Mad World

AN: Yay! The sequel to Tears in the Rain is here. I had wanted it out by Valentine's Day, but I was busy planning my baby's birthday and goofing off on WoW (and working on some other fics too...).

Anyhoo, Naruto and it's characters are not mine, and this is a work of love, not profit.

Chapter One

The party was going along swimmingly and it's host, Hyuga Hiashi smiled warmly at his guests as they filed in for the main event, the banquet prepared by the most renowned chefs in the city.

His youngest daughter sat down by his side and he nodded towards his eldest who bowed and took her leave to inform the waiters to begin serving the food.

A perfect occasion, not a thing was going wrong. Even the Uchiha detective seemed a slight bit pleased with the proceedings, and Hiashi briefly wondered if he was only here because of the threatening letters the Hyuga Corporation's president had been receiving lately.

He shook his head, best not to think of such matters. And it certainly didn't help that the detective had pointed out there wasn't much the police could do on this matter unless something happened.

The servers started passing out the appetizers and Hiashi made small talk with the guest next to him, despite the threats, the dinner was going very well.

Or was until the gunshot sounded and there was an intense pain in his shoulder.

Itachi had already jumped up, speaking on his wireless device to whoever he had brought with him as a back-up... Hiashi didn't even realize that the detective had brought anyone with him. Hanabi stared at the blood coming from her father's shoulder with wide white eyes.

He didn't need to look over at Hinata to know she had fainted.


Gaara chewed his pencil as he worked on the math problems on the work book lying open in front of him before sighing in exasperation and rising angrily up from the desk.

"Your homework isn't going to do itself," Neji said from his spot on the couch where he was reading a worn out mystery novel.

"I just need a break," the red-head said as he went to the kitchen and opened the fridge, "Want anything?"

"Not right now," a smile played on his lips as he considered teasing his roommate with what he actually did want, But then he never would finish his work. And those exams are going to be coming up soon.

A few months had passed since Gaara had appeared on Neji's doorstep following the attempt on his life... which was after the gruesome death of a runaway that had befriended the red-haired boy. The two were now trying to prepare him for college, which meant passing some graduation exams, something Gaara was perfectly prepared for.

Until he took the math portion, and failed miserably. Luckily he was able to get into some remedial classes to prepare him for the next time the exams were given.

And Neji was trying very, very hard not to tempt Gaara with any distractions until he did pass. And aside from the occasional odd case that his agency had gotten, he was doing a relatively good job.

A poke at his shoulder broke his thoughts and he put his book down to see Gaara staring at him with his teal eyes, "Let's take a real study break."

"What do you propose?" Neji asked as he sat up.

There was no answer, or at least no audible answer as the boy leaned forward and licked Neji's lips gently before reaching a hand behind his head, interlacing his fingers in the long brown hair. Neji pulled Gaara to his lap and opened his mouth as he traced a hand around the red-head's waist and up the back of his shirt.

A knock on the door interrupted them and they broke apart, both inwardly cursing as Neji straightened himself up and went to see who would be disturbing them at this hour. Gaara went back to his desk, trying to concentrate on the problems.

The door opened and the brunet's white eyes widened at who stood there.

Hinata sniffed and embraced him, "Cousin! I'm so glad to see you... I really need your help!"


"How long have the threatening letters been coming?" Neji asked as he poured some more tea for his cousin.

"About three weeks now. I was worried about them, but Father said he had gotten the like before... and that's true... but these..." her voice faltered, "They were a bit more personal than the usual. It kept saying something along the lines of there was this great big secret Father knew and that he should die for it."

"Do you know if Uncle has any secrets like that? Anything that could harm the business?" Neji sipped his tea and ignored the look Gaara was giving him.

"Well... no," Hinata wrung her hands, "Father has always been very forthright in his affairs... and except for the..." she stared at Neji and stammered over her words, "...death of Uncle... I can't think of anything negative..."

"I doubt my father's death or my avoidance of the family has to do with this," Neji said quietly and placed his cup down, "Are you in a position to give full access to my agency should I decide to take this case?"

"Um... only on the personal affairs. You'll have to ask Hanabi for access to the business files since she's the one taking over his company." she smiled, "So you'll help me find out who's trying to hurt Father?"

"I'll take care of it, don't worry," he promised, as he helped her up and led her out to the door, "You said Itachi was at the banquet as well?"

She nodded, "He has the letters. Father gave those to him almost as soon as it happened." she hugged him, "Thank you so much Neji."

"Don't mention it. I'll call him right away," she wiped her eyes and left and he closed the door.

"Are you really alright with this?" Gaara asked as the red-head walked behind Neji and wrapped his arms around him.

He took a deep breath and turned towards the boy, tilting his chin up, "I'll be fine," he sighed, "I was bound to deal with them sooner or later."


"Well, regardless of whether or not she was being paranoid, she still hired my services," Neji said into the phone then listened for a moment, "Look Hanabi... I just want to know what Uncle was working on that might make him be in danger. I don't care about the financial affairs of the company." he rubbed his temple briefly and turned back to the phone, "Because I have my own money. I don't care for yours... yes... just any recent activities... No I won't be making anything public... Yes I have heard, congratulations... thank you very much." he hung up the phone and banged his head against the wall that it was hooked on.

"How'd it go?" Gaara asked, "Tenten's got permission?"

"She does, but I think my younger cousin just took a few years off of my life," Neji groaned, "I had almost forgotten why I hate dealing with my family."

Gaara fingered the dark silver feather pendant, sans listening device, that hung around his neck as he watched the brunet look through the notes that Itachi had brought over a little while ago, "Any ideas yet?"

White eyes narrowed, "It seems whoever wrote these didn't want Uncle taking on the political career he had been planning, but I can't figure out anything else from these. There's a vague reference to a secret he had, but..." he sighed, "I'll just have to wait and see what the personal and business files show us," he turned to Gaara and gave him a slight smile, "It's getting late... did you finish that math work?"

"It took me forever, but it's done," he licked his lips as Neji got up from the desk and walked over towards him.

But the Hyuga only gently brushed his fingers against his cheek, as he kissed Gaara's forehead. "Let's get some sleep." He walked down the hall to his room, leaving the boy staring after him in a mixture of frustration and worry.

It already seemed like this particular case had opened up wounds long thought healed over.