Nik: The reason I decided to republish this fic is because I miss writing it.
Also, a good friend of mine mentioned writing a fantasy fic and I totally wanted to finish this one...
after like 3 years, lol.
Oh well. Better late than never...but it kind of has been like forever.
Enjoy!
p.s.- if you have read this before I did change a lot of stuff.
I tried editing it and I changed a few of the scenes because they sounded like kindergarten coloring time.
If you do find some mistakes like she when it should say he, I know I have issues with that, please alert me.
Please let me know where you see some mistakes. I would appreciate it so much.

I realize I capitalized "prince' when it should not have been. Sadly, I'm too lazy to read through this again because its like 20 pages of just talk and I'm sick or reading it. I know I know, its my own work and I should definitely be trying to edit it as a writer but you try reading the same 66 pages for 3 years. You'd throw up...at the worst at least.

AND! Lol, if anyone's name is spelled wrong then please tell me.
I got a new laptop and my auto correct was changing Neji's name to Neal and Gaara's name to Gale. So on and so on.
Its stupid but I fixed what I could.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the Naruto manga or anime.
Credit to Kishimoto!

Realm of the Arakeru

Chapter I
Shirotori Kazoku

"Let go of me!" A teenage boy struggled as two strong soldiers gripped his arms to pull him deep within the palace hallways. His hands were bound and his body battered from him trying to escape. The two guards had caught him trying to sneak in the castle. Maybe they assumed he was a spy from another Kingdom. That wasn't true to any degree. He had no intention of spying on this particular castle; he merely wanted a place to spend the night out of the cold.

The soldiers however didn't care what he was doing. The two 'men' he supposed they were, had heavy armor on. Red and silver plates lined their arms and chest while their legs were covered in thick black material that felt like pure steel. The plates they had covering their shoes clanged against the floor making excessive noise. Both of them wore helmets that were probably the same black steel around their legs. The helmets covered their entire face, with small slits for them to see. They almost looked like ghosts with no faces.

The guards carried no weapons. At least none that the boy could see but if he was correct in guessing, they were probably Maho Beings.

They dragged him against dark red carpet, letting his legs slid across the floor. He felt as if his arms would be torn off but he didn't fear the pain. He'd been through much worse in the past few years. He was all alone now, with no place to stay. What did he care if he was on his way to get his head chopped off by the evil King of Suna castle?

The soldiers pushed the double doors open to a huge throne room. It stretched for many yards and the ceiling was terribly high. Seven strong stone pillars on each side of the room were lined with thin brown and gold streamers. The carpet in this room was much darker and a lot smoother. The boy could smell how clean the air was in this room compared to the last. He could see more expensive paintings and tapestry than the ones that had been in the hall.

He squirmed again, noticing how close he was to the throne. 'Wait...throne? Why am I in here? I thought they were taking me to the Dungeons.' He looked harder and saw one figure sitting on one of the two throne chairs. He swallowed hard and prayed hard it wasn't...

"Your highness." Both soldiers threw the boy forward and took their bows. The dark figure sitting down didn't looked too pleased at the sight in front of him. Of the way he sat all you could see was his grin and it didn't look very friendly or soft spoken. The boy got to his knees and stared for as long as his terrified eyes would let him. Once the figure started moving to stand the boy snatched his eyes away and dropped his head. He knew the stories, the rumors. You weren't supposed to stare at the King, for it meant certain death!

"Your name?" The voice came raspy with a bit of a condescending tone. Actually a lot of a condescending tone.

"We found him trying to enter through one of the hidden tunnels under the castle. He was-"

"Silence! I never asked you to speak."

"Forgive me prince Gaara." The soldier got on one knee and bowed again. No matter what his rank he knew that the Prince would have his head if he were to talk without given a reason.

The boy picked his head back up again. Something wasn't right here, he wasn't expecting a Prince to be the one on the throne, but he couldn't help but stare at the one on front of him. The prince couldn't have been any older than the boy himself; he was probably a couple years younger even. He was obviously a great deal shorter but he was a sight to see.

Dark red hair that dared to reach over his eyes as it hid under his fairly small golden crown. A petite body that could be seen through the robe he was wearing. What looked like very soft cream colored skin that well balanced his hair and darkened eyes. The boy looked harder to see the darkness around his eyes. He wanted to see the color of the irises but the Prince had his eyelids low. Oh, but the boy could bet they were a soft and lush green to match his perfectly natural red hair.

'Where is the King?' The boy couldn't help but look up at the young boy that the soldier had called a Prince. He had been correct in his assumption. This was not the King that had a nasty ruling streak. This was his nephew, an evil snake who nearly always gave the command for the chopping off of heads. This was the boy who would take his uncle's place as King in a few short months. This beautiful boy.

"I say again, your name? Either you tell me this or I will have you hanged at dawn." Gaara spoke forcefully now. He didn't like being interrupted and he didn't like to wait for answers. Gaara folded his arms and stepped down the five stairs that lead up to the throne. Kneeling down in front of the other boy he grabbed his face. The older boy's hair was long and dark brown with the smell of pine needles. It was silky smooth though it looked very damaged right now. His face was pale, milky and soft to the touch. Gaara looked at him and fell curious to his eyes. Eyes that were transparent and looked like the color of pearls.

Gaara opened his eyes wide to reveal his precious jade orbs. "What kind of eyes have you nameless one?" He still held the boy's face in his hand and stroked his cheek. The boy snatched away and to his surprise received a harsh smack across his face. The handprint glowed red and the boy winced, but after being hit he decided to answer.

"I am the last of the Hyuuga clan your majesty. Hyuuga Neji was the name chosen by my father." He looked up to see that Gaara was thinking about something. It wasn't quite obvious on his face.

"You are from Ruthern Kingdom are you not?" Gaara asked in a softer voice. He already knew the answer to his question. It wasn't unheard of for villagers to leave their Kingdom in search of a better place to stay. Wind Kingdom had taken in many people from other places over the past several years, despite what Gaara had wanted. He wanted a pure Kingdom, with only those born of the Wind but his uncle was the King and he had no say.

"I am your grace." Neji looked at him in his eyes. They were enticing and he wanted to stare just a little longer but then he remembered the smack across his face. Had his hands not been tied together, he would have ...

"Then what business do you have sneaking in 'my' castle? I am sure that a poor villager like you would have no knowledge of the secret ways into this castle. You are quite a ways from your homeland. Speak on why you are here." Gaara said returning to his throne. He waited for an answer from this creature that was forbidden in his land. Of course he was still going to hang him but he wanted to hear a tale first, it had been a long uneventful day for him.

"I cannot say." Neji said not looking anywhere near Gaara. He didn't want to see what those eyes looked like when they were angry and he knew the Prince would be angry that he denied answering his questions. He 'was' trespassing on enemy territory. It made him look like a spy. No one in this land was going to believe a boy from the deceiving Ruthern Kingdom.

Gaara stood up and balled his fists. "If you will not say then off with that confounded head of yours!" His anger fumed throughout the room. He was so upset that he could have chopped Neji's head off himself.

"Please nephew, do not be so hasty." A man baring no resemblance to Gaara approached from the east side of the castle. His hair was sandy blond and he wore it to his shoulders. He was wearing a robe similar to the one Gaara wore; only he was wearing jewels on his. His crown was much larger than Gaara's and his eyes were much softer. All the tales of the great King Yashamaru seemed to be false as Neji looked at him and didn't seem too afraid.

Gaara growled as his uncle passed him and sat in the much bigger chair. Yashamaru closed his eyes and yawned loudly. It had been very dark out and he had been asleep until he heard the soldiers bust into the room making all sorts of noise. He knew he couldn't leave Gaara in charge during the night. The boy was too irrational.

"You have invaded our land stranger. What brings you to Suna Castle?" Yashamaru looked down at Neji and blinked several times. He had heard most of the conversation with the boy and Gaara but now looking at Neji for himself, he could see that he in fact was a Hyuuga. He thought they were all dead, but here was one who was breathing still. Breathing and looking very healthy.

"Forgive me your Majesty, but I cannot speak on why I am here." The words from the boy were true. He didn't know how he had ended up here. He didn't know why he had even chosen to stop in this land. So he in fact could not speak on it. Hell, even if he did know he probably wouldn't have answered anyway.

Gaara growled at him but Yashamaru waved him to have a seat. Gaara only sat down to hear how the King was going to handle this one. Nobody often refused to answer Gaara's questions though it did happen a few times. But never had anybody refused to answer to the King, it was like asking him to take the axe himself.

"Very well then, I can only assume you would have been searching for your father as it was." Yashamaru smiled when he knew he had Neji's attention.

"My father! Sire, please tell me if you know the whereabouts of my father?" Neji stood for the first time and a mixture of worry and excitement was plastered on his face. His eyes were sad and his bound hands struggled to get free.

"I'm afraid you were correct when you said you were the last of the Hyuuga. The last one aside from you was sentenced to be beheaded only a year ago in this very room. He was caught traveling this land with a small family. He stole many things from this very court and when he was caught, he denied his faults."

"Killed...for trying to feed his family? The Hyuuga's name, Sire? The one in which you took...what was it?" Neji's eyes shook and tears threatened to fall as he looked up at the man with such soft eyes. He prayed in his mind that it had been his uncle, his father's twin Hiashi and not his actual father that had been killed. He refused to believe all of his clan had been killed off.

"Hyuuga Hizashi." Gaara said, blinking with an uncaring tone in his voice. He was leaning back in his chair again, letting the shadows hide his face and expression. He yawned, this was all becoming so boring. He wanted to see some dead bodies.

"My...father." Neji dropped to his knees but he wasn't going to cry. It had been two years since he saw the man that had abandoned him and he still felt hate, but to have him dead, without knowing why he was left in the Ruthern Kingdom while the entire clan left him was a horrible feeling. He had been the only one left behind. Even his younger cousin Hinata had been taken along and he hated her for that. He should have been loved more than her. She was only a girl after all, what could she have become but a housewife?

"Why was he sentenced with such a charge? Could you not have kept him in prison?" Neji desperately asked the King who merely closed his eyes and sighed. He was about to answer when his nephew jumped in.

"I ordered his death," Gaara said leaning forward. "-just like I'm ordering your death." He looked at the two silent guards. "Make sure he's locked up tight. I don't want this one getting away."He smirked and laughed to himself. 'How is the Hyuuga going to fight this one?' He thought, satisfied.

"No! Your Highness please? He'll kill off my kind." Neji screamed as he was grabbed firmly by strong brutal hands. He kicked and growled trying to get away but he couldn't get anywhere with the two big ogres holding him.

"Just a minute!" Yashamaru stood raising his voice. Neji hushed his shrieks and Gaara stood up as well. The King never interfered when he sentenced people before. What was so different about this...this boy?

"I have told you time and again not to be so hasty young nephew. You have taken too many heads this week. You will choose another fate for this one." Yashamaru looked at Gaara. "And I expect you to make a decision that does not involve him losing his life."

Gaara narrowed his eyes but didn't speak against it. His uncle's word was the last and there would be no arguing against him now or ever. There was nothing he could do but take the wretched boy in. Gaara stood back as his uncle stepped down the stairs and headed back out of the throne room without so much as another word.

Gaara walked over to Neji and yanked him forward. He pulled Neji to his feet and untied the rope binding his hands. He looked at Neji's hands and rubbed them. They were soft but it seemed he had remains of hard labor embedded in his palms.

"I can assume you were a slave to your clan." Gaara pushed the Hyuuga's hair away from his forehead and saw the blue marking that named him nothing important. A mere servant for lack of a better word. Neji nodded as he watched Gaara's now soft eyes feast of his hands.

"I will not consider you my slave Hyuuga but you will tend to me and no one else in this court." He let go of his the soft and warm battered hands then stood still, waiting for Neji to lash out at him or refuse so he could throw him in the dungeon and let the rats feast on his flesh.

'Servant then?' Neji looked into the eyes that were glowing green and much more intriguing up close. "What is the difference between a servant and a slave? I'll still be forced to do work for you! Let me go or this servant will kill you in your sleep!" Neji backed away, showing no sign of regret for what had left his lips.

"You will do well to bite that tongue of yours in 'my' castle. As a servant you are offered things a slave is not. You will receive a bed and your own room next to mine. You'll eat healthy and follow me as I please. From the looks of it you have been on your own for quite some time. I'm even willing to wager that you have been sleeping underground in our castle. You could use the attention. You seem to smell clean but you don't look it and it's not very becoming of such a member of a once famous clan. You'll bathe and turn to my room where I will be waiting for you with instructions." He turned to walk away but stopped and looked back. "If I ever do fall asleep you are more than welcome to take my life. However, I doubt you will get your chance." He turned and waved his hand.

The two guards in the room didn't bother grabbing Neji this time. They had been wearing helmets but when Neji turned around their faces were now visible. He nearly gasped when he saw them. They were teenagers, probably no older than he was. Twins he saw, very odd looking twins. Maybe white hair with pale gray skin and something akin to green lipstick. They didn't seem so strong now that he could see what they looked like.

"The Prince has taken a liking to you dear boy." The first one bowed and smirked. "I am Sakon and this is my brother Ukon. Welcome to our Shirotori Kazoku (Bird Castle Family)." Sakon stood up straight and smiled while Ukon dropped most of his armor on the floor.

"Why the fancy name? I'm not a part of your damn family." Neji looked towards the doors. He wasn't going to stay here even if they made him. He knew he could make it to the doors before the two had a chance to see he was gone.

"You are quick to deny but you will be branded come tomorrow evening." Ukon said in an uncaring tone. He shook his hair and puffed it out. The helmet had matted it to his head and he hated it when that happened.

"Branded!" Neji shrieked. There was no freaking way he was going to stay now. He already had a brand on his head, he didn't need another one. Especially not one that was going to tie him to a Kingdom he didn't belong to. Not that he belong to Ruthern Kingdom anymore either. He was seen as an abomination there and he was banished from the gates. If he was to return, he would be killed.

"Yes Master Neji." Sakon walked over to Neji and slid a plate of the armor off his forearm, showing him the place where he had been branded. Neji started at the burn mark that had healed very nicely. He could clearly see an hourglass with a small bird in it.

"Prince Gaara likes to play house with his people. My brother and I have been with the Prince as Shirotori kazoku for six years now. We were once playmates but upon Gaara's sixth birthday he changed-"

"Keep your mouth shut you fool!" Ukon smacked his brother in the back of the head, cutting off his sentence. He looked around the room to make sure Gaara hadn't decided to come back in and kill them for Sakon having such a big mouth.

"I will not stay here to be marked as another's again. The prince will be just fine without me." Neji folded his arms and looked at the door again.

"No! You mustn't leave! You have no idea what role you have been gifted." Sakon got on his knees and grabbed Neji's hand. The Hyuuga raised an eyebrow and looked down at him. This was just getting weird. Why was he being treated like royalty?

"Prince Gaara has never taken on a personal servant. Had he not tried to have you decapitated I would think he has found a fancy for you. Gaara has had his share of lovers to sleep with but never have I in all my years seen him touch anyone so closely."

"Just what are you saying?" Neji lowered his eyes lids and stared hard. The other boy had better not be thinking that Neji was going to be one of his many sexual partners. He'd die before he would give his body away to a spoiled prince.

"He probably plans to-"

"Sakon that's enough! You'll have us hanged for that mouth of yours." Ukon turned to Neji. "This way." He said turning and walking away. Sakon followed quickly making some soft statements and Neji stayed where he was.

"No!" He ran in the direction of the entry door as the twins had walked off to the west. Ukon turned around first and before Neji could get halfway to the door he was suspended in midair.

"What the..." He looked down and saw that Ukon was staring up at him, shaking his head.

"Did my careless brother forget to mention that we were not born of the Wind Kingdom?"

"What...power is this? This is wizardry!" Neji yelled.

"You're so gullible Master Neji. My power does not come from that of a wizard." As Ukon began to drop his head Neji began to float down to the floor, eyes still as big as fishbowls. He didn't know what to believe. To his knowledge no one but the Hyuuga and Uchiha clans had powers.

Even Neji hadn't awakened his yet. Powers were granted to worthy beings on their 18th birthday and Neji was still 17, with a few months until he reached adulthood. Even then he wasn't sure if he would be able to achieve something he knew nothing about.

"What are you?" Neji asked as he reached the ground. He hit the floor lightly but had trouble getting up since he was still shaking from be suspended in the air by some weird type of magic.

"You see Master Neji, Sakon and I were born of the Sound Castle. Using the sound of your feet I pushed your sound waves into the floor and caused you to float. I can use vibrations to manipulate a person into doing whatever I want them to do. You see, our father experimented with us and we developed our Arakeru Gifts at the ripe age of two." Ukon grinned. According to legend, no one had awakened their gifts before the age of 18. They were a sight to see.

"Arakeru Gifts?" Neji frowned. The word sounded vaguely familiar but he couldn't remember where he'd heard it from. It sounded like something he'd learned about at a very young age but he wasn't sure who had told him.

"Don't tell me you don't know what Arakeru is? You've heard the stories, I know you have. Ruthern Kingdom is no different than any other Kingdom. When a child reaches adulthood they are given powers according to how they have lived their lives. Although in Ruthern only twelve children of your generation have Arakeru. I am told that your Queen seals these powers from ever emerging now. It is a shame."

"How do you know this about her? Queen Tsunade would never do such a thing." Neji glared at Ukon. How did he know so much about a Kingdom he'd probably never even been to?

"You are wrong Master Neji. Of the twelve from your Kingdom four are here. Three of which have no family and were abandoned to this area. The King took them in and they became Shirotori kazoku with us. Their Arakeru Gifts have awakened since the branding. We only have one family member without Arakeru...but he is Gaara's most trusted advisor. He will not like the relation between you and the prince." Ukon closed his eyes and scratched his head.

"No he will not be happy about that." Sakon echoed.

"Must you always repeat me Sakon?"

"Sorry brother, I was merely trying to point out the Master Lee will not like Master Neji." Sakon smiled even though he seemed a little distant in thought. Lee didn't like anybody close to Gaara but him. This was going to create a problem in the Shirotori kazoku.

"Lee? A Taijustu Being from my Kingdom?" Neji was beginning to put pieces together in his mind. Several years ago four of his classmates had gone missing and no one had found them. Lee had been one of Neji's closest friends and had also been one to disappear. Could this really be the Lee he knew.

"You know Master Lee?" Sakon said with a huge smile on his face. No one often mentioned that they missed their Kingdom but Lee spoke very fondly of a friend he'd had back home. Sakon just knew it was him. Neji nodded but did not answer. He was in deep thought about why his friend had disappeared at such a young age. Had he been kidnapped?

"Then you must also know Master Kiba, Master Naruto, and Master Sasuke." Sakon marveled at the look on Neji's face. He didn't know why he was so excited but it showed and he couldn't wait for the rest of the family to meet him.

"Sasuke...as in Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Mmm." Sakon nodded. Neji stood in gapping shock. He counted off the members of his Kingdom that had gone missing. He came up with five. There was still a Maho being that was unaccounted for.

"There is another Uchiha missing. He is not here?" Neji asked, knowing nothing about the person he questioned about. All he knew was that, right before the children had gone missing, a horrible attack happened upon the Uchiha clan. Sasuke was the one found alive.

"Another?" Sakon looked confused. "You must be mistaken. Master Sasuke is the only one of his kind left. The same goes for Master Naruto and Master Lee. That is why they are precious to this court and to Prince Gaara's Shirotori kazoku." Sakon hadn't heard anything about another Uchiha. Sasuke certainly never talked about it.

"That's enough. It's about time you bathed and got back to the Prince. He will not be happy if you take long."

"I will go when you tell me more about the Arakeru Gifts. I thought these things to happen upon one's 18th birthday. I know Sasuke to be a year younger than I as well as Naruto and Kiba. Why does Lee not have the Arakeru and why don't I have it either?" Neji sat down on the floor and ignore Ukon's request for him to leave. Sakon supplied Neji with an answer.

"They did not need to wait for their Arakeru to be awakened. It came forth through a great Kami." He nodded and hoped his brother wasn't going to strike him for talking again.

"What? Who...who gave them these powers?" Neji asked franticly. Powers weren't supplied to one. They were achieved through hard work and training. This time Ukon began talking. He didn't trust Sakon to tell the Hyuuga their secret without giving too much detail.

"Upon being branded Prince Gaara's Superior Arakeru Gift is released. They went through one full day and one full night of pain while Prince Gaara's Arakeru ripped open their bodies and pulled their powers forth. Only with the tori brand were they able to achieve this stage. The need to be 18 and an adult is no longer required. As for Master Lee, he has been branded but there was no way his body could awaken the Arakeru Gifts. Apparently his body was so used to pain that...when he was opened up our creator could not release a single drop of his power. He was fruitless of Magic, but where his Maho lacks, his superior taijustsu skills take place."

"Your lord? The Prince's Arakeru is a God? Who is it?"

"Kami Shukaku." The twins said in unison.

Neji spent an hour in the bath and about an hour with the twins as they walked around the castle and told him about the other five Arakeru users that had come from other various Kingdoms. The Shirotori kazoku stretched to eleven members and when Neji was branded it would become twelve.

Neji learned that two of these users weren't even human. Apparently a boy named Kimimaro and a girl named Tayuya were created by Sakon and Ukon's father. They were called Hasso Beings and they were the two most feared of the family members.

He learned of Deidara and Sasori who were resurrected after being killed in battle 13 years ago. Neither of them possessed any physical ties to the world and after listening to Sakon speak about them, Neji found out that their bodies often became transparent and very hard to spot. They hovered around the castle hardly ever choosing to walk. They still possessed Arakeru but they were no longer considered Maho Beings. Now that they had died once, they were called Shindeiru Beings.

The last of the family was only one person. Sakon spoke very fondly of this last one. Beauty that was beyond compare, with eyes a rich brown and skin so smooth and creamy you'd want to have it all to yourself. Neji didn't know if Sakon was jealous of the last one or if he had a crush. Haku was the last of the Bōei Beings from the Mizu Kingdom. Someone had found him dying in a puddle of mud four years ago and Gaara wanted him alive. So he branded the boy and saved him, making him the 11th member.

Neji knocked on Gaara's door lightly. He had the slightest idea why he was even still here. Maybe he wanted to know more about the Arakeru Gifts. Maybe he wanted the power for himself so he could avenge a family that hadn't wanted him in the first place.

He sighed and pushed the door open when no one opened it for him. He assumed the spoiled Prince expected him to just come in anyway. He stepped in the room that was massive with dark colors. A small torch was lit on the wall next to the door, which only gave enough light for Neji to see where Gaara was sitting. The prince was on his window seal with his head leaning back against the stone of the wall. He didn't bother turning around to look at Neji. He knew who had come in, he had been waiting for over two hours.

"You must have more important things to do." Gaara said, not trying to hide his anger from the other. He shifted and faced Neji with a pair of hate filled green marbles. Neji mentally rolled his eyes and leaned against the door, which he had closed on its own. There was no way this boy was going to intimidate him. Not when he was all of five-foot-four and Neji was pushing six foot.

"You said bathe and come to your room. I don't recall hearing a specific time anywhere in there. I figured if I was being forced to bathe then I was going to enjoy it. What could you possibly do to me? Have my head chopped off?" Neji smirked but Gaara didn't think it was funny. He was across the room in a flash, standing in front of Neji. Gaara pulled Neal's bangs and the boy dropped to his knees.

"I have other plans for that head of yours." Gaara grinned evilly and licked his lips. Neji quickly noted that Gaara wasn't wearing his robe anymore. It was hanging on the back of the door and the Prince was dressed in only a pair of lose pants, that were barely hanging on his hips. Neji's eyes shook. He tried to rip his eyes away from Gaara's soft skin but the need to look and marvel wouldn't dissipate.

Gaara looked down at him and blinked. "Suck it." He ordered. Neji turned terrified eyes to Gaara.

'Is he serious?' Neji frowned, this time more angry than afraid. "Suck your own self!" Neji snatched his hair from Gaara's grasp and stood up to tower over the boy. Gaara didn't seem fazed by this as his face held no sign that he even cared.

"If you don't comply then I will have to force you. Either way I am going to get what I want. You can go about this as I wish or I will pin you to the wall and shove myself into your mouth the hard way. Think very carefully Hyuuga."

'Just who the hell is this boy? Force me? HA!' Neji leaned close to Gaara's face and stared at him. He narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw closed. Gaara took a deep breath and then exhaled.

"Everybody always wants to do it the hard way. No matter." He said stepping closer to Neji so that their chests were against each other. Gaara leaned up and whispered in Neji's ear. "You have one more chance. I'd hate to see such a beautiful piece of work rot away."

"Screw you." Neji said trying to take a step back, and he would have if his body could move. "I...can't move."

"Exactly." Gaara poked him in the forehead repeatedly. "You. Weren't. Using. Your. Head. I believe I said I was 'going' to force you, did I not?"

Neji found himself kneeling to the floor. He was once again facing Gaara's stomach but this time against his will. He couldn't move his eyes, his body, his mind was even going blank. He started breathing hard as his hand moved up and grabbed Gaara's limp member lightly. The Prince let his head fall to the side and Neji could finally see that the fingers on Gaara's right hand were tapping the air. If he could just reach them then maybe this hold on him would cease.

"Now...suck it." Gaara growled with his eyes closed. He could feel Neji breathing all over him and he wanted to feel the warm kiss of the other boy. Neji couldn't stop his head from moving forward. He also couldn't stop his lips from touching Gaara's bare stomach. Neither could he couldn't stop himself from liking it. Neji had his eyes closed but now they were opening and now he was looking up at Gaara.

Neji slid Gaara's' pants down and they feel to the floor. Now Neji could clearly see the exposed member that had grown hard. Neji gulped and stuck out his tongue just a bit to taste the tip of Gaara's cock. The taste was bitter with pre-cum and Neji made a sour face. Gaara growled above him and made Neji moved a bit closer.

The younger boy's body was aching as Neji gently licked the underside of Gaara's manhood. Neji breathed deeply before his mouth inhaled Gaara and he slid softly down the boy's throat. Neji coughed and breathed in slowly with Gaara still in his mouth. Neji growled. He wanted to bite down so badly to teach the filthy prince a lesson but he just couldn't no matter how hard he tried.

Neji's head was forced closer and he began to gag from the sudden length touching the back of this throat. He spat Gaara out and saliva flowed from his mouth to the floor. He barely had a chance to catch he breath before he was tasting Gaara again. The younger boy moaned softly through his teeth. He was now forcing Neji to move at an acceptable pace. Sucking him in and spitting him out over and over.

'It's not so bad.' Neji thought as his body began to relax and gain control over itself again. He saw that Gaara had stopped moving his fingers and that he could now do as he pleased. But the question was, did he want to stop?

Neji couldn't help the feeling that grew in his stomach, he wanted more. He cupped Gaara's ass and pulled him closer. To Gaara's surprise Neji took him in an embrace. Gaara gasped at the feeling being invoked on him. No one had ever willingly gone this far with him. In fact, one could still call Gaara a virgin-for he'd never been penetrated. He enjoyed his little moments with unwilling participants but this was 'really' something to be enjoyed.

Neji pulled Gaara as close as he could and moved his arms around him tighter. His focus was on what was good at the moment. Gaara grinned deeply and leaned forward suddenly, grabbing Neji's hair at the roots He immediately broke away from Neji and spilled his seed on the floor between them. Neji fell on his hands and knees taking in deep breaths alarming fast. He grabbed his chest and dropped his head.

The Prince stepped away and turned his back to Neji. He wasn't going to let the Hyuuga see the shame on his face. He felt embarrassed for enjoying himself more than he ever had.

'Damn him.' Gaara thought as he folded his arms. "I wish to take this farther." Gaara said turning his eyes but he still couldn't see the look on Neji's face. The other stood silently. He didn't know exactly what that meant. Hell he didn't know exactly what he'd just done.

"Farther? You don't mean you want to-"

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean. I have chosen you to be the first to enter my body." Gaara still hadn't turned around, if it was even possible the boy was blushing much harder. His insides were swarming with lust and he wanted more!

"What! You're insane!" Neji yelled as he approached him. He went to grab Gaara to turn him around and found himself up against the wall, very near the torch. He made a mental note not to try and touch the Prince when he didn't want to be touched. He should have been listening to Sakon when he was giving all the rules.

"If you keep talking such nonsense I'll pull that tongue out your head." Gaara roared, finally turning to face him. His embarrassment had left but he looked more disappointed than mad. He closed his eyes and turned to look out of the window. With a flick of his wrist Neji fell to the floor in a heap.

"I'm sure you were shown to your quarters. Go, I will continue with you some other time." Gaara picked up his pants and walked back to his window where he sat on the seal. He brought his knees to his chest so he could wrap his arms around himself.

"Wait a minute. I heard that you were going to sear me with the mark tomorrow. What if I don't want to be a part of your family? I'm not a loyal follower, I don't even like you. What makes you think I'm going to sit around and let you stamp me?" Neji didn't move from his place near the door. He didn't want to end up back on the wall on fire. The torch had been too close the last time.

"What makes you think I care what you want? Hmm? You will learn to like me and you 'will' become my lover. I need a mate to marry when I become King and I have chosen you to be so. The mark is not for ownership, it's for self-gratification. You will be pleased with the results. I have yet to find one who has not."

"Lover. Mate. Are you crazy? There's no way in the world I'm going to marry you!" He growled. "Screw you!"

Gaara chuckled evilly. "It's nice to see you're planning ahead." He paused and looked at the floor. Something had been overlooked. "The mark? Who informed you of the ceremony?" He looked sternly at the Hyuuga and commanded him to answer.

"Who cares how I found out! If the mark is for self-gratification then don't I have a say in it? I don't need my Arakeru awakened forcefully. It will come on its own in a matter of months. I am not too far from being an adult." Neji stood proudly. He'd gone through hell to stay alive for the last two years and now he was going to reach the power his damn self.

"You do not want the brand of my family?" Gaara took a deep breath as Neji shook his head. "There are other ways of bringing your powers to the surface. I can say that upon you reaching adulthood, 'you' will not achieve the power. Your body may be strong but your drive has given up on you."

"What do you mean there are other ways."

"That is neither here nor there. Had you not denied me the enjoyment of your body I may have considered sharing." Gaara seemed to keep looking at something outside the window. "Go. You'll need rest for you won't be getting any for the next twenty-four hours."

Neji began to protest but the door opened and he was tossed out. He hit the wall in the hallway and the door closed slowly in front of him. He sighed and looked to the door down the hall that had been chosen as his. He shook his head and looked towards the door that led to the main parts of the castle. He could escape if he knew which freaking way to go. He decided that he would try anyway. Hell if he was gonna stay here to be married to the Prince.

Neji walked through hallway after hallway. Doors were locked on his left and his right. He'd probably been walking for all of ten minutes when he came upon a door that was cracked open. He peeked in but saw no one inside so he pushed the door open and stepped in, closing the door behind him. He appeared to be in some type of library. Books upon books upon books filled the shelves. Some were stacked on the floor all the way up to Neji's waist. There were so many it was hard to maneuver through the room.

Neji came upon a desk on the middle of the room with just one book on it. He sat in the chair behind the desk and picked the book up.

-Shirotori Kazoku Arakeru-

Neji opened it quickly, wanting to see what was on the inside. The book was raggedy and falling apart so he held it carefully. When opened he noticed it was hand written. The writing was legible and at the end of every page were the letters 'SNG'

'This must be Gaara's journal.' He flipped through the pages, then he heard something move. He looked around and no one was there. He sighed, but just to be safe he closed the book and tucked it under his arm. He walked out the room looking around again. If he did end up staying he was going to have to visit this room again.

As Neji walked out closing the door, two figures appeared in the library. The first was tall with long blond hair tied into a high ponytail and the second was a little short with bright red hair. They seemed to be hovering in the air and their bodies were missing their lower halves.

"Hmm, he's a cute one, huh?" The tall one squealed.

"That must be the Hyuuga boy Sakon was telling us about." The shorter of the two said.

"Master Sasori, do you think we should tell Gaara?" The taller one, Deidara said laughing.

"I would think so. The boy is sneaking around in the prince's private study. This is going to upset him." Sasori answered, letting himself appear completely.

"I hate that we're the ones to keep an eye on him." Deidara hovered just inches from the floor.

"Head to the prince's room. I'm going after the book." Sasori vanished and left Deidara in the dark room. He pouted as he walked through the wall of the study out into the hallway. He always had to deliver the bad news and Gaara always hated to be bothered at night.

"Damn you Hyuuga boy. You are getting us in trouble already." With a small tornado the boy disappeared.

Neji jumped on the soft bed and got comfortable. There wasn't much in his room. The walls were stone and there was one window. The floors were marble just like all the rest of the rooms he'd been in. He had a dresser and wardrobe in the corner. Nothing else was kept in there. Neji lay against his pillow and yawned. It had been a long day and he needed some rest. Too bad the book was more interesting. He opened the book and read the first page slowly.

-What has become of me? This being lives inside my body and tears me open when I sleep. I can no longer close my eyes. After that night, that night with the white beam of light shining in my eyes, I have changed a great deal. I have gained power like no other. I have become an unstoppable force. I have discovered...the art of the Arakeru-

-Nik: Well I hope it was liked! I really like it even though I've read it a thousand times.
I know my chapters are long. Do not fret little ones there is much more, muwahahahahaha!
Please R&R (two reasons) I: It makes me feel super awesome. II: ..well, reason one was enough I think.