A/N: Sorry, I took so long. Hope you like this chapter Please review.
IT STARTED WITH A NIGHT
By KeepMeInspired
Chapter VI
"Wait." Shikamaru peered closely at his friend's face. "Is it possible that… you like her?"
Neji's face was blank. If Shikamaru didn't know him better, he'll think he was spacing out.
"Oh shit, you do."
Neji fixed him with a stare. "You know I did not say anything like that."
"You didn't need to." Shikamaru was beaming. "Oh shit. I need to tell my girlfriend about this."
"Tell me what?" Ino suddenly popped out of nowhere. They were in Shikamaru's living room by the way.
They both said "Nothing" and "Something" at the same time.
Which of course just caused Ino's ears to perk up.
"I'm all ears." She said with a smirk on her face.
"It was nothing, trust me." Neji stated grimly.
Ino crossed her arms in front of her and turned to her boyfriend with an interested look.
Shikamaru raised his eyebrows slowly, aware that he was just within reach for Neji's 64 Hands of Hakke.
Neji seems to be aware of this too since he was regarding him with a quite cool stare.
"Well, if you got no news for me then I have some for you."
"Forget it, we're not-"
"Sakura's the hottest pregnant woman ever so WHY ARE YOU NOT SLEEPING WITH HER?"
If Neji was a lesser man, he would have choked on his saliva.
Shikamaru elbowed him. Hard.
Oww.
"For real?" Shika exclaimed. "She said that?"
"Let the Hyuuga find out for himself." Ino scoffed and with a satisfied expression, she left the room.
"Pressure on you, old pal."
"Shut the hell up, Nara."
"Hey, you're back late."
Neji went up to his wife who was sitting curled up on their sofa. Well, on her sofa. But technically his also since they're married so it's their sofa. But it's in her house. You get the point.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm pregnant and I'm bored."
Neji chuckled quietly.
Sakura just stared up at him.
"Does anything hurt?"
"My ego does" since I'm stuck at home.
Neji regarded her quietly.
Sakura crossed her arms in front of her.
"I'm sorry. It's just for a few more months and you'll be back on missions again." Neji tried to make his voice as comforting as possible. Of course, a stranger hearing this would only hear a flat tone of voice.
In Sakura's mind, questions were racing. Do you really think that? Do you really think I'd leave my newborn child and go on month-long missions after this?
From Neji's point of view, Sakura was spacing out with this doleful stare on her face.
"Hey." He said. "What do you wanna do then?"
Sleep with you, Shikamaru's voice said inside his head and Neji wanted to slap his hand across his forehead. That bastard.
"I don't know." Sakura shrugged dejectedly. "Go on and sleep. I know you're tired. Don't bother with me."
"Okay then"
And to Sakura's astonishment, Neji left.
She stared after him, open-mouthed. Wow. Thanks for being such a gentleman.
"And oh." He paused and retraced his steps. "Did you eat already?"
"No." Sakura said, her tone with an edge.
Which of course didn't go unnoticed by Neji.
Uh-oh.
"What is it this time?" He implored.
"What this time?" she said shrilly.
Neji winced inwardly at the high pitch tone her voice had taken. "I know you're troubled."
"It's none of your business." She hissed and eyed him coldly.
"Did I do something?"
"None. Of . Your. Business."
What the hell?
At the back of his mind, he remembered what Shikamaru once told him, My cousin was irritable 24/7 when she got on with her pregnancy.
I guess this was really just the case.
Neji sighed.
"What do you want me to do then? I concede."
"Hn." It was weird hearing Sakura say that.
With a swift motion, he grabbed her arm and pulled her up from the sofa.
"What-?"
Much to her astonishment, he pulled her out of the house.
"Where are we going?"
"Out for a romantic walk."
And Sakura's heart leapt to her throat as he smiled at her with that dazzling once-in-a-lifetime kind of smile of his.
"You know I don't need to be baby-ed, Hyuuga."
"Neji."
"What?" She asked, confused.
"Neji." He said simply. "I want you to call me Neji from now on."
Despite herself, she smiled. "You have some nerve."
"You finally got to calling me Neji before. It's unfair for you to keep on switching which name to use."
"Well then you have to call me Sakura from now on also."
"I do that." Neji said defensively.
"No, you call me Haruno when you're pissed off… Which is like 3/5 of the time."
"That's just because you're pissed at me most of the time."
They were walking along Konoha streets, not really aiming for any direction in particular. It was quite a peaceful night and the moon was shining beautifully up in the sky. Sakura had always imagined talking romantic moonlight walks with her husband. That was before she married Neij, of course, since she didn't expect this ice-block to do anything of this kind with her.
But then, here they were..
Strolling around Konoha at this time of the night.
"I am not pissed at you most of the time!"
"Yes you are."
"That's just because pregnant people really have this kind of temper."
"Hn.. You were like this even before."
"That's not true!" she said indignantly.
Neji smiled quietly. He wasn't looking at her but at their surroundings.
Finally, he heard a sigh from the person beside him.
"I'm sorry then."
"Hn."
Sigh. "There you go again."
Neji turned to her. "What?"
"Hn? Honestly, hn? I don't even get what that syllable connotes!" Sakura crossed her arms in front of her.
Neji contemplated on her statement for a minute. It was the first time somebody had the guts to point that out so he never really paid any attention to that syllable before. "It's… a universal expression." Was the best thing he could come up with.
"Exactly!" she threw her hands up exasperatedly. "You're making me guess what you mean!"
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you do! Can't you just tell me?" She shrugged nonchalantly. "It gives me sleepless nights."
Neji stopped walking. They were in a residential area. Except for some passersby, nobody was there except the two lamp posts at both ends of the street.
"I give you sleepless nights?"
Sakura looked back, surprised that he stopped walking. "Huh?"
"You think of me when you go to sleep then?" He was trying to hide a grin.
"Wha-? No!" She replied much too fast.
"No need to stress yourself. I know now." Again, that grin threatened to come out. But he's sure she could already sense it. That's why she's being so defensive.
"I told you that wasn't the case!"
"What's wrong with thinking about your husband before falling asleep?" He resumed walking, leaving Sakura to go catch up with him.
"You are conceited, Hyuuga." She said quietly.
"Neji."
"Fine."
"Do you hate me?"
"What?"
"I said, Do you hate me?" His tone became all serene and Sakura wondered if Neji was having a personality disorder tonight. I mean, he can't be normal if he's like this, right?
She was a bit taken aback. "What? What kind of question is that?"
"Answer."
"No, of course not. You took responsibility for our mistake, after all." She shrugged and gave the most impersonal answer she could reply.
"Don't go calling our child a mistake."
Sakura eyed him. Neji's definitely acting weird tonight. It started the moment he entered the house and asked if she was fine. Hyuuga Neji does NOT do that. "Fine. Why are you being such a drama queen tonight?"
He ignored her.
"And would you please wipe that peculiar look off your face."
"What look?"
"That look I'm not used to seeing on your face." That serene look on your face. Like you're in peace.
At this, he smirked. "There is no such thing."
"That's better."
"What is?"
"Your smirk." The smirk I came to like.
He paused suddenly and looked up at the sky, as if contemplating something. His hands were in his pockets. He breathed deeply and sighed.
"If you don't hate me… then do you like me?"
Sakura was so taken aback she nearly stumbled on her own two feet. She even choked. "Wh—what?"
"You ask me to repeat things quite often."
"No. I meant- I-"
She glanced up at him, at a loss for words. "I didn't- " She gaped openly at him. What exactly is this person thinking? "You're asking if I-"
The rest of the sentence got dissolved in her surprised gasp as Neji's hand grabbed her and pulled her towards him. His other hand was on the back of her neck and the next instant, he was kissing her.
He kissed her like nobody ever kissed her before. He pressed his lips against hers softly at first. His right hand pulled her in more tightly.
Sakura was rigid with shock. She was dazed alright. And they were in the middle of the street, for Pete's sake!
But as Neji's mouth moved insistently against hers, her resolve all melted away.
Her mind screamed at her but she couldn't help but press her lips more forcefully against his.
He felt her response so he nipped at the side of her mouth with his teeth, asking for entrance.
Sakura's mind reeled as she felt Neji's tongue caress the inside of her mouth. Oh God, she couldn't believe this was all happening. As much as she hated admitting it, she loved the way he kissed her. She loved the way his mouth moved against hers. She loved the way his strong arms held her. She loved everything of him.
Neji kissed her passionately. Unconsciously, she wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer. She breathed the scent of him. His lips were soft against hers as he engulfed her lips with his. She felt like she was in cloud nine.
The kiss seared and Sakura sucked in a breath which pulled him a lot closer. For her, nothing else mattered. She couldn't see her surroundings. It was all just..… him.
The kiss lasted five seconds then he pulled away. She groaned at the loss of contact. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Neji wasn't panting like her but she could tell from the uneven rise and fall of his chest that he was also breathing heavily.
"Wha-?"
The next instant she was pulled into a soft embrace. She could feel Neji's heart thumping against her own.
"It was to cheer you up."
Despite herself, she couldn't help but bite her lower lip. She was engulfed by his scent and his presence. His arms felt like the safest place on earth. But no, Sakura. You don't like him. You were just forced into this situation. You think like this because you have no choice. He hugged her tighter, seemingly aware of her sense of vulnerability right at that moment. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments… Moments when Hyuuga Neji showed he cares. If she was a lesser person, she would be bawling by now. Instead, her arms came up to return the hug and went deeper into his embrace.
He kissed me.
It was the first thought that came to her as she woke up. Very much aware of the presence of another person beside her, she slowly turned her head towards him. Sunlight poured from outside and from her sharp ninja instinct, she could surmise the time to be around 7 am.
Neji was peacefully asleep beside her. His brown hair was spread out elegantly across the pillow. It was good to know that she had someone like this in her life. Someone reliable, somebody she could lean on. In the deep recesses of her mind, she knew she could last a day staying in bed just staring at that peaceful look on his face. He wasn't such an ice block once you get to know him. She learned that through direct experience. In fact, he's quite a decent person for a man with such a bitter childhood. Speaking of, she glanced at the wrappings on his forehead that covered the mark. She wanted to take that off. He was safe here with here. There was no need for the covering. Slowly, she reached out her arm to touch it. Lightly, her finger moved down to his nose and hovered over it. He looked so angelic as he slept. A stranger surely couldn't surmise he's one of the deadliest ninjas in the world. And surely when he learns that the words 'angelic' and 'Neji' got used in one sentence, even if just on her mind, he'd surely sport that conceited look on his finely chiseled
She moved to pull her hand away. But before she could fully retrieve it, a hand shot out to grab it. Still with eyes closed, Neji took hold of her wrist, pulled it beneath the covers and placed it on the other side of him so that she was like hugging him. When that was done, to Sakura's surprise, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer still.
She stared at him incredulously. His eyes were still closed but if he opened it, she wouldn't dare maintain the direction her eyes were staring at. She might just melt.
She bit her lower lip. To her dismay, her next words came out barely above a whisper as she was holding her breath in. "I'm not so used to this kind of thing this early morning."
She wasn't sure but she thought she noticed a slight smile play on his lips. "Hn."
"Neji."
No answer.
"Neji!"
"Shut up or I'll kiss you."
Inner Sakura was like yelling Keep talking dammit!
But she shut her mouth tight. Her heart thudded against her ribcage for which she was totally surprised. What kind of reaction was that? Maybe it was her mind playing tricks on her.
He opened his eyes at her silence. "You don't like me kissing you, huh?"
He smirked. "Well then, I have discovered an effective way of shutting Haruno Sakura up then."
"Don't you dare use that on me, Hyuuga."
Hyuuga? Honestly? Was what ran through Neji's mind. I guess all those comforting fluff last night happened for nothing after all.
He regarded her silently as if he wanted to say something to her. He was searching her eyes for something.
And wait—was that hurt she saw for a fleeting moment? Or disappointment? She can't be entirely sure
Abruptly, he withdrew his hand and turned over to his side, leaving her on her side of the bed.
Huh? She's confused at his all of a sudden weird behavior
"Hey. I wasn't all that serious. What's up?"
She poked him.
Nothing.
Nudge.
Nothing.
Push.
Nothing.
Shove. Hard. He nearly toppled off the edge.
"What?" He seemed annoyed.
"Why are you being so serious all of a sudden?"
"Hn."
"What hn? I told you not to use that."
And suddenly, their full conversation last night returned to her. It dawned on her.
"Wait, are you perhaps mad because I called you Hyuuga and not Neji?"
No response.
Bingo.
"I'm sorry, Neji. It was just an outburst." She laid a hand gently upon his shoulder. "Neji."
Silence.
"Hello? Neji-kun?"
Nothing. He was shrugging her off, this handsome cold-hearted person.
How about… "Neji-sama?"
He had his back to her. Still, he refused to budge an inch.
"Would you like to be addressed "Neji, my honey" then?
Still, no reaction. Neji was impassive as ever even as she shook his shoulders.
"You are annoying me, you ice block!"
Suddenly, she detected traces of quivering on his shoulders.
Her brows furrowed. "Are you laughing there?" She sat up and peered on him. What the hell, yes he was trying to stifle a laugh.
"I hate you forever!" A pillow was pushed on top of him.
"Hey!"
"You're gonna be smothered to death!"
"Sakura, stop." His face was dead serious.
But of course, who can stop her? She hit him in the face with the big fluffy pillow.
"Pillow fight!"
"Stop this childish nonsense at this moment." Normal people would be scared of him right now but this pink-haired medic nin was nowhere near normal.
"You wish!" she shrieked. "I'll show you what's childish, you bipolar person!"
"I refuse to acknowledge that. I have no bipolar attitude whatsoever."
"Oh yeah? Take that!" But he quickly caught her wrists in his adept fingers. She looked at him and tugged for her arms back. She shot him a look which clearly said You're not giving them back huh?
Neji's stare clearly said, NO.
She tugged again but he was much stronger than her. A play of strengths was unfair. Wait, till I can gather my chakra., she thought.
Neji, however, seemed to be aware of what's on her mind. "Oh no you don't", he said and pushed her on her back until she was pinned down on the bed with him on top of her.
"What the, Neji?" she glanced up at him with an outrageous look.
"I told you not to be so annoying in the morning."
"Release me this instant." She was tugging all her might but he was keeping her successfully down. This is such an embarrassing position. With a burst of chakra, she repelled him with so much force that they both tumbled off the bed, tangled in the sheets.
Her arms flailed everywhere as she tried to separate herself from the bipolar husband of hers.
At that same moment, the door banged opened.
Pink locks and brunette hair flew as two heads whipped towards the open doorway. Green orbs and pale white eyes landed on the figure of Nara Shikamaru carrying a plate of sandwiches on one hand. The odd silence that engulfed the room was followed by a cheery "Good morning, sunshines!" as Ino bounded inside.
There was a collective gasp. One came from Sakura who was tangled in the sheets with Neji in a very awkward position on the floor. The other one was from Ino who looked as if she had just stepped on a booby trap that would explode if she ever dared move another step. Her mouth was gaping open.
"Whoa." was Shikamaru's only reaction.
"What are you doing here?" Neji asked, his tone a bit chilly.
"Uuuh…", said the Nara.
"Ooops…?" said Ino.
"We didn't realize things would be this wild this early in the morning." Smirk.
A chakra-filled book came flying soared through the air and hit the portion on the door where Shikamaru's head was a second ago.
"WAIT HE KISSED YOU?"
"What, you kissed her?"
Sakura's apartment was in a frenzy so early in the morning. Sakura winced at Ino's high-pitched voice.
Neji was beside her, drinking coffee. Across the dining table sat Shikamaru and Ino. The four of them were eating breakfast together. Ino nearly choked out her sandwich when she screamed this at her.
"How could she know that?" Neji asked Sakura.
Whose eyes widened like plates.
"What, you really did?" Shikamaru didn't even try hiding his amusement.
Damn, Sakura thought. Ino's instincts are still as sharp as ever. And she wasn't referring to ninja skills if it wasn't obvious by the way.
"Look, it's written all over her face." Ino was bobbing up and down on her chair as she pointed excitedly to Sakura.
"What's with my face?" But as she said this, she felt a hot blush cover her cheeks. She tried hard to conceal it. Thankfully, it disappeared after a split second.
Unfortunately, Ino still saw it.
"HA! You blushed! I saw it!"
"Honestly, stop it." Sakura sighed exasperatedly. "What do you two want with us at this time of the day?"
Neji pierced Shikamaru with his stare, arms crossed in front of him. "You trespass on our property. We demand an explanation."
"Hey, I'm sorry man" He held up his hands in surrender. "I didn't know we were gonna see something like that after you told me…" He stopped at Neji's murderous glare.
Ino was watching their conversation very closely. "Told you what?"
"Stop scrutinizing. You won't get anything." The Byakugan user said to the blonde.
"However…" Shikamaru started, cleared his throat, and tried to steer Neji's attention to the girls and away from him. He was sure the white-eyed nija would wring his neck when he gets the chance. "We, on the other hand, got something out of you."
Sakura and Ino both raised their eyebrows at him.
"Were you talking about Neji kissing Sakura when we aren't here?" Shikamaru asked, a smile plastered triumphantly on his face.
"NO" both said simultaneously.
Too fast. Typical girls. He smirked. "So how come Ino got a conclusion from one look on your face?" He asked pointedly to Sakura.
Both girls exchanged glances.
"AHA! So you were talking about it even before Neji did it!"
"No!" Sakura piped up sharply. She threw Neji a baleful stare that said You wish!
"Whoa. What is with this staring contest." Shikamaru said as he watched Neij and Sakura battle with their eyes.
"Can you like NOT assume anything about us or our conversations? Seriously." Sakura had her arms folded across her chest. "So what brings you here so early in the morning."
"Well, we were out for a morning walk…" Ino began. "…when we came upon the news!"
"Which is?"
"Sasuke just came back to town!"
Sakura's eyes went wide. "I'm sorry. Did I just hear you say Sasuke just arrived?"
Uchiha Sasuke, after betraying Konoha and leaving his friends, finally came back to them three years ago. The Godaime and the council agreed to grant him a clean slate if he would offer his help against the Akatsuki. For the past two years, Sasuke has been on an A-rank mission for which the specific details are top secret and thus unknown.
Sakura jumped out of her seat. "Where is he? And why didn't you TELL ME MUCH SOONER?"
"Whoa chill, stress for the baby!" Ino had an arm across the table towards her.
"I think he's crashing in Naruto's apartment for the meantime." muttered Shikamaru from beside her best friend.
Sparing Neji just one glance, Sakura had gone in a flurry of pink locks.