A/N: I realized that it's Christmas Eve! Christmas is coming! I wish all of you lovely people (really) a wonderful holiday.

Also, I just watched The Hobbit. Thranduil is an irresistible package of obsession, greed, and questionable character. Note to kids: unhealthy relationships are no good!

On to the equally sexy Hyuuga Neji. Who is not after your jewels. What is he after? Hehe, keep reading and eventually you'll find out! Although I'm sure you've guessed...

Disclaimer: GAH! *coughs* I mean, I do not own Naruto.

Kami. Let her come to no harm.

I have the strength. The rest is up to you.

Extract from Neji's diary, Dec 24

Wild Skies

Chapter Six

'

"Neji has told me something interesting." Tsunade began in her typical forthright manner. "He speaks of a small village in the land of snow that sheltered a few dozen orphans. Some had shinobi skills. Apparently they bartered with the nearby town for food and money, something like what we do in Konoha."

Mana stood in the Hokage's office, wondering what Tsunade wanted from her. She eyed the pen and paper on Tsunade's desk, conflicted on whether or not she would use them (for of course she could write). It depended on what she was asked.

"The villagers spoke of a boy who could grow barriers out of earth, who built their fences. There was a child who could summon rain. Amongst the kids, they remembered a black haired, gray eyed girl who could teleport, although she appeared in the oddest places. That was you, wasn't it?"

Yes. Mana nodded.

"And on the day of the massacre you teleported to Konoha, to our training grounds."

Yes.

"Why here? Why did you choose this place?" Tsunade had not been expecting an answer, but found herself surprised.

With a slight hesitation, Mana took a pen from the end of the table, and started writing.

I did not come here by choice. I cannot control where I teleport to.

She would have written more, but, aware of the tense expectation in the room as she scribbled, Mana kept her words short. For not only was Tsunade waiting, but also Neji and his teammates, Tenten and Lee.

When Neji had brought her here, she had thought it was to be another questioning. Upon seeing Tenten and Lee, Mana had no idea what to expect. In fact she was not the only one; the others had not been told why they were summoned.

"I see." Thankfully, Tsunade did not mention how well Mana had 'learnt' to write in only two months.

The ability to teleport! This was no mere teleportation, it rivaled Minato's Shunshun no Jutsu, for it allowed her to cover hundreds of miles in an instant. If Mana could learn to control her power, she might be a fearsome assassin indeed.

Mana, an assassin. That was laughable, for the girl had not a drop of the killer in her. Tsunade returned her thoughts to the mission at hand.

"Would you recognize the attackers if you saw them again?" Tsunade asked.

Her question triggered a flash of images, the very same which came to Mana at night. The girl nodded, pale-faced.

"All five of them?" Tsunade guessed, and was proven right the next moment. The Hokage thought she understood Mana's trauma a little better – the girl had been there till the very end.

Standing behind Mana, Neji felt his heart begin to sink. The reason why all of them had been summoned started to dawn on him, and he dreaded the Hokage's next words.

His teammates on either side of him felt the shift in his emotions, and stood uneasily.

"Right. I'm giving all of you a mission. Neji has been part of the ANBU squad tracking this band of shinobi. They pose a threat to Konoha, and must be eliminated. Our intel is that they pose as normal civilians in order to avoid detection, and currently their base is in the land of mist."

Tsunade stood and handed Neji their mission details. He scanned it quickly, and the important words leaped out: A Rank – five men – kill on sight –

"Tsunade-sama," Tenten asked, "who exactly are these shinobi we are to eliminate?"

The Hokage pressed her lips together. "They are the sons of those we killed in battle."

"They seek vengeance," Lee murmured.

"No!" Tsunade's hand slammed into the table. "They seek destruction and utter chaos! For this they have trained and for this they live. Do not underestimate them. They have managed to evade all the ANBU squads we sent, but we need to route them out, now. They will attack soon."

Let it end here, Neji prayed silently.

"Mana," Tsunade continued, "you are the only one who knows what they look like. It is imperative that this threat be found, and eliminated."

She paused, as if she herself did not want to continue. "For this reason I ask of you a favour: will you join them in their mission?"

"No!" Neji burst out.

In the stunned silence that followed, all eyes in the room on him, Neji quickly collected his thoughts and made them coherent.

"Hokage-sama, I do not mean to be disrespectful, but Mana is not a shinobi – she is a civilian. If she follows us, she will be placed in too much danger. I cannot – you cannot allow this."

Tsunade sat back in her chair, her eyes narrowed. "Hyuuga Neji." Neji's teammates winced. "Are you telling me that Team Guy is incapable of protecting one girl?"

Neji might have been one man faced by a mountain, but he stood firm as stone regardless.

"No shinobi would let their companions die. But still it happens. You know this as well as I do, Hokage-sama." The undercurrent to his voice was intense, almost vehement.

Tsunade shut her eyes briefly. "I know what I am asking of Mana. She has the right to refuse."

Mana stood under Tsunade's burning gaze, and clenched her jaw.

"Neji," Tenten whispered, pulling him back. Even Lee stood unsure, surprised by his rival's actions. But he had not given up.

"Hokage-sama, you may know what you are asking of her, but she does not! She has no idea–"

"Neji!" Tenten tugged at his arm, for Tsunade was really growing angry now. The Sannin's chakra had flared and filled the room, where the air had become thick and hard to breathe. Neji was acting unlike himself, and Tenten was confused.

Mana turned, placing her hand lightly over his, before turning to the Hokage.

"No," Neji whispered, gaze on her back. You fool!

But as she faced the Hokage, the conviction in her eyes was unmistakable.

"You will do it?" Tsunade asked.

Mana bowed deeply.

"Then I will hear no more argument on the matter. You leave tomorrow. Dismissed!"

As soon as they stepped out of the Academy, Neji swung and pulled Mana out into the sunlight.

"Why?" He grabbed the girl's shoulders and shook her none too gently. "Tell me why you would do something so colossally stupid!"

Mana stared at him, shocked and white-faced. Her hands remained fixed at her sides.

"Stop it, Neji!" Lee exclaimed, gripping the furious man's arm. "No rival of mine behaves in such an unbecoming manner!"

Neji turned away, his hand over his eyes. He tried to calm himself.

"I'm sorry," He said to Mana. "I did not mean to hurt you. But you don't understand what you have agreed to!"

"It is just five men," Tenten said, the mission details in her hand. "And we have never failed to protect someone. Why are you so angry, Neji?"

"I have been tracking these men for ten days, and they are all chuunin, maybe jounin level! People we protected did not die, but you know how easily they could have," Neji bit the words out.

"Yes, but it is a risk we all take. With us," Tenten said in a conciliatory manner, "she could not be safer."

"No, Tenten. If she stayed here, she would be safe. But out there?" Neji shook his head, and for a moment words were lost to him. Out there? A mission was not something that could be stopped once started; not a game that could be called off at will, and not bloodless like the shogi old men played.

All the dangers they had faced, their near misses and rending wounds flashed in his mind. Neji never doubted himself, or his strength – he was a tensai, a genius, and he had always known it. But a shinobi's mission went beyond the realm of abilities or strength: in the battlefield lesser men survived by luck, while their betters perished.

Mana was not a shinobi. She had none of the skills needed to survive the venture. This was not a unique problem: Team Guy had escorted countless such people before. But Neji was acutely aware of the dangers they faced, and the possible endings this road may lead to. His mind recoiled from the blacker paths. He had said goodbye to far too many people. He would not let her be one of them.

"Refuse the mission," Neji demanded. "I can still convince Hokage-sama if we go back now. I will tell her, if you just refuse it."

Mana shook her head, tears of anger in her eyes. She stared away from him, refusing to speak to him in any way. At the moment she was less than impressed with the Hyuuga genius.

He had no reason, no right to be so furious at her. She owed Tsunade and Konoha a debt – and she paid it willingly. Yes, she might be a burden to him and his team, but she would not be worthless, which his attitude implied! If she could aid in the capture of those who had destroyed everything she held dear, she would! And if in the process she was helping Tsunade, so much the better!

Neji shut his eyes, and his exhalation was harsh, pained. He turned away. A shuddering inhalation, an expression he would not let any of them see.

He started to walk away, then stopped.

"Tomorrow." He said. "Five a.m. At the gates." Then he strode off.

The three found that they had been holding their breath, and let it out. Mana looked at her feet.

Tenten regarded the girl thoughtfully. "Do you know what to pack for the mission?" She glanced at the paper still in her hand. "It will be at least two weeks. I'll help you," she offered.

After Lee had left to do his own packing, the two girls made for Mana's home.

"You'll need trail food, and clothes, matches, a sleeping bag, toiletries..." Tenten mentally ticked items off a list as Mana rummaged around the house. "No worries, I have spare matches. Lee carries the dinner rations - we cook those together, so just bring enough for breakfast and lunch."

Mana looked at her soap and shampoo, wondering how to ask.

"You won't need those, plus they'll be heavy. There'll be streams on the way, and you won't use soap there. The inns we stop at will have soap."

Streams...on the way? Mana resolved to take a good, long hot shower that night.

"Mana-san," Tenten hesitated as Mana finished her packing. She swung her legs from the table she was sitting. "This may be a strange question, and I don't mean anything by it. Ano, you and Neji..." Her voice trailed off in an unspoken question, a light blush on her cheeks.

Oh. Mana thought she understood. Oh no, no, no.

In fact Tenten had heard about Neji's infamous hair tie incident. When Mana stepped into the Hokage's office earlier, she had taken the chance to examine it, and without a doubt it was her teammate's own. In addition, these days Neji only wore a black hair tie, an oddity which could be explained by his gift to Konoha's new addition.

But could it be? Could this have happened in only two months, and furthermore, without her notice? Tenten wasn't sure how to ask. And besides, Mana couldn't answer. The kunoichi resolved to ask Neji when the chance arose.

Tenten eyed the civilian girl before her. "You know, I've never seen him act the way he did today before."

"Neji never lets others know what he's thinking. Today was the first time...It's strange, actually," Tenten smiled wistfully. "We're teammates, but sometimes it's like he's a stranger. I wish..."

Tenten caught herself. "I'm going off all on my own! Sorry, Mana-san."

Mana ducked her head in a manner which was 'oh, it's fine', embarrassment, and slight humor all in one.

Tenten clasped her hand, then moved to the door. "If you're done packing then I'll just leave first. Thanks for hearing me out! I'll see you tomorrow!"

After she left, Mana sat on the floor alone, next to her stuffed pack. Tenten's feelings for the Hyuuga were clear as day, although the kunoichi hid it from the man as well as she could, for her own reasons.

I'm the one who should be apologizing, Mana thought. I'm sorry, Tenten. I can't help it. I, too, have feelings for him.

Mana sat for a long time, wondering what she should do. She remained lost in her thoughts as the sun began to set.

The sky was streaked with fiery gold and crimson when something startled her from her reverie. Someone was knocking at her door.

Go away! Mana wanted to shout. Instead, she remained where she was, ignoring the knocks that resumed, harder this time.

Another pause, then pounding.

The knob turned and the door swung open. It wasn't locked.

Neji halted when he saw her sitting morosely on the floor, giving him barely a glance.

"What are you doing?" He asked, walking in.

He was the last person she wanted to see at that moment. Mana turned to face the window. She heard him stop a few feet behind.

"You've packed," he remarked without inflection, stepping forward.

"It looks like someone helped you. Lee?" He was beside her.

"No, it was Tenten." He was in front of her.

"Mana." Neji crouched, moving slowly so she would not startle. Their gaze met for a long moment, and she found she could not look away.

His eyes were the purest lavender. Today they were like the dawn after a night's snowfall.

Neji raised her chin gently, coaxing her to look at him.

"I promise you," Neji said softly. "I will not let anyone harm you."

Her chest squeezed tight, and after many heartbeats Mana looked away.

No one had looked at her in that manner before. He devoured her with his gaze, burned into her soul, found her and trapped her. In that moment she learnt that a look could be far more intimate than touch.

Neji's gazed moved from her eyes, lingered at her lips, then rested on her hand. His hair tie still encircled her wrist.

"It was woven by Hinata-sama, as a charm." Neji began, a little haltingly. "If you would," he met her gaze, "please keep it. It is yours."

Hinata-sama. Mana had heard about her a few times, from Naruto mostly but others as well. And indeed, she had been wondering where Neji had found a hair tie so ornate. It did not look so from afar, but on close inspection one could tell that it had been painstakingly woven, and tiny charms had been sewn on the inside.

But if that was so, then how could she accept it?

"No," Neji restrained her hand, "keep it. I want you to have it."

He continued before she could protest, "and the smoke bomb which I gave you before, do you still have that?"

His gaze went to where she indicated - to a drawer at the side. "You left it in the house?"

Neji shook his head and went to retrieve the item. "Here," he handed it to her. "Keep it on your person. Don't be afraid to use it at need, although," he murmured, "there should be none."

Why? Mana wanted to ask. Why me?

Neji sat back and considered the girl before him. Mana sat bathed in golden light from the setting sun, and he marveled at her grace, which endured despite her ordeal; her purity, which shone in her interaction with others.

In his previous mission he had followed the tracks in the village she once lived, in the cold land of never-ending snow. The enemy had come swiftly, setting the place afire and killing all they saw. The children had been unprepared, and massacred. One set of tracks, however, came from the forest and halted at the outskirts.

It was small, light, a girl's prints. She had been out gathering herbs – a shriveled bundle of sprigs and leaves lay at the side, half buried in snow – and had stopped at the edge of the forest, facing slaughter. Unable to move or help, she had stood there trembling – until an enemy spotted her.

He had thrown her against the tree, his kunai ready. But she had struggled, twisted away. She was not yet ready to die. Neji followed the ripped cloth, and the slashes in the tree trunks, deeper into the forest. Eventually, the girl had been cornered, pinned. The kunai must have come thrusting down, thirsting for blood.

But then she disappeared. Her attacker was shocked, furious. He searched the forest, but to no avail, and the trees bore the brunt of his vicious rage. But Mana was gone, and had reappeared miles away, in Konoha.

As she sat before him, he could see only the innocence which had made her freeze when a friend (apparently) betrayed her trust; there was no sign of the strength with which she had drawn upon, to fight empty-handed against a shinobi.

If she had been born a shinobi, she would have made a good one, Neji thought. But not now. Her childhood was entirely different from theirs. She did not have the hardness they cultivated from young, or the ability to compartmentalize life, separating the insane from the sane.

Reaching out, Neji trailed a lock of her black hair through his fingers. He would shield her as he could.

He met her gaze.

"I would give anything to have you remain here. Safe."

Mana bit her lip. She did not think she could bear another round of persuasion, of frustration...

"But I believe you have made up your mind. And, stubborn girl, that you will not change it," Neji returned her smile, except his had none of her relief. "Promise me that you will not leave us, for any reason, during the mission. I will protect you. Tenten and Lee as well. But you must stay by our side."

I will. Mana promised.

Neji nodded sharply, unsettled. His own words had hit too close to home. Promise you will not leave me. Stay by my side.

"In exchange for yours, I will promise you this," Neji said suddenly. "I promise I will find the men who destroyed your family, and stole your voice. I will find them and kill them. You can trust me on this."

How, Mana wondered, can he speak of such things as if talking about the weather? Yet she could not doubt he spoke the truth. His eyes were cold, and lethal.

Mana lay her hand against his cheek. You have seen so much death.

Neji closed his eyes as her fingers trailed down, then away. Without opening his eyes he caught her wrist, brushed his lips lightly against her palm. Her breath caught in her throat.

He lowered his grasp, but did not let go.

"I will see much more before the end," Neji said quietly. "And I would do much for those I hold dear. Mana," he let her name linger on her tongue, felt her shiver as he spoke, "you don't have to hide any more. You no longer need to be afraid that they will see you standing in the trees, hear your cries and find you. Yes – I read your tracks. I know what happened. But you are not there. You are with us."

He brushed a tear from her eyes just as it fell. "You are free."

The moisture was cold against his thumb. Her eyes were shining, her lips unconsciously open. Breathing in, I am alive. Breathing out, I let go. Neji tried to calm his mind.

Bending, he picked her up and carried her the short distance to her bed. He placed her down, sitting upright. His arms rested on the bed on either side of her, and Mana wondered if was going to kiss her again. She wanted to disappear - no! Mana thought, horrified. Neji was jumbling her mind for sure – she had long developed a non-muscular kind of control to avoid such thoughts, which usually preceded a teleportation.

"Tomorrow is a long day. Rest."

As Neji drew back he became acutely aware of the loss of her warmth, her scent. Trusting himself no further, he turned and left. His discipline was cracking, and he desperately needed to cool his head.

OMAKE

'I'm bringing her to see the Hokage', you say, Raccoon thought sullenly as he handed a pack of soup spices to a group of giggling housewives. 'We'll be back soon', you said.

Raccoon was part of the team ordered to watch Mana, except now he stood inside the store, doing her job. The reason for the huge crowd outside was evident once you saw him; he was dressed in a yukata, his own ANBU outfit folded neatly at the back, with his mask lying atop the pile. He was all lean muscle, dark eyes, and honey-brown hair.

'You know how the store works, right? Good, take her place.' His captain's words echoed in Raccoon's head, and he growled inwardly. At the time he hadn't had the courage to object, especially when faced with those unnervingly cold, white eyes. But now, he could almost hear Bear snickering from his watching-post in the tree.

This was not in his job description, dammit!

A/N: Yay, an omake! I think Tite Kubo, who drew Bleach, is the best at it. He only draws one picture, but truly it tells a thousand words.

If you have any omake requests, feel free to ask! I'd be glad to oblige. ^^/

line of replies, thankfulness, and showers of flowers! -

Whimsical Palette: That's so sweet of you! Thank you!

anon-chan: Your review is the one which gave me hope! You have my sincere appreciation and thanks.

0Book0Worm0: Where did that pun come from? How did you come up with Majical! MaJi is brilliant! You awesome :D