DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters. - It's all Kishimoto Masashi's property.
This is just a fanfic, made from a fan for fans.
AUTHOR'S Note: AU, several pairings apart from main one, Rated M for language, explicit intimate scenes and yaoi.
A/N: Thank you so much for all the support thus far! I really appreciate it!
It all started two months ago…
"Come on! Do me this little favor and I'll owe you for life, I swear!"
"I already said no, Ino! I don't want to waste my time on useless shit."
"What if I say please?"
"It's still a no! Besides you're the one who's been entrusted with the task by that friend of yours. It's got nothing to do with me!"
"I beg you Naruto. Kiba and I will be back before you even know it! It's only going to be a couple of days anyway!"
"Ino…", Naruto whined exasperated with his friend.
"Please, please, please!"
Letting out a deep, deliberate sigh, Naruto whirled around and pinned her with a glare.
"What did you say I'd have to do?"
"Thank you! I knew I could count on you!"
"Yeah, yeah… I pity myself already, so no more stalling. Get to the point."
"I've cleaned up like I was supposed to and took care of everything. You only have to air the house and water the plants in the morning."
"Ugh. I'll have to get up early, won't I?"
"No. Not really. It's pretty close to your place. Fifteen to twenty minutes on foot max."
"Thank God for small favors…"
"Just don't forget to air the house properly. That guy is a total neat freak. He'll flip if you don't and somehow he always knows everything. Such a creep for someone this young…"
"You know, not all people like to keep their living space filthy, untidy and smelly the way you do, Ino."
She glared at him and dug an elbow in his ribs, making him gasp painfully.
"Anyway, he'll be away for the next two weeks on a business trip."
"Didn't you say before he is around our age?", he managed out still hunching over his side.
"Ah… yeah, he is. He's actually a student in our department, but he-"
Her phone rang that very moment cutting her off. Naruto felt instantly relieved and thankful for the interruption.
What kind of college student has a big house and runs off to business trips? Probably some loaded, snotty dude.
Once again curiosity got the better of him, but he kept his thoughts to himself. If he asked Ino about it, the woman would never cease her rambling. As soon as she finished talking on the phone, she got back.
"Want me to take you to the house and show you around a bit?"
"Fine! But if you pull another stunt like the one just now, you can kiss my ass goodbye, got it?"
"Well…", she drawled, her eyes following the curve of Naruto's ass mischievously.
"Forget it! Keep your eyes off of me, woman!"
"You know I freaking love you, don't you?"
"Yeah, yeah… Let's get going."
She laughed heartily at the miserable face he feigned and wrapped an arm around his waist pulling him towards the door.
Studying marketing had been the starting point, but turning twenty-one signaled officially Neji's active involvement in the family business. As the future head of the Hyuuga corporations, he started attending meetings and having dinners with clients and partners to get the gist of the work waiting for him ahead. Sometimes he even had to travel abroad on weekends for the most important company related matters.
It was the first time he was handling a case entirely on his own and he absolutely had to strike a deal. It would be an important factor for his future in the business. Since his client was located in Europe, Neji had to go and make the best of his time there. Even if he failed with this one, he still had a back-up plan - less profitable but more beneficial long-termly.
The trip was supposed to last two weeks long and as much as he hated depending on others, requesting his parents for notes from the classes he'd miss or even house-sitting, were most certainly out of question. Tenten had offered to do both for the time he'd be gone and seeing as he probably wouldn't be getting many offers like that, he had partially accepted her help regarding his notes. Ino would be the one taking care of his house.
He'd called Tenten twice from the airport, anxious she'd do something reckless like showing up at his place when Ino was around – now that wouldn't end well for sure – and a few more times from his destination to check up on things. Tenten was probably trying to fit everything in her already strict schedule between college and work, but she would never voice any complaints towards him whatsoever. In fact their last conversation hadn't ended so well either, making Neji speed things up and completing his task in half the time he'd thought he would need.
All he wanted now was to spend a weekend leisurely away from work, college and distractions of any sort. Exhausted from his trip, he headed straight home. He'd inform everyone of his arrival that same evening or the day after. No one was expecting him before next week anyway.
Upon entering he noted with some sense of satisfaction that Ino had done everything perfectly during the time he was away and the uneasiness that was constantly clinging to him wore off dramatically.
"Well that's a first for her…"
He still mourned that beautiful carpet that had been ruined by some sort of unidentified liquid substance the last time he left her in charge of his place. Apparently she had thought that she could use the house to her liking and throw parties during his absence. When he'd gotten back, pure chaos and destruction greeted him. Even the kitchen table was cracked for crying out loud! God knows what kind of activities it had been used for… He had been forced to throw half of his stuff out.
Regrettably she was also the only person he allowed anywhere near his home and the one he trusted irrevocably with access to his personal life and space.
Entering his bedroom on the first floor, he laid his suitcase on the bed, immediately starting unpacking. As soon as he was done, he undressed and in a matter of mere seconds he'd hopped in the shower. No better way to relieve stress than steaming hot water. After finishing his shower, he wrapped a towel around his waist and decided to grab a little something to eat before going to bed.
Going down the stairs he noticed with alarm that the veranda doors were open ajar. A quick glance around the house showed no signs of intrusion.
It must be Ino. She didn't know I'd be coming back today… No, it's Friday. She should be in class right now.
Still on guard he walked quietly towards the open doors to scan the garden outside. The entire place was empty as far as he could see and since the alarm system hadn't gone off, everything should be fine. Most of the anxiety he felt moments ago left his body and he felt relaxing. Until he heard some metallic noise coming from the little storage room, where he kept his gardening tools. He approached cautiously the nearest window to take a look inside. The tension came back, but all the years of training in martial arts and self-defense gave him the calmness and stealth he needed in cases like this.
More noise and clattering came from inside. Now he was certain someone was there and his friend was allergic to tools or hard work when it came to housework or gardening activities. He crouched low so that he wouldn't be seen by the intruder. Been taken by surprise can be a great disadvantage and Neji didn't want to risk it.
He chanced a look inside and… nothing. Yet he could still hear the same clinging noise from earlier, as if someone was searching through the tools in the room. A shovel slid down the wall hitting something.
"Ouch!"
The voice was loud enough to be heard clearly through the wooden walls. It was a man.
"Stupid piece of junk! Where the hell are the damn pruning hooks?"
Hands rubbing a blond head could be seen behind the worktable. Getting up the man threw the gardening gloves he was wearing on the floor, frustration pouring out of his body in volumes. He kept glancing around still looking for the tool he needed. Neji felt somewhat reassured. If that young man was here to work, then Ino must have sent him. He hadn't asked her to do anything apart from a little cleaning in the house and watering the plants.
He decided it'd be best if he showed himself sooner rather than later. Pruning hooks could be used as a weapon and a lethal one at that, if the man was let's say by any chance mentally unstable. It didn't look like it was the case here, but Neji wasn't sure he wanted to find out either. He walked to the door and stood there till the blond took notice of him. When he did, his expression showed surprise, but then it hardened all of a sudden.
"Well aren't you a sneaky one?"
That was definitely not the thing Neji expected to hear, so he remained mute and immobile.
"Who the fuck are you?"
"Watch your language."
"Right. Let me rephrase for you, your majesty. Who in the fucking flying hell are you?", he spat, sarcasm dripping from every word.
Neji took a few steps towards the man, his anger building up at the sudden aggressiveness coming from the stranger.
"I will not tolerate any graphic language. Understood?"
"Are all lunatics as uptight and proper as you are?"
"Pardon?"
"How did you come in? Cause I sure as hell locked the door behind me."
So the man mistook Neji for an intruder. It made sense. After all there were no pictures around the house and Ino wouldn't take the trouble of showing him any either. He was probably not supposed to even meet him, considering the fact that his arrival was expected a week later.
"Apparently I have a key to this place…"
"Are you…?"
"…seeing as I actually live here and all."
"You are the neat freak?", the blond inquired with a spark of sudden interest and gave Neji a good once-over. Only now did he notice how lightly he was dressed. Yet the man only showed signs of appreciation towards him, making him feel all the more self-conscious due to his state of undress.
"What is your name?" , he asked desperately trying to distract the other man.
"Uzumaki Naruto."
"Did Ino ask you to come over?"
"She did. I was supposed to air the house and water the plants for a couple of days, but the roses need some pruning badly, so I was going to do just th-…"
Naruto leaned down to catch the gloves, accidentally knocking the shovel in the process. Neji rushed over to catch it before it hit him again, but with much less grace than he would have liked. The blond breathed a sigh of relief and turned around to face Neji.
"Thanks man! Looks like that thing hates me toda-… Holy shit! Why are you flashing me?"
Due to the sudden movement, the towel previously wrapped around Neji's waist – and his only piece of clothing at the time – fell off. Naruto was now face to face with his nether region and neither of the men looked particularly happy about it.
"I was actually saving your head. Guess something went wrong in the process."
"I'm scarred for life."
"How unfortunate."
With as much dignity as he had left, Neji bent down to get his towel, wrapped it tightly around his waist and walked back towards the house. He stepped on something soft which made him look down. In his hurriedness to check if there was someone around, he got out barefoot and he had just stepped in dung. Great! Now he'd need another shower and a drink to forget the humiliation he had just gone through. Gritting his teeth he continued his way towards the house looking much more dignified than he actually felt.
Naruto let out a soft chuckle hearing the frustrated man muttering curses in that throaty voice of his.
"What a weird fellow…"
Shaking his head thoroughly amused at the incident, he went back to work. The neat freak would definitely take some time to scrub his skin raw, before looking for him again.
What are your thoughts on their first meeting guys? I'm a little hesitant with the whole AU thing,
so I tried to keep their characters as close to the original as possible.
This 'house chapter' is split in two parts for better sorting and editing.
I'll update with the rest sometime during weekend. Pinky swear! :) Comment and review ~