Author's Note: Thank you so much for all the reviews and interest in the story. It makes my heart leaps with joy. Enjoy a slightly longer chapter than usual.
Chapter 4 | First Day
Sakura woke up to sunlight streaming in through the thin curtains on her balcony. It was a warm and sunny morning. She yawned and stirred in bed, she seemed to be moving a lot while sleeping because her night tee was riding up tangled with another flannel pajamas, revealing an embroidery of… the Hyuuga crest on the back. She smiled and held it tenderly to her chest, remembering last night and hoping she hadn't done anything crazy to him yesterday. When she caught a whiff of him from the pajamas, she blushed.
She awoke from her slumber with a sign of relief, knowing that she wouldn't be able to sleep for much longer since the sun was up. She hadn't slept well in a while.
She was supposed to meet the Hyuuga prodigy at ten this morning for ballroom dancing. He had a Hyuuga retainer deliver a handwritten message to her.
'I apologize for not being able to meet with you in the morning, but I will be back around 2pm. The pajamas are now yours to keep.'
The flush returned to her recognized his impeccable handwriting on the note. Sakura had the feeling that something had changed since last night.
He was summoned to a Hyuuga clan meeting. They had to reschedule their initial meet-up for much later in the day.
She padded around in her slippers on the balcony, admiring the Hyuuga garden, where it was bathed in the soft orange light of sunrise and the grass was still dewy from the morning's dew. She once lived in a cozy apartment in town without a garden, so everything about this place was new to her. She spent some time working out in the garden, then went to take a quick shower.
After showering, Sakura leaped out of the Hyuuga compound and began aimlessly exploring Kohona, a town she had grown to love. She walked past extensive reed fields and onto the street in town, leading to nowhere. She marveled at the beautiful township.
Surely, she shouldn't be attending her first dance lesson in her regular training clothes, right? Having him as her dance partner made her feel a little nervous. She browsed through every store for something to wear later, settling on the thought, hmm… maybe something casual and comfortable.
Shortly after a quick trip to the store, she walked past the academic building and overheard a group of young genin training vigorously on the training ground. Throughout the generations, the Will of Fire would remain strong. She walked around aimlessly until she found a place to sit that felt right.
She hadn't taken a single day off from her medical research in recent months. She was supposed to take advantage of any chance to relax and hang out with friends in the weeks before the wedding.
Shizune-nee tried to convince her to stay and help her whenever she had time for a month before returning to her duties in Suna, so she could finish the task twice as fast. Her Senpai's request was met with a resounding 'yes'.
She had sneaked into Neji's kitchen earlier in the day and saw that his medical report was gone from his desk. Its disappearance worried her. Since it bothered her so much, she set out to find the answer.
Sakura's day started with a doctor's coat. She succeeded Tsunade-sama as the greatest medical shinobi of the era and inherited her shishou's superhuman fighting prowess as a fighter. As a guest professor, she taught young medics how to perform various medical jutsu. She assisted in the recovery of patients who had suffered severe injuries, was an expert at conversation, cracking jokes and engaging them in light conversation to lift their spirits. The next few hours passed in a blur.
The prodigy's medical report wasn't in the hospital record, so it was likely confidential. She made a mental note to ask her senpai if she could option the file.
She finished her rounds at one o'clock in the afternoon, and it won't be more than an hour before she meets Neji.
Twenty of highest-ranking members, former leaders and elders of the prestigious Hyuuga clan gathered around a long table in the hall for a meeting. Hanabi and Neji were seated on either side of Hyuuga Hiashi in the center, with Hinata occupying the seat next to Hanabi.
As a member of the commanding officers, Neji was summoned to attend. Matching with other clansmen in formal attire, he was dressed in a white sashinuki hakama, with a wide black obi tied around his tapered waist, which hung downward and to the right, giving him an air of nobility. Over this, he wore a long, white Hyuuga robe that reached up to his shoulders, both long sleeves had a thick long black bar running down its length. The collar of the robe was kept up to accentuate his chiseled jawline.
About two hours into the meeting, his eyes glinted with assassination intent. He groaned from sitting still for too long, his muscles aching. It didn't matter to him that much what the meeting was about, but as a potential future clan leader, he had to be there.
At the time they were debating a certain clan issue, he wasn't particularly relevant. Once again, Sakura was on his mind. It was both a blessing and a curse to have her on his arm yesterday. While he had finally worked through his feelings for the pinkette, he wasn't quite sure what to do with them just yet. However, he was prepared to give it a shot. He couldn't have asked for a better way to spend his time than sitting in the hall waiting for the meeting to end. They would meet again later.
[Flash back three months ago]
As usual, Neji was holed up in his quarters, studying scrolls and writing up a perceptive assessment of the mission. Priorities as a responsible Anbu commander once included maintaining village safety and attending the never-ending clan meetings, but now he must also deal with paperwork and his assigned roaster.
At the sound of a quiet, polite knock on his door, he looked up from his scroll and answered it.
"Neji-niisan?" The night visitor fidget a little after he signaled for her to come in.
The Hyuuga male waited and saw his cousin enter and stared into the white eyes that mirrored his own and said, "Konbanwa, Hinata-sama. Take a seat." His greeting was cordial, and he gestured for her to sit on the zabuton cushion in front of his desk.
"Hi konbanwa, niisan." Hinata smiled and sat down nervously.
"You work extremely hard, as you are still completing paperwork at this hour." She mused.
How can she bring up her topic without being awkward?
Neji arched a brow but didn't press. Regardless of what was going through her mind, he wasn't sure he wanted to know, "What can I do for you?" His tone of inquiry was casual.
"Oh, I apologize… for interrupting your work." Hinata said in a soft voice.
"Hm." He nodded, he kept his cool for anything that might come to him later.
"I, uh… just letting you know that I've decided on my maid of honor."
"Okay…." not sure why she said, "I don't see how this is relevant to me." He creased his signature brow.
"IT IS relevant," his purple-haired cousin chimed in, "I'll go into details and make everything clear in a minutes, niisan!" She flattened her palm in promise.
"By all means, carry on."
"Sakura-chan agreed to be my maid of honor, so eventually… she will be your partner on my wedding day to Naruto-kun."
Even just the name drew a lot of attention.
"But isn't Haruno-san currently serving on a diplomatic mission in Suna?" Neji's comment was laced with sincerity, and he hoped his cousin wouldn't catch the unintentional smile that crossed his lips. There was no reason for him to feel this way upon seeing her again.
"True, she did accept my invitation today! Soon, she'll be back." Said the future bride.
"I haven't seen her in a while, so that's good news." He hasn't seen her in two years, after recovering from the wound he sustained while shielding Naruto and Hinata in the battle with Madara Uchiha.
"Umm... I need a favor… or two, depending on how you count them." She wiggled her question for a while. As she spoke, a serious expression formed on her face. Her white eyes seemed to be trying to communicate something.
"Sure, go on."
He finally got to the bottom of why she had come across him tonight. That only fueled his growing curiosity about what she had in mind and his desire to know more.
"You were given a message from father."
Neji crossed his arms casually.
"Father has specifically asked that I inform you that you will be representing him as the clan heir in the second dance, after Naruto-kun and I."
Words faltering, he replied, "I'm afraid I don't recall having such a need for a ritual in the past."
As expected, his agreement won't come easily.
"Neji-niisan, you may be mistaken. This is a high-priority clan event, so you have no right to decline." He was met by his cousin's assertiveness. Her courage has grew stronger over the past year, making her an impressive Hyuuga Main House member who stood up for her beliefs.
Neji couldn't respond logically, "Wait, nope, I'm not fit for this!" He fought, perplexed.
"Father said he'll now relay clan matters to you. You have his trust, niisan. You are the most outstanding Hyuuga ever, both in terms of leadership and God-given abilities."
After the fourth Shinobi War, Hyuuga Hiashi trusted Neji, and most Hyuugas, including Hinata herself, regarded him as the soul of their clan. Now that he was the rightful heir of Tenseigan, he proved himself worthy of the mantle of leadership.
"Surely there's someone better who can replace me, perhaps Hanabi-sama, or Uncle Hisaishi—" he asked deliberately, with his famous impassive look.
"Uncle Hisaishi volunteered you while Hanabi is too young to take charge. You're it! There's no one else!"
He conceded, "Ok, fine." Sighed in defeat and considered his possible dance partners.
Yes, everything worked fine. Hinata was ready to ask the next favor. Despite her growing confidence, her older cousin can still be quite intimidating.
"Well, umm... my second favor request is simple and might result in what you had in mind."
It was too much, he thought, and he had a permanent scowl on his face.
"This is a catch. I know it." No doubt, he'd been duped. His commanding white eyes met hers, waited patiently for her to finish.
"No," she said, "there's no catch."
"Since the beginning, you were baiting me into something else."
"Just a simple favor."
"Is that not the same?" Neji asked her with a stern expression.
"Alright, fine. You got me." she conceded, "Please? May I make this one small request of you?" She clasped her hands together and pleaded, "It's about… I want you to teach Sakura-chan to waltz. She would make the perfect dance partner for you as best man!"
What Neji had just heard astounded him, both physically and mentally numb.To begin with, he was unable to grasp what was being said.
"What does that mean, exactly?" He muttered, swiftly raking through his long hair, sending strands flying behind him gracefully.
"You heard me."
"Sorry, please come again?"
"What I mean is, Sakura-chan needs your help with ballroom dancing!" Her real reason for looking for him became clear.
"I just… wasn't expecting this," he said as he struggled to keep his cool.
"If you say yes to me, you'll be helping both yourself and her. So please don't say no."
Two moons twinkled with excitement, both mischievous but sincere, making Neji suspicious.
"I think you need a dance partner following your breakup with Haru-san."
True, he and his betrothed split up last month, his scowl deepened.
Neji took a few seconds to process his surprise and became defensive, "Wait, I'm just thinking. Why her?"
"Please, niisan. I knew you like Sakura-chan."
Hinata owes this man a great deal of gratitude. Regardless, she will make any effort to get this man a girlfriend. She couldn't fulfill her dream of marrying the Hokage without his support. In his spare time, he set up sparring sessions with her to help her hone the Gentle Fist.
"We're just acquaintances, Hinata-sama."
Being alone was monotonous. Nearly all of his peers have romantic partners, including Chouji. If he told Hinata he liked Sakura, he meant it. He only called her a friend, did he have more than platonic feelings for her? Friends are great, but they don't always fill the void in your heart.
"If I may ask, are you satisfied with simply being her friend?"
"Of course I do, Hinata-sama."
Hinata knew her cousin might be too dense to notice his feelings for Sakura. She was so accustomed to his obstinacy that she might be able to match them with a little effort.
"Are you certain that she wants this?"
The statement caught him off guard, but he quickly recovered and said, "She can be with anyone she wants. She could have joined the Uchiha clan, if not, the Kazekage—"
"Are you referring to Gaara-san, the Kazekage?" The change in subject seemed to catch Hinata's interest.
Neji's cheeks threatened to get warmer as time went on, "I-I was just assuming!" he quickly clarified, fending off any embarrassment he may have caused himself. Not that he could share his observations about the kunoichi over the years with his clan heiress.
He had a tragic past as a Hyuuga clan branch member with the caged bird curse seal. Even though it was gone forever, but it had somehow afflicted his brain over his Tenseigan, he wasn't perfect for her.
"You'll never know unless you try. She has a good impact on you. When she's around, though, you seem… a lot happier."
Was his emotion so apparent to Hinata? He had long hidden his true emotions, even from himself. He had no reason to doubt her, she had the brightest and purest Byakugan.
"So, how was it for you?"
It was a rough half year for Neji. His betrothal was broken, and he hardly had time to recover before putting himself through the rigors of a never-ending mission schedule. He had been skipping the clan meeting to keep the subject off the table.
After giving it some thought, he said, "It is not possible for me to comply with your wishes. I still have a mission to complete, if my schedule permits."
"Well, that means yes then!" Two moons widened in joy and shouted with delight, "You don't need to worry about this, niisan. Naruto-kun will get you a month off the roaster before our wedding!"
"Wait a minute, did she really agree to this?" Nothing about this made him feel comfortable. He didn't want all of this to appear pushy to Sakura, that would only increase the tension between them. He liked her and wanted to keep their friendship going. To scare her away so soon was the last thing on his mind.
"Yes! She agreed to this!"
Hinata could read every nuance of his emotions, including those of embarrassment, confusion, and shock, by observing the expression in her cousin's white eyes. Hinata's Byakugan was capable of processing every single feeling imaginable, a born observant.
"As long as she is fine with this not being a trap…"
She reassured him, "Don't worry, niisan, she's completely fine with you!"
He felt duped, and he only reluctantly accepted her word for it.
"All right, so what was I going to do?"
"To make her feel at ease as maid of honor, and teach her the basics of ballroom dancing!"
"Did she dance before…?" He asked hesitantly, evaluating how to approach her.
"Nope, but she's a smart kunoichi, so I'm sure it should be no problem for her." Hinata had the look of someone who had just closed a deal after a successful negotiation.
"So, well, I guess that's settled then?" His expression was one of skepticism.
"Yes! You're always my lifesaver. Have a good evening, Neji-niisan. Don't work too late!" She said relieved.
A small smile twitched at the corner of his lips, perhaps it was time for him to take a break from his work? He thought to himself.
[End Flash back]
The Anbu captain sank into himself for fifteen minutes, reading the same line six or seven times. The anticipation he felt at the mere mention of the suggestion was undeniable. He tried to hold her close again, spend some time with her, and reassess his relationship with the pinkette during the dance practice. Remembering how snugly her warm body had fit into his arms the night before...
"…Hyuuga Neji." His name was called repeatedly by the council member, "Ahem, are you following?"
It drew him out of his deep thoughts.
His frown deepened the passing of time in the meeting that was so excruciating, to the point where he occasionally skipped it altogether. The council has recently become increasingly absurd. He strongly disapproved of their plans to use his body to father the next generation, perpetuate the Hyuuga bloodline, and increase the likelihood that a Tenseigan would be born, all of which went beyond the regenerative and ennobling confines of marriage. Sorry, but that was not acceptable. Not even he could claim to be the last Uchiha.
He was an honorable Hyuuga and a guarded man. Cancer men like him tended to be traditionalists who placed a high value on marriage. His second engagement is now on the horizon.
"It is customary for Hyuugas to become engaged at the age of eighteen. You're well aware that you're past the age of consent." A member of the council had to remind him.
Everyone in the room had their white eyes trained on the prodigy.
The Hyuuga clan's heir and heiress stood as symbol of the clan's glory and honor, and their marriages were arranged to raise their social standing. Let alone being a branch member, a servant of the main family was expected to do as they were told without question or complaint. Prior to that, he had sacrificed his life for the greater good of the war effort. Since he had no other viable marriage prospects at the time, he went along with his clan's marriage proposal last year. But not this time.
There was always a choice to be make.
"My answer is no." His tone was clear, his words unmistakable, and his demeanor was impeccable. Neji, the center of attention, stood up slowly to claim his place. He cast his gaze over the meeting's attendees. The members of the council trembled in the imposing presence of the prodigy and his icy stare that exuded an air of authority.
As he repeated his refusal, his white eyes shone with self-assurance, "I decline, I have carefully considered my decision. I was unable to comply with the directive for the reasons I just described. It was not my intention to back out of the engagement, but I also have no plans to change my mind." Neji bowed to the clan elder, who had always had a great deal of respect for him. "My decision to reject to a second marriage proposal has not, and will not change." He didn't care if his clan labeled him a rebel again.
Although this wasn't the first time, prestigious clan leader Hyuuga Hiashi frowned as his nephew defied the council's directive.
Neji turned to his uncle and bowed respectfully, and continued, "I request additional time to carefully consider the decision be heard by all of you, in addition to the second medical report that I have submitted." unmistakable in tone and quality. He was well-versed in Hyuuga custom and law, so he knew that the engagement would not be recognized without his agreement, he was not forced into it.
As soon as he finished, there was a discussion among the attendees.
Many Hyuuga elders, including those who still held Neji in contempt, stiffened and hissed at him in retaliation for his disobedience and defiance of the clan's authority. The meeting was tense. In an effort to quell his rebellion, some brought up the topic of implanting the caged bird seal on him again. Things rarely change.
Hinata would have been the first to defend him, regardless of whether it would have made a difference. She hoped they'd honor his clan loyalty.
Neji closed his eyes and sank into disappointment, wondering if the sacrifice of his father was truly worthwhile.
"Your silence would be appreciated," the main house past elder with an elegant but aged voice hissed at the noise, the crowds gradually fell silent. His defiant face turned to Neji and warned him, "This is not up for debate." He gestured at Hyuuga Hiashi to express his disapproval.
Hyuuga Hiashi glanced over the report briefly before reading it in greater detail. As he did, his eyes widened in shock.
The way her father looked at it made Hinata anxious as she exchanged glances with Hanabi.
The young man was gifted, intelligent, and well-behaved. After the Chunin exam, he was destined to be a prodigy and a prominent figure in the clan. The Clan Lord gave him personal instruction and raised him as if he were his own son. In honor of his late father, he trained harder than anyone else. His accomplishments topped the clan, he was the legitimate heir who inherited Byakugan abilities. He entrusted him with the clan's affairs before he was ready to take over, effectively making Hanabi the second heiress.
"As the leader of the Hyuuga clan, it is my duty to safeguard our clan and ensure its longevity and prestige. I've been sent to guide my people in the right direction." Hyuuga Hiashi said to his clansmen solemnly, "Neji has done the clan honor. He carries our clan's future privilege, which I do not believe Konoha wishes to lose, and we cherish him at all costs."
Neji raised his head in awe and regarded his uncle.
His white eyes glinted at his nephew before he turned to others and continued, "The future clan represents my daughter Hanabi and my nephew Neji to take over as clan leaders when the time is right. After consulting with the council, given his clan status, I shall choose the appropriate course of action for his health condition. Neji's request will be granted due to the seriousness of the situation."
A previous attempt by the clan council to arrange a marriage for the boy had failed, so perhaps a new approach was in order. For both his wartime glory and his personal life, he chose to free his nephew from a life of scarification this time. Some Hyuugas were taken aback by the decision, but they had no way of showing their displeasure.
He knew some clansmen, especially the elderly, would disagree with him, but he felt compelled to do what was best and right in memory of his late brother. "I understand the concern, but I don't think it will be an issue."
Neji's beautiful white eyes widen in surprise when he realizes how strongly his uncle backed him in this decision.
"However, I am aware of the circumstances. My sentence for Neji's rule violation and defiance of council orders is a one-month clan affairs suspension. We can proceed with this plan if no further objections are raised." In line with Hyuuga custom, the leader of the clan decided to put an end to the disagreement.
"Hai, Hiashi-sama." Neji bowed to his uncle at the waist, who couldn't have been delighted that he had been told to skip a month's worth of clan meetings.
The difficulty of adulthood was beginning to sink in for Neji, and the clan meeting had only made things worse. As usual, he left the meeting early. Stepping out of the meeting hall, a wave of conflicting feelings swept through him, realizing it was almost time for the dance practice with Sakura.
In a huff, he retrieved his scroll and papers and hurried back to finish getting ready for his dates. He hoped he made the right decision by choosing to be her dance partner.
The Hyuuga family's retainer came to her door, knocked politely, before offering her the directions to the meeting place.
After following her, Sakura found herself arrived in a medium-sized indoor hall where the Hyuuga branch family frequently held gatherings. The maid stepped back to let the guest enter first. Sakura reciprocated with a nod, and walked into the hall.
The structure of the hall was minimalist Zen-inspired. Without a function being held in the hall, it was devoid of the usual furnishings and left empty and spacious, making it an ideal place for dancing. Sakura will be spending the next few weeks here practicing and perfecting ball dance moves with the help of the young branch house master.
A few picture frames of the Hyuuga branch family were hung on the wall above a long shelf, catching her eye, giving Sakura a glimpse into what a prestigious clan might look like. Several group portraits featured both historical and current branch masters. Seeing Neji's clan portrait for the first time, the presence he exuded was palpable. Considering the prominence of his clan, he was probably accustomed to attending formal events such as balls and galas.
On the left was a raised wooden floor seating area, bathed in natural light from a large sliding window and reflecting off the vaulted wooden ceiling. It was elegant and beautiful. Four light-grey padded cushion seats surround a round, solid-wood, modern Zen low table. A creme wool rug in a simple design lay beneath the low table. A still-warm purity clay tea set with matching unglazed tea cups sat atop the tablecloth.
Sakura settled into the cushioned seat. The servant got down on the floor and poured some hot tea, carefully placing the cup on the low table for the famous Godaime apprentice.
"Well, thank you." Sakura took it with a smile.
"Young master will arrive shortly, Haruno-sensei," she said in a low, polite voice.
"I'll take my leave from here," said the young maid as she left.
The pink-headed kunoichi formed a hand signs and summoned up a random scroll and began reading it, while enjoying her tea and awaited the arrival of her dance partner. She wrinkled her nose and narrowed her eyes as she saw it was past 2 o'clock.
Sakura could dance. In fact, she did so rather well. She often joined her girl teammates on the dance floor of the local pub, where she could twirl and move to the beat well enough to attract male attention. However, ballroom dancing was something she had never done before, and now she was doing it with her crush. Will he be nice? Was her outfit appropriate? Can she keep up with his pace? Will it be their last perfect close-combat sparring? The pit of her stomach tightened as she likely had these things on her mind. Hopefully, she'll be comfortable with him later.
After 10 minutes, she heard voices outside and the servant greeted them with, "Hyuuga-sama."
When her waltz partner came through the sliding shoji door, she pondered how he managed to make time for her despite his busy schedule. Hinata deserved a lot of credit for this.
"You are late." She unwittingly highlighted her full lips when she pouted.
"Trapped in the meeting. Sorry for the delay." As he walked towards her, his deep voice echoed through the hall, long hair swaying behind.
Seeing her helped ease the tension he'd built up during the meeting.
He shed his cumbersome formal attire after the clan meeting. He wasn't wearing his Hyuuga robe or training clothes today, but something more comfortable. He wore a simple white cotton t-shirt that embraced his lean arm and defined abs. Black slacks that hugged his legs made him appeared taller, and wow… a pair of slip-on penny loafers with a smooth black leather bottom.
Sakura agreed that he looked strikingly good even when he wasn't trying too hard with his attire.
Flashing his white eyes across the hall's center to survey the area, the Hyuuga made his way to the coffee table and sat down casually across from her.
"How was the meeting?"
"Mhm, it was redundantly time consuming," he replied in a cool, polite tone.
He put some of his trademark long hair up in a loose man bun at the back of his head and let the rest of his hair fall nicely down his back, looking effortlessly attractive.
"Well, I do appreciate you taking your time on another redundant matter, Neji."
To me, it wasn't redundant.
"I'm guessing Hinata-chan made you do it, right? But you don't have to do this though…" she said as she sipped her tea. She was well aware that his clan heiress was the motivation behind his decision.
"It's true that she had an impact, but she couldn't make me do anything against my will." Neji said, drumming his fingers on his knees.
"I don't want you to feel obligated to pick me, you know?"
"So what if I'm not forced into it? As such, I see it as a challenge." He sat with his elbow on the table and his chin propped up in his hand. "Don't give the impression that the Godaime apprentice, Konoha's best kunoichi, can't dance." There was some truth in his joke.
"But don't complaint when I'm step on your toe," Sakura winked at him.
"You won't be as terrible as you think you are, I promise." He pushed back. The same charming smirk he gave her last night was now plain to see in broad daylight.
"Perhaps we can add some excitement." She made an offer.
"How exactly?"
She filled a clay cup with hot tea for him and poured herself into a second cup.
"Okay, if I can pull this off perfectly, you'll buy me a fancy dinner as my reward."
"That's good. I enjoy a good challenge. If you pass my test, of course."
He watched the pinkette as she prepared the tea for him, admiring every attractive detail that he had missed the night before. Her dark circles and stress were lifted from a good night's sleep, and her normally bright green eyes shone with vigor.
"How was your sleep last night?"
"Excellent! You're doing a much better job than a trained therapist than I expected!" She set the cup of tea down in front of him with a wry grin and only half in jest.
"I'm better than most people expected." Neji remarked and took the tea.
"Yeah, and you are a lot more arrogant and conceited than I can imagine, too." Sakura rolled her eyes and sneered at him.
"Well, thanks… I agree with you."
Sakura did nothing more than watched this arrogant man as he drink his tea, with the same intense gaze he had just regarded her, and she did notice that he didn't seem to hide it. She stared into the curve of his jaw and down to his Adam's apple bobbed as he gulped.
After putting down his teacup, Neji got to his feet and walked around the low table.
She was having trouble concentrating on her scroll anyway, so she dismissed it in one swift motion. She set her teacup down and looked at the tall man before her through her eyelashes.
He leaned in and gently took her hand, pulling the pinkette up to his feet effortlessly.
Neji gave her a long look while keeping her hand in his. Upon realizing that she had never actually touched his hand before, it was soft and cool upon noticing it. Holding and touching this hand in any way other than healing.
Sweeping his white eyes over her, examining her outfit.
She felt a little anxious when he did. She wore a classic black midi-length spaghetti strap dress that she bought this morning. It was fitted rather than skintight, the flared hem fell just below the knees, and it was paired with black sneakers. Her figure was slim and well defined.
"Do I look okay in this, Sensei?" She said, resting her hands cheekily on her hips.
A comfortable and casual match today like him, "It worked out just fine." Neji took her by the hand and led her toward the center of the makeshift dance hall.
His anxiety level rose a little with each step he took. He managed to keep a composed expression on his face despite his growing nervousness. He had never held her hand like this before, not even during their sparring.
Sakura looked down at the gentle grip he had on her hand and thought about how rarely they touched each other.
They came to a halt in the middle of the hall, facing one another at arm's length. The short distance between them made her look more petite than she was.
"Well, it seems like we have some time to kill," said Neji.
Unlike the bristly appearance he had after his mission the day before, he had a smooth cheek today, giving him sharp features and flawless pale skin that matched her fair, freckled complexion. His mesmerizing white eyes added to his attractiveness.
"Let's get started today by going over some fundamental moves with you. Is there something about physical contact, like a close embrace, that makes you feel uncomfortable? We're going to stay in an open embrace." He prodded, testing her response, bringing up body awareness and the possibility that she might be unprepared for the embrace he would later extend.
Even though she had no idea what was going on, she could rest assured that, despite his haughty nature, he was and always would be a gentleman.
"Uhm… I don't find much about you offensive, so everything is fine." Sakura gave the man an answer.
"Okay, we can start with the simplest 'slow dance' since I have never taught anyone else. Are the terms 'hug', 'sway' and 'twirl' acceptable to you? The latter, however, requires more moves."
Waltz, Varsovienne Waltz, and Foxtrot were all within his smooth dance repertoire, as he could do it adequately. Gentle Fist was well-versed in the arts of twirling and pirouetting. He decided to take it slow with Sakura, starting with the basics so as not to frighten her. They still have plenty of time, so he slowed his gait.
"What is the final dance that we have to do?"
"The Varsovienne Waltz it is."
A distressed look on her face, "Right, with Hinata-chan and Naruto?"
"Yes."
While groaning, she rolled her eyes. Having accepted the role of maid of honor, she started having doubts about accepting it.
"Well… It is tough to compete. Think of it as an additional round of our previous sparring session. Feeling scared already?"
"No way, you'll see!"
After noticing that her anxiety had subsided, Neji added, "Good... just trust your partner." The prodigy gave her a lopsided grin in response.
The sight of his smile gave Sakura the assurance that everything would be all right. After he asked for her trust, she nodded and said, "I trust you."
"Can I have your hand?" He extended his left hand and indicated that she should take it.
They had a friendly little competition going on, and there was no way she was going to let herself lose. "Sure." She replied with a soft smile.
Taking Neji's hands in her own, it was fascinating to see the way their fingers entwined. This was further evidence that sparring with him was not like this at all.
"Could you move in a bit?" With a soft tug on their interlaced fingers, the sensation of lacing their fingers calmed his racing heart.
He carefully guided her wrist to rest on his right shoulder. He rested his right arm around her back and slowly slid down to her waist as the Hyuuga drew the pinkette closer to his heart, feeling a hint of pride.
Sakura was distracted by his fingers grazing her waist in an open embrace. Whether it was her patients or best friends who needed comforting hugs, she didn't mind giving them unabashed physical affection. But the thought of getting close to her crush, let alone hugging and dancing with them, made her stomach flutter with butterflies.
"It's not that difficult. There are only four steps to this slow, smooth dance."
Neji showed her the proper stance by walking her through a series of moves with slow, graceful motion and minimal eye contact. He radiated the Hyuuga grace and poise that was uniquely his. She maintained her silence, listened attentively, taking careful notes.
Her focus impressed him, it was one of her many endearing qualities. She wasn't born into a shinobi family, but she was determined to join the ranks of the elite by training hard and becoming stronger anyway. And that included the time she was obstinate enough to prevent his death.
A pair of gleaming white eyes gazed at Sakura with deep thought in them. He couldn't help but admire the natural beauty of her pink cheeks.
"Thank you for agreeing to be my dance partner."
The smart kunoichi replied, "Yes, indeed, you should. Why else would I be here with you, sensei, if not to learn how to dance?" She made light of the situation with playful banter.
"So true."
She received a genuine, light smile from him.
Neji led her slowly through the waltz. They waltz without music and seem to be doing just fine. After nearly an hour of smooth dancing, Sakura sighed as she stepped on his toes again, but he encouraged her to give it another go and mirror his moves. Neji tightened his grip, helping the pinkette stay upright as he practiced balancing her back on his chest when spinning her around. Her shoes make twirling difficult.
"There's a chance we can get you a heel soon." He pondered this, casting an eye over her feet.
Perhaps he was right, if she had been just a tad taller, she wouldn't have looked quite so petite next to him either. Her rigid stance caused her back to collide with his chest. Her arm was within his grasp. It was at that moment that she had one of those infectious laughs brought on by a sudden thought.
After staring at her for a while, he finally asked, "What's so amusing?"
As she took a deep breath, Sakura calmly responded, "Nothing!" She laughed and made no attempt to hold it back.
The Hyuuga prodigy retorted, "Yes, you were."
After a moment, she exclaimed, "I had no idea that Hyuugas were so good at dancing. And- it never even occurred to me that Hyuuga Neji dances beautifully!" Knowing this, it became clear why Hinata had suggested him to her. She wasn't attempting to mock him, that much was true.
There was a momentary blush of embarrassment on his face, but it quickly went away and his stoic face was plastered back on.
"It was only for duty."
The pink-haired girl's laughter was heartily contagious.
"Sakura, can you concentrate for a little while longer?"
They swayed and danced for a while when suddenly, he spun her out unceremoniously, still in his grasp, startling her. She felt her heart racing, but she was too engrossed in their little competition to let it slow her down as she charged back, twirling her way in to join him, demonstrating the moves he had just taught her. Her loosely styled, trademark pink hair fell in a graceful cascade as she twirled.
The next thing she knew, strong arms effortlessly wrapped themselves around her waist as she steadied herself and landed precisely in front of her dance partner. One hand clutching on his broad shoulder and another on his nape, held on to him tightly. She felt a flush rise on her cheeks.
"That, you could say, is a waltz."
"Hey!—" Sakura exclaims her shock and disapproval. She stopped dead in her tracks when his lips came dangerously close to making contact with her forehead in the middle of his unexpected embrace.
"Pay attention, Sakura." He said it again, his lips almost touching her diamond seal. His skin was tingled by her breath and by the brush of her delicate pink hair. She was so beautiful.
Given their proximity, she could see her own reflection in his expressive white eyes. Her heart was racing, and she knew it was a moment she wouldn't soon forget.
"You pompous jerk! What? Happy to flaunt your dancing abilities?"
Her spat only extended the male's amused expression into a wide smirk, the guy didn't seem to mind being called a jerk in the least. It was unmistakably his trademark, and it spread like wildfire. Great. Now that she was vulnerable to his superiority—his charm.
She had read him correctly when she said that he was a pompous jerk. The smile she mistook for kindness was actually smugness as plain as day. He was nothing more than a proud, egotistical, and inscrutable haughty jerk, as he'd always been. Admittedly, this certainly contributed to his charisma.
The prodigy showed no signs of breaking their connection. She had ample opportunity to push him away, but she didn't. In addition to his admirable qualities as a shinobi, it drove her crazy trying to figure out why she enjoyed this haughty, arrogant superiority. How on earth did she always end up liking someone like that raven-haired man? However, a compassionate, loving, kind version of him.
They were once close, but something caused them to drift apart. She had planned to spend more time with him before revealing her feelings. But that chance was ruined when she witnessed him kissing the daughter of the Fire Daimyo at one of the Hyuuga ceremonies. Why in the world did she have to be there to witness him in the company of another woman? The depth of her feelings for him became clear to her at that moment.
When she thought about Neji getting married, she felt a sharp pain in her heart that almost hurt. It was too late for her to ever have him. She wanted him to be happy, and if she couldn't be that person, she should get out of his way and let things go unsaid.
He was the third factor that led her to leave Kohona before receiving a wedding invitation because she could not bear to face it. This was two years ago.
She couldn't quite pinpoint the flirtatious glint in his eyes that was absent from his boyhood. Sakura was unsure for a brief moment whether his playful teasing was flirting. Her cheek was now stained with a noticeable flush.
Once she revealed her cute burning cheek, he was satisfied.
He didn't think he would be able to beat the formidable pink-haired kunoichi in a sparring match, but he was determined not to lose in their little competition.
Without turning on his Tenseigan, he was still able to read to some degree if he so desired. He realized it wasn't very gentlemanly to pry like others for personal reasons. He watched her face to see how she would react. Her pretty emerald green eyes were staring at him unmoved, panic in her eyes. Her slightly parted lips and rosy cheeks suggested she was mortified by their proximity. Yet she made no attempt to reject him. Alternatively, perhaps his teasing was appreciated?
He was aware that he had gone too far with his teasing and that he wasn't acting very gentlemanly. The open embrace dance had extended to a level of intimacy that was now too close for comfort.
He meant seriously; knowing that the said kunoichi could easily bruise or crush his shoulder or arm, and that she has super inhuman strength and a temper if she lets loose, he needed to be careful not to take offense too much.
He came dangerously close to losing his calm demeanor, making himself blush as well, but quickly dispelled the tint creeping up his face.
"My apologies." He took a step back and apologized for his improper behavior. He took a deep breath, jerked his head away from her face.
Did he just blush? That was a pretty unusual one for Sakura. It was only to her that he showed this face. It made her want to see it more.
"Tell me if I ever make you uncomfortable again." He did not wish for Sakura to be any more uneasy than she already was. "Uh, let's try this again, shall we?" He brought up the subject again politely, with practice still ongoing.
"Of course!" Their embarrassment subsided a little as Sakura nodded.
Neji took one of her hands in his and carefully re-positioned the other one on her waist as they resumed their waltz position.
A faster pace was adopted, with Neji in the lead. "You seem very tense, sensei! Try to loosen up a little." She echoed what he had said earlier in his tone.
Neji chastised her with a proud smirk.
This made Neji feel like maybe he hadn't completely messed up, she still desired to be in his company as they went back to their practice. When they started to sway together, Sakura returned his advances by pulling him in until their heads touched on the side. Neji prayed that she wouldn't feel his pounding heart.
They were probing the limits of their tolerance for one another toward a comfortable familiarity. Sakura realized that dancing may be one of the simplest ways to fall in love.
Everything worked out perfectly.
That was, until Sakura's stomach gave a sudden growl. Her face revealed a hint of embarrassment, "What about having dinner together, Sensei?"
Ideally, "I'd like to." He smiled and looked into her emerald eyes.
He folded his arms and bowed with grace. She curtsied in response, concluding their dance practice.
End Note: Thank you for reading! Slowly but surely, their relationship is developing. I hope you enjoy these moments as much as I did while writing them.
Do you believe in the stars? It tells you something about someone. Neji was depicted in canon manga as being dependable, loyal, and honest, which are traits of Cancer men. A caregiver, who is also irritable and in a foul mood, says, he has to sit through a lengthy meeting.
Lastly, if you're enjoying the story so far, don't forget to favorite, follow & review so I know to update sooner.
