A/N: I am so sorry for not updating. There were finals and I needed to find a job D: I did find one if anyone was wondering ;D Now everything should be stable and I'll reward your patience with two new chapters!

Chapter 13: Anticipation

Tenten headed to school to tell Neji the news. He was utterly baffled by the information and couldn't believe Orochimaru would nearly kill a student.

Tenten left the infirmary and Neji sighed. The incident was over and now they had to recover. What a horrible way to spend the school day festival.

Hours had passed as the sun lowered to the horizon once more. Neji began to feel fatigued but still held on to Sasuke's hand tightly.

Sasuke's eyes slowly opened as he opened his mouth to call out the only person he wanted to see.

"I'm here." Neji said, sprinting from his seat. Sasuke sat up, despite being half asleep.

He rubbed his eyes and smiled at his hand that was still intertwined with Neji's.

"…this is definitely an event everyone will remember…" Sasuke sighed.

Neji nodded. "We didn't even get to take a walk with each other…" he said, finally letting go of Sasuke's hand to look at the police outside.

The festival was cancelled and everyone was packing early. Neji watched in disappointment.

Sasuke thought for a moment, then got out of his bed, locking the door to the infirmary and putting up a sign that said "The Nurse is currently not present."

He then pulled Neji to a nearby bed and pulled the curtains around them, confusing the long haired teen.

Realizing what this meant Neji began to retort but Sasuke merely shushed him.

"Wait-" Neji began but Sasuke stopped him with a small kiss on the lips.

A small kiss turned into a deeper one as Sasuke successfully opened Neji's mouth to explore. This was the first time Neji was making out with someone. He didn't know what to do and pushed Sasuke in embarrassment.

Neji looked at Sasuke's pleading eyes and allowed him to kiss him once more. The two broke the kiss naturally as Sasuke reached for Neji's neck and tilted his head for another kiss.

"Sorry to interrupt you two, but Gaara is stable now. He's awake with his siblings."

Sasuke and Neji jumped from their spot and looked to where the voice was coming from. Tenten's head poked out from the curtains Sasuke had pulled over.

"What are you-How did you get in here?!" Neji asked, stumbling over his own words. Tenten nonchalantly pulled up a couple of screwdrivers and pins.

"I have a way with locks. Got it from my dad. Tools run in my family after all." Tenten bragged.

Neji and Sasuke looked at each other as if they were kids stealing cookies from the Cookie jar. Tenten giggled.

"It's alright. I already knew." She said.

"You...knew?" Neji asked in disbelief. "Yes yes, you might want to act less attached in public if you don't want anyone to find out. I won't say anything so let's go! Gaara wanted to see you!" Tenten said, opening the curtains.

Sasuke and Neji looked at each other once more, then followed Tenten to the hospital. On the way the students were seen sadly packing up. It was an unfortunate event that affected their wonderful school event.

Tsunade grimly looked out her window. "Shizune." She called out. "Yes?"

"Prepare another event in the near future. That bastard won't destroy my school's spirit so easily." She threateningly, immediately scaring Shizune.

"But...isn't that your job?"

Tsunade hesitated, then pushed Shizune out of her office.

"I'M COUNTING ON YOU! GOOD BYE! HAHAHA" She called out as the disappointed school nurse falls to her knees. She was yet again given a job that wasn't hers to begin with.

Neji and Sasuke had reached to the hospital where Gaara was kept in. Neji proceeded to his room while Sasuke waited outside.

Neji approached the sleeping Gaara and looked at his siblings whose faces were filled with worry. Gaara's eyes snapped open, sensing Neji was nearby.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Neji asked, unsure of what to say.

"Never mind that." Gaara said, making Neji force a nervous laugh.

"You owe me. Protect the school." Gaara said to Neji.

"Why me?" Neji asked, feeling burdened.

"You have your family's style of fighting. No one will win against you." Gaara said.

Neji hesitated. "I don't want to fight. And I especially don't want to use my family style. I will protect the school without physical action if possible." Neji said sternly.

Gaara gave it some thought and accepted it, vowing to come back before Neji ruins the order within the school.

Neji left the room and Temari spoke up. "He doesn't need to fight you know." She said. "No, but when the school finds out that I'm not there, fighting will be inevitable."

Neji and Sasuke finished their visit and were allowed to leave. They went back to the school but their fan club insisted on cleaning up and wanted the two to rest. Sasuke and Neji had no choice but to head home.

"Crazy day isn't it?" Neji sighed. Sasuke nodded. "Just how many people know about us?" Sasuke asked, worried about what happened with Tenten.

"I don't think people are that sharp. Tenten is a smart girl too. But we should go on the safe side and not interact too much during school." Neji said after thinking for a while.

Sasuke agreed as they reached the curb where they usually separate.

"Wait." Sasuke said before Neji headed home. "Stay at my place this time." Sasuke said while looking determined to have Neji over. Neji hesitated.

What if they go further than a simple kiss? Neji's face flushed red after thinking about it but Sasuke wasn't going to let him go home.

"Fine, but just sleeping over..." Neji said nervously. Sasuke frowned but accepted. The two walked to Sasuke's house and brightened the mood up by talking about their favorite band and new games that were coming out.

As the two entered Sasuke's house, Sasuke went straight to the kitchen to cook. "You should be hungry right now. We didn't even eat lunch!" Sasuke said, pouring some tea for Neji. "Besides, I said I'd cook for you right?" Neji chuckled a little.

"Alright. Cook me some good food!" He said. Neji opened the television to watch the news while Sasuke cooked. As expected, news travel fast. The interviewers grabbed a couple of student who were cleaning to talk about the incident.

The girls wouldn't say a thing about the incident. Neji was impressed by how well the girls knew what to say. Just then his phone rang. He lowered the television volume and picked up. Sasuke was frying some chicken while overhearing Neji.

"Hello. Yes. I'm staying over at a friend's house...you don't need to know who it is; it's none of your business. Yes. Alright... Hello. I just told Hinata so you may ask her. I won't be coming home. Tomorrow morning. I can walk home by myself. I am not 5. Fine. Good night." Neji pressed off and tossed his phone to the side.

Sasuke heard it all but decided not to say anything. Why was Neji so angry when his family was only worried about him? If it were up to Sasuke, he'd be thankful.

Dinner was ready and Neji was simply amazed at the cooking. Everything looked delicious. Sasuke took off his apron and set the chopsticks down.

"Let's eat" he said while smiling. Neji turned red at the natural smile and sat down to eat. Sasuke flipped some channels and a new anime happened to show at that time.

"Oh this looks cool" Neji commented while munching on some vegetables. "You like anime too?" Sasuke asked, happily as he learns something new about Neji.

"Yeah. It's interesting after all. I wonder where these people get all these ideas." Neji explained. Sasuke nods.

"And this one looks pretty cool as well. Death Note huh?" Sasuke said. Neji frowned at the television. "I wouldn't do it if I were him. That kind of power is going to go to his head." He said, calmly eating his rice.

The first episode ended and Neji had helped Sasuke wash the dishes after eating. Sasuke saw Neji diligently cleaning at the sink and walked up behind him to give him a hug from the back. Neji was startled and dropped the chopsticks he was holding.

"Wha-what are you doing?" Neji asked cautiously. "Hm? I saw this in a drama and it seems nice." He said, putting his face into Neji's soft and silky hair.

"Uh...I can't...wash the dishes..." Neji said quietly. Sasuke ignored this remark and continued to hug him. "You smell good." He said. Neji didn't know what to do. He felt Sasuke's hands around his waists go lower and lower. He stopped Sasuke and frowned.

"Just...a sleep over right?" He reminded Sasuke. Sasuke's hands fell from Neji's waist. "Alright. Sorry." Sasuke said in disappointment. Neji sighed and continued the dishes. After cleaning, the two played with Sasuke's Wii. It was getting late but the two boys were finally relaxing and having fun.

"I bought a movie not long ago. Want to watch it?" Sasuke asked, holding up a scary movie. Neji hesitated. "I'm not good with those kinds of movies." He said nervously. "Don't worry; I'll be sitting right next to you!" Sasuke said, already excited. Neji shrugged and sat on the floor. As Sasuke put the CD in the player, there was some noise heard from the front door. It sounded like paper rustling.

Sasuke walked to the front and saw a yellow envelope fall from the door where the mail goes through. He quickly picked it up and races out the door. Neji followed curiously. "Wait! Sasuke what are you-"

"This is money! It must be my brother!" Sasuke quickly explained while running across the hall.

As he caught up he pulled the shoulder of this person and realized that it was not his brother who dropped the money, but a woman wearing a thick fur coat and glossy bright red lip stick.

"What?! Don't touch me!" The lady said. Sasuke pulled his hand back immediately after finding out that wasn't his brother. "What the-who are you? Why did you drop this at my house?!" Sasuke asked.

The woman stepped back. "All I did was pay! That Itachi guy said that this was where he accepts his payments!" She said. Sasuke hesitated. "That bastard actually made my home a prostitute cash register?!" Sasuke shouted angrily.

The woman thought for a moment, then slyly smiled. "Hm...He mentioned a brother. Didn't know you'd be so handsome. How about it? Spend one night with me? I won't give you a bad time..." The woman said creeping closer to Sasuke. "And I can pay..." She added.

Before she could creep any closer, Neji pulled Sasuke's collar and glared. "Sorry, we aren't disgusting people like you." He said. Sasuke flinched at the word 'disgusting'.

Did Neji think sex is disgusting? Was that why he pushed Sasuke back all this time? He began to worry a little but focused on the current situation.

"Humph! You look good as well, if only you didn't have that snobby attitude. Whatever. I paid so I have no more business here." She said and left the apartment.

Sasuke's hand shook with anger as he opened the envelope to find a load of money that will last him for about a nearly half a year of rent. Neji put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder.

"I don't want to use this." Sasuke said. Neji thought of an idea. "Why not give it to charity? This way the money will be used for good and not for something like prostitution." Neji said.

Sasuke looked at the money and nodded. The two returned to the apartment with a heavy atmosphere. Sasuke didn't want this. He didn't invite Neji over to mope about problems that aren't his. Sasuke pulled out a blanket and some snacks.

"Let's...ignore what happened." He said to Neji. Neji smiled and nodded. The horror film began and Neji showed Sasuke a side of him that he had never seen before.

Neji was cowering in the blanket hoping the movie would end soon. Sasuke grinned at how cute Neji was. He sat behind Neji and put one leg on each side of him, hugging his lover from the back.

Neji gave a little shout when Sasuke did that, causing Sasuke to roar in laughter. After the movie, it was long past midnight and the two boys were getting tired.

"Futon or bed?" Sasuke asked Neji, presenting him with both his bed and a futon. "Futon, I slept on my own bed the last time." Neji insisted, immediately laying in the futon. Sasuke shrugged and jumped into his bed, turning the lights off.

Neji looked around the dark room and immediately remembered the horror film. He grimaced and turned his body to the wall, shutting his eyes closed.

Fatigue sunk in as Neji fell into deep sleep. His vision went black, then into a familiar scene. It was the school hallways but darker and bloodier.

Neji was having a nightmare. And what's worse, it was a combination of the incident and the horror movie. Sasuke was being pulled to the darkness and eaten alive by Orochimaru and Neji couldn't do anything but stand there.

If he tried to move, he immediately gets into the traditional stance his family always uses and he didn't want that. He cried out Sasuke's name but it was useless, the only person he wanted to protect was now gone.

"SASUKE!" Neji shouted, sitting up from the futon and breaking out in cold sweat.

Sasuke was sitting in front of him with a worried look on his face. "Here." He said as if a teacher was calling him for attendance.

Neji panted and looked around to remember where he was. "S-sorry. I..." His words trailed off from him. He was terrified and his hands were shaking.

"You had a nightmare, calm down." Sasuke said, giving Neji a tight hug. Neji slowly began to breathe normally, nearly falling back asleep in Sasuke's arms.

"Are you alright now?" Sasuke asked, looking at Neji's face, which was still pale and sweaty.

Neji nodded. "Yeah, thanks." He said. Sasuke put his arms down. "So what's the nightmare about?" He asked. Neji was still in a daze. "...Uhm, I forgot." He said simply.

Sasuke laughed quietly. "Well I read in an article that people usually remember 3% of what they dream of." He said and laid on Neji's futon, falling asleep on it.

"Hey..." Neji said, too tired to push him off. Sasuke merely pulled Neji down with him and put on arm over his waist.

"I won't do anything. I'll just be here when you wake up." Sasuke said, repeating Neji's words to him.

Too tired to argue, Neji stared at Sasuke's face as he slept, not wanting to go back to sleep.

He remembered his entire nightmare after all.