Love Beyond This Life

@ momentai.
(It's alright, no worries. Was\is everything okay?)

Ryo could hardly contain his excitement as he dressed himself in his stealth mission clothes, packed a light bag of supplies like binoculars and a camera and rushed to go get Aki--he would have gotten Katsu first but he wasn't sure if Katsu really wanted to tag along and Aki would know.

---

Neji sighed as he listened to his sister in the next room over rush around getting herself ready. If he were honest, he wasn't sure to be happy or concerned about Haruta's weakness of Iruka-sensei. He knew one thing for certain, that Iruka-Sensei made his sister happy even if he did also pose as a weakness. So, Neji decided he would be happy for her in this moment because the relationship between the two old squad mates was and always had been completely platonic.

---

Haruta had decided to wear her her usual, just without her green flak Leaf Village vest and her hair was down. As she looked in the mirror at herself Haruta laughed, she looked just as she did when they were all still Genin, though of course her body had grown her eyes still had the same glow they did back then. (See page 5 of our PMs for image) Haruta wished she could take off her headband for once but the pale green curse mark of the Hyuga Branch family kept her headband on. She didn't like the looks she would undoubtedly get so unless she was in the house Haruta kept her forehead covered. With a parting glance at her reflection Haruta headed out to go find Iruka.

(I really don't remember. xD I don't think so, but who knows with my memory?)

Iruka stuffed his hands into his pockets before he made his way out of his home. Glancing around, he wondered if he should go find Haruta at her home, though he figured she would probably be looking for him, too - so it was likely that they would run into each other half-way. With that thought in mind, he figured it was what would be best and he went ahead to make his way to her home.

---

Aki blinked at hearing a knock at her door. Glancing towards it, she figured it was probably Ryo, but when she opened it, she found Katsu instead - and he looked just as prepared for the entire thing as she was. "Oh, so you're joining us?" she asked with a grin. "It's either that or let you two have all the fun," was Katsu's reply, which only made Aki's grin broaden. The two easily figured that Ryo would probably show up soon, so they just chatted while they waited.

@ momentai.
(Haha alright then)

Ryo took his time getting to Aki's house, he figured Haruta-sensei would be taking her grand old time getting herself ready to go on a date with Irika-sensei. When he finally got there he lazily knocked on the door and shouted out a cheery and excited, "Game on! Let's get this super secret mission started!"

---

Haruta felt a little silly as she walked, she was unusually excited to go out to eat with Iruka. After she got to the main pathway that rimmed the outermost part of her property that lead to both other Clan homes and the village she activated her Byakugan and scanned lazily to see if Iruka was around. When she found him not twenty paces ahead of her behind the framing treelike an idea to surprise him popped into her head so she lept easily up into the treetop and eagerly waited for him. In some ways, Haruta hadn't changed from her days as a Genin and in others she was unrecognizable.

[Neji will be back within the next few posts]

(No rush with Neji's return~)

Iruka let his eyes lazily scan the area ahead of him as he walked. He wasn't entirely sure what to expect for the meal he would be having with Haruta, but he was genuinely hopeful that things would go well. It had been a while since the two had caught up with one another, for one. And, on the other hand, he just wanted to spend time with Haruta, so he was looking forward to this much more than he had originally anticipated.

---

Aki had to refrain from slamming her hand against Ryo's mouth when she opened the door. "Yeah, it won't be a secret for long if you keep making so much noise," she hummed out before looking back towards Katsu. "Well, since we're all here, how about we go find our targets, hm?" Katsu merely offered a nod in response before the two looked to Ryo, figuring he would be the one leading the way.

@ momentai.

Ryo sent an annoyed frown in Ali's direction, half listened to his two squad mates chatter before he animatedly pointed forward, "Onward to the pathway leading the Haruta-sensei's Clan's homes." He didn't wait for them to respond before he raced forward, sticking to the outside of the path through the village so they made it there in record time. Ryo quickly grew completely silent and motioned with his fiver ahead of them, Iruka could be seen walking alone.

---

Haruta waited and waited for Iruka to turn the corner and walk right into the little surprise she had set up but she had forgotten just how slow a walker Iruka could be. While she waited, crouched in the tree with her hair blowing against her cheeks in te faint breeze memories of the two of them and their late squad mate and squad leader. They brought a small nostalgic, wistful smile to her lips as Ituka finally came into veiw. Haruta mentally counted to three before she lept down, arms wide and perfectly positioned to land on Iruka's back, "Heads up, Iruka!!"

Iruka had only barely heard Haruta's warning before he felt her land on him, forcing him to fall face-first to the ground. "Ouch," he muttered as he tried to wiggle his way out from underneath of her. It didn't seem possible, though. It wasn't that she was heavy - because she wasn't, - but a part of him was actually unmotivated to get away from her. Not that he would ever admit that, especially aloud to her. That would probably make things awkward, for sure. "You couldn't have given me a quicker warning?"

---

Aki rolled her eyes slightly in response to Ryo's hyperness, but she followed the boy nonetheless, as did Katsu. Once they stopped and Ryo pointed out where to look, they watched silently and, admittedly, they were caught off guard by the sudden sight of Haruta-sensei dropping down on Iruka. Neither of them spoke, but their surprise was clear on their features.

@ momentai.

Ryo saw the surprise on his squad mates faces and knew for sure that they mirrored his own surprise, he hadn't known Haruta-Sensei to be all that into playing jokes to scare and surprise people. He watched with sudden focus as Iruka made half an attempt at getting her off of him after he are the dirt. He whispered his note to the other two. "He doesn't want her off of him, he could totally push her off in a second, she's not even trying anymore." Ryo then watched as Haruta stood up, honestly looking more radiant than usual as he saw happiness and laughter glimmer in her eyes as she held a hand over her mouth.

---

Haruta covered her mouth to stifle the intense round if laughter that was spilling out from between her fingers at the sight of Iruka in the dirt. It was a sight all too familiar in the memory's eye. She extended her hand to him though, after she regained control, and helped him up. "Geez, Iruka, you've been spending too much time in the classroom haven't you?" She instantly noticed though, just how much dirt he had picked up and she began to dust her fingers lightly over his chest, shoulders and arms to get it off. When she reached his face, where a little dirt rested on his cheek her touch unconsciously turned incredibly gentle and kind. "You're off your game, my friend," she spoke softly but with her usual smile.

Iruka hadn't even bothered to try to dust himself off since Haruta had started on it herself. Besides, it was nice to actually watch how careful and diligent she was in getting the dirt off of him. He noticed that she grew gentler when she came to his face, but he assumed that it was because she didn't want to brush against his skin too hard and leave a bruise or something along the lines of that. Still, he kept his attention focused on her, a slight smile forming on his features as he watched her. "Yeah, well, I'm surprised to see that you're just as childlike as you used to be," he teased lightly, though there was a bit of fondness in his tone at the realization.

---

Aki watched the two quietly, ignoring Ryo's comment for the time being. She couldn't help but notice how the motion had slowed when Haruta-sensei had begun brushing dust off Iruka's face and she smiled slightly to herself. "She really likes him," she murmured quietly, though her attention focused on the way Iruka looked at Haruta-sensei. It was the type of look that any girl would want to receive from a guy they liked, she noted, but she wasn't sure if Haruta would see it. "And he likes her," Katsu chimed in quietly, having noticed the same thing Aki had.

@ momentai.

Ryo watched in an eager silence, he was so caught up in watching he almost missing hearing Aki and Katsu's comments. He whispered softly back to them, "I'm surprised they don't know how the other feels. Even a blind man could see it."

---

Haruta smiled fondly to Iruka's comment, he was right in many ways she really was still childish and immature. "I'd rather be childish than boring," she said with laughter playing in her eyes. When she finally finished getting the dirt off of him, Haruta couldn't help but let her fingers linger on his cheek just a little while longer before she finally forced herself to let them drop, though she didn't take a step back. "It's not my fault you're the boring one now," she teased as she adjusted her headband and dusted her own self off.

---

Neji left the house a little after sister had, he had his own errands to run in the Village and even though he had more than enough time to kill, he had nothing better to do. So, naturally when he came across his sister and Iruka up ahead standing close together on the wide path and Haruta's three students hiding in the bushes, he became a little curious. He left up into the overhanging tree branches and made his way over to the hiding students silently. He got to them soon enough to catch the end of Ryo's whispered comment. Neji snuck himself on the end of their little scouting line beside Aki and whispered, "Even a blind man could see what exacty?"

Iruka arched an eyebrow in curiosity as he watched her. "I'm the boring one?" he asked with surprise. "I thought you had become the strict sensei. I think that would make you the boring one here, Haruta." He smiled slightly, his tone light and teasing, though he was mostly only teasing her to keep himself distracted from his surprising disappointment when she had pulled her hand away and stepped away from him. He was pretty good at keeping things like that bottled up, so he offered a grin. "So, what are we going to eat tonight, anyways?" He was paying, after all; he might as well let her decide where they went to eat.

---

Aki had only just opened her mouth to respond to Ryo's words when she heard Neji and she nearly yelped in surprise. She quickly covered her mouth to avoid that, though, and she turned to glare - slightly jokingly - at him before grinning and rolling her eyes. Gesturing towards the two senseis, she explained in a quiet whisper, "That those two are clearly attracted to each other. It's almost painful to watch them both be so oblivious and I'm honestly a little envious of it all." Maybe she should have kept that last bit to herself, but she wasn't very good at keeping her thoughts to herself, anyways.

@ momentai.
(sorry that this took so long, my hands started hurting and i needed to wait for the anti-inflammatorys to kick in(: )

Haruta scoffed at his comment about her becoming a strict sensei, she was only strict for her students' well-being and when she needed to be. It was her purpose to not only protect them when in danger on missions or if something were to happen at home, but she also had to ensure that when it came time, they could each stand on their own. However, before she could really respond he moved on and her attention snapped back to focus solely on him. "Hm, well let me think..." Haruta spoke in a little bit of a softer tone and mentally continued, So long as you're beside me, it doesn't matter where we are. "We could go to the barbecue place like we used to with the rest of the team, or we could keep it simple and go get ramen, or go somewhere new together?" The memories of a younger version of herself and of Iruka spending time together with their late sensei and third squad mate brought a nostalgic but slightly sad smile to her face. "So long as your paying, it doesn't matter to me where we go."

---

Neji sighed and smiled in that all-knowing way he usually did, "Ah, so you guys see it too." He shifted his weight so he was comfortably crouched down at their levels and as a result ended up leaning a little closer to Aki than before. In a whisper Neji continued, "It's been this way since my sister skipped grades back in the Academy and first met Iruka-sensei, and that was many years ago. The two of them have history, they became Genin and Chunin together, they went on countless missions together, trained together, laughed together and grieved together when they lost the other two members of their squad." Neji's eyes turned soft as he remembered seeing his sister's pain fight to get out from hiding within her eyes when it had all happened. Haruta and Neji from a young age were told time and time again that needed to stay strong, that Shinobi couldn't afford to be emotional... But Haruta had always been driven by her emotions. His sister and cousin, Hinata had that in common. Neji turned his soft eyes to the closest person to him, Aki, and whispered again, "I can't think of anything they haven't done together up until Haruta became a Jonin and was assigned you guys a while ago."

(Are you alright? D:)

Iruka thought over her words for a long moment. Part of him wasn't too sure about going to the old barbecue place; so many memories were there and he wasn't sure if either of them could withstand all of that. But, then, he reminded himself that both himself and Haruta were stronger now than they used to be and that, even if the memories haunted them, they could rely on each other and, hopefully, get past it. So, with a smile, he nodded. "Sure, let's go there," he decided quietly, "It'd be nice to visit there after so long, after all." Plus, their old squad mate and sensei wouldn't want them to dwell on the past. It was best to look forward, to the future, and hope for the best. "I'm sure the chef there still remembers us, too." He grinned at that; they used to always frequent the place. He wouldn't be surprised if the chef still remembered their favorites - he used to always have a meal ready for them as soon as he heard they were back from a mission, since it was usually the first place they went to upon returning.

---

Aki listened quietly to Neji, her gaze falling on him instead of darting back towards the two senseis. Silently, she wondered how painful it would be to go through something like that, to lose people that helped protect you and that you helped to protect as well, people that were as close as family - or, for some, even closer. "They must miss spending so much time together," she murmured lightly before returning her attention to Haruta and Iruka. "I can't imagine what it would be like to lose a squad mate or even a sensei." She didn't even want to think about losing either of her best friends or Haruta-sensei; even though it wasn't reality, just the thought was painful enough. She couldn't imagine what the other two were going through or how they had gotten past it all.

@ momentai.
(Yeah I'm alright, it just hurts when the medicine wears off and I have to wait for the next batch to kick in... And it slows down my typing no matter what which is super annoying.)

Haruta smiled and laughed at Iruka's comment about the chef, "I'd be surprised if he did because it's been so long, by we were there all of the time so who knows." The two of them turned and began walking slowly and as they began the miniature journey of walking side by side to the restaurant from the pathway leading to her Clan home like they had countless times before... This time felt different. Unlike the other times, Haruta felt an overwhleming desire to hold Iruka's hand or loop her arm around his, but she didn't know how she'd even begin to explain herself to him. The pace was turtle slow but each step without being able to hold Iruka's hand or arm felt like some kind of twisted emotional agony. Haruta didn't even realize she was blushing or that her eyes kept noticeably darting over to Iruka's face during their shirt but otherwise comfortable silence.

---

Neji kept his eyes on Aki when she spoke and his eyes turned even softer at her confession, "It's very, very hard, but it's something that a Shinobi must understand will happen. It's something you can't prepare for--."

Ryo elbowed Neji and cut him off with a curt whisper, "Look, look. They're starting to leave... Wait, what's wrong with Haruta-Sensei?"

Neji's eye quickly clicked over to look at his sister and her comrade, her face was slowly turning a shade of red that was only known to mean one thing. It was another trait Haruta shared with Hinata, "She's nervous from being around him."

Ryo raised his brows, "Really? I didn't know Haruta-Sensei even got nervous.."

(Ouch! I'm sorry. D: )

Iruka grinned at the mention of it and he turned his attention ahead as they walked. Every now and then, he was certain that he could see Haruta glancing at him, but when he looked over, her attention was elsewhere. It confused him a bit, but he tried not to think about it. It was only when he noticed the slight blush on her features that his curiosity piqued and he arched an eyebrow in curiosity. "Are you alright, Haruta?" he asked with concern. He hadn't ever seen her with a tint of red or pink color to her features and he wondered if something was bothering her. Maybe she was feeling over-heated - because he found it hard to believe that she was actually blushing.

---

"And here I thought you were the lady's man, Ryo," Aki hummed out, "I would expect you to know what that kind of face means." She smirked slightly, mostly teasing her friend, but her eyes remained focused on Haruta and Iruka as they walked.

They wouldn't be able to follow them just yet; there wasn't enough foliage to hide behind and they'd have to keep a lot of distance between themselves and the senseis. "We'll have to stick to the bushes to follow them. If we lose them, we'll leave it to Neji to find them with his Byakugan," she decided, looking to Neji before blinking, "If that's okay with you, I mean."

Katsu had since fallen silent, mostly because Neji had joined them. He had nothing against Neji, just like he had nothing against Iruka-sensei; he just preferred not to talk around people that he didn't know well.

@ momentai.

Time and time again Iruka almost caught Haruta staring at him but what threw her off was when he asked if she was alright. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Haruta faintly noticed the warmth she felt on her cheeks, which only worsened when he asked if she was alright. Could he tell how she felt after all of this time? No, no of course he couldn't, she told herself as Iruka's beautiful brown eyes still studies her. Iruka was about as clueless as they came. It was no wonder her squadmate had grown to have such a bond with her brother's comrade/rival and Iruka's old student, Naruto Uzumaki. The two of them were clueless together.

---

Neji was surprised to hear that Aki was eager and ready to involve him in the plans to spy on his sister and their sensei. He wasn't sure it was such a good idea, especially to waste what would likely turn into the rest of his night spying rather than training, but he found himself contemplating it anyway. Neji pursed his lips a little, if they were caught he needed a slightly valid excuse to explain what it was the four of them had been doing. "Alright," he finally whispered as Haruta and Iruka walked further away. "I'm assigning you three a training mission under my command."

Ryo looked at Neji in complete confusion, "Since when can you even do that?"

Neji ignored the pale purple haired boy's comment and let his eyes rotate between the three students before him. " "Aki Himura, Katsu Ueno and Ryo Nobuyuki, your mission is a surveillance and intelligence training mission. You are to track and mentally record the evening about to unfold between Haruta Hyuga and Iruka Umino. Do you accept this training mission?" Ryo, having finally caught onto the little game and excuse Neji was letting onto, let a wicked grin fill his impish face as he accepted the training mission. The four of them were in for some fun--assuming they didn't get caught.

Iruka eyed her carefully, though he wasn't entirely sure if she was being truthful with him. He never really could tell when Haruta was being honest or when she was hiding things from him, something that hadn't changed at all, apparently. Regardless, he offered a slight nod, managing a small smile. "If you're sure," he decided before turning his attention ahead. "You would tell me if something were wrong, though, wouldn't you?" He hoped she would. They were close enough to be honest with each other when something was bothering them, weren't they?

---

Aki almost laughed at how ridiculous it seemed for them to consider this as an actual mission - even though it was clearly just an excuse in case they got caught. "Gee, Neji, when did you end up getting so mischievous?" she asked with a slight smirk before she lifted her shoulders in a shrug. Her attention went to Haruta and Iruka, watching as the two wandered off. "Alright, count me in."

Katsu wasn't so sure about the entire thing. He wasn't quite fond of the possibility of getting caught and punished by their sensei, even with a liable excuse. But, one pleading look from Aki made him cave and he let out a sigh and nodded, offering little more of a response.

@ momentai.
(Sorry, had a little bit of excitement writing Haruta's entry this time haha)

Haruta playfully elbowed Iruka with a laugh and her blush faded to a manageable pink tint, "Oh, stop worrying Iruka, I'm fine." Haruta fell easily into step with him as they kept moving forward first to the village center and finally to the restaurant. As she moved alongside him Haruta couldn't help but think about and admire the man Iruka had become. She had liked him when he was a kid alongside her, as knuckle headed as he may have been. She had grown fond of him when they spent many years as a team together under the leadership of their fallen Sensei. She had even grown to have a love for him, slowly and then suddenly in a breath, when he stood by her side in her darkest of days. Haruta loved Iruka as much as she loved her own family, and as much as she was growing to love her three fledgling students. "But yes," she softly whispered and looked up into his eyes as they mirrored the other in step. "Of course I would tell you."

---

Neji laughed softly at the green-haired girl's comment, "Since I opened my eyes to living." He stood up then, certain that Haruta and Iruka were far enough and distracted enough not to turn around. "Alright, we'll stay together, I don't know exactly where they're headed but our best bet is to follow from multiple meters away while I watch with my Byakugan for now."

Instantly Ryo frowned and harshly whispered, "Aw come on, that's no fun for us!"

Neji shrugged, "You wanted my help, you got it. I'm not willing to get caught easily. Now, let's move but stick to the trees for now." With that, Neji lept up into the overhanging branches that Haruta had previously jumped out of in her surprise attack on Iruka.

(No worries!)

Iruka couldn't help but to smile at her words and he nodded in approval. "Good," he decided, turning his attention to her for a moment before looking back ahead. He didn't want to get caught staring at her, to be honest. And who could blame him? He had been attracted to her for ages, she was gorgeous, but he didn't want to embarrass himself - not that he hadn't done that on occasion, anyways, just under different circumstances. "Considering how close we were, I'd feel terrible if you couldn't trust me with things like that."

---

Aki had to stifle a laugh because Ryo's reaction was fairly amusing. Her friend was clearly excited and it made things all the more fun. Following after Neji, she watched him for a moment, taking in his features. It surprised her how calm he looked about spying on his sister - but, then, he might have his own reasons for it. "I'm surprised you agreed to this so easily," she mentioned casually, ignoring the roll of the eyes Katsu aimed at her.

@ momentai.

Haruta could feel Iruka's gaze burning on her skin like sunlight on a summer day, and it made her feel lighter than air every time he looked at her, thinking she didn't notice or hadn't secretly caught him. "Do you?" She slowly turned her solid lilac colored eyes to gaze upon him. "Do you trust me?" Haruta secretly hoped he did, if he didn't than she was a failure at their roles as the last two alive from their original Academy-assigned squad. Haruta would also be a failure in the friendship the two of them had, though she wished it would become more than only friendship.

---

Neji let himself chuckle at the girl's comment and the quiet boy's eye roll in response to it. "I have my reasons, Aki," he simply said. Neji's mind thought back on all of the times he had teased Haruta about her repressed feelings for Iruka-sensei. He was sad for her in a way, since he knew she'd never tell him how she felt unless he told her first, and Neji knew Iruka-sensei was too blind to see the love that always radiated off of Haruta everytime she even thought about the guy. It could be nauseating fro Neji, seeing his sister so love-struck for a man he wasn't sure could protect her if she needed protecting--which he doubted she ever would-- he wanted to be sure she'd be in good hands. Haruta was the only sister he had, and he knew how amazing she could be. He saw a little bit of her in each of her students even though Haruta denied it every time he brought it up.

Iruka wondered if Haruta thought that he didn't trust her, if that was why the sudden question had arisen. If that was the case, it was the furthest from the truth and it made him wonder if he had given her any sign of any possible distrust between them. Offering a slight smile, he let out a sigh. "Of course I trust you, Haruta," he assured her with a slow nod, his attention never leaving his former squad mate as he spoke. "You're the person that I trust the most out of everybody that I know, you should know that. Even if we haven't been around each other in so long or spent time with each other lately, you shouldn't ever forget that, okay?"

---

Aki was surprised to hear Neji's chuckle, even more so than she had been surprised with the fact that he had agreed to help them. "Ah, of course you have your own agenda," she drawled lazily, "Of course you wouldn't want to do this just because it's fun." Maybe she shouldn't really be too surprised by it, though. Shrugging the thought aside, she turned her attention ahead.