

Sakura glanced up at Neji, who was watching Sasuke walk off with Sazona.

After a minute of silence, Neji led Sakura back to the bathhouse to get their clothes. They remained silent until they got back to their room and the door was shut behind them.

"This could be bad." Sakura moaned as she slid down to the floor. "He's either going to keep us in a group or split us up. I can't work with Sasuke… I couldn't even move when he was sitting in front of me!" 'Of course it didn't help that he was naked…'

Neji walked across the room and placed his hand on his forehead letting out a sigh. "Yeah, I noticed. Sakura, he's the one responsible for your nightmares, isn't he."

Sakura bit her lower lip as she avoided looking at him. "Yeah."

Neji slowly turned around and looked at her, "You can't think about him anymore. He's not the Sasuke we knew. I only hope he didn't recognize us."

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked, looking up at Neji.

Neji plucked up a strand of his long brown hair, and then pointed to his eyes. "That's one give away, and the tattoo on your arm. Gives out what village we're from."

"Sorry." Sakura mumbled as she stared down at it.

Letting out a long sigh, Neji walked over to her and held out his hand. When she placed her hand on it, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to her feet. "Sakura, if we are split up tomorrow, do you think you can handle it? Or do you want to go back home and let me finish the mission."

"No! I can't go back! I can't! It would be such a disgrace! There is still a possibility that we won't be split up, right? And there's a small percentage chance that I'll end up with Sasuke. I could end up with either you or Sazona… or by myself!" Sakura quickly rambled as she took a step away from him, she noticed he wasn't letting go of her wrist.

"Sakura."

Sakura looked up at Neji and saw that his eyes were half-way opened. Was she ready for this again? Was her heart healed enough? She didn't think it would have healed ever… but something about Hyuga made her melt under his touch, breath, lips.

Neji gently kissed Sakura his face blushing slightly as he grabbed her other wrist and held her against the door firmly.

Sakura quickly broke the kiss as she opened her eyes to look at his face.

Neji slowly opened his eyes to look into hers. By the way her eyes were darting around his face, and the way her brow was frowning and her lip quivering, he could tell she was terrified. But of what? "Sakura?"

Sakura felt a hot tear travel down her cheek as she shook her head, "Neji, I can't."

Neji slowly let go of her wrist and gently wrapped his arms around her, "I promise, I'll protect you Sakura… I promise that Sasuke will never hurt you ever again. I promise to-" Neji never finished that promise, his lips couldn't move, and all that came out was a muffled sound. Sakura's lips were pressed against his, he could feel the tears of her fear dampening his cheeks as he opened his mouth and allowed her tongue to slip between his lips.

'I think we can trust him Sakura…' '…I think so too.'

----------

A/N: Review! x3