Suna Tanning

Love was skipping about kicking up sand playfully now in her comfort zone and spun about to check on Neji. They had yet to stop since 6 in the morning so she wondered how he was at the moment.

Neji was standing,arms crossed and a frown on.He had not volunteered to play.He wanted to go home and train or go on a mission. He wouldn't speak to her.

Love tilted her head and continued walking but hearing he wasn't following she stopped and stared at him, "Neji is upset. Is it too hot?" She took a step forward to get a better look at him but withdrew that step once she caught his glare. Love scratched her head and edged back a little before asking, "Do you not like sand? I am sorry. I will stop kicking it. I just missed the feeling." She tried walking again but he still did not budge so she stood infront of him and dumped water on him thinking maybe he was too hot to move or in pain or something. She cuffed her chin in thought still distracted by his angry gaze but only continued to try and get him to do something.

"Neji kun?" she said in a smaller voice. She wasn't sure what was going on but she assumed it was her fault so bowed her head, "I am sorry! I will shut up-I-I will stop annoying you and go home by myself-I-I will take you back home if you hate it heres o much-I-I-I will do whatever you want to make you stop-I-I -" she clasped her hands over her mouth and shook her head before starting to walk off again. She seemed as if she were running away in a fast walk and once she was about a mile away from him-sat down with her legs crossed and her head bent.

He rmained in his spot. Waiting for her self punishment to end. He was very hot and even though she threw water at him,he didn't feel any better. "Love get over here now."

Hearing her name but even more importantly-him speak, made her leave the sot at which she sat so she rose and made her way over to him. Once she was close enough she looked not at him but at their feet too bothered to feel she was worth making eye contact with. Her head remained bent down but she held out to him her canteen.

Neji shook his head. He was gettig real tired of her behavior. "Stand up straight. Don't look at the floor like something's wrong with you."he said,very sergeant like.

His sudden change of tone startled her so that her head snapped up. Love was obedient but confused. Why was he so different and why did he now want her actions to hide how she actually felt...She could've swore he was 100% against the ways of the elders who tained her. Well-no matter. He was talking and they were just a few miles away from Suna so if things went well she'd be home shortly.

"I'm ired of you acting this way.Don't take what I say to heart."he said very frustrated.He rubbed his forehead."I'm sorry for being angry at you. It's very impolite of me.But do try to not waste so much time on feeling sorry for yourself."he said and took hold of her arm. "But i swear if you don't show me to those creeps who made you this way,I'm going home alone."

"Creeps? What creeps?" she glanced at his hold on her arm and thought, Sorry for myself? Hn....what act is that? I can only recall being sorry for my actions that have bothered someone else...But I am too afraid to ask him...Oh....

Neji took her to Suna,knowing the way ferom previous adventures there and let go of her arm. "So where are thios people whio trained you?"he asked her,being as calm as possible. he really seemed to have cooledf off on their walk. He didn't seem so angry as before at her.

"Um...the elders? Well they would be in the Kazekage mansion. They usually meet there. Why do you...want to see them?" Love couldn't help but ask and rubbed where he had held her so tightly before looking about. It was cooling down with the sun almost gone.

"So I can make them ask you for forgiveness."he said and he sighed."It's getting late.Dammit."

She strained to keep a frown from marking her face and suggested rather quietly, "We can camp by the oasis for now. I doubt they will be there at this hour." She wasn't sure what he meant by them wanting forgiveness but went along with it so as not to upset him.

Neji agreed so they set up camp and he prepared them something to eat. "I am too tired to eat.You can have both servings "he said and gave her his bowl. He laid on his back and looked at her secretly,hoping she'd eat the food.

Love was eating her bowl rather slowly. Not as hoard like as before. She seemed somewhat bothered but calmer at the same time. She was sitting cross legged with her side to him as she ate. Love's gentle eyes were gazing at the water as the moon rose higher. By the time she was finished with her serving-his was cold. She glanced at him and then at it before standing up. Quietly, she walked over to him and sat beside him. They were after all traveling together. She didn't feel it respectful to appear as if she were avoiding him. Especially with him so tired. She ate it cold or not and then stood up again to stretch.

Neji sat up. "Are you going to sleep as well?"he asked. To him,it was more dangerous to have her awake on her own,due to the fact that he was now camping in Suna.

"Not quite Neji-kun. I must train a little before I take my rest for the day. This will-" she tapped her tummy as if it had gotten out of shape from eating, "-become fat. I need be in tiptop shape. If I show signs of unhealthiness, I am not worthy to take care of my master if I cannot take care of myself."

She slipped out of her shirt and capris so that she was in her bandage wrap and boxer like underwear and walked onto the water with chakra at her feet. Love had strapped 70lbs. to each ankle and began kicking at nothing in particular but made it look as if she were actually fighting someone. They were swift and made carefully. She even did a drop kick that landed carefully enough to end it with a sweep. A barrier of water rose around her from the stroke of her leg and when it fell, she was gone.

In truth, she had sunk into the water. She wanted to do laps underwater to help expand her lung capacity as well as her leg muscles. SHe aimed for 20 laps across and only 4 breaths of air. SHe came out drenched and panting but she looked satisfied. Love laid on the soft ground with her chest heaving and her eyes beginning to give in to her drowsiness.

Neji had watched concentrated on her training technique.He then saw that she had worn herself out and was getting sleepy. He crossed his legs and waited for her to give into the sleep.

Her heavy eyes looked at him. She wondered why he wasn't laying down so she drowsily sat up and hugged her knees before asking, "WHat are you doing Neji kun?"

Neji frowned. "Oh,I'm just making sure you rest.Go ahead and lay down. I don't care. Just be sure to go to sleep."he said.

She tilted her head and asked quietly, "Will Neji-kun go to sleep too?"

"Yes I will,but you have to go to sleep first."he said.

Love laid back down. Her eyes remained open a while, watching him rather curiously but they drooped again till they closed. She was extremely tired from this traveling and she had engaged in some tough training. She only hoped that Neji would not sneak away or do something cruel in her time of rest.

Neji looked at her closely and then rested his eyes while sitting with his knees hugged to his chest.

Love was stiff. Her body was tenser in her sleep than her time of wake it seemed. She was an extremely cautious person. Of course, this was not her first nature. She used to be rather carefree and at peace. No longer was she the girl she appeared to be, pure and innocent. She had taken lives, been abused and beaten and developed a mental stress under this life style she had. Her social efforts prove her disadvantages at leading a normal life which was in truth a dream she stopped believing in.

The night was much colder than the day and Love rose between the hours of 5 and 6 am looking up and at Neji. She slipped on her clothes and put her bag down to jog till it was 7:30 to wake Neji. When she did finish, she came with a small loaf of oven fresh bread and put it in Neji's bag before nudging him with the tip of her foot.

"Neji kun....Neji kun...." she whispered trying to wae him. "....Ne-jiiiiii? Come on. If you want to go see th elders you despise than we must leave now...." her voice was still a hushed whisper.