Hey all! I'm back at it! By the time I realized where I was on the last chapter I had about half of a page of this written. I'm hoping, therefore, to have this one out a little sooner than the last one.

AnbuShadowFang, Thanks for reading and reviewing! You don't know how great it is to know at least one person is actually enjoying what you write! I really appreciate it!

Disclaimer- Nah, I really do own this. That's why I'm getting paid millions of dollars to have this here. And if you believe this, I have a few things that belonged to the Queen I'd like to sell you...

Chapter 4

The shower was in the bedroom. The whole room was pastel green and scented like roses and vanilla. "Is this a... a bar?" Sakura wandered into the room and turned about thirty shades of red. "Oh you sick fucks..." Neji turned to her, a little surprised to hear something like that come out of her mouth. "It's the honeymoon suite." Neji looked around, realizing that she was right and again turned red. The shower was in the bedroom, a very large shower built into the room with clear glass walls around it. Sakura turned and looked at the Bellhop as he placed the bags on the floor. He looked up at the bowl full of condoms and grinned as he headed out. Sakura stared at the condoms and crossed her arms. "When we get back, can you remind me to beat Ino with as many condoms as possible?" Neji would have laughed if he wasn't too far in shock from the room himself.

There were chocolate covered strawberries on the bar, condoms of every type and flavor in bowls all over the room. "Look, these ones glow in the dark." Sakura raised her eyebrow and lifted one, ripping open the bag and unrolling the contents. Neji watched her confused as she put it in her cupped hands and put it over her eyes to see how well they glowed. She seemed happy with them, so she emptied the contents of the bowl into her bag. "What are you doing?"

"If I run out of light sticks those might come in handy." Neji looked at her and nearly laughed, still horrified. "Only you could find a way to keep a bowl of condoms mission related." Sakura nodded. "I use them on missions a lot, actually. The ribbed ones are great for tying things together that need a little stretch, but still need to be firmly in place. The flavored ones draw in certain insects. Shino taught me that one." All he could do was stare at her, surprised. "Not to mention, they're great at holding splints in place around the wrist. You have to tear finger holes in them, though." Neji shook the image of having a condom on his hand out of his head. Sakura turned to the shower and frowned. She wanted to get in a shower, and she really didn't want to push Neji out of the room, but she didn't think it was wise to do both at the same time. Neji noted her longing look at the shower and realized he was going to have the same problem. She walked behind the glass and looked out. She couldn't see very much, and she was thrilled with that, as maybe he couldn't see in very well either. "Hey, Neji, how well can you see in here?" He looked up at the glass and frowned. "I duh, don't thi-he-" He began stammering and Sakura nodded. "You can see in here well, can't you?"

"It's not, I mean, we're in here together..." Sakura smiled. It was the thought that they were together in the room that got to him. "If that's all, I'm going to get a shower in." She stripped off her cloths, tossing them onto a hook at the side of the shower and turned the water on, letting it run down her. She was hoping that the shower could cool her a little bit, she may not have really been there much in her life, but she knew what that feeling was that she had, the pit in her stomach that still hadn't gone away. She raised her hands above her head and let the water run down her for a little bit.

Neji had tried to tell her that the glass was seamless on his end, and that he could see every inch of her, but the words wouldn't come out. He watched her as she ran her hands up the other side other side of the shower, the water changing the color of her hair to a deeper pink, almost purple. Her skin glistened as she leaned forwards, showing him a little glance at the pink she had on the other end...

"Can you really not see out here?!" He gasped out, doing everything in his power to keep from running in and joining her. She turned and looked at him, a little confused for a moment and asked. "Why?"

"It's crystal clear out here." She looked at him for a moment before grabbing at the towel. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I tried! I, I- uh... the words... d-didn't-"

"You're talking like Hinata." She frowned and Neji jumped up from the bed, covering his eyes. He walked over to a door and walked through, keeping his eyes closed till he was through. He looked around to see the bathroom. There was a shower in there as well. He sniffed. He'd just gotten a good look at her because they didn't look in the bathroom. He shrugged and opened the door. "Sakura, I'm going to get a shower too."

"Wait, there's one in there?!" Neji closed the door and turned, grinning. That, he had to admit, was nice.

He stripped off his cloths and knew with all that had happened today, he really needed to get out his frustrations.

Sakura happened to have the same thought.

She actually wasn't that upset with him seeing her, actually she was kind of thrilled about it. She wanted him to see her. She frowned and looked over at the bathroom door. Since when was Neji the one she wanted to see her naked? Things had really changed in the last few weeks.

After her shower Sakura turned off the water and dried off, wrapping herself in one of the robes. It was a very soft silk, light blue with sakura branches and flowers across the bottom and the sleeves. She was unable to find any clean undergarments in her bag and went over, throwing her cloths into the washing machine. She looked down, at the shortness of the robe and frowned. All she had to do was sit wrong. She sat on the bed and covered herself with the blanket.

Neji came out in the other robe, a dark blue made out of the same silk. Neji wasn't happy with the fact that it only came to his knees, nor was he happy with the fact that his three sets of boxers he'd brought, he'd lost one along the way, one was in his bag and was in need of washing after they had to walk through a creek and he'd fallen. The ones he'd been wearing, when he stepped out of the shower he'd stepped on them. They were soaked. He frowned as he came out, tugging at the side of the robe, making sure that it was closed enough, even though he knew she couldn't see anything.

Sakura was curled up on the bed, the chocolate covered strawberries beside her and her book in hand. "Sakura, I didn't mean for that to happen." Sakura shrugged and turned back to her book. Neji was a little put off by her reaction. "I was thinking," Neji looked up at her, curious. "She didn't say whether we were going to have to lose... you know... She didn't mention if we were going to have to with each other." Neji winced at the words. He had done his best to put it out of his mind. Neji sat beside her and nodded. "Yeah, I noticed that too."

"Neither one of us have any experience with this sort of thing..." Neji looked over at her, a blush crossing his cheeks. "W-w-what are you suggestin-n-n-n-ng?" His stutter had gotten worse. "We'll have about three days, as there's a train right from here to the next scroll, and another train right from there to Konoha. We'll be home in a week. Maybe we should get, you know, a little more comfortable?" Neji stared at her, surprised. "Comfortable?"

"I'd rather have you feel me up than Sai or Naruto. You're not after sex, you just might... you know, need to... to get through the mission. I'd feel better if I knew what to expect." Neji held his hand up to his nose, trying to stop the nosebleed before it began.

She watched his reaction and sighed, looking away, shy and pulling the covers a little farther over herself. "I understand if you don't want to. I just thought..."

"It's good, except that we have absolutely no idea of what to practice. For all we know they're going to have Jarayia jump you."

"We won't pass, then." Neji was kind of happy to hear that. She'd mess around with him for practice but wouldn't let Jarayia have his way with her for a five million ryo mission. "Alright, uh, we can..." he looked down. He knew this was going to be harder than he thought, considering he already was. She laid him down and laid down next to him, her head on his chest. He laid there for a little bit, the feeling of her through the robes was amazing. The silk let him feel every little bit of her and he was suddenly aware that she wasn't wearing anything under her robe. He felt her against his side.

"S-s-sakura, I really don't think that th-h-his is a good id-d-d-dea." Sakura looked up at him, a little surprised. She sat up, looking at him and frowned. "We haven't done anything." Neji sat up, his back arched over and gasped for air. "Woah, are you alright?" She pressed her hands against his neck and he nodded. "I'm fine, great" He shook his head. Sakura looked at him and nodded. She curled up on the bed, facing the other way so as to hide her face. She didn't want him to see the disappointment.

He looked over at her and frowned. "I guess we're in more trouble than we thought." She nodded, wordlessly. He knew what that meant. "Sakura, you misunderstand." She sat up and looked at him, her blush now burning from embarrassment. "That you can't even cuddle up to me for a mission? It's no wonder I'm like this..." She didn't want to use the V word in front of him after that.

"Sakura, it's so frustrating!" She'd never heard him raise his voice without there being a fight and looked at him surprised. "I'm doing my best here, I'm trying my best to behave! You don't know how many times I've told myself to just keep my mind on the mission, once it's over, once the daily contact is over that you won't- you won't look at me like that anymore." His voice lowered to nearly a whisper at the last part and Sakura stared at him, a little surprised. He chuckled a little as he continued. "I'm wondering how those little glances would last if you found out that the mission was supposed to last forever..." Sakura stared at him, the meaning in his words hitting her. "Neji..."

"Don't!" He shook his head, jumping from the bed. "Just, don't get yourself any more ruined over this mission. I already have your first kiss, I don't want you to hate me anymore than you already will once we get back." He walked into the bathroom, getting dressed and then he walked out. "I'll see you in the morning at the lobby."

They found the crystal roses and got onto the train. The whole of the next four days was spent silently. They got off of the train in the Star village. "The Hoshikage, I just hope that he doesn't hate us..."

Fortunately for them, that wasn't even an issue. "Hi! Welcome to the Star village! Sakura, Neji, I haven't seen you in a while!" There was a bit of time spent in deep conversation, chatting about whatever crossed their minds, till Finally Neji spoke up. "We're actually here on business." He pulled out the scroll and the eyes of the girl at the counter grinned. "Ah, the scavenger hunt, huh?" They nodded and she grinned, handing them a piece of paper.

"To whom this may concern,

To get the passages written to your scroll you must pull a trial from the basket at the counter. The secretary will be more than happy to assist you with whatever you need.

Sincerely

Hoshikage"

Neji frowned. "You don't have any in there like the one in Konoha, do you?" She grinned, nodding as she shook the basket. "These are so much fun! We haven't had a couple complain yet!" Neji looked up at the woman and smiled sweetly. "We're actually not a couple." She looked at him a little surprised before sighing. "Ah, I understand. These may be a little more difficult for you then." Neji looked over at Sakura who was still wasn't speaking much. She shook her head, indicating for Neji to draw the trial. "Do we get a redraw if we don't like the one we get?" She shook her head. "One trial per team, sorry!" Neji frowned. "Can I cheat?" The woman looked at him confused. "If you can, then do." Neji nodded and used his Byakugan to see through the basket at the intricate writing on the small slips of paper. "All but a few of them are sexual, the others are like small missions. This one is to kiss again, but I don't think you're interested..." Neji kept his fingers sifting, looking through the papers before he finally looked over at Sakura and pulled one out. "I choose this one, and I choose myself." Sakura looked over at him as he handed the paper over to the woman. "Oh! Are you sure? This is pretty harsh." Neji nodded. "If it keeps her happy, I'll do it." Sakura was now really curious about the paper. "Neji, what does it say?"

"You remember the poison on the other end of town, at the bottom of the chasm?" Sakura nodded. "I have to spend five minutes down there." Sakura's eyes widened. "Neji! No! It could kill you!" Neji shook his head. "If I die then I'll definitely be down there longer than five minutes. Just take the scroll, get the item on the list then take the train back." Sakura stared at him, surprised. "It's not worth it! Neji, you can't do this!"

"I have to. I've already handed it in. Sakura, as I said, once you get back to town you'll be fine. You'll forget about me and be able to get on with your life." Sakura felt the tickle of tears at the corner of her eyes. "Neji, I don't want to forget about you!"

Neji shook his head, the small smile in place that he had when she gave a joke. "I never knew how much I wanted to hear those words. It's too bad that I know it won't work out." He turned and followed the woman to the end of town. Sakura ran behind and as they got to the end Sakura looked down, noticing the total lack of movement, no birds, fish, anything. "Neji, I'll allow this under one condition."

"There will be no conditions." He said, his voice almost cold. Sakura frowned, shrugged off her bag and ran down before he could stop her. "Sakura! What are you doing?!" She turned, about thirty feet under the mist and frowned up at him, her feet sticking to the wall of the cliff. "Is this in far enough?"

"Uh, yeah." the woman nodded and Sakura looked over at Neji. "I told you I wouldn't let you do this, I tried to give you a condition and you wouldn't listen to me!" She shouted up at him. "Neji, you should know, after I turned fourteen, after I realized that Sasuke wasn't the same anymore, I haven't had crushes! I'm not one to give my heart lightly, and you just blow it off!" She yelled, feeling her head spin from the fumes. She sat, leaning back on the cliff and looked up at the sky. "Sakura, Please, whatever you want, just come back up, let me do this trial and I'll do whatever you want! Please, just come back up!" Sakura looked up at him and smiled. "Couldn't you tell, Neji? This was what I wanted, you to live." She smiled, ignoring his pleas for the next few minutes. "How long do I have left?" She finally yelled up and the woman looked at the stopwatch. "One minute, ten seconds!" Sakura laughed,knowing she didn't have the strength to walk back out. The poison was too far into her bloodstream. "Neji, It was nice to travel with you. I hope, next time that you find someone that you like, that you can be happy with them." She felt the world slip for a second and looked up. "Time's up!"

"Sakura, come back up!" She shook her head. "I can't. I've used too much chakra, the poison's too deep already. In just a second I'll fall. I'm sorry, Neji." She felt her eyes roll back before she plunged to the water below.

It was the next day that she woke up, looking around to find that she was in the hospital. "Huh?" She sat up, feeling her head spin. "Don't stand up! You'll just fall over again." The nurse ran to her and put her hand on her shoulder to push her back down. Sakura looked up at her and frowned. "How did I get here?"

"I think it had something to do with him." She pointed and Sakura looked over to find Neji asleep in a chair beside her. "We offered him a room at the inn, but he wouldn't take it. He said he wanted to be here when you woke up. We weren't sure if you were going to make it for a while." She shook her head and Sakura looked up at her. "Wasn't it just some sort of pollen mixed with sulfur? A simple antihistamine should have done the trick." The nurse shook her head. "It's a complex poison. It's considered incurable. We usually lose the people who go down there. You were lucky to make it out alive." Sakura looked over at Neji and frowned. "I doubt I'll feel very lucky when he wakes up. Or maybe even alive." The nurse looked at her, confused. "He's going to kill me."

On her way out the nurse 'accidentally' nudged Neji awake. He looked up at Sakura, still a little groggy. "Sakura?" He sat up and looked at her. "Sakura, I'm sorry. I hadn't meant to hurt you." his eyes were still half closed and Sakura looked at him, getting worried. "Neji, are you alright?"

"I got a bit of the poison in me as well. I told them to take care of you. I can fight off just a few minutes, but with the state you were in, poisoned and half drowned, I couldn't have them worried about me with you in that condition." Sakura looked at him as he tried to stand and slipped back into the chair hard. "Nurse! He needs help!"

He grumbled from the hospital bed next to hers. He'd almost lost consciousness, and was now pumped full of medication to help push the poison out of his system. "You would have to have me incarcerated as well." Sakura smiled over at him, her eyes a mix of pity and amusement. "You had been sitting there for who knows how long, sleeping while the poison forced it's way farther into your system. Of course I'm going to have you medicated, I'm a med nin." The nurse happened to be walking by at that time and looked over at Sakura, eyebrow raised. "A med nin, huh?"

"I was trained by Tsunade, of the three legendary Sannin, the Hokage of Konoha." The woman smiled sweetly at Sakura and shook her head. "I think the poison may be still working it's way out of your system." She looked over at Neji, who stared at her, wide eyed. "Sakura, she doesn't know you, she doesn't know who you are. Don't do anything rash." Sakura frowned at the nurse and then smiled. "Tell me the name of the plant that mixes with the sulfur."

It was about three hours later that she had an antidote for the poison and the nurse bowed graciously. "I'm so sorry that I doubted you! I never would have thought that you'd be this good!" Sakura shook her head. "This was nothing. Just before headed out for this I spent about a month working on an anti-fungal serum for tomatoes. It was actually causing the tomatoes to corrode as if dipped in acid. That was a hard time. This was a cake walk." She smiled and the woman grinned. "You'll want to rest for the next day, so we've taken the liberty of getting you a room at the inn. You're also to get the scavenger hunt item for free and we're going to get you a bit of money as a reward. We've been offering a million ryo for an antitoxin, but we're going a little over for you. Sakura stared. "A million?!"

"Yeah, but we're getting you the best room at the inn and we're paying all expenses for you. It's closer to one million point three." Sakura looked over at Neji who stared at her happily. "Well, Sakura, you're rich." Sakura grinned and nodded. "Now I can actually get a house instead of the apartment I'm in!" She grinned and Neji shook his head, smile in place.

Hey all! Trying to work on this is going to be a little more difficult, as my laptop's AC cord has had a terrible death. Aparently I'm too hard on them and I'm not supposed to go through two in as many years. Fortunately, while my hubby's at work I can steal his cord, which is what I'm doing now! Yay!!

Anywhoo, I'll talk to you all soon!

Jasminflower69