Everything was warm, too warm and that much more comfortable. Then again, he was supposed to be dead, his family waiting for him at the borders of the afterlife to take him home. No... he was laying somewhere soft... fur more precisely, soft fur that felt like rabbit or it could be... maybe it would help to open his eyes.

With that thought in mind Neji carefully opened his tired eyelids and dared a glance at his surroundings. It was fur that he was laying on that much was true, yet the name of such exquisite fur was unknown to him. Lifting, Neji looked around seeing his whereabouts. The place was lit with multiple candles, and the bedding he was laying was made of multiple fur pelts; the pillows were no different.

It was the moment Neji looked in front of himself that his eyes widened to the size of a full moon. Who of the great lord could own so much gold? It was an awful lot of gold; enough gold that the poor would be richer than the wealthiest in the town. With so much gold he could have saved his cousins.

In that moment the entirety of his situation came crashing down.

The only bit of family he had left was dead by the only village he had come to love. Dead because one jealous ridden man warranted their death's, and Neji wished nothing more than to take the lives of the people who could be so narrow-minded, especially Orochimaru.

Especially him.

Neji gritted his teeth as the tears began to rain down his cheeks, proving to be the perfect advocate to his already painful mood. Speaking of revenge and killing people, who was it that saved him from the cave? Neji looked around again, eyes more clear from the fallen tears, only to realized that he was actually within a cave. It could be possible that he was further down in the cave. Neji could faintly recall passing out at the entrance as someone ran a clawed hand down his face.

Clawed hand...

Maybe it wasn't a matter of who, but what that saved him.

A small thump, caused the Hyuuga to jump and fall back onto the bedding, pulling the fur blankets with him. Now that he was more aware that it was a possible demon that had saved him, he knew that it was better to be cautious. It is said that demons feed on fear and weakness mainly because they can smell it. Maybe that is why it saved him, because he was at a vulnerable state. These demons know if you are in pain, suffering, needing, dying, or had someone die, and in Neji's case had someone die.

There was a thump again... it sounded closer too. Someone- thing is coming; for all Neji knew it could be the person who saved him not too long ago. now that he thought of it, Neji wasn't not sure as to which day it is or how long he was even out, but now wasn't the time to dwell. The footsteps had stopped and it was quiet. He closed his eyes as he pretended to sleep. If it didn't take notice in the Hyuuga now Neji could hope to escape later. He tried to slow his running heart and curled up giving the illusion that he was asleep.

Then the bedding dipped and something was laying next to him. He could feel the furs move as a body settled next to him and a bare chest press against his back. Whatever it was it felt human, and for all Neji knew it may be human, and he was simply overreacting. Whoever it may be it was sniffing at his hair and before Neji could turn that same hand was running across his face.

That same clawed hand.

So it was a demon. A demon had saved Neji from what was supposed to be an inevitable death.

"I know you are awake."

The voice made him jump. It was deep, smooth, and gravelled just a bit, and a little comforting in a creepy phenomenal way.

"For a moment, I thought you were a woman. Someone I knew but..." The demon continued snarling, "What they have done will not go unpunished."

What is he talking about?

"And I will benefit from your pain and sorrow."

Neji gasped as another hand ran through his hair. He was right when he'd thought this demon sought to take advantage of his loss. Neji worried his lip fearful of what this demon could offer that Neji hoped he had the will to turn down.

"Are you going to answer me?"

Neji turned slowly to face him and wish he hadn't. Any other person could have said that this demon was a human. This demon's beauty could easily fool anyone and send them straight to the netherworld. Red hair and a green- turquoise set of eyes reminded Neji of the thorn covered roses he used to see in front of the castle, beautiful to look at but harmful to the touch. He was sure that if he touch this demon he was sure to get hurt. His eyes had black rings around them, giving a surreal feel to the demons gaze, it made such beauty that much more odd. The demon's skin had a tan undertone and a red marking sat on its forehead. Neji couldn't make it out for it's bloodied locks were obscuring the Hyuuga's vision.

Deadly indeed.

"Eyes like the moon... beautiful...lonely..." The demon ran a claw under Neji's eye as it stared him down. "I am the demon of the sand Gaara. What is yours?"

Neji hesitated as he swallowed a terrible lump in his throat.

"Neji."

It was better to drop his dead last name, for that family no longer exists now that he was the only one left. It would die with Neji and the moment the demon claimed his pain filled sorrow. Perhaps this demon could send him to meet his lost family, but then again, Hinata did not want him to die. She told him to run and live. He was alive but he doubted he would be for long. Laying in a fur bed with a demon was a great way to stay alive.

"Are you... the Hyuuga child?"

Neji stared at it as it continued to look him over, it's hand traveling downward to grip Neji's thin waist. Should he answer? And if he said yes would it...?

Neji nodded.

"Where are your sisters Hyuuga boy?"

Tears swelled burning his already itching eyes. "Gone." His breathing stopped as he fought to remember how to swallow. "Killed." Neji mumbled after several moments.

The demon growled.

"Dead?" Neji jumped as it ran a thumb over his lips. "What do you want Hyuuga?"

What does it mean to take?

"Your wish. Tell me your darkest desire." Gaara answered.

Neji shook his head. He couldn't possibly tell this demon, because if he did, it would know exactly what to offer. Neji needed a way to escape and live for Hinata's sake, but what does one say? Maybe something to distract it for he knew that if he sold his soul to whatever this demon was offering he would be bound for eternal damnation.

"I suffer nothing," Neji muttered, "It would be better if you let me be."

It smiled, and Neji couldn't help the shudder that ran lines up and down his spine. He couldn't describe it exactly but it could be said that there was a sudden drop in the Hyuuga's stomach.

"Let's us make a trade." The demon proposed, "You lost something that can not be replaced... I lost something that can be replaced. Your kind has always feared me,... always, yet they managed to kill my spawns. The man that claimed the lives of your sisters sold me his soul so that he could rule, only problem is that I do not have his soul and a deal made with a demon is a deal that cannot be undone."

Neji could feel his breath hitch his eyes widening at this new knowledge. Neji swallowed the bitter tang in his mouth before answering. "What do you want from me?"

It smiled again stirring the nausea that was building in Neji's stomach. "I want you to give me a child, and in return I will give you your revenge. When the child is born it will claimed the life of the man who has stolen from us both."

Neji couldn't accept such an offer. He couldn't. It was an impossible feat.

"Tempting, but in case you did not realize," Neji pushed away, "I am a male. I am not capable of producing the child you seek."

The demon chuckled as it grabbed Neji's arm and pulled him closer. Slow as if it were a snail, it licked the shell of Neji's ear before trailing its tongue downwards towards the pulse in his neck.

"Did I not say earlier that 'you being a male does not matter'?"

Neji ducked and rolled from the embrace before crawling out of the comforting furs.

"What you speak of is sin!" Neji turned and ran tripping over the various gold pieces that lay about.

He didn't get far, because a raccoon ten times the size it should have been, jumped out growling a fierce low tenor. It snapped it's jaws forcing Neji to fall back onto a pile of gold as an amused chuckle reached his ears. The Demon stood in front of Neji and squatted down. The scent of fear that Neji was sure he was exerting seemed to broaden the demon's smile into a sharp toothy grin. The raccoon that was snapping at him only a mere moment ago had settled quietly by the demon's knees.

"This is Shukaku." Gaara gestured to the demon. "Long time friend. If you ever try to leave he will be waiting for you."

Neji looked to the raccoon realizing that it wasn't just a raccoon. It was a demon raccoon with crossed glowing amber eyes and light brown fur. Looking further Neji noticed that this demon did not just have one tail, it had two that flickered as the demon itself crawled to it's master and kneeled as it was petted.

"I am a male." Neji tried to clarify again, surely it would realize and let him go.

"Do you not want revenge for your cousins? What other reason do you have to live if not to avenge them?"

Neji hated to have looked away. It was right... what was he going to live for?

"I can provide a better life for you than you can on your own." It was taunting him now, its claws touching Neji's face as tears released themselves from it's fleshy prison. "Give me a child and in return I will give you your revenge."

Neji looked up into those eyes, the eyes of The Demon of Sand.

"Do you accept?"

"Yes."

XXX

It had left him alone... but right before it did, its claw burned a mark Neji couldn't read into his hand. It meant that they were bound until the deal was complete, but even if the deal came out perfect, wherever would he go? What would he do? For all he knew he may be bound to the demon forever. Even if he was, Neji was quite convinced that he wouldn't survive anyway.

... How would Gaara plan to give Neji a child if men couldn't bear children, much less the child of a demon? Was it even possible? Unfortunately, Neji would never know until that unwelcomed day came. So far though, he would need something to take his mind off. The farthest he knew of this cave was it's entrance and it's bed... nothing more. A little exploring adventure couldn't hurt, it did not say that he couldn't but it did say not to leave the cave and Neji doubted he would any time soon.

Rising from the bed Neji crawled to the ledge and stood as he looked about taking in just how much gold the Demon of the Sand possessed. Did it steal all of that gold? It didn't matter. He continued onward causing the demon raccoon in the corner to rise up and stare him down as if expecting him to try and leave. The candles lit the cave walls in an eerie way giving it this cast off glow. Neji followed the cave tunnel until he was standing inside a wider chamber. What confused him the most was the amount of sand that covered the place. The nearest shore was three days horse ride away and barely had any sand... even more so the beach was covered with small stones instead of sand.

Then there was the center of this sand chamber. It was a strange whirlpool of sand with a pool of water resting in the middle.

"What could this possibly be?" Neji knew he was speaking to himself out loud.

As he stepped closer, the pool and the sand shimmered before turning, the sand turning left and the water turning inwards on itself. Kneeling down by the water Neji peered inside only to see an eerie black. Then the pool of water rippled and an image appeared.

Someone was fighting in the dark, relentlessly clashing their sword, but the sword didn't seem to be doing much. Neji could barely make out the face of the person until he saw the eyes.

Blind but not blind.

It was a Hyuuga that much was certain but which Hyuuga? Most of the Hyuuga's died every year from unknown reasons. So who was Neji looking at? He leaned in closer as his possible ancestor continued to fight this cloaked figure.

Then it hit him and Neji started to back away as the room darkened and the sand moved forming the one memory he'd sooner wish to forget. The monster in black roared as it reached out and grabbed the man startling him as his leg and arm was pulled in opposite directions. Neji could feel the burn as his eyes started to water as a squelched ripping sound was heard as his father was split in two before he was flung, his body landing in front of Neji as it twitched before falling limp.

"No." Neji looked up only to see his uncle being torn mercilessly in two before landing in front of him also.

Tears were streaming down his cheeks as the scene in front of him started to shift until he was in a grassy field moving towards a funnel of smoke. He swallowed as he tried and failed to push backwards while the scenery in front of him rushed by until he was watching a flame being set to his cousin Hanabi's body. A terrified scream ripped from her throat as she was burned alive the flame eating like maggots on dead flesh. Then Hiinata was next. She sputtered as her body was dumped with oil before she too was tied to the stick and set aflame, screaming as the fire consumed her. She was still alive until a silver blade cracked through her neck.

And then Neji screamed. He didn't even notice that the scene had vanished and that everything had stopped moving until a hand had touched his shoulder his body flinching at the unexpected touch. He turned around with his face soaked with tears and was pulled into the tightest grip he'd ever been in. He latched on as he was lifted and carried away crying non stop, by the time Neji was placed back onto the fur bedding he was gasping. Neji tried his hardest to contain his sobs as the memories played over and over. It hurt too much to see those images... so real... so vivid... Gaara lifted the Hyuuga's chin and stared at his tear stricken face.

"W-what w-was t-that?" Neji could barely manage to get the question out.

"You'll find out soon." Gaara answered as he moved away from the crying teen.

Neji jumped when a flame came to life, and he peered around the demon's body to try to see what it was doing. The smell of cooking meat filled his nostrils and it occurred to Neji what it was doing and why it was out earlier. Hopefully, what this demon was cooking wasn't a human. Now that he think about it, he know nothing of this demon, he may as well acquaint himself on how this demon came to be.

"Is that a human?" Neji pulled the furs around his body, and up to his chin.

"No." It turned to him. "What's my name?"

Neji was confused at the question. Did it think that he didn't know or...

"Neji." It called. "What is my name?"

The demon lifted up and was walking to Neji until it was standing in front of the bedding. Neji peered into its eyes and backed up against the bed's head, ready to run if necessary.

"I know you're name." Neji was hoping it would stop it in it's advancements.

But the demon didn't stop, instead it crawled into the bed and pulled the furs from the Hyuuga's chin causing him to gasp.

"Say it."

Neji shook, trembling as he pushed back on the bed until he hit the cave wall acting as a headboard. Before Neji could look the side for an escape it's face was right in front of Neji's. It licked the Hyuuga's lips before turning his head to the side as its breath blew across the shell of quivering ear. Neji could feel its hand running up his leg, beneath the robe, until it stopped at his thigh causing the Hyuuga's breath to hitch. The other hand followed the same course on his other leg until it too rested on his thigh forcing the robe to mid-thigh.

"Say it." The demon demanded again leaning closer as it placed it's lips on Neji's neck just upon the pulse teeth pricking at the sensitive skin.

"Please stop." Neji shuddered as the demon bit down the flesh cutting like a knife through bread. Warm droplets slipped down Neji's arm and chest creating a pool at the front of his robe.

The demon shook it's head and continued. Lifting a hand it grabbed at Neji's throat and began to squeeze. "My name Hyuuga. Say it."

"Please?" Neji begged as the claws tightened ripping his flesh further.

It looked at Neji expecting the right answer, tilting its head to as if the demon hadn't heard him the first time.

"Ga-ack-aara uh tth-th Demm-oo-nn." Neji choked as his throat seized before he was released.

"Just Gaara." The demon corrected scooting off the bed and heading back towards the fire. "Remember it. You will need it in time."

Neji touched his neck, but the skin was smooth again. The blood however remained, giving off an odd smell. Another scent was intertwined fading as the demon moved away. Neji couldn't fathom why such the knew scent had him so awestruck , but it did... and he was as a flurry of tingles swept over his heaving form. But this was wrong,... to love or lay with one of your own was a sin.

To lay with a demon...

Blasphemous.

Neji hoped this deal fell short, that something should happen, something that would have this demon turn away from him. Because if it does he could hope to find revenge on his own and not fall for this demon's wicked scheme.

"When will you..." Neji let the question die because he knew that it knew what he was trying to say.

The demon turned to look back at a Neji a glint lighting it's eyes. "On the night of the full moon."

"When is-"

"Tomorrow."