Neji felt horrible for leaving, but he just had to get away. He had to collect his thoughts. He needed time, on his own, to realize that Naruto would probably never love him. That destiny had, once again, stripped him of happiness.

The park was empty, given the late hour, and for that he was thankful. He hung his head, and finally let those bitter tears fall. Tears for his cursed lineage, tears for his unrequited love. Why him? What was it always him? He let self-pity was over him like a tidal wave. He was so lost in it that he almost didn't hear the voices coming from deeper into the tree line. He wiped his eyes and approached the fence. He knew he couldn't go inside. This was the Nara's deer sanctuary. Access was limited. He listened closely to the voices, his byakugan activated.

"What are you doing here?" Came Shikamaru's voice. It lacked it usual lazy drawl. He was on high alert. Due to Shikamaru's shadow possession technique, his byakugan could only make out shadows.

"I can't…I can't take it anymore. I can't take being with him anymore! Please…" It was another male voice. It sounded familiar to the Hyuuga, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"You really think this act is going to work? We know your tricks, you idiot. You're really pathetic if you think this is going to work." Shikamaru's words cut like a knife.

"I know…I know I'm pathetic. This isn't what you think! I have information! I don't know where he is exactly right now…I've been wandering for months…but I have his plans. I know his next steps! I know exactly what he is teaching the Uchiha!"

Neji gasped. Was the stranger talking about Orochimaru? Could this man be…Kabuto Yakushi? What was he doing here? He'd run away from that retched snake man…but why?

"That will remain to be seen. You'll be taken in for interrogation as soon as reinforcements arrive. In the mean time, you're going to tell me why you left. If, that is, you can formulate a decent sob story." Shikamaru's words dripped with venom.

"I-It's too embarrassing…" Kabuto sounded defeated.

His byakugan sensed the reinforcements approaching. He disappeared into the night.

XXX

Gaara and his mystery date sat in the small, traditional café. Gaara was sitting with his hands in his lap, staring blankly at his tea. The other young man smiled at him.

"It'll get cold." He said in a soft, teasing voice. Gaara was shaken from his thoughts.

"What is your name?" He asked. The black-haired ninja smiled again.

"It's Sai. I don't have a last name…at least, I don't remember it. But that's alright. And you're Gaara. The Sand's fifth, and youngest, Kazekage." He sipped his green tea, his black eyes never leaving Gaara's green ones. "I know a lot about you. I've drawn you many times."

"D-Drawn me?" Gaara didn't know if he was serious. He still wasn't that good at reading people's meanings. Sai set his cup down.

"Yes. I'm an artist. When I first saw you, I had to capture your beauty. So I drew you once. After that, every time I saw the picture, I painted you again. I couldn't get enough." Sai was grinning, but Gaara realized that it didn't reach his eyes like it did with other people, like his sister, Temari. When Temari smiled, her eyes lit up. Sai's eyes looked dull. This saddened Gaara.

"I'd like to see them." He said, taking a drink of his catnip tea. He felt the depressants in the tea calming him down. That is why this was his favorite flavor. He saw Sai nod.

"Yes, of course. We can go to my apartment when you're finished with your tea. It's not far from here. Besides, it will take your mind off of Rock Lee."

That hurt. "Please don't bring him up-"

"Just don't…don't mention him." Lee murmured.

Gaara shook his head, trying to get the thoughts of what Lee had said out of his mind. Sai frowned.

"I'm sorry. But I can tell you're thinking about him. He's all you thought about this whole time. And I also know that he is not thinking about you right now. He's only thinking about her. She's all he ever thinks about. I know you don't want to hear it. But it's the truth. "

Gaara began to tear up. Every word this man was saying was abosutely true. He could tell by the way Lee never looked him in the eyes when they made love. How he would make up excuses to be gone all night…

Sai stood. "Come on. Let's go to my apartment."

XXX

Sai's small apartment had paintings hung on almost every square inch of wall. Most of them were strictly ink and calligraphy, while other had color. An easel stood by the living room window. It had a half-finished painting of a sunset on it. It was beautiful.

"I use this one to do landscape art. The other one is in my bedroom." He grabbed Gaara's wrists and pulled him along. His bedroom was dark, but Gaara could see the pictures spread out of the floor. There was one of him in his Kazekage's robes…one of him in his shinobi gear. They were very good, but they aren't what caught his eye. The last one, which was slightly covered by the other two, was the one that made his jaw drop.

He was naked, all but for a small white cloth that covered his groin. He was laying on a bed with black sheets, his arms over his head. His eyes were half-lidded and lustful. His hair was mused. His mouth was open sensuously. He could see every shadow, every sinewy muscle of his chest.

"That one I painted from my imagination." Sai's voice was very close to his ear. "I had a dream about this, that was my inspiration for this." He wrapped his arms around Gaara, pressing his palms against the smaller boys chest. "I was on top of you…lavishing your almond-colored skin with soft kisses. And you were whispering my name."

Gaara was finding it very hard to breathe.