Neji found himself, once again, running away. Gracefully, of course, but nonetheless, running away. It bothered him. Why should it bother him? Yes, such...activities were frowned upon in the Hyuuga household, but opinions were forced to change with the times. His father had recently actually been to a gay wedding. He didn't give gifts, or smile, but he was there. And what sort of respectable Hyuuga smiled anyway?
Neji's musings had lead him straight to the entrance to the small woodland on the border of Konoha. Home of small furry animals and snake like pedophiles. 'But they're dead now', thought Neji hurriedly to himself as he wandered through the tall trees. He sighed heavily, his breath blowing small strands of jet black hair away from his finely chiselled features, and closed his eyes. He was a good enough jounin to be able to pick up a person's chakra from at least a mile away. Placing one sandaled foot in front of the other Neji walked slowly through the forest, hands in his pockets, and adopting Sasuke's favourite posture.
Sasuke. Sasuke and Naruto. Those two were always fighting, but a bystander would get the impression it was almost affectionate. And you generally were the bystander. It was rare for anyone to have a conversation with the feisty blonde nin (no one eve attempted to talk to Sasuke, you spoke when spoken to) without Sasuke appearing in the background. And Naruto had an uncanny ability of noticing when Sasuke was within a 20 metre radius. Neji sighed again, and realised irritably that he was acting discerningly like everyone's favourite Uchiha. Straightening up, Neji opened his eyes and looked aound.
Suddenly, there was a huge blast of chakra from the east side of the forest. 'What?!', thought Neji. The first rush was soon followed by another, stronger one. Except this one was followed by a loud hiss of, "Baka! Keep your chakra under control! We'll get noticed!"
"But Danna-"
"But nothing, now keep quiet."
Neji was intrigued. Masking his own chakra, he crept forward quietly, keeping his body low to the ground. Using the trees would attract too much attention, and he couldn't avoid dispersing chakra while he jumped from branch to branch. Looking up, Neji could make out a small clearing amongst the trees, where there stood two blurry figures. 'Blurry?', thought Neji.
"Byagukan not working Hyuuga?", questioned a low voice. Neji froze, still pressed flat to the floor.
The sound of girlish giggling could be heard from coming from behind the owner of the voice.
"Heh heh, baka,un."
Neji frowned, trying to concentrate the power of the Byagukan. 'Huh, so it works when I really DON'T want to see something, but is beyond my control when I do.'
"You know, Deidara, I think he WANTS to see."
Deidara grinned evily, and Neji could make out the mane of smooth blonde hair falling around pale shoulders.
"Okay, give me a minute un."
There were sounds of movement, but Neji could pick up no more than that.
"Ready Hyuuga?"
The jutsu was lifted before Neji could reply, to reveal two figures. One shorter with wild red hair, and another taller blonde beauty, who had his arms round the smaller's naked waist, and his mouth on his neck.
Neji remained totally still, unable to make his brain register the images coming through his restored vision. Embarassed, Neji's gaze fell on the two discarded cloaks on the ground. The pattern of small red clouds, what did it mean? Then it registered.
"Akatsuki", gasped Neji.
"Correct", said the one with red hair, "and we do not enjoy being interrupted."
"Un", agreed the other.
"So we're going to knock you out now."
"Un!", repeated the blonde happily.
"Shut up Deidara", and Sasori placed two fingers to Neji's forehead, administering the jutsu before the Hyuuga could close his mouth.
