Story by: I am Ghost
Disclaimer: i don't own...sadly
A small girl was happily playing hide and seek, a full- fledged grin etched on her face as she sat quietly on her hiding spot; an old armoire on her father's office. She was absolutely sure nobody would search for her in there since her father scared away most of her cousins with just a mere glare…Hiashi's office was obviously out of boundaries, but if she just stayed a bit longer, she would be a winner…for the fifth time in a row. She couldn't be happier.
Time passed and the small girl was getting tired of waiting, particularly because the armoire was old, dusty and dark, not a fun place for a small kid, specially a girl; which made her change her mind quickly. Deciding she had waited enough, she stood up and opened the door just slightly…but just when she was about to slip away from it, someone opened the door, forcing her to scramble back inside.
"…please, let's discuss these matters in my office" was all she heard as the very characteristically cold voice of her father drifted in from outside.
The little girl's pale eyes widened…if her father found out she had entered his office without his permission he would be enraged…and she didn't want that…her father scared her very much when he got mad.
She stilled her breathing and shut her mouth; afraid it would disobey her and talk when her father was doing some important business.
"Gentlemen, please take a seat" the polite but cold as ice voice of her father sent chills down her spine.
Two men in heavy armor entered the room, looking apathetic as they reluctantly obeyed her father.
"…Wine?" Hiashi asked, ruffling through a cupboard's content and successfully taking out three glasses of wine.
The two men declined; their harsh faces awfully stern and impolite. Her father merely shrugged his shoulder before pouring a generous amount of the red liquid into a glass.
"We do believe you have an offer for us, mister Hyuga?" one of the armored men asked, his hard eyes staring unblinkingly at the brunet, gauging for a reaction. Her father merely took a sip of wine, eyes staring back at the armored man with equal force.
"Why yes, commandant. I was suggested by some sources that you lacked support and I can't find a reason why, since Ulster isn't much of a match for you…"
A curt nod from the guests, another sip of wine and a sleazy smirk from her father.
"I do believe I could get fine equipment for your awaiting army for a fair price" both the eyebrows of the warriors lifted in wonderment.
"Where's the catch?" one of them asked, lifting both his feet to rest on the desk; Hiashi's eyebrow quirked with hidden annoyance at the infuriating action but refrained himself from speaking his thoughts out loud.
"There's not one really…I just want to have a small personal revenge against Ulster...The general to be exact."
Both armored men seemed to accept the answer, for they nodded their heads.
"So…do we have a deal?" he asked, stretching his hand.
The higher ranked warrior accepted the gesture, a mean smirk forming on his own lips.
"Of course…"
Hinata woke up in the middle of the night, covered in cold sweat and restless, eyes wide with dreadful realization…All this time since she was just a kid she had suppressed that memory deep inside the recess of her mind...just to be revealed to her in that instant. Truth had such twisted ways…
When she was just a girl she hadn't understood what the 'grownups' were talking about, but now she was old enough to know that they were punishing the wrong person all this time…the real villain in this story was no other but her own father.
Truth always hurt and it always came out in the end…but what would Neji do once it was all revealed to him?
…Would he still hate their prisoner?
The dark haired young woman bit her lower lip hard…she was scared of her cousin's reaction, but…
She needed to inform him.
...
Damn it all...IT didn't go away!
He had tried everything. Bathing with icy cold water, thinking about unattractive people, harming himself with a pillow repeatedly, desperate as he was, he even tried to command it to obey his will…but nothing made the god-forsaken arousal go away!
Neji sighed in frustration as he glared at the stiff and throbbing appendage in between his legs. This had never happened in all the sixteen years of his life…until now, of course, so he clearly had no clue as to how to make it go away, apart from the obvious way of getting rid of it, which he clearly didn't want to do.
He was also very scared by the reason of his current state…He had never dreamt of anyone in his whole life and the worst part of the whole situation was that it wasn't an ordinary dream…it was a very graphic and sexual kind of dream with a very disturbing ending he didn't even want to remember for the sake of his remaining sanity. As if it wasn't enough to deal with, his thoughts that day always strayed to very dirty and sacrilegious thoughts concerning his worst enemy
…but oh no, it didn't end there…
His little cousin had strolled inside his room probably to bother him just like every morning but ended up finding him in that embarrassing aroused state and being the curious and obnoxious child she was, she hadn't lost time to ask what was the 'big thing' below the bed sheets.
He had almost fainted right there and then...but nothing happened, he did not fainted and she did not left the room, he was just as lucid as ever and Hanabi as boisterous as she could ever be.
He truly felt like an adolescent boy at that moment by feeling utterly guilty and panicked for some naughty activity he had done (that was unintended in the first place); which pushed him to act even more out of character than ever. He yelled at the little girl to get out in a very high pitched (and sadly effeminate) voice and then he complained about not having proper privacy, all the while a stubborn blush staining his usually pale cheeks.
…If that entire inferno happened in just ten minutes he didn't want to imagine what could happen on the rest of the day…so he was pretty much afraid of getting out of the safety of his bedroom.
Which lead us to the conclusion that Neji hadn't moved, for he had been lying on his bed for quite some time since that disastrous encounter, glaring at the unwavering erection with sheer hatred and gritted teeth (surprisingly it had stayed the same, even after Hanabi had fled from his bedroom) until someone knocked on his door twice, provably Hinata informing him it was time for breakfast.
After releasing a heavy sigh, he compelled his body to walk towards the wooden closet across his bedroom, then without sparring a single glance towards his wardrobe, he threw some random clothes on the bed and ignored his uncontrolled aroused member as he dressed himself in a rather uncomfortable manner, then he walked inside his bathroom and planted himself in front of the full size mirror on one corner and combed his long dark hair and arranged it into a low ponytail like routine demanded. (Vain? …No, he was just overly scrupulous…right).
He threw one last glance at his reflection in the mirror, noticing how distressed and anxious he looked as he opened and exited his bedroom.
He hoped this time god would have enough mercy to just spare him from further embarrassment.
The dining room was silent and awkward when he decided to make appearance. His uncle stared at him with a raised eyebrow as he drank wine, probably asking him silently why it had taken him so long just to dress himself, but he decided to ignore the pointed look and sat down, Hinata already bustling around serving hot lemon tea and oatmeal to the rest of the family, her head bowed low all the time as a sign of complete submission and shame.
Neji still remembered the escaping incident that took place just a few nights ago and how angry his uncle had been later on, reprimanding Hinata in any way imaginable. Beating, yelling, insulting, glaring and locking her up in her own bedroom for long periods of time until he finally let her out and said he was going to "think about her future seriously".
The poor girl had taken all of his uncle's ill tempered behavior without much of a complaint, feeling completely guilty for what she had done. But her mistake was there, still fresh and just as insulting as a slap across his uncle's face. Being treason a taboo topic for him, Hiashi had always taken that matter so seriously it was borderline lunatic, and being Hinata his daughter, he supposed it hurt his pride much more than had it been anyone else, leading him to treat her with utmost cruelty.
As for Hanabi, she was smirking like the naughty child she was, poking the food in her bowl, making faces and yelling how she didn't want to eat oatmeal. Hiashi merely ignored her, but there was certainly an annoyed tick in his eye.
As far as he was concerned, Hanabi was the sheer embodiment of what a Hyuga never did…and it was somehow refreshing…in a very odd way.
She didn't have a sense of proper behavior nor the meekness every female in the clan ought to have, she was overly loud, boisterous and cocky… and she definitely didn't have an ounce of discreetness or sensibility.
The silence was broken when his uncle decided to lower his glass of wine, fixing his calculating eyes on his nephew.
"What took you so long?" his uncle asked expectantly while analyzing the young brunet's face with his cold sharp eyes.
"I was…I felt tired, I guess…so I decided to sleep a bit more, my apologies" he responded, avoiding eye contact at all cost. The cold eyes of Hiashi narrowed with suspicion, his nephew never stuttered…. Hanabi felt jealous upon the sudden special attention Neji was currently receiving, and she remembered the whole morning ordeal and her eyes lit up with an evil gleam. Hanabi proceeded to bounce on her seat briskly, overexcited.
"I saw cousin Neji having a very strange nightmare…he was moaning and sweating!" The girl yelled; Hiashi lifted an eyebrow, clearly curious, Hinata merely lifted her gaze nervously. A blush rose to the brunet's face, the mouthful of oatmeal he was swallowing got stuck on his throat and his eyes watered from the strain as he coughed violently.
"…and there was this huge-!" still coughing and all, a now awfully flushed Neji flown across the table and covered the girl's mouth with his hands with such velocity it struck both Hinata and Hiashi to silent contemplation.
Hiashi's lips thinned. Hinata's eyes widened and a very uncomfortable and awkward silence ensued. Everyone; including Hanabi, were gawking at Neji as if he had grown another head. After all…it wasn't a common event to see someone like the ever calm and graceful Hyuga Neji doing such a childish act.
Neji dropped his hands and walked back stiffly to his seat, his left eye twitching dramatically as he continued to eat his meal as if nothing had happened, but there were still remnants of a pink blush staining his usually pale skin. It was at that moment that Hiashi finally understood the reason of Neji's abnormal manners.
"Neji, I wish to talk to you in private after breakfast" he said offhandedly, putting extra emphasis to the word private and actually averting his eyes to stare derogatively at Hinata, all the while picking at his food daintily but never actually eating, as if he was afraid it was poisoned. Neji didn't miss the hurt expression on his younger cousin as he nodded his head in approval.
The rest of the meal resulted in more awkwardness until both Hanabi and Hinata exited the room so they could leave both males to chat in private.
As soon as the girls were out of ear-shot, Hiashi sat on his favorite armchair and set his perturbing white eyes on him.
"I think there is no way to avoid this…talk, so I'll make it quick" He said, throwing a look at the closed door to make sure the girls weren't spying.
"…There comes an age in which you feel certain needs in some parts of your body, and-" Neji's eyes widened with panic when he noticed where the conversation was leading. Oh no…I rather die than hear this from my uncle! He cried mentally.
"Oh, don't worry uncle…you don't have to talk about that…" he said, his voice squeaky with embarrassment. His uncle raised a thin eyebrow, analyzing him from top to bottom with his cold and unwavering gaze.
"Oh…so you do know what's happening to you, son?" he asked, sounding uncomfortable as well.
Neji snapped his head up and down quickly, his ponytail bouncing slightly with every ungraceful swig of his head.
"Very well then…let's discuss something else" The older male stood up from the armchair and took the cane resting against the wall next to his seat and supported himself with it in his slightly curved but still elegant posture.
"The Inuzuka's offered a very fair price for Hinata, so I took the liberty of selling her. Hinata will be leaving tomorrow, so I need a favor to ask of you…" the man said as cold hearted as ever, unblinking and untroubled as he talked about selling his own daughter to perpetual slavery as if he was talking about the weather.
"…you will be the one in charge of that filth from now forward, since I cannot trust her anymore" His uncle finished, walking all the way to the nearest wooden cupboard to take out a bottle of mead.
Neji's eyes widened with terror. He couldn't let it happen, he couldn't afford to see the redhead anymore if he wanted to keep his sanity intact, he needed to avoid this responsibility at all cost…but it was futile to start an argument with his uncle. He always won in every discussion, for he was the one in charge, but it didn't hurt to try.
"But…you know how much I loathe him!" he cried with passion, one hand ruffling his hair for an extra dramatic effect as his eyes bore deep into the unfeeling ones of his uncle.
"But Neji, you're the only one I trust, besides, I wouldn't leave that task to Hanabi…she's far too young for such responsibility" Neji opened his mouth to protest, to say anything to save himself, but his mouth only stayed open.
"Don't worry. Just make sure he eats…I don't care about the rest" his uncle replied, taking a swig direct from the bottle…so much like an alcoholic.
"…also, I want you to inform Hinata of her departing, I do not wish to talk to her" he commanded, emptying the bottle with another swig.
Neji pursed his pink lips in indignation but didn't say anything else as he walked out of the room.
"Oh, and Neji…?" Said brunet stopped dead on his tracks to stare back at his uncle expectantly.
An evil smirk formed on the older male's slightly tipsy face as he struggled to keep his equilibrium.
"Remember not to shout names next time you have that kind of dream" The color drained from Neji's face completely, for his uncle's slurred words were decipherable enough to make Neji want to die in that instant.
And his following reactions were enough to entertain his drunken uncle for a while.
His eyes widened to comical proportions, his mouth parted open in a perfectly curved "o" and his cheeks dusted with a furious blush after he recovered from the initial shock. He seemed he was about to faint until he had the strength to run to the door and snap it shut before he ran all the way to the safety of his own bedroom, locking himself away from society until he saw fit enough to walk out (…Probably never).
All the while, his drunken uncle was laughing so hard he had to support himself on the wall.
This was definitely not his day.
After the disastrous breakfast meal and the hellish after encounter with his uncle, Neji was facing now a new dilemma.
It was time for him to spill the truth to his oblivious cousin, who was oh so innocently sitting on the chair in front of his desk, her hands folded over her lap, her posture elegant but her eyes betrayed her, they were visibly distressed as she stared at him expectantly.
But every time he opened his mouth to say the news, no sound came out; words were jumbled chaotically in his head, confusing him as he thought of a way to approach her. So he just shut his mouth, for he couldn't find the exact words to express what he wanted to say without hurting the girl in the process.
Neji looked up to the ceiling of his bedroom with a very frazzled expression while he combed his braided hair, an obvious sign of exasperation that Hinata noticed almost immediately, but didn't commented on it, as she still waited for her cousin to tell her whatever was troubling his mind. The poor brunet was pretty sure God hated him, for there was no way to tell her the truth without hurting her. At that moment he wanted to kill his uncle.
"Cousin, you can tell me" Hinata said softly, her distressed eyes showing seriousness at the pressing matter at hand.
So, it was clear he had no choice but to tell her bluntly.
"Well…uncle wishes to send you away to work as a slave…" he said tentatively, seating himself on the bed. Upon seeing his cousin's pained expression, Neji bit his lips…he wasn't as cold hearted as everyone thought he was, and the girl that was about to cry was sure about it.
"Where?" the dark haired girl asked almost in a whisper, her eyes staring at him brokenly as she thought about Hanabi and what would she do without her dear family.
"Konoha" the brunet blurted out after two long and uncomfortable minutes, letting a lengthy sigh escape his lips as he let himself fall over the bed, defeated.
The girl stood up abruptly from the chair and strode all the way to the window across the bedroom, trying to hide desperately the fresh tears that were ready to spill from her eyes.
"Hinata…there's still time for you to run away" said the brunet, pushing himself upwards to a seating position, gazing at the young woman with hopeful eyes.
"Where do you want me to go? Have you forgotten we do not have any family left?" the girl countered, showing her distressed face to the older boy, the tears she was trying to hold back already spilling from her pained eyes.
"But you can ask your friends to take you in or something" the older male provided.
"No…if that is what my father wishes for me, then I cannot contradict him" She alleged, already walking to the door. Defeated.
"So that's it? Are you going to give in just like that?" The brunet argued, standing up and walking all the way to where his cousin was.
"It is not as if I can change what is set upon my destiny, dear cousin" the girl replied, a sad little smile forming on her lips.
The brunet pursed his lips in resignation of the pressing matter at hand.
The girl dried her tears before she opened the door and turned her head around so she could face her cousin. She smiled sympathetically at him.
It was the perfect moment for her to tell him the whole truth…but she knew it would be almost impossible to say something serious in her current state.
"Before I leave…there is something we need to discuss, Neji, something of great importance…" she whispered, but before the brunet had time to ask what, she was already out of his bedroom.
His stomach growled for the tenth time that day, leaving the redhead to scowl. Being chained to a bed wasn't very comfortable either, for certain anatomical places became numb after a while and his limbs demanded him to stand up and do something, but he could only go as far as halfway across the bedroom, so he pretty much hadn't have a way to satisfy necessities such as bladder or hunger.
Leaving him completely annoyed.
He sighed, his thoughts returning to the last time he had made contact with the overly feisty Neji. There wasn't really much hope for him; he was already terribly in love with him, but the other male still had an entire life to spend, and he seemed determined enough to spend it making Gaara's life miserable with his cruel ways. He shook his head in defeat. The pretty brunet didn't have a clue as to how much his harsh words had an effect on him, or how much that kiss he remember sharing with him in the forest had haunted him trough dreamless nights, taunting him of what he couldn't have.
He supposed he deserved it, the cruel ways of such beautiful creature, for he had the main fault of what had happened to his clan, but the fault wasn't entirely his…if Neji only knew who else was involved in it, the proud boy would be so hurt he'll probably leave to never return.
He sat on the bed, staring aimlessly at the ground with his insomniac circled eyes lost in thought. What would happen if he told Neji what had really happened that night all those years ago, when he himself had been just barely a teenager doing brash actions and never regretting?, what would the brunet do if he discovered that he wasn't the only one involved in the massacre?
He shook his head, a sad little smile bringing up the corner of his lips. That boy needn't the whole truth. He had to hate him for the sake of his own good; so he wouldn't suffer a greater consequence.
How cruel, thoughtless and rude, to be lying to him…
Just then, his keen hearing captured the faint sounds of steps that grew louder and louder until he heard them just outside the room, his eyes lit up with hope…maybe; maybe he would catch a glimpse of Neji…or at least have a decent meal. The door opened and closed with a violent swing and a very angry dark haired male stepped inside. Gaara opened his mouth to make a rude comment like it was so customary between them, but he received a very dark glare, followed by a soft voice with sharp edges.
"Listen well. I don't want to hear a god damn word from you or I swear I will hurt you" the aforementioned male exclaimed as he slammed the trail of food down on the desk across the room. The redhead jumped out of the bed in an instant, eyeing with barely concealed hunger at the bowl of oatmeal. Without much of a thank you, he proceeded to devour its contents, not really paying attention to the overly annoyed Hyuga, who had enough contempt to take a few steps back with shameless disgust painted on his face. When he didn't receive the reaction he desired, the brunet had the sudden urge to make the redheaded warlord cringe.
"…You know, uncle's going to sell Hinata as a slave" the Hyuga said casually as he toyed with a loose strand of dark hair, the tone seemed harmless and innocent, but a deadly and poisonous intent coated heavily the comment, his very soft and endearing voice coming out through clenched teeth like a strangled hiss. The redhead paused eating, the metallic spoon half way to his mouth as he blinked slowly, as if unable to understand the boy's language.
The redhead frowned in confusion. Is he actually talking to him?
This surely was a mistake, there had to be someone else in the room that random comment had been addressed to…
"…I-" Gaara started but closed his mouth, for he couldn't find words to describe his absolute confusion. The Hyuga only shook his head, eyes shut closed, revealing those very long and thick eyelashes that were surely the envy of so many women.
"Don't talk" he growled, his hand buried in his hair as he proceeded to walk in circles. The redhead's frown grew deeper; clearly not used to be treated so lowly by a mere civilian…hell, not even the king dared to treat him in such a way.
"And how, pray tell, is this significant for me?" he snapped, shoving the spoon into his mouth violently.
It was time for the Hyuga to be offended. He stopped storming around the room and fixed a glare in his direction.
"Under normal circumstances I wouldn't talk to you about this but it seems I have no choice, since uncle had the wonderful idea of leaving me in charge of your care-" Neji averted his gaze towards the other spiteful male, his eyes boring holes through his skull with his white as diamond eyes. "I normally wouldn't care if you die or something along those lines, but…" the brunet paused to sigh heavily, adding some extra drama to his sudden tantrum.
"-I only do it because I am forced to do it, not because I want to do it…keep that present in that twisted little head of yours"
The redhead pulled out the spoon from his mouth and dug it in the bowl with more force than necessary.
"So you say so to just to excuse your merciful actions" he scorned, smiling a forceful smirk that was more like a frown.
The brunet's eyes narrowed with pure odium and his following retort was as deadly accurate to the redhead's pride like an arrow thrown to the heart by the skilled hands of an archer.
"…if I had the chance to kill you, I would!" he spat, all composed and cool demeanor thrown out the window.
The offended redhead's characteristic hotheadedness resurfaced for the second time in the week; His hand clutching the spoon tightened until broadened knuckles went white as he got up rather abruptly from his place on the bed, throwing the tray's contents to the floor with a loud clutter of dishware.
With nothing but a wild impulse to prove the other wrong, Gaara stormed all the way across the room, stretching the chain attached to his wrist as far as it could as he approached the mad brunet, standing too close to the younger male who didn't took one single step back in a sign of defiance, his labored breath tickled Neji's neck as he whispered…
"Prove it" he snarled, thrusting the spoon on his hand. "Now" The boy stared at the spoon with a baffled expression and his thin eyebrows furrowed with anger.
…is he mocking me?!
"It's a spoon, for the love of god!" he cried, shaking his head in negation.
"Everything around you can be a potential weapon" the redhead retorted while he pulled loose the first three buttons of his collared shirt, revealing a very pale and soft neck.
"I…I" he stuttered, starting to feel horrified when the redhead drew down the collar and stretched out his milky soft neck for his benefit.
The brunet stretched his hand until the cold crescent edge of the spoon's head was pressed against white as marble skin but his hand was trembling with doubt, and at that moment he realized he wouldn't be capable to kill anything, not even his worst enemy, which really was a terrible blow to his pride and ego.
The redhead released a deep growl and took Neji's delicate hand with his own tough one and pressed the spoon harder against his own skin.
Neji started to feel sick, he couldn't permit it any longer; his hand started to struggle against Gaara's own, but the powerful warrior didn't let go, in fact, his grip intensified until the metallic edge dug on and broke skin, droplets of crimson liquid pouring out lazily.
The brunet pulled away with a gasp when he saw ruby red blood, but what really terrified him was how unperturbed Gaara looked before he chuckled darkly and shook his head from side to side, his fierce turquoise eyes mocking him under the amber light of the sun.
"Don't say things you're not going to do…-" he said with a malicious smirk stretching his lips. "…Coward"
Neji finally snapped. His eyes narrowed to slits and his lips thinned into a deep scowl. He could be called everything but coward…, that word alone was capable of increasing his rage just like fresh wood on fire. At the moment he wanted to prove the other wrong so desperately, he wanted the warlord to take it back and fear him; he wanted to be powerful, for every time he was near that damned redhead he felt small and weak…
His hands tightened into fists before he dug out a small knife from a secret place in his boot that he carried everywhere for safety, and with a quick movement pressed the sharp edge against the prominent vein on that pale neck until blood started to ooze more freely.
He wanted the redhead to drop his smirk, to be scared, to draw out a reaction, but there was none; he just stared blankly at him, as if waiting for him to slash his neck open.
Frustrated, the brunet dropped the weapon and looked at him straight in the eye.
"Why?" he asked, clutching at the redhead's shoulders with desperation.
The only answer he was provided perhaps was the most painful one; not because of the words, but because that answer was heavy with feeling.
"I am not scared to die…in fact, if I could be given a chance to choose my executioner, it would be you" Neji was left unarmed as the morbidly truthful words seeped in, he just stayed there, his hands still clutching his shoulders, but his head dropped down until he was staring at the woodened floor instead of staring at those turquoise eyes that were oh so devastatingly honest.
…Too see so much loneliness, shame, sadness and hatred in those eyes that had been pictured so many times as the eyes of a demon by common folklore was starting to affect him, because in those eyes there was no space for lies.
"Why?" he repeated, glaring down at his leather boots.
Cold fingertips pushed his chin upwards until he was face to face with the warlord, who at that moment looked weak and fragile, just like a broken porcelain doll.
"It's a fair trade, right? …after all, I was responsible for your family's massacre"
So much shame, so much bitterness in that voice…Neji shivered under the smoldering gaze…it was too intense. He raised his head and noticed that they were too close to be morally accepted, but instead of pushing the other away, his eyes were instantly drawn to those soft and luscious lips as if he had been
under the effects of hypnosis, images of the wet dream he had experienced just a night ago starting to stir inside his perturbed mind.
He tried to look away from the tempting sight, but then he realized with utmost dismay that he couldn't tear away his eyes from those lips and his cheeks reddened with violent indignation. He needed to get away from that place, to get away from that man or he didn't know what he could be capable of doing if he stayed any longer; but even though his mind yelled at him to get away, to run and flee from a potentially dangerous outcome, his treacherous body was acting shamelessly hypocritical, for his suddenly heavy feet stayed rooted to the floor, his eyes wouldn't look away and his brain wouldn't function properly.
The redhead stared down at him for a few seconds, as if waiting for him to push him away, but the brunet didn't do anything but lower his gaze, hating the fact that he had to look up at the obnoxious warlord.
Hot breath pelted the sensitive skin of his neck like a caress, making him shiver involuntarily in sheer pleasure. The prude voice inside his head yelled and yelled for him to step back, knowing that they were now way too close…but he couldn't compel his body to retreat, not even one single step back.
A rough thumb was placed over his lower lip, tracing softly at the pink expanse of skin until it parted his lips ever so gently.
"Look at me…" the redhead murmured huskily and his untrustworthy eyes obeyed. That smoldering look was back on Gaara's eyes as he looked down at him. His breath hitched, his eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat when the redhead leaned his head further down until his soft and pleasantly warm lips captured the brunet's in a kiss.
He was petrified; there was really no other word to describe how he felt at the moment as he stood still with his eyes widened in pure shock, staring blankly at Gaara's insomnia darkened eyelids and dark red eyelashes as the older male kissed him expectantly. Why didn't he pushed him away, he never knew, but what he was pretty certain about was starting to scare him-
…He liked the feeling of being kissed.
One strong arm snaked around his small waist and pulled him closer against the taller body of the warlord while the other one dug into his neatly combed hair, massaging his scalp before tugging at his hair back so the towering redhead could gain better access to the brunet's virgin mouth.
It would sound shocking, but Neji was clueless when it came down to human contact (and worse when it came to romance) and at the moment he was trying very hard not to find the contact appealing and enjoyable, but his treacherous eyes were finding highly difficult to keep themselves open…
He knew he shouldn't be enjoying this, he should be mad, yes, extremely mad, but to his never ending shame, the Hyuga didn't do anything to stop the kiss; in fact, he did quite the contrary, he encouraged it when he finally let his eyes slip close and let his own arms encircled around the redhead's neck, pulling him closer for much needed contact.
'Oatmeal…he tastes like oatmeal'; that was what he vaguely thought as the annoying voice inside his head drifted off to somewhere very far inside his head.
Gaara's hand gripping his waist started to caress his sides lazily, tugging slightly at the hem of his shirt and trousers before firmly gripping the protruding hipbone that was just barely peeking out of his clothes, along with just a glance of his flat stomach.
Those lips grew demanding and passionate by the second, for they seemed determined to abuse the brunet's lips until they bled; That extremely talented mouth was no longer gentle, it bit, nipped and licked his lips desperately, plunging him back with the force of the kiss until he felt the cold wall against his back.
It wasn't long until both calloused hands of the warlord were entangled in his hair, massaging his scalp pleasantly and compelling him (to his utter embarrassment) to release small sounds of contentment when his strong and slender body pressed him hard against the wall, leaving no space between their warm bodies, but it seemed that the redhead wanted much more, for he soon enough felt the invasion of another tongue in his mouth, the small pink muscle tracing every curve and crevice inside his wet cavern before it caressed his own tongue, coaxing him to join the battle.
A small startled moan escaped his lips, the feeling of another tongue in his mouth was extremely peculiar but pleasant and he found himself not only responding to the redhead's tongue, but also fighting back with his own with the noticeable awkwardness only possessed by a beginner but with a passion and familiarity that rivaled the one of an old lover. The redhead growled gutturally, obviously enjoying his participation.
The hands on his hair were hastily removed but he had no time to miss it as Gaara's lips crashed back against his. Neji felt extremely breathless and hot as their mouths battled fiercely, teeth clashing and tongues savoring freely what the other's mouth beheld while Gaara's hands explored his body with small innocent caresses; it felt to good to be true…and he vaguely asked himself why the hell they hadn't done this before.
One strong hand slid down his side lazily and trailed down his small waist as their mouths ravished each other frantically, gripping his protruding hip bone and sliding lower until it took a firm hold of his thigh, and with a sudden impish smile on his raw lips, the redhead lifted his leg up and wounded it around his own hips.
Neji gasped as sheer pleasure invaded his lower half as powerful hips grinded against his own oh so suddenly and the young brunet snapped his eyes open, clear diamond meeting clouded turquoise gems. If their kissing felt good, then this felt awfully fantastic. And he wanted more…He needed more.
Feeling a sudden streak of boldness, he lifted his other leg over the redhead's hips, and upon sensing what the younger male had in mind, the redhead lowered his arms over his back so he could support his light weight. Feeling no ground under him, the brunet threw his arms over the redhead's shoulders to support himself, and then he tightened his hold over the redhead's hips with his long and slender legs on impulse, gasping ever so softly when a very strong and unavoidable desire pressed against his own painful one.
The kiss ended rather abruptly for needed air, and Neji placed his head on the redhead's shoulder, avoiding eye contact at all cost as both panted heavily, chests rising and falling quickly against the other.
"We shouldn't -" he started in between ragged breaths and the hands that were supporting him up slid down his back and cupped his derrière, making him jump up and yelp in surprise. The blush on his cheeks grew darker and his face contorted with indignation when the older male chuckled.
Losing all shame in an instant, he looked up and opened his mouth to say something vicious but those tempting lips locked his in another forceful kiss, but this time something had changed, The brunet no longer cared about his uptight morals or how much he claimed to hate the redhead…He knew he wanted the general and he didn't care about their situation at least for the moment…
there was no inhibitions any longer, mouths openly ravished each other in heated passion, tongues darted out of their caves to entangle in each other shamelessly, limbs flew everywhere, clutching, caressing, touching and bruising the other as they pulled each other as close as it was humanly possible, the overwhelming feeling of pent up passion and need pulling them together like magnetism.
Driven by sheer lust, the redhead pushed his hips forwards and against the brunet's, who's eyes widened and his pink mouth opened to release a wanton moan…it had felt devastatingly good.
Fueled by the younger male's delicious moans, the redhead pushed Neji against the wall and smashed his hips against the other repeatedly as his hands now caressed Neji's bottom boldly, playing often with the hem of his trousers, fingertips digging under and grazing as much skin as he could from underneath.
The Hyuga gasped as the intense feeling invaded him, igniting his body in fire as he trusted his own hips against the other, repeating the pleasurable friction; he no longer had knowledge of what he was doing, or with who he was doing it, the only thing it mattered was the warmth, the pleasure and lust that racked both their bodies. He no longer cared if he was sharing this special bond with no other than his (supposedly) most loathed enemy.
"Neji…" the warlord moaned, burying his face on the junction between neck and shoulder as the trusting became more frantic and heated, biting on that tempting velvety neck and making the younger boy moan louder and throw his head back in rapture at one particular hard trust. The boy tightened the hold of his legs on the other man's hips and weaved his hands in that red hair that he found so strangely fascinating (…not that he would ever admit it…), concentrating fully on the pleasure he was feeling.
The welcomed friction stopped abruptly, Neji's hazy eyes opened slightly, pale eyes showing pure displeasure and a pink mouth opened to command the other to continue what he had started but strong arms pulled him off the wall and threw him on what he recognized faintly to be the bed, and being drunken by sheer want, he just stretched his arms, demanding the warlord to join him in another battle for dominance.
With nothing but a shameless smirk on those ravished red lips, the older male climbed on top of his victim and ripped the brunet's shirt open desperately, not wasting a single second before tracing the now revealed pale and slightly muscled chest with his deft fingers, tracing the outlines of his collarbone, trailing down to his sternum and then to his nipples, toying with the small pink nubs until they were hard, all the while relishing on the shivers this actions elicited on that pliant and delicious body.
…If it was wrong, then why did it feel so good? The brunet asked himself, biting at his lower lip hard so no encouraging sounds could leave from his mouth, but the redhead's caresses turned harsher and his mouth joined his hands then, licking his feverish skin teasingly before paying full attention to his nipples, engulfing the pink nub and sucking hard.
The brunet threw his head back in sheer enjoyment; breathless and more aroused than ever…
Neji prided himself for knowing everything about himself, but now that he laid there, panting and aroused, he felt that Gaara knew much more about his body, kissing, touching, biting and licking the most sensitive parts of his body, as if he had known him forever, as if they had been lovers.
He didn't know why but he wanted the redhead to kiss him again…to feel his lips against his, to feel his body close to his, to feel his warmth, to see his face… the brunet clutched at Gaara's fiery locks and pulled his head up for another searing kiss, desperately pushing his hips upwards for more of that newly discovered pleasure he was already addicted to.
The older male obliged, his smirk dropping from his face as he rested his head on the brunet's shoulder, biting him hard as he trusted his own hips downwards fast and hard, Neji pushed Gaara's face up and kissed him hard, biting down on that plump lower lip until he tasted blood, the brunet pulled away abruptly and tasted blood before embarking both of them in another kiss…he was addicted, addicted to pure poison.
Then suddenly everything felt too much, his whole body caught fire and then he felt it, an explosion inside him…
Lips the color of a fresh red rose parted open in a silent scream, eyes as bright as diamonds were wide with pure ecstasy before they rolled to the back of his skull as pure white pleasure exploded behind his eyelids, and with a final muffled scream he came, coating his underwear with his release.
His trusts slowed down, his chest heaved up and down heavily as he milked out his release with small thrusts. When the mist in his head lifted up and he opened his eyes, he came face to face with Gaara's still lustful face and all went to hell.
The Hyuga started to squirm against the older male, clearly terrified by his previous actions, but the other was clearly stronger and managed to still him down, pressing his hips down on him. Neji gasped.
"You were fast…way too fast" the redhead smirked mockingly, ruffling back his messy mob of red hair as he stared down at the brunet with those intimidating pair of aquamarine eyes.
He wanted to get out, he needed to get out…what he had done…what they had done…it wasn't right, he shouldn't be sharing this intimate moment with Gaara…he should hate him, despise his guts, want to kill him, but now that he stared up at him he noticed that he no longer felt the need to hurt him…and it scared him to no end.
"Get off" he commanded, but the redhead merely chuckled under his breath, caressing his cheeks with his hand with such delicacy…He lifted his gaze only to get more frightened…those eyes…they were breathtakingly beautiful as they looked down at him, reflecting warmth and…he couldn't even pronounce the name of it, in fear his assumptions would prove right.
"…get off…" he pleaded this time with a very weak voice, his own eyes watering with utmost shame when images of how wanton he had acted overflowed his mind, telling him how he had acted so preposterously like a common whore, not like the demure virgin he actually was.
Gaara shook his head in negation and lowered his face until their lips were barely touching, breathing softly against his skin, he almost conquered back the younger boy, who was starting to lean further up against him, almost in a trance, but when he was about to claim that delicious mouth again, he ended up being thrown off the bed.
"This…this never happened!" he exclaimed, his eyes glinting with lunacy as he fixed his clothes quickly, buttoning his shirt with trembling hands. Gaara frowned and stood up, walking towards the brunet, who now had scurried off the bed.
He was fearful, he was starting to mistrust his own body…just a single touch from that damned red-haired beast and his overly lustful body overpowered his brain.
"This happened, Neji" he drawled, clutching the brunet's hurt arm and trying to throw him back on the bed, unaware of how his chains were tensing.
With fear contorting his usually calm face, Hyuga Neji ran back, successfully snatching back his own arm and fled from the room and away from the man he was so scared of.
Gaara tried to continue his pursue for the door but the chains made their presence known by pushing him back, making him remember that in that place he was just a war prisoner…nothing more.
His smile dropped, his eyes lowered and his hands tightened into fists.
Hinata had been chewing on her thumb for the past couple of hours, her eyes darting to the closed door leading to her cousin's bedroom with suspicion.
She was no fool, when Neji had busted out of the basement door with cheeks flushed, hair messy and guilty eyes she knew something very bad had happened, and the perpetrator of such act was no other but their prisoner.
Her cousin hadn't left his bedroom not even for supper, which was long gone cold, resting on the table and waiting for someone to eat it up already.
Hinata pulled her finger off her mouth, eyes widening with knowledge…could it possibly be?
She shook her head almost instantly, reprehending herself for thinking such dire thoughts when the door creaked open and a very reticent Neji came out looking like a lost deer, skin sickly pale and hair rearranged in a neat ponytail as he sat himself on the dining chair to her left and proceeded to eat his cold meal, all the while ignoring her presence efficiently…that is of course, until she decided to break the highly uncomfortable silence.
"Neji…did something happen while you delivered Gaara's meal?" she asked silently, but it seemed to be too loud to the suddenly dead atmosphere to the point of creating dramatic echoes.
Her cousin's shoulders tensed, his back straightened uncomfortably and his hand stopped in midair its path towards the bread's plate.
"…what are you talking about?" his voice came out strained and boxed, resuming his hand's motion stiffly.
Hinata frowned, something definitely happened and she wanted to know what…
"You seemed…ill when you came out of the room" she pressed, pretending to sew one of Hanabi's old socks as she sent discreet looks towards his way. Her cousin stood up rather abruptly.
"Nothing happened; I felt ill because I haven't been eating properly…and I think I've lost my appetite…again…thanks to you" he murmured darkly, avoiding her in his way out of the dining room.
Hinata bit her lower lip as she saw his retreating back…Something was definitely happening between Neji and the general…her cousin's out of character behavior, his terrible attempts of lying, his uncontrollable blush and the redhead's odd behavior proved right her thoughts…
…Are they… lovers?
The dark haired young woman sighed deeply…If those two were involved in a relationship; then it was an utter irony in all senses.
All in all, she needed to talk seriously to the prisoner.
"Good morning, General" Hinata greeted, opening up the curtains of the dark room to lit it up. The redhead tangled in a mess of sheets on the bed merely growled and pushed his head against the pillows in an attempt to make the sun go away.
"Die" he muttered drowsily below the covers; the girl laughed softly before she made her way to nearest chair to the door.
"I want to discuss something with you, if there is no inconvenience about it" Hinata continued, fixing her eyes on her lap when the red-haired male stood up and tried to fix his clothes.
"What?" he growled, stretching arms and legs. "Well, you see…" the girl said, twisting her hands on the soft material of her dress, a clear sign of apprehension.
"there is something very important I decided not to tell long ago for the sake of my father…but I can't take it any longer…I wish to tell Neji and Hanabi about it before my father sends me away to work as a…slave" she whispered, pursing her lips.
The redhead sat down on the unmade bed, clearly interested in what the girl was about to say.
"Long time ago, when I was still a child, I liked to play hide and seek with my cousins…I really liked to play since I was really small and could fit in very small places" she said, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
"one time, I was hiding in a cupboard in my father's office when he came in with some soldiers; since I was still a child, I could not comprehend what they were talking about, but now I do" she continued.
"Now I know for a fact that my father was making business with the enemies, Gaara" The young woman looked up to stare at him with deep despair.
"So you want to fix it before it's too late?" The redhead asked, glaring at the floor. The girl nodded, nibbling at her lower lip in apprehension.
"…my father sent you my uncle Hizashi as a spokesman when things got out of hand -" she whispered, her voice wavering slightly with deep sentiment, tears were forming in her eyes and she stopped talking. The redhead stood up from his place on the bed, eyes widened as he recalled how bitter Neji sounded upon talking about his family's death…
"…I killed him, thinking it was your father…" Gaara finished.
"Yes…so all hell broke loose once it happened…My father only wanted an excuse to rise against you, Gaara, so he could then make business with the enemy more openly."
The general gritted his teeth in barely contained anger…so it all ways pretty much a set up.
"…but he did not expect you to attack the clan" the girl continued, sounding bitter as she spoke
"So that's why he escaped with us just moments before the attack took place" she finished, daring to look up from her lap to see the warlord fuming silently and gripping the bed sheets tightly.
"I'm really sorry, General...but now that things got clear to me, I decided not to live in lies any longer…I will accept my destiny as a slave…but I think that neither Neji or Hanabi deserves to keep living in a lie"
She whispered, already backing up to the door.
"I will tell them…" she said, staring at the wooden door. The redhead stood up from the bed. "Are you sure about it?" he asked.
"Yes…I can't let them believe you're the only one to blame" she responded, turning around and strolling all the way until they were face to face. She smiled.
"I have one more question to ask, if is not much of a bother…" The redhead crocked his face, a smirk of his own forming on his lips. "Yes?"
The small young woman looked him square in the eye. "Are you in love with my cousin?"
The redhead looked down at her, measuring her silently.
"Oh don't worry…I just want the truth" she assured, trying to look untroubled.
They stared at each other for a few uncomfortable minutes, the redhead trying to decide whether to lie or just tell her the truth and the young woman tried to decipher what was going on inside that complicated mind.
Thick silence engulfed the room before a quiet "…Yes" was finally stated.
"I knew it…" the young woman whispered. The redhead cocked his head to the side.
"…I'm sorry… about your departure…" he said after an awkward silence, fixing his gaze on the floor.
The small young woman smiled softly, her eyes sad.
"I knew you weren't bad since the beginning…" she stated, her eyes finding his as he lifted his own from the floor in surprise.
"Just…be patient with my cousin…" she mumbled. The redhead nodded dumbly, surprised beyond belief by the woman's sharp eye.
"Well then, I must get going" said she, tiptoeing to peck him in the cheek as a goodbye.
Just then, the door swung open and a furious brunet stormed in, throwing the trail of breakfast on the floor in his wake.
"Well well, so now you decide to flirt with my cousin?" he snarled, his beautiful eyes filled with pure hatred, wait…was that jealousy?
The young woman shook her head frantically, running all the way to her cousin.
"It is not what you think, Neji" she cried.
"Hinata…please leave" the brunet growled, pushing her out of the bedroom and closing the door on her face unkindly.
Turning around, the brunet stormed all the way to the redhead.
"What's next? Shall I send Hanabi in so you can kiss her as well?!" he cried pungently, pushing at Gaara's chest.
"Jealous?" The general asked, a smirk forming on his face. The brunet stopped abruptly his tantrum, pursing his lips.
"You wish" he growled, pushing him off against the nearest wall.
Gaara frowned.
"You can insult me, humiliate me, but never start a fight without suffering any consequence"
And just like that, the redhead threw himself at the surprised brunet, like a lion ready to strike a prey…
AN: oh my...Gaara finally snapped...I wonder what will happen next.
thank you all for your kind reviews!! (even though this story it isn't anything special, really --.)
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