Forgetting Sasuke

Disclaimer: I do not own them, they are not mine. *Sigh*

Hope you all enjoy!

~~~~~

Neji stretched, waking from a fitful night’s sleep. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept like that. Looking over at the clock, he noticed it was nearly ten. “Geez,” he muttered aloud. The Hyuuga prodigy never slept past seven, no matter how exhausted he was.

He stood up, stretching again before slipping on a pair of pants and going to the kitchen.

“Good morning, Nii-san!”

Neji turned to find Hanabi sitting at the table eating a large amount of cereal out of an enormous bowl. “Good morning, Hanabi-sama. I see you have quite an appetite this morning.” He turned his back to pour himself a cup of hot coffee.

“Mm,” she nodded. “Today we’re having a tournament at the academy. Iruka-sensei is holding a competition this afternoon, and I want to win.”

“I see,” he replied easily. The girl took another heaping spoonful which barely fit into her open mouth. “Well don’t force yourself to eat so much. Eating is good to have strength, but if you eat too much, you’ll make yourself sick and that won’t be good.”

“I know!” she said in that ‘I’m-not-stupid’ tone. He ruffled her hair playfully as he passed, feeling her swat him away. “Nii-san, you’ll come, won’t you?”

“I’ll be there,” he waved her away, smiling to himself. He stopped by Hinata’s door and gently slid it open to peer in on the still, sleeping girl. ‘Well, she had a late night, I’m sure they won’t have a mission today,’ he thought, deciding not to wake her.

“Neji,” he heard as he slid the door shut again. He turned around to face his uncle. “I have some business to attend to for a few days in Country of the Wave. I trust you’ll look after things while I’m away.” It was an order, not a request.

“Of course,” he replied smoothly.

“I should be back in a week. If you need to contact me for any reason, send a message through Hokage-sama.” Neji nodded. Hiashi turned and walked away.

His relationship with Hyuuga Hiashi was an interesting one. Hiashi treated him as a member of the main family, although he still bore the juin on his forehead. Hiashi had long ago admitted the mistake in marking him. However, mistake or not, there was nothing to be done about it now. There was no known way to reverse the juinjutsu.

Finishing his coffee, he pushed a few scrolls on his desk aside and set the empty mug down. His still damp clothing from the night before hung thrown over a chair. He smirked.

“Sakura,” he whispered.

* * * * *

“Well, Shishou?” Sakura asked, waiting for Tsunade to give her the clean bill of health she craved.

“Looks good. Just don’t go having any more accidents like that Sakura. I’d never seen an injury like that, with that total chakra block. You scared me,” she admitted.

Tsunade looked at her apprentice with motherly affection. The pink-haired chuunin in front of her drove her absolutely insane sometimes, but she loved the girl dearly. It was no secret that Sakura was powerful, in some areas she’d even passed Shizune, which Tsunade never dreamed would happen. The girl really worked her ass off, and Tsunade was proud of her. Sakura had also inherited her Shishou’s obstinate stubborn streak, a fact Tsunade was not as thrilled with when said streak was turned against her, such as yesterday when she asked Sakura to take it easy.

“And next time, when I give you an order to rest, you had better do it. Don’t think I don’t know that you were out all day long, even after you promised me you’d get some rest,” she continued, sternly.

Sakura’s eyes widened. ‘Did she have me followed? Does she know about Neji? Does she know about what happened at the bridge with Neji?’ she thought, flames suddenly scortching her face. ‘No, she couldn’t. If she did, she’d have called me on it already.’

“Sakura?” Tsunade asked, seeing the horrified expression on her pupil’s face. “What is it?”

“Oh, nothing. I just…”

Tsunade smirked, picking up on Sakura’s train of thought. “Yes, you were,” she said simply, answering Sakura’s unvoiced question. “And no, I’m not telling you who.”

* * * * *

Lee informed the group that Gai-sensei had been called away on a mission and that they were free to do whatever they wished for the day. Neji figured they should go pick up a mission anyway, but Lee and Tenten seemed to have other ideas, ideas which involved Neji getting lost so they could continue raining affections on one another. He rolled his eyes, taking the not-so-subtle hint and left.

He had a whole day to himself with loads of options worth pursuing. It was almost daunting to figure out what direction to go in. He knew he’d have to be to the school at two-thirty for Hanabi’s tournament.

He decided to use his leisure time by going back to the house and getting Hinata up. He knew she would want to discuss her mission, and undoubtedly ask him to train with her, which he would be more than willing to do.

‘Or you could go see what Sakura’s up to…’ said the voice inside his head.

“No, Hinata’s really going to want to train with Hiashi away right now,” he said to no one.

* * * * *

“Sakura-chan!” Naruto waved happily as she approached the bridge. “You’re late! How are you feeling?”

“I had a checkup with Tsunade-shishou,” she explained as she eyed the broken railing, hoping she wasn’t looking too guilty.

“And?”

“All better!” she said happily. She surprised herself and Naruto by walking up to him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tightly to her.

“S-sakura-chan?” he stuttered nervously. “What was that for?”

She smiled warmly at him. “Naruto, I just want to thank you again for last night. It really meant a lot to me. I had so much fun. And honestly, if we can have conversations like what we did last night, then why do I need a reason to hug my best friend?”

Naruto simply stared at her. ‘Best friend,’ echoed in his head. That was the first time she’d ever referred to him as her best friend.

He’d matured a good deal in the years she’d known him, but she was still shocked when tears formed in the blond’s eyes. “Sakura-chan…” he whispered happily. He suddenly threw his arms back around her, squeezing the life out of her.

“Naruto!” she gasped, her arms at his chest, trying to push him away. “Naruto… air… becoming… issue.”

POOF! Kakashi stared in amazement at his two students. “Well… this is something I never expected to see… ever. So you’ve finally admitted it and you’re both deeply in love now?” he asked lazily.

“SENSEI!” they shouted in unison as Naruto released her.

“Dumbass!” Sakura said playfully to Naruto. 'Sensei's timing is impecable as usual.'

Naruto laughed apologetically. “Sorry Sakura-chan! I was inspired!”

“Apparently,” Kakashi muttered, clearly amused under that mask of his. He turned his attention to the busted railing. “Should I assume the two of you are guilty for that as well?”

“No, that was like that when we got here, Kakashi-sensei, right Sakura-chan?”

She nodded, fighting the heat threatening to creep up. ‘It’s true. That’s not a lie. It was broken when I got here… this morning…’

If Kakashi noticed, he said nothing. He pulled out a scroll. “The academy is hosting a small competition this afternoon and Iruka needs some help. So that’s today’s mission.”

“Iruka-senpai! Yay! And I’ll get him to treat us to ramen after!”

Sakura rolled her eyes. Kakashi handed them to the scroll and made to leave. “Wait, where are you going?”

“Bah, they don’t need me. Academy students…” he shook his head. “I’m just sending you two. So go do whatever and just be at the school by one. Bye.” Poof, and he was gone.

“That could not possibly have been more random,” Sakura muttered under her breath. “Probably Shishou’s doing, if it’s dealing with the academy…”

“Sakura-chan, I’m going to go see Hinata-chan. Do you want to come?”

It was tempting. She would stand a really good chance of running in to Neji. But… she didn’t want to give anything about a relationship away until she knew exactly what kind of relationship it was. Naruto was oblivious by nature, but Hinata, she would notice the tension, or passion or whatever it was, right away. She smiled. “No, that’s okay. You go ahead. You should have some private time together anyway,” she ribbed him. He blushed furiously. “That’s a good look on you, Naruto.”

He scowled in embarrassment before kissing Sakura’s cheek too quickly for her to hit him and disappeared.

She turned around and looked back at the broken railing. The details of the previous night played over in her mind again.

She shook her head, trying to clear her mind of erotic thoughts involving a certain coffee-haired Hyuuga. ‘Damn is this hard,’ her inner self mused. ‘Neji’s just so damn gorgeous…’

“Okay, I’m going over to the school now to see what I can help with.”

* * * * *

“- and that was it. Honestly, Neji-san, I had harder missions as a genin.” Hinata had finished recounting her mission as the two sparred in the courtyard.

It was certain; Hinata had grown much more assertive in the last few months that she’d been dating Naruto. To say something so bold… it made Neji smile. She was surpassing even her own expectations. She still hoped to gain her father’s approval, but she was not pushing herself so hard for him, she was doing it for herself. Neji was proud of her.

Hinata took the offensive again, going after Neji full force. It was a taijutsu sparing match without juuken. Her improvement was considerable. She was much more confident, assured, and her graceful movements rivaled Neji’s own. Neji often wondered how Hiashi would react to know that after all those countless hours he’d spent training his genius nephew, Neji would turn around and train his ‘hopeless’ daughter. It created an interesting dynamic in the family and Neji hoped that should Hiashi ever find out, he not hold it against him.

Neji saw the yellow bob of spiky hair approaching from behing Hinata. He sparred a few seconds more, managing to grab her arm and twist it behind her back, spinning her around to face her boyfriend.

“Naruto-kun!” she said happily, twisting herself out of Neji’s loose grasp. She flung herself into his open arms and he picked her up, spinning her around before setting her down and kissing her.

‘Geez, you’d think they hadn’t seen each other in months,’ Neji thought with some amusement. The fact was they hadn’t seen each other for a grand total of a day and a half. It did however seem to become their ritual of flinging and hugging and kissing whenever one of them returned from a mission, no matter how mundane.

“Neji, what’s going on? I thought you’d be out with Lee,” Naruto said, acknowledging the smirking Hyuuga.

“Day off.”

“Us too. Pretty much anyway. There’s a thing going on later, but in the meantime, I thought I’d come see you!” he said, turning his attention back to the blushing girl in his arms.

It didn’t take an idiot to realize Hinata’s next few hours were going to be quite monopolized by the boisterous noisy ninja.

“I have a few errands to run anyway,” Neji lied, “so you two have fun.” He turned and gave Naruto a pointed look, the meaning of which was not lost on the blond.

“Damn,” Neji muttered. He was glad Hinata was so happy, and Naruto really was perfect for her, but he didn’t fancy being kicked out of his place so the two of them could… ‘I’m not going to think about that.’

Pink hair caught his eye in the distance. She seemed to be pushing her way through the crowds, clearly heading somewhere particular. He took note of all the men staring appreciatively as the beautiful kunoichi passed, oblivious to the attention. Neji scowled.

* * * * *

“Sakura!” Iruka smiled happily at seeing his former student pop in the door.

“Iruka-senpai, how are you?” she asked, stepping into the empty classroom.

“Stressed,” he admitted. He nodded for her to take a seat. “What brings you by?”

“Kakashi-sensei said you could do with some help this afternoon. Naruto will be by a bit later, but I figured I’d come straight over. What can I do?”

Relief swept over Iruka. “Well, we need to set up hurdles on the track, set traps for the obstacle course in the woods, and get out the training weapons for the sparring matches.”

“Geez, this sounds like its own little chuunin exam!”

“Well that’s the model we used to set it up. This is the first time we’ve done anything like this, and there are so many things that could go wrong, but Hokage-sama thinks it’s a good idea…” Iruka said nervously.

Sakura nodded, understanding Iruka’s concern but knowing he had a habit of being overly protective of his students. If Tsunade thought it a good idea, Sakura knew things would turn out fine. “I know where most of the equipment is kept. What kind of traps do you want set?”

“You know, the the soft shuriken, maybe some binding string. Nothing dangerous, just enough to be realistic.”

“Iruka-senpai,” came a masculine voice. Hyuuga Neji entered. “I came to offer my assistance for the competition today.”

Sakura looked up in surprised happiness. Neji glanced at her and though he made no overt expression, she could see a glint in his eye as a corner of his lip pulled just slightly. Her heart nearly bottomed out on her.

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” he said, clapping his hands together and standing up. “Sakura, why don’t you and Neji go set up the traps in the woods. Keep to the school grounds, you know, I don’t have to tell you that-“

“You just did,” Sakura said sarcastically.

Iruka continued as though he didn’t hear her, “A good assortment, nothing dangerous. If they set them off, they should get hit, but not hurt. It’s just a test after all, ridiculous though it is,” he muttered to himself. “I’ll start setting up the hurdles for the track and relay event.” He scurried out of the room, clearly agitated.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen senpai that nervous before,” Sakura commented, turning her attention to the Hyuuga after watching the flustered teacher leave.

Her eyes shyly met his. “How are you today, Neji… kun?”

He replied by crossing the distance to her in three large strides, taking her into his arms and kissing her. She felt herself melt into him.

When they parted, she saw his face contorted with the etching of Byakugan. She looked puzzled. “To make sure we’re not spied on,” he explained. In truth, that was only part of the reason. There was something about watching her close her eyes and surrender to him in such a sweet kiss that made his heart leap, and his stomach flutter with that familiar sensation of desire.

“You?”

Sakura nodded, still breathless after his kiss. “I’m wonderful… I have a clean bill of health from Shishou, who told me off for not following orders. She actually had me followed. Can you believe it?” she laughed. They headed out the door and to the exercise room to gather traps from the closet there. “I had a suspicion, but I didn’t expect her to actually admit it. I feel sorry for the poor genins who got assigned such a miserable task. Following me around yesterday would have been very boring,” she ranted. Her eyes met with Neji’s again, making her tummy flip, “Except for last night,” she said in a low whisper. “You don’t think anyone saw us, do you?”

Neji had been smiling at her the entire time she’d been rambling. “Doubtful,” he replied simply, holding back the smirk playing at his lips. She might’ve been livid to find out it was actually Neji tailing her all of yesterday, and as he was very much a participant of last night’s activities, he was fairly certain they were unobserved.

She looked relieved.

They walked out into the woods together, both of them carrying baskets full of various traps to set for the youngsters.

“So did you get assigned here as a mission as well?” she asked, changing the subject completely. She needed to be able to concentrate on trap setting, not on her rapid heart beat at having the gorgeous Hyuuga right there.

“No, I’m here of my own accord, actually,” he admitted. Sakura looked up, surprised. “My cousin is in the tournament today and asked me to attend. I figured I would stop by a bit early to see if Iruka needed any help. I’m glad I did.” ‘Liar!’ echoed in his mind. He fought back the smile. “I take it you were assigned then?”

“Hn,” she nodded, setting up shadowed trip wires, attaching several of the foam shuriken.

“That’s evil,” he commented.

“What?” she asked, startled. “Why?”

“I’ve had that one used on me before,” he said, turning back to look at his own handiwork before moving on to the next. “Actually it was Naruto that almost set the trap. I didn’t notice it until the last second, it was so well hidden, and it was only thanks to Shikamaru’s fast use of his kage mane no jutsu that we didn’t get rained on.”

“When was this?” Sakura asked, not remembering ever having heard such a tale from Naruto. Granted he didn’t come out smelling like a rose, but he usually liked to fill her in on every small detail of missions she didn’t accompany him on.

Neji looked up at her, noticing her expression as she worked on another elaborate trap of low level exploding seals. ‘She really has no idea…’ He tried to weigh the risks of broaching this subject now. In actuality, it was only two days ago that she’d been crying over Sasuke when he’d found her in the clearing… ‘Only two days, Hyuuga. She’s not over the Uchiha yet. You’re simply rebound,’ the ugly voice in his head sneered at him. He could feel his gut twist painfully.

“It doesn’t really matter,” he said softly, not wanting to open the subject and be forced to deal with facts he wasn’t ready to face.

Sakura looked up to see Neji looking at her with an almost sad expression on his face. “What is it?” she asked, leaping over her own traps and coming to crouch next to him.

He looked up at her. Her bright green eyes were filled with concern for him, her comforting hand took his. He swallowed. “It was the mission to retrieve Sasuke,” he whispered.

“Oh,” she replied quietly. Neji studied her face, looking for any sign that he’d upset her, brought up the painful memories she was constantly seeking to forget. Her face suddenly softened and she actually laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

“What?” Neji asked, caught completely off guard by her reaction.

“That it would be Naruto… almost setting the traps off…” she laughed.

“Right,” Neji sighed with relief. “He’s very enthusiastic.”

Sakura smiled. “Yes, he most definitely is. His enthusiasm has almost ruined a few missions, but it’s saved plenty more.”

Neji much preferred this topic of conversation to worrying about the Uchiha. He decided to keep with it while they continued to set the remainder of their traps through the school forest. “It must’ve been interesting having him for a teammate.”

She smiled serenely. “I was so upset at first,” she admitted with a grin. “He was so noisy and obnoxious and annoying. I was thrilled to be placed on Sasuke’s team, but having Naruto there… well I wasn’t happy about it, at least not at first. But we understand each other now. He’s my best friend. I can’t imagine not having Naruto in my life.”

‘She genuinely loves him,’ Neji realized, watching the smile on Sakura’s face as she spoke of Naruto. “He seems very happy with my cousin,” he commented casually.

“Are you kidding?” Sakura exclaimed, “He speaks of nothing else! I’m just so happy for him. For both of them.”

Neji nodded. Sakura turned her attention back to the trap at hand and Neji observed her. Her movements were very graceful, very calculating. Her pretty face was screwed up in concentration; her pink hair fell slightly forward, obscuring her delicate features. ‘God is she beautiful…’

“I know this is the main route through the forest, but do you think we should set a few traps off to the side, in case anyone deviates?” Sakura said.

“That sounds like an excellent idea,” Neji agreed.

They collected their remaining traps and walked a ways from the path, trying to find a good area to set traps for those seeking shortcuts. Neji suddenly grabbed Sakura’s elbow, spinning her around to face him. He kissed her desperately.

Sakura was caught off guard, but felt herself sinking once more into Neji’s passionate embrace, her heart racing once more as their tongues danced. His fingers trailed softly down her neck and shoulder, sending electricity through her.

They pulled away and stared into one another’s eyes once more. Sakura was clearly speechless. Neji smirked slightly at the blush in her cheeks. He kissed her once more, very sweetly.

“Neji-kun…” she whispered.

“I just had to,” he said. “I can’t explain it. I’m very drawn to you, Sakura.”

Sakura smiled up at him, lightly tracing the line of his jaw with her fingertips. “Likewise,” she whispered. “You’ve invaded all my thoughts, Hyuuga Neji, and I can’t seem to get you out of my head.”

“I have that same problem,” he admitted softly.

“Is it a problem?” Sakura asked teasingly. “Your invasion of my thoughts is very welcome. When I think about you, I… I find myself dreaming of… something… more.”

Neji’s heart sang at her words. ‘She does want you. You’re the one she thinks of and dreams about.’

“I feel the same way,” Neji replied, pulling her to him once more in a sweet, passionate kiss.

Sakura responded to the onslaught of his lips, deepening the kiss. Her tongue demanded entry and Neji readily complied. His hands slipped around her waist, pulling her more closely to him. His hand found its way down to her ass, which he grabbed and kneaded, eliciting a moan from Sakura. Her own hands were on his back and in his hair. She couldn’t stop running her fingers though his silky dark tresses. “Neji-kun…” she whispered.

Suddenly Sakura found herself on the ground, Neji stretched out on top of her. One hand cupped her breast, the other tangled into her gorgeous pink lochs. He shifted, his hands next to her head to support his weight as his lips descended upon and assaulted her neck and throat, making their way down to her collarbone before retracing their path.

Sakura’s own hands wandered Neji’s body freely, going from his hair down his back, kneading his deliciously firm posterior. Her deft fingers undid the clasp of his yukata, giving her access to the defined muscles of his chest and stomach. She lightly ran her fingertips over him, making him jerk slightly with the sensation.

He responded by lightly nipping her earlobe, eliciting a lusty gasp from her, one in which he took great pride. “Neji-kun…”

Neji’s body spasmed at hearing his name, just the sound of his name, filled with so much desire. He drew down the zipper of her red shirt with his teeth, raining kisses on the porcelain skin of her chest.

Sakura’s fingers continued to run through and pull his hair, her head tossing from one side to the other as he kissed and licked and gently sucked at the untasted flesh of her chest. He grabbed and kneaded one of her breasts, his other hand slipping down to grab her hip. Her leg was in between his, and he couldn’t keep from lightly grinding against her.

She moaned again, feeling his hardness only increased her arousal. She grabbed his cheek, forcing him back to her lips, which she suddenly need to devour or face death.

Their tongues parried once more. Neji moaned into the feverish kiss, his chest crushing her as he sank onto her, needing to feel her close.

They parted, both breathing heavily and content to just stare into one another’s eyes. “Sakura…” Neji whispered. His hand reached up to stroke her cheek delicately.

‘You’re going to lose yourself in those magnificent green eyes,’ whispered the voice in Neji’s mind. He replied to it, ‘I’m already lost.’

Neji stared at Sakura with intensity, a gaze she ordinarily would have blushed at and turned away from, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away even if she’d wanted. ‘I could fall for him,’ she thought to herself as she stared into those white-lavender eyes she was beginning to love. A whisper from deeper in her thoughts replied, ‘You already are.’

They lay strewn across the leaves, under the trees, the epitome of two lovers in the early afternoon, simply staring at one another without a care in the world.

“Saku-“ “Neji-“ they both said in unison. They laughed. “You first,” Sakura insisted.

Neji found himself hesitating. His beautiful features became serious once more, a frown he was not even aware of etched his lips as he searched for the right way to articulate his feelings to her.

“What is it?” she asked, her hand reaching up to his cheek in sweet concern.

He was instantly aware of her warm palm to his cheek. He felt himself relax and sink into her. He smiled, leaned down and kissed her sweetly. Her arms wrapped around him and she held him to her.

~~~~~