Title: Affaire de Coeur

Author: Lady Silvamord

Rating: PG - PG-13

Summary: Affaire de Coeur: affair of the heart; love affair. Not here, exactly, nor anywhere too far away, instances in the lives of two very different people. Neji and Sakura; drabble series.

Comments: Written for the 30romances community on LJ. I'm still waiting for them to accept my claim, but in the meantime, I just wanted to see what y'all think. All of these will be set sometime in the future, and this one has no spoilers.

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Affaire de Coeur: n, v; affair of the heart; love affair. Not here, exactly, nor anywhere too far away, instances in the lives of two very different people. Neji and Sakura; drabble series.

I: cold hands; cold feet

The first thing that Sakura notices about Neji's hands is that they are as cold as death. His arms are covered with gashes, ripping through tendon and muscle, through delicate tissue, until she can see slivers of his bones beneath them. The bandages covering them are soaked with blood.

"Critical ward. Immediately," she snaps at the nearest apprentice. She pulls on a pair of gloves, feeling the familiar tingle on the back of her neck. Sakura remembers his pale face, and promises herself with grim resolve, that she will heal him.

A few days later, as he comes out of his anesthetic-induced sleep, Neji wakes to Sakura holding his hand. It feels warm in his. Burning.

Her eyes widen slightly when she sees his open. "You're awake," she says quickly, bandaging his wrist. "I'm glad—I wanted to tell you how tired I am of seeing you here."

Neji releases her hand, not before giving the tips a light, experimental squeeze. He is startled to realize that he can feel his hands again. "Nice to see you too, Haruno."

Sakura gives him a small smile, before resting her hand on his forehead, and the last thing that Neji sees before he sleeps are her worried green eyes.

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Part one out of thirty. More to come soon--I've done eleven already. Comments appreciated!