Disclaimer: I don't own nor have I contributed to Naruto in any way! Nope! None!

2nd Disclaimer: The songs and lyrics mention in this fic do not belong to me! Nu-uh!

Sky-eyed Kitsune: Helllloooooo everyone!!!

Gomi-kun: ….what she said.

Sky-eyed Kitsune: emo…

Gomi-kun: Am not!

Sky-eyed Kitsune: Moving on…again, hello all! In case some of you haven't read my profile, please remember to blame Gomi-kun for any grammar errors!

Gomi-kun: o.0

Sky-eyed Kitsune: He is my translator since I live in Japan. I'm pretty much overall fluent speaking English, but I suck at writing it! So Gomi-kun here translates my lovely story the best he can.

Gomi-kun: o.0

Sky-eyed Kitsune: Oh! Btw, Naru's kitty Cyclone is based off my real kitty Krahe-kun! I luv him so much! My mom's cat Tsumi-chan had a small litter of three kittens, so she let me have one. He is pure black with a little white spot across the bridge of his noise and on the tip of his tail. He's soooooo cute! X3 I decided to give him an uncommon name, so I named him Krahe-kun which is German for crow!

My mom kept one other kitten and gave one to Gomi-kun too! Gomi-kun's kitten is black with light brown spots and white paws. He named her Pocky. Krahe-kun always gets into so much trouble though! He loves to shred paper and eat it. o.0 One day I had to turn in a paper to my university teach and I stayed up like all night perfecting it. Then I wake up to find that Krahe-kun has dragged the paper onto the floor and ripped it up! I swear, he must have eaten two pages! O.o

I come in and tell my professor my cat ate my paper, and he just looked at me for a good three minutes. Then roughly translated he said, "That's got to be the worst excuse I've ever heard." Then he gave me a big fat F on the assignment! I can home sooo ticked off, but one look from Krahe-kun and I couldn't stay mad. I ended up doing a truckload of extra credit research to pull my grade back up.

Reviewer Replies:

To goth-punkchick: thank you:3 nejinaru is uncommon, but I like to keep the pairing alive!

To sulie: don't worry, the other characters are coming! This is going to be a long story. This is just before Naruto moves, and I want to establish his relationship with Neji before he leaves. Yes, there will be itanaru! (they're only a year apart of course, otherwise I wouldn't even think to write itanaru.) And Sasuke will be fighting his brother over poor Naru…X3 It will turn very sasunaru, but then again all of the other pairings will make their debut as well!

This chappie is dedicated to goth-punkchick and sulie for being my first reviewers! You both rock!!!

Oh, and there's loooooooots of nejinaru here!!! But don't worry! Naruto's heart hasn't been stolen yet!

Chapter 4: What is Love?

Warm…it was so warm. The soft rhythmic beating of the rain against the window panes and the roof combined with the temperate rolls of thunder created a lullaby and spread through Naruto's body with a calming presence.

Naruto snuggled closer to the warmth, breathing in the scent of the ocean spray and the gritty sand. He could almost hear the gulls cawing to each other as they levitated over the briny blue sea, the waves crashing on the shores as the clouds rolled over the sun and let it filter through their misty cover, dappling the sand with spots of precious gold.

He could imagine the warmth of the sand along the shoreline, sifting his fingers between the grains and letting the sun spots fill him up with ease.

The warmth Naruto was pressed up against sighed, and Naruto suddenly bolted open his eyes. The sand did not sigh!!! Naruto's eyes widened a fraction when he saw Neji lying next to him, holding close as if protecting him from obtruding nightmares. Naruto's surprise was flooded out by happiness and a sense of security. Neji had stayed next to him the whole time while he slept instead of flopping him in one of the many guest beds.

Neji's eyes fluttered open a bit and he smiled softly at Naruto.

"Hi," he said, tilting his head down to give Naruto a tender kiss on the lips.

"Hi," Naruto said after the kiss parted, but inside he didn't want to say anything. He wanted to complete this moment, to have Neji's lips on his own again in that loving and gentle caress. So Naruto grew brave, and leaning up to Neji, he gave him a kiss of his own, hoping Neji would take it from there.

Naruto's wish was granted as Neji wrapped his arms more tightly around Naruto and lapped gently at his lips with his own. It was the softest, most loving kiss Naruto swore he would ever have in his life. It remained tender and placid for what felt like forever, before Naruto broke for air. He attached his lips back to Neji's gladly again after his lungs had their salvation, but before he closed his eyes he caught the time on the digital clock resting behind Neji on a side table.

"OH SHIT!" Naruto cried, letting the curse word fly from his mouth as he pulled away from Neji and sat up.

"Huh?" Neji said, dazed from sleep and Naruto's intoxicating taste.

"It's 2:00 am! Iruka's gonna kill me!" Naruto said anxiously. "We need to go!"

Naruto bolted up from the couch…or at least he tried. Neji grabbed his hand, and in one fluid motion he pulled Naruto to sit back down to the couch that he was half laying on.

"Calm down," he said groggily, and leaned his head against the back of Naruto's right shoulder.

"N-Neji!" Naruto stuttered, a blush tinting his cheeks. "We said we'd be back by midnight at the latest! It's freaking 2 am and I'm two hours…mmm…"

Naruto couldn't help but let loose a hum of pleasure as Neji attached his lips to the back of Naruto's neck and kissed it. They were light kisses, barely grazing Naruto's neck, but they were enough to send him into his oceanic paradise once more. Normally Neji would have never been so bold, but his mind was clouded over with sleep and Naruto's sweet addictive taste.

"Neh…N-Neji…Iruka…" Naruto managed to mumble out between groans.

"…alright," Neji said, and he stood up. Naruto felt a loss of contact and pouted inwardly before following him out the door.

Naruto shifted the front door to his temporary apartment open as softly as he could, and he vigilantly poked his head in. Everything was quiet and calm. Naruto sighed and turned back to Neji who stood behind him.

"I think Iruka may have already gone to bed, but in case he hasn't you should go," Naruto said quietly. "I don't want Iruka lecturing you too."

"I could use a good lecture every now and then," Neji joked. "Iruka has plenty to go around."

Naruto snorted. "Got that right."

He tiptoed in and Neji followed suit behind him, shutting the door as noiselessly as possible. The duo made their way to the door of Iruka's room, and tilted it open. It creaked a bit, and Naruto cursed under his breath. But he heard nothing to indicate a disturbance, so he took a chance and slowly pushed the door open enough for them to see inside.

Iruka sat at his desk, papers and pens splayed across its top, his laptop open to his left with the screensaver on, and a messy file cabinet haphazardly open to his right. He himself had his head down on its side on the desk, one arm limp on the desk while the other stretched out across it, a pen slipping between the grip he had on it in with his fingers. He was out cold.

Iruka's elegant calico lay at his feet, her tail bobbing up and down. She lifted her head, scanned Naruto and Neji for a moment, and then fell back asleep as if to say, "You're not worth the energy." Cyclone was curled up on Iruka's bed. His ear flicked when Naruto opened the door, but he didn't wake up. Naruto giggled a little bit at how sluggish Iruka looked when he was always so composed. He tiptoed into the room, and grabbing a spare blanket from under the bed, he draped it over his guardian's shoulder.

He left the room silently, clicking it shut lightly and sighing.

"Safe," he said to Neji, immensely relieved.

"Guess I should go," Neji said, and Naruto frowned a bit in sadness and confusion.

Did he want Neji to leave, or stay? They had been on an awesome date, it was late, and they both had to be at school early tomorrow with the rest of the juniors to clean up the remains of the Halloween Dance. On the other hand, Neji was always wonderful company, and they were best friends…maybe more.

While Naruto silently debated this Neji pulled Naruto into a hug.

"Goodnight Naruto," he said. "Thanks for the date."

That decided it for Naruto. He wanted Neji to stay, just for the pleasure of his company, just to have him by his side for the sake of simply being with him. But was that love?

Neji pulled out of the hug and gave Naruto a quick but tender kiss on the lips. Then he stood up and walked to the door…or at least he tried. As soon as he had broken away from the brief kiss and started to turn away, Naruto had grabbed him by his shirt collar and tugged him back down, their lips crashing together.

Neji's eyes widened a bit in surprise. He had never wanted to push Naruto into going too quickly, but now he was the one pushing Neji! Not that Neji was complaining or anything, but did this mean Naruto loved him? Or was it just attraction? Neji then did something he thought he would never do. He broke the kiss. Naruto looked at him quizzically. Neji had his crystal eyes fixed on the wooden floor, clouded over with…was that sadness?

"Naruto…stop fooling around," he said, and Naruto felt his breath catch in his throat.

"I'm not going to just kiss you and have it not mean anything. I…I love you. I just don't go around kissing people if I don't love them, and I don't think you would either. So…do you love me? Or am I just…just some kind of friend with benefits to you?"

Naruto's ocean eyes widened. Neji looked hurt. Really hurt. Naruto thought for a moment, going back to his previous question. Did he love Neji? Or was it just attraction? No…it couldn't be. Neji was right; Naruto didn't just go around kissing people unless he felt some kind of love for them. But this wasn't best friend love or brotherly love, this was just love. Wasn't it? Naruto swallowed.

"Neji…" he said. "I…I'm not even sure myself. One part of me says I am, but the other is unsure about whether it's love or just attraction. But I'm not sure if it is! I wouldn't want to talk to you or just be next to you if it was attraction alone- I'd just want to make out all the time. B-but that doesn't mean that you're a bad kisser or anything! You're a great kisser! Wait! I mean-"

Neji couldn't help but smile at the way Naruto stuttered and blushed at his own words, talking quickly as if he only had one breath to get anything out.

"What I'm trying to say is…I…think I might love you...one part of me is just too stubborn and unsure. But I mean, who wouldn't be? I was straight until about seven hours ago, and now look at me! I think that that would confuse a lot of people! You can't just suddenly be ok with finding out-"

Naruto found Neji's lips on his own, interrupting his stammering. Neji was the happiest he had ever been- Naruto loved him…or part of him did, even if the other half was undecided, Neji felt that for the most part Naruto did.

"You talk too much," Neji said, breaking away from the kiss. Naruto smiled sheepishly before Neji swooped down to capture his lips again.

------------------------------------------T-16 FROM HERE!!!-----------------------------------------------------------

Naruto hit his back on the door to Iruka's room as Neji kissed him passionately. He placed his hands on either side of Naruto's head as Naruto gripped the front of his shirt tightly to hold himself up. Neji moved his lips steadily down Naruto's jaw line to his neck.

"Naruto…" he breathed on his love's perfect sun-kissed skin.

"Nnn?" Naruto managed to say.

"Aren't we going kind of fast? This was only our first date."

"Ne…Neji, I've known you for three years…"

"Yea, but that was as friends."

"Neji, I've always felt like there was something between me and you. I always got nervous about what I wore around you and got shocks when we'd accidentally brush hands."

"Y-you did?" Neji felt so relieved. He wasn't the only one who felt some kind of connection!

"Yea, and that was an awesome date."

Neji grinned and attached his lips back to Naruto's neck, who in response groaned, sending shivers up Neji's spine. Naruto gripped his shirt tighter as Neji began to nibble on his skin and make fresh red marks. When his tongue ghosted over them Naruto let out another louder groan of pleasure.

"Ne-Neji…" Naruto gasped. "We're right outside of Iruka's door…"

Oh shit.

Neji was sure they were busted, no, positive, but heard no noises to indicate any movement behind the door with the exception of Iruka's soft snoring. Neji detached himself from Naruto's neck, but as soon as he did he felt the loss of contact. Apparently Naruto did to, as he made a small noise of what sounded like annoyance and disappointment mixed together.

Neji clamped his mouth down on Naruto's and guided him away from the wall, kissing him devotedly as he led them both down the hall. They reached the door to Naruto's room, as it was closed, and Neji fumbled with the doorknob as he tried to split his attention between entering Naruto's room and kissing said blonde. Finally he wrenched the door open and they stumbled in, only breaking for air every few seconds. Neji shut the door with his foot and almost sighed with the relief of not waking Iruka up.

Naruto also sighed as he felt all tension lift from the kiss, and he pressed into it eagerly. This time it was Naruto to experiment, so he asked entrance from Neji, tentatively running his tongue along the crease of his lips. Neji jumped a bit from the surprise, but allowed him welcome entrance. Naruto tasted the flavor that was Neji, made up of the sandy beach and the open spray. After a bit of exploring this wonderful taste, Naruto pulled back his tongue, only to have it followed by Neji's. Neji began to kiss Naruto with a bit more pressure as they both lost their balance and landed on Naruto's bed, Naruto on his back and Neji straddling him. Naruto wound his arms around Neji's neck and groaned when Neji moved from his mouth to his neck again. This time when Neji bit down he didn't gasp, but instead let out a pleasurable moan.

Who was he to help it? It felt so damn good! Neji didn't mind one bit, and actually enjoyed being the one to be able to hear and feel the noise sending shockwaves up and throughout his whole body. Neji left some red marks on Naruto's neck, thoroughly tended to, before clamping down on his lips again. Naruto gripped Neji's shirt, frustrated. How he wished that stupid article of clothing wasn't in the way! Then almost as if reading his mind, Neji sat up a bit, threw off his shirt revealing a well toned bare chest, and dove back into Naruto's mouth.

Naruto panted, hot against Neji's bare chest, running his slender fingers up his pale skin. They made their way to Neji's neck and up it to caress his hair. He wanted to let his fingers run through their full length and savor the feeling, but unfortunately Neji's long russet hair was tied back into a loose ponytail starting at the top. Naruto let out a small growl of irritation, and gripping the offensive rubber band, he pulled it off and Neji's brunette locks fell in sheets of brown silk around him and over his neck. Naruto dug his fingers into the base of Neji's locks at his neck, and let his fingers pass through them to the very tips, the motion causing Neji's breath to hitch in a soft groan.

"N-Neji," Naruto breathed. "I-It's too hot…."

Neji went back up to tend to Naruto's mouth while he slipped his fingers under Naruto's shirt, feeling the hot tanned skin beneath. He steadily pushed it up, focused on kissing the blonde senseless. He broke momentarily as he pulled the shirt completely off Naruto and tossed it to the ground, both also taking the opportunity to greedily suck in air, before crashing their lips together again. Neji ran his hands up Naruto's bare chest, feeling his lithe but firm frame beneath his fingers. Then Naruto did something Neji would only have hoped for in his dreams. He broke from Neji's kissed, threw his head back, and moaned. Loudly.

Neji felt the rush of the noise spark through his body. He had never felt so damn good! This was it. His wildest dreams were coming true, no doubt. This had to be the best day of his life. Neji rubbed his left leg against Naruto's right, who in turn couldn't stifle another groan. Neji was about to bend down and capture those soft lips again when they both heard a noise coming from the hallway.

Iruka.

Damn.

Not good.

"Naruto?" the duo heard Iruka call and they froze.

REALLY not good!

"Are you home?"

"Y-yea!" Naruto called back.

"Oh, alright. I'm going to bed. We'll talk more in the morning, ok?" With that the two heard a door shut.

They both stayed glued in their positions, neither moving, blinking, and barely breathing. After what felt like an hour they both heard nothing. There was just silence.

"Phew," Naruto sighed, and laughed a bit. "I thought we were caught for-"

Neji caressed Naruto's lips with his own, the break feeling like an eternity to him. Now he had to make up for the lost time, definitely. Naruto reacted immediately and ran his hands up Neji's bare chest until they twined around his neck and pulled him forward more, giving the kiss more pressure. Neji's tongue eagerly asked Naruto entrance to his mouth, and Naruto granted it just as anxiously. Naruto's taste erupted in Neji's mouth, a wild sensation that set him aflame with pleasure, and he groaned softly.

Neji cupped Naruto's face in his hands as they passionately kissed, Neji pouring every inch of his constantly expanding love for the blonde beneath him into it so much that Naruto could have sworn that he tasted it. He then moved his arms to wrap around Naruto's middle, and pulled them as close together as possible, their hearts beating in sync. Naruto wrapped his arms tightly around Neji's neck and slid his finger's through Neji's long brown hair as they continued to kiss, breaking only for air.

Naruto lay beside Neji on his bed, both panting with red faces. Neji's arms were wrapped protectively around Naruto's middle, pressing him against his bare chest. Naruto's hands were up against Neji's chest, his head buried in the crook of Neji's neck.

(No, they didn't "do it" you perverts! Just a heated make-out session!)

"Naruto…" Neji whispered. Naruto didn't respond, but Neji somehow knew he was listening.

"I love you."

Naruto caught his breath.

"Neji…I…I'm still-"

"It's alright Naruto. I know you're still unsure."

Naruto smiled and nuzzled Neji's neck.

"Thank you, Neji. Even if I'm unsure if I love you, I'm positive that you're my best friend."

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Naruto! Narutoooo!"

Naruto groaned and buried his head into the warmth next to him and channeled out Iruka's voice.

"Naruto, get up! You have to go into school today!"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Jeez, couldn't Iruka lay off the abusing of his door and find some other way to wake him up?

Naruto's pillow next to him shifted and pulled him close.

Wait…his pillow?

Naruto's eyes shot open and he saw creamy ashen skin. He breathed in and the ocean suddenly engulfed him. Now he remembered.

"Mmm, Neji," Naruto thought, and ran his hands down Neji's bare well toned chest.

"Mrrrfm" Neji groaned, and buried his face in Naruto's hair.

"UZUMAKI NARUTO! IF YOU DON'T GET UP RIGHT NOW, I SWEAR I'LL BREAK DOWN THIS DOOR AND HAUL YOU OUT OF BED!"

"Oh shit!"

If Iruka came in he would go all mother hen on Naruto and Neji, and then go into "the talk" with Naruto. And Naruto really didn't want "the talk".

"Fine! Geez!" Naruto shouted back, and he heard Iruka's footsteps move down the hall to the kitchen. Naruto tilted his head up to look over Neji's shoulder at the digital clock on his table.

"God, you couldn't pay me to wake up at 7:30 on a Saturday…" he thought groggily before letting his head fall back into the crook of Neji's neck.

"Neji, we need to get up now," Naruto said, pulling away from the topless Neji.

"Nnnnnn," Neji whined, pulling Naruto back to him so that he was flush up against his chest.

"N-Neji!" Naruto said, blushing madly. "Let go!" He looked up and saw that Neji's face was still peaceful, his chestnut hair falling in silk sheets around it.

"He's still asleep," Naruto thought to himself. Naruto tried to pull away again, but Neji's grip around his middle was strong. Naruto sighed, then suddenly grinned.

Oh yes, this was going to be good.

--------------------------------------------------------T-16 PEOPLE! ----------------------------------------------------

Naruto pressed his lips against the crook of Neji's neck and started to brush them against Neji's skin gently. Neji let out a hum of bliss in his sleep as Naruto steadily applied pressure and made the presence of his lips more apparent. Naruto smiled at how well his plan was working, and he suddenly bit down hard on Neji's neck.

"AH!" Neji cried, and flipped off of the bed, letting Naruto go.

Naruto would have blown up in laughter if it wasn't for the fact that Iruka would hear him, so he settled for a muffled giggle instead.

Neji sat up and rubbed the spot where Naruto had bit him, and looked up. Naruto sat looking across the bed down at him, a fox like grin plastered on his face.

"Morning sleeping beauty," Naruto teased. Neji sent him a little glare as he rubbed his neck.

"That hurt. What did you do? Poke a needle in my neck?" Neji said as he pulled himself up from the ground. Naruto smirked at him.

"Something like that," he said. "We need to go to school. Leave through the window so Iruka doesn't spy you. I don't feel like seeing his mother hen spaz this early."

Neji nodded. He looked for his shirt, found it on the floor and slipped it on. Naruto went to his walk-in closet and rummaged through his black and orange clothing, looking for his favorite tee-shirt. He grinned when he found it and started to throw it over his bare chest. Suddenly the door closed and Naruto flipped his head around only to see Neji's eyes before his lips were devoured. Naruto was thankful he had turned on the light in the closet or else it would have been pitch black, and he wouldn't have been able to see.

"N-Neji!" Naruto gasped when Neji broke for air, only to have Neji's lips pressed back on his immediately.

Neji ran his fingers up Naruto's half exposed chest and kissed him passionately, roughly pushing his tongue into his mouth without even asking for entrance this time. Naruto gasped a bit at the intrusion, but after a short moment he melted into Neji's kiss, the caress of his lips sending him spiraling. Neji moved his hands up to cup Naruto's face, gently brushing his fingers against the three black scars on each of Naruto's cheeks. Naruto gripped the wall in back of him for support, but since it was a wall, his hands ended up sliding down it, himself and Neji along with it. Naruto and Neji landed on the floor with an "umph!", Naruto's head hitting against the wall behind him a bit.

"Ouch!"

Iruka couldn't remember when he had fallen asleep last night. Maybe it was after reading that document on the Baliri file? Nah. It would have had to have been something much more boring. When he wasn't traveling for the company he worked for, he was a part time university teacher, so maybe it was one of his student's papers? Yea, that made sense…

Iruka stood at the stove cooking bacon and eggs for himself and boiling water to make Naruto his most beloved food in the world, ramen. Normally Iruka would never let Naruto have ramen for breakfast, but it was one of Naruto's last days with his friends. It was all Iruka's fault too for accepting that promotion…so he had to atone for it in some way. Cyclone mewed at Iruka's feet and rubbed up against his legs affectionately, begging for the delicious smelling bacon. Iruka's elegant calico cat Evalon sat under the table, watching Cyclone with a look of monotony as if to announce that she was better than the whole world.

"Cyclone, I just fed you!" Iruka said to the black kitten. Cyclone simply mewed again as if to say, "Nu-uh!"

Iruka rolled his eyes. He grabbed a small strip of bacon that had finished cooking and was cooling off, and held I out to Cyclone. Cyclone snatched the succulent strip of meat from Iruka as if he would jerk it back, and bolted to the table with it. He gave Evalon what Iruka could have sworn was a smirk, before hopping up on the table and devouring the human food.

The kettle went off and Iruka was preparing Naruto's ramen when he suddenly hear something go "thump!" against the wall and someone whined, "Ouch!" Iruka looked at the wall and blinked. Maybe Naruto had tripped on his jeans in the closet again?

"Nnnnnnnnn…"

Iruka's eyes bulged out of his head as he heard a long and loud groan emit from the wall. That was not the usual groan Naruto made when he had done something stupid to hurt himself. Actually, Iruka didn't know what that was.

"N-Neji…"

Iruka was gone from the stove faster than you could say pocky. He bolted down the hall and threw open Naruto's door, only to find the room empty.

"Naruto?" Iruka called. Maybe he was just hearing things?

"I-Iruka!?" Naruto cried from the closet.

"Naruto? Are you in the closet?"

"Ye-nnnn…"

"What?"

"Y-y-yea! I am!"

"What are you doing in there? You didn't lock yourself in again did you?"

"Neji! Uh, yea! I did! But I wanna get out by myself this time, so don't help! Nnnn-o-ok?"

"Ok…but what does Neji have to do with this? And what was the loud thump and that groan?"

"Oh, t-the lights weren't on when I locked myself in! Yea! So I hit my head against the wall and it hurt so bad that I groaned! Yea! And uh…I'm on the phone with Neji!"

"….in the closet?"

"Yep! It's uh…a Halloween tradition around school! Yea! It keeps the ghosts away-ouch! You bastard…"

"Naruto? Are you ok?"

"Y-yea! I uh…I stubbed my toe on the wall!"

"….so you called it a bastard?"

"Y-yep! Sure did!"

"But it's a wall..."

"Yea well….you call your laptop a bastard all the time!"

"Fine Naruto," Iruka finally sighed. "Well, I made ramen for break-"

"RAMEN!!!!"

Iruka covered his ears. "Yes, ramen. If you want some it should be ready in about a minute."

"I'll be right there!!!"

Iruka closed Naruto's door and walked back to the kitchen to find Cyclone begging for more bacon. Iruka sighed. Naruto was definitely acting weird…but then again, it meant that he was turning somewhat back to normal.

Naruto gasped as Neji trailed kisses down from his neck, to his bare chest, to his stomach before reaching back up to envelope Naruto's mouth with his own. Somehow Naruto and Neji had ended up with their shirts off again, and Neji was straddling Naruto on the floor of his closet.

Neji's visit to Naruto's mouth was brief as he lapped at the new hickeys at Naruto's sun-kissed neck.

"N-Neji…you b-bastard…" Naruto breathed. As soon as Iruka had come in, Naruto had frozen and went on a mental panic attack. So what did Neji do when they were so close to being busted? He decided to nibble at Naruto's neck and remove his shirt, that's what!

Neji smiled against Naruto's neck.

He pulled back an gave Naruto a small but sweet kiss before saying,

"See you at school."

With that he was gone in the blink of an eye.

-----------------------------------------------------END T-16---------------------------------------------------------------

Naruto barreled into the kitchen and almost knocked over a chair as he sat at the table where a bowel of ramen sat steaming. Naruto took in the sweet scent and smiled before slurping it up.

Iruka sat across Naruto with his own bacon and eggs and smiled. Naruto looked much livelier than he had for the past two weeks after the fire accident…but then again, who wouldn't be if they were in Naruto's shoes? With his past, anyone would be…

As Iruka pondered the slurping suddenly stopped, and he looked up. Naruto wasn't finished, but he stood up nonetheless and grabbed his orange jacket from the coat hanger by the door. There were two things Naruto would never do- one, he would never stop wearing the color orange. And two, he would never, NEVER leave any ramen half eaten. Heck, it wasn't even half eaten! He had only taken three bites!

"Naruto?" Iruka asked in a concerned tone.

"I'm going, ok?" Naruto said.

"Alright…I'll see you at S.T.R.A.Y's gig tonight, all right?"

"Yea…" With that Naruto shut the door and made his walk to school.

Naruto strode into the school gym, his hands in his orange jacket. All of the juniors were balling up the banners into trashcans and sweeping the cluttered floors of trash. In the corner a radio was pounding music and bouncing it off the walls to make the time go by more quickly. Hmm, that was strange…where were the fan-

"NARUTOOOOOO!!!"

…girls. Naruto knew it was too good to be true. A girl with brown hair and one with red clung onto each of his arms.

"Narutooo! You're playing tonight at the Copper Lounge, aren't you?" the red head asked sweetly, fluttering her eyes to Naruto.

"Yea..." Naruto said apathetically. Why didn't they get a clue?

"Oooooh! You're going to be sooo good!" the brunette cooed.

"Don't forget hott!" the red-head chimed in. Suddenly the leader of Naruto's fanclub, Tiff, strode forward. She gave the two of them pointed looks and they scattered. Naruto swore he heard her hiss.

"Naruto love, I forgive you," she said in a sickly sweet tone that made Naruto want to vomit.

"For?" Naruto asked as he rolled his eyes.

"For pretending to be going out with Neji. I know it was an act," Tiff replied, latching onto Naruto's left arm where a previous fangirl had just so recently occupied.

"It wasn't an act," Naruto lied expertly. "Get off."

"Silly Naru, I know you were just teasing us!" Tiff said, and her eyes suddenly glinted.

From there everything that happened was a blur to Naruto. He abruptly found himself against a wall with Tiff's lips on his own and her arms around his neck.

"What the hell!?" Naruto thought, his mind spiraling. This kiss was awful! It was nothing like the gentle caress of Neji's lips at all. This was a rough and forced kiss, utterly bitter. Naruto shifted and tried to pull away from the wall, but Tiff dug her perfectly manicured nails into the back of Naruto's neck, and he winced in pain. Naruto shut his eyes tight, hoping it was all just a bad dream, when suddenly Naruto felt the pressure on his lips gone as Tiff was harshly yanked away.

A hand grabbed Naruto's wrist and pulled him off the wall, and he hit something warm and firm. Protective arms wrapped around him as if shielding him from the world, and a voice beckoned to him.

"Naruto! Are you alright?"

Naruto didn't respond. He kept his eyes shut and tried to filter out all noise around him.

Neji looked uneasily down at Naruto before flicking his gaze back to Tiff in the most heated death glare he had ever manifested.

"What the hell is your problem?!" Neji shouted, holding Naruto closer to him.

Tiff smiled. "Naruto is too cute not to love," she said. "And he tastes awesome."

Neji's eyes widened a fraction. Oh no, no way was this fangirl talking about his Naruto! Only he could kiss Naruto!

"Idiot!" Neji growled. "Can't you get a freaking hint? He doesn't like any of you! Just back off! Go find some other poor guy to force yourself onto you freaking bitch!"

Neji stomped of with a shoulder around Naruto, leaving the girl standing there dumbstruck while her followers giggled at her from behind.

It was chilly outside, but Neji didn't care. He led Naruto to the side of the school building, away from any fangirls, and hugged him close.

"Naruto…" Neji said softly, stroking his blond spiked hair. "Open your eyes. It's me, Neji."

Naruto wasn't sure why he was reacting so strongly to being kissed by that fangirl. Sure she was one hell of a bitch, but she was the prettiest and most popular girl in school, so there wasn't a ton to complain about for most guys.

But Naruto wasn't most guys.

The kiss had felt wrong, stained almost. It was nothing like Neji's kisses. It was harsh and cold and most of all, forced.

"Naruto."

Naruto heard his name repeated again. This time he opened his eyes and lifted his head to meet Neji's gaze.

"It's ok, Naruto," Neji said soothingly, caressing Naruto's cheeks with his slender hands.

"N-Neji?" Naruto said, his voice a bit broken.

"Shh," Neji said comfortingly as he leaned his head down ever so slightly to rest his forehead against Naruto's. "It's just you and me…

Neji pulled away a bit and dipped his head forward to close the space between Naruto and himself, catching his lips in a soft kiss.

Naruto responded by shutting his eyes tightly and standing stone still, his instincts from the horrible last kiss taking over. Neji noted this, and cursing the fangirl silently, he moved his hands to run through Naruto's spiky but unconditionally silken locks slowly and lovingly. Neji didn't press the soft kiss, and waited for a reaction from Naruto.

Naruto opened his eyes half way. This wasn't a rough kiss at all…this was kind and caring. This was Neji's kiss. Naruto reached up and wrapped his arms around Neji's neck, slowly kissing him back as he closed his eyes.

Neji pressed into the kiss for a bit more pressure, keeping up the soothing motions of running his hands through Naruto's blond locks. He wanted Naruto forget that fangirl's kiss so badly, and to just remember his. To just remember him…

Neji pulled away from the kiss and looked at his golden angel, his once bright blue eyes dimmed to the deep cobalt of the ocean since the fire incident that made him relive so many terrible memories. They stared back at Neji's icy white ones, brimming with crystal tears.

"N-Neji!" Naruto cried, his tears flowing over the black scars on his cheeks, and buried his face in Neji's chest.

Neji wrapped his arms around Naruto protectively, and cooed sweet comforts to him as he cried silently into his shirt.

Letting Naruto go, letting him move away…would be much harder than Neji imagined.

"Naruto," Neji thought.

Oh boy! Neji's got that determined thing going on! Oh, teh drama that will ensue! After the next chapter, new characters will begin to appear! I'm not going to say which ones because I'm and evil author! XD

Please review to help Gomi-kun get out of his emo phase!

Sky-eyed Kitsune and Gomi-kun