Chapter 4

Keep your cool Neji, you do NOT like a boy...

It was Hyuuga Neji, who was holding her wrist. Did she imagine it, or was there worry her usually emotionless eyes? No, it cant be….

"What…happened?" she asked

Neji just stared at her, then swiftly got up and left. One hand on the door, he muttered angrily.

"You are a disgrace to your clan. At least when you do something to help, do not make it even worse, better just stay put. You are a fool, you were fated to be one. Hurry and get up, we are laving soon". With one last glare at the blonde girl, Neji slammed the door shut.

"You know, she was worried about you, never left your side…" said a soft, elderly voice. Naruto looked around to see an old man sitting on a chair beside the bed she was currently on.

The Hyuuga girl, worried? No, I don't believe it. Plus with the way she looked at me, and her tone…

But where AM I? Why am I even here…what….

Then she remembered. It had happened after she had carefully placed he bird back in the nest. The branch that she was balancing on broke, and she fell, right on one gaping Hyuuga Neji. She had landed on the taller girl, who was groaning in pain. She remembered her face going red and her heart pounding for some unknown reason. That's why she had wanted to get up fast, and run away from the brunette girl. But a stray branch just had to fall off and hit her on the head. She had apparently lost conscience after that.

Naruto buried her head in her hands.

Neji had to carry me here..damn what did I do? Now what is the girl going to think of me…wait, why am I worried about her opinion? She is a stuck up bastard…er…wait that's inappropriate to insult her with a guy's insult…she is a girl! Why do i…oh no, I cant be…

She wailed.

The old man chuckled.

"Calm down, child…."

"Eh?"

Naruto quickly got up and bowed.

"Argatou gozaimasu, for taking care of me, jii chan"

"That's quite all right. Your companion, on the other hand won't be pleased if you are late", he smiled, stroking the small goatee he had, " but I must admit, the way she cared for you was not a sight to see everyday."

His eyes twinkled. Naruto's eye twitched, but Minato had drilled some manners into her, so she simply bowed again.

"Ne jiji, thanks! And ja ne!"

With that, she ran off, bumping into a small kid on the way. Quickly apologizing, she reached Neji, who wasn't facing her.

"Lets go. I want this wedding called off as soon as possible!"

Naruto lowered her head, trying to calm her heart down.

Why…do those words hurt…I don't understand!

She was careful not to touch the Hyuuga girl when she settled behind her on the horse.

Kami what's wrong with me…

A few minutes after their horse disappeared from view and the dust raised by the hooves dispersed, one of the two figures standing at the porch of the small house exclaimed loudly.

"Ne Ne jiji! What a weird pair! The guy is dressed a girl and the girl is dressed as a guy! What's going on?" , the little boy was jumping up and down, the blue scarf wrapped around his neck jumping with him.

The old man lit his pipe, and sighed, smiling slightly.

"That, Konohamaru…is called love.."

The little boy blanched and made gagging noises.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen ignored this, choosing to watch the horizon.

Hashirama-sensei….it seems that your treasured crystals finally found their respective owners.

Neji was beyond angry. Angry at who, you might ask. Himself of course. He clenched his fist, frowning.

He had noticed the slightly shivering blonde, and how the small boy didn't even grip his (well Hinata's) kimono tightly. He knew he had scared him, but what could he do? He was so worried for the Uzumaki, and he had frantically ran to the nearest house, to ask for help, not even carrying to seem womanly. He was cradling the fragile looking blonde in his arms like treasure.

When he had fallen on him, he had panicked, but that panic turned to confusion when his heart rate increased and an odd feeling registered in his chest. It was pain, and guilt for not climbing himself, it was also fear, fear for the small figure, slumped almost lifelessly on him. Even if he could feel the heartbeat, and could see the small rising and falling on the blondes chest, he was still worried.

He had nearly cried of joy when he found a place where the boy could be treated. He had noticed the glance the old man had given him, and his crystal, but he could care less.

Uzumaki slept for a few hours, and he, Hyuuga Neji, one who never showed openly how he cared, how he loved, was beside him, watching, observing, and praying to Kami for the blonde to wake up.

And when she did, relief flooded over him. He had grabbed the thin wrist, without thinking, and right at that moment the boy just had to open his eyes.

Hyuuga Neji knew, from the very first meeting, that those cerulean oceans will be his downfall. And he was right, for his heart didn't want o listen to him anymore, nor did the butterflies in his stomach.

Where did they come from? What is this..why cant I control myself again?

He glared at the boy and decided its best to leave, now. He knew he wasn't being fair with his cold words, but what else could he do? He didn't know what this was, what was happening to him..and being cold to people, was taught in the Hyuuga clan. That was the only way he knew to deal with those feelings.

And he had taken all his frustration on the poor blonde. Well in a way, it WAS his fault. So it was fair, right? RIGHT?

He sighed.

I need to do something, I really cant stand the silence. When he talked it was so much more comfortable..and easy…

"Uzumaki, hold tighter, I am going to go faster, or else we will reach our destination in our other life," he pointed out as politely as he could, voice devoid of all the emotion. Just like he was taught.

He heard a squeak and turned his head around slightly. Uzumaki Naruto was staring at him with big eyes…disbelieving. He rolled his eyes and smirked.

He sure acts a lot like a girl. Are Namikaze gens really THIS bad?

"Ya!" , he yelled.

The horse galloped faster, making the blond shriek and death hug him around the middle. He felt the face of the blonde pressed to his back.

His cheeks turned pink.

He is a guy! A boy!

But he knew deep down that he no longer could ignore this. He knew he liked the feeling, and it disgusted him.

Night had already came, and the starts where twinkling above them. Naruto had completely forgotten who she was hugging and who was she leaning on. She had just assumed Neji was a pillow and dosed off. Neji himself was no better, his eyes were already closing.

"We need a place to stay in…and fast.."

All the way his heart never stopped beating fast. But he chose to ignore this.

Luckily the were near an inn.

The horse came to a stop in front of the door and Neji hopped off. Naruto fell face foreword, sliding off the horse slowly. Not wanting to dig any further into those weird feelings, Neji nujed the boy hard, effectively waking him up from his slumber.

"Whaa..who..why..what..whe..Nej..Neji?, "the blonde slurred, not making any sense.

"Wake up idiot. We are going to spend a night here", he unhooked his bag from the horse and set off.

"Pff…moody bastrad..ess…yup that fits the female form of bastard…OY! Wait up you jerk!"

"Welcome to Hi no kuni inn", said a blonde girl, who was obviously in carge at the moment, for she looked too young to be the owner.

"My name is Yamanaka Ino, and cos my daddy is away, I am in charge", winked the blonde, like she read Neji's mind.

Naruto growled.

Neji raised an eyebrow.

Ino giggled and flicked her long platinum blonde ponytail back.

"We need a room to stay the night" declared Neji, crossing her arms. Naruto stared at the girl in horror.

"What do you mean ONE, ttebayo!"

enjoy. next two chapters will be posted either today late in the evening or tmrow. ill try to not make this too long. hope you guys are ok with it.