So What If You Catch Me?
Chapter Five
"Our lives improve only when we take chances and the first and most difficult risk, we can take is to be honest with ourselves."
"What is with you, Forehead?" Ino questioned walking down the busy morning street with her friend. Yamanaka Ino was excited. It was her first mission out in a long time. In between extra shifts at the hospital and helping out at the flower shop the blonde woman hadn't had much time for missions. So, it was extremely trying on the blonde that her best friend was acting overly quiet.
"Huh?" Sakura asked. Sakura still was having a hard time thinking straight. Neji had single handedly changed her life in 24 hours. He had awoken something in her she wasn't even sure had been there to begin with. No matter what she did she couldn't stop thinking about him. His voice. His soft touch. It was so hard for her to admit to herself that this was something she wanted. She wanted Neji…
"Hello! Earth to Sakura!" Ino practically yelled waving her hand in front of Sakura's face. The pinkette blinked a few times before realizing she was standing in front of her team and the merchant they were escorting.
"I was just doing a mental check to confirm my bag was good, shut up Pig!" Sakura said slapping her friends' hand away from her face. Sakura let out a soft huff.
"Now that we have everyone here," Sakura felt her knees weaken for a moment before she internally yelled at herself. Could she pull herself together for five minutes around the dark haired man? "Akane-san we will escort you from Konoha to Ame. As I understand it you have some high price weapons on you. Lee will cover the front of the convoy. I will take up the back. Yamanaka-san will cover the upper left corner. Sakura will cover the lower back side,"
Sakura finally focused long enough to get a good look of the woman they were escorting. She was absolutely gorgeous. Long red hair. Bright blue eyes. Curves in all the right places. And Sakura was not happy with how close she was standing to Neji. Maybe she should had gotten to the meeting point early instead of walking with Ino.
"Thank you so much Neji," Sakura glared at the woman. Akane reached out and touched his arm. "It's so reassuring knowing I have such a competent team escorting me," Sakura looked over at Ino to meet her blue eyes the two rolled their eyes.
"Come on Lee! Start us out!" Sakura yelled brushing past the woman. Sakura did a quick check on the wagon and the donkey that was pulling it before coming to a stop on Neji's right side. Akane stood on Neji's side. "Are you not more comfortable riding in the cart?" the pinkette asked.
"I'll be okay walking for now. I have so many questions to ask Neji," Akane said sweetly. Sakura made a sour face before facing forward. Lee let out an excited yell before the team began their way outside of the gate and on their way to Ame. Sakura walked up a few steps not wanting to really be near the beautiful woman. The pinkette was already over watching her flirt with Neji. Green eyes wandered around the forest around her doing her own checks confirming that no one was following.
Sakura looked behind her at the beautiful woman envious of how well dressed she was. A part of Sakura wished she hadn't worn her jonin uniform but Ino had already told her that that was what she was wearing. Sakura's eye twitched hearing Akane giggle. "I'm going to check in with Ino," Sakura said. Neji looked at her with pleading eyes. Sakura quickened her pace before meeting up with Ino.
The blonde looked just about done with Lee's loud conversations and excitement. "I don't know how Tenten deals with these two?" Ino mumbled. "He's been walking on his hands for at least 3 kilometers," Sakura laughed.
"At least you don't have to listen to Akane fawn all over Neji,"
"Hey!" Ino said quickly, her eyes narrowing at her best friend. "Since when did you and Hyuga get on first name basis?" Sakura's face turned instantly bright.
"Why don't you go cover the back corner. I'll hang out with Lee for a while," Ino rolled her eyes.
"Mhmm don't think you can avoid the question for long Forehead," Ino said slowing her pace before meeting at the back end with Neji and Akane. No wonder Sakura was over it. This girl was all over the poor guy.
"Hey Neji-san. How's Tenten-chan been?" Ino said loudly distracting Akane from her mindless giggling.
"Who's Tenten?" Akane asked.
"It's Neji-san girlfriend," Ino said pointedly. Blue eyes stared off for a moment.
"Tenten is well. Actually Yamanaka-san; Tenten is not my girlfriend," Ino raised an eyebrow at that. The last time the blonde had met up with Tenten she had made it pretty apparent that the two were practically dating. They spent multiple mornings together training. They spent time together away from their other teammates. As far as Tenten was concerned they were together minus the full title.
"So, you're available then," Akane inquired linking her arm in Neij's.
"I am not," Neji said quickly withdrawing himself. He let out a whistle and then he was gone. Replaced a second later with Lee.
"Always an exciting time when Neji makes a switch up! Do you think that cloud looks like a frog?" Ino sighed. How the hell did she get dragged on this mission again?
Sakura looked up surprised when Lee disappeared. She shivered slightly when she realized that Neji was standing next to her. "Decided on a switch Captain?" Sakura inquired, she kept her eyes forward. She was absolutely furious. She wasn't even sure why. She had no right to be mad.
"Yes," he said. The two walked in silence for a few moments before he spoke again. "You haven't told anyone about us?"
"I hadn't realized there was anything to tell," Sakura said. She hated herself for how bitter she sounded. It wasn't like she had asked Neji. It wasn't like she had told him she wanted something solid. Her face reddened slightly.
Neji nodded. He remained quiet. It made Sakura's stomach jump. He always thought things through before saying something. Sakura was the complete opposite. Just jumping to conclusion. Saying anything that came to her mind. She envied him and his calmness. She jumped slightly when his hand laced with hers. She started down at the foreign object before looking up at him.
"I want to be quite blunt with you Sakura," he said, his eyes continuing to stay forward. His hand tightened around hers before he let out a breath he was holding. "I think of you constantly. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you," he finally looked at her and she felt as if she was on fire. "I would do anything to spend my life with you,"
"A little help back here!" Ino yelled out as the sound of metal clashed with metal.
XXX
It was just before dusk when they set up camp. Three tents. A small fire. "We're going to get some water," Ino called to the boys before pulling Sakura along with her to the closest water source that was written on their map. "Listen to this! You know how Tenten always talks about Neji?"
"Not really Ino," Sakura said. Ino and Tenten were on the same rotations with missions so often were in the village together. With Sakura's busy schedule at the hospital she had to make concrete plans to spend time with any of the girls. Though Sakura did get to spend a good amount of time with Hinata mainly due to Naruto. "You spend more time with Tenten then me. I hang out a lot with Hinata," Ino nodded.
"Okay okay, well Tenten always talks about Neji like they're a thing. Right? I bring her up in front of Akane to get her away from Neji. He says they're not together! Then Akane gets all over him asking if he's available… he says he's not! And just poof. I gotta find out who it is? Any idea?"
Sakura felt shame her face bright red. This whole thing was becoming more and more complicated. The pinkette was thankful for the darkness of the nigh hiding her blush. "Uhh… I don't really know," Sakura closed her eyes tightly. Why was she lying? Why did she feel shame? This was supposed to be a simple mission. Fun for her to get out of the village for a few days.
"Hmm," Ino hummed. The two reached the river bend and began filling up the water packs. "I guess I'll have to talk to Tenten… that's so odd. We should do a girls night when we get back! It's been soooo long since we all got together,"
"Yeah, that would be nice." Sakura said the two started to make their way back to camp.
"What's been going on with you Forehead?" Ino said coming to a full spot. The camp site was in view, but they were still far enough away that they couldn't be overheard.
"I just have a lot on my mind…" Sakura said quietly. Ino studied her best friend. Sakura had been through a lot since the war. Ino had become very aware how dark Sasuke had become. Somehow her best friend still had love in her heart for the man. She watched her best friend's heart break time and time again.
"You know you don't have to do it alone, right?" Sakura looked up and met her friend's eyes.
"I know… I… I told Sasuke I didn't want to love him anymore…"
"Wow," Ino was taken aback. This was probably the healthiest thing Sakura had done with that relationship in at least two years. Ino had thought at one point maybe the two could be good for each other. Soon it became more and more clear that Sasuke just wanted to control Sakura… which wasn't something that could happen. Not to mention the boy had his own demons battling within him.
"He didn't take it well…" Sakura said, she brought her hand up to hold her arm. When she was nervous, she liked to close herself off. It made her feel secure. "And I think I'm okay… I think I met someone… It's new!" Sakura said quickly. "I'm not ready to talk about it… but I know I'm ready to move on from Sasuke,"
"Okay, okay, okay." Ino said throwing her hands up. She gave Sakura a smile. "You have until the end of this mission… and then I'm going to ask at least a thousand questions." Sakura let out a laugh and made her way back into the camp.
"Could you two have taken any longer?" Akane asked causing the two girls to laugh even harder.
"Sorry, we got held up." Sakura said handing the red head one of the water pouches. Akane rolled her eyes.
"Sakura," the two-woman looked up where the voice had some from. Neji sat far up in one of the trees. "Can you join me for first watch?"
"Of course, Captain," Sakura said, her green eyes smiling at the redheaded woman before disappearing in a wave of cherry blossoms and reappearing next to the Hyuga. "Yes?" she inquired.
"Sit with me?" She smiled and sat down next to the man. Her legs swinging over the side of the large branch they sat on. The man didn't say more but it felt nice sitting with him. It felt calm. It felt right. Words didn't need to be said for her to feel comfortable around him. Maybe this was what she wanted? It was so hard for her to admit to herself.
"Neji," she said after a few hours. The rest of the camp was silent below them. The embers from their fire was slowing going out. He looked at her unyielding. It made her stomach turn in the most delicious way.
"Sakura,"
"I want this," she whispered. A small smile spread to the mans face. He reached out and touched her hand. She smiled and leaned into his shoulder.
A/N
I just love writing a sweet Neji. I feel like he would just been a sweet cinnamon roll! Hope you all enjoyed the new chapter! :D Thanks everyone for all the reviews! You're all amazing!
