Title: Fate
Author: creepycrawly
Rating: PG
Pairing: NejiKankurou
Warnings: Yaoi. Mentions of sexual situations.
Disclaimer: Ha. I no own.
Summary: Neji resists his fate, at first.
"I refuse to be a glorified broodmare for this clan!" Neji roared, seething as he glared at his uncle.
Hiashi watched him, face impassive. "Neji," he said finally, his voice cool, "you will marry for the advancement of your bloodline. It is expected of you, after all. You know this."
"Knowing it and accepting it are two separate things all together," Neji spat.
"You will marry Takahashi Rukia," Hiashi said calmly, as if there would be no more debating the topic.
Neji's frown deepened, and then swept away, leaving his face as calm and as impassive as ever. Without saying a word to his uncle, he turned and left.
Kankurou frowned. "That's awful," he whispered. "How can he just order you to marry someone?"
"I'm Branch House," Neji sighed by way of explanation. "He can order me to do anything." Despondent, he curled against his tanned lover, one pale hand snaking up to rub at the exposed mark on his brow.
Gently taking his arm, Kankurou tugged his hand back down, and then curled so that the younger jounin could snuggle against his chest better. Nights in the desert were bitterly, bitingly cold, and he left the window open to allow his lover access to his very-protected room. With a heavy sigh, the puppeteer began stroking through the silken black fall of Neji's hair.
"I don't want some woman doing this," he said suddenly, cupping Neji's skull in one hand. "I don't want some woman stroking your hair, or caressing your cheeks, or feeling your body lying beneath her."
Neji stared up at him, pale eyes hopeful but guarded.
Feeling a sob rising in his throat, Kankurou continued. "I don't want some woman hearing your heart race beneath her cheek. I don't want her to feel your blood pounding in your veins when your hands are trapped over your head. I don't want her to taste your lips. I don't want her to have you!"
He kissed Neji savagely, tears falling down his freckled cheeks. "Unfortunately," he choked, "I don't know how to stop her."
"Sometimes," Neji sighed, staring out and up at the moon with a sad smile and empty eyes, "you can't. Sometimes…it's just… fate."