Thanks for all your support, guys! I'm really sorry it's been forever since I've updated, but this week was really hectic. Hope this extra-long chapter makes up for it!
I'm trying not to rush the story, but when I get an idea, it's all I can do not to get things moving faster. So…Chapter 5 is here.
Disclaimer: Nope, I am not Masashi Kishimoto…so I don't own Naruto.
Notice: Yaoi, non-OOC, non-AU…if I think of anything else, I'll add it.
Bekkablair: I think "apogee" means (generally) the height of something…I think the word that specifically refers to the sun is zenith. Of course, I could be mistaken about that.
Sherlockian Slytherin: Thanks! I figured there's so many variations on tag…why not make one more?
Midnight-Sunset: catches Neji plushie Yay, my own Neji plushie…
Yuki-chan2: Wow, I should written this sooner…I'm almost a deity! Yeah, Neji is uber-sexy. Damn, that boy is hot. I'm glad you think the chars in IC.
Ahem, anyway…chapter 5…
Chapter 5- "Afternoon Chill"
Sasuke rolled over in bed. From the position of the moon and the color of the sky, it was just before daybreak. He rolled onto his back, looking up at the roof with dark eyes. He closed his eyes forcefully, as if to demand they sleep. They rebelled, just as they had done all night. Growling out his frustration, Sasuke sat up, swinging his legs out from under the thin sheet. He ran one hand through his slightly flattened hair and stood up. Lightly treading through the large deserted house, he descended the stairs to the first floor. Sliding the door open, he stepped into his shoes, heading for the well in the courtyard. Drawing up a bucket, he dipped a small cup in and drank. Wiping his mouth, he lowered the bucket back down and re-entered the house. Opening the door to his closet, he knelt and lifted his customary black shirt out of its drawer. Slipping it on, he exchanged his sleeping pants for the training ones he usually wore. Buckling his shuriken holder and kunai holder to his leg, he headed east towards the training ground. If I can't sleep, I might as well train.
As he walked, the brisk morning air swirled around him, cooling his rather feverish thoughts. Sleeping seems impossible when…I can't understand him…what is he thinking? Sasuke rolled the questions around in his mind several times. I don't understand why this doesn't bother me. I don't like Neji…not that way, but I don't feel…wrong about it. It seems like just another unwanted interest. Maybe even a little more… He shook himself firmly. He was not going to go down that route. Pushing his hair out of his face, he continued towards the training center. Avoiding the treacherous ground which rain had worsened, he kept his eyes focused on the ground. The light was growing stronger by the minute, warning of an imminent sunrise on the horizon in front of him. Suddenly, Hinata appeared in front of him.
"Oh…" she jumped a little when she saw him. "O-ohayo, Sasuke-kun. I-I was j-just leaving."
She scurried off as he watched her with a tilted eyebrow. He balanced himself as he stepped onto the training grounds, looking up at a movement at the corner of his eye. That…he followed me.
Neji was standing with his back to Sasuke, waiting in the Jyuken stance to attack the training pole. He shifted a bit, then rotated in that graceful Hyuuga style to strike (or press) his hand against the cloth-wrapped target. No, he had to have been here before, Sasuke told himself. As he watched, the Hyuuga seemed to freeze in mid-action. Sasuke watched him turn slowly, noticing the white-eyed Byakugan active in the other boy's eyes. He saw me. Moments passed, as the two shinobi just stood there. Neji's face was blank, the Byakugan dying away, but Sasuke felt something different in his stare. Neji was…in pain. The Hyuuga just stood there, arms hanging limp at his sides. Sasuke folded his own, trying to look in control of himself.
It was at this unfortunate moment the sun decided to rise. Practically leaping above the horizon, the sun cast its pale glow over everything in Konohagakure—including one white-eyed boy standing against the rising sun. Sasuke's throat tightened involuntarily, What the…he's beautiful. Sasuke felt the force in his crossed arms evaporate, and he struggled to keep his legs from shaking too. Neji's face still communicated nothing, and the two just stood there as Sasuke struggled to control his mind and as Neji knew nothing about it. As the moment faded, Sasuke managed to restrain his emotions, locking everything away so his face hardened into disapproval again. It was Neji who finally broke the silence.
"I didn't know you were coming," he said, voice steady but quiet.
"Well…I'm here."
Neji nodded, "Then I'll go."
For some reason, Sasuke felt like stopping him. But why? I hate him…he kissed me, damnit. He's making my life miserable. He resolutely set his jaw; if the Hyuuga wanted to leave, he could. As Neji turned away, both shinobi caught the unmistakable feel of chakra being released and the unmistakable sound of Kakashi appearing in his unmistakable way.
"Am I interrupting?" the silver-haired jounin asked.
"No," Sasuke answered a little too quickly.
Kakashi cocked an eyebrow, "The Hokage wants you in her office immediately, Sasuke."
The Uchiha nodded and turned towards the center of town.
"You too, Neji," the jounin added.
Sasuke's neck stiffened, and he turned to look at Kakashi, "Why?"
"She asked for him."
Sasuke left the answer as it was, knowing he would not get any more from the jounin. Neji turned towards the Hokage's quarters as well, and the three shinobi walked in silence. Sasuke was doing his best to avoid looking at the Hyuuga next to him. He could feel the cold radiating from the other boy, and he knew he was the cause of it. Neji was not one to bare his feelings lightly or even to possess light feelings. Sasuke had hit him when he was most vulnerable. The Hyuuga was not going to let it happen again. Upon arriving at the Hokage's office, Kakashi led them past the two guards into the study.
Sasuke almost felt a sigh of relief when he saw Naruto and Sakura waiting there already. At least it's not about Neji and me, he assured himself.
"Ohayo, Sasuke, Neji," Tsunade said as they entered. "We have a mission for you."
"All four of us!" Naruto exclaimed.
"No. Neji, you will take Sakura's place on this mission. Sakura will be transferring to Team 10 for their assignment."
Naruto pouted, "But, Tsunade-baa-chan, Sakura's our teammate."
"This particular mission requires you three specifically. Sakura was acquainted with this before deciding to transfer to Team 10."
Sakura nodded, "Yeah, Naruto. Once I heard the mission, I was fine with switching places. Besides, I'll be on Ino and Shikamaru's team. That's not exactly a demotion."
Sasuke was feeling cold. A mission with Neji? Now? The Hokage has wonderful timing.
The Hokage continued, "You will be going as a widowed father with three sons. You're all relatively separated in terms of age, so it should be easy to carry the disguise off. You will be traveling to Hidden Mist. There is a Hidden Leaf missing nin there. He's ex-Anbu."
"Ex-Anbu?" Naruto stuttered.
"Hai. That's why I want you three on this. Kakashi is going to observe. The missing nin's apprehension is your responsibility."
"Why don't you send Anbu hunter nin after him?" Neji asked, voice calm.
"He knows Anbu tactics by heart. He was one of the good ones. You three together should be able to defeat him."
Sasuke nodded, "When do we leave?"
Tsunade smiled, "Now."
Naruto grumbled all the way to Hidden Mist, "She didn't give us much warning. I didn't even have time to eat some ramen before leaving."
Sasuke and Neji were silent, but Naruto barely noticed. Those two were always quiet. He didn't even notice that the two prodigies were staying as far from each other as possible.
Their arrival in Hidden Mist was less than spectacular. After passing through the gates, with virtually no questioning, Kakashi led them towards the southern end of town. As Sasuke walked, he noticed the buildings growing shabbier and shabbier.
"Well," grumbled Naruto. "I guess Tsunade didn't want us being too extravagant."
Kakashi peered over his shoulder, "It's better if we stay here."
Naruto examined the buildings they passed critically, "Can we even fit inside one of these?"
"We'll be sharing rooms," Kakashi answered, nonchalantly.
"WHAT! I'M NOT SHARING A ROOM WITH SASUKE!" yelled Naruto in his most outraged voice.
"You're not."
Naruto let a sigh of relief.
"You're rooming with me."
Naruto's eyes bugged, "I'M ROOMING WITH THE PERVERT JOUNIN!"
Sasuke's eyebrow lifted. If Kakashi and Naruto were rooming together, that left…he avoided looking at the white-eyed Hyuuga on his right. He didn't like being paired with the other boy, but if he protested he'd be stuck with Kakashi. Rooming with a boy who had a crush on you was far better than that.
Kakashi dispassionately at the jumping Naruto, "Calm down. It's late now, so we will go to bed and begin tracking down our friend in the morning."
Sasuke grunted and pushed open the door. The house was remarkably clean for its apparent state of abandonment. After Kakashi told him that he and Neji would be sleeping upstairs, he walked up the wooden stairs to the room. Two cots were pushed up against opposite walls. At least that's something. The floor creaked behind him, and Neji entered, taking stock of the room with his pale eyes. Sasuke threw his bag onto the bed on the right wall. Neji's expression didn't change as he placed his things on the left bed. Sasuke rolled over a thought in his mind, Should I give Neji an ultimatum, "Touch me and die"?
Neji turned over his shoulder, "You don't have to worry. I don't bite."
Sasuke growled under his breath. The boy's ability to predict his thoughts was annoying at best. Without a word, he stalked out, slamming the door behind him and raising a layer of dust.
After dinner (which consisted of chicken, rice, and over ten pounds of ramen Naruto insisted they eat), Kakashi instructed them to go to bed.
"We'll be getting an early start tomorrow. You need your rest."
As they turned to leave, Kakashi said, "Sasuke, stay."
The Uchiha sat back down as Naruto and Neji both left the room.
Kakashi fixed the boy with his one-eyed stare, "Is there something I need to know about?"
Sasuke looked unemotional.
"You and Neji have both been avoiding each other. Why?"
Sasuke looked unemotional.
"Don't let it interfere with this mission, or you will both be demoted," Kakashi warned.
Sasuke looked…unemotional.
"Now, go to bed."
Sasuke turned and walked upstairs. Kakashi rubbed his temples, wondering why on earth he had been given three impossible charges.
Sasuke entered the room quietly and heard Neji's even breathing. He must be asleep. As he turned to unpack his cotton pants and shirt, his eye caught the moon's reflection off Neji's pale skin. The Hyuuga was resting on his pillow, his face framed by the waves of long, black hair that fell over his eyes and forehead. Sasuke paused, before finding himself standing over the sleeping shinobi. Unable to help himself, he reached down and brushed Neji's hair out of his eyes. The boy stirred a bit in sleep but settled down immediately. Sasuke felt his fingers running over Neji's smooth forehead, and his breath started to catch. Could I…like Neji back? Sasuke forced himself to move back to his bed where he lay down. Of course not. I couldn't like him.
He didn't admit that seeing Neji asleep across the room from him created a comforting feeling in his chest as he drifted off to sleep…
Hmm, review and let me know how it was.