Freya: Okay so I've done it again. I'm writing another fic without finishing my old ones…At least this time I won't start posting until I have at least the next two chapters ready.

It's a NejiXSaku fic and it takes place as if there is no such thing as ninjas and they are just like us. It's a college time frame and I tried to stick people into majors and such that they would choose based on their behavior in the manga/anime. With the exception of Neji…*SIGH*

I do not own Naruto. If I did I'd steal the men's clothes, put them in a pile and sleep in them. It'd be like catnip for me. FREYA HAS SPOKEN!

CHAPTER 1: Fall Freshman Year-part 1

It was early August and excitement was in the air. The school year would be starting again and finally the kids were off to college. It was a crisp morning when the first day began and it remained so until just about noon when it began to get hot and muggy.

"I know! They put me in that AWFUL dorm. It stinks like men who haven't showered in days!" Ino yelled through the receiver into the ear of Haruno Sakura. The pink headed girl winced at the grating of her best friend and rival's voice. Doesn't she know the meaning of restraint? The blonde nuisance went on. "I swear the only good thing is there is definitely an abundance of sexy guys everywhere…"

"Why is that the only good thing? Isn't there anything else at the dorm that you like?" Sakura asked.

"You're lucky Sakura. You got an apartment off campus and only have to share your bathroom with 1 other person! I have to share with the whole floor and that's not even mentioning the laundry situation…"

Sakura grimaced. Eww. She hated the idea of having to share with that many people, even if they were hot guys. Sakura was glad to be sharing her four bedroom two bathroom apartment with people she knew.

Roommate number one was a girl by the name of Hyuuga Hinata. Sakura knew her to be shy in all aspects of the word all through school. She had long dark hair and bright white eyes. The biggest problem with her was her silent demeanor and incessant stuttering. But she was kind to everyone which people seem to under value.

Roomate number two was Tenten. She was forward, polite, and a very healthy individual. Sakura didn't know her well but knew her well enough to room with her. She was very friendly but also somewhat private. Her brown hair was often pulled back out of her face. Being an active person this was the best way for her to wear it. Sakura couldn't quite remember but Tenten may have said something about majoring in Culinary Arts. She was damn good with a knife, so much so that it frightened Sakura a little.

The last roommate was Temari. She was an exchange student from the desert but had been Sakura's penpal for a while before that. She seemed to be stern at first but she easily warmed up to people after a few visits. Her blonde hair was vibrant and often made Sakura a little jealous. A business major so that she could help run some big company with her brothers.

Yes this year would be fine. It's easier to focus on school when you aren't having dorm issues. If everyone gets along then everyone does well. None of them had boyfriends, which in Sakura's eyes was a plus. No love drama to distract them from what's important: Education.

"Yeah, right," Sakura rolled her eyes.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing Ino. So any cute guys I should know about?" Sakura insinuated. "Any that you haven't already picked for yourself that is…"

Ino laughed that high grating laugh again. Sakura sometimes hated that laugh; it used to be a mocking laugh that Sakura was often on the receiving end of.

"Lots of guys from the track team are on my level. Sasuke's here. And Lee too. I'll be cheering for them when the season starts," she giggled. "Kiba's joining the track team as well. Others are here too."

"Like who?" Sakura asked.

Ino paused for a minute as if trying to remember when all she need do is look down the hall.

"That idiot Naruto is here, though how he got into this university is beyond me. I saw Shikamaru and Chouji hanging out down in the cafeteria. I haven't seen Shino at all but I'm sure he's around here somewhere too, maybe a different floor or building. It seems we all got accepted."

Sakura counted up her childhood friends and seemed to count one short. Who was still missing? She was walking along the campus and near ran right into Hinata. She apologized and while helping her up, it hit her.

"Call you back Ino. Later," she hung up. Sakura then looked at Hinata. "Did Neji get accepted into this university too, Hinata?"

Hinata shook her head no. "He applied for another campus a year before us…A more prestigious one for his major. They accepted him there on full scholarship. My cousin is a genius…"

"So I heard. He only reminds people of it constantly," Sakura laughed. She wondered for a minute was kind of major he must have gone into. The University Sakura and her friends were at wasn't prestigious but it covered a lot of different majors. Hinata and Sakura were both pre-med, which explained why they got along well enough.

Sakura went along to her classes and received her syllabuses for each. Her first semester would be an easy one. Mostly basic classes involving Statistics, Biology, Political Science and English. Her fifth class was a chemistry class. She knew she had to start early with the important classes for her major. A sigh escaped her lips to show how tired she was but a smile remained on her face. It doesn't seem likely I will have any trouble this semester.

She made her way home via a shuttle that went to her complex and back. Sakura noticed that the only cars there were Temari's and Hinata's. Tenten must be out working or at her classes still. She unlocked the door and went in. Temari was talking on the phone. She was animated and lively which only happened when she was talking to family from home.

"Really? That's awesome! So you'll be able to come then? Great! Yeah, bring him too. You never know with him, he might actually enjoy it," Temari laughed into the phone.

Without warning Hinata came flying around the corner with a Polaroid and flashed Sakura with it. Little bright dots danced in front of her eyes for a minute before she could see again. Little bright photo faeries everywhere. In the meantime she settled for a "what the hell was that for?"

"S-S-Sorry, Sakura. I know you don't like p-pictures taken of you but I needed a r-reference for your kimono," Hinata shyly mumbled.

"What kimono?" Sakura questioned as the lights began to go away. Temari hung up the phone and answered for the quiet Hinata.

"There's going to be a fall festival in a month or so and Hinata thought she'd ask her cousin to get some kimonos for us to wear. I think it's a great idea. My brothers are going to come too but only for a couple of days."

"Huh…Well, okay as long as this festival doesn't mess with my studies. That's cool with me," Sakura smiled. Hinata smiled back and then bombarded Temari with a photo as well. Tenten is going to be visited by the photo faeries the minute she walks in. which is kind of dangerous considering how deadly Tenten is with a knife.

The next month went by quickly and soon Sakura had forgotten all about the celebration in the fall. The pink haired girl was sitting in her room racking her brain over some chemistry questions when the door bell rang. Sakura listened to see if anyone went to answer it and it sounded like Temari did.

"Her bedroom is at that end," is what Temari said.

There was a knock at Sakura's door and she raised herself, not unwillingly, from her seat. Anything to get away from that chemistry work. She opened the door expecting it to be Ino but was a little surprised to find a guy instead. It was Hinata's cousin.

"Oh, Neji. Didn't know it was you. What are you doing here?" she said. His hair had grown a little longer than the last time she'd seen him but his face still seemed pretty stern. Neji was still exceptionally pale but it did nothing to damper his handsome looks. If only he knew how to smile. He'd be the perfect guy.

"This is yours," he handed her a box with her named inscribed in cursive. He pointed to the door next to hers. "Is this my cousin's room?"

"Yeah, she isn't here though. You can probably leave whatever on her bed."

He opened the door and placed the other box on her bed. Sakura looked down the hall and the girls at the other end were already opening their boxes. Sakura opened the lid to find some bright pink fabric. It was then it dawned on her.

"Oh, our kimonos! I forgot about this!" Sakura's face brightened for a second. She placed the box on her bed and lifted the kimono out but left the obi inside. She swished it around. The pinks melded into corals and had black branches of cherry blossom trees hand painted onto the fabric. It was gorgeous!

Neji stared at her as she twirled around the kimono and looked at it in the mirror. I've never seen anyone that enthralled by a kimono before.

"This is the most beautiful kimono I've ever seen! It must have been expensive. Thanks for delivering them Neji! They're gorgeous!" she beamed and he turned a little pink from embarrassment. She hardly noticed. The pink on his face quickly went away after he adjusted for her thanks.

"You're welcome. I'm sure Hinata already mentioned it but at the fall festival there is a fashion photo shoot. If you are wearing these kimonos you must attend it. Not a problem is it?" he asked.

"Of course, not a problem! Anything to wear this. Thanks again," Sakura said as she placed the kimono down gently on her bed.

Neji then bowed and excused himself. He had to return to his campus in an hour because he had class. He left quickly and Sakura wished she'd offered him something to drink before he went. He seemed to be in a hurry. She then turned to return to the abominable chemistry problems.

Neji quickly went to his car and sat down. He took a deep breath before putting the key in the ignition. He remembered how bright her face had been to hold that hand painted kimono.

"My kimono," he said. "She said it was the most beautiful kimono she'd ever seen…"

Her compliment had him on cloud nine the whole way back to his campus. Nothing was going to dampen his spirits now. He needed to get back to his campus so he could get to work on the next project.

Hinata finally arrived back to the apartment and already she could feel that something in the air had changed. A certain kind of electricity was flying about. Tenten came running to greet Hinata in her brand new kimono.

"Oh, Hinata these Kimonos are amazing! They're so pretty and comfortable too!" Tenten exclaimed as she whirled around in her forest green kimono with orange designs. The fall orange obi draped down in the back as she ran about the house.

"So…N-Neji was here then?" she stuttered. "Did he leave everyone a kimono then?"

Sakura came out of her room after hearing the commotion. She laughed at Tenten dancing about the room in her kimono.

"Tenten, we don't need to wear them for another month almost!" Sakura giggled. She then turned her head to Hinata. "They are quite beautiful. Thanks Hinata."

Hinata smiled. "Yes, Neji is quite skilled isn't he?"

Sakura blinked. "What?"

"Well, he made our kimonos. Hand painted them and matched the colors to us as well. I suppose that's why it took him a month to make them all."

Sakura was still confused. "Wait, you're saying he made these? Doesn't he have classes he needs to be studying for? Should he have been making kimonos when he has college work to do?"

Hinata laughed and it took Sakura by surprise. Hinata didn't often burst into laughter.

"I guess I never told you. Neji doesn't like many people knowing but he's a sophomore at the Hadson College of the Arts," Hinata divulged but Sakura didn't make much of a connection. "It's a prestigious art school of which most of the attendees major in fashion design."

Sakura couldn't believe it. The high and mighty Hyuuga Neji was an art student. She had a new found respect for him now. She could imagine him painting the designs on the kimonos with a steady hand and serious face. It takes a lot of talent to paint such intricate designs. He even sewed them himself. That's a lot of work for one month. In comparison, Sakura felt like she'd done nothing so far into the semester.

"That's just amazing. It's no wonder he looked a little embarrassed when I complimented my kimono."

Hinata giggled. "Y-yes. He said he n-needed some models for his portfolio. This f-fall there is a photo shoot and I offered t-to wear one of his outfits. But he n-needed more so without really asking I volunteered everyone."

Sakura said it was no big deal. It felt like an honor to wear them. They were beyond gorgeous. Hinata went to her room and looked in her box. Many shades of blue with simple white daffodil designs and a white obi with blue designs. She noticed something was missing though.

"Oh, he must not have finished the Kanzashi yet…" she surmised.

"The kanzashi? The things we wear in our hair, right?" Tenten asked. "I didn't even notice…"

Hinata said that it wasn't a problem. They still had a month before it was needed and that it should be plenty of time to make each of them one. Sakura went back to her room and finished her work. Then she plopped on her bed next to the kimono. She touched the sleeve and reveled in how sleek it was.

"How beautiful…" Sakura found herself looking forward to the festival now. She might not see Neji again until it was time for the shoot. If she was lucky he'd drop by with the kanzashi before then. Sakura sighed.

"I suppose all I can do is wait…"

Freya: Chapter end. Good? As I said I don't usually do stories like this. I like romantic stories so I'm not sure if I'll include an extra couple in here or not. Right now though it's just a NejiXSakura story. If you have anything to say then say it now. In a review or a message. Whatever. It doesn't matter.

PS. Hadson College of the Arts is not a real place...thought you ought to know…FREYA HAS SPOKEN!