Neji's Vacation: Homecoming

Author's notes: Neji returns to Konoha with gifts for everyone and gets a note from Kankuro.

Rated M for sexy times between male characters, swearing, and gore.

I don't own the characters but I'm taking liberties with them and their universe.

Again: Happy holidays ;)

Neji arrived in Konoha early Sunday morning, tired but content. He had spent Friday morning and part of the afternoon with Kado and Toju in the hot springs. Roku had given him another wonderful full body massage that night. Neji had thought of Kankuro to relieve the excess pleasure and spent Saturday with the two retired jonin in the hot springs and wandering the village until he checked out shortly after their last meal together.

Neji had been fully packed before meeting the two and once dinner was complete, he had dressed in his typical shinobi attired, checked out, and taken off after saying his good bye to the two who were going to the bars. Neji had run at full speed and not taken a break which was why he was walking into Konoha's gates at a little after eight in the morning, a mere ten hours from setting out.

He was exhausted but it was the kind of tiredness that came from a great training session. He could still spend the entire day on his feet and Neji needed to. His first order of business was to report his arrival to Tsunade-sama and gift her with the specialty sake he had found in the village.

For Tenten he had an authentic Hot Water Monk knife set. For Lee and Guy-sensei he had picked up books on fighting styles of the Hidden Hot Water Monks. For Sakura he had found a beautiful ankle bracelet that doubled as a holder for poisons. The others did not expect anything from him but he had brought back items for his family.

Hinata-sama would get a rare flower from the Land of Hot Waters, all ready pressed for her flower book. Hanabi-sama would get a red obi to match the bright outfits she wore. This obi could be stacked with weapons though Neji did not think his youngest cousin would do so. Hiashi-sama would get a portable Go board. Neji had not forgotten his students.

Kuma would get a set of senbon needles that could be injected with poison and act as a bee-stinger. Akino would get a set of fingerless gloves with steel embedded in the knuckles. Tora would get a book of ancient healing techniques. Neji knew his students, family, and friends would appreciate the gifts.

Neji arrived in Tsunade-sama's office at 8:34AM and she raised her eyebrows at him in wonder. Shizune chuckled as Neji strode forward, bowed then offered her the little white box he had gotten the sake packed in. Tsunade-sama took it and opened it with a grin. He kept back his laugh when she came around his desk and gave him a bone-crushing hug.

"I should send you on vacation more often, Neji," Tsunade-sama said.

Neji chuckled as she released him from the hug then reached up and patted his head. She sat back in her chair, still smiling and reclined in it, tenting her hands in front of her face and crossing one leg over the other.

"I also appreciate you not over-spending when you realized the Fire Lord and Konoha would be taking care of everything," Tsunade-sama said.

"That would have been foolish," Neji said.

"You figured out what you needed to figure out?" She asked.

Neji inclined his head. Tsunade-sama kept smiling.

"Good. Your genin missed you. It took them only until Monday to figure out they might be cleared for missions but could not go on one till you returned and they started sulking," Tsunade-sama said.

Neji snickered along with her and grinned. He was dismissed and Neji thanked her again with a low bow before leaving. He did not go straight home but instead went to Yamanaka Flowers. The shop was open and Neji let out a breath before stepping inside.

Ino called out her standard greeting, spotted who she was greeting then squealed in excitement. Neji frowned when she grabbed him by the hand and led him to the counter at the back of the store, talking about how Kankuro had sent him flowers and a note which she had not opened. Neji was grateful for her keeping the note sealed for the three days it had been in the store and she told him how the curiosity of it was killing her.

"You look perfectly healthy though," Neji remarked.

She swatted him then ducked behind the counter to get his flower and note. Neji recognized the blossoms but had yet to memorize the book. Ino pointed to each flower (a bouquet for him this time) and he paid rapt attention:

"Begonia for deep thoughts, hibiscus for delicate beauty, hyacinth for sincerity but I'm sure you know that one by heart, jasmine for grace and elegance, and finally lilac for first love. Now read the note! And please, please, please give me a brief overview or something!"

Neji raised an eyebrow at her and took his bouquet of compliments and first love with a bit of a flush on his cheek. Poor Kankuro would be pacing all of Suna by now, wondering why the Hell he had not gotten a response back. Neji took the note from the flowers and had to place the flowers back on the counter so he could open the sealed envelope and get to the note:

Neji,

I might be moving quickly again and I'm sorry. I can't help it. I miss you and I've been thinking of you every single second of every day to the point Gaara's told me to snap out of it. He thinks I'm under some kind of trance or something, hence the begonia.

You know the hibiscus and jasmine are compliments to you directly. There aren't enough flowers in the world to give you the compliments you deserve though. There aren't even enough words in the dictionary to do it.

You know hyacinth means I'm being sincere about all of that. Well, that and the first love lilacs. I've been with other shinobi, dating and just for sex but you're the first one who's affected me like this. I haven't been with anyone in the year and almost half I knew I had feelings for you and now that I've been with you I don't want anyone else.

I know this might freak you out and I'm sorry. Feel free to totally ignore me until you're ready.

Yours,

Kankuro

Neji let out a breath and could not help but chuckle. He wanted to jump for joy and go running through Konoha shouting about his love. He wanted to hug Ino. He wanted to run all the way to Suna and kiss Kankuro. He did none of these things but did have to blink away happy tears.

He looked to Ino who was bouncing on her stool. Neji rolled his eyes and gave her the note. She gaped and began reading it swiftly. Her eyes went massive and her jaw dropped to the point he could see her tonsils. When she was finished she let out a happy squeal, jumped over the counter and tackle-hugged him.

Neji almost did not catch them before falling into a display of flowers but managed. He did knock into an upright display but it stayed upright. Ino was giggling insanely in his ear and Neji could not help but snort. Finally she allowed him to let her go and she leaned against the counter, grinning broadly.

"Oh my god! Please, please, please tell me you're not going to ignore him! You can't leave him hanging after this," Ino said.

Neji chuckled and let out a breath, running his hand through his hair. She shoved the note under his nose and he took it as she began discussing how it was difficult to get any man to write his feelings out. Neji shut her up by putting a hand over her mouth and she blinked at him.

"I intend to send him something back," Neji said.

He removed his hand to see her grinning. Ino caught her stool before she knocked it over with how quickly she sat on it then waited. Neji produced his note, folded in threes, and she pouted. Neji sighed but shook his head. He did have a copy of the note in his journal so Sakura could read it tonight.

"I want lilac and hyacinth," Neji said.

Ino giggled but nodded. Neji hummed and thought about it. Ino waited, pen poised over the paper to either take down the words he wanted to be translated into flowers or the flowers themselves.

"Pansy," Neji said.

Ino beamed at the first love, sincerity, and loving thoughts. He was about to kill her.

"Red and yellow tulips," Neji said.

Ino fell off her stool with a gasp. Neji looked over the counter to make sure she had not hit her head and almost got head-butted when she got up. She yelled in excitement and wrapped him in a crushing head-lock meant to be a hug. The shout was so loud her mother came out from the back to gape.

"What in the Hell?" her mother asked.

"Red and yellow tulips," Ino answered.

In any other family this would not have made sense. In the Yamanaka family it was an understandable language. Ino's mother gave a shout and started hugging Ino and Neji. Neji groaned and managed to get away from the two.

"Red for declaration of love and yellow for hopelessly in love," Ino's mother said. "Lilac, first love, hyacinth for sincerity, and pansy for loving thoughts!"

They dissolved into giggles. Neji waited as the two contained themselves then started running around the store to gather the blooms Neji wanted. Ino arranged them, wrote the small note for the flower meaning, and Neji handed her his note. She stuck it in an envelope before writing Kankuro's name on it.

"To Kankuro in Suna, hm?" Ino's mother asked.

Neji nodded. She smiled at him and he produced his wallet. Both Yamanaka's laughed and waved him off. Neji blinked.

"On the house, red and yellow tulips are always on the house," Ino said.

Neji thanked them with a low bow and they grinned.

"We'll have this sent with our fastest runner. He'll get them by tomorrow evening at the latest," Ino said.

Neji hugged her in thanks and she giggled. Her mother went to the back with what would become Kankuro's bouquet. Neji took his bouquet and let out a breath. Kankuro would know tomorrow evening. Neji wished he could wipe the smile off his face.

"I'll let you know the minute something comes back," Ino said.

"Thank you, I mean it," Neji said.

Ino grinned.

"No worries just make sure we're the ones doing any flowers for the wedding," Ino said with a wink.

Neji felt his entire face heat and she stared at him in awe then started laughing. Neji ducked away when she produced a camera and she pouted.

"Aw, I didn't think you could blush like Hinata," Ino said.

Neji snorted and gave her a backwards wave as he left the flower shop. He still had plenty of time to deliver his gifts and talk to Hiashi-sama.

Neji found his students at the training field with the other people Neji wanted to see. Tenten was working with Kuma, Sakura with Tora, while both Guy-sensei and Lee drilled Akino. Neji noticed Kuma had her leg weights on and Tora had tied back her long hair in a braid. Akino's knuckles were battered and bruised.

Tenten, Guy-sensei, Sakura, and Lee noticed him first but did not turn right away. Kuma performed a flying kick, spotted Neji, landed on her hands screaming his name then tackled him with a hug. Neji chuckled as he hugged her back and she began talking so quickly he caught every other word.

"Kuma, breathe," Neji said with a laugh.

She inhaled hugely then let it out in a rush. Neji held her shoulders and chuckled as the others came over with grins. Kuma grinned up at him then hugged him again. Tora joined in and Akino did not have to be pulled in for once.

"I did not think you would all miss me so much," Neji said.

"Of course we missed you Neji-sensei," the shouted in unison.

They looked at each other with stunned faces while Sakura and Tenten giggled. Lee and Guy-sensei started going on about youth and Neji smirked. Neji pried the three off then went to his bag. His students watched as he went digging through it.

"You weren't on a mission, were you?" Tora asked.

Neji hadn't even handed out the first gift yet. He raised and eyebrow at her then nodded once. All three fell over and Neji laughed as they began complaining.

"Oh please, you three got to train with us while Neji sorted through stuff," Tenten said.

"Yeah, but—" Kuma tried.

"Would you have rather him be distracted while training you guys?" Sakura asked.

"No," they said together.

"Good," Tenten said.

"Sometimes a shinobi needs rest before he can fully access his Powers of Youth," Guy-sensei said with a nod.

Neji snorted and got out the gifts, handing them to each in turn. Sakura looked surprised to have received something. Lee and Guy-sensei ripped into theirs without waiting for anyone else as did Kuma. All three wrapped him in a hug while shouting thanks in his ears.

Once the hugging was over, Lee and Guy-sensei instantly sat on the ground in lotus position to read their books. Kuma began playing with her senbon with a smile on her face not unlike the one on Tenten's when she finally revealed the knife set.

Akino tugged his gloves into place with a grin then smacked his knuckles together. His smile broadened and he thanked Neji with a hug. Neji noticed Akino had grown an inch and decided not to mention it. Tora hugged him, sat beside Lee, and began to read. Neji looked to Sakura who was staring at her ankle bracelet with wide eyes.

"It's beautiful and useful," Sakura said.

"All of Neji's gifts are like that," Tenten told her.

She saw the ankle bracelet and smirked before revealing her own. Sakura gaped then started laughing. Neji smiled when she gave him a half-hug. Kuma was throwing her senbon all ready and chasing them to the target. Tenten had started sealing her knives in a scroll. Tora, Lee, and Guy-sensei were reading intently. Akino had gone to a post and started punching it with a broad smile.

"Oh, also, I believe in a few days Kankuro and I will be official," Neji said.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared. He fell over from all of them trying to hug him at once and they all laughed. Neji laughed along with him, not entirely too sure who he was hugging or where but finding he did not care. It took a while to untangle arms and limbs without being poked by a knife or senbon needle but they managed.

"Man, you need to go on vacation more often," Tenten said.

"Really," Sakura said.

"Noooo," Kuma whined.

Neji smirked at her and she hugged him again, pouting and almost sticking him with a senbon. He was glad the needles hadn't come with poison pre-injected.

"Why not?" Neji asked.

"Cuz I missed you," Kuma said. "And Tenten-sensei can't keep up with my kicks. And I beat up Doi-baka and put him in the hospital till tomorrow by accident. And I beat up Hanabi-chan but it was boring."

Neji snorted and patted her back. Tenten nodded with an eye roll and crossed arms when he looked to her for confirmation.

"So, what, I am your punching bag?" Neji questioned.

"Noooo," Kuma returned. "You're my sensei, the best sensei ever and I missed you and you're not allowed to go on vacation unless we come with you so there."

Neji felt a warm fuzzy feeling seep into his heart and held her close. Tora came over without prodding but Neji had to pull Akino in. Akino muttered his word but took the hug. Neji caught Guy-sensei beaming. Tenten had a smirk on her face. Lee had tears in his eyes and Sakura had a soft smile.

Neji pulled back from the hug and blinked away the few tears in his eyes. Kuma still hadn't let him go and he patted her head.

"Thank you," Neji said. "I still have to see and talk to a few more people though so tomorrow we will start our oh five hundred hour training regime. You can all show me what you have learned."

Kuma pouted but let him go. He ruffled her hair again and she beamed. Neji looked to Sakura who grinned.

"Chocolate Fudge, Neji. And it'll be me and you alone," Sakura said.

This made everyone laugh but Neji inclined his head in acknowledgement. He turned on his heel and gave his friends, students, and precious people a wave as he walked away. He had one more trip to make and this one might be complicated.

The Hyuuga compound was as he had left it a little over a week ago. Neji went to his room first to bathe and unpack. Hanabi-sama's gift came in the largest box but it was not big enough he could not carry it under his arm. Hinata-sama's fit in a pocket in his vest, as did his journal, and Hiashi-sama's gift. Neji left his room and activated the Byakugan.

Hanabi-sama and Hinata-sama were in the gardens, tending to the bonsai trees growing along the wall. Neji went there first, knowing Hiashi-sama was in his office. He was glad they had not been in their bedrooms as those walls were treated with chakra so the Byakugan could not see inside.

The few cousins and other family members about greeted him with a nod and he returned it as he made his way to the gardens. Hanabi-sama sensed him first and looked up. Hinata-sama followed her sister's gaze and they both smiled and waved him over.

"Welcome back Neji-niisan," Hanabi-sama said.

"It is good to be back, Hanabi-sama," Neji said.

He settled in front of the two and handed them their respective boxes. Hanabi-sama opened hers with a flourish and gaped at the obi. She squealed happily and hugged him. Hinata-sama thanked him with a broad smile and a hug.

"You are both most welcome," Neji said.

Hanabi-sama grinned wickedly at him and Neji waited for the question he knew was coming.

"So, did you figure out what to do about your love issues?" Hanabi-sama asked.

Neji inclined his head and she stiffed with her eyes wide in anticipation. Neji smirked.

"Hopefully once Kankuro writes back we will be an official couple," Neji said.

Hanabi-sama squealed in joy and hugged him again. Hinata-sama giggled before joining in on the hug. They parted and wiped the broad smiles off their faces when they sensed someone coming towards them. The elder nodded and all three nodded back in respect, Neji bowing a bit as his curse seal dictated.

When the elder passed, Hanabi-sama blew hair out of her eyes and her smile widened a bit. Neji let out a little breath and shook his head.

"I have to speak to Hiashi-sama," Neji said.

"About Kankuro?" Hanabi-sama questioned, a frown coming to her face.

Hinata-sama began fiddling with her fingers and biting her lip. Neji inclined his head and stood. Hanabi-sama stood with him but he shook his head at her, resting a hand on her shoulder.

"I will be fine, do not worry," Neji said.

"But we can help," Hanabi-sama said.

Neji nodded in acknowledgement and squeezed her shoulder. Kankuro was one of the concepts Neji wanted to talk to Hiashi-sama about. Neji did not want Hinata-sama or Hanabi-sama in the room for the other.

"I know but this is something I want to do on my own," Neji said.

Hanabi-sama huffed but nodded. Neji thanked her and bowed to both before striding towards the compound. Living in the maze all his life made it easy for him to find Hiashi-sama in his office. Neji knocked lightly and was relieved to find the place empty. He bowed low before entering and closed the door behind him. Neji kept his eyes on the floor until Hiashi-sama told him to sit and allowed him to look at him.

"Uncle, is there somewhere we can talk where the walls do not have the threat of eyes or ears?" Neji questioned.

Hiashi-sama raised an eyebrow and the frown became a bit deeper. Hiashi-sama nodded but motioned for Neji to stay where he was. Hiashi-sama activated the Byakugan before touching a place near the door. Neji felt the shift in chakra and knew his uncle had activated some sort of seal on the room.

"No sound will travel outside this room even if we are to start screaming at the tops of our voices. The door will not be able to be opened until I release the seal and the Byakugan has been rendered mote. Go on," Hiashi-sama said.

Neji inclined his head in thanks and let out a breath. He put Hiashi-sama's gift and the journal onto the table then met Hiashi-sama's curious look.

"There are two major issues I want to speak to you about, one that is potentially complicated but is rather good news, the other which is exceptionally complicated and may require us to keep a secret from the entire clan. And I got you a gift. How would you like to order this?" Neji asked.

Hiashi-sama smirked, a fleeting motion but took his gift. He unwrapped it easily and smiled at the miniature Go board. Hiashi-sama placed the gift on the edge of his desk and leaned forward.

"Do I need to get tea and make sure no one tries to open the door before we continue?" Hiashi-sama questioned.

Neji inclined his head. Hiashi-sama wrote a note, unsealed the room then stuck the note to his door. He left and came back with a tray holding two mugs, a pot of tea, and some dango. The tray was sat on Hiashi-sama's desk and he sealed the room again.

"Let us start with the good news," Hiashi-sama said.

Neji smiled and let out a little breath. He let Hiashi-sama drink his tea and place the cup down before speaking:

"I, ah," Neji started but stopped.

He huffed and grabbed his journal, flicking to the page where he had copied the letter for Kankuro for Sakura to read. He gave Hiashi-sama Kankuro's note then pushed the journal towards Hiashi-sama. Hiashi-sama read over Kankuro's note, expression showing nothing then read over Neji's letter. A small smile came to his face.

"I am happy for you nephew," Hiashi-sama said. "A bit disappointed that you will not be passing on your Byakugan but happiness outweighs that. Plus, Kankuro will be able to fight against the Elders when the time comes to it. Besides, the Elders might be swayed to approve of a matching between you and Kankuro because it would directly link us to Suna."

Neji had not thought of it like that and inclined his head. He wanted to do a happy dance but he was in front of Hiashi-sama. Neji gaped when Hiashi-sama chuckled and came around the desk to hug him. Neji grinned and held Hiashi-sama close for a moment. The hug did not last long and they were setting across from each other moments later.

"Now the horrible news?" Hiashi-sama questioned.

Neji let out a breath and nodded. He frowned and turned his journal back around. Hiashi-sama raised his eyebrows when Neji ripped the first five pages out of his journal and placed them on Hiashi-sama's desk.

"I visited the Temple of Warabi while in the Land of Hot Waters," Neji began. "The library was home to many ancient books and I found the tapestry room everyone's been trying to find. One particular book in the library was entitled Hyuuga Bloodline Secrets."

Hiashi-sama scowled and he lowered his tea cup. Neji took a breath and kept going.

"In the book was everything we know about the Byakugan: how it manifests, our techniques, everything. We cannot destroy the book but I hid it in the tapestry room behind one such tapestry in a cubby no one without Byakugan can find. The room itself had been untouched for at least two hundred years so the book will not be found unless another Hyuuga goes there to look for it."

Hiashi-sama looked relieved then tilted his head in curiosity. Neji indicated the pages of his journal with one hand.

"There was one chapter in the book I copied out which described what is called the Red-Eyed Byakugan," Neji said.

Hiashi-sama's eyes went wide and he scowled. Neji watched as Hiashi-sama picked up his notes. Neji gave him the code and Hiashi-sama read the pages, his eyes growing wider and his lips parting as he scanned them. His hands began to tremble and Neji gulped. He had never seen Hiashi-sama so stricken.

"Am I reading this correctly?" Hiashi-sama asked. "We could gain the powers of the copy aspects of the Sharingan as well as the Mangekyo Sharingan, Susanoo, the genjutsu, and the hypnotizing capabilities?"

"Yes," Neji said.

"But we have to be in extreme pain, witnessing someone close to us almost dying, and become exceptionally emotional?"

"Yes,"

"All our chakra will then go to our eyes and if it does not render us blind will give us the Red-Eyed Byakugan?"

"Yes,"

"It will not cause us blindness but by the time we are fifty we will become so sensitive to light we will have to always have our eyes covered? Even so the pain will be so intense we would kill ourselves before our sixtieth birthdays?"

"Yes to both,"

Neji watched as Hiashi-sama sat back in his chair and let the papers drop to his desk. He rubbed his forehead, eyes closed, and a scowl on his face.

"We could replace the dead Uchiha clan but my God the pain we would have to go through to do it, risking permanent blindness if we fail then early deaths by our own hand if we succeed. It is not worth it. Who else have you told?" Hiashi-sama asked.

Neji let out a breath of relief.

"No one, only you and I know about it. I did not mention it in the other parts of my journal nor did I tell the two retired jonin I met what I had found. You read my letter to Kankuro," Neji answered.

Hiashi-sama let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair, shoulders relaxing and body going limp as he leaned back in the chair. Neji had never seen his uncle look so reassured. Hell he had never seen sweat gathering on Hiashi-sama's forehead from being worried.

"Good, good," Hiashi-sama said in a whisper.

"We are not telling the elders?" Neji asked.

Hiashi-sama's eyes went wide and he shook his head furiously. Neji smiled and Hiashi-sama nodded to him.

"This stays between us. I know you care for Kankuro now but not even he gets to know. No one and I mean NO ONE will know about this besides you and I. Not Hinata, not Hanabi, and never the Elders. The first person they would want to attempt this is you and they would likely try and kill Kankuro to do it," Hiashi-sama said.

Neji pushed down his fear and anger and nodded. Hiashi-sama let out a long breath then scowled at the notes. Neji followed Hiashi-sama to the fire place in his office and watched as Hiashi-sama burned Neji's notes. They watched the pages be eaten up by the flames until they were nothing but ashes.

"This was the only copy you made?" Hiashi-sama questioned.

"Yes, of course. Even if someone wanted to use the rest of the journal to figure out by pen impression they could not because of the other writing I did," Neji replied.

Hiashi-sama nodded. Their eyes met and Neji tried not to think of how creepy the Hyuuga white eyes looked in fire-light. Hiashi-sama seemed to get the same feeling and they moved to the desk again.

"The book you found is hidden in a place only a Hyuuga could access?" Hiashi-sama enquired.

"Yes and I placed a seal on this. I know how the Elders think as well, Uncle. It is why I made only one copy and hid the book as I did. Warabi's journals have not been found in four hundred years so neither will that book. It will disintegrate before someone finds it," Neji said.

Hiashi-sama smiled and nodded in relief. He held his head up with one hand and met Neji's eyes. The wrinkles around Hiashi-sama's eyes looked deeper and his hair looked a bit grayer in the light. Neji had never thought he would see his uncle look so old.

"Good. I am glad you take after your father in that way," Hiashi-sama said.

Neji smirked and Hiashi-sama sighed.

"We will never speak of the Red-Eyed Byakugan again once I un-seal this room," Hiashi-sama said.

"What Red-Eyed Byakugan?" Neji questioned.

Hiashi-sama smiled at him and the room un-sealed. Neji bowed to Hiashi-sama then picked up his journal. He bowed again, thanked Hiashi-sama for his time, and left the room. It was hardly lunch and Neji had accomplished everything he intended. He would pack an over-night bag, eat lunch at Ichiraku's then take a nap before leaving to buy the ice cream and heading to Sakura's. They had a lot to discuss tonight.

Reviews welcome, next chapter will be another sleep over chapter. Remember how I said the hair and make-up thing would develop into something interesting? This comes up next chapter. ;)

Also: props to Kuma on being Kuma. :P