Huge huge thank you to binkerbell91(Twitter) for beta-ing this for me! Enjoy some fluffy comfort, feelsy smut and Nejisaku love confessions!
TW: slight mention of suicide, very very slight
Of course any reviews and favorites are appreciated! They give me motivation and I ALWAYS read them and try to respond 3
Happy reading!
Something told me that maybe I should have left her alone. Something else told me she needed comfort, needed someone to talk to. Maybe I should have left her alone.
Her best friend just had a baby, little Inojin. He was such a delight, a perfect mix between his parents. Perhaps she did want the help, but did not want to impose her troubles on the happy family?
But something told Neji that she needed comfort, someone to talk to.
Why else would she be sitting against a tree deep behind the training grounds, where it was secluded from everyone else, with her head in her knees and her shoulders shaking? Wouldn't she go to her best friend if she needed(wanted) help?
Sakura did tend to be rather thoughtful of people, contrary to popular belief. He would not put it past her to not tell her best friend she was struggling so she could focus on her newest joy.
Sakura was the epitome of emotion, she felt so strong and openly. He admired her for it, found her to be rather brave for wearing her heart on her sleeve. It was real, and honest. How could someone not appreciate such genuineness from someone? She was beautiful, brilliant, and strong in so many ways. She was a pillar to the success, livelihood, and mortality of the village. Sakura was unique, confident, and humble.
And so he wondered why she could be in the woods crying her heart out. He tried to think of the people she cared about. Naruto had just become the Nanadaime Hokage. Sasuke was basically his right hand, with Shikamaru on the left. She just became the medical director of Konoha Medical.
Neji didn't know much about her parents, other than they were civilians. He thought he had heard they died during the war.
Whatever the reason for her tears, he felt a need to fix it, which kept him from walking away and being able to leave her alone.
In truth, Neji loved her. Some knew, but he didn't share it often. He told Hinata after the war, and she had just smiled and tried to offer to set them up on a double date with her and Naruto. He thought it would be nice, but he didn't want it to feel forced, which led to his reason for declining his uncle's offer to arrange them for marriage through the clan and village councils. He respected her and her right to her own choices too much for that.
Neji decided to reveal his presence. It would be selfish on his end to automatically assume she didn't want comfort. She would send him away if she truly wanted to be alone, and he would leave her be at her wishes.
No one should have to suffer through things alone, it only made it more painful to deal with.
"N-Neji?" The pinkette looked up from her knees. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her nose was red.
How long had she been hidden away here crying out her heart? He frowned slightly, concerned, before slowly striding towards her.
Sakura watched him with wide eyes. She sniffled a little bit and wiped her face on the leather of her gloves.
"I come here when I want to be alone to think." He stated simply as he kneeled down in front of her. "Is that what you want? I can leave, if you like. I have other places I could go so you can have your peace."
Sakura watched him a moment before giving the slightest shake to her head, almost imperceptible. More tears pooled around her eyes before they spilled over her cheeks. He reached out and gently wiped them away with his thumb.
"I-I hate being alone…" she muttered through her attempt to choke back sobs. "I just… didn't want to bother anyone."
"You are not bothering me." Neji spoke softly. "Are you okay with me hugging you?"
Sakura nodded. He leaned in and wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, and she rested her head on his shoulder. He could feel the muscles in her back were as stiff as rocks, and he could only imagine what sort of stress she was carrying in them. This petite kunoichi that everyone used to make fun of—she was more valuable than any of them now. Now this woman held their lives in her calloused hands. She could take them just as quick if you were the enemy.
Holding the responsibility of every life in this village, to have everyone looking to you for their safety must be a heavy burden to carry on your shoulders.
"You probably think I'm weak…" she whimpered through her softer cries.
He shook his head. "Everyone has a limit Sakura, and that does not exclude you." He ran a hand through her pink strands and timidly placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "But you do not have to go through anything alone. You have friends you can count on."
Neji felt her trying to shift and loosened his embrace a bit so she could move more freely. She moved to return his embrace, wrapping her arms tight around his torso. He gave her another tight squeeze in return.
"Hinata tells me talking about things makes it easier for her. Does it do that for you? I would listen."
Sakura looked up at him for a moment, her green eyes shining with a bit of amusement. He was a little perplexed and was about to ask what she was thinking just as she started speaking.
"This may seem rude, and I swear I-I'm grateful, but you are the last person I would expect to be so…comforting." Sakura scraped her teeth across her bottom lip after saying it.
Neji could only smile in return before tucking a piece of stray hair behind her ear. "Only for special people." Neji whispered it before shaking his head. "What happened that has upset you so much?"
Truth be told, he had not meant to say that out loud, and now he would likely have to explain it. He wasn't entirely sure now was a good time, or if he or Sakura wanted to have that conversation. His purpose was to comfort her, not come here and confess his love. Perhaps it's his own fault, because it's not normal for him to go out of his way to comfort someone who is not family, and she was very aware of that.
Her smile faltered a little, and she laid her head back down on his shoulder. He ran a hand through her pink strands again as she took a deep breath.
"One of the kids…" she paused, and he heard her gulp down a sob. "One of the first orphans from the war that I took into my care committed suicide. They found him this morning."
She choked, and her grip tightened as she buried her face into the crook of his neck. Neji held her closer.
"It is not your fault," Neji soothed.
"I-I know." Sakura hiccuped. "He was doing so well. He'd just gotten his own apartment, he'd been doing well for months inpatient." A sob racked her body. "He hadn't even been moved out a full month."
Neji held her close. "People are good at hiding their suffering," Neji consoled. "You cannot save everyone. I know it does not make it… easier." He paused for a moment, thinking. She just squeezed him tighter. "I know that is not very helpful, but it is the truth, and one you need to remind yourself of. We are all human, you are human."
Neji kissed her forehead and gently rocked them back and forth. "I know you did everything you could to help him, and I am sure he was grateful for you. You are a good person, Sakura, and it is what makes you a good doctor."
He smoothed her hair once again and then turned his stroke to rub circles into her back. He could feel her breathing start to even out slowly.
"I am the one who cleared him to be able to live alone. It was my responsibility to make that judgment." Her voice was still trembling over her words.
"You said he had been doing well for months. I think it was a fair call. You cannot predict everything that will happen to someone. All you can do is learn from it, maybe implement a new system." Neji sighed as he tried to think of things that would make her feel better. "You will always remember him, he had someone to carry his legacy that way."
Sakura lifted her head to look at him, and she seemed awed. "I will never let him be forgotten…"
There was a fierce determination that sparked in her eyes that made him smile. A bit of the Sakura everyone saw all the time was back, which meant maybe she felt better about it.
"You could put up a tribute in the hospital, something to never let the staff forget him." Neji suggested softly as he cupped her face in his hands and wiped her cheeks.
The pinkette nodded softly, and her smaller hands came up to grip his wrists as she leaned into his touch. She seemed so comfortable. Even though his comfort had initially surprised her, she seemed at peace with how close they were, and he felt comfortable with it too, but he was well aware why Sakura being in his space did not bother him.
"You are a good person, Neji," Sakura said softly.
He stroked her cheekbone with the pad of his thumb and offered her a timid smile. "I try to be." He let his palms drop from her face and scooted back to give her a more respectful distance. "I will always be there for you if you ever need me again, Sakura."
Sakura nodded before crawling into his lap, straddling his thighs. She cupped his face gently and touched their noses. Her face turned a little rosy in colour just before she spoke. "Thank you, Neji."
"You are-"
And she leaned forward and closed the gap between them.
Her lips were soft, and he went still for a moment, shocked. He blinked a few times before moving his hands to rest on her hips. She pulled away, and she looked severely embarrassed in that moment, and there was a twinge of regret there. She had just kissed him, and he had been too shocked to respond appropriately.
Neji gently gripped her chin and tilted her head back up to kiss her tenderly. He wrapped his other arm around her waist to pull her close to him once again. Sakura sighed into his touch, raising her hands to cup his face. He moved his hand to cup the back of her head.
Her hands were rough against his cheek, and it sent a little spark of heat through him. It definitely didn't help that she was straddling him, but he still tried to be decent. He tilted his head slightly to deepen the kiss, and she hummed in delight before pulling away.
"Sakura, if that was too forward, I sinc—" Sakura put a finger to his lips, a little grin playing across her moistened lips.
Moistened from their kiss.
That realization had him reeling as he let his gaze linger on her lips.
"I kissed you first, remember?" She moved her hands to untie his headband, and he let it fall to the ground.
Neji nodded mutely, letting his eyes close as she took in the Caged Bird Seal. She knew it was there, she had saved him in the fourth war. She gently traced the symbol with her fingertips before kissing his forehead. He appreciated the way she said nothing, how she knew there was nothing she could say.
"Neji, before you try to apologize again, I…enjoyed the kiss." Her cheeks tinged red again but she was smiling. "But I have to ask you; in what sort of way am I special to you?" Her voice was small, and she sounded unsure, like she was afraid of the answer.
He didn't feel the reluctance to answer the question this time as she found a way to fidget nervously, running a hand through his hair and slipping the tie out from the bottom of his coffee coloured strands.
"You are genuine. Smart, brilliant actually. You want good for people, and do your best to find it in anyone." He reached up to stroke her cheek. "You are also passionate and care for everyone in your life more than most of them I believe are aware." A small smile spread across his lips as he leaned forward to kiss her nose. "You are also resilient and determined and an amazing doctor."
Neji was watching her expression carefully as he spoke, and he tried to show her affection that wasn't too forward but couldn't be mistaken for friendship. He met forest green eyes and held her gaze for a moment before biting his lip, chewing on the inside of his cheek.
Naruto made these sort of passionate confessions look much easier, he thought to himself.
"You are special to me because…" He gulped slightly, knowing she'd be able to see his throat bob with it, but refused to look away. "I love you."
She beamed before hugging him tightly, burying her face into his neck again. She was giggling uncontrollably in his arms, her little puffs of breath whisking across his neck, which he tried really hard to not focus on too much.
She was shining with happiness, and he was puzzled. He would never complain, she could have rejected him, which he still thought plausible even after she kissed him. Damn him for being socially stupid.
"No one is ever going to believe me when I tell them Neji Hyuga loves a civilian like me, let alone the sappy, romantic way you just confessed," she squealed before kissing his cheek.
"You are no civilian. Not anymore." Neji's cheeks tinted red this time, but he only held her tighter. "It only matters to me that you believe it, Sakura."
Sakura's laughter died down almost instantly, her face taking on a serious expression.
"I do believe you." She rested her forehead against his before a pleased smile spread across her lips again. "You would never put up with just anyone crying all over you," she teased before biting her lip. "I also don't think you would lie to me, nor would you have a reason to."
Neji nodded before resting his hands at her hips. "I would never do that to you." He meant it with every fiber of his being. "I only ever want to make you happy, and I would be grateful if you gave me a chance."
Sakura smirked before running a hand through his hair. "Only if you kiss me again."
"The pleasure is all mine," Neji murmured before kissing her softly.
She gasped softly into the kiss, before twining her fingers into his hair. Neji could care less that she was tangling it. He could brush it later. His gentle grip on her hips tightened a little bit as she settled in his lap, shifting closer to his body.
He could feel her warmth radiating from her skin, and her breasts pressed against his chest. The image of her lips wet with his own saliva reappeared as a flash in his mind, and he felt his cock twitch in his pants.
How could he help his own arousal when she was straddling him and kissing him with such soft lips, and being just the slightest bit of a tease. He wondered if she knew exactly what she was doing, if she meant to do it?
Neji dared to slide one hand from her hip, slow and tantalizing until he cupped one globe of her ass, and he squeezed the plump flesh. Her mouth opened with a moan against their kiss, and he felt selfish as he took the opportunity to slide his tongue into her mouth. Another moan left her throat, and the hands in his hair gripped the strands at the roots tight in response. Her hips shifted against his again, and he smirked before sliding his tongue against her own.
Sakura whimpered needily before letting him swirl his tongue around hers. Neij slid his other hand up her back to grip her pink strands at the root, tugging on them firmly, but not roughly. She moved her hands to unbutton his shirt, letting it hang open as she ran her hands over his taut and scarred skin.
A small groan left his lips as he broke away just to place hot kisses down her jaw.
"Tell me to stop, and I will, Sakura," Neji murmured before placing wetter kisses down her neck. He stroked her thigh with one hand, getting daringly close to his own hardness, tempted to touch himself, just to see the look on her face.
The woman only sighed at his touch and slipped her fingers under the wrappings on his chest, looking for the end to unravel them. Little moans and sighs left her mouth constantly, and it made it so hard to think clearly as they drove him to need her even more.
"Do not let me do anything you do not want," he breathed against her neck before nipping the skin of her neck. "Please, Sakura…"
Neji felt her shudder, and he bit his lip to not do it again. He rested his forehead against her shoulder, trying to force himself to breathe so he could slow down and think.
"Neji," Sakura breathed softly before bringing one hand to unzip her shirt.
He watched as her shirt fell open and her skin was in full view. He gnawed at his lip, gripping her hips tight again to keep his hands in place.
Neij felt her head turn and she whispered, purposely letting her lips brush against his earlobe, "I don't want you to stop…"
Neji sucked in a breath, trying not to let his shock become so obvious. Her lips fluttered over his neck before she bit down on his collar bone and sucked hard at the skin, drawing a moan from his throat. The thought of looking in the mirror and finding a mark standing out against his pale tone flashed through his mind and sent a spike of arousal coursing through his veins.
He slid one hand up her back until he met the roots of her hair at the nape of her neck, gripping them firmly once again to pull her away from his now reddened skin. She looked him straight in the eyes and licked her lips, a small smirk playing along them.
Neji rolled her onto her back before pinning her wrists to the ground and pressing his hips fully into her, letting her feel just how much she had affected him.
"Is this what you want, Sakura?" His breath was ragged as he tried to calm his breathing again, before he rocked his hips again and cursed softly.
Sakura tilted her head back and moaned softly and met his next movement. The sight of her under him with her mouth hanging open had him biting his lip. The spandex of her shorts was hardly a barrier between them. He leaned down and placed kisses down her neck, biting down on a spot he knew no one would be able to see under her clothing and sucking hard.
Her hands moved down his sides, pushing his trousers off his hips, leaving him bare for her. He kicked them off and gripped the base of himself, being sure to rub his thickness along her clothed slit and repeating the same motion over her clit.
"N-Neji…" Sakura moaned, her hands not able to figure out where to go from here.
They were gripping the shoulder muscles in his back one moment, he'd move again, and she raked them through his hair and then slid down his back to grip his ass and pull him closer.
"You are so sexy and beautiful, Sakura…" he whispered into her ear before nipping it lightly. He sat back and looked at her.
Her lips were wet still and her wrappings had loosened and fell to her waist, leaving her chest exposed, rising and falling as she breathed heavily from her own arousal. Her skin was flawless, just a couple shades darker than his own pale tone. Calloused fingers of a ninja, and one simple scar on her abdomen she had gotten from her fight with Sasori. Her hair was mussed up and flared under her in the grass.
He hooked two fingers into the waistband of her spandex shorts and slipped them off with the attached skirt. Leaning down to close his mouth over one of her distended nipples, he guided his length over her again, the same way but slower, letting his thick head split her open just slightly before rubbing it against her clit. Neji flicked his tongue over her hardened bud deliberately and fast, moaning softly against her skin.
She'd decided his hair was the best place for her hands as she held him close to her body and pulled on the dark strands. Sakura moaned out his name, and her back arched into his touch.
"N-Neji, please…" she begged as she bucked her hips against him and pulled on his hair to make him kiss her.
As soon as their lips met, she tangled her tongue with his, and he melted into her, letting the next thrust of his hips slide into her all the way to the hilt. They both moaned into the kiss, and he felt her shudder against him. She was so slick with her own pleasure but still so tight around him.
He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he kissed her desperately, cherishing every bit of this moment. Slowly, he pulled his hips back, and she threw her head back against the grass, a low moan tumbling from her mouth. He just trailed kisses down her neck as he slid back in just as slow.
Her hands ran through his hair, and he hissed softly when her nails dug into his shoulder. Her hips met his with every thrust, and she felt like heaven. He bit his lip as he watched her breasts bounce slightly every time he pushed into her.
"Sakura, I love you…" he murmured quietly as he watched her writhe under him.
She smiled before biting her lip, and he rolled onto his back before he could let her feel guilty for not saying it back. She sunk down onto his length, and this angle let him fill her just a little deeper. They both cried out in ecstasy at the feeling. Neji gripped her hips and let her experiment with a couple soft bounces.
Sakura placed her palms flat on his chest before rolling her hips more firmly and whimpered, biting her lip as pleasure racked through her.
"There?" Neij cursed softly, before gripping her hips tight to hold her in place and thrusting up into her at the exact same angle.
"O-Oh, god, yes!" Sakura moaned before lifting herself just to sink back down onto his length. Another moan left her mouth, and she was biting her lip hard.
Neij sat up, supporting his weight with one of his forearms, still gripping her hip with one hand, before sliding it to grip her ass and help guide her hips along his cock, making sure to hit that spot every time for her.
"Come on, love," Neji encouraged her. "Moan for me, tell me how good it feels to be filled up, hm?"
Unsure where the sudden boldness came from, he couldn't help but admire how she was coming undone on top of him. A sheen of sweat covered both of them, and her nails dug into his skin with so much need, it drove him mad to see her like this.
Sakura whimpered before locking her eyes on his. "N-Neji…" Another moan as she started bouncing with his rhythm.
"That's it babygirl, ride me just like that." Neji leaned forward to place soft kisses down her neck and shoulders.
"A-Ah!" Sakura cried out as their motions repeatedly sent her reeling. "I-I love feeling filled and needed by you…"
"Such a good girl for me, Sakura," Neji mumbled low against her skin before trailing a hand between them, finding her clit easily with his thumb, rolling around it in circles.
He could feel himself nearing the end, and he would never dare leave her wanting. She cried out wantonly before biting down on his shoulder, riding him shamelessly. Neji let out a groan letting himself fall back against the ground, running his now free hand through her hair. She pulled away from another mark, the dark red of it standing out starkly against his skin, to sit back up and support her weight with her hands on his chest again.
She was panting heavily as she continued to grind against his length. Her breasts bounced with every movement she made, and he could hardly look away from such a beautiful sight. He watched as sweat stuck to her skin, and he could feel her legs start to tremble.
"Sakura," Neji panted softly, gripping her hips tight. "Sakura, I'm so, so close." He grit his teeth, trying to hold himself back.
Her eyes widened before she whimpered softly and leaned down to press a kiss to his lips. "I-It's safe," Sakura panted softly before placing kisses down his neck. "I know how important it is, I swear, I'm safe," a moan interrupted her as she buried her face into his neck. "P-Please don't stop…"
Neji ran a hand through her hair to calm her and reassure that he believed her. He never wanted to stop. Her movements stuttered, and he felt her legs starting to tremble around his hips, a low moan leaving her lips. He only swirled his thumb across her clit faster.
"N-Neji!" she cried out before collapsing on top of him. "Oh, gods, Neji, please, I—"
He rolled them over so he hovered over her and rolled his hips hard and deep into her. He hissed softly as she raked her fingers down his back, the sting only giving him more pleasure.
"That's it, let go, give me all of your attention, Sakura…" Neji spoke lowly and huskily into her ear.
Neji grabbed her jaw and turned her to face him. "I love you, and I always will, no matter what happens after th-this."
He kissed her deeply, pouring every ounce of love he held for her into the kiss, just before he tensed and sank into her one last time before spilling his seed deep in her. She moaned and held him there with her legs, returning his kiss with just as much passion, and her hands were in his hair again.
He let himself collapse against her, resting his head against her shoulder. They both sat there breathing heavily, trying to catch their breath again. Sakura's hands rested against his back, and when her breathing evened out, she had started to draw circles along his skin, before playing with the long strands of his hair. Here and there, there was a gentle pull, and he was sure there were leaves and other natural debris all in his hair.
Sakura giggled before smoothing out his hair over his back. Perhaps she picked everything out. "You look sleepy."
"I feel sleepy too…" he mumbled softly before placing a chaste kiss on her shoulder. "But we should probably get dressed."
He did not move from his place atop her.
Sakura still ran her hands through his hair, and he found it to be very soothing. He let his eyes slip closed, to just enjoy her touch. This was comfort he would forever hold dear, and he hoped she wouldn't regret it, and that maybe she felt just a little bit better now as well.
"Thank you, Neji…" Sakura said softly, before lightly patting his shoulder.
A small smile crossed his lips. "You are welcome, Sakura."
He took the motion that she was ready to get up and he obliged. He began finding his clothes and putting them back on. Neji made a point to let her redress without being watched. He was looking up at the sky, stars sparkling above them now. A small smile crossed his lips as he realized he had never noticed when it became dark.
Sakura came to his side and slid her hand into his and leaned her head against his arm. He gently squeezed her hand, welcoming the closeness with her. Something in him felt at peace that she not only accepted his affections, but seemed to return them, even if it was not as intensely yet.
"I know I can't come home with you, but would you stay with me at my place tonight?" Her voice sounded so quiet, and so insecure. "I… don't want to be alone."
Neji turned and pulled her into a hug, holding her tight to his chest. "I will always be there if you want me to be." He kissed her forehead and ran his fingers through her hair.
When her arms wound around his waist and her shoulders sagged with the breath of relief she let out, he knew he had made the right choice to not turn around and leave her. He gave her another comforting squeeze before picking her up bridal style.
"Let's get you home."
And he jumped through the trees before she squealed in delight.
