A little better? Heh! (still hiding!) I'm gonna make a break for it! (runs) Read on, fellow Fan Fictioneers, read on!

Disclaimer: Nope! Naruto's not mine!

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Haru and Masako reached the border or the Sound a few days later. By then, they had become friends.

"Yeah… his name is Neji…" Haru said, fondly recounting him.

Masako smiled.

"He sounds like a wonderful person…"

"He is… If it hadn't been for this mission, I would have stayed in Konoha with him…" Haru blushed, "Maybe even had a life with him…"

"Maybe?"

Haru shook her head.

"A shinobi knows not whether or not he or she will survive their next mission… Hokage-sama said that…"

Masako was silent. The presence of several shinobi suddenly erupted in Haru's senses. She drew several kunai.

"Prepare yourself…"

Masako nodded, pulling out a long, thin blade. There was a woosh as the shinobi landed in front of her. Haru stepped back in shock. It was none other than Hisa, Kakashi, and Neji. She dropped her kunai.

"Ne-Neji…"

Neji closed his eyes.

"You must come with us Haru…"

Haru shook her head.

"I must do this!"

Kakashi pulled his forehead protector back.

"Don't make us do this the hard way…"

"Take me… But only after I kill my brother… then, you may try me as a Nukenin…"

The group was silent for a moment, then Kakashi nodded.

"Very well…"

Haru sighed, looking up at the sky.

"You may accompany me if you like… but until then, we should set up camp…"

Masako and the others consented.

Haru hugged her knees, staring into the fire. She could feel the eyes of the others boring into her. Sighing, she stood. She turned to Kakashi.

"I am going for a walk… You can trust that I won't run away…"

Kakashi nodded.

"I trust you as a Konoha ninja…"

Haru nodded, walking away. She followed a small path until she arrived a lake with a small island in the middle of it.

"Might as well… this may be the last chance I have to bathe…" she muttered, pulling off her sandals.

She set them on the ground along with her kunai holder, forehead protector, and outer shirt. Taking a small breath, she dove in. The water hugged her body like a second skin. Enjoying the feel of the water, Haru did a few flips until necessity told her to breathe. Haru's head broke the surface a few feet from where she had dove in. Neji was floating in the water next to her. Haru jumped.

"Are you ok?"

Haru breathed softly, brushing a lock of black hair out of her eyes.

"As well as anyone could who has abandoned her village and is going to kill her brother…"

Neji sighed, looking up at the stars. He allowed himself to lie back in the water. Haru sunk beneath the waves yet again, then resurfaced.

"I don't want you to get hurt…" Haru said sincerely.

Neji righted himself.

"I know…"

He looked her in the eyes.

"I don't want you to do something that may end up hurting you, either…"

Haru lowered her gaze.

"I won't give this up… you know I can't… You know I won't…

Neji nodded.

"I know…"

Haru sighed, swimming toward the island. She walked up the shore, sitting under the Sakura tree in its center. Neji followed. Haru sighed.

"Haru…?"

She looked at Neji.

"Have you thought about what you want to do with your life?"

Haru looked into the water, watching as the moon cast a glow off of it, giving the island its own light. She sighed.

"I have…" she said quietly, "I want to… live… it may sound silly, but it's true… I want to be able to laugh, grow… love… I can't do that with Orochimaru alive… he assails me though he is not around…"

Haru shuddered.

"I fear I won't make it past this… but I swear I will kill him before my time is up…"

Neji looked at her, taking in what she said. He could tell from her eyes that she was serious. He embraced her.

"I fear that I may lose you…"

Haru took in a sharper breath out of surprise. She looked up at him.

"I don't want to live the rest of my life knowing that I did not do what my heart told me I should have done…"

Haru sighed. She couldn't sit here in his arms. She couldn't be with him. Oh how she wanted it but she didn't want to risk his life. Haru stood, shakily, tears in her eyes.

"I… love you Neji… But…"

More tears slid down her cheeks. Neji stood.

"You don't want your emotions to get in the way… do you?"

Haru nodded.

"Don't think as such… It only will hurt you in the end…"

Neji pulled her close, his warmth seeping into her. He rested his chin on her head.

"I just…" Haru stumbled.

"Haru…"

Haru stopped. She looked up a him, her eyes glistening. Neji wiped away the tears on her cheeks. He smiled softly.

"I love you, too…"

Haru's heart skipped. Part of her knew, but part of her leapt in shock. Her cheeks flushed slightly. Neji put a hand under her chin, resting it on his knuckle and thumb. He kissed her softly.

"Let's beat this together…"

Haru looked into his eyes, waiting to wake up. This wasn't a dream. She wrapped her arms around him.

"You understand that we could die…"

"I'll follow you wherever you go…"

Haru kissed him, returning his passion.

"I'll follow you, too…"

Haru held Neji as she lowered herself to the ground. Neji lay next to her. He held her close.

"I look forward to you in the dawn…"

Haru smiled, cuddling into him. The pair let sleep take them under a rain of petals.