Thank you for all your reviews. I'm currently trying to write three chapters (each for a different story) and they are getting all crossed up. I have an idea for one that pulls me to an idea for another and... well, you get the picture. Anyway, hope you enjoy. And as far as a character being OOC, I hope to explain that very soon.
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"You have you're own baths?" Gaara followed Neji into a steam filled enclosure.
"The Hyuuga compound has its own baths. I don't own anything." Neji commented dryly.
The taller boy placed his drying towel on the stone bench by the entrance and started stripping out of his robes. Gaara, who was wearing pants, moved to a more secluded area of the bath to strip down and wrap the bathing towel around his hip. With the knot tied off he looked through the heavy steam to see Neji bending down to test the water.
"Sometimes it's a little too hot but it seems alright. Come on. Get in." Neji slipped slowly into the water.
Gaara watched until Neji's feet hit the bottom. The water only covered the man to his hips. Feeling more than a little unsure of this, Gaara moved to the side of the bath and sat on the edge.
"You never told me exactly why I'm here." He prodded.
"I'm teaching you how to swim."
Gaara blinked wide eyes set in a very stunned face. Neji looked at him with upturned lips.
"You know. I don't think I've seen that look since you died."
"Wha...?" The look only became more confused.
"That stunned 'I have no idea what's going on and you people are scaring me' look. The last time I saw it you had just opened your eyes from being dead for a day and more than half of your village was..." He stopped in mid sentence as the stunned expression began to drain from the red heads face, leaving it white and empty. "Forgive me." He bowed his head.
"No." Gaara swallowed and licked his lips. "No. I'm being far too sensitive about this. You didn't mean any harm by it."
"Not like the last time." Neji spoke softly as he raised his eyes.
"Not like the last time." Gaara repeated.
A moment passed of simply considering one another then both men nodded. Neji was sure Gai would never consider that an apology. In fact, he was pretty sure no one would actually consider that an apology but it seemed to work just fine for the two of them. And if they could move on from this point he wasn't going to argue the point, nor tell another soul about it.
"Do we need to take off the wrap?" Neji asked as he moved farther into the water.
"No. I'll replace it when we return... why are we doing this now?"
There was a splash from somewhere in the heavy steam then Gaara felt something brush against his leg, making his jump. Neji surfaced inches away and blinked the water from his long lashes. Feeling very uncomfortable in this situation, Gaara crossed his legs at the ankle and his arms over his chest.
"Wow, homophobic are we?" Neji jeered.
"No." A piece of his too long hair slipped from its tie and dropped between his eyes.
"And we're back to one word answers." The Hyuuga stood and crossed his arms over his own chest. "Get in. Now."
The hair on the back of Gaaras neck stood up and his face shut down. Giving Neji his best "I'm a bigger fish than you" look, his eyes narrowed.
"No."
"Maybe I should just drown you and save us all a lot of trouble." Neji groused and turned away into the steam again. "Fine. Stay there and freeze. I'm going for a swim!"
There was another splash. Gaara tensed until he heard Neji surface somewhere on the other side of the bath. How the Hyuuga thought he'd freeze was a mystery. The steam was so thick he couldn't see past his own nose. But the longer he sat there the more he realized it was getting colder. He looked down at his feet dangling in the water and groaned. The water was hot and only his feet to the knees were covered. The rest of his was in much cooler air. Goosebumps raised on his arms and thighs as he debated. Get in the pool with a possibly amorous Neji or get up, get his clothes and make a run for it?
"Byakugan!"
"Shit!"
"You can run but you can't hide!" Nejis sing song croon came from the thick mist.
"Since when are you so chipper? What happened to the haughty Neji everyone loved to hate?" Gaara spat out as he slowly started lowing himself into the pool.
"He spent too much time with Lee and died a much needed death." Water splashed and moments later Neji surfaced with a gasping breath.
"I think I miss him." Gaaras feet hit the bottom and he stood waist deep in near scalding water.
"Give yourself a minute to get used to the temperature then we'll get started." Neji rolled onto his back and floated next to the scowling red head.
"Just so you know, I'm not gay."
Neji shifted his eyes and smiled. "Good. I worried you jump me again."
Gaara choked then sputtered then choked again. Neji gave mock worry and stood to pat the former Kazekage on the back.
"You... though I... was..." Gaara gasped out between hits.
"No. But it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong and you were hitting below the belt a lot the other day." Neji shrugged.
Embarrassed, Gaara pulled away and sank to his neck in the lightly lapping water.
"Sometimes, if you want to win, you can't fight fairly. Not many bad guys are going to be chatty while they bury a kunai in your skull. Kankuro taught me to play dirty not long after I died." He paused for a moment then looked over his shoulder at the now reclining Hyuuga. "That really sounds weird doesn't it?"
"What? That you fight dirty or that you died?"
"The latter."
"Yes. Yes it does."
Both men started laughing. When the howling died down to chuckles and sighs Neji shifted closer to his teammate and straightened.
"Ready for your first lesson?"
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"Byakugan!"
Hanabi moved smoothly through the halls of the main house. She'd heard the noise from outside her window and thought it was branch family out for a late stroll... until she'd seen that shock of red hair and the unmistakable silhouette of her cousin. What were Neji and Gaara doing out this late? And why was Neji wearing a robe.
Outside the air brushed her cheeks. She pulled her coat a little tighter around her shoulders and followed the path to two men had made in passing. It lead to the bathhouse. Steam billowed from the open enclosure and she moved up to the wooden slat walls to listen to the muted voices under all the splashing.
"Just hold still and relax."
She searched the pool as Nejis voice came through the walls. What she found had her eyes widening and mouth hanging open.
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one in this position."
Hanabi tossed a hand over her mouth to hold in the squeak. The back of Nejis head was plainly visible just above the water. Gaara was floating in front of him, eyes closed and head reclined on the surface of the water. Neji appeared to have his hands place under the mans body as it floated and bobbed.
"Wait! Not yet."
She watched Gaaras face as he winced then his legs twitched a little.
"Spread your legs a little and drape your arms out. It might help."
Hanabi watched, horrified as the red head did exactly as he was told. Turning quickly she moved as silently as possible back toward the house, deactivating her blood-line limit as she went. The girls were never going to believe this.
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"That wasn't so bad now was it? You don't have a lot of body fat so you won't float well but you get the idea."
Gaara sighed and nodded as he dried the ends of his hair. They were at the main gate. Neji had given him directions back to his apartment. The Hyuuga had offered to walk him back but he'd declined. He's spent enough up close and person time with the man and though it had, for the most part, be pleasant he still wanted this small walk alone. He had a lot to think about.
"Tomorrow I'll teach you to dog paddle."
"Dog paddle?"
Neji smiled and put both hands out in front like paws then flopped them up and down.
"You know. Dog paddle."
Gaara still looked confused but was simply too tired to worry about it.
"I'll take your word for it."
Neji stilled and stared blankly at him for a moment.
"That's a start."
Not wanting to dwell on the moment or start another possible argument over the comment, Gaara turned and slipped out the back gate. With a simple parting wave he jumped into the trees and took off toward town.
Neji watched until he could no longer see him then turned back to his small house. It had gone better than he'd expected. Not that he'd expected much. But when he'd realized that afternoon that Gaara couldn't swim he'd looked at it as a blessing. Here was his opportunity apologize for his earlier ill spoken comment and perhaps build a little team camaraderie in the process. So far, it looked like fate was smiling on him. He only hoped he'd meet with the same luck tomorrow.
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A knock on his door woke Gaara as the light first shown into the room. Mentally kicking himself for oversleeping he got up to answer.
"Well, good morning Gaara-kun. I hope your bath was relaxing and purifying last night."
Gaara smiled softly and kindly at the older woman and stepped back to allow her entrance. In her hands she carried a tray of sweet dumplings and a small wrapped box.
"I thank you for the food and your kindness, Watari-sobo. You do far too much."
The older widow preened and glanced quickly at the young mans bare chest before turning her gleaming eyes back on his face. She loved them just like this. Lethal and clueless.
"Now, now. You'll make my head swell if you keep on." She patted his shoulder and smiled to see he didn't tense at the gesture this time. "By the way, this was at your door this morning. I wasn't sure if it was harmful so I asked one of those nice gentlemen downstairs to check it for me. That Genma fellow it such a character. But they said it was fine and I thought I might bring it in for you." She winked at him as she handed over the wrapped box. "You must have an admirer dear boy."
Gaara lifted the box and loosened the tie. The cloth dropped away from a small pottery box glazed in hues of brown and red. It looked familiar. Far too familiar. What little color there was in his face slowly faded as he stared at the seal carved in the lid.
"Oh my! Isn't that lovely!" The widow crooned as she peered down at the beautifully sculpted box. "Someone has put a considerable amount of time and effort into this gift, Gaara-kun."
"Yes. Yes they have."
Shaking he placed his large hand over the small lid and lifted it. Then choked on his own cry.
"Are you alright, dear? You look pale."
Carefully setting the lid on the small table he raised his free hand to dip into the contents. Soft crunching followed and he swallowed, lifting the hand and letting the golden sand run from between his slack fingers.
"Oh my. What an wonderfully thoughtful gift."
Gaara blinked as he shifted his eyes to the widow who was smiling up at him.
"Nothing like a little piece of home to brighten ones day." She patted his arm.
"Did you see who..." He start to ask but she shook her head and tsked him.
"No, dear, but I'm sure it doesn't matter. It was a gift from the heart and you should treasure it."
With that she turned and hobbled from the room.
"Be sure to eat. You're far too skinny." She called over her shoulder.
Gaara watched her go with glazed eyes, never noticing the masked figure in the tree only a few yards away, hidden in the early morning shadows. The ANBU slipped from the branches and made his way back to the Tower as the door closed on the image of Gaara and the small box of desert sand.
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Sakura glance over the small desk in the hospital entranceway as a group of young medic interns spoke in urgent hushed voices. She had no idea what had gotten them so riled up but they needed to get to work before Tsunade showed up.
"Who's on the list this morning, Yumi?"
The spunky little chuunin looked over the patient list of the day then stopped and glanced back at the group of chattering girls.
"Neji Hyuuga is schedule for an examination this morning, Haruno-sensei."
Sakura nodded then glanced up at the girls. One seemed to notice her stare and blushed before hastily saying her goodbyes and heading to her duties. As the others started to brake up and move on their way Sakura rested her bottom on the desk and looked down at the now nervous chuunin.
"Are you going to tell me what that was all about or would you rather explain it to Shizune?"
The young girls chocolate brown eyes widened. Everyone knew the Hokage had a temper but no, NO ONE messed with Shizune. She may not have the temper but she was far more likely to punish you in uncomfortable and humiliating ways.
"Well, one of the girls went to breakfast at the ramen shop. You know the one on..."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know it well."
The girl paled a little and Sakura motioned for her to continue before she lost her temper and the girl lost some teeth.
"Well. You see one of the chuunin teams was walking in and she overheard them talking about the Kazekage."
"Gaara-san. You will address him as Sabaku-san or Gaara-san if he wishes. Do not call him by that title."
The girl nodded and lowered her head as she finished her story.
"Well, they were talking about Sabaku-san and Hyuuga-san..."
"That would be Neji Hyuuga?" The girl nodded and Sakura motioned for her to continue.
"They were talking about them and the fight last week and then... well, it seems one of the girls saw the two of them together in the baths."
The girl swallowed and peeked up at her elder. Sakura raised a brow.
"I see nothing unusual about men taking baths but do go on."
"It seems they were in a very... compromising position."
Sakura blinked.
"Compromising?" The girl swallowed at Sakuras narrowing eyes. "As in they were..."
"It's just what she heard! Just one of the girls talking!"
Sakura leaned down into the poor girls face until she whimpered.
"So by now half the village thinks that they are lovers?"
Yumis bottom lip trembled.
"Who are lovers?" Hinata asked as she handed a package across the desk to a fuming Sakura.
"You're never going to believe it." Sakura replied.
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Tsunade signed the last paper and handed to Shizune.
"They are all accounted for and moving smoothly through processing. With any luck we'll be able to move them in three days instead of five."
The Hokage nodded.
"The next report is due in this afternoon and another group will be here in four days."
Tsunade nodded again, this time with a smile.
"You're awfully happy this morning. Did you kick a genin down the stairs or something?"
Tsunade sighed. Sadly it was nothing quite that fun but still...
"What? Tell me! You make me nervous when you get like this."
Tsunade grinned and leaned back in her chair.
"Well, I know how much you hate to gossip but..."
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Not nearly as long as usual, I know, but I have a class tonight and wanted to get this up. Hope you enjoy and as always, reviews are welcome.