Bluebird (Naruto Fanfiction)

Part One: 14, out to sea

*Aiko's perspective*

We had just boarded the boat that was destined to bring us to Nanakusa Island where our mission is taking place.

"We will be on this boat over night, girls will be in one room and boys in the other, that way you have some privacy. The rooms are located one the lower level. I'll give you guys a break to settle down and rest for a bit."Kakashi announced.

"Yes! Now we have an opportunity to bond even further!" Lee proclaimed with his usual enthusiasm. Tenten groaned, we pushed Lee aside and made our way downstairs.

The boat was much more cozy than I had imagined it to be. When we came down the stairs we walked into a large room, with a table in it. On both the left and right side of the room there were doors which led to our rooms.

"They really went all out with this boat" Kiyomi said in awe.

"We are only traveling for 2 days, it didn't need to be this spacious" I laughed. We set our things down in the large room, since we had not decided which room the girls would be staying in.

"Aiko you should know better than to complain" Neji tsked playfully, placing a quick kiss on my cheek. Luckily no one had seen.

Neji and I were together without actually confirming we were together. Since the day we had kissed, things were definitely different between us. We had talked about the kiss, and in that conversation Neji admitted that he had a distinct feeling when he was around me.

*Flashback*

Neji and I left the room. I didn't really need to speak to Lady Shizune, I just wanted Naruto and Kiyomi to talk. Truthfully, I knew Naruto would have been clueless to Kiyomi's feelings, which only upset Kiyomi more. Their silent unsettled problem brought tension to every room they were in together.

"Aiko, have you talked to Kiyomi about what happened?" Neji asked carefully.

"Why? Are you regretting it?" I sighed, tucking my hair behind my ear and turning away from him. Neji grabbed my hand and turned me around.

"No- I didn't mean it like that. I was hoping you had talked to her, so that we could finally talk about it" Neji confronted, not breaking eye contact. I felt embarrassed, and let out a nervous laugh.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot I told you we couldn't talk about it until I spoke to her" I answered shyly. "Did you mean the kiss?" I asked anxiously. Neji laughed and shook his head. He grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to him. My breathing began to get heavy as I looked up at him. He planted a quick sweet kiss on my lips.

"If I didn't mean it do you think I would do it again?" He smiled as our lips parted. My cheeks flushed, and I turned away from him in embarrassment.

"So then, what does this mean..?" I asked, now turning to look him in the eyes.

"I don't really know." He told me. I was hoping he would say something much more satisfying. "But, I do know something. Something about you Aiko, makes me feel a way I've never felt before. At first I was sort of scared, because those type of feelings were foreign to me." He admitted. I felt overwhelmed, but also so relieved to hear him confess he had mutual feelings.

"Well, if it makes you better I have the same feelings" I smiled, grabbing his soft hand and squeezing it. Neji had a resting bitch face that made him quite intimidating. But I managed to see through his tough exterior

"I think we should take time to get to know each other more. But, I don't want anyone else being this close to you" He said, staring deep into my eyes.