A/N: REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW. Just six reviews made me write THIS chapter. Come on guys, give me something to strive for! I want to know your feelings on my writing!

Side note: Kagome is now 14, while Neji is almost 16. Almost.

A murder had Konoha's residence whispering and on edge, for it hadn't even been a ninja that had been killed, but a civilian.

Kagome was walking in the market place with Neji when she heard about it, and it set her on edge. She stopped in her tracks and her lips formed a thin line. "I'll be back." She murmured to him and he blinked as she pulled her hand from his and flash stepped away, quickly losing him.

He was left to wonder what had caused the reaction, but he waited patiently for the girl to return. When she did, she didn't say a word, simply smiled as she took hold of his hand and manipulated him into wrapping his arm around her waist. She smiled up at him, even though she had none of Gin's chakra in her system, she didn't blush at all.

Their bathing ritual had become addicting, causing them to bathe once in the morning and once at night, though sometimes, right after, they would start again in bed. Neither of them felt comfortable moving on to more than just that, but both found great pleasure in their intimate activities. Hands and mouths had come into play more often recently, though, and he knew she had several marks on her breasts, just as he had on his chest and abs.

He sometimes gained small scratches on his shoulders, chest, and abs, as Kagome liked to claw and bite, and he was beginning to think he enjoyed pain.

"Koi-sama?" Kagome called out, waving a hand in front of his face, breaking his train of thought.

"Hm?" He looked down at her and she pouted.

"You were day dreaming." She accused, crossing her arms. He chuckled.

"I suppose I was." He said, leaning closer. "About how much I want you right now." He whispered in her ear and she blushed lightly, but smiled.

"Koi-sama, you're a flirt." She said, wrapping her arms around his middle. He placed a hand on her head, running his fingers through her hair.

"Says the teasing kitten." He chuckled out, watching her glow at the use of the pet name. It had slipped out one time, and stuck. No honorifics seemed to fit in his mind, and so he didn't use them for the pet name.

"Ah! Neji-sama! Kagome-san!" The voice was all too familiar, and Kagome seemed to deflate upon hearing the other woman. She plastered on a smile, though, and turned around.

"Tenten-chan! Is that a new jacket? It looks lovely!" Kagome gushed, smiling as Tenten twirled around, showing off the pink version of Kagome's normal jacket.

"I just had to have one!" Tenten said, and tucked some stray strands of hair behind an ear.

Kagome saw the heart shaped earrings and wondered why she got those, as she never had her ears pierced. "And new earrings! I didn't know you had your ears pierced!"

Tenten smiled. "I saw someone wearing them and had to have them! Oh, did you hear? The jeweler died." Tenten dropped her voice to a whisper, as if the gossip was a terrible secret. "Neji-sama, you should be careful, they said you were the last one to see her."

Kagome and Neji both blinked, unaware of that bit of information. Kagome looked at Neji, worried, and he frowned.

"Several Hyuuga saw me return home last night." Neji said and Kagome nodded.

"Yes, that is true, I cooked dinner for once." Kagome said, tapping her chin with a finger. "Neji couldn't have been gone for more than twenty minutes, and we didn't bathe until after dinner..."

Tenten nodded, though she inwardly fumed.

We? Slut.

"That's good, I wouldn't want you in trouble, Neji-sama." Tenten said just before turning to Kagome. "Kagome-san, Ino-san was looking for you, and Lee-kun said he'd like to see you, Neji-sama."

Kagome nodded, smiling. "Flower shop?" Kagome asked and Tenten shook her head with a shrug.

"I believe she's at the Ramen stand, Kagome-san." She turned her eyes back to Neji, smiling. "I was just on my way to meet Lee-san, I'll go with you."

Kagome rolled her eyes from behind Tenten. She was so obvious. She then turned her eyes to Neji and smiled. "I'll have something delicious ready for you after training, Koi-sama." Kagome said with a smile, and Neji nearly chuckled. He turned his back to her, waving over his shoulder as he left.

When Kagome found Ino, she was sitting next to Sakura, arguing. Deciding she didn't really want to be caught in that squabble, again, she turned her back to begin the walk home, and just as she did a hand caught her shoulder.

"Sit." She turned her head, knowing that voice. As she suspected, Sasuke Uchiha had been the one to stop her. She sighed.

"I'd rather not." She said, pulling away from him. He placed money on the counter and followed quickly.

"You're avoiding me." Sasuke said, walking up beside her, hands in his pockets as he looked down at the shorter girl.

"You're being annoying." Kagome shot back, flipping her hair as Gin's Chakra seeped in. "I'm not a breeder for your precious clan, Uchiha."

"I'm not asking you to be." Sasuke said, frowning.

"Your actions say you want it to happen. I refuse." Kagome said, turning to him with green-blue eyes. "I am perfectly aware that you're motivated by restoring your clan and power. I will not give you children, ever. You would use them as tools, finding them suitable partners to breed with. You disgust me."

Sasuke looked furious. "I would not treat-"

"You would, as you are now." Kagome said, and they both stopped in their tracks. Kagome turned completely towards him. "So full of hate, you have no room for love in your heart. You would leave your sad wife alone to raise the children while you raced off after your brother. You would abandon the sorry woman who would fall for your looks, for just the chance to find a trace of where he'd been."

She gave a snort.

"What a sad, sorry life you live. You are nothing but a shadow of what you could have been."

"Tch. You know nothing." Sasuke said, crossing his arms. "I would treat my family well, no matter what you may think."

Kagome shook her head. "And what if you got word on your hated brother?" Kagome asked and Sasuke faltered. "Exactly." She said, quietly. "Until you can let go of your hate, you are not worth my time."

And, as it had happened during the Chuunin exams, Kagome left the Uchiha in a shocked state of disbelief. Only now, Kagome could see some gears turning, and he wasn't as angry as he had been a moment ago. Instead...he was thinking over her words.

She could have cried with relief. Her uncle shouldn't live life the way he did.