Asuka woke up early and went out for a jog to collect her thoughts. What do I say to Sakura? Do I tell her everything? Or just apologize?Do I explain or apologize to the other girls too? Why does being friends with girls have to be so hard! Her thoughts continued on in a ramble. She continued running till she decided she was just going to tell all the girls what happened. Once she returned home she showered and changed. She was just finished breakfast when there was knock at the door. Asuka grew tense. Just breathe if it's Sakura invite her in and explain. Asuka opened the door and sure enough it was Sakura.

"Hey, Asuka. What was that about yesterday?" Sakura asked concerned.

"I'm sorry about that. Please come in."

Sakura complied and they both sat on some cushions that Asuka had on her living room floor.

"There was a lot of bad stuff that happened in my past," Asuka began, "It lead to me not being a very trusting person. I would like to tell all of you at once. Do you think you could come back at around 7pm and bring the other girls?"

Sakura sat and thought, "Sure I could do that."

Sakura and Asuka then said their goodbyes and Asuka went out to the training field.

Asuka striped down and created an environment of snow. She then began her training routine which involve several different exercises that varied from taijutsu to ninjutsu. As she trained she felt someone enter her snowy training ground. She paused.

"My chakra flows through the snow! I can tell you're there so there is no use in hiding!" Asuka called out.

"You may be able to tell I'm here but I guess it doesn't tell you where I am." came Neji's voice from behind her.

Asuka spun around and sure enough Neji was there in the flesh.

"You're right it can't." Asuka said with a smile.

"Care for a training partner? I can assure you I'm a much better opponent than these wooden posts." Neji asked.

"Sure but only if your up for training my way." Asuka tested with a bigger smile.

Almost immediately Neji was down to his boxers and in position to begin combat. Asuka looked at him almost in shock.

"I am ready." Neji coaxed as the same smile from the mission crept across his face.

"Oh it is so on." Asuka said smiling back.

The two exchanged blows for about two and a half hours till finally they both flopped on the ground beside each other panting.

Asuka began to release her jutsu.

"Leave the part we're laying on, its nice after training like that." Neji asked.

Asuka complied. "So does this mean you're starting to see the purpose of it?" Asuka asked.

"It's unconventional, but it has its place." Neji answered.

There was a pause.

"Neji, I've always been curious, can you learn the gentle fist style without the byakugan?"

"It wouldn't be as useful to you as it would be to someone who possessed the byakugan."

"Ok."

"Why?"

"I have always been in awe of the gentle fist style, so I was just curious."

After another pause, almost expectantly, Neji's hand held Asuka's. They continued laying there in silence until finally Asuka released the last of her jutsu. They stood up and dressed.

Asuka's stomach growled loudly.

"I guess I'm hungry." Asuka stated the obvious.

"I am too," Neji said, "How about I treat you to a meal?"

Oh my god is Neji asking me out!?

"Consider it thanks for letting me in on your training," Neji added.

"Sure, and thank you."

"You're welcome."

The two made their way to one of the local restaurants, sat at a table and placed their orders. They sat in silence for a bit till Asuka broke the silence.

"Tenten told me that Lee tried to squeeze information out of you about our last mission."

"I see." Neji responded awkwardly.

"I'm kinda curious as to why you wanted to keep it a secret from your teammates." Asuka said more direct than she would have liked.

"I like to keep my private life separate from my work life." Neji explained.

"I guess I can understand that."

"I'm also not sure about everything yet, but I would like to." Neji stretched out his hand and placed it gently on Asuka's.

Asuka blushed slightly.

"Me too." Asuka responded.

Just then the food arrived which meant that Neji had to move his hand. Asuka's hand felt cold where the heat of Neji's hand had just been. They ate mostly in silence. Once they had finished, Neji was the first one to speak.

"What are your plans for the afternoon?" He asked.

"I was just going to keep training, but since you joined me it was much more intense that it usually is so my afternoon is free." Did that seem too desperate? This has already been kinda like a date. Am I pushing my luck?

"Alright, why don't you go home and wash up then meet me outside of the Hokage's office in an hour."

"Ok sounds good." Asuka responded as they stood up and went their separate ways for the time being.

Once home and in the shower Asuka's thoughts went crazy. What could he have planned? I don't like surprises but if I want to continue to get closer to Neji then I need to trust him. And if he truly cares about me then I'm sure I'm fine. Asuka took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

After calming herself down she finally got out of the shower, dressed, and went out the door to meet Neji. When she arrived Neji was waiting patiently.

"So why did you want to meet here?" Asuka asked once she had reached him.

"Come with me I would like to show you something." Neji answered as he lead her by the hand.

They zigged and zagged up a steep slope till they finally reached the top. Asuka looked out and saw the entire Leaf village before. She realized they were on top of the stone faces. Asuka was in awe of the beautiful view.

"This an amazing view." Asuka voiced aloud.

"I come up here to think and be alone sometimes."

"This is incredible Neji! You can see everything from up here!" Asuka shouted starting to get giddy.

Asuka looked back at Neji and saw that a smile had crossed his face.

"Why don't we sit down, there's something I would like to tell you." Neji suggested.

"Alright." Asuka asked as they sat down and looked out over the Leaf village.

"When I was just a boy my father chose to die for the main family so that the secret of the byakugan would be kept safe. I continued to grow up and hated the main family for their power over us." Neji took off his headband the reveal the curse mark on his forehead. "This curse mark is used to inflict pain on us if step out of line or puts the family in danger. I was bitter until I had my match with Naruto during the Chunin exams. He proved to me that destiny can change. Because of Naruto I became a better person. Ever since then I've come up here when I need to think. I would like you to think about this place if you need somewhere to be alone and separate yourself from everything."

Asuka sat and took in everything that Neji had said..

"Thanks Neji, I think I'll do that."

There was a moment of silence, then Asuka decided it was time to tell Neji about her past.

"When I was little I moved around a lot. It was just my mom and I. My dad left when I was just a baby so I don't know anything about him. My mom worked as a mercenary to provide for us. I was okay with us moving around for the most part, till we came to this one village. This girl, Amaya, pretended she was my friend to learn about me and my life and then she turned it around on me. She spread rumors and lies about my mom and I. When she wasn't doing that she was being a bully in other ways like sabotaging my stuff. It was the worst month of my life. When we finally moved again I cried tears of joy. I only told my mom later because she dragged it out of me during a training exercise. I chose not to trust anyone who wanted to be my friend. Everyone, except my mom, I kept at arm's length. Then one day the man that had hired my mom showed up at the door and told me that she was dead. I decided to come back to my mom's home village. All the time I've been training to be a ninja I secluded myself and never let anyone close to me, especially other girls. Then, like you, Naruto convinced me to break what I had believed. There was just something about him that made me relax and that was something I hadn't felt since my mom was alive."

Neji shuffled closer to Asuka and placed his hand on hers.

"You don't have to be alone anymore. You have me and you have our friends... and I hope you will believe me when I say that you can trust them with your life." Neji comforted.

As they continued talking they shared likes, dislikes and got to know each other better. They talked until the sun was setting.

"Wait! What time is it!" Asuka asked as she suddenly remembered that the girls were supposed to come over to her place.

"6:49 why?"

"I invited the girls to come over to my place tonight! I need to get home!"

Neji gave a playful smile.

"And what is that look for?"

"Let's have a race."

"I think you've been hanging around Lee too much."

"Come on, if you win I'll buy you ramen for a week." Neji teased.

"Okay your on!"

With that they raced all the way to Asuka's front door and they both touched it at the same time. Their breathing was heavy as they both started laughing. Finally, they caught their breath.

"What's the time?" Asuka asked.

"6:57"

"Sweet! We made it with time to spare."

Asuka unlocked her door.

"Did you want to come in for a drink?"

"I'll be fine, you just go on ahead and have fun with the girls." Neji tucked Asuka's hair behind her ear then traced her face till his hand was under her chin and gazed into her eyes. "I'll see you later." And with that he walked away.

Asuka went inside and closed the door. Oh my god! Neji is amazing! Mom I wish you could be here to meet him. He is exactly the kind of man I need in my life.

Her thoughts were brought back down to earth with the expected knock at the door. She opened the door and sure enough Sakura, Ino, Tenten, and Hinata were there.

"Come on in girls."

They all complied.

"Please make yourselves at home."

"Thanks for having us over Asuka." Tenten said.

"Yeah it's nice to finally see the inside of your place." Ino said.

"It's not much but it's home." Asuka responded.

All of the girls gathered in the living room, sat down and listened as Asuka explained her childhood. Her earlier conversation with Neji had given her the confidence she needed, but it was still difficult to open up to girls she didn't know very well.

Once she finished her story she quietly waited for their reaction.

"I can't believe someone would be that cruel." Tenten said.

"If that bitch ever shows up here I will pummel her!" Sakura shouted.

"That's just awful." Ino said.

"I'm sorry that happened to you Asuka." Hinata said.

"Thanks girls. When you were all leaning in eager to hear what happened it just set me off. I will try to not freak out any more." Asuka explained.

"Don't even worry about it. Like Sakura said, we'll beat the crap out of that girl if she shows her face around here." Tenten encouraged.

"And besides you're a badass now too. I'm sure you could take her." Ino reassured.

"We'll also be here for you every step of the way." Hinata comforted.

"Now back to more important matters. What happened with you and Neji?" Sakura prodded.

All the girls looked at Asuka. This time, however, instead of feeling intimidated, Asuka felt what Neji and Naruto had told her. She could trust these girls.

"You really want to know?" Asuka teased.

"YES!" The girls all said in unison.

"Okay then... Neji and I kissed."

Eyes went wide and mouths dropped. Tenten was the first to say something.

"Well that explains why he didn't want to tell Lee. Lee would have gone overboard."

"Yeah knowing Lee and Guy Sensei they probably would have started planning his bachelor party." Sakura joked.

"What do you think Hinata?" Asuka asked.

"I think its good you two are interested in each other, but why does my opinion matter?"

"Being part of Neji's family I wanted to know how you felt about it."

"So have you guys kissed again since then?" Ino asked.

"No, but I feel as though he is relaxing more around me."

The girls continued to chat till about 10pm. Once the apartment was once again quiet and Asuka was alone, she flopped on her bed.

"That wasn't so bad I don't know what I was afraid of. These girls are nothing like Amaya." she said aloud. Asuka's stomach growled. She got back up off the bed stripped down and made herself some ramen. Once she had finished eating she went to bed and slept very peacefully.