Author: Jardia
Pairings: NejixHinata, IkuraxKakashi, SasukexSakura
Warnings: Contains shonen-ai (boys falling in love with boys) as well as het (boys falling in love with girls). Hell, I might even add shoujo-ai... so if you have a problem... go away now please.
Notes: Just a little thing I thought up after watching Naruto. New Chapters every Monday. If you like it, please drop a quick review and let me know. If you don't, leave a quick review and let me know why not. I need attention desperately, can you tell?
****
Chapter One - Late Night Musings
"Neji." Tenten's voice was soft as she stepped outside to stand beside him. It was raining, and he'd been standing on the balcony for the last ten minutes, getting soaked. "What is it?" She looked out at the sleeping village. All was dark except for the odd flickering light in a window. In this weather the street lamps could not stay lit.
"She's back." Neji said, his voice equally quiet. His gaze was intense, his body very stiff. He looked ready to jump off the balcony at any moment.
"Who?" Tenten wondered aloud, blinking the rain out of her eyes as she tried to see what he was seeing. But she couldn't see anything at all. There was no movement out there.
"Her." He breathed, and then he suddenly moved, grabbing the railing and jumping off the balcony.
Tenten was able to follow him only briefly with her eyes, and then he was gone. A leaf on a tree he'd passed quivering and then slowly falling to the ground. She sighed, walking back into the house. She had no intention of standing out there soaking herself just to try and figure out what was going on.
It was too cold for her, and besides, it was late and she needed some sleep.
****
It hurt. It always hurt. Hinata placed her hand over her heart, panting softly as she slowly made her way into the village and toward the apartment where she lived with Shino and Kiba. After reaching Chuunin level, the three had decided to move in together. To save on living costs, and because they liked to be close. That's what happened when you spent all your time with certain people. You became attached to them.
This last mission had been a one man mission, and Hinata had agreed to take it because it seemed simple enough. Somehow, though, things had gone wrong. She completed the mission, if only just barely, and now she was injured and she needed to get home so her teammates could help her deal with the injuries.
She stumbled, dropping to her knees. She was so tired. She leaned forward until her forehead hit the muddy earth. She was tempted to stay right where she was. She had wrapped her wounds, so she probably wouldn't bleed to death. Someone would surely find her in the morning. Right?
What would one night out in the rain, laying in the mud, do anyway? It wouldn't kill her.
"Are you hurt?" A rough, anxious voice.
Confused, Hinata raised her head, trying to see who was speaking to her. But her vision was so fuzzy all she could see was a black form standing in front of her. A form that was kneeling now.
Hands touched her face, "My lady? Are you all right?"
Hinata had no energy to respond. She must be dreaming after all. He wouldn't be here. He wouldn't be helping her or talking to her so kindly. She closed her eyes, listening to that voice calling her name anxiously and just before the darkness so kindly wrapped around her she thought she heard her name.
"Hinata!"
****
"I don't like it." Iruka said under his breath. He was laying in bed, blankets pulled up to his chin, glowering at the ceiling.
Beside him, Hatake Kikashi sighed heavily. He had been listening to Iruka toss, turn and grumble all night, and quite frankly he was growing tired of it. "All right, Umi . . . " He growled, "Either tell me what is bugging your butt, or shut up so I can sleep."
Iruka sighed heavily, "Naruto. Sasuke. Sakura. I don't like it."
"What about it don't you like?" Kakashi murmured irritably.
"Sasuke and Sakura are together now, but Naruto has loved her for a long time. He's been withdrawing more and more every day, hiding from the reality he doesn't want to face. And I don't like it."
Kakashi groaned, rolling over and sliding his arm around Iruka's waist, "Umi . . . they're not little kids anymore. You have to let them figure out their problems on their own."
"But Hata-"
"No buts. It's the truth. You know it. Now shut up, stop worrying, and get some sleep."
Iruka glowered at Kakashi, before nodding and closing his eyes. They lay in silence for some time, before he shifted, placing his hands over Kakashi's arm, "I just don't like to see Naruto hurting." He whispered.
"Naruto's strong. He'll bounce back just fine." "I'm not so sure."
"Don't underestimate him, Umi. You're not doing him any favors when you think he's a fool who can't handle his own heart."
"I didn't say that!"
"You didn't need to."
The silence this time was tense, for Iruka at least. Kakashi was too tired to worry if he'd offended his young lover. He knew Iruka well enough, by now, to recognize that Iruka was being over protective. Iruka was always overprotective of Naruto.
It was kind of sweet, how Iruka saw Naruto as his child, but at times it could be annoying as well. Naruto had just turned nineteen. He was no baby. He'd seen more than Iruka ever had at that age, and in many ways he understood his heart better than most kids his age.
"I'm just worried about him." Iruka sighed heavily.
"We'll ask him to stay with us for a few days, all right, Umi?"
Iruka nodded, "Yeah . . . we'll do that."
"Good. Now sleep."
"I-" Kakashi slapped his hand over Iruka's mouth.
Iruka struggled for a moment, then gave up. He shot Kakashi a glare, then closed his eyes and sighed heavily.
Kakashi waited until he was certain Iruka was sleeping, then he took his hand off Iruka's mouth and let it rest on Iruka's chest instead.
He wasn't worried about Naruto himself. Young hearts got broken. That was life. No body had ever died of a broken heart, at least, not anyone like Naruto. In reality Kakashi was more concerned for Sakura than he was for Naruto, because the girl was in the black books of every eligible female in the village. Sasuke had been a female favorite for some time now, and his being claimed by Sakura was something every girl knew.
Kakashi kissed Iruka's cheek, smiling and shaking his head. Great.
Now Iruka was sleeping peacefully and he was the one awake and thinking too much. He was tempted to wake Iruka up, but he didn't want to hear more about poor Naruto. Poor, suffering Naruto. Obviously Iruka hadn't noticed that Naruto was gay, or that Naruto had never really loved Sakura. Oh well. He'd figure it out when they went out to find Naruto and ask him over.
****
"Hey Shino . . . "
"Hm?"
"You know what today is?"
"Hm?"
"Last day we'll have alone . . . Hinata will be back tomorrow."
"Hm?"
Kiba sighed, moving off his chair and walking across the room. He dropped to his knees beside Shino's chair, "Last night of privacy, Shino." Kiba said pointedly, waiting for his dense lover to realize what he was hinting at.
Shino smirked, and even though the collar of his jacket hid the lower half of his face, Kiba knew Shino was smirking. "Brat." Kiba grumbled, leaning close.
Shino reached up, running his fingers through Kiba's short, rough brown hair. "You talk too much, Kiba." He said quietly.
"Yeah, but that's why you love me." Kiba grinned.
Their lips were just a breath apart, when there was a loud banging at the door, "Aburame! Inuzaka! Hurry!" A voice shouted from behind the door.
Kiba swore, jumping to his feet and moving to the door. He swung it open, "What the. ! ? Hinata!"
In the doorway stood Hyuga Neji and in his arms was Hinata. They were both soaking wet, and Hinata was out cold. "What the hell did you do to her!?" Kiba snapped, immediately taking Hinata out of Neji's grasp.
Neji gave her up willingly enough, and before Kiba could press him further the dark man was gone. Swearing under his breath, Kiba kicked the door closed and hurried to the bedroom, "Shino! Grab the med kit!" He shouted on his way.
Hinata's wounds were not life threatening, really the rain was more of a threat than anything else. Together Shino and Kiba stripped her and treated her various cuts and bruises, then, while Kiba was wrapping her leg, where the worst damage was, Shino ran the bath water.
Hinata woke as Kiba carried her into the bathroom and gently lay her in the tub. She shivered as the warmth surrounded her, "Ki . . . ba?"
"Yeah. It's me, babe. Just relax." Kiba said gently, patting her on the head.
She sighed and leaned back until her head hit the wall. "Not cold." She muttered.
"Like hell you're not." Kiba snorted, "So . . . mission didn't go well?" He added in a softer tone.
"It was fine." Hinata slid down until she was completely submerged, only her head sticking out of the water. The heat felt so good.
"Yeah right. That's why you look like shit."
Hinata laughed a little, then closed her eyes. She was really tired. She realized that she'd passed out back there, but she didn't care. She was safe now, so what did it matter? "How'd I get here?" She asked curiously.
There had been a man. A dark figure. She had thought, for a moment, it was Hyuga Neji, but he hated her. No way would he carry her across town to her apartment.
"You walked, I imagine . . . or do you mean here to the apartment? Actually, Neji carried you here." Kiba rubbed the back of his head, "When did you run into him?"
But Hinata had slipped back into sleep. Kiba sighed, shaking his head. He noticed a small bug crawling up the side of the tub and turned to see Shino standing in the doorway. "You're carrying her back to the bed!"
Shino just shook his head slowly, "Is it bad?"
"Nah. She's had worse." Kiba shrugged, "She'll probably have one hell of a cold in the morning though," he snickered, "serves her right for hanging out in the rain."
****
Naruto woke with a pained cry. He sat up, burying his head in his hands, panting for air. The dream again. The dream where the demon fox finally won. Where it's careful cage broke and it ate Naruto's soul. He'd been having the dream every night for the last week, and he was tired of it.
He dropped back onto the bed, glowering at the ceiling, "Dammit." He snapped under his breath.
The demon fox would never take control of him. It just wouldn't happen. He wouldn't let it. So what was with the dreams? Dreams were supposed to be a reflection of your subconscious fears, right? But he wasn't afraid of that happening.
He didn't want to dwell on it. It was hard not to. What else could he think about? Naruto chewed on his bottom lip. He could think about Sasuke and Sakura, but that irritated him just as much as thoughts of the demon fox. So that was a no go.
Ramen noodles.
Yeah. He'd think about ramen noodles. He loved ramen noodles. They were juicy and warm. They slipped all the way down to your stomach, like a fat worm. Oh yeah, that was appetizing. Maybe he'd better think about something other than food, because thinking about noodles was making him hungry.
Iruka and Kakashi. Now that had been a surprise. He'd never suspected a thing, but last week he'd come home from a mission early and walked in on Kakashi and Iruka making out in Iruka's living room.
He'd nearly died on the spot. Actually, he remembered screaming and running around like an idiot. Kakashi had smacked him in the head, and then calmly explained that what he'd seen was none of his damn business and he'd better not tell anyone about it.
Who would Naruto tell? He didn't really know many people that he trusted. Sasuke, Sakura, Iruka, Kakashi and . . . well, that was it. And right now he wasn't talking to Sasuke or Sakura and what was he going to do? Run up to Iruka and cry; 'Guess what? I saw Iruka and Kakashi kissing!'... Yeah. Right. That was a good idea.
Naruto slowly closed his eyes. He was starting to feel tired already. His lips tilted in a small smile. He must be boring himself to sleep. Not surprising, somehow. He had been a bit boring lately. Moping around, thinking about nightmares and lost love.
What he needed was something exciting and new.
Yeah.
Like a new enemy to battle with, or maybe a new rival.
With a great yawn Naruto rolled onto his side and fell right back into sleep. This time it was blissfully dreamless.
****
"Neji . . . you're wet."
Neji ignored her comment, walking past his friend and up the stairs to his room. Tenten sighed, shaking her head. She and Neji had been dating for the last three months, and living together for two, and yet she still didn't understand him. Sometimes she wondered why she stayed with him.
They really weren't very suited, and he refused to open up to her. She sighed, dropping onto the couch and running a hand through her hair. She'd stick around. Maybe he'd learn to open up. She did like him. She wouldn't give up on him.
She could hear the shower, and she closed her eyes. //C'mon Neji . . . don't hide from me. Please.//
****
"Pfft . . . well . . . she's asleep." Kiba sighed, dropping onto the couch and yawning.
Shino sat beside him, quiet as ever. Kiba didn't mind Shino's silence though, he'd learnt how to read Shino though his actions instead of his words. "Bizarre night, eh? Who would've thought we'd open the door and find none other than Hyuga Neji with our Hina."
"Hm." Shino responded, quite predictably.
"Geez . . . I wonder . . . I didn't think he liked her at all. In fact, before tonight, I would have said that given this situation he would have left her out there. Walked right on by."
"Hm."
"I wonder what's up with that?"
"I don't think he ever hated Hinata." Shino said quietly, "He hated what she stood for, but not her."
"You could've fooled me. He nearly killed her that time."
"He held back. Until the end. He warned her, as well, not to fight."
"He's a bastard!"
"You don't know him."
"Why are you standing up for him anyway!?" Kiba, at this point, was shouting.
"You judge too harshly, Kiba." Shino got to his feet and he walked calmly toward the stairs.
"Wait a minute! I'm yelling at you! Get back here!" "You will wake the dead, Kiba. I am going to sleep." Shino walked up the stairs, not looking back at Kiba, who was fuming.
Kiba had always had a short temper, especially when it came to protecting his friends. He sat on the couch, grumbling under his breath about Shino not knowing what was coming and going.
****
Hinata Hyuga. Neji had liked her from a very young age. The first time he saw her really. When most boy's his age were disgusted by little girls, he had thought Hinata was cute. And at first he had been happy to protect her. Then his father had died and everything changed. His anger and hatred for the Hyuga main family grew to the point that he hated even Hinata.
Sweet, innocent Hinata who hadn't done anything to him. At first his anger had taken form merely in resenting her from afar, but then the day of the Chuunin preliminaries came. That day he would never forget. He would have killed her that day, if the referee hadn't stopped the match. As it was, he injured her so badly she nearly did die.
That day changed everything for him. After Hiashi had spoken to him, and given him the letter from his father, Neji had begun to see things differently and his hatred, the hatred that had blinded him so long, slowly began to fade.
But it was too late. Even if he had changed, Hinata was too scared of him to even look at him.
He loved her. In some ways he always had. He recognized, though, that she would never forgive him for what he'd done. How could she? He didn't blame her in the least. All he could do was protect her from afar and hope that one day she would be happy.
The only problem was . . .
He didn't know if he could stand watching her fall in love with someone other than him.
****
End Chapter One