Chapter Two
Purple eyes screwed shut as weak morning sunlight streamed through the windows. A silent tear rolled down her cheek as reality hit her. She was awake. It hadn't been a nightmare. Shizuka was really... She screwed her eyes shut, fighting the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes.
"So you're finally awake, Yoshida?"
Mamoru sat up sharply, and gasped as pain racked her entire body.
"I suggest you don't move for at least another hour."
She hissed as pain shot down her spine. She glared at him.
"You couldn't have mentioned that sooner, Hyuga?"
Neji frowned. She shouldn't have been able to move at all. When she'd collapsed, she'd pulled every muscle in her body and torn a few ligaments in her hands. His eyes scanned her quickly. She was obviously in extreme pain. But she was fighting it...? Why? What was the point?
He looked up as something glistened in the sunlight. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his uncle's shadow hesitating behind the screen door. His frown deepened. What did his uncle want? He still held a grudge against the older Hyuga for depositing the unwanted visitor in his room. He was tense enough, and another encounter with his uncle would test his self-control.
Something glistened again, and he turned, curious. There was nothing in the room that should glisten like that. Except... Mamoru's headband glistened in the sunlight as she struggled onto her hands and knees.
"What are you doing?"
"You're a genius, aren't you? Use your head."
"I wouldn't stand up if I were you."
"You figured it out? What a clever boy."
Neji's eyes narrowed. If she didn't want to heed his warning, fine. He wasn't going to cushion her fall. Mamoru's body complained as she forced herself onto her hands and knees. She wanted to lie down again, but she had to be strong. For her sister. Shizuka would want her to be strong, no matter what the odds.
She struggled into a crouch. Just moving that far had exhausted her. She must have beaten herself up. Shizuka had always joked she was a danger to herself. Shizuka...
Mamoru fought back tears at the thought of her sister. She was on her own. Her clan had been - she swallowed back more tears - eliminated a long time ago, and now her sister was dead as well. She was on her own, apart from Hinata. But she wasn't sure her best friend could ever replace a real family. Her pale-eyed best friend was always there, but still...
She placed her hands on her knees and pushed upwards. She yelped as the pain shot down her spine. Her knees gave out from under her, and she fell forward. Her eyes closed as she waited for the inevitable impact of her head with the floor. It never came.
Her eyes opened, to find her face buried in soft, white material. Strong arms had caught her around the waist, and pulled her into their body. She slowly raised her gaze, and lavender eyes met stunned white ones. In the back of her mind, she couldn't help but think how unusual it was for Neji to lower his guard like this, and let people see how he felt. Even though his expression gave away nothing, his eyes said what he would never admit.
Mamoru couldn't help the smug satistfaction that spread through her. She had caught Neji Hyuga off guard. Her. He was showing her what he would never have dared let slip normally. She...
Her eyes widened. Was she imagining that? Or... no, it was there. She felt a warm blush spread across the bridge of her nose, along her cheeks and onto the tips of her ears. He was blushing. Neji was blushing. She'd never seen him blush before, but he was now. She wouldn't have seen it if she wasn't so close. But a combination of pale skin and sharp eyes that were used to examining her surroundings caught it.
The smallest of blushes had spread across his nose. He was blushing because of her. She was suddenly very aware of their position, and her senses went from dull and tired to aware in what felt like - to her anyway - seconds.
Neji swallowed. He was blushing. And she'd noticed. This was so embarassing. He'd never let his emotions get out of hand before. What the hell was wrong with him? It wasn't as if...
He wasn't even going to think about it. He'd only end up torturing himself over it, and driving himself crazy, and that would lead to another argument. He wasn't up to an argument with Mamoru this morning. Wait-
He cursed himself as he felt his blush intensify. Mamoru's eyes widened. They were pretty eyes, he decided. They were eyes you could lose yourself in.
Mamoru wanted him to move, or say something. Anything that would diffuse the awkward tension in the air. She didn't handle tense situations well, ever since then. She shifted awkwardly. His arms tightened around her waist. Her eyes widened.
"Let me go."
He said nothing.
"Come on, Hyuga, don't act dumb. Let me go."
His eyes lowered to her face. She tensed. "Hyuga? Hello? Anybody in there?"
He continued to stare at her. She noticed - subconsciously, she assured herself - that he was still blushing. But then, so was she. She shifted again. What was wrong with him? She knew he could be a cold, thick-headed bastard when he wanted to be, but this was on a whole other level.
She needed to lie down. The thought came as the room began to spin slightly. Her hands clenched into fists.
"What's wrong now, Yoshida?"
His voice startled her. She looked up, only to come nose to nose with him, and with no way of avoiding his gaze.
"Back from fairyland, are we?"
He ignored her. "Just tell me, Yoshida."
"You might not want to be away from fairyland to long. They might start to miss you there."
She was jabbing at his pride, and she knew it. "Yoshida."
"Fine. Let me go."
"Why?"
"Just let me go, already, Hyuga."
He felt a smirk tug at his lips. "Does this make you feel uncomfortable, Yoshida?"
Mamoru blushed even more. "No. It's just I want you to let me go!"
"No."
"Why?"
"You know why."
"What?!"
He moved his mouth next to her ear, and made like he was going to whisper something. She tensed, and her spine went ramrod straight. He smirked. Then, he bit her ear.
She yelped, and shoved him, ignoring her body's protests at the harsh movement. Neji stumbled. His reaction time was a few seconds to slow, as she flung herself at him. Mamoru had forgotten one crucial thing. Neji's heel snagged on the rug, and he fell over backwards. Mamoru had been expecting him to stay upright, and she fell on top of him, wincing as she closed her eyes, bracing, waiting for Neji to push her aside before she landed on him.
A few moments later, she became aware of her surroundings again. She was on her hands and knees, and Neji was frozen beneath her. Mamoru hesitantly opened her eyes, and she felt her blush increase tenfold. She was kneeling over him. Her hands were either side of his head. And she was... was...
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Sigh... going to end it there :)
I loved writing this chappie. Can't wait to start on the next one :D Had to do a cliffie there, because I want to start another chappie as soon as possible (or at least have an excuse to start one) Anywayz, hope you enjoyed reading this one :)
Naida x
