Neji crossed his legs, reviewing the documents in his lap. The sunlight was streaming in through the window, annoying him and putting him in a foul mood. It was too fucking early in the morning to hear all this nagging.
"Hyuuga-shachou, please take this seriously. These attacks on you are harming your image. If you do not address it today, you may find yourself dealing with larger headaches," Haru advised, seated across from him.
"Where is Nara-san?" he said, flipping the page.
"Already waiting for you."
"That's all I need to know." Neji stepped out of the limo. Dressed in a black suit, hair pulled back in a low ponytail, and a silver Rolex on his wrist, he walked towards the building's entrance, ignoring the company managers who quickly followed in line behind him.
He barely noticed the managers. He even ignored the line of company employees on either side of him chiming, "Welcome, Hyuuga-shachou." The marble floors, high ceilings, and large glass windows. It was the lobby of a very wealthy and successful company, a company he owned. While employees may look around with awe and pride, its impressiveness was lost on him. Compared to a god's palace, this was nothing.
His secretary, Haru, followed closely behind. His hair was cut, giving him a more modern and older look. Over the years, he learned to talk more, speaking up more often even if it went against Neji's will. He proved himself to be vital in the past century as the world around him drastically changed. Natsu, who remained on the quieter side, took over household affairs, managing everything from security detail to the servants to hosting dinners and banquets. Of course, both received skepticism and criticism because of their young appearance. Haru in particular often had to exert himself to prove he was not a child, but it made Haru not only stronger but seen as ruthless in the business world, with many afraid to go through him to get to Neji.
Though if that stupid paparazzi had not posted that photo of him years ago, Haru would not be so overworked in the first place. It had put Neji in the public eye.
Of course, that meant he was posted on TV and magazines, calling him Japan's most eligible bachelor. He tried to keep himself out of the public eye but with modern technology, there was always a picture that slipped through his network, even if that slip was just temporary. He would not disappear. Which in the end created today's problem.
He entered the elevator, forgetting that the company managers were still following him. He never did like their sucking up. More often than not, they kept yapping, trying to get on his good side. He'd fire them all if they were not good at their jobs. He found them that annoying. Always complimenting him when they talked about him behind his back.
The current shareholders and executives all thought he was the son of the previous owner. As such, they saw his young appearance as someone who was arrogant who gained his title and position through his father. He took pleasure in sabotaging them whenever they caused too much trouble. Well, his shadow guard has been bored lately. It would be nice to give them something to do.
Neji was just eager to get this meeting over with, trying to walk out of the elevator the moment the doors opened. Nearly walking into a poor intern, carrying a large stack of papers. Before contact was made, he was pulled back, familiar hands on his person immediately lightening his mood.
The person who caught him did not say anything, and Neji did not say anything either. He didn't need to.
"Are you alright? Hyuuga-shachou?" one of the managers asked as another berated intern, a young woman probably just out of college.
Putting the yelling aside, which had quickly grated on him the moment the manager decided to "educate" the intern, the words he was saying was even more annoying. Just from the words he used to reprimand the employee, Neji knew the loud-mouthed manager was one of those bosses that talked big, verbally abused employees, and looked down on female employees. He really had no patience to put up with it today.
"Haru, fire him," he said without a single inflection in his voice, walking off the elevator.
Haru bowed, immediately calling for security to accompany the now baffled manager.
Neji entered the board room. The major shareholders and company execs were seated in a large oval table in overly cushy chairs. There were about 20 chairs in total, all filled except for the one at the head of the table. Unfortunately, it was also the one closest to the window and had the most sun.
He should kill whoever designed this room, he thought, having to remind himself that the world did not work that way anymore. Things were much simpler when he could kill the people he did not like or failed at their job.
Nara was seated on the right-hand side, looking as bored as ever, only gaining interest when he saw him enter. His eyes flickered behind Neji, his eyebrows shooting up before amusement entered his eyes. Nara had already figured out how this meeting was going to end and was looking forward to the show. Kurenai was also seated in the room on the left, putting a hand to her head and shaking it at him.
"hyuuga-shachou, thank you for coming on short notice. I hope it was not too troublesome for you." Ide Kantaro, the second major stockholder of the company greeted him. Neji had only met him in person recently, having interacted with him through phone calls or assistants previously. They have had a fairly good relationship for the past 30 years. The problem was he also assumed that this Neji was the son of the president, and when they met in person, Neji was treated as such.
Ide was a good-natured man in his late 50s. He had worked hard in helping Neji expand his company overseas, and from what Neji gathered, the man never said anything bad about Neji, but he treated Neji in person like a child. A child Ide decided needed looking after. His words were sometimes patronizing, likely thinking he had no experience running his own company and saw Neji as a troublesome second generation who did not yet take his responsibilities seriously, urging him to come into the office more, make his face well known, and so forth. It would be reassuring if that was the case. Unfortunately for both of them, it wasn't, leading to Neji ignoring Ide's guidance, and Ide getting frustrated with him.
"Ide-san," he greeted, saying nothing else, walking around the table towards his chair.
"May I ask, who this is?" Ide asked, turning his attention to the bodyguard who had gotten out of the limo and followed Neji all the way to the top floor without making a single sound.
Neji's eyes flickered to the side, trying not to let his emotions slip onto his face or voice as he spoke. "Uchiha-san is on vacation with his spouse for the time being. This is Gaara of Suna. He will be serving as my bodyguard in Uchiha-san's place for now."
Gaara did not bow, ignoring everyone in the room as he pulled out the chair for Neji. Gaara had changed quite a bit since their first meeting. He was six years older for one. He had grown a little taller, surpassing Neji in height just barely, his hair had been cut short, and he was slightly more muscular now too. He had grown up to be and look very handsome but intimidating. He could not hide his warrior past, the scars he had on his body still visible, and his body still having the build of a warrior. His presence was just as intimidating as four hundred years ago, making everyone in the room uncomfortable.
No one said anything about his rudeness. Neji sat down, and Gaara stood just behind him to his right, standing sentry. Now, let's get this headache over with. "Why was I called in for an emergency shareholders' meeting this early in the morning," Neji opened with in a bored yet annoyed tone, ruffling the feathers of many of the shareholders.
"They wish to address the rumors going around about you, Hyuuga-shachou," Nara, an outside consultant, said.
"And which rumor is serious enough to call me all the way here." Neji's directness always made the humans ruffled. How could a youngster speak such a way to their elders with such little respect, they would say. Neji did not care. He should be sleeping right now.
"There has been a ridiculous rumor going around that Hyuuga-shachou is gay," another old man of a shareholder responded. "The stocks have been affected by the rumor."
"Are we in the business of worrying about every little rumor?" Neji asked. "It will pass soon enough."
"Hyuuga-shachou," Ide spoke up, trying to smile politely. Already Neji knew he was going to try to treat him like a child. "We are a bit concerned about your image. You are the face of our company after all. We think it is time for you to find a candidate for marriage."
Should Neji be happy it took this long for someone to try to arrange a political marriage for him? "I don't feel like it."
"hyuuga-shachou, please consider it. There have been quite a few promising candidates, several daughters of large company presidents. It could be our chance to grow as well as improve your image."
There were murmurs around the table in agreement.
"I am quite fine with how things are. My personal life is not of the company's concern."
"Hyuuga-shachou, you may be the owner's son, but you cannot be selfish and put your needs in front of the company's. You are the company president. Any action or scandal regarding you could harm all the work of your family's predecessors," another shareholder spoke out, others voicing their agreement.
Kurenai snorted, withholding a laugh, saying nothing in Neji's defense and enjoying the situation. Neji shot her a look, and she quickly schooled her expression.
"My personal life is not your concern," Neji repeated.
"Hyuuga-shachou!"
Ugh, this was making his headache turn into a migraine. Almost four hundred years, and he was still dealing with this mess. He needed to put an end to his.
Gaara took two steps forward, standing beside Neji's chair. Neji tilted his head to look at him, the movement drawing everyone's attention to what the bodyguard was doing, too intimidated to ask.
Gaara placed one hand on the table and the other on the top of Neji's chair, leaned down, and captured Neji's lips in front of everyone. Neji responded, unable to ignore his mate's advances no matter the circumstances. For a moment, he forgot about the shareholders and the trouble they were trying to cause.
Everyone in the room was stunned into silence, unable to say anything at the PDA that was over the top even for modern Japan. Gaara, pulled away, his silver eyes looking at the people around the table as he said in a low voice that was mildly threatening. "I have not properly introduced myself. I am Gaara of Suna. I am Neji's temporary bodyguard, a child of a Middle Eastern royal, and his longtime lover."
Neji hid his smile behind his hand, wiping his mouth of excess saliva with his thumb. "I apologize for his behavior. He is the jealous type. It appears he did not like the idea of trying to set me up with another person. As you can see, the rumors were not unfounded."
It took a few seconds for the shocked old men in the room to recover. One finally overcame the shock only to be stupid enough to keep pushing. "Hyuuga-shachou, I know that it is normal for young people to play around—"
"Gaara, am I someone who plays?" Neji interrupted.
"As we have been together most of my life and were married in America five years ago, no, I do not see you as someone who plays."
Neji addressed the table. "While I am aware that our marital status is not recognized in Japan, in other countries, it is. Marrying a daughter of a prestigious company in this situation would cause a bigger scandal, would it not?"
The shareholders avoided eye contact with him, looking at one another with how to approach this new development.
"You, of course, are free to hold a vote to get rid of me if my orientation is a concern to you, but I would like to remind you that I do own 55% of the shares." He glanced at Gaara. "You can blame Gaara for that as he refused to take half of them. Perhaps if you plead for him to take them, you may have a chance of succeeding."
"Your father—"
"My father owns nothing," Neji said. His voice dropping to almost a growl. "My father does not own this company. I do. The shares are mine. I do the work. I have kept my personal life private and separate from the company. It is you who wanted to involve my personal life by trying to force a political marriage. I will ensure that my relationships do not cause this company to suffer. That I will promise you.
"Now, is there any other reason for this meeting that you forced me to come to, causing me to cancel more important plans to do so?"
When no one answered, Neji told them in an authoritative voice, "Then this meeting is concluded. I'm sure all of you have fallen behind your work."
They wanted to say something to him, but a single look from Gaara's intense stare, daring them to say another word, deterred them. One by one, they filed out of the room through the glass door.
Neji waited for them all to leave, getting a bow from only Nara and Kurenai. He nodded back to them and leaned back in his chair once the last one disappeared. "That went well."
"They have a lot of nerve to try to make you cheat on me," Gaara responded, clearly annoyed.
Neji smiled, finally able to break his mask now that they were alone. "Well, now they know. They should not bring it up again."
Gaara sat on the edge of the table. "They better not. You're mine, ya amar."
Neji stood, putting his hands on the table, one on each side of his lover. "And you are mine, the sun of my life."
Gaara brushed their lips together. "We've never done it in an office before," he whispered, his tongue darting out to lick his lips.
"I've never brought you to work before," he kissed Gaara's jaw, his lips trailing down his neck, struggling not to take a bite.
"I wanna top," Gaara said, closing his eyes, but was already pulling Neji closer.
"My building. My table. My rules." Each sentence he left a small nip, giving Gaara small doses of his venom. Gaara was struggling to keep himself from moaning, but his body did not lie. Neji could feel his lover's hardness press against his leg.
He grabbed Neji's hair, forcing Neji to look into molten silver eyes. "You get the table, and I get the window."
Neji chuckled, placing a peck on Gaara's lips. "Fine."
Four hundred years together, and they have never once tired of one another. They could separate now, and they were not constantly having sex like before. Gaara led his own life, running his own businesses with his own assets. It was not as massive as Neji's as he had to hide his existence until the late-mid 1800s, and not able to grow momentum until after World War II, but he was not reliant on Neji, doing the things he loved, like managing a music label and putting out music anonymously.
In reality, Gaara worked more than Neji did, having to travel more for work as he was more hands on than Neji was with his own company. He took the month off to be Neji's bodyguard because he heard that the shareholders were planning to intervene in Neji's life. Neji wanted to enjoy his lover's company as much as he could while he had him so close. They did not need to be touching all the time, but separating even for a little still left a small hole in his heart until they reunited. He wanted to spend all his free time with Gaara, and he knew Gaara felt the same.
He had found his light. There was never a dark day that could not be brightened with his presence. He did not fear the centuries or even millennia to come. With Gaara by his side, he had a reason to live, a reason to love, and a reason to keep striving no matter what life would bring.