Choose your own Naruto Adventure- Go to P555
From Create Your Own Story
You avoid Neji and the training grounds for a while, because you just don't have the nerve to tell him.
Fortunately or unfortunately for you, whichever way you prefer to look at it, the Hyuuga isn't as socially dense as you believe and he pays you an unexpected visit a week or so later.
"Is there a problem?" He demands rather than asks as soon as you open the door, not even bothering with the basic niceties.
"What?" You blink, caught off guard by his unanticipated appearance.
"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, I know you've been avoiding me and I want to know why." He frowns, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"…I'm on my period." You deadpan, playing the card that along with the discussion of childbirth is typically enough to derail virtually anyone of the male gender.
You enjoy some minor success as Neji lapses into a sudden poker face, which would have been flawless save for the light reddening of his cheeks.
"…You." His voice breaks and he clears his throat before attempting to speak again, "Are you serious?"
"I tend to get really bad cramps." You explain calmly, while you note a slight shift in his stance, "And for the first two or three days, it's like a flood of-"
"Alright." The young Jounin cuts you off in a hurry, "I suppose that would be a reasonable enough explanation…"
"It would." You agree, "Except that that was a lie."
"What?" He blinks, his carefully constructed calm demeanor crumbling, "Then why on earth would you tell me all of that in the first place!?"
"Because." You smirk. "I knew it would make you feel uncomfortable."
"You are the most frustrating…" Neji mutters, hand massaging his temples, "Then why have you really been avoiding me?"
"…That's none of your business." You shrug.
"Is there a reason you despise me so much?" He frowns.
"…I don't despise you." You respond softly, "Not at all."
"Then why are you being so difficult?!" It doesn't take a genius to tell that Neji is growing increasingly more frustrated with you.
"Can you honestly say we get along well with each other? That we can consider each other friends?" You ask instead.
He falls silent and observes you for a few quiet moments, "While I cannot say that I always find our interactions pleasant, something that is your fault entirely, they are not entirely unbearable either." He answers thoughtfully, "I would not go so far as to call you a friend…but you are not…the opposite of it either. It's a little complicated to explain but…I suppose the best way to put it is that we might be friends in time…although that would be entirely up to you."
Yet another moment of silence passes before you sigh and step aside to let Neji into your apartment, "Get your *ss in here, I'll make us some tea."
As time goes by, your knowledge on future events eventually runs dry and you tell Tsunade as much, but never to despair. You had after all performed a great service to the village and you are given permission to stay. With the continued training sessions you receive from Neji and the encouragement of the various friends you had made amongst the ninja...you are finally able to call yourself a bonafide kunoichi. And by the time two years roll by, you have attained the rank of Chuunin as well as permission to teach at the academy.
Your relationship with Neji is a strange and complicated one. During the past two years the both of you had formed a unique friendship for lack of a better term to describe the exact kind of bond you do have. Neither of you would ever admit to each other, let alone anyone else, that you are "friends". Officially, you're occasional sparring partners, more likely to exchange verbal blows rather than any physical ones.
You sigh in frustration at the end of another typical day, you had just gotten through a particularly nerve-crushing lesson (it seemed like all the annoying ones had found their way into your lesson...oh, but you are a patient teacher and you love your students). You hurry to pack up your things and leave, eager to get out and relax.
Once you exit the academy grounds, you stop to stretch and run a hand through your hair.
"You look tense." A by now familiar voice remarks from the nearby shadows.
You smirk, "Hey there, stranger…Long time no see."
Neji emerges and you feel that tell-tale flutter in your chest that you get whenever see him after a long absence.
"It has been a while…" He agrees, "How have you been?"
"Oh, you know same old same old…" You shrug, before a mischievous gleam enters your eye, "But how about I tell you more about it over some sake, your treat?"
The Jounin sighs, "We're underage…"
"That hasn't stopped us before."
Later
"And then they drew all over my face with a permanent marker…It took a week for it all to wash off completely." You sigh downing yet another shot glass, both of you seated right at the bar.
"Well, that will teach you not to fall asleep in class." Neji remarks simply, swirling the contents of his glass before he sips at it.
"Yeah yeah, and getting your hair tied to the back of a chair will teach you to stop being such a tight-*ss all the time." You counter.
"You pulled that prank on me, not a group of mischievous children." The Jounin sighs and shakes his head.
"Loosened you up, didn't it?" Another shot, "Granted, not enough for anyone to notice…but I can tell."
"Hmph." Neji smiles as he continues to sip at his glass.
"Are you going to nurse that all night?" You remark.
"Is there a problem if I do?"
"Ah, come on! Have some fun!" You give his arm a playful punch, "Let's do Tequila shots!"
"Are you trying to get me drunk?"
"Tch." You snort, "One or two shots are not going to get you drunk…Live a little, or do you think it'll kill off too many of your genius Hyuuga-braincells?"
"Just one or two?" Neji eyes you reluctantly.
"Sure." You grin.
Five shots later…
"Lookin' a little tipsy there, Hyuuga-boy…" You giggle, poking the now slightly swaying Neji.
"…'m not." He mumbles in response, although the light flush on his pale skin and half-lidded look to his eyes tell another story.
"So, what's new in the land of Hyuuga elitism, eh?" You give his shoulder a little nudge as he downs another shot.
"…Th'clan wants t'arrange a marriage f'me." He slurs slightly.
That piece of information is almost enough to jolt you back into the world of sobriety.
"Come again?" You blink, turning on your stool to face him completely, "When? Why? And to whom?!"
"…When-" He hiccups, "When 'm of age…t'make sure m'skill an' genius get passed ont' th'next gen'ration…" Another shot, "Clan's going t'pick someone…don't know who yet…"
"And you're just going to go along with that?!" You gape, "What if you don't even like the person they choose?!" You pluck the shot glass from his hand and make him face you.
He raises his hand with the index finger extended and opens his mouth to divulge information that you hope will provide a little more clarity only for him to say, "…I feel sick."
Moments later, Neji is retching noisily into a toilet bowl in the men's restroom while you, the soberer one stand there to hold his ever beautiful silky hair. No one seems to care or argue about there being a girl in the men's room…
Half an hour later you have the Jounin slumped against you as you struggle towards your apartment. There is no way you are going to schlep him all the way over to the Hyuuga compound in his intoxicated state – So the inebriated shinobi genius will have to make do with crashing on your couch.
It is well past midnight by the time you reach your apartment door and later than that when you finally have him tucked in on your couch.
You glare at his sleeping/passed out face. While a drunk Neji might have been a lot of fun and a well of potential blackmail material waiting to happen any other time – The revelation of his clan arranging a marriage for him just about killed all of that.
There it is again, that painful twinge in your chest…not a physically painful twinge, an emotional one.
If only you could shake him awake and make him answer your questions but that will have to wait until the morning…
You sigh as you head over to your bedroom, damn Neji and his clan, you had such a good buzz going and both of them just had to go and ruin it.
The following morning
You're in the kitchen preparing breakfast, but not just any breakfast…this is breakfast for two instead of one and it's a Japanese style breakfast too. Why? Because as much as you love to irritate Neji, there exists that part of you that inexplicably wishes to please him, and judging from the groan in the living room said Hyuuga is waking up.
"Good morning, sunshine!" You greet him louder than is necessary.
This is followed by a hiss and a groan from the couch.
"Enjoying your hangover, Neji-kun?" You continue unperturbed.
More groaning.
You sigh and walk over to the couch, where despite the hangover, the bed-hair, and dark circles under his eyes Neji still manages to be beautiful.
"First, you got drunk and passed out last night so I brought you to my apartment since I doubt your uncle would have appreciated seeing you in such a state." You start, "Second, you know where the bathroom is and I suggest you go freshen up while I finish making breakfast and we can have a nice long talk about your drunken antics."
Neji gives you a look of mild alarm, "Did I do something…" He trails off.
"No, not really." You shake your head, understanding what it is he's getting at, "But like I said, after breakfast. Now shoo!" You make little wavey motions with your hands, "Into the bathroom with you, you look like sh*t."
The Hyuuga gives you a glare before stumbling towards the bathroom in as graceful a fashion that only he can possibly manage.
Later, you have the table set with two portions of steamed rice, rolled egg omelette and miso soup as well as some tea. To be honest you're not entirely sure if this is the sort of thing Neji even eats for breakfast but he just carries that air of traditional Japanese about him.
Moments later, said Jounin emerges from your bathroom and takes his seat across from you at the table. You both proceed to eat and sip at your tea in silence and it is only when Neji thanks you for the meal that it is finally broken.
"You said you would tell me more about what happened last night?"
"Well…" You begin, "I held onto your hair while you threw up in the men's room, you're welcome by the way…"
"You went into the men's room?" Neji grimaces at the thought of you having seen him being sick rather than at what he'd said.
"Meh." You shrug, "It's a restroom, apart from the urinals and some of the smells and graffiti on the walls it's no different from the ladies' room."
"…What else happened?"
You pause, it is a potentially delicate topic bring up and you wonder if you should hence find a more delicate way of telling Neji about it, but you being you, you settle on the direct route, "You told me that the clan's arranging a marriage for you."
The Hyuuga rises from the chair with such abruptness that it topples over behind him, the noise it makes hitting the floor seems much louder in the ensuing silence.
"…You said that you'd get married once you were of age…and that you don't know who they'd select for you yet…" You continue softly, focusing on your hands clasped loosely in front of you resting on the dining table.
Neji says nothing.
"…So, it's true then?" You look at him knowing full well that it is, yet still needing his confirmation for it to truly sink in.
"…It is." He nods.
"…And you're okay with it? The clan making decisions for you like that?" You watch as Neji rights the overturned chair and takes his seat back at the table.
"…It's a common practice in clans like mine, and it isn't as if I don't have any say in the matter. I do have some…input." He explains carefully.
"Such as?"
"I can say whether I like who they've chosen or not…and they cannot force me to marry someone I'm dead-set against being with…"
"…I'm assuming they've got a long list of requirements for the lucky or should I say luckless candidates, considering the boring stiff they're going to be saddled with…" You mutter.
Neji fixes you with an exasperated frown before he sighs and continues with his explanation, "Someone of a good family for starters, no glaring genetic deficiencies or defects within the past five generations, financial stability…" He lists the requirements off on his fingers, "Someone of good reputation and character…"
You tune out a little after that last one, with the exception of the genetic defects thing, those three other requirements eliminated you as a possible choice from the start.
"So…" You interrupt him, "You can't actually choose someone yourself?"
He pauses, "…I suppose if I found someone the clan deems worthy enough."
"What would happen if you bring me home and tell them I'm the one you want to marry?" You say, "Hypothetically, of course."
"You?!" The Jounin snorts, "They'd never allow it…You're loud, obnoxious, unruly, you drink despite being underage!"
"Not to mention I don't have any good family name to speak of…" You add with a mutter.
"That too."
"…Not a snowball's chance in hell, then." You sigh softly.
Your change in demeanor gets Neji's attention, "Kimiko?"
"…Do Lee and Tenten know?" You deflect his curiosity with another question.
"Not yet…"
"…I'm the only one you've told?"
"Yes."
"Well, aren't I special?" Part of you is seriously pissed off.
"…Is there something you're not telling me?"
"I mean…" You sigh in frustration, "I don't get you at all! All that fuss you made about not having any freedom and here you are, happy to have the clan make what is arguably the most important decision in your life for you!"
"I never said that I was happy about it!" Neji snaps right back at you.
"Whatever! For someone so intent on defying fate and forging his own path in life you sure have resigned yourself to it now!" You yell, both of you having risen from your chairs once you started to argue.
"Like it or not, I am still a member of the Hyuuga clan and I have responsibilities! Unlike you, I cannot just run around doing whatever I want!" He slams his hand onto the table.
"You think I don't have responsibilities?! And I do not run around doing whatever I want! Just because I don't fit your damn clan's image of the ideal woman does not make me some inferior or lesser being!" You slam both of your hands onto the table.
"I never called you inferior!" Neji's left eye twitches.
"I bet you were thinking it!" You counter.
With each exchange you'd both unconsciously leaned forward towards each other a little more, so that now, your foreheads are almost touching.
And it's at that moment you notice just how close you are, eyes locked together that you finally give into the impulse you've previously beaten down and tucked away.
Your right hand shoots up, grabs Neji by the front of his shinobi uniform and pulls him in for what is more of a clash of lips and teeth rather than an actual kiss.
It lasts only an instant, but that's all it takes.
You release him and pull back slowly, purposely averting your eyes from his.
"…Kimiko." You can imagine the shocked look on Neji's face, but you focus on the table's surface instead, looking at him now would be too painful.
"…Go." You say softly.
"W-Wait, just now you-" He struggles for words just before you cut him off.
"Get out now." You force through gritted teeth.
"No! We need to talk about what-"
"Leave!" Your voice breaks as the tears you'd been fighting so desperately finally spill over.
Neji doesn't say a word, and he doesn't move either.
"You made it perfectly clear that I will never be good enough for the likes of you and your clan!" Your hands tremble as you walk up to him and attempt to push him towards the door.
Alas, Neji has other ideas.
He calmly, but firmly grips both of your wrists when you start smacking his chest when pushing doesn't budge him.
"…It isn't fair." You sob, "Why did it have to be you?!"
The Jounin remains silent, but he doesn't release you either, until finally what little resolve you had left crumbles, and you bawl like a baby, crying out your frustrations into Neji's clothed chest.
Later, you're not certain how much later, you're down to sniffles and Neji leads you to the couch.
You both sit down, and the silence stretches into what feels like hours.
"…All this time?" He states, rather than asks.
You nod, not trusting yourself to speak just yet.
"…Why didn't you say anything?"
"…I don't know."
"...You've never given me much indication."
"I know."
More silence.
"…You're not inferior, you know."
You risk a sideways glance at him and he looks sincere enough.
"I'm not?"
He shrugs, "You're…you."
"What does that even mean?" You face him.
"It means that you are who you are and that you should never feel like you need to change…especially to fit someone else's image of who you ought to be." He responds simply, "Don't get me wrong, you are by no means perfect."
You frown and open your mouth to retort, but Neji beats you to it.
"But." He sighs, "Neither is anyone else…least of all me." The Hyuuga risks a smile.
You mull it over and pose the all important question, "…What happens now?"
Neji seems to be pondering this too, "While I cannot say that I…have romantic feelings for you…I do care about you to some extent." A pause, "That being said, I am not un-attracted to you…"
"Un-attracted isn't even a word." You point out.
"I know that." He sighs once again, "Look, I'm not opposed to at least giving 'us' a chance…"
You raise a skeptical eyebrow, "You really believe that?"
"When it comes down to it, I would much rather be with a friend – someone of my own choosing, rather than some near-perfect stranger chosen for me…Besides, we'll never know unless we try, right?"
More silence passes.
"You know, that's probably one of the worst ways to ask someone out?" You smirk, "But at least it didn't all happen inside a closet."
"What?" Neji gives you a confused look.
"Well, alright…You talked me into it." You stretch your arms above your head, "And as a gesture of my commitment to whatever the hell this complicated mess of a relationship is…" You place a hand over your heart while raising the other, "I promise not to touch any more alcoholic beverages until I'm twenty-one."
He smiles, "Very commendable."
You smile too…and almost shyly your hand creeps toward his, until your fingers touch and finally interlock.
And in what you consider a very bold and un-Hyuuga like manner, Neji brings your hand to his lips, "To the future and all its glorious uncertainties."
It's a perfect moment that lasts…just a moment.
"So, when you mentioned glaring genetic deficiencies, does that include baldness? Because I don't think I've ever seen a bald Hyuuga and you all seem to really be into your hair."
Neji sighs in exasperation.
Elsewhere
In a hospital room.
An older woman sits by a young woman's side.
Two nurses watch her.
"It's so sad..." One of them says. "Her daughter has been in a coma for more than three years now...
The woman turns to look at them, "I...don't feel as bad about it as some of you might think..."
The nurses hastily apologize.
"She's been smiling a lot lately." The woman continues smiling tenderly at the young woman in the bed. "So...at the very least...I am glad that wherever she is...she's found happiness..."
Ending: 36
(A/N Good Lord, this blasted thing did not want to end for a moment there…I hoped you enjoyed reading, this is the first CYOA part to have been written in 2012 and it also may be the only one depending on how well I do with writing for Lee. Thank you for reading!) Choose another adventure?