Finally, part 2 of the Kiss a Ninja series. I am so happy it's finally starting.

Thank you everyone for your support with the first part, as well as my other fics. You know who you are, and to you I am forever grateful. Thank you!

My only concern is how often I'll be able to update since I suddenly find myself having a social life. Yippee! But I love writing too and I'll do my best not to dally too long between chapters.

Just like the first part, this is already written and done, but I know full well that I'll be improving and changing things in this second draft. I did MAJOR changes to the second draft of Falling that I could not help. The same will happen here. Believe me, it's for the best. I wrote the series years ago. I've gotten much better at writing.

Warning: Just like the first part, this one is basically smut with romance and angst thrown in. It was, like all the other parts, written purely for my own perverse enjoyment and was not meant for anybody else's eyes. Until now. ENJOY!

This chapter is rated M (16 and above). For now. Muahaha!

Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one. But Gaara owns my heart T-T

CHAPTER 1: Wind and Sand

Gaara sat at his Kazekage's desk, sighing mutely at the uneventful day. His biggest problem with uneventful periods of time was always the flurry of thoughts that plagued him, most of them unwelcome. His future and success as a leader were worrisome enough an issue, but his more pressing predicament involved his sister and her constant attempts to get him a girlfriend.

She was so irritatingly happy with the shadow nin from Konoha that she believed everyone should follow the same example. "You need to get laid, little brother," she had informed him dryly a few days ago. "I know a few girls who might suit your mood, and most of them are more than willing to jump you."

He didn't like the idea. Nor did he wish to be bothered with a relationship of any kind when he had the full job of running his village and insuring its safety. True, he'd never been with anyone intimately, and had only been kissed twice. Admittedly, his second, full-throttle kiss with Naruto was only experimental, yet satisfyingly pleasurable. Especially since his blond friend had given him his first orgasm afterwards.

Still, his first kiss was the one that haunted him most and more deeply. The accidental lip-lock he'd experienced not so long ago with the pale and –in his inexpert opinion- handsome Huuga had scrambled his brain in an unusual and unprecedented fashion. Perhaps the contact being his first had been the reason for this feeling so gob smacked afterwards; first times were often unsettling and memorable.

The fact that both experiences involved males did not bother him at all. He'd witnessed his brother admitting partners of both genders into his room prior to a noisy night of passionate exclamations. Gaara figured that gender simply did not matter when it came to attraction and sexual pleasure. At least not to his brother, and probably not to him either.

Yet he found that he had an aversion to sexual relations with either gender simply for the sake of sexual release the way his brother did. He itched to feel release again, but his own hand did not invite at all.

And so, he took some relief in the hectic days and busy nights, and often felt the need to curse Naruto for opening this unpredictable door to his sexuality that made uneventful days such as this so very unattractive.

Gaara looked up at the knock at his door. A Sand shinobi entered and bowed, before straightening and handing him a small, rolled up note.

"This arrived from the village of Konoha, Kage-sama. They're sending a group of their nins to teach the classes you requested," the nin said firmly, head bowed. "They'll be arriving later today or tomorrow, as the weather permits."

Gaara nodded with a brief thanks, and the nin exited quietly, leaving the Sand leader to open the note. He skimmed the detailed message containing niceties and confirming the reasons for the visit, his eyes zeroing in on the names of the four Leaf ninjas sent for the job: Tenten, Lee, Neji, Gai…

Huuga Neji was coming, he thought, wondering at the strange cosmic forces responsible for the odd coincidence. When he'd come up with the idea of a sort of transfer classes where the young genin were taught by teachers from ally villages for around three weeks, he had not expected an elite nin such as Neji to be part of it; the one person Gaara yearned most to meet again.

He wondered is the Huuga might find the assignment a burden after what had transpired between them. The kiss might have started as accidental, but the Huuga had lingered over him just a little longer than was accidentally possible, and Gaara had move his own lips experimentally under his, which was not the least accidental.

Neji had leapt away quickly enough after that even while Gaara had discovered his first spark of desire and was willing to continue his exploration; the redhead was nothing if not morbidly curious.

They had both acted like nothing had happened until they parted ways, but Neji had felt his lips tingle from the contact long after he arrived home.

The towering, rocky gateway of Suna was splendid and intimidating, the group of Sand ninjas guarding its entrance making it more so. Their Jounin team leader had insisted to the Hokage that she pick their team for the public relations assignment. For that, Neji was not grateful, to say the least.

There were far more pressing issues a Jounin like himself and Lee were better off handling. Teaching small children –of any village- was a ridiculous waste of their expertise and talent. What their team leader and former trainer had been thinking to suggest such a thing, the Huuga will never know. Not that the random act was in any way beyond the older man. But selecting three Jounin-level ninjas?

Tenten was a fair choice, as would have been Kiba, Hinata and Chouji, all of whom were Chuunin still. Ino might not appreciate parting with her heavyset boyfriend and teammate, but putting up with her complaints was preferable to placing three high-ranking nins on such a weak assignment. C level at best! And he was being generous. Neji hadn't gone on a mission below B level in a couple of years, and he didn't wish to now.

That travesty aside, Neji didn't look forward to meeting the red-headed Kazekage. Ever. He recalled their accidental kiss all too clearly, when he'd fallen on top of Gaara and their lips mashed together.

The electrifying shock to his gut at the feel of such soft, supple lips had kept him frozen in place, disoriented, long enough that Gaara had moved experimentally against him and deepened the kiss. Neji's body had betrayed him, responding, and he had leapt away as far as he could, staring mutely at the fallen man and his swollen lips.

Even now, the vision of those curious green eyes sparked off an answering leap in his body. And that was too inconvenient for words, especially with the hordes of girls (he supposed they were women, even if their attitude was juvenile) his uncle and guardian was presenting him with. Prospective brides. The means of his contribution in continuing the Huuga clan.

Reacting to a man was not on his agenda. Nor was it welcome.

The incident must have been long buried by the redhead by now, or so he hoped. Even Neji rarely thought of it, only recalling the event fully once the possibility of meeting the man he'd responded to became a certainty.

His team was given permission to enter soon after they arrived at the stone gates, and were welcomes warmly by the people within. The Kazekage had made arrangements for them to stay at an inn not too far from the Kazekage's building. In fact, they had all been invited to have dinner with him that evening as soon as they settled into their temporary home.

First, they headed for the school. The class of young genins was predictably boisterous but cooperative. A teacher introduced them to the class-full of children before introducing each child in turn. Lessons would begin the next day, and the loud, curious questions of many of the students were deferred till then. There would be a lot of explaining about Konoha and its schools and students in the morning.

Neji found that he didn't mind the prospect of starting the assignment as much as he thought he would. It was amusing to watch how children acted and thought concerning neighboring countries, and the leaf nins found themselves spending the afternoon in their midst.

Tenten and Rock Lee were a big hit, while Neji for the most part was an object of fascination with his stoic silence, and Gai just plain odd. With the last, the children were delighted. And as Neji had tutored many a genin back when he was a Chuunin, he found that the innocence, curiosity and purity were pretty much the same in both villages.

Early in the evening, after they had unpacked, the boys in one room and Tenten another, they headed out for the dinner. Gaara greeted them within the dining room, and Neji was relieved that the young Kage did not act any differently toward him than he did the others. He was just as serious and calm as ever. And thanks to his three teammates, neither he nor Gaara had to say much beside make the odd comment.

"Neji," Gai called him unexpectedly as they were getting up to leave following a small political discussion after dessert. "Stay back for a moment. Lee, Tenten, you go ahead."

And so, boyfriend and girlfriend walked back to the inn, hand-in-hand, while Neji waited for his former trainer to speak. "Something wrong?" he prompted when the man just kept staring at him.

Gai shook his head once, straightening and crossing his arms, as was customary for him. "I was supposed to relay the schedule of our own alliance classes to the Kazekage tonight, but I've been called to the village gates. A message from the Hokage, probably." He flashed his student a grin and a wink. "I'm counting on you! You know the details of the schedule as well as I do."

Neji stared in consternation as the man blurred out of sight. Tenten and Lee knew the details as well as any of them. If he didn't know better, he'd think the crazy man was trying to get him alone with the Kazekage. After all, Gai had been witness to 'the incident', and had given Neji strange looks for a week afterwards.

So despite his suspiciouns, the young Jounin headed straight for the Kazekage's office.

Gaara was sitting at the desk when Neji knocked once and entered, and the Konoha nin found himself thinking yet again, that it was remarkable that a man so young, still practically a boy, was powerful enough and wise enough to take on the tremendous role of Kage.

"Good evening, Kazekage-sama," he greeted simply with a brief bow.

Gaara nodded. "Good evening. Gai-san sent you in his stead?" he asked bluntly.

"Yes. It looks like he had an urgent message at the gate."

"Please, have a seat."

Neji sat gingerly, the thought of the disturbed and destructive young boy turning into this functional, if strange, young man swirling in his mind. It was nothing short of a miracle. But people who came in close contact with Naruto often changed drastically, and for the better. Too bad Naruto never seemed to improve.

Not that the blond's raven-haired boyfriend would agree with that. Sasuke may still be a pretentious prick himself, but his love of Naruto had softened his edges. And Neji supposed that Naruto had grown up from the foolish, spontaneous genin he used to be. If only slightly.

"I understand Konoha is beginning its own classes."

Neji looked up at the monotonous, soft words, and nodded. "It's a radical idea, but a very positive one. Our Hokage thinks it will help in maintaining the peace between the five nations, and strengthen the bonds of friendship between the allies."

"And what do you think?"

Neji blinked at that, not expecting the young Kage to be interested in his opinion.

"What did you think of my idea? Didn't you have any reservations?" the redhead clarified coolly, his gaze boring into Neji's.

"Of course. Any idea involving that much exposure between villages has very obvious risks."

"But you still approve of the move?"

"I do. I agree with Hokage-sama. The mingling will do us good. We will learn more about one another. The hatred born from ignorance and misconceptions can be greatly reduced, if not put aside."

"And the drawbacks?"

Neji took a breath. "A change of heart on any ally's side could prove fatal to th shinobi we send out. The program could be abused by more vicious villages or individuals to spark off war. To draw our nins in and kill them, prompting a response." He stopped and watched uneasily as the Kage rose from his seat and walked calmly around the desk to stand beside him.

Neji didn't like feeling at a disadvantage, the way he was still seated while the redhead towered over him, but he could tell that the man did not expect him to stand.

"I thought so too. It is why I plan to send nins only to our most trusted allies until stronger friendships are formed with others." His lips quirked and he looked past Neji and out at the night sky. "I'm sure your Hokage plans the same."

Neji was sure she did. He nodded. "Although that may communicate enmity to out less-hostile allies. It would look insulting if we refused to send nins to them the same way. A clear lack of trust," he couldn't help arguing.

"I realize that the program is a double-edged blade. It's why I thought it worked best two-ways. Both villages sending nins to teach the children and be exposed to the villagers in general." He looked down at the Huuga speculatively. "I began the program with Konoha to show the rest of the villages that we are ready to trust, hoping that they could follow our example."

"It was an ingenious idea. I can already see how successful it will be, even with the risk." And he did. Much caution had to be exercised, but so much good could come of this. An unprecedented move from an unprecedentedly young leader.

Gaara turned fully into him, now standing slightly closer than he had been a moment before. The air became suddenly electric, and Neji had the strong urge to rise and leave. By sheer force of will did the Huuga keep from leaping away as Gaara knelt beside his chair and looked intensely into his eyes. And leaned closer. Questioning.

Neji was stunned, frozen in place as the slow progress of lips to his own resulted in a gentle, deliberate press of soft flesh upon his slightly parted mouth. He sucked in a breath and gripped the handles of his seat, not quite able to bring himself to draw away. Not sure why he could not.

At that realization, one arm rose, making as if to push at the redhead's shoulder, but a hand resting upon his groin froze him in place like nothing else. Neji squeezed his eyes shut at feeling himself harden at such a soft touch, that was clearly exploring rather than intending to arouse. The whole thing was so damn innocent that Neji's body surged wildly, shocking him.

Gaara leaned away, looking into the Huuga's eyes with an intensity Neji was not used to, even in a sexual partner. Who had always been female. The hand at his groin traced the shape of his hard length, learning its size and heat, so very gentle that it could almost be unintentional. And his hips bucked up into the touch , seeking, betraying his furious thoughts of inappropriate conduct, unforeseen homosexuality, unprofessionalism…he could hardly think now, not with Gaara's surprisingly soft lips descending upon his own once again. And he opened his mouth in invitation, betrayed by his body once more.

The hand kneaded now, making him groan against the mouth lying on his, rubbing on his but not invading. And he had a thought clear as day: Gaara had never done this before. And yet, even with such simple touches, he had Neji's body practically combusting with need. And what did that say about Neji and his supposed heterosexuality?

With that thought bolstering his will, Neji drew back with a harsh breath, separating himself from the sensual lips and knocking the exploring hand away from his painful erection. He pushed his chair back and stood shakily, glaring furiously at the man still kneeling, who had managed to strip away his inhibitions and common sense. Again.

Gaara stood slowly, his eyes never leaving Neji's. A question clear in their pale green depths. A question that had Neji's knees locking in place and his mind revolting against itself.

"Did I do something wrong?" the redhead finally asked, his gaze smoldering even as the rest of his features remained as smooth and unaffected as granite.

Neji would have gaped if he'd been the sort to allow his emotions to manifest upon his face. "We're both men," he said finally, not able to help his gritted teeth.

Gaara quirked a brow ever so lightly, as if to say 'obviously'. "You responded," he said instead. "And I did ask."

Ask? When the hell had he…? But Neji supposed the slow moves, the gentleness…it was a sort of asking, giving him a chance to draw back or pull away. And he hadn't. "It's highly inappropriate, not to mention unprofessional, for us to engage in such things in the midst of a mission between our villages," he argued, his voice much steadier, more its stoic and uninflected self.

"No such rule exists. Nins from neighboring countries have engaged in sexual congress in the midst of assignments since assignments began." He cocked his head slightly. "I would like the same with you."

God. The question in those green eyes was now out in the open, and as opposed as Neji was to the idea of sex with a man, and with a young Kage where his current assignment was, he could not quite bring himself to reject him. His body would not allow his tongue to form the words. His mind was torn, wanting to explore this ludicrous reaction he had to the other man, and yet balking at the repercussions of enjoying such an experiment. If a small, light kiss and a soft rub could turn his mind to mush and his cock to steel, then how would the full act feel?

The possible answer made him both wary of such a thing and desperate for it.

"Do you even realize what you're suggesting Kage-sama? If your people find out you've been-"

"Gaara."

Neji stopped, his tirade cut off. "What?"

"Call me Gaara. We've been through too much together before I even became Kazekage for such formalities. Just Gaara." He was seated at his desk, calm as you please. Only the banked fire in his eyes gave him away. "I think our attraction is worth exploring. Your stay here, nearly a month, will give us time to see if anything could come of it."

Neji felt his brain contract at this and he approached the Kage's desk. "Nothing could come of it. I will be married, probably only I few months after my return. If we do this, it will only be for sexual gratification." Was he agreeing? Was he seriously considering this?

Gaara blinked once, the intense green eyes widening slightly. "This period will not be binding, of course."

Either the man was ignoring the futility of any relationship between them, or he was confirming the no-strings-attached idea.

It wasn't in Neji's nature to indulge. But he knew that if he refused, he would always wonder if he would have enjoyed it as he enjoyed so little in life. Too little. And he was curious, despite himself, to know why his body took so readily to Gaara's.

It would be for pleasure alone, this thing between them. The Huuga had expectations to fulfill, responsibilities to see to. A wife to choose. But for these three plus weeks…just this once…

"I will meet you tomorrow, after class is over, to see how everything went. The students will expect to see me the first day." The sudden change in topic pulled Neji out of his sexually-laden thoughts and he frowned slightly. "Let me know. And thank you for meeting me."

The Huuga blinked, taking the hint. And the subtle message. He gave a polite reply he barely registered himself, bowed, and left.

He didn't know if the redhead grasped the idea of a no-strings attached affair. He didn't seem to comprehend truly that a sex-only arrangement happened, and often. And that that and only that was what Neji could agree to. But Gaara did seem to go along, if only to get Neji into bed.

The only question remaining, was that would Neji end up agreeing? To cross into homosexual waters he had never been tempted by before? But when his body leapt so enthusiastically at the touch of another, be they male or female (and admittedly so far it had only been female), wouldn't he usually give in to his baser desires? Only occasionally and always with women outside his village. So this could complicate further relations he had with Suna. Could. Though he strongly felt that Gaara was too levelheaded for such a thing, no matter what resulted between them.

And he had to trust that. Could only trust that feeling, because God help him…he wanted him. And he didn't know if he would be able to deny himself the way he usually could. Not Gaara.

…Let me know.

To Be Continued…

Oh, I am so excited I'm finally starting this. Hurrah! I can only hope you guys like it.

It's obvious there will be plenty of smutty smuttiness. Muahaha! I can hardly wait to let my inner depravity out (into words, anyway). May it be enjoyable and titillating. Heh.

Writing about those two is freaking hard, but so much fun. Two serious people clash. But one's innocent and the other fairly worldly. What could be hotter?

So please rad and review. They are usually what get me going even when I don't want to. XD