Title: El Bimbo

Author: sky75rk

Important Reminders, READ EVERYTHING:

One: Character appearances are done one moment at a time. If some of the major characters do not appear in a chapter, it means that they will appear on the next. Please don't ask where who was every time you can't see a certain character in the chapter.

Two: Sometimes, the answers to your questions are already written in the chapter, so before you ask any of your questions, be sure to read or re-read the chapter to see if the answer is there or not, if not, then please feel free to ask me anything.

Three: Please don't tell me whether to lengthen or shorten my chapters. Before I wrote this story, I only made 3-4 pages per chapter, now I'm actually writing 8-12 pages per chapter just to meet your satisfaction. However, there will be times wherein I won't be able to meet your demands for a long chapter. I write as fast as I can to update regularly so please understand that at times I won't be able to write long chapters.

Four: The story is not beta-ed, so if there are wrong grammars or spelling, then I'm sorry.

Five: I noticed how many writers and readers are fond of Harry Potter Slash stories, and maybe some of you have also been writing it, in fact. I just want to recommend one HP story that really inspires me to do better in writing. I assure you that the story is very well-written, concise and creative. If you ever read it, you will immediately find yourself putting the story and the author in your favorites because all of her HP fics are very good, that's what happened to me anyway. The fic is entitled: Irresistible Poison, by Rhysenn

Last thing: I have a favor to ask all of you. Please try to read Nights in White Satin, which I have posted just last week. I need to know whether I have done well for that one-shot. It's a tribute for the NejiNaru fans of this story because if things will go as I think they would, this story will turn out to be a NaruSasu. In the one-shot, I have not bothered to write even one 'Sasuke'. Only Neji and Naruto. It's kind of my sorry… dedicated to you all.

Thank you for still supporting this and I hope that I didn't bother you guys at all for reading this.

Italics- flashbacks

Standard disclaimers apply:

Eleventh Channel: Missing Completion

The sun sets in brilliant colors of red and orange, combined with the serenity that the color blue brought, rendering a perfect harmony that existed only in nature. Blue eyes watched as it slowly disappeared, being replaced by the stillness of night under the light of the moon and its stars. He sat contemplating whether he did the right choice of leaving behind everything that meant the world to him. Frowning, he realized that the reason he left was to try and forget.

Pale fingers calmly massaged his tense shoulders and he relaxed under the soothing touch, sighing in response. He raised his hand and clamped it to one pale hand and smiled. He was grateful that someone was still there.

"Let's go Neji," trying to come up with the happiest tone he said to the pale-eyed boy and Neji nodded, holding the wheelchair that Naruto sat in and pushed it. A chilly wind blew and Naruto shivered under it. Neji stopped and took off his vest. Gently, he wrapped it around Naruto. "Thanks," softly smiling, the blonde adjusted it so he would cover his shivering body efficiently.

It had been two months after they left the main village of Konoha and started living a solitary life in the safe house of the Hyuuga family. The specific house was located just beside a cliff and there was no way in except going through a tunnel. Two months also passed by and Neji stopped doing missions to take care of the blonde, but he didn't regret it. Not at all.

Naruto started his physical therapy a week after they got settled. It was a hard task, especially since Neji knew that Naruto was having a hard time accepting his condition. Often times, he smiled, act like he was over it, but in reality, he was not. Neji wanted to console the younger boy, however, he didn't know how. He just wished that somehow he hadn't entirely closed himself to the world so he would have more use to Naruto than what he is.

They entered the house and Neji went directly to the blonde's room. As they were beside the bed, the Hyuuga took Naruto's hand and assisted him. Just a month ago, he had to carry Naruto so he could lie in his bed, but now… he could do it only by having a little assistance. Neji was very glad for his fast recovery.

He tucked Naruto. "Oyasumi nasai,"

"Oyasumi," then blue eyes closed to get some sleep.

"Take me away from here… with you,"

Neji roughly leaned forward and touched Naruto's face. "What are you talking about? Are you sure you're alright?" he asked, feeling the blonde's forehead for any sign of fever.

Naruto shook his head gently. "I'm really fine Neji," he replied, his voice still so low that Neji had to strain his ears just to catch what he was saying.

"But why?" with Naruto, he always asked that particular question. Why this?…why that? It was a part of him that told him he wanted to know more about Naruto. The reasons behind his actions, the way he thinks… why he always prioritizes other people before him… it was too complicated.

Dull, blue eyes turned away from him. "I don't want Sasuke to see me like this," he answered truthfully. Neji's eyes flickered with obvious pain, his mind reaching a point wherein it told him that he no longer stood a chance. Sasuke completely dominated the blonde's heart.

But what Naruto was offering to him… it was a once in a lifetime deal. He knew that he only had little chance, but at least he still had one. Maybe time will heal old wounds and will work up the courage to face another future, he thought. And this idea he considered more.

"Are you sure? Where will we go?" he heard himself inquire again. He did not have any idea what to do… just an instinct that says he should grab the opportunity and when hell happens, that's when he'll start worrying.

"I don't know. I just want to go away…stay away," another anguished reply. "I'm yours now, aren't I?"

If only Neji can believe his words…

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine,"

One week since the move, Naruto was trying his best to act the same, cheerful guy he was. He tried his best, because he didn't want Neji to worry about him especially when the pale-eyed boy was the one taking care of him every step of his way.

It was Neji who does everything. The cleaning, cooking, laundry… even bathing, since the blonde wasn't capable to do anything for himself at the moment. And he didn't want to look sad in front of the Hyuuga who does his all to keep to him alive and well

"Sleep well, Naruto," blue eyes closed and feigned sleep so the Hyuuga would leave. However, Neji knew better, and he kept sitting at the bedside of the blonde. The blonde opened his eyes again and focused it into the pale ones of Neji.

"Why are you still here?" he whispered, his hoarse voice an indication he was breaking down, again. Naruto wanted to sit and told Neji that so he helped him, silently.

"Neji?" brows furrowed at the silence the long-haired boy was giving.

A long sigh followed by a warm hug. "Sasuke isn't here anymore. You can cry now," tanned hands clenched into balls of fist and shuddered. Neji hugged him tighter.

Naruto pounded his fist into Neji's chest, amidst the roughness of his actions, he started crying, unable to keep his frustrations hidden any longer. "Sasuke! Why aren't you here?" the blonde started calling out. "Sasuke…Sasuke…SASUKE! Where are you? Why aren't you…here" his blue eyes brimming with all the unshed tears he kept for so long. He continued pounding his fists, now on the bed. Neji did not look at him, he discerned that the blonde did not want him to be seen as weak. Although right now, he was a fragile glass, and he had no experience with handling anything so fragile.

"Naruto…"It was unfair. No matter which angle you try to look at it, it was unfair. Naruto didn't deserve any of this. He did not.

Strong hands gripped pale shoulders hard. "Tell me Neji… did I do anything to deserve all of this? Am I so evil that my life is so fucked up?" a chuckle amidst free flowing tears. "Is it so wrong to try and prove that I am worth other than being the vessel?"

"No, you don't deserve any of this…" came a weak reply.

"Then why? Why is it like this?" he was getting tired with each passing second, the strength he had when he held Neji's shoulders was gone and his hands lay limp beside him. "Why isn't Sasuke here?"

Neji took the blonde into his warm embrace again. But I'm here, Naruto. Am I not enough? "I'm sorry Naruto," he murmured at the sleepy blonde.

"I told you that you don't need to be sorry," he told the Hyuuga and detached himself from his embrace. "I'm tired, Neji. I think I'll go sleep now," giving a small smile he said. "Arigato,"

Neji helped Naruto get comfortable. "Oyasumi nasai," he said as he bent down and kissed the blonde on the forehead.

Naruto transferred all the force he could muster to his feet and he pushed himself out of the wheelchair and practically thrown himself onto the bed. He was successful and that made him and Neji smile in unhidden triumph. Naruto took his first steps in recovery. It was a good thing since he did all of this in only a month.

"I actually did it!" his voice was overflowing with a sense of achievement, the first hint that Naruto was progressing. Neji walked forward and put the wheelchair aside, he threw a piece a big box which was covered in newspapers. With the reflexes of a ninja still imbedded in his body, he caught it easily, just how easy it is for him to catch a wielding kunai thrown to him. "What's this?" blue eyes twinkled with curiosity, Neji only smiled.

"Open it," he ordered the blonde, and eagerly he complied, tearing the newspapers and opened the box greedily. His eyes glittered as he saw something that gave him a reason to get up in the morning, afternoon and evening.

"RAMEN!" he shouted, his hands trembling as he held each one and hugged it tightly. Neji laughed at his antics. "Ramen, how I've missed your sweet taste… you're the apple of my damn eye, the sun of my shitty universe, the core for my fucking life…"

Neji stole the ramen he was holding which shocked Naruto and ended up hearing a surprised 'hey! That's my ramen!' speech.

"If you don't stop cursing, I won't give this to you…" a threat coming from the Hyuuga was something he shouldn't dare to take on, but he always did it anyway.

The blonde turned on his puppy dog and pout look, it made Neji's convictions soften. "Please… give it back… I won't fucking do it again, I promise! I'll even take it down unto my damned grave," lips quivered to add to the effect.

Neji's lips twitched in mock annoyance and hidden amusement. It seemed that no matter what he said, the blonde always manages to get the upper hand. Where is his iron steel will when he needed it?

With a defeated sigh, he handed the sealed ramen cups back and Naruto took them greedily, ordering Neji to get some hot water pronto. Neji laughed again and hurried out the room to go get what the 'master' said.

Minutes later and a papery hiss were heard as the blonde opened the ramen and started slurping. Sounds of 'mmm this is so good' and 'it doesn't get any better than this', the whole of the entire box previously filled with ramen was almost gone. Naruto slammed his empty bowl on the wooden tray with a loud 'thud' and put his chopsticks down gently beside it. "Thanks a lot for the ramen!" he cheered and this earned another smile from the male Hyuuga.

Blue eyes stared at Neji and it made the Hyuuga uncomfortable. "What is it? Is there some dirt on my face?" he asked and he traced his face, Naruto laughed.

"No, it's just that you've been smiling a lot more than before," the blonde youth told the Hyuuga.

Taking one tan hand, he replied. "Yeah well, it's because you're smiling too Naruto," he gathered the empty plastic bowls and threw them in the box and was about to stand up when two arms encircled him in the waist. It was Naruto's.

The blonde was leaning against his back and tried to bury himself in the Hyuuga's warmth. "You do want me, don't you Neji?" he murmured. It was an invitation he was giving to Neji and the pale-eyed man knew it. Neji turned around and embraced Naruto back. It was the one thing he was waiting for to hear. And he wanted to accept.

But a picture under the pillow of the blonde caught his eyes. It might have been there since the day they moved, Neji didn't know. What he knew is that it was a picture of Team Seven, taken a few years back. Sasuke was doing his usual expression and Naruto… he saw beautiful, vivid blue eyes staring at the stoic guy, a loving and protective gaze.

Neji extracted himself of the embrace and looked downcast. "I do Naruto. But not… not like this," Not when I know that it is still with Uchiha your heart belongs to. Naruto knew what he meant but he could only stare as Neji made his way out the room.

Waiting outside the door, Naruto moved his wheelchair back and forth. After the second week of their move, he already got used to the place and was able to control the chair by himself. He didn't want to always depend on Neji.

They were living there for eight months now, and his progress had been—as Neji told him—going really well, and he was happy. It had taken him a while to finally accept what happened and another little while to realize that Sasuke will not be there to help him. He was now fine with that, besides, Neji was still there and that was more than he could ask for.

If only he can convince himself that he had moved on.

He was being unfair to Neji. He was giving him the hope that someday he would be able to love him as much as he loved that Uchiha. Heck! He wanted that to happen as well, yet, he couldn't bring himself to stop thinking about the only person who incarcerated his soul for so long. And being away from him made him… incomplete.

He couldn't let Neji discover that though, it would only hurt him more. The pale Hyuuga has done so much for him all he could ever do was say 'thank you' and not talk about the raven-haired boy around him. And it wasn't enough. The long-haired boy knew him so well that even without speaking; he senses that Naruto was still ruminating about Sasuke.

Naruto trailed the stoned path as he waited for Neji to come back. The Hyuuga needed to return to the village to submit a report to the Hokage, so that meant he was going back to the main village. Will he see Sasuke? The blonde asked himself and quickly, he rid himself of those thoughts. He told himself time and again to stop thinking about him, so he should. It was for the best.

It was noon already when Neji came back, his brows beginning to knit. Something must've occurred when he returned.

"Neji!" Naruto shouted and he waved at the frowning boy. "Okaeri!" the long-haired boy's frown was swapped with a small smile.

"Tadaima," he replied, his voice even and calm. "We're you waiting for me?"

"Un!"

Neji held the wheelchair and began leading the blonde boy back inside. "You shouldn't be outside," he told the blonde. "It's getting colder everyday. You might catch a cold,"

Naruto pulled a face. "Beedah! No cold could ever wear me out! Stop being such a mother, Neji!"

"But you're such a child," came an endearing reply.

"But a very handsome, adorable and cute child,"

"Hai, hai," they entered the dining hall. Neji took out two glasses and made some tea. "Here," he handed one glass and Naruto took it gladly.

The air was serene and was blowing softly; the leaves that rustled in the trees unhurriedly fell down from its tree branch. Everything was so peaceful that Naruto suddenly missed being on the battle field, doing missions and fighting. Peace was a thing he didn't experience the most.

A quiet voice broke the silence. "Uchiha is looking for you,"

Blonde head snapped up. "What?" he said, and then bowed his head when he remembered that he wasn't supposed to be talking about him in front of Neji.

"Uchiha has been looking for the past--"

"Yamero," Naruto ended the conversation even before it actually began. "I don't want to talk about it,"

"But why? I thought you'd be happy if you knew that Uchiha was looking for you," Neji was tired of the pretense. He wanted to stop pretending to himself that the blonde would find it in his heart to love him and forget about Sasuke. But every passing day, he could see clearly than ever the longing that resides in his fragile heart.

"I don't want to talk about something I've lost. I've lost everything, and talking about him would make me fell worse about having nothing," the blonde drank the tea in one gulp, his voice cold and protected.

Pale hands banged down on the wooden table. It was not hard enough to shatter it but the force was enough for it to create a loud noise. Blue eyes stared in fear. He didn't mean to make Neji angry. "You haven't lost everything, Naruto. You have me," he informed the still immobile blonde, his mind still on the verge of understanding Neji's message. "But I can't fool myself any longer. I can't keep convincing myself that you having me around is enough for you. Clearly it isn't,"

"But it is," the blonde quickly replied. He didn't want to see Neji sad because of his mistakes.

"No Naruto, it isn't," Neji stood abruptly, and exited the room, leaving Naruto behind.

I'm not what you need.

-Continued-

A/N: Okay, I wanted to insert how Tsunade gave them the permission to go away. But basically, since Neji is still reporting to the Hokage, it meant that it was a long-term mission. So there, thanks for the reviewers who just reviewed the Tenth Channel! I hope that I can still entertain you all!

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