Angel of Mine
By Marshie-chan
Chapter Four: Temptation
That afternoon, Ino decided to take a nap inside her cabin. After all the things that happened last night, she wasn't in the mood to see or talk to anyone, especially to Neji.
When evening came, a shadow entered the cabin where Ino was sleeping. He was wearing a mask and only the eyes can be seen. For a moment, the shadow studied the face of the sleeping girl before he pulled something from his pocket—a white handkerchief.
To her horror, Ino woke up when the shadow covered her nose with the handkerchief. The scent of the strange fluid she inhaled made her dizzy and then everything before her went dark. She didn't know the next thing that the shadow did to her.
Ino woke up the next day with the bright rays of the sun from the window. She blinked a lot of times before her eyes adjusted with the brightness.
She pulled herself up from the bed while touching her head and when she remembered what happened before she got unconscious, panic was shown on her blue eyes. She quickly studied the surrounding—It was a simple room made of wood with one window; a lampshade, a table beside the bed and a chair near the door.
'Why… why am I here?' The last thing she could remember is that she woke up with someone covering her nose with a handkerchief. And after the suffocating smell, she became dizzy and got unconscious.
Minutes after, she got up from the bed slowly and went to the window only to see an endless large tract of trees outside.
Ino sighed deeply and sat down in the edge of the bed. She doesn't know where she is, what this place is and who brought her here.
She only knew one thing. She's in the middle of a forest and it's possible that her life is in danger. But then, what happened to her comrades? Did the same thing happen to them? How will they complete this mission now?
When she heard someone opening the door, her face looked up. Her hand is grasping for a kunai on her skirt but was astonished to find out that all her weapons are gone! Her heart was pounding so fast waiting for the one who will enter the room. It was a good thing she's still capable of doing her ninjutsu techniques for someone who will do her harm.
The door opened and her eyes widened when she saw a familiar man in his usual ANBU uniform.
"Hyuuga Neji!" She blurted out in surprise. She doesn't know if she's going to be happy, angry or scared when she saw a comrade of hers. It was still fresh in her mind what happened the other night on the ship's bathroom.
"So, you've woken up." Neji said calmly and kicked the door closed, entered casually and placed the tray of food in the table. "Breakfast in bed?"
"W-what happened to me? Where's Tenten and Lee-san?"
"Ino, why don't you relax? You haven't eaten dinner last night. I'm sure you're hungry. Eat first before we talk." He said in a soft tone, like he was aware of what had happened to her.
Ino isn't dumb. Based on his actions, she knew that Neji had something to do with what happened to her last night. She stood up and shot him a hot glare, "You… you're the one who kidnapped me!"
Neji's face remained calm with a sad expression on his white eyes. He stood up and grabbed her arm but Ino quickly jerk it away.
"Don't touch me! Don't look at me like that! I need answers, Neji!" She firmly commanded.
He cleared his throat and gathered the strength to speak, "All that happened was part of my plans… with the help of Naruto-sama and my teammates. Lee is the one who entered your room last night and covered your nose with that medicine. And the Hokage… Naruto-sama helped me by—"
She cuts off, "You… you mean the mission is…"
"…is just an excuse for me to have an opportunity to convince you not to marry Shikamaru." He continued.
"You're crazy!" She retorted as anger is starting to surge within her. "How dare you do this to me! All of you! Even the Hokage… Tenten and Lee-san… you'll pay for this!"
"Ino," He said in a near whisper. "I did this because…" He hesitated for awhile before he muttered seriously, "because… I think I'm in love with you."
"W-what?" Her eyes widened in surprise. She didn't expect that he would suddenly confess something like this. 'It's all so sudden…' How she wanted to cry on what he had just revealed. "You don't mean that!"
"Just as I thought, you wouldn't believe me. I mean it, Ino. You wouldn't believe it, but I fell in love with a skinny poor little girl twelve years ago at the forest of death."
"Impossible! All I can see in you is disgust everytime you look at me!"
"That's because I thought you were like other girls who would care for nothing except beauty and fame. But you prove me wrong. You are a loyal friend to everybody, a trustworthy teammate, kind, amiable and sweet…like an angel." He met her eyes. She could see the sincerity there. "You had that child-like innocence that captured my heart the first time I saw you, Ino."
"No, this is wrong, Neji. Do you realize that what you're doing will just make me bare a grudge against you?"
"Ino, believe me, the last thing I would do is to hurt you. I felt I died a thousand times when you said you hate me and you love Shikamaru. I was devastated when you threw that truth to my face. You don't know how much I regretted the times I wasted before. I have been in love with you for a long time but I was too stupid to realize that. And now, I felt stupid still because I can't just give you up without putting up a fight." He combed his hair by his fingers. Suffering and pain were reflected in his eyes. She wanted to go to him and hug him but she stopped herself.
Ino was suddenly in deep thought, trying to wonder if Neji did admit that he was stupid—where in fact he's the town's genius. She just can't believe that a genius like him would say something like that just because of love… love? Is it really love that he could feel for her?
"But… but why did you have to come to this point? Why did you set me up?"
"It wasn't my idea. My plan is to woo you… but what can I do? Shikamaru is always around you. Even if I get a chance to be with you alone, I can sense that your thoughts are always with him and your commitment. So I thought without your fiancé around, I can finally prove my love to you. I will do everything just to win your heart and let you think it all over again while we still have time. I just can't let you go easily. At least I have to give it a try.
"Give me five days, Ino. Just five days… I'll make you love me." Neji's voice was already desperate. Ino felt pity for him… pity? No! She loves this man but she doesn't want to admit it because of her own doubts.
Ino thought for awhile, "What if you failed?"
Neji's lips curled bitterly and her eyes were suddenly clouded, "This is madness, I think, Ino, but then who cares?" He stared back at her. "Spend the next five days with me in this island and if I failed to win your heart, we'll return to Konoha and I'll bring you back to Shikamaru."
She can sense the jealousy in his voice when he mentioned Shikamaru's name.
"But if I can make you love me in five days…" Neji smirked and met her eyes again, "You have to marry me."
Her eyes widened and her cheeks reddened. 'Marry Neji? Am I dreaming?' She quickly shook her head to wipe away the blush in her face. Do her ears deceive her? She breathed deeply before she answered, "Okay, I'll give you five days, Neji. We'll stay in this island. But if you failed, you have to bring me back to Konoha whether you like it or not."
The Hyuuga's face brightened, "You have my word. Thank you, Ino. You won't regret it." He turned his back on her, "I'll go get something for you to drink."
Ino was remained unbelievable on Neji's recent actions. She just can't believe that a cold and arrogant Neji can be so caring and loving like this. This attitude of his can make her fall for him even more.
The guy was about to go out of the room when she remembered something, "Neji, wait!"
Neji looked back to her, "Yes?"
"Um… where did Tenten and Lee-san go? Did the people of Konoha know what you were up to?"
He shook his head, "We are all alone in this island, Ino. Lee and Tenten went somewhere else but Konoha. Aside from them and Naruto-sama, nobody knew about this whole thing. The people there still believed that we went on a spy mission."
Ino nodded her head, "Souka…"
Neji smiled, "You don't have to worry about it. I assure you everything's going to be fine." He said before he proceeds to go out of the room.
The blonde girl's blue eyes glowed. She knew that she can trust someone like Neji. She would worry about her commitment problems later. Right now, this time is theirs and theirs alone. At least, she can have good memories with him in this island.
After their scrumptious breakfast, Neji invited Ino to go walking by the lake near the wooden house. Until now, Ino was still wondering why she agreed with the idea of staying with the Hyuuga here in an island and why he tried hard to set her up just to stop her from marrying Shikamaru. Because of that, she was almost convince that the guy really love her.
But thinking it over, she's so lucky. Many ladies wanted to marry a Hyuuga and be part of one of the most prominent clans—the Hyuuga clan. She would be living in a rich and formal way.
Ino wanted a simple life however. That's why she promised to herself that she will only marry a simple guy—a guy like Nara Shikamaru. 'Simple' is a far description to Hyuuga Neji. He is the town's genius and a successful shinobi in an early age.
And somehow, Ino can't deny that she has feelings for Neji and if she follows her heart, she would marry him instead of Shikamaru.
Neji then, gently held her hand and led her to the lake. The way he was holding her hand tightly made her think that the guy is afraid that she might get lost or she might run away. She took a look around the place—the green environment is beautiful and the lake is clean and clear.
When they got tired of walking, she invited him to go swimming in the lake. The guy hesitated for awhile. He was not the kind who would enjoy in the water environment.
"But Ino… taking a bath in a lake is not my style and—"
"Come on! It will be fun!" Ino cuts off who keep on pulling Neji's arm.
Neji sighed. "All right."
Ino was about to get her clothes off when all of a sudden she remembered something—Neji is a guy, by the way. She can't undress in front of him!
"Neji, turn around." She commanded.
The guy raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
"I have to undress myself! Turn around!"
Neji smirked and folded his arms, "I'm not dumb, Ino. I know you're going to undress yourself. What I'm asking is why do I have to turn around when I have already seen—"
Her cheeks reddened, "AAAHH! Shut up, Neji!" She cuts off. "JUST TURN AROUND!" The guy then, reluctantly turned around, but Ino had caught a nasty smile on his face. "Don't you dare peek!"
When Ino finished undressing, she quickly jumped on the lake. She was afraid of the possibility that Neji's going to see her naked again! She dived at the other end of the lake to avoid meeting up with him.
Ino was aware that the guy already dived on the water when she heard the splashes of water a few feet away. She simply shrugged and enjoyed the water. Minutes after she got tired of swimming, she pulled herself out of the water and got dressed. She looked around in search for Neji.
"Looking for me?" Neji suddenly said from behind.
"Eep!" Ino's eyes widened in surprise and turned around. Neji glided his hand to his wet long brown hair resulting from bathing in the lake—this gesture of his is a total knockout! The pants he's wearing is riding low on his waist and his upper body is naked. His strong chest is dripping with droplets of water and his skin is so smooth and looked so good to touch. 'He looks sexier when naked!'
She quickly shifted her gaze to Neji who stared at her musingly. "H-how long h-have you b-been there?" She said with her voice stammering and her cheeks reddening in embarrassment.
Neji smiled and held her eyes, "Ino, you don't have to hide. My eyes can see everything."
Yeah right, Neji possessed the Byakugan anyway. She felt so monumentally stupid not remembering that. "Well, let's head back to the house, maybe we can—"
His lips covered hers before she could say anything more. She felt his right arm wrap about her waist and pull her closer to him, while his left slipped into her hair. He smelled so nice. She struggled a bit, but he merely pulled her closer, and teased her with his mouth. He tightened his arms around her more securely. Neji is really strong.
She let him keep kissing her while she slid her arms around his neck. She felt overwhelmed by it all, the taste of his lips, the warm feeling of his wet body next to hers.
When their lips parted, Neji lowered his head to leave a trail of kisses over the warm curve of her throat.
"Love me," He whispered as he carefully removed her upper clothing. Gently, he moved lower, licking her soft skin between kisses and murmuring at how sweet she smelled, like lemons and roses.
Ino moaned deeply. She felt seductive and seduced at the same time, and she discovered that she enjoyed the sensation. She didn't notice how Neji managed to remove her lower clothing, also how he managed to remove his.
She closed her eyes firmly, trying to fight the sensation but in the end, her doubts were all wiped away. She felt him touching the curve on her body before he slowly laid her on the green grass.
He parted her legs slowly and sought out the pleasure that resided there. Neji didn't use force, instead, he took care of her to make her want him even more. With a knowing touch and loving words, he drew out her longing until she murmured his name, "N-neji…"
"I'm going to make you love me," He spoke.
Ino tried to answer but her body is in control and not her reasoning.
"Open your eyes, Ino." He commanded.
She slowly opened her eyes. Neji knelt over her, reading the desire in her eyes to be sure she was ready, and then they became one. Slowly, he moved, stroking her to greater passion and more urgent desire.
"Oh… Neji…" She whispered while clinging on his back.
When her want became a need, he increased his movements and felt the answering ripple of her inner flesh as she cried out in ecstasy.
He moaned as satisfaction raced through him, training his thoughts to dreams and his muscles to jelly.
Later on, the two got dressed but Ino remained silent. She lowered her head, that's why Neji didn't saw the tears that are crawling down on her face. 'Why did I let it happen? Why did I get carried away?'
He stroked her back and whispered, "I'll marry you."
Sadness covered her heart and she was suddenly attacked by guilt feelings. Even if something happened between them, she was afraid to marry him.
It should be Shikamaru, not Neji. Shikamaru! Shikamaru!
Right now, she was so scared of what is going to happen. If she follows her heart, she would wind up hurting other people… more especially Shikamaru whom she felt she had already betrayed the moment she gave herself to Neji.
TBC