Ch.14.: Red Moon
She waited for the inevitable pain with her eyes closed. It never came. Suddenly she wasn't flying and at the next moment, Neji was again on the ground, except her feet weren't touching the floor.
Had it been an angel? Was it just a hallucination before it all ended or was it her father who was carrying her in his arms?
She opened her eyes, and her gaze locked with cold, black as coal, eyes. Everything seemed to be in silence.
Her eyes widened and her furrow deepened as it dawned on her.
"Sasuke."
.
.
.
Her eyes quickly darted towards where Hinata and Naruto were. There was a panicked look on them, but she found both shinobi safe and sound –with the exception of the shock painted on their faces. The spears laid a few inches away from them, a black flame burning them away.
As quickly as she could she jumped off his arms which were still carrying her bridal style and wasted no time on putting some distance between them, a scowl on her face.
A smirk lacking any sentiment curved on the Uchiha's lips.
"And here I was expecting at least a'thank you'."
"Sasuke!" Naruto immediately rose from his spot and rushed to Neji's side, supporting her with one arm, watching Sasuke as if he couldn't believe it.
The attacks had stopped. It looked like Obito and Madara were surprised as well by their clansman sudden apparition.
"Why?" Neji asked, trying to keep her face stern though it was proving to be difficult.'What was he doing there?'. She had just come down from her adrenaline rush and now her legs were trembling. A pant escaped her lips.'You're a freaking jounin, get a hold of yourself.'She gently removed Naruto's arm, giving him a thankful nod and attempted to steady herself.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura exclaimed rushing towards them.
Sasuke olympically ignored both his ex-teammates and instead answered the question.
"Why?Quid pro quo,nothing more. This way I don't owe you anymore."
"What?" Neji questioned still not comprehending.
"You saved my life, so I saved yours."
"Wait, when did I saved your li-"
"I really was ready to die whether it happened naturally or not." He paused. "You saved my life that night with your words and thus, I saved yours tonight. My debt is no more and finally, all my bonds have been broken." Sasuke spoke, not a drop of sentiment in his voice except perhaps a tinge of annoyance for having to explain it all.
Everyone was now watching her. Hiashi, Hinata, Kiba, Tenten, Lee, Naruto, and Sakura. Ino, Choji, Shino, and Shikamaru as well.
"Thank you." She conceded coldly. "But for ourbond, you shouldn't have worried. It ceased to exist the moment you became a traitor. I'm not like Naruto." Neji practically spat.
Sasuke's brows furrowed for a split second before his expression became monotone again.
"What is done is done." He stated.
"Sasuke! How did you get here so quickl-?!" Naruto began, but it looked as if Madara and Obito had gotten tired of waiting.
The juubi quickly began to perform another bijuudama. It was directed towards the battlefield, where they were. He launched it and everyone braced themselves, ready for the inevitable impact. Except it never came.
"It…vanished?"
Suddenly, the sight of a strange-shaped kunai caught her attention. A blink of an eye later there was a man standing right there. Flowing cape behind him drew all the attention towards him.
"Was I late?"
She could only see a mop of blond hair and a white cape adorned with a red flames design swirling around him almost magically.
"No…You were right on time,dad."
The voice that answered was Naruto's. Neji looked at the man, and her eyes widened, now she could make up his features. His eyes denoted the Impure Resurrection Technique that had been used on him, his irises were a deep blue.
"Who is he?" Sakura asked aloud. She was as impressed as the rest. The girl had almost forgotten about Sasuke…almost. The Hyuga eyed him, but he did not look impressed at all.
"I am Namikaze Minato. Get ready for the blast." She had seen him somewhere else…then the words embroidered on the man's cape made sense. Yondaime Hokage.
In that, an explosion a short distance from them rattled the Earth to its core. Neji still was weak and would have fallen if Hinata hadn't caught her.
"What was that?!" someone asked.
"I sent the explosion towards the sea."
The Yondaime began talking to Naruto and that was when it finally sank in. Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage, was Naruto's father.
.
Then the moon turned blood red.
.
Neji was meditating under a tree, the soft spring breeze caressing her cheeks, coffee strands of hair flowing along. Droplets of morning dew fell into the pond, creating almost imperceptible waves.
She felt a warm hand on her shoulder and looked up, her eyes opening softly. Pale wrinkled eyes stared back.
"Is it time already?"
"Your team is looking for you, go get ready."
"Hai, otou-sama." She bowed before leaving, her father smiling warmly behind her.
"Yosh! Thanks, Hyuga-san, we'll see you at the wedding!" Lee waved at Hizashi.
The Hyuga nodded before retreating.
"See you there."
Lee and Tenten's formal unpolluted kimonos were perfectly ironed, hugging their frames. She had only seen them wear those kimonos once and yet, the difference was massive. The Hyuga had grown used to them looking disheveled or dirty from training so much, yet they looked like completely different people. Tenten had even tied his long hair he usually wore into a ponytail into a single bun atop his head.
"Are you wearing your hair down for the wedding?" He asked.
"Does it look bad?"
"No, not at all. I just meant I thought you would be more of, you know, not leaving a strand out of place and all that stuff." Her teammate chuckled.
She grabbed a tress and twirled it between her fingers absentmindedly.
"I'll fix it up later, the wedding won't start until two more hours. Right now, is more important to oversee the details."
"Don't worry my rival, we'll help you out!" Lee beamed. "Even more so, I'll win! If not, a thousand pushups, yosh."
"Win what?"
"On helping out, of course!"
"Lee, please. If you lose, there's no time for your self-imposed punishments. Besides, how would a winner be determined?"
"Oh, that's simple, I'll be the judge!" Gai exclaimed, appearing from behind while striking his 'Good Guy' pose.
Neji eyed him. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something didn't feel right. Gai sensei and Lee fawned over each other as usual but…no. She couldn't distract herself. The nerves and tension of the wedding must've been what had her on edge. A lot of important guests would have to be accommodated on Hyuga grounds, where the ceremony would take place.
They were strolling by the side of a koi pond. Her team was bickering around her, the friendly banter she had grown used to.
Neji leaned, watching the fish swim around another. She needed to calm herself.
Her reflection on the water stared back at her. Neji wasn't one of using makeup, but the special occasion merited just a bit, she had decided to put it on later. The Hyuga's characteristic long hair framed her face, pale eyes stared back. Her orbs darted to the reflection of a clear forehead and widened momentarily. Was there supposed to be something there? No, it looked as always. She seriously needed to stay calm.
"Neji." Gai called.
"Hai, Gai-sensei."
"Hinata was looking for you."
"Hinata-sama?" her brows furrowed slightly. "Is she alright?"
"If what you're implying is if she's getting cold feet, let me tell you that's impossible." Tenten chuckled. "She's been in love with Naruto since forever."
"Oh, let Kami-sama hear you." She sighed. "I'm also sure is none of that but, I have to help Hanabi and the rest with the preparations…"
"Don't worry, we'll take care of it. Go see what the bride-to-be needs." Tenten grinned, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Thanks, guys." Neji smiled with relief and started walking towards the Souke Compound
A sense of dread kept nagging on the back of her head, almost as a sixth sense.
When she arrived where Hinata was, the Hyuga went on and knocked.
"Hinata-sama, is everything alright?"
"Y-yes." Was heard from the inside.
"May I come in?"
There was silence until Hinata spoke.
"…yes."
Neji carefully slid the door open. In front of her stood her cousin clad in her beautiful wedding kimono. It truly was a piece of art, but it did not compare at all to the girl -woman- that was wearing it. The person in charge of Hinata's makeup and hair had not arrived yet, but her cousin made the most stunning bride-to-be Neji had ever seen.
"You look stunning, Hinata-sama. I'm sure Naruto is feeling very lucky."
Hinata's gaze was cast downwards.
"Is something the matter?" Neji asked quietly. "Is it cold feet?" she added.
At this Hinata almost jumped.
"N-not at all!" she exclaimed. "It's just that…all this time with Naruto-kun every moment has been…magic. I know I love him more than anything but, what if he…"
"I'm going to stop you right there." Neji spoke. "I've never seen Naruto happier. Since you two started going out, he's even become more bearable, calmer and always sporting that goofy smile of his." Hinata smiled timidly before her cousin added. "And when we go out on missions, he's always talking about you."
"He does?" The bride-to-be's eyes widened and her cheeks turned a soft pink.
Neji smirked.
"He's always talking about how strong you are, how kind, how 'badass', using his words."
Hinata's blush deepened.
"Naruto-kun…"
"So, don't worry about a thing today." Neji spared her cousin a look. She still remembered when Hinata was a small, insecure kid. The chunnin exams came to her mind as a dark reminder. Had the jounins not intervened she would have…no, she shouldn't think about it. Neji was a different person now and she would make sure nothing happened to her little cousin.
Hinata beamed. Suddenly she jumped and held Neji in a tight hug.
"Thank you, Neji- oneesan."
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Neji questioned.
"I'm here for Hyuga Hinata. I'm supposed to take care of her hair and makeup." A feminine voice answered.
Neji turned to her cousin and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'll see you at the ceremony."
With that she opened the door, exchanged bows with the makeup lady and exited the room.
The Hyuga still had time to go help a bit and finish getting ready for the wedding if she hurried up.
When she arrived, she found out her team and Hinata's as well Sakura and some Hyugas had managed to get everything ready ahead of schedule.
"Do you need help with something?" Neji asked Ko.
"We're all set. As soon as the cake arrives, everything will be ready."
"And the catering?"
"They'll have everything ready for the moment the ceremony ends."
Everything looked beautiful, perfect. Just what Naruto and Hinata deserved on their wedding day she thought warmly.
Neji turned around, about to go and ready herself up when she bumped into someone.
"I'm sorry…" she started before looking up at the person she had bumped into.
"Even with those eyes of yours you couldn't see where you were going." The person chuckled.
"Uchiha."
Sasuke was clad into a gray formal kimono, the Uchiha fan embroidered on the back.
Seeing him made her feel uneasy. Why would she feel like that? He was her friend; they had been for several years now.
"Sorry, I've just been…my mind's been somewhere else all day, I don't know."
"It's not usual for you to space out, Hyuga."
"Yeah, I guess."
Sasuke looked calm, she tried to remember when they had befriended each other.'Had it been at the Academy? No, was it the chunin exams? Come to think of it, why couldn't she remember the chunin exams? Who had she fought against? Had it been Ino? Was it Naruto? How had Naruto and her become friends-?'
"You're spacing out again." Sasuke snapped her out of it.
"Sorry, I just can't remember…" What couldn't she remember?
"Naruto actually asked me to pick up the cake, care to come with me?" The Uchiha asked.
Neji hesitated a moment before nodding.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while. Spring had brought with it beautiful warm weather. Leaves blew along, dancing with the wind and her heart fluttered at the sight.
"You've been more silent than usual." Sasuke brought her wandering thoughts back to earth.
"Hm. I've always been one for quiet walks, you should know." She answered calmly.
"Let me start again. You've been a different silent than usual." He chuckled.
Neji sighed, before sparing him a small smile.
"I guess. It's just that today has been…" she hesitated. "I don't know, weird. My mind has been…lethargic."
"How so?"
"I guess it's the wedding. I really want it to go well."
"I doubt it would go another way, with you helping to organize it and all."
"It's not just that. I've had trouble remembering things." Neji paused. "Do you remember why we became friends?"
"Here it is, the bakery." Sasuke announced.
The Hyuga was once again distracted from her thoughts and noticed that, indeed, they had arrived.
A bell chimed above their heads as they opened the door. The Hyuga let Sasuke manage the cake as she looked around the store. It was one of the fanciest pastry shops in Konoha or even the land of fire. Neji had only visited it once when she had been sent to collect a cake for Hiashi-sama's birthday. It had been the best piece of cake she had ever tasted. Elegant cakes adorned the display windows, every cake more beautiful than the last one.
"Let's go." Sasuke told her. When she looked at him, he was carrying a box almost his size containing the cake.
Neji laughed.
"Let me help you with that, I don't want the cake to be ruined before the wedding."
"Thanks." Sasuke sighed in relief.
They carried the enormous cake through the streets of Konoha, the villagers moving aside as they saw them passing by with the big box.
"You know, it's been some time since we last trained together." Sasuke started as they neared Hyuga grounds. "We should do it more often."
"Yeah…we should."
As soon as they arrived, they placed the cake on a nearby table, and Neji excused herself to go get ready.
Her reflection stared at her blankly.
The Hyuga's hair was pulled up, held together with chopsticks, a light pink lipstick adorned her lips. She forced a smile. It looked mechanic so she wiped it up immediately. She sighed and stood up; the ceremony was about to start.
Neji strode towards the grounds where the ceremony would take place and took her assigned seat. She was seated right beside Hanabi and her father. Hizashi smiled at his daughter once she arrived.
Naruto was fidgeting on his place, a big grin adorning his face, as Sasuke, his best man, tried to keep him to stay put.
Then, Hiashi-sama walked in, accompanied by the most beautiful bride she had ever seen. Everyone was holding their breath as Hinata walked towards Naruto, undenied love shining brightly in her eyes.
The ceremony went on beautifully and Neji would've been a liar if she denied having shed a tear. That was all she had wished for her cousin. Happiness. And Hinata looked so happy and in love as they exchanged vows and were finally pronounced husband and wife, her eyes never leaving her husband's.
As Neji paid more attention to her surroundings, she found everyone chatting amicably. Gai-sensei, Tenten and Lee were congratulating Naruto and Hinata, the green-clad pair (because even their formal clothes were a bright green) especially effusively. Sasuke was holding a conversation with Kakashi and when he noticed she was staring, he turned and gave her a smirk.
Suddenly her eyes clashed with equal white ones.
"Father."
"Ah, this truly was a beautiful ceremony. Hinata-sama sure looks happy."
Neji smiled fondly.
"Yeah, she does."
"So do you." Her father spoke, his wrinkled framed eyes staring warmly into his daughter's.
"I guess I am." She wholeheartedly agreed.
Just at that moment, Sakura punched the crap out of Kaguya. They needed to break the Tsukuyomi.
Black Zetsu, hidden in his mother's sleeve, gasped.