Chapter Ten

Naruto blinked his bright blue eyes at his friends. He had been delighted, of course, to find out that they were dating only, now that he was observing them, they didn't seen like they were dating.

Gaara was acting like Neji didn't exist unless he said something to either Gaara or himself that required a response. Then her blue-green eyes would shift and he couldn't see the look she gave him but every time she did Neji seemed to harden just a bit more, which, was really weird since she just revealed that she had proposed to the guy!

"So you guys are getting married?" He asked curiously.

"No, Neji stated he wished to date in order to get to know each other before making such a commitment," she stated, "I had thought to marry in name only but he revealed a desire to be intimate."

Naruto's eyes widened and a faint blush colored his cheeks as he turned his startled gaze to Neji who was suffering the same afflictions.

Gaara made no notice of the stunned eye contact and merely sipped her tea before once more turning to Naruto, "Would you have sex with your girlfriend if she was willing?"

"I . . ." His blush turned up a notch while Neji's died with a tightening of his lips, "I guess?"

Gaara nodded, "Yes, as would I."

"Naruto," Neji's voice was sharp, "Would you still consent to have intimate relations with her if you knew she was completely inexperienced and sheltered from that area of her life? Wouldn't you endeavor to preserve her innocence? Especially since she might come to regret the decision?"

"I . . ." His face flamed hotter, "I don't know! Why are you asking me this?!"

Gaara glanced at Neji for the first time without any type of animosity as amusement curled her lip, "He kissed me and refused to go any further."

"What?!"

Neji colored and had to clear his throat, "Gaara-"

"He used his tongue," she turned back to Naruto, "The book you sent me was correct about the effects it would have on my body-"

"Gaara," Neji voice was sharp, "This is not proper conversation-"

"Do not," Gaara's voice snapped out with all the authority of a kage, "presume to interrupt my conversation with Naruto."

Neji flinched back as if slapped.

"Uh, Gaara," Naruto hesitantly brought the attention back to him, "He's right. That's none of my business. I mean, what goes on between you and Neji should stay between you and Neji."

"You said to tell you everything," Gaara frowned, "Besides, you deserve to know the fruits of your efforts."

Naruto fidgeted, "Gaara, that's couple stuff. It's private. You just tell people stuff like that."

Her frown become more pronounced, "I don't understand."

"Well, I'm sure Neji can explain than I can," he chuckled nervously.

"I will keep my peace." She got to her feet and faced the blond, "I will find you later." She turned to Neji, "I will contact you. Do not contact me."

She left the stand.

Naruto turned to face his ramen buddy only for Neji to quickly excuse himself and make a beeline after the Kazekage.

He had a feeling this wasn't going to end well.

**

"Gaara!" Neji caught up to the Kazekage at her suite.

She turned with a disgruntled frown, "I said-"

"No, you will listen to me," Neji cut her off, "Tell me the truth, Gaara, and this time I want the whole truth. No distractions. No evasions. I want the truth and you owe it to me. Why did you decide to date me?!"

She blinked at the restrained emotion in his voice, "Naruto asked me to."

Neji's chest heaved with distress as he recalled the scattered bits of their earlier conversation and putting in cohesive order.

"Naruto said you were interested but it appears he was mistaken. He said that he wanted to help you change your clan. I can help you in a way Naruto cannot. The fact that you would be willing to have relations with me is a bonus. You are my escort, at least until Naruto returns from his mission, and in Sand, you will be ambassador and advisor for all Leaf matters."

Naruto asked me to help you.

The only way to help you is to marry you.

I will marry you to help Naruto.

It was all there, Neji swallowed, all there right in his face except he hadn't been paying attention. He missed all the clues that she had reluctantly given at his insistence because he was too distracted by the fact she had proposed and seemed so intent on getting into his pants.

"Gaara, if you could only visit one person after years of separation from the Leaf Village then who would you visit?" He asked dreading the answer but he had to know it all the same.

"I could only visit one person?"

"Yes, either me or Naruto."

"Naruto," she answered without hesitation.

"I see," his heart broke a little from the admission and he was a little surprised that he wasn't more devastated. Maybe he had always known the truth but just hadn't wanted to face it.

"Neji," Gaara's eyes were concerned now as she he speak.

"I cannot date you anymore," he said it evenly.

Her eyes widened with surprise and hurt, "What?"

"I have just realized our relationship is based on all the wrong reasons and it would be disadvantageous to continue."

"I don't understand," Her eyes were becoming more vulnerable by the minute, "Why are you doing this?"

"You don't love me," he stated firmly and was surprised to see her flinch back.

"I don't love anybody but myself," she murmured lowly, more to herself than to him.

"You don't see it do you?" Wry amusement curled his mouth, "You might have been content with me but you wouldn't have been happy."

"Contentment is the only thing I dare hope for," Gaara's mouth tightened.

Neji let out a bitter chuckle, "Gaara, being loved by your village was something you once worked for . . . So why don't you deserve to love and be loved in return? You deserve to be happy and I'm not the one who can do it."

A single tear made it's way down her cheek and she closed her eyes before more could follow.

"Gaara," Neji had to stay strong, "There's only one person who could possibly make you happy and I'm not him."

Her eyes opened to reveal the tears she refused to shed, "If not you then who?"

"You already answered that question," Neji stepped back, "It's the one person you would visit if you could visit only one."

Shock colored her features.

"It's a been privilege, Lord Kazekage," Neji bowed and stepped out of her life.

Gaara numbly entered her suite.

**

It was almost dark when Naruto made his way to Gaara's usual suite and he had to admit he was really concerned. He wasn't the sharpest person around and he could admit it but the vibes those two had sent out was far from good.

He knocked.

"Gaara?" He called out when there was no response.

The door immediately swung open though there was no one at the door.

"Come in, Naruto," Gaara passed through the entry way of the doorway.

"Oh, hey, what happened?" He dashed over to her. "You never came- Where are you going?"

"I'm returning to Sand," she didn't look at him, "My reasons for staying here are no longer valid."

"Wha?" Naruto darted in front of her, "Gaara, what's going on?"

"Neji Hyuuga no longer wishes to continue our association," She finally lifted her eyes to his, "It's over and I'm going home."

"Gaara," he reached out to put his hands on her shoulders or embrace her, he wasn't entirely sure, only to drop his arms to his sides when she moved out of range.

"It's fine," she held out the orange book, "I have no further use for this book."

"Gaara," he intoned sorrowfully, "I'll talk to him-"

"No," she brought the book closer to herself, "You're right. I should keep it. This is one part of my life that I will have to live vicariously and it's better to have a good source material-"

"Gaara!"

She blinked at him startled, "Yes?"

"Do you want to be with Neji?" His eyes burned with determination, if he could fix the sadness in her eyes then he would stop at nothing until it was gone.

A sad smile pulled at the corner of her lips, "No, he was right to end our relationship."

"Gaara," he deflated, "I'm sorry-"

"Don't be," her smile become a bit more full and fond, "I never would have experienced my first kiss if you hadn't asked me to help. Neji was a gentleman and I can appreciate that fact now."

"This wasn't supposed to end like this," Naruto met her eyes sadly, "There has to be something I can do . . ."

Gaara paused and then closed her eyes as she continued to smile, "You can become Hokage."

He blinked, "I-"

"That would make me happy," she nodded and turned away to place the book she had been absently cradling into her things.

He moved to her side intent on getting something more solid when a knock sounded.

She lifted her bag, "I must go."

He hadn't realized how close he had gotten to her but as she shifted past him, her lips brushed lightly against his cheek as she said a soft goodbye.

Naruto followed her out of the suite in a daze and could only watch helplessly as she left with her siblings in tow.

**

"Gaara, are you all right?" Temari questioned as soon as they cleared the gates.

"Yes."

"Are you sure I don't need to kill the Hyuuga?" Kankuro frowned as he regarded his younger sister.

"If I wanted him dead then I could have easily done the deed myself," she informed him emotionlessly.

"What did Naruto want?" Temari asked and wasn't surprised when Gaara paused forcing her siblings to stop.

"He wanted to help," she turned her eyes on her older sister and then brother, "I told him to become Hokage."

"Gaara," Temari's heart went out to her.

"You should tell him," Kankuro was glaring at a random tree, obviously uncomfortable with the current topic.

"A Leaf shinobi who dates a Kazekage could never become Hokage," Gaara took off into the trees.

"What a mess," Kankuro grimaced.

"We do what we have to," Temari's thoughts drifted to a certain Leaf shinobi, "Sometimes it just doesn't work out the way we want."

Kankuro found himself alone and shook his head, "Honestly, what is so irresistible about the shinobi of the Leaf?"

He joined his sisters in the trees.

**

Naruto found Neji, of all places, in a bar with Shino, "Neji."

"I knew you would show up eventually," Neji snorted into his drink.

"You did mention the possibility," Shino had adjusted his clothing just enough to expose his mouth but somehow managed to keep himself otherwise concealed.

"What happened?"

"He doesn't love me," Neji chuckled at himself, the alcohol obviously gone to his head.

"No one loves me," Shino intoned morosely.

"Let's face it, Naruto," Neji turned to face him and almost fell off his barstool, "There's only one person in the world who could make Gaara happy and that's you."

Shino nodded in agreement even as Naruto's mouth dropped open.

"I thought I wanted someone who could relate to me on a mental level, someone who wasn't frivolous and overemotional like a girl but I was wrong," Neji smirked at him, "I don't want someone who can put logic before their heart and how they really feel. I would have grown to resent Gaara for marrying me when he loved someone else-"

"Neji," Naruto interrupted him, mildly amazed that he was so talkative drunk, "What do you mean Gaara's in love with someone else?"

Neji sighed and looked at Shino before meeting his gaze once more, "I told you. You're the one who should date Gaara, not me, and I was right. Gaara could grown to care for me but s . . .he never would have loved me the way he loves you."

"But he can't love me!" Naruto protested weakly, "I mean, I'm just a genin and Gaara's a Kazekage . . ."

Neji lifted a brow and exchanged another glance with Shino, "I don't think Gaara cares."

"Then why didn't he say anything?!" Naruto's was in denial, "How am I supposed to know if he doesn't tell me?!"

"Women," Shino shrugged, making both males freeze in their respective positions.

Neji glared at the Arburame, "You've had too much to drink."

"Kiba agrees with me," Shino nodded, "Though, you're right, I've had too much."

"How?" Neji lifted a brow.

"He never smelled a male on you," Shino tilted his head, "My allies have confirmed it."

Naruto glanced around nervously and was only mildly relieved that everyone else in the bar was either too intoxicated to care what they were talking about or passed out, "You can't tell anyone-"

Shino snorted as he finished his drink, "What's to tell?"

Neji sniffed and finished his drink as well, "What, indeed?"

Naruto shook his head, "Come on, let's get you guys home."

"What will you do, Naruto?" Neji's gaze was suddenly piercing.

"Nothing," he glanced down, "Gaara told me to become Hokage so that's what I have to do before I do anything else."

Neji smiled, "Of course."

"Brother? Shino?"

All three turned toward the soft female voice and then Neji nodded, "Lady Hinata."

"You're drinking?" She exclaimed her surprise, she had just arrived to the bar with the girls when she spotted her cousin.

"I am no longer in a relationship," Neji nodded.

"I was never in one," Shino tilted his head down.

"I found them like this," Naruto scratched the back of his head nervously, "I was about to try to get them home."

"I'll take Neji," Tenten had also spotted them and had excused herself from Ino and Sakura right after Hinata did, "He's my teammate and it wouldn't be the first time I had to carry him after he's done something stupid."

Neji turned his nose up at her, "I have no idea what you're referring to, Tenten."

She rolled her eyes and pulled him out of the bar, "Sure, you don't."

"Well, I guess it's you and me, Shino," Naruto shrugged.

"Well, I could take him," Hinata spoke up with a mild blush, "I mean, it's on my way home and-"

"I would like that, Hinata," Shino nodded and stumbled into his teammate.

She steadied him, "Come on, let's go."

Naruto took off before his own teammate could spot him. He'd heard she'd been on a rampage when he was out on his mission and had no desire to hear it after the day he'd just had.

He had to train and become Hokage as soon as possible.

Only then . . .

. . .could he think about anything else.

**

"You broke up with the Kazekage?" Tenten was surprised, "Not the other way around?"

"It's my own fault," Neji's tone was bitter, "I idealized Gaara. I should have known the truth from the beginning."

"And what's the truth?" Tenten gripped his middle in order to steady him as the arm around her shoulders tightened.

"That the one meant for me has been by my side the entire time but I was too arrogant to see it," Neji planted his feet and refused to move, "It was you, Tenten."

She looked up to see his serious face and couldn't help the laughter that escaped her lips, "So you're this kind of drunk . . .Good to know."

"I'm serious," he resisted her attempts to get them going once more.

"Ah, Neji," she shook her head, "You're drunk."

"I might have lost my equilibrium but I have not lost my reason. I love you, Tenten, and I think I always have," he leaned in to kiss her when she lifted a hand and neatly blocked his lips.

"Stop, Neji, you know better," she pulled and managed to get them going once more, "You're drunk and you'll regret this in the morning."

"Tenten-"

"Besides, we couldn't be together anyway," she smiled though it didn't quite reach her eyes, "You're gay."

"I'm not gay," he protested weakly, not able to come up with a better defense in his condition.

"Sure, you are," Tenten shrugged good naturedly, "I accepted it a long time ago when I noticed you were more interested in my dates then me."

"What? No, I just wanted to make sure you would be safe with them-"

"Neji," she pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek, "Believe me, nothing would make me happier if it was true but . . . I'm not going to be in a relationship where my partner is just using me as a smokescreen."

"I would never do that to you," he protested indignantly.

She sighed, "Talk to me when you're sober and then we'll see."

"The alcohol will be gone from my system in two hours-"

"Make that twenty-four," she remarked wryly, "Good night, Neji."

He blinked and glanced around to notice that they had made it to his family's compound without him noticing.

He turned back to his teammate only to find that she had left, "Good night, Tenten."

End Chapter