Asuka awoke to the smell of her favorite tea. She rose from bed still feeling a bit emotionally exhausted from yesterday's meltdown. When she entered the kitchen/dinning room she saw Neji placing a cup of tea on the table.

"Did you stay here all night?" Asuka asked a little groggy.

"Yes I did, when I laid you in your bed you wouldn't let go of me."

"Really? I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize."

Asuka sat down and took a sip of her tea. Then the thought that maybe the two of them had done something more crossed her mind.

"Is something wrong?" Neji asked.

"Did anything happen between us last night?" Asuka asked a bit sheepish.

"Absolutely Not." Neji replied firmly. "Don't get me wrong, I care deeply for you but you were not in the mindset for that."

Asuka gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

There was another pause.

"Where did you end up sleeping?" Asuka asked.

"I moved to your couch once you finally let go of me. You were pretty emotional yesterday so I thought I would stay and see how you felt this morning." Neji explained.

"I'm feeling better, I guess just seeing Sasuke take out Takashi so easily made me feel like my skills were seriously lacking."

"So that's why you pushed yourself so hard yesterday."

"Exactly. I wanted to be better than I was yesterday." Asuka said.

"Then what do you say to some early morning training?" Neji suggested.

"Sounds good to me."

So the two ate some breakfast and then went out to the training grounds.

Not long after they began Guy Sensei greeted them.

"Good morning you two."

"Good morning Guy Sensei." they greeted together.

"Asuka, I was just talking with Lady Tsunade and Kakashi and asked them how they would feel about you becoming a part of Team Guy."

"Really?" Asuka said kind of curious.

"You bet! I was impressed by your spirit you showed yesterday." Guy said giving Asuka a thumbs up. "They said that the decision would be up to you. So what do you say Asuka? Do you want to join team Guy?"

"I think being a part of Team Guy would be a great idea." Asuka said with a smile.

"Excellent! Then I would like to present you with this!" Guy said as he held up a green jumpsuit.

Asuka cringed a little knowing it was exactly what he and Lee wore.

"Thank you Guy Sensei." Asuka accepted graciously.

"You are very welcome. Now if you will excuse me I'm off to do my own training with Lee. I'll see you two later!" Guy said as he ran off.

"You're not planning on actually wearing that thing are you?" Neji asked.

"Probably only if I had nothing else to wear, but I didn't want to be rude."

"Well then, shall we continue?"

"Yes lets."

The two trained till lunch then took a break for lunch and headed to Ichiraku Ramen. While they were eating a young Genin with spiky brown hair and a blue scarf approached.

"Konohamaru here with a message for Asuka Nakamura." he said handing a scroll to Asuka.

"Thank you Konohamaru."

"You're welcome." he said as he ran off.

Asuka opened the scroll and read it. She had mixed feelings about the contents.

"Is everything alright?" Neji asked.

"It's from Amaya. She says she hasn't caught up with him yet but she can tell me that my father is alive."

All sorts of emotions swelled up in Asuka as she thought about the eventuality of meeting the father that left her behind years ago. I have so many questions for him. "why did you leave?" "didn't you love me?" I don't even know where I am going to begin with him.

"I wouldn't worry too much." Neji said giving Asuka a subtle and reassuring smile. " It just gives you time to think."

"Yeah, I guess I kind of half expected him to be dead."

"Well no matter what happens, I'll be here for you." Neji said gently.

"Thank you."

They finished their lunch then went back to training till close to dinner time.

"You're already improving in your taijutsu." Neji praised.

"Well I do have a pretty awesome sparing partner." Asuka flirted.

Neji pulled her in close and gave her a firm sweet kiss. I don't think I will ever grow tired of how I feel when he kisses me. He completes me. I want to be by his side always.

Once the kiss ended without saying a word Neji grabbed her hand and lead her back to his place. In the yard there was a blanket and some cushions neatly organized underneath a cherry blossom tree. On one of the corners of the blanket was a picnic basket. Neji led her to the blanket and they sat down together.

"When did you have the time to put something like this together?"

"I had some help. I thought you could use a nice date after everything that's happened so far." Neji explained.

"Thank you Neji. This is exactly what I needed." Asuka sunk in and cuddled with Neji as they munched on their food. These feelings for you I never want to fade. We may have butted heads in the beginning but now I feel like we couldn't be more perfect for each other. Even though it hasn't been that long I feel I can honestly say "Neji, I love you."

A moment passed.

Oh crap! Did I say that out loud? Good job Asuka! Way to scare him off.

"I love you too."

Asuka was shocked. She sat up and looked Neji in the eye. Neji leaned in and gave her a kiss that was so full of love that Asuka felt like fireworks were going off in her head as she kissed back. Nothing else existed in that moment except the two of them.

After dinner Neji walked Asuka home and kissed her good night. Once inside Asuka had almost no control over her body as she squealed and did a little happy dance.

"Are you okay?" came Naruto's voice from Asuka's living room window.

Asuka spun around. "Naruto! Don't you know it's not nice to sneak up on people?"

"Ya but I heard you screech so I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I'm better than okay." Asuka said with the biggest grin on her face. "Have you eaten yet?"

"Nope, I just got back from my mission."

Asuka then noticed the bandage around his arm. "Did you sneak out of the hospital?"

"Yeah but that's only because the hospital doesn't have ramen and I am craving it." Naruto whined.

Asuka sighed. " Well come on in then, I'll make you some ramen."

Without hesitation Naruto entered the living room and sat down eagerly at the dinning room table. Asuka prepared the ramen and set in front of Naruto as she explained the events of the day, from becoming a part of Team Guy all the way to the I love you's with Neji. Naruto just grinned is boyish grin.

"I'm so glad to hear you and Neji are happy." Naruto said.

"We are. We really are." Asuka said with a love sick grin on her face.

"How are you feeling about your dad?" Naruto asked.

Asuka settled down. "It's a mixed bag. I'm happy that my dad is alive but I have a lot of questions about why he left."

Naruto slurped back the ramen broth.

"What would you do if you met your dad?" Asuka asked.

Naruto set the bowl down and thought for a minute.

"I'd probably punch him in the stomach, but then I would give him a hug."

"I might have to use that." Asuka giggled.

"I'm sure everything will work out." Naruto reassured.

"Thanks Naruto." Asuka paused looking at Naruto.

"What?"

"You need to get back to the hospital. You don't want to get into trouble with Sakura or Lady Tsunade."

Naruto gulped, "You're right I'll see you later." he said as he headed out the window again.

Asuka closed the window behind him and went to bed.