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Beta: Bloodcherry

Thanks for fixing this up!

Chapter 1

Neji breathed violently as he ran, the rain was coming in torrents now. At some time in the return mission, he'd been separated from his team and he was lost just inside the border of Fire Country. He wasn't familiar with this area; in fact, he was much more comfortable running scrolls to and from Suna.

What the hell had the council been thinking sending his team on this mission? While his Byakugan could indeed see for miles and at 360 degree, that did not mean that team Gai would EVER be suited or prepared for tracking. Being told to hunt down Shima Otokawa was not how he wanted to spend his summer time.

Then again, not one of them expected the missing Leaf nin to go running off to West Country, which was even beyond the borders of demon county, so for the last three months his team had been after this idiot because he disagreed with the new Hokage. They had eventually caught the bastard, he'd been trying to sell Konoha secrets to the Tsuchikage of Iwa. Why he'd needed this long as roundabout route to do this, Neji wasn't really sure.

Neji swore mentally as yet another Iwa nin tried to take his head off, why the head? He rather liked his head being connected to his shoulders. He really, really didn't want to die.

Neji released a strangled cry as a kunai was lodged into his shoulder, how… how did it get through his defense? He hadn't even seen the weapon coming, was he truly that tired? Unfortunately for Neji, when he jumped back the ground beneath his feet gave way. He had no chakra to stop his decent; the best he could manage at this point was to slow it down.

As he slowed, Neji flinched as the debris that followed with the falling dirt rained down atop him. When he landed in the cold water below, he knew he was in deep trouble. The water was rushing faster and he was running out of energy, it seemed like hours had passed while he managed to force himself to stay afloat. Finally with a struck of luck Neji found himself close enough to shore and without the strength of the raging current he managed to pull himself onto dry land. Seconds later he would lose consciousness from lack of food, sleep and energy.

Kagome laughed softly at the others, they had no need of men or sake or cards. They had no need of ninja, or samurai, or war. These things didn't touch the temple, nor the other temples that scattered the continent and beyond. They, the priests and priestesses, were bound by duty to protect and heal. They were trained for war, and they were trained for healing, but more importantly were trained to free those who were bound by a curse or seal. At least that was what occurred within the last forty years. When the lands settled, the priest and priestess with them, it would be known by commonality that these men and women wouldn't be attacked. They wouldn't be subdued and they could not be bought.

It was what made Kagome so proud of her station; she was a priestess of the fire temple. Her dearest friends being her own twin, Kikyo, and non-blood sister Sango; between the three of them the temple of fire was kept at peace and away from war.

"Ah, Miroku, I'm going to the river, if I find you peeping I'll tell Sango!" Kagome yelled at the monk cheerfully, all the while making her way toward the river for a bath. It was closer and for once she didn't really feel like hiking all the way to the mountains to take a hot bath. That and she could feel something tugging her toward the spring.

Kagome snickered to herself, Miroku was lucky that his heart was there at the temple. None of the men who had come through the temple had been the one for herself or Kikyo. Kagome sighed shaking the thoughts from her mind; it wasn't a good idea to go down that road.

Kagome yelped as she stumbled, so lost in her thoughts she never noticed the man lying on the banks. Kagome gave a cry before dropping her things to check on the man. Poor dear, had he washed downstream? Shuddering at the thought, Kagome immediately began to look for wounds.

Kagome could only see the Kunai in his upper shoulder, it was just below the clavicle, but had not hit anything major. Sighing, Kagome whistled and waited. Over the next few minutes the young priestess continued to look over the man before her, he really was beautiful with that lovely black glossed hair and pale ivory skin. To be honest she was a little jealous, it was just such a nice shade of white compared to her own tanned features.

Chuckling softly, gentle hands rubbed a small furred head as it finally arrived rubbing against her knee. "Neh, Kururu, will you help me take him back to the temple?"

Kururu chirped happily, she was a nekomata, a two tailed demon her kind had worked with Priests and Priestess for generations. They were different from the Bijuu Nibi in the fact that they were made of flesh and bones, instead of emotions and chakra. In fact Kururu, had littered not four months ago. Kagome would be getting her own nekomata soon, she was rather excited about the thought.

With a whirl of wind, Kururu now stood taller than the small woman standing nearby. With some clever maneuvering and gentle rolls the young man rested across the giant cat, and it was a slow and steady walk back.

"Kagome!" Kikyo cried, "What were you thinking? A ninja of all things! Why would you bring him back here?" She was extremely unhappy with this turn of events.

"Did you expect me to leave him to die?" Kagome asked her movements becoming hurried to get back to the injured man.

"That's not the point! There is no reason to keep that NINJA in your quarters." A scowl was running across her face, those soft chocolate colored eyes flashing.

Kagome simply sighed before moving past her sister, opening the shoji screen she continued to ignore the stalking mutterer behind her. "Would you stop!" Kagome asked, a frown on her face. Why wouldn't Kikyo let it rest?

"Because he's going to take you away!" Kikyo eeped, a hand covering her lips in shock, she wasn't supposed to have said that.

Soft blue eyes softened, "Kikyo, it'll be okay." Kagome knelt beside the man, she'd completely removed his clothing, including the head band that had crossed his forehead. She had never expected to find the seemingly innocent seal that rested there. "But I need your help removing this."

Kagome stated softly pointing to the mark of the seal. It was in the shape of an 'X' directly centered in the forehead, she knew it was dangerous to his health. It gave someone the ability to kill the man should they wish it, and that went against the code of the temple. Freedom was always deserved.

Kikyo nearly cried, why was her sister so determined? What did she see in this odd Ninja man? Nodding, Kikyo helped her twin, and for the next several hours, the two of them worked together to remove the seal. Because of the way they had removed it, the seal could never be placed upon the ninja's person again, but then again, NO other seal would be able to be placed upon the man unless he put it there himself.

Kagome smiled at the accomplishment, everything was set, and now all she had to do was wait. And wait she would, she really wanted to know what his eyes looked like, to see if he would fit with the rest of his person.

"Come on Kagome, you need to pick out a Nekomata." Kikyo grumbled pulling her sister toward the door.

Kagome snorted in laugher but allowed herself to be pulled, it wasn't like he was going anywhere soon.

In the Hyuuga Compound in Konoha, one Hiashi Hyuuga gave a startled cry when the tattoo running up his forearm flared in pain. The pain indicated that one of the Branch Members had died, but that was hard to believe, currently only two of them were on missions.

Rolling the sleeve back the older man felt as if his heart was crushed, Neji's mark was gone. If that were the case… then Neji was dead. How could he explain that to his daughters? Or the Elders, for that matter?

Hinata was so looking forward to her wedding to the Namikaze boy, she had completely expected her nii-chan to be there. And he wouldn't. He was gone, much like Hizashi.

Thick fingers covered in calluses rubbed roughly against an aged face, the last factor of his twin was gone. Silent tears slipped down his cheeks as they always did when one of the main or branch members died.

"I'm really getting to old for this." Hiashi spoke slowly, before going to the Hokage's office. He knew Neji's team wasn't back yet, he might as well tell Tsunade to hope for the best, but be prepared for the worse.

It had been two weeks since Kagome had found the wounded man, and she had to admit she got a thrill of washing that muscled, scarred body off. It was wrong of her to see him as such, he would be leaving after he woke. There would be nothing to do or say about it.

The reason it was taking so long was because of the fractures in his bones and damage to his internal organs. She wasn't entirely sure what had happened to cause all the damage, but it was completely possible that the river had done all that when the man had fallen in.

Kagome gently played with his hair; it was so soft, it really wasn't fair! Why was it that so many men had lovely hair? Chuckling to herself, Kagome nearly screamed when a hand caught her wrist restricting her movement.

Blinking, Kagome smiled. He was awake!

Neji groaned, he hurt everywhere; he'd been in battle and was currently disoriented. It was a bit like being home, but that certainly wasn't Hanabi playing with his hair. Lavender eyes opened slowly, before fast reflexes stopped the hand fiddling with his hair. Another groan was released followed by a hard hacking cough.

Kagome sighed, gently she tugged his hand from her wrist, "Nee, your safe. You are in the Fire Temple near Konshu."

Neji looked at the woman who was holding his calloused hand, she was beautiful. Thick raven black hair, soft blues eyes and tanned skin, he nearly died when he felt himself becoming attracted to the woman.

"Why?" he asked, throat dry and painful.

"I found you on the river banks, you were in terrible shape. And it was duty," Kagome replied, it was a lie. She'd saved him because she'd known he was the one she was waiting for, the one the gods had aligned for her.

"How long have I been here?" Neji asked.

"A bit over two weeks now," The young woman replied.

"I can't stay here, I've got to go!" Neji replied, struggling slightly. What about his team? What had happened to them?

"I will not allow you to leave, until you have healed properly," Kagome sighed as he continued to struggle. Really, were all men this impossible? A warm hand kept him in place, "Calm down, I'm sure those that you are worried about are good and well. Now go to sleep. I'll be watching over you."

Neji sighed as he looked into her face, he must have been in really bad shape. He was tried just from speaking that small amount. Neji nodded off wondering about the lovely young woman who saved him.

-I'm looking for a second beta reader. Thanks!