Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Silver Eyes ❯ Epilogue ( Epilogue )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: auronsgirl 
The drama ends... for everyone...
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Martial Arts / Drama / Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.26.2008 | Pages: 6 | Words: 7.2K | Visits: 187 | Status: Completed
The drama ends... for everyone...
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Martial Arts / Drama / Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.26.2008 | Pages: 6 | Words: 7.2K | Visits: 187 | Status: Completed
The only characters that are mine in this story are Haruko, Yukio, Kokoro, Saiai, Emiko, and
Arichi. The rest are owned by Masashi Kishimoto, that wonderful, wonderful man.
By: Amanda Smith aka silverwingedwolf
Date started: February 10th, 2008
Date finished: February , 2008
Pairings: Sakura/Lee, Neji/OC, Kiba/Hinata, Shikamaru/Temari
Rating: 18+, for non-consent, minors, incest, blood, gore
*Epilogue*
Saiai was aware. She didn't remember losing her awareness, but her senses told her otherwise.
Her clothes were different: she wore a simple, light gown that was not her own. Her gloves were
off, as well, but something in the back off her mind told her that she had taken them off by
herself. There was a blanket covering her, and she seemed to be lying in a bed.
Her sense of smell told her that she had smelled this clean, sterile odour before. She recognized
it. The Leaf Village's hospital. She was back in the Leaf Village, and she was alive. Memories of
the fight with her uncle, the escape from the house, her mother's death, and Neji. Her mind
raced; Neji, was he alright? Did her jutsu save him? How did she make it? Were her sisters ok?
Who brought her here?
Her thoughts were cut off by a sound. There were people walking outside, but her hearing didn't
register that as important. What she heard was breathing other than her own. That was when she
noticed that one side of her bed was slightly lower than the other, as if something was resting on
it. She opened her eyes, and squinted into the light. She recognized the room instantly; it was the
same room she was in during her first visit to the Leaf Village. She looked out of the window
beside her bed, and was never so glad to see the sun.
She looked to her other side and found what was causing the slight dip in the bed. A mass of long
chocolate hair covering a white shirt lay face down on the side of the bed, head cradled in arms
on the side of the bed. Saiai moved her hand from underneath the covers and moved her hand
slowly towards the sleeping body. Careful not to wake Neji up, she brushed the hair from his
face and tucked it behind his ears. She gazed at him sleeping: his breath came out in slow, short
puffs of air, his mouth slightly open. His face was so peaceful while he slept, and any frown lines
or signs or worry were erased, as if they were never there in the first place. Saiai placed her palm
on his cheek and kept it there, relishing in the feel of his soft skin.
`I wouldn't wake him up just yet, if I were you,' a voice said from the doorway, scaring the hell
out of her. Sakura walked in with Lee, and raised a hand in greeting. Saiai smiled and waved at
the two of them. They walked over to the side of the bed opposite Neji and leaned against the
wall. Sakura put a bouquet of flowers in a vase next to her bed, and she noticed quite a few
groups of flowers.
`Who are those from?' Saiai wondered aloud.
`Hiashi and Hanabi brought this bouquet,' Lee said, pointing to an arrangement of orchids. `Kiba
and Hinata bought you those tulips, and Sakura and I bought you those chrysanthemums.'
`What about that single rose?' Saiai asked, pointing to the one closest to her bed.
`Neji brought that one,' Sakura said. She looked down at Neji, a mildly worried look crossing her
face. `He hasn't left your bedside since we brought you back two days ago. He only fell asleep
about four hours ago, poor thing. He's been going on force of will alone.'
Saiai was shocked. `He's been at my bedside non-stop since we've arrived? Why hasn't he left?'
Something else struck her as odd. `Two days ago?' Saiai asked. `I've been asleep for two days?
Wow... would you be able to fill me in? I don't remember anything.'
`Absolutely,' Sakura said. She took a seat on the side of the bed, and Lee sat in the window,
looking outside. `After you had passed out, Emiko and Arichi arrived. Arichi and I worked on
stopping the bleeding and fixing your organs, while Emiko worked on mending your bones.
She's not exactly the best medic-nin, is she?' Saiai shook her head, smirking, and Sakura
laughed, continuing. `Lee set about trying to wake Neji up, which was surprisingly hard to do.
After we had stabilized you for the moment, we had to bring you to the closest medical facility.
Did you know that there wasn't one in the Moonlight Village?'
`There was, but it was burning to the ground by the time you needed it,' Saiai said. `And the lead
medic-nin in the Village burned along with it.' She hung her head at the memory of her mother
retreating from the bars, choking on smoke and tears running down her soot-smeared face.
`I am so sorry, Saiai,' Lee said.
`It's ok,' Saiai replied, shaking her head and smiling slightly. She really was, surprisingly. Before
she blacked out, she imagined her mother and father were happy where they were, and that they
were no longer at odds with each other. `My mother would've wanted us to survive, and that's
what we did, thanks to you.'
`Oh, we did nothing but repair work after you and Neji wiped the floor with your uncle,' Sakura
said, waving off Saiai's praise as if it were nothing. `So, we had to wake Neji up before we
moved you because we needed more than one person to carry you the entire way. But when he
woke up, he kinda freaked out and insisted he carry you the entire way. Lee forced him to stop a
couple times on the way here so we could heal your injuries.' Sakura's face became grave. `I
seriously thought you weren't going to make it, Saiai. Your wounds kept reopening, and Arichi
and I worked almost non-stop.'
`Sakura, thank you,' Saiai said. `I can't thank both of you enough. And Neji... I could never
repay him for what he did for me. He almost died because he saved me. I don't think I could've
lived with myself if he had actually died.'
`But he didn't, and that's what counts,' Sakura came back. `You gave your life for him. You
showed a bravery and selflessness beyond anything I've ever seen. And something else, as well.'
Sakura smiled coyly, and Saiai raised an eyebrow. `Remember what you said to me before you
passed out?'
Saiai thought for a moment, then her eyes widened. `That's right,' Sakura said, smirking. `That's
the only reason you attempted that jutsu, and that's the only reason it worked. Isn't it?'
Saiai blushed furiously, but could not deny it. Lee, completely lost, asked from behind Sakura,
`What? What is the only reason the jutsu worked? What jutsu? What are you two talking about?'
`Nothing, Lee. Come on, let's go, we have to go see Emiko and Arichi.' Sakura started to push
Lee out the door, despite his attempts to get more information out of her.
`My sisters are in the Leaf Village?' Saiai asked, perking up.
`Yes, they are. They've been staying in the Hyuuga residence, and Lee and I are acting as tour
guides for them until you get out of the hospital. Which should be today, just to tell you.
Whenever you're ready to go, Tsunade said that you can leave whenever you want.'
`Alright, thank you. I will meet you guys later, in the town somewhere. I just want to rest a bit
more,' Saiai said, and bid the couple goodbye. The room fell silent again, and Saiai turned her
gaze to the man sleeping at her side. Poor Neji, he's been going on adrenaline alone for so long.
I'll let him sleep for a while longer.
She slipped out of bed on the opposite side and shivered at the coldness of the tiles on her feet.
She waited for a while for her head to adjust to the new altitude, remembering what had
happened the first time she had jumped out of bed. She padded her way to her closet and opened
the door. The door crashed against the wall, and Saiai tensed. She looked back at the bed, and
Neji was still sleeping soundly, hunched over the bed in what had to have been the most
uncomfortable sleeping position ever. She sighed relief, then brought out her bag. She rummaged
through her bag, looking for her clothes and shoes. She dressed quickly and silently, the room
not giving her much cover for privacy, and she didn't want to wake Neji with crash and have him
find her half-clothed on the ground with her dress around her feet. The mental image of his
shocked face made her giggle uncontrollably. She danced around, pulling her dress up, balancing
herself on one foot while giggling furiously. She almost ended up on the ground putting her boot
on, the final piece of clothing, but she caught herself on the window sill.
She picked up her bag and made her way to the bed, still giggling. Her giggling abruptly stopped
when her stomach spoke up for the first time in several days. She glanced at the clock on the
wall, and it told her it was nearly noon. She sighed, knowing she'd have to wake Neji up to go
find something to eat. She didn't want to wake him up, but she knew she had to. She was hungry,
and she was pretty sure he was, too.
She snuck over to his side, around his back, and dropped her head so she was looking him
straight in the face. She sighed once more; his face was so peaceful. She shook his shoulder
gently, whispering his name. He groaned and muttered something incoherent, burying his face
deeper into his arms. `Wow', Saiai thought. `He must really be tired. He'd be up in a flash if he
were well rested.' She shook his shoulder harder and said his name in a louder voice.
His eyes slowly opened, unfocused and bleary. He blinked several times, trying to focus on the
person in front of him, but they just wouldn't clear. He rubbed his eyes with his fists, and Saiai
found this endearing. `Good morning, Neji. I've heard from Sakura you haven't been sleeping.
You know you -` She was cut off by a vicious hug from the man now standing in front of her.
`Don't you ever do that again,' Neji whispered in her ear with a vehemence she had heard only
when he attacked her uncle. `You had me so worried, Saiai. I thought I had lost you.'
Saiai hugged him back. `Well, next time you throw me out of a window, make sure you come
right after me, or I won't be able to meet your demands.'
Neji pulled away from her, holding her away from his body to look straight into her eyes. He
glared his silver glare at the woman in front of him, but he eventually lost the anger he felt. It
was replaced by an immense feeling of relief. `Why would you put your life on the line for me? I
was on that mission to protect you. I didn't want anything to happen to you.'
`Neji,' Saiai said, slightly amused. `Do you really have to think that hard about why I did it?' She
blushed severely, her pale face flushing a light pink. She didn't think it would be this hard to tell
him.
`The Total Rejuvenation jutsu,' Neji said, staring at her. `It only works on one condition.' Saiai
nodded, and Neji continued. `And both people must be experiencing it for it to truly work.'
Another nod. Neji was quiet for a while, and Saiai began to get scared.
`Neji? Is something wrong?' Saiai said. The look in his eyes turned sad. She frowned.
`Well, if that's the case... I want to ask you one question.' Neji turned his face to the side. He was
having a hard time asking this, and Saiai saw his indecision. She grabbed his chin and forced his
face towards her. Her silver orbs look up to his, her eyes looking at him with no complaints or
reservations; she was open to any question he would ask her.
`Would you stay with me? Here? In Konohagakure?' Neji said, his voice soft. His eyes pleaded
with her to say yes.
Saiai's eyes widened, and her hand went to her mouth. `Oh, Neji,' she whispered. `I would love
more than anything to stay here with you.' Her hands found his, and she entwined her small ones
into his large ones. `I can't, though. You must understand. I've lost almost everything, almost
you, to get my sisters and my Village back. I don't want to let our efforts go to waste.'
Neji smiled sadly. `I understand you. I thought I would ask. It didn't hurt to try.' He pulled her in
close, and placed his chin on the top of her head. `But you have to promise me one thing.'
`Anything,' Saiai said.
`You have to come back to me, so I can see you, whenever you have spare time,' Neji said, not
moving from his position on top of her head.
`You have to come to my Village, too,' Saiai said. `We have to rebuild my family's house, and
repair the damage done to the surrounding houses from the blaze.'
`I will,' Neji agreed. They stayed in that position for several more minutes, Saiai leaning on
Neji's chest, her face buried in his clothes, and their hands pinned between them. Neji finally
pulled away, reluctantly, and looked at Saiai. `Guess we have leave now. Sakura said you can
leave today.'
Saiai pulled away and stared at Neji, disbelievingly. `You were awake that entire time? What else
did you see?' Neji grinned mischievously, and Saiai gasped. `You lecher! I could've fallen over,
and you would've just laughed!' She punched him in the rib, and he threw his arm over her
shoulder, bringing her in close to his side. `For that, you owe me ramen.'
`I wouldn't have it any other way,' Neji said, squeezing Saiai's shoulder and grabbing her bag
with his free hand before leaving the room.
******
The couple arrived at the Ichiraku Ramen shop, Saiai still under Neji's arm, and was slightly
surprised to find Lee and Sakura there with Saiai's sisters. Lee and Sakura waved towards the
pair, and the sisters looked back. At the sight of their older sister, they flew out of their chairs and
tackled her to the ground, nearly knocking Neji over in the meantime.
`Saiai! Saiai!' the girls screamed in her ear, nuzzling and cuddling with her on the ground. Saiai
struggled to breath under the combined weight of the two girls. Lee stood up and picked up
Emiko, while Neji picked up Arichi. Neji bent over and picked Saiai up, placing her gently on
her feet.
`Hey, guys,' Saiai said, slightly wheezing. `How are you?'
`You knob! You scared us half to death, not to mention the fact we had to save your scrawny
butt,' Emiko said.
`Hello to you, too, Emiko,' Saiai chuckled. Her younger sister was wearing her normal clothes
instead of the gown Saiai had seen her in at the mansion. She was wearing a pink off the
shoulder dress, with white lacing around the edges. The sleeves were flared, and ending just past
her fingers, so her long, slender fingers were hidden. The skirt ended at the middle of her thighs.
She wore high heeled shoes, with white ribbons running, criss-crossing, up her leg and tied just
below her knee. Her pair of katana hung behind her back, criss-crossing like her laces. Her black
hair flowed freely past her shoulders and shone in the sun. Her skin was smooth and tanned,
casting a healthy glow to her eyes. Her blue eyes sparkled in the sun, flowing in circles slowly
around the perimeter of her eyes, much like Saiai's own. She moved with a constant energy that
seemed to seep through, even as she was standing still. `Your Moon Eyes are still there, I see?'
`Yes, thanks to you, big sister,' Emiko said, hugging Saiai, then stepping back so Arichi could
talk to her.
The two embraced and parted, Arichi slightly shorter than Saiai, but taller than Emiko. Her
golden hair shone in the sun, and her green eyes, while stagnant with the lack of Moon Eyes,
held a certain spark to it that denoted intelligence and cunning. She was a lot quieter than Emiko,
in voice and in action. Her skin was lighter than Emiko's, but no where near as pale as Saiai.
She wore a tank top that showed off her midriff and matching baggy shorts, ending just above
her knees. They were a bright red, with a gold trim around the edges. Her longbow was slung
over her shoulder lazily, and two brown belts held a quiver of arrows, each shaft tied to a string
that was, in turn, tied to a bangle on her wrist. Arichi reached up and played with Saiai's braids, a
habit that the youngest sister couldn't seem to break since she was a little girl. `So, how many
guards did take out?' Arichi asked, smiling.
`Oh, about ten,' Saiai replied, flexing her fingers. `I couldn't leave them all for you guys.'
`You had us so worried, you know,' Arichi said, slightly tugging at the brunette's braids. `Your
wounds were really bad. I didn't think Father's jutsu would do -that- to you.' She got quiet. `So,
does he know what the jutsu entails?' She looked at Neji, and he nodded, pulling Saiai under his
arm. Arichi smiled. `I thought so. I didn't think he would throw you out of a window otherwise.'
Neji laughed, and Saiai smiled. Arichi pulled away and lead them to the table they were sitting
at.
When the group sat down, Sakura and Lee exchanged a sly glance with each that Neji saw.
`What was that look, Lee?' Neji asked, his voice low.
Lee shot Neji a look of mock hurt. `Neji, you insult me by questioning my integrity. We just
happened to be looking at each other when you looked over this way.' He smiled unconvincingly
to Neji, and Neji glared.
Sakura decided to be the bigger of the two, and said, `It's about damn time you guys figured it
out.' She looked at Saiai, and grinned. `Yeah, we figured it out before you did. The day you left,
actually. It was just so obvious, except to the two of you.' Saiai blushed and tucked herself
deeper into Neji's arm, while Neji's eyes shot daggers at Sakura.
`Oh?' Emiko said, looking at Arichi and grinning mischievously. `Do tell, Sakura, do tell.' So,
much to the chagrin of Saiai and Neji, Lee and Sakura retold the previous month's escapades to
Emiko and Arichi over ramen. An hour passed, and the ramen disappeared while the sextet
talked. The three Leaf jonin paid for the Moonlight shinobi's bills when they were finished.
Sakura and Lee took their leave, stating that Gai-sensei and TenTen were having a target-practice
contest, and they wanted to see what Gai would have to do when he lost.
After Sakura and Lee left, Emiko stretch her legs out and yawned loudly. `So, what else is there
to do in the Leaf Village? We have the whole day to do stuff, and this Village is so much bigger
than the Moonlight Village.'
Neji looked at Saiai, and sighed. `I think that's a hint. Well, come on,' he said, standing up. `I'll
give you a tour.' Emiko shot up and ran out the door, startling all three of them. Arichi shook her
head, shouldered her bow, and walked out slowly after. Saiai and Neji followed after them.
The day passed quickly, the girls loving their tour around Konoha. Emiko ran from place to
place, totally revelling in the new sights, while Arichi chose to hang back and enjoy the sights
from afar.
Neji and Saiai chose to stay behind both of them, and enjoy each other's company while they
could.
One of the more exciting events to happen to the quartet that day was the sudden appearance of
Naruto and Jiraiya. Jiraiya, being the master pervert, immediately started fawning over the girls
and spewing his flattering nonsense. Naruto started flirting with Emiko, while Jiraiya tried to
impress Arichi. Neji stepped forward to try to stop them, but Saiai put a hand on his arm,
stopping him and pulling him behind some boxes. She activated her Moon Eyes and hid both her
and Neji's chakra. They peered around the corner to watch the fun begin.
`What's a girl like you doing in Konoha? A beautiful girl such as yourself should be out with
your hubby,' Jiraiya said, leaning on the wall in front of Arichi.
Arichi looked dryly at Jiraiya. `I don't have a hubby, as you so artfully put it.'
`Oooooh! Really? Well, then, how would you like to be my arm candy for the night?' Jiraiya
asked, practically squealing like a little girl who was given a beautiful doll for her birthday.
`And who are you, that I should treated to such a great honour?' Arichi asked, sarcasm dripping
from her voice.
Apparently, the great toad sage was so concerned with picking up Arichi that he didn't notice or
chose to ignore the tone of her sentences. `I am so glad you asked that! I am Jiraiya! The Toad
Mountain Sage! One of the elite sannin to come out of Konoha!' He posed as he told her about
himself.
`Yeah, uh-huh, well, Mr Toad Sage, when you become interesting, or younger for that matter,
come find me,' Arichi said, turning to Emiko, who was fighting her own battle with Naruto.
`So, chicky-poo, how would you like the great privilege of accompanying me and my sensei to
dinner tonight?' Naruto asked, waggling his eyebrows in an attempt to attract Emiko.
`Ugh, I'd rather go out with an old man than you,' Emiko sneered, rolling her eyes.
`I heard you would rather go out with an old man?' Jiraiya said, appearing in a puff of smoke
behind her. Emiko shrieked and ran to Arichi's side. Emiko made a reach for her sword when
Arichi put her hand on the hilt to stop her. Arichi leaned over and whispered in Emiko's ear.
Emiko smiled, then turned a seductive glance towards the two men standing in front of them.
`Hmmm...' she hummed, glancing at the men, looking them up and down. `My sister just
informed me that we may have underestimated you. Jiraiya, Naruto, correct?' The men nodded,
mouths open, as the two girls advanced on them.
`Well, gentlemen, I think we owe you an apology kiss,' Arichi said, seductively chewing on her
lower lip. Jiraiya's nose was bleeding slightly, whereas Naruto's face was paling from blood loss.
The girls inched closer to them and raised their faces to the two men standing in front of them.
Both men were dancing like little kids about to get candy. Naturally, the men let their eyes slip
when the girls got close enough to their reward. When the girls saw that their eyes were fully
shut, Emiko grabbed Arichi's hand, activated her Moon Eyes, then disappeared behind the boxes
that Neji and Saiai were hiding behind. The men immediately detected the loss of chakra in front
of them and opened their eyes. When they found out that their `prizes' were gone, they started
fighting with each other; Jiraiya told Naruto that his choppy come-ons were what scared them
away, and Naruto retorted that it was Jiraiya's old man smell that chased them off. They left the
alley they were in, still bickering, leaving the quartet huddled over in silent laughter.
`Oh my god, that was hilarious,' Saiai said, wiping a tear from her eye. `Naruto was bad, but that
old man was even worse.'
`Jiraiya did smell like an old man, too,' Arichi said. This sent them off into another gale of
laughter that lasted several more minutes.
When they finished their little giggling fit, Neji stood up. The night had fallen while they were
trying to get Naruto and Jiraiya to go away. He helped Saiai to her feet and watched as the other
girls filed out from behind the boxes. `I think it's about time to head back to my place, but there's
one last thing I want to how you. Follow me,' he said, encircling Saiai under one arm and
walking away. They didn't see the look the girls behind them exchanged as they followed them
slowly.
A while later, they arrived at the Hokage Mountain's platform. The girls looked at the carvings
on the mountain, but Saiai pointed them in the right direction. They gasped and gazed at the
Northern Lights on the buildings and the silver lights on the tops of them for several minutes.
`Wow, Neji, how did you find out about this place?' Emiko said, turning back towards them. She
stopped her questioning and elbowed Arichi to turn around when she saw what was happening
behind them. Neji and Saiai weren't looking at the sight in front of them; they only had eyes for
each other. Saiai was looking up into Neji's face, no attempt to hide her swirling silver orbs. Her
eyes and face were sad as they gazed up into her loved one's face. Her hands and Neji's were
entwined, pinned between their bodies as Saiai leaned against Neji. Neji was looking down on
her, and his own silver eyes were shining in the moonlight. His face was set in a serious tone as
he gazed down on his girl. The feeling of sadness and longing orbited the couple so obviously it
could have been given a life of its own. Emiko and Arichi felt odd looking at the display, like
they were intruding on the special moment.
Arichi coughed slightly, rousing the two from their private world. `I don't mean to break up the
moment, guys, but I think it's time we get home. It's an early morning tomorrow, and we have to
sleep for the journey back.' Neji nodded and led the way back to the Hyuuga estate.
On entry, Hiashi was sitting at the table and greeted the incoming group. Hiashi informed Emiko
and Arichi that they could have the girls room tonight, seeing as Hinata was still on a mission
and Hanabi was on overnight training. They thanked him and headed to the room.
Neji and Saiai sat in front of Hiashi, and the elder Hyuuga immediately noticed the difference.
`So, you've finally woken up to each other, huh?' Hiashi asked with a smile.
`Ok, does everyone know except the two of us?' Saiai asked Hiashi, who nodded and smiled
sweetly. `Incredible.'
`Well, at least we know now,' Neji said. He squeezed Saiai's hand, and silence fell over the
group. Sadness blanketed the air, and Hiashi gazed on as the two young shinobi looked as if they
were losing their best friends.
`So, I'm assuming that Saiai has to go back to the Moonlight Village to fix everything her uncle
has caused and help govern the shinobi, correct?' A nod from the two across the table. `Well, she
can come back anytime she wants to, and you can go visit her on your missions off, right?'
`Yeah,' Saiai said.
`But it just won't be the same,' Neji said.
Hiashi nodded. `Yeah, I can understand that. But I think both of you can do it. You've been
through enough trouble as it is, I don't think distance will be a problem.' The two nodded again,
but the sadness still stayed. The Hyuuga head felt their pain and wanted to do something, but he
couldn't think of anything.
`I think we should go to bed now, Saiai, you have a long day tomorrow,' Neji said, standing up
from the table and bowing to his uncle. Saiai followed suit and thanked Hiashi for his hospitality.
They travelled to Neji's bedroom, totally unaware that the bedroom door to the girls' bedroom
was opened a crack.
They entered Neji's bedroom and Neji took his shower first. He finished quickly and Saiai took
her shower. She came out to find Neji under the covers and half asleep. She had forgotten
completely that he hadn't slept for days and instantly felt bad for him because her sisters dragged
him around the town.
She snuggled in on her side of the bed, readying herself to sleep, when something warm wrapped
around her and dragged her backwards. She squeaked, and was met with a warm body pressed
against her back. She turned around and glared at Neji. `You could've warned me you were
going to do that.' She pressed her face against his bare chest and placed her hand on his solar
plexus.
`Where would the fun be in that?' Neji asked, smiling down on her. He played with her brown
braids, occasionally running his hand through her ponytail.
There was silence, and Neji was slowly falling asleep. He was woken up from his near-sleep
when he heard near his chest area, `I want to stay here, Neji, I really do, but I don't know if my
sisters would fair well running the Village on their own. I'm scared for them, and I wouldn't
know what to do if they somehow got hurt.'
Neji returned his hand to stroking her hair. `Shhhh, Saiai, it's ok. We've already established that
we'll be seeing each other, albeit we'll have to travel constantly. I wish you could stay here, too,
but your Village needs you more than I do.'
The next thing Saiai heard was the slow, steady breathing that told her that Neji had fallen
asleep. Which was good, to her, because she didn't want him to feel the singular blue tear that
fell from her eye onto his chest before she fell asleep herself.
******
Saiai woke up before dawn, as was normal. She was warm, she felt safe, and she didn't want to
leave. She stayed perfectly still for a couple of minutes, savouring her last few minutes with
Neji. She groaned quietly, slipping as softly as she could out of Neji's arm and out of the bed,
trying not to make noise or too much movement. She sighed, getting dressed on the side of the
bed instead of going to the bathroom. She figured that it would save time, and he had seen her
dress before, even if he did wake up. Nothing was secret between them anymore, and she had
nothing to hide. She finished and picked up her bag, walking silently to the other side of the
room to the door, before she thought of something she wanted to do.
She walked back over to the bed, on Neji's side this time. She leaned over the sleeping man and
simply stared at his profile for several seconds. His mouth slightly open, his long silky hair
splayed out underneath him like a blanket, his long lashes resting lightly on his pale skin. She
made a point to imprint this vision in her mind. She sighed, bending down, and kissed him softly
on his curse seal. Her eyes closed, and a small tear slipped from between her eyelids, collecting
in her lashes. She moved back slightly, and the tear fell from her lashes to the tip of his nose. It
stayed their, like a small pearl, not moving. Saiai didn't see this happen as she turned and rushed
out of the room before she started crying.
Saiai opened the door silently, and backed out of the room. She shut the door as quietly as she
could. She tip-toed towards the kitchen area, hoping that her sisters would be ready to go. When
she entered the kitchen, however, she found both her sisters and Hiashi sitting at the table,
waiting for her, looking serious as each one of them turned to look at her.
`What...?' Saiai bega, but she was cut off by a hand from Arichi.
`We need to talk to you, Saiai.' Arichi said.
******
Neji woke up after dawn, and he felt cold. The place beside him was cold, and his arm was
empty. He sighed. He knew Saiai would leave without waking him up, but he thought he
would've woken up anyway. His forehead was slightly hot, and he touched it. As soon as his
fingers came in contact with it, the spot turned cold and his fingers tingled. He drew his hand
back and looked at it strangely. He shook his head and attempted to get up, but a small wetness
form on his cheek. He touched it with his finger and looked at it. A small, perfect tear rested on
his finger. He smiled sadly. `She left me a present,' he thought.
He dressed and did his morning routine as usual. He walked to the kitchen as usual. He made his
breakfast and sat down next to his uncle as usual. None of it felt right to him, though. He felt like
something was missing, and he knew what it was. Saiai wasn't there to wish him a good
morning, or talk to him about what the day's plans were. He sighed and dug into his breakfast,
foregoing any conversation with his uncle.
He finished and cleaned off his plate. `I'm going to train with Lee for the day, uncle. I'll be back
for supper,' Neji said, walking to the front door.
`I'll see you later, Neji. Have a good day,' Hiashi said, his smile hidden from Neji as the young
Hyuuga closed the door.
**********
Lee was outside, waiting for Neji when he walked out of the mansion. `Are you ready for
training today, Neji? It is a beautiful day for training.'
`Yeah, let's just go get it done and over with,' Neji grumbled, trudging off the front steps and
down to the dirt below. Lee stood up and followed Neji, talking nonstop about the previous days
events. Everything from the contest between Gai-sensei and TenTen to the random challenges
Gai had proposed to Kakashi-sensei. Neji listened half-heartedly, nodding and mumbling
responses in the appropriate places. This continued until they reached the training grounds and
put their stuff under the tree.
`Neji, I know you are feeling down, but maybe a good fight will cheer you up a bit?' Lee offered.
Neji muttered something, probably a yes, and assumed his fighting stance. Lee took up his and
attacked Neji.
The sparring continued for a half an hour, and Neji actually started to feel a bit better. He started
to fight back with enthusiasm and he was getting faster with every couple of minutes that passed.
Until he looked at the lake. The lake reminded him of when he took Saiai on the tour of the
Village, and the beginning of the whole affair.
While he was looking at the lake, Lee noticed he was staring off into space a little too late, and
kicked his partner in the face before he could stop himself. Neji fell to the ground, a small trickle
of blood pouring from his lip. A bruise instantly formed on his jaw, and his head hurt where it
made contact with the ground. He laid there, staring at the sky, not making a move to get up.
`Oh, Neji, I am so sorry. Are you hurt much?' Lee asked, kneeling by his side.
`Only my pride, Lee,' Neji said, slinging an arm over his eye. `Would you mind leaving me be
for a while? I want to be alone for a bit.'
`Yeah, sure, Neji, anything you want,' Lee said, backing away. Neji felt Lee's charka signature
leaving, and he was left with his own thoughts for a while. He laid there, on his back, blood
dripping from his lip and his chin throbbing. He ignored all this and focussed his thoughts on the
events that had lead up to the realization that he loved Saiai. It had been when he had kicked the
door in and found Yukio on top of Saiai. She had looked so helpless, and he decided then that he
wanted to protect her forever. After he woke up from his near-death experience and Saiai was
practically dead while the three girls worked on her, he went a little berserk. Mentally, of course,
but berserk just the same. He had worked so hard to keep her alive, why would she throw her life
away like that? Then it hit him; she felt the same way. Secretly, he had still been awake when she
had whispered the three words to him, but the shock of the chakra flooding into his body had
completely knocked him out. He wished fervently that she would wake up and live, and had
stayed at her side until she had woken up. He felt immensely happy when he saw her face
hovering in front of his, and he meant every word he told her.
He snapped out of his internal reflection when he heard and felt Lee come back. He felt Lee
kneel beside him. `Lee, I still need time alone.' When he didn't feel Lee budge and move closer
instead, Neji made his voice deepen. `Lee, I'm serious. I need more time alone.' A soft hand was
placed on his jaw, and Neji became seriously worried. He started to sit up, removing his arm
from across his eyes. `Lee, I know you're trying to make me feel better, but this is neither the
time or the place...' Neji stopped mid-sentence and his jaw fell open.
Saiai was sitting in front of him on her heels, and Lee was standing behind her, grinning like an
idiot. Neji's mouth worked silently as he gaped. Saiai smiled, reached her hand out, and gently
placed her hand on his jaw, healing his bruise. She rubbed a thumb slowly across his lip,
stopping the bleeding and healing the cut. She placed her other hand on his cheek and pulled his
face close. Her eyes closed while his widened as their lips met. The kiss was small, innocent,
pure. Neji closed his eyes eventually and thoroughly enjoyed her lips against his.
After an eternity that wasn't long enough, Saiai pulled away and smiled. Neji pulled back and
brushed Saiai's bangs away from her face. `Why? Why are you still here? Shouldn't you be with
your sisters?'
`Well, they basically ganged up on me today, and told me that they could run the Village by
themselves. Hiashi told me that I was more than welcome to stay at the Hyuuga residence, and
Tsuande has made me the official ambassador to the Moonlight Village. Of course I'll have to go
back and help them every couple of months...' She stood up and gave Neji a hand.
Neji stood up slowly, disbelievingly, and stared at Saiai. `So, does that mean... you're staying
with me?' Saiai beemed and jumped into his arms, laughing. He picked her up and twirled her
around, laughing also. He had never been so happy in his life! Finally he set her down, and
hugged her close, kissing the side of her neck. `I love you, Saiai. I didn't say it before you left, I
knew you knew, but I want you to hear it now. I love you.'
Saiai giggled, the kisses he planted on her neck tickling like crazy. `I love you, too, Neji. And as
much as I'd like to stand here all day cuddling with you, we have paperwork to do. So, are you
coming?' She reached out her hand and grabbed Neji, leading him towards town.
Meanwhile, left behind, Lee stared at the two of them. Sakura appeared in a puff of smoke
behind him, and wrapped her arms around his middle, squeezing him tight. `I knew they couldn't
leave each other.'
Lee smiled. `Looks like I owe you dinner, then.' And they, too, walked off towards town.
Arichi. The rest are owned by Masashi Kishimoto, that wonderful, wonderful man.
By: Amanda Smith aka silverwingedwolf
Date started: February 10th, 2008
Date finished: February , 2008
Pairings: Sakura/Lee, Neji/OC, Kiba/Hinata, Shikamaru/Temari
Rating: 18+, for non-consent, minors, incest, blood, gore
*Epilogue*
Saiai was aware. She didn't remember losing her awareness, but her senses told her otherwise.
Her clothes were different: she wore a simple, light gown that was not her own. Her gloves were
off, as well, but something in the back off her mind told her that she had taken them off by
herself. There was a blanket covering her, and she seemed to be lying in a bed.
Her sense of smell told her that she had smelled this clean, sterile odour before. She recognized
it. The Leaf Village's hospital. She was back in the Leaf Village, and she was alive. Memories of
the fight with her uncle, the escape from the house, her mother's death, and Neji. Her mind
raced; Neji, was he alright? Did her jutsu save him? How did she make it? Were her sisters ok?
Who brought her here?
Her thoughts were cut off by a sound. There were people walking outside, but her hearing didn't
register that as important. What she heard was breathing other than her own. That was when she
noticed that one side of her bed was slightly lower than the other, as if something was resting on
it. She opened her eyes, and squinted into the light. She recognized the room instantly; it was the
same room she was in during her first visit to the Leaf Village. She looked out of the window
beside her bed, and was never so glad to see the sun.
She looked to her other side and found what was causing the slight dip in the bed. A mass of long
chocolate hair covering a white shirt lay face down on the side of the bed, head cradled in arms
on the side of the bed. Saiai moved her hand from underneath the covers and moved her hand
slowly towards the sleeping body. Careful not to wake Neji up, she brushed the hair from his
face and tucked it behind his ears. She gazed at him sleeping: his breath came out in slow, short
puffs of air, his mouth slightly open. His face was so peaceful while he slept, and any frown lines
or signs or worry were erased, as if they were never there in the first place. Saiai placed her palm
on his cheek and kept it there, relishing in the feel of his soft skin.
`I wouldn't wake him up just yet, if I were you,' a voice said from the doorway, scaring the hell
out of her. Sakura walked in with Lee, and raised a hand in greeting. Saiai smiled and waved at
the two of them. They walked over to the side of the bed opposite Neji and leaned against the
wall. Sakura put a bouquet of flowers in a vase next to her bed, and she noticed quite a few
groups of flowers.
`Who are those from?' Saiai wondered aloud.
`Hiashi and Hanabi brought this bouquet,' Lee said, pointing to an arrangement of orchids. `Kiba
and Hinata bought you those tulips, and Sakura and I bought you those chrysanthemums.'
`What about that single rose?' Saiai asked, pointing to the one closest to her bed.
`Neji brought that one,' Sakura said. She looked down at Neji, a mildly worried look crossing her
face. `He hasn't left your bedside since we brought you back two days ago. He only fell asleep
about four hours ago, poor thing. He's been going on force of will alone.'
Saiai was shocked. `He's been at my bedside non-stop since we've arrived? Why hasn't he left?'
Something else struck her as odd. `Two days ago?' Saiai asked. `I've been asleep for two days?
Wow... would you be able to fill me in? I don't remember anything.'
`Absolutely,' Sakura said. She took a seat on the side of the bed, and Lee sat in the window,
looking outside. `After you had passed out, Emiko and Arichi arrived. Arichi and I worked on
stopping the bleeding and fixing your organs, while Emiko worked on mending your bones.
She's not exactly the best medic-nin, is she?' Saiai shook her head, smirking, and Sakura
laughed, continuing. `Lee set about trying to wake Neji up, which was surprisingly hard to do.
After we had stabilized you for the moment, we had to bring you to the closest medical facility.
Did you know that there wasn't one in the Moonlight Village?'
`There was, but it was burning to the ground by the time you needed it,' Saiai said. `And the lead
medic-nin in the Village burned along with it.' She hung her head at the memory of her mother
retreating from the bars, choking on smoke and tears running down her soot-smeared face.
`I am so sorry, Saiai,' Lee said.
`It's ok,' Saiai replied, shaking her head and smiling slightly. She really was, surprisingly. Before
she blacked out, she imagined her mother and father were happy where they were, and that they
were no longer at odds with each other. `My mother would've wanted us to survive, and that's
what we did, thanks to you.'
`Oh, we did nothing but repair work after you and Neji wiped the floor with your uncle,' Sakura
said, waving off Saiai's praise as if it were nothing. `So, we had to wake Neji up before we
moved you because we needed more than one person to carry you the entire way. But when he
woke up, he kinda freaked out and insisted he carry you the entire way. Lee forced him to stop a
couple times on the way here so we could heal your injuries.' Sakura's face became grave. `I
seriously thought you weren't going to make it, Saiai. Your wounds kept reopening, and Arichi
and I worked almost non-stop.'
`Sakura, thank you,' Saiai said. `I can't thank both of you enough. And Neji... I could never
repay him for what he did for me. He almost died because he saved me. I don't think I could've
lived with myself if he had actually died.'
`But he didn't, and that's what counts,' Sakura came back. `You gave your life for him. You
showed a bravery and selflessness beyond anything I've ever seen. And something else, as well.'
Sakura smiled coyly, and Saiai raised an eyebrow. `Remember what you said to me before you
passed out?'
Saiai thought for a moment, then her eyes widened. `That's right,' Sakura said, smirking. `That's
the only reason you attempted that jutsu, and that's the only reason it worked. Isn't it?'
Saiai blushed furiously, but could not deny it. Lee, completely lost, asked from behind Sakura,
`What? What is the only reason the jutsu worked? What jutsu? What are you two talking about?'
`Nothing, Lee. Come on, let's go, we have to go see Emiko and Arichi.' Sakura started to push
Lee out the door, despite his attempts to get more information out of her.
`My sisters are in the Leaf Village?' Saiai asked, perking up.
`Yes, they are. They've been staying in the Hyuuga residence, and Lee and I are acting as tour
guides for them until you get out of the hospital. Which should be today, just to tell you.
Whenever you're ready to go, Tsunade said that you can leave whenever you want.'
`Alright, thank you. I will meet you guys later, in the town somewhere. I just want to rest a bit
more,' Saiai said, and bid the couple goodbye. The room fell silent again, and Saiai turned her
gaze to the man sleeping at her side. Poor Neji, he's been going on adrenaline alone for so long.
I'll let him sleep for a while longer.
She slipped out of bed on the opposite side and shivered at the coldness of the tiles on her feet.
She waited for a while for her head to adjust to the new altitude, remembering what had
happened the first time she had jumped out of bed. She padded her way to her closet and opened
the door. The door crashed against the wall, and Saiai tensed. She looked back at the bed, and
Neji was still sleeping soundly, hunched over the bed in what had to have been the most
uncomfortable sleeping position ever. She sighed relief, then brought out her bag. She rummaged
through her bag, looking for her clothes and shoes. She dressed quickly and silently, the room
not giving her much cover for privacy, and she didn't want to wake Neji with crash and have him
find her half-clothed on the ground with her dress around her feet. The mental image of his
shocked face made her giggle uncontrollably. She danced around, pulling her dress up, balancing
herself on one foot while giggling furiously. She almost ended up on the ground putting her boot
on, the final piece of clothing, but she caught herself on the window sill.
She picked up her bag and made her way to the bed, still giggling. Her giggling abruptly stopped
when her stomach spoke up for the first time in several days. She glanced at the clock on the
wall, and it told her it was nearly noon. She sighed, knowing she'd have to wake Neji up to go
find something to eat. She didn't want to wake him up, but she knew she had to. She was hungry,
and she was pretty sure he was, too.
She snuck over to his side, around his back, and dropped her head so she was looking him
straight in the face. She sighed once more; his face was so peaceful. She shook his shoulder
gently, whispering his name. He groaned and muttered something incoherent, burying his face
deeper into his arms. `Wow', Saiai thought. `He must really be tired. He'd be up in a flash if he
were well rested.' She shook his shoulder harder and said his name in a louder voice.
His eyes slowly opened, unfocused and bleary. He blinked several times, trying to focus on the
person in front of him, but they just wouldn't clear. He rubbed his eyes with his fists, and Saiai
found this endearing. `Good morning, Neji. I've heard from Sakura you haven't been sleeping.
You know you -` She was cut off by a vicious hug from the man now standing in front of her.
`Don't you ever do that again,' Neji whispered in her ear with a vehemence she had heard only
when he attacked her uncle. `You had me so worried, Saiai. I thought I had lost you.'
Saiai hugged him back. `Well, next time you throw me out of a window, make sure you come
right after me, or I won't be able to meet your demands.'
Neji pulled away from her, holding her away from his body to look straight into her eyes. He
glared his silver glare at the woman in front of him, but he eventually lost the anger he felt. It
was replaced by an immense feeling of relief. `Why would you put your life on the line for me? I
was on that mission to protect you. I didn't want anything to happen to you.'
`Neji,' Saiai said, slightly amused. `Do you really have to think that hard about why I did it?' She
blushed severely, her pale face flushing a light pink. She didn't think it would be this hard to tell
him.
`The Total Rejuvenation jutsu,' Neji said, staring at her. `It only works on one condition.' Saiai
nodded, and Neji continued. `And both people must be experiencing it for it to truly work.'
Another nod. Neji was quiet for a while, and Saiai began to get scared.
`Neji? Is something wrong?' Saiai said. The look in his eyes turned sad. She frowned.
`Well, if that's the case... I want to ask you one question.' Neji turned his face to the side. He was
having a hard time asking this, and Saiai saw his indecision. She grabbed his chin and forced his
face towards her. Her silver orbs look up to his, her eyes looking at him with no complaints or
reservations; she was open to any question he would ask her.
`Would you stay with me? Here? In Konohagakure?' Neji said, his voice soft. His eyes pleaded
with her to say yes.
Saiai's eyes widened, and her hand went to her mouth. `Oh, Neji,' she whispered. `I would love
more than anything to stay here with you.' Her hands found his, and she entwined her small ones
into his large ones. `I can't, though. You must understand. I've lost almost everything, almost
you, to get my sisters and my Village back. I don't want to let our efforts go to waste.'
Neji smiled sadly. `I understand you. I thought I would ask. It didn't hurt to try.' He pulled her in
close, and placed his chin on the top of her head. `But you have to promise me one thing.'
`Anything,' Saiai said.
`You have to come back to me, so I can see you, whenever you have spare time,' Neji said, not
moving from his position on top of her head.
`You have to come to my Village, too,' Saiai said. `We have to rebuild my family's house, and
repair the damage done to the surrounding houses from the blaze.'
`I will,' Neji agreed. They stayed in that position for several more minutes, Saiai leaning on
Neji's chest, her face buried in his clothes, and their hands pinned between them. Neji finally
pulled away, reluctantly, and looked at Saiai. `Guess we have leave now. Sakura said you can
leave today.'
Saiai pulled away and stared at Neji, disbelievingly. `You were awake that entire time? What else
did you see?' Neji grinned mischievously, and Saiai gasped. `You lecher! I could've fallen over,
and you would've just laughed!' She punched him in the rib, and he threw his arm over her
shoulder, bringing her in close to his side. `For that, you owe me ramen.'
`I wouldn't have it any other way,' Neji said, squeezing Saiai's shoulder and grabbing her bag
with his free hand before leaving the room.
******
The couple arrived at the Ichiraku Ramen shop, Saiai still under Neji's arm, and was slightly
surprised to find Lee and Sakura there with Saiai's sisters. Lee and Sakura waved towards the
pair, and the sisters looked back. At the sight of their older sister, they flew out of their chairs and
tackled her to the ground, nearly knocking Neji over in the meantime.
`Saiai! Saiai!' the girls screamed in her ear, nuzzling and cuddling with her on the ground. Saiai
struggled to breath under the combined weight of the two girls. Lee stood up and picked up
Emiko, while Neji picked up Arichi. Neji bent over and picked Saiai up, placing her gently on
her feet.
`Hey, guys,' Saiai said, slightly wheezing. `How are you?'
`You knob! You scared us half to death, not to mention the fact we had to save your scrawny
butt,' Emiko said.
`Hello to you, too, Emiko,' Saiai chuckled. Her younger sister was wearing her normal clothes
instead of the gown Saiai had seen her in at the mansion. She was wearing a pink off the
shoulder dress, with white lacing around the edges. The sleeves were flared, and ending just past
her fingers, so her long, slender fingers were hidden. The skirt ended at the middle of her thighs.
She wore high heeled shoes, with white ribbons running, criss-crossing, up her leg and tied just
below her knee. Her pair of katana hung behind her back, criss-crossing like her laces. Her black
hair flowed freely past her shoulders and shone in the sun. Her skin was smooth and tanned,
casting a healthy glow to her eyes. Her blue eyes sparkled in the sun, flowing in circles slowly
around the perimeter of her eyes, much like Saiai's own. She moved with a constant energy that
seemed to seep through, even as she was standing still. `Your Moon Eyes are still there, I see?'
`Yes, thanks to you, big sister,' Emiko said, hugging Saiai, then stepping back so Arichi could
talk to her.
The two embraced and parted, Arichi slightly shorter than Saiai, but taller than Emiko. Her
golden hair shone in the sun, and her green eyes, while stagnant with the lack of Moon Eyes,
held a certain spark to it that denoted intelligence and cunning. She was a lot quieter than Emiko,
in voice and in action. Her skin was lighter than Emiko's, but no where near as pale as Saiai.
She wore a tank top that showed off her midriff and matching baggy shorts, ending just above
her knees. They were a bright red, with a gold trim around the edges. Her longbow was slung
over her shoulder lazily, and two brown belts held a quiver of arrows, each shaft tied to a string
that was, in turn, tied to a bangle on her wrist. Arichi reached up and played with Saiai's braids, a
habit that the youngest sister couldn't seem to break since she was a little girl. `So, how many
guards did take out?' Arichi asked, smiling.
`Oh, about ten,' Saiai replied, flexing her fingers. `I couldn't leave them all for you guys.'
`You had us so worried, you know,' Arichi said, slightly tugging at the brunette's braids. `Your
wounds were really bad. I didn't think Father's jutsu would do -that- to you.' She got quiet. `So,
does he know what the jutsu entails?' She looked at Neji, and he nodded, pulling Saiai under his
arm. Arichi smiled. `I thought so. I didn't think he would throw you out of a window otherwise.'
Neji laughed, and Saiai smiled. Arichi pulled away and lead them to the table they were sitting
at.
When the group sat down, Sakura and Lee exchanged a sly glance with each that Neji saw.
`What was that look, Lee?' Neji asked, his voice low.
Lee shot Neji a look of mock hurt. `Neji, you insult me by questioning my integrity. We just
happened to be looking at each other when you looked over this way.' He smiled unconvincingly
to Neji, and Neji glared.
Sakura decided to be the bigger of the two, and said, `It's about damn time you guys figured it
out.' She looked at Saiai, and grinned. `Yeah, we figured it out before you did. The day you left,
actually. It was just so obvious, except to the two of you.' Saiai blushed and tucked herself
deeper into Neji's arm, while Neji's eyes shot daggers at Sakura.
`Oh?' Emiko said, looking at Arichi and grinning mischievously. `Do tell, Sakura, do tell.' So,
much to the chagrin of Saiai and Neji, Lee and Sakura retold the previous month's escapades to
Emiko and Arichi over ramen. An hour passed, and the ramen disappeared while the sextet
talked. The three Leaf jonin paid for the Moonlight shinobi's bills when they were finished.
Sakura and Lee took their leave, stating that Gai-sensei and TenTen were having a target-practice
contest, and they wanted to see what Gai would have to do when he lost.
After Sakura and Lee left, Emiko stretch her legs out and yawned loudly. `So, what else is there
to do in the Leaf Village? We have the whole day to do stuff, and this Village is so much bigger
than the Moonlight Village.'
Neji looked at Saiai, and sighed. `I think that's a hint. Well, come on,' he said, standing up. `I'll
give you a tour.' Emiko shot up and ran out the door, startling all three of them. Arichi shook her
head, shouldered her bow, and walked out slowly after. Saiai and Neji followed after them.
The day passed quickly, the girls loving their tour around Konoha. Emiko ran from place to
place, totally revelling in the new sights, while Arichi chose to hang back and enjoy the sights
from afar.
Neji and Saiai chose to stay behind both of them, and enjoy each other's company while they
could.
One of the more exciting events to happen to the quartet that day was the sudden appearance of
Naruto and Jiraiya. Jiraiya, being the master pervert, immediately started fawning over the girls
and spewing his flattering nonsense. Naruto started flirting with Emiko, while Jiraiya tried to
impress Arichi. Neji stepped forward to try to stop them, but Saiai put a hand on his arm,
stopping him and pulling him behind some boxes. She activated her Moon Eyes and hid both her
and Neji's chakra. They peered around the corner to watch the fun begin.
`What's a girl like you doing in Konoha? A beautiful girl such as yourself should be out with
your hubby,' Jiraiya said, leaning on the wall in front of Arichi.
Arichi looked dryly at Jiraiya. `I don't have a hubby, as you so artfully put it.'
`Oooooh! Really? Well, then, how would you like to be my arm candy for the night?' Jiraiya
asked, practically squealing like a little girl who was given a beautiful doll for her birthday.
`And who are you, that I should treated to such a great honour?' Arichi asked, sarcasm dripping
from her voice.
Apparently, the great toad sage was so concerned with picking up Arichi that he didn't notice or
chose to ignore the tone of her sentences. `I am so glad you asked that! I am Jiraiya! The Toad
Mountain Sage! One of the elite sannin to come out of Konoha!' He posed as he told her about
himself.
`Yeah, uh-huh, well, Mr Toad Sage, when you become interesting, or younger for that matter,
come find me,' Arichi said, turning to Emiko, who was fighting her own battle with Naruto.
`So, chicky-poo, how would you like the great privilege of accompanying me and my sensei to
dinner tonight?' Naruto asked, waggling his eyebrows in an attempt to attract Emiko.
`Ugh, I'd rather go out with an old man than you,' Emiko sneered, rolling her eyes.
`I heard you would rather go out with an old man?' Jiraiya said, appearing in a puff of smoke
behind her. Emiko shrieked and ran to Arichi's side. Emiko made a reach for her sword when
Arichi put her hand on the hilt to stop her. Arichi leaned over and whispered in Emiko's ear.
Emiko smiled, then turned a seductive glance towards the two men standing in front of them.
`Hmmm...' she hummed, glancing at the men, looking them up and down. `My sister just
informed me that we may have underestimated you. Jiraiya, Naruto, correct?' The men nodded,
mouths open, as the two girls advanced on them.
`Well, gentlemen, I think we owe you an apology kiss,' Arichi said, seductively chewing on her
lower lip. Jiraiya's nose was bleeding slightly, whereas Naruto's face was paling from blood loss.
The girls inched closer to them and raised their faces to the two men standing in front of them.
Both men were dancing like little kids about to get candy. Naturally, the men let their eyes slip
when the girls got close enough to their reward. When the girls saw that their eyes were fully
shut, Emiko grabbed Arichi's hand, activated her Moon Eyes, then disappeared behind the boxes
that Neji and Saiai were hiding behind. The men immediately detected the loss of chakra in front
of them and opened their eyes. When they found out that their `prizes' were gone, they started
fighting with each other; Jiraiya told Naruto that his choppy come-ons were what scared them
away, and Naruto retorted that it was Jiraiya's old man smell that chased them off. They left the
alley they were in, still bickering, leaving the quartet huddled over in silent laughter.
`Oh my god, that was hilarious,' Saiai said, wiping a tear from her eye. `Naruto was bad, but that
old man was even worse.'
`Jiraiya did smell like an old man, too,' Arichi said. This sent them off into another gale of
laughter that lasted several more minutes.
When they finished their little giggling fit, Neji stood up. The night had fallen while they were
trying to get Naruto and Jiraiya to go away. He helped Saiai to her feet and watched as the other
girls filed out from behind the boxes. `I think it's about time to head back to my place, but there's
one last thing I want to how you. Follow me,' he said, encircling Saiai under one arm and
walking away. They didn't see the look the girls behind them exchanged as they followed them
slowly.
A while later, they arrived at the Hokage Mountain's platform. The girls looked at the carvings
on the mountain, but Saiai pointed them in the right direction. They gasped and gazed at the
Northern Lights on the buildings and the silver lights on the tops of them for several minutes.
`Wow, Neji, how did you find out about this place?' Emiko said, turning back towards them. She
stopped her questioning and elbowed Arichi to turn around when she saw what was happening
behind them. Neji and Saiai weren't looking at the sight in front of them; they only had eyes for
each other. Saiai was looking up into Neji's face, no attempt to hide her swirling silver orbs. Her
eyes and face were sad as they gazed up into her loved one's face. Her hands and Neji's were
entwined, pinned between their bodies as Saiai leaned against Neji. Neji was looking down on
her, and his own silver eyes were shining in the moonlight. His face was set in a serious tone as
he gazed down on his girl. The feeling of sadness and longing orbited the couple so obviously it
could have been given a life of its own. Emiko and Arichi felt odd looking at the display, like
they were intruding on the special moment.
Arichi coughed slightly, rousing the two from their private world. `I don't mean to break up the
moment, guys, but I think it's time we get home. It's an early morning tomorrow, and we have to
sleep for the journey back.' Neji nodded and led the way back to the Hyuuga estate.
On entry, Hiashi was sitting at the table and greeted the incoming group. Hiashi informed Emiko
and Arichi that they could have the girls room tonight, seeing as Hinata was still on a mission
and Hanabi was on overnight training. They thanked him and headed to the room.
Neji and Saiai sat in front of Hiashi, and the elder Hyuuga immediately noticed the difference.
`So, you've finally woken up to each other, huh?' Hiashi asked with a smile.
`Ok, does everyone know except the two of us?' Saiai asked Hiashi, who nodded and smiled
sweetly. `Incredible.'
`Well, at least we know now,' Neji said. He squeezed Saiai's hand, and silence fell over the
group. Sadness blanketed the air, and Hiashi gazed on as the two young shinobi looked as if they
were losing their best friends.
`So, I'm assuming that Saiai has to go back to the Moonlight Village to fix everything her uncle
has caused and help govern the shinobi, correct?' A nod from the two across the table. `Well, she
can come back anytime she wants to, and you can go visit her on your missions off, right?'
`Yeah,' Saiai said.
`But it just won't be the same,' Neji said.
Hiashi nodded. `Yeah, I can understand that. But I think both of you can do it. You've been
through enough trouble as it is, I don't think distance will be a problem.' The two nodded again,
but the sadness still stayed. The Hyuuga head felt their pain and wanted to do something, but he
couldn't think of anything.
`I think we should go to bed now, Saiai, you have a long day tomorrow,' Neji said, standing up
from the table and bowing to his uncle. Saiai followed suit and thanked Hiashi for his hospitality.
They travelled to Neji's bedroom, totally unaware that the bedroom door to the girls' bedroom
was opened a crack.
They entered Neji's bedroom and Neji took his shower first. He finished quickly and Saiai took
her shower. She came out to find Neji under the covers and half asleep. She had forgotten
completely that he hadn't slept for days and instantly felt bad for him because her sisters dragged
him around the town.
She snuggled in on her side of the bed, readying herself to sleep, when something warm wrapped
around her and dragged her backwards. She squeaked, and was met with a warm body pressed
against her back. She turned around and glared at Neji. `You could've warned me you were
going to do that.' She pressed her face against his bare chest and placed her hand on his solar
plexus.
`Where would the fun be in that?' Neji asked, smiling down on her. He played with her brown
braids, occasionally running his hand through her ponytail.
There was silence, and Neji was slowly falling asleep. He was woken up from his near-sleep
when he heard near his chest area, `I want to stay here, Neji, I really do, but I don't know if my
sisters would fair well running the Village on their own. I'm scared for them, and I wouldn't
know what to do if they somehow got hurt.'
Neji returned his hand to stroking her hair. `Shhhh, Saiai, it's ok. We've already established that
we'll be seeing each other, albeit we'll have to travel constantly. I wish you could stay here, too,
but your Village needs you more than I do.'
The next thing Saiai heard was the slow, steady breathing that told her that Neji had fallen
asleep. Which was good, to her, because she didn't want him to feel the singular blue tear that
fell from her eye onto his chest before she fell asleep herself.
******
Saiai woke up before dawn, as was normal. She was warm, she felt safe, and she didn't want to
leave. She stayed perfectly still for a couple of minutes, savouring her last few minutes with
Neji. She groaned quietly, slipping as softly as she could out of Neji's arm and out of the bed,
trying not to make noise or too much movement. She sighed, getting dressed on the side of the
bed instead of going to the bathroom. She figured that it would save time, and he had seen her
dress before, even if he did wake up. Nothing was secret between them anymore, and she had
nothing to hide. She finished and picked up her bag, walking silently to the other side of the
room to the door, before she thought of something she wanted to do.
She walked back over to the bed, on Neji's side this time. She leaned over the sleeping man and
simply stared at his profile for several seconds. His mouth slightly open, his long silky hair
splayed out underneath him like a blanket, his long lashes resting lightly on his pale skin. She
made a point to imprint this vision in her mind. She sighed, bending down, and kissed him softly
on his curse seal. Her eyes closed, and a small tear slipped from between her eyelids, collecting
in her lashes. She moved back slightly, and the tear fell from her lashes to the tip of his nose. It
stayed their, like a small pearl, not moving. Saiai didn't see this happen as she turned and rushed
out of the room before she started crying.
Saiai opened the door silently, and backed out of the room. She shut the door as quietly as she
could. She tip-toed towards the kitchen area, hoping that her sisters would be ready to go. When
she entered the kitchen, however, she found both her sisters and Hiashi sitting at the table,
waiting for her, looking serious as each one of them turned to look at her.
`What...?' Saiai bega, but she was cut off by a hand from Arichi.
`We need to talk to you, Saiai.' Arichi said.
******
Neji woke up after dawn, and he felt cold. The place beside him was cold, and his arm was
empty. He sighed. He knew Saiai would leave without waking him up, but he thought he
would've woken up anyway. His forehead was slightly hot, and he touched it. As soon as his
fingers came in contact with it, the spot turned cold and his fingers tingled. He drew his hand
back and looked at it strangely. He shook his head and attempted to get up, but a small wetness
form on his cheek. He touched it with his finger and looked at it. A small, perfect tear rested on
his finger. He smiled sadly. `She left me a present,' he thought.
He dressed and did his morning routine as usual. He walked to the kitchen as usual. He made his
breakfast and sat down next to his uncle as usual. None of it felt right to him, though. He felt like
something was missing, and he knew what it was. Saiai wasn't there to wish him a good
morning, or talk to him about what the day's plans were. He sighed and dug into his breakfast,
foregoing any conversation with his uncle.
He finished and cleaned off his plate. `I'm going to train with Lee for the day, uncle. I'll be back
for supper,' Neji said, walking to the front door.
`I'll see you later, Neji. Have a good day,' Hiashi said, his smile hidden from Neji as the young
Hyuuga closed the door.
**********
Lee was outside, waiting for Neji when he walked out of the mansion. `Are you ready for
training today, Neji? It is a beautiful day for training.'
`Yeah, let's just go get it done and over with,' Neji grumbled, trudging off the front steps and
down to the dirt below. Lee stood up and followed Neji, talking nonstop about the previous days
events. Everything from the contest between Gai-sensei and TenTen to the random challenges
Gai had proposed to Kakashi-sensei. Neji listened half-heartedly, nodding and mumbling
responses in the appropriate places. This continued until they reached the training grounds and
put their stuff under the tree.
`Neji, I know you are feeling down, but maybe a good fight will cheer you up a bit?' Lee offered.
Neji muttered something, probably a yes, and assumed his fighting stance. Lee took up his and
attacked Neji.
The sparring continued for a half an hour, and Neji actually started to feel a bit better. He started
to fight back with enthusiasm and he was getting faster with every couple of minutes that passed.
Until he looked at the lake. The lake reminded him of when he took Saiai on the tour of the
Village, and the beginning of the whole affair.
While he was looking at the lake, Lee noticed he was staring off into space a little too late, and
kicked his partner in the face before he could stop himself. Neji fell to the ground, a small trickle
of blood pouring from his lip. A bruise instantly formed on his jaw, and his head hurt where it
made contact with the ground. He laid there, staring at the sky, not making a move to get up.
`Oh, Neji, I am so sorry. Are you hurt much?' Lee asked, kneeling by his side.
`Only my pride, Lee,' Neji said, slinging an arm over his eye. `Would you mind leaving me be
for a while? I want to be alone for a bit.'
`Yeah, sure, Neji, anything you want,' Lee said, backing away. Neji felt Lee's charka signature
leaving, and he was left with his own thoughts for a while. He laid there, on his back, blood
dripping from his lip and his chin throbbing. He ignored all this and focussed his thoughts on the
events that had lead up to the realization that he loved Saiai. It had been when he had kicked the
door in and found Yukio on top of Saiai. She had looked so helpless, and he decided then that he
wanted to protect her forever. After he woke up from his near-death experience and Saiai was
practically dead while the three girls worked on her, he went a little berserk. Mentally, of course,
but berserk just the same. He had worked so hard to keep her alive, why would she throw her life
away like that? Then it hit him; she felt the same way. Secretly, he had still been awake when she
had whispered the three words to him, but the shock of the chakra flooding into his body had
completely knocked him out. He wished fervently that she would wake up and live, and had
stayed at her side until she had woken up. He felt immensely happy when he saw her face
hovering in front of his, and he meant every word he told her.
He snapped out of his internal reflection when he heard and felt Lee come back. He felt Lee
kneel beside him. `Lee, I still need time alone.' When he didn't feel Lee budge and move closer
instead, Neji made his voice deepen. `Lee, I'm serious. I need more time alone.' A soft hand was
placed on his jaw, and Neji became seriously worried. He started to sit up, removing his arm
from across his eyes. `Lee, I know you're trying to make me feel better, but this is neither the
time or the place...' Neji stopped mid-sentence and his jaw fell open.
Saiai was sitting in front of him on her heels, and Lee was standing behind her, grinning like an
idiot. Neji's mouth worked silently as he gaped. Saiai smiled, reached her hand out, and gently
placed her hand on his jaw, healing his bruise. She rubbed a thumb slowly across his lip,
stopping the bleeding and healing the cut. She placed her other hand on his cheek and pulled his
face close. Her eyes closed while his widened as their lips met. The kiss was small, innocent,
pure. Neji closed his eyes eventually and thoroughly enjoyed her lips against his.
After an eternity that wasn't long enough, Saiai pulled away and smiled. Neji pulled back and
brushed Saiai's bangs away from her face. `Why? Why are you still here? Shouldn't you be with
your sisters?'
`Well, they basically ganged up on me today, and told me that they could run the Village by
themselves. Hiashi told me that I was more than welcome to stay at the Hyuuga residence, and
Tsuande has made me the official ambassador to the Moonlight Village. Of course I'll have to go
back and help them every couple of months...' She stood up and gave Neji a hand.
Neji stood up slowly, disbelievingly, and stared at Saiai. `So, does that mean... you're staying
with me?' Saiai beemed and jumped into his arms, laughing. He picked her up and twirled her
around, laughing also. He had never been so happy in his life! Finally he set her down, and
hugged her close, kissing the side of her neck. `I love you, Saiai. I didn't say it before you left, I
knew you knew, but I want you to hear it now. I love you.'
Saiai giggled, the kisses he planted on her neck tickling like crazy. `I love you, too, Neji. And as
much as I'd like to stand here all day cuddling with you, we have paperwork to do. So, are you
coming?' She reached out her hand and grabbed Neji, leading him towards town.
Meanwhile, left behind, Lee stared at the two of them. Sakura appeared in a puff of smoke
behind him, and wrapped her arms around his middle, squeezing him tight. `I knew they couldn't
leave each other.'
Lee smiled. `Looks like I owe you dinner, then.' And they, too, walked off towards town.