Okay, I felt bad leaving you guys with just filler, so here's the latter part of the chapter 10 that I posted first. I think it works better now…it was too rushed before.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Warning: Yaoi, language, and angstiness.

Kurosaisei: Wow, you managed to catch the deleted chapter 10 in the one hour it was up. I'm impressed. Um :lowers voice: is the Sharingan really passed only through the mother? Eep, somehow I missed that…
Hands Down: Glad you like it! Yeah, I thought Naruto would joke about it more than just "AHH!" or "Yum."
Ramen-Ou: Haha, as long as you liked it, short reviews are fine.

Okay, enter the angst…this will probably be a little shorter as I'm trying to get it out before I have to leave.

Chapter 11- "Burgeoning Storm"

A timid knock on the door jarred Sasuke from his sleep. He opened his eyes casually, and waited. The knock sounded again. Muttering curses, he lifted himself from Neji's side and started to walk down the stairs. He slid open the door to reveal Hinata.

"O-ohayo, Sasuke-kun."

Hinata only reverted to stuttering around him for some odd reason. He suspected it had to do with his long rivalry with Naruto, but right now, he was tired and impatient.

"What?"

"Um, i-is Neji-nii-san here?"

"He's asleep."

Hinata looked a little uneasy, "Well, could you tell him Father wants him home immediately?"

"Hai. I'll tell him when he wakes up."

Hinata hesitated before nodding, "Alright. Goodbye, Sasuke-kun."

"Bye."

Sasuke slid the door closed more forcefully than he wanted to. There was just no rest for a shinobi. From one thing to the next without any pause diminished the free time greatly. Sasuke growled before stomping back up the stairs and shaking Neji's shoulder. The Hyuuga glared at him sleepily.

"Hiashi-san wants you home. Now."

Neji's scowl deepened, "Hai. I'll leave immediately."

"You understand, Sasuke, being a jounin is a great responsibility as well as a privilege?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

Tsunade nodded firmly before signing the scroll on her desk, "You will take your jounin exam in two weeks from today."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "Two weeks?"

"Yes. Jounin exams are administered on a case-by-case basis. You will be taking it alone."

"I understand."

"We're very proud of you, Sasuke," Tsunade said, stepping out her formal role for a moment.

"Arigato, Tsunade-sama."

"And we're looking forward to the day you pick a wife, and bring your heirs back into the village."

Sasuke froze, What the hell? Don't try to run my life, Tsunade-sama. I will choose to marry whoever I want, and I won't be put on a timetable. What am I saying? What about…Neji?

"…hai, Tsunade-sama."

The Hokage smiled, statisfied, and waved him out. He bowed and left the Hokage Tower, heading for his home. As he walked, Sasuke felt reality prepare its needle to pop his bubble. His foot throbbed in pain, and that did nothing to raise his spirits. Previously, he had not thought beyond his love for Neji or the comfort he received from his touch. It had felt so good that Sasuke had gone ahead without knowing quite what it meant. Now, in the stillness of the misty morning, Sasuke began to hear a little voice nagging at him.

What will it be like when we get back to Konoha? What will people say? How will our teammates take the news? Especially Sakura and Tenten, they will be upset. Is this just a short-term attraction? Do we really plan to stay together forever? Kakashi-sensei said he was proud of me. He said I was worthy to restore the Uchiha. Tsunade-sama said she wanted me to get married and have heirs. But…if I'm with Neji, I can't bring back my clan. What about the Uchiha? The whole village has been waiting for the rebirth of the clan, and now the last surviving member is gay. If I tell people, they won't believe I'm worthy of the Uchiha name anymore. They will never accept that. Can I accept that? I told Kakashi-sensei my goals were to kill Itachi and to revive my clan. One is taken care of, though not the way I expected, but can I give up the other? Do I love Neji that much? Do I even love him, or am I merely experiencing what most teenagers have experienced: a crush?

Sasuke's mood slipped lower and lower as he thought. He did not know quite what he was dealing with. He had never had serious romantic feelings for anyone before, and now it would affect the rest of his life. It was not until the walls of his house appeared around the corner that Sasuke emerged from his musings. Stopping suddenly, he saw Neji looking impassively at him from his position at the door. He tried to summon a confident air to dispel the other boy's gaze. Even without the Byakugan, Neji was still obviously unconvinced. Sasuke shot him a look that clearly asked for some privacy. Instantly, the Uchiha regretted it. Neji never looked hurt, but the temperature of the air around him dropped several tens of degrees when he was unhappy. At this moment, the temperature around Neji was rapidly approaching absolute zero. Sasuke gritted his teeth and looked away, He's going to have to stop looking at me like that if we're to stay together. His own mind corrected him, He's concerned when he looks like that. Sasuke shook his head minutely; he'd figure out his thoughts on his own, and maybe then he would tell Neji. Maybe.

"How was your meeting with Tsunade-sama?"

"Fine. I'm being tested for jounin in two weeks."

Neji nodded, "Gai-sensei qualified me this morning. That's what Hiashi-sama wanted. I'll be testing in three weeks.

Sasuke nodded shortly and moved past Neji towards the house. Neji watched him flatly. Sasuke turned around, slightly angry…without really knowing why.

Sasuke's flat dark eyes met Neji's hypnotic light ones, "You're looking at me again."

Neji answered in the same flat tone, "You didn't mind yesterday."

"I mind now."

"Then perhaps I should stop."

"Perhaps you should."

Neji's eyes were piercingly cold. Sasuke fought the urge to say something to ease the tension. I am not his plaything! he thought desperately to himself. Without a word, Neji turned and began to walk towards the Hyuuga manor. Sasuke bit his lip angrily, I've got to say something. As he opened his mouth, Neji stopped and turned his head slightly.

"I don't know what changed your mind, but when you do, I'll be waiting."

The Hyuuga began to walk again, leaving a frustrated Uchiha behind him.

Sasuke slid open the door to the Uchiha family house. It was silent as always and darkened. He removed his shoes and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Lighting a candle, he proceeded to the kitchen to make some dinner. Placing the wok on the fire burning on the stove, Sasuke poured just a touch of rice oil in the pan and began to swirl it around. He was reminded of the lesson last night. Neji's arms around him, the warmth and comfort he felt…. His brain was a foggy mess (with a practical IQ roughly equivalent to a wet cotton ball). Why did I let Neji go? Why didn't I go after him? Have I lost my mind? Did I forget that fast? What on earth am I thinking? What the hell is wrong with me? A sudden whoosh of flame spurting upwards brought Sasuke back to the present. Dropping the pan of flaming rice oil, he formed a quick seal and blew dirt over the flame to smother it. Sighing, he lifted the pan and dumped the dirt outside before drawing water to clean the pan. I've become like those stupid lovestruck girls. Damn it. I have to go talk to him. Leaving the pan on the table, Sasuke grabbed his coat and exited the house, slipping into his shoes on the way out. He took a deep breath, So what do I say? I am afraid of what people will think? Screw that, I don't give a damn what they think. Okay, so I do care what people think. The whole village will be in an uproar if I turn gay. There's a thought, "Neji, I can't be with you because I'm freaked out that the village will label me missing nin for not reviving the Uchiha clan." Right, there's a good line. "Neji, I can't be with you because I need to revive my clan…and you're a guy." What, am I suddenly 12 again?

"S-Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke jerked a bit, looking up a bit unsettled. He had been so wrapped up in his own thoughts, he had not seen Hinata standing at the Hyuuga gate. He set his face in a scowl to hide his surprise, Damn, I'm getting soft.

"Nani?"

She swallowed a little, "D-do you want to see Neji-nii-san?"

Sasuke growled, making her jump a little, "Did he send you out here?"

Hesitating for a moment, she shook her head, "No, I w-was just waiting for Naruto-kun."

He brushed past her, ignoring her startled retreat from his presence. Knocking on the door, he watched as it slid open to reveal Hinata's younger sister, Hanabi.

"Konnichiwa, Sasuke-san. Are you looking for Neji-nii-san?"

Sasuke tried his best not to growl, "Hai."

"Please wait here…I will get him."

She turned and scurried off, presumably in search of the Hyuuga branch member. Sasuke leaned against the doorpost, trying to figure out why their assumptions that he was looking for Neji irritated him. After all, he'd certainly not be looking for Hinata or Hanabi. I don't want to be equated with someone. It can't be "Oh, Sasuke. You must be looking for Neji." I won't be linked like that.

"Konnichiwa, Sasuke."

Sasuke lifted his eyes to see Neji standing coolly in the doorway, "Konnichiwa, Neji. We need to talk."

Neji nodded and stepped outside, slipping on a pair of shoes. He and Sasuke started to walk…out, just some place where they could talk. They were silent for a while, Sasuke trying to think of the proper way to open the conversation, and Neji waiting for Sasuke. When they reached the deserted training grounds, Sasuke turned to face Neji.

"Neji, we both know this is not going to work."

Neji stayed silent, watching Sasuke as he took a breath.

"Neji, the village expects me to revive my clan. I am the last Uchiha; it is my duty. I don't have a say in this."

"And if you did…?"

"It's of no use to speculate."

Neji fixed his pale eyes on Sasuke's dark ones, "Sasuke, what is really wrong?"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "You don't believe me? Well, that is a good start to a relationship."

"It is. I don't believe you when you lie to me."

"I didn't lie."

"You said you had no say in this."

"What about your precious fate and destiny?"

"My former apathetic foolishness should warn you, not encourage you. Fate and destiny make way for those who make their own. You have no say because you want to have no say. You want to blame it on something above your control. I have seen this before, Sasuke."

Sasuke growled, "Who are you to tell me what I want?"

"One who has been where you stand…and one who loves you."

Sasuke felt at least part of his anger drain, "If you love me, why are you fighting me?"

"We fight for those we love. Sasuke, you are going to have to choose. But whatever you choose, it is your choice, not one forced on you by the village or by me."

Neji's voice was a touch sad for the first time in Sasuke's memory, "Sasuke, just…remember I will always love you. No matter what you choose."

Sasuke felt the stab of pain through his heart. Neji truly cared for him; he cared so much he was willing to give him up to make him happy. Sasuke moved closer to the Hyuuga and slid his arms around his waist.

Leaning his head on Neji's shoulder, Sasuke whispered, "Arigato, Neji-kun."

Neji encircled the younger boy with his arms and held him close. The two boys stayed motionless there for several moments. For just a short while, they rested with each other. All too soon, Neji released his hold on Sasuke and stepped out of the boy's embrace. Lifting a hand, the Hyuuga ran it down Sasuke's jawline before using his fingers to pull his chin forward for a kiss. It was soft and gentle, one of reassurance rather than desire. Neji released Sasuke's lips slowly.

Neji brushed his lips over Sasuke's cheek, "Remember I love you…no matter what."

As the Hyuuga turned toward Konoha and began to walk, his single, whispered word floated back to Sasuke's ears.

"Choose."

I was trying to pull off inner conflict of duty vs. love. I don't know how well I did that. Hopefully, you guys liked the old chapter 9 or the old/new chapter 10(which is now this chapter). This is pretty much identical, with a new introduction. See you all when I get back! (That's July 2, by the way!) Sayounara!