So What If You Catch Me
Chapter Ten
"There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment,"
Naruto was in fact living the dream. Not only was his Hokage training really coming together but everything with Hinata was going perfect. In fact, Hiashi had personally invited him to their clan party that was to be in three weeks. The start of winter was fast approaching and with that the official support of his marriage. He and Hinata had been talking about having a March wedding.
Hiashi had come a long way since the man Naruto had met at 12. He was less tight and interested in changing how things worked in the Hyuuga clan. It was really a wonderful thing to observe and being a part of. Naruto sighed. Of course, Neji had to leave on a mission again this week so he wasn't sure when he would be able to take Hinata on another date. Maybe if he convinced Sakura to come with them, he would be able to get away with it.
He looked up from the paperwork that he had been overlooking realizing he had zoned out. Could you really blame him though? At least he wasn't drinking sake. His eyes wondered to Tsunade. Or taking a nap. He looked over to Kakashi who was asleep on the other couch. Kakashi and Tsuande had been working nonstop for a way to help Sasuke. Naruto sighed and looked back down at the paper. Despite his want to know what was happening he didn't ask. The blonde had finally realized that there were certain things he wasn't equipped to deal with and that was mainly Sasuke.
Sasuke… It was hard to accept. Accept that his best friend had really gone to a place that Naruto couldn't follow. Sasuke had done many questionable things on his path but this was getting out of hand. Naruto laid his head forehead on the desk and allowed the cool air to spread across his neck. He sat up hearing a knock on the door.
"Enter," Naruto said without a thought. Tsunade gave him a look and he smiled sheepishly at her. Konohamaru opened the door and walked in.
"Okay! You gotta give me something. I'm completely hopeless!" Konohamaru sighed taking a seat next to Kakashi who was now awake. Kakashi looked over his paperwork and down at the younger man. He looked back at his paperwork when Konohamaru looked up at him. Tsunade stood up and stretched before pacing around the room. "I'm sitting right here! You can't all ignore me!"
"What's up Konohamaru?" Naruto asked setting his notes down.
"It's Moegi," he said quickly. Kakashi looked back over at him from over his paperwork. The prospect of local gossip now more important than the documents he was looking over.
"I don't really know what that has to do with me?" Naruto said leaning against his fist and staring intently at the documents. Konohamaru let out an aspirated sigh.
"I think it might have something to do with the fact that she's too busy for him," Tsunade said looking out over at the village.
"Ah, young love," Kakashi said with a nod.
"Still confused how this includes me," Naruto mumbled.
"Come on! I need help! How do I get her to spend time with me! Everything is working out so well for you and Hinata! How'd you, do it?!"
"Yeah, Naruto how did you do it?" Kakashi smiled at the blonde boy who was refusing to even look up from his desk.
"Hinata-chan is different," Naruto mumbled. "Maybe you should ask Sakura-chan how to talk to Moegi. They're similar,"
Tsunade let out a loud laugh. "Good luck with that kid," Konohamaru sighed. Some help they were.
XXX
Neji's morning had been a dream. He had woken up surrounded by Sakura. Her long beautiful pink hair. The faint smell of strawberries and a scent that was entirely her own. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before. Her beautiful green eyes and porcelain skin. It made his heart stop and hammer in his chest all at the same time. Every day it was becoming more and more obvious that he wanted forever with her. His lips still tingled from the softness of her lips. He was pulled out of his thoughts when he reached the gate to meet his team: Tenten, Sai and Lee.
"How sad! It is our last mission together! To think Gai-sensei is not available to see us off on the youthful morning!" Lee cried.
Tenten signed and crossed her arms over her chest. She was not in the mood. She didn't want to be around Lee and she certainly didn't want to be around Neji. How idiotic was it that Neji would completely abandon their friendship for some courtship for a Clan he had wanted to run away from? "Yea real sad," she said sarcastically.
Sai smiled awkwardly. Due to his continued research and improvements on making friendships and now even relationships he was already aware of how the next couple days were going to go. He was excited to see how the dynamic between a male/female friendship worked that was not Sakura/Naruto. This would at least be an exciting time for his research. From what he could already tell it seemed like most woman were completely annoyed by their male counterparts.
"Was everyone able to read up on the mission details?' Neji inquired, he looked up and nodded to Kotetsu who sat at the guard station. The older man returned the nod.
"Yes," the team said. He nodded.
"No formation is needed. We plan on traveling to our assigned destination. The goal is to not engage with anyone and return home in three days. Let's head out," Neji said turning to leave the gate. Lee let out an excited yell but maintained speed with the rest of the team. Neji let out a deep breath and allowed his instincts to take over. There was something thrilling about leaving the village and accomplishing missions that did give him a sense of worth. However, he was ready for a different step in his life. A different set of accomplishments.
"Tenten are you ill?" Sai asked after hearing the brunette sigh for the 20th, yes he counted, time since the team left the village.
"Yes Tenten your breathing has seemed off!" Lee agreed. Tenten glared at the two men.
"The Captain is aware of what's going on with me," Tenten stated with a huff. Neji felt his eye twitch. He took a calming breath in and let it out slowly making sure that no sound came with it. Neji came to a stop and the rest of the team did as well. He turned and faced Lee, then Sai before landing on Tenten and staying there for a moment.
"Our mission is important. Please stay on your guard and focused on the mission. Anything going on back at the village needs to be left there," he said his eyes remaining locked with Tenten's before turning and starting back on their route. Tenten glared at his back but didn't let out a sigh.
XXX
Sakura was having a whirlwind of the past three months. She had gone on a fake date to quickly falling in love. Falling in love? Yes. That did sound right. She took a deep breath and sat down at her desk. She stared at the paperwork without thought before spinning in her chair to look out at Konoha. The sun was slowly starting to set, the days were becoming shorter and soon the fall would be winter.
A knock on her office door brought her out of her thoughts. "Come in," she called turning around to face the door. She smiled brightly seeing Hinata walk in. "Hey! What are you doing here?" Sakura inquired.
"I thought you would be getting done soon. Would you like to go over what you plan on wearing to the clan dinner?" Sakura's face turned bright red. Neji had just asked her that morning. How had Hinata know already? "He's wanted to ask you for over a month," Hinata smiled. Sakura let out a small laugh. She was still having a hard to accepting this was real. It was real life that Hyuuga Neji was interested in her and she in him.
"Actually, that would be really great Hinata," Sakura smiled. She stood up and grabbed her coat and made her way across the office shutting the light off and locking the door behind her. The two left the hospital and were soon at the Hyuuga estate.
"I was thinking a lovely white kimono would look wonderful on you," Hinata commented going through her closet. Sakura stood behind her mouth wide staring at all the beautiful fabrics. "I was thinking you could wear one of my old ones and we could just adjust it… I know you won't let me buy you a brand new one," Hinata said looking back at Sakura.
Sakura laughed sheepishly. Hinata was not wrong. Sakura didn't own anything nearly as beautiful as the fabrics in the closest and she absolutely couldn't accept new clothing from her friend she also knew that buying a new kimono was not in her budget. Hinata pulled out a long piece of fabric that was mainly white with cherry blossoms floating around in the fabric like a beautiful dance with gold accents. Hinata handed it to Sakura and motioned for her to try it on. Hinata searched through the closet for the perfect obi.
Sakura changed and pulled on the soft silk fabric. It was absolutely beautiful. Of course, larger in the chest region. Sakura wrapped the kimono around her as Hinata pulled out a beautiful golden obi. Hinata placed the obi around Sakura's middle and began tying it up. "I think we will just need to take it in, in a few places." Hinata said stepping away from Sakura. "You look stunning," Sakura's face lit up.
Everything was falling into place. She smiled at Hinata. "Thank you," she whispered her face bright red. Sakura turned and looked at herself in the mirror. How could so much change so quickly when she finally allowed herself to just be.
XXX
Neji had never been more thankful that this was his last mission. The excitement and purpose he felt at the beginning of the mission had been replaced with annoyance. He had no clue why Lee was sent with them on a recon mission other then Tsunade wanted him to have his original team on his last mission. His most help had been Sai with actually gathering information. Tenten had acted oblivious the whole mission which was so unlike her. Even with their misunderstanding he thought she would hold a level of professionalism. However, she was not even capable of being around him.
He leaned against the tree he was sitting in. The embers from their fire flickered lightly almost completely out allowing a darkness to settle around the camp. The noise of the forest surrounded him. Neji loved taking the last shift of watch. Being able to feel the forest sleep and then being able to experience the first rays of sunlight. Every day was a new beginning. Just like this life he had. After the war he was really able to let go of the false image of himself. Who he was supposed to be. Who he was now.
He looked to his left hearing a shift to see one of Sai's mice. He nodded to the art before it scurried back down the tree and out of sight. Working with Sai had been a real pleasure. He had been the biggest help gathering the information that was needed. It seemed there was a small group of rouge nin in the outskirts of fire country that were working on forming a new organization. Not top level nin but still worrisome for a world that had just finished war.
Slowly the darkness around him became purple and then quickly grew into a beautiful golden color. He jumped down landing in the center of their camp. He rolled his neck around ready for the trip home. He took in a deep breath letting it out he kicked the embers out completely finishing off the fire. The movement woke the rest of the camp and everyone went to quick work breaking down the camp.
Neji watched as the rest of his team went to packing up their tents and doing their final walk through before heading out back to the village. It was split moment that something felt off. Something felt wrong. Without a second thought he moved towards Tenten, the sound of metal meeting metal kick started everyone's reflexes. Neji's eyes met the eyes of one of the nin they had been scouting earlier in the week.
Tenten moved back pulling out a scroll and summoning her own weapon she threw them with accuracy at the intruder. The missing nin used his other hand to deflect the flying kunia. Neji glared at the man. He was more skilled then they had originally calculated. Neji pushed off sending the nin back slightly giving space between himself and Tenten and the missing nin. He looked behind to see that so far there was no other nin engaging them.
Neji turned back to look at the missing nin a smirk on his face. It took Neji a moment to understand what had happened a few things happened all at once. He watched the smile on the missing nins face grow wider. He heard Tenten scream out 'No'. And then quickly felt instant white radiating heat coming from his chest. He looked down seeing the large blade sticking out of his chest from behind. He coughed and felt the wetness of blood. He felt like his world was swirling around him and he lost his footing.
"No!" Tenten yelled she threw kunia at the back of the new nin they hadn't seen before move away and to meet his other partner. Though he wouldn't make it that far fairing a round house kick from Lee that sent the second nin flying into the tree line. Tenten blinked back the tears that were starting to form in her eyes. She needed to focus. Quickly two scrolled beasts stood in the way of the frowning missing nin.
"Tenten, take Neji," Sai signaling to the scrolled bird that stood behind him. Tenten nodded without a second of hesitation she grabbed Neji and hoisted him up and moved to climb on to the flying beast. They had to make it back to the village. The wound was saver enough that it needed immediate attention. The brunette hoped, no knew her other teammates could handle themselves and would catch up.
Brown eyes started down at Neji. She didn't dare move the blade unsure if it would cause more harm then good. She did her best to put pressure around the wound. They had to make it in time. There were plenty of medical nin at the new emergency hospital. They would be able to help him. She bit her lip and looked down at him. They had to help him. This couldn't be the end. She had been a right brat to him. He was one of her best friends. She bit her lip harder almost drawing blood.
XXX
Sakura waved to Naruto as the two went their separate ways for the day. Naruto heading off to the Hokage tower for his all time favorite; paperwork. And Sakura was off to the hospital for her all time favorite; paperwork. The pinkette smiled pulling her scarf closer. Her white medical coat almost not quite thick enough for the cooler weather that was setting in. She was going to have to switch jackets this week and pull out her winter wear finally.
She was thankful that the week was going by so quickly. Neji should be returning later that evening. Though she wasn't entirely sure when she would see him. They hadn't really disgusted that. She felt her cheeks redden slightly though remember waking up next to him. His peace. His strength. He felt firm and safe. She shook her head. Okay! Time to get your head out of the clouds. She walked into the hospital and made her way to her office.
Her weekly meeting with Shizune had gone amazing. Things were really coming together at the clinic and in the hospital. Very quickly they were becoming more and more staffed. They were able to focus on working on specialties with the student medics. Sakura was proud of not only herself but Shizune as well. The two were a great team together. Sakura walked into her office and looked at the stack of papers. Maybe… she would just ignore the paperwork today and take a trip to the emergency clinic. See how Moegi was doing.
It was only a twenty-minute walk from the hospital to the clinic. But those twenty minutes could be the difference between life and death. It was a real game changer to have those surgical rooms there and stocked so close to the gate. "Sakura!" the pinkette looked up hearing a name calling for her. She was surprised to see Konohamaru making his way towards her full speed.
"Hey Konohamaru, what's going on?" Sakura called as he made his way to her.
"Moegi needs you. She told me to come get you at the hospital. Hyuuga is—" Sakura took off running. She couldn't stop herself. Her mind was running faster than it ever had before. Which Hyuuga? Neji was due home tonight. Were there other Hyuuga on missions? She didn't know. She felt stomach bile rise and she swallowed it back down. Now was not the time. No matter who it was she was needed. If it was Neji she would heal him again and again. Sakura push the doors open to the clinic.
She looked down at the trail of blood and followed it down to the first bay. Outside of the bay Tenten stood tears streaming down her face. "What happened?" Sakura said through clenched teeth. She did her best to unclench her body. "I said what happened!" Sakura yelled causing Tenten to snap out of whatever trans she was in.
"Ambush," Tenten said quickly. "Please let me come in," Tenten said woefully. Sakura nodded pushing the doors out of the way.
"Stay in the back," Sakura said, Tenten nodded and moved to the corner out of the way. The slight that Sakura took in made her sick. She blinked her own tears back. She had to leave her emotions out of this. Moegi looked like she was faring well enough though she was covered in blood. Neji's blood… Sakura's eyes went to his face and she quickly looked away. No she had to act like this wasn't him. It had to be someone else. She quickly pulled her hair up.
"Sakura-sensei," Moegi said looking up relief on her face.
"What do we have?" Sakura said, moving up to stand next to Moegi.
"There's no poison that I was able to detect. There seems to be an issue with his chakra being blocked around his heart… I can't…"
"Breath Moegi," Sakura said calmly. "I need you to call Shizune immediately," Sakura said as calmly as she could. Her hands glowed green and she went to work analyzing what was preventing his chakra from flowing properly. Moegi nodded quickly moving from the room. Sakura closed her eyes a felt out the energy. "Hang a bag of O," Sakura said to the other medics in the room. She could hear them move around but she didn't stop herself from the chakra moving through his body. "Tenten, any information gathered about weapons special abilities?"
"No," she got out. "They showed themselves like mediocre nin we didn't even know they knew we were there until this morning,"
Sakura nodded. She opened her eyes and looked at the long blade that sat on the table. Maybe there was a type of residue or drug laced on the blade. She ran her hands around the blade waiting for her chakra to pick up something anything that felt off… there! She opened her eyes. "Vile," she said quickly to one of the medics. She gracefully poured what looked like just blood into the vile. The door opened and Shizune walked in.
"Oh Sakura…"
"Don't say it," she whispered. "It's not over yet. Here." Sakura said handing the vile to Shizune. "There has to be something that's blocking the chakra. Some kind of drug." Shizune nodded grabbing the vile and leaving as quickly as she came. Sakura moved back to Neji's side. Her hands glowing. She didn't care if she used all of her chakra she would keep him alive.
"Sakura-sensei…" Moegi said quietly.
"Yes Moegi please place an IV drip. Keep him hydrated," Sakura said quietly. She allowed herself to look up his face. His heart was beating barely under her hands. His chest wound had been stitched up nicely. "Moegi-chan," Sakura said as the orange hair girl finished setting up the drip. "You did a great job you did a wonderful follow up. A lesser medic would not have been able to tell there was something else wrong," Moegi nodded and bowed her head.
"I'm so sorry Sakura-sensei," she said pitifully. "I know how important Neji-san is to you… I just didn't know who else to call," Sakura smiled.
"It's okay, there is nowhere else I'd rather be then right here," Sakura said. She bowed her head and allowed herself to focus. She needed to concentrate and use the exact proper amount of chakra to keep his heartbeat and not exhaust herself too quickly. It felt like years waiting for Shizune but a quickly glace at the clock let her know that it really had only taken the amazing medic 53 minutes.
"I think I've been able to counteract it," Shizune said walking in with a vile. She hooked it up to the IV that was in Neji and the medics watched intensely waiting to see how his heart and chakra would react. Sakura's hands continued to glow, and she felt his heart start to beat more strongly. Shizune kept switching from the clock to the monitor. After five minutes of regular heart rate Sakura's chakra dissipated and she placed her hands softly on his bare chest. She watched the rise a fall of his breathing. Thankful for the strong beats of his heart.
"Sakura-sama," a medic said stepping into the room. "The rest of his team has arrived,"
"Any injuries?" she inquired her hands not leaving Neji's chest. Tenten's brown eyes stared at the connection. She had seen Sakura heal many people but never had she seen the pinkette have this level of intimacy with someone who wasn't Naruto or Sasuke.
"Minimal. They want to come in and see Hyuuga-san,"
"Send them in," Sakura said. Sai and Lee entered the room. The both looked as though they had a rough interaction and a long run back. "Shizune update Sai on the drug," Sakura said, her eyes moving from Sai and Lee who both did look well before looking back down at Neji. She removed his headband and pushed his hair out of his face.
"It seems the blade he was pierced with had a liquid agent on it. Similar to a poison but not detected the same. When mixed with blood it almost acted as a chakra repressor, took me a little bit longer than I would have liked to create an antidote," Sai nodded storing all the information.
"I will add this to our mission report. Thank you. How is he?" Sai said. Sakura looked up at the team and finally noticed that Tenten was staring intently at her.
"He should be fine. Couple days in the hospital before being released. Chakra is moving freely. Heart beat strong. I'd like to observe him to confirm that we—" Sakura jumped when a hand gripped hers. A wave of relief washed over her seeing his lavender eyes staring up at her. The grip on her hand strong like he wasn't just injured.
"Neji!" She said when he pushed himself into a sitting position. His hair falling over his shoulder with the movement. "Please don't—" her words were cut off when his lips met her. Her face was on fire but she didn't stop him. She let the tears that she had wanted to cry fall freely. She was no longer medic Sakura. She was a woman who had almost lost her everything. Neji pulled back and cupped her face. His thumb brushing her tears away. "I was so worried I was going to lose you," she whispered. He leaned forward placing his forehead against hers.
Tenten watched with wide eyes. Was this? Was this the relationship that Neji was in? Was this why Sakura had been trying to talk to her. Tenten felt her face turn red with embarrassment. This whole time she was too blind to see what anyone else was experiencing. She clenched her hands together. She was filled with so many emotions. Thankful that Neji was okay. Confused. Embarrassed. Heartbroken. How many times had she ignored her friends for her own selfish reasons?
"I'm okay," he kissed her lightly again and she shut her eyes and just allowed the tears to fall. "I love you," Sakura couldn't stop herself. She let out a small hick up and threw her arms around him. He closed his arms around her and welcomed the light smell of strawberries.
A/N
Woooo so sorry for the delay in updates. I hope this longer chapter makes up for it! That and no big cliff hanger! I think we only have maybe two or three more chapters before we're done. I hope you all enjoyed! I can't explain how much I appreciate all the reviews I've received. I'm so glad you all like it! I've had a lot of fun writing the characters and trying to keep them true to themselves. I also wanted realistic reactions to relationships and touch on how there can be so many different emotions going on at once. Thank you all of any reviews given. I appreciate them all so much! Thank you all for reading and just enjoying :D Until next time
