AUTHOR'S NOTE: I usually do not place these in the front of the chapter, to distract from the main story but I feel as if I should reply to an anonymous review left for this story. I have taken Greek Mythology in 2 different times during my collegiate years and I definitely do research before pulling references from anywhere. Hercules was tasked with 10 tasks that he had to complete in order to redeem for his sins. He, however, performed 12 tasks in reality because Eurystheus did not count the slaying of the Hydra since help was provided. The cleaning of the Augean stables also did not count because (and there are two versions) the rivers helped him complete the task and/or Hercules received payment. So, depending on which mythology book you consult with or read, there are different arguments made about whether it was 10 task or 12 task. Then there are different accounts to each task, mainly because these are myths.

I appreciate the criticism, though I would have liked it more if it wasn't written in a mocking tone (though I might merely be reading into it). I hope I cleared this up! Anyways, ON WARD!


Of Bulls and Golden Apples

"If you would've just opened your eyes, you would have realized that this could have been you. You could've had her."

Chapter 03

He was not convinced, not even in the slightest, that there was a kami out there. If there was, then he must love torturing the young Uchiha in the form of Uzumaki Naruto. It was barely the crack of dawn before the blond had, basically, torn down his front door looking for his 'partner in crime'. Hung over, and barely in the mood to lash out, Sasuke had merely given him a look of death before slamming and locking his bedroom door. Under normal circumstance, it would've deterred any normal human being. However, this was no normal circumstance or human being.

The next sound he heard was a rustling from outside his third story window, followed by his name drawled out in a loud scream. Silently praying to an unanswered kami, Sasuke opened the curtains to be face to face with a hovering head. If he wasn't so hung over from the previously night, Sasuke would've enjoyed this spectacle.

"Dobe, I've told you this before. The house has been treated with chakra that will repel all but Uchiha's."

He basked in the sight for another second or two before hauling the blond through his window and into his room. "I locked the door for a reason." Climbing into his bed and quietly muttering to himself, Sasuke proceeded to once more block out the noisy blond.

"Sasuke, get up! We were supposed to be at the training grounds 10 minutes ago!"

"I made no such commitment." Sasuke continued to curl deeper into his pillow.

"It's tradition! ("Once more, something I have not been informed of." Sasuke darkly thought) Every morning after bar night, we head to get some sparring done. This helps get rid of any leftover alcohol. Now let's go," Naruto began rummaging through one of the drawers looking for the usual 'Uchiha' attire. "Sakura hates it when we're late."

At the brief mention of his other teammate's name, Sasuke tried to squelch down the feeling of nausea. He chalked it up to the effects of last night's alcohol, not the images of – the Hyuuga's lips furiously caressing against her soft pink petal lips. Suddenly standing up and only swaying slightly, Sasuke made his way into the shower for a frigid shower. Naruto grinned at the perceived enthusiasm, "That's the spirit Sasuke!"


Sasuke had to give himself a mental pat on the back. To everyone around him, he looked the same as he always did – prepared for battle. On the inside, his entrails were swimming around in a mix of nausea and leftover sake. Every step that he took was taken with immense concentration. He could have sworn that the road he was walking on was imbalanced but seeing how Naruto was walking perfectly fine next to him, Sasuke could only wonder, "Just how much did I actually drink last night?"

Unfazed or merely just being himself, Naruto failed to see his counterpart struggling to walk in a straight line. He continued on his ramblings until the training ground was in sight before breaking out into a full on sprint. Not one to let go of a challenge, Sasuke proceeded to do the same. His nausea came back full force when his eyes laid on the form of a laughing Haruno Sakura. She was in the middle of a hug from Naruto, who had already begun spurting out excuses of "It was all the teme's fault I swear!" to "I ran all the way here and didn't even stop for ramen!" The pinkette brushed off the many excuses with a laugh and waved off the over enthusiastic blond to Sai who didn't let him off as easily. Sasuke glanced around, nodding to Kakashi who was once more immersed in the orange novel in front of him, and a greeting to Sai. Once he finally landed his gaze on Sakura, she merely smiled and greeted him with a simple "Sasuke" before turning her attention to Kakashi.

Sai and Naruto had decided among themselves, in between recollections of last night, that they would be sparring together. Brooding under the shade of the tree, he made a glance at Kakashi who was deeply engrossed in his reading material. Next to him, Sakura stretched and dusted any fallen leaves off. She got up from her sitting position and in that instant a wave of panic washed over him, was she leaving? He then blurted the first thing that came to mind, "Do you want to spar?"

Sakura froze and gave him a couple of unbelieving blinks before a genuine smile graced her lips. "I would like that Sasuke."

At first Sasuke had thought that with his slightly weakened state, he would still be able to best Sakura. However, as their sparring progressed well into the afternoon, Sasuke learned two important things. One, Sakura was no longer the same little girl who cried and only stood back to watch them. She had matured to the fierce warrior she was today, though her status in ANBU should've gave him an idea. If someone had told him when he was younger, that he would have to concentrate in his spar with Sakura, he would've sneered at the sheer insanity. But here she was, holding her own against him.

The second thing that Sasuke learned was that angering Sakura would now mean a trip to the hospital, something he learned the hard way when she had unleashed her enormous strength and broke a rib. Thankfully when the 'friendly' fight came to an end, Sakrua was more than happy to repair any damages she made – something that did deflate the Uchiha ego a smidgen.

Sai and Naruto had finished their battle a while ago, having discarded any valuable training for showing off their jutsus instead. Sitting in the soft grass, basking in the sunshine, with his teammates surrounding him almost created the illusion that he had never left – almost. Without realizing or really thinking, his gaze landed on Sakura who was laughing at something Sai had yelled at Naruto. She caught his stare and, feeling a little self-conscious, "Is there something on my face that I didn't heal?" Her eyes twinkled, mirroring the color of the soft grass beneath his feet. Sasuke looked away at that instant, discomforted by the thought that he was caught staring. This new habit was unbecoming and definitely not something he found himself enjoying.

"Are you sleeping with the Hyuuga?"

Pin drop silence.

Sasuke was positive that even the wind stop blowing. Daring to look at Sakura's expression, he was met with harden emeralds. Her eyes lost its playful twinkle and the smile that she had softly shown him was gone, replaced with a frown.

"What are you talking about teme?" Naruto walked over, hands stretched between Sasuke and Sakura as if to prevent the Uchiha's inevitable blood splatter by placating the pink beast. Even Kakashi, who had been immersed in his erotic novel all day, had lowered his book and directed his undivided attention to his former students below.

"I saw them together last night."

Naruto laughed, "We were all together last night."

"They were close!" Sasuke argued.

Kakashi let out a huge sigh and thumbed through his book, looking for the place he had left off. Even Sakura seemed to be slightly placated by Sasuke's reasoning, knowing fully well that Sasuke's version of 'relationship' had always been warped. Naruto laughed and took up the position to explain instead. "Sasuke, of course they are close. Remember the ANBU team we saw last time? That was Sakura! ("Naruto! No one is supposed to know who is behind the masks! Why do you think I cast an illusion on my hair?!" Sakura screeched)" Naruto ignored Sakura's outburst and continued, "They've been on the same team for almost a year so that's probably why them seem close. I can't tell you the amount of time either one of them came back within a breath away from death."

He knew what Naruto was saying was right. An ANBU team that has been through death and back for nearly a year would form a tight-knit bond, something no one outside of it would understand. They relied on each other and themselves to survive to see another day. Sasuke understood that and he would've took that answer at face value, if only he didn't, "I saw you with him last night."

Sasuke watched as the cold washed over her eyes again, blocking him off.

"I don't see how this is any of your concern."

From the trees came the problem, Hyuuga Neji. Dressed in an all-black attire, complete opposite from his usual all-white, Neji stood protectively in front of the woman in question. The intruder nodded his greetings to the rest of his team, ignoring Sasuke in the process, before making eye contact with Sakura. Another moment of something unsaid transpired between the two, which ended with Sakura resting a hand on the crook of Neji's arm. "I'm sorry Naruto. I have to rain check on dinner tonight. I'll see you guys around." And while she looked around as she said that, Sasuke knew that she had meant it for everyone but him.

As the two took to the trees, Sasuke once more felt like nothing more than an outsider.

"I'm sorry," Sakura began "They can get protective at times but this isn't their bus–" Her sentence ended as she felt arms wrapped around her waist and the rough bark against her back. A hurried and hot mouth fell upon hers in an answer, "I accompanied Lee to pick out engagement rings."

Emerald eyes closed, understanding, and at that moment, no other words mattered. As Neji continued his assault on her lips, Sakura wrapped her arms around him tighter. Even when he wrapped her legs around his, and the sound of his pants falling down echoed in the quiet forest, Sakura only held on to him a little closer. Her hand went to his silky mane and she ran her fingers through his hair, stroking him exactly how he preferred with a soft tug at the end. In the midst of the trees, Sakura and Neji sought mutual comfort.

And that was how they found themselves, nestled in each other's arms, laying in Sakura's bed later in the night. His arm wrapped around her naked waist as he slept and she laid awake with her hands once more deep in his hair. He really did have the softest hair, she laughed quietly. Reminiscing, Sakura thought back to the faithful night that had started this tradition.


FLASHBACK

It was a long mission, third since her initiation into ANBU. Sakura had been fortunate to be paired with one of the more than capable ANBU captain, Hyuuga Neji, for all three. It had been slightly awkward at first, neither knowing much about each other save that they had grown up as Rookie 9 before continuing down their own individual paths. Sure, they had met up in group affairs but there had only been a handful of encounters that the two interacted with each other. Usually Sakura was busy wrestling in Naruto's exuberant personality while Neji hung in the shadows with his teammates or Shikamaru. So it was a bit of a change from her usual missions with her own team when Sakura found herself paired with Neji. The man was efficient and spoke few words, but every word he did speak had impact. He was never one for idle chatter.

Or at least that was what Sakura had thought.

Everyone has their own vice to deal with missions that challenge their beliefs. This was one particular mission that pushed the boundaries of Sakura's moral. Once they returned back to the inn, Sakura headed straight for the bar. She was like her mentor in more ways than one, which came as no surprise. What did come as a surprise was Neji's accepting Sakura's polite offer to join. It would seem that assassinating the village chief, when his younger daughter was in the next room, had hit a spot in Neji's tough exterior as well.

There wasn't much talk when they reached the bar, just a call for the bartender and two vials of their warm sake. In the silence, two vials became four and then six. Apparently there was a threshold that must be reached before Neji relaxed enough to engage Sakura in idle chatter about herbal medicine. Sakura only had a moment to be surprise by the initiative before diving into one of her most favorite topic. Halfway through their conversation about the healing effects of certain clay mixed with sulfur, the bartender had chimed in. "If you two are looking to unwind, our medicinal hot springs are renowned for their amazing healing properties."

Sakura didn't need any more prodding as she got up from her seat at the bar and dragged Neji with her to experience this infamous hot spring. "We need to recharge," was Sakura's only explanation.

It wasn't until they were already in the changing room, looking for two different shower stations, did they realize that the medicinal hot spring was communal. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe they subconsciously did not wish to be alone just yet, but they found themselves sitting next to each other in the hot spring within a couple of minutes. Both were surprised that the situation wasn't awkward or uncomfortable, though they suspect that alcohol played a major part in this odd turn of events.

Under the stars, in the steamy humid outdoor, Sakura felt herself truly unwind.

"Isn't it amazing?" The sound of the water moving signaled Neji's attention to her question.

"The moon, the sun, even the stars look the same as when we are younger but we are no longer the same. We have changed, shifted, and molded into the person we are now as everything else cycled around us. Compared to the world, we are nothing. But yet, every day, we strive to become someone in this world – to mean something." Sakura laughed, "Though there are a few things that seem to have remained the same."

"Naruto is still as dense as ever. How can he be so blind to the pure adoration that Hinata has for him?" Once the words tumbled out of her mouth, Sakura stopped immediately. The Hyuuga heiress was, and always will be, a soft spot to ANBU captain. Anyone caught bad-mouthing her was immediately dealt with, often times Sakura saw the aftermath during her shift at the hospital. But this time, Neji merely gave a grunt in consent. Sakura took that as a sign to go on, "I sometimes wonder if it will be too much to just tell Naruto, point blank, that Hinata has the world's biggest crush on him! But then I think about Hinata's reaction and that probably wouldn't be a wise move. I understand that the best romances are the ones that build slowly and then sweep you off your feet but this storm has been brewing for a very long while now. Aside from the hard truth, I can't imagine Naruto becoming aware of this development."

Not hearing a complaint, Sakura continued on. "Speaking of unawareness, I wonder if Shikamaru understands the position he is in." Neji, who had been languid through Sakura's rant about Naruto, perked up momentarily at the mention of one of his ANBU comrades. "It isn't a surprise that Shikamaru ended up with Ino, I'm sure even the First Hokage saw that." Sakura joked, "Now Shikamaru is undoubtedly a genius but that is only in tactics and strategies. With women? I think he has no idea."

"What makes you say that?"

The speed in which Sakura spun to look at her companion in disbelief had not only almost caused her to slip, but actually deposited a fair amount of water to the relaxed male next to her. Giving her a clearly unamused look, which she returned with a sheepish smile, Neji resumed his position. Sakura leaned back as well, having not expected active participation to the ongoing conversation. "I'm not questioning Shikamaru's intelligence, kami knows that he beat me in shogi many times. But with Ino? He does tend to let her get away with many things, citing them as too –" "Troublesome," both stated harmoniously. Each laughed a little at the predictability. "I'm telling you that Ino has Shikamaru wrapped around her little fingers! He just doesn't know it. Just like how Shikamaru will find himself married to Ino one day – no idea!"

Though he had wanted to stand up for his fellow comrade, Neji did have to commend Sakura on her point. It was well known throughout their base that Shikamaru was as whipped as they came. Though he always called Ino 'Troublesome', the male genius had never failed to follow through with whatever crazy request the blonde would ask for.

"And then, we have Tenten and Lee!" Sakura counted down her fingers. "One would think that because they are on the same team that it would be hard, seeing each other every day with no sense of space. But for them, it works. Lee's overly enthusiastic nature is countered by Tenten's down-to-earth attitude. And Tenten will never fail to find optimism and passion from Lee." She sighed, "Honestly, I thought that you would have ended up with Tenten. In fact, I'm sure a lot of people thought that you two would be together but now, I see it. They do complement each other, in so many ways."

It wasn't until she laid her head back and glanced at the man next to her, that Sakura noticed a strange look in his eyes. His silence, she was accustomed to. His hard exterior, she had expected. But to see this strange glint, an emotion that she had never seen on the stoic Hyuuga, was something that threw her off balance. Upon closer reflection, she came to name that emotion as gut-wrenching, soul-snatching, heart-breaking, unrequited love. She was too familiar with that emotion, having experienced it many times for the same love. She also understood the heart ache that always came with even the brief mention of his name.

There wasn't many things that Sakura would call herself an expert in, but this was definitely one of them.

"I'm sorry, Neji." Her hand laid on his bare shoulder in compassion as she moved closer, "It was very insensitive of me to have said anything. I was not aware, not that that is an excuse. I know I wouldn't have wanted anyone to mention him." A name wasn't needed as it was a well-known fact that the female pink head had, was, always been hopelessly in love with the Uchiha avenger. Realizing that Neji and Sasuke were very similar in their love of personal space, Sakura pulled away as if her hand were scorched. Now self-conscious of every word and movement she made, she found herself running her fingers down the length of her hair repeatedly – a nervous habit that she had recently gain.

"How do you do it?"

Sakura chalked it up to the residual sake in her system because she could have sworn that he – "How do you do it, Sakura?"

Neji refused to make eye contact with the shell-shocked female, instead opting to repeat his question. "How do you continue loving someone who will never love you back?"

This time it took a long time before Sakura could draw up an answer, her answer. "I can't give you any life changing advice on that, Neji. I've been in love with Sasuke-kun for as long as I can remember. Whenever people think Sakura, the thought of Sasuke-kun is not far behind. And maybe that is not a good thing, maybe this is just a vicious cycle and instead of loving Sasuke-kun forever.. I should be letting go. But because he has become such a huge part of me for so long, I don't think I have the strength to let go. I don't know if I can ever let him go."

She took a moment for herself to self-indulge through her memory vault. Any mention of Sasuke always brought back a wave of emotions and memories, good and bad. Fully turning around to look at the quiet Hyuuga prodigy, Sakura offered some parting words. "The difference between you and me is our strength. When I think of you, Neji, I think of someone I look up to." Sakura earnestly admits. "I don't think of Tenten, your team, or your clan when someone brings up your name. Any mention of you, I think of your strengths. You are someone, Neji, an asset to Konoha. Yes, your bloodline is a plus but I admire your sheer willpower and confidence. To overcome every obstacle your life has thrown at you, I think that is what it means to truly be strong."

Lithe, pruney, fingers slowly rose from the water and Sakura took a good hard look at each one. "I may have enormous strength, able to break trees into splinters or shake the earth we walk on, but that does not mean anything. Those strengths are superficial. In reality I am a weak fool, Neji. I will always be the one who gets left behind, and yet unable to let anyone go."

Suddenly feeling self-conscious again, having admitted some of her deepest fears to an acquaintance, Sakura busied herself with hair once more. It was the initial shock of being touched that made Sakura jump slightly, not expecting any sort of initiative on Neji's part - much less comfort. But a slight pinch on her own arm confirmed that this was happening, Hyuuga Neji was indeed trying to comfort her.

A hand, covered in callous that proudly showed years of dedicated training, gently grasped on to her chin, guiding her own shiny emerald eyes to make contact with his milky own. "Sakura, I think you're the strongest person I've ever met."

Sakura was convinced that this was one of the most sincere and genuine thing anyone has ever said to her.

The honesty shining in Neji's eye, coupled with the gentle smile he gave her as he tried to reassure her of her worth, broke the dam. All the insecurities, the personal demons, she kept for herself, suddenly came pouring out. She had always had her doubts about fitting into her team, keeping up, and becoming an asset more than a liability. This drove her to double her efforts for everything that came easily to Naruto or Sasuke. Now as an ANBU and an extraordinary medic-nin, Sakura can proudly say that she wasn't a total lost cause. But that did not mean that the demons do not plague her during the night when she was alone, left to wallow in her own thoughts.

But to have Neji, a man of few words and even fewer compliments, give her a look of admiration touched her.

A connection was made that night as two different souls, night and day, bonded.

It was also that night, under the veil of the dark and hints of moonlight, that they came together. Soft caresses, reassuring whispers, comforting kisses that slowly soothed two broken hearts.

END OF FLASHBACK


She broke out of her reverie when the sheets rustled next to her, coupled by the loss of warmth on her waist. Hazy opaque eyes blinked slowly as it tried to clear the last remnants of sleep. Sakura always felt a small amount of pride during this time, being one of the minute few who ever saw the tough ANBU captain in such a way. Finally clearing away the haze, Neji gave her arm a whisper of a caress. "Sakura," he would always greet when he woke. Sakura gave a soft smile in return as she got up, heading to the bathroom to take a much deserved shower. The blanket slid away to reveal her nude form as she walked around comfortable in her own skin with Neji.

"This will be the last time, Sakura, I swear."

She paused momentarily in front of the doorway of her bathroom. They had this dance for many times before and while he would always swear that 'this time is the last time', it never was. Each time was said with less and less conviction, until all there was left was a ritual to at least utter those empty words. Sakura had long stopped agreeing with him.

They both knew it was a lie.

But, sticking true to her part in the 'dance', Sakura still turned around and nodded sympathetically, "It's okay Neji-kun."

And as Neji gave a ghost of a smile in return, a small part of him was content with her answer.

Because deep down, they both knew that it really was okay.

Because just as much as he needed her warmth, her comfort ,and her sympathy...

She need him as well.