Years past and the two grew up as boys their age should. Neji grew tall and strong with chocolate hair that felt like velvet and the coveted lilac eyes of the Hyuuga clan. Gaara was no different in his development then Neji and grew to be a demon that all others of his kind would have envied if they'd seen him. His hair was the color of a bloody sunset and his eyes the depth and color of the rolling sea.

The two had been playmates all their lives and there were never a closer pair. Though Neji and Gaara kept up the appearance of master and pet the two were the very best of friends. Neji learned to do everything from reading to archery from his tutors and all that he learned he pasted onto Gaara in the dead of night. He could not fathom why his people hated Gaara as they did or Gaara's kind.

To him the pointed ears of his playmate were the demon's most adorable feature and his Gaara would not be whole without them. The red head's tail was as soft as satin and nothing soothed his worries more then to have the furred appendage trail up and down his skin or wrap around him. While Gaara's soft smile rarely allowed them to be seen his sharp fangs had always amazed his best friend.

Gaara could only look at Neji with the same wonderment as the lilac eyed boy defended him against the cruelties of the castle staff. None but Neji and the court Seer had ever shown him the barest of affections. He was raised on the tales of how his kind were evil and could never be trusted, but he didn't care what the others thought as long as Neji was there for him.

It seemed only natural when the deep brotherly affection they both felt morphed itself into a more dangerous kind of love, a love forbidden by every law and tradition among both their people. A demon could never love a human, let alone the prince and the prince could never love a demon when on the very day of his birth he'd been promised to another. So while it was felt by both boys neither could act on their feelings. Neji could only be bitter about his choice having been taken away from him before he could even walk and Gaara could only curse the very things about himself that made Neji love him.

Things only became worse when Neji's betrothed visited the castle. Tenten of the land of steel was a beautiful strong young woman and had Neji never met Gaara he might have been content with having to marry her. But that was not the case and her presence always set the pair on edge. Gaara refused to come out of his demon form of a giant raccoon around the girl and would growl whenever she tried to touch his beloved.

This unfortunately seemed wonderfully cute to the princess, which made her try to touch Neji all the more. The only reason the girl hadn't lost any fingers yet was because Neji's touch was always on him to remind him of how fragile his stay at the castle truly was. It would only take one mistake for him to be made into a coat or stew.

Tenten was already madly in love with the prince of Konoha and it had been during one of her attempts to woo the prince that set what was to be in motion.

The two were given as much time alone together as possible by the castle staff in the hopes that the prince would one day return the girl's affections. Tenten had dragged Neji off to the farthest regions of the castle garden in hopes of getting a kiss from her intended. Her plan had gone less then well when Gaara noticed her leaning towards his Neji and had given her hand a deep scratch. The girl had stormed off in tears and the moment she left Gaara returned to his human form and began ranting.

"How dare she touch you with her filthy hands! It's disgrace! I could beat her with my eyes closed! How dare she touch what is mine!" He hissed in outrage.

Neji looked at his enraged crush with widen eyes at the words.

"Yours?"

The demon in Gaara surfaced and reflected in his usually sea foam eyes as his claim on Neji was challenged.

"Mine!" He growled in a menacing tone, giving himself over to the irrational part of his mind that had accepted Neji as his mate and would have no other. With the same irrational thoughts going through his head it seemed only natural to stake his claim like all demons.

He grabbed Neji's top and pulled the prince's mouth to his in a lip bruising kiss. Neji's eyes widened to their brim before slipping shut.

This was forbidden, unthinkable...and ever so good. The taste of his soulmate was intoxicating and he prayed the people of his kingdom would forgive him, but he loved this boy with all his heart and soul. The kiss was all he'd ever wanted and yet could never have. Gaara's thoughts were almost exactly the same as he plundered his desired mate's mouth with his own.

The demon in him slowly reseeded as his sanity returned with vengeance and he realized what he was doing. He was kissing the last heir to the Konoha throne, a crime punishable by death to any other then his intended bride. He pulled away sharply and looked to the ground in disgrace.

"Neji, I'm sor-" Before he could even get the words out Neji's mouth was back on his and kissing him with years worth of passion. Both knew they weren't sorry and Neji wouldn't allow him to utter any false apologies. Gaara struggled weakly in the Hyuuga's grip before allowing himself to be ravished by his beloved. Every part of him responded to Neji's touch and smell like never before and all he could think was he didn't want this to end. When Neji finally let go of his top Gaara couldn't stop himself from pushing Konoha's prince onto the ground and starting to kiss his neck.

Something deep and primal in him awoke with vengeance and with all the strength he had bit down on the base on Neji's neck. The prince gave an ear shattering yelp at the unexpected bite as he felt Gaara's seldom seen fangs sink into his flesh. Just as quickly as the pain started it was replaced by a sense of warmth and power seeping into his body as Gaara began to lick the bite clean. His saliva sealed the wound nicely and by the time he was done all that remained was a mark shaped like a gourd.

"Now you are truly mine." Gaara whispered into his ear, licking the shell slowly. He had no idea why he'd spoken those words or bitten so instinctively. He hadn't been raised with the traditions and stories of his own kind. He'd never met another of his breed. He had no idea that what he had done. What it meant. The future he had set in motion.

A future started by a bite and a scream. Surprisingly it was not Neji or Gaara who screamed and alerted the castle staff. It was Tenten, having gotten her hand bandaged and returned to see her beloved Neji. She had no idea that she would be returning to find him pinned to the ground by his pet.

Gaara looked like he was kissing Neji's neck softly, blood painting his lips like morbid lipstick as he did so and Neji seemed to be giving no protest. What was she to think? That her Neji was cheating on her with a Jinchuuriki? A mere demon when he could have her at his beck and call? No. It had to be the demon's fault. He had to have been the one to seduce her Neji. What other assumption could she make?

"Help! The Demon's attacking Neji! Help! Somebody!"

Tenten ran like the coward she was as others came running at her call. The pair barley had time to stand before Hinata ran from behind a bush and started pushing them into the shadows. Her hands groped blindly along the wall behind them until she found a stone that gave beneath her fingers. Slowly the wall slipped opened to reveal a secret passage way into the castle.

The pair followed her into the gloom and became blinded in the darkness. They followed out of shock at their discovery and the absolute horror about what had just happened. If Gaara was found now there was nothing any of them could do to prevent his immediate execution. So many had waited for this opportunity. For the moment he would make a mistake and let the carefully maintained friendship they had be called into question. No matter what they said or what excuse they made, their word wouldn't be enough against the princess's. What they had always feared had come to pass.

Hinata scurried ahead in the dark and with amazing accuracy and lit several candles on varies shelves. When their eyes finally adjusted to their new surroundings they saw that the passage way had taken them straight into Hinata's private chambers. She rushed about quickly and stuffed random items into a bag as she muttered under her breath.

"I didn't see. I couldn't have known. We have so little time."

She thrust the bag into Gaara's hands and began shoving more pieces of clothes and necessities inside.

"You have to leave immediately. If you're seen now they'll kill you. You can't die today or nothing will go as it should. You have to go."

"Go?" Neji whispered in shock.

"Yes, he'll have to take refuge in demon country and go into hiding. We can't risk keeping him here. One look at his silted eyes and bloodied mouth right now and even you couldn't protect him. I saw how the two of you looked at that moment to her and her words will be like music to their ears. If you love him as much as I think you do you'll understand there's no going back from here." She uttered in a rushed whisper.

Gaara's eyes returned to their normal coloring and he wiped his lips with such violent haste and self loathing that they became raw from the friction. Neji pulled his hand back and tenderly used a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe away the blood.

"What will he do when he gets there? He has no family that we know of. No place to return to. No more knowledge then we do of their culture. I'll never be able to see him again!" Neji whispered, feeling the panic rise in his chest.

"Neji calm down!" Gaara ordered ferociously, dropping the bag that he'd been holding and pulling Neji to him.

"I know all that you have taught me, enough reading, writing and combat to make it to my homeland. Our people have been at war for so long I doubt they'll reject someone with my talents. I will find myself a place. As I have done here all my life."

Gaara reached out to cup Neji's face in his hand.

"But I'll never find another you, so don't forget me. No matter what I will find my way back to you. I promise."

There wasn't time for more as the enraged calls of the guards echoed down the corridor outside Hinata's room.

"Open up Seer! We need to search the whole castle for the demon!"

Gaara grabbed his bag again and wrapped it tightly around his waist, nodding to Hinata to begin the spell she'd been setting up while the two had been talking.

Hinata was no enchantress, but even she could manage a simple shifting spell to send him as close to the boarder of demon country as possible. With a wave of her hand Gaara began to shimmer and become transparent in the dim lighting. With sad eyes he reached out as though to touch Neji's face and whispered softly.

"I love you…Wait for me."

The light barely had time to fade before the door was kicked open by one of the guards. Hinata stood in front of Neji in a protective way and greeted them calmly.

"There is no one here but myself and the prince, search all you like."

The guards turned over everything not bolted to the floor and glared in dissatisfaction when they found no trace of their target. When they were done the caption turned and motioned for her to step aside from Neji.

"The queen wants to see you as soon as possible. She is very worried. We were told escort you to her upon your finding."

Neji was in no condition to see his mother and Hinata knew if he did right then nothing would be able to stop him from telling her the truth. A truth that could get Hinata killed.

"I shall escort the Prince. You have a demon to find." She offered, knowing they'd be more eager to keep looking for Gaara then to escort Neji. The captain nodded and led his men out to keep searching.

As soon as they were out of sight Neji collapsed to the floor and held his heart, as though holding it tight enough it would stop it from breaking.

"I should have been more careful! I should have protected him!" He yelled in turmoil.

Hinata held him as tight as possible as he cried out his inner anguish. Under her breath she muttered a soft spell that sealed all his screams into the confines of her room and allowed the prince to have his moment. But even her spell couldn't muffle all the noise he made. If anyone had been down in the dungeons right then it would have been impossible not to hear the faint echo of screams filling the halls.

Thanks so much for all the awesome reviews people! I'm over the moon right now in happiness! I hope you all liked the update and will review again!

Yours truly,

Jessica499499