The moon is dark tonight, signifying the start of a new cycle. Only the dim shine of the stars can be seen littering the black canvas of the sky.

Taking advantage of the darkness, a silhouette of a pink-haired woman is hidden in the thick foliage of the forest. Her green eyes trying to see in the dark.

She let out a quiet yelp as a hand yanked her aside. Steadying her breath, she recognized the pupil-less eyes of the Hyuga clan.

"Neji." she whispered.

The coffee-haired man gave her a tight-lipped smile as he pulled her closer to his chest. He is towering over her, but the height difference made it easy for the man to rest his cheek on top of the woman's head.

Neji tightened his hold around her, his Byakugan eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential threats or any of his family spies. The moon's absence made the forest even darker, concealing their presence from prying eyes.

"No one followed me, Neji." Sakura said quietly.

"I see." Neji answered. Closing his eyes, he inhaled the strawberry scent that the woman's hair is giving off.

"Is it always like this, Neji?" Sakura asked, biting her lip.

Neji loosened his hold on her, but he did not let her go. Looking into the glossy green eyes, his heart constricted painfully. "Gomen ne, Sakura-chan." he apologized. "But you know that the clan only marries their own."

Sakura nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of understanding and sadness. "I know, Neji. It's just... difficult. We can't choose who we love."

Neji's expression softened, his fingers gently brushing a strand of pink hair away from her face. "Love is a luxury the Hyuga clan often cannot afford. Our destinies are bound by duty and tradition."

A wistful smile crossed Sakura's lips. "I never thought I'd find myself entangled in the complexities of the Hyuga clan's affairs. But here we are."

Neji's thumb traced the lines of her face. "It wasn't my intention to involve you in all of this. You deserve more than the constraints of my family."

Sakura sighed, leaning into him. "Neji, I've made my choices. I know the risks. I'm here because I choose to be here."

They stood in the shadows, caught between duty and desire, as the night enveloped them in its silent embrace. Neji couldn't deny the warmth he felt with Sakura in his arms, a stark contrast to the cold reality of the clan's expectations.

"I can't promise an easy path," Neji whispered, his lips grazing her forehead. "But I can promise to stand by your side, whatever may come."

Sakura smiled, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "That's all I ask, Neji. We'll face whatever challenges together."

Neji gave her a sad smile. He knows that he cannot keep his promise for a long time. But he can't let her go yet. He might be selfish, but he can't let of the only choice he made in his life.

Sakura, on the other hand, tried to rein in her tears. She knows that sooner or later, Neji will be taken from her. He had his own duties and responsibilities; his whole life is tied to his clan. He will never choose her.

"Why do I always fall for men I can't have?" she asked herself.

But she knows that she'll never know the answer, so she closed her eyes and let the embrace that they share envelop her. For all she knows, it might to the last.