Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

When I'm Gone	By : tragic.violinist Category: Naruto AU/AR > Het - Male/Female Views: 2134 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: NARUTO and its respective characters were created and are owned by Masashi Kishimoto. No copyright infringement intended. I make no money from this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Chapter 8: In your eyes
A/N Bit of a time jump for this chapter. Starts on October 10th, they will be attending a festival in this one complete with a nice little Karaoke contest so this chapter will feature several songs and reference others. Also in reply to anyone who takes the time to review, I thank you for constructive critizism however in the end I write for myself, thank others may enjoy the insanity that is my mind is just a bouns, that being said if you don't like the story/characters then no one is forcing you to read this, move along I'm not writing this to make you happy, similar reviews will be passed over...everyone else continue to enjoy :)
   Hikari stretched out her whole body, feeling several joints crack as she did so, it had been a long week, more like a long couple of months. Kakashi had been working the team like dogs leaving her exhausted daily. Hiashi, frustrated on being unable to catch Neji and Hikari doing something they shouldn't have, had taken a new approach and began sending him out of town on clan business whenever possible. The you couple was lucky to get a handful of days together in a month due to their hectic schedules. But both valued the time they had.
   Hikari was looking forward to this the coming week. Neji was due back today and would be home for a whole week this time. They would even have a break on Monday for the Taiiku no Hi festival. It was bound to be a good one too, it had better be considering for the past week their team had been stuck setting up for it, and today was Naruto's birthday. Hikari had made a deal with Naruto that she would have him over for homemade Ramen and cake before he went off to party with the rest of his friends.
   She rolled out of bed feeling groggy, those stupid pills were kicking her ass, but it was the only way she could sleep when Neji wasn't there and he had been in Suna for almost a month now. It was a good thing her aunt kept her stocked up. Pulling on a pair of cargo pants and a sweatshirt she debated on whether or not to bother with breakfast, it was nearly noon after all. She settled on a cereal bar and a protein shake, grabbing them as she headed out the door.
   She made her way towards the post office to see if she had any mail, perhaps Neji had sent her something before he had left Suna. There was nothing from Neji however there was a mysterious package, which she deduced was more than likely from Orochimaru. She packed it away in her bag before heading to the village gates, she wasn't sure when Neji would arrive but she had sometime to waste before she was supposed to meet Naruto so she figured she would scope out the gates for awhile. Picking out a tree with a good sturdy branch and a good line of sight, she made herself comfortable. She took out the package and detached the letter with it. Opening it she discovered that she was right about the sender.
       Hikari,
           I have reason to believe that Tsunade's mail is being watched,
       however I am confident yours is safe. Enclosed are a series of scrolls
       that I would like for you to deliver to her yourself, let no one else see
       and be careful. In the coming months make sure that you have Amaya
       with you at all times, this is very important Hikari, things are about to
       go get very dangerous, and your connections will make you a target.
               Take Care, O
   Hikari slipped the letter into her pocket before removing one of the scrolls and scanning it. She immediately recognized Kabuto's distinct scrawl, her eyes widened in shock and surprise followed closely by anger.
   “What are you doing up there?” Sasuke startled her out of her reading and she nearly fell out of the tree but caught herself.
   “Nothing,” she said innocently, wiping her face of the previous emotion. “Something I can do for you?”
   Sasuke gave her a scowl and jumped up into the tree with her, “Actually, I do need to talk to you, just not here.”
   Hikari sighed, “Fine, when do you want to talk?”
   “Come to my house tomorrow at noon, and leave lover boy at home, this is for your ears only.” He handed her a slip of paper with his address on it and didn't wait for a response before leaving her behind in the tree.
   Hikari glared after him before deciding to let it slide, she wouldn't let Sasuke or those damn scrolls ruin her day, Neji would be back soon and that was enough to make her happy. She abandoned her perch in order to deliver the scrolls to aunt Tsunade, hopefully the information they contained would be useful to her.
   Tsunade couldn't wait for this damned festival to be over and done with, she was tired of overseeing the hiring of performers, approving vendors and making sure everything was appropriately placed, after all they couldn't have the Sake hut right next to a booth where children would be playing games. There was a knock on the door, thankful for the distraction she quickly called out, “Come in.”
   “Aunt Tsunade, I didn't interrupt you did I?” Hikari poked her head in.
   “No it's fine, just finalizing the last few things for the festival on Monday, what can I do for you Hikari.”
   Hikari smiled, “Actually I have something for you,” she handed over the scrolls. “These arrived today, from Uncle.”
   Tsunade raised an eye at her, “Why do you have them, was there anything else with it?”
   “Just a letter for me, he thinks you're mail is being watched, that's why he went through me.” she explained.
   Tsunade noticed one of the scrolls had it's seal broken, “You read one,” it was more of a statement than a question.
   Hikari nodded, “I skimmed one, that's some seriously fucked up shit.”
   “Keep this to yourself, no one finds out about it, not even Neji you understand? Until we are ready to make a move it must be kept under wraps, I don't even like you knowing as much as you do. Let me see the letter he sent you,” Hikari handed it over and waited as Tsunade read it over. “I agree with him, I don't want to see you anywhere without that snake, I'll inform Kakashi that you will have it with you for training from this point forward. You should go and retrieve her now.”
   “Yes Aunt Tsunade, there is one more thing, though I'm not really sure what it is yet?”
   “What do you mean Hikari?”
   “Sasuke approached me this afternoon, he wants me to go to his house tomorrow, alone, he said what he wants to talk to me about is for my ears only.”
   Tsunade sighed heavily. “If it's something you think you can handle yourself do so, the Uchiha does not take betrayal well, so I won't ask you report back to me unless you feel I need to know about it, understand?”
   “Yes ma'am.”
   “Are you going to Naruto's party tonight?” she asked with narrowed eyes.
   “No ma'am, Naruto is going to come over to my place for a little bit, but after that I just plan to stay in tonight.”
   “Alright, go get your damn snake.” She watched Hikari bow out before turning her attention back to the scrolls. This was a shit storm waiting to happen.
   She approached her door, surprised to find it unlocked, she was sure she had locked it. She armed herself with a kunai and a fist full of shuriken, she entered the house cautiously, nothing looked out of place. She heard someone in the bathroom, taking shelter in the natural shadows of the room she lie in wait. As soon as the door opened she threw the shuriken.
   Neji ducked and rolled out of the way, “What the fuck?” he looked at her in shock.
   Hikari dropped the kunai and lunged at him, tackling him to the floor, “You're back,” she kissed him.
   He returned the kiss feeling her melt into him before he eased her back, “Did you just throw shuriken at me?”
   Hikari had the decency to look ashamed, her face turning red in embarrassment, “I'm sorry I thought you were an intruder.”
   “So you threw weapons at me without confirming the threat first?”
   “I wasn't aiming to kill, the first move is always a feint, anyway you got out of the way in time.”
   Neji looked at her incredulously, “The first move is always a feint? That's it you've been spending too much time with Shikamaru while I've been gone.”
   Hikari grinned at him, “Who else was I going to play Shogi with, besides I actually didn't spent that much time with him, Kakashi-sensei has been working us to the bone,” she groaned. “Oh and Ino is much more interested in spending time with Shikamaru than I am,” she joked. Hikari stood up and offered him a hand, which he took.
   “I bet he loves that,” Neji commented.
   “Oh I don't think he knows how to feel about it. It seems like he's not sure what is the least troublesome, just going with the flow or trying to get rid of her.”
   “Shikamaru always has been the go with the flow type.”
   “Except when it when that flow comes with trouble in the form of Ino,” Hikari laughed, “I think she's good for him though. She does seem to be the only one capable of getting him to give a rats ass about a lot of things.”
   Neji pulled her into his arms and nuzzled her neck, causing her to moan, “Sounds familiar.”
   “Did you just compare me to Ino?”
   “Just where Shikamaru is concerned,” he stifled a yawn.
   “Tired?”
   “Exhausted,” he attempted to tug her towards the bedroom with him.
   Hikari resisted, “Sorry Neji, if you want to grab a nap you'll have to do it in your own room.”
   “And why is that?”
   “Did you really forget what today was?”
   “Shit,” he groaned, “Naruto's birthday.”
   “You got it, he'll probably be here in an hour.”
   “I don't have the energy for this.”
   Hikari smiled at him sympathetically, “So go get some rest, I'll tell him you're not back yet.”
   He frowned, he had been gone for nearly a month, and he wanted to do was crawl into bed with her and sleep. The last place he wanted to be was back in his room at the branch house. It felt so empty and cold, but when he was here with her he truly felt like he was home. “I'll manage,” he told her. “So what did you get him?”
   “I had Uncle Orochi help me out with that, Naruto seemed really excited the first time he saw Amaya, so I got him a snake of his own,” she said with a smile. “Of course his is a little different,” Hikari ran into the bedroom, quickly returning with a small terrarium, “This is Rorie, she's a rainbow boa constrictor, see the way she shimmers in the light. She's more for show than Amaya is, not venomous at all. A snake is the perfect pet for Naruto after all, very little in the way of caring for them, they can even go months without eating, so as long as she has a good meal before he goes on any extended missions she'll be fine, as long as he has someone to clean her tank once in awhile.” Neji nodded his agreement. “You hungry?”
   “Yeah, what are you making?”
   “Who said I was cooking,” she said with a smirk and went to place the snake back in the bedroom for now. “I'm already making homemade ramen for dinner tonight, remember?”
   He would have gladly made his own meal but she was already pulling rice out of the cupboard and vegetables out of the fridge. He tugged her into his lap as she walked past him, “What would I do without you,” he whispered against her lips as he pulled her into a heated kiss.
   “That's easy, you'd starve,” she joked as she pulled away from him. “Now go get washed up, and throw those dirty clothes in the washing machine, I need to do a load of laundry later anyway.” He gave her one last chaste kiss before going to do as he was told. When he emerged from the bathroom just twenty minutes later the house smelled wonderful from the fried rice and beef stir fry she had whipped up, on another element she had already started the ramen for tonight. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Looks good.”
   Hikari reached up to bring his lips to hers, just then noticing his state of dress, he stood there with nothing but a towel knotted around his hips. She sighed as she felt him hold her tighter, feeling his sculpted chest and stiff manhood pressed against her back. He moaned into the kiss sending shivers down her spine. She pushed him back playfully, “It won't look good for much longer if you keep distracting me. Go get dressed, Naruto will be here any time now."
   “As you wish,” he ran his tongue around the shell of her ear before releasing her and heading for the bedroom.
   “Teme!” she yelled, he smirked as he heard something heavy hit the closed bedroom door. It seemed Shikamaru wasn't the only one rubbing off on her.
   Neji exited the room just as Naruto started knocking on the door. “I'll get it,” he told her and went to let Naruto in.
   “Oh hey Neji, I didn't know you were back yet.”
   “I just got back a couple hours ago. Come on in Hikari's already cooking in the kitchen.”
   “It smells awesome in here Hikari,” Naruto told her as he rounded the corner and seated himself at the island.
   “Thanks, you guys can help yourselves to the stir fry and rice, the ramen will be ready in a few more minutes,” she told the boys and watched them dig in. Naruto was ravenous, Neji more restrained. Once it was done she joined them at the table to eat. After dinner Hikari pulled a small cake out of the fridge that she had made the night before, then it was time to give him his gift. “Okay Naruto close your eyes, I wasn't able to wrap it.” He closed his eyes tightly and covered his face for good measure. “Okay you can look now.”
   “Wicked. Is it a boy or girl?” he asked excitedly.
   "She's a girl, her name's Rorie." Hikari told him.
   "She's very pretty, It's so cool the way she looks like a rainbow in the right light," Naruto said admiring his new pet. "What does she eat?"
   Hikari laughed, "she's supposed to look like that, that's why they're called rainbow boas. For now she'll eat small frogs and pinkie rats. You'll have to feed her ones that are already dead or else if she doesn't kill them properly, they could wake up inside her and claw their way out."
   "That's gross," Neji commented making Hikari laugh.
   "That's not even the worst of it," she told him, "when you feed her you have to warm the dead rats up because snakes sense their prey from the heat signatures,"
   "Cool," Naruto said, his eyes wide in awe. "Thank you Hikari, this is the coolest present anyone has ever given me," he hugged her.
   "Don't mention it, I'm glad you like her."
   Naruto stuck around until about eight before taking off, not wanting to be late for his own party. Hikari gathered up the dishes and headed for the sink. "Want some help?" Neji asked her.
   "No I've got it covered, you should head back to your room for a few hours before someone gets suspicious," she turned to kiss him.
   Neji rested his forehead against hers, "I'm sorry Hikari, all this sneaking around, if only...."
   She silenced him with a kiss, "don't finish that, it's worth it," she assured him.
   He gave her a sad smile, "I'll see you later."
   Hikari finished cleaning and went to take a bath before Neji returned. She grabbed a book out of her book bag to study. The Chuunin exams were less than a month away and she needed to brush up. Eleven o'clock rolled around and Neji still hadn't returned, she figured he has just fallen asleep in his room, he had looked extremely tired. She popped one of her sleeping pills and crawled beneath the covers, there was always tomorrow.
   Neji was exhausted, he just wanted to get back to Hikari so they could go to bed. Unfortunately his uncle had other plans in mind, he had cornered him on the way to his room to inform him that Hinata had been invited to Naruto's birthday party. After making it clear that he did not want a repeat of last time, he had left Neji with the instruction to be ready in five minutes to escort his cousin.
   He met Hinata at the door to her house, he couldn't blame her, she had always liked Naruto, of course she would want to go to his party.
   "Neji nii-san, is Hikari not coming tonight?" She asked in a small voice.
   "No Hinata-sama, after last time she decided she didn't want to risk the Hokage's wrath again, we spent sometime with Naruto earlier though."
   "I'm sorry, if I had known, I would have skipped it too," she apologized.
   Neji sighed, "No it's okay Hinata-sama, I understand, I would never ask you to do that." It didn't take long to get to the party, they got there a little late and someone had already gotten Lee out for the night so the drinks were already flowing.
   Neji found a corner to sit in that was out of the way and he could still keep an eye on his cousin. It wasn't long before he was approached by Sasuke, who was also looking for an out of the way corner to avoid the rest of the crowd.
   “Where's Hikari? Trouble in paradise?” He asked offering Neji a beer.
   He looked at Sasuke in surprise, taking the pro-offered drink, “Thanks, and no Hikari and I aren't having any problems, she chose not to come and risk pissing off Tsunade-sama again.”
   “Then how come you're not with her right now?” he inquired taking a sip of his own beer.
   “My Uncle seems to think Hinata-sama needs a chaperone.” Neji said sourly, taking a long pull.
   Sasuke chuckled darkly, “He obviously doesn't know his own daughter very well then. She handles her liquor better than half the people here, with the exception of Naruto. Kind of surprising really.”
   “There's a lot he doesn't know about her,” Neji told him.
   “I'm sure, you want another beer?”
   “Sure.” The two of them spent the next few hours drinking in the corner, around midnight Hinata decided she was ready to call it a night. The two of them walked home in silence until they reached the compound.
   “Good night Neji nii-san, let Hikari-san know I'm sorry,” Neji just nodded and watched her enter the house.
   He made a quick pit stop at the branch house to make sure everyone was asleep before he made his way back to Hikari's. He unlocked the door and went in, all the lights were off and he could only assume that she had fallen asleep, he should have at least stopped by and let her know where he was going. He changed into a pair of shorts and headed to bed. She was lying in bed her body twisting as if in a nightmare, could she had fallen asleep before taking one of the sleeping pills? He sat beside her on the bed and placed a hand on her arm, she awoke with a gasp.
   “Neji?” she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. “What took you so long?” she asked with a yawn.
   “Uncle Hiashi forced me to accompany Hinata-sama to Naruto's party,” he told her, “Are you okay?”
   She looked confused, “Yeah I was sleeping until you woke me up, why?”
   Neji shook his head, “It's nothing,” crawled in to bed, and pulled her back against his chest, “I missed this,” he said kissing her neck, bringing a hand up beneath her shirt to cup her breast, not noticing that she had stiffened, at his touch.
   Hikari had to concentrate to keep her breathing steady, Neji must have been drinking tonight, normally not a problem, she enjoyed drinking herself, but it was beer. The very smell, let alone the taste, was rancid to her. She gently pushed him away, “Not tonight Neji.”
   “What's wrong?” he tried to move in for another kiss.
   She shoved him back, “I said no, Neji!”
   “What's the matter,” he asked her again.
   “Just forget it, I'll go sleep on the fucking couch.” She got up to leave the room, but he was faster and blocked her way.
   “Dammit Hikari, talk to me, tell me what's wrong,” he demanded.
   She sighed refusing to look at him, “It's that smell,” she spat out, “That fucking beer, it smells just like him, just like Aki.” As she pushed passed him, he saw tears in her eyes.
   She went straight for the couch and lay down, her back to the room. The guilt hit Neji like a ton of bricks. Why hadn't he just stopped when she asked him to, why did he have to push it. He went into the bathroom, spending extra time to thoroughly brush his teeth and rinse with mouth wash before heading back to the living room.
   Hikari heard the sound of his footsteps as he left the bathroom and approached her, why? She asked her self, Why couldn't he just let this go? He knelt next to her and a new smell hit her nose, was that mint? Toothpaste.
   “Hikari, I'm sorry, can we please talk?”
   She could hear the guilt in his voice, she turned to look at him, “I over reacted didn't I?” she reached out to stroke his cheek.
   “No, I should have listened to you when you asked me to stop the first time, I'm sorry.”
   “It's okay really, I should have told you about the whole beer thing before, I can't hold it against you when you didn't know, and thank you.”
   Neji looked confused, “for what?”
   She smirked at him and pulled him into a chaste kiss, “For brushing your teeth.”
   “Do you want me to go tonight?”
   “No, I want you to stay.”
   “Come back to bed?” She nodded. “Alright let's go,” he said then scooped her up off the couch and carried her to bed.
   The next day Neji had to run some errands for his uncle, so Hikari took that time to head over the Sasuke's house, to find out what the bastard wanted to talk about. She walked through the abandoned Uchiha district to get to Sasuke's house. Surprisingly most of the houses seemed to have withstood the years of neglect pretty well at least on the outside. She found Sasuke's place and knocked on the door. After a moment or two he opened it looking haggard and hungover from drinking the night before.
   “Come in,” he said gruffly, “I'm going to put on some coffee, you want some?”
   “Sure,” she followed him as he led her into the small kitchen and directed her to the table.
   They were both silent as they waited for the coffee to finish brewing, “How do you take it?”
   “Black,” she told him and accepted the mug. He sat across from her sipping at his own black coffee, she remained quiet, allowing him to set the pace for this conversation.
   “Aren't you wondering why I asked you here today?”
   “Yeah, but I also know the value of silence prior to finishing the first coffee of the day.”
   He smirked at her, “Smart girl, not many of those around here, Hyuuga's a lucky guy.”
   “Did you just make an attempt a compliment? Don't break character now, I won't know how to react,” she answered with a smirk of her own.
   “We've been on the same team for five months now, and you have yet to ask me why I left, why?”
   “Is this why you asked me here, to find out why I'm not prying into your personal life?” he didn't answer. “I never asked because it wasn't my place to, also the last thing I need is to draw attention to the fact that I have connection to a man that everyone around here thinks is evil incarnate.”
   “That's just it, didn't you think that because you have a connection with him too that you deserve an answer more than the rest.”
   “No. Your reason for leaving is a moot point, I don't need to pry into your business and neither should anyone else. The point, the only point, is that you came back and are trying to work things out here.” Sasuke was taken aback by her response, and she understood, he was used to everyone getting up in his business it was hard to think about someone who just didn't care about it. “But you do want to talk about it, don't you? And you came to me because I already know that he's not the person everyone else thinks he is.”
   “Yeah.” She waited, the last thing she was going to do was push him, let him do this in his own time. The very thought that he had sought her out spoke volumes in itself. “I went there because he promised me power, I wanted to kill my brother, in the end he wouldn't give it to me, instead he kept trying to turn me away from that path. I thought he was just stalling but then I learned that he never intended to give me that power,” he said darkly, “He told me that I didn't know the whole story and to return to Konoha and when I learned the truth, to come back if I still wanted vengeance and he would give it to me.”
   “And have you learned the truth since returning?”
   He scoffed, “I don't need to know anymore than I already know, I will do this my own way, in my own time.”
   “Then you're a lost cause,” she told him honestly, she sat back and crossed her arms across her chest.
   “Excuse me?” he glared at her.
   “Did you become deaf all of a sudden? Perhaps all that drinking killed too many brain cells. He wanted you to have all the facts in order to make an informed decision, and here you are squandering the chance to get them.”
   “And who exactly am I supposed to ask for these so called facts? My entire clan is dead, except for the person who killed them, who else can tell me the truth?”
   “Have you tried talking to Aunt Tsunade? Or how about Kakashi-sensei, were he and your brother not ANBU together?”
   “I don't need their help.”
   “Then I will repeat myself you're a lost cause. If you're not going to ask for help you're never going to find what you're looking for. You will spend your life alone and miserable and that's how you will die too. You have to start seeking the truth and asking the right questions if you're going to get anywhere.”
   Sasuke looked down at his cup, “I don't even know where to start.”
   She had never heard him sound so small, so vulnerable, she sighed, “Why don't you start with me," she suggested, "A fresh pair of eyes, or in this case, ears, couldn't hurt. Tell me what happened, tell me what you know.” And so he did, told her all about the night he came home to find his whole clan slaughtered, and his own brother standing over the corpses of their parents. How Itachi had told him he had done it for no other reason than to test himself.
   “There you have it, the question you should have been asking the whole time was staring you right in the face if you just took the time to think, instead of trusting the words of a person who was clearly mentally unstable. The real question has not been how to gain the power to defeat him, but why did he do it in the first place, that's the question that will lead you to the truth.”
   “I just told you the reason...”
   Hikari slammed her hand on the table silencing him, “and I just told you to stop taking the words of a murderer at face value!” she yelled at him, “That reason is complete and utter bullshit and you know it too. You don't wipe out an entire clan to test yourself that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, and to come out of the mouth of a supposed genius makes it even worse. If, and that is a very big if, someone wanted to test themselves by targeting their own family they would never target everyone, killing untrained children, the elderly and disabled where's the challenge in that, it's cowardly, no if you are truly testing yourself you pick off the strongest opponents, and leave the weak ones behind as witnesses to your power. Face it your brother lied to you, and that begs the further question what else did he lie to you about?”
   Sasuke was quiet, pondering the wisdom of her words, “Why didn't I see that before?”
   “Because you were a stupid child, who hero worshiped your brother, you wanted to believe whatever he told you, and he knew it.”
   “But all these years....” he trailed off.
   “All these years you didn't want to see it so you didn't, all you wanted was vengeance. Now put that on the back burner and find out the rest, what you learn might surprise you, start by talking to Aunt Tsunade, as Hokage even if she doesn't have the answers she should be able to point you in the right direction to find them.”
   Sasuke nodded his thanks, she knew not to expect more than that. “Can I ask you something?”
   “You just did, but you can ask me another if you like.”
   “How did he help you?”
   Hikari bit her lip for a moment deciding whether or not to answer, before thinking what the hell. Neji knew, Hinata had seen them when she had broken her wrist, as had Aunt Tsunade and Uncle Jiraiya after the incident with her chakra had landed her in the hospital. Uncle Orochi and Kabuto had always known, who was she hiding from anymore. She looked up as Sasuke, he was silent, extending her the same courtesy she had shown him earlier.
   “Would you like some more coffee?”
   “Please,” she wrapped her hands around her the mug, feeling the warmth seep into her skin, she took a deep breath and peeled off her armbands. She extended her wrists across the table to show him the scars. “He saved me twice. First from someone who was more monster than man, who still haunts my dreams to this day, a man who raped me repeatedly for years while my mother turned a blind eye and vehemently denied it even when the proof was shoved in her face. Secondly from myself,” she said gesturing to the scars, then returning to sip her coffee.
   “Is he dead?” Sasuke asked, he didn't need to clarify, she knew exactly who he was talking about.
   “No, maybe, I have no idea what happened to him, I never saw him again after Uncle Orochi threatened him. But I should really be going, will you be at the festival tomorrow?”
   He nodded, “Naruto is dragging me,” he said with a smile so faint she would have missed it if she hadn't been paying attention.
   Suddenly a light went off in her head and everything seems a lot clearer. “He really cares for you, you should trust him more,” she said with a smirk, and turned to leave. “See you tomorrow Sasuke.”
   “Hn.”
   They walked hand in hand down the main street of Konoha, which was lined with with food booths, carnival games and live entertainment. Bright decorations hung from lamp posts and buildings alike. They collected their favorite foods from various booths before wandering over to an area packed with picnic tables. Hikari spotted Nauto and Sasuke seated at one and she steered Neji in their direction.
   “Mind if we join you guys?”
   “Of course, grab a seat. Are you guys enjoying yourselves?” Naruto asked them.
   “It's amazing, I've never been to a festival here before. The small town near my old place never did anything this extravagant.”
   “Check this out,” Naruto pulled a giant teddy bear out from under the table, “I won it at one of those dart games.”
   “Naruto, you do realize those games are for the children right? Not for trained shinobi,” Neji pointed out.
   “Don't bother,” Sasuke interjected, “He doesn't care, I already tried.”
   “Neji let's go, I want one too.” Hikari dragged him off, he smiled indulgently at her.
   Over the next few hours she dragged him to every game imaginable, finally laden prizes they made their way back to the picnic area, this time they ran into Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji.
   “Hey Hikari, where's Neji?” Ino asked before realizing he was hiding underneath the plethora of stuffed animals he was carrying for her. Ino giggled, “Aww they're all so cute, I really like that big stuffed deer.”
   Hikari relieved Neji of said deer, “You want it?” she offered.
   “Thank you, Hikari, “She said excitedly and hugged her friend before shoving the deer into Shikamaru's arms, “Be a dear and carry that for me Shikamaru.”
   “Troublesome.”
   “Are you guys sticking around for the contest and fireworks later,” Chouji asked them.
   “What contest?” Neji asked as he sat down next to Hikari.
   Chouji pointed out a large empty stage to them, “They're having a karaoke contest, first prize gets wins a karaoke system and a guitar, I think, Ino already entered.
   “Oh Hikari you should enter too,” she blond kunochi said excitedly.
   “I don't know....”
   “Yeah Hikari, why don't you enter,” Neji goaded her with a smirk.
   “Only if you enter too,” Hikari countered, knowing he would never do it.
   “Alright, where do we sign up?” he asked.
   “Traitor,” she mumbled.
   “I'm sorry I didn't catch that? You're not backing out now are you?” Neji teased.
   Hikari looked at her friends for help, to find none, after all it was an unspoken rule to never back down from a challenge. “Fine let's go,” she followed him in the direction Shikamaru had pointed. “I'm going to get you back for this you know,” she told Neji, “I hate singing in front of people.”
   “Do you know how many times I've heard you sing now? You'll do great,” he assured her.”
   “But you're different,” she said petulantly. They got to the registration desk and the woman there explained the rules. They were to choose three songs for each of the three rounds. After each round a brief voting period would take place and the people with the lowest amount of votes would be cut. They both scribbled down their selections and handed them in before heading back to their friends.
   “So what songs did you pick?” he asked her.
   “Well you'll just have to wait and see won't you.” As soon as they got back to the table she grabbed Ino by the hand, “I need your help,” she told her and dragged her away.
   “What's going on?” Ino asked.
   “You're going to help me get back at Neji for this stupid challenge,” Hikari told her with an evil smirk.
   “I'm intrigued, tell me more.”
   Neji was getting nervous, the girls had returned shortly before the contest was to start, both grinning like the cat that got the canary. Just how badly had he pissed his girlfriend off, and what were they planning for revenge.
   They sat through the various acts, some were really good like the young girl who sang a song Roar, Ino also did a great cover of the song Everytime we touch. Others were absolutely terrible like Naruto's version of a song called Happy. Jiraiya had gotten drunk and decided it was a good idea to perform Mambo number five,it wasn't. Then there was Lee and Gai with their embarrassing rendition of an absolutely terrible song by the name of Shake your bon bon, Hikari was pretty sure she would need therapy after that one. Finally they called Neji's name and she knew it was her turn next.
   She was determined to make it to the final round, she wanted to make him squirm a little before she delivered the final blow.
   He actually did a decent job of performing Carry on wayward son. Then she was making her way on stage. She took a deep steadying breath and waited for the music to start. She closed her eyes and concentrated on it pretending she was alone instead of in front of so many people. Time to sing.
I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake

Yeah, I was in the dark

I was falling hard

With an open heart

How did I read the stars so wrong?

And now it's clear to me

That everything you see

Ain't always what it seems

Yeah, I was dreaming for so long

I wish I knew then

What I know now

Wouldn't dive in

Wouldn't bow down

Gravity hurts

You made it so sweet

'Til I woke up on

On the concrete

Falling from cloud nine

Crashing from the high

I'm letting go tonight

Yeah, I'm falling from cloud nine

I'm wide awake

Not losing any sleep

I picked up every piece

And landed on my feet

I'm wide awake

Need nothing to complete myself, no

I'm wide awake

Yeah, I am born again

Out of the lion's den

I don't have to pretend

And it's too late

The story's over now, the end

I wish I knew then

What I know now

Wouldn't dive in

Wouldn't bow down

Gravity hurts

You made it so sweet

'Til I woke up on

On the concrete

Falling from cloud nine

I'm crashing from the high

I'm letting go tonight

I'm falling from cloud nine

Thunder rumbling

Castles crumbling

I am trying to hold on

God knows that I tried

Seeing the bright side

I'm not blind anymore...

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake

Yeah, I'm falling from cloud nine

Crashing from the high

You know I'm letting go tonight

I'm falling from cloud nine

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake
   She got a loud applause, one of the bigger ones of the night. She exited the stage to let the next person perform and headed back to where Neji was.
   “I told you, you would do great,” he said and put an arm around her waist.
   “I'm still mad at you, ya know,” she told him but didn't move away. He smiled at her.
   Ino came running over along with Naruto who was dragging Sasuke along, Shikamaru and Chouji followed at a more sedate pace.
   “You're not half bad,” Sasuke noted.
   “Not half bad? She was amazing,” Ino corrected.
   “I had no idea you had that in you, you'll make the finals for sure.” Naruto congratulated her.
   “Wish I could say the same for you,” Sasuke smirked at him.
   After the first voting stage was completed both Ino and Hikari had made it to the second round, for this one they were allowed to use one of the instruments on stage if they liked. When it came to Hikari's turn she snatched up an acoustic guitar and took her spot in in front of the microphone stand and began to play.
In your eyes

I see myself in your eyes

There's no escape, no surprise

I see my world in your eyes

In your eyes

There's no place I can hide

You know me deep down inside

You see through every disguise

Oh no sometimes I feel confused

I don't know what to do

I can't help the way I feel

Oh no sometimes I feel so lost

I wonder who'll pay the loss

I can't help the way I feel

It's the way I feel

In Your Eyes

I see the truth in your eyes

There's no restraint, there's no lies

I see my home in your eyes

In Your Eyes

I see a place in your eyes

A place we don't need to hide

I see a world in your eyes

Oh no sometimes I feel confused

I don't know what to do

I can't help the way I feel

Oh no sometimes I feel so lost

I wonder who'll pay the loss

I can't help the way I feel

I can't help the way I feel

I can't help the way I feel

Oh it's killing me

It's killing me

It's killing me

Oh sometimes I feel confused

I don't know what to do

I can't help the way I feel

Oh no sometimes I feel confused

I don't know what to do

I can't help the way I feel

Oh no sometimes I feel so lost

I wonder who'll pay the loss

I can't help the way I feel

In your eyes
   Following another round of applause she returned to her friends once again to await the results. As they were reading off the list of four finalists, Hikari held Neji's hand in a crushing grip, she didn't care about the prize at all she just wanted to make it to the final round. Ino's name was called first followed by one guy and another girl. Lastly they called her name, she couldn't wait to see the look on Neji's face when she was done.
   She and Ino offered to let the other two contestants go first so that they could slip behind stage for a few minutes. Hikari took off her baggy sweater to reveal the top part of the outfit Ino had helped her pick out earlier. She wore elbow length finger-less fishnet gloves and a short black halter top that exposed her mid-drift. Ino then used Hikari's discarded sweatshirt to block her so that she could discreetly change out of her pants and into a short mini-skirt, she had already exchanged her regular black boots for another pair that came up to her knees and a pair of fishnet stockings.
   “Ready?” Ino asked as she adjusted her hair giving it a slightly mussed look.
   “Yup, you want to go first so you can watch the show?” she asked. Ino nodded.
   Hikari stayed hidden, near the steps that led on stage she waited for Ino to finish her final song, Lips are moving.
   Hikari steeled her nerves, she could pull this off. She waited for the first few bars of music to play before strutting onto the stage. Here we go.
What's the time?

Well it's gotta be close to midnight

My body's talking to me

It says, Time for danger
It says, I wanna commit a crime

Wanna be the cause of a fight

I wanna put on a tight skirt

And flirt with a stranger
She grabbed the microphone off the stand and began to dance to the music, making sure to make eye contact with Neji as she gyrated on stage.
I've had a knack from way back

At breaking the rules once I learn the games

Get up! Life's too quick, I know someplace sick

Where this chick'll dance in the flames
We don't need any money

I always get in for free

You can get in too

If you get in with me
Let's go out tonight

I have to go out tonight

You wanna play? Let's run away

We won't be back before it's New Year's Day

Take me out tonight, meow
When I get a wink from the doorman

Do you know how lucky you'll be?

That you're on line with the feline

Of Avenue B
Let's go out tonight

I have to go out tonight

You wanna prowl, be my night owl?

Well take my hand we're gonna howl

Out tonight
In the evening I've got to roam

Can't sleep in the city of neon and chrome

Feels too damn much like home

When the Spanish babies cry
So let's find a bar

So dark we forget who we are

Where all the scars

From the nevers and maybes die
Let's go out tonight

I have to go out tonight

You're sweet, wanna hit the street?

Wanna wail at the moon like a cat in heat?

Just take me out tonight
Please take me out tonight

Don't forsake me, out tonight

I'll let you make me out tonight

Tonight, tonight, tonight
   Hikari didn't even make it down the stairs before Neji had scooped her up and took off with her into the crowd, a carnal look in eyes, and she was loving every minute of it.
   He didn't put her down as he weaved his way through the crowd, concentrating his chakra in his feet, he scaled a building with her in his arms, taking to the rooftops to avoid the worst of the crowds. Hikari laughed in delight, loving the feel of the wind whipping through her hair as he ran. It was exhilarating. It wasn't long before he landed nimbly in front of her house. He struggled, trying to get the door open without releasing her. Finally he had to put her down, she quickly unlocked the door and went inside.
He grabbed her and pinned her against the door, capturing her mouth in a bruising kiss. She pulled him closer, tangling her fingers in his hair, as he devoured her mouth, she began pulling at his shirt desperate to feel more of his skin against hers. He was more than happy to oblige, she removed her own shirt and bra before crushing her body back against his, hands roaming freely, he cupped her breast while planting hot kisses down her neck eliciting mewls out of her, she reached between them palming his erection through his pants causing a moan to escape him as he took her nipple into his mouth. She felt weak in the knees she wouldn't be able to stand much longer. He couldn't resist any more, after her performance he knew he had to have her, he needed her, more than he needed air to breathe.
   He lifted her up, refusing to break contact, she locked her legs around his waist creating wonderful friction. He could feel her heat pressed tightly against him, he carried her to the bedroom as she attacking his neck, nibbling, sucking, biting. She couldn't get enough of him, they collapsed onto the bed in a tangle of limbs.
   He instantly found himself flat on his back, as she climbed atop to straddle his hip. They moaned in unison as she ground against him. He gripped her hips, as he thrust up to meet her, creating an intoxicating rhythm. Hikari reached down fumbling to undo his pants, he threw his head back in pleasure as he felt her take hold of his stiff cock and begin to stroke it, hips bucked up, “N-neji,” she moaned, “Please, I need you.”
   He flipped her so she was now beneath him, he began to kiss his way down her chest, tortuously slow, paying special attention to each breast before continuing downward, pausing to dip his tongue teasingly into her navel, he hooked his fingers into the waistband of her skirt before pulling it off, leaving her in just her tiny black panties and the fishnet stockings. “God dammit, Neji,” she panted as he placed a kiss on her hip bone. She felt him smirk against her skin before he tore what little she still wore off of her small frame, he dove in head first, dipping his tongue between her hot folds, licking at her clit. She couldn't see straight, her body was on fire and he was the only thing that could quell it, her eyes rolled back into her head as she arched against him. She didn't know how much longer she could last.
   Pressed a finger into her heat, amazed and just how tight she was, he pumped into her as he sucked that nub into his mouth, letting his teeth lightly graze it as he tasted her, never staying away long from that magical bundle of nerves, as he inserted a second finger, gently stretching her in preparation. “N-neji, I please,” she begged, one more flick of that talented tongue pushed her over the edge, he felt her muscles contract around his fingers as she climaxed. But he didn't stop yet, as he lapped up her sweet essence, renewing her arousal like a flame meeting kindling.
   She tugged at his hair, pulling him up to meet her mouth, she could taste herself on him, she needed him now. He was painfully hard as she tugged him free of his pants. Still he paused, “Are you sure,” he asked his breath coming in pants, voice dripping with need.
   “So help me Neji, if you don't finish this now, I will,” she growled and pulled him closer until he felt him against her. He positioned himself just outside that inviting warmth, slowly sheathing himself within her. She whimpered slightly, and he stilled his movements, allowing her to relax around him. She took a shaky breath, then wrapped her legs around him, arching her back, drawing him to move along with her.
   She was so tight, fit him like a glove as he began to thrust into her, it was heaven, he could endure anything as long as he had this angel beside him. He swooped down to kiss her tenderly. He wanted to let go, abandon reason, but he forced himself to hold back, would not leave her hanging, they would go over that edge together. His thrusts became deeper, harder, faster, she clung to him for dear life, nails digging into his back, breaking the skin. He didn't care, she arched off the bed, her body seizing, he felt those already tight inner muscles clench around him dragging him over the edge with her, he found sweet release.
   After a few minutes, he moved to lie next to her, she let out a whimper at the loss of him, and he showered her face with light kisses, basking in the after glow, he put an arm around her and held her close, relaxed and spent she slipped off to sleep within moments. “I love you Hikari,” he whispered as he succumbed to sleep.
Lyrics From:
Wide Awake by Katy Perry
In Your Eyes by Gil Ofarim
Out Tonight preformed by Rosario Dawson from the Motion Picture RENT
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When I'm Gone