In the middle of the deserts of Kon, there was an oasis. In that oasis was a marvel of a Temple. And in said Temple, was a hidden chamber. Its walls were covered in myriads of paintings depicting the Gobi No Hokou and Ichibi No Shukaku, along with another figure.

But we can look at the paintings later.

Neji stood in front of the unconscious demon, who was chained to the wall, that Madara had forced him to abduct. But, that was just it. That pretty face, that gorgeous figure, and the hair that was spun of the golden sands that whipped around the Temple itself... Neji silently allowed himself to brush a hand against the young one's cheek. The skin was so soft. "This can't be..." The brunette began, looking from Ichibi's unconscious figure to the painting of the fierce raccoon-god on the wall. "No. He doesn't even look like a demon." Neji stated, but then he huffed, "At least what Madara's idea of a demon is."

After a while of watching the young demon sleep, Neji smiled. 'So many questions... If this small beauty really is one of the gods of Kon...' He nodded and, just when Ichibi began to stir, he left to get something.

Ichibi groaned as he slowly roused from slumber. "Ow... My head. Where..?" Sea-foam eyes scanned around the room as much as he could, "Where am I?" But then he remembered. "No! That human! How could I let him-?"

"Oh!"

A new voice caused Ichibi to look over and growl. Neji had come back with two plates of food, one more filled than the other. "You're awake!" Neji gasped, smiling. Ichibi gasped as he saw the face of his attacker. Yet, the human male seemed... happier right now than he had when he had kidnapped Ichibi. But then things got weird. Ichibi raised an eyebrow as Neji knelt down to the floor and regarded the paintings on the wall. "I hope that I'm... doing this right." He muttered before he bowed to the young demon.

"My name is Neji. It is an honor to meet you, Ichibi-sama."

"What the hell are you doing?" Ichibi growled in disbelief as Neji started rising and bowing. The brunette stopped after a while and answered, smirking,

"Revering you of course!"

"What?" Ichibi sputtered, "Why? You're a human and I'm not even a god!" Neji chuckled before he picked up the plate and walked so that he was right in front of the demon.

"But of course. Do you know how important, how precious you are? Ichibi-sama?" When the figure in front of him blushed, Neji chuckled and brought a grape from the plate and pressed it against Ichibi's lips. "You should eat, you've been unconscious for quite some time." Ichibi hesitantly swallowed the small fruit. As he chewed on it, Neji cooed, "Good. That wasn't so bad, now, was It – " In a flash, Ichibi spat the chewed up fruit back out, onto Neji's face.

Ichibi glared as Neji frowned and wiped the mess off. But he was disappointed when Neji stated, "So I take it that you don't like grapes, Ichibi-sama? Well, that's fine. I have some other things that you might like."

"I would like for you to let me go!" Ichibi yelled, thrashing in the chains.

"As much as I want to, I can't do that, Madara will kill us both." Neji murmured, picking up a strawberry. "Tell me about life in Kon.", the brunette asked, feeding the demon the fruit. Ichibi took a bite and actually swallowed before he replied,

"No way in hell." After that, it was quiet and Ichibi almost thought that Neji had given up. Unfortunately,

"Alright then. If you allow me, Ichibi-sama, I can tell you about my life and then you can tell me about yours."

"What is wrong with you?" Ichibi yelled, "I don't even- You know what, fine! Go ahead, but don't expect me to actually listen!"

"Wonderful!" Neji smiled. "Let's just give you another strawberry and..." After Ichibi began chewing on that, he stated, "..I'll begin."


A/N:

Next time on The Legend of Hoshi: Metronome of Time:

"Oh, you poor things. If you come with me, I'll make sure that you all will never suffer again."

Serpents often come in the sweetest of guises... The truth of Neji's past revealed!

-Tyranno's girl.