Chapter 18: Help From Someone Unexpected

'Okay, Sakura, just keep running...we're almost half way there, see? It's not such a bad run if you're running for your life, because someone has got to be tailing you...speaking of which, I'm ninety-nine percent sure that Naruto's coming after me, if not more people than just him. I mean, really, he couldn't expect to catch up to me on his own, because we both know that I'm the better ninja when it comes to tracking...'

'He might actually be more powerful than I am, though, I've got to admit – his own power combined with nine tails makes him a pretty formidable opponent when he gets riled up...he probably is all upset, I wish that I didn't have to do that to him, I wish he could have come...speaking of others coming along, I wonder if Sasuke went with him? Or maybe Kakashi? Nah, I doubt either of them...Kakashi probably made up some dumb excuse and didn't figure my disappearance was a big deal, and Sasuke's too much of an ass to care about me...urgh, asses, damn Masatake-sama! What the hell is he hiding?

'He knows something, I know it, but...there's just no way that he'd tell, and – oh shit, I'm supposed to meet with him again tomorrow, oh damn – how am I going to do that? I...I just can't...I don't even know if I can face him at the moment. Faces...no-faces...we haven't seen any violent ones for a while, that's good...I can only hope that none come around while I'm away with Naruto gone as well...the village would be in some deep shit if there was an attack...but it's not like I could stay there, I had questions, they need to be answered...'

'Hey, Sakura! Wake up! I doubt that you've even realized that we're being tailed!' Inner shrieked at me with impatience; she didn't really like what I was doing, all the running away and snooping. Now that I had been (rather rudely) pulled out of my thoughts, I realized that she was right – I could feel the chakra presence that was tailing us. I could tell they were being very careful to mask their chakra, but to me it stood out bright as day. I had always been pretty good at finding chakra signatures.

That made it odd that I didn't recognize whose chakra it was, at least not from this distance; but as soon as they were close enough I'd figure out who it was and then, regardless, give them the slip. There was no way that anyone was taking me back, not when I was this close. Not even Naruto could make me come back by my own will – he'd have to tie me up and drag me back to Konoha, screaming all the way. And I knew that he would do it, too, which was an annoyance.

I slowed my pace slightly so that whoever was trailing me would come close enough so that I could figure out who they were – depending on the person, my means of evasion would have to differ. It wasn't Naruto, that was for sure – I could tell his chakra a mile and a half away, not to mention that he was absolute crap at suppressing and hiding his chakra. I slowed down even more, to which Inner responded with some annoyance. 'Ne, Sakura – do you want to get caught? Slow down any more and that's what's gonna happen,' She said grumpily, but I knew that the words were for my safety only.

'I'll be careful,' I promised, and then I stopped and darted up and into a tree, backing into the leaves and branches so as to hide myself well. The chakra came closer and closer, until I knew that in a moment I would be seeing the owner, and a moment later said person came flying through the trees, landing neatly on the ground beneath my hiding spot. My breath caught in my throat and I almost fell out of the tree in shock.

Neji stood on the ground below, veins lining his eyes that showed the use of the Byakugan. My own eyes widened as he glanced around the clearing. What...what was he doing here? What the hell was he doing here? Him, of all people! A moment later I knew the answer – Naruto had gone to Team Gai for help, and it was pretty obvious that he had gotten that help. Argh, damnit! Adding Neji to the equation was not in my plans! With a small hiss of annoyance I dropped out of the tree, landing silently on the ground. I was just about to take one step forward when I felt cool metal at my throat and a voice in my ear. "Don't move."

Summoning as much hatred as I could into my voice, I asked, "So this is what you've stooped to – threatening a friend, Hyuuga?" The hand around my neck loosened slightly and I heard Neji speak again. "I believe that we are rivals, Haruno. Last time I checked you hated my guts." I made a grab for his hand, but he easily blocked with his other hand, which was what I had been hoping for. With both of his hands busy I slammed myself backwards and into him, jerking my head back into his face with a lot of force. And like I had predicted he let go pretty easily, letting me dart away.

I stopped and looked back at him – he had one hand pressed to his nose, which was currently pouring blood. He glared at me, and I stuck out my tongue in response. "Naruto didn't want any of us to hurt you, but if you're not going to come quietly..." "Like hell I'm not!" I retorted, feeling touched inside that even though I had up and left him, even though I had betrayed his trust, Naruto was still wiling to forgive me so easily. Neji's face didn't change, but he pulled his hand away from his nose, which was still dripping.

'Aw, Sakura, you've ruined his beauty!' Inner moaned, and I let out a crow of laughter in my head. "I hope you remember that last time we fought I won," Neji commented calmly, and I glared back at him, coming back to the present. "I hope you remember that last time we fought, I would have won if it weren't for my slight...hindrance," I shot back. "But there's nothing stopping me now."

Neji remained impassive. He slid into a fighting stance and I mirrored his actions and asked, "So...how did you manage to find me? And how did you mask your chakra like that? I noticed you a while off – you weren't hiding your chakra very well, but I didn't recognize the signature even though I should have. How did you do that?"

He smirked slightly. "You can be pretty dense sometimes for being so smart. It was my intention that you noticed that I was following you, because then that way you wouldn't notice that I turned around after you saw me the first time. When I turned around I hid my chakra completely, and you didn't notice me when I snuck around and behind you. You missed that one straight on." I flushed slightly, angry that I had missed a pretty obvious trick.

I had just opened my mouth to speak when Neji moved, darting forward, and his hand lighting up with blue colored chakra. I leaped up and out of the way, but he slid neatly to a stop and kicked off the ground, jumping after me. I kicked out at him, but he lashed out at my leg and his hand hit its mark. I felt chakra points along my leg seal up and I let out a grunt as we fell back to the ground. I landed a little awkwardly and I hadn't been on the ground for a moment before I had to duck under Neji's kick.

"Earth Style: Shielding Vines," I said, slamming my hand into the ground. Large vines shot out of the ground, forming a wall between Neji and me, and a moment later his fist slammed into the wall. The vines didn't break, but I could see small cracks of stress appearing where he had hit. They wouldn't hold out much longer, I knew, but the purpose of the jutsu was mostly for a distraction to be able to buy yourself some time. "Earth Style: Blooming Razors," I shouted as the vines finally shattered under Neji's fists. Cherry blossoms swirled around me before shooting towards Neji. He was unprepared for the attack and I saw him wince as the razor-sharp blossoms cut his skin, leaving shallow gouges on his face and hands.

"You'll have to do better than that, Haruno," Neji said, turning into a blur as he darted away. A moment later his fist slammed into my side and sent me flying, crashing into one of the nearest trees. I picked myself up gingerly, wincing as I felt the now-sealed chakra points along my side. "Tenshi Style: Piercing Arrow!" I shouted, letting my chakra take the familiar bow shape in my hands. As soon as it was formed I loosed the arrow, sending it flying towards Neji. He darted neatly aside, shaking his head.

"You've used that on me before, so it's not going to work anymore," He said with something of an air of arrogance, which only made me angrier. "Earth Style: Living Blade!" I screamed, my right arm suddenly feeling very heavy as my chakra condensed around it, drawing stone and earth to turn my arm into a hard, sword-like appendage. He wanted to get violent? Fine. That was just fine with me. I ran towards him and slashed at him, which he easily avoided. However, I had been anticipating his move – the slash was just to get him to move the way I wanted him to.

"Earth Style: Binding Vines!" I shouted, and long green vines shot out of the ground and wrapped themselves around his arms and legs, trapping him in place. These vines were chakra-immune and could only be called back by the user of the jutsu. They were a sort of sister jutsu to the Shielding Vines, but unlike their sister they were very strong. Neji struggled against his bindings and I darted towards him, swinging my sword-arm forward and bringing it down on his arm.

There was a sickening crack and he let out a pained gasp, his eyes going wide as they flitted to mine. Disbelief lingered in his pale eyes. "Sakura...what are you doing?" I realized with a jolt that it was the first time he had ever addressed me by my first name, but I shoved the thought away. "You are not going to stop me. You...you can't stop me! I'm not going to let you, or anyone else, stop me! I have to get those answers. I...I have to know..." I swayed and sank to my knees, my head in my hands. The Living Blade jutsu faded from my right arm.

"I have to find Kyo and I have to get those answers... I can't let anyone stop me...no one can stop me! I...I just can't..." I broke off, drawing a shuddering breath. Suddenly it was as if all of the events of the past few days came crashing down, and I suppressed a sob. Why was everyone against me? Why couldn't they just let me go and get my damn answers? "I just need...I need Kyo-sensei..." I sobbed aloud now, my body shuddering as I cried. I fell to my knees and half curled up hugging my knees to my chest.

"What the...Sakura what the hell are you blabbering on about?"

"Shut up! Y-you don't... don't un-understand anything!"

"Then help me understand."

My vision was blurred as I looked at him, I should have been mad at his demand, but that softness in his voice...the gentle understanding was so soothing to my aching heart. I sobbed harder, not even realizing that I had released my jutsu until Neji's warm hand was on my back awkwardly rubbing gentle circles on my clothed back. I expected him to push me into revealing my relationship with Kyo-sensei but he didn't, he remained quiet through my sobs.

"Sakura...we should go, the rain is getting worse." Neji gently pulled me to my feet, and directed me through the trees as I looked around in a foggy haze; when had it begun to rain? How had I not realized until now that my clothes, hair, and Neji were soaking wet. I wiped my face in a futile attempt to dry off. Thunder began to boom overhead as lightning flashed and slowly it came faster and faster until Neji cursed softly. "Sakura, we have to find shelter, the storm is getting too dangerous to try to get back."

I mumbled something incoherent to us both, my mind and body too numb to function properly. He pulled me along, and what felt like hours later, we reached a small makeshift cave, which Neji pulled me under almost immediately. There wasn't much room inside, but I couldn't bring myself to care that I was sitting next to my rival. I just curled up again, and remained silent, until my brain could finally allow me to say, "I'm so sorry..." My voice was so soft that I thought Neji couldn't hear me until I looked up and saw his eyes upon me.

He didn't use his voice to speak, but his eyes were different.

They looked at me sharply with that inquisitive gaze of his. I lowered my eyes again. "I shouldn't have left...it was stupid...I'm so stupid..." I whispered. "I just can't...I don't wanna lose him...I'm so scared that I'll never see him again..." Emotion welled inside me again. "...Kyo-san?" Neji asked, I nodded. More silence ensued.

"Why? Why is he so important to you?"

"Because...he was always there for me." As I gazed into silver orbs, I saw the silent prodigy's command: explain. "Kyo-sensei was a very good friend of my father, and I can't remember a time when he wasn't over at my house. I remember being told by my mother that Kyo was the first one I walked to. And when my parents died he stepped in and took care of me, he was always there for me when I needed him. I can't imagine what would happen if I lost him I just.... I can't even think about that...." I swallowed back more tears. "I suppose I'm just being overly emotional, right?"

"No, I...know what it's like...to lose someone like that...it's not....weak to be scared of losing someone that close to you." I sobbed softly as he finished speaking. Neji gently placed his hand on my back again, and I couldn't stop myself from throwing my arms around his neck and holding him tight. He stiffened, but returned my sudden embrace. God, he smelled so nice, everything about him was nice.

"Neji...do you hate me?" I finally asked, after my sobbing had finished. He was quiet for a long time – at least it felt like a long time. "I...I, um..." He paused and started again. "No." I sighed deeply, relishing in the feel of his arms. Speaking of arms... I pulled back, gently laying a hand on the arm that I had broken. "I'm sorry," I said quietly, leaning back into him. "It's okay. I don't hate you." I let out a weak laugh at his very bad joke. "At least let me heal you," I said, my hand lighting up with green chakra.

"I don't..." I silenced his protest by putting a finger over his lips. He went silent very fast, and I could have sworn that I saw him blush. But in the half-gloom of the rain, I couldn't be exactly sure. I gently placed my hand over his arm and let the healing jutsu do its work. I pulled back after a moment, my hands resting in my lap. "We should go back," Neji said after a moment, and I stiffened slightly.

"Sakura. You have to. You can't just run off whenever you feel like it. And besides that, you have people that will help. Naruto didn't run off when you told him what had happened, no? You have no reason, and, in my opinion, no right to just take off and leave everyone behind." I didn't like what Neji was saying, but there was truth in his words.

"Okay. Okay, we'll go back. Just...don't tell anyone else what I told you." He nodded and stood, offering a hand to help me up. I accepted it and pulled myself up, swiping a hand across my face to wipe away any last remnants of tears. It was a bit redundant, though, seeing that as soon as we stepped out of the cave the rain splattered onto my face again. I shivered slightly – with the rain had come a chill and a blowing wind. "Where is everyone else?" I asked as I followed after Neji, who was heading confidently through the trees.

"Back a ways. We all split up and agreed to meet back at a checkpoint after a few hours. My guess is that by the time that we get back to the checkpoint it'll be just about when we agreed to meet. It is a bit of a walk, though. Are you sure that you're up for it?" He glanced back at me, concern crossing his face. "N-no, I can make it," I replied, feeling blood rush to my cheeks.

'See, Sakura? He really does care. What have I told you all along?' I was surprised when Inner spoke, sounding smug and confident. 'Okay, okay, so you were right. Big deal,' I muttered back. 'Ahahaaa, you enjoyed every minute of your 'alone time' in that cave, didn't you! When his arms were around you, holding you tightly against him...' She played back the scene in my head at a view as if someone had been watching from outside. I blushed as it played back in my head – we had been really....close.

'Alright, enough!' I snapped, annoyed that she couldn't let the subject drop. 'I get it, yeah, we were close! Now just shut up about it! I'm not in the mood for your crap right now. So just shove off.' Inner abruptly went quiet, and I sighed inwardly at the now-peaceful quiet. Neji and I walked through the trees in silence, but it wasn't awkward, compared to what it normally would have been. After an hour or so of walking we emerged into a clearing in the trees.

"This is the spot," Neji said, walking into the center. It had stopped raining, but the ground was still wet. I couldn't have cared less as I dropped to the ground, tired and wanting nothing more than to just sit down for a minute. Silence settled down on us for a few minutes before I finally managed to open my mouth. "...Neji?" I asked quietly, and he turned to face me upon hearing his name. "...Thank you," I murmured, resting my head on my knees.

I couldn't see his face, but I could hear the confusion in his voice when he asked, "What for?" I took some time before giving him my answer. "For bringing me back. I...what I did was stupid, you were right. And I shouldn't have just run off like that. So...thanks for putting some sense into me."

"Well...you're welcome, then," He said, still sounding a little confused but accepting nonetheless. There was quiet again and then suddenly something touched my arm. I looked up to see Neji, his hand gently resting on my shoulder. "Sakura? Can I tell you something?" He asked, sounding unsure and a little doubting. I blinked in surprise and shrugged. "Go for it," I said. He had just opened his mouth to speak when suddenly someone came bursting through the trees. There was a flash of yellow and then something tackled into me, knocking me onto my back.

"You moron!" Naruto shouted, pinning me down. "Why did you do that?! You...never, ever, and I mean it, never do that again!" He rolled off and into a sitting position, pressing a hand to his face. A moment later Sasuke emerged from the trees, looking wet and sulky. He spotted me and his eyes narrowed. "Dumbass," He called, but I didn't bother to reply. Naruto lifted his head and I could see the worry that still lingered in his eyes.

"You...you scared the shit out of me when you just left like that. You were so upset and then I came back and you were gone...not telling me where you went...you really scared me, Sakura, you really did. Don't...don't ever pull any shit like that again, you hear me?"

I nodded and crawled over to him, wrapping my arms around him. "I'm sorry," I said simply. "I really am. And I have no good excuses. So I'm sorry." He leaned into my hug for a moment longer before pulling away. "I won't ask about why you took off. I know that you'll tell me when you're ready to. So I'm not going to press." I smiled at his unquestionable understanding.

"Here come Green Spandex One and Green Spandex Two," Sasuke drawled from his position by the trees, and a second later Lee and Gai came bursting through the trees. "Sakura-san! You have been found! I am most pleased that you are unharmed and reunited with us!" Lee came bounding over, bursting with joy. I smiled and stood up, nodding to Gai who was standing back but still just about to burst with cries of youth. Lee started blabbering about youth, and while he was doing so Tenten came up behind me.

"Sakura!" She said, smiling slightly. "I'm glad that you're back," She went on, and I smiled back at her kindness. I glanced around, realizing that we were missing someone out of the two teams. "Where's Kakashi?" I asked Naruto, who let out a bark of laughter. "Probably wondering where the hell we are," He said, sounding amused. I shook my head.

"You mean he didn't come with? You didn't even tell him?" I asked, and Naruto nodded, laughing. "That's going to be...fun to explain," I grumbled with a sigh. Sasuke only 'hned' and continued to look bored. It was only then that I remembered Neji, who was standing a ways off to the side. I walked over to him and pulled him slightly aside from everyone else.

"What was it that you wanted to tell me?" I asked, and he looked uncomfortable. "It was nothing. Never mind." He turned and walked away, leaving me staring after him and wondering what he had been planning on saying. "We should head back," Naruto said, tugging gently on my arm. "I'll be with you in a sec," I told him, rooted to the spot. He looked at me carefully and then turned and followed after Sasuke the rest of them.

But I remained behind, pondering what on earth Neji had wanted to tell me.

A.N: Hello again! With the start of August now upon us, it brings a few things. For Kitsunegirl2, family from out of the country and a trip to her grandparents who lack the internet, along with marching band four days a week! For Kitsunegirl1, weeks of boredom when Kitsunegirl2 can't come over, also with marching band four days a week! What a lovely combination, no?

Out-of-country family + a bored Kitsunegirl1 + hardcore marching band = NO PRODUCTION!

If you don't understand a word of what we're saying, here it is in plain english: we're not gonna be very productive and therefore you probably won't get many updates. Marching EATS our time and then before you know it it will be september. September ushers in a new era of sadistic children-hating teachers and lots of homework! Yippee! Less production!

So...enjoy this update while you can, because there probably won't be many more for a while. Yay for some NejiSaku fluff! See, he really does care... ;D

-Kitsunegirls