#while neji just knows which replacements to use after doing it for so long

[ikemenomegas]

good-ending!kakashi and itachi need to have a little former traumatized geniuses cooking club where they get comfortable with making little "mistakes" and putting imperfect dishes on the table and improvising without needing to explain themselves like it's life or death

[labradoriteprince]

Locket (Crumb)

  Y’all be nice i haven’t written in like 3 years but this is just an intro to the au I am working on

“Okay Mr.Iwa, you're all good to go. Remember, physical therapy starts next Tuesday and you’ll be attending two days a week until your physical therapist decides you’ve come far enough to move down to once a week, then biweekly, and so on.” The doctor went down the checklist. 

Deidara nodded along, staring down at the black and silver replacement for his left arm. He had lost the appendage in an accident at work in which his coworker had dropped a pallet from the sky shelves. Not that it was actually Gaara’s fault. The pallet was old anyways and the bottom planks decided to give. Deidara was lucky enough that only his arm was irreparable. His chest and ribs had recovered with minimal scarring. He had gotten a permanent leave, along with worker’s compensation and a lawsuit on the company for the faulty and dangerous work setting.  

“Thank you” Deidara smiled as he got up. “See you next week, Dr.Senju.” He smiled as he headed out. He could already tell it was going to be weird trying to get used to his new arm.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Deidara stood outside the coffee shop, his nerves a little out of hand… Literally. Today was his first full day with his prosthetic arm. He had been without his left arm for almost a year, but he had to wait until he could actually invest in the device, given how expensive it was. He always came to this shop. And every Monday through Thursday the same red head was always working. A short, stoic man with bored brown eyes and… well, quite frankly, no visible personality. With a heavy sigh, Deidara headed through the door and into the line. They weren’t super busy today, given it was nine am on a Tuesday, but there was a lady ahead of him in line with her son holding tightly to her hand, ogling and drooling over the brownies and muffins.

The kid quickly let go of his mom’s hand, to run up and shove his hands up against the glass. The barista’s gaze moved to the kid, his lip curling the slightest bit at the greasy hand prints being dragged down the glass case. Oh boy, Deidara was definitely going to annoy him today. He was already having a morning. The blonde could tell.

Once the woman ordered and stepped aside, it was Deidara’s turn. He stepped up to the counter, looking over the menu to buy time, like he didn’t always order the same thing. 

“Are you not ordering the usual?” The  barista asked. Deidara looked over at him.

“No- I am, I just wasn’t sure” He assured the man. “Latte with four shots espresso.” He assured him.

“I know what you take.” The redhead turned around to the machines in the back. “I’ll make it. Last time Konan left out the extra shots.” Sasori grabbed the Styrofoam cup. Deidara noticed he had upsized the drink, a sweet gesture though it made him more nervous. 

Once the barista finished the drink, he held it out for Deidara to take. "Its on the house. Congratulations on your arm." 

Deidara smiled, carefully reaching for the cup. All was going well so far.. he just had to grip the cup. 

By now, Sasori could see where this was going, locked in eye contact with Deidara, almost daring him to-

The cup broke when Deidara went to grab it, spewing scalding hot coffee all over the counter and floor. The redhead's eyes narrowed. "Konan, can I get your help cleaning this up. I need to remake a drink. " he sighed, grumbling to himself as he turned around to remake Deidara's latte. 

"Sorry" The blonde apologized, embarrassed by the mess he had made. "I just wanted to practice grabbing things." He explained.

"Well, practice outside of my store." The redhead countered. 

"Sasori-" Konan shot her coworker a glare. So that was his name.

"Well, he made a mess." Sasori muttered. He came back to the counter, handing the blonde a new cup. "Use your right hand this time." 

“Yes sir, sorry again.” Deidara quickly apologized as he headed out of the cafe. Well, that was humiliating. He took a sip of coffee and scrunched up his nose. Oh that petty bitch, this was so much more than 4 espresso shots. He couldn’t be too upset. It was a free coffee, and he did just make a mess. 

He was just desperate to be back to his full potential again. The past year he’s just felt like a burden, not able to move his own furniture when he moved into his new apartment, or having to relearn how to drive, cook, and everything. For a while there, he had to have his old roommate help him put his hair up. Neji always did, though. Even though they both knew he had better things to do. 

Once Deidara got home, he sat his cup on the coffee table, before pulling out his phone. Sasori… hmm. That was an uncommon enough name. He should be able to find him. He logged onto Facebook, typing the redhead’s name into the search bar. It wasn’t long before he found the barista. Sasori Akasuna. The blonde clicked on his profile, scrolling through. He only had a handful of friends, including the coworker from earlier. Though, the only person who seemed to be tagging him in anything was a little old woman who, obviously, was newer to Facebook. Sasori’s entire timeline was full of outdated memes, posts about tagging loved ones, and random ‘I love my grandson’ posts, all of which were from this same woman, Chiyo Akasuna.

Huh, well, it was safe to assume Chiyo was his Grandmother. It was also probably safe to say they were close. Or at least seemed to be. Deidara scrolled all the way back to the top of the page, sending a friend request. He plopped his phone down on the coffee table as well, before looking at his arm. He slowly opened and closed his prosthetic hand, watching the fingers curl up, then open, then repeat. He smiled faintly, before laying back onto the couch. It wasn’t long before he closed his eyes and started to fall asleep. It was a good thing he hadn’t really drank his latte after discovering how bitter it was. Otherwise he’d be too awake to nap.  

Once the blonde did wake up, he picked up his phone to check the time. It was about a quarter to five and he’d been sleeping since almost eleven. “Way to go, Deidara. Way to waste a day” He lectured himself as he got up. He noticed he had a Facebook notification and opened it. It was a message. 

“How in the hell did you find me?

Why did you find me?”

How was Deidara supposed to respond? Lie? Yeah- lying is good. 

“You were in my suggested friends list.”

It was almost an immediate reply.

“Right, with no mutuals and no idea what my name was before now. 

This is almost obsessive. You come in everyday at the same time, 

Constantly you're in my shop to just kill time, and now coincidentally, “

“You’ve found my Facebook.”

Oh man, this was taking a bad turn, and fast. 

“No, look, really. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to see 

Who you were. Not in a creepy way, though. Really.” 

“Right

I’m blocking you.”

Oh shit. Deidara messed up. Now how was he supposed to show his face at the cafe? He groaned and tossed the phone down. 

Well... Fuck.

[chemicalmagecraft]

Foresight is 20/20 Chapter 15

Usagi

"I'm tellin' ya, boss, it was some kinda monster," the now one-armed bandit explained to his leader as another bandit bandaged his bleeding stump. "It did... something to Koji, and he turned into some sorta zombie."

"And did either of those monsters rip off your arm?" the red-haired woman asked impassively. Ah yes, she would do nicely. Her body was compatible enough with my power that I wouldn't have to worry about replacing it for a while and she appeared to be an awful human being, so I wouldn't have any guilt from ending her life. Despite her looks she was probably not an Uzumaki, so I had no reason to worry about that, either. I was currently in the process of extending a light telepathic touch into all the minds present, sorting through their memories to find a way to possess her, as well as stealing what procedural memories of theirs that I found useful.

He shook his head, a fearful look in his eye. Perhaps I was a bit too harsh on him... "No, Koji bit me. I ran, and..." He shuddered. "My arm... it went numb, and the same weird markings that appeared where the... thing... touched Koji started to appear on my arm. I... I didn't risk it."

"Wise," the bandit leader said. He smiled weakly at her.

An then buried one of her knives in his gut. "Don't take any risks," she murmured into his ear as he breathed his last. That poor, sweet fool. Well, not sweet. If there was any word that could describe her less, I had yet to find it from my delving into her or her subordinates' minds. My point, though, is that a zombie is much harder to kill than a normal man. The red markings sprouted from his good arm, and with inhuman speed the freshly-made monster sank its new claws into the man who was bandaging it just moments ago. The woman snarled as the markings spread across both zombies. She managed to decapitate the original, but my second zombie evaded her blade and shambled toward another bandit, which it bit.

Long story short, I let a few of the bandits survive but my small-scale zombie apocalypse led to the deaths of most of the scofflaws.

The leader of what was now considerably fewer bandits slammed her fist on the wall in rage as she surveyed the corpses left behind. "Damn," she growled as they dissolved into red dust. "At least they won't be coming back..."

"You do care, boss!" one of the survivors cheered.

"I don't care one bit about you idiots and if I hadn't just lost most of my men I'd have killed you for that moronic comment," she said coldly. She meant it, too. "We need to recruit, and that means we need more money. Secure the base, we can't leave anyone on guard." If I had a mouth, I'd have smiled. I needed the practice, after all. Their hideout was an abandoned mine, secluded and buried in a mountain. Not to mention the gold stored within, even if I would want to give some back to the villages they were stealing from. And they were leaving it for me. How thoughtful.

kukukuku~

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Neji asked me.

I shrugged and licked my lips. "Not gonna get any better at fighting by going easy," I said.

"Yeah, but you pretty much need your powers to take me down if I activate Furnace." Neji's pseudo-jinchuriki power. We started calling it Furnace because with how unique it was it pretty much deserved a unique name. Technically, his red chakra reserves were abysmal. However, we found out that whenever he exerted himself he could activate it to essentially let himself generate more, though he'd only keep it for so long when not exerting himself.

End result, his power steadily grew the longer he fought. He also gained power each time he hit or was hit. It had a few limitations and placed strain on his body the more he used it, but as far as I knew he could theoretically fight a biju if he built up enough, maybe even Kaguya. That'd probably kill him at the moment, though. And from what it seemed, it was hard for him to use it for more than just brute force. Though that might just have been from how he could only keep it active for small intervals at a time before it started eating away at his health prevented him from training his control over it much...

"And how else am I supposed to change that?" I asked. I got into my stance. "Let's do this before I change my mind."

His eyes turned red, with a white slit pupil because of his Byakugan. "Your funeral..."

A few moments later...

"Owwwww," I groaned. "My... pride..."

"I didn't even get warmed up at all," Neji smugly remarked from where he was sitting on my spine, pinning me. I didn't ask him to get up because I was sucking off the last dregs of his red chakra. For whatever reason I couldn't assimilate Furnace, but I could still steal Neji's red chakra to heal myself and stuff.

"You okay, dude?" I asked.

"As I said, I barely got warmed up. My body is fine." After he activated Furnace for the first time, he'd ended up bedridden for an hour because of the strain it put on his body. When he started to test it, he pretended he was fine even though he kept using it past his limits. He ended up too sick to stand for weeks. It was actually around that time that he managed to figure out natural energy manipulation, probably because he was stuck in bed and bored out of his mind for so long. "I probably should let myself cool down for a bit, but I'm assuming you'll want to fight me without Furnace anyways."

I snorted. "Jerk. And here I was worried about you."

He got up. He had an amused smile. "Let's go another round, then."

kukukuku~

"I'm sore," I complained as we walked through the halls.

"You hit me a few times," Neji dismissed.

"You hit me more..."

"And whose fault was that?" I rolled my eyes and lightly punched him on the shoulder. He sage-flicked me. I was about to retort, but I felt a familiar signature when I opened up my senses, so...

"Is that Ino?" I asked, jerking my head in the direction of the compound's main entrance. I knew this was going to happen for a while. I'd been keeping tabs on her in a totally not creepy way because if it. I was also keeping tabs on Sakura, but that was more to see what the effects of that strange power were on her body. She accidentally ripped a door off its hinges more than once, which would've been pretty hilarious if it weren't for the angst it was giving her...

"That feels like her. I wonder why she's here." He used his Byakugan for a moment. I pulled out a compact mirror I'd made to be compatible with my scrying jutsu and looked at her as well. "Does she have a flower?" She was walking up to the door with a flower in her hand, yes.

I sighed. "I'm not good with flowers, but I'm pretty sure that's a forget-me-not. Pretty sure she's here for me, I'll go deal with her."

Neji insisted on hiding in the background while I greeted Ino, because she wasn't exactly subtle about her childish crush. I really hoped I wouldn't lose her as a friend, though... Just in case, I used my power to try to find the best path forward. I really hoped my life wouldn't become some sort of anti-dating simulator...

I opened the door. "Ino. Why are you here and holding a flower that symbolizes true love?" I'd learned some hanakotoba from her and some other sources, but to be honest I just knew it from looking ahead in the script.

She smiled and held it out to me. "I came to confess my true love to you, Kouki."

I took a deep breath, trying very, very hard not to sigh. "Ino, no offense, I love you like a friend, but we are both four years old and you have no idea what true love is."

That confused her. "But... you saved me?"

Why do romance stories have to be so romanticized?

Don't... don't answer that...

"I'm your friend. Of course I saved you. But I don't love you like that and you don't love me like that because as I just said, we're both children."

She lowered the flower. This was a little harsh, but she needed to hear it. "Oh. Yeah. I guess I look stupid to you now, huh?"

I shrugged. "To be fair, you have a level of wisdom appropriate to our age. It just so happens that being wise as a four-year-old is an outlier."

"What?"

I poked her in the forehead. "You're a kid. You're allowed to be stupid, as long as you're not being too big of a jerk."

She thought about that for a moment. "So... you're not mad at me or anything?"

"You're my friend. Of course not." I smiled. It probably wasn't the best smile, but at least Ino didn't run in terror... "Hey, if you want, I can show you a really cool jutsu."

She nodded. "Sure!" As I walked past, I gave Neji a smug grin when I saw his jaw on the floor. I'm sure he was expecting some kind of awkwardness.

To be fair, so was I.

kukukuku~

Chikage

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed as he returned to his room after a long day of paperwork. Even with a shadow clone, it was just so slow. Seriously, I was so bored, and I was just watching over his shoulder! I can't even imagine having to do paperwork... He closed the door, locking it. "You're here, aren't you, Kouki?" Half right. Eh, I'll give it to him.

His shadow moved to be in front of him. "How perceptive of you," my voice seemed to come from the shadow. I couldn't exactly speak when my body was literally flat against the wall, but I could very much trick people's brains into thinking I could. My arm peeled off of the floor, keeping its pitch coloration. I raised my other arm, then used them to "pull" myself off of the floor, still in the form of a shadowy Hokage. I did a few stretches. "Man, staying in one shadow for hours kills my back, apparently. I don't even know how that works, considering the fact that I don't even have a form as a shadow..." I changed back to my humanoid form and licked my lips.

"I know that Kouki is responsible in some way, but what are you?" he asked me.

"Rude," I said, faux-offended. "You don't hear me asking you humans what you are. Though to be fair I already know."

He frowned. "You're like Kouki, but not quite. Who are you, then?"

"Did I really never tell you about me?" I paused and thought for a moment. "Or would it be better to ask if we never told you about me... I'm still not sure how pronouns work with our unique situation..."

"What, exactly, is the answer to my question?"

I shrugged. "I'm Kouki and Kouki is me. We're two halves of the same whole, at the moment."

"What are you..." He frowned and closed his eyes. "Red chakra?" he said when he opened them.

I nodded. "I've been purified of almost all of my humanity, the same as how Kouki's removed most of the red chakra from her- himself for the moment. He's weaker, I'm stronger, and because we're two separate entities we have independent thoughts and can be in two places at once, as you can tell. Sorta like a weird shadow clone, I guess. And we can recombine at any time." I sat down in midair. "Call me Chikage."

"I suppose that that makes sense... That sounds like a useful jutsu. Though why are you a girl?"

I examined my clawlike black nails. "Why not?"

"And I suppose that's also why you're wearing a frilly dress?"

"It's called gothic lolita, and the best thing about being made of chakra is the fact that I can more or less freely shapeshift. Now, sit down." I gestured behind him, where I'd pulled up a chair without him noticing. I also made an illusion that made both his chair and the air I was sitting on look like identical, ornate seats. "We have business to attend to."

"The Uchiha massacre, I assume?" I nodded. A table with a deck of fancy-looking cards "appeared" in between us. I really love genjutsu.

"In one year today Itachi will be forced to kill his entire clan, with the exception of his brother." I picked up the top card from the deck and flipped it over. The Tower. "And obviously we would prefer this not to happen." I reversed the position of the Tower. "But of course, there is a problem." I flipped over the next card, Judgement.

He sighed. It seemed he got my message. "The public is being turned turned against the Uchiha, which is in turn turning the Uchiha against the public. Until we stop that all we can do is delay the massacre..." I revealed the third card, The Devil, with Danzo as its subject. "Yes. Even though we haven't tipped our hands yet and he hopefully doesn't suspect us, Danzo is still fighting us."

"There are two paths that you can take to deal with him." I reversed the position of the Devil, causing the illustration's face to soften. "First, you could make him see the light, show him how much he's tearing the village apart to 'protect' it. Maybe you can do it because you used to be friends or something, but to be honest I doubt it, which leaves the second option." A black flame sparked from my finger, setting the Devil card ablaze. It disappeared without a trace. "Either way, he needs to be neutralized. I take it he's good at covering his tracks, considering the fact that he's made an attempt on your life without retaliation?"

He nodded solemnly. "Of course. And I take it he'd use it as evidence of my 'senility' if I attempted to pin him on it without enough evidence?"

"My eyes don't show it, meaning there's no possibility of us attempting it. Probably, though." I cocked my head. "If I were to, I don't know, figure out a way to take other objects with me when I shadow travel and use that to steal all kinds of incriminating evidence, would that work?"

He nodded. "That would work. I'll proceed assuming you don't, with how that was a hypothetical, though."

I sighed. "Yeah, that's about right. If we fail, though, I have one last idea." I revealed The Hanged Man, reversed, with Uchiha Shisui modeling for mister four-legs. "If we stop Danzo's attack on Shisui, then he can use Kotoamatsukami on the Uchiha. It's not ideal, but hopefully it'll work."

"Yes, that sounds good. Unless there's anything else, you may leave."

I faded into the shadows, taking my illusions with me.

kukukuku~

Usagi

"Alright everyone!" one of the bandits shouted, waving a weapon. "You know the drill by now, your money is ours! Give it up easily and we won't kill you!" The townspeople were afraid, but they'd clearly been through this before.

"Will you really?" I asked, walking into the village. "You may find some trouble with that."

"Who are you?" the leader asked me.

"You would already know," I said as I strolled across the road to her, "had you not murdered my puppet."

"Ah, so you're the monster he talked about." She sneered at me and drew her daggers. "You killed my men."

"I did nothing of the sort," I retaliated. "I mutated them, controlled them. You were the ones who killed them."

"All the same, you'll die."

"To be honest I am not entirely sure I can die." I slowly removed my gloves from my hands and placed them in the bag under my cloak.

"I'll test it for you, then."

"You may be able to destroy this body, but my essence has already soaked your hideout. I believe I should be able to resurrect myself there, as it were."

The woman smiled a sadistic smile. "I'm fine killing you over and over again until it sticks." She lunged at me, daggers flashing. I yanked back my sleeve and used my bare arm to block. I wasn't going to be needing my arm much longer, but I wanted to preserve the cloak. Her daggers sank into the stone of my arm, as I had made it softer. I wanted the knives as well. I capitalized on the bandit leader's momentary confusion to take off my mask and jam it onto her face. The last thing she saw before her life ended was a glowing red pearl on the backside of the mask.

I retrieved my new knives from my old arm, then took my cloak for my new body. Luckily, my new body wasn't too much larger than my old one, so the cloak still fit well enough. Along with the cloak, I'd palmed the other blood pearl (the extra-compressed pearl-shaped demon gems I was using for my Usagi persona) from my old body, causing it to crumble back into dirt within moments of me putting the cloak back on. I took my bag from the dirt and shook it off.

"Boss?" one of the bandits asked. "You okay?"

I slowly reached up to my mask and grasped the bottom. It cracked at the mouth such that the entire bottom was smoothly removed. I stored the bottom back in my bag, though, just in case I should come to need it. With my new mouth and the bottom of my nose uncovered, I took a deep breath, as if my first in a century. "No, I do not believe she is," I said. "For one, her mind and soul have been wiped from this body."

"What the hell even are you!?" one of the bandits asked.

"To be perfectly honest I'm not quite sure. I do know one thing, though." With an organic body, I no longer had problems with agility. And in particular, this new body was trained for rapid movement. As such, the two bandits nearest me were bisected in a flash with red-glowing knives, as if a hot knife through butter. Their bodies dissolved into the same red dust that the other bandits' corpses had. "You are dead. Now, are the rest of you willing to fight, or will you run in terror?" They ran in terror. Wise.

"Who are you?" a villager cautiously asked me a few minutes after I sheathed my knives. The villagers were understandably quite afraid of me.

"My name is Usagi." With the bandits gone, I'd switched to a small, personable smile. "If you wait, I should be able to bring you the money those bandits took from you."

The villager bowed to me. "Thank you so much."

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ @sasuhinabigflash2020​​ || Day Seven: A House in the Country ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Hyūga Neji ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: To Rule Them All ] [ AO3 Link ]

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It’s been so long, she scarcely has memories of the place she lived before.

For nearly as long as she can remember, Hinata has lived here, in this little house in the country: a rural part of the province where she was born. By now, her guardian has passed, and the running of their little farm has fallen to her shoulders. It’s a humble, often impoverished life...but one she nonetheless enjoys.

She urges plants from the soil, tends to her livestock, and keeps up the little house. Everything she has is by her own merit, and a source of her own pride. Her hands are calloused and her body often aches...but there’s little she can’t tend to on her own. She bothers no one, and no one bothers her

Just as it was arranged.

Which is why, when the quiet of a sunny afternoon is broken by the clatter of hooves along the path, she looks up to the road with guarded eyes. Only a handful of other homes line this road, so any passersby are a rare occurrence...and usually make her wary.

Astride two mounts are a matching tally of men. One of long umber hair tied in a tail seems to look over the property with a grimace, as though the sight brings a sour taste to his mouth. By his garb, she can tell he’s part of the envoy...but even after all this time, she still recognizes her cousin, Neji.

The other, however, she does not know. Pale and striking, ebony locks are a mess about his face, eyes just as dark and seemingly veiled with an ever-present glower. His armaments and armor immediately mark him as a soldier, but not just any soldier: one of the elite royal guard.

Dread weighs in her stomach, a number of worrying assumptions boiling in her gut. Standing on her doorstep and watching them approach, Hinata offers no greeting.

This can’t be good.

Neji approaches at the fore, bringing up the reins of his horse and urging it to a stop. For a long moment, the cousins eye one another, clearly trying to place past standings into the present.

“...Hinata?” he then asks, tone curt and assertive.

“Neji,” is her own soft reply.

“Where is your guardian? We must speak.”

“Dead. Three years now.” At his surprised jerk, she asks, “Was no one made aware…?”

“You’ve...been on your own all this time?”

“And no worse for wear.” In her grip, the broom she was sweeping her entryway with shifts. “Whatever you needed to say to them, you can say to me, dear cousin.”

The title earns a hint of a flinch. “My...my orders were to -?”

“Seems your orders are a bit outdated,” the other man cuts in with a drawl. “I think you’d best adjust your strategy accordingly, messenger.”

As his mount sidesteps idly, Neji shoots him a glare. “...my words were meant for your guardian, but...I suppose in lieu of them, I will...defer to you.” He clears his throat. “...her highness, the princess Hanabi, has disappeared.”

At that, Hinata stiffens.

“While every available lead is being followed and every action taken to ensure her safe return, certain...arrangements are being prepared in preparation of great tragedy. If the heiress is lost, then -”

“Then you will settle for second best.”

The blunt rebuke begets another flinch. And beside him, the guard lets slip a hint of surprise.

Seems he had no idea what he was tagging along for.

Hinata spares him a glance as Neji recovers. He’s clearly part of the family that heads the Hyūga kingdom private guard, looking about her and her cousin’s age. Something tells her this is just as much a test for him as it is the rest of them.

“The...circumstances surrounding your exile are -”

“I don’t want to go over it all again,” Hinata cuts in, tone weary. “What I do want is to hear what has happened to my sister.”

“That...will have to wait until we arrive at the capital, per his majesty’s orders.”

At the mention of the king, Hinata’s brows furrow just a hair, expression hardening. “...what will happen to this place?”

“What?”

“There are animals and crops here. I’ll not let them sit neglected if I’m to leave with you.”

Again Neij hesitates. “We...came here on the assumption there would be someone left in your stead.”

“Assumptions tend to make a mockery of everyone. Until arrangements can be made otherwise, I’ll not go.”

“But Hinata, you -?”

“If I really am to become a princess again, then surely my word is binding, isn’t it?” There’s an edge to her voice that betrays her bitterness. “For three years this place has been the fruits of my labors, and my labors alone. I want it entrusted to someone who will give it equal effort. If you can’t do that much...then I’m staying. No matter what my father thinks...this is my home. And after being free of him this long, I’m not so eager to bow to his every whim.”

With that, she steps inside, shutting the door with a decided thud.

Outside, the men stand at a loss.

“...and here you told me this was going to be easy,” the knight them mutters, a hint of a smirk on his face.

Neji scoffs, dismounting and adjusting his outfit. “When I last saw Hinata, she was a meek, spoiled child. Clearly that has changed...I was not expecting it.”

“Seems she was right.”

“Right?”

“Assuming does make a mockery of everyone. Even you, duke.”

That earns him a heated glower. “Watch your tongue, Uchiha. Chosen guard or not, you’re in no position to needle me.”

“She’s doing a fine job of that herself, believe me.” Sliding from his own saddle, Sasuke tethers his horse to a nearby post and looks the house over. “...so what did warrant this...separation of sisters?”

“It’s hardly your business, knight. This is a royal family affair.”

“Well maybe if I knew more, I could aid you. Besides, I serve your royal family. Odds are I’ll learn it eventually once the gossipers get ahold of this.”

Neji heaves an irritated sigh. “...when Hinata was young, her father was convinced of her weakness. The second daughter, Hanabi, was deemed stronger...mostly due to her mother dying in childbirth. Convinced, Hiashi arranged for Hinata to be...removed to allow Hanabi the title of heiress. The elder daughter was taken here, in a remote part of the country, to be raised and kept secret. Unless need came of her, she would live out her days here while Hanabi was seated to take the throne.”

At that, Sasuke gives a derisive snort. “So...she is considered second best. A backup plan.”

“Every royal family needs one in the face of...unfortunate circumstances.”

“And what of you?”

“What?”

“Here I thought you were second in line as a first cousin. Doesn’t this make your bid for the throne all the harder?”

At that, Neji scoffs again. “I hardly want the title. Ruling is not my role. If anything...I pity Hinata for more than the insult of being a replacement heir.”

“But we still need to get her back.”

“Indeed. Given that neither hide nor hair of Hanabi has been found these past weeks...Hiashi has been forced to plan for the worst. If she is dead, then we have no choice: Hinata must be reinstated as heir and take the throne upon Hiashi’s death.”

“And if she refuses…?”

The Hyūga sighs. “...then it would indeed fall to me. But as stated...I would rather avoid that outcome if at all possible.”

“So your stake is personal.”

“In a manner of speaking...yes.”

Considering the door, Sasuke offers, “...we need to comply with her demands, then. Find a groundskeeper, then head back. Surely someone local can step up to the task. Problem solved.”

“Perhaps. I know not who to ask.”

“No...but she does. She’s lived here her whole life. Just a matter of getting her opinion. Let me take a crack at this, duke.”

Looking vexed, Neji simply waves him on.

Stepping up to the entrance, Sasuke knocks, waiting until given permission to step inside. “...your highness?”

Tending to flowers in a window, Hinata sighs curtly. “Don’t call me that.”

“Then...what would you prefer?”

“Just...Hinata. I’ve not been a princess for over a decade. Suddenly being treated as one irks me.”

“I can imagine.” Stepping further in, Sasuke then asks, “So...who here would best suit your homestead in your absence?”

“What?”

“Time is of the essence, my lady. The sooner we get you back to the capital, the sooner we can begin the proper proceedings. Surely you know someone here who can oversee your home in your absence?”

Watching him uncertainly, Hinata eventually nods. “...I do.”

“Then best we make arrangements.”

For a moment, a shadow of defeat seems to overcome her. “...I will send a message.” Caged near a window, a dove soon bears a message, carrying it beyond the pane as Hinata considers the knight curiously. “...are you my cousin’s guard, then?”

“Me? No. As a matter of fact, I’m to be yours. Neji’s is part of the search party for your sister, so...I’ve been spread a bit thin in the meantime.”

At the mention of Hanabi, Hinata wilts. “...is there truly no word on what happened…?”

“All I know - all any of us know - is that she was taken in the dead of night. Since then, all efforts to locate her have been in vain. But we’re still looking. I doubt we’ll stop until a conclusion is drawn either way.”

Sighing softly, Hinata stares out the window. “...in truth...I’ve dreaded this day. Life here is hard, but...it’s all I’ve known. This is my home...my guardian my family. I don’t want to give it all up to start over again...pretending these strangers are anything but that: strangers.”

Not knowing what to say, Sasuke’s head bows. “...well...all we can do is face our duties, my lady. I’m determined to follow mine: you won’t face this alone.”

At that, she looks up to him, expression unreadable before managing a somber smile. “...thank you.”

     This is...really random xD Probably not anything I’ll continue - I had a really hard time coming up with a scene for this prompt, so it’s really pulled out of thin air. I do like the concept of a royal / medieval arrangement like this, with Hinata being ousted for Hanabi, BUT...I have an ooold project I might reboot and do something with that’s similar, so...there’s that at least!      Anyway, it’s...very late, and I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow, so I’m gonna head off for the night. Hopefully no more delays and I can stay caught up the rest of the month! But, if I do miss another day at any point, know I’ll do my darndest to make it up in good time! I am determined to finish this event fully xD Buuut anyway, enough out of me: thanks for reading!

[fizzypunks]

An Ache Deeper Than This

fandom: naruto wordcount: 3.7k/oneshot rating: teen (sensuality) summary: shikamaru is feeling old and achy on the way back from a mission, and neji gives him a massage.

AO3

note: written because im stressed and just wanted fluff lol

<>

 “We’ll make a camp here for tonight,” Neji said, looking up to the sky and the setting sun. Twenty-five minutes till sundown, and two more days left till their team reached The Village Hidden in the Leaves.

 Two days till home, after over two weeks of mission. Shikamaru could have sighed in relief, but he didn’t -- though he was relieved, he felt like he’d been whittling down his stamina a lot more these days, and he didn’t want to sound too happy at the prospect of rest. He’d save his sighs and complaining for      slightly bigger things than settling down for the night.

 Hinata stopped a couple of branches behind them, and a quick glance showed that she was surveying their area. Her eyes relaxed, with a little smile shot toward Shikamaru. “No one’s following, and there’s no one flanking.”

 Shikamaru smiled back — he never had to be concerned about their surroundings, not when he was with two Hyuugas.

 Lee looked into the same sky, the same direction, and patted Neji on the back. “That is a good call, Neji! The night is swiftly on its way, and we are in a good location to set up camp! We have done a great deal of traveling!”

 Neji laughed, looking down to the grass below his branch. “Indeed, Lee. I’ll leave the tents for you.”

 “Leave it to me! It will be ready in half an hour!”

 Lee dropped to the forest floor, followed by Kiba and Akamaru. Neji and Shikamaru shared a bemused glance. Of this promise, they had no doubt it would be fulfilled, and fulfilled fast.

 ~

 When Shikamaru wants to complain about pains, aches, and other physical issues that seem to follow him around like a persistent pet, he has to remind himself to not call it a factor of old age. That just wasn’t possible. He knew it, and if he were to say it, it would make him sound more whiny than he cared to be these days.

 It’s just the way of a ninja -- who cares if he’s 21, he’s been an active shinobi since he was 12. He’s lived through war, too many S-rank missions to count, and plays an active role fulfilling academy duties such as dodging hyperactive students with weapons. He’s a seasoned shinobi, and he has the scars (and joints) to prove it.

     You’re not old, you’re a ninja.  

 That still doesn’t make the aches and tightness in his shoulder any better -- knowing the cause doesn’t prevent it from happening. Short of retiring, which he didn’t see coming any time soon,      this     was going to be his life. He was going to have to get used to it.

 Maybe he can grumble. A little bit.

 “Nara,” came the calming voice to pull him from his thoughts.

 Shikamaru looked up from the log he was backed against, eyes focusing in on the Hyuuga in front of him. The sky blended into his long, restrained hair, and the calm fire lit behind him brought a glow to his white robes. His hands were in his pockets, and from his flat expression, it wouldn’t be easy to assess his demeanor.

 Shikamaru smiled, which in turn brought one from Neji.

 “Nara? You haven’t called me that in a while.”

 “You haven’t complained in a while, either, so I figured I’d check in.”

 “You’re such a good squad leader. Thanks, captain.”

 Neji’s eyes shifted to the side, a self satisfied smile replacing the gentle one before. “Don’t call me that.”

 Shikamaru laughed, propping his arms over the back of the log. He liked this. He      missed     this. He sees Neji often enough, but by misfortunes way, they often take on different missions. This shared mission, it would seem, is a blessing. Even if it was more trouble than it was worth, but it was also an incredible peace of mind to be side-by-side with him and not just waiting to be reunited.

 That was more common than not, too.

 Neji sat down on the same log Shikamaru rested against, just to the left of him. His robes were sullied with the regular wear and tear of a mission, and due to the nature of their combatants in the land of earth, the edges of his pants were singed and blackened.

 Shikamaru reached out and rolled the material between his fingers, watching parts of it break off. “Did you consider that maybe there’s nothing to complain about?”

 Neji looked down to him, then sighed. “This mission is long, got derailed, took longer than anticipated, and no one has slept in a bed in two weeks. I’d consider that… troublesome.”

 Shikamaru chuckled, dropping the hem of his pant leg. His eyes turned toward the fire, where Lee, Kiba, and Hinata roasted veggies. “Hmm. You have a point.”

 Neji rested a hand on Shikamaru’s shoulder, and Shikamaru tried not to flinch. He thought he must have done a good job, since Neji didn’t comment on it. He just squeezed, gazing out to their friends at the far side of camp.

 “When we’re home, it’s possible we might have to take on another S-rank. Kakashi already told me that he got word of missionaries out in the Mist, and he doesn’t want to send genin or chunin.”

 Shikamaru couldn’t help it this time, he had to sigh - he      had     to, in some way, let out his frustrations, and nothing was appropriate except for the soft tufts of tension that need to be released from his body.

 This life was clearly not made with him in mind -- he could do it, but it was a pain.

 “What a drag.”

 Neji squeezed again. “Indeed.”

     Man, my shoulder hurts -- what the fuck did I do to it?  

 Kiba and Akamaru were wiped too, because Lee was animatedly talking to him and Kiba was only nodding in agreement. Hinata, with a bowl of food in hand, was more engaged in the conversation, smiling and nodding along as Lee continues his story.

 They were far enough that the two of them couldn’t hear any details, just tones, just exclamations. It was sort of heart-warming, if Shikamaru ponders on it. Walking away from a mission that took blood and sweat and tears (Lee’s, admittedly, but tears nonetheless), only to be sitting with your friends and teammates in a tranquil evening of rest.

 It’s nice, seeing everyone you love alive.

 “So, which shoulder is it?”

 Neji’s hand was still resting on him, atop his jacket, and Shikamaru was again removed from his thoughts.

 “Hmm? What?”

 Neji shot an annoyed glance downward. “Where are you hurting? And don’t tell me you’re not, you’ve been favoring your left arm and side all day.”

     Ah    ,      to think a Hyuuga wouldn’t see… that Neji wouldn’t know. Should’a figured.  

 “It’s not that bad.”

 “But it hurts?”

 Shikamaru laughed, looking up to Neji and trying to be annoyed and finding that he couldn’t. Neji could frustrate him, call him on his shit, or generally be a pain to deal with on missions, but Shikamaru couldn’t find it in himself to be annoyed. “... A little bit, I guess.”

 “Take off your jacket,” Neji said immediately, like all he needed was a reason.

 Shikamaru obliged, and he removed his flak jacked with all the care in the world. Sitting down, having a chance for his body to relax and not move, had set his muscles into a calm state that did not take kindly to being interrupted.

 The sharp pains running down his back, his scapula, and his neck were renewed. He gasped when his jacket was freed from his shoulders. “Damn it,” he sighed, setting it off to the side.

 “I thought you said it wasn’t that bad?”

 Shikamaru shook his head. “It isn’t,” he insisted, but he didn’t try to sound convincing.

 It was Neji’s turn to sigh. In a quick and quiet motion, he stood, hitching a leg around the log so that he could sit behind Shikamaru. Shikamaru sat on the ground, a long leg on either side of him.

 Shikamaru immediately tensed when he realized what Neji had in mind, and looked over his shoulder with an expression he hoped wasn’t too surprised. “      Neji    ,” he said, not quite a whisper, but through tense lips. “They’re…”

 Neji took it all in amusement. “Kiba and Hinata are nearly asleep, and there’s no force in the world that will make Lee observant enough to notice.”

 His hands came up to lay gently across Shikamaru’s shoulders, no force behind them, just intent and awaiting action. Shikamaru wanted it in his heart, his muscles begged for a massage that would bring an end to their ache, but the type of person he is has      never     made him feel relaxed in the face of public displays of affection...

 They’ve been together for three years, and everyone knows this, and he will      still     feel himself grow stiff at the thought of being open or vulnerable in public. His ears still would warm if he’s caught in the middle of a kiss…

     It’s a damn curse.  

 Neji’s hands, all soft angles and long digits, rose up the sides of his shoulder, encouraged to do so with the silence Shikamaru granted him, rather than complaints and arguments. They climbed just to the length of skin between his shoulder and his neck. He leaned down, head dipping to the right, his lips ghosting the shell of Shikamaru’s ear. “Can I let down your hair?”

 Shikamaru’s face felt warm -- too warm, too fast. He nodded, eyes forward in anticipation. It was dumb, but he’s just... never been the type to be vulnerable in public -- and      never    on a mission. But he nodded all the same, because Neji’s hands were convincing in any circumstance, and maybe this little log, far away from camp, was private enough.

 The sounds from the campfire kept steady, a gentle scene of friendly stories and muffled laughter.

 “Thank you,” Neji whispered, and he quickly did away with the band in Shikamaru’s hair. He combed through the mass, making sure to not catch in any knots so it could lay flat.

 “That’s nice,” Shikamaru sighed, surrendering to him despite their circumstance.

 Neji carded through his hair, gently and with great care. He was slow, and the feeling was like a calm shore lapped at by little waves. And when he brought his fingertips to trace long paths down his head, Shikamaru definitely didn’t mind at all.

 “Don’t stop…”

 He pushed the lengths to drape over Shikamaru’s right shoulder, and Shikamaru opened his eyes, not having remembered closing them at all. Neji began pressing the tips of his fingers into the knots in his shoulders. “How about after a massage?”

 Ah, yes. That’s what he was supposed to be doing. “Oh… yeah, yeah.”

 Neji chuckled, and the sound was like a hit to the gut. “I’m sorry I distracted you,” and before Shikamaru was able to disagree, he pressed his thumbs into tender muscles. “Now, relax.”

 “Mmm,” Shikamaru winced, thumbs grazing over inflamed muscle and painful nerves.

 “Tell me where.”

 “Right where you are is      perfect    ,” and this was the way it was, he was already sinking back into Neji’s hands, eyes fluttering shut again with each passing second.

 Neji’s hands were familiar, gentle and rough in a perfect harmony that was known only to Shikamaru. He’d never experienced a place that felt safer than within the hold of these hands, and      this    embrace.

 His shoulders fell, by inches, but in magnitude it was like the tensions of a bridge held taut on ropes too worn      finally     giving away. He didn’t even know how      bad     they felt, not until he could move them without also being in discomfort. The tenderness remained, but that, too, was lessening with every squeeze.

 “Your muscles are so tense…” and he pushed a thumb deep into his scapula, a tight roll of knots lighting up under his thumb.

 Shikamaru whimpered, head tilting in favor of his left, and tried to unscrew his eyes as the pain passed. “I know… well, I know      now    , but I didn’t realize I was this --”

 A press, and a loud      pop     between his back ribs.

 “--      hnn --    tense…”

 “You should stretch with me at home.”

 “We’ve tried that…”

 “If you try with me, I’ll make sure you don’t corner me again.”

 Shikamaru smirked, the memory bringing a spark of heat to his stomach. Ghost pains of kneeling behind Neji on his bare knees came back like a blaze, but he didn’t hate it. “Suit yourself.”

 Neji chuckled again.

 When he gets past the stupid part of his brain that insists he’s doing something he shouldn’t, and publicly doing it despite it being easily viewed, Shikamaru admits that it’s not that bad. Granted, their teammates were still a distant thought that didn’t pay them any attention, but still -- he enjoyed the fact that he was able to get away from the pain in his body.

 Neji’s hands are like home, coaxing and pulling him into comfort. He opens his eyes just a sliver, peering out from his sleepiness and tranquility. The lights are little points, blurry beads and circles.

 The ground is hard, he wants fresh clothes, and there’s a creaky forest around them, but with Neji…

     I don’t need anything else.  

 “Neji…” He whispered, leaning toward his thigh. He beckons with a finger, “C’mere.”

 Neji’s hair fell, flowing down into their space, and it was like a curtain, a place that existed between the two of them; another place so familiar, his bones would recognize it no matter what. Neji eyed him from the side, quiet, attentive and awaiting. Shikamaru raised his arm to wrap around Neji’s neck, not to tug or pull or alter in any way except to say      stay    .

 “I owe you.”

 Neji shook his head, but kept his silence with a knowing smile.

 “I do.”

 He kissed Neji’s cheek, ‘cause actions are better than words.

 Neji’s hands start to knead into the conjunction of his shoulder, still under loose restraint of Shikamaru’s arm. A shooting pain issued from each contact point-- little avalanches, little aches releasing themselves from the flesh like tumbling boulders. It hurt, but then the pain gave way to better feelings, fewer pains.

 “Your hands… are so warm,” it was like he couldn’t stop the words. His voice was hoarse and too relaxed for his own liking, since it wasn’t in his house or his bed, and those too tumbled like an avalanche.

 Neji leaned into the skin he was just kneading, lips open in a kiss that only skims the surface -- like what a breath is to a shout, a droplet to a swift river.

 But then he starts to suck, and pool blood into the spot Shikamaru knows will be covered by his jacket. It brings heat to his face as he closes his eyes and leans back into the body behind him. His legs twist, just a bit, and he doesn’t have quite enough will power to not let the tension build in him -- his hips shift, his feet doing all they can not to dig.

 Shikamaru grabs at both calves beside him, squeezing.

     “Don’t do this to me    … they’re over there…”

 Neji’s lips dance further into his shoulder, and a finger tugs his shirt down over the muscled expanse to expose more skin. “I’m watching, they aren’t looking…”

     “Hinata…    ”

 “She never uses it unless she needs to…”

 “Please… you’re gonna… make me too excited…”

 “Hmm,” he laughed, little ripples dancing on his skin. “You look nice like this though…”

 Another wet kiss, another shudder down his spine and straight to his crotch --

     “You’re a fucking menace    ,” Shikamaru hisses.

 Neji laughs and the vibration carries across his skin, and Shikamaru starts to think that this entire thing was a ploy just to mess with him. But then he retreats, slowly and with a small parting kiss to the skin now blooming with a bruise.

 His hands return to their original work, kneading away the tension. “Suit yourself.”

 The hot coil in Shikamaru’s stomach sits in wait, and the hidden breath stuck in his chest came out in a nervous exhale. His heart wasn’t racing but it still surged, and now it too was trying to reconcile returning to normal -- so annoyingly fast did it happen, already bringing him to a state of being needy and tired and yearning.

 Shikamaru rolled his head back, laying in Neji’s lap. “I fucking hate you.”

 “I’m just trying to relax you, it’s not my fault you’re so reactive.”

 They fell into a peaceful silence after a quiet hum of acknowledgment -- before so long, the deep-rooted pain in Shikamaru started to ease, soothed by the heat of Neji’s chakra as he focused on chakra points.

 The sound of silence also came from camp, where talking had slowed and the fire started to sizzle. It was in embers, and the group surrounding it was finally quieting down for a restful night.

 Watching the camp, and enjoying the sense of family that surrounded him, Shikamaru crossed his right hand across his body to rest it on Neji’s. “I wonder if this is what life is gonna look like.”

 “What do you mean?”

 “For years, we’re going to be going on missions, and we’re all going to be waiting for the rest of us to come back. I just wonder…” And he couldn’t take his eyes off the rest of them, nor rip his hand away from Neji.

 “You’re very… sentimental today,” Neji said, leaning into his ear and using his spare hand to run his fingers through his hair again. “Are you okay?”

 Shikamaru nodded, ignoring the goosebumps Neji’s breath brought to him. “Yeah, I’m good. Just feeling old.”

 Neji laughed. “I’m not going to address that since I’m older than you, but if you want my opinion -- yes, I think we’ll be like this.” And then a small kiss, pressed to his cheek. “I think there’s very little in this world that we haven’t dealt with.”

 “I guess you’re right.”

 And because Neji knows what’s at the heart of the issue, the part that’s      really     scary, his voice dropped and Shikamaru was certain he was the only one who could hear him. “And I’ll keep coming back to you, and waiting for you to come back to me.”

 Shikamaru’s grip grew stronger, whiter, like all the pain in his body suddenly relocated into his heart and he had to hold on to      something     to not get lost in it.

 “You better,” Shikamaru said, voice swallowed up in his intention. He didn’t realize how heavy this was.

 “And you’ll come back, too, right?”

 Shikamaru knows he can’t even promise it, yet he feels it in his gut. “Yes,” he responded immediately, forcefully, and his grip became stronger to emphasize.

 The shape of Neji’s breath was a smile, and then a hum. “That’s all I want to hear.”

 Shikamaru leaned into him, and couldn’t help but relish in all the ways Neji was attending to him, giving him all of his attention and assurance. The hand carding gently through his hair was grounding, just like the feeling strong thighs encasing him was comforting, and the deep familiarity of his hair and the floral scent that always clung to it...

 “And,” Neji continued, still as quiet as a whisper. “I can’t wait to get you home.”

 “Gods damn it, Neji,” Shikamaru laughed, shaking his head against the other, ignoring the stoking of the fiery heat within his stomach. “Thank you for being serious for a minute, I guess.”

 “I’m always serious.”

 “Even when you switch topics like that?”

 “Especially when I switch topics to      this    ,” and tugged his hair just a little bit, just enough.

 “Hmm, I guess you can show me,” and he lifts his hand from Neji’s to turn him, by the chin, in his direction, lining up their lips. “Since you wanna be difficult, I --”

 “HEY!”

 Shikamaru dropped his hands, dropped his eyes, dropped his very intentions with every rapid degree of heat that graced his cheeks.

 He looked toward camp in a snap of the neck, feelings stupid for his wide eyes and kick-started heart. Kiba is waving toward them, a clear grin across his face as the others behind him are shuffling to clean the fire.

 “LOVEBIRDS! WE’RE CALLING IT A NIGHT!”

     Why is he so loud?  

 Neji’s body shook with little tremors of laughter, and he knew that Shikamaru would have sounded too annoyed to answer. So he called out. “Sounds good, I’ll be on watch first!”

 Shikamaru knows what he’s doing. He does it all the time.

 Kiba flashed them both a grin, but something about it wasn’t pure and it made Shikamaru want to dig a hole and live in it permanently.

 “Sounds good!”

 “I’ll wake you in two hours.”

 “Yeah, yeah,” he said, turning his back to help put out the fire. But before he did, he shot a look to Shikamaru with a smirk. “Just keep it down, all right? Akamaru’s a light sleeper.”

 And then Shikamaru definitely wanted to be swallowed up by the ground, hitai-ate and all.

 Normally, Neji would be over there, helping, but there was little to do and what there was to be done, was very quick. Lee and Kiba relocated to their tents after their foods were put back in bags, and Hinata to her own tent after she doused the fire with dirt. Neji and Shikamaru stayed as they were, in the few minutes they took to watch their teammates, and it was almost awkward if it weren’t for their friends lack of subtlety.

 They let them have their moment, no questions asked. Shikamaru felt his heart swell again, filled with the unspoken and unconditional love he has with this family. It was a pleasant ache.

 Just a few minutes, and suddenly the dark nature was rich and comfortable and almost absolute around them. A familiar sight in the many years of camping out on missions, the consistent scenery and scents as known to him as the back of his hand. The woods were calm and quiet, and they were alone.

 “So,” Neji started, hands slowed but strengthened, intention growing from his fingertips in every movement. “Not going to bed?”

 Shikamaru relished in the darkness, in the kisses trailing down his neck yet again.

 He smiled into the soft pecks trailing down his neck, this time, and didn’t even pretend to stop them. “It’s a little too early to call it a night, don’t you think?”

 “See, you’re not getting old.”

 “I’ll show you how alive I am,” and Shikamaru kept that promise.

[notasliceoflife]

@proudxkunoichi​

Original Post Here

It was strange, spending your entire life living with an outer shell. Neji didn't like showing his emotions. It was a sign of weakness in the situation he had found himself in. Four years old and alone. His only family either being scared of him, or using him as tool, as if he were just property. The rest of the Hyuga clan weren't exactly great to be around either. They would often talk about the unjust treatments from the main house. Neji would have to listen to it, be told all the horrid things the main house members would do to the branch family members. It had made him cold, in a way. He locked all that warmth up, seeing it's vulnerability. His uncle would never see his kindness. No one would, again. He wasn't going to be kind, in the cruel world he had been thrown into. But the entire time, as the years grew on, he not only hated his destiny. But he also hated himself in a way. Death was probably best, than being someone you really were not. A cruel person. Neji had never wanted to be cruel. That, like the rest ofh is life seemed to be his lot, however.

An unlucky lottery, overall. Killing his mother, his father's hatred being so strong that sometimes it even reached to Neji. Of course Hizashi had been the only family Neji had, outside of the main branch that relatively ignored him. Hizashi was the model for which he copied after. It often happened at night. His fathers anger would come out. A day of being used, or perhaps abused, by the main branch would trigger something in his father that Neji didn't like. That angry person who would not even smile, not even for him. Nothing Neji could do could satisfy his father in these times. His training for a while would become more cruel. Even so, Neji had never hated his father. Eventually he would even come to understand that same anger. He inherited that cold anger the moment his father died. The image of the body searing into his mind. It was the first of very few times he had lashed out. Going from a crying four year old over the most important person in his life to swearing to himself that he would no longer be warm hearted toward those who did that to his father.

Neji inhaled, the anger still there, of course. It never seemed to truly leave, it still bothered him how things turned out. Even knowing what really happened. How could he just simply for get, or forgive such things. It wasn't as though a glass bowl was accidentally broken and could be replaced. A human life can not be replaced. Once it is taken away, it can never be given back. Right? Neji could only believe this to be true. At this moment it was clearly that.  He wasn't Kakashi... He was simply just Neji Hyuga, of the branch family. Once a prodigy the Hyuga family probably really didn't want at all.  Though he had felt like that for so long, unwanted. He had to become better than any one else, and so he did. He was going to change the Hyuga clan, right? Maybe, a little. But he didn't want a little. He wanted the entire structure obliterated. He wanted the Branch to get their fair redemption. Was that a bit much? Was he going to be that begrudging? Or was he just going to simply let an apology and some small changes in the family be it.

It was still too early, perhaps, for any of that. As his head rested into Ino's shoulder he nodded at her words. No one had been there for him in a long time. Even after his fight with Naruto it seemed his credibility had waned. Who got beat by Naruto?!? After all. Well, everyone, since Naruto was the 'Chosen One' or whatever. Not that Naruto cared about any of that or any absent minded damages he did to the rest of the Konoha Eleven on his treck to greatness.  Neji hadn't been crying by that point. A few good tears was all that was necessary. He continued to listen to her, nodding against her shoulder " No?" He then asked. As if he were still a small child wanting some kind of reassurance in such a claim. Of course, it had been a slip up, accidentally sounding some what vulnerable. But he didn't try to retract the question either. He closed his eyes for a moment " It's hard to be seen as gentle, here. Either others will think they can walk all over you. Or you have to become someone you’re not." He commented, though he had gotten a feeling she knew these things " That last person who hugged me like this was my father, the last time I ever saw him alive." Of course it was the last time he would ever see his father, because the next time Hizashi would be dead "I really...miss him, all the time."

[needdl]

Distance

“I think you should go.”

Rated M

Read on FFN or AO3

this has actually been up on ffn and ao3 for a while-  along with another piece, actually. i will be posting that one on tumblr as well, probably tomorrow.

“I think you should go.” Neji’s voice was tired- they had been up talking for hours now, but were both unwilling to go to bed.

“But-”

“Tenten.”

She fell quiet, staring at him with such raw emotion in her eyes that his chest echoed dully in response.

“This is such a huge opportunity for you.”

“But- five months.”

“I know.” Neji pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair. “But it’s not as though we won’t be in contact. And I can come visit you a few times.”

“Yeah.” She clung to him tightly, hands gripping his shirt in clenched fists. “I’m going to miss you like crazy.”

“I’ll miss you too. But you’re really going to love the work that you’re doing.”

“Mm.” If possible, she held him even tighter. “Still gonna miss you.”

“You won’t leave for another three months. We have some time before we part.”

“‘Before we part.’ You’re very dramatic, my love.”

“And you’re very good at taking the tension out of a situation. Let’s go to bed.”

Tenten used her grip around his neck and shoulders as leverage to raise her legs and wrap them around his waist. “Only if you carry me.”

“Fine.” Neji hooked his hands underneath her thighs and turned them around to walk towards the bed. “Don’t get used to this. You have perfectly fine legs.”

“You certainly seem to think so.”

Neji stopped in the middle of the room, thrown off by the remark. “Pardon?”

He could feel Tenten smirk against his neck. “Don’t to deny it, you ogler. Every time I wear tights I’m twenty minutes late to work because you get all handsy.”

Neji had a brief moment to recollect flashes of tanned skin through sheer black fabric, and realized somewhat grumpily that he couldn’t even deny her statement.

Tenten left for China in February.

They spent their last evening together in their apartment, cooking dinner together and eating it in front of the fireplace. They were both unusually attached to one another- Tenten wound up curled in Neji’s lap, arms around his neck and shoulders as they rested their foreheads together and conversed in low voices.

They mostly ignored the meal they had cooked, although dessert- they had planned on having chocolate fondue- was… used, if not for the purpose they had initially intended.

Neji brought Tenten to the airport the next morning. They restrained themselves from causing too much of a scene, just embraced one another for a minute and separated with a short but warm kiss.

“I’ll text when I land, then again at the hotel,” Tenten told him. Her eyes were glimmering, but true to Tenten, she did not cry. Neji tenderly ran his thumb along her cheek.

“I love you,” he told her, resting his forehead against hers.

“I love you too,” she whispered. She leaned up and kissed him again, very softly, before stepping away from him and grabbing her suitcase.

“I’ll miss you,” she said. Neji nodded, stuffing his hands in his pockets and clenching them into fists.

She gave him one last smile and turned towards the terminal, a white-knuckled grip on the handle of her suitcase. Neji watched her go until she disappeared in the crowd.

It certainly wasn’t easy adjusting to their long distance relationship- the first two weeks Tenten was gone, Neji felt a yawning chasm in his life where she normally filled it.

They quickly set a routine- Tenten called or video called him every night after she was done with her work from the day- and from her elated gushing over the phone, it was work that she loved.

They texted each other constantly, with the understanding that they wouldn’t always be able to respond immediately- the time difference between Konoha and Beijing wasn’t too difficult, but Neji’s days operated a few hours ahead of Tenten.

Once a week, they’d set up a Skype date and talk for hours at a time.

(Well, sometimes they did things… other than talk.)

There were the few nights when one of them had a difficult day and wasn’t in the mood for a long conversation, or had something occupying their time. Those nights, they’d settle with a simple text exchange before saying goodnight.

Gradually, the distance between them felt more normal- Neji still missed his partner, of course, very much- but he looked forward to talking to her at the end of the day. At one point he realized that there had been a large uptick in the frequency that Lee invited him out, and strongly suspected a collusion between him and Tenten to keep Neji socialized.

He had to admit that it was working- he and Lee either sparred in the dojo or got drinks together about once a week, which was certainly more than they had previously.

Still, Neji was looking forward to March, when he would be visiting Tenten for a long weekend in Beijing and celebrating her belated birthday.

The weekend after Tenten’s birthday, he took a cab to the airport at about 5:00 AM. His initial flight out was delayed, so he sent Tenten a quick text and settled into a seat to read his book.

He had just absorbed himself in the chapter when Tenten texted him back several sad-face emojis in a row, then sent a quick follow up text.

‘will watch flight info online and meet up w u at airport when u land. i’m excited!!! ❤️❤️❤️’

Neji smiled to himself and tucked his phone back into his pocket.

Naturally, Neji was in first class for his flight- it was a luxury he had grown up with, and he liked it far too much to give it up. His first and only time flying economy class- with Tenten, of course-  hadn’t been terrible, but he was too accustomed to first class and had actively avoided economy class ever since.

It may or may not have been a minor point of contention between himself and Tenten- she disliked spending money when there was a cheaper option available, and would pointedly roll her eyes at him when she thought he was being frivolous. He would retort that just because something was less expensive didn’t mean it was a better choice. Tenten tended to buy things that broke down after a very short period of time, and constantly had to replace them. All in all, she was spending just as much, if not more than him on a product.

It was one of the things they fought about most, but once they’d moved in together it had settled over somewhat. Even if their apartment’s rent was more than the rent at Tenten’s old place, splitting it between their two incomes actually meant she was paying less than she had before, and could actually invest in her necessities.

(Neji had taken her to the store where his family bought most of their winter clothes, and Tenten had actually expressed shock over how warm her coat was. It gave Neji some mixed feelings- she definitely could have afforded warmer coats in the past, and he hated that she had just let herself be that cold for the sake of saving money.)

But still- Neji indulged and traveled almost exclusively in first class. (If Tenten was with him, they’d fly business class; a grudging compromise between them.)

Neji tried to do some work on the flight, but he was too distracted to get much done. He was mostly thinking about Tenten.

He hadn’t seen her in almost three weeks, and was eagerly anticipating seeing each other face-to-face again. He knew Tenten had some things she wanted to do with him in the city, and they’d likely spend the second and third days of their time together spending time with Tenten’s group of fellow students, who by all accounts she was becoming close with. But their first day reunited…

The flight attendant handed Neji his drink, stirring him from his (admittedly slightly risque) thoughts. He took it with a nod of thanks and turned his attention to look out the window.

Four hours, then he’d finally see her again.

Tenten chewed her lip in anticipation, eyes fixed to the entrance of the baggage claim area. Neji’s delayed flight had thrown her off a little. She’d been a bundle of nerves all week, unable to focus on her work and even getting a few inquiries from her colleagues about her behavior.

They’d all smirked a little bit when she told them her boyfriend was coming to visit her- apparently, she talked about Neji more than she realized. She’d left the night before amid wolf-whistles, knowing looks, and one loud, “Enjoy your weekend!”

And she was planning to, but first her boyfriend needed to arrive.

A flood of people came through the doors, and Tenten perked up eagerly only to sulk in disappointment when it became clear that Neji wasn’t among them. His flight had landed about half an hour ago, he should be at the baggage claim any second-

A few stragglers from the last crowd entered, but still no sign of Neji. Tenten was tempted to go through and find him herself.

Her phone buzzed, and she checked it hastily in case it was from Neji. It was just an email notification- once upon a time, Ino had nagged Tenten into signing up for a clothing store’s membership program, and now she was constantly getting spam.

Scrunching up her nose in vexation, Tenten tapped her way through unsubscribing from the store. She never used the discounts anyway; there really wasn’t a point to it anymore. Task complete, she put her phone back in her pocket and glanced back up at the entrance.

Her heart stopped in her throat. In the minute she’d been distracted, Neji had entered, and he was walking towards her now with his eyes fixed to her face.

For a few seconds, Tenten couldn’t get her feet to move at all.

Logically, she knew his appearance hadn’t changed- she had video called him two days ago, after all, and he looked much the same as he had then.

But something about seeing Neji in person- for the first time in three weeks - made her want to cradle his face in her hands and memorize its nuances.

(He was so handsome - how did she not fully remember that?)

After those first few seconds spent drinking in the sight of him, Tenten lurched into movement. She didn’t quite run to him, but they reached one another with a flurry of movement that ended with Tenten clinging desperately to Neji's shoulders as he leaned her back and kissed her with such urgency that she was left gasping for air.

He pulled back slightly and shifted her so she was upright again, pressing a few slower, more controlled kisses to her lips. Her head was swimming, but she did her best to reciprocate, feeling rather like one of the trembling maidens on the covers of the books Sakura pretended not to read.

Neji parted from her and rested his forehead against her own, eyes staring into hers.

“Hi,” Tenten whispered, biting her lip in an effort to contain the wide grin stretching across her face.

“Hi,” he echoed. He kissed her again, very softly, before finally stepping away and slipping his hand into hers. They stood and grinned at each other like idiots for a minute, before remembering the crowd around them and the luggage that still needed to be collected.

They were getting a few fish-eyed looks from the people around them, but as Tenten tucked herself against Neji's side while he grabbed his luggage, she realized that she definitely didn't care.

Tenten drove them back from the airport in a colleague’s borrowed car, filling up the air with excited chatter about her work, and showing him around, and how happy she was to see him.

He couldn’t have gotten a word in edgewise if he’d tried- Tenten still maintained that she didn’t talk as much as, say, Naruto or Ino, but once she got started on something, it was hard to stop her.

Not that Neji wanted to. He was, quite frankly, starstruck at the sight of her, and was still drinking in the fact that he was back in her presence. He sat quietly in the passenger’s side of the car and watched her speak, letting her words wash over him and feeling the gap in his life slowly fill up again.

He must have been gazing at her like a man starved, because every time she glanced over at him she’d quickly dart her face away again, a flush slowly rising on her face.

They reached the building where Tenten was staying and parked in the alloted spot, then sat in the car and kissed one another for a good half an hour.

Neji was a little embarrassed when he pulled apart from Tenten- for a brief moment, he needed to catch his breath- and realized how much time had passed since they had arrived. The sight of Tenten’s face easily persuaded him to lean over again, her mouth a puckered red and her hair a tousled mess from where he had been cupping her head. She also had such a languid, wanton look on her face that Neji really had no choice but to swoop back in and tease a moan from her throat.

They finally got out of the car- both flushed red and feeling a little light-headed- and went up the stairs and towards Tenten’s apartment. They committed to some level of decorum once they entered the building and kept themselves the slightest bit apart. Tenten had fallen rather quiet, but based off the expression on her face- biting her lip, a dark flush, brows just the slightest bit cinched- she was filled with anticipation.

They entered the apartment quietly, and stopped a few feet into the foyer. Tenten seemed a little awkward now, as if she hadn’t planned for what they’d do after they got back to her place.

Fortunately, Neji had some ideas.

He set his bags down carelessly and snagged Tenten by the waist, stepping closer and ducking his head down to mouth at her pulse. She inhaled sharply, throwing one hand over his shoulders and wrapping her other arm around him to grip the fabric covering his mid-back.

They spent several more minutes like that, kissing rather desperately and with quite a bit of tongue. Finally, Tenten pulled away with a gasp.

“O-oh-” She panted against his shoulder for a minute, her grip slowly easing where her hand had twined itself into his hair. Sensing a shift in their affection, Neji relaxed his own stance so he was cradling her close to him, slowly rubbing her back.

There was less tension between them now, replaced by tenderness and- fulfillment. After a moment, Tenten lifted her head again and pressed her lips very gently against his.

They kissed sweetly for a minute or two, then Neji slowly eased back. “Give me the tour?”

“Sure,” Tenten said, somewhat breathlessly. She grabbed his larger suitcase and dragged it behind her as she went further into the apartment. Neji grabbed his other bag and followed her into the kitchen silently.

It was small but well furnished, with surprisingly new-looking countertops. Neji could see another room and a hallway leading off from where he was, but the door was partially closed and the lights dimmed, making the contents difficult to make out.

The kitchen flowed into the sitting area, which held a plush-looking sofa, a coffee table, a bookshelf, and the TV on the armoire. There was also a side table with a lamp and a few knickknacks, as well as a shelf holding a few plants and a couple of picture frames.

He couldn’t see them perfectly, but one of the pictures was definitely a picture of them from Temari’s birthday party a few years ago, both dressed nicely and looking- well, Tenten looked beautiful, Neji supposed he had looked handsome.

It was towards the end of the evening, and they’d both had a few drinks in them when Sakura had snapped the picture. They were seated at the table and Tenten was leaning into Neji’s side, head propped up on one hand with the other tucked into the crook of her elbow. Neji was sitting with one arm over the back of her chair and the other resting on the table. Sakura had told them to “say cheese!” before she took the photo, and in an unusually public display of affection Neji had pressed his lips to Tenten’s temple before turning to face the camera.

Sakura had photographed the moment Tenten had understood his actions, and so the picture showed her smiling impossibly affectionately up at Neji as he in turn smiled warmly up at the camera.

Lee had said, once he saw the picture, that Tenten had “heart eyes”, which Neji didn’t really understand but made Tenten flush and get all squeaky.

It was one of his favorite photos of them, and it filled him with fondness that Tenten seemingly liked it so much as well.

“Well, this is the kitchen-” Tenten gestured around them rather vaguely- “then the sitting area, and through there is the office slash laundry room, and then that hallway leads to the bathroom and bedroom. Oh, I cleared out some space for your stuff, I know you’re only here for four days but I know how you like to organize your things…”

Neji hummed in agreement.

“Speaking of which, let’s go have sex.”

Neji was mid-agreement hum when he realized what she said, and choked off rather abruptly.

Tenten snorted. “Dork. But also, I’m serious. I put on silk sheets and everything.”

“Tenten, it is-” He paused and checked her watch. “A little after 1:00.”

“I’ve always found that to be a particularly sexy time of day…”

“It’s practically lunchtime.”

“Mmm. And I know what I want to eat.”

Neji's responding flush made Tenten laugh and kiss his cheek. Fondly, she told him, “C’mon, babe. I want to stretch you out and admire you.”

Neji’s flush made its way down his neck and over his ears, but it certainly didn’t stop him from following Tenten into the bedroom.

Tenten woke up the next morning with sun streaming in through the window and Neji’s mouth on her clit.

She threw her head back into her pillow and let out a hiss, her hands flying up to twine into the hair on Neji’s head and pull. He responded in kind, sucking at tender skin and squeezing her hips hard in his hands.

She came undone almost embarrassingly quickly- but they’d been up all night after an entire month spent apart, so she was admittedly a little tender and her stamina was lower.

But Neji was trying his damndest to increase it as much as he could in a single week. And though at the moment Tenten wasn’t able to walk without her knees wobbling, she certainly was enjoying herself immensely.

Neji pulled away from her, but she didn’t dare to look at him- she just knew he’d be licking at his lips and looking insufferably smug.

After a moment of silence, he said amicably, “Good morning.”

“Yeah. Uh, hi.”

Neji’s hands pulled away from her thighs, and a few moments later he was shifting himself up so he was propped over her on his elbows. His hair fell over his shoulders in a tousled mess, and Tenten was a little regretful she hadn’t woken up in time to see it tangled across his shirtless back- one of her favorite sights in the world, and one she had been badly missing in the past month.

But then again, she thought to herself as Neji dipped his head to thoroughly kiss her breathless, this was nice too.

Neji pulled away from her and shifted so he laid on the bed next to her, one arm draped over her waist. He tucked his head back against her neck and collarbone, then, after a moment of consideration, grazed her warm skin with his teeth.

Tenten wiggled at the sensation. “Neji-”

“I meant to ask you last night,” he interrupted with a murmur (and normally she’d be irritated, because she hated it when people interrupted her, and when Neji did it she disliked it even more- but right now she was still riding the high of her pleasant awakening, and Neji smelled quite good, and it was just post-coital talk, nothing important, so she’d let it slide) “This necklace-” he reached to hook his fingers under the delicate gold chain that was tumbling down her neck and over the tops of her breasts. “You didn’t have this when you first left, did you? I don’t recognize it.”

Oh. Tenten flushed a little, because that was true, and the way she had gotten it was one of the most embarrassingly sentimental, lovelorn, sappy things she’d ever done.

“Uh-” her mind stuttered for excuses. “It’s, uh-”

Neji waited patiently, running his fingers over the chain (and coincidentally, her skin). He wasn’t looking at her face at all, which made it easier for her to blurt out, “Okay, you can’t laugh.”

His fingers never ceased stroking her skin. “All right.”

“Well-” Ugh, this was so cheesy. Tenten kept her gaze on the ceiling, refusing to look at Neji. No way would she be able to get it out if she had to actually look at him. “It was the first couple of weeks after I had left Konoha, and- I mean, you remember what it was like, I missed you a lot-”

The movement of Neji’s fingers slowed minutely, and Tenten got the impression he was listening very intently. “And- well- I was out with a few colleagues just touring around, and a few of us wanted to check out some shops and we went into this little jewelry shop and I just- I saw it, and I was thinking of you, and then I bought it.” She glared defiantly at the ceiling.

Neji’s hands stopped moving completely, and after a moment he said, “I missed you too, Tenten but I still don’t see how the necklace has anything to do with that.”

Tenten rolled her eyes at the brusqueness of his statement, but reached up and pushed his hand away to grab the necklace and show him the tiny, minuscule capital N that dangled off the delicate chain.

Neji lifted his head from her neck to look at it closer. “That’s- an ‘N’? Why...”

Tenten waited for his genius brain to kick in.

Neji paused, then asked haltingly, “Is that… is it… does the ‘N’...”

Tenten’s cheeks burned, and she muttered, “It’s really not too difficult of a connection, Nnnneji.” The emphasis was a tad obvious, but she wanted to get the conversation over with.

“I- I see.” Neji’s hand, which he had settled over her hip when she moved it, minutely tightened its grip. In the next few seconds he flipped them both over so Tenten was lying haphazardly under him while he buried his face in the space between her neck and shoulder, holding her in his embrace so tightly it was almost painful.

Tenten blinked a few times, a little startled at the reaction. Cautiously, she raised a hand to smooth down the strands of hair at the base of his neck. “Neji?”

If possible, he held her even closer. After a moment he lifted his head and pressed a lingering kiss to her temple, then abruptly got up and walked out of the room without a word.

Tenten squinted after him. “Neji? You okay?” He’d had only his briefs on, so he definitely wasn't planning on just walking out of the apartment.

He came sweeping back in a minute later and sat back down on the bed, then leaned over her and set something down on her stomach.

“Marry me.”

Tenten’s head, which she had been craning awkwardly to see what he had brought her, snapped back up. There wasn’t a trace amount of anything other than seriousness in his expression- but then, she hadn’t expected there to be anything else.

“Huh,” she said, grabbing what she now realized was a small velvet box off of her stomach and popping it open. The ring wasn’t extravagant- just a simple band of platinum with diamonds, rubies, and aquamarines studded into it.

(Keyword being extravagant- that’s not to say it wasn’t expensive.)

“I will.” Tenten said absently, picking the ring out of the box. “Marry you, I mean,” she clarified, sliding it onto her ring finger and giving an experimental wiggle. It didn’t have any parts that would stick out and catch on anything, which she appreciated.

“We should have a longer engagement, though- maybe a year and a half? That way I can finish up in China, then we’ll have time to plan things out- I’m sure your family has a lot of traditions, so we’ll have to haggle that out with them...”

She glanced up at Neji for the first time since she’d put the ring on. He was staring at her ring finger, seemingly transfixed, looking so open and vulnerable that her heart clenched.

“Hey.” Tenten leaned over and placed her left hand over his. He jerked his head up to meet her gaze, and she grinned at him.

“We’re engaged.”

Slowly, he grinned back, looking both triumphant and boyishly sheepish. “We’re engaged.” He turned his hand over to lace their fingers together, then brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it tenderly.

Tenten could only stand the affection for a few seconds before she had to jump up and get away from him to hide her flush. “You want breakfast?”

She peeked at Neji out of the corner of her eye. He was watching her with his head tilted to the side, that same exultant smile tugging in his lips.

“If you’re making it dressed like that, definitely.”

Tenten paused and glanced down at her fully nude figure, then shrugged and continued towards the kitchen. “Fine, but I’m going to wear an apron for protective purposes.”

“Even better.” She could hear him shuffle around on the bed, presumably swinging his legs over and standing up.

Three steps out of the bedroom, Tenten paused and stared at the contents of Neji’s suitcase where they were scattered across the floor. “Uh-”

“Ah.” Neji placed a hand on her waist and looked over her shoulder at the mess. “I was in a hurry to get the ring. I’ll put my things away while you make breakfast.” He paused for a second, then thoughtfully dropped his head down and pressed a kiss to her neck.

The slightest shiver went up Tenten’s spine. “That eager to get me affianced, huh?”

“You have no idea.” Neji stepped back from her and knelt in front of his luggage. “I started ring shopping after our six-month anniversary.”

Tenten’s foot caught itself over the air, and she stumbled. “What?”

Neji just smirked up at her. “It was a good date.”

“I mean-” Tenten thought back to the sight of her office filled with flowers in the morning, followed by a delivery of her favorite lunch, and Neji picking her up at a little after five to take her to dinner at a very nice restaurant. (Plus, well, they’d gone back to his place- to exchange gifts, among… other things.)

It was a good date, but it wasn’t as if it had so spectacular that she was suddenly irresistible to Neji- after all, he’d informed her a few weeks prior to their anniversary that he loved her.

(She was on her way out of her apartment that morning, already running a few minutes late because someone didn’t want to let her out of their shower. Neji didn’t have to leave for work until later, and was making a point of walking around clad only in a towel, his wet hair dripping some very distracting trails of water down his chest. Tenten had paused to kiss him goodbye, and after he pulled away he told her, “You should know that I love you.”

“’Kay,” she replied, and left, clicking the door shut behind her to make sure it latched.

She was halfway down the stairs before she realized what he said.)

Tenten frowned at Neji in contemplation. “What was so significant about our anniversary? It was a nice night, but it wasn’t super unusual for us.”

Neji’s attention was suddenly diverted with laser-like intensity to neatly folding a sweater. “Hn.”

Tenten let out a little sputter, half amused and half offended. She hadn’t heard him say that in a while.

“Excuse you-”

“It was the first time you’d spent the night at my home.” Neji’s sweater was extremely folded. “It just… made me realize… that I wanted you in my life for as long as you would have me in yours.”

Ugh, Neji . Every once in a while, he’d turn a phrase that made her heart go pitter-pat in her chest. And he always meant them so earnestly- Tenten knew that her presence in Neji’s life had lightened it considerably, but he was still one of the most serious people she knew. But it meant that everything he did, he committed himself to fully. Romance included.

She didn’t tell Neji this, of course. Tenten got all flushed and squirmy when Neji’s intense affection was directed at her for too long.

Instead she leaned over and patted his head. “Save it for the vows, babe.” She turned around and started to walk into the kitchen, only to let out a shriek as Neji suddenly looped his arms under her ass and sort of tackle-dropped her on the ground.

“‘Save it for the vows’,” he muttered, hooking one of her thighs around his waist. He laced her left hand with his right and pinned it to the ground near her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

Tenten grinned up at him. “I’m one-hundred percent original, bay-beeee.”

Neji very effectively used his mouth to shut her up.

[darquedeath4444]

The Deity of Spring

Chapter THREE

"I think I need to go."

"I agree. The sun's completely up. You look like you're going to faint."

"Shut up."

"And you get cranky when you're mad."

"...Hn."

"I get it, only being able to stay up half the day is annoying, but it's a price we both agreed we were willing to pay."

"Don't need to remind me."

"Hey, I trusted you with the night; trust me with the day."

"I….I don't not trust you."

"You are so not cute."

"I don't want you to think I'm cute."

"Ah, riiiiiiight."

"Stop that!"

"Go rest."

"Wake me if anything happens."

"Right."

"Wake me if she wakes up."

"Uhhhh, maybe."

"I swear-"

"Okay! I'll see."

"Hn. Don't slack off."

"Yeah, leave it to me."

Uchiha Itachi had been out of the Land of Fire when Kaguya had destroyed everything he had ever fought for. Nothing could have prepared him for the shock and utter horror of returning to see his home gone, obliterated under unseen powers at the whims of a Goddess. Many had died, but just as many had survived, and Itachi had a nagging feeling that Kaguya was toying with them. Most of the victims had been civilians who didn't have the advantage of being able to access their chakra to aid in their escape.

A small part of him wished that he had been here, and he had died alongside him beloved home, so he did not have to face everything that had come after.

"Itachi-kun?"

He looked up at the sound of his name and saw his mother, Uchiha Mikoto, leaning against the door. There was clear worry in her eyes and Itachi realized with a start that he had stopped mid-preparation. The spare clothes he had been about to pack was hovering halfway into his pouch as he had frozen in thought. He quickly finished the action and turned to his mother. "Yes?"

The woman carefully entered the room and gracefully sat down next to him. "How are you feeling?"

Itachi once again paused, this time while reaching for his weapon maintenance kit, and finally lowered his hand. "I am feeling fine," he said.

Mikoto hummed and gently ran her hand through his hair. Itachi let her and patiently waited for her to finish her affectionate gesture. "You are going to the Forest of Death," she finally said.

"I am," Itachi replied.

Mikoto sighed. "Must it be you?" She asked. "There are plenty of others who could go in your place-"

"Okaa-sama," Itachi said, gently cutting her off. "I am honored Hokage-sama has deemed me worthy of leading a party tasked with finding a possible path to survival for the whole of mankind." He smiled and pretended not to notice the way his mother's eyes watered in defeat, as though she had known what his reply would be. She probably did. "If there is something, anything we can do for the future, I would like to be a part of it."

"Of course, Itachi-kun," Mikoto said, smiling in return. "I know you can do it."

His mother left soon after, insisting on preparing food he could bring for himself and his team. They would be hunting for most of the trip, but having something homemade was always nice. Itachi quickly finished packing and soon joined his family in what might be his last dinner with them. There was a certain air of awkwardness as they ate, but by the end of it both his parents were beaming at him, and just before he was about to retire for the night, Fugaku stopped him.

"No matter what," he began softly. "Never ever forget that we are so proud of you, son."

Itachi found himself looking down at his feet and finally managed a faint nod. "Good night, Otou-sama, Okaa-sama," he said, and when he obviously ran to his room, no one called out after him.

Early the next morning, a rather large group of people came to see them off and many more hovered around the exit of the war camp to watch.

As the Hokage once again shared words of encouragement with them, Itachi thought over the members of this party. Nara Shikamaru was the renowned son of Shikaku, who was the best strategist Itachi had ever known. The son may have inherited the infamous Nara laziness, but that hadn't taken anything away from the intellect the clan was famous for, and he also knew the boy had mastered the shadow manipulation techniques passed down within his clan.

Inuzuka Kiba was acknowledged as one of the best trackers even within the Inuzuka, a clan that had honed their chakra in order to communicate with their canine partners, and while he seemed to take after his mother in terms of loudness and brashness, the boy had proved himself over and over during tracking parties outside their base.

Hyuga Neji was often put onto the same pedestal as Itachi himself, and he had even heard rumors of how the Hyuga planned to instate Neji as the next clan head. Neji was the one out of the rest that Itachi had taken the most missions with, and he knew for a fact that the Hyuga was well deserving of the title of prodigy.

Akasuna no Sasori was someone Itachi might consider a friend on a particularly nice day. The man had something about him that annoyed Itachi to no end, but the redhead was the closest definition to the phrase 'do not judge a book by its cover', for, despite his lazy appearance, he was one of the most powerful, most deadly warriors ever. Itachi had been present when Sasori had lost both his arms in a reconnaissance mission gone disastrously wrong three years ago. The redhead had sacrificed himself to ensure they all got out alive. Soon after, the man had used his expertise in puppetry to make himself wooden arms to replace his limbs. He had then slowly added new gadgets and tools to them, and he always had new functions to show off whenever they spared. He had the world's most useful set or arms, ever.

Deidara was another person Itachi might consider his friend. The two of them, along with Sasori, were a part of an elite group of warriors made up of people from all over the Elemental Nations, known as the Akatsuki. Even recently, the Akatsuki were called upon when a particularly dangerous group of Zetsus appeared too near their base for comfort. That alone spoke of the blond's skills, and he was someone Itachi would like to have on his side as opposed to an enemy, though he was often very loud could sometimes be annoying. Deidara's self-proclaimed hobby seemed to be annoying Sasori, which Itachi was okay with as long as the redhead did not turn to him for help.

His thoughts were cut short when applause met Tsunade's ending speech. Itachi formally bid his parents, then the rest of the clan, goodbye and waited while the rest of his team did the same in a slightly more affectionate manner. Shikamaru received a few words from his father and a tight hug from his mother before his friends dragged to aside to say their own goodbyes and good lucks. Kiba and his family were slightly louder, though Itachi was not surprised considering the nature of his clan. He then shared a few more friendly hugs with his own friends. The Hyuga were much more composed, much like his own clan, and Neji was the first to reach his side.

Sasori and Deidara both briefly talked to their own Kage, before they too fell into step beside him.

"Shall we depart?" Itachi asked, and when he received firm nods in return, the six of them exited the base.

Gaara watched the search party depart and remained rooted to his spot even when the people gathered slowly began to disperse back to their tasks. When not out of the field, warriors spent the time resting, helping out around the base and tending to their weapons and equipment. Civilians aided as much as they could too, and there was even a civilian faction being trained by warriors to fight so that they could at least defend themselves should their one and only stronghold fall. It hadn't come to that yet, but many were willing to learn to prepare for the worst.

"Gaara?"

He turned towards his sister, who was looking at him with worry in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" She asked. "You look a little out of it."

Gaara took a deep breath to clear his thoughts and nodded. "I am fine," he said. "I will be retiring for the night. If anything happens, you know where to find me."

Temari nodded. "Rest well," she told him. "I know you haven't been sleeping well for a while."

Gaara smiled to himself as his sister walked off; it appeared there was no hiding anything from her sharp eyes. He retreated to his personal tent and went around trying to clean himself up. Finally, he gave up. The war had taken a toll on all of them and he wasn't an exception. Instead sat down on his bed and reached for a book he had dug out of his own collection of books and scrolls.

The Deity of Spring.

His hand hovered over the cover like it had many times during the past two days, and he finally turned to the first page. He flicked through the book Temari had often read to him as a child and words flowed through his mind as memories began to resurface. Kaguya was the Goddess of Creation, but it was the Deity of Spring who had been the one to breathe life into them. There were many variations of how the story had gone, but in this particular one, the one where Kaguya had been sealed by the other Gods and Goddesses after a destructive war for suddenly turning against mankind, the Deity of Spring had been one of Kaguya's victims before she had been contained.

As he read, something became apparent to him, something he hadn't realized or understood as a child. "The Deity of Spring did not remain on this plane by choice," he whispered to himself. "Whatever happened, whatever Kaguya did rendered them unable to return to the Realm of the Gods."

"Where is she?"

"Good evening to you too."

"You said you would wake me when she woke up."

"I said maybe. Besides, we all need you well rested, you know? Can't have you fainting halfway during your watch because you didn't rest properly. Also, she just woke up a while ago. She's washing up."

"You-"

"Shhhhh! You know she doesn't like it when we fight!"

"We aren't 'fighting'. I'm merely attempting to correct your stupidity."

"Do you think that excuse would work on her?"

"I...guess not."

"Exactly."

"Hn. So, how was she?"

"She looked fine, and she smelled fine too."

"That's good."

"Yeah."

"And did she say anything else about the war?"

"She didn't."

"But they're still coming."

"Yeah."

Chapter FOUR>

<Chapter TWO

Chapter List

[manikas-whims]

A Chance at Redemption [13]

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] […]

A/N: Hey guys!

Um..eh hem..please just don't kill me. You can all gang up and beat the shit out of me but do realise that I am human too. Since the past 3 years my life has been a mess and let's just say some personal things are making it really hard for me to write.

I’d like to thank you lovely readers *blows a kiss* I started this fic on a whim and its really a surprise treat to find out that people are actually giving it positive responses. I mean I can just never thank you people enough..

An important thing before you proceed onto the chapter: I may be gone for long but I'll never leave my fics unfinished. I know the pain one feels when coming across a plot of their liking only to realise that it has been left unfinished for xyz years. I'll complete all my fanfics. It's a pinky-swear with you loves. ♥

And as I say, "In the world of writers, those who go on hiatuses are trash but those who abandon their books are worse than trash." XD

Alright! Um..let's have a short recap of everything that has happened so far in this tale:-

The fourth shinobi war's victors were Uchihas who now rule the whole shinobi world with Madara as the self-claimed Hokage. Naruto is no more and Kakashi is in a coma. Sai and Sakura are the only members of Team 7 and they work together along with a few other rebels under the name of FoK. Sai also happens to work in the anbu directly under the Uchihas, thus, acting as a double agent. In order to stop the annihilation of the Hyuga Clan which was planned by the Uchihas, Sakura decides to make a deal with Sasuke. She offers herself to him in a bond of marriage in exchange for the lives of many innocent Hyugas. When her marriage is revealed to the whole world, she is treated as a traitor amongst the rebels. Later on, she finds out that the head of the Hyuga Clan, Hiashi has been assassinated and begins to doubt Sasuke's promise to her. Caught up in his anger Neji reveals about his knowledge of the planned annihilation and just as the Uchihas are about to interrogate him, Sai comes in and takes him to the funeral held for Hiashi in excuse to actually save his neck. Sasuke recalls and is confused about how Sakura and Neji came to know of this annihilation and questions her directly. He then realises how Sai may have been the one who told those two but the question is 'why'. He leaves Sakura for the time being and heads to the burial grounds with the thought of interrogating both Neji and Sai.

If this summary didn't help out much, feel free to read the previous chapters :3

Now back to the chapter..

Chapter 13: Moving Forward

"My hands are drenched in sin..

..but that doesn't mean I'm heartless."

-Suigetsu Hozuki

The two have been sitting silently in his small apartment for an hour now, both lost in deep thought about the next step that they must take. Or rather, the necessary step that they must take now that Neji has literally jeopardized their cover by lashing out in front of the Uchihas. And in doing so, he has also threatened Sai and Sakura's neck along with the whole secret about the FoK.

Sai watched the Hyuga Prodigy meditate with barely concealed interest. He can't help himself from wondering about what would've happened to this man had he not shown up at the Hokage's room when he did. Who knows? Maybe Neji would've earned himself a death sentence? Or worst! Maybe he would've been tortured to the point where he would've been left with no choice but to spill-out everything about their small group of rebels?! The thought in itself is terrorising. The ex-root nin shook his head and decided to distract himself with something less scary. And weirdly, his distraction came in the form of Neji's periodic inhale and exhale of the surrounding air.

Sai gazed at the continuously inflating and deflating chest of the Hyuga. With eyes closed, Neji tried focusing more on controlling his chakra. Sai felt fascinated by him and pondered on whether he must capture this moment on one of his canvases. It'll be a lovely addition to his growing collection of paintings. But not just Neji, Sai is fascinated by all the different people around him. They can teach him important things about life just as much as his team-mates do. Well..talking about teammates, none are currently available to help Sai with his emotional problems. Now that Sakura is betrothed to the infamous second grandson of Madara Uchiha, he is left with no other choice but to resort back to his guide books. How he wishes to discuss about all such things with her.

"Can you stop staring?" muttered the Hyuga, eyes still closed in concentration.

The artist tried an apologetic smile in a similar manner that he has read about in a book but the Hyuga only frowned. It's a mystery how he can understand the ex-root nin's fake expression even with his eyes shut like that. Nonetheless, Sai spoke, "I'm sorry. I'm just trying to formulate a plan about what I can do with you now that you've landed the three of us in such a conundrum."

"Three?" Neji asked, inhaling yet again.

"Yes", Sai picked up a sketch-pad and a brush as he began with a rough sketch of the long-haired prodigy, "You, me and Sakura. The Uchihas may let the matter go but Sasuke won't sit still until he reaches the very bottom of this whole thing."

A long sigh left the prodigy's lips and he stood-up, breaking the calm atmosphere that he had created with his meditation. "You're right. Besides, we only have an hour until the funeral ceremony gets over."

"Yes and I bet that Sasuke will come at you the instant that funeral ends. And he will not let this go until he uncovers every last speck of detail about us." Sai added gravely.

"Well, he'll probably torture me to the point I can take it no more and then make me talk. So I came up with this idea while I was meditating." He said and Sai urged him to go on, "What if he never finds me? Like Sakura did with that disguise of hers'."

Sai shook his head in negation, "Before we can delve any further into this thought I'd like to remind you that Ugly is a pro at chakra control unlike you or myself. So we need to do something else about hiding your identity. Just a simple henge won't work in your case."

Neji nodded in understanding. He knew that Sai would mention this and so, he moved on to his next suggestion "In that case..how about this?"

With the arrival of the Hokage and his minions at the Sacred Hyuga Burial Grounds, an elderly Hyuga member began the Funeral Ceremony by a long prayer in respect of the departed one. And as everyone closed their eyes in prayer, Sasuke Uchiha scanned the whole place, his obsidians looking around in pursuit of a certain Ex-Root assassin and a Prodigy from the Hyuga Clan. But even under the effects of his eternal mangekyou sharingan, he was unable to locate any matching suspects. From what he can recall, it was Sai who had practically dragged a frightened-looking Neji Hyuga out of the Hokage's office, right when Neji spilled-out his knowledge about the annihilation of the Hyuga Clan. There's no need to have any great deduction skills to figure out that the two are hiding- no- conspiring something! And whatever it is that they are plotting to accomplish, is also known to Sakura. It's ridiculous how he completely ignored the fact that she proposed a deal of marriage with him in exchange for the lives of the Hyugas. He must've been more focused and paid attention to how she came to know about that annihilation. But oh well..thanks to his distracting ex-teammate, he let his guard down and failed in noticing how suspicious her and Neji's involvement in this whole matter is.

Taking another glance around the place, he grit his teeth. There were literally no traces of any of the two suspects he's been searching for. Where did they disappear off to? Or what exactly are they doing as of right now? Are they initiating their plans already? Has the first step already been put in action? More importantly, he doesn't even know what they are working on!

Dammit!

He took a long breath to calm his flaring nerves and decided to do one last scan of the area. The first person that his eyes fell upon was Hinata Hyuga. He frowned as he watched the young Hyuga Princess' eyes closed in respect for her father. Its not like she can ever replace her father. There's only one person worthy enough of this position and that is Neji Hyuga from the branch family but even Sasuke knows that the main family will never allow something like this. The Hyugas aren't any less than the Uchihas when it comes to biasing.

He turned his head slightly back and found a former comrade, Shikamaru Nara standing directly behind him with his parents and a blonde, pigtailed woman. He recognises her because he had faced her once when he was still a willing shinobi of the Leaf. He is well-aware about her presence in this village. Well, it's not like she is the only one as after the war ended in their victory, the whole world of shinobi turned into a big mess of panicky civilians and ninja alike. Due to this haphazardness, a lot of the people were unable to return to their respective homelands. And since then, the village gates have been under constant surveillance because of which nobody is allowed to enter or leave at their free will. If there's any need to depart, the individual will first have to consult the nasty Hokage himself.

"What is it Uchiha?" an edgy, feminine tone asked him and it took him a moment to realize that it was the same blonde woman. At her side, Shikamaru scratched his jaw uneasily.

Such firm was her gaze that Sasuke felt himself unable to utter even a word to her.

She smirked teasingly, "Stop staring at me. You're a married man now."

The remark was spewed at him out of spite and disgust she feels towards him for chaining her pink-haired friend in a bond of marriage. And it was more than enough to spur his emotions. He narrowed his eyebrows and glared at her in what he thinks is his most menacing look but it didn't even make her budge. If anything, her lips only curved further upwards. It's almost like she's trying to spite him into some sort of outburst. Anyways, why the hell is she even gazing at him so smugly when her eyes are supposed to be closed in prayer like everyone else's?

"What?" she gestured with a nudge of her head, "Don't have a comeback?"

Comeback? How dare she? Who does she think she is, trying a childish banter with him? Him? He can kill her right here if he wants to but since he has always been surrounded by idiots like her, he knows how to keep his anger in check. His eyes shifted slightly from her face when he noticed some movement. It was the young Nara's palm that sneakily encircled her wrist, signalling her to stop. She turned her head towards Shikamaru and stared at him questioningly.

The young Nara ignored her look and instead bowed his head to Sasuke, "I'm sorry. The edginess is just a part of her personality. She doesn't mean to taunt you."

Sasuke watched her expression change as she heard those words. A big smile settled upon her lips. A big mocking smile and she herself apologised to him, ofcourse in a manner that ridiculed him even further. His fingers were itching to just strangle that little neck of hers but just as he motioned his hands, all eyes flew open.

The ceremony was over and a couple of eyes glanced confusedly between him, Shikamaru and the blonde girl, wondering exactly what was going on. With a heavy sigh, Sasuke managed to alleviate some of his anger and left the burial grounds in search of Neji Hyuga instead.

Behind him, Shikamaru released a breath in relief.

When she woke up, the whole apartment shook by the intensity of her horrified scream. Her shoulders shook with fear as she could still feel those crimson orbs boring holes into her frightful emeralds. And here she thought that those nightmares were finally gone...Surprise! Surprise! They had never really left..They were just lurking in the depths of her dark thoughts laced in fear, anticipating the right time to launch an attack. She can still remember that dream along with all of the vivid details. The dense chakra that was surrounding the aura of that avenger- Sasuke! He charged his left hand with a chidori and struck it right into the heart of her innocent, blond teammate, ending his life then and there. And as Sasuke did so, the blood went splashing all around him, drenching every inch of his skin in that Hokage-wannabe's blood. She can still remember herself sitting there, kneeling right before the whole scenario, tears streaming down her cheeks endlessly. Every time in her vision, he would turn around at this very moment and his piercing crimsons would clash with her scared emeralds. And he would inch closer towards her, pressing his lips against hers, smearing them with that very same blood of her dead teammate...

Just the shear memory made her scream again and that too, louder this time...Immediately, the door to her room burst open and in stepped the two sycophants that Sasuke has left to keep watch on her at all times. She lifted her eyelids slightly and flashed them a menacing glare.

"What do you want?" She whispered hoarsely in an irate tone.

The minute her scream reached their ears, Suigetsu and Juugo slammed the door open and ran in to check-up on the situation, completely prepared for whatever it was awaiting their entrance behind her door. Shockingly, they only found her gnawing at the skin of her innocently beautiful face. A second passed with her glaring at them, her fingernails digging painfully into her cheeks and them confusedly staring back at her.

"What do you want?" She whispered in a tight tone.

"We heard you scream. Are you alright?" Juugo asked with genuine concern swirling in his scarlet-red irises.

"You can tell Sasuke that I'm dealing well with all his confinements." She answered in a sarcastic tone.

"For your kind info, Sasuke never asked us to do this." Suigetsu spoke, his hand gripping the hilt of his huge blade a bit too hard.

No doubt they have been sent here by Sasuke to make sure that she is safe. Why? Well..because now that she is an Uchiha, as entitled by Madara himself, there are people who will try and grasp every chance they can to kill the young bride of his grandson. They have been sent here for the sole purpose of her protection at all costs but they aren't supposed to tell her about this. Heh! "She will understand..."- those were the exact words spoken by their young boss. Sasuke doesn't want them to tell her. She will understand?! How?! Last time that Suigetsu checked, she wasn't a psychic and she isn't one now! So the chances of her understanding Sasuke's motives without them having to explain it to her are very slim.

"Yeah..Yeah..Just like he never asked you to keep me locked-up at my apartment." She uttered with excruciating emphasis on every word.

"Huh..." Suigetsu exhaled audibly and closed his eyes, "Now listen-"

"I'm an Uchiha right?! Then..why was I restricted to attend Hiashi Hyuga's funeral?!" She yelled, tears clouding her mesmerizing irises.

He wants to tell her so badly about Sasuke's intentions but he simply cannot go against his master's orders. Frustrated at the fact and at himself, he closed his eyes and heaved a long sigh. When he re-opened them, he found the young medic already out of her bed, standing in her black, knee-high boots. And that sight alone, made him release another long sigh. Seriously? Does she ever stay at home and sleep like a normal girl must? No? Well..Karin did..

Karin.. He sighed. That redhead was kinda bitchy but Suigetsu has to admit that he misses her.

The swordsman rubbed his eyes to keep himself from overreacting and asked the pinkette, "Where are you going?"

She bade him no response, which is not even surprising anymore. He has gotten pretty used to her weird antics. And so, as she made her way out of her bedroom and left her apartment, him and Juugo were left with no other choice but to follow her. A sense of déjà vu passed his thoughts as Juugo closed the main door of her apartment.

Blood had started to ooze out from the places she had been gnawing at on her cheeks. Why isn't she healing herself? He thought but then immediately felt like smacking himself. Ofcourse it has to do with that stupid bracelet that Kabuto has put on her. Healing is an intricate procedure and requires a lot of chakra and focus.

"Do you enjoy this?" Suigetsu asked, sweat trickling down his brow.

"Enjoy what?" she asked as she continued marching in the direction of only god knows what place.

"Getting us all worked-up!" the swordsman yelled, finally losing his cool. Her lack of concern for her own skin irked him even more. Karin would've never let even a single scar stay on her cheek. Karin would've tried everything in her might to look pretty every single fucking day. Karin would..Karin isn't here anymore..

He sighed in frustration and tried to focus on Sakura again."You know Sasuke won't be pleased when he finds out-"

"Does it look like I care?" she drawled out.

"Well..you must. Because when he finds out, he's gonna kill us all." Suigetsu tried his best to emphasize the 'kill' part but the young medic continued walking. And yet again, he moved his lips to shout some sense into her head but a large hand on his shoulder stopped him from doing so. He glanced at the shaky palm and then at it's equally fidgety owner- Juugo. The expression on his face was enough to convey that he was controlling his anger the best he could and so, Suigetsu decided to let the matter go. For the time being atleast. Afterall, it's fine as long as Sasuke is the one who kills them. He will grant a quick, merciful death. An enraged Juugo on the other hand, will tear him and Sakura to shreds but only after making sure to beat them to a pulp. Suigetsu doesn't want such a death. And he's damn sure Sakura shares the same thoughts.

The déjà vu hit Suigetsu yet again as they entered the rusty, old building of the Konoha Hospital. If they are here, then ofcourse the pinkette wants to see none other than her half-dead mentor. Crossing the dirty halls that led towards the secluded ward, Suigetsu and Juugo watched in silence as the small key was inserted into the hole and the knob was turned. Sakura walked in with a heaviness in her heart and before the minds of the former S-class nins could comprehend what was happening, she threw herself over the unmoving body of the infamous copy-nin. Unexpectedly loud sobs reached the men's ears and they watched in shock the continuous shaking of the young medic's shoulders as she shed tears.

What Suigetsu had heard from his buddy Sai was the fact that team 7 is not just a team but a family. It was hard to believe those words when he had first heard them but it is far-easier to understand their depth now that he is experiencing them with his very own eyes. His eyes remained fixated on Sakura as she wept over the silver-haired man's form as if he was actually her father. Okay, maybe not. But in his own way, Kakashi is like a father to team 7.

"You.." they heard her sob out in a soft yet shrill tone, her tears mixing with the dried blood on her cheeks, "You said that you won't let me shoulder the burden on my own. You promised..."

The whole room went quiet again, followed by the hysterical sobbing of the pink-haired kunoichi. With her face burrowed into the chest of her former teacher, her hands clutched at the fabric of his shirt and she cried. She cried and cried and cried..and they watched. Both Suigetsu and Juugo were unable to look away from the pitiful sight before their eyes. It made them contemplate and question their own acts. Are they on the right side? Ofcourse not. Can they help her out of this? Maybe? Maybe not. Who knows? At this point, the only thing that is clear to them is that she doesn't belong anywhere near that Uchiha den.

"You know why I married him.." she lifted her head and whispered to the sleeping man, "You know exactly why.. So pleaassse..wake up, Sensei. Wake up and take away some of my burden..." She gazed hopefully at the man lying on the stretcher but her words proved to be futile. The man didn't even budge. Juugo honestly felt an ache in his heart. He maybe on the wrong side but he isn't a bad person. He wants to help Sakura. He genuinely does. He just has no idea where or how to begin..

Three hours passed in that hospital ward with Sakura talking to her comatose sensei and Suigetsu discussing with Juugo about how to actually handle being guards to such a fragile girl. One misstep and she'll break.

Sakura wiped her teary face with the back of her sweaty palms and turned around to find Sasu- her husband's faithful sycophants waiting for her. Bidding them no signal, she walked right past them out of the room, knowing they'll undoubtedly follow.

Now that she has freely let out her emotional pain to someone, she is ready to sacrifice herself and stand next to the Uchihas. All her friends think of her as a traitor and it's better this way. Atleast her false betrayal will act as a positive motivator. It'll rile their sentimental connections to her and help them realise their goal much easily. The rebels will work far-better in her absence.

Upon reaching her small apartment, she felt an intense gaze pierce through her carefully constructed mask of apathy. She knew exactly whom those eyes belonged to and without even an ounce of fear in her form, she tilted her face, her emeralds meeting the onyxes. By the deep frown marring his face, it was obvious that he wasn't pleased about something and clearly that "something" is linked with her. Still, she climbed the three short steps up the porch and stood directly in front of him, awaiting his angry tirade.

"Where were you?" he gritted out.

"Not a matter of your concern." came her curt response.

He exhaled a breath through his nose and she watched his nostrils flare in unbridled anger.Such a Sasuke-thing to do. She scoffed inwardly and watched the riled up Uchiha inch closer towards her. She kept her gaze. She wasn't intimidated by him in the least. He has already tried to kill her twice so she isn't much scared of dying by his hands. Much to her surprise though, a heavy, shiny object swished in between her and him, breaking the tense atmosphere in an instant-Suigetsu's huge sword. Taking a long breath, Sasuke turned to the side to face the intrusive person and his eyes changed to red, the black tomoes spinning wildly as he seethed at the man. Sakura's eyes on the other hand widened in actual shock when she found that it was Suigetsu who had intervened between them. Why did he?

The white-haired rogue-nin simply stared at his master, his lips a thin line that expressed no emotion whatsoever. When he had decided to serve Sasuke, he had planned to stay out of his boss's way..he had planned to stay out of trouble. But things have changed. He has changed. Watching this pink-haired medic weep in front of her unresponsive sensei stirred something in him. And if this is the last bit of good that he has within him, then he surely wants to utilise it to his best. His inner conflict has finally ended and he has reached a conclusion. He maybe working under the Uchihas but he'll properly safeguard Sakura Haruno. It's better to die the death of a kind bodyguard than an S-class shinobi who used to kill for fun.

"I'm-We're sorry, Sasuke-sama." Juugo was the one who spoke-up for his lean partner, nodding his head at the swordsman in agreement. If Suigetsu is ready then he is too. Afterall, he had never wanted to be the bad guy. It's just life offered him limited options and he had to choose the least bad from amongst them. But now as he glanced between his master and his newfound bride, who also happens to be a kind woman, he has changed his mind from just 'spending the days and dying' to doing something good for the sake of redemption..to achieve true piece at the time of his demise.

"We can't let your hostile nature hurt Sakura-san because this is exactly what you had ordered us to do." He explained honestly.

If anything one of Sasuke's eyebrows arched high up in question of such insolence. He had expected eventual discord and disrespect from Suigetsu. He has never been able to trust the mist-nin but he had always expected Juugo to be a faithful one. So what exactly did Sakura do to win over his dogs? Moments of him glaring ferociously at them did nothing to melt their determination to protect the young kunoichi. They stood before her like a shield and the pinkette watched in silent amazement. It's almost as if she hadn't expected them to protect her.

With his sharingan now faded back to reveal his beautiful greyish-onyx orbs, he sighed raggedly and asked her again in a much calmer tone, "Where were you?"

She scoffed, only this time not inwardly. She shook her head at him and countered his query with a question of her own, "Why do you even care?"

Sasuke's left hand moved and he grabbed tightly onto the hilt of his kusanagi. Sakura's eyes followed, noticing the subtle action of the man she had fallen for. And with a piercing gaze, he gritted out, "Because Neji Hyuga was found dead an hour ago and I don't want to find out that my wife was behind his murder."

Sakura gulped calmly in the eerie silence that followed his words. And then, she shrieked, "WHAT!?"

Alright, so this marks the end of the chapter. I know its not the best one but I still hope you guys liked it..:)

What do you think about Neji's death?

Or Suigetsu and Juugo's newfound fealty towards Sakura?

More angst in the coming chapters.

And once again, thanks for being such patient readers. I really love you guys..♡

AND IF YOU CAN THEN PLEASE SUPPORT ME ON KOFI

My family is facing some issues and it’d be of great help..

Don't forget to share your thoughts about this chapter cuz believe me or not, I read all your comments. They are fun to read and always keep me motivated! :D

And do let me know if you find any errors.

Hopefully I'll make another update soon..:3

Until Next Time...

~Manika

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[notquitejiraiya]

letters to neji [#12] - LeeTen

Well, it has been forever - literal YEARS - but here we go; letters to Neji is back.

This is my favourite series that I ever wrote. Although it isn’t technically the best piece of writing, I adore the concept with my whole heart and I’m so excited to bring it back.

So, without any further ado, here is Part 12.

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .

Dear Neji,

For the first night in weeks I’m back home for the whole night, hence I’m writing you once again.

Living with Lee was...an experience to say the least. Not a bad one, I’ve got to add, but after my last letter he preceded - thank goodness - to get better. However that did mean one thing: by the day he was becoming more of a handful. I grew so stressed I almost tied him to his bed. Simple physio exercises to slowly strengthen his ankle again were a nightmare since, as he’s Rock Lee and he just has to, everything was done at full pelt.

It all took way longer than it should. Many medical nin from varying ranks in the hospital told him to pack it in and listen, but he would only pack away a little, and throw it all back out as soon as we got home.

Sakura joked once or twice that he was keeping himself injured so that I’d stay with him and keep looking after him. If he was, while it might seem sweet, he’s a cheeky git. Then again, you and I know, Neji, that Lee isn’t going to keep himself out or actions or away from the field. He wants to be out there, he’d never do that, would he?

But now, as I said, I’m home. I’m in my own bed, on a proper mattress and ready to drop dead with exhaustion. For the first night I get to sleep with pillows instead of couch cushions; for the first time in ages I get to wake up and know for sure that nobody is going to be sat there silently waiting for me to wake up, creeping me out in the process.

But, it’s not all joyous being home. Tomorrow morning will be the first in a few weeks where I won’t wake up being asked what I want for breakfast. Nobody will brew me my tea or come over and give me a nudge to get off to my mission. There won’t be any chance of waking up, my cheeks aching from laughter, with a shiny black bowlcut at my fingertips because he was to tired to crawl to his bed late at night.

Of course I’m glad to be home, but after this long I’m not sure it’ll feel like home without him.

My dad thought we were together. He told me so last week. Honestly he almost made me cry, but it’s okay. He didn’t mean to, after all. “I always liked that Lee,” he told me when I dropped in the groceries he and mum asked for. “He’s a hard worker; just right for you.”

I tried to stop him but no words would break through his veil of assumptions, and gave up with a clatter of canned soup on the kitchen table.

“I always saw you with that Hyuga lad, I must say. We both did. It was a shame, wasn’t it. He was meant for you. I could see you thought so back then, eh?”

I nodded. How else was I ever going to answer that question? How was I meant to?

“It’s been a long time though. I suppose people move on and change. And Lee is the perfect change for you.”

He’s right in one aspect: Lee is the perfect change. Lee reminds me that I matter as much everyone else does, and that everyone has some beauty in them. When you walk through the forest, or even the streets, with Lee—especially injured-can’t-run-fast Lee—he has a way to show you it’s all so beautiful. Not just the flowers, or the clouds, but the trunks of trees and many things I never thought of before. Most of all, he teaches me every day to live for then, in that very moment.

Then again, you taught me that. Maybe you only taught me that by leaving me, but you did.

I wonder if I’ll sleep well tonight. I mean, yes I’m gonna sleep like the dead (no offence) but is it going to be satisfying without Lee here?

Who am I kidding? I’ve just got used to being around him 24/7, it’s routine, nothing more, right? Before you mention what I said last letter, about wanting to kiss him, I blame that sweeping statement on the same thing—routine. Plus, I was super tired. As I have been forever, it seems.

Tomorrow I’ve planned to meet Lee and go and see you at noon. I think this week I’ll try and get you some flowers in case Hinata hasn’t replaced last week’s with fresh ones; she’s on a mission for the next few days. I wish I knew which were your favourites though. She always brings you sunflowers, and Lee always buys daffodils for you but since her sunflowers are already there he gives his to me. You’d think he’d realise by now that Hinata’s would already be there, but he keeps on buying them over and over again.

I suppose I’ll buy you sunflowers. It will make Hinata happy, after all.

Sorry, I just heard a knock on the door, so I may as well end my ramblings here.

Thank you for listening, as you always do. While I don’t need you quite like I used to, I still wish you could talk back.

Still, I’ll come see you tomorrow, I promise. We both will.

Love,

Tenten.

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .

I hope you enjoyed. They’ll be getting longer (and cuter) as time goes on.

Thanks for your patience and have a great day/night/life :)

[kusunokihime-a]

(What wears on them the most, the memory that plays on each of them so heavily? What does it do to them, how does it affect all their decisions and choices as they advance in life? Also, what part of the zoo is their favorite?)

[ @hyugainterior ]

     [ Oooh, a good question! All the muses I play have rather heavy memories, though for some, picking just one might be hard…we’ll go under a cut because something tells me this’ll get long! We’ll keep to each of their default verses, as things change from verse to verse. ]

     Ryū, of course, gets to go first. Like many of her generation, she lost family to the Third Shinobi war…along with the rest of her village, as part of a raid by Iwa toward the tail end of the conflict. One last hurrah by Tsuchi, if you will. Hers had been a civilian village, save for she and her mother, whose line were all traditionally medics. Shinobi weren’t exactly a common sight for them, and thus Ryū’s first impression of them was rather…unfavorable.

     Losing a parent is always hard. Even more so when you’re taken from home and shipped off to a completely different village, with different people, different way of life, and different expectations. Though it’s not addressed specifically in canon (that I can recall), I’ve always gone off the assumption that children with kekkei genkai would be declared “unfit” for adoption to keep clan secrets from being leaked into families or clans they’re not a part of. Ryū, as the last of hers, was thus treated much like other “one of a kind” children like Naruto and Sasuke, and rather than being adopted, was made a ward of the village. Little was known about her line by most (sans two of the sannin, in a few headcanons of mine), so what little Konoha knew of her was that she had potential to be useful as a healer if given the proper training.

     Ryū could have gone, I think, in two different directions after being brought to Konoha. She could have bowed to their whims and become a healer as her line was wont, and simply do as she’s asked, never questioning the village aloud, but always having doubts in the back of her mind due to her treatment. Or, she could have let that treatment build up into hatred for those that took her from home and groomed her into a useful tool.

     In her canon, she sticks with the former. All she really cares about is being useful, and following her family’s traditions, even if it’s in a place like Konoha. She can’t very well go home and still be a medic, as a ruined village doesn’t have many residents to heal. But, I have plans to make a verse based on that second option…someday. I’m horrible with getting things done.

     As for a zoo (which…does the Naruto world have a zoo? Besides that one strange circus-like place in one of the early movies?), I think she’d enjoy the arctic exhibit. Her home has ties to snowy mountains and she herself summons a snowy owl, so it would in part remind her of home. And snowy, barren climates are peaceful to her, for…whatever reason.

     Next we’ll go with Itachi. A rather divisive character, from what I’ve seen during my time on Tumblr. One that, admittedly, I hated at first when he was written as nothing more than a jerk who killed his family on a whim, and thus corrupted another character (who I also disliked at first, but…we’ll get to him later).

     But then, for whatever reason (I refuse to believe Kishi had much planning-ahead skill (see the Kaguya thin-air-pull for reference)), Itachi was given an exceedingly complex reason for his actions. Rather than just being a jerk, suddenly he was a martyr, attempting to stop a civil war and possibly global conflict, all at the ripe old age of twelve. His best friend committed suicide (supposedly, in mine’s case), his family was turning against him, a powerful underground power was putting pressure on him to deliver, and he was left with an unthinkable burden, of which he couldn’t tell a soul without risking everything he was trying to prevent.

     Suddenly he wasn’t just a jerk anymore: he was complex, tragic, and self-sacrificing…all while still extremely flawed. I was hooked. I’ve written him in RP for almost seven years now, on and off, and he’s by far one of my favorites for just that reason. Some people hate him, some people love him, and they all have legitimate reasons why that I love to explore.

     For my Itachi, his burden was, at first, something he shouldered willingly, and without regret. After all, he had no choice! Too many lives were on the other side of the scale from his clan. Purely from a numbers perspective, taking out the Uchiha was more logical than allowing civil, and then possibly global, war. Not for the boy who, despite being a loving, kind, and pacifistic soul, had to endure the horrors of war at so young an age. He couldn’t let that happen again, if he had the chance to undo it.

     Over the years, however, this burden begins to wear on him. Seeing Sasuke again - seeing the damage he’d done to his brother - rattled him. Not enough to make him fully rescind his actions as necessary, but enough to question them…but to what end? You can’t undo the past. Then upon his death and subsequent resurrection (amid several revelations of what he left behind beyond his brother, in ALAS), Itachi realized that everything he’d done was partially out of ego. He’d not trusted his brother, his family, his best friend, more than he’d trusted his own “superior” intellect. His proclamation as genius had left him blinded to the notion that anyone else could possibly think of, or carry out, a better solution for the Uchiha’s planned coup. And in the end, it cost far more than he’d ever imagined.

     Now in ALAS, he’s revived and given second life (nearly at the cost of another) in order to rectify his mistakes, rather than his brother simply swallowing genocide and going silent. So there’s a major difference there between canon!Itachi and mine. But during that second chance, he has to live with the guilt and the self-hatred of what he did, and it molds his character significantly. For example, upon Shisui’s return from his hiding (we’ll get to that later, too), Itachi just…loses it. There’s a huge (one-sided) screaming match, and he refuses to speak to anyone for days. Because if he had known that Shisui was alive? They might have stopped the coup. The Uchiha might have lived. And he might have avoided the single greatest mistake of his life, that will haunt him until the end of it.

     As for a zoo exhibit, probably the raptors, if they have one. Not quite the same as his favorite corvids, but I think he enjoys birds overall.

     Next, our dear boy Sasuke. Another extremely hot-or-cold character in this fandom, and one I admittedly couldn’t stand at first. But like his brother, he too turned out to be far more than he first seemed: that being a bratty, sob-story, one-dimensional foil to our protagonist.

     Sasuke’s entire life is politicized. As a child, he’s part of a clan that (unbeknownst to him) is in political turmoil. Stigmatized, cut off from most of the village…and it only gets worse after the Kyūbi’s release by Obito, and the blame the Uchiha encounter after that. Which means he grew up never knowing a village that wasn’t suspicious of his family. 

     Like most clans, the Uchiha still have a hierarchy, and still prioritize strength overall. Like Hinata and her struggles with her father, Sasuke was largely abandoned by his until Itachi’s actions ousted him as heir, and Sasuke took the spotlight…which Sasuke seemed to realize. For a clan that’s all about love, so too are the Uchiha about power. Sasuke isn’t a fool: he knows he’s the backup. 

     And then he loses…literally everything. His family, his home, his brother…which was his most important bond. In a blink, he’s the last of his kind that hasn’t, apparently, lost their mind to a lust for power. And he still doesn’t realize the way the village views him, replaced instead by their whispers about his tragedy. He becomes little more than a relic and a subject for gossip, even by his peers. So? He shuts them all out. Gives himself a goal that he feels will best honor all he lost.

     Rather than respect his determination to avenge such a loss, his “friends” insist on dragging him back to a place filled with nothing but bad memories…which only get worse after Obito gives him all of the context behind the massacre. And even once his “friends” know what Konoha did to him…they still ignore his thirst for justice (at that point, I refuse to call it revenge. The Uchiha massacre was something that needed justice), and in no way address the fact that Konoha killed the Uchiha…Itachi was just the weapon. In the end, they beat him into submission, and he’s forced back…in canon.

     In ALAS, the massacre is addressed, brought to light…which brings them even more trouble. Sasuke struggles to accept a village and people that benefited from genocide, but in the end forges his own path to reconnecting with it, and ensuring such things never happen again. 

     His favorite spot in the zoo would probably be…either raptors, or reptiles. Most likely the latter, because I think he relates a lot to them, and not just because of Orochimaru.

     Hinata. One I’ll admit I’m nervous to talk about, given that yours and mine are so different, but I guess that’s the point!

     Hinata’s main struggle is, of course, with her family. Unlike Sasuke, who at least had his mother and brother for a time…Hinata eventually lost all of her “allies”. There’s no canon information about her mother. Her father has nothing but disdain for her. While the anime expanded slightly on her early bond with Hanabi, that’s not present in the manga: they’re shown only as rats in a cage vying for a position dangled over their heads. Neji hates her out of principle due to a barbaric practice put into place by her family. Hinata is left with no one to turn to…until she starts at the Academy.

     There she finds inspiration in Naruto: someone who embodies a kind of confidence…though largely, I think, fake at first. Developed out of rebellion if nothing else, rather than actually believing in himself. But she starts to strive for that. To become someone that others will recognize.

     She makes further progress when joining a team, but it’s clear she still struggles. A past like hers isn’t so easy to move on from: it left lasting impressions in her mannerisms, her speech patterns, and her confidence in herself as a shinobi.

     Her growth is largely handled off-screen. We find she’s developed her own jutsu, but it’s not shown. Nor is her leap in self-assurance. She risks her life for the boy she believes she loves, only to be given no resolution to her confession. It’s completely disregarded by canon and Naruto. In the war, she’s given a few key moments, but is still overshadowed by others. And her main relationships are then patched over post-699. Suddenly she’s married to Naruto. Her relationship with her father is supposedly fixed, as with her sister. There’s nothing about her clan abolishing the Caged Bird seal…nothing. All of her problems are seemingly smoothed over, again off screen (unless you count the movie that attempted to patch the holes…but was largely inefficient, imo).

     ALAS touches on the Caged Bird seal, what with Neji being a practice revival and returned favor from Ryū to Hinata. The practice is abolished, but can’t be reversed on those already branded. She does not retake her position as heiress, but instead focuses on helping guide her sister alongside Neji to better their clan. She no longer works on her progress for anyone but herself.

     Hinata loves the penguins at the zoo. They’re cute, good swimmers, and adorably clumsy. They remind her of herself, in some ways.

     Shisui…oh Shisui. Yet another character reduced to a convenient plot device. It must be why he and Mey’s Rin get along so well!

     Shisui, as beloved as he is (surprising, given his extremely short amount of screen time in the manga (and doctoring up in the anime)), is a character we know practically nothing about beyond his being Itachi’s best friend. No information about his parents, any siblings, or any bonds at all beyond that with his cousin(s). His mother ended up being one I made a muse for: Uchiha Manami, elder sister to Mikoto and guardian of Ryū in the ALAS verse when friends and I collaborated the storyline together…though she was taken after the Kyūbi incident citing those new “bloodline adoption” laws Konoha so conveniently began to enforce.

     But otherwise, Shisui was largely left as a rather blank slate beyond being used to further Itachi’s narrative and angst. Something I, as a narrative creator, took ahold of with my greedy hands. In canon, he has his fair share of horror. His attempts to bring peace foiled by a man determined to undermine him for his own goals: that being totalitarian-style “peace”…and hoarding Uchiha eyes. One of which he’d already stolen (supposedly) from his teammate, Kagami, and then another from Shisui. Assuming he was going to die, Shisui used that opportunity to help Itachi in the last few ways he could: to give him intel about Danzō, gift him another Sharingan, and help awaken Itachi’s Mangekyō by bringing the pain of his death.

     …but I found that solution extremely lackluster. So I changed it. As I’m wont to do.

     Given the ages Itachi and Sasuke were, supposedly, during the massacre, it happened sometime between Itachi’s thirteenth birthday (June ninth) and Sasuke’s eighth (July twenty-third). This means it was likely during the height of Summer, when rivers are often slow, and low in water levels. Something I’m sure Shisui would realize, so why leave his body’s fate to chance in a shallow river so close to Konoha, and thus his newest enemy?

     Why, because he didn’t plan on dying there. If Itachi had any inkling Shisui would live, he would have done something about it, and missed out on his power upgrade. Shisui fakes his death to fool even his best friend, so that no one is left knowing he’s alive, and in a position to hopefully better dispose of himself. Staying meant exposing Danzō, and possibly igniting war anyway.

     But ensuring your death is both clean and hidden while completely blind and suffering from blood loss? Not exactly easy. So instead he took to hiding…and ended up doing so for ten years. Which, as mentioned in Itachi’s piece, ended up with some rather mixed reactions when - after the massacre is revealed, and his life no longer means outing must-be-kept secrets - Shisui makes his way back to Konoha. And like Itachi, he too lives with a guilt about his actions and the subsequent consequences regarding his clan, the village, and Sasuke.

     Shisui’s favorite zoo exhibit…I could say bats, which he learns sensory skills from during his time in hiding in ALAS, but my first thought was actually bears. Any kind of bear. Because they’re big and look cuddly, but can rip your head off. Which reminds him of himself, in a few ways. But maybe slightly less likely to rip off any heads.

     WELP, that’s over 2500 words of bullhonkey. If anyone actually reads all this, I will be amazed. I almost had an existential crisis when Tumblr reloaded on me while doing Shisui’s part…that’s why you always save drafts often, kids. You never know when you’ll lose what you’ve written!

[chemicalmagecraft]

I Would Totally Kick Jiraiya’s Butt Chapter 15

Usagi

"I'm tellin' ya, boss, it was some kinda monster," the now one-armed bandit explained to his leader as another bandit bandaged his bleeding stump. "It did... something to Koji, and he turned into some sorta zombie."

"And did either of those monsters rip off your arm?" the red-haired woman asked impassively. Ah yes, she would do nicely. Her body was compatible enough with my power that I wouldn't have to worry about replacing it for a while and she appeared to be an awful human being, so I wouldn't have any guilt from ending her life. Despite her looks she was definitely not an Uzumaki, so I had no reason to worry about that, either. I was currently in the process of extending a light telepathic touch into all the minds present, sorting through their memories to find a way to possess her, as well as stealing what procedural memories of theirs that I found useful.

He shook his head, a fearful look in his eye. Perhaps I was a bit too harsh on him... "No, Koji bit me. I ran, and..." He shuddered. "My arm... it went numb, and the same weird markings that appeared where the... thing... touched Koji started to appear on my arm. I... I didn't risk it."

"Wise," the bandit leader said. He smiled weakly at her.

An then one of her knives was buried in his gut. "Don't take any risks," she murmured into his ear as he breathed his last. That poor, sweet fool. Well, not sweet. If there was any word that could describe her less, I had yet to find it from my delving into her or her subordinates' minds. My point, though, is that a zombie is much harder to kill than a normal man. The red markings sprouted from his good arm, and with inhuman speed the freshly-made monster sank its new claws into the man who was bandaging it just moments ago. The woman snarled as the markings spread across both zombies. She managed to decapitate the original, but my second zombie evaded her blade and shambled toward another bandit, which it bit. I let a few of the bandits survive, but my small-scale zombie apocalypse led to the deaths of most of the scofflaws.

The leader of what was now considerably fewer bandits slammed her fist on the wall in rage as she surveyed the corpses left behind. "Damn," she growled as they dissolved into red dust. "At least they won't be coming back..."

"You do care, boss!" one of the survivors cheered.

"I don't care one bit about you idiots and if I hadn't just lost most of my men I'd have killed you for that moronic comment," she said coldly. She meant it, too. "We need to recruit, and that means we need more money. Secure the base, we can't leave anyone on guard." If I had a mouth, I'd have smiled. I needed the practice, after all. Their hideout was an abandoned mine, secluded and buried in a mountain. Not to mention the gold stored within, even if I would want to give some back to the villages they were stealing from. And they were leaving it for me. How thoughtful.

kukukuku~

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Neji asked me.

I shrugged and licked my lips. "Not gonna get any better at fighting by going easy," I said.

"Yeah, but you pretty much need your powers to take me down if I activate Furnace." Neji's pseudo-jinchuriki power. We started calling it Furnace because with how unique it was it pretty much deserved a unique name. Technically, his red chakra reserves were abysmal. However, we found out that whenever he exerted himself he could activate it to essentially let himself generate more, though he'd only keep it for so long when not exerting himself.

End result, his power steadily grew the longer he fought. He also gained power each time he hit or was hit. It had a few limitations and placed strain on his body the more he used it, but as far as I knew he could theoretically fight a bijū if he built up enough, maybe even Kaguya. That'd probably kill him, though...

"And how else am I supposed to change that?" I asked. I got into my stance. "Let's do this before I change my mind."

His eyes turned red, with a white slit pupil because of his Byakugan. "Your funeral..."

A few moments later...

"Owwwww," I groaned. "My... pride..."

"I didn't even get warmed up at all," Neji smugly remarked from where he was sitting on my spine, pinning me. I didn't ask him to get up because I was sucking off the last dregs of his red chakra. For whatever reason I couldn't assimilate Furnace, but I could still steal Neji's red chakra to heal myself and stuff.

"You okay, dude?" I asked.

"As I said, I barely got warmed up. My body is fine." After he activated Furnace for the first time, he'd ended up bedridden for an hour because of the strain it put on his body. When he started to test it, he pretended he was fine even though he kept using it past his limits. He ended up too sick to stand for weeks. It was actually around that time that he managed to figure out natural energy manipulation, probably because he was stuck in bed and bored out of his mind for so long. "I probably should let myself cool down for a bit, but I'm assuming you'll want to fight me without Furnace anyways."

I snorted. "Jerk. And here I was worried about you."

He got up. He had an amused smile. "Let's go another round, then."

kukukuku~

"I'm sore," I complained as we walked through the halls.

"You hit me a few times," Neji dismissed.

"You hit me more..."

"And whose fault was that?" I rolled my eyes and lightly punched him on the shoulder. He sage-flicked me. I was about to retort, but I felt a familiar signature when I opened up my senses, so...

"Is that Ino?" I asked, jerking my head in the direction of the compound's main entrance. I knew this was going to happen for a while. I'd been keeping tabs on her in a totally not creepy way because if it. I was also keeping tabs on Sakura, but that was more to see what the effects of that strange power were on her body. She accidentally ripped a door off its hinges more than once, which would've been pretty hilarious if it weren't for the angst it was giving her...

"That feels like her. I wonder why she's here." He used his Byakugan for a moment. I pulled out a compact mirror I'd made to be compatible with my scrying jutsu and looked at her as well. "Does she have a flower?" She was walking up to the door with a flower in her hand, yes.

I sighed. "I'm not good with flowers, but I'm pretty sure that's a forget-me-not. Pretty sure she's here for me, I'll go deal with her."

Neji insisted on hiding in the background while I greeted Ino, because she wasn't exactly subtle about her childish crush. I really hoped I wouldn't lose her as a friend, though... Just in case, I used my power to try to find the best path forward. I really hoped my life wouldn't become some sort of anti-dating simulator...

I opened the door. "Ino. Why are you here and holding a flower that symbolizes true love?" I'd learned some hanakotoba from her, but to be honest I just knew it from looking ahead in the script.

She smiled and held it out to me. "I came to confess my true love to you, Kouki."

I took a deep breath, trying very, very hard not to sigh. "Ino, no offense, I love you like a friend, but we are both four years old and you have no idea what true love is."

That confused her. "But... you saved me?"

Why do romance stories have to be so romanticized? Don't... don't answer that... "I'm your friend. Of course I saved you. But I don't love you like that and you don't love me like that because as I just said, we're both children."

She lowered the flower. This was a little harsh, but she needed to hear it. "Oh. Yeah. I guess I look stupid to you now, huh?"

I shrugged. "To be fair, you have a level of wisdom appropriate to our age. It just so happens that being wise as a four-year-old is an outlier."

"What?"

"You're a kid. You're allowed to be stupid."

She thought about that for a moment. "So... you're not mad at me or anything?"

"You're my friend. Of course not." I smiled. It probably wasn't the best smile, but at least Ino didn't run in terror... "Hey, if you want, I can show you a really cool jutsu."

She nodded. "Sure!" As I walked past, I gave Neji a smug grin when I saw his jaw on the floor. I'm sure he was expecting some kind of awkwardness.

To be fair, so was I.

kukukuku~

Chikage

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed as he returned to his room after a long day of paperwork. Even with a shadow clone, it was just so slow. Seriously, I was so bored, and I was just watching over his shoulder! I can't even imagine having to do paperwork... He closed the door, locking it. "You're here, aren't you, Kouki?" Half right. Eh, I'll give it to him.

His shadow moved to be in front of him. "How perceptive of you," my voice seemed to come from the shadow. I couldn't exactly speak when my body was literally flat against the wall, but I could very much trick people's brains into thinking I could. My arm peeled off of the floor, keeping its pitch coloration. I raised my other arm, then used them to "pull" myself off of the floor, still in the form of a shadowy Hokage. I did a few stretches. "Man, staying in one shadow for hours kills my back, apparently. I don't even know how that works, considering the fact that I don't even have a form as a shadow..." I changed back to my humanoid form and licked my lips.

"I know that Kouki is responsible in some way, but what are you?" he asked me.

"Rude," I said, faux-offended. "You don't hear me asking you humans what you are. Though to be fair I already know."

He frowned. "You're like Kouki, but not quite. Who are you, then?"

"Did I really never tell you about me?" I paused and thought for a moment. "Or would it be better to ask if we never told you about me... I'm still not sure how pronouns work with our unique situation..."

"What, exactly, is the answer to my question?"

I shrugged. "I'm Kouki and Kouki is me. We're two halves of the same whole, at the moment."

"What are you..." He frowned and closed his eyes. "Red chakra?" he said when he opened them.

I nodded. "I've been purified of almost all of my humanity, the same as how Kouki's removed most of the red chakra from himself. He's weaker, I'm stronger, and because we're two separate entities we have independent thoughts and can be in two places at once, as you can tell. And we can recombine at any time." I sat down in midair. "Call me Chikage."

"I suppose that that makes sense... That sounds like a useful jutsu. Though why are you a girl?"

I examined my blackened claws. "Why not?"

"And I suppose that's also why you're wearing a frilly dress?"

"It's called gothic lolita, and the best thing about being made of chakra is the fact that I can more or less freely shapeshift. Now, sit down." I gestured behind him, where I'd pulled up a chair without him noticing. I also made an illusion that made both his chair and the air I was sitting on look like identical, ornate seats. "We have business to attend to."

"The Uchiha massacre, I assume?" I nodded. A table with a deck of fancy-looking cards "appeared" in between us. I really love genjutsu.

"In one year today Itachi will be forced to kill his entire clan, with the exception of his brother." I picked up the top card from the deck and flipped it over. The Tower. "And obviously we would prefer this not to happen." I reversed the position of the Tower. "But of course, there is a problem." I flipped over the next card, Judgement.

He sighed. It seemed he got my message. "The public is being turned turned against the Uchiha, which is in turn turning the Uchiha against the public. Until we stop that all we can do is delay the massacre..." I revealed the third card, The Devil, with Danzō as its subject. "Yes. Even though we haven't tipped our hands yet and he hopefully doesn't suspect us, Danzō is still fighting us."

"There are two paths that you can take to deal with him." I reversed the position of the Devil, causing the illustration's face to soften. "First, you could make him see the light, show him how much he's tearing the village apart to 'protect' it. Maybe you can do it because you used to be friends or something, but to be honest I doubt it, which leaves the second option." A black flame sparked from my finger, setting the Devil card ablaze. It disappeared without a trace. "Either way, he needs to be neutralized. I take it he's good at covering his tracks, considering the fact that he's made an attempt on your life without retaliation?"

"Of course. And I take it he'd use it as evidence of my 'senility' if I attempted to pin him on it without enough evidence?"

"My eyes don't show it, meaning there's no possibility of us attempting it. Probably, though." I cocked my head. "If I were to, I don't know, figure out a way to take other objects with me when I shadow travel and use that to steal all kinds of incriminating evidence, would that work?"

He nodded. "That would work. I'll proceed assuming you don't, with how that was a hypothetical, though."

I sighed. "Yeah, that's about right. If we fail, though, I have one last idea." I revealed The Hanged Man, reversed, with Uchiha Shisui modeling for mister four-legs. "If we stop Danzō's attack on Shisui, then he can use Kotoamatsukami on the Uchiha. It's not ideal, but it's a contingency."

"Yes, that sounds good. Unless there's anything else, you may leave." I faded into the shadows, taking my illusions with me.

kukukuku~

Usagi

"Alright everyone!" one of the bandits shouted. "You know the drill by now, your money is ours! Give it up easily and we won't kill you!" The townspeople were afraid, but they'd clearly been through this before.

"Will you really?" I asked. "You may find some trouble with that."

"Who are you?" the leader asked me.

"You would already know," I said as I strolled across the road to her, "had you not murdered my puppet."

"Ah, so you're the monster he talked about." She sneered at me and drew her daggers. "You killed my men."

"I did nothing of the sort," I retaliated. "I mutated them, controlled them. You were the ones who killed them."

"All the same, you'll die."

"To be honest I am not entirely sure I can die." I slowly removed my gloves from my hands and placed them in the bag under my cloak.

"I'll test it for you, then."

"You may be able to destroy this body, but my essence has already soaked your hideout. I believe I should be able to resurrect myself, as it were."

She smiled a sadistic smile. "I'm fine killing you over and over again until it sticks." She lunged at me, daggers flashing. I yanked back my sleeve and used my bare arm to block. I wasn't going to be needing my arm much longer, but I wanted to preserve the cloak. Her daggers sank into the stone of my arm, as I had made it softer. I wanted the knives as well. I capitalized on the bandit leader's momentary confusion to take off my mask and jam it onto her face. The last thing she saw before her life ended was a glowing red pearl on the backside of the mask.

I retrieved my new knives from my old arm, then took my cloak for my new body. Luckily, my new body wasn't too much larger than my old one, so the cloak still fit well enough. Along with the cloak, I'd palmed the other demon pearl (a pearl-shaped demon sage core) from my old body, causing it to crumble back into dirt within moments of me putting the cloak back on. I took my bag from the dirt and shook it off.

"Boss?" one of the bandits asked. "You okay?"

I slowly reached up to my mask and grasped the bottom. It cracked at the mouth such that the entire bottom was smoothly removed. I stored the bottom back in my bag, though, just in case I should come to need it. With my new mouth and the bottom of my nose uncovered, I took a deep breath, as if my first in a century. "No, I do not believe she is," I said. "For one, her mind and soul have been wiped from this body."

"What the hell even are you!?"

"To be perfectly honest I'm not quite sure. I do know one thing, though." With an organic body, I no longer had problems with agility. And in particular, this new body was trained for rapid movement. As such, the two bandits nearest me were bisected in a flash with red-glowing knives, as if through butter. Their bodies dissolved into the same red dust that the other bandits' corpses had. "You are dead. Now, are the rest of you willing to fight, or will you run in terror?" They ran in terror.

"Who are you?" a villager cautiously asked me a few minutes after I sheathed my knives. The villagers were understandably quite afraid of me.

"My name is Usagi." With the bandits gone, I'd switched to a small, personable smile. "If you wait, I should be able to bring you the money those bandits took from you."

"Thank you."

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ @sasuhinabigflash2020​​ || Day Fifteen: Turnip Soup ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Yamanaka Ino, Haruno Sakura ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ] [ AO3 Link ]

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For the first time in far too long, Hinata is having a girls’ day. And not just any girls’ day, but a potluck to boot!

With everyone’s busy schedules, getting a day to align to allow the four of them to meet up has been ridiculously difficult. Between Sakura’s haphazard shifts at the hospital to Ino’s work with the interrogation department to Tenten’s shop, coordinating has been a nightmare. Hinata, for her part, has tried to be flexible. Her work with Sasuke and the rest of the Hyūga to keep the civilians of Konoha safe hasn’t exactly been easy, but her new husband does his best to accommodate her.

So, finally, after weeks of near-misses, they have a day: Saturday. And Ino, with her connections to Konoha parks’ botanical group, managed to arrange a private spot in one of the village’s largest public gardens for the afternoon.

It’s going to be perfect!

And Hinata has gone all-out. Rising at the crack of done to have it finished in time, she’s made an old recipe of her mother’s: homemade turnip soup. Alongside from-scratch cinnamon buns, she’s sure to contribute to the miserable fullness they’ll all be feeling by the end of the day. She packs up bowls and utensils for her share, double checking she has everything she needs.

“Ready to go?”

Turning to Sasuke, she gives him a bright smile. “I think so! Sorry you can’t come…”

“It’s called a girls’ day for a reason. And I’m not sure I’d fit in, regardless.”

At that, Hinata pouts. “Of course you would. But...maybe you and the rest of the guys could have a day to get together…?”

Sasuke’s expression immediately sours. “Not sure I’d enjoy their idea of a ‘fun’ evening. Probably pigging out on greasy food and cheap beer.”

A giggle escapes her. “You’re probably right...still, I feel bad.”

“Trust me, I don’t feel slighted.” A hand threads fingers in her hair, resting against the rear of her head to steady her as lips gently press to her brow. “Go have fun.”

She beams softly. “Okay...I left you a portion of soup for supper, okay?”

“Thanks, Hinata.”

“Bye!” Giving a little wave, she packs up her things and heads out the door.

As per usual, the Konoha Summer has been hot. And today is no exception. Despite her demure style, Hinata has deemed a sundress necessary attire for the heat. White with a bit of lilac floral print, it’s still decent enough for her tastes. Reaching her knees with a medium neckline, the straps are several inches wide. Enough to keep cool, but not too much for her self-conscious self. Flat white sandals replace her typical on-duty boots. She even went so far as to paint her nails a soft lavender color.

And to top it all off, she’s got a wide-brimmed white hat to shade her face, accented with a purple ribbon.

...okay, maybe she put a lot of thought into this outfit, but...she wants to look nice! Especially since Ino always looks pretty...while Hinata’s not usually the dress-up sort, there’s a sort of unspoken sizing up whenever the four of them meet. Tenten pretends not to care with her tomboy attitude, but even she has her feminine moments alongside rough-and-tumble Sakura.

She just...wants to fit in, is all. Doesn’t matter how old they get, they’re still victims of their own vanities...some just more than others.

Pushing all those thoughts aside, Hinata brightens as she spots her friends. Sakura and Ino are already present, Tenten nowhere yet to be seen. “Hi guys!”

The pair turn and smile back. “Hinata-chan!” Ino greets jovially, waving her over. “Wow, you went all out, huh?”

“W-well, I...I really love to cook,” she explains sheepishly. “I brought soup a-and dessert!”

“I thought I smelled cinnamon,” Sakura agrees with a grin. “You’ve always made those!”

The pink in Hinata’s cheeks gets a little darker. “They’re...my favorite…”

“Well, I’m trying to watch my diet but I think I can cheat just one,” Ino replies, arms folding. “No one can pass up Hinata-chan’s baking.”

“Chyeah!” the rosette agrees.

“Any word from Tenten yet…?” Hinata then asks, setting her basket of goodies and wares on the table.

“Sadly she had to back out last minute,” Sakura sighs. “Apparently some important officer under the daimyō just sent in an order for a dress sword, and she needs to fill it as soon as possible.”

The Hyūga wilts a bit. “I see…”

“I swear, we’re just cursed to always have at least one person unable to come,” Ino sighs, taking a seat and draping one leg over the other.

“Someday we’ll manage it.” Taking out a large pitcher of premade tea, Sakura pours them all a glass. “We can put some of all our stuff together and take it to her place for her after, so she doesn’t miss out.”

“Oh, g-good idea!”

With that, the typical small talk begins as food is dished out: catching up on all the goings-on in their lives. Sakura moans about how busy the hospital remains. “The more hours the more pay of course, but it hardly leaves me any free time! I’m almost as bad as Naruto now with how little I’m home,” she pouts, leaning her chin in a hand.

“Well, at least neither of you are sitting there alone too often,” Ino replies, sipping her tea.

“Yeah, but I’d rather we both just have more time off.”

“You know, you both control your own schedules.”

“We’re both workaholics,” is Sakura’s sheepish admission. “Someday we’ll slow down a bit, but right now we’re in our primes!”

“I know what you mean,” Hinata offers politely. “Sasuke and I hardly ever take time off. Even with all of the Hyūga we have signed up for the community watch force, it seems we’re always needed somewhere.”

“Well, Sasuke’s the founder after all. Since Shisui’s working with the Hokage, he’s really the only Uchiha people can rely on themselves.” Ino tilts her head curiously. “And you might not be heiress by name, but your clan still has massive respect for you and your abilities. Of course they’d rely on you, too.”

At the compliment, Hinata’s head ducks demurely, blushing. “...I suppose so…”

“How’s Hanabi been holding up?”

“Well! She’s, well...she’s bored with her lessons, but she’s always been a bit...easily distracted,” Hinata laughs. “But she takes her role seriously. And I know she’s relying on Neji-nīsan for guidance.”

“Any lingering problems with him?”

“Thankfully no, he recovered very well.”

“Thank the gods for that,” Sakura sighs. “One hell of a risky procedure, but...well, we all know how stubborn she is.”

“...I’ll never be able to repay her,” is Hinata’s quiet reply.

“Not sure a debt is the point, though. Besides, the main thing is he’s okay. Now if only he’d get off his high horse and propose to poor Tenten already.”

“He wants to! It’s just, um...complicated. Clan traditions and all that.”

“But what about you and Sasuke?”

“That was mostly excused due to the alliance,” Hinata sighs. “There’s only two Uchiha left, but...he’s technically still clan heir, so my father convinced the council it was still proper. It took some convincing for him too, though.”

“Ugh, so glad I don’t deal with any clan nonsense,” Sakura mutters lowly, stirring the last dredges of her soup. “Seems like such a pain.”

“Depends on the clan,” Ino offers with a shrug. “None of my team, despite us all being heirs, were pushed into marriages into the clan.”

“The Hyūga are probably the most, um...antiquated clan in the village,” Hinata admits with a disappointed set of her lips. “I have to wonder what Hanabi will do when the time comes…”

“Oh I doubt anyone’s gonna tell her what to do, the little spitfire.”

“Probably not, but that will still cause q-quite the stir.”

“Your clan’s had lots of stirrings since the war. It’s good for them,” Ino quips, taking a bite of cinnamon bun. “I still can’t believe it took so long to abolish the houses…”

“Well, after Neji-nīsan’s actions, it couldn’t really be ignored anymore,” Hinata agrees quietly.

“Then your big role in the ousting of the rest of the old council. Now that was awesome.” A wide grin grows over Sakura’s face. “I’ll never forget that.”

“Indeed. I’m just glad Sasuke and his family got the closure they were denied for so long…” Hinata’s eyes drop to the table somberly. “It still b-breaks my heart to think about it.”

“...yeah…”

A muted silence falls over the group of them for a time.

“...well, I don’t know about you two, but I’m full of both food and gossip,” Ino then announces, leaning back with a satisfied sigh. “Amazing soup and buns, Hinata-chan.”

“T-thank you!”

“You’ll have to share the recipes!”

“You can’t cook to save your life, Dekorīn,” Ino laughs.

“That’s what practice is for, Ino-buta!”

Smiling sheepishly, Hinata waves a hand. “I-I’ll get you both copies.”

Tidying up after themselves (and putting together Tenten’s box, which Ino agrees to deliver), the trio stand and chat a little longer before parting ways. Evening is settling over the village, and Hinata sighs contentedly in the cooling air.

It was a nice day.

Arriving home, she calls out her arrival, Sasuke replying from inside.

“You’re early.”

“...am I?”

“I thought you’d be gone longer is all. Had your soup.”

“Oh! Was it good…?”

“Very. You’ll have to teach me.”

At that, Hinata gives a smile. “...I’d be happy to.”

     Woo, some slice of life fluff! Not so much centered on Sasuke this time around, but Hinata can always use more love. As can her bonds with the other girls! Still bugs me how little we got to see them all interact in canon...      Otherwise though, a simple little piece, nothing too special~ Another hot as heckie day so that’ll be all from me for now, but once the heatwave’s over I want to try to catch back up again lol      On that note though, I’d best head off for the night. Thank you for reading!

[fizzypunks]

an ache deeper than this

fandom: naruto word count: 3.7l/complete rating: t

AO3 summary: shikamaru is feeling old and achy on the way back from a mission, and neji gives him a massage.

 “We’ll make a camp here for tonight,” Neji said, looking up to the sky and the setting sun. Twenty-five minutes till sundown, and two more days left till their team reached The Village Hidden in the Leaves.

 Two days till home, after over two weeks of mission. Shikamaru could have sighed in relief, but he didn’t -- though he was relieved, he felt like he’d been whittling down his stamina a lot more these days, and he didn’t want to sound too happy at the prospect of rest. He’d save his sighs and complaining for      slightly     bigger things than settling down for the night.

 Hinata stopped a couple of branches behind them, and a quick glance showed that she was surveying their area. Her eyes relaxed, with a little smile shot toward Shikamaru. “No one’s following, and there’s no one flanking.”

 Shikamaru smiled back — he never had to be concerned about their surroundings, not when he was with two Hyuugas.

 Lee looked into the same sky, the same direction, and patted Neji on the back. “That is a good call, Neji! The night is swiftly on its way, and we are in a good location to set up camp! We have done a great deal of traveling!”

 Neji laughed, looking down to the grass below his branch. “Indeed, Lee. I’ll leave the tents for you.”

 “Leave it to me! It will be ready in half an hour!”

 Lee dropped to the forest floor, followed by Kiba and Akamaru. Neji and Shikamaru shared a bemused glance. Of this promise, they had no doubt it would be fulfilled, and fulfilled fast.

 ~

 When Shikamaru wants to complain about pains, aches, and other physical issues that seem to follow him around like a persistent pet, he has to remind himself to not call it a factor of old age. That just wasn’t possible. He knew it, and if he were to say it, it would make him sound more whiny than he cared to be these days.

 It’s just the way of a ninja -- who cares if he’s 21, he’s been an active shinobi since he was 12. He’s lived through war, too many S-rank missions to count, and plays an active role fulfilling academy duties such as dodging hyperactive students with weapons. He’s a seasoned shinobi, and he has the scars (and joints) to prove it.

     You’re not old, you’re a ninja.  

 That still doesn’t make the aches and tightness in his shoulder any better -- knowing the cause doesn’t prevent it from happening. Short of retiring, which he didn’t see coming any time soon,      this     was going to be his life. He was going to have to get used to it.

 Maybe he can grumble. A little bit.

 “Nara,” came the calming voice to pull him from his thoughts.

 Shikamaru looked up from the log he was backed against, eyes focusing in on the Hyuuga in front of him. The sky blended into his long, restrained hair, and the calm fire lit behind him brought a glow to his white robes. His hands were in his pockets, and from his flat expression, it wouldn’t be easy to assess his demeanor.

 Shikamaru smiled, which in turn brought one from Neji.

 “Nara? You haven’t called me that in a while.”

 “You haven’t complained in a while, either, so I figured I’d check in.”

 “You’re such a good squad leader. Thanks, captain.”

 Neji’s eyes shifted to the side, a self satisfied smile replacing the gentle one before. “Don’t call me that.”

 Shikamaru laughed, propping his arms over the back of the log. He liked this. He      missed     this. He sees Neji often enough, but by misfortunes way, they often take on different missions. This shared mission, it would seem, is a blessing. Even if it was more trouble than it was worth, but it was also an incredible peace of mind to be side-by-side with him and not just waiting to be reunited.

 That was more common than not, too.

 Neji sat down on the same log Shikamaru rested against, just to the left of him. His robes were sullied with the regular wear and tear of a mission, and due to the nature of their combatants in the land of earth, the edges of his pants were singed and blackened.

 Shikamaru reached out and rolled the material between his fingers, watching parts of it break off. “Did you consider that maybe there’s nothing to complain about?”

 Neji looked down to him, then sighed. “This mission is long, got derailed, took longer than anticipated, and no one has slept in a bed in two weeks. I’d consider that… troublesome.”

 Shikamaru chuckled, dropping the hem of his pant leg. His eyes turned toward the fire, where Lee, Kiba, and Hinata roasted veggies. “Hmm. You have a point.”

 Neji rested a hand on Shikamaru’s shoulder, and Shikamaru tried not to flinch. He thought he must have done a good job, since Neji didn’t comment on it. He just squeezed, gazing out to their friends at the far side of camp.

 “When we’re home, it’s possible we might have to take on another S-rank. Kakashi already told me that he got word of missionaries out in the Mist, and he doesn’t want to send genin or chunin.”

 Shikamaru couldn’t help it this time, he had to sigh - he      had     to, in some way, let out his frustrations, and nothing was appropriate except for the soft tufts of tension that need to be released from his body.

 This life was clearly not made with him in mind -- he could do it, but it was a pain.

 “What a drag.”

 Neji squeezed again. “Indeed.”

     Man, my shoulder hurts -- what the fuck did I do to it?  

 Kiba and Akamaru were wiped too, because Lee was animatedly talking to him and Kiba was only nodding in agreement. Hinata, with a bowl of food in hand, was more engaged in the conversation, smiling and nodding along as Lee continues his story.

 They were far enough that the two of them couldn’t hear any details, just tones, just exclamations. It was sort of heart-warming, if Shikamaru ponders on it. Walking away from a mission that took blood and sweat and tears (Lee’s, admittedly, but tears nonetheless), only to be sitting with your friends and teammates in a tranquil evening of rest.

 It’s nice, seeing everyone you love alive.

 “So, which shoulder is it?”

 Neji’s hand was still resting on him, atop his jacket, and Shikamaru was again removed from his thoughts.

 “Hmm? What?”

 Neji shot an annoyed glance downward. “Where are you hurting? And don’t tell me you’re not, you’ve been favoring your left arm and side all day.”

     Ah    ,      to think a Hyuuga wouldn’t see… that Neji wouldn’t know. Should’a figured.  

 “It’s not that bad.”

 “But it hurts?”

 Shikamaru laughed, looking up to Neji and trying to be annoyed and finding that he couldn’t. Neji could frustrate him, call him on his shit, or generally be a pain to deal with on missions, but Shikamaru couldn’t find it in himself to be annoyed. “... A little bit, I guess.”

 “Take off your jacket,” Neji said immediately, like all he needed was a reason.

 Shikamaru obliged, and he removed his flak jacked with all the care in the world. Sitting down, having a chance for his body to relax and not move, had set his muscles into a calm state that did not take kindly to being interrupted.

 The sharp pains running down his back, his scapula, and his neck were renewed. He gasped when his jacket was freed from his shoulders. “Damn it,” he sighed, setting it off to the side.

 “I thought you said it wasn’t that bad?”

 Shikamaru shook his head. “It isn’t,” he insisted, but he didn’t try to sound convincing.

 It was Neji’s turn to sigh. In a quick and quiet motion, he stood, hitching a leg around the log so that he could sit behind Shikamaru. Shikamaru sat on the ground, a long leg on either side of him.

 Shikamaru immediately tensed when he realized what Neji had in mind, and looked over his shoulder with an expression he hoped wasn’t too surprised. “      Neji    ,” he said, not quite a whisper, but through tense lips. “They’re…”

 Neji took it all in amusement. “Kiba and Hinata are nearly asleep, and there’s no force in the world that will make Lee observant enough to notice.”

 His hands came up to lay gently across Shikamaru’s shoulders, no force behind them, just intent and awaiting action. Shikamaru wanted it in his heart, his muscles begged for a massage that would bring an end to their ache, but the type of person he is has      never     made him feel relaxed in the face of public displays of affection...

 They’ve been together for three years, and everyone knows this, and he will      still     feel himself grow stiff at the thought of being open or vulnerable in public. His ears still would warm if he’s caught in the middle of a kiss…

     It’s a damn curse.  

 Neji’s hands, all soft angles and long digits, rose up the sides of his shoulder, encouraged to do so with the silence Shikamaru granted him, rather than complaints and arguments. They climbed just to the length of skin between his shoulder and his neck. He leaned down, head dipping to the right, his lips ghosting the shell of Shikamaru’s ear. “Can I let down your hair?”

 Shikamaru’s face felt warm -- too warm, too fast. He nodded, eyes forward in anticipation. It was dumb, but he’s just... never been the type to be vulnerable in public -- and      never    on a mission. But he nodded all the same, because Neji’s hands were convincing in any circumstance, and maybe this little log, far away from camp, was private enough.

 The sounds from the campfire kept steady, a gentle scene of friendly stories and muffled laughter.

 “Thank you,” Neji whispered, and he quickly did away with the band in Shikamaru’s hair. He combed through the mass, making sure to not catch in any knots so it could lay flat.

 “That’s nice,” Shikamaru sighed, surrendering to him despite their circumstance.

 Neji carded through his hair, gently and with great care. He was slow, and the feeling was like a calm shore lapped at by little waves. And when he brought his fingertips to trace long paths down his head, Shikamaru definitely didn’t mind at all.

 “Don’t stop…”

 He pushed the lengths to drape over Shikamaru’s right shoulder, and Shikamaru opened his eyes, not having remembered closing them at all. Neji began pressing the tips of his fingers into the knots in his shoulders. “How about after a massage?”

 Ah, yes. That’s what he was supposed to be doing. “Oh… yeah, yeah.”

 Neji chuckled, and the sound was like a hit to the gut. “I’m sorry I distracted you,” and before Shikamaru was able to disagree, he pressed his thumbs into tender muscles. “Now, relax.”

 “Mmm,” Shikamaru winced, thumbs grazing over inflamed muscle and painful nerves.

 “Tell me where.”

 “Right where you are is      perfect    ,” and this was the way it was, he was already sinking back into Neji’s hands, eyes fluttering shut again with each passing second.

 Neji’s hands were familiar, gentle and rough in a perfect harmony that was known only to Shikamaru. He’d never experienced a place that felt safer than within the hold of these hands, and      this    embrace.

 His shoulders fell, by inches, but in magnitude it was like the tensions of a bridge held taut on ropes too worn      finally     giving away. He didn’t even know how      bad     they felt, not until he could move them without also being in discomfort. The tenderness remained, but that, too, was lessening with every squeeze.

 “Your muscles are so tense…” and he pushed a thumb deep into his scapula, a tight roll of knots lighting up under his thumb.

 Shikamaru whimpered, head tilting in favor of his left, and tried to unscrew his eyes as the pain passed. “I know… well, I know      now    , but I didn’t realize I was this --”

 A press, and a loud      pop     between his back ribs.

 “--      hnn --    tense…”

 “You should stretch with me at home.”

 “We’ve tried that…”

 “If you try with me, I’ll make sure you don’t corner me again.”

 Shikamaru smirked, the memory bringing a spark of heat to his stomach. Ghost pains of kneeling behind Neji on his bare knees came back like a blaze, but he didn’t hate it. “Suit yourself.”

 Neji chuckled again.

 When he gets past the stupid part of his brain that insists he’s doing something he shouldn’t, and publicly doing it despite it being easily viewed, Shikamaru admits that it’s not that bad. Granted, their teammates were still a distant thought that didn’t pay them any attention, but still -- he enjoyed the fact that he was able to get away from the pain in his body.

 Neji’s hands are like home, coaxing and pulling him into comfort. He opens his eyes just a sliver, peering out from his sleepiness and tranquility. The lights are little points, blurry beads and circles.

 The ground is hard, he wants fresh clothes, and there’s a creaky forest around them, but with Neji…

     I don’t need anything else.  

 “Neji…” He whispered, leaning toward his thigh. He beckons with a finger, “C’mere.”

 Neji’s hair fell, flowing down into their space, and it was like a curtain, a place that existed between the two of them; another place so familiar, his bones would recognize it no matter what. Neji eyed him from the side, quiet, attentive and awaiting. Shikamaru raised his arm to wrap around Neji’s neck, not to tug or pull or alter in any way except to say      stay    .

 “I owe you.”

 Neji shook his head, but kept his silence with a knowing smile.

 “I do.”

 He kissed Neji’s cheek, ‘cause actions are better than words.

 Neji’s hands start to knead into the conjunction of his shoulder, still under loose restraint of Shikamaru’s arm. A shooting pain issued from each contact point-- little avalanches, little aches releasing themselves from the flesh like tumbling boulders. It hurt, but then the pain gave way to better feelings, fewer pains.

 “Your hands… are so warm,” it was like he couldn’t stop the words. His voice was hoarse and too relaxed for his own liking, since it wasn’t in his house or his bed, and those too tumbled like an avalanche.

 Neji leaned into the skin he was just kneading, lips open in a kiss that only skims the surface -- like what a breath is to a shout, a droplet to a swift river.

 But then he starts to suck, and pool blood into the spot Shikamaru knows will be covered by his jacket. It brings heat to his face as he closes his eyes and leans back into the body behind him. His legs twist, just a bit, and he doesn’t have quite enough will power to not let the tension build in him -- his hips shift, his feet doing all they can not to dig.

 Shikamaru grabs at both calves beside him, squeezing.

     “Don’t do this to me    … they’re over there…”

 Neji’s lips dance further into his shoulder, and a finger tugs his shirt down over the muscled expanse to expose more skin. “I’m watching, they aren’t looking…”

     “Hinata…    ”

 “She never uses it unless she needs to…”

 “Please… you’re gonna… make me too excited…”

 “Hmm,” he laughed, little ripples dancing on his skin. “You look nice like this though…”

 Another wet kiss, another shudder down his spine and straight to his crotch --

     “You’re a fucking menace    ,” Shikamaru hisses.

 Neji laughs and the vibration carries across his skin, and Shikamaru starts to think that this entire thing was a ploy just to mess with him. But then he retreats, slowly and with a small parting kiss to the skin now blooming with a bruise.

 His hands return to their original work, kneading away the tension. “Suit yourself.”

 The hot coil in Shikamaru’s stomach sits in wait, and the hidden breath stuck in his chest came out in a nervous exhale. His heart wasn’t racing but it still surged, and now it too was trying to reconcile returning to normal -- so annoyingly fast did it happen, already bringing him to a state of being needy and tired and yearning.

 Shikamaru rolled his head back, laying in Neji’s lap. “I fucking hate you.”

 “I’m just trying to relax you, it’s not my fault you’re so reactive.”

 They fell into a peaceful silence after a quiet hum of acknowledgment -- before so long, the deep-rooted pain in Shikamaru started to ease, soothed by the heat of Neji’s chakra as he focused on chakra points.

 The sound of silence also came from camp, where talking had slowed and the fire started to sizzle. It was in embers, and the group surrounding it was finally quieting down for a restful night.

 Watching the camp, and enjoying the sense of family that surrounded him, Shikamaru crossed his right hand across his body to rest it on Neji’s. “I wonder if this is what life is gonna look like.”

 “What do you mean?”

 “For years, we’re going to be going on missions, and we’re all going to be waiting for the rest of us to come back. I just wonder…” And he couldn’t take his eyes off the rest of them, nor rip his hand away from Neji.

 “You’re very… sentimental today,” Neji said, leaning into his ear and using his spare hand to run his fingers through his hair again. “Are you okay?”

 Shikamaru nodded, ignoring the goosebumps Neji’s breath brought to him. “Yeah, I’m good. Just feeling old.”

 Neji laughed. “I’m not going to address that since I’m older than you, but if you want my opinion -- yes, I think we’ll be like this.” And then a small kiss, pressed to his cheek. “I think there’s very little in this world that we haven’t dealt with.”

 “I guess you’re right.”

 And because Neji knows what’s at the heart of the issue, the part that’s      really     scary, his voice dropped and Shikamaru was certain he was the only one who could hear him. “And I’ll keep coming back to you, and waiting for you to come back to me.”

 Shikamaru’s grip grew stronger, whiter, like all the pain in his body suddenly relocated into his heart and he had to hold on to      something     to not get lost in it.

 “You better,” Shikamaru said, voice swallowed up in his intention. He didn’t realize how heavy this was.

 “And you’ll come back, too, right?”

 Shikamaru knows he can’t even promise it, yet he feels it in his gut. “Yes,” he responded immediately, forcefully, and his grip became stronger to emphasize.

 The shape of Neji’s breath was a smile, and then a hum. “That’s all I want to hear.”

 Shikamaru leaned into him, and couldn’t help but relish in all the ways Neji was attending to him, giving him all of his attention and assurance. The hand carding gently through his hair was grounding, just like the feeling strong thighs encasing him was comforting, and the deep familiarity of his hair and the floral scent that always clung to it...

 “And,” Neji continued, still as quiet as a whisper. “I can’t wait to get you home.”

 “Gods damn it, Neji,” Shikamaru laughed, shaking his head against the other, ignoring the stoking of the fiery heat within his stomach. “Thank you for being serious for a minute, I guess.”

 “I’m always serious.”

 “Even when you switch topics like that?”

 “Especially when I switch topics to      this    ,” and tugged his hair just a little bit, just enough.

 “Hmm, I guess you can show me,” and he lifts his hand from Neji’s to turn him, by the chin, in his direction, lining up their lips. “Since you wanna be difficult, I --”

 “HEY!”

 Shikamaru dropped his hands, dropped his eyes, dropped his very intentions with every rapid degree of heat that graced his cheeks.

 He looked toward camp in a snap of the neck, feelings stupid for his wide eyes and kick-started heart. Kiba is waving toward them, a clear grin across his face as the others behind him are shuffling to clean the fire.

 “LOVEBIRDS! WE’RE CALLING IT A NIGHT!”

     Why is he so loud?  

 Neji’s body shook with little tremors of laughter, and he knew that Shikamaru would have sounded too annoyed to answer. So he called out. “Sounds good, I’ll be on watch first!”

 Shikamaru knows what he’s doing. He does it all the time.

 Kiba flashed them both a grin, but something about it wasn’t pure and it made Shikamaru want to dig a hole and live in it permanently.

 “Sounds good!”

 “I’ll wake you in two hours.”

 “Yeah, yeah,” he said, turning his back to help put out the fire. But before he did, he shot a look to Shikamaru with a smirk. “Just keep it down, all right? Akamaru’s a light sleeper.”

 And then Shikamaru definitely wanted to be swallowed up by the ground, hitai-ate and all.

 Normally, Neji would be over there, helping, but there was little to do and what there was to be done, was very quick. Lee and Kiba relocated to their tents after their foods were put back in bags, and Hinata to her own tent after she doused the fire with dirt. Neji and Shikamaru stayed as they were, in the few minutes they took to watch their teammates, and it was almost awkward if it weren’t for their friends lack of subtlety.

 They let them have their moment, no questions asked. Shikamaru felt his heart swell again, filled with the unspoken and unconditional love he has with this family. It was a pleasant ache.

 Just a few minutes, and suddenly the dark nature was rich and comfortable and almost absolute around them. A familiar sight in the many years of camping out on missions, the consistent scenery and scents as known to him as the back of his hand. The woods were calm and quiet, and they were alone.

 “So,” Neji started, hands slowed but strengthened, intention growing from his fingertips in every movement. “Not going to bed?”

 Shikamaru relished in the darkness, in the kisses trailing down his neck yet again.

 He smiled into the soft pecks trailing down his neck, this time, and didn’t even pretend to stop them. “It’s a little too early to call it a night, don’t you think?”

 “See, you’re not getting old.”

 “I’ll show you how alive I am,” and Shikamaru kept that promise.

[wingedloverpainter-blog]

Day 3 - Shattered

Kintsukuroi

*Kintsukuroi: (golden repair) it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise

*Furoshiki: Traditional Japanese wrapping art using a piece of cloth

Hyuuga clan used to be like the remaining pieces of some porcelain antique, all of them part of a once same object, but they were not a unit anymore and neither have they functioned as one for a long time; they were just pilled in one spot for someone to pick them up, and ultimately face one of two destinies, get thrown into the garbage, or get repaired, knowing that it would never be the same as before.

The Village of Metal was famous for his versatile works and visited for many reasons by people from all around the world

“Excuse me, but Kintsukuroi is used mostly in pottery, not in dolls” responded the head of the best business for repairing porcelain with this peculiar technique

“Must I look for someone else to do it?” asked the stranger calmly, but there was something unsettling in that voice

“There is no someone else” the man reacted proud and tall “we are the best in the village! if someone can do it, it’s us, but these two are wrecked nearly to dust. It will be pricey and it will take many months, even more than a year”

“I know, I’m patient and I came prepared for your highest price”

They were two dolls once, one of a shinobi and one of a geisha, a gift from her uncle Hizashi on her third birthday. They weren’t really a delicate and rare work, even Hizashi didn’t think too highly of them, but surprisingly, Hinata favored them amongst all of her expensive presents, she used to giggle and raise them into the air making them dance together, running around the Hyuuga compound, absorbed and ignorant of all the misery that house held.

At age eight, her father took the dolls away. She begged long and hard she could keep them just as a mere ornament. She had her way after two months of daily insisting. She received the dolls from her father and got immediately back to her room

One day she returned to her room from practicing with her father, and the dolls weren’t in their place, she desperately looked for them everywhere. She found them in the front yard, held in Neji’s hands

“Ne-n-neji-nii-san, onegai give back the dolls to me”

“Life is not one of your fantasies, and it will never be, so you might as well grow up” he spat to her before smash them into the ground and grind every big piece with his feet, delighted in her face red and the trail of her tears. She didn’t make any questions nor yelled, she didn’t accuse him, she didn’t make a sound apart from her silent weeping; she just waited until he was done and let him walk away. She picked up all the pieces and instead of discarding them for good, she buried them as close to her room as she could

Ten years passed since then, the two youngsters passed many things in that time, including an almost deadly battle for one of them and a world war. After Hiashi died due to injuries, Hanabi did the unthinkable and rejected her place as heir to yield it to her sister.

The elders claimed Hinata as their new leader looking for a real leader to marry her and save them from her soft head and warm heart, but she refused every suitor, contrary to the whole clan belief, she turned out to be as firm as a mountain

“How is the repairing going?” asked the stranger six months after the commission

“The repair is doing mostly well, but some of the pieces are missing or just too little or fragile to resist the procedure and they have to be removed. I hope this is not an inconvenient for you” explained the artisan gingerly

“This is not an inconvenient, get rid of useless pieces as you judge it necessary, I’m confident of your work”

“Wakari mashita”

No one could believe the story of how one day a servant opened the door to the room where Hinata gathered with the elders and members of the Souke to receive yet another complaint about her methods to find all the lords spread in the floor and her, handling a cup of tea, impassive to the mess around her.

She didn’t kill them as such, but none of them were able to live by themselves ever again. The secret of the torturing seal was sealed in their damaged brains and unspeaking mouths, no one ever saw a scroll or a single clue to how to inflict pain through the seal ever again.

“They’re almost done; they just need a replacement for the lost pieces. Which material would you like to use?”

“This one, this is perfect, and more thing…”

After that, she gave the cursed mark to every member of the Souke, including herself; she marked every forehead responsible for perpetuating the unfairness of having brothers and sisters treated like slaves, so they would never forget.

It was so bizarre for Neji to watch the once proud lords and ladies of the clan walk so belittled, so full of shame, hiding their whole faces with curtains of long hair, and all the members of the bouke acting almost freely, while Hinata got rid of her fringes and showed the whole world her new marks, walking tall and full of confidence like never before, as if she didn’t fear vengeance.

One night after a bath, while Neji was tiding up his hair in front of the mirror he realized he had stopped staring at his forehead for over a month, he used to watch it every day, almost inevitably. And in that moment he decided two things, he would shut down any plan of vengeance on Hinata before it was conceived and he would stop using the hitai-ate on his forehead.

“Hinata-sama, may I speak to you?” he asked that very day

“Hai, Neji-nii-san, what is it?” she answered kind and gentle, interrupting the paper job at her desk

“I need to ask your permission to stay in the compound and watch over you and the clan, especially the former Souke members” he firmly stated

“Do you have any suspects on them?” she didn’t look even frightened

“No, but is important to notice any early sign of discontent before anything happens”

“I don’t think they’re too content with losing privileges…but Neji, you’re the right hand of Kakashi-sama, I can’t ask you to stay locked in here now that you’re free to do whatever you want”

“I want to protect you, that’s why I’m asking to do this, and Kakashi has Shikamaru. I want to help change this clan too”

“nii-san” she blushed

As he expected, there were some rebellion attempts, but all of them controlled easily thanks to some eyes sharp as a laser, a brilliant mind, a good caring leadership and the unison of the entire clan.

Nearly two years after such revolution, a package arrived at the Hyuuga compound

“Hinata-sama, I have something for you” he announced with a sincere grin on his face

“For me?” she was more surprised by his attitude than by the fact that he had a gift for her. She carefully opened the beautiful furoshiki envelope and the wooden box. Just as when he shattered the porcelain dolls, he carefully picked up how her features changed when she opened the box to see the same dolls, except they had golden veins where they were broken before; in some parts, the figures had patches of jade, it was obvious that the ones in the forehead were added on purpose

“These are…” she turned her eyes shining in tears to Neji, he was bending over

“Hinata-sama… gomenasai”

“Neji, please rise” he rose, leaving his face down “Arigatou nii-san, you have no idea what this means to me” he could tell for the sound of her voice that she was crying

“It’s me who should thank you, Hinata-sama”

“What I did was only what any decent person would’ve done, you have nothing to thank for…”

“I’m not talking about the clan, although I will be thankful forever for that as well”

“Then, what are you…”

“Thank you for not hating me, after I caused you so much pain”

“Neji” she whispered, she took his face in her hands and kissed his lips briefly. A brief spontaneous and natural moment, very Hyuuga unlikely

“Sumi-masen! Neji, I didn’t mean…!” she got terrified of her own deed and ran away. He held her hand before she could escape

“Hinata”

 “Otou-san, why those dolls have golden wrinkles?” a little Hyuuga boy asked his father

“To remember that once they were broken, and now that they have been repaired, they’re even more valuable” replied Neji

“And why they weren’t thrown away?”

“Because sometimes things are worth restoring, Noboru-chan” Hinata answered reaching her husband and son from behind “Don’t you think they’re beautiful?”

[sariasprincy]

Where it Happened viii - ItaSaku

Part i    Part ii    Part iii    Part iv    Part v    Part vi    Part vii    Part viii (here)       Part ix

Again, thank you @beyondthemoor for pushing me to write better. Much love <3

Where it Happened part viii

The car jerked to an abrupt halt as Sakura threw the shifter into park before the vehicle came to a complete stop. In one fluid motion, she killed the engine and tossed the door open then slammed it closed behind her before she sprinted towards the emergency room entrance. Her boots splashed against the wet concrete as the rain fell overhead, but it went unnoticed as adrenaline charged her nerves and apprehension twisted her lower stomach into sharp knots. She was physically sick with worry and she thought her heart might burst out of her chest it hammered so hard against her ribs but she didn’t slow until she finally entered through the familiar hospital doors.

She made a beeline to the nurses’ desk. “Where is he?”

Mitarashi Anko peered up from the paperwork she had been reading and silently observed her. Her keen eyes were piercing but her usual cockiness was absent as she nodded towards the closest trauma room. “In there.”

Without pausing to give thanks, Sakura followed her direction and nearly slammed the door open in her haste. Inside, the occupants of the room looked up, startled by her abrupt entrance; however, it was Kakashi her gaze sought.

He was sitting upright in the hospital bed and dressed in a hospital gown. His personal clothes were piled in the corner. The riding jacket he always wore was stained red and torn, but it was the deep gash along his brow that gave her concern. Neji had been in the middle of cleaning it, but his hands stilled upon her entrance.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Sakura snapped.

Kakashi winced. “Not so loud.”

Her glower deepened fractionally but she acquiesced as she closed the door softly behind her before she faced him again. She eyed him carefully as she tried to determine the extent of his injuries. He was gingerly supporting one side, but other than a few scraped knuckles and some deep bruises, there didn’t appear to be any life-threatening injuries. The tension in her stomach loosened.

“Have you done x-rays?”

Neji nodded towards the computer before he resumed his work. “Fortunately, nothing was broken,” he told her as she maneuvered towards the digital scans to view them herself. “I am somewhat concerned about this head laceration so I scheduled a head CT. I’ll be taking him up soon.”

As Sakura studied the images on the screen, her remaining anxieties faded. A silent breath of relief passed between her lips before she glanced at the brown-haired Neurosurgeon. “Will you do a Thoracic CT too?”

Neji frowned curiously but it was Kakashi that spoke, “Sakura, I don’t think—.”

“Exactly. You weren’t thinking so you don’t get to have an opinion,” she interrupted sharply. Her dismay had dwindled to be replaced with frustration and a hint of anger. “Your chest hit your handlebars when you flipped over your bike. That’s why you’re favoring your left side.” When he didn’t contradict her, she flickered her gaze back to Neji. “Please schedule the chest CT.”

It was obvious her suggestion was anything but; however, Neji didn’t question her. He quickly wrapped up his work and placed a square of gauze over the wound along Kakashi’s temple before he slipped off his gloves and stood. “I will be back soon to get him,” Neji told her before he soundlessly exited the trauma room.

Sakura waited for the door to close before she turned back to Kakashi. Her mouth pressed into a thin line and her eyes were as hard as emeralds as she waited for him to explain. When he remained silent, she demanded, “Well? What were you thinking taking your motorcycle out in the rain?”

Kakashi’s gaze dropped to absently examine his bloodied knuckles. It was a tense moment before he replied, “It was a bad night.”

Immediately her temper cooled. Even with his vague answer, she knew exactly what he meant and her gaze softened as she loosened her crossed arms. Quietly she wandered around his bed to sit in the chair Neji had been occupying before she searched his face. He purposely avoided her gaze and she frowned to herself as she recognized he was keeping her at arm’s length emotionally.

“Why didn’t you come to see me?” she asked softly. There was no accusation in her tone.

His gaze remained elsewhere but he shook his head. “I didn’t want to burden you.”

She wanted to tell him that plan hadn’t exactly worked out but refrained. He was already guilty and ashamed and angry at himself; there was no reason for her to further push him. She continued to visibly observe him. He didn’t look or sound intoxicated but she needed to hear the words from his own mouth. “Were you drinking?”

This time he did look at her as he snapped his head up and cut his gaze to her. “What? Of course not!”

“Okay,” she said and gently rested her hand on his arm to soothe his indignation.

As his shoulders relaxed again, her gaze turned to the temporary bandage on his brow as she recognized it was already bleeding through. Without a word, Sakura slipped on a pair of gloves before she examined the wound. It was deep and needed a few stitches but it would have to wait until after his CT. She replaced it with a fresh bandage before she turned her focus to cleaning the dirt and gravel from his knuckles.

The time passed in silence as Sakura worked with only the occasional hiss of pain from Kakashi and her whispered apologies. She was just wrapping up his hands when there was a soft knock on the door before Neji popped his head in. “We’re ready for him.”

Sakura nodded her acknowledgement before she pulled her gloves off and stood. However, before she stepped away, Kakashi grasped the hem of her jacket effectively stopping her. Immediately she turned back to him. He shot her a silent, questioning look that she understood only too well and she smiled fondly. “I’m not leaving. I’m going to find Plastics to stitch up your facial lac.”

“You can do it.”

“And have you hold your scar over my head? No, thank you.”

It seemed her light teasing finally broke through for his familiar smirk appeared in the corner of his mouth. “I don’t mind a scar. It’s always a turn on for the ladies.”

“What ladies?”

His only answer was a sly grin before he dropped his grasp on her jacket. An amused smile played on her lips but she didn’t press him as she stepped back to allow Neji and a nurse to prep him for transport. As soon as they were ready, Neji promised her with a page before they wheeled him out of the room.

The moment he was out of sight, Sakura’s smile waned. Her eyes dropped back down to the used gloves in her hand as the tension in the pit of her stomach returned. It wasn’t nearly as predominant as before but she couldn’t shake the feeling of what if as her gaze lingered on the traces of blood. A sour taste rose in the back of her throat, but she forced herself to swallow it down as she tossed the latex and left the trauma room.

Up on the surgical floor, Sakura stopped at the nurses’ station. The senior night nurse was behind the desk hurriedly writing information down as it was received to her through the desk phone. Sakura waited patiently for the dark-haired woman to finish before she called for her, “Oyone, can you page the Plastics Attending for me please?”

“Sure thing, Dr. Haruno.”

Sakura flashed her a smile of thanks before she turned around to leaned the small of her back against the desk. She pulled her cell phone out as she waited only to frown at the lateness of the hour. Even without the results of the CT scan yet, she knew Neji would err on the side of caution and keep Kakashi overnight; which meant she was going to have to swing by his apartment to fetch some clothes and at least one of his ridiculous, smutty novels to keep him in the hospital — possibly two.

Her sigh was loud even to her own ears.

“Do I even want to know what has you in such a bad mood?”

Pulling her gaze from her phone, Sakura eyed Ino as the blonde surgeon signed the chart in her hand. She was dressed to impress in a stylish but classy, white shirt that revealed just a hint of her large bust and a pair of black stilettos that only accentuated her long legs.

Sakura didn’t have to ask to know who she would be spending her night with and she felt her mood further regressed. “No.”

“What’re you doing here anyway?” Ino asked as she passed the chart to a nurse. “I thought you were at home.”

“I was.”

At her flat tone, the blonde studied her with piercing sapphire irises. Sakura tried not to let the extent of her poor mood show  — after all, it wasn’t Ino’s fault that she was to be stuck in the hospital all night to babysit a grown man — but she couldn’t help her minute frown. Sakura was only too aware that while she was listening to Kakashi giggle behind his very graphic novel, Ino would be ending her night getting banged into a screaming orgasm. It was hardly fair.

“You got called in,” Ino finally concluded. “I see why you’re in a bad mood. Who’re you waiting on anyway?”

“Plastics,” Sakura said. She pushed her phone back into her pocket as she turned around to look for Oyone again.

Next to her, Ino made a noise of sympathy. “Plastics went home hours ago. There was a small apartment fire early this morning.”

Sakura hung her head at the news. “Of course.”

“Although,” Ino added, “isn’t Uchiha’s cousin a plastic surgeon?”

“Shisui?” A small knit appeared between Sakura’s brow as she glanced at her blonde friend. “He is, but he’s on the other side of the country.”

“No, he’s not. I just saw him.”

“Here?”

“Yeah, like ten minutes ago,” Ino said, pointing her thumb down the hall. “He was headed down to the OR floor. Why don’t you ask him for help? It would probably be faster than waiting for Plastics to get back to the hospital.” Her blue eyes then fell towards the elevators and she perked up as a wide smile spread across her face. “Oh, gotta go.”

Sakura followed her gaze to find Shikamaru had just exited the lift. With an exchange of a good night, Ino strutted towards the Radiologist, leaving Sakura to herself at the nurses’ desk. She watched the new couple interact for a moment until she eventually turned away with a glance at her pager. She knew better than to expect an update from Neji so soon but worry still jabbed between her ribs.

Sighing, Sakura shoved her pager back into her pocket before she left in search of Shisui. She took the elevator down to the surgical floor before she drifted to the surgical board. Her eyes scanned the list of surgeon names but it wasn’t Shisui’s that her gaze lingered on, and she turned away once more as she found what she was looking for.

At this time of night, most interns and residents were too busy with evening rounds or catching up on sleep to occupy the surgical observation decks, which is why it was of no surprise to her to find Itachi’s gallery empty - say for one person. Even from behind, their similarities were remarkable and silently she approached the large, glass window until she was standing beside Shisui and looking down into operating room below.

For a few minutes, neither of them spoke as Itachi performed with a practiced hand. It was always a treat to watch him at work. His hands moved so effortlessly it was nearly mesmerizing, even to a seasoned surgeon like Sakura. His skill not only lived up to his reputation but surpassed it. He was the kind of surgeon that everyone strived to become but almost all fell short, and just to be in the same OR was an honor.

Normally Sakura would jump at the opportunity to assist him in surgery, but tonight her mind was elsewhere and she glanced down at her silent pager again.

“Did you know Itachi is considered the best Cardiovascular surgeon in the country?” Shisui suddenly said. His voice was wistful and absent of his usual teasing, and she looked up at him but his gaze remained on his younger cousin. “He gets a new job offer almost every week. But he never accepted any of them until he came here.”

Her brow furrowed fractionally as she wondered what had put Shisui into such a mood, but she didn’t ask as she traced his profile. “You two are really that close, aren’t you?”

He nodded as he finally peeled his gaze away to glance at her. “He’s my family. I’ve known him since he was two. And though I understand why he came here….”

“You miss him,” she finished.

Shisui nodded before his eyes dropped back down to the OR. She followed his gaze and watched as Itachi began prepping his patient for bypass. It was a moment before she spoke again, “He doesn’t talk about it, but he misses you too.”

He snorted softly. “Sometimes I wonder. How could he just leave me behind?”

“Well you would know better than me. But I do know that he checks his phone more often in the morning because of your time difference. And I know that after a rough case, he goes off to call you, even if he knows you might not answer.” She turned her head again to meet his gaze. “I haven’t known Itachi very long, but even I can see he misses having you around.”

Shisui shifted to face her more fully as he studied her, his dark eyes reflecting his curiosity. “Itachi isn’t an easy person to read. How do you know it’s me he’s calling?”

“You said it yourself,” she said. “You’ve known Itachi since he was two. He’s the kind of person that speaks louder with his actions than words. Who else would he be calling?”

Shisui considered her comment silently as she wondered how she herself had become so intune with Itachi’s habits. She supposed she understood him because in a way he reminded her of Kakashi; never ones to reveal their true emotions verbally, forcing her to look underneath the underneath.

Automatically Sakura reached for her pager again and she bit back her sigh when she found it absent of new messages. She wanted to strangle Kakashi for making her restless with worry but she would have to wait until he was out of CT before she kicked his ass. What an idiot.

Sakura buried her hands in the pockets of her hoodie to keep herself from playing with her pager as her gaze returned to the surgery. Her eyes flickered to the screen next to the gallery windows to get an up-close look at the operation just as Itachi skillfully cut into the now-still heart to gain access to the tumor hindering the normal blood flow into the right atrium.

“So, is that why you flew in?” Sakura asked. “To visit?”

“Not quite,” he sighed. “I’m here to convince Itachi to come home. With his contract ending this week, I figured I might try and sway him before he decides to extend it.”

She turned to Shisui sharply. “What?”

He slowly turned his gaze away from the OR before his eyes widened. “Oh crap, he didn’t tell you?”

She shook her head, perplexed.

“Shit,” he cursed softly. “Don’t tell him I told you. I figured he would have said something.”

Sakura didn’t reply as she regarded the operating room again, this time her attention only on Itachi. The lower half of his face was covered by his surgical mask, but his concentration was nearly palpable as he focused solely on the task at hand.

She was still mulling over the night he had visited her when he had kissed her and made her aware of his attraction. His masculinity had been intoxicating and while Sakura had entertained Ino with the idea of pulling Itachi flush against her and kissing him, it had never been a real desire until it was reality. He was unfairly handsome and to most, intimidatingly intelligent, and she knew given the chance she could very easily be swayed into falling for his warm personality.

Her chest tightened. She didn’t know if she was more angry or hurt that he hadn’t told her his contract was ending. It left her feeling conflicted and she raked a hand through her hair before she reached into her pocket again.

“Is everything alright?” Shisui suddenly asked. “That’s the third time in two minutes you’ve looked at your pager.”

Sakura blinked at him in surprise before she dropped her gaze to her hand to find that she had in fact grabbed for her pager again. Quietly she turned the device over in her hands. “I came down here looking for you,” she admitted, causing Shisui to cock his head curiously. She swallowed thickly as her next words made emotion clog her throat. “Hatake Kakashi, our Head of Trauma, crashed his motorcycle and was rushed to the ER tonight.”

“Is he alright?” he asked, turning to give her his full attention.

“He’s in CT. We’ll know more once he’s out.”

Shisui rested a hand on her arm just below her shoulder. “Are you alright?”

His question made her stomach flip-flop and she forced herself to take a deep breath before she met his gaze and nodded. “I’m fine.” She didn’t sound very convincing even to her own ears. “He sustained a pretty deep head lac and I was wondering if you could suture it for him?”

“Yeah, of course. Why don’t we go check on him.”

Sakura smiled her appreciation. Shisui replied with a light, comforting squeeze to her arm before they turned to leave, his hand sliding to her mid back as he steered her towards the door. And as quietly as they had entered, the pair left the OR gallery unaware of the dark eyes that followed them.

xx

Sakura couldn’t sleep.

A muted sigh of annoyance passed through her nose as she further curled around herself and attempted to get comfortable in the oversized chair. Between the stress of that evening and the uncomfortable seats the hospital provided for visitors, she had trouble drifting off before her mind or body roused her from her rest.

Her new position lasted for all of thirty seconds before her lower back twinged in pain again and she finally gave up. Uncurling her legs, Sakura righted herself and stretched the ache out before she sat back against the chair and gazed at Kakashi’s sleeping form. He was lounging in the hospital bed, his smutty, orange book open face-down on his chest from where he had fallen asleep reading it. His hospital gown was gone and replaced with a loose, grey shirt she had fetched from his apartment.

After Neji had informed her that Kakashi had sustained a mild concussion and Shisui had stitched the deep cut on his brow together, Sakura had left the hospital to get a few of Kakashi’s personal belongings. The trauma surgeon had argued heatedly to be released that night but one look from Sakura had silenced him. He had been lucky. So lucky. But both she and Neji wanted to keep him in the hospital for one night for observation.

For some time, Sakura merely watched the rise and fall of his chest, taking comfort in the soft, steady beeps of his heart monitor. It was a reminder that he was alive and well, and that her earlier anxiety had been nothing more than a fear of the worst case scenario; she hadn’t lost someone she considered family that night. The relief was strong enough to make emotion swell in her eyes and cause her chest to constrict, and she reminded herself to breathe as she leaned her head back against the high back of the chair.

Sakura was just nodding off again when a soft knock echoed against the door. She rolled her head towards the sound, expecting a nurse, only to straighten in surprise as she recognized the newcomer. Itachi was still dressed in his scrubs and surgical cap, his dark hair tucked under it and out of his face. His black eyes studied Kakashi for a long moment before he looked at her. “I heard what happened. How is he?” he asked quietly.

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Sakura glanced at the hospital bed to see the sleeping male hadn’t moved. “He has a mild concussion and some bruising to his abdomen but he’ll be okay.”

He eyed the bandages around his knuckles. “And his hands?”

“Just some scrapes,” she said. “He should be back in the OR in a week or two.”

Itachi nodded, causing Sakura to smile faintly. She understood his line of questioning. To a surgeon, their hands were everything. Without them, they were unable to cut, unable to perform, unable to help. It was something no surgeon ever wanted to face.

“Shisui stitched his facial lac?” Itachi asked.

“Yeah, he did. He’s as good as his reputation says.”

He nodded but didn’t reply, and she eyed the tall male curiously. It was then that she noticed there was a considerable slouch to his shoulders and his eyes were shadowed with weariness.  Fatigue tightened his expression and dulled his obsidian eyes, causing a small knit to form between her brows. His procedure should have ended hours ago.

“Did you just get out of surgery?”

A soft sigh passed between his lips so silently she nearly missed it. “There were some complications.”

“Your patient didn’t survive.”

It was more of a statement than a question and after a moment, Itachi shook his head minutely. “No, he did not.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured.

Her heart weighed a little heavier in her chest as she watched Itachi quietly but his expression was unreadable as he absently studied Kakashi’s heart monitor. It was a long moment before he turned away to gaze down at her. “I received a call from UNOS. They have a pair of lungs for my Cystic Fibrosis patient. They expect them to arrive at approximately eight.”

The change in subject wasn’t lost on her but she waited silently as his eyes briefly flickered to Kakashi. “I sympathize with the night you have had, but I would appreciate it if you assisted me.”

Unconsciously Sakura perked up. A double lung transplant surgery was both tedious and exhilarating, and in her medical career she had only witnessed one - during her intern year. To be asked to scrub in on the surgery and assist Itachi made excitement chase her drowsiness away.

“Yes, of course,” she agreed readily.

Itachi smiled faintly. “Thank you, Sakura.”

The use of her given name stirred something within her, but before she could identify the feeling, Itachi backed away. “I will see you in the morning then.”

She watched him make for the door as the emotion waned before sputtering out. Her earlier conversation with Shisui replayed in her mind and before she could stop herself, she called out to him, “Itachi.”

Immediately he stopped and turned back to her expectantly. She opened her mouth to ask the question she was dying to know but it never found a voice as he looked at her, his expression hollow. Itachi was nearly dead on his feet. His surgery had zapped the last of his energy, and she knew he would be out the moment his head hit the pillow.

Sakura closed her mouth again, knowing it wasn’t the right time to press and if she was being completely honest with herself, it wasn’t any of her business. A moment passed before she smiled lightly. “Good night.”

Itachi seemed to sense there was something on the tip of her tongue but he merely inclined his head before he slipped out of the room as quietly as he had come.

Sakura continued to watch the door even after he left. A frown pulled on the corners of her mouth and she sighed softly before she leaned back and rested her head against the chair.

“What's that look for?”

Pulling her gaze from the door, she turned to see Kakashi hadn’t moved an inch but his eyes were now open as he stared at her. Her frown deepened. “How long have you been awake?”

“Long enough,” he shrugged. He picked up his book and closed it before he pushed himself up gingerly. Once he was comfortable, he cocked his brow expectantly.

Sakura chewed the inside of her cheek before finally relenting. “I think he’s leaving.”

“Leaving?”

“His contract ends this week,” she explained quietly. “And I think he’s going home.”

“And that upsets you?”

“No,” she shook her head. “Of course not.”

Kakashi shot her a look. “You're a bad liar — even when you’re trying.” He paused before asking, “Are you sleeping with him?”

Her expression turned incredulous. “What? No! He's my boss.”

“Hasn't stopped you before,” he muttered.

Hurt rippled through Sakura and she looked away, unable to meet his gaze. Immediately Kakashi apologized. “Sorry, that was mean. Hospitals always make me cranky.”

“Then why work in one?”

“The hot nurses. And the hotter Cardiovascular surgeons.”

Sakura smiled despite herself. His words still stung but Kakashi always knew what to say and she arched her brow teasingly. “I didn’t think Itachi was your type.”

The look he shot her made her smile widen into a grin but it quickly faded as his expression turned solemn once more. “So what is it?”

She sighed through her nose as she dropped her gaze to pick at her nails absently. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

Shaking her head, she didn’t immediately offer an answer. She hadn’t spoken to anyone about her shift in relationship with Itachi. While they were still coworkers, outside of the hospital things had changed but she didn’t know how. It was all very confusing and she didn’t know how to explain it when she didn’t even know what they were or what they were doing to begin with.

“He’s kind and considerate and an incredible surgeon,” Sakura finally said, not knowing what else to say. But Kakashi had always been a master at reading between the lines.

“So are you.”

She scoffed lightly as she stopped her fidgeting to look up at him. He met her gaze calmly. “If you want him to stay, convince him.”

“Convince him?” Sakura repeated as she crossed her arms. “That’s your master plan?”

How was she to compete with Shisui? He was Itachi’s best friend from childhood while she was nothing more than another attending he had kissed once.

“Convince him, ask him - I don’t care, Sakura. If that’s what you want, do it; speak up. I'm tired of seeing you go out of your way for everyone else. Do something for yourself for once.”

They sat in silence as Kakashi stared at her and Sakura weighed his words. They both knew what, or rather who, he was referring to but his advice was easier said than done. She wouldn’t admit it - although she was fairly certain Kakashi already knew - but she was scared to put herself out there. She had done it before and she had been burned to the third degree. Kakashi had seen her hit rock bottom and had watched her glue herself back together. She knew he wasn’t trying to be mean; he just didn’t want her fear to control her.

Eventually she loosened her folded arms as she peered at him. “I liked you better when you were pretending to be asleep.”

“And I liked you better when you were an intern.”

“No, you didn’t.”

He held her gaze before he finally nodded good-naturedly. “Yeah, you're right. You were a pain back then.”

Her playful smile widened into a full blown grin until a long yawn escaped her. “We should both get some sleep.”

Kakashi shifted to one side of his bed before he gestured to her to come over to him. When she just eyed him questioningly, he sighed, “You have a double lung transplant in the morning. Do you really think you’ll get any sleep in that miserable excuse for a chair?”

She said nothing but they both knew he was right and after a minute, she stood and slipped onto the mattress next to him. With his larger frame, it was a tight squeeze but after some careful maneuvering, she found a comfortable position on her side with her back pressing into his torso. They didn’t speak and with the heart monitor softly beeping in the background, Sakura was quickly lulled to sleep.

xx

Itachi stood silently as he observed the screen monitoring his patient’s vitals. His gaze was unwavering as he watched the digital display track the young woman’s heartbeat in sync with the contraction of the muscle. They had been surveilling her pulmonary and cardiac function since she had been taken off bypass but as they closed, it was becoming apparent that there were no immediate complications.

A silent sigh of relief pressed out his nose before he finally glanced away from the monitor. “Great work, everyone. We’re done here.”

On the other side of the table, Sakura met his gaze. Her jade eyes were dulled with exhaustion but they brightened with the success of the surgery and she smiled beneath her mask. Itachi returned it before she stepped away from the table and wasted no time in heading into the scrub room to wash off.

Itachi followed her at a slower pace as he discarded his own bloodied gown and gloves. His body from his neck down to the bottoms of his feet ached from standing for so long, but he couldn’t find it within himself to complain. Barring any complications, this young woman’s life would be extended hopefully for another five years. It wasn’t much, but considering the little amount of time she would have had with her failing lung functions, it was something.

Sakura was already standing at the sink when Itachi entered, but she didn’t look up at him. Even from her profile, he could see she was just as tired as he felt and for a long minute, neither of them said anything as the spray from the sink filled the silence.

“She will need her lungs biopsied tomorrow,” Itachi eventually murmured, “and her vitals checked frequently to ensure she doesn’t reject the organs.”

“She’s your patient,” Sakura said not unkindly. “I’m sure you’re more than capable of handling her recovery.”

He glanced at her briefly before he reached for the soap. “I will be out of town. I need you to follow up on her post-ops.”

“Out of town?” she repeated. She shut off the flow of water and reached for a towel before she turned to face him fully. “And who is going to run your department in your absence?”

“You are.”

“Me?” she repeated incredulously.

“You have the both the talent and the ambition to do so. Is there any reason why you believe you shouldn’t?” he asked as he looked at her again.

Her expression betrayed her confusion but she shook her head as she dried her hands slowly. “No.”

“Good,” he smiled softly before he returned his attention back to his hands as he washed the suds from them. “I think you will do well.”

Sakura nodded but she didn’t reply as Itachi shut off his faucett, casting the scrub room into sudden silence. He reached for a towel and dried his hands as he absently observed the nurses through the glass, his mind slipping to his conversation with Shisui the night before.

In the early hours of the morning, his cousin had convinced him to return home last minute and though the thought of going back left an uncomfortable knot in the pit of his stomach, he knew he couldn’t avoid it any longer. He needed to confront his father and face the issues he had been putting off. It was not something he was looking forward to but it was time he moved on. He couldn’t hide any longer.

“I know it’s none of my business,” Sakura murmured quietly, “but I do hope you decide to extend your contract.”

Itachi stilled before he slowly turned to her. It was then that he realized she had been silently studying him and he met her gaze as conflict warred behind her emerald eyes. She seemed to want to say more and he suddenly understood what she had been itching to ask the night before, but she eventually decided against it before she dropped her towel into the used bin. She flashed him a weak smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes before she quietly backed out of the room.

Itachi took a single step after her before he stopped. He briefly wondered how Sakura knew about his contract until he remembered seeing her with Shisui in the OR gallery last night. The realization caused a heavy sigh to pass between his lips and he dropped his own towel into the sink before he rested his hands on the edge of the basin, a frown cast upon his features.

He hadn’t meant to keep his personal affairs from her, but between his cousin dropping in on him unexpectedly and having to abruptly reschedule all of his surgeries and close his remaining cases, she had gotten lost in the fray.

His chest tightened unpleasantly and he gripped the edge of the sink until his knuckles turned white.

Itachi didn’t know what he was going to do. He had enjoyed his time here. The hospital and the other attendings were all forces to be reckoned with. It was rare to find a hospital with so many competent and highly intelligent surgeons.

The thought of returning home filled him with both a sense of relief and reluctance. He had never intended to stay here; only to take a moment to catch his breath. He hadn’t expected to meet Sakura and he definitely hadn’t expected her to make him realize there was something missing in his life; that there was more than just the everyday routine of wake up, do rounds, perform surgery, check post-ops and go home. Here, he didn’t feel the pressures to live up to his family name. Here, he had found purpose in his work again, like seeing the sun again after so long under a cloudy sky.  

He had a difficult decision before him and a choice needed to be made.

to be continued…