((((So here it is, my first NejiSaku fic. ((gasp . . . NejiSaku???, wtf?)) There is so little interaction between these two characters that it's a surprise they even know eachother's names& yet this couple still has a fan following. I'm intrigued by the idea because they do seem like polar opposites- Neji being very stoic and Sakura unintentionally sharing her feelings with anyone in ear-shot on a regular basis.))))

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or anything associated with it. Shame too, I would be sooooo rich right now.

Chapter One

But Why?

He didn't get it, simply did not get it. He never had and was pretty damned certain that he never would.

Hyuuga Neji watched the petite rose-haired woman as she waited for her order at the counter of the ramen shop, his mouth set in its all too familiar grim line. What the hell do they all see in her?

It happened the same way it always did. Nearly everyone who wasn't currently on mission was hanging out in Ichiraku, treated- uncharacteristically enough- to dinner by Naruto. Neji was seated with Lee and Tenten, contributing the occasional nod, 'hmph' or headshake to a conversation that he was only half-listening to and Naruto sat at the counter beside Neji's besotted cousin, Hinata. The timid heiress had managed to get the neurotic blonde into deep conversation and it seemed as though Naruto had even forgotten there was anyone else around.

And then she walked in.

At present, Haruno Sakura stood chatting away with Hinata over some girlish topic or another, as Naruto stared shamelessly at Sakura, appearing to hang on her every word. Lee popped up suddenly at Sakura's shoulder, beaming at her as he interrupted the girls' conversation to regale her with a 'youthful tale' from his last mission.

Neji blinked and looked down at the place where Lee had been sitting. He'd been so absorbed in his study that he'd not even noticed Lee leave the table. Tenten was still seated, but with her back to him, laughing and taking part in the conversation going on at the counter. Now that he thought about it, it wasn't just the attentions of Lee and Naruto that she'd captured; it seemed that Sakura held a special place in the heart of everyone they knew for one reason or another.

Naruto had fawned over her ceaselessly and openly since they were children. Lee was somehow convinced that deep, deep down somewhere- even though she never showed it in any way, shape or form . . . ever- Sakura felt the same irrational, suffocating devotion for him that he held for her. Hinata admired her strength and her outspokenness and Tenten . . . well, she was friends with everyone. After the whole Sasuke debacle, Ino had immediately begun rebuilding their friendship. Even Sasuke had come to see her differently from the other fangirls that had chased him all over Konoha. Kakashi sought her input about various things and it was obvious to everyone the affection that Tsunade-sama felt towards her apprentice.

He caught himself watching her constantly as he tried to understand Konoha's infatuation with this woman. He couldn't fault Sakura for all the attention Naruto paid her- she'd made it unmistakably clear years ago that she didn't see him that way, but Naruto was nothing if not stubborn. It probably wouldn't bother Neji if it weren't that every time Hinata seemed to be making headway with Naruto, in tromped Sakura, unwittingly disrupting their moment. That woman had the most damnable timing.

He watched as Sakura leaned over and whispered something in Hinata's ear, her large jade eyes twinkling with amusement and her small Cupid's bow mouth curving into a devilish grin as the dark haired girl gave a soft giggle, blushing furiously. She was beautiful, that at least he could admit to, and perhaps she was nice. He couldn't be sure, he'd never had even a two word conversation with the woman.

Just then, Sakura's eyes snapped up, locking on Neji's for a moment. They widened instantly- Neji couldn't tell if she hadn't realized she was staring at him, or if she realized he'd been observing her- and returned to group around her. What the hell was that about? As he wondered, his gaze never leaving his subject, Naruto made a miserably failed attempt to flirt which left Sakura scowling even as she tried to get his attention to focus on Hinata once again. If only he could find someway to get Naruto to see Hinata the way she saw him. . .

Who am I kidding? I'm no match-maker . . .

"Sakura-chan, stay. Pleeeeaaaaase!" Naruto whined suddenly.

Sakura scooped up the brown paper bag set before her on the counter. "Naruto, I told you I can't. I just got this completely ridiculous assignment from Tsunade-sama and the sooner I finish, the happier I'll be."

"What is it, Sakura-san?" Hinata inquired sweetly in her usual soft tones.

"I have to plan this year's celebration for the spring equinox." She huffed as she fished around in the pouch on her hip, apparently searching for her wallet. "I have no idea what it should be, but Tsunade-sama said I have to decide the type of celebration by tomorrow, and let her know, so I have plenty of time to make all of the preparations . . . Argh! Where the hell is-"

Naruto dismissed her with a wave of his hand. "It's on me, Sakura-chan."

"Uh . . . thanks . . ." Sakura looked wide-eyed around the room suddenly, seeming very confused. Leaning into Hinata once more, she said in a stage whisper, "What'd I miss?"

Hinata giggled. "He did very well on his last mission-"

"Sakura wait," Lee interrupted, appearing flustered, "you cannot leave. I have not finished telling you about my greatness on my last mission."

Sakura shuddered, but pushed it aside, smiling. "Next time, I promise. You'll get to tell me all about how youthful you were and how proud Gai will be of you."

Neji needed someone else to do this for him- he was no good at relationships. He'd never had one himself, so how the hell was he supposed to secure the future of his cousin's?

In front of him, Tenten burst out laughing as Lee raised a fist in the air, his huge round eyes welling up with tears. "OH, Gai-sensei will be, I was magnificent. I-"

"Gotta go!" Sakura waved a quick good bye to everyone, heading for the door before Lee could force anymore of his overly dramatic monologue into her unwilling ear.

She breezed by the table on her way out. "Bye Tenten . . . Neji." Her eyes had met his for a split second again, but then- before he could bother to give it any thought- she was gone.

Naruto's attention was back on Hinata, their private conversation seeming to pick up where it had left off, before that pink-haired interloper had come onto the scene. Didn't that brat Naruto realize the way he was behaving? While she was here, Sakura had tried constantly to steer the hyperactive moron's attention back to Hinata. Naruto really couldn't see something 'til it jumped up and bit him on the ass, could he?

An idea crept into Neji's head. Silently excusing himself from the table, he slipped out the door. And just in time to avoid one of Lee's heart-broken speeches about how much he already missed his 'beautiful flower', too.

oOoOoO

Sakura closed her front door behind her and sighed deeply, pressing her forehead against the wood with her eyes squeezed tightly shut. Damn you, Ino-pig!!

For nearly two months now, Sakura had been having trouble being in Hyuuga Neji's presence. And it was all Ino's fault. It seemed like every month, that girl was fascinated with a different man, regardless of whether there was any potential for a relationship or not. For an entire four weeks, all she'd heard was 'don't those eyes make him so exotic?' 'Do you think his hair's soft? . . . Ooh, I'd just love to run my fingers through it.' 'What about those bandages? Do you think it's just his arm and leg, or do you think he's got his whole midsection done too? I would love to see what's under 'em.' Do you think, I would love to . . . Sakura had begun to hear it in her sleep, but just when she was about ready to tear Ino's arms off and beat her with them, it was suddenly 'Doesn't Choji look good now that he's all matured and trimmed down?'

She'd gotten her wish at least, Ino had stopped her idiotic, love-struck ramblings, but then a funny thing happened. Sakura found that she herself could not be in the silent, impassive man's presence without wondering those very same things. Sighing, she brought her order through her small, albeit neatly kept one floor house to set it down on the kitchen table. This had never happened before. She went about preparing the food as she pondered the recent thoughts that were running amok in her brain. Ino's male-obsessed ramblings had never stuck in Sakura's mind before, so why now? Why Neji?

She pictured his cold, but strikingly handsome face in her mind. She didn't know anything at all about him, save for the fact that he'd been pissed off at the world since they were young. I wonder . . . She sat down and picked up her chopsticks, I wonder what it would take- what I would have to do- to melt all that ice away . . . An image played in her mind suddenly, she was in Neji's lap as he pulled his shirt off over his head. His thick, glossy dark brown hair hung loose to his waist and he smiled down at her as she began unwinding the bandages from his tightly muscled mid-section . . .

"Stop it Sakura!" She reprimanded herself in a whisper.

It wasn't that she liked Neji- you had to know someone to like them- but she wouldn't kick him out of her bed, either. Hmm . . . Neji in my bed- The chiming of the door bell cut into Sakura's thoughts and she found herself grateful.

"Saving me from myself." She muttered. Putting down her chopsticks and standing, she called out in sing-song tones. "Be right there."

Shuffling footsteps brought her to the door as she tried to hurry without losing her slippers. Snapping open the lock, Sakura pulled the door open only to find the pale-eyed Hyuuga Neji himself standing on her porch. She pushed open the screen door and took a step out, looking around- surely he couldn't be here alone. Ah crap, he is alone.

"Neji." She said politely, making no attempt to hide the awkwardness she felt- they had never even spoken before, why would he pop up on her doorstep?

"Sakura." He nodded his head. A long, uncomfortably silent moment stretched between them as they simply stared at eachother before he spoke again. "Um . . . I'm sorry to bother you at home, but I need to speak with you."

She found herself speechless, thin strawberry eyebrows shooting up. "It's about Hinata." He continued when he realized she was in shock. "I could come back if this is a bad-"

"OH, no, no." Sakura shook her head, breaking easily into her customary friendly smile. "Sorry, please," she stepped aside, holding the door open, "come in."

As he walked past her, she couldn't stop herself from noticing that her head only came up to his shoulder. Dammit, what the hell is wrong with me? "Uh, maybe we could sit in the kitchen? It's right through there."

He strode off in the direction she'd pointed as Sakura closed the door. She found herself watching his movements, everything he did seemed to have casual, almost lazy sort of grace to it- as though he just couldn't help it. It's okay, just have to focus on the conversation, that's all.

By the time she got into the kitchen, he was already seated at the table. He sat up perfectly straight, shoulders squared and his hands- strong hands, with long, elegant looking fingers she noted- folded before him on the table. His head was titled ever so slightly as he stared up at her with those pale eyes. Sakura stared back for a moment blinking, Oh God, I'm doomed . . .