Just as a WARNING, chapter four gets a little YAOI-ISH, but nothing really too bad (I've just capitalized the key words for those that don't read the blurbs in front). Certainly not a lemon, and it hardly qualifies for lime. It's just basically a lot of seduction. If that isn't your piece of cake, then you're reading the wrong fic. ;)

Sorry it's taken me so long to post this. I actually had this chapter done before I even posted any of the fanfiction online. I've just been bogged down with my new job and never got a chance to upload this chapter. Thanks for the reviews I got.

heyah – And yes, this is an A/U. I just like to take the characters out of their natural setting and play with their lives. evil cackle So anything that doesn't quite fit in terms of factual things in the show I'll blame on the A/U. Convenient little thing that is.

shadowsatnight – The contents of the letter are revealed in this chapter. I hope it's decent enough as an explanation. To be honest, when I finished chapter 3 I was in a panic because I had no clue what was in the note. That's what happens when the story begins to write itself out: the characters love to do their own thing while withholding information from me.

Ramen-Ou– I'm so glad you like it! And as this fanfic is serving to amuse me in my free time this summer, I'm sure I will continue.

Chapter 4: Prisoner of War

If Naruto wanted to fight dirty, well, Sasuke could be just as malicious too. That damn bastard, totally setting him up like that in class. Sasuke couldn't believe he didn't see through the ploy. He had just gotten so paranoid.

A few nights before their fight, Sasuke had gone over to Naruto's where they had both gotten completely drunk. Sasuke certainly hadn't intended to become so intoxicated, but in the end he of course regretted it. They had somehow gotten into some sort of mix between strip poker and truth-or-dare in which passing down a challenge resulted in certain undergarments to be displayed publicly in the village for a week on the flagpole.

Sasuke had accomplished all his dares without flinching and then became just plain lazy and picked a truth. Naruto had pondered for a bit before deciding on a question. The question ended up being whether Sasuke had ever had a crush on Sakura. Sasuke had contemplated lying, but that obviously was against the rules of telling the absolute truth as the game dictated. Had he been sober, he would have lied anyway to prevent Naruto gaining too much power over him with the information.

Unfortunately he was drunk, and went into far too much detail over his short-lived crush of Sakura back when he was much younger. It hadn't lasted long, and certainly had been snuffed out by the time she started to swarm all over him, as well as the rest of the female population. It was a stupid, childish crush, but if it were ever to be revealed, Sasuke's dignity would be given a harsh blow and he'd never be able to pry the pink-haired girl off him afterwards.

He never thought Naruto would ever go so low as to threaten to tell the entire school. That's what the note he had bounced of Sasuke's head was about, and if Sasuke had only thought clearly enough through his paranoia, he would have realized that Naruto would not have done such a thing. Despite being rivals, they still carried a slight degree of respect for one another, and some acts were strictly forbidden. That included disclosing personal information that had been entrusted with the other person. Naruto had a sense of honor, and wouldn't violate that unspoken code. He just simply used it as a decoy to hide his real intent—class humiliation.

While that certainly wasn't as severe, it didn't stop Sasuke from being pissed. He had been tricked! Well, if Naruto thought he had won, he was sadly mistaken. Sasuke had plenty more attacks up his sleeve, and one of them was holding onto it. Sasuke smirked and led Neji back to his house, thoroughly enjoying the sour look on Naruto's face as they left.

Naruto was far too protective for his own good, and with jealousy stacking onto that, he was just a time-bomb ready to go off. Yes, Sasuke could get a nice revenge for Naruto's trick while also getting his koibito back and entertaining himself in the process of waiting. He could kill three birds with one stone. Now that was efficiency.

"Come on in and make yourself at home," he smiled, leading the Hyuuga in.

Neji looked nervous and slipped off his shoes. "I really can't stay long, I'll be missed at home."

"Stop with all that bull and have a seat," Sasuke said bluntly, gesturing to the couch. "Would you like a drink?"

"Yes please," Neji nodded. He sat uncertainly on the couch, visibly resisting the urge to fidget. Sasuke smirked and began to walk towards the kitchen.

"What would you like? Water? Juice? Or something stronger?" He leaned on the doorframe, cocking his hips and focusing his eyes on Neji. This only served to fluster the Hyuuga more, especially as Sasuke's hand ran up and down the doorframe.

"Water would be fine." Neji's voice cracked slightly as he looked away quickly from Sasuke's penetrating eyes.

Sasuke smirked. Hyuuga was in the palm of his hand. "Water it is." He poured some into a glass and returned to find Neji still sitting on the couch, eyes downcast to the floor.

"Thank you," the brunette said softly, not lifting his eyes as he took the drink.

"No problem." Sasuke sat down next to him, still giving the nin his space. He had time to work this, and he needed to bring down Neji's defenses if he was to get anywhere near the boy.

"So…" trailed Neji, trying to find something to break the silence. "It was unfortunate what happened today. Naruto really got you well." The brunette's fingers holding the glass tightened slightly. He was apparently hoping that Sasuke would get angry with him and kick him out.

Sasuke just smirked and let out a slight chuckle. "Well Naruto's just an idiot. If he thinks that dented me, he's wrong." He slid over ever so slightly in Neji's direction. The nin detected the movement and moved slightly away. Sasuke smirked inwardly. So it was going to be a challenge, was it? This just made it all the more interesting.

"I could use the exercise anyway," Sasuke stated, leaning back comfortably into the couch. "Lifting all those rocks next week will be great for my biceps and abs." He casually slid off his shirt, examining himself, flexing. One glance in Neji's direction confirmed he had been watching, by the pink that now stained the nin's cheeks. Sasuke grinned inwardly. "I'm not making you uncomfortable, am I?"

Neji cleared his throat and spoke without looking at Sasuke. "Of course not. After all, we're both guys."

"Then why wont you look at me?" Sasuke challenged, smug. Right in the palm of his hand…

Neji's head flew up and he instantly turned it back to Sasuke, staring at him. His cheeks regained their colour despite the nin's obvious attempts to force it away.

"So, Neji…" Sasuke said lazily, rolling over onto his side while still sitting, gaining some ground closer to the flushed nin. "What do you think of me?"

Neji didn't answer and simply looked away. Sasuke let a grin spread on his face.

"Well Hyuuga? Are you going to answer me?"

Neji finally looked up and locked his eyes with Sasuke. "I think you're very cruel using me like this as a tool to make Naruto jealous."

Ah, good old insightful Neji. Not that it wasn't obvious; but still, Naruto probably wouldn't have caught on this early. Still, Hyuuga wasn't completely accurate with his statement. That certainly was the overall objective of this entire ordeal, but it wasn't all Sasuke was looking for.

He leaned in close to Neji to prove his point. "And what if I'm doing it because I'm sincerely interested?" He took the nin's headband strap in his teeth and nuzzles his nose in the crook of Neji's neck.

Neji instantly went rigid, caught off guard with the statement. Sasuke took his silence as incentive to proceed farther, ghosting small kisses all up and down Neji's neck. Neji leaned back in a futile resistance to Sasuke's sudden onslaught but soon melted under the dark-haired boy's touch. Sasuke wrapped his arms around Neji's shoulders, letting his fingers run down the length of Neji's hair, pulling out the tie and letting it cascade in a wave of sepia down the nin's back.

Sasuke closed the distance even farther between them by sliding onto Hyuuga's lap, pressing the boy against the back of the couch while trailing wet kisses down his neck and onto his shoulder. Sasuke tried to push the collar over Neji's shoulder, and growled at how little skin it allowed him to access.

"Take off your shirt," he commanded.

Neji seemed to snap out of his trance and moved back, unfortunately with no place to go. "Sasuke…..my water is going to spill."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and took the glass, placing it on the table. Neji instantly took advantage of that timeframe to quickly get to his feet and hurry towards the door. "Thank you very much for your hospitality Sasuke-kun, but I really must be heading back." Neji had hardly gotten on of his shoes on when Sasuke was suddenly very close again.

"But you just arrived," Sasuke breathed into his ear, wrapping his arms around his waist, pulling Neji close.

Neji swallowed. "I'm serious Sasuke."

"So am I." Sasuke countered, locking his eyes on Neji's pale ones. The boy seemed to be wrestling with a great deal of conflict and confusion. Sasuke knew Neji liked what he was doing; his body language stated that clearly. The thing that held him back was his own conscience, which was most certainly focused on Naruto. Sasuke would have to put it at ease, or at least silence it, in order to break through Neji's barrier.

He reburied his face in Neji's neck, letting his breath travel under the nin's shirt collar and onto his chest. "I've waited long enough for Naruto," he said, letting his hands roam on Neji's back, pleased at the shivers he felt going down Neji's spine. "And I'm tired of sitting around for him. I'm not interested anymore in waiting for that stubborn brat to give in. Not when I have something better in front of me."

"Flattery wont work," Neji said stiffly, though his words were forced as he felt Sasuke's breath play across his skin.

"And why shouldn't it?" Sasuke inquired, bringing his hand up to cup Neji's chin.

"B-because," Neji stammered, his resolve weakening as he felt Sasuke's lips so close to his own.

"That's not an answer, Hyuuga," Sasuke stated and closed the gap in between them, pulling Neji towards him with his other hand on the back of his head. Sasuke could feel Neji's resolve shatter; he could taste the sweet tinge of defeat on the Hyuuga's tongue as it played around his own.

Sasuke pressed the nin against the door without breaking the kiss and allowed his hands, tongue, and entire body to explore the new terrain he had won over. Neji moaned and mimicked Sasuke's actions, completely giving himself over to his victor. Two birds down, one to go.

Ah, cruel cruel Sasuke using Neji like that. Neji likes it…honest… Anyway, keep your eye out for chapter 5, which is actually written, but I need to make a few tweaks to it before I feel I can post it. This story is now on cruise control and out of my hands so I'll just have to wait and see what happens just like the rest of you.