Gai slipped between the trees, jumping from the ground into trees and back again with elegance and speed like no other. He was making his way back to where he left Kakashi and was using both branches and solid ground to cover more ground at a faster a familiar but quiet bark, Gai stopped abruptly and said nothing as the other people following him stopped and all pulled out weapons, waiting for an attack of some sort. Gai scanned the area and when he looked down towards his feet, a small, bloody creature was limping towards them.

Gai cursed under his breath before crouching down to the small creature. "Pakkun, what happened?"

The little dog sat down with a contained whimper. "Kakashi and Iruka were battling Orochimaru and Itachi. Both are down, Orochimaru's whereabouts is unknown for now and Itachi also seems to be down. Kakashi was conscious last I saw, Iruka was knocked out a while back and Itachi is very conscious but restrained."

Gai nodded, picked up the dog and followed the directions Pakkun gave him. It didn't take them very long before they stepped into a clearing where trees had been cut down to make space, but also damage taken from the battle. Gai's breath caught in his throat, forming a lump that wouldn't go away. Trying to ignore it, he made his way over to Kakashi and Iruka, two guys with him, three going to Itachi and the rest keeping watch or scouting the area. He dropped to his knees in front of the two and checked Iruka for a pulse. Hearing a small groan and feeling a faint and slow throb under his fingertips, he let a sigh of relief pass his lips. "What happened here? Pakkun told me you fought against both Orochimaru and Itachi."

Kakashi nodded slowly and took a deep breath before speaking. "Iruka and I were a bit injured and then Itachi appeared. He offered to fight Orochimaru and seeing as Iruka was half dead, I told him to and then left, going just far enough to be safe. We dressed the wounds, stopped the bleeding and used a small bit of chakra to heal them a bit. We went back to fighting and this is the result. I'm not able to move very much, Iruka's slipping in and out of consciousness, Itachi's bound over there and Orochimaru's gone but badly injured. Four of my hounds are also injured but none of them life threatening, Pakkun being one of them."

Gai paused for a minute, gritting his teeth behind the porcelain mask. "Where's Orochimaru headed?"

"I don't fucking know! He didn't exactly announce where he was going and invite us over for tea! The only reason we're still alive is because of that fucking guy over there!" Kakashi pointed over to where Itachi was now sitting surrounded by black ops, ignoring the pain that was pulsing through his body.

"Shit." Gai stood up and faced the rest of the group who had assembled as he stood up. "We're going to split into two groups, four people are to come with me and the rest are to search the area for any sign of Orochimaru. He is heavily injured but do not make a move on him on your own unless necessary. Attack in groups if you think you stand a chance."

"Yes!" The group of men and women dispersed immediatley, leaving Gai alone with Kakashi and Iruka while the other four ANBU watched Itachi. Seeing Kakashi motion for him to move closer, Gai crouched in front of his fellow jounin.

"Gai... we need to talk about Itachi when we get back to the village. He comes with us, but he must come alive. Don't let him near Sasuke, don't even let Sasuke know he's in the village."

"Alright..." Gai stood up and a big grin was hidden behind his mask. "Now my eternal rival, jump on my back and if I cannot carry you the whole way without stopping, I must do 5,000 laps around the village with my hands tied behind my back!"

"Gai, if you even think of carrying me I will kill you. I'm fine to go on my own."

Gai said nothing in response as an ANBU agent came over and lifted Iruka on to his back, trying not to cower away when he caught Kakashi glaring and almost growling at him. When Kakashi looked back at Gai, his hand was stretching towards him. He took it silently and when Gai pulled him to his feet he restrained himself from screaming in pain and his knees buckled beneath him, sending him towards the ground and falling into Gai's awaiting arms.

"Alright so maybe I'm not fine." Gai laughed and carefully helped Kakashi onto his back with only the slightest bit of difficulties. When they were all ready and Itachi had finally shut up, they head out, wanting to get back to the village as soon as possible.

------

Neji gasped harshly and gripped the bed sheets tightly between his fists, his eyes flying open. His breath was coming in quick, raspy breaths as he tried to slow the thoughts and images flashing through his mind. A soft hand settled on his own and he looked up to see it was Kurenai-sensei. When he only looked puzzled, she pointed over towards the window and there Neji saw Sasuke and Hinata curled around each other on the armchair, sleeping.

"They haven't left the room since you came back. Tsunade-sama wasn't happy of course because she wanted Sasuke to have his own room but he fought against any idea of leaving your side so she had to look at him in here. Hinata just sat in the arm chair the entire time, watching over you. Except for when Tsunade was checking you and Sasuke for injuries of course."

Neji smiled softly at the pair before looking back at the woman who was still holding his hand. "I just got here a few minutes ago. I came to check Hinata was alright and to check on you and Sasuke before you get invaded by half the dam village. So how're you holding up?"

"Fine. Why wouldn't I be? I'm a leaf Shinobi, it's expected I get hurt." Neji looked away from the woman, choosing instead to stare at a very interesting speck on the wall."

"You're about as fine as Sasuke is Neji. I may not be close to you but I know Hinata is. I don't know many details about what's happened but I know there's been some major drama and death in your clan. If you can go unaffected by that then there's no way you're the same kid who managed to get Sasuke interested in something other than killing his brother."

Neji said nothing to the woman but when a heavy silence filled the room and he felt her piercing gaze on him, he sighed. "We were told stories about how bad the Uchiha clan was when I was growing up. We were told how our clan gloriously dealt with those damned Uchihas. I didn't really care about any of it until I met Sasuke to be honest. But now, I know it's all a bunch of lies. When my father and uncle explained everything to Tsunade, it was different to what they told me growing up. Things just didn't add up and I don't know why. Something isn't right about this."

Kurenai watched the young genin and smiled sadly. "Well it's over now so I think you should put it behind you. The war's over, Itachi's gone and there's nothing you can do now except get hurt from it." Kurenai leant over and placed a kiss on Neji's forehead, smiling at him before walking out the door.

Neji looked back at the two and then at himself. He noticed he was out of his usual clothing and wearing instead a black singlet and track pants. Sitting up, he groaned and gasped loudly, pain raging through his body like fire.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Neji turned his head and saw Sasuke standing at the side of the bed, both hands on his hips. "I'm trying to sit up, what does it look like?"

"Tsunade said to stay in bed so you are staying in bed!"

"I don't want to stay in bed."

"You are and if I have to sit on you to make sure you stay, I will!"

Neji grinned at Sasuke and pushed himself up further, hissing slightly. A devious smirk tugged at Sasuke's lips and he quickly but gently straddled Neji's thighs, his hands resting on the Hyuga's shoulders. Without warning, he shoved Neji so he was lying on his back and Neji almost screamed with the sudden pain, choosing instead to curse every curse he could think of a little louder than normal.

"I'm sorry Neji, but it had to be done."

Neji simply glared up at the other and his glare didn't lessen when Sasuke bent down and brought their lips together softly. Pulling away, Sasuke started to plant kisses on Neji's jaw line, whispering apologies in between kisses.

"I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to molest an injured person."

Sasuke raised his head at the sound of the voice and sat up, looking over his shoulder to look at the group of people now in the room, led by the big mouthed Hokage.

"We weren't interrupting anything now, were we?" Sasuke scowled at the Hokage, but the effect was lessened by the red beginning to spread through the Uchiha's face.

Nothing was said for a few moments which amused the blonde woman, considering the amount of people she had entered with. "So everyone decided they'd check up on you Neji seeing as you saved Sasuke's life and in turn, he protected yours. If you didn't know, you two are the talk of the town."

Silence descended again as Sasuke parted from Neji, choosing instead to sit on the edge of the bed. He knew not everyone in the room knew about him and Neji before, but they did now. He looked at the people staring at him, realizing all the genin who graduated the academy with him was there.

"What are you doing here?" Neji was staring right at Hanabi, his voice colder than Sasuke's at the best of times. The small girl stepped towards the end of the bed, her eyes locking with her cousins.

"I'm here to see you of course. You are family, even if we haven't exactly gotten along very well. I wanted to make sure you were alright seeing as my stupid sister left you to die with the traitor's own flesh and blood."

A deep growl was heard from beside Neji and Sasuke made to pounce at the girl, stopped only by the weak but obvious grip on the back of his shirt. "Why are you stopping me Neji?"

"Because I'm not about to let you attack her. I know what she said so don't bother trying to defend yourself, because I want to hit her too. It doesn't matter what happens Sasuke, if something happens to princess over there she'll blame me, I'll get killed and you being you, will do something to be thrown out of the village because you pissed off my clan so much."

Sasuke's head snapped 'round to face Neji, frowning. "Are you serious? They can't do that! Can they?"

"Yeah, they can. The Hyuga's are the biggest clan in the village and the elders listen to them. And besides, I'm a slave to the main branch of the family remember? They can do what they like to me."

"But... I thought you were-"

"It doesn't matter what we were told by your brother Sasuke, nothing has changed. Nothing. It's the same for my life. I still have to serve and protect the main branch until I die or they set me free of the slavery my dam uncle put us in."

"But Ita-"

"NO!" Neji shook his head, his long hair swaying over his shoulder with the movement. "Listen Sasuke, nothing has changed. For all you know your brother is feeding you lies. Live your life like you did before he came back. Live on like nothing happened since he arrived. That's what I'm doing and you should too..."

"So you want me to live my live to get my revenge?! You want me to live to kill my brother and for nothing else?!" Sasuke's face darkened, his voice getting louder at what Neji was telling him to do. "I thought you'd want me to get something more out of my life other than revenge..."

Neji gazed deep into Sasuke's eyes, seeing the hurt and misunderstanding in them. He leaned over closer to Sasuke and put his hands on Sasuke's face soothingly. "That's not what I want at all... I don't want you to live for revenge. I just don't want you to change your whole life again because of something your brother said."

Sasuke's gaze softened and he nodded once, relaxing himself and taking Neji's hand in his own. "Okay... I kind of understand."

Sasuke leaned forward to Neji and went to kiss him but stopped halfway when he heard the shuffle of feet. He sat back up again and turned to face the people still standing at the end of the bed, the Hokage still sitting near Neji's feet.

"Why are you still here Hanabi? You have anything else you want to guilt me with?" Sasuke's dark gaze met the youngest Hyuuga's and she fought against cowering from the hard glower.

"I'm not guilting you. I'm just telling the truth and making sure that slave is alright. I want as many serving me when I take over this clan as I can."

Hinata glared at her sister, before quietly speaking, a hardness to it never seen before. "You would have to kill me before you become the head of this family!"

Hanabi looked back at her sister, a glint in her little eyes. "Then it shall be done." Without giving anyone the chance to respond, she turned on her heels and walked out of the room.

"So Sasuke... When did you find out you were into Neji?"

Sasuke looked at Naruto with his eyebrows raised, surprised the boy had asked such a question so... calmly and so suddenly. "Well it depends. I could tell you when I found out Neji liked me no problem, it's me liking him that's the problem."

"So when did you find out he liked you?" The blonde had spoken as soon as Sasuke had finished, no one missing the cutting edge forming in his words.

"... It was around the time Itachi came back." Sasuke ducked his head as he felt his cheeks redden, afraid of the next question.

"So how'd it happen?"

"That, Naruto. We would like to keep to ourselves." Neji spoke for Sasuke this time, preferring to keep his predatory approach hidden from everyone.

Naruto grunted in response and took a few steps back 'til he hit the wall, slouching against it as he took in the site of everyone crowding around the bed, joking and laughing.

-

Everyone left the room still laughing, shouting their goodbyes as they noisily made their way down the corridors of the hospital. Sasuke looked at Neji, eyebrows raised at the sight of tears falling down his cheeks.

"I've never seen you laugh so much that you cried. I haven't seen you laugh very much at all now that I think about it."
Sasuke lay down next to Neji, his head falling sleepily into the crook of the Neji's neck and shoulder, Hinata having left with the crowd to give the two the privacy they both wanted and needed.

"I haven't really had a reason to. Before we started dating all I cared about was training, getting stronger and proving I was the strongest. My only emotions were the pride of being a Hyuuga and caring about the safety of the village. And then you happened, someone I thought was the same as me. Turned out you were a giant ball of contagious emotion!"

Neji laughed when he felt Sasuke's face change into a pout. "It's not my fault. I had a pretty traumatizing life you know."

"Oh did you? I never knew."

Sasuke smirked before biting Neji's shoulder, making him gasp and push Sasuke off of him. "Stop trying to kill me! You don't need to give me another reason to stay here!"

Sasuke stopped smiling abruptly and pushed himself away further from Neji, looking up into the Hyuuga's eyes through the hair falling into his own, his mouth opening and closing slowly like a fish. When nothing was said, Neji frowned, thinking back on the last minute before realizing what he had said and laughed meekly. "Stop beating yourself up because you think it's your fault I'm here. I chose to go with you, I chose to stay with you and I chose to try and stop Orochimaru from taking you from us. I chose to fall for you."

Neji leant forward and placed a kiss on the other's forehead, stroking his cheeks with his thumbs while staring into his eyes.

"I know I know, you keep telling me that. But what if I had turned you down? You wouldn't have followed me and you wouldn't have gotten hurt. I wasn't able to protect you from that bastard and you could have died!"

"But I didn't. You kept me alive Sasuke, you got me back home in one piece. Besides, if I remember correctly you did try to turn me down... Many times! I was just too stubborn to let you get away with it."

Sasuke let out a shaky breath before bringing his lips to Neji's, pulling himself against the other's body fully, taking in his comforting warmth. Feeling an arm make it's way across his waist, Sasuke turned so he was fully on his side and wrapped his leg around Neji's waist tightly. A dark shadow appeared over the two, and Neji pulled away, looking up at the dark figure looming over the bed.

Sasuke turned around at the loss of contact, trying to see what Neji was looking at, struggling to figure out what it was. And even though the moon was shining brightly now, with no internal light it was impossible to guess.

"A storm is coming. Get out before you suffer the consequences."

The two on the bed kept staring at the figure, searching the voice for any familiarity. Finding none, they each glanced at each other, their eyes meeting in a confused gaze before looking back to where the shadow was standing, only to find it gone.
----

Gai burst through the hospital doors, Kakashi in his arms. Immediately doctors came over to him and took the injured man from him, other's taking Iruka and even Kakashi's injured nin hounds. Gai tried to follow them, wanting to stay with his long time friend and even with his ANBU mask on, the doctors refused to allow him go. After a hard journey, Gai didn't have the energy anymore to put up a fight so he went home and got cleaned up, returning to the hospital's waiting room as soon as he was done.

"Gai. Gai! GAI!"

Gai woke with a jump and nearly hit the Hokage in the head. "Hokage-sama... Kakashi!"

"He's fine Gai. They're both fine. Or at least they will be." Tsunade sat down next to the tired looking jounin before continuing. "Iruka was unconscious and is still slipping in and out of it, but he'll recover fully within two weeks I presume. As for Kakashi, he's already fighting to get out of here."

Gai sighed and slumped into his chair, feeling as though a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "And what about him?"

"He's under watchful eyes for now. No one knows what to do with him. We can't kill him and even if we were to interrogate him, what would we ask? We need to wait until Kakashi's recovered to do anything."

Gai nodded and sighed again, more deeply this time. "Is Kakashi awake?"

The Hokage smiled and nodded. "Yeah. I'll show you to his room."

-----

Sasuke kissed Neji on the forhead once more before turning to walk out of the room. He opened the door and stepped forward, taking one last longing and loving look at his sleeping boyfriend before closing the door again. "Good bye my love. Sweet dreams."

____

Okay I know it's WAAAY too short considering I haven't uploaded anything in FOREVER! And I'm sooo sorry about that :( Forgive me?
Well it doesn't matter if you do or not because you might not considering where I let that chapter end ^^; heheh.

But don't fret! I shall try upload the next chapter soon! Until then, R&R It Might make the next chapter come sooner ;D