I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 14: Conclusions

Neji woke up to the sounds of beeps and the view of pure white walls. The hospital. That means Konoha found me, but what happened to the medic? Did she make it? Shaking his head Neji decided to concentrate on his surroundings. He blinked when he saw a head of pink hair near the counter in his room.

Flashback

Neji was trying to tell the medic that it wasn't worth it. To retreat to Konoha to get help, but she wasn't listening. He saw her smirk and turn her back on him. He could tell that she was going through hand signs but couldn't tell which. Then burgundy hair melted to pink before it all went black.

Blinking again he attempted to get Sakura's attention. "Sak-" cough, cough.

"Neji, don't try to speak yet take some water first. You have been unconscious for nearly a week. When your kaiten came into contact with the rogue's chakra balls the impact gave you a bad concussion." He nodded as he slowly sipped the water. So that was it. I was imagining things because of the concussion.

"Thank you, Sakura. How are the rest of my teammates?"

"All well and out of the hospital for several days."

"How about the medic, she saved our lives."

"She is fine as well." Sakura took a deep breath and knew that her tone was clipped. I cannot expect anything else. At least he is talking to me now. That is an improvement.

"Neji, Shizune has been caring for you. I thought it best since you and I were not on the best of terms before you left."

"Hn." That had actually slipped Neji's mind. Although he could admit to himself now that he had overreacted when the news of Sakura's ANBU status, he was not ready to say that out loud. He still needed to figure out what was going on with the ANBU medic that had saved his life.

"Neji, I know that you may not realize this, but it was never my intention to keep my status as an ANBU from you." Neji opened his mouth to respond but Sakura did not let him. "I will give you all the space you ask for but wanted to tell you that…that…" taking a deep breath Sakura said "I love you." Before Neji had a chance to respond she fled the room, not wanting to hear his response, knowing in her heart that she lost him the moment she had withheld her ANBU status.

Neji didn't know what to say. All of those months away from her had not gotten her out of his head, and as he realized now actually cemented her place in his heart. Sighing he closed his eyes and formulated a plan: 1) get Shizune to discharge him from the hospital (or escape if she can't be talked into that); 2) check in with his uncle (Neji sighed at this, he knew his uncle and the Hyuuga elders would require a decision from him in regard to his wedding); 3) find the medic to thank her for saving his life and make sure she realizes nothing can happen between the two of them; 4) buy a ring; and 5) propose to Sakura and then tell the elders. Nodding to himself Neji pushed the call button next to his bed – it was time for action.

Sakura arrived at the red bridge where she finally let the tears begin to fall silently. Even if Neji did realize that her deception regarding ANBU status was necessary, how would he react to the deception of the last few months? He would hate her for sure then. Hanging her head lower she heard a poof next to her.

"Hi, Kaka-sensei."

"I take it Neji is awake?"

"Hai."

"Then you told him how you feel." Sakura looked up sharply and then smiled. She should have known better than to try and fool Kakashi.

"Hai."

"And what did he say?"

"I don't know." Kakashi merely raised his eyebrow at that. "I left the room because I didn't what to hear his rejection." Kakashi sighed and pulled her into a hug whispering one thing. "He is not Sasuke." Sakura smiled into his chest and knew he was right. Releasing her Kakashi took a step back.

"Now, Tsunade has a mission for us." Nodding they both disappeared only to reappear at the Hokage tower.

Neji was not a happy individual. Part one of his plan went fine. Part two took a little convincing of his uncle and the elders to allow him to propose first before they announced it to the whole of Konoha. However, part three was proving to be impossible. Neji could not find the medic anywhere.

No one he had spoken to even knew of the medic. He had gotten so frustrated three days into his search that he had gone to Tsunade to find out her name. Tsunade gave him some ridiculous speech about the identity of ANBU and so for and so on before she threw him out of her office. As Neji walked away he was sure he could hear Tsunade laughing.

Frustrated Neji decided that he needs to shift the order of his plan around slightly. Instead of finding and thanking the medic he would do steps four and five. Eventually he would convince Sakura to tell him who the medic was. Settled on the changes to his plan he headed to the jewelry store. Unfortunately, Naruto was also there.

"Neji what are you doing here?"

"Shopping."

"For what?"

"Jewelry."

"For who?"

"Sakura."

"Why?"

"Because I plan on proposing."

"WHAT!"

A half hour later, which was actually really good time to Neji, he was heading back to the Hyuuga estates. Naruto had told him that Sakura was not due back from her mission with Kakashi until tomorrow morning. Walking into the estate Neji was greeted by his uncle.

"Hiashi-sama."

"Neji, please stop with the honorifics, you will be head of the clan soon enough. Speaking of that…"

Neji held out the box to his uncle. "She is not returning from her mission until tomorrow morning."

"Very well. One piece of advice - Trust her." Neji nodded at his uncle before walking away with a bewildered look on his face. He had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that he was not going to like something. Shrugging he went to relax for the night. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

Neji got up early the next morning so that he was at the gates when Sakura arrived back in Konoha. Leaning against the gates Neji kept his eyes trained on the horizon, and after what seemed like a long time (he would never admit it was because of nerves) he saw Kakashi and another nin walking up the path. Neji narrowed his eyes. That didn't look like Sakura walking beside Kakashi but he was sure that Naruto had said that Kakashi and Sakura were on a mission together. Deciding to try and figure it out without them noticing him he hid and suppressed his chakra.

When the two reached the gates he recognized Kakashi's companion as none other than the medic he had spent days trying to find. As the two approached the guards, Izumo and Kotetsu nodded to Kakashi but eyed Sakura with distrust. Sakura was confused as to why neither of the guards greeted her until Kakashi cleared his throat and motioned at his hair. Shaking her head and smiling Sakura proceeded to remove the jutsu startling not only the two guards but Neji as well.

Neji was now thoroughly confused, that was the medic that saved his life, but then the henge melted away and she became Sakura, but that can't be right. Being so caught up in his thoughts Neji didn't realize he had released his hold on his chakra. Kakashi sensing him decided it was time to take his leave.

"I will report to the Hokage and leave you two to talk." Kakashi said and poofed away. Neji turned his complete attention to the medic/ Sakura, who began to slowly walk toward the training grounds. He followed silently until she came to a stop in team seven's red bridge. Neji cleared his throat, but then didn't know what to say. Sakura spoke instead.

"I am sorry Neji, but I needed to know if the jutsu worked against your eyes. I wanted to tell you but it would have ruined the experiment, I never intended you to find out this way, please forgive me." Neji was trying to process when he just witnessed, then right before he responded he heard his uncle's voice in his head "Trust her". Sakura was prepared for rejection when Neji did one of the most uncharacteristic things – he kissed her. Hesitating for only a second Sakura began to kiss back. Neji was unsure of much that was going on around him, but one thing he was certain of was that this woman in his arms was the woman he loved and the only woman he would ever consider marrying. Besides, he thought with a smirk, we can always spar to settle things...

Once they separated Neji knelt down on one knee causing Sakura to gasp. He pulled out the ring.

"Sakura, I love you, will you marry me?"

"Yes!" Sakura said as tears ran down her face.

And although Neji never said thank you to the "medic" for saving his life and Sakura never demanded an apology from Neji for his initial rejection after the ANBU revelation, the only thing that mattered was that they found the trust to love each other in the end.

A/N. this is basically the end although I may put up an epilogue at some point.