"Forget about Sasuke? I could never."
Neji shook his head and moved away from the red heads chest. Gaara narrowed his eyes, he knew it wasn't going to be that easy. He could hypnotize Neji, but he never wanted to force the boy to do something he didn't want to.
"It wouldn't be permanent, just until we're out of Kohana."
He stepped closer to the dark-haired boy and petted his cheek.
"But…I still have to talk to him." He looked down at the grass. "I didn't really say goodbye."
"He'll be unconscious anyway, it's better you let him rest through it. Saying goodbye now with so short time left would almost be cruel, wouldn't you agree?" he wrapped his arms tightly around the hyuuga's waist protectively.
"I…never thought of it like that…" the boy in his arms spoke quietly.
Would confessing to the Uchiha now be cruel? Afterall he didn't want to leave Gaara, and he still planned on travelling to the sand country with him. Was Gaara just trying to save him from making a huge mistake? Naruto had mentioned how sensitive Sasuke's feelings were now…would this do more harm then good? Maybe it all was better left unsaid?
Neji shook his head, he didn't know anymore.
"I…I don't want to forget about Sasuke, he's my best friend."
He repeated over and over again until Gaara's hand cupped his chin and made him meet his gaze.
"You wouldn't be forgetting him forever Neji, the memories will come back eventually. I could never completely block out such an important part of your life."
'No matter how much I want to.' The red head mentally added.
He felt leaving Neji with these feelings for Sasuke would be a major threat. If he could just have the hyuuga's undivided attention during the move, he knew he'd never have to worry about his boyfriend possibly falling in love with the Uchiha. He just needed to quash the feeling now before it consumed the taller boy's thoughts. He could sense what Neji felt for the other boy and he wanted nothing more to destroy it. But he couldn't do that without destroying a part of Neji, so he'd block it out for a while. Just long enough for the hyuuga to remember how he felt for the boy. Gaara grinned when he saw the hesitant look on Neji's face; the hyuuga was considering it. As he promised, the memories would return, however the emotion Neji had tied to them, well, if they happened to become altered that was the risk he took. The red head was sure to leave that bit of information out however.
"Will I even recognize him…if I happen to see him before we leave?"
The hyuuga frowned when Gaara shook his head.
"Why do you-"
"Please, no questions asked."
He pressed a finger to Neji's lips indicating he wanted to silence the questions before they started.
"I don't know Gaara, it's asking a bit much don't you think?"
"It's not like I'm erasing it, just hiding them for a little while. I need you to understand Neji, I'd do it for you."
He held the other's hand tightly and kissed him lightly. Neji wavered a bit, he really wanted to talk to Sasuke, to tell him he loved him back, but now he thought it might be a mistake. But he didn't have time to think it over now, maybe waiting until he was in the sand country would be the best choice?
"You're right."
He whispered and nuzzled close, pushing the hair off his neck.
"Go ahead".
The sand nin breathed against his neck, Shukaku was becoming eager. "I love you."
He murmured into the hyuuga's throat.
"I love you too."
Neji wore a nervous smile, this would be his last moments before he was changed, he stared up at the moon as he felt Gaara's teeth sink in. He felt a slight numbness in his head, probably where Gaara was pushing away his memories. The numbness he suddenly felt in his heart came as a surprise and he collapsed against his boyfriend, his last breath escaped him as the red head drank.
"-and he won't remember you at all."
The blonde grinned.
"Neji would never agree to that!" Sasuke bolted out of the bed.
"Never!" he hissed defiantly.
Shikamaru shrugged "You don't know that for sure. He's already agreed to travel with us to the sand country. I wouldn't be surprised if he was turned by now."
"No…NO! I'm going to find him, I'm going to stop it."
He glared at Kankuro blocking his way.
"Move."
His tone bordered maniacal. Shikamaru nodded to Kankuro to move.
"S'not like he can change him back."
Kankuro paused for a second then allowed the Uchiha through. The leaf nin took off like a bat out of hell, he had to find Neji, he didn't know what he could do but he just needed to see him. He needed to know the hyuuga was alright.
Sasuke thought as he ran, he needed something first and burst into his house to grab it. He made it to the hyuuga estate within minutes only to find out from Hiashi that the two boys had gone for a walk in the woods. So naturally Sasuke began tracking and leaped from tree to tree to find them, secretly wishing he had the byuken ability to find them quicker. The deeper he emerged himself in the woods the more frantic his heart seemed to beat. He'd die if anything bad happened to Neji and he couldn't stop it.
Then he spotted them, in a clearing. He leaped down without slowing his pace, cause him to lose balance and skid across the rough ground. His wounds flared up and re-opened, causing blood to soak through the bandages.
He didn't care, he didn't notice the pain, his eyes were completely focused on Gaara's back. The red head craned his neck slightly, he heard Sasuke fall, but he had sensed his presence earlier in the forest. The Uchiha forced himself to his knees and then slowly onto his feet, the fall had hurt him more then he thought.
"Neji…" he whispered. "Is…is he okay?"
Sasuke wheezed clutching his chest, although there was no visible wound there. Gaara smirked and turned around to face the battered leaf nin.
"He's fine Uchiha."
Sasuke's eyes widened when he saw the taller nin being held in the red heads arms, he noticed he wasn't breathing. Sasuke felt his heart stop.
"He's dead!"
Gaara laughed and shook his head,
"No, in fact he should be waking up shortly."
The sand nin grinned and placed a kiss on the limp body in his arms. The leaf nin stared in disbelief and shook his head.
"Neji?"
His voice filled with horror, he couldn't stand to see the hyuuga like this. He stumbled over to the boy in Gaara's arms and stared down at him, he was even beautiful when he was dead.
It frightened him to see Neji not moving, he reached out and hesitantly touched the nin's cheeks and quickly drew his hand back from shock when Neji's eyes fluttered open.
The hyuuga yawned and stretched cutely in the red head's arms before looking up at the sand nin.
"Hi Gaara."
He rubbed his eyes and regained his balance when Gaara softened his hold. Neji looked around at his surroundings and was pleased to find that he still felt like himself. He looked down at his hand and wiggled his fingers. Still normal. His looked over at Gaara who smiled back in return. Still normal. He looked up at the red moon and back down to…a dark haired boy staring back at him with tears in his eyes. Something felt wrong. He approached Sasuke who had collapsed onto the ground, hugging himself. Gaara let Neji talk to the Uchiha, content in knowing Neji had no memory of his friend.
"Are you okay?"
Neji knelt next to the Uchiha. Sasuke continued to stare at the ground. How could Neji agree to forget him? He knew the hyuuga didn't love him, but he didn't expect this either. The pain in his heart hurt so much he thought he wouldn't live past the night.
"I'm fine." Came a whispered response. He couldn't even be mad at Neji since it would prove useless. He felt a hand on his back.
"You don't look fine. What's wrong?"
Sasuke let his tears fall onto the grass beneath him, he couldn't hold them back any longer.
"I…I just lost someone close to me." He sniffled and wiped his nose.
Neji stared at the boy beside him, he looked so familiar but he just couldn't remember.
"Oh. I see-"
"No, no you don't. I couldn't do anything to stop it and now they'll never know how much I wanted them to stay."
He let out a small sob as Neji hugged him. The hyuuga had no idea but he felt tears rise up in his eyes as well.
"Please stop crying. I'm sure they know." Neji wiped at his own face.
"How?" the other boy looked up, surprised to see Neji wiping his face.
"I dunno, I just know."
Neji's voice sounded like a three year olds now as he hid his face from the stranger.
"Do..do I know you from somewhere? You look familiar." He said, trying to change the subject so he wouldn't cry.
Sasuke froze, did Neji remember him? Was there still hope?
"Ye-yeah."
He slowly stood up and helped Neji back to his feet, even though he was the one with the injuries.
Neji nodded "I thought so. You're in my class or something right?"
Sasuke smiled and reached into his pocket. "Yeah…I heard you're moving to the sand country?"
The hyuuga nodded still rubbing at his eyes. "Yes, but I'll be coming back to visit often."
Sasuke's heart fluttered, there was still hope. Maybe he could still keep his friend afterall, even if he had to start the friendship over again it was worth it. He pulled what he had grabbed at his house out of his pocket.
"I have something for you…think of it as a going away present."
Neji tilted his head, he barely knew this boy, why did he have a gift for him? Oh well, it would be rude not to accept it especially since the boy was just so upset a few moments ago. The Uchiha held out a necklace on a long silver chain. It had the Uchiha clan symbol at the end of it.
"I can't accept that, it's-"
"Shh, sure you can." Sasuke smile, already placing it around the hyuuga's neck.
"It's…something to remember me by. Okay?"
Neji paused, then smiled and nodded. "Sure. I'll be sure to visit you when I come back."
"See that you do." The shorter nin smiled back, a small hope rising inside him.
The hyuuga gazed up after the necklace was placed on him, he fingered the symbol quietly for a moment.
"There…was something I needed to tell you." The boy looked up with watery eyes "But I don't remember…"
Sasuke swallowed and wiped at a tear left on the other's cheek. "Hey, that's okay, just be sure to tell me next time, okay?"
The brunette sniffed and nodded "I will."
"Neji, it's time to go." Gaara called out. He didn't want the taller boy spending too much time with the other nin so soon after being turned. Neji turned and began walking back. He waved goodbye to the Uchiha and thanked him for the precious gift, he paused mid-step and looked back to his new friend.
"What's your name again?" Sasuke waved back, "Uchiha Sasuke…but you can call me Sasuke."
"I'm Hyuuga Neji, but you can just call me Neji."
Sasuke smiled, it took them years before they called each other by the informal name. Neji returned the smile and strode to Gaara who wrapped an arm possessively around Neji and began walking off.
Sasuke smiled sadly as the two left out of sight and sat down on a large rock in the clearing, momentarily pausing at the beauty around him. He liked this place despite the sad memory now tied to it. He decided he'd visit it whenever he missed the hyuuga, which would most likely mean frequent visits. He looked up at the night sky, a new determined look crossed onto his face. He was in love, and so far it was worth every moment. In fact, after everything he had been through he just wanted to try harder. Sasuke felt a new strength rise within him, he would not let it end here.
Kowaikage- And that's the end/immediately ducks and takes cover/ Okay before you hate me, I think it's obvious I left this open for a sequel. So...feel free to leave any suggestions you would like to see in a review or an e-mail. I know it was sorta a sucky ending because it left a lot of stuff out I think…although I can't remember what right now…And now onto the reviewers who encouraged me and just made me feel good because they took the time.
Shino-Shikamaru- Yay! I moved you! I'm so happy I was able to do that. Thank you so much for the review.
Hikari Aki- I really liked the kissing hand part too, thanks a bunch!
Burning tree- I really wanted Neji to overcome the memory block while he was talking with Sasuke…but it wrote itself out like this and I could only watch. /sniffle/
Blackat- Haha, I don't think I would want to lose a mental image of Sasuke either…/goes off in dream-land/ Teehee Sasuke…/snaps awake/ er…anyway…At least Neji will get his memory back.
Ho-sama- Gaara is mean in this…but he does truly love Neji…not enough yaoi though. Maybe there will be more if I make a sequel….P.S.I like your fics, you should update more :)