"Brother?" Kankuro said incredulously. An inky darkness crept over the overhead light, darkening the room. "You leave my brother without calling him for days and when you return leave him broken on the floor, and you dare to call me that?"

Neji always suspected that the driver reported everything to Kankuro. Gaara was his precious baby brother despite what Gaara thought. He wouldn't leave Gaara unwatched.

Now more prepared than the last time they had met, he stood his ground, seeing the shadows move around him at Kankuro's will. "I was wrong for not contacting him. I realize now that I caused him to worry needlessly." Neji kept his head bowed.

"Worry? You think I would come back to this backwater island if he was simply worried? Would I cancel my meetings with the prime minister and president over a simple worry?" Kankuro entered the kitchen. According to Nara, Kankuro was a shadow manipulator. Knowing that, he could see the shadows move on the walls and floors creeping towards him. "Worry doesn't begin to cover the damage you have caused."

Kankuro took a step into the room. "Every time Gaara loses control, it gets reported. Even if I try to keep that information hidden, someone will find out. This past week alone I have received five calls. To anyone who doesn't know about your relationship, it would look like he's losing his mind. You are endangering his life being here."

Neji kept his head bowed. Even when he saw the shadows wrap around his body. Kankuro was ready to kill him. It seemed he was getting on the bad side of a lot of people lately. Still, he did not waver as he answered. "You are right. I should have been more aware of how my actions could hurt Gaara. That was my fault, and I take full responsibility for that. But I won't apologize for it either." Neji felt the shadows tighten around his body, squeezing him and making it hard to breathe. "I am only 19. This is my first relationship. My feelings are new to me, and I don't know what I should say to some things. I'm still learning. Gaara is learning too. Gaara is different. And this isn't a normal relationship. There is no guide and there is no one to help us figure it out. Can you expect ignorant children to make no mistakes?"

"Those mistakes can cost Gaara his life!" Kankuro roared.

Rather than be intimidated, Neji looked up. "Gaara is sleeping finally after a rough week. Please keep your voice down."

The shadow's tightened around his body more. It was going to leave a bruise and distress Gaara if he saw it.

"You dare to tell me what to do?" Despite his words, Kankuro lowered his voice to even softer than when he had first entered.

"I also care about Gaara. I want him to be happy and learn to love himself. It's also what you want for him isn't it?"

Kankuro fell silent briefly. "If it wasn't, you wouldn't be here."

Neji stood up from his bowed position, raising his chin and showing his pride. "I don't plan to let Gaara die," he stated. "Gaara may have accepted it, but I won't. When the time comes, I plan to fight. If I have to run away with him, I will, but I can't sit back and watch him die."

"Do you think you have the power to protect him?"

"No," Neji stated bluntly. "Which is why I'm hoping I'm not the only one who hasn't given up."

Kankuro stood silently for a long time. With silent footsteps he walked further into the kitchen, eying the appliances, glassware, and cookware. "If I had it my way, you'd never see him again. No matter how many books I read I can't come to accept it." He stopped, picking up a Japanese teacup, examining its design. Out of all the fancy things in the kitchen, it was the only thing that appeared to be used with any frequency.

"But what right do I have to say what's good for him? You have spent more time with him in a week than I have my entire life and exchanged more words with him in a day than I have the past 10 years combined. I am a stranger who can't even see how much he secretly loves Japanese things, from the house to a simple teacup." He placed the teacup down, gently. "I've never even seen him smile, and yet people tell me that with you, he has not only smiled but was even playful. I can't even remember a time when he didn't appear dead inside."

Kankuro turned to face him, his eyes still looked at him as if he was less than dirt, but there was begrudging respect as well. "I haven't given up on him. I've spent the past four years trying to find out a way to save him. It's made me countless enemies, including my father. I've managed to find people who are willing to give Gaara a chance, but they still fear him. It is critical that Gaara doesn't appear unstable or they will turn against him. If they find out about your relationship, they may turn anyway. You must keep it a secret at all costs, or all the work I've done will be thrown out."

Neji knew they couldn't flaunt their relationship, and he knew he would be reserved in discussing it as he still had some reservations about his image and how people would treat him if they knew, but he never wanted to hide it. Honestly, he wished he had someone he could discuss it with. His uncle and Tsunade were his superiors and he didn't have a close enough relationship and Uchiha who may have been able to discuss things with him made it clear he disliked Neji. He had no close friends other than Gaara, and a part of him wanted to tell someone. He didn't want to keep Gaara a secret, but what choice did he have until they could beat Gaara's situation. "I understand. If there is anything else I can do to help…."

"Always have your phone on. If I fail, I'll need you to run with him. Gaara may have given up, but if it's with you, he may be willing to try," there was a sadness in his eyes as he spoke. He didn't want to rely on Neji, but he had no choice. He knew Gaara would never go to him for help. Still, he believed Neji could change Gaara's mind, something Neji wasn't even sure he was able to do.

"I will, Onii-san."

Kankuro was not too pleased by Neji's insistence on calling him brother. Even using the Japanese form, he was sure Kankuro knew its meaning. He closed his eyes, resigning himself to accepting Neji in his life. As much as Kankuro disliked him and didn't approve, for Gaara, he'd accept it and keep his opinions to himself.

"Ahdurha," Kankuro raised his voice.

The front door opened, and a young Arabic man entered, bringing bags and bags of groceries. Neji only saw some of it through the plastic bags, but it looked like ice cream.

"I heard he likes sweets. Specifically, the 'double chocolate fudge brownie surprise'," Kankuro said the name as if just saying it would give him diabetes. "Consider it my gift for visiting unannounced." The young man immediately went to work putting the groceries away.

Neji did feel a little bad. Kankuro wanted to spend time with his brother, had brought ice cream to try to cheer him up, but since Neji was here, he had no plans on staying.

"His name is Latif. He will stay behind to be your house manager and make sure Gaara has a balanced diet. He's still learning about Japanese culture and cuisine, but he's a quick learner if you are patient with him."

The man stopped to bow to Neji, though instead of a polite 15-degree angle or a modest 45, he went for the full 90. "I am Latif. I have been learning Japanese for two weeks. Please be patient with me. I look forward to working with you."

For two weeks, it wasn't bad. Most of what he said was standard greeting and phases and the accent was very thick, but he did get the conjugations and syntax right. Still a house manager was… a bit much. It was someone intruding into their home that he did not ask for. However, he knew there would times he would be too busy to come home or would come home late and be too tired to cook. It would put him at ease if someone was here to make sure Gaara ate.

Still, Gaara probably wouldn't be happy about it, and Neji still felt like it was Kankuro's way of posting another spy.

"He will not be living here," Kankuro assured him. "He shouldn't interfere with your daily life either. I would have preferred someone who was more… experienced, but he was the only one I could find who was accepting of your 'lifestyle'."

"Thank you for thinking so much of us," Neji said to Kankuro. "We'll gladly accept your gifts."

Kankuro stood awkwardly with no more words to say. He didn't want to leave, but he had no reason to stay either after concluding his business. Uncomfortably, he tried to make his exit. "I'll leave my cell number. Use it only in emergencies involving Gaara," he paused, trying to come up with more words. "I'll take my le—"

"Do you want to see him?" Neji asked.

He thought Kankuro would say no, that his pride would stop him. Kankuro went quiet and still. His love for Gaara won out and despite his pride, he nodded and allowed Neji to take him to the bedroom.

Gaara was still sleeping soundly, and Neji was glad he had enough foresight to clean Gaara up and put him to bed properly.

Kankuro didn't enter the room. He remained in the doorway, watching Gaara sleep. His angry demeanor softened and his eyes held longing.

Without a word, Neji left, leaving Kankuro to have his fill of watching Gaara sleep. Latif was still in the kitchen. From the sounds of it, he was making breakfast or maybe lunch. Neji wasn't sure of the time. He hadn't checked since waking.

Neji stepped out of the house, taking a seat on the stairs as he waited, the driver still standing to the right of the door.

Neji could tell that Kankuro wanted to go to Gaara's bedside. He wanted to reach out, but like Gaara, Neji wasn't sure Kankuro knew how. Kankuro reminded him a lot of his uncle. Now that he understood his uncle's situation, he could see similar traits between them and saw how much Kankuro cared, and like him when it came to identifying his uncle's version of love, Gaara couldn't see Kankuro's.

Working under his uncle, even during this short time, he understood that his uncle had never truly singled him out. He could see now how his uncle handled other clan members. See how he commanded them, scolded them, demanded perfection and his words to be followed. In fact, his uncle was harsher on them than he had ever been with the unknowing Neji.

His uncle was a leader of a clan. He couldn't show weakness. Couldn't admit when he was wrong. Couldn't seem fallible. And Neji could see how some clan members showed some of their defiance, the looks in their eyes when they didn't agree with his orders. Eyes were on his uncle at all times, waiting for him to make a mistake, and Kankuro was in a similar position. Neither could show their true feelings and the result was losing the ability of being close to people they loved. Kankuro with Gaara and his uncle with him and even Hinata.

Speaking of Hinata, he needed to apologize for his behavior to her. To be honest, he had been avoiding her. Even when he was cruel to her, rejecting the kindness she tried to show him, he had felt guilty, but his jealousy of her would always keep him doing it again and again. Now, he couldn't bring himself to face her even when being in the same class.

He sighed heavily, putting his head in his hands and pushing his hair back. He really was an asshole over something so petty, wasn't he? Uzumaki, Hinata, his uncle, he made their lives so much harder because of his ignorance and poor personality.

He sat on the stairs, thinking over his life and the people in them. He didn't recall thinking so much two months ago. If he recalled he tried not to think, avoiding his problems as much as possible. Is this what they called maturing? He almost didn't notice Kankuro come out of the house until he walked past him. Kankuro walked straight ahead, not looking at Neji, but he did mutter a quiet thank you as he passed.

To preserve the moment, Neji didn't say anything and went back inside. The smell of food now filled the house, but he wasn't hungry. He went straight to the back of the house, back to their bedroom, crawling back into bed, cuddling with Gaara.

"Is he gone?" Gaara murmured. His eyes were still closed, and his body still relaxed. The only sign he was awake was him lethargically moving to snuggle more into Neji's chest.

Neji buried his nose in Gaara's hair, breathing deeply, memorizing his scent. "Yeah. Have a house manager now. Whatever that is," Neji murmured back.

"Hm," Gaara grunted and fell back asleep.

Neji held his lover tenderly, stroking his hair.

"Tomorrow," Gaara started, the word trailing off like he had fallen asleep halfway through before picking up again. "We can go on a date… if you want."

"A date?" Neji asked, taken by surprise though he didn't show it in his voice, still lazily stroking Gaara's locks. "That sounds nice. Where do you want to go?"

Gaara took several slow breaths, and Neji wondered if he had fallen asleep. "Leave it to you."

Neji chuckled, muttering a "Figures" under his breath. A date really did sound nice. It would be their first real date. "Might not be able to do it until after my training. Could be late when I get home."

"Thas fine," he slurred.

Neji smiled, kissing the top of his head. He was already trying to come up with ideas, places Gaara may like. Somewhere not crowded that even Gaara could enjoy. There was really only one place that popped into his mind. It had to be a dessert café. If they had more time, he'd take him to a secluded beach for a picnic in the summer sun. He'd let Gaara experience the world for himself instead of through a window.

He hugged Gaara tighter. He'd make the time. He would give Gaara that chance, and they would make it to summer and see the beach and the fireworks. He would invite Uzumaki and Hinata too. He would make sure Gaara made it to see that day, no matter what.

Elder Danzo's home was isolated in the mountains. It was a traditional Japanese house surrounded by a small compound for his disciples and family members. There wasn't a single western building on the property, and the western appliances were limited too. Danzo sat in his waiting room, sipping at his tea while Kakashi blocked the door, his guns drawn, and eyes focused on their "guest".

The self-proclaimed butler of Uchiha, Sasuke sat across from Danzo in his personalized tailored suit, an overly cheerful smile on his face. "I am happy to be able to gain an audience with you, Elder. I was afraid you would not speak with me."

"I can still change my mind, bloodsucker."

The man before them chuckled with the most amused expression, looking at the elder quite condescendingly as he replied in a mocking tone. "Now, now, Danzo-kun, is that the way to treat an old acquaintance?" Kakashi resisted the urge to glance at Danzo at the comment, watching the butler's smiled curl at Danzo's displeasure. "How long has it been? 42 years?"

"If you've come to mock me, I have no time for it," he raised a hand, signaling Kakashi to escort him out. Kakashi took a step forward to follow through.

The butler only glanced at him, and for the first time since Kakashi was a child, he felt fear. A simple glance that hadn't even lasted a second, yet it was filled with such malice and bloodlust, frightening Kakashi into hesitating. As quickly as it came, it vanished, but the fear didn't let up even when the butler's smile turned back to carefree, almost dopey in nature. "Do I look like someone who would come all the way here just to mock you, Danzo-kun? I am a busy man with a mansion to keep."

"A mansion that is empty if I recall. Your master is currently holed up in the archives if I recall."

The mention of his master turned the butler's smile more cynical. "Since this is our first time meeting formally, allow me to introduce myself. You may call me Uchiha, Obito."

Danzo stopped bringing the tea to his lips, letting the information sink in then placed the cup down in front of him. "Alias?"

"Birth name I'm afraid," he sighed dramatically. "I would appreciate your discretion when talking to little Sasu-kun. He's not ready to know the truth you see. I don't want anything to distract from his mission to kill his elder brother."

Danzo sat up straight, putting his hands in his sleeves becoming austere. "Let us drop the niceties. Tell me why you have come here if not under orders from your kinsman."

The butler let the rude behavior slide, not feeling in any hurry to answer. "What? No tea for the guests?"

The elder's eyes narrowed marginally, the hostility he felt towards the creature in front of him slipping into his expression. "You insisted on meeting with me, saying it will be worth my time. Is this true or another twisted game of yours?"

"Humans are always in such a hurry, but then again, your lives are so short and fragile." He leaned forward, taking the cup of tea Danzo had put down. He went from seiza to a casual posture, sitting on his behind and keeping a knee up to rest his arm, drinking from the cup with one hand, eyes fixated on Danzo. In an instant, he went from a proper butler to the image of a delinquent in posture and manners, his smile taking a bitter and mocking edge. "I guess it can't be helped," he said rather rudely.

He finished drinking from the cup in one gulp, licking his lips. It couldn't have tasted good to him, yet Uchiha licked his lips, his gaze turning predatory. It made Kakashi's trigger finger itch. "I came, Danzo-kun, because of the Uzumaki boy." He balanced the cup on his finger, watching it teeter from one side to the other. "I don't like the effect he's had on Sasu-kun. He makes him soft. Vulnerable. If he's going to be useful to me, I can't have that. Due to my position in the house, I could only make him uncomfortable at best and hope he would leave on his own."

The cup teetering on his finger split in half. The cut was clean and smooth as if a knife had cut through the porcelain. Uchiha caught the falling piece with his free hand, inspecting the material. "I thought Sasu's little advances and my warnings would be enough. Who knew the boy would also be a homosexual?" he said the word with disdain. "Nice material, by the way. Much older than I thought."

"It was my grandmother's," Danzo managed to say without grinding his teeth. Kakashi knew that tea set met a lot to Danzo. He was always drinking from it since Kakashi was a small child. Kakashi suspected Uchiha knew that too. It was a struggle for the elder not to say anything else, and Kakashi wondered just how strong was this vampire that Danzo allowed him to act as he was. He could not even identify what had cut through the cup or what technique, and there were not many who could move faster than his eyes could follow.

"Ah, that explains it," Uchiha nodded his head as if he had some great understanding. "Anyway, I figured that boy was just a minor thorn in my side, and that Sasu-kun would grow bored with him, but their bond is getting too strong for my liking. I thought of killing him, but then to my surprise, Itachi came out of hiding. Not for his precious baby brother, but for the Uzumaki brat." His eyes once again focused on Danzo. "Itachi wouldn't show up because of a little fledgling. He had to be something special, something equally as precious, or something equally as terrifying, and I admit, it piqued my curiosity. Enough to protect him from the assassins you sent."

Kakashi inhaled sharply, earning a side glance from the butler. He waited for Danzo to follow up. He wanted to shift his gaze to see what Danzo was doing when he remained silent, feeling his muscles become taut as he waited.

No elaboration on what had happened was asked for or offered, and the butler continued his little monologue. "But the funny thing is before I could corner Uzumaki and ask more on the little hint he dropped, Beppu was attacked, and while everyone was busy, Itachi took the boy from right under my nose and disappeared with him.

"Now, I don't believe in silly things like fate. Itachi has a gift of predicting outcomes to an almost clairvoyant degree. Whether it's just his own intellect or ability of his that has manifested, I'm not sure. I don't really care, but I have a feeling, watching how much the hunters are scrambling to find Uzumaki, that he's important to you."

Uchiha leaned forward. "To summarize, I want Itachi. You want Uzumaki. I want to leave this dismal little place you call an island, and you want us to leave. You want this truce to end, and so do I. Since we have several goals in common, here's my proposal."

He pulled out a letter from his jacket, handing it to Danzo who took it reluctantly. "I'll get Itachi to release Uzumaki, and I'll help you take control of the hunters. In return, I want you to kill Uzumaki, assuming that doesn't go against your interest of course."

Danzo opened the letter scanning the contents. He was careful to keep his expressions minimal as he read. "Is this information accurate?" he asked.

"Of course. I pride myself on my work." Uchiha stood up, tugging his jacket down and he regained his proper manners and carefree expression once more, appearing almost harmless as he said, "I know this is a lot for you to take in. I don't expect an answer overnight, but I do hope you will consider my proposal. I'll be available until the end of the week for your response. I hope that's not putting too much pressure on you to respond."

Danzo didn't answer, rereading the piece of paper over again. Uchiha was preparing to leave, but they couldn't let him leave yet. Not until he found out what happened to Iruka. Yet Uchiha was bowing and saying his goodbyes. He looked to Danzo and still he said nothing. Did he just assume they were dead and didn't ask? Couldn't he verify?

Uchiha walked around him as if Kakashi was a minor obstacle, opening the sliding door to let himself out.

"What did you do to them?" Kakashi asked.

He felt Uchiha's gaze shift to him, their cold intensity overwhelming his defenses. He couldn't feel this vampire's chakra, only feel its effects as it tried to suffocate him in fear.

"Did you kill them?" he managed to ask.

With such an intense gaze, a dopey smile should not have been possible, and yet it spread on Uchiha's face naturally while keeping Kakashi in his place. "I did not," he said happily. Before Kakashi could overcome the fear enough to speak again, Uchiha vanished.

With his disappearance, Kakashi could breathe once more, not just from the fear Uchiha invoked in him, but with the news that Iruka was not dead. Somewhere, he was alive. He just had to find out where. The hope revived him, but it also was a grave weight with the uncertainty that came with it. Just because he was alive did not mean he would be for long. He could be injured or killed at a later date. Iruka was far from harm, and he had to find out where, find a way to corner and ask Uchiha, Obito about where they were.

"It is best to give up hope, Kakashi-kun," the elder said somberly, folding the paper and putting it in his sleeve. "That creature is even more powerful than he was 40 years ago. I nor my disciples are strong enough to defeat him, and neither are you. If they are in that creature's hands, they are as good as lost. We can only hope death will descend upon them quickly."

"You believe what he says," Kakashi said quietly.

"He has no reason to lie. We cannot harm him, and he was more than in his right to kill intruders in his territory trying to kill. Even if we wanted to, we'd have no way of punishing him. He knows that." Danzo closed his eyes. "If Master Jiraiya was here, then perhaps, but as his status is uncertain, whether traitor, dead, or captured, we have nothing." Frustration underlined Danzo's voice as he hated to admit he was powerless. His fist in his lap was clenched and shaking as his face remained neutral.

"I know it is not my place to ask, Danzo-sama, but do you intend to take his proposal?"

Danzo blinked slowly, careful to relax his features after Uchiha had gotten under his skin. "I believe Uzumaki will become a threat to us. You saw, as did I, the future that is to come, a world destroyed with the lords running free. We need the hunters born amongst civilians to join our cause to fight back. We need to raise more masters, and we need to stop pretending we are not in a war. Our younger generations have grown soft. Some have shown sympathy for the enemy. A few even have the ridiculous idea that we can coexist."

He picked up the broken cup in his hand, cradling the pieces in his palm. "If we do not fix the cracks, fix their thinking before those poisonous thoughts spread, the rest of us will crumble. We'll become nothing more than cattle for them to feed on. We will live to serve the lords as our ancestors once did, afraid and dreading the days they ask for tributes. I cannot stand by and watch our future die."

Danzo stood up with some difficulty, his old age showing as he struggled and had to use his cane. He turned to Kakashi, eye steady and resolute. Kakashi knew which choice Danzo had made. "Are you committed to the cause, Kakashi-kun? Can I trust you?"

Kakashi got on one knee, bowing his head. "Yes, Danzo-sama."

The old man walked over, patting his shoulder with his wrinkled but strong hand. "Even undergoing a silencing ritual."

Kakashi's lips thinned, his fists clenching as he said, "Yes," he replied immediately.

Danzo nodded in approval, patting his shoulder twice like a father to a son. "Very good. Let's get it done before you leave here tonight."

Kakashi stood and followed Danzo, still thinking about Iruka. Despite what Danzo said, he wasn't about to give up. If there was a chance, he would save him.