Chapter 3:

Two Gay Guys and A Hot Spring

Naruto was awaken by a light tapping on his head and a black haired girl leaning over him.

"Gah!" The blond screeched and sat up.

"Oi, Naruto... Get dressed and come help me" Shizune said before leaving the room to head for the kitchen.

"Oh..."

The blond stretched and yawned. What time was it? How long had he been sleeping? At that moment Naruto realized that under the blanket, his hand was placed somewhere it shouldn't have been.

'Morning wood ah...'

"Gah!" Naruto withdrew his hand.

He had dreamed of Neji last night and boy was he excited. So much so that in his dream Neji had the blond pinned between the him and the bed. Naruto blushed as he remembered his dream. Great he was become as bad as Jiriaya! Running his hand through his hair, Naruto got up and walked out of his room in his pajama's to help the person who rudely awoke him. He yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"What time is it, Shizune?"

"Time for you to be up and helping me... Now grab me the milk please."

Naruto did as he was told and sighed watching the lady cook.

" I making something simple because I have to go back to work so your going to have to settle for eggs and fried rice." Shizune said handing the boy the milk back.

Naruto put it away and yawned, " Uh huh... Okay..."

Shizune turned the stove off and set up the food on a tray for Naruto. She was really in a rush, but made it look presentable. She had started cooking before she had woken Naruto up, better to let a growing boy sleep.

"Okay there you go and I'll see you later tonight" She said.

"Right... Bye Shizune" Naruto grabbed the tray and took it down the hall to Neji's room.

Neji was peacefully sleeping when Naruto entered and set the tray down. Naruto smiled and quietly leaned down to plant a nervous kiss upon Neji's forehead. The brunette made a small noise and opened his eyes as Naruto moved away but lingered above him.

"Morning Neji..." The blond smiled, " I brought breakfast..."

"Hn.."

"You hungry...?"

"You woke me up..." Neji said, sitting up slowly and sleepily.

Blinking Neji unwrapped his bandages carefully.

"What the..." He inspected his stitches which had scabbed completely to show it was healing, " Lady Tsunade said it wouldn't scab up like this for a couple days..."

Neji's eyes landed on Naruto who was busy bringing the tray over. Could that tingle he felt have been Naruto... No. He couldn't heal but then again... Thinking back on the Chunin Exams that chakra he used that seemed to heal him...

"I guess your just lucky" The topless blond said with a blush as Neji's lilac eyes never left him.

The older's eyes dropped and inspected the toned body and smooth skin of his caretaker. He never realized how hot the blond was before. No, not hot... Sexy was the right word. The blush that laid upon those soft cheeks was cute. What could the blond be thinking? Naruto blushed more as Neji looked him over.

"Stop staring at me like that Neji you're making me nervous" The blond whined softly.

Neji's eye's shot up. Shit, he'd been caught staring. But that blush laid so innocently on his tanned skin, his petite pink lips, and deep oceans for eyes. They enchanted him to no end. Neji tore his gaze away and blushes softly. Damn, why did he have to stare?

"Does it hurt?" Naruto asked inspecting the wound closely.

"Yes, but it itches" Neji said with an annoyed growl from the itching that had started.

"Are you hungry?" The blond asked backing up.

"Well I am now..."

The blond smiled and brought the tray over handing Neji his own bowl and chopsticks. Good No repeats from yesterday. It felt rather strange to be feeding someone whom was once your rival. Though now, he felt as if he were a close friend and even more a pull tugged at the blond, drawing him closer to the Hyuuga. Neji nodded his thanks and watched the blond sit next to him on his bed and begin to eat. The older smiled slightly and began to eat. It was a wonder why Lady Tsunade had picked Naruto. Maybe he was the only one who could come. How long would his family be gone and leave him? If Naruto was correct they'd be gone for a week at least. A week to get to know this blond mystery.

"Let's go to the hot sping in the back of the manor after we eat" Naruto said.

"How'd you know there was a hot spring?" Neji asked surprised.

"Hinata told me once, she said she would have you take me there once" Naruto said stuffing his face.

"She did, did she..." Neji continued to eat and watched in amazement as the blond set and empty bowl down.

Did he always eat that fast? He could he be worse than Choji! No Choji would have eaten at least 3 times as much as the blond. It was a miracle to know that Naruto never gained a pound. Setting down his own bowl after a while Neji sighed and got up.

"Put the tray in the kitchen..." Neji said as he went out of his room and to a hall closet.

"Yes, sir" The blond rolled his eyes and did as told.

Neji grabbed two towels and two robes from the hall closet and sighed as the blond came back. Naruto had the goofy smile on his face again.

"Lets go..." Neji said with a sigh as he started toward the back of the manor where the hot spring was located.

Naruto let the brunette go and get undressed first. He didn't want to be tempted to look. Yes that temptation was great but the blond fought the urge to look at the toned cream colored body that had haunted his dream last night. Neji walk to the spring and slowly eased himself in, Naruto watched before just stripping his pajamas and wrapping the towel around his waist. Stepping into the water far from Neji, Naruto slowly lower himself in. It was hot but oh so sooth. Having Neji in the same spring, practically naked made his body heat up and his face turn red. Naruto sighed and closed his eyes.

Neji looked at Naruto and smiled lightly befor looking at the boys clothes next to the spring. he resisted a chuckle but when something glinted in the bundle and caught his eye he couldn't help but turn in the water and grab the headband. A crossed out leaf symbol. Sasuke.

"Naruto... Why are you hanging onto this?" Neji asked with a stern face.

Naruto opened his eyes and immediately reached for the headband dangling from Neji's hand. Neji pulled it back his eyes glaring at the boy. He felt something with him that he thought he couldn't possibly feel. Was he jealous? The blond had to have had it for some reason and Neji was determined to find out.

"Give it back Neji..." Naruto said.

"Tell me why you have it Naruto? Why are you dwelling on him?"

"Because now give it back" Naruto growled.

"Because why?" Neji snapped surprising the blond why was he getting defensive about Naruto having Sasuke's headband.

"Because... It's a reminder of a broken promise..." Naruto looked away ashamed.

"Naruto..." Neji's eyes softened and he set it down.

The older scooted closer to the blond and tried to embrace him. Naruto got up immediately.

"Don't..." Getting out of the water Naruto picked up the headband and his belongings and sighed.

He walked only as far as the dressing room door before he dropped his things and leaned his forehead against the wall.

"Do you remember.." Naruto paused, " what you said to me before I left you to fight?"

"Yes, I told you your eyes are better than mine" Neji said softly.

"I couldn't..." Naruto closed his eyes fighting back tears, " I couldn't see through his darkness to find our friend... I couldn't find him in the darkness... and you were wrong I broke my promise to everyone."

Neji climbed soundlessly from the hot spring and stepped up behind the blond. Despite his shoulder injury, the older wrapped his arms around the blond and laid his head on his shoulder. Those lilac eyes softened, feeling the sorrow in the blonds voice as tears silently fell.

"You didn't fail everyone..."

"What do you mean?" Naruto said dismissing the Hyuuga's embrace.

"You came back alive " Neji blushed, " You came back to me alive..."

Naruto blinked at the statement and let a small smile grace his lips through tears.

†

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