A/N: So here it is. And yes, I did forget that I was supposed to upload a second chapter. -.-
Two weeks later...
Was she really as bad as everyone thought her to be?
Was that how the world was?
If an angel committed a sin once, they were thought to commit a sin a thousand times. If a devil performed a good deed once, would that mean that they would continue to perform a thousand good deeds?
Sakura ignored the accusing glares and whispers that followed her as she stepped gingerly into the Hyuuga compound, her eyes scanning the surroundings quickly. White eyes were settled on her as she strolled between the houses, standing out with her pink hair and outfit amongst the chocolate brown hair and white eyes that encircled her.
She located the large house that belonged to Neji's uncle – the place which she had come to understand was where the Hyuuga was staying. Slowly, she approached the door, raising a fist to knock.
But she hesitated. Her nose twitched, her ears pricked up. She stepped backwards off of the step that led to the door, then her eyes swung to her right. Hurriedly, she ran away from the front door and leaped up onto the large, white stone wall that surrounded the Hyuuga gardens, landing skilfully on one knee. There - sparring with himself in the garden - was the very person she was looking for.
Her heart leaped into her throat, her legs became uneasy and her stomach fluttered horribly. Pushing down her emotions, just as she had trained, she penetrated the barrier that the Hyuuga's had placed on the garden with her precise chakra scalpel.
Her feet patted softly onto the long blades of grass and a sick pleasure ran down her spine when she found Neji halted his movements the moment she touched the ground, his back straightening up.
"It's not nice to enter a house uninvited." Neji's head turned sideways, so Sakura could see his sharp cheekbones and small nose over his shoulder. Sakura said nothing. Instead, she settled herself comfortably on the soft, green carpet of grass beneath her and sighed when her bare legs came into contact with the damp ground.
"What are you doing here?" Neji's passive, empty voice reached her ears. Sakura ignored him and tilted her head back, closing her eyes. It was such a nice, cool afternoon.
A short moments silence followed. Sakura let out another long, relaxed sigh, feeling the weight of her shoulders leave. Inside the garden, she felt shut off from the rest of the village. In her own flat, it always felt as though people were walking past, muttering angrily at the building. Kiba's flat had also become a no-go zone, as going there would only raise speculation. She didn't want to be accused of sleeping with two men.
"It appears you are – once again – the word of the village."
Sakura's eyes snapped open and immediately, a ton of weight fell back on her shoulders. She was sure that they had visibly slumped. She moved her head down and settled her eyes on the straight, stiff Hyuuga in front of her.
He had clearly been agitated by her lack of response, as he had edged closer to her.
Her eyes narrowed.
"My name isn't the only one being thrown around."
Neji scoffed lightly at the kunoichi's quick, witty response, making sure that his white eyes never met hers. He kept them on the glistening bush beside her. He was sure she would notice sooner or later that he was avoiding her gaze, but only he would know the reason.
"I'm curious. When does the seducing begin?" He couldn't help but press the wrong buttons and judging by the way she had stiffened visibly at her response, she was less than happy.
"Excuse me?" He regretted his actions the moment she rose quickly to her feet, clicking her knuckles threateningly. With reluctance, he settled his eyes on her. As he took in her appearance, he clenched his teeth in restraint.
Her pink hair was tied in a scruffy, short bun at the back of her head and the uniform she had once worn was gone, replaced by one of a darker red that was tight across her chest. The fire in her eyes sent him into a flashback of how they had looked so alight with passion that night in the alleyway.
He was being shoved hard by Fate into her direction again. He knew, because his heavy feet were moving slowly by themselves towards her, unable to stop themselves. Sakura's previous angry demeanour was slowly fizzling away with each step he took, her eyes becoming uneasy and her arms dropping slowly to her side.
It seemed almost like a repeat of what had happened all those weeks ago in the alleyway. Sakura stumbled backwards, her back colliding hard with the polished, white wall behind her.
Neji - with an immense amount of strength - stopped before he could press his body against hers, like it had once before. His white eyes ran over her expression. It was filled with both anticipation and surprise.
He couldn't take it anymore. The whole thing – the undeniable connection; the erratic beats that his heart couldn't take; the urge to touch; her, in his mind all the time – it was overpowering. He frowned, letting out fast breaths between his clenched teeth.
Then, his hand came up and punched the concrete wall hard beside Sakura's head.
Small pieces of debris fell from the point of impact. He left his hand there, allowing his knuckles to bleed and trickle down his pale, hurting hand. He couldn't look at Sakura. His eyes were screwed shut, a large frown was etched into his brow and his jaw was tight, tense and clenched. His head tilted forwards so his long, brown hair provided a cloak around his face.
"It is impossible to be rational when you are near me. It would be best if you leave." He dropped his fist back to his side again, allowing it to fall heavily. The crimson blood slowly trickled down the still-clenched fist.
When a hand came into contact with the fist, his eyes snapped open in surprise. He looked at the owner of the hand – Sakura – and found himself fighting again. She took his fist in both of her hands, probably noticing the way it unclenched, allowing her fingers to play with his.
A smile spread over her face. The frown on his brow fell; his eyes widened.
It had been the first time he'd seen her smile... genuinely. A frown appeared on her face, yet her smile remained.
"I haven't got anywhere else to go." She released his hand and let out an exaggerated sigh, moving away from the wall to stand in the open lawn. She spread her arms wide and took a deep breath in. Neji turned sideways, watching her in fascination.
She was such an enigma.
"Tenten, I am confused. Why is Sakura in Neji's residence?" Rock Lee regarded his female teammate with a fierce, curious expression on his face. Tenten perched in the tree, watching as an expression she had never seen before crossed Neji's face. Frustration, anger... loss of control. His fist was trembling, clenched, bleeding against the wall. Sakura stared at the Hyuuga with such emotion...
A smile twitched around the brown-haired kunoichi lips.
So, the rumours were true. Obviously her pink-haired friend was not using Neji for any reason – she had known from the beginning that those kind of rumours were just pure, jealous speculation.
It certainly was a surprise to learn that the two really had an attraction. As far as rumours went, she was sure that Ino had witnessed a rather heated argument between the two instead of a heated encounter.
It turned out Ino had been right. For once.
Tenten grabbed Lee by the forearm and dragged him out of the tree, safely landing on the soft ground. Lee was still staring at her questioningly. Snorting, Tenten answered the question he had asked her previously.
"They're probably going to get together."
"Huh? But Tenten, they are already together!"
A large, impatient sigh escaped Tenten. Suddenly, she perked up and settled a forced smile on her face.
"Lee, go and ask Gai. Ask him what a man and a woman would do alone together, if they loved each other." Tenten placed two hands onto Lee's spandex-covered back. "Go on!"
"I do not understand! What is this love? What do-" Lee stopped talking when he felt the heavy weight of her forceful hands disappear from his back. Turning around, he noticed with dismay that Tenten had disappeared. Remembering her words, a determined frown settled on his face and he clenched his fist together.
"I will find Gai-sensei and ask of this love, Tenten!"
As the spunky boy hurried off, Tenten sighed in relief from behind a tree trunk. Snorting slightly, she started to head off in the direction Lee had just run. The chance of Gai giving a decent enough explanation was unlikely.
She hadn't met one person who could explain love.
"Being here is fuelling the rumours. You are only making it worse." Neji used his flat, empty tone with the kunoichi who had seated herself upon the grass again. Her eyes were shut, her arms were holding her weight as she leant back and her chest was protruding upwards dangerously. Enticingly.
He swallowed, folding his arms across his chest in an attempt to hug his emotions to himself.
"The rumours have already been spread, so there's no way to stop them." Suddenly, her position changed and she curled her knees to her chin, wrapping her arms around them. Her relaxed expression was replaced with one of despair. "It's pathetic."
It hit Neji hard.
She was affected by the rumours. A lot. He had brushed them off, not concerned with the opinions of other people. The most emotion he had felt was slight embarrassment – someone had witnessed his encounter with Sakura. It felt like an invasion of personal space.
Yet, Sakura – although strong – was obviously affected a lot. Was it not negative rumours being spread about her?
It was his fault, of course. He had lost all restraint and had created that scene in the alleyway, allowing it to be witnessed. His back straightened as a pleasurable idea came into his genius mind.
What better way to get rid of rumours, than to make them true? After announcing that Sakura Haruno was his woman officially, no one would dare even whisper a word of scandal.
He would announce, publicly, that anybody who breaks this rule will suffer severe consequences.
His heart was suddenly thumping in unconditional excitement. He could have her – the woman he had been fighting so hard not to get. What was stopping him? Was it the mystery? Did it scare him? Was he frightened that he would be with a woman he could not decipher? He looked at her sad, crestfallen expression. Even though he knew she was sad, he was still envying her mysterious beauty. Silky pink hair, bold emerald eyes, sharp cheekbones, plump lips.
Before he could stop it, Fate had started again. It was pushing him along the line that connected Sakura and him, shoving him closer and closer to her.
This time, he wouldn't stop.
There was only a second that Sakura had to lift her head in shock as Neji's shadow enveloped her like a warm blanket. His bloody hand grasped her pink hair and tugged it upwards hard, then, with all of the passion and lust he had held in, he smashed his lips to hers.
Taking advantage of her squeal of surprise, he slipped in tongue inside his mouth, using this as a distraction to pull her to her feet. Sakura tried to pull away, but Neji kept his grip firm. He tore his hand from the messy bun, bringing the hair band with it, before grasping her face in an unbreakable hold. He moved his silky, delicious lips against hers. The force he was throwing at her knocked her off balance and they both stumbled in a mess of tangled limbs until Sakura's back hit the wall.
He noticed that her reluctance had rapidly disappeared and now, she was kissing back with equal fervour, letting out a quiet, tense moan into his mouth when his hands moved from her face down her body.
For the first time in his life, Neji felt alive. He was in the Hyuuga garden where at any moment in time, a butler could stroll in on them, or worse, his uncle. The adrenaline was like a drug.
He was becoming human.
Heat, passion, adrenaline, desire, lust, touch.
Hot, scorching sex.
She wanted it.
Sakura bit hard on Neji's bottom lip, at the same time allowing him to lift her thighs up, as he had done before in the alleyway. But it was different this time. Both had no restrictions.
She'd become his woman. Officially. Then she'd smack anyone who dare try and taint her name her into Suna. She wouldn't take any shit from anyone – not anymore.
Her delicate hands ran down the bare chest that Neji's white Hyuuga robes revealed and she revelled in the light, tight moan that he held in the back of his throat. It was going to take a lot to get response out of him.
The moment she felt him widen her open thighs – causing her skirt to ride up her legs – she grinded hard into his crotch. The lips that she had a hold of tore from hers and he let out a groan. His forehead dropped onto her shoulder.
She repeated the action, gasping as the very same friction that elicited a moan from him sent a large shock of pleasure down her spine. Neji's lips had pushed hard against hers once again, but in a desperate manner. She allowed her hands to sweep up to the back of his neck, brushing the pale, soft skin there lightly with her fingers as her pale, toned legs wrapped around his waist. With one, hard tug, both their arousals collided.
They both broke the kiss to let out choked moans in the back of their throats, their bruised parted lips brushing in a light, feathery kiss and their eyes shut in a haze of lust.
"Sakur-" Neji's words shot back into his throat and he let out a restrained moan as she pulled his hips towards her heat again, yet softer. She rested her head on his shoulder, panting heavily onto his neck. He shivered and copied her actions, resting his head onto her shoulder.
"Sakura," he whispered, his voice husky and warm on her soft skin. Sakura's eyes were closed as she attempted to ease the ache in the pool of her stomach. She didn't notice Neji's hand slowly edging down her side and sneaking her tight top slowly up and up and up...
Sakura's eyes shot open as his hand teased underneath her bra, but she didn't have time to protest. His nimble, soft fingers pinched her pert nipple and she let out a throaty, hard groan and then a breathless gasp. Her hands clutched tightly at his robes as he continued to roll it in his fingers.
Any words she spoke were incoherent. He wouldn't stop his actions and the ache in her stomach became worse and worse. She needed contact there.
"Neji..." Her words trailed off when Neji reached the zip at the back of her top, undoing it quickly and allowing Sakura to pull her arms free from it. The Hyuuga didn't waste time to observe her choice in underwear or the sight of her breasts; he just unhooked her bra with his quick, trained fingers and threw it to the floor. Sakura – despite being incredibly aroused – knew that they were in a place where anyone could enter and there she was, half-naked.
"Damn it, Hyuuga, anyone could see- AH." Pure heat ran through Sakura the moment Neji's hot mouth latched onto one of her nipples, sucking lightly at the bud. Sakura tried hard to keep her breathing steady as he continued his ministrations, oblivious to her previous objection. Her hands were everywhere on him; pressing his head tighter to her chest; running them down his shoulders; down his own chest.
Her mind couldn't form anything the moment he used his other hand to provide pressure on her other nipple.
After a few minutes of groaning and failed attempts to receive any contact in the place she needed it most, she came to a decision. Her hands, trembling with frustration and contained lust, brushed his chest delicately, before slowly, slowly, grasping his biceps tightly and forcing herself away from him.
In a flurry of delicate, pink cherry blossoms, the two shinobi disappeared, leaving nothing but a garden now filled with a memory.
A memory of the day they both gave in.
Gentle cotton sheets rested over the top of Sakura's pale, naked body, the evening moonlight beaming down onto it from outside her window. Neji rubbed at his brown, long hair with the soft, plush towel and then threw into what he assumed was Sakura's washing basket. Looking around her room, he admired her sense of cleanliness and the way she was neatly organised. Surprisingly, he had expected her to be more untidy and careless.
After his pale eyes had finished roaming around the room, they settled on Sakura, who was sleeping deeply into her soft, fluffy pillow, a content smile on her face. The stress that had once shown on her brow had disappeared.
Neji admired the change she had taken, unaware that he had changed himself. The barriers he had once held firmly in place had opened a little, allowing Sakura – just Sakura – to squeeze through.
Those barriers that he had once hated; the barriers that had once stopped him from creating bonds – they had let Sakura in.
And they weren't planning on letting her out.
A/N: Yeah. I couldn't bring myself to write the full lemon... No matter how hard I tried, the words wouldn't spew from my mind. Sorry for any disappointment and also sorry for the short ending. Again, I was stunted on how to finish, so I just improvised.
Thanks for reading!