... Chapter 8 ... Identity Investigation / Scrutinize

Disclaimer:No, I do not own Naruto! Although I wish so. It belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. I love the characters and the show more than I love myself. Please don’t sue me; I’ll return them after I’m finished.

A/N: KONNICHIWA! Thanks for all the reviews!!! I'm so sorry for the terribly late update... Here I give you chapter 8! Arigato to everyone, who read my story from the beginning to the end. Thanks Lumberry(1313621) for the beta and for all the encouragement!

The next morning, Neji planned to check on this pink haired kunoichi. He had a very sharp feeling that he saw something ‘pink’ that night. Since he didn’t have Sakura’s phone number, he decided to get it today.

After a long, tiring training session, the gang gathered in the locker room again, having a very lively conversation.

“Ooh, Neji…Genjutsu-sensei was looking for you several times. Make sure you catch up with her,” said the blonde.

“I think she wants to nag at you again, for not showing up in her class for so many days,” said Lee, grinning at him.

“Hn, she was so annoying.”

“Naruto,” spoke up Neji while walking up to him.

“What’s up?”

“Can I borrow your cell phone for a moment?” He said it fast but clear.

Naruto paused for a few seconds before answering, “NO! Don’t you have your own? Why borrow mine?”

“Nah, I-I’m just looking for a number,” he was trying to explain.

“Whose number you want? Tell me I’ll give you!”

“No, I’ll find it myself.”

“NO WAY! I got some - some… some private photos inside…”

“Sexy photos of Hyuuga Hinata?” Shikamaru ventured a possibility.

“Naked??! Or-” added Kiba.

“Or your own naked photos?” Lee interrupted.

Kenji cast a wide grin at the blonde.

“YOU FUCKIN’ PERVERT!!” snapped the blonde.

“Ahem.” He cleared his throat and said, “Ok, Naruto, a lot of idiots are hanging around, I’ll ask you later.”

“K.”

“Hey, are you implying us?” said Lee, peering at their captain.

Neji didn’t answer, just smirked wryly.

“Say Neji, whose number you want?” he asked, while gulping down some water from a bottle.

The two walked casually and talked privately ten feet behind their comrades.

Neji tugged an ear and said softly, “Haruno Sakura.”

Naruto almost choked when he heard the name. He stopped and turned to look at Neji.

“Sakura-chan?? Why is it Sakura-chan?” said Naruto, intrigued, wanted an explanation.

“Don’t ask. This isn’t your concern.”

“You don’t have her number, huh?”

“Yea…”

“Ahem… We’ve been friends for so many years, so tell me Neji, when did you start liking my precious Sakura-chan??” he further questioned to find out more from his comrade.

“Don’t misunderstand, I just want to make sure of something. Nothing personal.”

“Well, if it’s true that you like her, I won’t object. Sakura needs to have another choice instead of still waiting for Sasuke. Hey you, you choose it right, she’s the good one. If you need help, I’ll always be there!!” he suggested sincerely.

“Stop babbling!”

“Ok, ok, hold on, I’m checking.” replied the blonde. He took out his cell phone from his backpack and started checking on his phone lists.

“S-a-k-u-r-a- c-h-a-n…… 768-452-366.” He stated.

“768-452-366???” his eyes widened.

“YES.” He stated crisply and clearly.

“Are you sure, this is the correct number of Haruno Sakura?” he asked again to double confirm.

“YES!” he stated firmly again, “What’s the matter??”

For the first time, Neji’s face looked completely flabbergasted, a few seconds later he turned back to his normal mode calm and composed, “Um… ok…… nothing………. Thanks.”

Tenten, wondering what was the guys talking about behind her, slowed down and sauntered in their conversation, “Ano Neji, what are you guy talking about so privately?”

“As you said, P-R-I-V-A-T-E. I’m sorry, we can’t share!” said Naruto.

“Naruto-teme!!” she yelled and turn to look at long haired young man, she begged while dragging his sleeve, “Tell me, Neji!”

Neji folded his arms to his chest, rather relieved. He didn’t answer but smiled lightly.

Nobody knew why he felt so relieved at the moment; he felt so happy to find out that his cyber-pal turned out to be Haruno Sakura.

The team walked up to the ramen shop again to take their dinner.

Emerald eyes flashed over, Sakura saw an image of the man she had long thinking of walked in the shop, sending her a light nod when he met those emerald eyes.

It was Neji, who was completely healed, and she felt glad to see him again. She thought about her cyber-pal relationship with him and thinking of their night ‘adventure’ that day.

“You sit here!” Naruto demanded. He purposely pushing Neji to sit on the stool which he could sit fully facing at Sakura. Since he asked for her phone number, he doubted that they must have some secret relationship in between that he didn’t know.

The other six took their own seat in front of the counter.

Neji sat down and pushing a few strands of hair away from his shoulders. He was just staring at Sakura, a look of fascination on his face, as if he was only seeing her for the first time.

His thoughts went to the beautiful pink haired kunoichi, “She isn’t just beautiful, yet she’s a very talented medic-nin and she has very awesome genjutsu.” He got impressed when he saw her fight in Jounin exam weeks ago, and mostly their interactions when they meet online until he revealed her true identity. All of these had started to make him falling for this beautiful pink haired kunoichi. He fell for the most popular girl in school, his buddy Lee and the others was being rejected by her hundred times, before they actually giving up on her.

“Uchiha was just silly...” he thought.

So this was the girl he spent nearly every waking moment thinking about. Love was silly, part of him was screaming. Neji still kept his eyes on Sakura, but was unable to think of what to say.

Suddenly he had an idea in his mind, he wanted to try out her number and he took out his cell phone, dialing the same number, he rose up the phone to his ear…

A moment later, Sakura’s cell phone rang.

One ring… two ring… three ring…

He kept staring at the pink haired kunoichi, waiting to see her reaction. He did it almost in a teasing manner.

Sakura took out her phone from her pocket, when she read the screen, she frowned and gripped the phone tightly.

Finally Neji backed off, satisfied at having achieved his goal, he cut off the call and smirked. Yes, it was fun to tease her. He couldn’t believe he was teasing a girl, the girl that he…loved.

The call ended, she glanced into those silver white eyes, deep and unreadable…she could easily get lost in. She tried to look away and she saw Lee.

“Sakura-chan, I haven’t had dinner and I’m starving!”

“Yes, yes! I’m sorry, Lee-san. May I take your order now?…”

After taking orders, she could still felt his eyes on her, she looked away quickly, avoiding his gaze.

Sakura was getting very nervous as Neji kept staring at her. The gaze was special, too special for her. She felt very uneasy for being stared like this, it wasn’t a good sign...

Tenten folded her hands solemnly and said, “Ano, Neji! Eat your ramen! It’s getting cold! Why are you keep staring at her?”

“Huh? Me, keep staring at her?” he turned and looked at Tenten, “No, I didn’t.” he refused to admit. With that he continued eating his ramen, which was quickly turning cold.

She didn’t like Neji to stare at other girl like this. Even though he wasn’t her boy friend. It was same as Lee doesn’t like Tenten to stick with his buddy, because he likes her.

After a moment of another awkward silence, Neji biting his bottom lip a bit subconsciously. Finally he decided to say something.

This was his chance to set everything right again.

He coughed lightly and started, “Sakura, I………”

For a few moments all they did was staring in each other’s eyes. They felt so right at the moment, “Don’t stop Neji! What you wanna tell me?” She looked at him intently as she was telling him to continue.

Neji found that someone was looking at both of them, Sakura and him, it was a very familiar good looking raven haired young man.

“Sakura.” his voice sounded familiar for Sakura.

It was Uchiha Sasuke.

Neji stopped from continuing his sentence and stared at him for a few seconds until he made the next move.

Sasuke walked up to Sakura, when he got near and said in his commanding voice, “Come with me.” With that, he gripped her wrist, not so gently, and dragged her out from the ramen shop.

Neji just stared at him, and stared at their backs when Sasuke dragged her out from the ramen shop.

“What’s going on, Sasuke-kun?” Naruto voiced out loudly.

Sasuke didn’t answer. Naruto turned around and looked into those silver white eyes, giving him a questioning face. Neji didn’t say anything but looked back at his ramen. He felt kind of late that he didn’t confess his feeling to her, something within him was stopping him, maybe his pride.

“Where exactly… we are going, Sasuke-kun?” said Sakura in surprise. Sakura was curious about where Sasuke was taking her.

They threaded their way to a shaded alleyway.

Sasuke, cupping her cheeks for a moment, kept her neck arched in offering. He bent down and pressed his lips to hers and put his arms around her waist so tightly it closed the gap between them. That was sudden and strong.

Sakura felt shocked of what Sasuke was doing. She was used to dream of Sasuke kissing her, tonight it made into reality, but it was too surprise for her to accept.

Actually the truth was, she just dreamt of Hyuuga Neji kissed her witnessed by Sasuke a day ago. Tonight her opponent wasn’t Hyuuga Neji, instead it was Uchiha Sasuke. She felt a little sad, it wasn’t Hyuuga Neji. “Why am I having this kind of feeling?” she thought.

Sasuke knew that Neji was watching them from far. He already lost the fight with him in jounnin exam, he don’t want to lose again for him. He felt kind of jealous.

Moments later, he broke the kiss and looked into her emerald green eyes. “I love you, Sakura.” Sakura looked into his eyes, confused.

“Sasuke-kun, I-” she took a step back.

Sasuke knew that Neji was still around, watching them. He wrapped her tightly in his arms, bent down and captured her lips again, more passionately.

Anger.

Rage.

Pain.

Emotions welled up inside the long haired shinobi, he hided himself behind a tree. He glanced away and looked back at the two again. His face was red with anger and he tried to hold it back, but he couldn’t. His blood began to boil, he clenched his fists and felt his heart was about to shatter into million little pieces when he saw the two kissing so passionately.

His eyes moistened, glistening with unshed tears, “Why am I?...” he always thought that he was good in hiding his emotions, but he didn’t understand what made him feel so sad at the same moment.

“I’m falling for Haruno Sakura?…”

She was sweet, caring and talented.

“But I think it’s true that I’m falling for her. I love her.” He admitted to himself.

But wasn’t it was too late to confess his feeling to her?

They kissed.

He tried so hard to hold back his tears, but couldn’t. He wiped them away with his hand.

It was absolutely heart wrenching. Maybe for once in his life, he felt so depressed, just like being dumped.

He turned around as he realized that he couldn’t take it anymore, and left the place.

“Sasuke-kun….. Please let go of me!” Sakura said in a shaky voice and pushed him away.

They broke apart breathlessly.

Sasuke was shocked when she pushed him away from her, “What happened? You don’t love me, do you?”

All these years, she had been waiting for his love; at the end she would always get hurt. She wondered to herself what had happened. Why refuse his love? She asked herself. Was it that everything changed, everything changed after she met her cyber-pal? No matter how hard she tried, but the truth was that she just didn’t love him anymore. She thought it over and over again.

She found that love started growing between her and Hyuuga Neji. They struck up a very good relationship through IM and she always started to day dream about him after his identity was revealed. He was the reason she refused Uchiha Sasuke.

“I’m sorry, Sasuke-kun. I love you, I used to, but I love you no more. Please don’t do this to me ever again.” her voice was firm.

He stood his ground, looking down upon Sakura (A/N: he was tall), “C’mon, don’t lie to yourself, admit it that you love me.” His face fell in disappointment.

“I dunno, I feel very confuse right now…” she refused to meet with his eyes.

Sasuke sensed Neji’s chakra already gone and he smirked.

“It’s getting late, let me walk you home.” Sasuke offered to escort her home.

“Er…… it’s ok Sasuke-kun, you don’t have to worry about me. I’ve gotta get back to the shop now, I have some works undone.” With that Sakura backed off and ran back to her ramen shop.

She ran so fast until she was breathing hard, her mind filled with images of Hyuuga Neji…she wanted him badly, and she wanted to see and talk to him now.

Finally she had her mind set that she loved Hyuuga Neji, and that she wanted to be with him.

A couple of minutes later, she reached to the ramen shop. Sakura noticed that Neji was gone, no more sitting on the stool eating his ramen, “Where’s- he?” she asked Ino, still breathing hard.

“He left, after you dragged out by Sasuke. He didn’t even finish his ramen.”

“Oh…” Sakura looked at her with a look of disappointment.

“What was that Sasuke-kun did on you?”

“He… he confessed to me!”

She jumped up and screamed, “Bloody hell, was it possible that he followed you just now?” Ino’s mouth dropped to the floor.

A sudden shock jolted down on Sakura. She was thinking that - did he see everything just now? Did he see Sasuke kissing her? She was scared that he would misunderstand! She felt her whole body tensed and her hands lay down motionlessly.

Her smiles had all disappeared that night, and she no longer laughed the way she used to.

Neji walked back home slowly that night, still remembering what had just happened, even thought he didn’t want to, but the images – that they were kissing - kept repeating in his mind, over and over again. Sakura was kissing with the guy she liked. He didn’t know what to do…

“If you like her, you should steal her back from Uchiha!!” his inner self shouted.

“Yeah, I have to win her back after all!”

“Do you need my help?”

“No thanks. I’ll figure things out in my own way.”

Neji was chatting with his cyber-soulmate again that night, the difference was he already knew her true identity.

10:20am

Ms Ordinary: Konbanwa, Neji-kun.

Fallen-Knight: Yeah, Konbanwa.

Fallen-Knight: Tomorrow I’ll be having a semifinal basketball match. I’ll be off early today…I need to store some energy for that match.

Fallen-Knight: Will you come to cheer for me? (Fallen-Knight requested)

Fallen-Knight: I hope you will come. I can feel more spiritual if you were there. (he typed again)

Ms Ordinary: Absolutely, I’ll try my best to go.

Fallen-Knight: Thanks for coming…

Neji was hesitating; he wanted to ask her something. He thought and continued typing.

Fallen-Knight: Even though you already have a boyfriend?

Ms Ordinary: No, let me clarify…um, I don’t have a boyfriend at this moment…

Fallen-Knight: Thanks for telling me that, I’m feeling better right now.

Ms Ordinary: Are you not feeling well today?

Fallen-Knight: Umm yeah, smiling Just feel tired today…

Fallen-Knight: If I said I liked you, will you give me a chance?

Ms Ordinary: Ok! My answer is yes.

(She stated firmly this time)

Fallen-Knight: I could make you a promise that I’ll never let you down or get hurt, you deserve to have happiness. There is no easy way to say this, but… I’m diff than Uchiha.

(She tilted her head as she was getting confused.)

Fallen-Knight: Well,I’ve got to go now, I need to get up early tomorrow. See you tomorrow!

Ms Ordinary: Good night! hug

Fallen-Knight: Night. hug back

(Fallen-Knight logged off)

Author note:

I hope you like this chapter! Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to review again! Ja na!

- Miyuki-chan –