NejiGaara
All For Our Best Friends
Disclaimer:
--
"So, is Food Tech your last exam?"
"Yeah, what about yours?"
"Ah, I still have my Geography exam next week!"
"I get a longer holiday than you do!"
"I heard someone finished two weeks ago!"
"I wish they were better planned…"
Sasuke looked up as the two girls turned to him, a blond and a pinkette.
"Sasuke-kun, what about you?" Sakura asked with a bright face.
"Yeah, what exams do you have left?"
"Systems really…" Sasuke said.
Ino grinned. "Really? Do you think you've done well so far?"
He nodded.
Tugging on her girlfriend's sleeve, Sakura dragged Ino out the locker hall, probably going to the study room. Shutting his own locker, Sasuke turned around to look at the gate, seeing a familiar Lexus pull up. Kiba, Naruto and Gaara got out, and Sasuke could see the ponytails for blonde hair that could only belong to Temari. Now the year thirteen's had finished, they were all free. Until university started that was. From what he'd heard, Temari was going to the University of Suna.
"Hey, Sasuke-teme!" Naruto called, running up to the dark haired boy and throwing his arms around his neck. "What do you have today?"
"Nothing…I'm just in to study. What about you?"
Naruto pouted a little. Ever since Shizune-sensei had caught them playing on the computers, he, Kiba and two others had been banned from the computer labs.
"I have my Food Technology exam," he said. "I hope it's over soon! I still have my Geography exam to do as well!"
"Yeah, Ino told me about that…" Sasuke said, remembering the conversation he'd heard but a few moments ago. "What about you two?"
Gaara and Kiba looked up from their lockers.
"Systems."
"Geography and Spanish."
Naruto linked his arm with Sasuke's and the two started to walk off, leaving Kiba and Gaara at the lockers. Kiba bid his goodbye and Gaara waited at the lockers for a while.
No one came.
--
"N-Neji-niisan," Hinata called, rapping her fist gently on the door. The boy hadn't come out for breakfast that morning, and she was starting to worry.
The boy came to the door a moment later, head held high, hair loose, white dress shirt and a pair of hip-huggers. Hinata flustered and smiled brightly at the sight of her cousin, looking better than he had done in a while.
"Neji-niisan!" she exclaimed. "I-I was getting worried…"
"I'm going for a walk, Hinata," he said. "I don't know when I'll be back, but I'm going for a walk."
She nodded and watched as he strode down the hall, passing a shocked Hanabi.
"Nee-chan!" Hanabi hissed. "Is Neji-niisan wearing your clothes?"
Hinata giggled. "No, Hanabi. He's going for a walk."
"To meet up with Gaara?"
"Probably…"
Neji opened the door, waiting for a moment as the driver brought out the car. He'd asked the man to drive for him today, as he couldn't drive himself.
"Where would you like to go, Neji-sama?" the man asked.
Neji hesitated. "School, please."
--
What a great way to relieve stress: Shooting games. He redhead had managed to pair up with Sai, who he caught wandering around the mall with one of his friends. The dark haired boy had agreed to go with him, and they'd been here since, playing on Time Crisis and such.
"Gaara," the dark haired boy started with an inquisitive tone. "Why exactly did you ask me to come with you?"
Gaara shrugged, holding the gun up. "Bored."
In all honesty, since he had talked to Neji a week ago they hadn't seen each other much. He would go to school each morning, hoping to see him, but never did. Gaara understood that the revision was hard, but Neji was an A-grade student in the first place, surely he had five or ten minutes to spare.
Naruto was the one who got the keys. Gaara told him he left them with Neji, and when the blond saw the Hyuuga asked about it, only to get them given to him. He took them gladly, not really understanding the mechanics until Sasuke explained it to him.
Gaara hadn't driven the car once. He managed to pawn Shikamaru's instead. Naruto and Kiba were all over the thing when they got their Learner's Licence however, which made Gaara's heart tighten slightly, but he didn't say anything.
Things were getting way too serious.
He glance at Sai a moment, only to find another dark haired male had taken his place. Blinking a few times, he nudged the boy in the side.
"Hey," he said. "Where'd Sai go?"
"Neji told me to meet him at the arcade," Sasuke said, shrugging. "I figured I'd take Sai's place…I bet I'm better than he is anyway."
Gaara had to agree.
"Wait- Neji?"
Sasuke lowered his weapon, leaving their lives defenceless. "Yes, Neji. My best friend…who you happen to be breaking."
"That's not my fault," Gaara said with a frown. "I'm doing it to him for his own good."
"What, ripping his heart out and trampling all over it? Do you even know what it suggested when you gave him his keys back?"
"That when he brought them back to me he should have some answers?"
"That you were breaking up with him, that's what."
Gaara frowned, swearing as he looked up at the screen: Game Over.
"It's not my fault you all interpret it wrongly," Gaara snapped.
"It so totally is," Sasuke sneered back.
They were only broken up at the site of their conversation starter in front of them.
"Sasuke…Gaara," Neji greeted. Sasuke waved somewhat while Gaara nodded.
"I'm going to go get some drinks, who wants what?" Sasuke offered, putting the gun back in its slot. Two 'nothings' later he was gone.
"So…how've you been?" Gaara asked.
Neji ignored the question and thrust a pair of keys into the redhead's chest.
"These are yours," he stated."
Gaara nodded and took them, stuffing them into his pocket. "I doubt Sasuke's coming back," he said. "Let's go for a walk."
--
The dark haired boy watched from his discrete position behind a tree as the two walked silently through a park, planting themselves down on a bench eventually. Sasuke moved closer, crouching so that he wouldn't be found sneaking around.
"…it's just, painful."
He saw the red head bob with a nod, waiting for the other to continue.
"I don't know when it started, probably before my parents, but everyone seems to just…vanish. I mean, sure, the most obvious one was my mum and my dad, and then my aunt. But most people I care about just disappear. Just when I get back into the swing of things, my uncle got taken away from me by Schizophrenia, and that sucks…big time."
Sasuke held his breath.
"I don't want that to be you too."
There was a long silence where they just sat together, bathing in the fact that the other was there.
"I can't say I really know what you mean," Gaara admitted. "I've never really had someone to be taken away from me. I've always been alone. They say it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, but I didn't understand how you could miss something that was never there in the first place? You can miss something you lost, but not something you didn't."
There was another silence. Sasuke listened hard. He strained his ears, hoping even to hear the sound of their movements.
"I can't imagine loosing you or Naruto…or my siblings now we're so close."
"Same."
They were so fucking awkward! He never had this problem with Naruto, it was much easier. He was a logical thinker and Naruto was the airy thinker. They weren't both thinking hard about the same thing in the same way, and they always ended up with at least one solution.
This was just ridiculous.
"I tell you what," Gaara finally said, turning to look Neji in the eyes.
Wan clashed with lilac. "What?"
"I'll make you a promise. I'll never disappear, whether as a friend or as a lover, if you do the same."
Neji looked down in thought, closing his eyes.
"I promise," he muttered, looking up again.
"I'll come with you next time you go to the hospital."
"And I'll help you with your driving test."
"And I'll help you study."
"And I'll sort out everything."
"With my help?"
"How else?"
Gaara smirked, receiving a matching one in return. Sasuke nodded with satisfaction and left. The two sat there for a moment longer in silence, looking round the small 'garden' that the mall had set up.
"Just because we've talked about it, doesn't mean it's going to go away," Gaara reminded. "I can tell you that from experience."
"The other day…you said you'd been in a gang," Neji questioned.
He got a nod.
"Do you…I mean, how did you…"
"Get into it?" yes. "My dad was earning lots of money, so that's not an excuse. Lots of people at my school were afraid of me I guess, and one day this kid came up to me and said 'how'd you like to make some friends?'. I accepted, of course, and wound up making friends with this gang leader, who told me the first class ticket to freedom was through him. I accepted that too.
"After one of the people I was after…well, I shot him and missed his leg, basically. Kankuro found out, then told Temari what I'd been doing- luckily avoiding the shooting people thing, and she decided it would be best if we moved.
"Dad paid of the house next to Nina and Gallen, gave Temari enough money to get started on, and left. I had my own money, from the gang, and we all got jobs."
Neji looked at Gaara sadly before looking back at the ground. "Sorry…"
"Hmm?"
"I've been dragging you around for a while, because of my family stuff, and you-"
"Are dealing with it very well, thank you. If it wasn't for you, I doubt I would be."
Standing, the Hyuuga planted his hands on his hips and nodded. "Let's go eat," he announced. "I'm hungry."
--
Naruto stretched and yawned as he rolled out the examination room, fellow students all around him chatting animatedly about the exam.
"Naruto, Naruto!" someone shouted, weaving through the crowd. He looked at the green eyed girl with a classic grin.
"Sakura, I saw you in there, you looked really confident!"
Blushing, she replied. "I guess I was. You looked a little panicky though!"
"Ah, I didn't know what to put down for question three, what about you…"
Sasuke let a stray look of warmth pass over his face at the sight of Naruto pulling so many expressions in a matter of seconds. Happy, sheepish, surprised, sad…and happy again, of course.
He caught Sakura pointing to him, and Naruto was off like a bullet, wrapping tanned arms round Sasuke's waist and burying his head into the tone chest.
"Sasuke-teme! It was so…boring!"
"I half expected you to say hard there, or actually comment on the exam paper…ah, I guess I was expecting too much," Sasuke teased, shaking his head a little.
"Teme! It was boring! It was a boring paper!"
"You sure you just didn't finish early?"
"That too, but that's not the point. Where's Gaara, I thought he was going to be here…" Naruto muttered, letting go of his lover and looking around.
Sasuke smirked. "Gaara's with Neji. They're having a little chat I think…I left them at the shopping mall to pick you up."
Naruto nodded with satisfaction. "I'm glad to see I'm priority one," he said. "Now, let's go meet them! Are they still there?"
"I'm not sure, but I can think of more…interesting things to do that might clear your boredom," the Uchiha purred, leaning into the blonde's ear. Said blond giggled a little and turned round, not letting go of Sasuke's hands which had somehow tangled with his, and pulling him to the car park.
"I'd absolutely love to know what you had in mind."
By the time they had got to the car, and were in the back seat, Sasuke noticed something wrong with Naruto. He decided to leave the passes till later, scooping the blond up and placing him in his lap.
"Exams are almost over…" Naruto started, but he didn't continue.
Nodding silently, Sasuke motioned for the driver to start, muttering something about the arcade.
"So…what happens next?" Sasuke asked, having a sinking feeling about where the conversation was heading.
"I guess IB…then University," the Uzumaki child said. Sasuke noted that with that expression, and the light playing with his bright face in that way, Naruto really did look more mature. Though the fear was still evident in the bright childish eyes, spikes of blond hair dropping into them.
"I heard a few people are going to collage instead of IB," Sasuke stated.
"Yeah…" Naruto filled, shivering at the calculating gaze Sasuke was looking over him with. The boy could read him like a book, though not many people had known him as a child. Only Sasuke.
"You're one of them, aren't you?"
A bright cheeky grin showed. "Can't let anything slip passed you, huh?"
Shaking his head, amusement shining in the onyx eyes, Sasuke smiled somewhat. "Nothing at all, Naru-chan."
The hyper boy leant back, looking up at the calmer one. "You staying on for IB, Sasu-chan?"
He hated the girlish term of endearment. "I'm doing the certificate, and then going to Esmond."
Naruto mock gasped. "Wow, Esmond eh? I hope you get in."
"What about Neji and Gaara?" Sasuke asked. "I know Neji wants to get his diploma."
The blond chuckled. "Gaara too, seeing as Kankuro's doing IB, he decided to carry on at our school instead of finding one with A-levels. Then he wants to do Sound engineering at University or something."
Sasuke nodded.
"And I'm doing Art collage," Naruto filled, though Sasuke knew this already. "I'm the only one not staying!"
The other sniggered. "You're the one abandoning us Naruto, you shouldn't be complaining."
"But still! I can't believe I'm not staying and you all are."
"Kiba?"
Naruto grinned. "He succumbed to the family trait after all his fuss."
"Really? Is he going to be a vet like his sister?"
"No, I think he's going to keep working in the kennels he's at or something. He might go to vetting school…or whatever you call it. He's doing IB though."
"Shino, and Hinata?"
Naruto's face scrunched up. "I really am abandoning you."
Sasuke laughed. "Told you."
"Ne, what about Sakura and Ino?"
"Nursing and accounting as far as I know," Sasuke said.
Naruto sighed, shutting his eyes so he didn't have to look at Sasuke.
"Tell me, Naruto. Which collage are you going to?"
"Hopefully Iwa's; it's really good," a small smile filleted across his face. "I told Deidara, he said his 'dad' went to the art collage in Iwa, that's why he ended up there. He said I'd be able to go there if I ever needed anything."
"I'll make a note to ask them to make sure that you're eating properly."
"I eat properly!"
"Instant Ramen is not proper food. Its plastic rope heated up and passed off as edible. I'm surprised you haven't died of some sort of heart disorder."
Pouting a little, Naruto opened his eyes again, though Sasuke wasn't looking at him. "You better ring me. I'm not paying to ring you everyday."
Sasuke smirked. "So, that means I'll have a Naruto free two years?"
"I'm serious Sasuke! Every week! Everyday you better ring me! Or…or…I'll send you hate mail!"
"I'd ring you every hour if we didn't have school," Sasuke said, causing his uke to blush. "Relax…"
"We won't be able to see each other everyday…"
"Well then," Sasuke said, pushing Naruto off him and onto the large floor of his car, smirking and laying himself across the blonde's chest. "Better make the best of it."
--
The thirteen teens pilled out of the theatre, buzzing about the movie. They were mainly in pairs, minus one trio at the back.
"I can't believe I got roped into watching that…" Shikamaru complained, shoulders sagging and head down. "The worst movie ever…"
Chouji grinned at his best friend as Ino hit him round the head. "Stop complaining! It was a wonderful movie!"
"Shikamaru just doesn't like movies, huh?" Chouji asked.
"I expected Die Hard four to be better, is that a sin?" he asked. "It was completely unrealistic if you ask me. Cars don't knock helicopters out the sky, and people just don't survive aeroplane crashes like that."
Sakura and Hinata giggled as they watched Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji banter, turning to face each other a few moments later.
"What about you, Hinata? Was it good?" Sakura asked, hands folded behind her back.
"I liked it a lot…" she said. "Though, I'm not used to watching action movies."
"Me neither, but we were kind of out voted by the boys…and Tenten," Sakura said. Hinata giggled and nodded.
Tenten overheard this remark and turned a little. "It was a brilliant movie, you have to admit! I bet you're glad we took you to see it!"
Sakura and Hinata both nodded.
"I agree with Tenten!" Lee exclaimed. "The film was just bursting with youth!"
Kiba sniggered. "Isn't the main character in his forties or something?"
"It makes no difference of the age, my friend! Youth is all around us!"
Kiba looked at Shino with a teasing look, threading their fingers together loosely. "Will you come to the bathroom with me, Shino? I'm scared to go on my own…"
Shino hid a smirk behind his collar at the undertone in his boyfriend's voice, nodding and allowing himself to be tugged towards the cinema bathroom.
"We'll see you guys later!" Kiba called, waving. "The movie was great! Thanks for inviting us!"
Naruto grinned and waved back. "You're welcome!"
"I take it there's no point in waiting for them," Sasuke asked, getting a negative movement in reply. "Though…they do have the right idea."
Naruto smirked. "Oh? You want to go to the bathroom too Sasu-chan? And I was so hoping you'd buy me an ice-cream…"
Rolling his eyes, Sasuke nodded. Naruto squealed and linked their arms. "We're going to get ice-creams, who's coming?"
Sakura linked her arm with Hinata, the two nodding and following. Shikamaru aloud Chouji and Ino to drag him in that direction, whining all the way.
"I don't know about you two," Tenten said. "But we're going to go to the arcade."
"We'll see you later then," Neji said.
Tenten grinned and nodded. "Thanks for inviting us!" she exclaimed.
"Yes, my good friend Neji! It was wonderful of you to remember us!"
Neji smirked. "You're pretty hard to forget, Lee. It was Naruto's idea anyway."
"Goodbye, Gaara!"
Gaara nodded a little, smiling lopsidedly. Lee and Tenten walked off, laughing amongst themselves. Gaara looked up at Neji, who was looking off into the distance.
"Hey," Gaara said, snapping the Hyuuga out his thoughts. "Don't drift off, just because I don't talk much doesn't mean I'm happy alone."
Neji smiled apologetically and nodded, motioning to the doors. "Shall we leave, seeing as we're the only two left?"
The redhead nodded, following his partner out of the mall. The two walked to the silver Lexus, climbing into it, Gaara starting the engine. He pulled out the space, heading to the exit.
"Where do you want to go?" Gaara asked, though he didn't get a response. Smiling softly, the Sabaku drove somewhat faster as Neji sunk back into his seat a little.
"Fireworks…"
Snapping his head round, Gaara gave Neji a puzzled look.
"I want to set off a firework…"
Turning back to the road, Gaara sped up again, this time with a destination in mind.
--
"I love this park."
"I never really come here."
"It's where I met Naruto."
"Really?"
"Yeah…"
"Sasuke once told me he and Naruto used to hang out at that pier there…"
"It's a nice place to sit."
"Where do you want to set it off?"
"I don't mind…"
"It's your firework, Neji."
"You bought it though."
"Not the point. Pick a place or it goes into the lake."
"Umm…just here should do."
"Right…"
"…Thanks."
"What?"
"For getting me a firework; it was nice of you."
"My kindness has its limits, so bask in it while it's not finished."
"Shall I go sit over there, seeing as you seem to know what you're doing?"
"Yeah…"
"I think we should light it later, when the sun's set."
"You're the expert."
"I'm not an 'expert'!"
Neji smiled a little, hugging his knees and watching as Gaara sat next to him. Gosh, he felt like a girl right now. He might've well been anyway, seeing as he was the one curled up in a coat, Gaara next to him in a much more relaxed position, his coat round his waist.
"I don't know how you can wear your coat in June," Gaara said, pouting a little. "I'm used to Suna weather, and I still find it kind of warm."
The Hyuuga laughed. "Well, I'm used to wrapping up well. I suit winter clothing more."
He rolled his eyes. "Fashion before practicality, huh?"
"You bet."
Looking out at the sunset, Gaara shivered involuntary. This whole thing reminded him of some sappy romance film. Now all he needed to do was kiss Neji in the sunset and the movie would be over.
"Thank god we're not on the beach," Gaara muttered.
"Why?"
"It would be even cheesier."
Neji laughed again. "Yeah, but then we'd end up making love on the beach or something."
The redhead flustered and looked away. "Well you can wipe any of those thoughts from your head; we're at a bloody park."
His smirk widened as he leant into the embarrassed boy. "What's wrong? Not embarrassed are you, Gaa-chan?"
"Call me that again and I'll maim you."
Flopping onto his back, Neji watched the pink and purple clouds float around in the dyed sky. "It's so beautiful…"
"Now you're getting sentimental. I, however, shall not surrender to the horror that is romance sap."
Neji shook his head, looking upwards before sitting back up quickly and tackling Gaara.
"Park Neji, Park!"
Neji leant down, loving the moment of pure embarrassment he bestowed onto the other male. "Sex Gaara, sex!" he hissed.
The smaller boy struggled under the weight, but managed to throw Neji off him. "Con-fucking-tain yourself moron."
He couldn't help not leaning in and kissing the younger boy though. Neji sprawled on his back, hands next to his head and knees slightly bent? In his defence, he couldn't deprive his beautiful boyfriend of something…well, something along those lines anyway.
"I thought we were in a park?" Neji teased when his lips were freed.
"Screw the park."
"Oh no, Gaa-chan. Screw you."
Leaning back in, Gaara kissed Neji again, feeling strong arms around his waist, pulling him over a little. Steadying himself with his forearms, Neji continued to remind his love who wore the pants in the relationship.
"Neji…" Gaara managed as Neji's mouth sucked at his neck. "There's a little kid over there…I do have morals…"
"I have to say," the Hyuuga boy said, pulling back. "Not so long ago, I thought I'd killed them. These 'morals' are becoming a nuisance."
Gaara smirked and lay on his side, shaking his head. "You're staying on for IB, right?"
"Yeah, you?"
Gaara nodded.
"Awesome…"
Neji sat up, noticing how dark it had gotten. Following the movement, Gaara stood and walked over to the rocket they'd bought, pulling out a lighter. They'd managed to convince Suigetsu into letting them borrow it, seeing as they didn't have one.
As soon as the fuse was lit, Gaara ran back over to Neji, falling next to him on the ground. Neji put an arm round the smaller boy, while the red head leant onto his shoulder.
The rocket was off.
"Neji…" Gaara started, glowing in the bright light.
"Hmm?" the darker haired boy couldn't take his eyes off the other. The softness of his face, the way the small wind played with his hair and the way the light toyed with his face and shadows.
"We're not going to be stopped by any problems, right?" he asked. "Promise me…"
"I promise," Neji said. "I'll march on with you for as long as it takes."
Neji was the one to initiate the kiss this time. And it was nothing like the last. It was short, forceful, yet one hundred percent soft and loving.
"We're back to the cheesy romance movies…" Gaara muttered as the sky darkened.
"I guess we are."
You'll march on with me too, right?
Of course.
And I still get that sex we were talking about earlier?
Gaara growled, standing and making sure his jacket was secure around his waist. "Dickhead."
"Hey, Gaara!" Neji called, stumbling up as Gaara strode down the path. "Gaara!"
Just march on, huh?
--
Kitty: it's over DX probably one of my longest running fics. I hope you all liked it, and thank you to everyone who read it, reviewed, faved alerted and all the rest. And thank you to those who were with me from the beginning till now!
I'm tempted to put up an epilogue, which I doubt will be as serious. So hold on a little longer.
Sorry for the wait. IB's HARD!
Arigatou
Kivea