Chapter 14

"Here's your pitcher of sugar." Neji spat out, tossing the container to Sasuke, not caring that in the process about half the sweet crystals spilled out. "Now leave."

Sasuke caught the pitcher deftly, not caring either about the split sugar. He stuck his nose in the air, his eyes on the blonde.

"Didn't know you liked bringing losers into your house, Neji." He made it blatantly clear who he was talking about as Naruto looked up at him with wide eyes.

1...

2...

3...

"WHY YOU BASTARD!" Naruto yelled, his face flaring up. Forgetting the previous uncomfortable situation, he lunged himself at Sasuke, his fists raised for a fight. Luckily, Kiba grabbed onto Naruto's shirt and stopped him right before his fist could reach.

"Let me go! His face needs to be punched in, right now! Let me at him!" Naruto struggled fervently, but Sai had come up and put a hand on his shoulder. Naruto finally gave up and glared menacingly at the Uchiha.

Neji stepped between them and trained his eyes on Sasuke, his gaze never wavering. "If I were you, I'd leave now; if you knew what's best for you," he threatened.

"Right, wouldn't want to interrupt your little fag time with this group of," he looked at Kiba and Naruto, "repulsive people."

"WHY YOU!" Naruto tore out of Kiba and Sai's grasp and jumped on Sasuke, throwing both of them off balance. He drew back his fist and punched right into the bastard's face, but was met with Sasuke's own hands.

Snarling, Naruto tried again, but his efforts were fruitless. Annoyed, he angrily punched at every single place he could reach, but was frustratingly met with Sasuke's hands every time, always blocking his punches.

"YOU FUCKING PRICK! QUIT BLOCKING MY ATTACKS!" Naruto hollered, now resorting to kicking, which Sasuke also successfully dodged.

Everyone else in the room just watched, quite amused at Naruto's labours even though they wanted Sasuke to get hurt too.

"Maybe if you had any skill, you'd actually hit me," Sasuke taunted, dodging another swing.

Finally, Naruto's anger reached his peak and with one last burst of strength, he punched. Sasuke effortlessly caught that one too, but didn't expect the extra force in it, which made him fall back, unconsciously pulling Naruto with him too.

"AAHHH!" Naruto landed with a muffled thud, his face buried in something pulsing.

Pulsing...

Shit.

"What's this, little brother? Your relationship with the blonde seems deeper than what you let on."

Naruto gasped and scrambled up from Sasuke's chest, flinging himself back to Kiba and Sai. Damn it, that was the second time that's happened!

Neji glared at the intruder. Itachi...

"How'd you get in?" Neji snapped, clearly upset by what just happened.

"An unlocked door is an open invitation to anyone." Itachi smirked, one quite similar to Sasuke's.

Naruto blushed as he looked at the man, remembering their last encounter. Ooooohhhh, that was so embarrassing! Hopefully he doesn't remember it...

"Nice to meet you again, Naruto. That was some splendid waiting you did." Itachi smirked to Naruto, making him blush more. Aw man.

Maybe he does blush all the time...thought Itachi. Or maybe I'm just that good.

"Sasuke, what happened to that sugar I asked you to get over here? It's been well over 30 minutes. You weren't doing something naughty with that blond over there, were you?" Itachi asked, feeling gleeful at the appalled expression on Sasuke's face.

"Itachi! Don't put me in a lump with these—" but Sasuke stopped talking as soon as he realized he wasn't being paid attention to. Itachi had somehow manoeuvred himself over to Naruto and now stood directly in front of the blond, his back facing Sasuke. That was really annoying.

"So, Naruto, you weren't violated by my brother were you? Because if you were, I apologize on my brother's perverted behalf."

Naruto gulped at the murderous fumes coming off Sasuke, but he looked at Itachi again. This time's meeting with the man was much less scary than last time...he was possibly quite caring.

"No, sir. He didn't."

Itachi smiled warmly and patted Naruto on the head, everyone's eyes snapping to him with homicidal daggers evident in their stare. "Good, because I would hate to see my brother being charged for sexual harassment, you know."

Naruto smiled and nodded, quite content with Itachi's reasons. He was a really caring brother!

Itachi turned around with a flourish, looking down to his brother who was sitting on the floor. "Well, little brother. Let's go now. I take it you've already acquired the sugar?"

Sasuke looked over to the now rather empty pitcher lying on the floor a few feet away and sighed. "No, sorry Itachi."

"That's quite fine. I actually found a giant stash of sugar in our pantry, so we don't have to bother these fine gentlemen anymore. Come along now."

Sasuke glared and stood up, following dejectedly behind his brother. As he went out the door, he gave one last glare to everyone in the room, especially Naruto and Gaara, and left.

Naruto snickered a bit at that. Sasuke was following Itachi like an obedient puppy! You wouldn't expect him to be so influenced by his brother!

"Well, Naruto, that was entertaining," Neji joked, locking the door firmly before motioning for everyone to head back down to the basement.

"Why do you live right next to him anyways? Do all the rich people live around here?" Naruto asked, genuinely curious.

"Hmm, pretty much."

Suddenly, Tenten popped up in front of them, smiling like no other. "So, what was that about? I was kind of occupied so I couldn't go see for myself, but it sounded like Itachi and Sasuke came over."

Neji nodded an affirmative.

"Hmmm, that's odd. What for?"

Neji scowled. "A cup of sugar."

"...a cup of sugar?"

"Yes."

Tenten burst out laughing, squeezing her sides in fear her spleen would split open or something. Sasuke...coming to look for a cup of sugar? That was too hilarious! Smirking, she also asked, "And did you give him any?"

"Yes, he just spilled it all," Neji replied, to which Tenten started laughing again. Neji stared at her quizzically. Had she gone insane?

"What's so funny?" Naruto asked, equally confused, though Sai was starting to chuckle a bit too.

"Neji, what did you give him again?" Tenten asked, wiping a stray tear off her cheek.

"...sugar?" Neji offered, still quite confused.

"What did you give him?" Tenten urged on, her grin splitting wider.

"I gave him some sugar!"

Tenten started laughing again, falling down in a heap of giggles. Sai was shaking his head in amusement and Naruto started giggling with Tenten. Neji finally caught on.

"That's not funny, Tenten!" Neji exclaimed. Him...give the Uchiha sugar? That was the single vilest thing he's ever heard!

"It's funny to me!" Tenten responded, grinning profusely.

Neji gave up. No use reasoning with the girl.

Tenten finally calmed down and took a few deep breaths, before her eyes locked on Gaara.

"Oh hi Gaara. Have you met Naruto, Kiba, and Sai yet?" she asked politely.

Which reminded Neji, he still had to figure out what the heck was going on between those two!

"Okay, out with it Gaara. How do you know Naruto?" Neji asked bluntly. Gaara looked at him and shrugged. Naruto flushed and stepped a quarter behind Kiba shyly.

Don't look at me, don't look at me, don't look at me, don't look at me-

"Naruto? Want to fill me in?" Neji asked, now looking right at Naruto.

Why is everything against me?

Naruto lowered his eyes, but felt the pressure from everyone's curious stares. Even Kiba was curious as to how these two knew each other.

Naruto gulped. "W-we were uh, c-classmates...yeah...back in Suna High..." Hopefully that will settle their curious souls.

Neji was still highly suspicious, but seeing how uncomfortable he was making Naruto, he let it slide. There will be other times when Naruto will be willing to share his whole life story with him, once he got to the other boy.

"Well, okay. Let's go down to the basement now, okay guys?" Neji asked.

"Hey, I'm a girl!" Tenten pouted.

"Well, act like one then," Neji retorted, smirking. For that, Tenten punched him. But not that hard, she only broke through half the bone in his arm.

They all went down the stairs now, returning to where the food and fun were. The group already there, seeing Neji returning with everyone, stood up and greeted them. Ino glared at Sai the whole time.

Neji clapped his hands together, gaining the attention of everyone.

"Well, let's get this party started, shall we?" he said, grinning. Everyone cheered.

...

Still original musings of xXCabbageXx.

Review please.