Disclaimer: I don't own, kthxbai. I do own a Quetzalcóatl pendant, which I bought in Teotihuacán. Ancient cultures FTW!
-X-
Chapter 6: Denying
-X-
Sakura awoke to a light rasp at the door. She groaned, and the person outside snorted.
"Are you decent?" asked a voice she knew too well. Pulling on her yukata, she dragged her feet to the door and slid it open.
"Pakkun, you have two seconds to tell me what the hell you are doing here," she growled in her sleepy but angry voice.
"Kakashi wanted you to have this," the pug responded, patting a scroll he must have carried all the way to the Hyuuga Main House. "It's a genjutsu scroll, he wants you to go over it."
"Why?"
"His message was: 'Take it to her, she'll know what to do'. Is that correct, Sakura?"
Sakura yawned. "Yes, Pakkun, whatever you say," she said, picking up the scroll and pug and setting the former on her pack and taking the latter to her bed. "Want to snore?"
"Nah, my mate awaits me. See ya, Sakura."
As the little nin-dog disappeared, the pink-haired kunoichi sighed heavily and sank down into the pillows again.
Even nin-dogs have mates? Well, damn it.
-X-
The morning passed quite quickly, as she finally gathered her bearings enough to pull another political mask to face the Hyuuga family.
And to pointedly avoid Neji's gaze.
Hinata was recovering well enough from her fight, and the women spent a lazy afternoon in the front garden, talking in whispers.
Something about Sakura's mood made the Hyuuga female think about the thunderous scowl that her cousin had sported at breakfast as the pink-haired kunoichi entered the dining room.
Hinata was an observant woman. And Sakura's clamped silence, combined with Neji's brooding...
Maybe it is time for them to heal, the purple-haired woman thought with a secret smile that Sakura missed.
"Say, Hinata-chan," she spoke, startling the other woman with the suddenness of her voice. "Do you think I'm naïve?"
"What?" Hinata let out a short laugh. "Why, I don't think that, Sakura-chan. Why do you say that?"
"Because... I'm remembering what Sasuke said to Naruto," the medic confessed in a murmur. "He's... a lost cause, right? After all these years, we tried... and he just... You saw him, he tried to..."
"Don't say it, Sakura-chan," she said, laying a hand on the emerald-eyed woman's shoulder. "Maybe he's lost in the darkness. Or maybe it is time for you to look around and take care of yourself."
"I already moved on, Hinata-chan. It's just that... the things we went through were never enough, you know? Being in a team with the number one prodigy of our class and with the loudest ninja ever took a toll on my self-esteem for many years. They surpassed me in almost everything. Then, they left Konoha, and I was left behind again. And later, Sasuke... gah, I can't even think about how he had changed."
Hinata knew all this thanks to all the times she observed Naruto, but hearing it from one involved with Team Seven's disbanding, it surely was something to ponder.
"But you grew up, Sakura-chan," she offered with a kind smile. "It was just a matter of time for you to take the plunge, as Naruto-kun says. Now you are one of the most sought medics in the village... and the strongest kunoichi. Not even with the Byakugan could I ever stop you, my friend."
Sakura smiled. "Don't be silly," she countered. "That Hakke Sho of yours must hurt."
"Only if you allow it to touch you!"
Both females laughed, filling the garden with their mirth. They sighed, regaining some of their composure.
"Don't allow anyone to underestimate you, Hinata-chan," Sakura said, lifting her face to the setting sun. "Kick their asses if they try to. You have grown so much too; I still can't believe you haven't made it into ANBU."
"It doesn't matter," the long-haired woman replied with a grin. "I got what I wanted."
Sakura had to laugh at that.
-X-
"I am most pleased with your recovery, Hinata," Hiashi said during dinner. "I am sure you can resume your training if your medic grants permission."
"I think it is okay for her, Hyuuga-sama," responded Sakura, throwing a wink at Hanabi. "As the matter of fact... we're going to train tomorrow."
Hinata smiled behind her cup, while Neji lifted a brow to his sashimi.
"It is settled then. You both can go to the training grounds, while Neji reports to Hokage-sama."
Neji grunted his acknowledgment as Hiashi nodded at the women departing from the dining room.
"It seems that you're eager to go back to the roster, Hinata-chan," Sakura teased, as they went down the hall.
"And I think you want to fight me, isn't that correct, Sakura-chan?"
"But of course! I've been wanting to blow off some steam since you guys came back. But Kakashi and Sai are out of the question, since they've been assigned another recon mission. I swear I think they're accepting missions to avoid meeting me."
"Why is that?"
"Because they know I promised to get their asses handed back to them in our last battle royale," the emerald-eyed medic laughed. "And Naruto was with you, so it was kind of a draw for the three of us since Kakashi overexerted his usage of the Sharingan and I broke Sai's brushes."
"You guys are pretty close," Hinata observed. "Don't misunderstand me, Shino-kun and Kiba-kun are my friends and teammates, but... it seems that your dynamics are more developed than ours."
"Nah, it's just that we are competitive enough," she said with a smirk. "I went to a mission with Kiba and I could see how much he and Akamaru have improved their skills with his techniques, but Sai... he's a pain in the ass, pardon my wording."
Hinata's giggles caught Neji's attention as he left the dining room. Rather surprised, he followed the sound until he noticed the women talking in front of Sakura's room. The pink-haired woman was smiling widely, as Hinata tried to subdue her laugh.
Neji's brows shot up to his hairline at seeing his demure and shy cousin and the medic talking so animatedly.
"I'm telling you, Hinata-chan," said woman was saying, "After I threatened Kakashi to burn all his porn stash to ashes, he did what I wanted. Poor Yamato though, because Kakashi can't cook to save his life and Yamato had to be fed due to his injuries. I was out of chakra too, so I couldn't even stay awake. It was sheer luck that we ran into Temari and Kankurou, because they had a mission in that part of Wind Country."
"And how did it end?" asked the long-haired female. Sakura smirked and lifted two fingers in a peace sign.
"The mission was a success, but when we got back I bought two cooking books and smashed them on Sai's and Kakashi's heads."
Neji smirked at Sakura's response, while Hinata dissolved into another fit of giggles. It was nice to see his cousin so lively, so...
Happy.
The Hyuuga male understood that it was Naruto's doing, how much she had changed. To undertake such harsh exams like the ANBU ones, it had a lot to say about how much she loved that bragging blond.
His eyes trailed back to the medic, who was laughing behind her hand too. She was beautiful, and her skills were magnificent. Her kindness and even her fiery temper was attractive--
Neji retreated hastily. In the safety of his own room, he gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath.
He hadn't known until now why he had teased the green-eyed woman with the jam that day; he figured that he wanted to see her reaction, but his own response to her nearness was enough to drop the act and leave in a hurry.
As a Hyuuga prodigy and ANBU Captain, he thought he had achieved everything he wanted: success in his profession, the respect of his uncle and family, a good sibling relationship with his cousins, and strident but good friends. Lee and Tenten were mostly his companions when training and he allowed them to drag him to social gatherings once in a while. That was enough for him.
Until he awoke one day in the hospital under the thorough care of one pink-haired medic, who started to tease him about his recklessness in battle. He only had to reply at that to start a sarcastic banter which had them both mocking each other.
It was good banter, nothing else, he had thought. Just like the bickering that he had with one smartass Weapon Mistress, as he liked to call her. Lee always tried to meddle as the concerned boyfriend of said weapon freak, but she always laughed and punched Neji's shoulder good-naturedly.
Tenten was a good friend and very annoying when drunk, he noted on one occasion. But she and Lee were his buddies, as the Taijutsu Master always called it in one of his youthful speeches.
But nowadays, having a pink-haired spitfire under his very own roof, he found himself at a loss about how to behave around her. Neji could always slip his stoic mask on his features when facing others, but she always laughed at his façade and offered him some story to distract him and open up.
And the way her hips moved when she walked in front of him was more than a distraction...
"Damn it," he groaned, lying down in his bed.
I'm attracted to her.
-X-
It was mid dawn when Hikari told Neji that his cousin and his pink-haired guest had gone to the Hyuuga training grounds. Surprised, because he knew by now how cranky Sakura was in the mornings, allowed his feet to lead him to the site.
There they were; speaking enthusiastically to one another while they went through the standard kata movements to concentrate chakra and mind for the incoming sparring. Sakura had slipped into her regular clothes, while Hinata had her usual long-sleeved garments. Both had their hair pulled back into ponytails, much like the one he had at the moment.
"I didn't know how grumpy you were in the mornings, Sakura-chan," he heard the Hyuuga heiress say in a teasing voice. "I thought you were going to punch me into oblivion!"
The alluded woman grumbled and pulled out her tongue. "I had a lousy night," she explained offhandedly, stretching her arm over her head and leaning forward, giving Neji an ample view of her behind. "I think the hospital shifts changed my sleeping habits."
The Hyuuga prodigy didn't need the Byakugan to see through that blatant lie.
Hinata blinked and nodded, as if accepting her words although she didn't seem to buy them. "So how do you want to train? Basic taijutsu or a straight spar?"
"Maybe I'll have to restrain myself a little," the other woman said, eyeing the grounds. As she turned, Neji had a sudden urge to not being spotted, so he jumped to the next tree, hiding among its branches and leaves. "This area is kind of small... and I don't want to shatter this ground as I did with your back garden."
"Hanabi-chan told me about that," Hinata laughed. "She said how impressed Father was with your medical abilities; you healed yourself so quickly..."
"Maa, maa, it was nothing," Sakura replied, waving a hand. "I had to hold back because Neji-san settled the match to non-chakra taijutsu."
Said male frowned when he felt a chill down his spine when she spoke his name. This was a new sensation; the way she was going through the katas, moving her flexible body so fluidly and smoothly, it added to how nice it was to hear her muttering his name...
Neji blinked. And scowled.
"...Then Pakkun disappeared and I was stuck with a scroll with a particularly difficult genjutsu... I haven't had the time to practice it, though."
"Maybe you can use it against me?" Hinata offered.
"I thought the Byakugan saw through genjutsu," Sakura lifted an eyebrow as she pulled her gloves on.
"Yes, but only when activated."
"Hmm... interesting," the pink-haired said in a thoughtful voice. "So, shall we?"
"Don't hold back, Sakura-chan, not for me."
She smiled. "I wasn't going to."
Both females charged, armed with a kunai in each hand. They clashed and avoided as many strikes as their opponent tried to place with an ease that even Neji had to activate his Byakugan in order to detail the fierce blows.
Some time ago, one of the ANBU operatives under his command had joked dryly in a mission about how vicious a kunoichi could be in battle; Neji, being the hard-ass ANBU Captain he was, only nodded but kept his concentration on the assassination they were going to perform for that mission. But, his mind recalled briefly how the emerald-eyed woman shattered the big boulder that enclosed the Akatsuki hideout, back during the Gaara Rescue mission.
But now, seeing her flip her body backwards to avoid Hinata's advances –which he was rather impressed by the great display of skills his cousin was performing– he couldn't help but stare.
Only when he felt another chakra signature approaching he shook off his reverie and focused. Too late, though, because Naruto landed on the very same branch he was sitting on in such a stealthy maneuver he hadn't had the time to push him away.
"So, fate-obsessed bastard," was Naruto's whispered greeting. "How long have they been going at it?"
"They just started," he found himself whispering back. This is Naruto, he thought. He might probably have snuck in earlier to see Hinata.
"Ah... damn, look at those moves!" the blond said in an excited murmur. "I swear that every time I watch Sakura sparring against Sai, I feel sorry for that bastard. She surely has a mean hook," he observed, rubbing his own jaw absently.
Looking back at the females, he noticed that Hinata had activated her Byakugan and was focusing on Sakura's chakra infused hands swinging at her closely. He noted that those hands were the very same technique she tried to use against him that night in their impromptu spar, but she never got too close to land a blow thanks to his Kaiten Spin.
"Shit, man, if Sakura touches Hinata-chan with those..."
True to Naruto's words, one of the pink-haired kunoichi's hands all but caressed one of Hinata's thighs, making her land trampled on the ground. The Hyuuga heiress hissed in pain, but she tried to stand up again on her good leg.
"Chakra scalpels," she said in a respectful voice. Sakura nodded. "Now I see why Kakashi-san and Naruto-kun say that you're a menace, Sakura-chan."
"Tch, that's because they're a pair of big, whiny babies," the other replied with a vicious smirk playing on her lips, moving her head sharply to one side in order to shake off her sweat. "Shall I label you as one too, Hinata-chan?"
"I don't think so!" the purple-haired woman shouted as she started her favored fighting style, the Gentle Fist, while Sakura started to back-flip at a swift pace, ducking and avoiding Hinata's hands.
Luckily for Hinata, she could land three blows, sending the emerald-eyed kunoichi to the ground.
"Damn it, Hyuuga!" Sakura growled as she tried to stand. Hinata let out a laugh and slipped into her fighting stance again.
"What's the matter, Sakura-chan?" she said innocently, but her eyes went wide as Sakura started to make seals in a vertiginous succession.
"Fukumikuchi Hari!" she yelled before launching a rain of senbons to the surprised Hinata, who didn't think twice and retaliated.
"Shugohakke Rokujūyon Shō!" she shouted, creating her chakra lines to deflect the needles as they went, finding that Sakura had launched herself straight towards her.
Taken by surprise, Hinata let out a gasp as Sakura's hands flipped her and send her into the air with a kick. As she landed, the medic fell next to her, exhausted.
And, to the astonishment of their silent audience, both females started to laugh.
Naruto, next to Neji, grinned widely. "They held back," he whispered in awe. "Sakura-chan's kick could have easily broken Hinata-chan's ribs... and Hinata-chan's Hakke could have torn Sakura's body into shreds, but they chose to keep it clean," he finished, letting out a chuckle. "They're really something, ne? I admire them so much."
Neji had to agree with a thoughtful nod to the blond's words, feeling rather glad his cousin had found someone who loved her like she deserved.
And he, internally, down where his most secret thought lurked in the deep recesses of his mind, the Hyuuga prodigy found himself admiring the way Sakura's heaving body was plopped down on the ground, as she shared a gleeful girl moment with Hinata. Her disheveled hair clung to her features and she was sweaty with the workout, but all in all...
Neji had never seen someone so beautiful.
"Oi, Naruto!" Sakura yelled, startling the two shinobi. "Are you going to remain hidden, you peeping tom? Come out now!"
"Neji-niisan, you too please," said the Hyuuga heiress.
Caught up in the act of spying, both ninja had no other option than to jump down the tree and approach the women sitting in the middle of the training grounds.
"Heh, hi, Hinata-chan, Sakura-chan," greeted Naruto nervously, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "You knew we've been watching you guys?"
"Hey, ramen-freak," Sakura said, earning a laugh from Hinata and a pout from the blond ninja. "We knew since you arrived, you dimwit. You didn't mask your chakra. And Hinata-chan's eyes, you know?"
"Gah!" Naruto exclaimed, kicking a little stone in a tantrum.
"Pay off, Sakura-chan," said Hinata with a laugh. Sakura grumbled and flipped out a ryou.
"I'm really following shishou's steps if I lose a stupid bet like that," she mocked, laughing later. "Ouch," she added, rubbing one of her shoulders. "I take it you closed a bunch of tenketsu points in here?"
"Only three, but one of them is pretty important because it feeds the arm's main pathway," the purple-haired woman replied while Naruto plopped down next to her. "Do you want me to open them?"
"I'll do it," said Neji all of a sudden, activating his own Byakugan and thus, not missing the wild blush that spread on Sakura's cheeks as he kneeled next to her and started to poke her shoulder softly.
Oblivious as always, Naruto opened his mouth but Hinata's hand stopped him. She shook her head, showing him a secretive smile.
Sakura's eyes found themselves pinned to the intense and silver gaze of one Hyuuga Neji, who was at the moment laying his warm hand on her skin, gracing the tenketsu points with his chakra, making her shiver.
She knew she shouldn't be looking at him; as she was well aware of how red her face was by now, she really should–need–to look away.Look away! she ordered herself... to no avail, because Inner Sakura was throwing a party inside her mind while Neji opened her chakra channels, making his energy travel within her pathways along hers...
Until his chakra touched that specific zone on her back... her seal.
She flinched visibly as her seal reacted to his energy, making him jump slightly in surprise. Her eyes widened, and Neji's features didn't hide his shock either.
He only could look at her as she scrambled and stood up. "I'll see you later, guys..."
"Sakura-chan?" asked Naruto, bewildered at the frightened look on his sister's face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing!" she almost shouted. "I... I have to go!"
"What happened?" Hinata asked, looking at Sakura's retreating form to look back at Neji's frowning face.
"I don't know," he replied with that tone of voice that betrayed his confusion. Neji stood up, knitting his brows. "But I will find out."
-X-
Sakura closed the door of her room, panting. She slid on the floor, clasping her chest while she tried to regain her composure.
Just what the hell happened back there? Inner Sakura asked, as baffled as she was.
I don't know, I don't know! she yelled at her mental roommate. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down as she regarded the feeling she perceived.
This was nothing she had felt before. This was very different from the butterflies she felt in her stomach when Sasuke was near her. This was more urgent, more desperate, more...
Primal.
"Shit," she muttered. Sure, she had her chakra traveling his pathways as she healed him several times at the hospital, but this... this was different, because it was his chakra on her body, not the other way around.
The mark on her back thrummed with the power-up, making her tremble, while at the same time she head a set of steps walking determinately to her room.
The door opened and she retreated, scared of herself and scared of what she was feeling.
"Time to tell me what's going on, Haruno," Neji said, closing the door. "This is not the first time I feel something in your back, and that is certainly not a tattoo," he narrowed his eyes at her attempt of an excuse a few nights back. Sakura closed her mouth and lowered her head.
"I..." she hesitated, and fell silent. He waited, but not for too long.
"What, Sakura?" he asked, using her name for the first time without any politeness. He was angry, she could feel it... but she couldn't bring herself to speak aloud.
She could only blush, avoiding his sharp gaze.
In two steps he reached her kneeling form. Kneeling in front of her, Neji took her by the upper arms and forced her to look at him.
"Tell me, Sakura," he whispered fiercely. "Tell me! What the hell do you have there?"
"I--I can't! I can't tell you!" she cried.
"Why not?" he shot back, angrier by the moment. He had had enough of her silences.
"Because!" she replied, now with irritation on her voice. "It's private! It's none of your business, Hyuuga!"
"Then I'll make it my business," he said coolly, before crashing her lips with his in a hard kiss.
Oh... boy.
-XXX-
And the masses scream: "finally!!" X'D
Much love to Celtic Oak -as usual- for her betaing and lovely insight! KATSU!! xD