I think these stories I'm writing at the moment are my way of dealing with the fact that I cannot get over Kishimoto's choice to kill off Neji! It's working though, so expect more in the future!
xox
A cool sea breeze tickled the hair out of her face as she gazed across the glittering blue water. The smell of salt hung heavy in the air and she breathed it in deeply, feeling the tension slip from her shoulders. A hand came up to shield the sun and with a wistful smile, she turned and padded her way into the beach house, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder.
Since Kakashi had managed to build peace between the nations, Water country had opened its doors to visitors and the gang had decided an extended weekend away in the sun was exactly what they needed. By some miracle, Shikamaru managed to get everyone off active roster for a few days and had facilitated the impressive sprawling beach house they were currently residing in.
"I called in a few favours," He had explained secretively, a lazy smile stretching his features.
No one complained, of course. After being run ragged in the field they were desperate for some rest, even if it was only for a few days. Gods above she could not wait to dip her toes in the cool sea waters, feel the sand beneath her feet and the sun on her skin. It had been so long since she had been out of that stuffy hospital and in the relative peace and quiet of nature. Although, judging from the shouts down the corridor from where she stood, there wouldn't be as much quiet time as she would have liked.
"Ne, Sakura-chan! Come take the room next to me!" Ino called, catching her attention.
She padded down the long wooden corridor that stretched away from the open plan kitchen and living area, finding the long-haired blonde leaning against one of the far rooms, grinning like a cat.
"I snagged us the two furthest from the boys," she jerked a thumb over her shoulder in the direction Sakura had come from, another corridor falling away from them that the men had already claimed before they got there.
"Please," Sakura smiled knowingly, "Don't act like you don't want Sai to come find you in the small hours of the morning,"
Ino grinned back, "Exactly. Don't want anyone hearing our midnight antics now, do we?"
"Oh, but its okay for me to be subjected to it?"
Ino scoffed, waving a manicured hand, "You'll be fine," She declared, throwing the sliding door back and leading Sakura into her room.
A large king-sized bed sat on a raised wooden platform, white sheets and pillows covering its vast expanse. Linen curtains hung from a rail around the ceiling, surrounding the bed in a halo of white that slowly drifted in the breeze that flowed in from the open windows across the room. The view was the perfect picture of sand and sea, the horizon veering off into the distance until blue met blue and the haze from the midday sun distorted it's straight line.
It was simple, the bed taking up most of the space with a white wooden set of drawers and a room that housed a small bathroom off to the side.
It was perfect.
She sighed happily, throwing her duffel onto the bed and falling back onto it with her hands outstretched. "We all owe that Nara for the rest of his life,"
Ino snorted, "Please don't tell him that. He'll never let us forget it." With a flick of her hair she turned towards the door, "I'll let you settle in! Come meet us on the beach when you're ready. I'm dying to get in that water!"
As the door slid shut, Sakura's thoughts immediately began to wander. Wander to him; silver eyes and long brown hair clouding her vision. It had been two months since he had kissed her. Two long months of wishing and wondering what he was thinking. He had asked her on a date to which she had immediately agreed to and after a wonderful night of drinking and dining, beneath the shadows of her apartment building, he had tucked her short pink locks behind her ear, bent down and pressed his lips against hers. They had been velvety soft, gentle. The kind of kiss that made your knee's wobble and stomach coil with pleasure.
A few more dates and few more, much longer, kisses followed and then they were struck with the reality of their situation. He was soon to be an Anbu captain, heading up his own team and being sent away for months at a time. She was starting work as the medical director of Konoha's hospital, twelve-hour days keeping her away from what little time they had to spend together.
They had spoken at length about it. What they could do to make the situation better, but no easy answer came, and they fell into a state of limbo. He had begun to distance himself and her heart ached at the loss.
She hadn't told him yet, but there was one glaringly obvious way that they could spend more time together. She fingered the duffel bag, staring at the Anbu application papers that stuck out slightly from the side pocket. She had been accepted and started her training for her exam soon, with Shizune being made joint medical director to help with the hospital.
No one knew of their relationship. Although, Tsunade and Shizune were the only one's privy to her feelings.
She had stared at his back as they travelled here, a distant figure that kept himself with his cousin and Kiba, mostly. Occasionally, lilac caught green and the look of longing wasn't missed on Sakura, before he'd turn his head away and continue on with his conversation as if she wasn't there. As if she didn't exist. She knew that they currently couldn't be romantic in front of their friends, but she pined for his touch none the less.
A polite knock on her door dragged her from her thoughts.
"Come in," She called, not pulling herself from the deep comfort of the sheets. She stared up at the ceiling, half expecting to hear Hinata's quiet voice fill the space.
A deep baritone reverberated through instead, "Sakura?"
She sprang forwards, her heart thundering in her chest as Neji filled her doorway. He slid the door shut quietly and stepped into the room, glancing around at the view. He turned his attention back to her and reached forwards as if to come to her but changed his mind at the last minute and pulled his hand back, letting it hang awkwardly at his side. He was in a simple white t-shirt, a pair of long black swimming shorts falling to his knees. His hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and a set of bandages rather than his headband covered the mark on his forehead.
Gods, he was handsome.
They were all in their early twenties now, their teen bodies filling out into adult ones and Neji was no exception. He towered over her at six foot three, his shoulders broad and his limbs muscled and toned from years of training. With a straight nose, high cheekbones, and a strong jawline, he was the definition of good looking.
But it was his eye's that Sakura loved the most.
"What are you doing here?" She asked quietly, the distant sound of their friends on the beach filtering in through her open windows.
He shifted, "I just came to see how you were settling in."
"Ah." She smiled softly, a blush stretching across her cheeks, "It's beautiful. I think we will all do well for some rest away from work."
He nodded in agreement. A silence stretched between them as they stared at each other, words going unsaid and thoughts running at a million miles an hour. How had they ended up here? So close and yet so far from each other. When he made no move to come to her again, she shoved her hand down onto her duffel to hide the stack of papers and stood, her summer dress falling to the middle of her shins once more.
"I think I'll get ready, if that's alright."
He shut his eyes against the sharp tone in her voice and nodded silently, turning to take his leave. He hadn't meant to push her away, but he was terrified of getting too close to her and then loosing her altogether. It would break him. He was kidding himself when he thought a relationship could survive between two working ninja.
"I'll see you out there," he called quietly over his shoulder before sliding the door shut on the one woman he had ever loved.
Xox
Hours passed and she was now sat around the large table on the veranda that led down onto the beach, her legs tucked underneath her and a glass of sake in hand. Shino and Kiba had overseen the barbeque for the evening and piles of fresh seafood had been demolished by them all, stacks of empty plates and now empty bottles lining the kitchen counters.
Her summer dress was back on, a grey jumper thrown over the top for warmth as the night crept ever closer and brought the cold with it. She smiled as Tenten told one of her many mission stories, her arms spread wide as she enthusiastically imitated the nin she had defeated. Her eyes slid over, distracted from her friend's antics by the deep laugh of a man she knew all to well.
He was sat with Naruto, laughing at something the blonde had said. One ankle was crossed over his knee and he was leaning back into his chair, relaxed and at ease. A whiskey sat in one hand and she watched out the corner of her eyes as he lifted it and took a sip, his tongue licking his lips afterwards. She shifted in her seat, a longing tension building at her core.
They hadn't had sex during their time together. There had been long, passionate kisses and wandering hands but that was as far as they had taken their relationship. She had been longing for his touch for weeks now. Longing to feel what the weight of him on top of her would feel like, the length of him inside of her -
"- don't you think so Sakura?"
Her head spun round, "Ah. Sorry! What were you saying?"
"I was saying we should play a game!" Tenten grinned as Ino wiggled her eyebrows and waved an empty Sake bottle back and forth.
Sakura frowned, "Please don't tell me you're going to suggest what I think you are."
"Oh, they are." Temari deadpanned, although Sakura spotted the small blush across her cheeks.
"I really don't think that's a good idea…" Hinata started, ringing her hands slightly as she glanced at Naruto.
"There are some people here in relationships, ya know." Sakura raised an eyebrow at Ino.
"That's fine! They can take a shot of alcohol instead. Oh, come on, it'll be fun!"
"We all know why you're doing this,"
"Which is exactly why as my closest girl friends you should help me out!" Ino grinned, glancing round the group enthusiastically.
"Fine." They all grumbled in agreement.
"Oh boys!" Ino called, gathering everyone around the table and catching their attention, "I have a fun idea for a game we could play!"
"Absolutely not," came Shikamaru's immediate reply.
"You don't even know what it is yet!"
"Knowing you it will be something like strip poker," He drawled, earning a laugh in agreement from Choji.
Ino grinned, "Even better. Spin the bottle."
She sat the empty Sake bottle in the centre of the table and then produced a fresh one with shot glasses as a collective groan echoed throughout the group.
"Oh, stop it!" Tenten chastised, "If you don't want to kiss whoever it lands on than you can just take a shot instead,"
"I think it's a great idea," Sai smiled.
"Bah. What a drag," Shikamaru sighed, stretching back and propping his feet up onto the table.
Queue the madness that was the next hour as shots were downed, fingers were pointed, and accusations were made. Who knew that your friends could get so offended when you didn't want to kiss them? Sakura thought absentmindedly. Neji had stayed quiet throughout and so far, had managed to get away with drinking a shot when the neck of the bottle pointed at Hinata but was soon subjected to a kiss from Kiba who he immediately threw away as soon as they made contact. Howls of laughter echoed across the beach and Sakura giggled behind her hand as he made a show of wiping his lips.
Naruto celebrated with a triumphant shout when the bottle landed on his girlfriend but sagged in defeat and tried to scramble away when Lee came after him. Sakura's few turns had resulted in a quick, giggly peck for Tenten and a hard shot for both Choji and Shino. Kiba on the other hand didn't even give her a chance to make a decision as he hopped over the table and pressed his lips firmly into hers. If she wasn't so madly in love with Neji, she would have probably enjoyed it.
But she soon found the bottle being handed to her again and with a sigh she stood, reaching over to the centre of the table and placing it down, noting how she was starting to get light-headed from the alcohol and wondering whether it would be easier to just start snogging everyone to avoid the hangover tomorrow.
With a flick of the wrist it span, and she watched on with abject horror as it stopped and pointed directly at the centre of Neji's chest.
She looked up with wide eyes to see his focused solely on the bottle, his lilac orbs unblinking as a chorus of cheers and encouraging woops echoed around them. When neither made a move to grab a shot, the cheering only grew louder and it managed to break through the daze Sakura found herself in. She shook her head softly, trying to hide the pink blush that dusted her cheeks as she stuttered, wringing her fingers slightly. She didn't want to grab a shot and offend him but she also didn't want to kiss him in front of their entire friendship group; she was concerned she wouldn't be able to control her emotions, more than anything else.
But before she could even begin to comprehend the fact that he still hadn't reached for a shot, he abruptly stood up and started to make his way around the table. His lilac eyes tunnelled into hers and she felt herself back up slightly at the intensity in them. His fingertips dragged across the tabletop as he rounded the last corner and she felt her breathing intensify. If she could feel the growing tension than surely everyone else could too, but they were too busy hollering at Neji to even bother to notice her tripping over her words.
"N-Neji, its okay. You really don't have to-"
Her words were cut off as he reached out, cupped her head in both hands and pressed his lips firmly against hers.
It was like a dam had opened as her emotions flooded in and her heart soared. God, she had missed this. Missed him. She inhaled deeply as he massaged his mouth against hers, her hands coming up to cup his face as she stroked his cheeks with a feather light touch. Her heart was thundering in her chest and the noise from the table was all but drowned out by his presence. All too soon, he pulled away. Pressed one more gentle kiss to her lips and then straightened, letting his hands fall back to his sides.
"Did I miss the memo?" Kiba barked, "Were we supposed to be kissing each other like that?!"
All at once the table erupted with noise. Sakura was pulled back into her seat by a sea of female hands as she felt a furious blush rise up her neck. She stared at them with wide eyes as Ino fanned herself dramatically, demanding to know what it was like and not to leave out any details. Hinata was wondering aloud about her cousins' romantic side as Tenten and Temari shared a knowing smile, the bunned shinobi leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms as If her work here was done.
Neji received a few solid slaps on the back as he made his way back to his chair, his cheeks dusted slightly with pink at his own boldness in front of their friends.
"Well!" Ino announced as she stood up abruptly, "I think that's the perfect place to end this little charade!"
With a hip swish she grabbed the empty bottle and shot glasses and proceeded to sashay into the kitchen, eyeing Sai with a heated look over her shoulder. Sakura watched on as he slipped away and no one else seemed to bat an eyelid or care much as the two disappeared for the night into the dark corridor of the beach house.
She seemed to be the only one still fazed by what had just happened as the women started to busy themselves with clearing things away and the men carried on lounging around, drinks in hand as they discussed menial things about missions and fellow shinobi. She glanced at Neji to find him watching her, his hand gripping his whiskey glass until his knuckles were white and she wondered how it wasn't shattering beneath his fingers. She swallowed and rose quickly, gathering a few glasses in her hands as she darted for the kitchen and the relative safety of her girls.
The heat in that stare was enough to make her squirm with pleasure.
Xox
She was flat on her back, staring at the canopy above her bed with tired green eyes. A gentle breeze from her open windows sent goose bumps running up her exposed arms but she couldn't bring herself to move. To shut them. It was the middle of the night and everyone had long since gone to bed, some of the boys staying up a little longer to drink more. And even though she was tired from the days travel and antics, she couldn't sleep. Not even a wink.
It didn't matter, she thought. They weren't exactly doing anything tomorrow so she could just have a nap on the sand in the sun.
There was a good reason for her lack of sleep and that was the heated stare Neji had given her that she was replaying in her head repeatedly. Even when she shut her eyes, his lilac orbs were burned into her retina. She had spent the rest of the evening with a coil of pleasure that wouldn't abate, no matter what distraction she tried. Her body was wound up so tight she wasn't surprised sleep was evading her.
She sighed, throwing an arm over her eyes. All she could think about now was the way his lips had pressed into hers with such urgency. His scent had been all over her, consuming her. His touch gentle but firm. His body pressed against the length of hers until her imagination took over and she felt her other hand move beneath the lip of the sheets covering her body, traveling down until her fingertips brushed the cotton of her underwear.
Just as she was about to deal with the pleasure she was struggling to rid herself of, a sliver of light appeared on the other side of her room as her door slid open silently, and a figure stepped in.
She froze. Fully aware of the situation she was currently in, one hand across her eyes and the other clearly in her underwear with her legs slightly spread. She sat up quickly, ready to explain herself away to whoever had come to disturb her when she recognised the broad shoulders, long hair and scent of pine that washed over her.
"N-Neji?" she whispered quietly.
Dappled moonlight scattered over his form as he stepped forwards and she wondered if she was dreaming, still imagining his heated stare in her head. But as they stared at each other and she watched his chest rise and fall, his eyes scanning her body and his fingers clenching and unclenching, she knew that this was very much real.
No words were needed as he took two large steps towards her and she leant forwards, reaching out with her hands as he made it to the bed, and she pulled him down into a passionate kiss.
Suddenly he was on top of her, the weight of him pushing her down into the mattress as her hands wound up around his shoulders to grip the back of his head. He wasted no time in spreading her legs with his thighs and settling between them, pushing his rather obvious reaction to her presence into the apex of her thighs, making her gasp into his mouth.
"I missed you," He murmured, running kisses down the length of her neck as he rocked against her.
"Neji," She moaned, tipping her head back as he dragged a hand up the length of her thigh, pushing her t-shirt up over the flat planes of her stomach. Her fingers dug into the back of his head as she arched into him, feeling her body coil in pleasure as he pushed her shirt up to expose her chest. His fingers dragged back down her skin and goose bumps rippled across its surface as he rained kisses across her breasts.
"I'm sorry, I'm not going to be able to stop," He gasped, as his fingers hooked into the edge of her cotton underwear and started pulling them down.
"Don't stop," she whimpered softly, shifting her hips to give him better access as she quickly removed her t-shirt.
Their movements became frantic, her fingers digging into his clothes as she ripped them off him as his hands found every available spot on her body.
"Neji…" She moaned, "I need you," She gasped, his fingers finding her core as she spasmed against him, "I need you inside of me."
And he did not disappoint. She cried out as he thrust into her, quickly swallowing her moans of pleasure with his lips as he began a steady rhythm. She got lost in a sea of brown hair and deep silver eyes as an overwhelming sensation rocked through her body, making her arch her back and her skin sing. She couldn't help the moans of pleasure that kept slipping out of her throat and Neji had to ravage her lips with his own to swallow them all before they woke the whole house up.
With a quick flick of his wrists he flipped her, taking her again from behind whilst burying his face into the side of her neck, reaching round with his hand and finding that blissful bundle of nerves that almost sent her over the edge.
"Neji I'm – I can't stop – "
She felt a hand clamp over her mouth and she all but screamed into his palm as her orgasm ripped through her, shuddering against him as pulled her flush into his chest. He groaned into her skin, his teeth digging in as she clenched down on him and he followed suit, his own orgasm making him shudder.
Deep breathes and the last remnants of pleasure kept them momentarily joined at the hips and Sakura revelled in the feeling of him as she came down off her high. He gently rolled off her, opening his arms up as she turned and buried herself into his side.
She glanced up, staring into his silver orbs, "What was that for?" she murmured softly.
He reached up with a bandaged hand, stroking his fingertips down the side of her cheek, "I missed you."
She grinned, blushing prettily "I missed you too,"
She paused, remembering the reason they had stepped away from each other in the first place and desperate to not loose him for a second time around she quickly jumped out of bed, throwing on his t-shirt as she darted over to her duffel.
He sat up, "Sakura? Are you okay?"
She nodded frantically, gripping a stack of messy papers in her hands, "I figured it out!" She laughed, suddenly nervous of his reaction, "How we can spend more time together. How we can make this work! I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I applied to be in Anbu. I got permission from Tsunade and was accepted a couple of weeks ago. I start training for the exams soon and there's no guarantee I will get in, of course, but I thought maybe it would be worth a shot and then I could speak with Kakashi about joining your tea-"
She had barely finished her speech she had spent the past few days planning when Neji leapt out of bed and within two strides had her crushed against him. His arms squeezed her tightly and she returned the hug with equal fervour, tears springing from her eyes and soaking his bare chest.
He pulled back, gripping her face with his hands, "You utterly brilliant kunoichi,"
She laughed, "So you aren't mad?"
"Mad? Haruno Sakura, I am in awe of you."
That was when the sobs started and he soothed her gently as she cried into him, her heart so full of love that she felt it bursting from her chest.
"I'll help you train. I have another week or two before I head up my first team." He whispered quietly, his hands rubbing gentle circles on her back.
"Arigatou," she smiled, leaning up on her tip toes and kissing him gently.
He wiped the remnants of her tears from the rosy skin of her cheeks and kissed her back, massaging his lips into hers until she was wrapping her arms around his neck and he was carrying her back to bed.
And there, in the dark of the night beneath the dappled light of a full moon, they made quiet love beneath the sheets.
Xox
There will be an epilogue for this so stayed tuned!