Title: Nights in White Satin
Author: sky75rk
Standard disclaimers apply.
Long ago, he found out that caged birds and free birds could never be together.
And this fact remained with him as he grew up, watching the free birds roam the wild with the vibrancy a caged bird like him couldn't possess. Behind his bars, he continues to stand still, looking at his perfect, unsoiled wings staying immaculate as he witnessed from his window the free birds that get wet with the drizzling water and mud touch their otherwise clean feet.
And he wanted to nothing else but to join them.
But he can't. Caged birds and free birds don't belong together. And if they tried to, they'll never stay that way.
And so, even as he ventured outside the barred enclosure that was his home, he could still feel the chains dragging him by his feet, constantly reminding him that he belonged nowhere but there.
He lived his life in satisfying the longing and envy he felt that coursed poison through his veins. He was fighting a losing battle, it seemed that way to him. How could one possibly win against the river current when it had the force to easily overpower a single-manned raft? How could he, a person marked by the owner, nonchalantly open the gates and have a chance to choose? He couldn't do that. He wasn't able to.
And then this certain country bird came whizzing past him with a speed even he couldn't comprehend. When he tried to keep up, he found that the chains that bind his feet were preventing him from reaching out and stopping the bird that just flew by him. It frustrated him to no avail. And for the first time, he realized that some unknown creature that didn't have the right to do so was leaving him behind.
This realization turned into growing anger, and then it turned to seething loathe. He felt that that bird didn't have the right to look so free. When in actuality, he was the complete opposite, having heavier shackles than what he has.
And it confused him to no end. How could someone so burdened be so free? How could someone look so carefree when he had problems that even he couldn't carry alone?
At this time, his seething anger boiled down a multitude of temperature and became a curiosity of sorts. He came face to face with this free bird, and while his anger prevented him from thinking straight, he was curious. Why would someone want to prove himself so much? Why would he want to gain the respect of many when it was obvious it wouldn't be given?
But he was stubborn to accept the facts that bird was throwing at his face. How could someone that seemed so ignorant and petulant say something so obvious that he can't grasp? He was he able to find the answers he was looking for?
In the end, this free bird defeated the caged bird, and he thought he had freed him.
So why was he feeling the same?
Years had passed, and its citizens were thoroughly enjoying the growing peace in Konoha. Ninjas from different Hidden Villages still participated in the chuunin and jounin exams that were held in the countries that were sponsoring them. Alliances were stronger than ever, Sand and Fire the prominent power while the others were contented on the support they were able to give these equally powerful countries.
Once again, Neji stared blankly from the rooftop where he stopped to observe every time he went on patrol.
The movie house that closed and changed location was only a few meters away, Ichiraku's Ramen Stall standing proud and happy from it's original point, the shopping malls and the wet market farther down the streets. The high-rise buildings with flat rooftops or a triangular one stretched as far as he could manage. Everything was the same.
Everything was always the same.
And somehow, he felt restricted by the monotonous life he leads.
He didn't complain about it though. In fact, he rather liked having the monotonous life he has gotten used to. With it, he was able to control his life and not the other way around. Predictability was something he has grown accustomed to and when something alters this, it was hard on him to accept change.
But if there were something different he was willing to accept, it would be the fact when Naruto came into his life.
It was strange, that the most hated thing in the past that he was so sure he would never be able to accept was the one he most wanted to embrace. As he watched the energetic boy shout with his high-strung voice, he recalled telling himself that there was no way he could ever tolerate the blonde youth.
He fought him back when he was thirteen and the blonde, twelve. Reminiscing about the words he said, he winced as the words felt like a stab from a sword. They were swift and sharp, piercing through his mind like a jagged edge. He was a bastard back then.
But that didn't mean he isn't now, though.
The Hyuuga fingered his forehead protector gingerly. What if I hadn't met Naruto? He asked himself, as he tried to visualize the possible results of his question when answered.
A series of events flashed inside his mind all at once, and he found himself watching intently as the scenes brushed by him in a fast-forward mode.
One. He was still training for the day when he will be ready to avenge his father's death from the Main Family.
Two. He would have continued on being the selfish bastard that persisted on saying that a person cannot change what his or her fate has laid on them.
Three. He would've still tried to kill Hinata for being a member of the Main Family.
Four. He would've still dragged Lee's self-esteem down by constantly shoving in his face the defeat he suffers every time he challenges him to a fight.
Five. He never would've gone to those missions wherein he almost dies, especially when they were tasked to bring Sasuke back Orochimaru.
Six. There would've been no one to bother him for some Ramen.
Seven. There would've been no loud shouts that accompanied angry screams of people for falling into such obvious pranks.
Eight. He would've never been defeated in his life.
Ninth. –
"Neji!" before he could think of another instance that would've happened, he found himself being dragged by Tenten. "Where have you been? Your patrol work was finished almost thirty minutes ago," she pointed out, her hand dragging Neji. "Everyone's already waiting for us to finish. Or did you forget what today is?" she asked and when he received a noncommittal grunt, she sighed. "Whatever are you thinking, Neji? It's been years since we've been teammates and up until now, I still can't understand you.
The pale boy didn't respond, only pulling his hand away from the weapons-wielder's hand and started to follow on his own accord. Tenten did not bother to look back. She knew he was following him.
It was only a short travel time from the distance they crossed. They stopped shortly in front of the restaurant where all the Rookie Nine and their team were supposed to meet.
Ah, the ninth instance suddenly came to mind. He would've never met the most troublesome people in Konoha.
They entered and the store bell rang. It signified another customer's presence, and the waiters and waitresses all chimed a 'welcome' as they arrived. They easily spotted the spot the others were occupying and they paved their way towards them. Tenten immediately sat beside Kiba, directly across from Lee who gave her thumbs up for coming, and she smiled back at him.
Neji, on the other hand, was glancing back and forth from the long table they occupied for a certain ruffled blond spikes.
"He isn't here," said one voice, and he acknowledged the owner as Sasuke. "He went for a solo mission this morning," the explanation was curt and direct, but it bothered him why it was Sasuke who was telling him about it.
"Dobe asked me to tell you," he answered, as if reading the Hyuuga's mind.
Neji didn't not say anything more, just took the seat at the other end of the table and they proceeded to order the food they would like to eat. Shikamaru was still sporting his bored look while conversing with a Chouji who still held a bag of potato chips in his hand. Ino was bickering with Sakura, but apparently, it wasn't about Sasuke any longer. Sasuke was now on a conversation with Lee about a new technique. Tenten was listening in to Lee's conversation with Sasuke.
It wasn't the same lively group though, without the blonde to create antics with Kiba who was now missing and with Hinata blushing from the background. By then, he also wondered where his little cousin was. But then again, it didn't matter. He was sure that Hinata is able to fend for herself.
The hours seemed to pass by so slowly, and what seemed an eternity, Sasuke stood up and left abruptly, even after the pleas of both Ino and Sakura to stay. He, himself, wanted to bolt right away, but couldn't. After all, this was for him after all.
It never came across his mind as to why his friends would want to spend his birthday with him. They were never close with him; the closest they were is being comrades in the battlefield. So, why now?
It was night at this point, and the blonde he was only actually looking forward to be still missing in action.
It came to a point when they were going their separate ways, leaving with either someone to accompany them or going alone. The Hyuuga still didn't feel like going back in the place he calls home yet, to return to the place where chains would bind him once again. He decided to roam the once busy streets of Konoha, which was now barren with people.
There was nothing but the wind to keep him company and stay. The rustle of the leaves making their presence known. He found himself standing on top of the Hokage Mountain where he once had memorable talk with the wanted blonde.
He remembered. He was told that the reason he stopped smiling was to be free. Is freedom just something that easily attained?
"I never figured that you would be here," the Hyuuga felt from behind a playful smirk. "I never would've guessed that the Hyuuga Neji would be seen standing on the only spot I was certain no one would go to. Didn't you know that it's disrespectful to step on the heads of your leaders?"
"Hn," As if you care about those things. They seem petty to you.
By then, Naruto was already well versed in conversing with the Hyuuga. And thus, he knew what that meant. "I know. But like I said, I never would've guessed,"
"Hn," when have you become observant about other people other than yourself?
And by then, Naruto already memorized the different intonations that Neji was capable of.
"That hurt, Neji. It really did. What did you think I was? A brick wall?" a feigned hurt look dawned on the blonde's face with unnatural ease.
"Hn," you say that, but you're the most insensitive brat I know.
And by then, the blonde had already mastered the basics and advanced study of the different 'hns' of Neji.
"What? How can you say that!" the look from those azure eyes was incredulous, but Neji just gazed at them, not saying anything to him at all.
"Hn," you missed out.
"Don't worry though, I didn't forget what today is," the blonde youth reassured the Hyuuga whom he was sure was sulking.
"Hn," good.
They both welcomed the silence that filled the rest of the spaces they weren't able to inhabit. When before, the blonde hated to leave any blank spaces, now, he found out that sometimes, the blank spaces could only be filled with silence.
He had grown up.
What if I hadn't met Naruto? The question still plagued his mind. More so now than before, that he didn't understand. He was sure he already gave more reasons necessary for the satisfaction of his apparently not sated curiosity.
And combined with the unanswered question about freedom, he was now a living witness of someone who was able to break free of the inevitable, a previously caged bird who was now roaming freely, despite the constant attacks on his unwanted freedom.
But Naruto didn't care about those that hinder him. It was what he wanted and the desire to reach that goal that helped him achieve it.
To be free. It was as simple as that, and the blonde youth was able to free him. Is liberty that easily attained?
The night was quiet, and the crescent moon was glimmering from the knowledge he didn't know. Naruto stood beside him, silent as well, but he was now smiling a genuine smile, a proof of his broken bonds with his past.
Will I be able to let go?
"Na, Neji. I told you here once that the reason I stopped smiling was to be free," the blonde started suddenly and Neji turned to look at him and listen. "You might think about how I could say it so casually, like liberty is something that is attained so easily. But you know what? It is," Naruto told him those words, like it was the simplest reasoning that there ever was, and the confidence in those words were not overwhelming, but somehow comforting and he could feel a crack in his convictions. "You just have to break free, you know,"
Because, if there was someone that could shatter a mountain of doubts that accumulated from the years of keeping it from the inside, then it could probably well be the person beside him.
Neji let himself smile.
What if I hadn't met Naruto?
Tenth. Then he wouldn't have found someone who could understand him as well as Naruto could.
"I'm free," Neji whispered to the wind, and the wind whispered back to him.
Yes, you are.
-Cue: Harmonia-