Nik: I'm back because I said I would be.
Sadly enough I don't have much of a life with my lover working so much these days.
I've been survivng on Netflix and Spectrum Nexus! (If you've never been there to read yaoi then go...now...well after you read this)
I will post the link in my profile.
Blaze- Thank you so much for reading! I am glad you are enjoying the story and that I have your attention.
I'm not going to tell you the third opening silly!
You might be able to guess but I will NOT reveal until Neji happens upon it.
In whatever manner that will be. I have not decided yet, unfortunately.
I should really find some time to write chapter 6 before I get done republishing these already written chapters.
Nase: Welcome back! Maybe this time I won't be such a punk about finishing this fic.
Your kind work sure do make it a lot easier. Thanks! I love to see my older readers come back around once and awhile.
Thanks everyone for the reviews! Lets get on move on this shall we?
-Nik
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Naruto's anime or manga.
Credit to Kishimoto.
P.S.- This chapter is a lot longer than the first two. Its about 100 words short of 11 thousand words (No life) so be in the mood for a long sit.
Chapter one and two were only about 8 thousand words.
Chapter III
Greenhouse Absence and Bumble Bees
Gaara's Journal
"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!"
"You're such a loser Naruto. What makes you think the prince needs your help in getting through the dinner?" Sasuke moved off the pillar and met Gaara and Naruto in front of another hallway. Neji assumed it was the entrance to the dining room. Instead of trying to hide this time he walked closer to listen to the conversation.
"Grrr, what do you know Sasuke! I bet you're just mad because I'm the strongest one in the castle. Is that it?"
"Is that a challenge Naruto?" Sasuke glared at him. Naruto glared right back and they shared a deadly electric death stare. Gaara sighed. He just had to have two best friends that couldn't even get along. Gaara began to say something but stopped to release a dreadful cough. Naruto and Sasuke stopped their argument to look at him. Gaara put up his hand and waved them away.
"I'm fine…I-" He stopped and looked around the main room. Neji nearly froze when Gaara looked dead in his direction. Neji couldn't help but think that Gaara could actually see him. He looked down at his nearly invisible hands just to make sure he couldn't see himself. Neji swallowed hard and looked behind him. Thank God he saw Sakon and Ukon-minus their armor- walking down the hall to meet up with Gaara. He turned to them still holding his hands over his mouth.
"Did you find what we're looking for?" He asked and then coughed darkly. Sakon nodded and Ukon stepped forward to show Gaara two fairly small boxes nearly covered in dirt. Gaara's eyes widened and his breathing picked up speed. He was excited about something in those boxes, Neji concluded. Gaara reached for the box and Ukon snatched it away while Naruto pulled Gaara back.
"Forgive me for my rudeness your Highness but have you gone mad? The dirt clouding these sphere holders could kill you."
'Sphere Holders? That's right! Soldiers are buried with spheres that were made from their hearts. If a King was to resurrect a solider for battle he would simply place a sphere into a willing or dead body and the sphere would take the form of the one which it belonged to. So it's not a legend.' Neji stepped closer and looked down at the boxes in Ukon's hands.
Gaara grunted and wiped the sweat from his face. "Where is Lee?" He snapped at Naruto who often knew exactly where the energetic boy was. Naruto shook his hands in front of his face to ward of Gaara's evil gaze.
"Don't you remember Gaara? You sent him on an errand yesterday." Naruto smiled and hoped Gaara hadn't really forgotten. The prince had become very forgetful lately and Naruto had to tell him things three or four times. Gaara stared at Naruto but didn't growl at him like the boy thought he was going to.
"He's not back yet? I expected him to be here while that man was here. Would any of you care to tell me why he is so late returning?" Gaara looked at all four of them at separate times.
"It's likely he ran into some trouble. Those bastards from Mizu castle have been hunting us all down for the last week. Master Naruto and Master Sasuke were ambushed just last week on their way to Yuki castle." Sakon was franticly trying not to bit his nails as he thought about where Lee was. Gaara didn't like it when he couldn't find Lee.
"Ambushed you say?" Cough. Gaara looked at Naruto who was loudly assuring the prince that it was nothing major. Gaara looked over at Sasuke who had decided he'd rather lean against the wall with his eyes closed rather than listen to Naruto sputter every five minutes. It was enough that they were always paired and shared the same room. He didn't feel like listening if he didn't have to.
"You didn't lose anyone did you?" Gaara opened one eye bigger than the other and stared over at Sasuke. The laid back boy's shoulder twitched a bit and he opened his eyes just a little.
"Three but Naruto recovered a captain at the last minute. We made it to Yuki castle and back minus two men total." He paused when Gaara had a look of curiosity on his face. "Nobody worth resurrecting." He finished and closed his eyes again. Gaara turned to Sakon and Ukon.
"I'm going to excuse you from this insignificant dinner gathering." He turned his body around to face them. "The cellar door is unlocked so go down and prepare two tables for me. We'll be meeting the traitor and his companion very soon." He turned around and began walking into the other hall. Naruto stayed back and talked to the twins while Sasuke leisurely followed after Gaara.
Neji wasn't sure who to follow. He wanted to see what was in the cellar and how Gaara was going to revive soldiers. He didn't really want to sit through a dinner he couldn't enjoy and watch Gaara's father talk down to him. Sighing, Neji headed the way Gaara had gone. He was only here to figure out the Arakeru and he needed Gaara for that.
When Gaara entered the massive dining room everyone was already at their designated seat. King Yashamaru sat at the head of the table on the far end of the room. He didn't look like he was enjoying the company of his brother-in-law. King of Wind Kingdom sat to his right and Yashamrus's two most trusted Generals sat to his left. Temari and Kankurou sat father down the table near the place where Gaara was supposed to sit. Twenty chairs on each side of the table and only eight people were attending the meal.
Gaara took his seat and the end of the table, opposite his uncle and Sasuke sat to his right. Neji figure he couldn't even sit down since he thought he would faze through the chair but he hadn't fazed through the floor so he tried and succeed. He sat across from Sasuke and watched Gaara closely. Gaara's condition seemed to be getting worse by the minute. His skin was nearly white and his body appeared to be just barely shaking.
"I have arrived!"
Everyone in the room looked at the doors to see Naruto sprinting through them. He ran over to the table and stole a seat on the other side of Sasuke. The boy glared at Naruto and crossed his arms.
"Sorry I'm late guys. What's for dinner?" Naruto rubbed his hands together and licked his lips.
"Isn't that your chair?" Sasuke pointed across the table at the chair the invisible Neji was occupying. Naruto looked at the chair and then wrinkled his nose. He looked over at Sasuke and stuck his tongue out.
"You're sitting in Lee's seat so I decided I would switch seats too. Isn't it okay if I want to be just like you Sasuke?" Naruto folded his hands together and gave Sasuke his biggest and best puppy dog eyes and laid his head on Sasuke's shoulder. The boy pushed Naruto off of him and sat back in his chair. Naruto snickered next to him having annoyed his 'friend'.
Half an hour passed as Neji watched the two Kings talk. Naruto was busy bothering Sasuke while Gaara sat in silence the entire meal. He didn't touch his food and pushed it away upon receiving it. Neji eyed the cold food then eyed Gaara. No one had seemed to notice that he was barely sitting up. His neck was hanging and he looked a bit lost.
"You cannot possibly be serious!"
Neji looked down the table to see the Wind King standing up with an angry look on his face. He looked back to Gaara who had raised his head as well. Naruto had frozen while ready to jab a fork in Sasuke's shoulder and Sasuke merely opened his eyes a little wider.
"He is my heir now. I have no sons or daughters to take the thrown and I am going to announce to the entire court and village tomorrow that Gaara will be taking the thrown sometime around his seventeenth birthday." Yashamaru spoke calmly and looked down the table at Gaara.
The boy's eyes were shaking with fear as he watched his uncle. King of the Wind castle clenched his fists and looked down at Gaara, as did the rest of the table, four servants in the room and the guards at the door.
"He's going to be dead in a matter of days. Why give your portion of the Kingdom high hopes for an heir that won't be alive by next week?" Wind King pointed to Gaara. The Prince growled at his father but remained in his chair, despite wanting to take the man's head off with one of the guard's swords.
"This is my castle King of the Wind and I have the right to appoint any heir I wish. Gaara is more than fit to become King. His illness has not been a factor set aside but he is rising from this curse and he will be better." Yashamaru stared at his nephew and nodded, silently thanking him for keeping his cool.
"Please reconsider Yashamaru, sire. Take Kankurou if you must. He will make a fine King for this village and he has much training." Wind King pleaded.
Neji looked at Kankurou. The boy had his head bowed down as if he wasn't paying any attention to the entire conversation. Gaara looked at his brother then back at his so-called father. He glared at the man who was now staring at him.
"If I didn't know any better I'd say you cursed him yourself." Yashamaru said to the other King. The boy's father was taken aback but he regained his composure and sat down again. He glared at the other King and opened his mouth to speak.
"I would not have waited ten years for him to die. Had I put a curse on him, that monster would have died the day he was born." The King looked down at his estranged son. Gaara was busy shaking again. The entire table was in pure shock; nobody had anything to say, that is...nobody but Naruto.
"Hey you! Old man! Don't you dare talk to him like that! He'll be a better King than you ever were! You'll see!" Naruto jumped out of his chair and onto the table. He pointed at the Wind King and growled. No one was going to speak about his friend in such a manner and get away with it! Dammit!
"Naruto." Cough. They all looked back at Gaara as he leaned on the table with one hand and pulled Naruto's pant leg with the other. Naruto turned around and looked at him. Gaara shook his head and Naruto lowered his shoulders. He stared back at the wind King before he got off the table and flopped back in his chair. Silence blared through the room and Neji got tired of looking back and forth between Gaara and his constant changing of stares.
The Wind King grunted and muttered to himself. Everyone at the table picked the mutter apart and came up with 'Freak'. Gaara stared at his uncle and his vision blurred. He began swaying back and forth as a result and in a matter of seconds his loss of breath kicked in and his forehead met the table.
Neji jumped up at about the same time Naruto and Sasuke did. All three rushed over to him. Sasuke lifted Gaara up and Naruto checked his eyes, lifting open one of his lids. Naruto shook his head slowly.
"He's out of it again. We better get him to his room." Naruto threw one of Gaara's arms around his shoulder and Sasuke got the other. Gaara's body was dragged out his seat and hauled out of the room. Neji looked down the table at Yashamaru. He didn't seemed phased but Temari and Kankurou looked almost worried in their own 'I hate you Gaara way'. Neji took a second to look down at the King of the Wind.
'Is that a smirk?' Neji's fists clenched and he scowled at the man. 'He probably did have that witch curse Gaara. What kind of a man is he?' Neji walked to the door. He turned around and growled at the man one last time before he left.
Upon walking out of the room Neji found himself back in the portal again. 'Dammit! I didn't ask to leave yet. How the hell did I get in here?' He stood still as the vertex carried him through the lightly colored room and spit him out on his bed.
Neji shook his head and took a deep breath. Pulling the covers off his head Neji looked around the room. Gaara hadn't found out he left his book and Sasori was nowhere in sight.
'How did I get thrown out then?' Looking down at the book Neji noticed the next clear date was August 12th.
'He didn't write for two days after the dinner incident? He must have been passed out the entire time. I guess that means that I can only see what Gaara has seen. If it's not written then I can't be there to see it. Dammit. How am I to find out why Gaara has become this way if I cannot get the whole story?' Neji took a second to smack himself. 'Since when is this about finding out about Gaara? I'm supposed to be looking for the third opening.' He looked up and then mimicked everyone by looking out the window. 'Am I...concerned about him?'
Gaara was pacing his room now. There was something he was forgetting, he just knew it. Having calmed himself down after the encounter with Neji -and his room –Gaara found himself trying to remember a lot of things. He paused just almost close to figuring it out when a soft knock met his door. Half running into a wall, Gaara stopped.
"What!" He shouted. The door opened and Sasuke stepped in, coolly. He tried to close the door behind him but Naruto barreled in and fell flat on his face. Sasuke rolled his eyes and Naruto stood up quickly saluting Gaara with a smile and a laugh.
"You were supposed to have returned two days ago." Gaara stared more at Sasuke like he always did. "Where is it?" His frantic voice startled Naruto and he jumped back.
"Gaara don't you think this is too much? I mean if we extract your sphere how are we going to bring you back? What if we make a mistake?" Naruto frowned and tried to reason with the prince. Gaara narrowed his eyes and stuck his hand out.
"I don't have time to think about that right now. There's no other way to open the second stage. I don't have time to-" He stopped and looked at the both of them hard. "You didn't find it did you?" His eye twitched when he saw Naruto gulp. Sasuke pushed Naruto off of him-where he'd fallen back-and tried to explain.
"We were attacked by 'them' again. They got to the Ring before we did." His voice was serene and he didn't seem to care that Gaara looked like he was about to sentence both of them to get their heads chopped off. Naruto jumped in front of Sasuke to calm Gaara down.
"It's not our fault! Those guys are stronger than we are for some reason. They've even got two new members. This blue-looking guy and this guy we didn't get a very good look at. They were fast as hell. We didn't even get a chance to see the Ring before they snatched it up."
"You didn't see it 'cause you were on the ground whining." Sasuke looked from Naruto to Gaara. The Prince gritted his teeth and balled his fists. Naruto took a step back and whispered something to Sasuke that made Gaara glared.
"Sakon and Ukon brought back their mission Ring. Lee brought back his Ring and is on a hunt for another. Haku and Kane brought their Ring and Kimimaro and Tayuya brought their Ring. You two are the only pair to not achieve a Ring. There are two of you. I need five of those Rings Naruto, not four!" Gaara roared at the both of them. Naruto dove behind Sasuke.
"I am going to have to split the two of you up since you cannot work together."
Sasuke's eyes went wide and Naruto whined.
"Better yet…" Gaara turned around and folded his arms again. He walked away from the two and-of course- stood near his window. He peered down at the dying green house as his mind played out the scenes of introducing his newly appointed servant to his most trusted, most failing pair of friends.
"Gaara?" Naruto called out as he peeked from behind Sasuke's back.
"You must have heard by now that we have a new person joining Shirotori kazoku."He mentally rubbed his hands together as the gears in his head began to turn. "The last Hyuuga in all the land has fallen into my grasp and I intend to use him to his full potential. Take him with you on your next mission."
"But Gaara-"
"That's an order Naruto!" He swung around with death in his eyes. "I have struck a deal with him regarding his branding ceremony. His has a total of seven days to figure out the third opening method. If he cannot, he's mine for eternity but if he does-and you two had better make sure that he doesn't-I am not allowed to brand him and we will wait for his eighteenth birthday to achieve his Arakeru." He was a lot calmer now and was sitting on his window seal staring at the two.
"But Gaara, Sasuke and I are the only two in the castle that know of this method besides you and not even we can reach our next stage. And believe me, we've tried." Naruto looked back at Sasuke and nodded. Sasuke turned away with a light pink flowing across his cheeks. Gaara ignored Sasuke's embarrassment.
"You're both blind to it. Having the realization alone isn't going to help you. You're not ready for the next stage, that's why your body won't evolve." Gaara took a deep breath and sighed. "Even I'm not ready for the method. I'd rather die trying to reach the second stage than corrupt my mind into thinking I need someone to help me." He was silent after that.
"What about the Hyuuga? Even if he does figure it out he won't be able to achieve it. His options are low. Either he dies or he gets branded. You didn't leave much room for anything else." Sasuke said, finally looking up and ignoring the look Naruto was giving him.
"Exactly." Gaara said darkly. "It is likely that his genius blood will allow him to figure it out but he most certainly will not be able to use this to his advantage." Gaara smiled a dark smile. "He is yours for the week. Do what you will with him. You're to leave tomorrow night for Yuki castle where another Ring is hidden. Now go." Gaara turned around and there was no word from the other two as they left.
"Naruto, Sasuke." Gaara sounded more evil than usual. The two turned around and Naruto's teeth chattered.
"Don't mess this one up."
Two hours later it was probably nearing dangerously close to morning. Gaara was sitting on his bed staring up at the ceiling. He lay with his hands behind his head. He appeared to be in deep thought when Sasori and Deidara floated through her wall.
"He still has my book." Gaara said, never taking his eyes off the ceiling. Deidara was shocked, he didn't even think Gaara knew they were in the room. Letting their bodies cast full form; Sasori and Deidara stood on the floor.
"Didn't we already recover your book from him Sir?" Deidara looked over at Sasori as if to say, 'I swear I saw you give him the book back.'
"He caught me off guard with his excessive need to know everything and I absentmindedly left it behind. I won't go back to his room another time tonight. Get my book back Sasori." Gaara turned his head to the side to look at the pair that was standing next to his bed. Sasori nodded and took a step back.
"If he finds out about the travel method we'll be in serious trouble." Gaara said and immediately returned his eyes to the top of his room. Deidara and Sasori took this as Gaara telling them to go, so they did.
"He must not be feeling well." Sasori pointed out as the two flew down the hall towards Neji's room. Deidara slowed down and looked at him. He moved his hair out of his face some and then flew to catch up.
"Why would you say something like that? Gaara hasn't been sick since he was ten. Don't assume things Master Sasori." He was trying to remain positive since he'd also seen that Gaara didn't look so well. Either way he was going to just ignore it and pretend this Prince wasn't dying, again.
"Did you see the flush over his face? If that wasn't an indication of his illness then I don't know what is." He paused in the hall and stared at Deidara when he started groaning about the Prince being invincible. The blond also paused and looked at his companion.
"You don't think that witch's curse is going to start up again do you?" He started pacing back and forth. Gaara was supposed to die at the age of eighteen and he had a couple years but that didn't mean that his illness wouldn't start up again. Hopefully he wouldn't begin acting the way he did when he was younger. Deidara and Sasori hadn't been there for the whole ordeal but they heard stories and they didn't like the sound of them.
"I would hope not. Gaara has nearly one or two months until he is crowned and we cannot hope he will become King if he is dead and gone. With a death like that there will be no way to revive him."
"But what about the Rings? Do you think they're going to help him surpass death by force?" The blond frowned. "What are the Rings really for? I haven't heard much about them. Just that they're some indestructible force." He pulled himself into a tangible form and leaned against the wall.
"The Rings are bands of light. I do not know how or why they were created but when a Being stands in the Ring they are invincible. The Rings expand in size once activated and ones power is doubled and carried to the ultimate defense. The Rings themselves are about the size of a small pebble and weigh about as much as a feather. When many are brought together they can make you immortal and immune to any illness. Gaara has gone through great lengths to pre-locate these Rings. It is my guess that once five of them are assembled he will have him sphere removed while inside the circle of light, thus killing him but since he will be immortal, he will not fully die, but gain his second stage."
Deidara looked like he'd seen a ghost "Are you not suppose to die in battle to open to achieve that? How can he reach a stage with just a pointless death? It defies all the laws of Arakeru." He stared almost vacantly at Sasori . The other shrugged and moved off the opposite wall he had leaned against.
"That's why we are all curious to see how this is going to work out. You cannot possible hope to gain any Arakeru with a meaningless death. It's greed that is driving our dear Prince but he has become a genius of the Arakeru and we can only trust his judgment." Sasori moved and Deidara stared at him as they passed through the wall into Neji's room again. There they saw a bundle under the covers and looked at each other.
"Master Neji, it is forbidden to look inside that book." Deidara called while floating over to the bed. He pulled the covers back and to both their surprises, Neji wasn't there. They looked around the room. He was missing and so was the book. Deidara started freaking before Sasori could pull the picture into play.
"Gaara will have our heads if we don't find him." Deidara looked under the bed and ran to the window that was mysteriously open. "You don't think he ran off with the book do you?" Deidara shook head. "Man oh man oh man we're in trouble."
"He didn't leave the castle. It's impossible for him to get through the wall's barrier. I'm sure Gaara was smart enough to remember to restrain Neji's spirit to these walls. If the Hyuuga leaves without consent he will die." Sasori looked at the door which was unlocked-had he been walking he would have seen that-and hanging open.
-'I have questions about that book, about Arakeru'-
Sasori thought back to what Neji said. 'That damn Hyuuga doesn't know what he's in for. The third opening is a mess waiting to happen. If he finds out how to awaken it Gaara will be furious.' Sasori looked up at Deidara who was franticly pacing and muttering things to himself.
"Check with Naruto and Sasuke. He couldn't have gone far. There's talk that they're taking him to Yuki castle tomorrow. Maybe Sasuke was a bit impatient. I'll go find the twins; they seem to know too much for their own good. If you don't find him there, gather up Haku, Kiba, Kimimaro, and Tayuya. Have everyone search for him and keep this from reaching Gaara's ears." Sasori vanished just as he finished talking, leaving Deidara to panic and run through the wrong wall.
Neji walked up and down the halls reading the journal. He ducked in and out of different unlocked rooms every five or ten minutes to avoid getting caught. Eventually he came to the West side of the castle. In one of the main hallways he paused. Voices could be heard coming from the room directly to his left. Fearing he would get caught Neji hid-stupidly-next to the door so if it swung open he'd be hidden behind it.
Listening to the two voices argue Neji noticed that he recognized them from the journals past. He leaned closer to the door just to make sure he was correct. The arguing ceased for a minute or two. Neji lowered his eyes. Did they know he was eaves dropping?
From inside the room came a loud crashing sound. "Sasuke you bastard! Let go or I swear I'll kill you!" Naruto was hanging up against a wall while Sasuke held him by the throat. Sasuke narrowed his eyes and tossed Naruto into another wall.
"It's bad enough Gaara already knows we like each other. Had I wanted him to know we've tried to reach the third awakening I wouldn't have neglected to tell him. "
Naruto managed to get out of Sasuke's grasp and push him back. "You don't have to be so shy about it Sasuke-kun."
"Naruto!" Sasuke grabbed him again. This time he threw Naruto on the bed and tried to punch him. Naruto stopped his hand and rolled them over. Sasuke growled and pushed his hand in Naruto's face as the blond straddled him.
"Okay okay I get it, I get it. Gees, you don't have to be such a crybaby Sasuke. Gaara doesn't even care." Naruto got off Sasuke and laid on the other side of him. "Why are you so afraid to let everyone find out? It's not like they don't already know." Naruto yawned and turned on his side. Sasuke didn't answer, hell if he knew why anyway.
'So they know what the third opening is too.' Neji raised an eyebrow. 'I'll have to make their acquaintance...but first-' Neji walked down the hall to the first open door he could find. He walked in the room that appeared to be some type of linen closet. For it to have been a closet it was still big in size. There were two other doors in the room itself so Neji checked them.
He opened the first one and came across a wall of boxes. They appeared to be old and rotting away. Neji quickly closed the door from the utter smell of something that was similar to a molding corpse. He walked over to the other door and tried to pull it open. It was a lot heavier than any of the other doors he'd come across in the castle. He set the book on the floor and pulled it was brute force. It slowly opened and to Neal's surprise all he came upon were towels and sheets.
He shook his head and began to turn around when he felt a draft. He looked at the shelves full of cloths and walked closer to them. He touched it and took a step back at the loss of warmth. He breathed and could see his own breath in front of him. Raising a curious eyebrow Neji put both his hands and pushed the shelf.
This was his lucky day. The rack moved and in front of his two pale eyes a downward staircase was revealed. He took a few steps in and the shelf began to close behind him. Sensing it was too dark Neji jumped out of the stairwell back into the closet.
'I guess I'll have to come back when I have some light. This place is as good as any I suppose. I'll just hide you in here.' Neji grabbed the book and picked up a towel to hide it under. As he walked the floor creaked. He looked down at the wooden floorboards. Kneeling down the Hyuuga noticed one of them was loose. He tapped on the hollow board and it echoed. Bingo! Neji pried the board up and looked inside. Not only did he find a mysterious hidden stairwell behind the shelf; he'd found an even more cryptic place to hide the log. It would fit perfectly under the floor.
'You're my only ticket out of here.' Neji placed the book under the board and set it back down. He stood and jumped down on it, trying to fit it back in place. Dusting his hands off he stepped out of the door and closed it. If only he had a key to the door. Neji shut the door to the linen room and headed back for Naruto and Sasuke's room.
There was no surprise when he heard the pair arguing. Or at least Sasuke was arguing while Naruto laughed about something that probably wasn't even funny. Neji cleared his throat and knocked on the door. Silence. Then he heard shuffling and Naruto whining about his not wanting to answer the door. Neji heard light footsteps approach the door and when it unlocked and opened, Sasuke stood in front of him-minus a shirt.
"So, you're the loser that gets to follow me around." Sasuke looked him up and down. "Hyuuga Neji." Sasuke leaned against the door and lowered his eyes. "How'd you make it to this side of the castle? It takes days for the new people to find this room." Sasuke stared unblinking at him.
"I'm a lot smarter than you, remember? After dodging those two Shindeiru for twenty minutes, I fell in the throne room. Two doors, one East one West. I'd come from the East so I chose the West door. It appeared that this was the side of the castle that all the Shirotori kazoku resided in. I figured I would make my presence known." Neji frowned. "But follow you?" Neji said, remembering Sasuke's first words. Naruto ran over to the door and pulled it completely open.
"You look the same. Almost as if you only got taller." Naruto snickered and got to the point. "Gaara wants you to come with us to Yuki castle tomorrow. He's tired of you snooping around the castle so he figured you should get out." Naruto smiled but Sasuke elbowed him in the stomach.
"What makes you think I'm going?" Neji asked. "I apparently have a duty to following your Prince around the castle on his every move. Neji frowned; he didn't have time to go on a three-day trip. He only had so much time to find out what he needed to know so he wouldn't have to be branded.
'Gaara is trying to keep me away from the castle so I won't find out.' Neji stared at Sasuke and Naruto. 'Although, these two already know the answer to what I'm looking for. If I spend three days with them I'm bound to find out the answer. Either way I'm going to find out.' He crossed his arms to pretend he still didn't want to go.
"You don't have a choice. Gaara has made up his mind and he wants you with us for the next three days." Naruto chirped behind Sasuke since he'd pushed the blond back into the room and tried to shut the door.
"I hope there won't be any problems out of you Hyuuga. You see what I have to deal with already." Sasuke shot his eyes back to Naruto and then back to Neji. Sasuke stood up straight and Naruto gave him a little push.
"Sasuke you prick! Are you implying that I'm a pain in the ass?" Naruto growled behind him. Neji looked back down the hall to his right and then to his left, someone was coming. He looked back at Sasuke who was ignoring the multiple punches Naruto was shooting to his back.
"I'll be on my way back to my room now." He turned and began to walk away. "Always a pleasure to see you two." He lifted a hand. "Never thought you two would be together after so long." He made it to the hall door and disappeared. Sasuke glared at the door long after Neji was gone.
"See Sasuke, I told you everyone knows."
Gaara sat up in his room thinking about something that had been bothering him all night. 'My body feels like it's in a painful state when I'm around him. I've never once before been fond of anyone so much. His taste-' Gaara unconsciously ran a finger over his lips. '-I like it'. He remembered the feel of Neji's lips on his-
"Prince Gaara!"
Gaara jumped up and put his hands firmly his sides. The person that had startled him came in through the window. The air was cold and thick as it flowed into Gaara's room. He covered his nose and mouth to get away from the smell of the fresh air. He coughed three hard times and sneezed twice. Inside his hand was blood from his mouth and nose. Gaara glared at his intruder and tried to stop his head from spinning. His skin started to crawl and thin green veins appeared all over his arms and chest. Gaara coughed again.
"Shut the window." Cough. He stared down at his arms as the green veins turned blue then black. The person ran over and shut the window then approached Gaara's bedside.
"Forgive me Gaara-kun. I was trying to get to you as fast as possible so I took the east gate into the castle to get to you faster."
The skin on Gaara's arms didn't calm though, it began to burn and split open. There was a pool of blood on Gaara's bed before he knew it. Shaking his head out of his stupor, Gaara wrapped himself in a blanket to get away from the air of the outside. Once locked safely in the blanket he felt his body calm down. He turned to the stupid person watching frantically.
"Lee you almost killed me, again." Cough. Gaara was literally buried in the covers. His voice was muffled in the cloth and only his eyes were visible. Lee's face fell to a frown and then almost two seconds later grew an even brighter smile than before.
"I have good news Master." Lee dug in a bag he had dropped on the floor. "I have found you another Ring." Lee pulled the delicate thing out and set it on the bed in front of the Prince. Gaara's exposed eyes locked onto the Ring and glowed.
Meanwhile Neji made his way back to the east side of the castle. When he made it there he passed by Gaara's room. He paused and looked at Gaara's door. Staring at the wooden frame Neji grabbed the handle but didn't turn it. He looked down the hall to his room- which wasn't very far- then he looked back at the door in front of him.
'Why do I want to see him?' Neji didn't bother knocking as he pushed the door open. 'Oh God!' What he saw he couldn't really describe. Some weird guy with weird hair and weird eyebrows had his arms around Gaara. Neji blinked in shock. The hug between the two appeared to be mutual. Gaara looked over at Neji as he held onto Lee. The other boy struggled to escape Gaara's grasp at the sight of someone else that he didn't know in the room. Lee blushed and tried again to pull away.
Neji immediately pulled the door shut. 'Who was…was that…Lee?'
The next morning was long. Neji stayed up through the rest of the night and laid staring at his door. He'd hoped that Gaara would come in with an explanation. He got no such luck. He didn't even know why he cared. It wasn't like they had anything special anyway. He'd only met the Prince several hours ago, even though they had two nearly sexual encounters.
Neji lay on his back with his arm across his stomach and thought about the night before. The morning sun was shining in his open window and the smell of something cooking sneaked through the space between his door frame and floor. Sitting up, Neji pressed a hand on his stomach as it growled. Truth be told, he hadn't eaten in almost two days now. He wanted to go to the dining hall but he feared running into the Prince.
He stomach echoed against the silence in the room. Screw it! He was going to go and get something to eat even if he had to sit down right next to Gaara and Lee. He got off his bed and grabbed a shirt to throw on. He half stormed out of his room and down the hall passed Gaara's door, which was of course shut.
He arrived at the doors of the dining room to a multiple of voices. He pushed the door open a little and looked inside. There were at least ten people at the large table. Neji looked around for Gaara but there was no sign of him. So he stepped in and nobody seemed to know he had arrived. He stood near the door until someone shouted.
"Hey Neji, come sit over here!" He looked midway down the table to see Sakon waving a hand at him. Neji stared at all the people at the table that had quieted down and were now staring straight at him. Taking a deep breath Neji crossed the room and stood behind a chair next to Sakon.
"Have a seat; you're just in time for breakfast." Sakon smiled and patted the chair next to him. Neji sat down and everybody watched his movements. Neji paid attention to no one except for Lee who was holding onto Deidara's neck and choking him. He was the first one of everyone to move.
Lee was on the right side of the table close to the space Gaara would take. Followed by him was Deidara, Sasori, a beautiful someone Neji didn't know and two people that didn't seem to be enjoying the chattering. Across from Lee on the left side was Sasuke then Naruto, a spiky haired boy, the seat Neji took and then lastly the twins.
"Neji?" Lee asked, standing and leaning on the table so he could get a better look at the boy. He blinked and rubbed his eyes as if he hadn't seen Neji the night before. Naruto giggled across from Lee and Sasuke slapped him across the head. The room remained quiet except for the cooks coming through the kitchen doors.
Neji nodded to answer Lee's question. So Lee walked around the table to the side Neji was on. He looked a little bit pissed about something but Neji wasn't sure. Lee stood next to him with a mean look on his face. Neji raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?" As if to say 'What do you want?' For no reason at all Lee broke down and threw his arms around Neji, wailing loudly. Neji apparently didn't have any clue what was going on. He was frozen solid as Lee rocked him back and forth furiously.
"I always knew we would run into each other once again! Thank the High Kami for this chance meeting of old best friends! I shall shower you with my joy and we will once again frolic in the sun!"
"Lee." Cough.
Lee stopped moving and let go of Neji. He quickly turned around wiping the stream of tears away from his face. He replaced his happy tears with a joyous laugh while he rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"Gaara-kun." Lee bowed.
"I thought I told you not to scare him off." Gaara was wearing a long sleeve shirt and he was still walking around with his blanket over his head. Neji noticed the pale blue color in his face, as if he was cold inside the warm castle. Gaara sat in his seat at the end of the table and turned away to cough.
"Uh, sorry Gaara-kun!" Lee dashed back to his seat. Neji looked from Lee to Gaara and then back to Lee who was smiling widely at Gaara, unblinking. There was something in the way he stared at Gaara that made Neji uneasy.
"Let's eat already! I don't have all day to wait for breakfast!" Naruto shouted down at the cooks who were holding platters of food but had stopped in shock when Gaara entered. Naruto stabbed his knife and fork on the table repeatedly making a commotion. Sasuke growled at him but didn't bother to put his hands around Naruto's throat.
The meals were put on the table and everyone was served but no one touched their food. Naruto of course was excused from his shock that Gaara was bundled up. Naruto dug in his food and stuffed his face. He looked up chewing at everyone then looked at Gaara but kept chewing and stuffing his mouth.
"Eat." Gaara said, pushing his plate away. "I'm fine." He was most likely talking to everyone but he was only looking at Neji. The Hyuuga looked at the food in front of him. He wanted to eat but it was tradition only to start eating after royalty took the first bite. Neji's stomach growled but he looked at Gaara. No one at the table moved even though Gaara had said it was okay. Naruto was exempt from this because he probably did it all the time without caring.
"I said. Eat." Gaara broke his sentence up and emphasized the last word. That seemed to have woken everyone up. They all picked up their forks and began eating. Gaara just watched from his seat. He had a responsibility to be in the dining room with his Shirotori kazoku while they ate, otherwise he would always skip breakfast and stay in his room to stare at his most treasured loss.
Gaara watched as Neji tried hard to eat slowly. 'He must be hungry.' Gaara noted and watched the boy struggle to keep his fork steady as the food was picked up and slowly brought to his mouth. Gaara mentally licked his lips and shivered while watching his…interest until-
"Are you not going to introduce us to your new friend young Prince?"
Everyone stopped their idle chatter and looked at the boy sitting directly across from Neji. His brown eyes watched Neji and the Hyuuga stopped right before putting a fork full of eggs in his mouth. Neji paused and put the fork down. He sat up and looked at the boy in front of him.
Haku had his hair lying neatly over his shoulder and his eyes were glowing. His face was almost too soft looking, like it was the face of a doll. He didn't even appear to be wearing anything. Neji noticed the slightly see-through green looking kimono he was wearing. Haku was leaning on his hand with his chin, staring at Neji. He had a sweet smile on his face and her lips were a very soft shade of pink.
"Hands off Haku." Gaara stated coldly.
'So that's Haku. He seems almost…angelic.' Neji blinked. Haku pouted at what Gaara told him but sat back in his chair and started eating. Neji picked up his fork and looked at Gaara.
'Does he have no shame?' Neji asked himself and continued eating while he knew the Prince was staring at him. He wasn't exactly uncomfortable; he just wished Gaara didn't refer to him as property without 'really' referring to him as property.
"If you haven't met the Hyuuga then get to know him on your own time." Gaara didn't really look at anybody now. "Don't bother worrying about him rooming with you; he has his own room in the east quarter."
There were some groans from the table, mostly coming from Naruto who had already finished his food and was just about to get up for a second helping.
"That's no fair Gaara! I've been here for practically my whole life and I'm still on west side of the castle with all these losers." He actually pointed to everyone individually. "I'm even still rooming with Sasuke when everyone else has their own room." He forgot how hungry he was for a second and crossed his arms.
"Are you complaining about sharing a room with your lover…Naruto?" Gaara shifted in his blanket and looked at the boy. The blond gawked at Gaara and started waving his hands crazily.
"It's not like that! We're not-"
"Save it Naruto everybody already knows." Sakon laughed and Ukon wasn't far behind him. The whole table began to laugh and Naruto was in fact…speechless-for once. Sasuke tried not to listen to the conversation but the embarrassment was plastered all over his face. He just resumed eating while everyone started mentioning times when they'd figured out about the two love birds.
Gaara smiled proudly behind his blanket, something he rarely did, at the commotion he'd started. Neji looked at him and frowned as he saw Gaara close his eyes and slide through some discomfort. He wanted to get up and see what was wrong but Lee beat him too it-since he had been staring at Gaara the entire time.
'No wonder they were all over each other.' Neji sighed. 'They must be closer than I initially thought.' Neji finished his food and relaxed back in his chair. 'Figures. I finally like someone and they're already involved.' Neji's mind jerked for a second. 'Did I just say I liked him?' Neji lightly shook his head and looked over at Gaara. 'Why'd he let me do all those things to him if he's with Lee? That selfish bastard.'
Lee was currently trying to take his temperature while Gaara tried to push him away, whining that he was fine. Neji looked away and up to the chandelier in the middle of the ceiling.
'What a fine time for me to be attracted to someone.'
After breakfast everyone proceeded to a big conference room of some sort. Neji didn't bother walking in with any of them. He walked right passed the door to head back to his room when he heard Gaara's voice.
"You're obligated to join us." Cough. The Prince said in a not too loud tone. Neji backed up to the door and looked inside. The one table in the room was similar to the dining room table except for the size. Everyone was in a specific chair. There was one at the head and at the end. The table was almost up against the far wall. Gaara sat in the middle of the table closest to the wall. Lee was on his right, followed by Deidara and Sasori. On Gaara's left was Sasuke then Naruto and than Kiba.
On The opposite side of Lee sat Sakon followed by Ukon then Haku. Opposite Sasuke was a guy with short gray hair and a girl with long pink hair. Neji assumed they were the Sakusei Beings since they hadn't spoken at all throughout breakfast. No one sat Kiba so Neji stepped in and headed for the empty chair.
Gaara cleared his throat and Neji looked at him. The Prince was pointing to the only other open seat in the room, the one in front of his. As Neji turned on his heel to walk to the seat, right on cue Naruto started having a conniption.
"Ah! Gaara! Why does he get to sit in front of you?" Naruto stood up and growled but Sasuke just pulled him back down. Neji wanted to roll his eyes. He had to spend three days with the loud mouth? How did Sasuke put up with him?
"Quiet Naruto." Sasuke warned him as the blond sat down. "You already caused enough talk this morning. Just shut your mouth for awhile." Sasuke snapped. Naruto stuck his tongue out at the boy and slouched in his chair.
Once Neji was seated Gaara wasted no time getting to the topic.
"Thanks to Lee-" Cough. "-we now have four Rings." Cough. "If you haven't heard already then you'll need to be careful on your missions from now on. Akatsuki family has two new members to our one. From what I heard from Naruto, one of these members hails from Mizu or Kiri Kingdom." Cough. "We're behind on a Ring so I'm sending Sasuke and Naruto out later tonight to get a head start on it."
"Those dumb idiots failed their last two missions Gaara. Send me; I'll mess up those pig headed mother fuckers from Akatsuki." Tayuya spat. Neji looked at her and raised both his eyebrows. He thought she looked like a sweet girl but now that she had opened her mouth she was not so sweet.
"Grrr! If you weren't a girl I'd pound you!" Naruto glared.
Gaara shot a look at Naruto and he fled back to the seat and ducked down. Gaara exhaled a rough cough and cleared his throat. "As it is, I'm of course not feeling well do to someone entering my room through the window last night." He looked over at Lee and the boy blushed with a smile. "I'm going to have to cut this meeting short. Tayuya I will send you and Kimimaro to the Ruthern Kingdom. Go find a man by the name of Hatake Kakashi. Bring him to me, by force if you must." He paused and turned to the twins.
"Sakon, Ukon, go to Sound castle and retrieve your father. I need his assistance. Haku, you and Kiba need to make a quick trip to Mist castle and find out who this new Akatsuki family member is. Lee, Deidara and Sasori will stay with me. Lastly-" Cough. –Neji, you will accompany Naruto and Sasuke to Yuki castle."
Gaara quickly stood. "I cannot stay out in the hall anymore." He started walking out. "You two have until tonight to find my book." Cough. The two Shindeiru knew he was talking to them. When Gaara was gone the group started moving out and talking among themselves. Neji ignored everyone and quickly moved out of the room.
'Just what was wrong with Gaara?' Neji quickly followed him.
Neji arrived at Gaara's room and was currently standing in front of the Prince's door. He listened before he opened the door this time. Surprisingly he heard complete silence. Gaara wasn't coughing and he probably wasn't moving around much. Neji could almost bet his life that Gaara was sitting on the window seal. He took a deep breath before he entered, even though he didn't know why he was going in.
When he stepped in the room Gaara was still hiding under his covers. He didn't immediately turn his head to see Neji but he turned it as soon as the boy closed the door behind him.
"It isn't safe for you to be in here right now." Gaara said, and that was all.
"It can't be any more dangerous than when I came in earlier this morning." Neji coolly leaned against the back of the door. Gaara closed his eyes and held back a strong cough.
"You sound concerned. " Gaara opened his eyelids.
"Shouldn't I be? You did confess your love for me and tell me you wanted to marry me last night. Have you already changed your mind my dear majesty?" Neji raised an eyebrow and cracked smiled when he saw Gaara hide his cheeks behind his covers.
"What are you doing in here?" Gaara decided it was a lot safer to change the subject. He wasn't going to let Neji know just how thrilled he was that he had come to the room but he also didn't want Neji to see what was going on with his body. He didn't want to scare the boy away.
"You thought you could trick me by sending me on a three day trip. You know very well why I'm here. You expected to send me away thinking I wouldn't find out the third awakening. I'll accept that since it probably isn't fair that I have control of your book. However, you did promise me a hint every night I didn't figure it out."
"You're here for a hint before you leave." Gaara stood and walked over to him, not leaving his precious blanket behind. He stood in front of Neji and let his covers fall to the floor. The long sleeved shirt covered his arms so Neji couldn't see the blood scabbing veins. Gaara reached up and touched Neji's face.
"Are you going to imply a kiss every time I ask for a hint?" Neji stared down at him and leaned close. "I don't think I'd mind so much if you weren't screwing someone else." He whispered in the boy's ear. Gaara grabbed Neji's hair at the root and pulled it.
"I'm not implying a kiss. The answer is a lot stronger than that. The trip I'm sending you on goes hand in hand with this hint. I have not forgotten about you." Gaara loosened his grip on Neji's hair reached up to kiss him. He paused before their lips met and quickly broke himself away. He couldn't afford having his body freak out at a time like this. The hint would have to go unknown this time. Neji was shocked when Gaara turned his back on him.
"If you're not fond of my hinting method then leave. I will reframe from touching your lips again." Gaara wanted to cross his arms but they were still burning from the night before. Neji, who had wanted the kiss, grabbed Gaara's shoulders to get his attention. Gaara twitched and pulled away, hugging himself. Neji stared at Gaara when he turned around.
"Don't touch me." He whispered lightly rubbing her arms. Neji didn't understand why but he quickly stepped forward grabbing Gaara's chin and pushing their lips together. He ground their lips, holding Gaara's shoulders. Gaara wanted to stay like that but the way Neji was touching him began to hurt. Gaara pushed away but Neji grabbed his wrist and pulled him back.
Gaara winced and looked down at his arm. He tried to pull away again, afraid Neji would notice but it was too late.
"What's wrong with you? You've been coughing all morning and you look sick. Now you won't let me touch you even though it's clear you want me to. What are you hiding?" Neji looked at Gaara and Gaara tried to move his eyes from his arms, Neji caught him. He grabbed Gaara's sleeve and forced it up. Neji stepped back in horror. Gaara pushed him away and dragged his sleeve back down. The Hyuuga's body chilled with goose bumps.
The sores on Gaara's arms were torn open. They weren't thin scabs anymore. The open wounds were in great numbers and caked with dried blood. They were the size of walnuts and looked like they were eating his skin to grow bigger. When Neji pulled the cloth back and they tasted air, and bleed more. All over his chest and arms blood began to creep through Gaara's shirt.
"What…are you?" Neji stood farther back and held his arm over his nose like he was sick to his stomach.
"Go." Gaara said. "Go, before I kill you myself." He seemed extremely sad but Neji didn't want to leave just yet. Sure he had been freaked out but he still didn't know what was wrong with Gaara.
"Leave…" Gaara said while his hair swirled in the wind forming around him. "Now!" Neji found himself thrown out the door and into the hall. Gaara's door of course slammed shut and locked.
'Is he…a monster?'
"Let's go Neji you're taking forever!" Naruto yelled as he and Sasuke waited at the gate of the castle for the Hyuuga. Neji didn't feel like rushing. He'd spent most of the day in his room trying to figure out exactly what it was he saw all over Gaara. Somewhere mid day he convinced himself that he'd been hallucinating but shortly after came to the conclusion that this was probably a part of Gaara's illness.
'Those wounds hadn't been there the night before. I saw his bare skin with my own eyes. What could have caused it?'
-As it is, I'm of course not feeling well do to someone entering my room through the window last night-
'Was he exposed to the air outside? Is this the sickness everyone has been dreading? Is he…dying?' Neji exited the gates and a drawbridge closed behind him and the other two. Naruto threw his hands behind his head to complained about the trip and Sasuke just ignored him like usual.
Neji walked farther back and stopped once they were on a hill that over looked the castle. He could see Gaara's window from where he stood. He frowned at the Prince in the window but the boy disappeared.
'Figures. I finally like someone and they're already involved…with dying.'
Chapter III end.
Up next: Chapter IV-Snow White and the Twelfth Coming.
I've already written passed chapter 5!
I am open to suggestions for chapter 6 everyone!
I may not USE the suggestions but its always nice to hear what you all think is going to happen/want to happen.
By the way, I really am sorry for all the mistakes and typos.
Its really hard for me to read and read and read over this stuff.
My eyes are so used to the words that I just think what I see is right.
Don't be mad at me!
See you all in a couple of days!
R&R-Its like payment for my hard work! Thanks!
-Nik