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The sun had long dipped beneath the horizon, leaving behind a dusky sky dusted with stars and the soft shimmer of the moon. The air had grown colder now, laced with the faint scent of earth and dew. And still… Neji moved with unwavering precision.
You sat quietly on a tree stump, legs aching, arms heavy from your earlier rounds of training, yet your eyes never left him. You’d finished long ago, your body long surrendered to fatigue, but Neji… he kept going.
Hours had passed. Morning faded into afternoon, afternoon into evening, and evening slipped seamlessly into night.
Yet he remained. Striking. Shifting. Steady.
He was beautiful in motion. Controlled, focused, unrelenting.
Finally, Neji paused.
His stance loosened. The tension in his shoulders loosened just slightly as he stepped toward you, sweat dampened strands of hair clinging to his face.
His breath rose in faint clouds, melting into the cold night air. His pale eyes softened the moment they met yours.
“Thank you for accompanying me today,” he said softly, his voice a low murmur in the stillness. “I’m finished for now. Shall I walk you home?”
You smiled gently, your fingers brushing against his as you handed him the cup you’d kept beside you. The water inside was cool, gathered from the stream just before sunset.
“You should’ve taken a break earlier,” you murmured, your tone half-chiding, half fond. “Even prodigies need rest.”
Neji accepted the cup, his fingers lingering on yours for a moment, just a second too long to be accidental.
“Only when someone insists on waiting for me,” he replied, taking a small sip of the cup.
You stood, gathering your things and slinging your small bag over your shoulder. The cold bit at your skin, sharp and lingering, you were ready—and honestly even eager, to finally head home.
“It’s freezing. Let’s go?” you asked, voice hushed under the quiet of the night.
Neji nodded wordlessly, then gently took your hand in his, his fingers threading through yours with quiet care. He began guiding you through the winding streets, the gravel crunching softly beneath your steps.
You leaned into his side for warmth as the wind brushed past your face.
“Your hands are so cold, Neji…” you murmured, a puff of breath rising in the chill. “Are you sure you’re okay with walking me home?”
He glanced at you, noticing the way you pressed closer. A gentle smile touched his lips as he gave your hand a light squeeze.
“I told you,” he said softly, “I don’t mind. I want to make sure you get home safely.”
You hummed in response, resting your head lightly against his shoulder as you walked the last stretch in silence, sharing the stillness between you.
When you reached your doorstep, you turned to face him.
“Neji…” you whispered, eyes flicking over his face.
“Don’t you want to come inside?” you asked, your voice laced with concern. “It’s too late… and you look exhausted.”
He looked paler than usual. Worn, cold, tired. You could definitely tell, even though he didn’t show it.
He stayed quiet for a moment, eyes fixed on yours. He knew you were right. It was late, and the cold had long sunk into his bones. And despite his usual composure, he could tell you’d noticed the weariness he tried to hide.
But still… he hesitated.
The elders would disapprove. So would his uncle, Hiashi. Spending the night in a woman’s home—no matter how innocent—would be frowned upon. And yet…
“I…”
He paused.
He’d be lying if he said he didn’t want to come in.
He had been to your house before—yes—but only during the day, always under the silent rules of propriety that had been drilled into him since childhood. The conservative traditions of the Hyuuga clan still echoed in the back of his mind, their expectations clinging to him like a second skin.
“Please?” you asked again, more softly this time, your fingers crossed behind your back in a silent wish. “My parents aren’t home,” you added in a quiet attempt to reassure him.
Even now, with the cool night air curling around you both, he could still hear those voices warning him to never cross certain lines.
But ever since he’d been with you, he’d begun unlearning those boundaries.. Slowly, carefully, deliberately. Loving you had changed something in him. Challenged something. And while part of him still hesitated… the other part, the part that chose you, was louder tonight.
He looked at you for a long moment before letting out a quiet sigh. The tension in his shoulders eased just a little.
“…Okay,” he murmured, almost under his breath.
You smiled, a warm, content smile that lit up your face, and turned to unlock the door. Stepping aside, you motioned for him to enter.
The warmth of your home enveloped you both immediately. Compared to the night air outside, it felt like stepping into a haven. Cozy. Safe. Familiar.
You flicked on the lights, the soft golden glow filling the room. Kicking off your shoes, you turned to close the door behind you, shutting out the cold once and for all.
Neji quietly looked around the living room, taking in the space. Warm lighting, soft colors, the subtle scent of something familiar lingering in the air. It was… nice. Comforting, even.
“Please don’t mind the mess…” you said gently, stepping closer.
Your hands reached toward him with careful intent, settling lightly at his waist. You were testing the waters, waiting for any sign of discomfort or resistance. But when he didn’t move—didn’t pull away—you leaned in, slowly wrapping your arms around him from behind. Your head came to rest against his shoulder, and the quiet rise and fall of his chest met your calm presence.
He tensed at first—just slightly—as your arms encircled him. But then, little by little, you felt the stiffness melt away. As your head rested against his shoulder, he let his eyes fall shut for a moment…
“How about I prepare a shower for you?” you murmured softly.
“That… that would be nice,” he gave a small nod, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Alright,” you replied, pressing a gentle kiss to his shoulder before releasing him from your embrace.
Turning, you made your way upstairs, glancing back only once to make sure he was following. He trailed behind you quietly, almost cautiously, and you opened the door to your room, gesturing for him to sit.
Neji lowered himself onto the edge of your bed, his hands resting in his lap as he waited.
Meanwhile, you stepped into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Hot water spilled from the faucet, filling the room with steam that curled along the tiles and fogged the mirror in thick, swirling clouds.
You peeked your head out from behind the bathroom door and motioned toward him. “It’s ready,” you said gently.
He gave a silent nod in response, rising from the edge of your bed. When he entered the bathroom, the heat enveloped him almost instantly. Even without stepping in, he could already feel the warmth creeping into his skin, soothing the chill he hadn’t realized he still carried.
You stood near the door, hands fidgeting behind your back as you stared at your feet, cheeks growing warm.
“So…” you began quietly, the words sticking to your tongue. “Can I join you?”
His eyes widened slightly, catching the blush that colored your face. He could tell you were nervous—it wasn’t something you asked normally. And for a moment, he just stood there, caught in the silence that followed.
He didn’t know what to say.
He wanted to say yes, of course he did.
He wanted to feel your warmth next to his, to share a moment of closeness that neither of you had ever dared to ask for before. But that quiet voice in the back of his mind—the one shaped by tradition, by duty, by everything the clan had drilled in him—urged him to say no.
It would be inappropriate. You weren’t married. If the clan ever found out…
But then again… No one would.
By this point, he was too cold and tired to even care about this.
And more importantly, you were the one who asked.
His heart thudded softly in his chest, and he realized just how close you had grown to him. Close enough to challenge everything he’d once believed was unshakable.
“…Actually, forget it—” you said abruptly, backing away slightly after the long silence.
He immediately felt a pang of guilt for staying quiet too long, and before he could stop himself, his hand reached out, gently catching your wrist.
“No… no, I—” he began, voice low, breathless. “You… you can join me. If you want.”
His eyes met yours, soft and hesitant. There was no pressure in his voice, just quiet sincerity.
“Are you sure?” you asked, your voice gentle, wanting to be absolutely certain you weren’t pushing him past his comfort zone.
He nodded, a little more firmly this time.
“I’m sure.”
You let out a small breath of relief and nodded in return. “Alright then.”
He watched you with a quiet stillness, trying to remain composed. But his heart thudded harder as you moved, and a part of him still whispered that this was a line he never thought he’d cross.
Still… it was you. And it was warm in here. And he was tired of freezing in the rules he’d been raised to obey.
Firstly he untied his Hitai-ate, then he slowly began to unbutton his shirt, fingers trembling just slightly. The fabric slid off his shoulders and dropped to the floor, forgotten.
“I’m so cold and dirty,” you said, starting to undress beside him. “Thank god you agreed… I wasn’t going to be able to stand feeling like this for much longer.”
He glanced over at you, his eyes softening. Not out of lust, but quiet affection. You didn’t say it to provoke him, and he didn’t hear it that way either. It was honest. Human. Real.
And something about sharing that vulnerability with you made him feel… okay.
“And here I thought I was the only one in dire need of a shower,” he said with a soft sigh, finishing undressing.
“We’re both tired—and stinky,” you replied with a quiet laugh, stepping into the shower. A soft, contented sigh escaped your lips as the hot water poured over your skin, easing the stiffness in your muscles.
He followed you in moments later, letting out his own quiet sigh as the warmth enveloped him. After the long hours of training, it felt like a blessing.
“It feels good, doesn’t it?” he asked with a hum, closing his eyes as the steady stream beat against his back.
“Mhm,” you nodded, your voice soft. “Especially with you here.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He wasn’t always good with words, but your presence always made his emotions feel clearer and easier.
“I’d have to agree with that,” he said gently, stepping closer.
He wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you into him. His fingers traced slow, feather-light lines along your back, grounding both of you in the warmth of the moment.
You leaned into his embrace, sighing softly as you rested your head against his shoulder.
“I love you…” you whispered against his skin.
He pressed a soft kiss to your forehead, holding you tighter.
“I love you too,” he murmured into your hair. The water poured over you both, but all he could feel was your body against his, the steady beat of your heart, and the growing warmth blooming in his chest.
For once, nothing else mattered.
Just you.
After a long, quiet moment, you both loosened the embrace and began washing yourselves.
“Let me…” you offered softly, reaching for the shampoo.
He blinked in surprise, but the tiredness in his limbs and the sincerity in your eyes made him nod, despite the flicker of shyness in his expression.
“All right… if you insist,” he said, a trace of reluctance in his voice.
He closed his eyes and tilted his head slightly, allowing you to reach him. Standing on your tiptoes, you began massaging his scalp with care, your fingers working the shampoo into his hair.
He let out a quiet sigh, the tension melting from his face as he leaned slightly into your touch. He could feel the effort it took you to reach him, how close your body was to his, and he didn’t mind at all. If anything, he cherished it.
You rinsed the shampoo out and reached for the conditioner, your movements gentle and patient. Then, grabbing the soap, you began to scrub his back and shoulders, taking your time.
The feeling of the soap gliding across his skin, your hands moving with such tenderness, made his breathing slow and steady. Beneath your touch, you could feel the tension lingering in his muscles, the stiffness earned from hours of unrelenting training.
With quiet care, you worked your hands over him, trying your best to loosen any knots or tightness you found. Every motion was thoughtful, filled with the kind of love that spoke louder than words.
He hadn’t realized just how much he needed this—you.
Not just your affection, but your presence.
Someone who saw past the surface.
Someone who stayed.
Someone who loved him enough to care for him in the quiet moments. The ones that felt small to the world, but meant everything to him.
And in the warmth of the water, in the silence shared between you, he felt something deeper than peace.
He felt home.
He reluctantly opened his eyes as the last traces of soap and conditioner rinsed from his skin. The warm water still poured down around both of you, but the fatigue was beginning to catch up to him. Even so, his gaze found yours, filled with a mixture of exhaustion and deep, quiet contentment.
“Thank you… that felt really nice,” he murmured, his voice still low and soft. He leaned down slightly, brushing his lips gently against your lips in a tender kiss.
“It’s nothing, really,” you replied with a small smile, though your body was still untouched by soap, a bit of lingering dirt and sweat from training clinging to your skin.
He noticed.
Of course he noticed.
And without needing to be asked, he knew what he wanted to do next.
“Let me return the favor,” he said gently, taking the soap into his hands.
You nodded, a soft “mmkay…” escaping your lips as you shifted slightly to give him space.
He began to wash you carefully, running the soap across your arms and shoulders with slow, deliberate movements. His touch was steady—gentle—but not hesitant. He was learning to love with his hands as much as with his heart, and this was one of the few ways he knew how to show it.
His fingers massaged the knots from your back, trailing down your spine with reverent care, as if he were memorizing every inch of you.
There was no rush in his motions, no urgency, just quiet devotion.
He washed your hair with the same gentle care, fingers threading through your strands as he worked the shampoo in slow, soothing circles. His touch never rushed, just tender, and focused entirely on you.
Once you’d both rinsed off and finished, you stepped out of the bathroom together, the warm air of your bedroom a welcome contrast to the steam behind you.
You handed him a set of clothes—ones he had left behind once before—and he accepted them with a small nod.
He began to get dressed, slipping on the familiar garments. They felt comfortable against his skin, faintly carrying your scent. That small detail settled something deep in his chest.
He glanced over as you pulled on your pajamas, soft, and comfortable. A small, unguarded smile formed on his lips.
Neji sat on the edge of the bed, taking your brush into his hand as he began to untangle his damp hair. Each stroke careful as he worked through the knots with patience.
You watched him in silence for a moment, eyes soft with admiration. Once he was finished, he turned his head toward you, wordlessly asking a question with his eyes.
You understood.
Without saying a word, you moved to sit on the edge of the bed as well.
He shifted closer, positioning himself behind you. Then, with the same gentleness he showed himself, he began brushing your hair. Slow, deliberate strokes that never tugged, only soothed. His fingers were light, careful, like you were something fragile. Something worth protecting.
When he was done, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to your shoulder.
You smiled and stood up.
“Hungry?” you asked. “Stay here. I’ll bring something for us to eat.”
He nodded quietly and climbed further into your bed, pulling the covers over his legs as he waited.
In the kitchen, you heated two warm bowls of soup and poured tea into two mugs. The smell filled the air. You carried everything back to your room and sat beside him on the soft bed, draping your heavy, warm blanket over the two of you.
The window was foggy now, a sharp contrast between the coldness of the streets of Konoha to the cozy warmth filling the room.
You handed him the food and reached for the remote, turning on the TV. You flipped through the channels before landing on something you could both watch to while eating.
Before picking up your spoon, you leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
Right on top of the curse mark.
“Thank you, Neji…” you murmured softly, your lips lingering for just a second longer than usual.
And on that cold, quiet night, sitting side by side, wrapped in warmth and each other’s presence.. Nothing else mattered.
Just you.
Just him.
And the love that lived quietly, deeply, between you.