Here's Chapter 2! It starts off from after Gaara walks inside, so it's Sunday night.

Enjoy!


Gaara kicked the door to his room shut, hardly caring if he woke up every person in the house. He sat on his bed and pulled out a rectangular frame from beneath his pillow. Running his fingers over the glass, he stared at the photograph mournfully.

"Why did you have to go?" His hand tightened around the sheets of his bed. "Everything could have been different..."

"Gaara?" Temari's voice boomed through his door.

Scowling, he returned the picture to its spot just as his sibling entered the room.

"What do you want? I was getting ready to go to sleep."

She gave him a skeptical look, arms crossed before her chest. "I'm sure. Where have you been all day?"

"I was at the park, not that it's any of your business." His sister's expression relaxed and she took a step towards him.

"Gaara, when are you going to stop sulking and get over it? You can't stay this way forever."

"Shut up! Not everyone is a cold-hearted bitch like you, Temari." Well, that struck a nerve. Giving him a sour look, Temari said nothing as she turned and left.

Gaara waited until he heard her own door slam shut before he pushed up the window beside his bed and crawled out onto the roof. It was his favorite spot, where no one could bother him. He would gaze at the stars all night, sometimes thinking and sometimes just enjoying the cool night air. Lying back, he tucked his hands behind his head and settled his eyes on the billions of twinkling lights.


Kurenai clicked her tongue as Neji walked into class early. He probably wanted to stop tutoring. When he approached the desk, she eyed him warily and set down her pen. "What is it?"

The Hyūga hesitated, his colorless eyes darting uncertainly to the ceiling. Kurenai raised a brow. She had never seen the pale boy so nervous before. "Nothing. Good afternoon, Kurenai-sensei." He gave her a curt nod, not daring to meet her eyes as he moved to sit at his table.

Nothing? Neji closed his eyes as the other students began to file into the classroom. Had he really just agreed to continue tutoring Gaara? Deciding to think about the situation rationally, he began forming a list in his head.

1.) I want to tutor Gaara. Note the emphasis on 'want'.

2.) .. #1 is bad enough!

He groaned, dropping his head into his hands just as Tenten sat beside him. "Rough weekend?"

Neji lifted his head, and her chocolate brown eyes widened. "Whoa! I was just asking, you don't have to look at me like that.." When his head drooped back down, she patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"Was he really that bad?"

Neji sighed. "Yes. And no." She gave him a puzzled look, but before she could say anything else, Kurenai took her place at the center of the room and the class began.

XXX

The Hyūga remained irritated throughout the rest of whole class. He wasn't paying attention, no. Tenten would willingly lend him her notes, anyway. He was too preoccupied trying to think up an excuse that would justify the thoughts swimming around in his head.

Finally, before the last bell of the day rang, he had a revelation. He had told Gaara that he wouldn't be able to come today, right? Technically, that was implying that he would be coming again. And he couldn't just lie, now could he? Nodding in approval at his (rather lame) explanation, Neji exhaled deeply in relief. He didn't really want to tutor, he was simply fulfilling his promise.

..Right.


Gaara frowned when his doorbell rang two weeks later. Neji came over every goddamn day (or so it seemed), and he was getting tired of it.. That's what he told himself, at least.

Upon walking down the stairs, he froze, finding his tutor talking rather animatedly to his brother. Scowling, he crossed his arms and coughed loudly. After a minute or two, Kankuro glanced over and narrowed his eyes. He muttered something to Neji, then grabbed his keys and walked out of the door in one fluid motion. He must have been getting ready to leave for work when Neji had arrived.

Once his sibling disappeared, Gaara turned to face the older boy before him. "What the hell was that?" He didn't notice the red object in the other's hand.

Neji raised a brow at the redhead's smoldering expression. "What are you talking about?"

"Why were you talking to my brother?" His eyes darkened. "I told you not to get involved with me. That includes my family, too!"

"What the hell? I come by to bring you soup," Neji waved the thermos in the air. "And this is how you show your appreciation?"

Gaara paused for a moment, but quickly regained his composure. "Why would I want your soup in the first place? You're a tutor, not a nurse. You probably poisoned it, or mixed rat blood into it."

Neji stared at him in disbelief. "Are you LISTENING to yourself? Why would I do something like that?"

"Because you're nuts, why else!"

"Oh yeah, I'm the crazy one." He replied sarcastically. Gaara narrowed his eyes so much that they hardly looked open, and Neji rolled his own. What the heck was his problem today?

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What do you think it's supposed to mean? You're-" Neji paused mid-sentence when the other boy blanched, grabbing the railing of the stairs behind him. "Hey, are you o- OOF!"

XXX

Gaara's eyes flickered open, closed, and opened again. His head was throbbing. What had happened? He started to sit up, but was promptly pushed back down.

"Don't get up yet. You'll pass out again." Again? He blinked a few times, his vision slowly coming into focus. Neji was seated beside of him on the couch in his living room.

"What happened?" Reaching up, he felt a damp cloth on his forehead and peeled it off.

"Well, you fainted, but somehow still managed to attack me," The brunette replied, pointing to his bruising forehead. Gaara felt his head again and found a similar injury. He must've collided right into him.

"You're exhausted," Neji continued. "I suppose I haven't been letting you rest enough. You need to stay in bed for a few days."

"What are you, a doctor?" Gaara shifted to sit up again, his voice a little bitter. He had not only fainted, but had seemingly fallen into the very person he was arguing with. How humiliating.

"Not yet." Neji gave him a small smile before standing, taking the cloth that had been carelessly thrown aside and placing it neatly on the coffee table.

"Do you think you can walk upstairs?" Gaara sneered at the question, standing up and teeter-tottering for a moment. The action had left him feeling extremely lightheaded.

Neji snaked an arm around the smaller boy, laughing softly. "Whoa, are you alright? You look kind of pale again.." He pushed back the hair that had been sticking to Gaara's wet forehead, afterwards feeling for a temperature. He withdrew his hand when Gaara slumped against him and mumbled something incoherent.

"What was that?" He frowned when the redhead's eyes slid shut, sighing as he hoisted him into his arms and carried him up the stairs.

"I should be getting paid for this.."

XXX

Soon, Gaara was neatly tucked in bed and Neji was sitting impatiently in a chair beside him. He had already shaken the boy several times, poured cold water on his head, and had even slapped him across the face. Well, maybe it was more of a light pat, but still. He would not wake up.

Sighing, Neji leaned over and watched the unconscious figure below him. He looked so.. vulnerable,his lips slightly parted and a faint flush tinting his cheeks. Neji ran his fingers over the crimson tattoo that marred the younger boy's forehead. What was it supposed to mean? He'd noticed it before, but had never quite thought about it until now.

He didn't notice when Gaara's eyes opened and watched his every move. Nor did he notice that Gaara's breath hitched when he brushed his thumb across the kanji.

Gaara eventually grabbed Neji's wrist, yanking it away. "What are you doing?" Alarmed, the brunette stood and walked backwards, accidentally knocking over the chair. "Wh-what? When did you wake up?" Gaara rolled his eyes and sat up, rubbing his forehead and absently wondering why his hair was soaking wet. "Just now." He paused, frowning. "Did I pass out again?"

Neji took a deep, calming breath before nodding. "Y-yeah.. You shouldn't have stood up so fast." He rubbed the back of his neck, picking up the fallen chair. "Are you alright now?"

"Fine, fine." He waved his hand dismissively in the air and settled back against his pillows. "Are you going to stay and bug me all day, or are you actually going to let me rest?"

"Oh, uh.. I guess I'll just leave, then," Neji said awkwardly, heading for the door. "Don't get out of bed!" He called as he walked out, scurrying down the stairs before Gaara could object.

XXX

The front door closed, keys rattled, and feet shuffled against the floor. Gaara sat up in bed, swinging his legs over the side. Kankuro was home.

When the footsteps resounded against the wooden floor outside his door, Gaara got up and opened the door to face his brother's retreating back. "Kankuro?"

Kankuro stopped, but didn't turn around. "What do you want?"

"What were you talking to Neji about earlier?"

"Eh? Oh.. He was asking if you were allergic to anything because of a soup he made or something." He shrugged his shoulders, going into his room when the younger of the two said nothing else.

Gaara leaned against the frame of his door and closed his eyes. He'd gotten all worked up because Neji was trying to make sure he didn't accidentally kill him? The redhead banged his head against the woodwork before turning back into his room.

"I'm such an idiot."


"Now who's here? I swear, if that Naruto rings the doorbell one more time..!" Temari pulled open the door, pausing when she realized it was Neji, and not Naruto before her. Nonetheless, her expression darkened. "YOU!"

Neji stumbled backwards in bewilderment, putting up his hands in defense. "Wha?"

"Who do you think you are, coming here after confining my little brother to bed? I'll have you know that I'm the one stuck taking care of him, meaning I have to put up with his constant whining and bickering! So what do you want, huh? HUH?"

Neji stood frozen with his mouth agape, either paralyzed with fear or trying not to wet his pants.

"I-I.."

"You what? SPEAK UP, YOU LITTLE-"

"Temari!" Gaara appeared behind her, arms crossed over his chest. "What the hell are you doing?"

Said blonde jumped, whipping around and giving him an innocent look. "Gaara, I was just-"

"Shut up." He shot her a glare, making her hands fly up much like Neji's previously had. "I don't need you to baby-sit me. You're just using it as an excuse to get out of work." Temari inched backwards nervously. "Really, Gaara, that's not what I'm doing.."

"Just go away." She sighed and walked off down the hall, leaving Gaara to face the still rather shaken Neji.

"Sorry about that." Neji shook his head quickly, stepping forward after realizing he'd still been rooted to the same spot.

"Oh, ah, that's fine.. I- wait, why are you out of bed?"

Gaara shrugged casually. "I heard the doorbell ring and came downstairs before Temari could scare you any more than she already did." Walking out onto the porch, he looked the brunette over with a frown. "What're you doing here, anyway?"

"I wanted to make sure you were doing okay," Neji admitted. Gaara smirked and shut the door to the house. "Worried about me, huh?"

Neji snorted, looking away. "I wouldn't call it worried.."

"Sure, whatever." Gaara sat down on the steps, rolling his eyes at Neji's expectant look. "What?"

"Well? Are you feeling better?"

"Does it look like I'm going to drop down dead any time soon?"

"No.. unfortunately," He mumbled.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing.. Nothing at all."


Ta-da! Sorry this chapter is a bit short, but it's better than nothing! .. Right?

Well, thanks for all of your reviews! Oh, especially Naitachal666! Your flame was very appropriate, indeed. Oh, and the man with the toothbrush was supposed to be their father, but I could have made that a bit more clear.. heh.

Another thing: If you're wondering, Neji's forehead is tattoo/seal-free. The whole head family/branch family thing doesn't go into play with this story, so it wouldn't really fit to have him randomly tattooed.

Thursday starts my summer break, so expect updates to come more frequently.

Please review!