"Don't be ridiculous," Sasuke stepped forward and, despite Neji's flinch, he grabbed his hand and held on. Tight. "You don't want to do that,"
"Oh, don't I?" Neji glared at Sasuke's hand around his but didn't do or say anything about it. "And why is that?"
"It's a stupid thing to do," Sasuke admitted. "Just…don't do it,"
"So you finally realize you were stupid to leave like that? Great," Neji snapped sarcastically. "It only took you a lifetime,"
"Stop it," Sasuke gave his hand a little tug. "Just…stop being so…,"
"I have to the right to be cold to whoever the fuck I want," Neji yanked his hand from Sasuke's. "Including you. Especially you,"
Sasuke felt extremely hurt. He made no further move to touch Neji.
"That's right. I'm going to do what you did. I'll go find what I really want. And then I'll forget all about the guy that—,"
He seemed unable to continue.
"So what are you going to do?" Sasuke asked finally.
"Why would I tell you? You will only get in my way," Neji said. He looked Sasuke up and down before adding: "More than that you already are, that is,"
"For fuck's sake," Sasuke felt himself rage up. "It's been almost three bloody years. Get over it!"
Neji was surprised at Sasuke's sudden unreasonable outburst. "What are you talking about now?"
"Listen to me," Sasuke's eyes pierced Neji's. "Just because I was the one who left doesn't mean you were the only one who suffered. I suffered too, you know. You think that I just up and went and forgot about you instantly? You better fucking think again,"
"Sasuke," Neji said warningly. "You're kind of the one who brought this on me—both of us. You make it sound like I'm to blame,"
Sasuke said nothing. Neji glared at him before turning around, about to walk away, when Sasuke stopped him. Neji froze and sighed heavily.
"Get off,"
"I want to stop you,"
"Fine," Neji said. "What if I want to go back to Konoha now? Will that mean you'll let me go?"
Sasuke's grip tightened around Neji's shoulder.
"Don't go back,"
"Then what the fuck do you want me to do?"
"Just…," Sasuke stepped forward and brought his arms around Neji's slim body tentatively. He didn't care that Neji tried to squirm out of his embrace. He held on tight.
"Stay here,"
Neji closed his eyes. He felt the corners of his eyes dampen. He wasn't going to deny that the hug felt good.
"Fine," he said quietly. "I'll stay,"
For the time being…
***
Itachi had brought Suigetsu back to his own room, lain him on the bed, and helped him wipe down the wound even further, even though Suigetsu had already done that. Apparently Deidara had done the initial wipe down, and that made Itachi kind of angry inside.
"Does it hurt still?" he asked quietly, wincing a little himself at the fine cuts on Suigetsu's torso. Suigetsu tilted his head and smiled.
"No," he answered. "Not that you're here now,"
Itachi blushed. "That's so corny,"
"You love it," Suigetsu commented. He took Itachi's hand and pulled the Uchiha on top of him.
The bandaging could wait.
***
Sasuke took the chance to take Neji in physically.
Not much had changed, like he'd decided before, he just seemed…bigger. And that was it. He still felt like the same Neji from ages ago. Sasuke wondered if he still felt the same to Neji.
"You're skinnier now, aren't you?" Neji turned around and put a hand on Sasuke's partially exposed chest. Sasuke inhaled sharply at his touch.
"I guess. I don't notice,"
"You don't notice a lot of things,"
"They're usually little things. They don't matter,"
"You think?" Neji replied. His hand slipped from Sasuke's chest and almost brushed against Sasuke's crotch. Sasuke felt himself grow hot while Neji, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice.
"I'm sorry," Sasuke tried.
"Look," Neji held up a hand. "Don't waste your breath. It's never going to work: your apologies go nowhere,"
"Really?" Sasuke took both Neji's hands. "They really mean nothing? At all?"
"Apologies change nothing," Neji said. "Not going to ease the pain at all,"
"What would you like me to do then? Besides…leaving you?"
"You already left me," Neji replied shortly. "All I want…,"
He stopped. He didn't know what the alternative to Sasuke leaving was. There was no alternative. He just wanted Sasuke to leave.
