Author Note: Merry Christmas! Thank you for sticking with the story so far; we've reached the story's halfway point and the misunderstanding between them will soon be cleared up. This chapter builds upon the previous ones by exploring their relationship in greater depth. Here's a cute, fluffy chapter with a little smut in it. Enjoy!
No beta.
Chapter 6 | Blame It On The Heat
The prodigy's recent good mood could be attributed to the fact that he wouldn't have to worry about clan meetings or being on the roster for a month. On his days off, he concentrated solely on the rosy-haired kunoichi, who started to slip into his dreams.
He woke up agitated this morning after having a disturbing dream about doing something unseemly to Sakura in his bed. The filthy image was so vivid and unsettling. His mind had wandered since she returned from Suna. He winced at the thought of thinking such a thing about the girl. He scowled at the tightness of his morning wood's jutting out; he would either deal with it or wait until it subsided.
He put in long hours of training or spent his spare time doing tedious things like maintaining his armor and honing his katana and shenbon.
Today Neji spent his day at The Earth Training Ground, his favorite training spot on Hyuuga property. This remote area had the most extensive and comprehensive training terrain. Non-qualifying clan members should stay away. The prodigy set up a labyrinth barrier jutsu in this area to keep intruders out and keep his training uninterrupted. With his impressive chakra control, he carefully used his chakra reserves to sustain the dimension. He devoted himself to training and eventually developed his own jutsu. Instead of merely picking them up, this fieldman had mastered them.
With Byakugan activated, he fought. As he breathed, beads of sweat ran down his sculpted chest. As he did his Infinite Kaiten, a wave of strength radiated from his tenketsu in a massive ring of revolving chakra, deflecting an enormous number of imaginary species that spawned from a forbidden scroll. Plowing a 20-meter crater on the ground around him. His ultimate defensive jutsu was fully developed.
His biceps flexed with each strike. The loud fighting that reverberated across the empty plains in the dense woods startled a flock of birds away in droves. He took a fighting stance, breathing heavily; the intense training had left him with a few cuts on his abs.
"…hyaku roku-jū hachi(168)… souka…"
Neji straightened. When he glanced skyward, his brow furrowed in error, as the number of targets detected by his Byakugan was off by one. Now unrestricted by the caged bird seal, his ultimate Byakugan should have gradually expanded to its maximum range. Something was obviously wrong with his vision, causing him to have a dysfunctional. His next appointment wasn't until the following week.
He picked up his shirt off the ground and wiped his sweaty chest before putting it back on. He then ran his free hand through his waist-length hair and tied it back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck.
After a tough training session, it was late. The prodigy cleared the barrier as it began to crumble, and emerged from the cloud of mist, with his mind finally at peace.
Aside from living quarters, the Hyuuga compound had five elemental outdoor training grounds, fully-equipped training facilities, meeting spaces, libraries, and an opulent indoor spa. It didn't surprise the pink-haired kunoichi that the prestigious clan had a natural onsen where members could relax after returning from a mission or a long day of training.
Sakura recalled that the compound has two private onsens of its own. She made the decision to make the most of the opportunity after assisting at the hospital and running errands for the impending Hokage wedding, which never seems to end. Earlier this week, she had visited the Oasis onsen in the residential district. The Hinoki Forest onsen, which is located at the far end of the compound, was just as relaxing.
The kunoichi left her quarters and stopped in a secluded area. She was surrounded by mountains, and as she got closer, she inhaled the rich, woodsy cypress scent and gazed out at the vast mountain landscape that stretched out before her.
Once she reached the Hinoki onsen, she paused to consider her options and took in the setting, which were typical for a bath house, divided into two sections, and seen by each gender on a different day. Every other day, one side of the onsen is reserved for each gender, she was certain Hinata had told her. She couldn't remember now if it was the mountain view or the waterfall view. She looked warily around her surroundings, given the late after hour and that she probably wouldn't run into anyone anyway, before taking the trail on the right that led to a series of waterfalls.
The changing room was empty. Sakura stripped off, folded her clothes, and piled them neatly in a basket before proceeding to the bathing stations to rinse and wash. She swathed herself in a towel and headed for the outdoors.
The kunoichi sealed her chakra signature as she trotted down the path to the onsen area, admiring the breathtaking view. Moonlight and garden lampposts lit the way to the exquisite and pristine open-air onsens. Soaring trees provided a natural privacy screen between the two areas, and crickets added to the serenity. The onsen had all the trappings of a classic Japanese onsen, with thick clouds of white steam rising from the surface and a reflection of the night sky twinkling below.
Nobody was in sight, her luck, isn't it? Having the onsen to herself made her feel like she was in a private sanctuary where she could relax in peace and seclusion, away from the prying Byakugan. Even if it did, Sakura didn't mind, having used public baths in town; she was good at making small talk or shrugging it off with a smile of good humor.
Sakura shivered in the night air after laying her towel on a rock. The kunoichi dipped her toes to test the temperature. After briefly recoiling, she slowly dipped her foot in, then sat down on the edge of the spring before submerging herself deeper as she warmed up.
"Hmm… This is… great," she sighed, closing her eyes. Her exhaustion seemed to be restored by the water's apparent natural healing properties.
Captain Hyuuga needed a hot soak before retiring for the night to relax his muscles and rejuvenate himself. Plus, a late-night bath saved him from engaging in unnecessary socializing with clan members or house guests. He went straight to the nearest hot springs. The Hyuuga retainer would most likely be irritated by the after hour, but whatever. His thoughts turned to the Hinoki hot springs, with their inviting cypress aroma and the promise of a revitalizing soak. It was only a short distance away from where he was.
As soon as he got there, he could tell that he wasn't alone. The perceptive Anbu captain saw moving flesh in the onsen, even though they had their chakra sealing activated. He didn't mind knowing that it might have been Tokuma, who also trained late at night. He'll discover it eventually.
Completely undressed, Neji headed for the showers for a quick wash. He grabbed his towel and began draping it around his hips before making his way to the hot springs.
Splashing water filled his ears as he walked toward the sound. His Byakugan improved his dim vision. As he peered through the mist and down toward the onsen, he halted in his tracks upon spotting a flash of pink.
A thought crossed his mind. What the hell is she doing here.
It was nice to watch her relax in the onsen by submerging her torso and weaving the water around her body. She was gorgeous and exactly his type. Size-wise, she was prefect; she maintained a trim and healthy physique. Smooth, fair skin flushed slightly in the heat. Admiring the contour of her sexy collarbone, his gaze then fell on the milky white swell of her breasts, which begged him to touch them.
Gosh, what am I thinking?
Never will a Hyuuga use their bloodline to ogle a naked woman. Highly inappropriate. He quickly turned his attention away and focused on her face instead; her magnetic presence beckoned him with insatiable hunger. He was enraptured. When his normally pale cheeks turned pink, he fought it off. The temptation to join her in the hot spring was too great to ignore. Is this some sort of platonic love?
Now that he had grown out of his awkward hormonal adolescence, he was better equipped to handle situations of this nature with maturity. It's not like he'd never seen a naked girl before, though. Simply put, he wouldn't let his body go into a state over which he had no control.
The kunoichi had grown far too comfortable to let down her guard; snooping on a naked woman was unlikely for the haughty Hyuuga family. Only the rustling leaves disturbed the tranquility of the setting. However, her serenity was short-lived; alarms began to sound in her head the moment she saw someone approaching. Panicked, she instinctively twirled away in the water, crossing her arms over her bare upper body, and dove deeper into the water.
After his initial shock, the Anbu captain smiled and walked toward her.
"What are you doing here, Haruno?" He dropped into his charming tone and asked incredulously, "trespassing on Hyuuga property."
Sakura froze as she heard a calming male voice filled the space just meters from her ears. The sound of that familiar voice warmed her cheeks. Just then, a tall man sauntered into view in all his glory, looking as dashing as ever, white eyes gleaming under the dim moonlight, his gaze fixed unyielding on her.
Breath short as she stared at the man with emerald eyes that were clearly terrified, and screamed his name, "NEJIIIIIII–!"
Unabashedly, she ogled at his perfect body, a sexual physique that would make any woman scream for mercy. Stars twinkled in the sky, and the moonlight bathed him in an ethereal glow, savoring his broad shoulders, toned muscles, and scars that gave off an air of dominance. His torso glistened with water droplets after a rinse, and a few minor cuts marred his skin. A small towel saved his modesty; it hung low, exposing a V-shaped abdomen and covering his lower region, territories she dared not explore.
"Are you some kind of pervert?... Sneaking into the men's side at this hour." He inquired matter-of-factly.
"W-What? No! This IS the girl's side." The pinkette was taken aback. Her dumbfounded stare betrayed her shock. Any second now, he'll make his way over to talk to her. The steam apparently wasn't enough to hide her from his sight. She was completely naked and submerged in the onsen.
When the prodigy spotted her towel on the rock, he frowned. With his magnetic gravity control, he lifted the towel off the ground and flicked it to her.
Upon catching it, her emerald eyes lit up with appreciation. Thank goodness. She grabbed the towel and immediately draped it across her chest, clutching it with both hands.
"Jushinchi-nichi (17th), men's side, today." He continued toward the pinkette, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Onsens will be resegregated by gender on alternate days."
The man's chocolate hair looked more like onyx when it was wet, and Sakura watched as he ran his hands through it. Long, wet hair cascaded down his back, leaving a trail of water droplets in its wake. She remembered running into him with Naruto in this condition in a public onsen. Nothing on Earth was sexier than the Hyuuga prodigy, who made no effort to be attractive. He's hot.
"Wait… W-What…?" She looked unmistakably like a huge pervert now. Things would have turned out differently if she had properly listened to Hinata earlier.
Neji gave a short 'hm' and nod in response, wearing a knowing smirk.
"I-I swear it wasn't on purpose!..."
He realized she had been staring at his torso the whole time, basking in the glow of her attention, and he mused, "Oh, is it?"
Do something, anything. The dense fog could no longer conceal her. There must be a way out of this mess, right? The waterfalls next to the ironbound around the onsen make it impossible for her to shunshin without running into him.
"Stop right there, please!" In a demanding tone, keeping her back to him.
There he was, standing on the edge of the hot springs. He cast his eyes at her from a position of superiority. Sakura raised her head and held his gaze, not fazed by the impact of his penetrating stare sweeping over her towel-clad body.
It was when Neji detected a waning Hyuuga chakra, possibly Tokuma's. Sometimes, after a night of training, the two would occasionally make the trip to the onsen. Neji's jaw tightened as he sensed the urgency.
"Hey, what are you trying to–" Sakura yelled as he darted forward in the dense steam, but he vanished in a whirl of blue chakra.
A SPLASH.
Wading into the water with the untraceable speed of shunshin no jutsu, he landed waist-deep with his long hair drenched. Splashes of water washed up on the steaming rocks in tiny waves. His landing was so effortless that it was divinely graceful.
"Yikes!" She shrieked in panic as a shadow fell over her.
The Sannin balled her fists and punched him in the face while screaming, "End to your miserable life!" Intending to knock him out, she threw him a devastating blow with enough force to send him flying for miles. Death awaits anyone who catches a glimpse of the kunoichi's bare body.
After submerging himself in hot springs, he was about to be punched. His normally white pupils turned blue in that split second, instantly boosting his strength. He concentrated his chakra on his palm and blocked the approaching fatal blow. The pinkette had every right under the circumstances to respond physically, and she most likely would have punched them off the next day.
To be completely honest, he wasn't sure he could block her punch. No one would have survived an angry blow from the kunoichi. Potential suitors must fear her rage. The only men who dared to approach her in an effort to win her hand were strong ones like the Uchiha and, um… yeah, the Kazekage. He will soon find out if she's seeing anyone. And, since he wasn't tied down by an impending wedding, perhaps a chance for himself this time.
Sakura gasped when Neji's hand reached out and firmly grasped hers, his tall frame looming over her. She almost bared herself to him for the first time; only a thin towel separated their flesh. It was something titillating. Never in her life did she share a public bath with a man.
Both tensed up and fixedly stared at each other as Sakura struggled to break free from his grip. She was struck by the raging emotion in the man's normally expressionless white eyes.
Neji had been in similar situations before, notably when he was in perverted company with the jinchuriki and other boys from his peer group in public onsen, but he had always been able to keep his hormones in check and avoid acting on them. His skin was scalded when he was forced into the hot springs all at once, but the sight of her naked body burned him ten times more. She looked so lovely, with blushing cheeks from embarrassment as the steam glistened on her skin.
As soon as the ripples subsided, he gradually released her fist in the hopes that she would not charge him again. The towel around his waist came undone after getting wet and moving in the water, not that he minds being exposed. Using his nakedness as a weapon in missions or in Genjutsu with his kage bunshin, he could have done it just as easily. In onsens, towels were not permitted, but he had an immediate and pressing need for one. He then refastened the fabric around his waist.
When he did that, Sakura gave the Anbu captain her full attention, admiring the contours of his handsome profile. Seeing him wet was more enticing than seeing him naked while tending to his wounds. She felt like an older, more experienced teen in love.
After he fastened the towel, he had his gaze followed when her attention traveled down to his abs. The medic reached out without prompting and touched his skin. She was amazed as the natural ingredients worked their healing magic. The cuts on his abs gradually faded, and the dried blood vanished. To think that the Hyuuga laid claim to such a valuable resource made her feel a pang of jealousy.
When she realized she'd been subconsciously touching him, she jerked back, "U-Uhm... Gomen ne..." Her cheeks flushed brightly even in the dim light as she stutteringly explained the uninvited touch.
"Wait a minute, you should have told me that the Hyuuga hot springs could heal." The pinkette met his icy gaze with a small pout on her face and asked, "Why wouldn't you?"
"It seems to be so... Wasn't it you who insisted on my healing?" He asked, looking supremely satisfied.
"Okay." She contemplated while blinking. The pink-haired medic was speechless and felt defeated in every way.
"Nonetheless, it can only treat minor wounds. Still, I'm grateful for your help the other day." Neji shrugged, while staring intently at her.
She wanted to have as much confidence and emotional control as he did. She shoved him in the chest and said, "Anyway, I'm finished. You have it all here!" She circled and swam back to shore to get away from the awkward situation.
"Hey, wait–" He awkwardly reached out and delicately drew the kunoichi back to him, much to his greatest embarrassment.
"Let go, Neji!" She struggled to free herself from his grasp and continued, "Just because you blocked my punch doesn't mean you can–"
"Shhh, stay with me." As he pressed a slender finger against her lips, he whispered.
His white eyes crossed to hers as if to say something they couldn't say aloud. He waited and listened attentively. Sakura panicked when she saw a chakra signature and realized what it meant. Just who was this again? Alarmingly, Sakura gasped.
It wasn't Tokuma, it was the… Now that the intimate nature of the situation had become apparent, Neji had no choice but to use his torso to provide her with shelter. A show must act to deter intrusive guests. With a smile that melted her heart, he pulled her close, his hands resting on her shoulder. As he held her captive, she stared at him in complete bewilderment.
"Gomen ne, if you could stay with me for a while," he said softly, regretting his actions.
"Is it not after hours?!" She hushed as she craned her neck to see him more clearly.
"Isn't it true that we're both here?" Neji responded with amusement before running his fingers through her damp hair and out of her face. With a strange emotion changing in his eyes, as if he were contemplating something, he said softly, "Trust me." With that, he brought his lips to her forehead and kissed her signature diamond seal tenderly.
Sakura's mind went blank. Emerald eyes lingered on the alluring Adam's apple. From her proximity, she could see water dripping from his hair and wetting his collarbones and hard pectorals before it disappeared beneath the surface. This was all for her pleasure.
The prodigy hoped his gesture hadn't offended her. When she didn't object, he stayed in that position.
A deep, booming, elderly voice echoed from behind them.
"Hyuuga Neji! What the heck are you doing?!" He huffed and twitched an eye, though he rarely yelled in his nearly sixty years on earth. On the bank of the hot spring, he watched the humiliating private moment unfold as their faces appeared to be so close together.
Hearing the voice provoked the young Hyuuga's hostility. The main house elder was the one who relentlessly interrupted him with demands and constantly harassed him for being from a lowly branch family.
"Hyuuga-sama. Should you not be in bed at this hour?" The young Hyuuga respectfully addressed him by his title, and he did so with an unsettling lack of tension.
Neji dipped Sakura's head to rest on his chest, hid her away. Unless they had the audacity to use their kekkei genkai to pry on whom the Tenseigan user shared his private moment. Over his shoulder, he spoke to the elder, and at the same time he paid close attention to how Sakura reacted.
"The same could be said of you as well, Neji." The elderly man said with a stern, irritated expression.
With her head resting on his broad chest, Sakura felt his warmth spread all the way to her body. She was content to remain in his possession for a little while longer. She could hear his heart pounding rhythmically in his chest as it rose and fell sharply. She flushed hotly from a mix of factors, including embarrassment, the heat of the onsen, and the tender kiss he gave her on the forehead. It was He who came to her aid and spared her humiliation. She had long recognized his honorable character, appreciated his considerate nature, and admired him for it. This man brought a sense of stability, safety, and security to her. Her lips slowly lifted into a smile.
"If I've caused you discomfort or offended you in any way, I apologize. We are well past after-hours," his voice was unmistakably authoritative and commanding.
"As a branch house master, your behavior is u-utterly… utterly deplorable and unacceptable!" Even for a brief moment, he felt an instinctive fear for the Tenseigan inheritor.
Sakura glanced over Neji's broad shoulders and then at the elderly, who had startled them. His immaculate forehead easily suggested he was from the main family. He had long, metallic gray hair, and his face was etched with deep lines and wrinkles. His temples bulged from trying to stay calm, but his white eyes were bloodshot with irritation.
"Deplorable…" The child prodigy cocked an eyebrow in bewilderment, and said, "Oh, you mean, like... this?" It was a dare.
The kunoichi looked up at Neji with wide eyes and swallowed nervously.
Neji grabbed a protective hold of her shoulders, dipped his head so his white eyes met her emeralds head-on, and slowly angled his head, observing her reaction. Upon meeting his silvery white eyes, Sakura felt her chest tighten. He never failed to make her enticing. He lowered his face into the crook of her neck, planting feathery kisses on the exposed skin, sending a tingle along her pulse. When he noticed Sakura shivering but not panicking, he worked his way up her throat and then settled on her cheek before giving her a series of gentle, sweet kisses on the corner of her lips that lingered. Taking care not to overstep boundaries, being considerate and reticent.
Thank goodness, the pinkette hasn't punched him in the face yet. It would be a relief if the clan elder took the hint he was giving.
Sakura gasped at his warm lips on hers, even though he wasn't quite done kissing her yet. It was enough to make her feel lightheaded and make her knees go weak. Her mind was torn between the desire to push him away, to tell him to stop messing with her, or to join in the fun, give in, and kiss him until he asphyxiated, as her inner Sakura urged her to assault him.
When Neji's blatant disregard of his authority hurt his ego, the old man's anger flared, and he appeared shocked and ashamed by his actions. The boy was expected to be the epitome of decorum.
"Stop these conscienceless actions!"
Neji pulled away from their kiss momentarily, he managed to keep his blush at bay, "Don't preach to me, I know what I'm doing." Given the late hour, he at least be afforded some privacy.
Sakura had developed a noticeable flush on her cheeks as of right now.
"I-I will not tolerate... y-you demeaning me in such a manner, lowly branch member!" The disdain in his tone was thick.
Sakura was infuriated by the old man's condescension toward Neji. "I bet you couldn't even beat him!" When the words just flowed out, Neji was just as surprised as she was. But she meant it. Her sarcasm angered the Hyuuga elder.
Her scowl was almost twisted up in rage, and Neji picked up on that. He felt all warm and fuzzy inside when the kunoichi defended him, but then awkwardness set in when she learned the details of their conversation and the disagreement he had with his clan. And more importantly, he feared the elderly would let slip something he wanted to keep from her.
The clan elder was certain he caught a glimpse of something pink tucked away behind Neji's torso. There were surprisingly few women with pink hair in Konoha. Possibly the apprentice of the former Hokage Senju Tsunade, the legendary Sannin with a fiery temper.
"Dropping all pretense of respectability," he sarcastically exclaimed, "What a perfect match!" The senior continued his tirade.
"Not that it matters. You have the option to stay or leave."
"Was she the reason you said no to your second marriage proposal?"
The secret he wanted to keep from her is right there in plain sight. The question went unanswered, crickets chirped in the background as Neji deliberated.
He had conflicting desires to fulfill his duty as a faithful clansman and follow his own path. He was pressured by one to follow orders, accept instruction, and be submissive, while he was urged by the other to stand up for himself no matter the cost. His desire to depart from his clan's traditions was at the root of the discord that developed between him and the clan. They have far too much sway over him, dictating how he should live his life and even the most private decisions, like who he should spend the rest of his life with—a decision he should make alone.
The words of the Hyuuga elder kept replaying. Another proposal for an engagement? This appeared to be something that had been discussed by his council. Sakura's face turned gloomy, and her heart tightened.
The kunoichi had a serious look of concern that he couldn't quite place, and after giving it some thought, he said softly, "Don't worry about what my clan's doing… And sorry for my impudence in forcing you into this." Is it possible that she is worried about his second marriage engagement? He needs to calm her worries.
The elderly needed to be coerced into leaving them immediately. It was time to take decisive measures. He may have been looking for an excuse to kiss her again.
Neji traced a swift line with his thumb across her bottom lips, Sakura's heart stopped.
"I think you'd particularly like to see this."
The clan elder's face tightened.
Sakura was tense at his words. The intensity of his gaze deepened, and they went from her eyes to her lips. With a little more space, they could have kissed. Despite having been prepared for it, uncertainty poked her sluggish mind as her heart raced, Oh Kami-sama... "W-Wait…"
Oblivious to the presence of onlookers. The anticipation in her beautiful eyes told Neji that he was on the right track. He placed his palms along her jaw and tipped her head up towards his face with every intention of kissing her. He was about to kiss her properly for the first time. He tilted his head at the perfect angle, just enough for the tip of his nose to touch hers and reattached their lips.
The kisses were slow and deliberate as he pressed his lips to hers. Heartfelt and not intrusive. Given by a very courteous Hyuuga, and they already made every part of Sakura feel alive. Under his hooded eyelids, she saw the soft look of love in his white eyes, but she was too stunned to respond and let herself be kissed.
It was at his engagement ceremony that he shared a chaste kiss on the lips with his betrothed, and that was the last time he was seen kissing a woman. His public demeanor has never been deemed inappropriate, and the fact that he gave off the impression of being a stoic, sexually inactive man only reinforced that perception. He had a few dates and rarely had one-night stands. Nothing about them intrigued him. He might not be the romantic type, but that didn't diminish his sensitivity or his capacity for seduction.
Given that she had done nothing to stop his kiss from happening and the excruciating desire to kiss him back so badly that it hurt. Neji needed a positive reaction from her for the clan elder to believe what he had seen. She pressed a hand against his toned chest and kissed him back. Their lips locked together slowly and passionately as they kissed. Emerald eyes were fluttering shut from contentment.
They knew the old clansman's agitated white eyes were constantly on them. Neji clearly did not give the senior a chance to negotiate his way out of his awkward situation.
"Neji, you have defiled my dignity... and honor," he scowled as he averted his gaze from the couple. "I will ensure that the council is made aware of this!"
The force of her kiss in return made him groan inwardly. Neji picked that exact second to cup her head, intensify the kiss with a slow passion, and move one of his hands behind her back to draw her closer. He captured her lips between his own and sucked. Sensually, he nipped at her lips, his lips moving up and down in a gentle massaging motion while his tongue remained absent. A kiss of pure satisfaction. Kami-sama, he is a good kisser. Sakura let out a low moan from the back of her throat. Her knees felt like jelly. The first kiss with him lived up to her wildest expectations; it was as enticing and intoxicating as she had imagined.
Neither one of them flinched as their velvet lips moved more fervently and purposefully, breathing out in between kisses. Devouring his soft groan, she was left wanting more. Sensually drawing into one kiss after another, they kissed for what felt like hours or it was just a few minutes. Time passed, and starless sky began to sweep in across the sky.
Neji's pulse quickened, his abs flexed with each heaving breath, and before he knew it, his manhood had grown to its full hardness, pulsing beneath the scalding water, constricted by the discomfort, but he liked how the cool night air felt on his skin. The dense fog and the darkness of the night should have kept her from noticing his obvious protrusion. With each new wave of pleasure, Neji felt her nails dig into his skin, and her long fingers wandered lower, unintentionally heading south. Her fingers were dangerously close to his pelvic region.
The public would have seen more than just the kiss, out of reflexive concern for appearing even more discourteous. With a firm grip on her wrist and raising it to the surface. He kissed her one last time before slowly pulling away. His hands remained in place, his forehead touched hers, and he inhaled ragged breaths.
Not liking the sensation of his lips leaving her at all, Sakura almost heaved a small sigh of disappointment.
"Sakura..." he gasped, regaining his composure, "I believe we shouldn't do this..." he murmured, struggling with his own thoughts in his moment of clarity. The time he spent with her was something he was secretly relishing. However, he could not bring himself to take her back and bed her because it was not the right time in their relationship to do so.
With a bright pink blush on her cheeks and panting from the kiss they had just shared, the pinkette stared at him thoughtfully before blinking as the impact of his words hit her. She had her eyes cast downward. Holy crap! Her hand gravitated toward his crotch inexplicably. Mortified. She quickly wriggled her wrist free of his hold.
"You just can't keep your hands to yourself, can you?" He kept his molten white eyes on her.
Realizing the prodigy was probably teasing her, the cherry blossom was both irritated and heated by his deep voice. The smug tug on his lips rang a bell, and she realized he was right. They were making out in such a sensual way that it set her sexual desire on fire. She was so consumed by her wants for him that they were like a jolt of electricity pulsing through her, and she couldn't think straight.
It had been some time before she realized that the clan elder's chakra was no longer present; she had lost track of time.
"I-I'm sorry–" Sakura stuttered, her heart thumping loudly, "I-It is not what you think it is." Interestingly, that turned out to be exactly what she wanted. Her explanation was honest, but her flushed cheeks betrayed her.
Then what it is?
"It's all right, I had everything under complete control." The way the pinkette reacted made his heart flutter. Rather, he felt arousal at her touch and at her hints that she wanted him.
"Has anyone ever fallen prey to your misdeeds?" She didn't mean to sound so possessive. She was absolutely, madly, and desperately in love with him.
"Why? Is it bothering you? Are you jealous?" He flashed a smirk.
Do you realize this is how you confuse matters and give the wrong impression, which you did to me. You did real harm, and that smirk was the worst of it.
"No! You are the biggest jerk if you do that!" Sakura was feeling upset.
"Well. Don't worry about it; you're the first, so don't," he said, blushing for the first time.
The kunoichi thought she saw a rosy hue on his otherwise pale cheeks in the low light. The usually unflappable Anbu Captain's appearance was strange; perhaps the onsen was to blame.
"I appreciate your help, pervert. Now, please excuse me!" The pinkette snapped as she twisted free of his hold and shoved him away to create distance.
He stepped back and asked smugly, "I, pervert? That ought to be my line." In jest, he prompted, "Are you not the one rubbing my body?"
"YOU STARTED ALL OF THIS!" The kunoichi reprimanded, firmly slamming her other hand against his chest while wrapping her fingers around his bicep in such a way that would leave bruises.
"I didn't mean to– " This time, he blushed openly before turning away and said, "Sakura, could you... keep your senses, please."
The realization struck the kunoichi as she shook from the chill of the night. Her embarrassment had reached new heights. In the absence of the towel that had been covering her bare midsection as the hot spring water drenched it, the pinkette stood before the Anbu captain radiantly. Her face turned an intense shade of red, resembling the Hyuuga princess. She was all set to yell when Neji raised a hand to muffle her voice. He looked at her, his once-smoldering gaze softening into something more tender.
When the storm suddenly broke, light rain began to fall, leaving tiny rivulets on the water's surface.
Sakura pulled herself out of the water and dried off as the Hyuuga turned away to give the pinkette some space.
"Hey–"
With a damp towel swathed around her body, turned to face him, waiting for him to finish his sentence.
"Good night, and I'll see you in the morning."
"W-Wakatta sensei!" She mumbled with an endearing flush on her face, then shunshined away in a puff of smoke.
The young genius was left by himself in the hot spring, overcome with emotion after being showered in the rain of affection. He had been in the onsen for far too long, but he couldn't leave just yet until she was finished getting changed.
The rainfall gradually turned into a steady drizzle, and each droplet that hit the hot spring landed with a satisfying thud, sending ripples through the water. He felt calmed by the rain, cooling his body and mind.
His fingers brushed against his lips, feeling the residual warmth from their kiss. Neji brought the back of his hand up to his eyes, trying to recover from the tense aftereffects of their embarrassment. He was aware that if he let her carry on with what she was doing, he would eventually cave in to his need.
He was delighted with his late-night encounter. The Anbu captain didn't know what had driven him to act so brazenly tonight, disregarding the law of gender boundaries. Maybe the hot spring was what made him turn on. He had abandoned the courtesy he had once displayed and instead indulged every whim that crossed his mind. Although he deserved consequences for his actions, he didn't mind taking whatever came his way, including a demotion.
The cherry blossom didn't reject him when he kissed her; instead, she was blushing sweetly in response to his playful provocation. He might have a chance if he hasn't already scared her away. They will soon start doing actual dance rehearsals for the upcoming wedding. He planned to apologize for what happened tonight and hoped it wouldn't derail his plans to confess his love.
Back in the Hyuuga compound, Sakura was resting in her room. The effects of her chance encounter at the hot spring dawned on her. Their chemistry was undeniable. And this went far beyond anything she had ever felt before with the man. Already she craved his company.
The kunoichi put on the flannel nightshirt Neji had given her, even though it was big and reached halfway down her thigh. She thought with a chuckle that there was no way in hell that his wardrobe would ever become one of her collectibles.
She laid in bed thinking about the Anbu captain next door. What would happen to Neji if his clan found out? The elder, she reasoned, must have seen her too.
"Ugh." She sighed in helplessness.
She wrapped her arms around herself and imagined being in his arms, smiling at his familiar scent. She hoped their relationship would change, and they moved forward after everything that had happened. She had mixed feelings about the encounter; part of her wished they could continue uninterrupted, while the other part appreciated their maturity displayed by the decision to end things.
She closed her eyes and let her mind to wander to scenes of him kissing her; his firm grip and possession of her only making her feel even more in need of him. Despite her efforts, the unquenchable desire and craving persisted. She started at her breasts and worked her way down her fully clothed body, imagining him caressing each area as he went.
Touching herself and remembering the way his snowy, intense white eyes were on her was enough to make her clit hot, and the thought of him fingering her sparked a fierce desire. She could feel the dampness of her panties when she pressed her fingertip against her center and slipped it off to get into a more comfortable position.
Sakura sighed and bent over, slipping a finger into the wetness of her entrance. With each stroke, she imagined what it would be like to have him inside her and moaned softly as she pushed deeper with another finger. She writhed and thrust her hips as the walls clenched tighter around her fingers, bringing her closer to the edge; then, in waves of shuddering, she let go.
Sakura collapsed onto her bed, panting, with a slickness coating her fingers as she came down from her high. With her burning desires and needs finally satisfied, the tingling pleasure still lingered, yearning for more. She pondered whether or not there was any chance of getting him to touch her again. Will he have the same feelings for her as he did to her?
Damn it, Neji.
She scolded him for his doings, despite the fact that he had helped her recover from her embarrassment—but only after kissing her for his own amusement! After all, he had always been a guarded and circumspect Hyuuga in public, upholding his honor and dignity right up until today. Surely going to the trouble of kissing her in public had to mean something, right?
She struggled to sleep for some time, until exhaustion finally overcame her and she fell asleep.
When he finally made it back to his quarters, drenched from the rain, he wasted no time jumping into the hot shower. A refreshing shower had helped him to clear his head. He blown drying his hair, and then he went to bed.
When he lay in bed, all he could see were cherry-pink locks and bright green eyes. As the image of her bare curves flashed back into his mind, Neji stifled a groan as he felt blood drain from his head and the rest of his body, pooling in his groin. He had chosen to ignore his erection this morning, but now it was pulsating and starting to come back up. It frustrated him to keep thinking about it, and the thought only served to harden him further. The pressure was so unbearable that he had to immediately release it.
Holy. Shit.
As the heat continued to warm his body, he sighed as he shifted and sat up on his silk sheets. He shed his duvet before disrobing. His pants and boxers clean off from his hips as he lowered them.
He closed his eyes and stroking his hardening member with his hand steadily and letting his mind wander. He thought back to their passionate kiss and the pinkette on her knees with her mouth open, waiting for him to pound his member before she took more of his cock into her mouth. Sliding down until over two-thirds was engulfed by her, jerking into her mouth as she tenaciously sucked at him, easily making his shaft twitch with lust.
When did he begin to be held up as a standard of decorum for the Hyuuga? Not even in his own perception. The prodigy had the spirit of a free bird and detested confinement. He simply had an exceptionally even temperament to keep his emotions in check. Though he was unquestionably a gentleman, but he was also a man like any other, with sexual fantasies of his own. Having no shame, he admitted.
He had been so preoccupied with satisfying his own ego for so long that he had forgotten about his own physical needs. Either it had been too long or Sakura was a particularly stirring subject as he continued to please himself. His hand picked up the pace, pumping his member harder and faster as his balls tightened. A grunt escaped his lips as the surge of pleasure jolted every muscle in his body. His cum came out in quick spurts, squirting hard on his chest and pumping his length throughout its unloading.
As the orgasm subsided, he panted, leaving a light sheen of sweat on his skin. He wiped the cum off himself with a towel, got up to toss it in the laundry basket, and went to the sink to wash his hands.
After finishing up in the bathroom, he made his way back to bed. His pounding heart finally calmed down, eliciting a sigh of relief. He finally surrendered to the exhaustion that he could no longer deny.
End Note: Ahh! The smut. I've wanted to write this since the beginning of the story. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoy writing it.
Fact: In Japan, bathers must be completely naked before entering an onsen, facilities are divided by gender.
The story has already moved into its middle, all you have to do is favorite, follow & review the story before moving on! Thank you so much!
