Chapter Five

In which Ino still won't talk to Shikamaru and Ten-Ten tells her story.

A/N: I don't understand why anyone would actually like Tokio Hotel. … Enjoy. Contains 2 flashbacks.

Warning: xcupidxstuntx told me to say this although it's not that bad. In her words, if you 'totally shit yourself' at the basement part, don't flame me or I'll shoot you. So far the warning. Lol.

They stood in front of each other, without a word. Just looking. Many things had been said which shouldn't have. But one thing was the right thing to say.

He pulled the girl close to him, his arms around her, and brought his face to her ear.

"I've got you," he whispered, his lips brushing over her earlobe in the process. She couldn't help but blush, seeing his spiky hair, feeling it caress her cheek, and the lips on her ear drove her crazy.

He leaned back to look at her. They were drowning in each other's eyes. He gave her a charming smile before leaning closer. Her heartbeat raised and her cheeks lit more. Their breathing mingled, his nose brushed against hers. She saw him close his eyes, and she followed his example.

And when his lips touched hers, melted against hers so perfectly, she could only just hold back a long, desperate moan.

His tongue ran over her bottom lip, causing her to gasp, giving him perfect entrance. He swept in between her lips, caressing her tongue with his, circling and exploring her mouth. It felt amazing. All these years loving him had been worth it. Just when she reacted to him, he pulled back. She sighed, and smiled, looking into his deep-blue eyes.

"Hmm… Naruto-kun…"

"Excuse me?"

Hinata's eyes shot open. The first thing she saw was the 'ceiling': the window above her showed her a cloudless blue sky.

"Did you just call me Naruto?"

Quickly, Hinata got up. Sakura sat on the edge of the bed, her pink eyebrows raised at the Hyuuga heiress' strange behaviour.

"N-no, I mean, s-sorry, I just, I- uhm-"

"Never mind." Sakura waved her hand dismissively in the air. "I came to wake you for breakfast, but you were already up. You can use Sasuke-kun and Neji-san's bathroom, I asked. See you in a couple of minutes."

She smiled, and walked back, disappearing through the shutter in the floor.

Hinata fell back on the bed again, sighing deeply. Then, she raised her hand, touching her lips with her fingers, and a crimson blush found its way on her face.

D- did I just dream Naruto-kun kissed me?

It had seemed so real. Every single bit of it. Not unlike any other dream she ever had.

And also, she had more dreamed slash daydreamed about Naruto just confessing to her, or her confessing to him, or a hug. Just a hug. She dreamed that they were together, training, walking through the forest, or only talking. Never before something that imitate had been in her mind.

She got out of her bed and picked up her clothes. Then she went through the shutter, heading for the bathroom.

"I heard it again this night."

Naruto firmly nodded. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"Dobe, I tell you: it's the wind."

"The windows were closed!" Naruto shot back aggressively.

"Yeah, but the house is old. You think all those wooden walls are solid as rock? Your room's a little drafty, big deal." Sasuke snorted, and sat down with his coffee.

"It's not 'drafty', you teme! I swear there's going on something here! And-"

"Sugar, milk?" Ten-Ten cut Naruto off, asking Sasuke. He shook his head.

"Listen to me damned, I bet it's haunted here!"

"Ghosts don't exist." Shikamaru said matter-of-factly.

"Yes they do!"

"No they don't."

"Shush, you both. I'm getting crazy of you." Sakura sighed deeply, and took another bite of her sandwich.

"But it's really there!" Naruto cried out. "I swear! This house is haunted!"

"Of course not." Ten-Ten said cheerfully. "You can see Konoha from here. It's perfectly safe, especially with a village like ours in sight. Now, Neji, Shikamaru, already found a place to train? I'd love to get going."

While Shikamaru and Neji started talking, Hinata slowly shuffled in. Her hair was still damp from the shower she had.

"Morning, Hina." Sakura pointed at a plate with another sandwich and a cup of coffee next to her. "Here, I just poured your coffee. It's still hot. You wanted milk and sugar, right?"

"Yeah." Hinata smiled at Sakura and sat down next to the pink-haired beauty. The four boys and Ten-Ten were eagerly discussing where in the house would be the best place to train their skills.

"Rooms enough." Shikamaru said with a little shrug.

"True, but if a fight goes out of hand and we end up destroying the house too badly, Sasuke's screwed." Ten-Ten pointed out.

"The library?" Naruto tried.

"There might be really old books with great techniques in there." Neji shook his head. "We can't afford getting those to shreds."

Sasuke made a mental note to check out those books.

"Maybe the basement." He said.

"… Yeah… That's possible." Shikamaru nodded.

"But we didn't clean that one yesterday and I really don't want to clean any longer!" Ten-Ten protested.

"It's the safest place I can think of." Neji said.

"The basement it'll be then?" Naruto asked.

"As long as you'll clean it." Ten-Ten huffed, and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Not me." Shikamaru said quickly. "I'd rather die."

While Sakura was making another sandwich for herself, Hinata pretended to listen to the conversation of the boys and Ten-Ten. Only their words didn't mean anything to her.

Her look shifted towards the blond on the other side of the table. He was listening intensively to Shikamaru, nodding once in a while.

In a flash, her dream shot through her head. Hinata shut her eyes tightly, feeling her cheeks turn red.

Then, a hand touched her cheek.

She squeaked, shot up and fell off her chair.

"… Hinata?"

The girl slowly opened her eyes. Six heads hung above her. One of them was Sakura.

"Wow, Hina." She said surprised. "I only touched you. And just barely. Are you alright?"

"Y-yeah. Sorry."

'Great!' She thought. 'Now Naruto-kun thinks I'm even more of a fool!'

"It was quite a fall." Shikamaru muttered.

"I know." Ten-Ten nodded.

"Hinata, you sure you're okay?" Naruto asked.

She looked at him. His blue eyes were wide, his brow furrowed. Was he worried?

"Y-yes." She sighed. "I'm fine."

Sakura held out her hand towards Hinata to help her up. Hinata quickly stood, and brushed herself off. Shikamaru fell down in his chair again, picking up his coffee, and Sasuke followed his example.

"Sakura?"

Everyone's attention turned towards the doorway. Ino pushed the door open slightly. Her hair was down and she looked like she had no sleep at all. Shikamaru immediately jumped up again.

"Ino, look-" he started.

"Can you come upstairs?" Ino cut him off, still looking directly at Sakura. Without waiting for an answer, she left again, closing the door behind her.

Shikamaru sat down and stared at the wall.

"It'll be okay." Naruto assured the genius, and gave him a 'comforting' nudge, followed by his trademark grin.

Shikamaru started banging his head on the table.

"Oh god." Neji sighed while Sasuke calmly took a zip off his coffee. Obviously, he didn't care a bit.

"Hey. Hey! Knock it off." Ten-Ten firmly took both Shikamaru's shoulders. "Getting yourself a headache wont settle things, you know."

"I wish it would," was the only comment.

Sakura gave him a sad smile and left the kitchen, going for Ino's room.

The group parted after breakfast. Sakura went to Ino, Ten-Ten and Neji started investigating the basement, Hinata disappeared into the library, Shikamaru locked himself in his room, and Naruto and Sasuke started looking for another place to train in.

So, not long after Ino had gone downstairs, she looked up when someone knocked on the door.

"Sakura?"

"Yeah." Sounded Sakura's voice. "It's me."

The blonde stood up and walked towards the door. After unlocking it, she swung it open, seeing her friend standing on the doorstep.

"What's up?" She asked cheerfully.

"Can I talk to you?"

Sakura noticed Ino's expression. Her eyes were missing their usual spark and her smile was nowhere to be seen.

"Sure Ino." Sakura sat down on the edge of the bed with a worried expression. "Is this about Shikamaru?"

"Look," Ino said, avoiding the question. "It's just really complicated, alright? I can't explain – you wont understand."

"Indeed, I don't understand, because if you'd let him talk to you instead of ignoring slash avoiding him, you'd probably be kissing with the guy within ten minutes and then you'd both wouldn't feel so miserable!" Sakura said loudly. The whole Shikamaru-Ino thing was most clearly getting on her nerves.

"But-" Ino tried.

"No buts!" Sakura cut her off. "You either talk to him and be cheerful again or you'll stay the rest of the month pitying yourself in this room! It will be your own choice and I have nothing more to say about your issues with Shikamaru!"

"But this isn't easy!" Ino cried out desperately. Tears welled up in her blue eyes, but Sakura would not just give in to tears.

"Why not?" She raged on. "You never had any trouble with walking up to a boy and claim him for yourself! No matter the situation, already taken, a thousand people watching: you never cared!"

"Listen damned!" Ino now yelled. "I don't know why I don't have the guts now! You do realise he now knows I like him don't you? Even though according to Ten-Ten and everyone that he likes me back, there are thousand and thousands of reasons why he could change his mind. And I really wouldn't have cared if it were some other boy, but like I said: you don't understand!"

"Then explain it to me!" Sakura edged closer, staring angered into those hard but teary blue eyes. "Or maybe I'll just guess? Lets do that, shall we? What about… You thought those other boys were cute and hotties, but you truly love Shikamaru and you care for him like you've never cared for anyone else before? And now you're scared of losing him as a friend – or more – because he knows how you feel? After all these years?"

Ino bravely opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out. She didn't know what to say, because Sakura was right.

"But no," the young medic stood up. "Of course stupid, plain dumb Sakura wont understand!"

"Alright." The change of Ino's voice made Sakura look back to her friend. Ino's head was bowed. "Alright, I'm sorry. I really am. But…"

She sighed, burying her hands in her long blond hair. Sakura put her hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry." She whispered. "Take the time you need to gather your courage and then talk to him. Not when you're not ready. Then it's no use. I stand completely behind every decision you make, but believe me, sometimes it could be clever to listen to my advice once in a while."

A long silence followed in which Sakura calmly kept looking at her friend, while Ino avoided the strong gaze of the pink-haired girl. Just then, a smile broke through.

Ino didn't say anything, but by looking up and answering Sakura's gaze, the Haruno girl knew enough.

"Well then," Sakura smiled back kindly. "Did the thing you wanted to ask already came by in our argument or do you still need an answer?"

"No." Ino wiped a tear out of her eye. "No, I've already got it. Thanks."

"Good."

They enjoyed the silence for a while. Suddenly, something came up and Ino grinned.

"So… Did you already hear Hinata out about Naruto?" She asked Sakura, who grinned back.

"We were right all along." She replied. Ino squealed.

"And now Ten-Ten told me she likes Neji…"

"Ten-Ten likes Neji-san?!" Sakura gasped. "I knew it!"

"Yes! And you like Sasuke and…" Ino paused. "Do you still like Sasuke?"

"Uhm." Sakura blushed. "I don't know…. I guess. He's done some awful things but I just can't hate him."

"To make a long story short, you could've said nothing more then 'yes'." Ino rolled her eyes, causing Sakura to laugh. "So all the girls like someone! And this time no fighting over boys, thank god. It must have been destiny for the eight of us to end up here together! I bet those boys totally love the girls back."

"Shikamaru as well?" Sakura teased.

"… Maybe." Ino said defensively. Sakura laughed.

"Shikamaru loves you. And Neji liking Ten-Ten is more then possible. I even believe that Hinata has a chance in winning Naruto's heart… But Sasuke..? In love..? With me?!"

"He always liked you the most." Ino said.

"Showing that by knocking me out?" Sakura sarcastically replied.

"Ever thought that he didn't want you to get hurt?" Ino smirked. "He didn't want to take you with him because he knew it would be a dangerous road ahead which would be a part of his life for years. Believe me. He only did so to protect you!"

"That's just a wild guess you're making right now." Sakura looked away. "You have no proof."

"Yeah, of course." Ino was still smirking – and annoying Sakura with it, too. "Look. Why don't you ask him."

"I already know the answer! Why don't you ask him!"

"Alright, then I will."

"Right now!"

"Right now."

The girls stood up and marched out of the room. Sakura followed Ino down the stairs with a hopeful glint in her eyes. If only Shikamaru ran into them…

The door towards the basement was open. Soft voices made their way into the hall, and Ino walked towards the door. She recognised Ten-Ten's voice as one of them.

"Ten-Ten?" She called.

A startled scream was heard. Ino and Sakura looked at each other with a frown.

"Uhm. Ten-Ten? Are you alright?" Ino asked loudly.

"Ehm. Yes. Yes. I'm fine." Ten-Ten called back. She sounded rather nervous. "I'm fine. What's wrong Ino?"

"Can you tell me where Sasuke is?" Ino asked while Sakura was still frowning.

"I- I have no idea." It sounded. "Try some rooms upstairs, he's with Naruto if I'm right."

"Okay. Thanks!" Ino wanted to turn away, but hesitated, and grinned. "Hey Ten-Ten?"

"Yeah??"

"Can you come to our room in a couple of minutes? And can you take Hinata with you?"

"Uhm… Sure."

"Okay." Ino winked at Sakura and went back up the stairs.

"What are you planning?" Sakura asked with a frown.

"Nothing much." Ino smiled evilly. "You'll see."

They peeked into a couple of rooms, searching for Sasuke and Naruto. Finally they heard a familiar voice coming from out of Sasuke and Neji's room.

"Ouch! Are you insane, you moron!? That was my EYE!"

"Naruto." Sakura and Ino said at the same time, and Sakura knocked on the door.

Sasuke opened it. He raised a single eyebrow at them. Behind him, they saw Naruto eagerly rub in his eye while muttering violent words.

"I wanted to ask you something." Ino said cheerfully. "Me and Sakura had a disagreement."

Sasuke didn't reply, which Ino took as a hint to go on.

"We were talking about why you knocked Sakura out when you left Konoha." Immediately, Sakura felt Sasuke's gaze on her. She noticed it was far more easier to keep staring at her feet instead of Sasuke while Ino kept on babbling. "Sakura thought it was because you didn't care, but I said that it was to protect her. Can you tell me who was right?"

Sasuke kept quiet. Apparently, he was thinking. Sakura gathered all her courage and looked up, just to see Sasuke look straight back at her. She flushed a deep red.

"Why I knocked her out." Sasuke repeated slowly. "The night I left Konoha."

Ino nodded enthusiastic. Naruto peeked over Sasuke's shoulder, since he was standing right in the doorway. Sakura prayed that she could disappear.

"… I had no other choice." He finally said. "If I hadn't, she'd screamed whole Konoha together. If I'd taken her along, she had most likely been killed by the sound four the moment they had the chance."

"So you do did it to protect her?" Ino asked grinning.

"… Not because I was a burden to you?" Sakura quietly added. Sasuke looked at her again.

"No." He shook his head shortly. "I think you stopped being a burden at the Chuunin exams when you started trying so hard. And you've really changed. You're strong. People who aren't born with power has to seek it somewhere else, and you did."

"You started seeking it too," Naruto noticed. "And you can't say you're not born with it."

"It's true I was gifted with power at my birth." Sasuke agreed. He ran his hand through his dark locks, glancing at Naruto over his shoulder before looking back at the girls in front of him. "But I wasn't strong enough to defeat my brother. I needed more, so I went out to seek it."

"Ohh…" Naruto thought about that, but Ino already talked on.

"Last thing?" She asked. Sasuke tilted his head slightly. "If you either had to agree with me or Sakura, whom would you agree with? Me saying you did it out of caring or Sakura saying because she was a burden to you?"

"I'd agree with you." Sasuke replied without any faltering in his voice. Sakura stared at him.

"Thank you." Ino smiled, took Sakura's wrist, and leaded her back into the bedroom of her and Ten-Ten.

"I can't believe it." Sakura mumbled when Ino had closed the door.

"I can." Ino replied with a smile.

"I'm really not going into that thing." Ten-Ten said disgusted.

"You'll live." Neji reassured her. He opened the door towards the basement, which revealed a long, dark stairs leading down.

"You first." Ten-Ten gave him a little nudge, and he glared at her.

Without any fear Neji stepped down the stairs, with his teammate closely behind him. After all, why should he be afraid? It was a room. And old basement in an old house. If it were some dangerous S-ranked murderer, then you had a reason to be scared. Not when you walked into a drafty old basement.

"It's freezing in here." Ten-Ten said behind him. Neji noticed. He could see his damp breath and his arms were covered in goose bumps. A shudder went down his spine. Someone needed to fix that damned central heating.

They stepped on solid floor. The temperature was colder then death and it was pitch black.

"Do you smell that?" Ten-Ten covered her mouth and nose with her hand against the smell of dead cat.

"Yes. Is there a switch somewhere?" Neji muttered. Ten-Ten found it. The light went on, blinked sometimes, and then went off again.

"Oh great, and the light bulb has died as well." Ten-Ten sighed deeply. She looked up frowning when Neji asked her a strange question.

"Do you have a light?"

"Uhm… Yes, I've got a lighter… But it will never be enough to see something… Why?"

Neji put something in Ten-Ten's hands. When she stared at it for a long time, she noticed the long shape of a candle.

"Very clever." She lit it, and the dark room was now filled with a dim light, giving them the chance to look around.

It was absolutely full of mess. Old furniture, large and small device, and the horrid smell filled the room. Everywhere was inches and inches of dust. And… to Neji it was just normal logic – the fact that light won from darkness – but in this room it was as something evil tried to lock the fire from the candle out. The fire was small and barely burning.

"I don't like it here." Ten-Ten said quietly.

"Never expected me to say this." Neji said. "But me neither. It would take us ages to get all those stuff out of here and second; no one would enjoy spending his time in here. Except maybe Uchiha."

"Lets go back." Ten-Ten suggested.

"Yeah… Just a second."

Neji narrowed his eyes. There was something at the end of the basement. Something hanging on the ceiling. He took the candle from Ten-Ten and while holding it in front of him, he slowly started to make his way through the mess.

"Don't leave me behind!" Ten-Ten quickly followed him.

It looked like some kind of thread. Or rope. It were three of them, next to each other, slightly moving as if there were a soft breeze. Even though Hyuuga Neji was a brave man, his heartbeat raised with every step he took. His lavender eyes widened when he saw what it were. His fastened heartbeat now stopped, and next to him he could feel Ten-Ten freeze.

Perfectly next to each other hung three gallows in the middle of the basement.

Neji felt like someone hit him in his stomach and all the air had escaped from his lungs. Ten-Ten paled. They stared a moment longer, then both turned around and ran.

They tripped multiply times, but none of them cared. They just wanted to get to the stairs as fast as possible. When they were almost there, something else sounded.

"Ten-Ten?" Someone called.

Ten-Ten screamed from fright and clung onto Neji, who dropped the candle in shock. The moment it hit the floor, the fire went out, and darkness took them again. Even though Neji couldn't see her face, he could feel Ten-Ten's cheeks lit up. Her arms were tightly around him, and judging the breathing that fanned on his face from so close, she wasn't an inch away from him.

"Uhm. Ten-Ten? Are you alright?"

It was Ino. Ten-Ten recognised her voice. She was probably standing on top of the stairs. Even though the position Neji and Ten-Ten were in embarrassed them both, they didn't move, both still having the picture of the gallows in the back of their head.

"Ehm. Yes. Yes. I'm fine." Ten-Ten called back. Her voice was shaking, noticed Neji. "I'm fine. What's wrong Ino?"

"Can you tell me where Sasuke is?" Ino called.

"I- I have no idea. Try some rooms upstairs, he's with Naruto if I'm right."

"Okay. Thanks!" It was quiet for a while, and just when they thought Ino was gone, she spoke again. "Hey Ten-Ten?"

"Yeah??" Ten-Ten bit her lip.

"Can you come to our room in a couple of minutes? And can you take Hinata with you?"

"Uhm… Sure."

Neji felt Ten-Ten shiver. She was even colder then he was. Probably it had been a bigger shock for her. Or the temperature was affecting her more then it did to him.

"Let's go upstairs." He said quietly. "And lock the door."

"Y-yeah." Ten-Ten nodded – even though he couldn't see – and let him go. "Sorry."

He didn't reply. They quickly hurried towards the stairs and ran the whole way up, and when they stepped into the glorious hall again, they both sighed.

"I'm never going back in there." Ten-Ten said panting. Neji just nodded, getting his long hair out of his face by running his hand through it. He eyed the brunette, who was pale and still shaking. There weren't a lot of moments he'd seen her scared. She was really brave for a girl. But this was even too much for him.

"Neji." She straightened herself and took a deep breath. "I'm gonna fresh up and then head for Ino. I'll see you at dinner…"

"Yeah." Neji agreed.

Ten-Ten wanted to walk off, but changed her mind.

"Uhm…" She started. "Do the others have to know?"

Neji thought about it. It wasn't clever to keep it to themselves. Slowly, he nodded. Ten-Ten sighed, and went up the stairs.

All the girls gathered in Ino and Ten-Ten's room. Sakura and Hinata sat down on Ten-Ten's bed, Ino lay on her own, and Ten-Ten was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

"So what's this about?" She asked Ino. Ino grinned.

"It's about love." She said.

Hinata and Ten-Ten sceptically looked at each other. Sakura had to keep her laughter to herself – she could bet on all her money that Ino wouldn't appreciate it if she'd burst out laughing now.

"If this-" Hinata started.

"This isn't about Shikamaru." Ino cut her off. "This is about Naruto, Sasuke, Neji and Shikamaru."

Hinata turned red and Ten-Ten's sceptic expression turned nervous. Sakura thought about the things Sasuke had said earlier to her.

"Whom shall we begin with?" Ino eagerly eyed the girls. "Any idea, Sakura?"

"Well. I'm pretty interested in hearing Ten-Ten's story, actually." The girl said. Hinata turned towards the brunette.

"Y-you like m-my-" she couldn't even get it out. Ten-Ten sighed, then nodded.

"Fine." She shrugged. "Whatever. I don't really want to talk about it."

"Well we do!" Ino grinned. "Come on. Tell us – when did this happen?"

Ten-Ten looked at the other three. Ino was looking at her with big, hopeful eyes. Hinata looked kind of worried. Sakura had a slight smile on her face.

"Alright." She shook her head and sat down next to Ino. "It's been a while ago. We were only just a team and heading out for training…"

Flashback.

"Fight me!"

"No."

"Fight me!"

"I said no."

"Fight me!"

I sighed. Lee kept asking Neji to fight him. What a team… Not. Rock Lee is a dork, an ugly one that is. And Hyuuga Neji is… Well… How to describe Hyuuga Neji? Only negative things, that's for sure. I don't know him for that long, and okay, I have to admit he's pretty good looking… But he's a total ass. Just… downright mean. How he treats people..!

I heard he couldn't even be nice towards his own family. Like that little Hinata.

"Why wont you fight me!?" Lee roared. "Too scared to fight? Too afraid to lose from me, right Neji!?"

"No," Neji stopped walking and turned around to face Lee. "I don't feel like getting Gai after me again moaning about how I shouldn't hurt you. Accept it: it was never meant for you to be stronger then me."

I twitched. Here they go again.

"Guys, cut it off." I said before Lee could say something. "I'm really not in the mood to listen to you chattering about nonsense. Now, where would we meet Gai-sensei again?"

"At the Academy!" Lee answered. "He had to talk to… whatever-his-name-was."

Neji and I raised our eyebrows at Lee. He laughed sheepishly and quickly walked on.

"I bet we're way too early." I said, trying to bring up a conversation.

"Thanks to Lee." Neji replied coolly. "If he didn't insist on going…"

"You could've just stayed." Surprised, I looked at him.

He didn't blush or anything like that. But he didn't dare to look at me, that's for sure.

"I just came along."

I shrugged. He wasn't that bad, I guessed.

"Hey." I perked up. "Maybe we can get some training later today. It's just a suggestion though, if you don't want to that's fine, but I thought-"

"It's okay." He nodded, once again slightly surprising me. Neji now looked up and caught my glance. "I think I can use your help."

"Soo… What happened when you went training?" Ino looked like she would fall off the bed any minute.

"Well…" Ten-Ten made a nervous impression. "We… we kissed."

"You WHAAAAT??" Ino and Sakura screamed at the same time. Hinata's eyes grew enormously.

"YOU KISSED HYUUGA NEJI!?" Ino shrieked.

"Not so loud!" Ten-Ten hissed. "No, I didn't kiss him, it- he- I just- well he-"

"… He kissed you." Hinata whispered.

"Well… yes."

Flashback.

I don't know how long we were training, but the sun was actually coming up when I fell down on the grass, exhausted. Neji looked tired as well. His hair had come loose and hung around his face as he leaned on his knees, panting. It was tiring, but a great way of training.

"Enough for today." He said quietly.

"Tonight you mean," I managed to pant with closed eyes. I'd murder for a hot bath and a good night of sleep. "And today."

Neji walked up to me and sat down next to me, running a hand through his dark hair. I barely opened my eyes, just enough to peek through my eyelashes, and glanced at him. He looked really good. His dark hair framing his face. His lavender eyes gazing in the distance.

He suddenly turned towards me and caught me looking at him, and I immediately blushed. I couldn't help it. I felt like his eyes were piercing my soul or something.

"Were you staring at me?" He asked, perfect eyebrows rising slightly.

"I didn't stare." I mumbled. "I just-…"

Yeah. I just what? Checked him out?

Apparently, he knew what I was thinking, cause he grinned slightly. And if you have ever seen Hyuuga Neji grin at you, still panting slightly, with his hair loose and small droplets of sweat on his forehead, you'll never fantasize about a different man again.

My heartbeat raised, my cheeks lit up, my hands started shaking. I almost panicked: was I falling in love with this heartless prick from my team?

Before I knew it, he was suddenly above me. His nose against mine, his arms brushing against my elbows. And I knew this would never turn out the way I wanted to, but I did nothing to stop him when our breath mingled.

I didn't want to stop him. Not at all.

Fitting a Hyuuga and handsome man, Neji is a great kisser. The moment our tongues touched I wrapped my arms around him and never again wanted to let him go. My world was turned upside down immediately. He tasted so sweet, yet so bitter. Just as the person he turned out to be.

We abruptly broke apart, both at the same time. I stared into his wide-open violet eyes and my heart went racing again. Was this the beginning or the end of something beautiful..?

"… I'm-… sorry for that." He whispered.

"… Don't mention it." I mumbled.

Silence. None of us moved for a long time.

"I… didn't mean to do it." Neji slowly pushed himself up, until he stood above me. "We should just… forget this."

I nodded, although I knew very well I could never forget this moment in my entire life. I didn't even need him to explain himself. I wanted to know, but I didn't ask. I just accepted.

"We… can keep training together, right?"

It was the only thing I said to him.

"Of course." He offered his hand to me, and I took it, allowing him to pull me up.

All three girls stared at Ten-Ten. Hinata was the first one to speak.

"I knew it." She said quietly.

"You knew what?" Sakura raised her eyebrows.

"Neji." Hinata looked at the pink-haired girl next to her. "Of course. He fell for Ten-Ten as badly as she fell for him. B-but he thought of his family first. Ten-Ten isn't from a honourable clan. Neither is she the perfect housewife. Not to be mean," she quickly added, glancing towards the brunette, "you're really sweet and all but you're not the type to sit still at home, taking care of the children while your husband is making money… Am I right?"

Ten-Ten nodded slowly. Ino looked confused.

"Wouldn't his family be happy if he married the girl he loved?" She asked.

"You're forgetting he's a Hyuuga." Ten-Ten said quietly. "Look at Hinata's father. He wouldn't be too glad to hear she'd marry Naruto, a strange prankster who everyone used to hate. And then not to forget the branches. It's with all important ninja families. The Hyuuga's, the Uchiha's…"

Sakura looked away. Ino smiled slightly towards Ten-Ten, apologizing.

"So." Ten-Ten shrugged. "Now you know my story. It's all that ever happened between us. We never spoke of it again, with no one, not even with each other. But I couldn't get over him."

"I understand." Sakura mumbled. Ten-Ten nodded.

"So." Ino suddenly grinned cheerfully again. "At least we know he likes you as much as you like him."

"No, all we found out is that he liked me as much as I like him." Ten-Ten said. "And that doesn't mean he's still in love with me. I'm not even so sure if he actually liked me in the first place."

"Come on, no arguing about that." Sakura interfered. "You heard Hinata, and I think she's the best one of us to understand her strange family members like Neji."

Hinata showed a small smile. So did Ten-Ten.

A knock on the door made them all look up.

"Ne, you girls are in there?" Naruto's voice sounded.

"Yeah Naruto. What is it?" Sakura said. Ten-Ten rolled her eyes, making Ino giggle.

"We're getting hungry… Can you fix some food for us?"

"Yeah yeah." Sakura sighed.

"W-were coming, Naruto-kun." Hinata added quickly, and she stood up.

"Wait just a second." Ino grabbed the heiress' wrist. "I want your story tomorrow."

"I- I don't have-" Hinata started.

"Don't believe it." Ino said. "Now, shoo!"

Sakura noticed dinner wasn't anything special this day. Nobody really spoke, because of his or her own reasons. Neji was deep in thought about the basement. Ten-Ten thought about her kiss with Neji a long time ago. Shikamaru thought about Ino. Naruto thought about the sounds he had heard at night. Hinata thought about the dream she had that night.. Sasuke thought about Sakura's strange behaviour of earlier that day. And of course Ino wasn't there, since Shikamaru was present.

Sakura peeked from Neji to Ten-Ten. They were sitting next to each other. Now she thought about it, they almost always did. In Konoha, she also always saw them together. They'd make a great couple, that's for sure. She couldn't understand why Neji wouldn't take his chance and go for it. There was no other girl like Ten-Ten. And maybe when he finally figured out his idiot Hyuuga family could burst and die, it'd be too late.

Sakura stood up and left to go to bed early. One by one the others went too, all ready for some good sleep after the tiring day. Shikamaru stayed though, late after midnight, sitting at the dinner table staring at the flickering candles, and wondered if his teammate would ever even talk to him again.