nuthin much left to say, jus that u guys r about finished with this :grins broadly:

Maida's POV

Ever since he admitted his fear to me I haven't seen him. Why is he avoiding me? I keep looking for him especially at night. Sleep has avoided me and I only get a few hours each day. Nightmares always plague my mind whenever I close my eyes, but now I see Neji's face and his worry etched all over it. I wake up crying. Tsunade worried that I wasn't getting enough sleep so now I'm drugged every night. Thankfully no dreams accompany it.

After a little over a week of silence from Neji I couldn't stand it any more. I had to see him. Even though I hadn't talked yet, I was going to try and tell him what my heart screamed. If only I could see him for a second. This determination was what helped me curb my fear. Even Tsunade mentioned something about me not being as fearful, but she didn't know that I was trying to get my voice to work just for Neji and that that was my drive.

By the end of the second week of Neji's absence, I felt I could finally speak to him. When Tsunade came for one of my check ups personally I stopped her before she could leave.

She noticed I wanted to tell her something, but I wasn't going to speak to her first. So I motioned at the chair.

She looked confused.

I pointed at the window then at the chair and looked questioningly back at her.

"Oh, you mean Neji-san?"

I shook my head yes.

"Has he not been visiting? I thought I hadn't seen him as much lately."

I pointed at the chair then at me.

"You want to go outside?"

I shook my head no vigorously and then moved my hand like it was talking then pointed at the chair again.

"You want to talk to Neji-san?"

I nodded.

"Right now?"

I nodded again.

Tsunade smiled. "I'll tell him as soon as I can."

I looked out the window. It was early afternoon and knowing him he wouldn't show till later in the evening. Normally I would've been doing some stretching to work my freshly healing back muscles and leg, but after doing all that I wouldn't be able to move much for a while and I wanted to be able to reach Neji, so I held still and waited with the little patience I had left.

Neji's POV

I received word that Maida-san wished to speak with me, but I don't think I could face her. Not after what I said and how she looked at me. I went back to the waterfall. I had been visiting that every day these past 2 weeks. When I thought on it I realized that it took place of calming me like Maida-san had done. I don't think I'll visit her because she probably thinks I'm an idiot and hates me and that's what she wants to say.

Maida's POV

Late evening came and went. I think Tsunade noticed that Neji hadn't come yet because the nurse never came in with my sleeping drug. The last rays of the sun faded. It's been a while since I've heard the night's song, but I was too distracted to pay attention to it.

The night deepened and the hospital quieted.

Where was he? Does he hate me because I wouldn't talk to him?

I waited more.

The wait continued.

The cricket's music became louder.

I waited.

The frog's croaks started to dwindle.

I waited.

No more of the frog's voices could be heard.

I waited.

The chirping of the crickets started to die.

I was loosing hope and tears started to fly.

Only a few crickets sounded here or there.

I gave up hope.

The crickets stopped signaling that the middle of the night had come.

I was starting to cry.

A familiar swish and when I looked over, there he was.

Neji was looking away from me and towards the ground.

I started to smile, but stopped. Something about the way he stood told me that he was on guard and waiting for something bad. I remained silent trying to figure out why he would act this way around me.

The silence dragged on.

And on.

And on.

Finally, he looked up slowly and met my eyes. His eyes seemed different from before. It was like they were a wall forbidding any emotion from escaping. This puzzled me even more, but I wasn't about to loose his gaze. I patted the bed meaning I wanted him to sit by me. He grabbed a chair and sat right by the bed, but his position was still guarded.

Why?

I sat up and moved to the edge of my bed and sat cross legged looking at him.

His eyes remained down and to the side.

I reached out and touched his face.

His eyes didn't move.

Tears started to well up. I tried to hold them back, but all I could suppress was the sobs. Reaching out with both hands I gently grabbed his head and brought it near mine and placed my forehead on top of his head. He didn't try to refuse. I let the tears fall into his hair. A sob escaped.

My voice was a little raspy and it was hard to speak between sobs. "I…never…wanted…to hurt…you."

Neji lifted his head and looked into my eyes. "You spoke!"

I nodded and tried to calm my breathing. "I've…been wanting…to tell you…what I feel."

He remained sitting there, but he was looking at me now.

My sobs had almost disappeared now. "You bring me peace and when you're around I'm able to calm down. I feel safe around you and only you. I don't care what other people think. I want to be with you."

His guard disappeared and I saw both shock and relief pass before his eyes as he looked down.

I reached out and put my hand under his chin lifting his face so I could look into it then I touched his cheek gently as I said, "I've been trying to get better so I could be able to leave here and be with you as soon as possible. I'm not as afraid when the door is opened. Please don't leave me again." Tears started back up.

Neji got up and sat on the bed and pulled me into his arms. I just let the fear wash out of me and cried into his shoulder.

It took a while for my sobs to subside this time. All the while Neji held me close. When they were no more than faint hiccups he spoke quietly.

"I was afraid you hated me for what I said. You don't know how much it hurt to stay away from you."

I moved my head so it rested under his chin. "I would never hate you, Neji. All I've ever done is cry for you."

I never noticed how true that was until I said it. There were no guys back home that I would've cried for. It was always my best friend who did that. I always was the one to tell her that I would never date guys or have any feelings for one and that remained true, until I came here. I smiled at the thought of what she would say if she saw me in Neji's arms and sleep started to take me.

fluff with a gloomy air lmao