Disclaimer - Neither Acherona nor trulywicked have any claim on Naruto nor any characters or locations thereof. Neither of the authors obtains any money or goods from writing this. It is strictly for our own amusement.
Warning - Vampires, violence, verbal abuse, more UST, and strong language. Also two more vampires that Gaara isn't too fond of. Fangs will be bared.
AN- This story is a collab between Trulywicked and myself, half this story is hers; it's only posted here because we don't have a joined account on this site. Trulywicked is amazing and make sure to check out her work if you haven't.
Finally, the third chapter at long, long last, please drop a line and tell us what you thought about it.
Please enjoy.
AGES:
Gaara - appears 28 but is over 500 years old
Neji - 28
Kisame - appears 30 is actually over a thousand years old
Sakura - 29
MAGIC
Third Chapter
Neji stood outside the posh office complex waiting for Gaara to park his bike. The vampire was nothing if not stubborn, Neji had offered him that they could ride together in his BMW but the glare he'd gotten at that remark was answer enough. It didn't take long for Gaara to walk up to him though and they entered the building together.
The elevator ride up to the fifth floor where Karin's office was passed quickly and in silence, neither Gaara nor Neji were much for small talk.
Neji walked up to the reception desk where a very cute little brunette worked. He smiled at her softly and adopted his husky voice again; things always went so much smoother when you gave a woman an extra smile and a little attention.
"Hello Miss, I have an appointment with Dr. Fujiwara now at eight. The name's Hyuga."
The secretary flushed and fluttered her hands a bit. "Oh o-of course Mr. Hyuga. Dr. Fujiwara is waiting for you, um just go right in," she gestured at the door just behind her. "Your companion is welcome to sit here in the lobby while you're in with the doctor."
"Thank you so much." Neji smiled at the girl again and headed for Karin's office. He looked over at Gaara over his shoulder and gave him a small smirk, more as a challenge than out of any kind of malice. He trusted that the redhead could manage to get in on his own. He'd heard all about thralls and what not when it came to vampires and since Neji was only along for the name Gaara might as well do some work of his own.
The vampire saw no reason whatsoever to waste the energy necessary for a thrall and just strode forward after Neji. The secretary began to flutter again. "Sir you can't go in there the sessions are pri-eep." The woman shut up and paled when the redhead gave her a narrow-eyed glare before slipping into the other room and shutting the door. He turned and saw Karin sitting in a brown leather wing-back chair, legs uncrossed but demurely angled together to the side, her hair up in a French twist a smart white suit flattering her figure beautifully and a magenta brow raised. "Well now, just what is the second in command to Itachi doing here with my new client?"
"Sorry for the deception doctor, the truth is I would most likely benefit from a few sessions with you but sadly I'm only here as the decoy." Neji shrugged and went to sit in the chair opposite Karin. "Shadow here is the one who wants to talk to you." Neji smiled apologetically.
The female vampire lifted a shoulder in a casual shrug, "Everyone could use a little therapy and the redheaded brooding machine behind you more than most. But please, I get the feeling this may be a long conversation, so do sit down." She gestured at a long brown couch, crossed her legs and tapped a finger on the arm of her chair in consideration as they sat. "So what is it that you want from me Gaara? The last time I saw you, you were trying to peel the skin off Sasuke's face."
Gaara tossed an information disk at her, which she caught between her index and middle fingers with little problem. "You've heard about the humans in a mate bond losing it in the clubs I presume?"
"Yes of course. It's quite worrying. What does this visit have to do with that?"
"The mates were bespelled but as of yet I have no proof of a perpetrator. Nothing solid and hardly any suspects. I'd like you to give me a profile."
Her lips curved up a bit. "So technically, you need my help. You do realize Gaara that I don't work for free nor do my services come cheap."
He scowled. "You don't need the money. You have more than enough."
The slight curve turned into a full, devious grin. "True but there's some poetic justice to taking money from a man who once called me...what was it again? Oh yes, 'A pathetic, attention-grubbing fan girl with delusions of superiority, the attitude of a rabid hyena, and complete lack of decorum.' Did I get that right?"
"You left out greedy and utterly without conscience."
Silver eyes lit with humor as he watched the exchange of words. "It's good to know I'm not the only one he's this charming to." He cast a teasing look at Gaara.
Karin laughed as the redhead slanted a mild irritated look at the Hyuga. "Yes Gaara's charm is unique in the world for certain. Now Gaara about payment?"
The other vampire sniffed. "Fine, bill me. I really don't care at this point."
She hummed and reached into the side table next to her chair, drawing out a mini-laptop with a disk drive. She popped in the disk and brought up the information, scanning briefly over the main points. "Well it'll take probably a day or so to work up a full profile but I can give you a little to work off of for now. He, and I'm just using that pronoun because it's simpler for now this could easily be a woman, is on a mission but it's not really a mission to eradicate vampires, or at least not all vampires. He's very specific in targeting only the vampires with human mates, mated couples in our world are rare as I'm sure you know Gaara. It makes for a tiny fraction of our population and he's culled that down even further to those with human mates. He hates vampires yes, but that hate is focused on those mated to humans, not weres or other vampires. He likely has a traumatizing incident in his past involving a mated couple of human and vampire that bred his hatred of mated vampires."
Neji sat up straighter and listened intently as Karin spoke. That was something he'd never even thought of regarding the culprit and he mentally beat himself up over it. Granted he didn't know all that much about vampires and their mating but he should at least have seen the pattern, he was a genius for fricks sake. Neji looked at Gaara to see how the redhead was reacting to the news but the vampire's face was just as unreadable as always. "I'm very impressed Dr. Fujiwara," He said softly. "Do you think you can help us work out his pattern on where and who to strike? I realize that is a lot to ask."
She waved that off. "Not really. That's basically what profiling is but I'll tell you this much, you won't catch this one by chance or a fluke of luck. Your unsub is smart but more than that, he's used to navigating in the shadows, to making sure he's unseen, unnoticed. He doesn't stand out in a crowd unless he's trying to. People that see him, that notice him do so because he wants them to see him otherwise he blends and he doesn't need a spell to do it. He probably does employ a cloaking spell when he's on the hunt just to be sure but he doesn't really need it, he's a master of redirection."
Gaara shifted almost imperceptibly as a small tickle of relief went through him unbidden. The wizard sitting next to him was anything but unnoticeable and, though Gaara was certain he could blend if he felt the need, he hadn't 'blended' during any of the attacks. It was the first real weight in the silver eyed man's favor but far from conclusive proof and profiles, especially the first rough profiles, could be wrong so he'd remain cautious.
Karin finished scanning the main points of the information and raised serious eyes to them. "Your unsub is arrogant and probably has easily bruised pride. He's got a temper but it's one that's a slow simmer and it rarely explodes. He's controlled, ruthlessly so, but that control slips with what he considers victories. He escalated in the number of attacks per night after the death of the vampire who went mad when his mate killed herself. Worse though, is that he hasn't had much success since that incident. The couples that are targeted have been forewarned well enough now that the vampire counterpart doesn't leave his or her mate alone to become distressed. That will be frustrating to the unsub and I'm afraid he'll escalate again, very soon."
Neji gnawed on his bottom lip as he contemplated Karin's words. This was not good. Neji still hadn't figured out what spell or spells the culprit was using and if he escalated things could get bad really, really fast. "We need to figure out a game plan, I can't just stand around and watch as he continues to attack. There must be some way to counter the spells he's using." Neji said. He knew Gaara was just as frustrated as he was maybe even more so but Neji was getting sick of being led around by the nose by this freak. "Do you have any records of mated pairs? Specifically where the mating between human and vampire has gone wrong? Maybe we can find out something more about him there."
"It depends on what went wrong. Unless someone is murdered or it becomes an issue for an enforcer, mated pairs aren't kept watch on and only male/female pairs are required to register with our version of Vital Statistics."
Karin set her laptop aside. "And the trauma may not have involved a death or an enforcement issue. It may just be that the unsub was in love with the human mate and feels that the vampire 'stole' them from him or a family member who became separated from a loved one because of the mating. I'd say that your best bet to counter the spells is to get the assistance of a senior wizard or witch, someone who's got a couple of centuries behind them." She gave Gaara a pointed look. "A senior sorcerer is the only one who'd have the knowledge of spells necessary to create a counter spell."
Gaara bared his teeth in what only a complete fool would call a smile. "Thank you for your advice Karin. You know how to contact me once you've finished the profile." He rose and headed for the door.
"Always a pleasure Sabaku. Do give my regards to your sister by the way."
A low hiss and the slam of a door was the only answer she received.
Neji got up from his chair and bowed towards Karin. "Thank you for your time Dr. Fujiwara and I apologize again for deceiving you." He turned and hurried after the vampire. Neji had seen the look Karin sent Gaara and he wondered what senior wizard they were talking about. It was clear that it was someone Gaara knew and it was just as clear that the vampire wasn't fond of said person. Well to be honest Gaara didn't seem to be fond of anyone as far as Neji had seen but this seemed to go deeper.
Karin chuckled as the wizard left her office. She wondered just what the reaction from those two would be if she told them how well their energies meshed.
Neji caught up with Gaara by the elevators and had to beat down the urge to run a soothing hand over those tense shoulders. "So what should we do now?"
Gaara slanted a glance over at the silver eyed man. "You happen to have a senior wizard in your family? One that you like?"
Silver eyes became guarded and closed off. "There's a reason I'm an outcast." He said in a clipped tone. "There are not many in my family I can even stand to be in the same room as, besides the senior wizard of the clan went off the deep end a few years ago, he chose to end his existence and now all that's left are some mediocre wannabees that lives on glories of the past and their name, I wouldn't trust them with a spell to save my life."
The redhead noticed the shield that had clanged down and nodded. "Then we pay a visit to the enforcer division and look through the files of mate bonds gone bad."
"Okay, I know it's a long shot but it's better than sitting around twiddling our thumbs." Neji said, feeling grateful that Gaara had let the issue of the Hyuga clan drop.
"I hope you have a strong stomach Hyuga. When mate bonds go bad enough to end up in the enforcement division's files it's always ugly."
"The world is an ugly, ugly place; I have no illusions of it being any different." Neji replied grimly.
Gaara grunted, holding out on his opinion. They'd see how well Hyuga handled the blood and guts of what happened when something went wrong in the vampire world.
oooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOooo
The redhead closed the file that he'd just finished looking through, that of a vampire who'd tortured his mate to death because he'd believed she'd been cheating on him. The mate had been an orphan with no friends and no co-workers. The vampire's other victims had all been similarly isolated and none of the murders had any witnesses. Gaara put that file in the 'found shit' pile.
Neji's skin was paler than usual and his jaw was clenched shut as he read a file about a vampire who had ripped her mate's heart out and eaten it to ensure they would be together forever. Apparently she had developed a taste for hearts cause she had continued ripping them out of men until she'd been caught and taken down. It was gruesome but it didn't have anything to do with this case since all there had been no witnesses or living relatives. "Are all these pictures really necessary?"
"For the enforcers, yes. Every execution has to be proven as a legitimate kill, if it's not then the enforcer who performed the kill is put on trial himself." Gaara pursed his lips as the next file revealed a pregnant human who'd killed her mate, apparently in a hormone driven craze she'd thought that blood drinking was something learned and not necessary for a vampire's survival and was trying to keep her unborn child from learning to drink blood. The mother had given birth and promptly killed herself once the hormones had cleared from her system and she'd realized what she'd done to her mate. Since the child was alive and a vampire adult now he put it in the 'possible but improbable' pile.
"Hm." Was Neji's answer as he flipped through another file. He did understand why the crimes and kills needed to be documented but he had to admit, at least to himself that it was enough to make his stomach turn. He didn't know how much more he could take; apparently he was more human than he thought. One file he opened and closed directly, he had only seen one pic but the face of the small child staring back at him was enough, he couldn't read that, he just couldn't.
Gaara put his hand on the file a scant centimeter away from the wizard's and green eyes met silver in understanding. "Go get some coffee and fresh air."
Neji opened his mouth to protest, to claim that he didn't need to be coddled or patronized but then he shut it again and with a grateful nod he got up from his chair, he brushed his fingertips against the vampire's on the table before exiting the small room. He walked outside and leaned against the wall taking a fresh gulp of air, feeling as if it cleansed him some.
The vampire ignored the slight tingle the Hyuga's touch left in its wake, opened the file and read through it while the silver eyed wizard was clearing his head. He didn't hold anything against the other man for needing a break from the files. Very few had the stomach to go through file after file of the worst violence that could be done to a living person without needing a break and it often occurred to Gaara, usually when he sat through reading such files without needing that break, that there was likely something irreparably broken in those that could. Sometimes Gaara wondered if the things he'd lived through had leeched every ounce of compassion from his very soul.
After breathing some fresh air and composing himself some Neji walked back towards the room where Gaara was reading the records. He ignored the glares he got from the few vampires that crossed his way; he did understand their dislike for wizards at the moment. He would be angry and hateful too if someone targeted his loved ones, the other half of his soul. Opening the door Neji stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He walked over to the table and placed a bottle of cool green tea in front of Gaara and then sat down. Neji opened his own bottle of tea and took a sip of the chilled liquid. "I didn't know what you like but since you had this at home I figured I'd take a chance." He said to the vampire who was just staring at the bottle. "Have you found anything useful?" Neji asked as he picked up another folder, steeling himself for what he'd find when he opened it.
Oddly touched, Gaara picked up the bottle, twisted off the top, and took a slow sip. "Mmm we've got a few possibles, most are unlikely but every dangling end has to be tied off. There are a couple of very good possibilities though. Like this one," Gaara tapped a file he'd just finished, "the human mate was...highly reluctant to be mated to a vampire and tried to run from the vampire. Said vampire was already mentally disturbed and killed the human then lost what was left of his shaky sanity and went bat-shit murder crazy. It took two enforcer teams to take him down. The human mate had a little brother who found his brother's body when he got home from school. The file says that the brother was given into the care of the state and adopted after having his memory wiped of any vampire knowledge but sometimes the memories come back."
Neji listened to Gaara and was filled with sympathy for the boy who had come home to find his brother's body; he could barely imagine such pain. "Is there any way to find out what the brother is doing today?" He asked softly as he looked through the file in his hands and then placed it in the no pile. Neji reached out and plucked yet another one from the pile, rubbing his eyes as he started to read it. "I had no idea so many matings went wrong...It makes me understand why the ones who succeed are so precious."
"These are just a fraction of the matings that go wrong. The most common scenario is that the human leaves to 'think' and never returns for one reason or another and the vampire ends up killing themselves because they can't live with the worry. Those aren't documented, there's just too many of them." Gaara flipped open the file he'd been telling Neji about and scowled. "Well this is a problem."
Scooting closer Neji leaned in close to the vampire to look over his shoulder at the open file. "What's the problem?" He asked and saw how the soft red hair by Gaara's ear moved from his breath. A bit startled by that he moved back a little.
The vampire sent the long haired man a curious glance then showed Neji the report on file. "Someone's tampered with the file report. The last name of the human mate has been removed as has the brother's entire name."
Forgetting about his concern of being too close to the vampire Neji leaned closer again, running his eyes over the text of the file. "Who would have access to do something like that? From what I saw when we walked here security's pretty tight."
Gaara was hyper aware of the wizard's breath on the side of his neck but chose to ignore it in favor of answering the question. "Only an enforcer or a high ranking council official would have access to do that. The question I have, is why."
Neji nodded. "It's weird, I can't answer the why but I think this means that we have to look deeper into this."
"Mmm, all the members of the original investigative team have retired but I know a couple of them." At this Gaara winced, "Unfortunately."
"It looks like we'll be doing a few house calls then." Neji said trying not to laugh at Gaara's tortured look. "Come on wildfire, how bad can they be?"
The nickname had Gaara's lips twitching, it was certainly a new one and he could say he minded it. "Wildfire? And you've never met Deidara. Believe me you're going to regret having to."
"It fits you perfectly." Neji replied about the nickname with a shrug. "My best friend is a hyper ADD werebear with an unhealthy obsession with youth, love and his sensei...It takes a lot to rattle me."
Gaara's smile was positively evil. "I'll remember you said that. Come on, let's get this over with."
oooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOooo
They were walking up the path of an odd house, it looked as if a bratty child had built a castle out of legos them slammed its fist down destroying it. There were even a few charred areas near the west side. Gaara shook his head. "Wonderful they've been arguing again."
Neji looked at the house with large silver eyes as they walked up the crooked steps and Gaara knocked on the door. "Do these people run a meth lab or something?" He whispered at Gaara as the door swung open and a slender redhead looking a lot like Gaara stood in the doorway looking at them. His only greeting was the raising of a slender red eyebrow.
Gaara nodded shortly. "Sasori. Deidara here?"
Sasori opened the door wider and walked back into the house, not waiting for the guests to follow. "Where else would he be? He's always here...BOTHERING ME!" The last words were shouted so that there would be no way for Deidara to miss them.
A voice called down from the stairs, "Not half as much as you bother me danna! You just don't appreciate the transient beauty of the real arts un!" A long haired blond flipped down from the landing to land several feet away and give Gaara a sunny smile. "Shu-kun! What brings you here?" Turquoise blue eyes turned to take in the sight of Neji, with a definite gleam and the bright voice lowered to a purr, "And with such an interesting friend."
Neji blinked at the hyper blond, not knowing really how to reply so he remained silent.
Sasori snorted. "Your obsession with blowing things up isn't art, it's just another sign of your insanity." He looked over at Gaara. "Freak over there has a point though, what are you doing here little cousin? I find it hard to believe you stopped by only to bring us a gift." He eyed Neji with hunger.
Gaara growled lowly. "I wouldn't hand my worst enemy over to you two. I need information on a case the two of you worked a few years ago."
Deidara pouted and sauntered over to Gaara. "Awww Shu-kun you're not still mad at me are you?" He draped an arm over the redhead's shoulders and nuzzled his cheek. "I said I'm sorry and I play nice with my friends these days." He cast a lustfully hungry gaze at Neji.
Gaara grabbed the arm around his shoulders, spun Deidara around by it, twisted it up behind the blonds' back, and tightened his grip enough to break a mortal bone, though it would just leave a nasty ass bruise on Deidara. His other hand gripped the blond hair harshly, yanking the other's head back so that his throat was exposed. He snarled, his eyes flashing amber. "Keep your fucking hands off me Deidara."
A matching growl rose from Sasori's throat and he stepped forward placing a clawed hand on his cousin's arm. "Let my fuckhole go. We invited you into our home here but if you don't play nice I'm going to get very upset. I doubt your little human here would like that." Sasori's tone was below freezing temperature. The only one allowed to abuse Dei was him.
Gaara turned his eyes to his cousin as a jolt of electricity went up his arm pushing the other back. "Keep your bastard's hands off me or you'll be looking for a new fuckhole understood Sasori? I've given you and him that warning twice before, he touches me one more time and you won't get another. Just because I'm in your home doesn't give him license to ignore my wishes regarding that. As for Neji I have no doubt whatsoever that he could easily protect himself from the likes of you. And do not forget, cousin," the term was practically spat at the other vampire, "You may be older by a couple decades but I'm stronger and you still owe me."
Sasori grabbed the blond pulling him away from Gaara and into his arms where he licked a long wet line up the other vampire's cheek. "No more touching my little cousin here, I've trained you for too long to lose you to stupidity." He hissed. Sasori knew that he owed Gaara but that didn't mean that he liked it.
Neji took a step closer to Gaara before the apparently crazy vampires got any ideas, he could fend them off but he rather not be groped or molested.
With one hand crawling beneath Deidara's shirt Sasori turned to Gaara again. "What information do you need?"
Gaara forcefully calmed himself though he left his eyes the feral amber as a warning. "The Juugo case. The report has been tampered with. The last name of Juugo's mate and the entire name of the human's brother have been expunged. We need to find the brother."
Deidara purred under Sasori's hands and turned his head to nip gently at the other vampire's jaw line. Having his life threatened tended to have an inflammatory effect on his libido. "Mmm I don't think I recall, I mean I remember Juugo but not his mate's name. That was one crazy bastard though, un."
Gaara refrained from mentioning that Deidara was calling the kettle and tilted his head at Sasori. "Well?"
Sasori had both his hands under Deidara's shirt now, tweaking and pinching his nipples painfully. "Can't say I remember either. As Dei said I remember Juugo, the man was a freak in a league of his own but the names and faces of the mate and his brother as blurry. What does it matter, it was just another case and it's over and done with now." He bit down on Deidara's earlobe.
Neji leaned close to Gaara and whispered in his ear. "You win, Lee is a fluffy kitten made of sunshine compared to these guys."
Gaara had to smirk at that, the small shot of humor smoothing down his hackles. His brow furrowed though at Sasori's words, it wasn't like his cousin to forget the details of a case. Hell Sasori could remember the details of the Jack the Ripper case perfectly. "It matters because the mates who have been going ballistic are being manipulated by a wizard who hates vampire/human mate bonds. We're looking into the reason for it. Since when do you have trouble remembering names?"
Sasori stopped biting down Dei's neck and looked up at Gaara with a puzzled expression. "You're right; I remember each and every case I've ever had except this one. And you," He pulled at Deidara's long hair. "You can practically remember the number of hairs that grew on the heads of everyone you've taken down. I don't like this." Sasori's voice had lowered to a menacing growl.
Deidara blinked for a moment and reshuffled his priorities of the moment. "Damn, you're right. It's like a black board in my mind was eras...danna," the blond turned concerned eyes to his partner. "Someone fucked with my mind un!"
Again Gaara refrained from the obvious statement of Deidara's mind already being fucked and focused on the description, muttering a soft curse under his breath.
"Excuse me." Neji walked over to Deidara and placed his fingers softly on the other's temples, a soft blue glow emitting from his fingertips. He closed his eyes as he concentrated, ignoring Sasori's warning growls. "Someone has tampered with his mind, someone very, very powerful. The memories aren't erased but they are buried...I'm not strong enough to dig them out." Neji opened his eyes and stepped back again. "This is really bad. All of us know messing with vampires, especially high ranked ones are a stupid idea, you're immune to almost any suggesting or mind altering spells unless drugged."
Sasori's eyes narrowed. "You've taken it up with a wizard?" The wizard part was spat out between clenched teeth. "He must be exceptional in the sack."
Gaara bared his own teeth. "Oh aren't we high and mighty all of a sudden. Better a wizard than a hyperactive, masochistic, pyromaniac who can't take no for an answer."
"I'm always high and mighty; you should know that by now." Sasori gathered Deidara into his arms again. "At least my pyro isn't targeting our mates...But hey good for you if you finally gotten yourself a plaything. Playing with fire can be enticing, believe me I know." He gave Deidara a slow deep kiss. "Now tell me who I can kill for meddling with my brain and who I can see to restore it."
Gaara chuckled darkly. "I don't know about who meddled in your brain but you know very well who you can see to recover the memories. And you should know by now Sasori, I don't play."
Deidara piped up. "Can we have him then?" The blond had no problem whatsoever with the fact that Neji was a wizard; a hot body was a hot body as far as the pyro was concerned.
"Uh, no thank you. You can't have me. I prefer to choose my bed partners myself and I prefer them to be somewhat mentally stable." Neji's voice was calm and cool but inside he shuddered, these two made his skin crawl and some fairly unpleasant memories to resurface.
"You shouldn't knock it until you tried it, snotty little wizard...Dei could blow your mind...literally." Sasori replied with a crazy looking grin and kissed his blond again.
The blond pulled back for a moment and grinned at Neji. "Yeah c'mon. Playing with me's a blast, un."
"And shockingly enough I still decline." Neji answered with a little bit of an edge to his voice this time.
Deidara pouted until Sasori bit down on his neck, drawing the blonds' attention back to him. The pyro turned and caught Sasori's mouth with his in a messy kiss.
Gaara grimaced in distaste and turned to look at Neji. "I do believe that's our cue to leave. We need to see the other member of the investigative team I know before sunrise."
Sasori didn't even look up for licking and biting Dei's skin as the guests took their leave.
Neji breathed a breath of relief as they stepped outside. "Your friends are definitely worse than mine. If Lee and TenTen ever went at each other like that in front of me I'd be forced to gouge my eyes out." The wizard stretched, happy to be outside. "So where to next?"
Gaara finally let his eyes go back to their normal pale green color. "Those are not friends. They're acquaintances, borderline enemies with one of them being family. If they weren't useful from time to time I'd have executed them long ago. Next we're heading to Kisame Hoshigaki's place, he was the lead investigator."
"Ah your phone friend, the one with the Jaws theme." Neji said sardonically. "Better or worse than these two? What should I expect?"
The redhead's lips quirked. "He's one of the four. As for what to expect...I'll let you figure that out for yourself." He got on his cycle and plunked his helmet on.
Grinning Neji made his way to his car and got in. If this Kisame was one of Gaara's friends then he had to be something. Neji turned the key only to frown when his beautiful silver BMW only sputtered. He tried again but with the same result. Usually his baby purred like a kitten but all she did now was cough. Neji popped the hood and got out of the car again. Sadly he knew nothing at all about mechanics or motors but he figured he had to try; he looked down at the different parts with a baffled expression.
Gaara tilted his head and flipped his visor up. "Problem?"
"She won't start." Neji looked down at his car with sadness. "I have no clue what's wrong. You any good with cars?"
"Unfortunately no." Gaara frowned, he really didn't want to have to wait to talk to Kisame but waiting for a tow truck and a mechanic would take forever and a day. He sighed in resignation and waved the wizard over, peeling off his leather jacket in the process as well.
Neji closed the hood and walked over to Gaara, wondering why the vampire had decided to strip all of a sudden...not that he'd mind seeing more of him. "Yes?"
Gaara tossed the jacket at the long haired man then popped off his helmet and handed it to Neji. If my some strange occurrence they wrecked he wouldn't die from the lack of protective items but the wizard would since he was, technically, human. "Get on. We don't have time to waste."
Neji hesitantly pulled on the leather jacket that smelled so much like Gaara and after gathering his hair into a tight ponytail he placed the helmet on his head. Neji swung one leg over the sleek crimson machine and placed his arms around the redhead's slender waist, holding on tightly.
The redhead tensed briefly at the odd thrill that went through him having the other man's body pressed against him, a necessity brought about by the small amount of space his Spirit had for riders, arms wrapped around his waist. He soon relaxed, pulled out his phone for a quick text to Kisame, telling his friend he was coming, and cranked the cycle. He pulled smoothly onto the street and headed for the Hoshigaki residence.
oooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOooo
The ride was smooth and fast and Neji found himself enjoying more than he should as he was pressed tightly against Gaara's back enjoying the thrill of both the closeness and the speed. Almost too soon the bike slowed down and turned into the driveway of a quaint little house nestled in a typical suburb neighborhood. On the porch of said house stood the largest man Neji had ever laid eyes on. The man's dark skin almost glowed in the light from the house and his many piercings glittered, he looked so misplaced in his surroundings that it wasn't even funny. The man smiles and showed off sharp teeth. "Yo raccoon, took you long enough...Have you started to drive like a little old lady?"
Gaara snorted. "Suck it Mako, I've got a passenger. Didn't want him to get blown off."
Neji huffed behind him and Kisame chuckled.
"Well why don't you and your passenger come inside. Sakura is waiting." Kisame headed inside and left the door open.
Neji got off the bike and handed Gaara the helmet and started to unzip the jacket.
Gaara set the helmet on his bike and began sauntering up the walk, fairly relaxed. Once inside he was caught in a strong hug by Kisame's mate, squeezing a grunt out of him.
"I haven't seen you in ages. How have you been?"
He patted the pink haired woman's back. "It's good to see you too Sakura. I'm as well as can be expected all things considered."
She stepped back at poked and prodded at him. "Have you been eating enough? You're too skinny."
Neji couldn't repress a smile as this tiny little woman prodded and mothered Gaara. He found it hard to wrap his brain around the fact that this woman was the dark giant's mate. They looked like total opposites. For some reason the woman seemed familiar but Neji couldn't place her.
Kisame laughed and pulled his mate away from Gaara and into his lap. "Easy woman, let him sit down before you try to pour blood down his throat."
She squawked and poked him hard in the ribs. "Hey Jabberjaws, let me up, we've got another guest in case you haven't noticed with those beady little eyes of yours."
Gaara hid an outright grin at his friends' antics as he went to sit in one of the large cream colored corner chairs across from the loveseat Kisame was holding his wife hostage on.
Kisame turned his head and looked at Neji who was standing in the doorway looking unsure. "Well what are you waiting for shrimp, grab a seat." He pointed to a chair.
Neji crossed the floor and sat down in the other chair that was placed opposite the love seat with a nod of thanks.
"So what brings raccoon boy and a wizard to our door this lovely evening?"
Gaara flicked a lock of hair out of his eyes. "What else? An investigation. I know you remember the Juugo case."
Scratching along one of his facial tattoos Kisame looked at Gaara. "Yeah a case like that is hard to forget especially since it was my swansong so to speak, nasty business that. It happened years ago though, what's happened to make it interesting?"
"The wizard going after our mates likely has a trauma that was caused by a vampire/human mate bond. So we were looking through the files of bonds gone violently wrong for survivors. Juugo's mate's last name has been expunged from the record as has the mate's brother's entire name."
"Ah well the name of the brother was...was..." Kisame furrowed his brow. "Fuck I can't remember the name! That's impossible; this was my last case as an enforcer. I remember the pity I felt for that crying little kid but I can't remember his face or his name."
Gaara nodded as Sakura smoothed a soothing hand over her mate's shoulder. The redheaded vampire tapped a finger on the arm of his chair. "Neither can Sasori or Deidara. It's looking like a senior wizard did a memory wipe on the people involved in the case."
"Well doesn't that suck?" Kisame growled. "Whoever did the whammy on us must have done it from a distance...I don't let many close, certainly not some clammy-handed, disgusting wizard...no offense." He nodded towards Neji. "I'm sure your hands aren't clammy."
"None taken." Neji murmured, torn between indignation and amusement at the giant's wording.
"I hate to say this raccoon boy but I think it's time for you to pay a visit to you know who...Despite his utter bastardness it looks like we might need him."
Gaara narrowed his eyes and the tapping increased. "Hn."
Sakura's brows knit in concern at the redhead's distress and she wriggled her way out of Kisame's lap. "I'm going to get some blood and tea from the kitchen. Neji-san would you mind helping me?"
"Of course." Neji knew a hint when he heard one and so with a worried glance over at Gaara he rose from his seat and followed the rosette out of the room quietly, leaving Kisame and Gaara alone.
Silence stretched between the two vampires for a few moments before Gaara shifted. "I don't trust him. Fuck I trusted that silver eyed wizard in your kitchen more the first time I met him than I trust that fucker from Suna."
"I know and I don't blame you." Kisame's voice was a low rumble. "You don't trust him and therefore I don't trust him but we still need him. If it helps I'm willing to rip off his head and hand it to you wrapped in a bow when we're done needing him." He ran his fingers over his bald head. "And by the way...looks to me that you feel more that a smidgen of trust for the wizard in the kitchen."
The redhead lifted a shoulder. "He's...not likely as a suspect anymore. Besides he offers a wizard's point of view in this mess which I definitely need."
"Yeah, yeah and my ass is lily white." Kisame snorted. "It's not bad to want someone you know. You don't have to rationalize it."
The barest hint of red appeared on Gaara's cheeks. "What? I don't want him."
"Sure little raccoon boy, whatever you say." Kisame let the subject drop. Gaara would come to terms with his feelings when he was good and ready, besides it was amusing watching the little brooder stumble around in denial.
Gaara grumbled a bit. "Back to the original subject. I'll think about it tonight...well today more accurately and if anyone rips the gutless little bastard's head off it's gonna be me."
"Can I still wrap it in a bow?" Kisame batted his eyelashes at Gaara before becoming serious again. "That's all that I ask, that you think about it. Now let's see if my lovely other half will bring the refreshments soon...she's always had great timing."
Gaara chuckled at the other vampire and changed the subject to more 'pleasant' things such as ancient weaponry.
In the kitchen Sakura finished cutting some lemons and was arranging them on a plate. "So Neji-san just how is it that you and Gaara are now working together on this?"
"Besides me being the main suspect you mean? I went in this trying to help and it's easier...much easier having him beside you than having him follow your every step. Sabaku can be a little...intense." Neji flushed a little when he realized how much he'd talked. "Is there anything I can help with Sakura-san, except getting out of the way and let the men talk?"
She chuckled and shook her head. "Nope and it's not to let the men talk. It's to let Jabberjaws in there get broody-pants to consider something that, under any other circumstances he'd never even fathom. Very few made vampires like Gaara had easy lives Neji-san and though I know your cousin very well I don't really know you." She turned and faced him. "And it's Gaara's choice about what, if anything, of his past you know."
"I understand and respect that. Frankly I don't want to know what Sabaku isn't ready to tell me." Neji looked down at his hands before looking up again. "We're...we're not friends, we're working together but that's all there is." Neji was silent for a while. "So you know Hinata-chan? I thought you seemed familiar."
"Yes I know Hinata-chan, she and I and Ino were thick as thieves in high school and college and we still like to get together when our schedules permit. Hinata-chan talks about you a lot; always going on about how proud she is of her 'nii-san' and hoping you're doing well." Sakura smiled knowingly, "and Neji-san I am not blind. You like the broody little bloodsucker in my living room, don't bother denying it I'm a woman and therefore it's impossible to lie to me about such things. What you choose to do about it is your own business but," She picked up the knife she'd used to slice the lemons and pointed it at him with a deathly serious look on her face, "if you hurt him I will skin you alive do you understand me?"
"Loud and clear ma'am, loud and clear." Neji raised his hands in the classic surrender pose. It both warmed his heart and hurt him to hear that Hinata spoke of him; he wished he could see her and Hanabi more often but things were as they were. Breaking ties with the clan meant breaking ties with his cousin too, it was an unfortunate consequence.
Sakura nodded sharply. "Good. Now grab the tea tray and let's go back out." She set down the knife, picked up the glasses of blood and flounced towards the living room.
Smiling at the rosette's attitude Neji picked up the tea tray and followed Sakura back to the living room where he placed the tray on the low coffee table that stood in front of the love seat. He was relieved to see that Gaara looked more relaxed again.
The pinkette handed the redhead his glass and then flopped onto her husband's lap, shutting up his current babbling about Shaka Zulu's acid spit by putting his glass to his lips and tilting it up so that he either drank or got blood down the front of his shirt. "Just because you're vampires doesn't mean the subject always has to be about the best ways to kill something."
Kisame swallowed by reflex before pushing the glass away. "You're such a bossy woman." He said with a fond smile. "I'm a big boy you know, I can feed myself...although I like it when you feed me in bed...wearing that hot little black number. Oh and what better conversation can you have then ways to kill something? Instant ice breaker."
Sakura's face turned red. "Kisame Hoshigaki you keep our bed business to yourself unless you wanna sleep on the couch for a month!"
"I'm sorry; please forgive me love of my life...apple of my eye, blossom of my bouquet." He kissed her noisily making Neji smile into his tea. He wanted what they had; he wanted that kind of love so much that it ached.
Gaara chuckled as he drank the blood Sakura had bought him. He murmured after swallowing, "Works every time." He enjoyed little else than sitting for an evening with his friends and watching their banter and affection. Though every time he was struck by the longing to have his own mate, his own person to banter and lay with.
Sakura flicked her mate's ear teasingly. "Company manners you great big shark but you're forgiven. Now Gaara aside from weapons, have you acquired any new Kiri antiques lately?"
The redhead nodded. "Yes a wardrobe, it was rumored to have been the third Mizukage's though I can't confirm that without a little help," he cast a look at Kisame. "It is from the right period and has the correct ornamentation however."
The large man shrugged. "I can stop by and look at it for you some day...I have no doubt it's authentic though, you haven't been wrong so far."
Neji was amazed at how the conversation could move from weapons and death, to this couple's sex habits to wardrobes in such a short amount of time. It was wonderful; Neji felt relaxed for the first time in a long time as he sat back in the chair with his tea and just listened to the voices that surrounded him.
Gaara slid a quick glance at the wizard and was caught for a few long moments by the peace on the man's face. No doubt about it Neji was an attractive man under duress but when those features relaxed into a slight contentment he was breathtaking. A punch of lust and longing hit him square in the gut with such force he had to jerk his head away from the oddly angelic sight. He took a bracing sip of blood, completely unaware of the knowing look Sakura shot her husband.
Kisame winked at his mate in return and nuzzled her neck, they both wished that Gaara would find someone who would love him and make him happy. If the wizard was that person then Kisame was all for it. If the long haired man would hurt his friend though, there wouldn't be enough of him left to scrape up on a shovel after Kisame was through with him. There was a reason Kisame had been top enforcer at one time, there was a reason for his nickname too and Kisame hoped that Neji wouldn't have to find out what that reason was.
The grandfather clock Sakura had in the hall began to chime the hour, ding, ding, ding, ding. Gaara looked over his shoulder then back to the cuddling couple on the loveseat. "I think we need to go. It'll be dawn in a couple hours and I'm sure you two want a little time to yourselves."
"You know that you're always welcome here raccoon boy but I can't tell you you're wrong." Kisame gave him a toothy grin with Sakura still snuggled in his lap. "Call if you need anything" He added.
"Thank you for the tea and your hospitality." Neji rose and placed his empty tea cup gently on the tray.
Sakura wriggled out of Kisame's lap to give Gaara a farewell hug. "You take better care of yourself Sandman or I'll be coming after you to make sure you're eating right."
Gaara chuckled and gave her a brief squeeze. "Yes ma'am."
She pulled back, grinned impishly at him, straightened his clothes, and fiddled with his hair before surprising the rest of the company by giving Neji a short friendly hug. "I'll tell Hinata-chan you seem to be doing well. Anything you'd like me to relay to her?"
Neji's eyes softened. "Thank you," He whispered. "Just tell her to take care of herself and that I love her." Neji patted Sakura on the shoulder a bit awkwardly before stepping closer to Gaara. He was so glad that Gaara had brought him here, that he had gotten to see a softer side of the vampire. "Are you ready to go wildfire?"
Gaara saw Sakura and Kisame's raised eyebrows and the dark skinned vampire's teasing grin at the nickname but just rolled his eyes. "Hn. Hey Mako you take good care of Strawberry here, I'd hate to have to kill you. Or worse sic Ino on you."
Kisame shrunk back in mock fear. "Anything but Ino!" He shouted dramatically and pushed Sakura in front of him, using the tiny woman as a shield. "No get out of here so I can ravish my wife in peace."
Neji hid his grin behind his hand and started to walk towards the door.
Gaara chuckled and lifted his hand in a wave before following the wizard out. They got to the cycle and he handed Neji the helmet again. "Anywhere you need to stop by before we go back to Lunar Place?"
"No, I'll call my mechanic later and get him to get my car. Unless you have something you need to do I'm all for going home." Neji donned the helmet again and slipped behind Gaara on the bike and wrapped his arms around the other tightly.
The vampire shook his head and started the bike, heading back to the apartment complex. He wanted to get inside where he could brood over the possible need to involve the gutless bastard of a senior wizard in peace.
TBC…
AN - So any thoughts? We would absolutely love to hear them.