"Come to think of it," Neji whispered, "Matsuri is probably one of the only people that knew him then."
From what he had heard from the girl, Gaara had been rather...rebellious in a sense.
He rubbed his forehead adding, "lucky..."
He looked at the small gift next to him.
It wasn't very big.
Barely even the size of his hand.
Carefully wrapped in a shiny metallic crimson paper, the bow wrapped tightly around it was an almost shining black. It certainly gleamed in the moonlight.
A soft creak caught Neji's attention as he jumped up in alertness, scanning everything.
His eyes settled on a lone mirror in a corner of the darkest part of his room, the rusty object squeaked once again before stilling.
"That thing..." he growled.
He remembered…
He remembered how exactly he had gotten the mirror that was exactly like the one from his dream! It was such an irritating reason as well but he'd recall it later, he didn't want to fully remember blatant stupidity just yet.
He watched it, gleaming though there was no light on its glass, it looked...ominous.
There was something wrong with it.
Neji knew it.
It seemed to taunt him everyday that he looked at it; it seemed to be watching him.
Even now, as he stared at his dark reflection, he felt as if eyes were on him.
Waiting,
Watching.
Neji growled internally and looked away; he didn't have time to be glaring at that thing now.
"That dream...its becoming more...more..."
He lay on his back on his bed quietly musing, "real...does it mean anything?"
Neji stared at his ceiling as he thought, running over the possibilities of his previous dream. Was it real? He'd had it so many times that that was what it seemed. Was he just being paranoid? Sure he'd had it a lot but it was still a dream. Was it really a dream or a vision? This he did not know, nor would he ask due to the laughter that would likely ensue.
"I guess I'll figure it out soon enough. I can only pray that I'm not going crazy..."
An ethereal voice called, "Neji-sama..."
"W-what!"
He jerked upwards once again with eyes wide, he was certain he was awake right now.
He'd never heard that voice once he was though.
Was he going mad!?
"Find me..."
"I-I will." Neji said, searching for its location, it sounded so close.
"Free...me..." it said once again before dying away.
"Wait don't leave! I can't find you if you—"
Neji felt his hand knock against something solid; he quickly retreated and gazed at where he was before. For a second, just a split second, he thought he saw a body sitting where he had been previously before it disappeared and showed the gift Gaara had given him.
It took a moment for Neji to calm his startled heart before sitting down once more and taking the gift into his hands. He rubbed the sides of the intricate little box with his palms slowly undoing the near glistening bow.
He removed the lid to the present and placed it back on the mattress, looking into the box's contents surrounded by soft purple tissue paper.
Neji's eyes widened.
"Is this..."
He gripped onto a silver chain and pulled its case along with the shining gemstone attached to it.
"Is this a..."
He took the gem into his hand and brought it closer to his face, tilting it into the moonlight to marvel at its shocking glow.
"Is this a moonstone?"
He stared in awe at the shining silver stone in his palm, closing his palm and holding it to his chest.
"Gaara...he hinted at this didn't he."
He recalled a short conversation he'd had with the boy not long ago.
000000000000
"Neji-sama."
"Hai Gaara."
"Your eyes..."
"Hmm?"
"Your eyes remind of something."
"Really?"
"Hai..."
"Well...what?"
"Pardon?"
"What do they remind you of?"
"The moon."
"The...moon?"
"Hai."
"Why is that?" Neji inquired.
"Why? Because..."
"Because? because they're white?"
"Because the moon is pretty."
00000000000000
Neji's heart skipped a beat, thudding against his chest. That moment, even though it had been very short was about one of the things Gaara had ever said to him that didn't make him think horribly unethical things.
At the very least it was one of the least possible offensive or outrageous things Neji had ever heard.
Gaara had told him some...interesting things beforehand.
Very...unsettling things.
Recalling most of it would bring grave torment to the paling Hyuuga. A blush arose to his cheeks again and followed by a soft sigh.
Gaara was really...something.
Though Gaara wasn't really free was he.
What would it take to break that obedient dome he had himself in?
I love him...
Neji's head shot up.
I love him...
Neji lowered his head sadly and those words had echoed painfully in his head repeatedly as he recalled that incident once again.
I love him...
I love him...
I love him...
I love...
What the hell was wrong with Gaara!?
At first Neji had thought that it might have been low self esteem or some inner need to be accepted by someone but no, it was far from that. Gaara really was a living doormat! He had nothing inside, nothing!
No person in their right mind could love someone so abusive!
What the hell could happen to cause such a horrid reacting in Gaara?
In a near fit of rage, he squeezed the stone in his hand and pelted it at the mirror on the other side of the room. He instantly regretted it once he heard the loud clink against the glass and rushed over to the jewelry. Carefully looking over the gem he sighed with relief once assured himself that there was no damage to it.
"My...this is a sturdy little rock isn't it?"
Looking to the glass he was surprised to see a small crack, pressing his fingers against the indent.
He chuckled lightly and added, "Naruto's going to upset when he sees this."
When he was going to move away he eyes widened, staring at the gem in his palm.
It was glowing, abnormally.
He hung it in front of the mirror stared as it glowed before dying away.
"What was—?"
Neji looked back at the glass on the mirror and noted that with some surprise,
He couldn't see his reflection anymore.
He touched the glass and watched as he couldn't see himself with the reflection anymore even as he moved his had against the glass.
"Why can't i..."
Neji was suddenly interrupted once he heard the startled shrieks sounding abruptly from downstairs, due to the shock; Neji's hand pressed against the sturdy mirror and pushed it back harshly.
An audible smashing of glass sounded soon afterwards.
"Damn it...Naruto's going to be very upset..."
He was going to look to his door when he noticed the alarm clock on his bedside table was off. Looking about, all the electronics were off as well.
"We must have blown a fuse."
Everything had silenced once again and he could hear his uncle saying how he would have this fixed momentarily. There had been laughter from downstairs so Neji finally decided to go back to the others. With this incident, they'd likely notice his lack of presence afterwards. Besides, it would be easier to sneak back in if no one could see him.
He'd worry about the broken glass lkater.
Getting to his feet he moved to the door and froze.
His eyes widened, something was in his room.
He could feel it slithering all about, he nearly gasped as a hand caressed his cheek.
"Who are you! Show yourself!" He growled.
"Neji..." They whispered.
That voice...it was back...
"My dream."
"Neji..." It whispered again.
A small light flittered and grew into the same childlike body he'd been seeing for so long. He knelt down and it touched his cheek again and whispered, "Thank you..."
It rose into the air and jettisoned out of his room, for a moment Neji sat and thought on whether or not he had really just seen that.
"I'm...I...I need to get back out there. Staying here is making me..."
Neji wasn't even quite sure.
He hooked the necklace around his neck and hid it underneath his shirt, quickly making his way out his room and back to the others.
No more thinking, meaningless chaos was far better at the moment.
The moment Neji had stepped back into the main room; the lights flew on, blinding him and everyone else temporarily in the process.
"Guhh..." Neji groaned.
"Yo Neji! Man you're hard to find in this crowd."
"I guess I am Naruto."
His blonde haired friend nearly leapt at him, slinging one arm around his shoulder as he pointed to the decadent birthday cake in the middle of the room.
"When are we gonna get some?" Naruto whined.
Neji laughed at his friend's immaturity, making Naruto pout with feigned irritation.
Neji merely replied, "you'll get some soon enou..."
Neji's eyes widened, stiffening greatly as he stared out amongst the crowd. He could see that ghostly little boy even now, only this time he was standing amongst them...or hovering over them.
"Ay Neji, you alright?"
"I-I..." He stuttered.
"H-hey what's wrong?"
"Naruto?"
Naruto answered warily, "yah?"
"Do you see anything...? Over there?"
Naruto turned to where Neji was facing and tilted his head in confusion, gasping in surprise a moment later.
So he does see it.
"You mean that awesome painting over there! Wow that guy looks like me. Ha! Makes me look like some kind of god."
On second thought...
"Naruto..." Neji mumbled before tiredly responding, "You and I both know that you could never be that sophisticated."
"Hey! I take offense to that. I could so be like that!"
"Not on your life."
Naruto grumbled to himself and Neji continued to stare at the little boy that moved about the room.
Was he the only one that could see him?
For a short while Neji was lost in his own confusion, watching as said little boy floated about the room. He seemed to be laughing; Neji could just barely see a smile on his face.
Something about that kid seemed to be familiar.
"Neji? Hello!? Is there anyone in there?"
"Of course there is unlike you."
"Hey!"
Neji laughed, never taking his eyes off the floating creature in the room but listening to Naruto more carefully now.
"Looks like Gaara's coming over," Naruto said, "he's got something to give you or did you already get it?"
Neji focused on Gaara as he began to walk through the crowd towards them, feeling his heart flutter in the process.
A moment passed but Neji finally replied, "yah he gave me it earlier..."
Neji offhandedly caught the specter in his gaze as it was now in line with Gaara except...
Something didn't look right.
He saw Gaara coming closer and closer but the creature above was focusing its gaze on Gaara as well.
And it seemed angry.
Suddenly everyone else faded from his vision, even Naruto's presence and voice as well.
All that remained was he,
Gaara,
And the spirit.
Everything else had turned black.
Time had seemed to slow as well, Gaara's movements towards him seemed to be coming at about a snails pace.
The child above merely stared.
Neji could sense it.
Anger.
Sadness.
Hate.
Agony.
Vengeance...
The spirit boy swirled around his vision, a vicious aura emanating from it as it zipped from side to side restlessly.
Neji saw Gaara stop walking, he turned to glimpse behind him just enough so that Neji could still see his face.
The look of shock that had taken over the boy's face amazed even Neji.
This had been the most emotion he'd ever seen from him.
The spirit stopped moving, the white glow replaced by a menacing gold once Gaara had turned completely around seemingly to look at it.
Gaara began to take step after step backwards, his body seemed tense.
Could Gaara see it to?
Was he afraid?
"Ga..." Neji tried to call out to him but his voice failed, he tried again repeatedly but no words would come from his lips.
"What's going on?" He thought in a panic.
"Return..." the spectral creature moaned.
As Gaara's movements seemed to speed just slightly, Neji noticed an odd black formation appear right by his ankle and the redheaded boy lost his balance and fell backwards.
As Gaara toppled over, Neji saw the spirit -now glowing a dangerous crimson- lunge forward at him. It launched itself into the chest of the boy just before he hit the ground.
Neji couldn't look away, eyes wide.
He tried feverishly to call out to him, even to move but he was frozen.
His body just wouldn't move.
He could only watch as he saw Gaara lay there on the ground very, very still. Terror wracked his body as his thoughts ran rampant on all the possibilities of what had just happened, overruling one once he thankfully seen Gaara's body move. Though it was clear that something was terribly wrong.
Gaara began to tremble, rolling onto his stomach and solely lifting his body to his knees.
"A-ahh...!" Gaara breathed.
His entire body shook horribly, head hung low as he then made himself stand. His legs seemed to barely hold him as they quivered, Gaara clutched onto his arms tight enough that Neji could see the fabric of on his sleeves straining.
"Gah hah...!"
Neji stared in horror as head lifted and his eyes locked with his, the green orbs gone and having turned to a chaotic shade of gold. Gaara's head tilted back and seemed as if he were going to fall once again.
At that moment everything went black, he could no longer see Gaara or himself.
Neji heard a few startled yells and felt a hand on his shoulder.
"N—ji,"
"Huh?"
"Oi...Neji"
"Naruto?"
"God I thought you were...ignoring me."
"I..."
"Looks the power went off again."
"I guess s—"
He hadn't been given the time to as a single voice suddenly screamed within the darkness. Neji burst out of his dazed stupor and searched frantically, Naruto having removed his arm and searching as well.
The rest of the crowd had seemed to catch the voice as well due to it not sounding to be surprised.
More like in agony.
The lights flickered on once again and it took a moment for everyone to adjust once more, once they had no one made a move.
He and his friends could only stare in horror filled shock as they had seen one of them now lying on the ground unconscious.
Everyone had been disbelieving and Neji silently stuttered "G-Gaara."
