Disclaimer: I don't own the characters.

Passion

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Several inches of snow painted the land a pristine white. The accumulated flakes reflected the weak sunlight that had managed to break through the clouds. It seemed as if the ground were made of rare gemstones. If only that were the case.

"You haven't said anything since you finished your tea." I moved away from the window.

From in front of the fireplace, Itachi seemed to glow. The life of the flickering flames fed his onyx eyes a new light. His slightly tanned skin appeared to shine as if the sun itself had laid a kiss upon his brow. Without his cloak, he wasn't any less of a man—just as if I removed my hitai-ate.

"Kisame is wondering where I am," he said as he moved his gaze to me.

"..." In that moment, I was supposed to suggest for him to return to his partner, but I said nothing.

"Why did you choose this room?" Itachi looked around to emphasize his question.

"I didn't choose the room. Naruto and Lee decided to leave me with it. I should thank them," I remarked with the ghost of a smile.

He got to his feet. His bare feet made no noise upon the thin carpeting in the room. Even if the floor were without carpeting, I surmised his nimble movements would go unnoticed. It was no surprise when he stopped before me—I enjoyed the proximity.

I could smell the jasmine tea upon his breath. The scent was alluring, and I wondered if his mouth tasted just as good. Would his kisses feel that sweet? I moved closer, leaning in to rest my head upon his chest; I listened to his heartbeat. Unlike my own heartbeat, his was steady and sure. My heart was pounding, the pressure of the moment was too great for me to keep an inner calm.

"What are we?" I repeated a question that we had shared only a day ago; perhaps, I would receive an answer.

I froze as I felt his hot breath upon my cheek. I moved and regained some height. He stood at five feet and eight inches. I stood only a couple inches shorter. He ran his fingers through my hair, freeing it from its tie. Oddly enough, or not so, I enjoyed his caresses. They were as I imagined them to be.

As he ran his fingers through my hair once more, I closed the space again. I rested my hands upon his waist, something I hadn't even thought of. At that moment, I followed a basic instinct—to touch; to be touched. I kissed him. His lips were surprisingly warm, but the kiss was anything but soft. It was rough. Passionate.

His kiss did taste of jasmine. When our tongues met, it was a sensuous dance that required submission on both parts. What did it matter if we both achieved what we wanted? I would have submitted ten times over it got me that kiss again. I moved away at the same time that he did. My shoulders moved as I tried to catch my breath. His cheeks appeared slightly flushed, but it could have been the lighting. I didn't point it out.

"Neji? You want to get some sake while the snow's stopped? Let's get Lee drunk and unleash him on the staff!" Naruto laughed as he knocked on the door.

Itachi and I were both watching the door. I could see my friend's shadow as he stood outside my room. It was rude of me not to answer, but I considered leaving him there. Itachi looked over at me, knowing full well what I was thinking, and he gave me a tiny shake of his head. He wanted me to answer the door.

"Hey! Why is your face so red? Is somebody in there?" Naruto tried to poke his head around the door, but I stopped it with my foot.

"That is between me and the hypothetical person. What did you need, Naruto?" I wanted to snap at him, but I kept an even tone.

"You want to go out for some sake?" Naruto smiled.

His smile made me feel guilty for ever considering leaving him at the door. He almost made me want to leave Itachi and go with him into the freezing cold. Almost.

"No. Maybe another day," I replied kindly.

"Because of that hypothetical person?" I looked down as Naruto pointed to the sandals—Itachi's sandals.

"Goodnight, Naruto." I frowned as I slammed the door in his face.

"Have fun!" The frown only deepened when I heard his sly laughter.

In that moment, I considered chasing after him and strangling him with my bare hands. A hand upon my shoulder chased all those thoughts away. I had something better than sake and snow. I had Itachi.

"I am sorry for that," I sighed, releasing the tension.

"Don't be sorry for my little brother's lover." He wrapped his arms around me in a way I never thought he would; it conveyed something I assumed was foreign to him—it conveyed love.

And we were kissing again. Sweet and soft at first, the kiss always deepened to satisfy our basic needs. It was as if we needed the other person to survive, to breathe. No one else would understand that moment, or any other we shared, but neither of us cared. Together, we were whole.

I didn't fail that mission, or any other for that matter. I followed Itachi. I followed my heart. If anyone asked me about the first time we met, I told them all the same thing—it was fate. But that last time, stranded because of the most beautiful of nature's chaotic storms, it was something a little more. We were something a little more. Destined to remain not as enemies, not as friends, but as lovers.

He was my Koibito, just as I was his.

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Author Rant

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I want to stress the fact that this story was done by three people. I, Amikotsu, did the writing, and the other two members of the group gave me ideas and fed me knowledge. We're all pretty proud of the story.

This story is for Itachi and Neji. You know who you are. I am sure that you know at least one of the people helping with this fluff-filled tale. Hopefully, it will work out in the end.

Reviews are lovely.

Sayonara.

Note: Help fight plagiarism, but do it the right way. Don't harass.