Welcome back friends! Enjoy the next chapter! I know you'll enjoy the fic! I'll make sure of it! Bwhahahaha lol. :D
Kyo~
Dicalimer: I swear! I don't own it! Please put the swords down!
Chapter three: Hot springs gone wild.
How had he lost her? Okay given Shisui had interrupted him, and then his father had found him just to tell him, on his way home, that the Uchiha Onsen was down. Which meant that it would be fixed in the next few days, but since the Uchiha district was old fashioned they hadn't any baths or showers or the such like the other houses in Konoha. The Onsen was their bath house literally, thus to bathe they had to use it. Thus he was going to the Konoha Onsen today it seemed.
He didn't know how he lost her, but he figured he would stop following her for the rest of the day. He needed to get some work done anyway, and he was sure she was getting annoyed with it. He knew she could pick up he was following her, he hadn't tried to hide it. She wasn't in ANBU for nothing after all and she was his teammates on most missions now a days. She was familiar with his chakra concealed or not.
So he went to ANBU H.Q. And started on some missions reports and paper work he needed down for the Hokage in the morning. He would go to the Onsen before he went home. It maybe late but he figured it would be alright, the Onsen didn't close, and it would be better if there were less people there anyway. He didn't like to be watched when he bathed. Just seemed a tad too personal for him.
Shisui wasn't here for good reason, he had been going home to sleep off a mission he had been given and had come home from just today which was why Shisui had interrupted him in his trailing of Sakura earlier. The Nara, his four in command, was in Suna on a mission, and so that left his third. Neji Hyuuga. Where was the Hyuuga anyway? More so when Itachi finally had use of him. He certainly didn't want to be doing this paperwork all night after all.
Oh well. He rather not waste time hunting the Hyuuga down, time he could use to do the paperwork in the fist place it would be anti-productive if he did.
XxxXxxXxxXxxX
Sakura had let time get the better of her. After cleaning she had went to dinner, but then had to run to the hospital on an emergency, she had been promised no emergency calls tonight, but she didn't mind saving lives, and then she made made her way home to relax and charge up some chakra by reading some new medical scrolls Tsunade lent her, and had gotten from Suna. She had let time get the better of her and had forgotten her supposed relax in the Onsen. Thus she would not refuse the call of the hot spring any longer!
She gathered her things and was making her way to the Onsen. She needed a relaxing soak, but for some reason she was getting the feeling this soak wouldn't be relaxing at all. She sighed. Her instinct about these things were usually right, but she decided even if it wasn't relaxing the whole time she was there it would be good at least for a tiny bit of relaxing soak-age.
Sakura sighed when she got to the Onsen. Of course she had a feeling this was just a start as she held the towel to her bare body and looked at the out of order sign held above the women's private spring. She shook her head. At this hour there shouldn't be anyone in the Co-ed outside anyway, not that she much cared if there was or not. She wasn't very shy about her body. She didn't like tossing it around nude or anything, but she was proud of her figure, so she didn't mind showing it off this once. Besides whoever dared try to harass her in the co-ed bath if they would, would know her fist.
XxxXxxXxxXxxX
Sasuke walked along the streets of Konoha in the dead of night for only one reason. The dang Uchiha bathhouse was out of freaking order. Never had that happened, and he scowled even thinking of going to a -shutter- public Onsen. He disliked that he got stared at by men and women when he went to them, and he could never relax. Thus hopefully no one was even at the Onsen at this hour. If anyone maybe a few Uchiha with the same thoughts as his. But he doubted at this hour there would be unless they were up like Sasuke happened to be.
He couldn't sleep anyway. With all he had found out that is. He was having an inner battle with himself. Between being freaked out that his brother liked Sakura, and confused as to whether or not he liked her as well. He had never really thought he had any feelings of that sort for her. He may have had it in his mind that she loved him, still did anyway, and always would. Thus he had always figured that she would be his when he wanted her. Of course now that that was being threatened, by his brother none the less, he was reacting to it?
Did he even like Sakura or was it about him having to possess whats always been his? Or at least he figured she had always been his considering, but he maybe wrong. He figured though you can't stop loving someone, so she must still love him, right?
Why did she always have to go and complicate his life anyway? She was already not talking to him, and he was regretting taking his anger out on her already. He didn't like it when she ignored him, and he really didn't like it when she wouldn't even talk or look at him. He hadn't known he even cared either way.
He walked the steps of the entrance of the Onsen and scowled at the darkened building. Did the darn thing close? But when he pushed on the doors they gave. Not locked so obviously wasn't closed, though there was no one around like their would be in the day. Obviously anyone coming in this late could just get in free.
He walked through the unfamiliar spring, locating the men's bath, and walked into an empty changing room. He undressed, put his clothes in the basket, and pulled a towel on to cover his waist. But he needn't have worried, no one was inside, and he could have just flounced out naked for all it mattered.
He folded the towel at the spring side and stepped into the pool like spring, it was out doors and the night air was cool, but the spring was warm and relaxing.
He was just starting to relax when he felt the familiar chakra, and jerked his head to the fence that separated another spring from this one, apparently the women's, because Sakura's chakra signature was on the other side.
He hadn't expected that. He sighed, nothing to do about it anyway, it's not like he was going to go over and spy on her, but he wondered if she cared enough to spy on him. He shoved the thought away. She wasn't a fan-girl anymore and if she wanted to look she would have looked at him all the times she gave him a exam or healed him.
What was she even doing here this late at night, or so early in the morning. He almost slapped himself at that thought, stupid as it was, she was the head of the hospital, of course she would get off her shifts late at night or earlier in the morning. This is probably the time she comes all the time.
He eased himself back into a relaxing position. It was silent at night even here away from the Uchiha district. The soft smell of the water, and the steam help him drift into an almost sleep as he relaxed. It had been a while since he ever had the Onsen to himself, at least this side of the fence. He was sure she was alone as well he couldn't feel any other Chakra.
She was obviously relaxing as well because he didn't hear any splashing or anything from her side of things so he listened and relaxed. Listened to his heart thump evenly, and relaxed to the rhythmic pounding. Listened to the soft sound of running water, and relaxed to the sound of the spring. Listened to the sound of foot steps and relaxed to the chakra coming clos- Wait... He snapped his eyes open.
Well it would figure his relaxing time would be ruined by someone else. He wouldn't have the spring to himself, though it didn't much bother him as long as the Hyuuga stayed quiet, which had never much been a problem. For that's whose chakra it was. Neji Hyuuga.
Didn't the Hyuuga have their own Onsen as well inside the clan walls? Or maybe that was just for the main branch. Sasuke waited for the Hyuuga to waltz in but he never did, he wondered for a while if the Hyuuga had felt his chakra and decided it wasn't worth sharing a soak with him.
What was up with everyone coming this late at night, or early in the morning, anyway? Didn't people know how to sleep? No one would be awake in the Uchiha district except a few Shinobi, yet over here two people he knew were awake and at the Onsen as well. Coincidence? Probably not.
Sasuke heard the soft glide of door being opened from the changing room, and frowned as he stared at the closed door on this side of the fence. If Neji wasn't coming to the men's was there a co-ed bath here as well as the Uchiha district? Why was he going there? Because he wanted to be alone then? Sasuke huffed silently and relaxed again, well how rude was that? Though he was thankful for it.
He listened again to the soft sway of water, and relaxed to the sound of some insects call in the night. He listened to Neji Hyuuga slipping into the Springs waters, and relaxed to the sound of the water moving in the Hyuuga's wake. He listened to the sound of a soft gasp from the Hyuuga and relaxed to …
" Oh hello Neji." Sasuke's eyes snapped open again. He slowly turned his head to the fence to his left eyes wide. What the hell? Why was Neji Hyuuga in the women's bath? Or maybe Sakura was in the mixed...he frowned. Holy crap...He strained his ears to listen to more, his body not at all relaxed now.
XxxXxxXxxXxxX
Neji looked surprised to see Sakura reclined already in the spring. He huffed. He had been expecting to have this spring alone since the Uchiha was in the men's and he certainly didn't want to share a bath with Uchiha Sasuke. Alone for that matter. What would people think?
" What are you doing in the mixed bath?" He asked standing with thankfully everything from the waist down covered by the nicely heated water. It was almost scolding in contrast to the chilly night air.
Sakura Haruno had her long hair piled up so not to get it wet and since she was sitting the water came up to conceal almost all of her nudity except the tops of those lush breast of hers. That long pink hair was obviously tied up for convenience not looks because some managed to fall down her face in cherry blossom streams of rose colored hair. Her pale skin was wet from the water and Neji swallowed the lump forming in his throat. She was so beautiful under the moons rays, here in this spring with him. Like some sort of goddess sent down to him. Her jade eyes were like liquid fire burning into his silver orbs.
" The Women's is under construction it seems, being fixed or what not." Sakura said off handily. Obviously she didn't care much about sharing a spring with him, of course she wouldn't. Why would she? He knew her more then most men could claim. He had just been shocked to see her at all. Though with her work at the hospital it was a no brainier that she would be here so late at night, and since the time currently was late enough that almost no one was here he figured now would be the time. The main branch had a Onsen of their own but he couldn't use it not being of the main branch of course.
" I see." He said softly. Sakura suddenly stood. He swallowed his tongue. His eyes burned seeing all that water fall down her lush curves, winding from place to place, smooth silk being coated by tiny beads of water.
" Would you like I leave then?" Sakura asked. Neji growled low in his throat and made his way to her. She couldn't hide the small smirk that rose her rose lips. He didn't touch her, but he stopped just a breath away his nostrils flared drinking in her sweet musky scent of woman and flowers. He went around her and sat in the seat she had been sitting in, he took her arm and pulled her back opening his legs he planted her right in between them. She sat obediently like a little child. She chuckled softly. It was like soft bells or chimes on the wind. So light and rhythmical, luring people to sleep.
He set his arms around her waist on her skin under the water as he leaned back his long hair falling onto the outside edge of the spring side, and her hair and head landed on his chest. He sometimes forgot how small she was in height, how tiny she was compared to the men. She just had an air about her that screamed power and respect and people didn't view her as tiny and petite. Though she definitely was.
They fell into silence Neji enjoying the feel of her warm flesh again his, and her soft breathing, and Sakura simply relaxed against her lover relaxing to his familiar and comforting scent.
XxxXxxXxxXxxXxxX
Finally, finally he was finished with his work. It only took six hours. It figured. He frowned at the time. Should he even both going to the Onsen tonight at this late? Of course he would. He needed to relax after all that darn paper work. He hated paper work. Such a mindless task as it sometimes was. Bored him to death.
If that darn Hyuuga would have been conveniently available, he could have robbed him a few hours of his spare time and put him to work. Then he wouldn't have had to spend so many hours here working by himself. So with the thought of sending Neji Hyuuga on a difficult mission as revenge he made his way out of the ANBU H.Q resting on top the Hokage Monument and the short distance to the Konoha hot springs.
XxxXxxXxxXxxX
Sasuke had always condemned perverts like Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Naruto who peaked in women's baths, but Sasuke figured it wasn't the women's bath but the co-ed so it didn't count. He made his way over to the fence towel around his hips as he used a small amount of chakra to climb up the fence and peer over. It figured the steam would block his line of sight, but he could faintly make out both Sakura and Hyuuga sitting if not closely, on top of, one another. He made a face.
He had never heard anything about Neji and Sakura having a relationship of any sort, and he would have known from Naruto if that had been going on. Maybe they were secret lovers and this Onsen was the only place they could meet? No Neji had been shocked just seeing Sakura. So obviously this wasn't some romantic secret meeting or anything.
Sasuke had never thought about Sakura actually having romantic intentions with anyone, more so not having a Hyuuga as a lover. He hadn't even thought she had a lover. Though Sakura was eighteen and the Hyuuga nineteen, he thought, and year older then her and two years from Sasuke. He would be a fool if he thought Sakura would never have any lovers. She was old enough to marry even. She wasn't a kid anymore after all.
But why of all people did it have to be Neji Hyuuga?
" If you really want to join us in the mixed spring Uchiha, your welcome to it. You don't have to spy." Neji's voice shocked him into almost losing his grip and falling.
Sasuke huffed and dropped from his spying spot. Darn Hyuuga always seeing everything.
XxxXxxXxxXxxXxxX
Itachi frowned at the feel of his brothers chakra, and a sudden spike of chakra from none other then Neji Hyuuga. It would figure the slouch was here enjoying the Onsen! He had to talk to Neji so he went to the mixed spring undressing and then walking out towel around his waist. He waded in and made out a large figure at the end of the spring. He walked closer and paused frowning. Not one, but two figures. He hesitated.
"Sakura?" he asked out loud feeling her familiar concealed chakra. There was a sudden silence and then a sudden movement where it looked like Neji stood up and Sakura went tumbling into the water. She went under and came back up sputtering her shock.
Itachi got closer, and indeed it was Sakura, she stood bared from the waist up, but he had seen her naked before, he had undressed her just a week or so ago. She looked like an angry soaked kitten standing there looking angry and shocked that Neji had just push her away and into the water like that.
" Captain." Neji said voice rough, either from shock or the remains of his arousal Itachi didn't know. Maybe both. Sakura had been sitting on the Hyuuga's lap if that didn't arouse a man nothing would.
" What...What are you doing here?" Neji asked assuming the position and folding his hands behind his back and standing straight.
" You did tell the Uchiha to come on in didn't you? Should have just said Sasuke's name if you didn't want any other Uchiha coming in idiot." Sakura said and kicked him behind the knee. Neji growled in pain at the kick as his leg bent and he almost went down. He however held his ground.
Sakura looked furious and soaked. Her hair turned a dark rose from the water, and it dripped down her face in torrents. She crossed her arms across her chest but not as if she was hiding it, just a usual gesturing when angry Itachi assumed.
" Sakura, stop it." Neji hissed as she continued to kick him in her anger. Though she didn't look to really want to hurt him. She was just upset he had pushed her into the dang water.
Itachi frowned at the familiarity the Hyuuga had with Sakura. Well that just settled two of his questions it seemed. One: 'Where had Neji Hyuuga been when he needed him?' Answer: Here. Two: 'Who was one of Sakura's lovers?' Answer: 'One Neji Hyuuga.'
XxxXxxxXxxXxxX
Okay now he was just going to go over to that freaking side. He was missing all the action anyway. He hadn't want to go over because obviously the two were having a moment, but when his brother had joined them, then he figured why the heck not now? So he pushed himself to leave the spring entered the changing room to grab his clothes, he walk out into the corridor in only a towel, dripping wet, and freezing, then wondered into the mixed changing rooms.
He dropped off his clothes and walked out to the co-ed spring. Itachi didn't even turn to look back, and Neji was busy warding off Sakura's furious kicks to his legs. Sakura looked P.O-ed and obviously he missed some things in between his move from spring to spring.
His brother looked as if he had finally put a piece of some puzzle together, and was even more curious to find another piece, not at all looking upset as he should if he did love Sakura. Sasuke already didn't like that Sakura had been taken by the Hyuuga of all people. His brother taking her and a Hyuuga taking her from him, was two very different things. And Sasuke sure the heck didn't like the Hyuuga.
Sakura didn't seem very embarrassed that she was flashing so much of her nude flesh to kick the Hyuuga, but he had seen it all before as well. When she had so randomly started stripping at Naruto's house the week before. But he enjoyed the sight of her breasts bouncing as she kicked the Hyuuga, that was a pleasing sight.
Neji obviously had enough for he grabbed her arm and glared. She glared back large drops of water dripping off her hair onto her face.
" I'm sorry." He said with clenched teeth. Sasuke didn't think he had ever seen the Hyuuga apologize for anything, or to anyone for that matter. Sakura narrowed her eyes right back at him. Jade eyes burning. For some reason this was mildly entertaining Sasuke. Obviously his brother as well was amused because he hadn't left yet.
" You know why I did it." Neji said softly, his voice lowering in volume. Softening when speaking to her. His face eased of annoyance and turned gentle. Something Sasuke had never seen from the Hyuuga either, that was interesting.
Sakura sighed and pulled her arm out of his grip. She raised a hand and smoothed her hair back from her face it had been sticking to it and now it was pushed back out of the way revealing how very large her jade eyes were with out all her hair to distract the eyes from her beauty. She was stunning, and she looked annoyed.
" Who the hell is Captain going to tell? Shisui? And who the hell would Sasuke tell? Naruto? Why would they tell anyone idiot?" Sakura said with a huff of anger. She looked upset again. She didn't get upset often.
" Their both as social as rocks." Itachi's eye brow raised, Sasuke's eye twitched.
" Gossip. I don't like it." Sasuke said crossing his arms over his bare chest as she had been doing previously. Everyone looked at him. He hadn't wanted to interrupt the private moment between lovers, but he didn't like seeing Sakura upset, and he knew for a fact she was still upset with him. He didn't like it at all. Sakura didn't say a word to him but she waved a hand in the air, as if saying ' you see?'
XxxXxxXxxXxxXxX
" Are you keeping your relationship a secret for a certain reason then?" Itachi asked. He wanted to know why Neji seemed so shocked to see someone, no less him, come into the spring and catch him red handed with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar, obviously Sakura was that cookie jar.
Sakura was also upset. She obviously didn't like the way Neji so obviously wanted to keep their relationship hidden, she seemed almost frustrated. How long has this relationship been going on in secret anyway? Was that why there were no clues about who she was seeing in a romantic fashion because all those relationship were being kept secret?
What was it about Hyuuga's Sakura liked so much? First the Hyuuga heiress Hinata Hyuuga, and now Neji Hyuuga her cousin? Did she get a kick out of seeing the two cousin's as her lovers? Or wasn't it on purpose? Why was she acting so different with Neji then Hinata? With Hinata she had been possessive, sexy, and playful. With Neji she looked comfortable with him, like his parents and any other couple would be comfortable, she also looked more upset then anything at the moment.
Did she act different for her different lovers? Which way was the real Sakura? Did she put on different faces for them? Or was her lovers that much different from each other that she had to be different for each one? Hinata was shy, and a woman, so it would be natural for one of them to take the dominating role in the relationship, so obviously Sakura, and now with a male lover was Sakura submissive? Neji didn't seem the sort to be submissive in the bedroom, and so Itachi had to figure she wasn't the lead in this relationship.
She didn't seem to be all that submissive either, kicking him in her anger, so obviously comfortable enough to do so. Not shy at least. So obviously not a new lover, was Neji Hyuuga to her.
So it all came back to why Neji Hyuuga was keeping this relationship secret and how long Sakura has had to keep it secret.
Neji looked uncomfortable with the question.
" His Uncle forbid him from seeing me." Sakura said and obviously cold, or tired of standing, slid down into the water and reclined. Neji looked back at her as if she had just committed a crime, sitting when in her ANBU captain's prescience.
" Why?" Sasuke asked. Itachi had forgotten he was even in the Spring again. He sighed.
" Might as well get comfortable it's a long story." Sakura said obviously tired already of having to look up at them as they stood, or feeling silly sitting by herself. She said such in a way that sounded like their wasn't much to the story at all, but Itachi sighed and took a seat a little to Sakura's right leaving a good bit of room for the Hyuuga to sit back down beside his lover. Neji did sit after Itachi his ANBU captain sat and seemed almost uncomfortable again to be sitting next to Sakura when someone else was around to see.
Sasuke sat next to Sakura, shamelessly close enough for their arms to brush. Itachi raised an eye brow at him at the same time Sakura sighed. Sasuke ignored both and reclined like she did closing his eyes but so obviously listening.
Itachi wondered how this would look if anyone walked in on this scene. Three members of ANBU. Two Uchiha's, an Hyuuga, and one Sakura Haruno. It sounded like the intro to a bad joke.
XxxXxxXxxXxxXxX
End chapter:
Told you it was SakuXCentric lol. This is a long bath scene XDDD
Kyo~