24 hours (if only...)
Fandom: Naruto
Characters: Hyuuga Neji & Haruno Sakura
Prompt: 019. Funeral
Word Count: 1582
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Notes: Written for 33 proposals. Prompt table is here.
-
The rain blew down in currents, drenching the usually sunny village with its watery missiles. Dark gray clouds shielded the sky as the thunder rumbled in the distance; a low roar, sounding almost anguished.
Even the Gods seemed to be mourning the death of Haruno Sakura.
Neji stepped out of Hyuuga compound slowly, clad in plain black Hyuuga robes. His blank pearl orbs looked even emptier than usual as he lifted the umbrella over his head in a half hearted attempt to shield himself from the rain.
Today, he couldn’t even find the energy to worry about his hair.
The Hyuuga prodigy walked slowly towards the memorial stone, feet dragging slightly behind. Even in grief he could do nothing but keep up the appearance of indifference. He was a Hyuuga after all. The already dark sky rumbled more, hinting the worst was yet to come.
Many other shinobi as well as civilians were heading to the memorial stone. Clouded pale orbs discerned the figures of Team 7, as well as the remaining members Rookie 9 already gathered at the stone. The mass gathering of people were eerily silent. Neji nodded at the ones he recognized, walking slowly towards the back.
He passed the blonde Yamanaka girl on his way, and he couldn’t help but feel for her, despite his own grief. Ino, who stood near the center, was a mess. Regardless of all the arguments she and Sakura used to have, they had been best friends. Sisters, even. A loud sob tore from the girl’s throat as Neji reached his destination.
A forgotten memory floated to the forefronts of Neji’s mind- a night nearly a year ago when he and Sakura had only started to get close. That night, Sakura had told him with so much excitement, so much love, of her best friend, Ino. She told him the stories of when they were younger- the whole Sasuke debacle, their childish adventures, and brought out the cherished ribbon she kept boxed up. Neji had smiled inwardly then, knowing that nothing could ever break the close bond they shared.
Including death, it seemed.
By now, there were more than a hundred people gathered for the passing of the petite girl. People she had healed in the past, to comrades she’d worked with. Even with more people, the gathering was still deathly silent. The blonde Hokage strode slowly to the center seconds later, traces of drinking and tears evident on her face. Her usually young face had been slipping ever since Sakura’s death. Now, a week later, she looked almost a decade older. She cleared her throat.
Neji tuned her voice out after the first word left the woman’s mouth. He was standing at the very back now, beside the men of team 7. The four men stood in a row. They neither looked at each other, moved, or offered words of condolences towards each other. Each had their own grief to deal with. They knew words were simply not enough.
“...she died honourably...”
Pieces of Tsunade’s speech reached the unmoving Hyuuga, but his mind was already far away, in a place where Haruno Sakura still lived.
-
Two weeks earlier
Dark chestnut hair swayed slightly with the wind as its owner walked through the maze of halls in the Hyuuga compound. Long toned legs brought the infamous prodigy to his destination, the secret storage. For weeks now, he’d debated with himself the outcome of proposing to his girlfriend, and had finally, after much inner turmoil, decided it was time.
The storage was separate from the main store room. Located in an impossible to reach basement room, the storage held many, if not most of the important, priceless Hyuuga heirlooms. A scowl settled itself on Neji’s face as he surveyed the dusty old room. Obviously, the cleaning maids were not allowed here.
Moving in gracefully, long thin fingers sifted through drawer after drawer in search of the set he was looking for. Minutes later, he came across the object of his quest. It was a small wooden box, an intricate design carved on top. Lifting the slid slightly, he was satisfied to find that it was indeed his mother’s old heirlooms.
Kicking the drawer shut, Neji left the room hastily, eager to get away from the dusty place. After spending his whole life holed up in the compound, finding his way around the maze of hallways had become an easy task. The identical hallways no longer fazed the Hyuuga. Reaching his own room in a matter of minutes, he slid the door open, knowing his girlfriend was inside.
“Neji-kun!” she greeted, moving easily from her spot at his desk to hug him. “I hope you don’t mind. I don’t have a lot of formal clothing.” Thin fingers pointed at the simple red yukata she wore, a sheepish grin on her face.
“That’s perfect. It is just dinner with uncle.” In one swift move he closed the door and moved both of them into the simply furnished room he lived in. A double bed sat in one corner, plain white sheets covering the surface and two pillows. Opposite the bed was a simple wooden desk piled sky high with paperwork, a comparatively big window above it. An equally boring end table sat next to the bed, two pictures the only thing on it. One of his genin team, the other of the two of them.
“I’m leaving on a mission tomorrow,” Neji said, picking up a piece of the chocolate Sakura had been munching on. “It won’t take long. I’ll be back in a few days.” And then I’ll propose.
Sakura smiled at him. “Alright. Be careful, as usual.”
“Hn.” As an afterthought, he add quietly “You be careful, too.”
Sakura had laughed then, a melodious sound to his ears, assuring him that no harm would come to her in the hospital.
-
Neji couldn’t help but think that his deceased girlfriend was a wonderful liar. She had after all, lied about the most important thing, even if it was unintentional.
The funeral had passed hours ago. After the initial service, people seemed to gravitate towards him and Team 7, offering their condolences. He had wanted to scream at them then. They weren’t the only ones that were close to Sakura. Was it really necessary for them to come and bother them one by one? But he held on to his facade, nodding politely at their words. But inwardly, he wanted nothing more than to be left alone.
Eventually, the last of the people filed out, leaving only him, Team 7, and the Hokage. Again, no words were exchanged between the five of them, but after time, the other four had filed out, too. They each had jobs to attend to, lives to move on with.
Only Neji remained there, unmoving. He had no idea how long he’d been standing there, but dusk was falling, and he stirred slightly from his position. Dull silver orbs traced the newly carved name on the memorial stone before turning the other way.
He had to begin walking if he wanted to make it before sunset.
He had only been a day late. Twenty-four fucking hours. There were so many what ifs to it. So many if onlys. What if their team had decided to push forward and reach Konoha that night instead of stopping at the inn? What if Sakura hadn’t found the injured chunin? What if she hadn’t decided to play hero and save him? If only one of those things didn’t happen, she would still be alive. If only he’d decided to push forward. They would’ve found her injured body lying in the forest.
If only.
But that wasn’t the way it had worked out. He did decide that his team was too tired, and a slight delay in their journey wouldn’t harm anyone. She did find the injured chunin, and she did send him back to Konoha while she stayed to fight off the enemy nin.
And she did die playing hero.
At one point, he had loved the fact that she always wanted to play hero- always wanted to save everyone, including him. After all, if she didn’t try to save him, didn’t try to play hero with him, he would’ve never given her a second glance. He’d admired the fact that she always persevered and pressed on when everyone else had given up, and she’d saved his life more times than he could remember. And the admiration just grew from there.
Now, he wished she hadn’t been so keen on saving everyone.
He’d joked around one day that it would be the death of her someday, and they’d both laughed then. Now, at her funeral, it wasn’t so funny anymore. Because she did die that way.
That was the version of the story he got from the Hokage when he was called to the hospital upon his arrival back in Konoha. Sakura was already low on chakra when she started fighting, Tsunade had said. It was a painless death; she was dead before she hit the ground. I’m sorry. But he barely heard her. The only thing that registered with him was the corpse of his love.
That had been the last time he saw her beautiful face. Pale, bruised, and bloodied. She would be forever beautiful in his mind.
The soft creaking of the gate brought him back to reality. Carefully, he pushed the beautifully chiselled gate open just enough to allow him to slip through. Rows and rows of tombstones greeted him. It was the only cemetery in Konoha. Both civilians and shinobi were buried there. Slowly, he walked down the worn down path to the back, where the newer graves were.
The sun was setting just beyond the graveyard, casting a soft glow onto the pale white tombstone that bore her name. Neji reached out a hand to touch the grave. Pale fingers traced the name slowly, a lone tear splashing onto the ground in front of it.
He was only human, after all.
Reaching into his Hyuuga robes, he brought out a small, intricately carved wooden box. Bringing the tiny object to his lips, the Hyuuga placed a small kiss on it. Closing his eyes, he placed the tiny box on her fresh grave, casting a jutsu that sealed the box there. Sparing it one last glance, the Hyuuga prodigy walked away from it all, the unspoken words sealed in with the box.
I love you.
Characters: Hyuuga Neji & Haruno Sakura
Prompt: 019. Funeral
Word Count: 1582
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Notes: Written for 33 proposals. Prompt table is here.
-
The rain blew down in currents, drenching the usually sunny village with its watery missiles. Dark gray clouds shielded the sky as the thunder rumbled in the distance; a low roar, sounding almost anguished.
Even the Gods seemed to be mourning the death of Haruno Sakura.
Neji stepped out of Hyuuga compound slowly, clad in plain black Hyuuga robes. His blank pearl orbs looked even emptier than usual as he lifted the umbrella over his head in a half hearted attempt to shield himself from the rain.
Today, he couldn’t even find the energy to worry about his hair.
The Hyuuga prodigy walked slowly towards the memorial stone, feet dragging slightly behind. Even in grief he could do nothing but keep up the appearance of indifference. He was a Hyuuga after all. The already dark sky rumbled more, hinting the worst was yet to come.
Many other shinobi as well as civilians were heading to the memorial stone. Clouded pale orbs discerned the figures of Team 7, as well as the remaining members Rookie 9 already gathered at the stone. The mass gathering of people were eerily silent. Neji nodded at the ones he recognized, walking slowly towards the back.
He passed the blonde Yamanaka girl on his way, and he couldn’t help but feel for her, despite his own grief. Ino, who stood near the center, was a mess. Regardless of all the arguments she and Sakura used to have, they had been best friends. Sisters, even. A loud sob tore from the girl’s throat as Neji reached his destination.
A forgotten memory floated to the forefronts of Neji’s mind- a night nearly a year ago when he and Sakura had only started to get close. That night, Sakura had told him with so much excitement, so much love, of her best friend, Ino. She told him the stories of when they were younger- the whole Sasuke debacle, their childish adventures, and brought out the cherished ribbon she kept boxed up. Neji had smiled inwardly then, knowing that nothing could ever break the close bond they shared.
Including death, it seemed.
By now, there were more than a hundred people gathered for the passing of the petite girl. People she had healed in the past, to comrades she’d worked with. Even with more people, the gathering was still deathly silent. The blonde Hokage strode slowly to the center seconds later, traces of drinking and tears evident on her face. Her usually young face had been slipping ever since Sakura’s death. Now, a week later, she looked almost a decade older. She cleared her throat.
Neji tuned her voice out after the first word left the woman’s mouth. He was standing at the very back now, beside the men of team 7. The four men stood in a row. They neither looked at each other, moved, or offered words of condolences towards each other. Each had their own grief to deal with. They knew words were simply not enough.
“...she died honourably...”
Pieces of Tsunade’s speech reached the unmoving Hyuuga, but his mind was already far away, in a place where Haruno Sakura still lived.
-
Two weeks earlier
Dark chestnut hair swayed slightly with the wind as its owner walked through the maze of halls in the Hyuuga compound. Long toned legs brought the infamous prodigy to his destination, the secret storage. For weeks now, he’d debated with himself the outcome of proposing to his girlfriend, and had finally, after much inner turmoil, decided it was time.
The storage was separate from the main store room. Located in an impossible to reach basement room, the storage held many, if not most of the important, priceless Hyuuga heirlooms. A scowl settled itself on Neji’s face as he surveyed the dusty old room. Obviously, the cleaning maids were not allowed here.
Moving in gracefully, long thin fingers sifted through drawer after drawer in search of the set he was looking for. Minutes later, he came across the object of his quest. It was a small wooden box, an intricate design carved on top. Lifting the slid slightly, he was satisfied to find that it was indeed his mother’s old heirlooms.
Kicking the drawer shut, Neji left the room hastily, eager to get away from the dusty place. After spending his whole life holed up in the compound, finding his way around the maze of hallways had become an easy task. The identical hallways no longer fazed the Hyuuga. Reaching his own room in a matter of minutes, he slid the door open, knowing his girlfriend was inside.
“Neji-kun!” she greeted, moving easily from her spot at his desk to hug him. “I hope you don’t mind. I don’t have a lot of formal clothing.” Thin fingers pointed at the simple red yukata she wore, a sheepish grin on her face.
“That’s perfect. It is just dinner with uncle.” In one swift move he closed the door and moved both of them into the simply furnished room he lived in. A double bed sat in one corner, plain white sheets covering the surface and two pillows. Opposite the bed was a simple wooden desk piled sky high with paperwork, a comparatively big window above it. An equally boring end table sat next to the bed, two pictures the only thing on it. One of his genin team, the other of the two of them.
“I’m leaving on a mission tomorrow,” Neji said, picking up a piece of the chocolate Sakura had been munching on. “It won’t take long. I’ll be back in a few days.” And then I’ll propose.
Sakura smiled at him. “Alright. Be careful, as usual.”
“Hn.” As an afterthought, he add quietly “You be careful, too.”
Sakura had laughed then, a melodious sound to his ears, assuring him that no harm would come to her in the hospital.
-
Neji couldn’t help but think that his deceased girlfriend was a wonderful liar. She had after all, lied about the most important thing, even if it was unintentional.
The funeral had passed hours ago. After the initial service, people seemed to gravitate towards him and Team 7, offering their condolences. He had wanted to scream at them then. They weren’t the only ones that were close to Sakura. Was it really necessary for them to come and bother them one by one? But he held on to his facade, nodding politely at their words. But inwardly, he wanted nothing more than to be left alone.
Eventually, the last of the people filed out, leaving only him, Team 7, and the Hokage. Again, no words were exchanged between the five of them, but after time, the other four had filed out, too. They each had jobs to attend to, lives to move on with.
Only Neji remained there, unmoving. He had no idea how long he’d been standing there, but dusk was falling, and he stirred slightly from his position. Dull silver orbs traced the newly carved name on the memorial stone before turning the other way.
He had to begin walking if he wanted to make it before sunset.
He had only been a day late. Twenty-four fucking hours. There were so many what ifs to it. So many if onlys. What if their team had decided to push forward and reach Konoha that night instead of stopping at the inn? What if Sakura hadn’t found the injured chunin? What if she hadn’t decided to play hero and save him? If only one of those things didn’t happen, she would still be alive. If only he’d decided to push forward. They would’ve found her injured body lying in the forest.
If only.
But that wasn’t the way it had worked out. He did decide that his team was too tired, and a slight delay in their journey wouldn’t harm anyone. She did find the injured chunin, and she did send him back to Konoha while she stayed to fight off the enemy nin.
And she did die playing hero.
At one point, he had loved the fact that she always wanted to play hero- always wanted to save everyone, including him. After all, if she didn’t try to save him, didn’t try to play hero with him, he would’ve never given her a second glance. He’d admired the fact that she always persevered and pressed on when everyone else had given up, and she’d saved his life more times than he could remember. And the admiration just grew from there.
Now, he wished she hadn’t been so keen on saving everyone.
He’d joked around one day that it would be the death of her someday, and they’d both laughed then. Now, at her funeral, it wasn’t so funny anymore. Because she did die that way.
That was the version of the story he got from the Hokage when he was called to the hospital upon his arrival back in Konoha. Sakura was already low on chakra when she started fighting, Tsunade had said. It was a painless death; she was dead before she hit the ground. I’m sorry. But he barely heard her. The only thing that registered with him was the corpse of his love.
That had been the last time he saw her beautiful face. Pale, bruised, and bloodied. She would be forever beautiful in his mind.
The soft creaking of the gate brought him back to reality. Carefully, he pushed the beautifully chiselled gate open just enough to allow him to slip through. Rows and rows of tombstones greeted him. It was the only cemetery in Konoha. Both civilians and shinobi were buried there. Slowly, he walked down the worn down path to the back, where the newer graves were.
The sun was setting just beyond the graveyard, casting a soft glow onto the pale white tombstone that bore her name. Neji reached out a hand to touch the grave. Pale fingers traced the name slowly, a lone tear splashing onto the ground in front of it.
He was only human, after all.
Reaching into his Hyuuga robes, he brought out a small, intricately carved wooden box. Bringing the tiny object to his lips, the Hyuuga placed a small kiss on it. Closing his eyes, he placed the tiny box on her fresh grave, casting a jutsu that sealed the box there. Sparing it one last glance, the Hyuuga prodigy walked away from it all, the unspoken words sealed in with the box.
I love you.