Moon Eyes

Author Note: Alright the enxt instalment and it came in a timely fashion yay! Yes I'm well aware that Sai has yet another wardrobe change in this chapter. Deal. With. It. I just couldn't get the idea out of my head and thus this will be his outfit from now on, or very slight variations of it. I don't care if it's really possible, Sasuke had Khaki shorts so I figure Sai can have Jeans. lol I just gave you a spoiler. XDD Anywho.... Enjoy!
Special Chapter Dedication: To my new reviewers Irish and TheIceMan. I love it when you all review me with great ideas. And I love it when somehow you guess at my pairings I'm considering. XDD


Chapter: Neji

After the first few nights of the awakening of the eyes it slowly settled down in Suna, at least relatively so. There were still the occasional walker, as they had named them, that came calling for meat. No one was really getting any sleep, but they did establish watches and those not on duty came to the bunk area to lay in the dark. Neji did his best to sleep, but usually only got in three hours at best. Either a sound woke him, or he opened his eyes to escape the nightmares that plagued him.

Tonight was his night to watch over the building, check doors and windows, and take down any walkers that came. Aimlessly he walked the halls over and over, sure that if he didn’t something would happen when he wasn’t looking. He was taking the shift with three others, all Suna nin, and he was starting to become increasingly worried that there was something wrong with them. Unfortunately he couldn’t put his finger on it, and thus didn’t want to call attention to it just yet.

“Jax.” he called out to the man leaning against the wall.

He looked over at him for a moment before recognition dawned and then he waved back. Slowly Neji came up to him a frown on his face. The guy gave him a smile and ran his dirty fingers through his equally dirty blond hair.

“Heh, don’t look at me like that.”

“Is there something wrong with you?”

“I’m exhausted man, aren’t you?” Jax replied.

He was, but that was no reason to slack off. His frown increased in severity making the other man wince. The nin looked away down the hall and Neji took in his shaking hands and the odd rash on his neck. Though the rash could easily be from not washing and all the blood and dirt from days prior. The shaking hands were of concern and Neji reached out and grabbed a hold of one to take a closer look.

“Why are your hands shaking?”

“I’m tired, I’m going in and out. My body just hurts.”

Neji’s mouth thinned out trying to decide what to do. Should he send the man to the bunk area for sleep, or have him finish out his shift? He sighed, the man would be of no use if his body was really this exhausted.

“Go back to the bunk.”

“I’m sure I-”

“Go. You’ll only be a hindrance if you stay.”

The blond nodded, though he didn’t seem overly pleased. Jax waved as he jogged down the hall and Neji simply watched him go. If they kept going like this they weren’t going to make it. They would have to come up with some plan, there was always a possibility that there were others in neighboring hidden villages alive and well.

Turning to continue on his way his thoughts drifted to his friends back in Konoha. Were they alright? Who lived and who had succumbed to the eyes? His cousin was she well? What of her team, what of the other teams? He was quite distraught about the whole thing, he wanted everyone to be fine but knew, as his experience here dictated, that not all would be there if he returned.

Damn those Uchiha’s and their lust for power and revenge. This was all their fault, he hoped where ever Sasuke was the man was proud of what he had done, because after this no one would ever be the same.

“Hope you got what you wanted you bastard.” He murmured to himself.

****

He woke suddenly lying on his back on the cot, but made no indication anything had changed. Something was severely off and he listened intently to the room about. It was far to quiet, there was supposed to be others in the room with him sleeping. Carefully he opened his eyes and activated them enough only to be able to see in the dark. It only confirmed that indeed no one else was present and his gut twisted up.

Activating his eyes more he looked up through the floors, a couple rats moving in between the walls and Gaara up on the top of the building with Temari. Scanning each floor carefully he noted that nobody else was walking around, no Matsuri and this was her shift. His heart started to pound and he rose from his cot.

Slowly he scanned his floor, but also saw nothing but other villagers asleep. He focused his face to the floor boards and his eyes widened. There she was in the room with the three others that were supposed to be sleeping. His lip curled in disgust before he turned deactivated his eyes and ran out the door heading for the stairs that would lead him to the room below.

Busting open the door once arriving was the hardest part of the whole ordeal. When the nin all looked up over at him he glared. Two held her down one covering her mouth, while the other had taken his turn with her. She lay on the dusty desk surrounded with scrolls and old parchments shirt ripped and bottoms gone, tears falling down the sides of her face.

The first two were barely able to move before he applied gentle fist none to gently destroying chakra pathways and organs as he swirled around them quickly jabbing before pulling away. When he stopped he was right behind the man in between Matsuri’s legs but before he could do anything the young woman rammed a Kunai in his chest with a loud war cry.

He stepped back as he watched her rage slowly snap her conscious thinking and she continued to stab the man even as he crumbled to the ground. Slowly she started to come down off her rage high he removed his long white coat, that wasn’t as clean as he usually liked it to be, and placed it upon her back to return some of her modesty.

“Oh god…” She started to sob.

“I will go retrieve Temari and-”

“No.”

He paused, what the hell was she going on about? She needed to be seen to. He tsked with a click of his tongue to the roof of his mouth.

“Just find me a shirt and pants.”

“You need,”

She shook her head wiping at her tears, “We do not have time for such things.”

Neji frowned further, the woman had just been gang raped and she was just going to get up and go on as if nothing had happened? That was not healthy he knew that much and he shook his head.

“You must get looked at.”

“Temari doesn’t have any knowledge and Gaara…” she trailed off.

Neji looked away as she stood, reached out and grabbed her under the shoulder when her legs gave out from under her weight. She took deep breaths in, her body shaking no doubt in shock and pain, but slowly she stood on her own. Matsuri wrapped an arm around her middle and took once step forward biting her lip to keep form crying out.

“You’re bleeding.” He stated.

“Yeah that happens.”

“You can’t pretend it didn’t happen.”

“I’m not.”

“Then I insist you tell someone.”

She sighed, and looked back at him. “You’re not going to let this go are you.”

“As I am an honorable man, no.”

“Help me out of this room and to the bunks then. I want to have some dignity.” She whispered.

That he could agree to, and he helped her limp out of the room. The younger woman was strong, but he also knew she was still trying to deny it had happened. Her mind was already blocking it all out, though it had probably helped her to rip apart the man she had.

****

Neji stood outside the room with Gaara, Temari had helped Matsuri to the wash room once they had been notified. Pale eyes met sea green rimmed in black and he could read all the emotions there in.

“It’s not your fault.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

That earned him a writhing glare from the redhead, and he wisely let the subject drop. It was now just the four of them, plus a small group of villagers, it was not sensible to stay.

“We must leave.”

“And where do you suggest we go?” Gaara asked leveling him with a cold stare.

“Konoha.”

“What makes you so sure it’s not any different than here?”

“I’m not sure of anything, but at least maybe Matsuri can get a proper medical once over.”

“What if one of us turns?” Gaara asked out of the blue staring at the door the other two were behind.

“Are you worried?”

Gaara shrugged and Neji took a deep breath. The Kazekage was just as much at a loss as he was. It was something he had thought about though. Who was he to decide if that couldn’t be him in a few days, possibly a few hours? Then what?

Neji shivered, he did not want to become a walker, he’d rather die first. Gaara was watching him sidelong, sea green seeming to glow in the darkness. Neji watched him back and the air became pregnant with unspoken fears. Before either one could break the silence the door opened and Temari stepped threw it closing it quietly behind her.

“She sleeps, I gave her something to help her do so.”

“Was it bad?”

Temari shook her head, “Gaara she wouldn’t let me look. All I was allowed to do was fetch some water and then give her the sleep drug.”

They were all quite for a long time, and for some strange reason Neji felt as if the four of them were like a band of brothers… er well brothers and sisters he amended. Thankfully he hadn’t said that out loud as Temari would have, for certain, given him a welt on the back of his head. Just then the older woman gave a large sigh closing her eyes.

“We need to move out Gaara.”

This time it was Gaara’s turn to sigh, “I am aware.”

“Maybe we should send out a message bird or something.” Neji suggested.

The two siblings looked at him as they weighed the pros and cons of his idea. Then the two looked at each other having some sort of non verbal communication with one another. Two nods and Neji assumed they agreed with his idea.

“If we have a bird left then we should do that.”

“I didn’t even take into consideration-” He began.

Gaara held up a hand to silence him, “It’s a valid idea and we shall look into it’s possibility. It’s better than just staying in the current situation.”

With that said he walked down the hall towards the holding area for the birds. Well it was definitely better than standing around doing nothing.

“I’m going to go make rounds.” he told the blond before walking away.

****

They all jumped when Sai landed behind them unexpectedly from above. The man slowly rose from the ground, not looking anything like he usually did. Neji’s eyebrow rose to his hairline as he stared at the man before him. Green tank top under a black coat with grey fur around the edges of the hood. A pair of dark jeans ripped on the left knee and black work boots laced tightly. A small amount of five o’clock shadow on his face making him look rugged, his black gloves the only thing that seemed the same for the man.

“I bring word from Konoha.” He stated calmly as if four people weren’t standing ready to kill him.

“Sai?” Gaara asked.

“Yes. This is all that I could find to replace my old cloths.” He explained.

“What’s the word?” Temari asked.

“That you should follow me and I’ll bring you to our current location.”

Temari scoffed, but before she could saying anything Gaara sent her a look to keep quiet. Neji watched Sai look over the four as if assessing them and his dark eyes stopped to stare at Matsuri. A momentary frown creased his brows before it was gone and looking back at Gaara.

“Are you all that is left?”

“Yes.”

“And seven villagers.” Temari added.

“That makes things simpler.” He answered finally standing up from his crouched position.

“So where exactly is this location of yours?” Temari asked crossing her arms under her bosom.

“Not to far from here. It only took me a day to get here by the means I did.”

“Why are you not dressed in something more flowing?” Neji finally asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Sai’s eyes focused in on him and Neji fought the urge to shiver, something about Sai other than his style had changed. He seemed more independent, self assured, dangerous.

“I needed something more durable with what I do. I found that my old clothes didn‘t stay together when I fought with the enemy.”

“Jeans?”

Sai stopped moving and simply listened to the world around, “It just became quiet. We must leave.”

“Quiet?” Temari asked.

“Yes.”

Neji felt as if something was suddenly staring at him and his heart went into his throat. The feeling was much more animalistic in nature, but oddly intelligent. Looking at Sai pull out two brushes one being placed between his lips a scroll in his other hand only made him far more nervous. Beside him Matsuri froze and he watched Gaara’s eyes harden.

“Get what provisions you can.” Temari ordered ready to whip out her fan if she needed to.

Neji went to activate his eyes only to have Sai send him a look. Slightly affronted by this, but wise enough not to question him for the time being, he grabbed Matsuri and headed back into the building Gaara following shortly after. Later Neji would demand details and explanations but for now he would do as a good Ninja should and follow orders.

“I’ll go roundup the villagers.” Neji said.

“Fine then bring them down to the provisions room they will help bring food, cloths, and water.” Gaara answered.

“The weather is sure to get worse, we’ll have to make sure they dress warmly judging by Sai’s clothes.“ Matsuri added.

“Right. I’ll make sure they layer their clothes then.” Neji replied before heading down another flight of stairs before turning left.

*****

Upon reaching the outer doors of the building Neji was surprised to see Akamaru but no Kiba. He frowned as the implications that had settled uncomfortably in his gut. Sai was standing next to the large dog looking over the roads of Suna with suspicion. Neji did not like this Sai, he much preferred the emotionally clueless Sai, he was easier to predict. Gaara walked up to the man and waited further instructions, as Sai seemed the man with a plan. Temari had her fan open and ready to fight again.

“What happened?” Matsuri asked coming up from behind the villagers in tow.

“They attacked us to gage our abilities, this group more than likely followed me here. I apologize.” Sai explained.

“Wait, they’re smart?” Neji questioned.

Sai leveled him with a blank look, “very much so. As of right now they are simply watching us, awaiting the perfect chance. I can feel them out there.”

“Is it smart to move out then?” Gaara asked.

“We stay we die, Akamaru says this to be true.” Sai answered.

Akamaru nodded, and Neji felt his gut twist up at the thought. How where they safer out there with them than in the building where they could defend against them? Then he realized he could use his eyes maybe he could see what Sai and Akamaru felt. Then he recalled Sai’s look earlier on the roof.

“Why am I not to use my eyes?”

“Shikamaru is curious to find out if one of his theories are correct and they find us easier with the use of chakra. As it seems to be true you shouldn‘t use it to much, we put off enough chakra even when we hide it.” The man explained.

“Then why didn’t you just run in here by way of the entrance?”

Sai actually turned to the group seriousness etched into every muscle of his face, “I would have, but all you’re infected people are piled there waiting for someone to come.”

“Then how the hell are we getting out of here?” Temari asked sounding tired.

“We will head to the east of the mountain. Gaara and I will use our special jutsus to carry people up to the top, and then back down once we near the other side.”

“How do you know this will work?” Matsuri asked.

“I do not know, but if Gaara were to be found alive and well this was Shikamaru’s best strategy in the eventuality that the crazed people were at the opening.” Sai explained.

“Well that makes me feel like it will work. That lazy ass man is rarely wrong.” Temari stated, “and as a strategist myself it sounds like a sound plan to me given the circumstances.”

Akamaru’s ears suddenly perked up and he whined in between his panting. Neji took that as a sign that they were to get moving, and everyone tensed.

“Did Nara come up with a plan for how to get there safely?” Neji asked his eyes trained on the area around them.

Sai nodded, “Gaara has the widest range and his element is everywhere. He will walk in the back of the group. The fact that Temari is here as well makes things easier, and thus she will be walking front with me.”

Temari nodded and stepped up beside him Matsuri shared a look with Neji. Had he not thought of them? Of coarse why would he? No, Nara always thought of everything.

“What about us?” Matsuri asked before he could.

“You two are to take the sides. Nara wasn’t sure how many nin would be left and he wasn‘t sure what their abilities would be, the eyes seem to have the greatest effect on nin. He was hoping that Neji was still alive as he had the best short range attack and can take out enemies, with out to fatal a blow, taking them down fast.”

Neji nodded, “why does it matter if I kill them or not?”

“He speculates that we can still save them if we can get rid of the eyes upon the moon.” Sai answered.

Akamaru whined again and Sai looked at the dog and nodded his head before turning forward. With out a word he began to run, Akamaru running far up ahead of all of them. Neji assumed this was also part of the plan, a part that hadn’t been necessary to explain to them. When Akamaru let out a wail that echoed threw the abandoned streets the first attack came flying at them. Temari swished her fan across the front of them and the attack was brushed aside.

Behind him Gaara cursed and he felt sand rise up from under his feet to slide off to the right. He glanced behind him chancing it even though he new better and saw the sand block Gaara from an attack. Seeing an enemy coming at him he spun and thrust his arm outward only pressing two fingers to the man’s chest. Shikamaru wanted them to limit the damage if at all possible so he would try. The man went down clutching at his chest and that was all the thought he gave him as he kept running.

Matsuri beside him swung her weapon around over her head before tossing it to have it wrap around an enemy coming from her side and yanked hard the wire slicing up his neck. As the weapon came back to Matsuri, the attacking woman fell to the ground blood spurting from her open neck. The mountain wasn’t to far away now, and Akamaru howled once again and Sai took to the sky as Temari through a wind slicing jutsu forward to cut up a three man attack coming at them.

A child fell to the ground only to be picked up by sand before others trampled over him in their scared mad run towards what they hoped was safety. The child was crying, but Gaara gave no mind to it and just kept running, the sand holding the boy as he did. A woman began to lag behind and Neji reached out and grabbed a hold of the elder woman’s wrist. She could not give up just yet, and she gave him a pained but thankful smile.

Out of the darkness Sai came zooming in above them only to drop out of site further ahead and then the cries of people dying, or possibly being knocked out could be heard. He glanced to the side where Matsuri jumped to give another man a round house kick to the face effectively breaking his neck before landing with a wince. She was still hurting from the rape, but she was holding together rather well and he found himself proud of her.

They all slid to a stop at the bottom of the cliff and turned to face the oncoming enemies. It was going to come down to how fast they could pull this off for people to live. Gaara craned his neck up to judge the distance then nodded. Akamaru walked up to him and prepared to be lifted with the first group. It made sense that someone stay up there to protect them. They couldn’t sacrifice a nin as they were all needed here on the ground, but a nin dog would do just as well.

Sai grabbed a hold of a woman and a child, placing them on top of his birds, and instructed them to hold on before he sent it flying up into the air. Gaara focused his chakra and pulled up Akamaru himself and three others using his sand as a rising podium. As the first attacks came Neji swirled around as if in a dance dodging and evading blows as he dealt devastating ones of his own. Lessening damage be damned, he wanted to live and he wanted these people to live.

The next group went up leaving only Neji, Temari, and Matsuri on the ground, Sai having only taken the last two villagers up to make sure his bird flew. Temari let loose cutting wind and took down several of the “walkers” their screams but gurgles as blood bubbled up from their lungs. Matsuri was singularly focused and took down her opponents with out hesitation, the way he imagined Gaara had taught her to do. When Gaara came back down he was panting and had sweat dripping down his face.

“Hurry come close, Temari let loose an attack to buy us some time.”

“Are you sure you can do this?” She asked in concern.

“Yes, but it is taxing, now hurry the fuck up and do what I said.” He answered.

Neji backed up as did Matsuri while Temari let loose another attack and jumped up and backwards as Gaara rose them up on sand. Neji wasn’t afraid of heights by any means, but when you stood on sand that continued to move like waves of water made one feel as if it would give out at any moment. When they reached the top he was more than happy to get off and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Going down will be easier.” Gaara commented to him.

“Thank you.” Neji answered.

Gaara nodded and they all turned towards Sai. The man nodded to them all and began to walk in the direction they all assumed had been pre chosen. Neji felt some relief to know that part of Konoha still lived, and soon he would be reunited with his friends and possibly family. He could always just ask, but he wasn’t ready for an answer thus left it at that and walked in silence.

~TBC~

To My Readers: Do you want to get up close and personal with me? Have chats about anything including discussion of where you think this fic is going? Well now you can!! I'm back on livejournal under the name you see here! Please come visit me. Don't have a LJ account? You can find me ON DeviantArt.com as well under my pen name you all know me by. I'm going to start posting link to my stories there in hopes of getting more people to read my stuff. As always everyone I love you lots! Unfortunately I don't want my fic removed cuz I keep replying here so please come find me at my other locations and I'm more than happy to reply to you there!