AN: Okay, so I'm kinda obsessed with Naruto right now. And the Labyrinth is kinda one of my favorite movies ever, not to mention the soundtrack is awesome! So I figured, why not combine the two things? Yay! GAARA/NEJI LABYRINTH FANFIC!!! You know you love it! And I recently edited this a little, so if you're reading it again, and it seems different, don't worry, your sanity is still intact.

Summary: This is the story of the Labyrinth told with Gaara and Neji. Gaara must solve the labyrinth and rescue his baby brother while brushing off the advances of a gorgeous, brunette elf-prince. The big problem is that if Gaara fails the labyrinth, he has to stay with said prince; Neji, forever.

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Warning: mild language, shounen ai, and eventually yaoi.

The beginning's a bit slow, but Neji's in the second half of this chappie, and I tried to make him awesome as possible! So read & review & enjoy!

It's only forever

It's not long at all

Lost and lonely…

"Stop hogging the ball, Kiba! Throw it!" I yelled.

Kiba moved to throw me the football, but stopped halfway as a rumble of thunder rolled through the sky. I groaned in annoyance as it started to rain. I looked up at the dark gray clouds as raindrops pelted me in the face.

"Dammit," I mumbled. "There's goes our game."

"How troublesome..." Shikamaru said, taking off his jacket and holding it over his head.

Kiba scooped Akamaru up in his arms and started running off. "I'll see you guys tomorrow!"

Everyone else in the group followed suit, racing home as quickly as possible. It was noticeably darker than it was earlier. We'd been out there for such a long time. Wait…I hurriedly checked my watch.

"It's already 7 O'clock!?! Shit, I'm so late!"

Without another glance around the field, I took off running through the rain.

No one can blame you

For walking away

But too much rejection, nah nah

No love injection, nah nah

Life can be easy

It's not always swell

Don't tell me truth hurts little boy

Cause it hurts like hell

My greeting at the house was my upset stepmother, Andrea. I stepped through the door, nonchalantly wringing water out of my shirt.

"Gaara, you're late and you're soaked," she said irritably.

"Thanks for caring," I said sarcastically.

She sighed. "Gaara, your father and I go out rarely, and it's hard to find a babysitter. We don't ask you to do this often, so can you please be here on time when we ask you? We have reservations, and it's such a disappointment to miss them."

"Sorry, I'll try not to be a disappointment."

"Gaara, that's not what I-"

"Forget it, I got it; I'll watch the kid."

"Your little brother."

"My half brother."

Andrea was silent after that comment. Maybe that one cut too deep. She sighed, and I heard the click of high-heels as she waked to the kitchen. Well, the truth did cut deep.

I went to my room and locked the door. I peeled off my wet shirt and threw it in the hamper. There was a loud knock at the door.

"Gaara!?!"

My father.

"I'm changing!" I shouted back.

"Were you rude to your mother?"

"No. I was rude to Andrea," I replied, stressing her name.

My father sighed. "Treat her with the respect she deserves, will you? It's not that bad, is it?"

I didn't answer, but changed silently into a new shirt.

"Just…take care of Toby, alright?"

"I know. Don't worry. I've got it all under control."

My dad seemed satisfied with my answer. "Okay, good. We'll be back around midnight. Don't stay up too late."

"I know, dad. See ya."

I heard my father walk down the hall and staircase. There was the clack of high heels and the sound of the front door opening and closing. I sighed. Finally; some peace.

(An hour later)

There was no peace. No. Fucking. Peace. I pressed my face harder into the pillow. Why wouldn't anything muffle that never ending crying. Stupid baby!

"I can't take it!" I shouted. I leapt from my bed and strode to the baby's room, throwing the door open. I walked to the crib and leaned on the bars. I scowled at the howling infant.

"What am I? A fucking girl?" I hissed. "This shouldn't be my job."

Ever since Temari and Kankuro moved away for college I'd been stuck with all their chores as well as mine.

But the baby, obviously oblivious to the unfairness of my situation, continued to wail.

I rolled my eyes in irritation. "C'mere you little monster."

I lifted the crying baby under the arms and held him at eye level. But a smell rose to my nostrils and I crinkled his nose, pulling back until the baby was at arms length.

"And you piss yourself too. Filthy thing. I'm not changing you."

I dropped the baby back in the crib with a plop, making it cry harder.

"Oh shut up. I've had it. I'm ready to wish you away to the fucking goblins."

I smirked mirthlessly to myself.

"Hn. Imaginary creatures. I really am losing it. But I'm sure you'd fit right in."

I snorted and turned to leave the room and the still frightened child. "For all it's actually worth…I really wish the goblins would come and take you away."

I left the room and started down the hall to my room. But then a strange thought hit me. The baby wasn't crying. I felt a pang of fear and raced back to the room, throwing the door open. The large window was ajar, the curtains fluttering in the breeze. I turned to the crib; empty. My eyes widened.

"What the hell?"

Suddenly a white blur flew from the window at me, screeching and flapping.

"Ow! Fuck! Ow! Get the hell off!" I yelled, waving my arms.

I shielded my face, and thankfully, the little demon finally gave me a rest. I glanced at the ground, unwilling to remove my hands from my head. I saw the shadow of an owl, sitting in the windowsill, but then it began to grow, until it was the shape of a man. Shocked, I looked up, but the face of the person surprised me and I fell over. I looked up to find myself staring into the pale eyes of the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. His silky, brown hair fell gracefully over his shoulders, and he carried himself with a dignity that reminded me of royalty. But he was strange; he had pointed ears like an elf and his clothes were a far cry from normal. He actually did look like royalty. I don't know how long I stared at him with my jaw hanging open, but after some time he smirked.

"You okay, honey?" he asked in a patronizing voice.

I jumped up. "Who the hell are you?" I snarled, raising my fists.

"Temper, temper," he said silkily. "You're a fiery one."

He took a step towards me, and I took one back. I looked tough and angry, but on the inside I was scared out of my mind.

He raised an eyebrow. I ignored it.

"Where's my brother?"

"You sent him there. You should know."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"The Labyrinth, of course. The goblins took him away, just like you requested."

"Give him back," I demanded flatly.

"No."

I scowled. "Why the hell not?"

"For one, you use such foul language. It's not becoming on you."

I rolled my eyes. "Is that all? I'm a teenager. I can curse all I want."

"And secondly, it's the rules."

"The rules? Who's rules?"

He didn't answer. I growled a little. I unclenched my fists that had unknowingly to me, fallen at my side. "Who are you?" I asked calmly.

"Neji of the Underground."

I snorted. "Ho-kay. Tell me this, are you…human?"

He chuckled a little, and the light sound was unearthly. "Of course not. I'm a fairy. Well, actually an elf, but that's simply a sub-race. I'm a prince."

Oh god…there's a fucking Lord of the Rings lunatic in my room.

"What planet did you fall from?"

"I'm not lying."

"And I should believe this because...? You expect me to believe that you're actually an...elf?"

"No, these ears are fake," he said sarcastically.

"Okay…what do you want?"

"I'm here so you can simply thank me," he said proudly.

This guy had to be kidding. "I didn't mean it! I want my brother back now. I didn't want you to take him."

The little smile on Neji's face dissolved. He frowned a little, but it came out as a pout. "Hmph. Well, you're hard to please. I do what you want, and then you're ungrateful and don't thank me."

I sighed. "No - I didn't - it's not that I'm ungrateful that you tried…to do something nice for me, but you took my baby brother. You took a living kid; that's kidnapping. You can't do that, that's wrong! And I didn't mean it-"

"You shouldn't say things you don't mean," he said flatly, arms folded over his chest.

I wanted to yell at him. Who the hell was this stranger to judge me? But he obviously had some kind of power that was beyond me, not to mention a superiority issue.

"Try asking nicely," he said with a smirk.

I closed my eyes briefly and opened them, controlling my urge to kill. "Can you please give him back to me?" I pleaded. "I would really, really appreciate it."

He pretended to think for a minute and smiled. "Sorry, no can do."

I nearly fell over. "What?" I yelled. "You just told me to ask nicely!!!"

He held up a finger. "But I never said I'd give him back. I just wanted to see if you were capable of manners."

"Oh c'mon! Don't be an ass! You can't break into someone's house and jerk them around like that!"

Neji chuckled. "I didn't. You invited me in when you asked for the goblins to take your little brother; Toby, away."

I scowled. "More stupid rules?"

"No, just rules. You know, you haven't called Toby by his name once. You call him 'brother', but you don't truly feel that way, do you? Do you really want him back?"

I looked at the ground. "Yes, I do," I said softly.

He sighed; a breathy noise that sounded more like a breeze than an exhale. "Alright, Gaara. I like you. I'll give a chance to get your brother back."

I raised my head quickly. He was finally listening. "Really?"

"Yes. I can't give him back to you. But I will give you a chance to retrieve him." He waved his hand, and a clock with 13 numbers appeared. He looked at me. "You have 13 hours to solve the labyrinth and find your brother."

Labyrinth? How do I get there?"

Neji snapped his fingers and in the time of one blink, we were somewhere else.

"What the…"

I looked at him in shock. "How did you do that?"

He smirked. "I told you; I'm an elf. It's magic."

"Whatever. I'll believe anything at this point."

We were on the edge of a hill. I didn't know where.

"Look," he said, pointing.

I followed the direction of his arm and looked down the hill to see a massive labyrinth twisting this way and that. My jaw dropped. It was impossibly huge. How could he expect me to solve it?

"How can I find my way through that?"

"I know, it is a difficult task. You're brother's located at the center of the labyrinth in the tower."

I rubbed my forehead. "Dad's gonna butcher me when he gets home tonight."

I started down the hill, but the sound of Neji's voice stopped me. "Nah ah ah," he said lightly. "Aren't you forgetting something, Gaara?"

Without turning around I asked, "What?"

"There's another rule."

I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth. "What is it this time?"

I heard Neji walk up behind me.

"If you should fail to solve the labyrinth, you switch places with your brother. He goes back home safe and sound, and you have to stay here with me."

He whispered the last part in my ear, giving me goose bumps.

"Make your decision carefully."

I swallowed. I could turn around right now and walk away, and not have to deal with any of this. Maybe it was all just a dream. But…Toby was taken because of me. It was my fault. Could I really leave him to suffer because of my mistake? I desperately wanted to think 'yes, yes I can'. But I couldn't bring myself to do so. It was wrong to consider it at all.

I took a shaky breath. "I'll do it."

"You surprise me Gaara. You didn't take the easy way out. I'm impressed."

"Are there any more retarded rules I should know about before starting?" I asked cooly.

I felt Neji's slender fingers lift up my chin and turn my head towards his face. "Nope. And if everything goes according to plan, in 13 hours you'll be mine."

He smiled. "Happy hunting."

And in a poof of smoke, he was gone.

What the hell had I gotten myself into?

Okay, I've had half of this on my laptop for about a month, so I'd thought I'd finish it up and post it. But this is it for a bit. (ooh, rhyming) What'd you think? Please tell me, review!