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Previously on Friendzones...

"Kiba," Shino finally said, raising himself on his elbows. "I really need you to explain things to me," he told him, really wishing he understood these kinds of things better.

Kiba pulled back and sat on his feet, kneeling as before. "I know," he said. He'd always played that role as Shino's best friend. He'd explained anything that Shino didn't understand. "That video... the top secret one... maybe you should watch it," he said and stood up. He left Shino for a second and he returned with the DVD. "Watch it... and then we can talk," Kiba said and handed the DVD over.


Shino furrowed his brows, but took the dvd from Kiba. "The one that you come to?" he asked as he stood up. "Okay," he said uncertainly, still not getting it, but knew Kiba always had a way of explaining things that he could actually grasp. He was also wearing loose gym shorts and the fact that he was hard could not be hidden. Kiba didn't seem mad about it though. He went into Kiba's room that had been freshly cleaned after Sasuke and Naruto and actually smelled of cleaning fluid. He tried to pull his shirt down, but since his shirt was so tight, it wasn't really helpful. He adjusted himself futilely as he put Kiba's secret compilation into the DVD player.

Kiba sat down and looked over Shino. He had to fight the new surge of feelings as he saw the other's body and that Shino had reacted the exact same way. "Come," Kiba said and patted a space next to the bed. He stood and held Shino's hand as he led him to the bed. He used the remote and played the video. The first video pictured a very pale young man with a familiar hairstyle. Kiba cleared his throat as the video quickly changed to a penetrating angle. There were several of those, which had Kiba shifting slightly in his seat until there was a video that showed the same young man with his legs pushed back by his ears and the other man easing into him. Kiba knew now what his mother meant. He was very obviously attracted to Shino's type. He looked at his friend and stopped the video. He knew Shino would understand a few things. He'd know he was indeed attracted to men and that his best solo sessions came from this video, which showed a man just like Shino in many ways, except his eye color.

Shino watched intently, not missing anything. The only thing he was more focused on was Kiba moving next to him. As Kiba stopped the video, he turned to him. "So… you're more than a little curious," was what he gathered from the video. He looked down at Kiba's erection. "So did I do that?" he asked him. "And… at the office?"

Kiba chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, more than just curious. I've been getting off to it for… for a long time now," he said and rubbed his hand over his erection, trying to adjust it so it wasn't as obvious despite Shino calling attention to it. "And yeah… this is you. You do this to me… and at the office you got so close with your mouth…," Kiba shivered as he recalled the moment. "I came so fast because of you," he said and felt his heart beating so fast the vein at his neck must have been pulsing.

"Oh," Shino said quietly and moved his hands between his legs to make his own erection less noticeable. "Sorry? I'm not sure what to say," he confessed. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" he asked him. He looked again at the screen which had been paused on the image of a gaping hole. "I think about you sometimes too," he told him.

Kiba blushed and smiled slightly. "Do you?" he asked almost shyly, which was definitely out of character. "Do you think about me… doing what?" he asked him, curious and wanting to hear more. He looked down as Shino adjusted himself and closed his eyes for a second. It wasn't helping.

"Masturbating," Shino answered truthfully as always. "But other stuff too," he added quickly. "Some normal things, like what you're doing now, or what you'd think of this person saying this, or how better things would be if you were here," he listed.

Kiba chuckled out of pure nerves. "I've… thought of you before. Just going down on me and… and your eyes really, really do it for me in those fantasies," he confessed so they'd be somewhat even. "I also like knowing you think of me masturbating," he said and gulped. "Should we go back to working out?" Kiba asked though in his mind he had a much different work out in mind.

Shino smiled at him and looked back down at his hands shyly as well. "I don't know," he answered back. He looked back at him. He felt better knowing they'd cleared the air about a couple things, but there was still one more question. "Are you still… going through a lot?" he asked. He knew Kiba was interested now, but maybe it still wasn't time for that sort of thing.

Kiba shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah…, I am, but… maybe it would be easier if I weren't going through it alone," Kiba said and played with the invisible thread at his knee. "If you want… maybe you could date me… or whatever-you-want me," he offered, ready for rejection though the answer was so clear.

Shino's eyes widened as he looked over at him. So, he was really offering? This wasn't just one of his very vivid dreams? "Yes-I mean, if you want and you're not just saying this because you're upset about everything, then I'd be okay with that," he told him. He turned to look at him. He looked between them at their obvious problems. "Do you want me to help?" he asked reaching his hand out tentatively to rest on Kiba's thigh.

Kiba looked down at Shino's hand and up at his eyes. This was his friend, his best friend. He'd let Kiba take the lead. He'd never dated and probably didn't know the first thing other than his dating game. "I do, but… let me take you out on a real date first. Can I- may I escort you to the Gala Event?" Kiba asked, putting all his physical needs on the back burner and concentrating on the possibility of a relationship with the man before him. He would not take advantage of him.

Shino took his hand back and nodded happily. "Okay, yes, I'd like that," he told him and looked back down at his hands. He didn't expect this to happen. "I do still want to work out…, but I might need a few minutes," he said.

Kiba chuckled. "Me too, Shino," he said honestly and eyed the video. "I can be done real quick, but… if you want… maybe you can watch," Kiba offered, thinking it would be innocent enough as long as they didn't touch each other.

Shino's eyes widened a little at the offer and he actually blushed. "Um, okay," he said quietly as contradicted himself as he looked away. He had the other's permission, but he still felt like he was doing something bad and dirty.

Kiba felt nervous. As the seconds went by his erection died down. There was such a high pressure to perform that, suddenly, he couldn't. He adjusted his gym shorts a little lower. He was soft, completely soft. Kiba cleared his throat and looked up at Shino. "Umm… I can't do it."

"Okay," Shino said quickly. "I want to," he assured him. "I… really do, but it's kind of like peeking at your present before Christmas," he said as he was able to calm himself down shortly after. "So back to the workout?" he asked after a while.

Kiba grinned, relieved. "Yes! Let's go run a mile!" he said excitedly. He turned off the TV and hid the DVD again. "Let's go! Let's go!" he said, excited as ever to workout.


It was the weekend again. Gaara was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Sasuke had helped dress him, mostly by yelling at him any time he wore a shirt more expensive than the last. "It's just a shirt, Sasuke."

Sasuke shook his head. "A bad business investment then if you choose to spend so much on a shirt and still plan to ruin it with paint," he said from his spot on the bed.

Gaara groaned and returned to his closet. The next shirt he wore was a simple white t-shirt that was 'reasonably' priced by their standards. "Fine. I'm wearing it, but it doesn't make my eyes pop," Gaara complained. He pulled out his phone and made sure his car was waiting downstairs then he texted Neji. 'Are you ready for me to shoot my load on you?' Gaara texted and snorted at his dumb line.

Neji hummed as he was presented a few model options for paintball guns. "I like the one with the scope and the strap," he said as he tested it out. He looked at his text message and laughed. 'That was stupid,' he sent him. 'But I laughed so you get points. Now get over here,' he sent him.

Gaara chuckled and poked Sasuke's stomach. "Let's go. Text your blonde. You two stick to your side. Mini golf and don't interrupt us. If I need you, I'll text you," he said and took off quickly. The paintball and minigolf was only a ten minute drive.

Gaara didn't bother to speak a word before they picked up Naruto from the bus stop. "Really? You haven't bought him a car yet?" Gaara teased when they stopped.

Naruto was glued to Sasuke as soon as he was picked him, moaning as he dry humped him in the passenger seat while Gaara drove. He pulled away at the jab. "You bought me a car?!" he asked excited. He hugged Sasuke tightly and didn't let him speak. "Oh you're the best boyfriend in the whole world," he said smooching him around his face.

Sasuke glared at Gaara. "Yes, baby. I got a cute little car to get you to and from school," Sasuke lied smoothly.

Gaara smirked. "It's orange with black pinstriping," he added.

Naruto gasped happily. "Oh that's so me, I love it! When can I see it?" he asked Sasuke excitedly kissing him again.

As he'd said once they'd arrived Gaara ran ahead. Neji was so easy to spot. He walked up to him and smacked his side lightly. "I'm here. Gotta pick my weapon… I'll take the red one," Gaara said easily, seemingly without thought, but he and Sasuke frequented the paintball fields in Konoha and also played in their backyards often enough.

Neji turned to Gaara with a smile. "Who dressed you," he laughed as he tugged at the white shirt. "You're very confident wearing white to a paintball game," he said. He himself was wearing a full on cargo jumpsuit. He came here to win… as usual.

"A terrible friend dressed me. Insisted my other shirts weren't right for this game," Gaara said and saw up on the scoreboard that they were actually paired up. "Oh, this is doubles?" he asked Neji and then saw the screen change and two very familiar names come up on the screen. It was Hyuuga/Sabaku vs Uchiha/Uzumaki.

Naruto was still kissing Sasuke when they walked up to the scoreboard and he saw their names appear on the board. "Whoa, look, we're famous," he said pointing at their names. "It says we're up against… oh," he said and saw Neji and Gaara look towards them. "Oh, it's on now," Naruto said with a grin as he straightened up and tied a black headband around his forehead. "You're going down, you two!" he called them out loudly. "Believe it!"

Neji chuckled and turned to Gaara. "Well, I don't lose, so you'd better bring your A-game. I might even reward you with a nude," he sang. "I'll even let you pick the angle."

Gaara snapped his eyes towards Sasuke, begging him to lose and just in case he didn't he 'accidentally' shot him in the ribs.

Sasuke gasped in pain, glad he had his gear on already. "Watch it," he warned Gaara as they all made it outside. He slipped in his goggles and helped Naruto with his. "Baby…, it was Gaara's idea to get you that car… in a hideous purple. We really need to win," he said.

"Purple?" Naruto asked disappointed and nodded. "Right, let's take him down," he said determined.

Gaara walked up to Neji and placed his hand on the other's lower back as he leaned in towards him. "The blonde is really loud. He can't help talking and talking. It'll be a breeze to hunt them down," he whispered to Neji before the buzzer sounded.

Neji nodded with a smile. "I got that, yeah. It's the other one that might be a challenge. You know him well though, right?" he asked him.

Gaara nodded as they each set off into their own team entrance of the paintball maze. "Since childhood. We got this," he whispered and led them through the maze to a good spot. "If we win…, I get to take the nude," he said and positioned his gun, ready to shoot as soon as he spotted either of them.

Neji chuckled. "Deal," he told him as the game started and he crouched down behind a barrel. He heard someone's footsteps scurry to the right towards a cabin. He rolled to his shoulder and aimed for their feet. Damn! Missed Naruto's heel by a hair. He moved quickly then as Sasuke shot at him. He made it to another barricade just in time.

Gaara followed the swift steps of Sasuke's retreat. He ducked behind a large metal pipe and aimed at the other's back, but missed. It was a ruse. No sooner had he ducked that he heard three shots go off. They landed on the space he'd just run away from. The red pipe was now marked in highlighter orange.

Gaara frowned. They would be at a slight disadvantage as the other two were already a couple and more in tune with each other. Gaara sat down under a wooden panel and searched the area for mud. He kicked aside the hay and quickly smeared his hair with the brown mud to disguise his bright red hair. He could at least trick Naruto for a second's delay with the dark hair.

"Nude nude nude," he chanted to himself. He saw Neji's long hair flash in a corner of the maze. He closed his eyes and heard rustling. He didn't wait to confirm it. He's seen Neji left and this sound was right. He pulled the trigger and three shots were off. He smirked as a blonde was hit on the side of the leg and ass. He snickered to himself and hoped Sasuke didn't get too mad.

Naruto yelped out as he fell to the ground. "Ow, that hurt," he pouted as he rubbed at his ass on the ground. "You monster, why would you do that?!" he asked Gaara with large teary eyes.

Neji crouched silently waiting for his chance at Sasuke. The other was quiet, like a black cat. He thought he had a sight on him, but he didn't want to risk giving away his position. Whatever the duck-like silhouette was, it was still… until Naruto yelled somewhere in the maze, and Sasuke raised his head up with a concerned and angry expression on his face. "Gotcha," he said before he shot, catching Sasuke in the shoulder. "Hell yes!" he said shooting up.

Naruto heard Neji claim his victory in the distance and threw down his weapon. "Sasuke, now!" he yelled as he rushed Gaara into the cabin at the same time Sasuke did the same with Neji. Once they were all in, they locked the door.

Neji grunted as he landed in the cabin. "What the hell?!" he demanded and looked around.

Gaara caught himself as he was tossed into the wooden cabin. He quickly moved to cover Neji when Sasuke aimed.

"You shot my boyfriend in the ass," Sasuke said slowly and motioned with his head for Gaara to move. "It's only fair I shoot yours in his," he said.

Gaara refused to move. "You'll have to kill me first," he said it feeling brave and noble, but was soon shot directly in the chest. He ached already. "Fuck! Sasuke that's close range!" he yelled and tried to meet Neji's eyes. They needed a plan.

Neji had looked over Gaara with a small smirk as he defended him, but was shocked out of his flattery when the other was hit. He glared at the other two. "You two are sore losers," he told them.

"Meet our demands and we'll allow you to forfeit. Naruto- our demands," Sasuke said and kicked the guns further out of their reach.

Naruto limped forward and supported himself on Sasuke's shoulders. "It's gonna take a million years for this bruise to go away," he said unrealistically. "I want a wonderful graduation gift consisting of an all expense paid vacation for me and Sasuke to let's see… Tahiti sounds nice," Naruto demanded, sticking out his tongue.

"You can't be serious," Neji said, his eye twitching.

"Aaand," Naruto continued, unfinished, "You two have to spend the night here, oh, but your clothes, they come with us," he finished with a smile. He was a matchmaker in the end, and he had to give them at least something.

"Is he serious?" Neji asked Gaara.

"Dead serious," Sasuke answered for him.

Gaara glared at Naruto and Sasuke. "Hawaii," Gaara counter offered, but he did remove his shirt. "And you take my jet," he said thinking he'd save if his father's company jet was used. He removed his shoes and socks while Naruto considered it.

Sasuke motioned at Neji to undress too.

Neji looked over at Gaara undressing and crossed his arms. "And you only have us in here for five hours, not overnight. There's no bathroom or food in here!" he added.

Naruto considered all this and hummed. "Deal. Five hours it is, a trip to Hawaii in the private jet," he agreed.

Neji sighed. "Fine," he muttered and began undressing. "And turn around!" he said before his shirt was fully off. "You may look," he added quietly to Gaara.

Naruto turned with Sasuke, glad he was getting a car and a trip with Sasuke. "Can we get the car a paint job so that it is orange with black pinstripes?" he asked Sasuke.

Neji tossed his clothes by the others' sides and had to smile a little again as Gaara stood in front of him to hide his body.

"Done," Gaara said as he tossed his clothes onto the small pile too.

"Pleasure doing business with you," Sasuke said to Gaara and took the guns with him as they left. "Let's go, Foxy. We can do the paint job after you pick your car," he said and took Naruto's hand in his.

"Okay," Naruto said happily and limped after him.

Gaara remained standing in front of Neji, his hands over his own privates. He waited until the door shut to turn around. "So that nude?" he asked jokingly, as they'd technically won. He looked over all he could see of Neji and slowly uncovered himself so Neji could see him too.

Neji snorted. "Well, they did leave our phones," he said and tossed Gaara his. "You've got plenty of time to get your angle. Just one, that was the deal," he told him. "More importantly," he started as he pulled himself up to sit on a large trunk that was in the room no doubt for the 'capture the flag' game. "What are we going to do for five hours?" he asked teasingly.

Gaara took his phone and looked over Neji greedily. "You," was his answer. He pushed Neji on his back slightly and spread his knees. Gaara kneeled down so he'd have an angle from the floor looking up at Neji. He took his picture and stood again. "I could do all sorts of fun things to you," he offered and sat next to Neji on the trunk.

Neji chuckled and sat back up. "It's not the most ideal spot for fun things. There's a used band-aid and a broken beer bottle over there," Neji said as he pointed to it. "Besides, I'm not easy," he told him.

Gaara chuckled as he crossed his legs after a quick adjustment. "That's good to know. I'm not easy either. Your beauty has captivated me since the 5th grade," Gaara said honestly, but doubtful that he'd be believed. "What's rare beauty in the world is worth waiting for," he said though if any of his friends or family heard those words they'd also think he was lying.

Neji smiled as he looked over at him. "Well, I am quite a dish," he admitted with a chuckle.

"Tell me about yourself growing up with the Hyuuga. Is Hiashi really as stuck up as he looks?" Gaara asked.

Neji turned to him when he asked about Hiashi. "Yes. Yes he is," he answered easily. He looked him over. "I see you weren't lying about those hardwood floors," he said with a smirk. "How was life with your dad?" he asked him. "Are the rumors that he tried to kill you, true?"

Gaara leaned back on his hands and let Neji look at his body, what little was exposed in his position anyhow. "I never lie. And my dad… is a hardass, but the only ones ever trying to kill me were my siblings. My mother passed away giving birth to me and that… somehow made my father love me more… or… treat me differently. Maybe because I was the last bit of the woman he loved, which of course made my siblings jealous and so began the asassination attempts. Another reason is that my father has skipped my siblings and named me his heir. It's the reason I was sent back to Sand for college instead of remaining in Konoha. My siblings are far, far away for now," he shared and leaned slightly against Neji to touch his shoulder against Neji's.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Neji told him. "My mother was very sickly and she only lasted a few days after I was born. I suspect you already know about what happened to my father," he said with a shrug. "My uncle… tries though. I think he just wanted to ensure he kept the promise to my father that if anything happened to him, I'd have a good life. I suppose in retrospect I have," he said and leaned against Gaara. "Hinata tries to be like her father. I think she'd do better though if she were just allowed to be her. Business isn't for her," he explained.

"I know your sister - cousin? Hinata… she's a sweet girl, but very quiet. You two aren't anything alike," Gaara said and smiled at him. "You got the looks, obviously."

"What would you do if your father didn't name you the heir?" Neji asked curiously.

"Buy him out of course," Gaara answered instantly. "Or if my siblings took over, I'd wait for them to tank the company before I buy it and rebuild it. You?" Gaara asked.

Neji chuckled. "Probably the same. Hinata would not do a good job. She's too nice for it. Hanabi, maybe, when she's older," he said. He looked over at Gaara. "Favorite color?" he asked. "Red?" he answered for him.

Gaara smirked. "Lilac..." He turned his head slightly. "Yours? White?" he guessed.

Neji smiled. "Green, pale sea green," he said looking into his eyes. "My favorite food is cheese sticks, yours?" he asked him.

Gaara looked down as he felt his cheeks heating up. "I enjoy sushi the most," he shared. "Neji… can I hold your hand?" he asked almost innocently despite their undress.

Neji looked over, surprised, but smiled. "Yeah, I think that'd be alright," he said and took Gaara's hand in his. They spent the rest of their time in the cabin this way, just talking and getting to know each other.


Thanks for reading! Get ready for our biggest and longest chapter yet! Ch. 10 will hit 6,500 words!