When his eyes opened, he was greeted with intense sunlight. While others may have been disoriented or annoyed by the bright light, the warmth of the sun seeped into his skin and felt like a warm blanket, providing comfort from Seth's always constant presence. Heat had always put Seth in a better mood, but this was different. Seth was home in his domain. His presence was stronger than before, but it wasn't affecting Gaara. The scent of incense was strong, relaxing Gaara's muscles to the point sitting up was a struggle, feeling uncoordinated. Just like with the heat, the incense's effect was multiplied.

"Sit still. You haven't recovered yet," the familiar business voice filled the otherwise silent room somewhere off to Gaara's right.

Gaara ignored the command, propping himself against the pillows, falling back heavily against them when his head began to spin. "Get that stuff out of here," Gaara mumbled, trying to find his bearings.

"No," Kankuro replied.

Gaara sent a weak glare to his brother who was sitting in a chair in a corner, book in his hand. He was unable to read the cover as Kankuro closed it and placed it in his lap. "The doctor said you were severely sleep-deprived and malnutritioned. Since Seth was keeping you from sleeping we decided to calm him down."

Without warning, Gaara swiped the incense off the nightstand, the porcelain bowl shattering on the floor. Silence filled the room again, dragging out to an uncomfortable degree.

"Did you have to do that," Kankuro asked annoyance filling his tone. He sounded like a CEO having to deal with a problematic client, barely keeping himself from lashing out. It was probably how Kankuro saw him really. A responsibility he had to deal with as the next head of the medjay.

"I may be here, but it doesn't mean I will let you sedate me," Gaara responded. He stared blankly ahead. "Even if it means another cage."

"Cages costs too much money, and I'm spending too much as it is." Kankuro stood from the uncomfortable looking wooden chair, collecting the book and laptop located next to a bowl of water with a washrag on its rim. Another towel lay beside it, covered in dried blood. "If you can, stay out of trouble."

Kankuro's dress shoes clacked on the wooden floor, and Gaara listened, hearing the door open. "When is Father coming?"

Kankuro's footsteps stopped, and he turned to Gaara. "He's not. We've been on bad terms these days," he informed him casually as if it was old news he could not care less about. "Father thought he could minimize my standing authority. Until he signs the contract I sent him, he's not allowed anywhere near the premise."

The news did take Gaara by surprise. Kankuro had been extremely obedient to their father, at least, that's what he had heard over the years. Playing a power move against their father was risky, and he did respect Kankuro for it, but past that, he found he cared little about the medjay's inner conflicts.

"Don't cause me more trouble and stay put. I don't need any more headaches."

Gaara continued looking into the empty space in front of him long after Kankuro left him. So this was his new prison. It wasn't bad. It had a lot of windows for him to look out and a lot of light.

This was the best outcome coming back home, out of the hands of his father. Yet, there was no feeling of relief or happiness. He just felt empty. His self given purpose was now gone.

Seth stirred at his thoughts. The incense was still in effect, but Seth was never one to let weakness go by him. Seth's presence wrapped around him, feeling like a suffocating hug. A part of Gaara wanted to give into it. There was no reason to stop him. The medjay could use a bit of chaos after everything they had done, but he would be letting Uzumaki down if he did.

Seth's presence released his hold just enough for Gaara to breathe once again, but Seth was waiting. Waiting for Gaara to weaken again.

He closed his eyes. He wouldn't be able to sleep, not with Seth waiting to grab hold again. He had no will to move. There was no more school. No café full of pastries. No more Uzumaki or Hyuuga.

He breathed in slowly and deeply.

Wasting away here was a better end than he could have hoped for.


Neji had never been far from the island, let alone have the chance to leave outside Japan. When coming face to face with Uchiha's private plane, he thought he'd have more of a reaction than he did. Uchiha looked around Neji's age, had a private plane on the mainland that belong to him, and was a vampire. Neji had barely blinked at that information. His mind could only take so many shocks in a week and the new information just didn't make the cut.

Once boarded, Neji was seated next to Uzumaki. It occurred to Neji, as he took his seat, that he had never been next to Uzumaki without insulting him. Uzumaki had been extremely quiet since they met up, barely saying a word to him and only a few to Uchiha. He supposed Uzumaki was just as worried for Gaara as he was. Neji was already accused of being the cause of Gaara's disappearance, and Neji had not been able to refute the claim. The knowledge of that dragged Neji's momentum down. What if Gaara didn't want to accept his apology? What then?

Since Neji had made it his mission over the years to ridicule, rile, and antagonize Uzumaki, there was no reason for Uzumaki to approach him first, offering a cold rag to put on his cheek. Neji looked between Uzumaki and the rag, then took the rag with a small, mumbled thank you. He had forgotten the constant sting of the injury that had swelled and made it tender to the touch. Uzumaki didn't look at him the entire time, but Neji did look at him.

What Neji knew about Uzumaki was little. He knew the rumors and the brief interactions he had with him but knew nothing about Uzumaki himself. All he knew was that the bond between Gaara and Uzumaki was strong. Gaara protected him, stood up for him, and dreamt of him, and now Uzumaki was going halfway across the world to find him. Uzumaki's face, contorted with worry and anxiety, never once letting Neji think that Uzumaki was doing this for himself. Neji was both grateful and jealous of that bond. Uzumaki must have known what Gaara was, yet Uzumaki didn't have a single ounce of fear being around Gaara. He wanted that with Gaara, but he couldn't shake off the fear completely.

Trying to keep his mind off their inevitable confrontation, Neji spent the 12-hour flight studying Arabic. Anything to get on Gaara's good side he wanted to do if it gave him just a bit of an edge in his apology. With just his phone and a pair of headphones, he read through a fundamental's textbook online. It was the first of three fundamental textbooks, an equivalent of a semester of the language at the university in Beppu. While the basic grammar seemed simple enough, he could only memorize so many words in a short period of time. It felt like cramming a semester's worth of material the night before the test after skipping most of the classes. It was doable, but he was unlikely to retain most of it after a day or so.

As the plane began to descend, Neji's heartbeat quickened, realizing that this was it. He would be meeting Gaara soon.

Stepping outside the plane, Neji was hit with intense, dry heat even though the sun had set hours ago already. There was sand as far as he could see and there didn't seem to be anything else nearby. Even the airport itself seemed privately owned. Any other time, Neji would have asked questions, but as soon as they disembarked the plane, they were ushered into a car that was waiting for them.

He had to wonder how much influence Uchiha had to arrange a plane and a car on such short notice. Neji sat in the front seat when Uchiha climbed into the back first. While he was aware Uchiha was doing a lot for him, he could not shake the predatory feeling that wafted off Uchiha.

He went over things in his head over and over again, concerned with making a good impression. It was a good decision because the ride was another hour. By the time they even reached their destination, his legs had fallen asleep. The unpleasant tingling in his legs made him move awkwardly when he finally had a chance to stand. Flexing his toes, he tried to get the blood flowing once again, taking in the sight of the property. It wasn't anything he'd ever seen. Most of the larger houses on the island were traditional Japanese houses. The western-style houses that did exist were either more modest or like Uchiha's, older architecture. Nothing was close to being this modern or contemporary.

Uzumaki pulled out a bag he had taken with them and handed Neji's school bag to him. The moment they had all their belongings, the driver bid farewell and left them there.

Uzumaki appeared comfortable with that turn of events, walking up to the front door without waiting for Neji. Neji was still having second thoughts. Having come this far, he would have thought his nervousness would at least become more manageable. Instead, it had grown to where a lump had formed in his throat. His legs didn't want to move towards the door, his hands were sweaty, and his knees were shaking.

How pathetic was he? To come so far and still have thoughts of turning back? He hated himself for it.

Lips thinning, he forced himself to take the first step. His hand in his pocket, rubbing the key between his fingers. He could do this, he told himself. He needed to do this.

Uzumaki had taken the initiative, pressing the doorbell before Neji had approached the front door. He had just made it when the door opened, revealing the man who had come into Gaara's apartment before. The one Gaara had claimed was a relative. The man looked over first Uzumaki, his lips down turning just at the corners, then frowned even more when the man turned his eyes on him. It was not subtle. The man was disapproving of both of them.

The man spoke in Arabic, quickly and coldly. Struggling with only the quick self-study to aid him, Neji managed to make out the sentence, "What do you want?"

"My name is Neji Hyuuga. We came to see Gaara. Does he live here?" Neji's words sounded rehearsed and clumsy. Combine with his accent, he wasn't sure if anything he said got through. The man's eyes grew colder, leaving Neji to wonder if he had messed up somehow or if they had come to the wrong house.

"Gaara!" He turned his head to yell, opening the door further to allow them inside. The man escorted them no further than the foyer, letting them wait. The man kept watching them as they waited, making Neji hot underneath the collar with the constant surveillance. It took everything under his power not to fidget. He should just focus on what to say to Gaara. He had been rehearsing what he wanted to say, and he prayed it would be enough.

The soft, groggy voice came from the second floor that overlooked the foyer down below. "What?"

Neji's heart stopped and his hands were cold and clammy. His head shot up to catch a glimpse of the voice's owner, holding his breath.

Gaara came into view, looking over the railing. He looked like he had rolled out of bed. His hair was a mess and his clothes were wrinkled. Gaara caught sight of them. It was just a second. Gaara's eyes showed fear at seeing them. "Why are they here?"

The man responded to Gaara's question, Neji's understanding too limited to understand the response. The man appeared irritated, and whatever the answer was, it led to the man leaving them, exiting the house.

"Forgive my brother, he's not fond of strangers." Gaara's eyes landed on Neji then looked away, his shoulder's sagging. "What are you doing here?" he asked, sounding exhausted.

"What do you mean, 'what are we doing here?' You just upped and left school without telling anyone," Uzumaki said with irritation.

Gaara let a small sigh slip. Then for no reason, Gaara jumped over the banister, landing gracefully in front of them. Neji took a step back. Not on purpose, just out of instinct from the sudden movement. He regretted doing so. His movement didn't escape Gaara's attention.

"I felt it was best to return to my home country." In contrast to Gaara's ability he just demonstrated, he moved with weak and lethargic movements, waving them further inside. "I'll assume you have no place to stay. You can stay for the rest of the night, but I expect you to leave in the morning."

"Gaara," Uzumaki yanked Gaara back, forcing Gaara to look at him. "What's going on? I didn't fly to who knows where for no reason." Gently, he added, "You know you can tell me anything."

Gaara and Uzumaki shared a look between them. Gaara looked away first, brushing Uzumaki's hand away. "I'm sure you're hungry," he deflected. "There should be some leftovers in the fridge."

Uzumaki had a look of dejection. If Gaara treated Uzumaki like that, then what chance did Neji have? His chances were not looking promising, especially when there was an uncomfortable silence that settled over them when they were led and seated at the counter in the kitchen. Well, Neji and Uzumaki took a seat while Uchiha stayed standing near the door. Gaara moved around the kitchen, fishing around in the fridge.

"So… you're Middle Eastern," Uzumaki asked. Uzumaki didn't seem to notice the way Gaara tensed, but Neji did. He prayed for Uzumaki to take notice, but the idiot kept prying. "Are you Muslim?"

Neji did shoot him a glare that time. He was going to make Gaara shut down and that was the last thing he needed.

"I'm an atheist." Gaara's tone stopped the flow of conversation, and he closed the refrigerator harder than he needed to. He warmed some food for them, watching the microwave as he waited.

Gaara had closed up. Neji's chance to speak to Gaara was looking slim with Uzumaki's interference. It wasn't a conversation he could have in front of Uzumaki in the first place. He would have to wait until after he managed to get Gaara alone; however, if Uzumaki continued to make Gaara close off, he would have no chance.

Gaara placed a plate in front of them, calling it shawarma. Not wanting to be rude, Neji ate it, not thinking much about the taste and observing the situation. Then things became weird. Uzumaki started narrating.

It came out of the blue, flowery language rolling from his mouth in a beautiful soliloquy of a tragic tale of a soldier's one-sided love and obsession for his mistress. It was entrancing and eloquent. It didn't match the Uzumaki Neji knew.

Gaara's reaction though was more of interest to Neji. Gaara listened with his undivided attention. Before his eyes, he watched Gaara relax, his guard going down bit by bit during the story, enraptured by Uzumaki's voice, hanging on Uzumaki's words. His expression softened. It was gentler and brighter, and he gave Uzumaki an expression Neji had never seen on Gaara. Neji's heart clenched as he looked between the two, both in their own world.

How? How did Uzumaki get Gaara to make that face? What exactly was between those two and more importantly, why did he care?

Uzumaki laughed uncomfortably, cutting off his story abruptly, embarrassed apologizing for it not being one of his better stories.

Gaara's small smile lit up his face, and he chuckled softly. "Did you just make that one up?"

Uzumaki nodded, poking at the food in front of him. "I just thought that maybe… you're always reading so… sorry if it wasn't any good.

"No, it's quite like you," Gaara replied. While Uzumaki beamed, Gaara watched his friend with sad eyes. Gaara was never so expressive. Not at school and never in front of Neji. Had Gaara always been like this in private with Uzumaki?

Neji placed his utensils down, no longer feeling hungry.

"It's weird. It felt kind of nostalgic somehow. Maybe we met in another life or something."

It was an off-handed comment from Uzumaki. It was obvious he didn't mean anything about it, but Gaara looked away guiltily. Gaara's actions showed the rift between Uzumaki and himself. It was a distance Neji had noticed briefly before, but this time, with Gaara's sharp change in his mood and actions, it was spotlighted.

Uzumaki noticed as well. His smile became strained as he tried to add lightly, "This is the part where you tell me it's part of my imagination and that I should be eating rather than talking."

Gaara obliged him, following his direction to the letter. "You're imagining things. Shut up and eat."

Uzumaki struggled to pretend that it didn't bother him. Even Neji felt uncomfortable for Uzumaki.

"Can I offer you something, Uchiha? I'm sure I have something that runs along your taste." Gaara diverted his attention to the quiet vampire.

Walking casually to the counter, Uchiha smiled politely. "Don't trouble yourself, Gaara-san. Don't bleed anyone out for my account. I wouldn't want to unnerve the children with my eating habits." Uchiha's eyes flicked over to Neji as he said it, making it sound like a jab.

Uchiha's stare made Neji scoot discretely away from Uchiha which again was at the wrong time as Gaara had looked over at him at that moment as well.

"Why bother pretending to hide something you obviously don't want hidden," Gaara said.

Uzumaki's eyes widened. "Wait! How do you know about him?" he interjected, distressed.

"Saigo," Gaara replied. It was a lie, Neji noted.

Dinner didn't last long after that. Gaara told them to leave the dishes and showed them to the second floor to their bedrooms. There were just enough bedrooms for each person to get their own. Neji's room was across from Uzumaki's, and Neji noted where all the rooms were. Gaara never mentioned which room was his, so Neji was trying to narrow it down by process of elimination.

He wondered if Gaara didn't tell him on purpose. The thought stayed with him as he waited near the door, listening for when Gaara finished escorting everyone to their room. He strained to hear movement as he peered through the crack in the door.

Finally, he saw Gaara step out of a room, closing the door behind him. Gaara exhaled sharply. He had a combination of guilt and grief, and he rubbed his hand over his face. With another exhale, he walked out of sight and into another room in the hall. Neji slipped out of the room. He didn't see anyone else in the hall. Uzumaki and Uchiha seemed to be in their rooms. It was the perfect chance to talk to Gaara alone.

There were two doors he hadn't been able to see from his room. The first one, he discovered was the bathroom. That left the other which had to be Gaara's room.

He stood in front of the door for an extended point of time. Raising his hand to knock then losing courage, wringing his hands and putting them in his pockets. "This is ridiculous." He whispered to himself. Determined he knocked on the door.

"Enter," Gaara responded tiredly.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door.

Seeing Gaara, sitting on his bed, looking up under his bangs at Gaara with those green eyes, Neji forgot to breathe. The same predatory feeling he got when he was beside Uchiha was in those eyes, and it froze him on the spot until Gaara looked away, closing them. Gaara's breath was shallow, and his fists clenched the blanket pooled in his lap. "Why are you here?" Gaara asked. He spoke through clench teeth as if he was in pain, trying not to breathe.

Neji had to struggle not to avert his gaze. A part of him wanted to go to Gaara who was obviously in pain. If it was emotional or physical, he didn't know, but he didn't like it. The other part was still afraid of that predatory gaze, remembering the dead man in the park.

Unfortunately, the words he had rehearsed so many times in his head had vanished upon being face to face with Gaara. He scrambled to recall what he wanted to say, what explanation he had, or what he wanted to apologize for.

"If you're so afraid of me, you should go home." Gaara turned his body towards the large windows, staring at his reflection.

"I'm not afraid," Neji shot back.

Gaara slowly turned, getting out of bed. Neji felt the urge to take a step back now that Gaara was staring at him again. He swallowed hard and stood his ground even as Gaara approached. "You know, vampires can smell when their prey is scared." Gaara's eyes flashed golden brown, sending a shiver down Neji's spine. "You smell so sweet it's hard to control myself."

"I know what you're trying to do," Neji puffed out his chest. His voice shook with a small vibrato at the end that he tried to pretend didn't happen. He needed to prove Gaara wrong, but the way Gaara was staring at him was making him nervous and hot under the collar, but if he backed down now, he would never be able to do this again. "You're trying to scare me away. It won't work this time."

"Won't it?" Gaara asked approaching. Gaara's movements weren't completely human. He was moving too gracefully, his footsteps silent like he was planning to stalk around Neji. Every instinct as a martial artist was telling him Gaara was not an opponent he could win against. He should retreat was what it was telling him. "Your heart is beating out of control, and your adrenaline is through the roof." Gaara stopped in front of him. "If you're going to stake me, make it quick. Otherwise, leave."

Up close, Neji could see how sickly Gaara was. He looked fragile. It didn't keep Neji from being intimidated, but it reminded him why he came all this way in the first place. "It was wrong of me to try to kill you. I wanted to apologize."

Gaara took a step back, putting some distance between them again. "I don't need your apologies. It's not like I left because of you. I left because I was tired of Japan, that's it."

Gaara was trying to act tough, but he kept his eyes down and his shoulders curled in just slightly. The muscles in his arms and torso were tense and he was on the defensive.

"You're lying," Neji proclaimed with certainty.

"Am I?" He countered back a growl in his voice. "You know nothing about me. You don't know how dangerous I am or how tempting you," Gaara's eyes were steadily turning golden-brown and staying that way. The longer it held the more it felt like Neji was staring into an animal's eyes. "I could rip you open with little effort. No one here would help you."

Neji's mouth went dry. Gaara could certainly do that. He found it hard to swallow, but responded anyway, his voice cracking at first. "That is true," he replied humbly, "I don't know you well." It was a small blow to his pride, but he switched to keigo, the humble and respectful form of Japanese, lowering himself to Gaara. He didn't want to be seen as a threat. He didn't want Gaara to think his apology was a joke or something to make himself feel better. He truly wanted to help Gaara. Even as using it rubbed him the wrong way, reminding him of his uncle when he spoke that way, he wanted to get his feelings across.

"I know that you are something called a host, but I do not know what it means or what hardships you must have to go through because of it. I can only imagine how difficult it is for you. However, I do not think you can imply you are a complete stranger to me either. I know that you have trouble sleeping and that you enjoy watching the sunset. I also know you help those in need without asking for anything in return, and when you said you contemplate killing yourself, I know you had meant it."

Neji got onto his knees and put his forehead to the floor. "I am sorry. I can only beg for your forgiveness."

He couldn't see what Gaara was doing only hear him shift. Neji didn't move. He stayed on the ground, not raising his head until he could hear Gaara's response.

He heard Gaara sigh then grumbled, "Humility doesn't fit you." Gaara turned his back to him and taking a few more steps away. "If I forgive you, will you stop?"

"Yes," Neji said, returning to a less formal speech but not quite informal just yet. He raised his head. Gaara was now standing beside his bed, a hand rubbing his face. Neji sat on his heels but didn't stand. He contemplated asking his next question, unsure of where he stood with Gaara. "Have you been sleeping well?"

Gaara froze at his question, and it looked like he stopped breathing too. "You should go to bed. You have an early morning," he responded.

Neji clenched his jaw, going into thought. He got what he came for, but he didn't want it to end. It didn't feel like enough. Just gaining forgiveness wasn't enough. "Could you give me a number for a hotel or hostel in the area?"

Gaara head jerked towards him, suspicion in his eyes. "Why would you need a hotel?"

Neji kept his head down, but he answered unashamed. "I used martial arts against orders, evaded my uncle's guards, and left the country with a vampire to find you. You think my uncle will let that go?" Saying his situation out loud, the reality of how bad things had become for him made him let out a short laugh. "My uncle never thought of me as one of the family anyway. I'm just leaving the clan a little earlier than expected. That's all."

Gaara's expression stoic, staring not at Neji's face but just to the right of it. Breathing out hard, Gaara turned his back to him one last time. "You can stay here," he said in a quiet tone. "But only for a little while."

"Are you sure? I don't want to intrude more than I already—"

"Don't push your luck. Get out," Gaara was already getting back in bed.

Neji quickly got onto his feet and bowed deeply again, giving his thanks which Gaara ignored. After one last lingering gaze on Gaara, he left Gaara's room.

His apology couldn't have gone any better and he felt light after Gaara agreed to let him stay. Honestly, he hadn't thought much about what he was going to do and the consequences of leaving as he had. He had just been looking for a way not to leave. Even after everything, Gaara was still willing to help him. He had to find a way to return the favor.

Neji entered his room, thinking of ways he could help. His room was of modest size and set up like a guest room, impersonal and minimally decorated. He collapsed onto the bed face down. The several days of lack of sleep was catching up to him, and now that a major weight was off his shoulders, slumber was calling him, pulling him gently under.

What was it like not to be able to sleep peacefully? To suffer nightmares every night? To always be exhausted?

He thought about Gaara's sleeping face, calm and peaceful snuggled beside him. He smiled at the memory just as he finally fell into a deep sleep.


Uzumaki always did the unexpected. When Gaara had left, he never imagined Uzumaki would come all the way here to find him. He was afraid that he had finally remembered the past. Uzumaki did not remember, but he was remembering. He didn't have concrete evidence, but Uzumaki's soliloquy and questions in the kitchen was triggering feelings. Even knowing that Uchiha's involvement in Uzumaki's life was influencing the memories to come forward, he still couldn't bring himself to tell Uzumaki. There was still a chance that he wouldn't remember, and he clung onto that hope as he left Uzumaki in that bedroom, feeling guilty for giving him the cold shoulder and putting distance between them. He didn't know if he could handle Uzumaki knowing anything more about him, past, present or future. He had to walk away.

Then his second problem decided to pay a visit. While he could argue Uzumaki coming halfway across the world was within his character, Hyuuga doing so was less realistic. Seeing Hyuuga down in his foyer, he felt ice running through his veins. He played it neutral and gave him little attention as he dealt with Uzumaki's worries enough so that he would leave the next day. His decision remained firm when he displayed some of his power jumping from the second floor and pointing attention to Uchiha's diet. His senses were drawn to Hyuuga the second he saw him. He could smell the spikes of adrenaline and feel the spikes of chakra, both associated with fear and anxiety. It made Hyuuga smell so very sweet. It was also a reminder that Hyuuga was still scared of him.

So he ignored Hyuuga, hoping that the cold shoulder would send him away, but it didn't work that way. Hyuuga came to him again. Alone with him, he felt a range of emotions. Anger, guilt, hunger, it all made Seth dance with delight at the prey that walked into his territory. So, he tried to scare Hyuuga away, letting Seth take some control, letting his power leak. Hyuuga was sensitive enough to chakra to sense Seth's malice while not being immune to its effects from lack of experience.

But Hyuuga didn't back down. Whatever resolve he had made with himself kept him standing there and it brought Hyuuga onto his knees. Seeing Hyuuga on the ground made him feel weird. He didn't know how to describe it. He wasn't angry at Hyuuga per se. Hyuuga's behavior had been understandable. He was angry at himself for letting him get close enough to affect him. However, when Hyuuga was on the ground submitting himself in what Gaara knew to be a major blow to his pride, he felt happiness, just a twinge of it under the embarrassment that Hyuuga was willing to bow his head to him.

He put his head to his knees, thinking of how bad the situation had become. Hyuuga being here could not be good. It would draw further attention to him. It was the last thing he needed, and yet, he felt happy Hyuuga came after him. He hugged his legs, squeezing tightly. And now, he was letting Hyuuga stay here. What was he thinking, and why was he soft when it came to dealing with Hyuuga?

Uchiha knocked and let himself in without waiting for Gaara's permission, barely giving enough time for Gaara to unfurl from his ball and sit on the edge of the bed. He knew Uchiha would come to speak to him privately, he had just forgotten temporarily.

"Did you know there are people staking out your house outside? I found at least four just staring out the window," Uchiha commented nonchalantly, strolling into the room without a care. With grace, he sat down in the desk chair, turning it to face Gaara. "Should I do you another favor and get rid of them?"

"Why did you come here, Uchiha? I'm sure you didn't come halfway around the world just to do Uzumaki a favor." Gaara asked, his tone icy sharp.

Uchiha smirked. "Of course not. Your lover boy offered a million yen to come see you."

"Chump change for someone like you I'm sure," Gaara countered. Eying Uchiha. Uchiha was within an enemy stronghold, hunters around him even if they were just a few servants, and again Uchiha showed nothing but grace, confidence, and control. He did not fear the danger around him, and Gaara envied him. "And he's not my lover."

Uchiha laughed. It was still controlled to a degree, but he laughed all the same, breaking the usual condescending look he carried. Uchiha's laugh tampered out, getting himself under complete control once more. "Sorry, I thought you were jesting. You must know that any immortal you come across will not be fooled by such an apparent lie." The way Uchiha spoke was outdated and the dialect was making it difficult to understand him. He didn't know if Uchiha wasn't aware or just didn't care about the slip. Gaara wasn't going to call him out on it.

"I don't know what you are talking about. We are not a couple, nor have we ever held romantic feelings from each other," Gaara stated firmly. "So whatever you are planning, forget it."

Uchiha held that spark of amusement in his eyes as he appraised Gaara for the truth. "Are you not aware of how immortals mate?" he asked.

"I've already told you not to lump me in with one of your kind. I'm not like you."

"No, not completely," he agreed, "but you are close enough. Can you honestly tell me you have not exchanged large amounts of chakra?"

Gaara's lips thinned. "It was not through blood and chakra exchange between humans are different nor was the exchange permanent. It's different."

"I would be inclined to believe you if he had not arrived at the academy in your clothing or have his scent on your skin."

Gaara went silent briefly before snapping, "Why are you here, Uchiha?"

Uchiha sat still in his chair, his hands folded on his lap with his legs crossed. He sat like an aristocrat and he stared down Gaara as someone less than. Not quite an ant or servant, but someone still below him. Uchiha rarely looked at anyone as his equal. At school Uchiha would be polite, smile, act the part, but his eyes were always predatory. He saw every human as prey. Anyone who showed some usefulness was upgraded to servant, but they were never his equal. Even Gaara who did not fit in either category had not escaped scrutiny. Part of Uchiha's harassment just now was to find Gaara's weaknesses as he contemplated how to deal with Gaara who was not human nor vampire in his eyes.

"I'll assume you are feigning ignorance for now," Uchiha eventually said. "I agreed to come because I have queries about Uzumaki and inquire about the scrutiny I have been under since I have taken him under my wing. For example, the threats I received when Uzumaki went temporarily missing from the Shinobi leader, the hostile treatment Uzumaki receives from the hunters, and supernatural occurrences that Uzumaki has displayed outside of what is normal for a fledgling. That is just the beginning of course."

Gaara snorted, averting his gaze. "If you want answers, speak in smaller words or speak more modernly. I can't understand a word you're saying."

"Yes, you can," Uchiha replied, but he did slip back into modern Japanese. "You're not very good at lying." Uchiha leaned forward. "The hunters have been anxious since we have arrived on the island and extremely mobile. While I expected that to a degree, their attention has not been on me entirely. A lot of it appears to be around Uzumaki. I've had to have Deidara set up barriers around the warehouse just to have time to breathe. Saying it's an inconvenience doesn't even scratch the surface. So I'm asking again, what's going on?"

So the hunters knew. He knew it would happen. It just happened a little sooner than he had hoped. "There's nothing to tell. Uzumaki is turning and like it or not, he's a part of the island. Do you think the hunters would ignore one of their inhabitants joining your ranks?"

Uchiha and Gaara would not break eye contact with one another, waiting for the other to break first. Uchiha smiled though it had a touch of cynicism to it. "You're so full of shit," he said vulgarly, clashing with his cultured image.

"If you don't like it, I'm sure I could ask the staff. They'll be more than happy to 'entertain' you." Gaara threatened.

Anger from being challenged flashed in Uchiha's eyes, but he kept his composure. "If I recall, you offered me some food. Is that offer still good?"

"I'm sure the maid will help you if you tell her it's from my stash," Gaara said.

"Then I will help myself," Uchiha stood. "Don't think this conversation is over. I delivered Hyuuga here safely. You owe me."

"I didn't ask you to."

The last of Uchiha's fake politeness left his face as he said, "Then allow me to fix my mistake and take him off your hands permanently then." Uchiha's eyes shone with hunger and the threat was clear with his low timbre.

Gaara reacted violently, eyes full-blown golden brown and his fangs extended. "Do not touch what is not yours to have," he growled, an animalistic voice lining underneath his voice.

Uchiha became weary, putting up his guard and keeping his front towards Gaara even as he opened the door. "Then I'll collect the favor you owe me for the delivery soon." No longer carefree, he regarded Gaara was his full attention until he closed the door after him.

Gone, Gaara grabbed his head, struggling to contain the aggression that had overtaken him. Why did Seth become so angry with that threat? He wouldn't have allowed Uchiha to hurt Hyuuga, and Seth never cared about anyone other than himself before. The reaction had been sudden and violent. Not unusual for Seth, but not over something so insignificant.

The clock struck 3 am. He breathed in deeply. Uzumaki would be leaving in a few hours. He should attempt to get some sleep, knowing it was a futile attempt.

Laying down, he found himself staring at the ceiling, watching the shapes created from the light outside. Could he trust Uchiha with Uzumaki's safety after all? Uchiha's actions earlier made him uncertain, and he was tempted to look into Uchiha just to make sure. The thought made Seth stir with displeasure. Gaara dismissed it. Even apart, Uzumaki would still remain his main priority. He just prayed this time he didn't ruin it.