Note from the Author: What the fuck? Am I just killing space with these chapters?
Ladies and Gentlemen: I did something awful. I fell in love with OrochiKabu. o.O I know! I don't understand either!
Koiree: I wish I had gotten your review before I'd written Ch. 20 so I could have added some NejiHina in there for you. And NejiHina is my favorite pairing and I've been neglecting them, and that makes me feel awful. :kills self: Anyway, I promise you some NejiHina fluffiness in this chapter.
Book-manga-freak: You're welcome. :laughs: Oh, and … um … the story has a happy ending. And, you know, in my twisted little world of hating Sasuke, him dying would be a happy ending. But, um, I'm beginning to like him for some reason – so I'll probably let him live.
DemonRogue: Yay:waves ShinoKiba flag: And yes, Gaara is the most awesome little maniac ever.
Kawaii-Aikurushii-Kitsune: Your comment made me laugh. Because I don't feel sorry for him yet either. My mission is to get you (and me) to feel sorry for him by the end of the story. And I was crying inside because you haven't reviewed me in forever.
BankotsusChick: Oh, my God! Please don't! I'd never be able to forgive myself if you went crazy. :sniffles:
Migueliscool: Why, thank you. It made me laugh too. :is pleased with self:
You've got this far.
Hinata crawled onto the couch and into Neji's waiting arms. "Some vacation, huh?" she mused as her forehead settled against his neck.
He shrugged. "I've had worse."
Her head lifted questioningly.
"We went to Jamaica once. My dad decided he wanted to be Jamaican and wore a wig of dreadlocks the whole time we were there – and for two weeks after we got home. It took an intervention from my mom and me to get him to take it off."
She giggled dimly.
"What – have I lost my touch?"
"No." She sighed, snuggling against him. "But this trip is really fraying my nerves. Do you think Sasuke-kun will be alright?"
Her head shifted against his shoulder as it lifted in a shrug. "You know Sasuke." He chuckled sarcastically. "If he wants something, he never gets it. Right now – he wants to die, so of course, he's not going to."
"Neji-nii-san – that's awful!"
"But it's true."
"Yeah, you're probably right." She sighed again, settling into his lap. "I really wish this wasn't happening."
"I really don't think we can decide."
0
Sasuke had dreamt of tears, of a voice sobbing his name.
He had dreamt of Naruto.
So when he opened his eyes in a hospital bed, and the blonde boy wasn't sitting at his side as he'd expected, he closed them again, and hoped he'd die.
Cool fingertips brushed hair from his face, and his heart skipped a hopeful beat, before falling with the realization that this couldn't be Naruto.
Naruto's hands are always warm.
"You're awake then, Sasuke-kun?" a sickeningly sweet voice asked softly, and he winced and looked up.
"Sakura." He did his best to hide his disappointment – usually, he didn't even bother, but considering she was the only one that was sitting in that hospital room with him, he thought it was appropriate to at least try.
Green eyes smiled sympathetically at him. "Naruto's very angry with you." She said, as if she'd read his thoughts on his face.
"Angry enough to not come see me?" he murmured, heartsick.
"He's angry because you were so selfish."
He stared at her. "What?"
She settled back into her chair beside the bed, neatly folding her skirt to fall correctly beneath her. "I believe he said something along the lines of 'The bastard doesn't think about anyone else.. He just does whatever he fucking wants.'" Her semi-amused smirk faded, and her words were soft when she went on. "I don't think I've ever seen him really cry before, Sasuke-kun."
The room was silent for a long moment, and then a sob echoed around it.
0
"Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto knocked softly, opening the cracked door further as he did. "Orochimaru-sama – are you busy?"
He wasn't busy – just brooding. "Sasuke-kun loves Naruto-kun." He murmured thoughtfully.
Something along the lines of jealousy tinged through the silver-haired boy and hesitantly, he said, "Yes."
"Sasuke-kun tried to kill himself because Naruto-kun didn't want him."
"Yes."
"But Naruto-kun really does want him, but he doesn't approve of what he's doing." He spun in his chair, facing the other boy. "Kabuto – would you kill yourself for me?"
He took a step back, startled into answering honestly. "Yes." Flushing, he went on. "I mean – yes, I would die for you." His eyes behind his glasses lifted to the Sound leader's face. "Are-are you asking me to?"
Orochimaru chuckled. "No, but I appreciate your enthusiasm." He stood, strolled casually toward him, drew him into a tight embrace. "It's nice to know you've considered it."
Kabuto's arms slid around him, fisting in his shirt and his hair, as he buried his face into his chest, murmuring, "I'd do anything for Orochimaru-sama."
He smirked, kissing the top of his silver head, before lifting his face to bring their mouths together. "I'm glad you feel that way," he said against his lips, pulling him closer.
0
Naruto winced at the sound of the dried blood crackling beneath his feet on the carpet. Staring up at the carvings on the wall, he swallowed hard as his fingers trailed over them.
Am I your anything?
"I'm so sorry, Sasuke," he whispered aloud to the words. "Why the fuck didn't I see how badly you need someone."
"He doesn't need someone, Naruto-kun."
He jumped, spinning to face Hinata, who was standing innocently in the doorway. "Oh. Hi. Um, I didn't know you were there."
She came toward him, her steps ginger, as if her friend's blood on the floor bothered her as well, and when she was close enough, she embraced him tightly, standing on her toes. "He doesn't need someone." She whispered, rocking back a step. "He needs you."
Naruto smiled grimly. "I can't be what he needs."
"But you are what he needs." She persisted. "Naruto-kun, as long as I've known you – especially in the days when I was a little in love with you – you've never been the kind of person who gives up. Why, when you love him so much, do you wish to give up on Sasuke-kun?"
"I don't want to give up on him." He said softly, eyes averted. "But I don't know how to go on. I feel like I'm breaking in half every time something happens to him – because I can't protect him."
She sighed, sitting down on the bed – whose bloody sheets had been replaced – and patting the spot beside her. "You don't need to protect him. He just needs someone to run to when life is really treating him badly."
"But he never runs to me." Her words were just making him feel worse.
She was quiet a moment, thoughtful – then, "Maybe he doesn't know you're an option."
Blue eyes lifted to her face, eyebrow lifted questioningly.
"You've always loved him – and he knows you love him – and I know he loves you. But does he know that you won't run away when things get bad." She frowned. "Maybe that's what's always happened. Maybe people never stick around for Sasuke-kun."
They were silent for a long time, lost in ponderous thoughts. "I can't do it again, Hinata." He finally choked out. "I can't keep beckoning him back when he keeps shying away."
"He's going to come back on his own eventually."
Naruto blinked, looked up – because the voice that had said it wasn't Hinata - unless Hinata had suddenly become a man. "How long have you been standing there, Neji?"
He shrugged. "I guess since the beginning of this lovely little silence that said so much."
Naruto glared at him. "And why do you say Sasuke's going to come back eventually?"
Another indifferent shrug. "Because he's got no one else that really cares about him." White eyes studied his face. "He's got you – and he's got Hinata-sama. I think you two – and maybe Sakura – are the only people on this planet that honestly care for him, that would do anything for his happiness."
Hinata had been glaring warningly at him, as if saying with her eyes, If you make Naruto-kun cry, you aren't getting any for a month, but the look dissipated into one of vague pride for his words.
"Sooner or later, he's going to come back – and you're going to need to be ready for him."
Naruto scoffed, looking away, but somewhere in him, the words dug deep and stayed.
0
Additional A/N: o.O Yeah. I was not kidding when I said I was in love with OrochiKabu all of a sudden.
And did anyone else notice Neji's reversion to his "You can't change fate" deal there?
…
You did?
…
I thought so.