Fragile

AN: Naruto is not mine. And why yes, I do see some characters as total fangirls.

Chapter Ten

In the weeks following, Gaara often found excuses to leave the work at night, when everyone else was asleep to go back to his quarters and find Neji waiting on him.

It had occurred to him that it was perfectly normal to only work during the daylight hours, but it was still nice to sneak away from his duties and enter his room and walk over to his couch and find the brunet, usually already shirtless, peacefully sleeping there.

The first time it happened he was looking for some notes that he had left in there, and was completely surprised to see the brunet slumbering on his couch. Neji made the excuse that he couldn't sleep in his own designated room, "Doesn't smell right," he had mumbled before Gaara smiled and sat down on the couch beside him, the brunet grabbing his waist and holding him close, nuzzling his head into the Kazekage's chest, "Better."

The Hyuuga had fallen right back into his sleep, and the red-head decided to start coming home on a more regular basis.

Tonight they both laid on the floor amidst blankets and cushions, and Gaara was tracing his fingers across Neji's chest and stomach.

"Where did you get these scars?" he suddenly asked.

"You didn't think I mastered the gentle-fist without some practice?" the brunet sighed, "It actually took a few years of relentless training after school. The hardest part was convincing the other members of the branch family to help me with the endeavor."

"I can't even imagine how much this must have hurt," Gaara whispered.

"I was lucky. Even when I first started I was able to avoid any life threatening wounds, though as it was I spent much of the fifth and sixth years of my life in the hospital," Neji's eyes darkened, "All for the petty idea of revenge," he traced the kanji on the red-head's forehead, "But I suppose you already know something about that."

"Hmm," he mused, "They make up who we are today... but it was for such a stupid reason that we have them in the first place."

"True. But if these scars are the reason that I can hold you, then I wouldn't trade them for anything," at that Neji's arms wrapped themselves around Gaara, "Regrets are something that I don't have."

It was a few days later when Neji got the first of the messages from his clan while he was visiting the Kazekage for lunch.

"What's that about?" Gaara asked as the Hyuuga tore it up after reading it.

"I'm twenty, so I'm of a marriageable age," the pearl eyes fixed themselves on the red-head, "And I refuse to be a part of their games. I told them as much before your sister's wedding."

"So that's what you were avoiding," Gaara smiled, happy that he had figured it out, though a bit disappointed that Neji didn't tell him sooner.

"Not entirely," the brunet sighed, "The prospect of seducing you weighed much more heavily in that decision."

That caused the Kazekage to turn almost as red as his hair, "So you're just interested in the sex?" he said, looking away.

Neji walked over to him, cupping his face in the slender hands, "The sex is good..." he bent down and kissed him gently, "But I like you more. And trust me, that has a large impact on how good the sex is," he licked Gaara's lips as the red-head's hand drifted up to the dark hair.

Perhaps if the Hyuuga had activated his byakugaun or if either of them were paying attention to something other than each other, they would have noticed the door handle turning or the girl with light brown hair coming in.

"Ah..." papers dropped out of her hands as she turned a bright red as she saw what the two were doing.

The sound caused them to both stop and look at her.

"Matsuri? What do you need?" Gaara asked quietly.

She hastily picked up the papers she dropped, "Kankuro wanted me to bring these..." she swallowed, "I'mreallysorryIdidn'tmeantointerrupt!" she dropped the papers quickly on the desk and ran out of the room.

Neji stared after her for a moment, "Our secret's out."

"I don't care," Gaara mumbled then looked up at him, "Would your clan object to your marrying me?"

Now it was Neji who turned a little red, "I'm afraid they want... ah... to use me for breeding purposes, to strengthen the stock so to speak."

"No wonder you decided to come here," a wry smile appeared beneath the sparkling teal eyes, "You hate being used. I knew this before we ever became intimate."

The brunet leaned down again, "After I broke that cage, it was foolish of them to try and keep me in it," he whispered, his breath warm against Gaara's ear, "So I chose to fly away to you," he gently kissed a spot on the side of the red-head's throat before he stood up again, "I have to return to the commerce center," his eyes saddened, "Your public opinion might change for the worse..."

"Let it." the Kazekage returned to his paperwork, "I won't change anything that I'm doing because of how people feel about it."

Neji smiled as he left the room.

As it was, it seemed that public opinion only changed for the better. In the days that followed, Neji received a number of appreciative gifts and thank-you letters from various admirers of the Kazekage.

"I almost wish the council was as easy to please," Gaara said one night as they rested in his room, "It took Grandfather Ebizo to suggest that your byakugaun be used to get them to stop complaining."

"I'm actually pleasantly surprised," Neji leaned against him, "I was worried... but they really do seem to care for you."

"Mmmm," the red-head mused, twirling a finger in the long dark hair, "I sent a message to Kakashi a few days ago, by way of Temari, to have you permanently switch allegiances, if you still want to..."

He was answered by a sudden jolt of pleasure radiating where Neji licked his throat, "Does that answer your question?" the brunet asked, his voice low and husky as he whispered into the pale ear.

Gaara's breath hitched, "Y...yes..." his hands found their way around his lover's waist and he held him closer, "You will stay here with me then?"

He moaned as Neji bit his earlobe, "You're horrible at proposals," he chuckled then leaned up, staring into the teal orbs, "Gaara... marry me," with that he bent down to capture the red-head's lips in his own.

The next morning, Neji woke up to find Gaara gone, but a small note next to a vial hanging on a black cord left in the Kazekage's place. He smiled as he noticed the small amount of sand swirling in the container as he tied it to his neck and read the note which only had one word scrawled on it.

Yes.

He quickly got dressed and hurried to his duties, feeling entirely blissful as he took the long way to the commerce center, through the make-shift bazaar and stopping at a silver merchant.

A long moment passed as he looked through the charms laid out, and his eyes drifted to a long dark silver feather hanging from a white and blue woven cord. "That one," he said.

"Oh Hyuuga-san!" a voice behind him spoke as the necklace was getting wrapped, he turned to see Matsuri and her friend Sari, "Someone was asking after you at the village gates, it looked like a messenger from Konoha."

"We were asked to come find you since you weren't at the commerce center," Sari added.

He smiled, "If you two don't mind, could you deliver something to Gaara for me?"

Both girls turned starry eyed for a moment, "You got him a token?" Matsuri asked, almost squealing as she held onto Sari, "Isn't Kazekage-sama's lover romantic?!"

"We'll be happy to take it to him," Sari smiled, "Though wouldn't it be nicer to give it to him in person?"

"I want him to have it as soon as possible, and since I have to deal with a messenger, I won't be able to take it to him now. Though if you could request that he join me for lunch..."

"Oh! You should take him to that place that Tomari just opened up!" Sari said, "I've heard it's really good." Matsuri nodded and they took the small package from Neji and headed to the Kazekage tower, discussing the various restaurants of Suna and the popularity with couples each had.

He shook his head for a moment before turning to head to the gates, making the journey in short time.

His eyes narrowed as he noted how quiet it was, Where did the guards go? "Byakugaun," he whispered as he settled into the gentle fist stance.

A black cloaked figure stepped in front of him, "Come back to Konoha or fall here cousin," a feminine voice said as the hood came back, revealing the white eyes already using the byakugaun and long raven hair, "The Elders promised me the clan if I take care of you."

"Hanabi. Do you really think that you can defeat me? Or that you'll walk out of this?"

"I only have to do one technique, and then I can vanish before your back-up arrives," her lips turned up into a sick smile, "I'm so tired of being overlooked, between you and that pathetic excuse of a sister... I've been looking forward to this for a long time."

He flew towards her, but she simply brought her hands up performing one seal.

Pain engulfed him as he faltered, and the world fell away into inky blackness.

"Kazekage-sama!" Matsuri burst into the office, followed by Sari.

He calmly looked up at them, "This is the second time you two have visited..." he started but then noted their panicked looks, "What happened?"

"It's Hyuuga-san..." Sari had tears in her eyes, "He went to the gates because there was a messenger there... and he hadn't gotten back by the time we returned to the commerce center."

Gaara had already grabbed his gourd and was heading down the stairs, "Wait!" Matsuri called, "He's at the hospital! They found him..." she fought back a loud sob, "He won't wake up!"

Teal eyes widened, and he vanished as the sand surrounded him, rushing to where Neji was.