Nik: Yay! I got reviews and some from my favorite people! ^.^
To the first Anon, This is DEFINITELY a Neji/Gaara fic.
I know it sounds a little like it may be the other way around but the last chapter was ONLY chapter one...
I'm doing my best with the suspense thing, lol.
Neji will ONLY be with Gaara in this fic and vice versa.
Some people ::Cough:: Corvin ::Cough Cough:: Veta, apparently do not like Neji or Gaara with other beautiful people...i.e Haku. ::smiles::
Corvin: Neji and Gaara cannot have boy smex yet so calm your nerves child.
You knew I was NOT going to tweak it that much.
Veta: I think we all love an evil Gaara.
That is when he is at his best.
Also, I looked for the stray"Neal" that got away and I can't find it because my eyes play tricks on me.
Second Anon:I am sorry I abandoned this such a long time ago.
My only good excuse is that I was having writer's block and I was writing so many other fics at the time that this one was too much to keep up with.
Plus the end of chapter 4 had me totally confused on what to do next.
Thank you so much for all the praise and kind words.
I will definitely continue this!
Again...I did read through here but I'm sure something is misspelled or someone's name is wrong.
Just let me know.
Thanks everyone for reviewing!
I look forward to hearing from you again!
-Nik
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Naruto.
Credit to Kishimoto
Chapter II
Gaara's Journal
August 8
-This is the beginning of a record book for the odd events taking place inside and outside of my body. I am the age of 10 at the current moment and for the last couple of days my body has been reacting differently to the weather outside. I can no longer step into the sun without my skin crawling. The summer rain burns my body and the air in the darkness cuts me like a sword-
-It is recommended that I stay inside the castle until more knowledge of my condition is uncovered. I have not been this unhappy since my 6th birthday, when the spirit of my body decided to invade and lurk in the shadows of my soul-
-Now 4 years after my 6th birthday, I have only seen this Kami once. This is the third day I have spent inside the castle alone. I cannot visit the greenhouse where I am used to sending most of my time. I just sit on my window seal and look outside at the plants that no one else will tend to-
-My father has heard of my condition and out of spite is coming to Suna castle tomorrow. He will bring those two cretins who call themselves my siblings. I have not seen them since I left Kaze castle in the spring of my 4th year. That is perfectly fine with me. I would much rather be King of Suna then live under Temari while she reigns as Queen of Kaze-
-In light of my newfound illness I have taken up writing. I will keep meticulous notes on everything happening to me from this day on. This is day one of my records and nothing has happened, as of now, but tomorrow while my 'family' travels here, I am very sure that they might accidentally have a tragic death. Sakon and Ukon will come in handy one of these days. My father's visit will be very memorable-
-SNG
August 9
-This is the second day of my log and my father has arrived. He is down in the throne room and I am to meet him in a matter of minutes. Damn my uncle for agreeing to a visit. I do not need to see the King that has shunned me-
'It will be good for you.' Says my uncle. 'Your siblings miss you as well.' He says.
-I do not believe a word of the nonsense, but I must meet with them. I wonder...they must die! Have they died now? No? I thought if I were to write it, it would come to past. It seems that the Gods are not on my side either-
-SNG
Neji stared at the book as the last entry was read. Gaara wanted his siblings dead? That was no surprise. The prince wanted to kill half the Kingdom and then some. Neji scratched his head as he kept looking at the page. Something was a little different about the blank space under the last words. The page itself almost seemed blurry. As if something was written, no, drawn on the paper. The more Neji stared the more the 'something' appeared. He ran his hand over the paper and as he did a very bright light started to glow over the page and over his hand.
The light went from white to pink to red to orange to yellow to green to blue. The colors began to swirl and the book flew out of Neji's hands into the air. The books pages ruffled and it opened to the page he was on. The swirl of glowing light captured Neji's eyes and he fell dizzy to it. His body began to shake and his vision blurred. The book released a strong stream of wind and black smoke. The smog surrounded Neji and engulfed his entire body.
Soon he found himself in a portal of black and purple light. He wasn't sitting or standing, he was floating passed bell towers, castles, people, clocks, and other objects. He eyes wondered around him but the tunnel of electric dark light was too much for him. He screwed his eyes closed and let the wind throw him about. He never hit anything, he just flew right through everything.
'I'm dreaming. I must have fallen asleep while reading that book. I'm here and I'm not going crazy. This place is really just a figment of my imagination. I'm really back in Shirotori asleep on that nice comfortable bed.' Neji tried to convince himself he was really just dreaming but at that moment he stopped floating and fell. He landed on his back with his eyes still closed. He could hear talking and some people shuffling around him. Where was he?
When Neji opened his eyes he was back inside the castle. Or at least what he thought was the castle. He was lying on the ground in the main room. Two very big wooden doors were in front of him, closed and sealed tight. He sat up and looked behind him just in time to see three foreign people and two common guards disappear through two other doors down the hall that looked oddly familiar.
'Those doors lead to the throne room.' He thought and got up to run after them. He reached for the doors to push them open and instead grazed right through them. He fell on the floor again and looked at his hands. They were nearly glassy and hard to see. He stared in disbelief then looked down at the rest of his body that was the same way. He'd just flown right through a closed door.
'What…am I?' He thought.
"King."
Neji looked up and saw King Yashamaru sitting down on his thrown. He was talking to a man with a crown just slightly bigger. Neji peered at the man harder. He couldn't see his face but somehow there was something very well known about him. Neji got up and walked closer to the scene. Two teenagers stood very still next to the man. One of which Neji could immediately tell was a girl and the other hid under a cape and a helmet.
"King Yashamaru." The man bowed.
Neji hid behind one of the pillars in the room and watched. He already noted that this was Suna castle and that King Yashamaru was the King on the throne, but he didn't know the other King or the two teens…and where was Prince Gaara? Neji remembered the journal for a moment.
-My father has heard of my condition and out of spite is coming to Suna castle tomorrow. He will bring those two cretins who call themselves my siblings-
'Did I travel through time? They must be Gaara's family. If they're down here and I remember correctly Gaara must be in the library or his room writing in that journal right about now. I wonder if he'll really have them killed.' Neji looked around the room and saw Sakon and Ukon standing off to the sides of the room. They were wearing their armor minus their helmets. Ukon had a grin on his face and Sakon was obviously whining about something.
"I'm sure you remember my children, Temari and Kankurou. " The King nodded to Yashamaru and pushed his children forward. Temari put her hands together and bowed while Kankurou just shrugged.
"It would be a crime to forget my own niece and nephew." Yashamaru weakly smiled and bowed back to the two youths. The other King nodded and looked around the room. His eyes fell low and he began speaking.
"Where is he?" The man asked in a rough tone.
"The prince refuses to see you." Yashamaru said bluntly. He received a look of hate from his brother-in-law, but ignored it. "I don't blame him. Do you blame him?" He received no answer. "I have told him that he is to at least make his presence known while you are here at least twice. He will be down to say hello and then he will have dinner with us. He is not obligated to do anything else concerning your visit."
Neji raised his eyebrow. He didn't know why Gaara and his 'family' didn't get along. He didn't know why Gaara was the Prince of a Kingdom he wasn't born to. He didn't even know what was going on for that matter. He finally ignored the conversation and looked towards the twins. Maybe he could explain to them what was going on, or at least attempt to. He waved his arms to get their attention. Surely they were looking directly at him, why weren't they responding?
'Can they even see me?' He thought, looking down at his nearly invisible hands again. 'No. I wasn't here during the time this took place. I don't even exist in this Kingdom yet. Dammit! How am I to leave if I don't know how I got here?' Neji looked to the two Kings talking and looked back at the twins. He was going to have to take a chance. He stepped into the middle of the room. He still got no reaction from anyone standing around.
'I was right, they can't see me.' He walked up next to Sakon and touched his shoulder. If they couldn't see him he was going to have to reach them another way.
"Whoa! Did you just feel that?" Sakon looked around him while shivering. Ukon looked over at him and frowned. The other was spinning around trying to see what had touched him or if there was something there.
"Stop fooling around." Ukon said turning his eyes back to the matter at hand. Sakon stopped moving and ignored the little bit of wind that kept bothering him.
Neji was waving his hands in front of Sakon but nothing was happening. He finally stopped trying to get their attention when the East door in the throne room was thrown open. Everyone in the room looked over to see a small redhead entering the room.
'Is that Gaara? He looks…ill. That condition of his must be really bad. I'd feel bad for him if he didn't look so mean.' Neji glared at him. He still looked like Gaara, with his evil gaze. He still had the emotionless face, but there was a bit of sadness there.
"Prince Gaara looks better today." Sakon said with a small smile. "I didn't think he would really leave his room knowing that his father was in the castle. Maybe he's getting better." They both watched him slug his way to the chair on the throne that was his.
'Looks better? He looks like he's dying.' Neji folded his arms and stood still next to Sakon.
Gaara sat in his chair and shrank back like he always did. His face was a little more pale than usual. The circles around his eyes were just beginning to get darker and they grew red near the corners. He looked almost abnormal and Neji decided he wanted to know more about this illness.
"Gaara!" Temari smiled and waved. She went to take a step forward but she saw Gaara shudder so she stopped. She stood there and stared at her brother for a second wondering if she should proceed with her action.
"Don't come any closer than you are. Though you may be in a hurry to see me, I am not in a hurry to see you. I have not looked forward to this day. You all no longer exist to me." Gaara stood again, ready to leave.
"Pig." Kankurou whispered taking off his helmet and setting it on the ground. He looked up at Gaara and growled at him. They really had come to see him but of course Gaara was acting his usual self and Kankurou would rather just leave than have him treat them like they had never cared about him.
"Gaara that is no way to speak to your sister. She has traveled far to see you. Please take your seat and remain respectful to the future Queen." Yashamaru's voice was soft but firm.
"That is what I expected of a monster…" Gaara's father took a few steps forward until he came to the stairs of the throne. He narrowed his eyes at Gaara. "I should have killed you when I had the chance." His breathing was normal but his eyes were of pure darkness.
'What the hell?' Neji jumped back in shock. 'Is this guy serious? Did he really try to kill Gaara?' Neji looked at Sakon and Ukon who didn't seem surprised.
"That's enough King! You will not talk to him like that in this castle! He is no longer in your hands and you will address him with respect just as he will learn to respect you." The King of Suna looked up at the two guards. "Sakon, Ukon, please inform the others of the King's arrival. Tell them that they are to be in the dining hall in one hour." He stood and nodded for them to leave.
"Yes King Yashamaru." The twins said simultaneously and saluted as they threw their helmets on and rushed out the doors to the West of the throne. Neji decided he would stay and watch what was happening with Gaara and the others. He was beginning to learn why the boy had so much anger.
"Temari, Kankurou, man who is no longer my father." Gaara stood and bowed before he started heading back out the East door. Nobody said anything as he walked away. They all stood there, probably in shock that he had even addressed them. Neji started tiptoeing after him, then he remembered he was basically invisible. He hurried after Gaara and out the door into the dark hallway. Gaara stopped, and if Neji had his regular body he would have run into the Prince but he didn't have his body and so he flew through Gaara and ended up on the other side of him. He walked back and stood near the door, just in case he needed a quick exit.
Gaara held his forehead in his hands as sweat dripped to the floor. He leaned against the wall by pressing one hand against the wall to hold himself up. From the way his body churned Neji thought he was about to throw up. Instead Gaara grabbed his neck and squeezed it tightly.
"Not yet, stay down." He coughed, and thanked Kami that nothing but air escaped. Neji watched helplessly as Gaara tried hard to breathe the air that had mysteriously gotten thicker around them. In fact something a lot like fog was beginning to surround them. Neji panicked as the cloudy substance surrounded him more than Gaara.
"Finally found you…"
Neji looked around the darkness but no one was there. It didn't even look like Gaara had heard anything as he straightened himself up and used the wall to make his way back to his room. He was slugging and almost out of site by the time Neji decided to follow.
"Leave him." There was that voice again. Neji opened his eyes wider as if it would help him see something that clearly wasn't there. He saw the fog getting thicker and more apparent around him. Within seconds he could feel the air leaving his lungs. The only thing he could see was clouds and…eyes? Strong red…eyes?
"Return to your time now."
Neji backed up and hit the wall. 'What? I didn't faze through?' Neji looked at his hands, pulling them close to his face. He could see them now! 'Wait…does that mean I'm going back? I need to know what happens to Gaara.' Neji shook his head and tried to concentrate on staying where he was, but to no avail. A pit formed in his stomach and soon he was standing on nothing; rather in something. He was in the portal again. Brighter colors crossed him this time. Reds, oranges, and yellows. This was different than the first portal that had brought him here. No clocks followed him, no people, just…that book. At the end of the portal Neji could see Gaara's journal in front of him. It appeared to be sucking the entire tunnel into itself. He wasn't going to fit.
Neji covered his eyes as he neared the small whole. Then something even more weird than traveling in time through a book, took place. Neji's body swirled and stretched until he was nothing more than a pair of eyes. He floated into the book and popped out of the other side in full form, still lying on his bed. Neji grabbed his head when he stopped screaming in his mind. He looked up at the book as it closed and flew across the room into a pair of hands.
Neji stared at the hands, they were the only things visible. "This castle is haunted…" He looked on in horror. The fingers on the hands began to move and tapped the book. Neji looked closer as the hands grew arms and the arms grew a chest and neck. The chest grew a torso and the torso grew legs that weren't too long in length. The neck grew slowly but nothing passed the ankles appeared. Without a head the body began to move closer to Neji's bed. He didn't move, either he was stuck in fright or he was curious.
The headless body stopped at the foot of Neji's bed and leaned over as if it was looking at the boy. The book was clutched dangerously tight in its hands as the body hovered off the floor. It rose up and moved over his bed, so close to the boy they could have touched. The body sat itself on the bed and crossed its legs.
"This does not belong to you."
Neji somewhat recognized the voice. It was the same one he'd heard while visiting Gaara's past.
"The castle is not haunted either." A head finally came into view. Neji gasped as low and soft red eyes appeared on a pale and sorrowful face. Neji looked at the person or spirit in front of him. He noticed that it wasn't actually sitting on his bed, but floating just above it. He relaxed and sighed, he could just take a wild guess at who this was now.
"You're one of the Shindeiru Beings."
"And you are the last Maho Hyuuga. You won't be around long if your keep sticking your nose into things that do not belong to you. Had the Prince found you passed out on your bed with his book you would have lost your soul inside." The Shindeiru coughed into his hand. "Sasori of Wind Kingdom." He said bowing his head.
"I have questions about that book, about Arakeru." Neji spoke softly since the other had the same tone of voice. He wasn't out to upset anyone and he'd fallen into the book by accident. Best apologize and act civil so he could get some kind of decent answers.
"Shindeiru are the keepers of this book but even we don't know in detail what occurs inside. It is best you do not question the contents. As for the Arakeru, since you will receive yours in a matter of hours, I will oblige you with answers to your many questions." Sasori tucked the book safely under his arm and stared at the boy in front of him.
"Ga…-I'm mean the Prince said you could receive Arakeru without the brand. Is that of truth or am I just another fool he's given a little more hope?" Neji sat crossed legged as well and folded his arms. He had a bad feeling that Gaara had been lying and was intentionally just stringing him along for his own devious amusement. After all this was done Gaara was going to brand him whether he liked it or not. That's what Neji was busy thinking about while Sasori began to talk on the subject.
"There is some truth in everything Gaara says. How you get to the exact truth is based on your heart's desire." Sasori looked up at the ceiling and then to the door. "The statement about the Arakeru having more than one way of being born is a fact. There is no truth or lie to it. The fact is, there are three ways that the Arakeru spirit is born." He looked back at Neji with wide and scary eyes. "But you mustn't explore the others!"
His voice was so loud and his eyes were so frightening that it caught Neji off guard and he fell back on his pillow. Neji smacked himself and sat up again. Sasori was calm and looking out the window not too far away from the bed.
'What is with these people and windows?' Neji looked towards the window but ignored it and looked back at the one in front of him. "You said I shouldn't explore these other paths. Why? Is there some backlash I need to worry about?" Neji resumed his previous position with his body prepared for another outburst of horror.
"You will die…" Sasori coughed into his hand again. "I received my Arakeru before I became a Shindeiru, back when I was still a Maho Being. I cannot say the same for my comrade Deidara. The first way to retrieve Arakeru at a young age is death in battle. Deidara was fifteen at the time and couldn't wait until his gifts were released. He came from a family of very strong Maho Beings in Iwa castle. He had much to live up to. The second Great War between Iwa Kingdom and Wind Kingdom brought us together. I found him lying nearly dead near his castle and I had my orders to kill any survivors. This boy was different and I could not pull my sword against him. He confessed to me that he wanted his Arakeru and dying in battle would be his way of achieving it. When asked how he would be brought back to life he never answered." Sasori looked off.
"I left him where he was and ran to my King to tell him of my plan. I was granted leniency for not killing Deidara upon sight since my father was a commander of the court. My plan was to let Deidara die and then revive him with the King's restoring Arakeru. The King agreed to my plan on one condition; after the boy was revived, he would become a part of the Wind Kingdom's force. I agreed as well but I wasn't going to tell Deidara, and I had no intention of following through. On my way returning to him I was attacked and killed. I never made it back to his side and he as well died without my aid." He looked back at Neji who was sitting fascinated.
"No one revived us. Years went by and my spirit roamed aimlessly. I searched for Deidara and I never found him. My thought was that he'd gone to a better place while I was condemned to spending life in this world for considering becoming a traitor. After seven years of wondering my body or what was left of it awakened on a table in a glass house. Next to my table was my dear comrade. There I saw Prince Gaara with a smug look on his face. He brought us back and we had one purpose. Protect the book."
"Glass house? Are you talking about the greenhouse outside my window? The prince is always looking at that thing. Is that where the ceremonies take place?"
Sasori nodded, "Though we do not use it anymore. Prince Gaara cannot leave the castle walls." Sasori coughed and cleared his throat. Neji wondered if he was sickly like Gaara was. They had the same little appearances and they made Neji shiver. He really didn't want whatever it was they had.
"I remember reading that inside the book. What's going on with that? He seems a lot better than he was seven years ago, but what caused this?" It was about time he got some answers. If he couldn't finish reading the book then he was going to have this guy tell him everything he wanted to know.
"When the prince was born a demon witch from Ruthern Kingdom cast an evil spell on him. He wasn't to live pass the age of ten. Something inside him would destroy his body. Anything would kill him if he wasn't careful. Food, air, light and darkness. Surely enough at the age of ten he could no longer leave the castle walls. His body began to decay and weaken faster than anything. It wasn't known what would take him so he remained inside."
"After he somehow gained his Arakeru he surpassed the illness. The Being living inside him that was to cause his death is what saved him. The witch had accidentally instilled a sure way for our Prince to birth his Arakeru. The demon witch found this out through a spy named Kabuto. She returned and fought with the Prince. He lost in his weakened state and was once again cursed, stronger this time. He will die at the age of eighteen and no later. These were her words. prince Gaara will probably try to awaken a second stage of Arakeru to surpass it...but he needs a participant."
"Look, it's all well and good that you all love your Prince and all but the boy is a monster. He's trying to kill everyone not of Wind Kingdom."
"You are still here are you not? The Ruthern Kingdom teens are still alive, even though a witch from their homeland cursed him. The last Bōei Being is here. He brought back to life an enemy of Iwa Kingdom and made sure we would be a team of one for the end of eternity. There is more to him than meets the eye."
Neji decided to ignore the last part. "It's also great that you got your little friend back and everything but that's not helping me any. I need a way to get Arakeru without being branded and without dying. And what's this about a second stage Arakeru, I mean I just learned about the first part, when did we come to the conclusion that there is more than one stage?"
"Heed my words young Hyuuga. Death and pain are the only ways to reach this land's gift."
"But you said there was a third way-"
Neji's door flew wide opened and slammed against the wall. It hung on one hinge and dangled, daring to fall on the floor. Neji gulped as Gaara walked viciously into the room. Neji jumped off his bed and stood on the opposite side he was on. Sasori had disappeared just as the door flew open and he was standing behind Gaara with Deidara who wasn't trying to get too close. Gaara reached his hand behind him and Sasori put the book in his hand. He then stepped back to stand with Deidara.
"The emotional stress you are putting on me is not a good thing. You are a brave one." Gaara stopped walking when he was standing directly in front of Neji on the other end of the bed. His entrance had straddled Neji but he wasn't afraid of Gaara and he was going to make that known.
"I needed answers and you carelessly left the library door unlocked. That book was begging me to read it." Neji smirked when Gaara tried to wipe away the anger growing on his face. If Gaara could get what he wanted out of Neji then Neji was definitely going to get what he wanted out of Gaara. Even if it meant walking the knife a couple times.
"And you found what you were looking for?" Gaara didn't know exactly how far Neji had read but he was hoping he hadn't gotten far enough to understand how the book worked. Neji looked at Sasori and the Shindeiru shook his head, signaling Neji not to say anything to further upset the Prince. Neji smiled and looked back at Gaara who didn't find the smile very amusing.
"I found a lot of things. Nothing I'll be sharing of course." He was winning now. Gaara's anger was absolutely obvious.
"Out!" Gaara yelled and the two Shindeiru disappeared. The door mysteriously repaired itself and slammed closed. The lock snapped and Neji was trapped in the room with the evil Prince.
"You have something coming Hyuuga.
"Another suck feast with his Majesty?" He raised an eyebrow. "You know, I'd probably be more prone to cooperate if you would just tell me what I want to know. Why is everyone so set on hiding the Arakeru from me? First you tell me there's another way, then Sasori tells me I shouldn't be concerned and that death plays a major role. What the hell is the last thing? I'm not getting branded, and I'm not dying, you're going to tell me what the last birth is." He took a deep breath. Was all that talking necessary? Why not just threaten the boy?
"No one knows of the last encounter but me. Experience wise, I too am a stranger to the last method. It cannot be achieved by someone like me, nor someone like you. We're both too stubborn to reach that far."
"Why don't you let me decided that?"
Gaara stayed silent for a minute. 'He'll surely never figure it out. I can give him every hint under the sun but he will never know. Fine, if he wants the third opening, he can have it-' Gaara took a deep breath and exhaled. "I will give you a week to figure out this on your own. Upon finding out I will discontinue your ceremony." Gaara turned around, more than ready to leave.
"Wait…a week? Sasori has been here for six years and he doesn't even know. How the hell am I suppose to figure this out in seven days? Are you not going to at least leave me with a hint?" Neji circled the bed and stood in front of Gaara, blocking his way out of the door.
"A hint?" Gaara said the word as if it was foreign to him. "Very well then Hyuuga. You may have a hint every night that you do not guess." Gaara put his arms at his side which had previously been folded in front of him, somehow managing to unknowingly drop the book. He stepped closer to Neji so they were chest to chest.
"Ready?" Gaara whispered with dark eyes. Neji didn't even get to finish nodding as Gaara stood taller and nearly pushed him off balance with a small kiss. Neji's first reaction was pushing the younger away by grabbing his shoulders. His next reaction was-
"What kind of a hint is that?" He was blushing and trying to keep his eyes from looking into Gaara's. He searched the floor, the walls…the bed. He shook his head and looked away from the bed, accidentally falling prey to Gaara's cold eyes. The Prince had his head down and his eyes looking up. He was trying to hide his blush but he couldn't help but notice Neji's.
"One hint every night, questions are prohibited." He regained his composure and pushed passed his embarrassment."
Neji wondered if all the hints would be this distracting and awkward. 'He's just trying to make you forget what you're thinking about. Don't let his fool you with those…lips.' Neji bit his lip and snapped out of thought as he felt Gaara shift and move away from him. He was heading for the door before Neji knew what was going on. The boy turned around so fast he made himself dizzy, but still managed to grab Gaara's arm and pulled him back.
'I wasn't even paying attention to what the hint might have been. Dammit, I'm going to have to ask him to do it again. Were his eyes closed? Had he been looking at something in the room? Where the hell was I when he did that? No more playing around Neji, get the hint and start searching.'
Gaara didn't care for the hand on his arm and she made that clear by looking down at it then back up at Neji. He didn't growl but he sure wanted to. Neji ignored him and brought them close again. 'What the hell am I doing this for? I know what the hint was…don't I? Was it the kiss? No! That's way too obvious. There's a code word hidden in here somewhere. Close? Shock? Lips…soft skin with beautiful eyes…'
"Hyuuga, let go of me or I'll kill you where you stand."
Neji snapped out of his daydreaming erotic thoughts and looked at how his arms had strangely wrapped themselves around Gaara's waist. Both Neji's eyebrows rose and he let go of Gaara like he was a hot piece of coal. Neji gulped and Gaara brought his face up from looking at the floor. He was doing all he could to hide his enjoyment and it worked as he looked at Neji and the Hyuuga thought he was going to die for a second. Neji gathered what little courage he had left and smiled. He could see the bit of receding pink tinge on Gaara's face. He mentally rubbed his hands together, this gave him a slight advantage.
"I seem to have forgotten the clue you gave me. Well, more like I didn't understand exactly what it was. I believe a repeat is in order." Neji stood noble at his approach to the situation. Gaara of course wasn't fazed by the words and Neji's little bit of pride was at last shot down. It was obvious that Gaara felt something towards him, why was he acting like such a hard head?
"What's that nasty cliché about truth? How does it go? Oh yes, the truth shall set you free." Gaara grinned. "Did you truly not understand or did you just want another go 'round?"
'Damn, and I thought I was sticking my neck out. This boy knows all my tricks.' Neji jumped out of his surprised state and stepped closer, if that was possible. "I'm curious as to why you're in such a hurry to leave." Two could play Gaara's game.
"Maybe I'm not done with you yet." Neji leaned down, lips inches away from lips. "The hint, Gaara?" Neji held his position and Gaara held his. They stayed this way for a short while then Gaara blinked and only turned his eyes around in his head, trying to escape the glass pearls tearing at him.
'I can't understand him. He does not run from me, he does not hide. What exactly is he looking at? I am my family's demon, why do I not scare him? More importantly, why am I scared of him?' Gaara turned his eyes back to see that Neji hadn't moved anywhere. He felt himself crumbling as the seconds grew long and the Hyuuga kept his ground.
Coming to the conclusion that he wasn't going to be outsmarted by a servant Gaara filled the space between them and helped their mouths find each other. Neji's warm lips were so smooth over Gaara's that his heart crashed. He stayed completely still as heat moved through his body. Gaara wanted to stay that way for just a while longer, but unfortunately as of right then that was only Gaara's first very consensual kiss and he was at a loss for what to do next. Contrary to the rumors Gaara had not had any lovers.
He only often assumed himself by tying boys up in his room and letting them hang there on the ceiling until the moaned in agony.
'He's not backing off.' Neji thought as the need to push closer nagged at him. 'Move Gaara!' No such luck, Gaara held his eyes open staring. Neji did the only thing he could think of at the time. He wrapped his arms around Gaara's waist again and bent him closer. Gaara leaned away putting his hands on Neji's chest to help push himself off but he lost the battle when Neji parted his lips.
The prince turned his head quickly breaking the kiss but Neji grabbed his chin and brought a reluctant Gaara back to his lips. Neji smothered their lips again and squeezed Gaara's cheeks with his hand. Gaara fought to keep his mouth closed and turned away again.
"If this goes any further one of us won't be alive in the morning." Gaara looked up so fast he nearly slammed his head into Neji's. They were close again, both breathing hard. Neji couldn't stand the waiting and impatiently broke forward and caught nothing but skin. Gaara had turned, granting Neji a taste of his cheek.
"Huh?" Neji turned the boy's face back around and tried to kiss his again. He received his kiss.
"I was telling you to stop." Gaara moved towards the door. He stood and ruffled his hair. Neji stood up straight and swallowed hard.
"…Why?" He asked not looking anywhere but at his complete interest. He'd gone into this game trying to find out how he could manipulate Gaara and came out with the Prince taking first and second while he lagged in late third. Neji moved close to Gaara but he didn't bother to answer and began walking out. Neji almost grabbed Gaara again when he realized Gaara was leaving the book where he'd dropped it on the floor before the kiss. Neji wanted to read the rest, so he played it off.
"I guess its goodnight then?" He kicked the book under the bed while he talked so Gaara would hear it sliding on the floor. The redhead stopped just short of the door and grabbed the handle. He nodded but never turned around while pulling the door open. Neji sighed, despite having the book in his possession for a little while longer, he wanted to continue with his enjoyable sin. The door closed behind Gaara and Neji fell back on the bed finally able to breathe easily.
Outside the door Gaara let himself go. He dropped to the floor and grabbed his head, trying to squeeze out every bit of the previous scene. 'I'm not falling for him. He's my servant. He is my property. I can't let him get any closer, he'll ruin me…but I…need that feeling.'
-"If it goes any farther he won't have to figure out the last birth of the Arakeru. You're leading him right where he wants to be. You're such a weak Being. If I didn't need you to survive I'd leave your filthy body and take your throne."-
'"Quiet you! Can't you see I'm trying to think? Stop being a pest." Gaara picked himself up off the floor and wondered a little farther down the hall to his room. He pushed through the door and fell on the floor near his window.'
-"You're getting soft Gaara. This boy is going to eat you alive if you can't maintain a clear head around him. He already knows your weakness, he knows you want him. You made that clear earlier when you told him he was going to be your lover and mate. Idiot! He's going to use your weakness and turn it on you. You'll be dead long before he even reaches Arakeru on his own."-
"I said shut up Shukaku! You're only good for one thing. Stop trying to give me advice on fucking the Hyuuga. I have already made it clear that I need to be wed while I am Kind since this is not my Kingdom of birth. If he wants the third awakening of Arakeru then so be it, but his soul will belong to me for all eternity.
Neji opened the book up after locking his door and burying himself under the thick covers. He left a crack so he could read but he really didn't need to see anything. He was going back to see what happened to Gaara after his family came. He just needed to remember what he did to open the portal.
Gaara's Journal
August 9 continued
-My head…it's…it's pounding with voices. I can't seem to hush them long enough to hear myself think. Their presence makes my skin crawl with thousands of wild locusts. The man who is no longer my father does not know that in my head these wheels turn and I plan to take him to his grave with these strong eyes he has passed down to me. I must go back for dinner, but I will bring a souvenir of their end with me-
-SNG
Neji found that at the end of this entry the page seemed to blur just like before. He took a deep breath and ran his hand over the paper again, imitating the movements that helped him travel to the past the first time. Sure enough the white light glowed in his eyes. He smiled as the lights didn't bother changing this time but just slurred his body and the portal dragged him inside with one gulp.
Neji wound up on his back again in the same hall he'd left where Gaara was on his way to his room. Neji got up and dusted himself off. Torches were on in the hall now and Neji could see Gaara walking passed him to the main castle where the dining hall was. Gaara looked like some illness was eating at his body. His skin was a pale shade of light blue. He looked like he was going to literally freeze to death and he walked with his arms around his body in an effort to keep himself warm.
Neji just couldn't put his finger on it. Gaara seemed perfectly fine in the present time. What flesh eating, skin freezing, energy draining demon was taking over him? Neji hurried down the hall as the torches blew out every time Gaara passed one. Something was after him, following him, about to grab him if he let his guard down.
They entered the main hall, Gaara oblivious to Neji's presence. Neji's first sight was a boy about the same height as Gaara. He was standing next to a boy with raven black hair. The boy that Neji had seen was smiling brightly and waving his hand high. His hair was a vibrant blond and his blue eyes gleamed in the light of the chandelier. The boy next to him didn't look like he even wanted to be there. His eyes very dull but full of something Neji couldn't seem to match in words. He stood up against a pillar while the blonde ran over to Gaara still smiling.
"Hey Gaara! You're looking a whole lot better today! Don't worry about the dinner. I, Uzumaki Naruto, will be there to see you through it!"
The boy leaning against the wall rolled his eyes and Gaara seemed to enjoy the little outburst. He nodded and Naruto smiled, showing a thumbs up.
'Uzumaki Naruto?'
Chapter II end.
I introduce Naruto and Sasuke.
I wonder what I will do with chapter III.
Might be a couple of days of waiting.
R&R
The more reviews I get the faster I will post chapter III. Its more than half way done.
I think I have about 3 paragraphs of it left. I've been editing day in and day out to finish this up.
Coming up, chapter III- Greenhouse Absence and Bumble Bees.
-Nik