For the first time in as long as he could remember Uchiha Itachi was dumbstruck. Absolutely dumbstruck, as in, he had no clue what he should do. His enemy, his mortal enemy had discovered his darkest secret.
'Curse that Hyuga bastard.'
For his entire life he'd lived in Neji's shadow, ever since the first day of elementary school. He was the SECOND best in his class, the SECOND best soccer player, not to mention the time he'd been only a handful of votes away from being the prom king. But none of that mattered, he'd stood off to the side, just another member of the "royal court" while Neji took the crown.
And that wasn't the worst part of it, no not at all; the worst part was that the Hyuga didn't even care. Each time he'd been praised, each time he'd been given another award he had simply stood there, eyes emotionless as he accepted his achievements with a calm and uncaring politeness. He had everything that Itachi wanted and he didn't even CARE!
And now, years out of high school both men fronted large, successful businesses. They were the leaders of their industry, the CEO's of Japans two largest corporations, and they were constantly competing to see who could have the lowest prices, the happiest employees, and the most customers. Yes for their entire lives they had been rivals, with Neji somehow always taking the lead. But now, Itachi's eyes narrowed dangerously, now he finally saw his chance to get rid of the competition once and for all.
"Sasuke."
He whispered quietly to his still stunned brother.
" Be as silent as possible, we have to follow him." The younger was in such a state of shock he was basically running on autopilot so the order came as a welcome relief. A voice of reassurance and authority that pierced through the murky haze, he nodded dumbly, following after his brother as they started creeping through the over brush.
---
Neji moved fast, hunched over slightly as he battled his way through the foliage, desperate to get back to camp and talk to Gaara. He couldn't shake the irrational feeling that something was horribly wrong, a fact that bothered him especially because he placed so much pride in his own intuition.
'My brain must be scrambled today…'
Relief flooded through his body when he entered the camp ground and saw Gaara sitting peacefully, munching on instant ramen. The boy looked up as Neji approached, looking a little surprised.
" Hi. You weren't gone for very long."
Neji nodded, avoiding eye contact. In response Gaara gave him a knowing smile.
" It's okay. I know that you went back to the shack."
"Really?"
Neji wasn't sure why he was so surprised; telling Gaara he felt like going for a long walk in the woods right after what happened yesterday wasn't exactly subtle. The redhead looked down at his feet fleetingly before meeting the Hyuga's gaze, sudden determination gleaming in his jade eyes.
"I made a decision while you were gone."
Neji sat down next to him, sensing the importance of whatever Gaara was about to say.
" Go ahead."
The boy angled his body towards his companion, putting his hands in his lap and taking a deep breath in.
" I want to tell you about what happened now."
Neji's leaned forward intently, focusing all his attention on Gaara; this was the moment he'd been waiting for.
" I'm listening."
Gaara took another deep breath, preparing for what he knew he had to do.
" Well, there's this guy in my class. His name is Sasuke and he's really popular."
Neji smiled, silently encouraging him to continue.
" And three days ago he started talking to me after class which was really weird 'cause we'd never spoken before. The only thing he knew about me was that I like to read so he invited me to this literature thing. I didn't trust him but he made it sound like so much fun so I agreed to go."
Gaara looked down, saddened by the memory of his mistake.
"But when he came to pick me up there was this other guy there, his brother Itachi." Neji winced.
" I know someone named Itachi, he's a real ass."
Gaara nodded.
"Yeah, this guy was really creepy too. I was having second thoughts about going but I just put on my CD player and started listening to music while we drove. I guess I zoned out because the next thing I knew we were in the middle of nowhere. I got kinda scared and told them I wanted to go home but they didn't listen…"
Neji's brow furrowed.
" Then Itachi …"
Gaara trailed off, voice cracking on the last part.
A vicious hatred towards the two that had hurt Gaara was rising up in Neji and he had to force himself to grind out his next question in a calm, non-threatening tone.
" Then what happened?"
After a pause Gaara tried again to finish his sentence.
"Itachi, he, put a needle in my neck and I passed out. When I woke up they dragged me to the shack"
He left it at that; Neji knew perfectly well the events that occurred beyond that point.
"So two guys named Sasuke and Itachi did this to you?"
"Yes."
" Do you know their last names as well?"
"Yes."
" Are you willing to take this to court."
Gaara's eyes flashed with venom.
"Yes. I want to see those bastards locked up for a long long time."
Neji smiled.
"You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that."
The pain and injustices of the past few days are rapidly building up inside Gaara and boiling to the surface in the form of uncontrolled anger.
" Who the hell do they think they are anyway?! What gives them the right to hurt me like that?"
His whole face quivers with anger, so much of it that frustrated tears are threatening to spill out.
" Nothing gives them that right, nothing. They were wrong and now they're going to pay for it."
Neji soothes as gently as he can, worried about Gaara's current mental state.
" You're right! I hate them! I fucking hate them both!"
He's screaming now, the noise frightening all the forest creatures around them. " I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THOSE UCHIHA BASTARDS ROT IN HELL!"
He yells so loud that is throat feels raw, and all he can do is sit there, panting as Neji stares at him with horror and disbelief.
" Did you say that one of the brothers was named Itachi?"
His voice sounds hollow and empty as his eyes bore into the redhead's. Gaara merely nods, unsure of why Neji's mentioning it now.
" And you just said their last name was Uchiha?"
Another confused nod.
" So this man's full name would be Uchiha Itachi." Gaara doesn't bother to respond to this, he just stares at Neji who appears to be drawing his own conclusions at the moment. " Was this man tall?"
"Yes."
He manages to rasp out in response.
" Did he have long dark hair?"
" Yes."
Gaara's growing nervous now as the hostility in Neji's voice rises.
" Did he have freaky dark eyes that might look normal if you saw them in a picture but seeing him in person you can just tell that something's wrong?"
" Y-yes. How did you know?"
" Because."
The Hyuga's expression darkens into one of pure malice.
" Itachi and I have a history."
Gaara's jaw goes slack, his eyes widen, and for a split second his heart stops beating.
" What does that mean?"
" It means that I don't doubt for a second that Itachi is capable of building and using that shack. In fact, you might want to count yourself lucky."
Gaara swallows hard, not wishing to dwell on the subject any longer. He looks at the angry Hyuga longingly.
" Neji?"
The man looks up at him curiously.
" What is it?"
" Can I have a hug?"
In that instant he looked so childlike and sweet, that Neji's anger all but disappeared. He wrapped his arms warmly about Gaara as the boy buried his face into his shoulder, shamelessly seeking solace. Neji planted a kiss on the top of his head before letting his eyes slide shut, savoring the moment. He knew that in several days he would be involved in a historically large trial, and he probably wouldn't be able to go a day without being flocked by media. He might as well savor the peace and quiet while he still could.
' I can't believe we're about to take the infamous Uchiha heirs to court…'
---
Not thirty feet away said Uchiha's were hiding behind a tree, watching the scene before them, each with different emotions rolling around in their minds. Itachi was filled with gleeful anticipation and amusement.
'Look at that corny bastard; he would be the kind to fall in love with the little fuck toy. I'll have some fun screwing him in front of Neji before I kill them both.'
A twisted smile creeps to his face.
'Fun indeed.'
Sasuke on the other hand was scared. No, he was way past being scared. He was absolutely fucking terrified. He was petrified, horrified, frightened, anxious, alarmed and everything in between.
'I can't go to jail, I just can't! I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't!'
He repeats the words over and over in his head like a mantra. They soar around in his head, bouncing off his skull and crashing into each other. It's suddenly becoming very difficult to breath.
" I can't… Itachi I can't!"
Alarmed at the noise his brother is making Itachi grabs him, slapping a hand over his mouth as he whispers harshly in his ear.
" Calm the fuck down."
Sasuke looks at him with panicked eyes, desperately trying to voice his worries thorough Itachi's hand. " If you freak out you'll get caught. Is that what you want?" Sasuke shakes his head. " Didn't think so. Now listen up I have a plan."
---
ARGH! I really don't mean to keep ending these on cliffhangers! I think I have a disease: " unable-to-think-of-an-ending-that-isn't-a-cliffhanger-itis." FORGIVE ME!
…Cough cough anywayz….what did you people think of this chapter? I really liked it even though it was unbelievably short (again) but I think I've resigned myself to the fact that this fic is going to have short chapters. I don't know why that's just the way it is.
Please continue reviewing the way you have been you beautiful wonderful people! -Evie
P.s. For those who are having trouble-keeping track Neji and Gaara have been in the woods four days and Neji said his driver would be coming on the sixth day.