A/N: Hey, here's the next chapter. Its been a while since the last update hasn't it. This chapter seems a bit longer than usual but I hope you enjoy it anyway. Read and Review plz :)

Warning: Same as usual, making out

Disclaimer: Same as always

A week or so later...

"Have a good winter break Suri!" a fellow peer cheered to the brunette as she made her way towards the nearest exit.

"You too!"

Pushing on the glass doors, she sighed contentedly and crossed the student parking lot to her car, grateful for a shield from the cold weather. She flipped on the heat and rubbed her hands together absently. With finals finally over she looked forward to being able to put her brain on auto pilot for a while. Soft flakes of snow fluttered delicately to the ground outside her window and she couldn't help the grin that spread across her face. Winter had always been her favorite time of the year. It reminded her of the happier parts of her childhood, before her parents got divorced and all three of them would have snowball fights and snowman building contests in the backyard. Then, when they would feel the needle like prickling in their fingers and toes they'd head back inside, sit around the fire place, and sip hot chocolate with marshmallows. The buzzing sounds from her pocket pulled her out of her thoughts, and she quickly fished out her phone to check the text.

"Shino" read the name of the sender across the top of the screen.

She smiled softly to herself. So far things had been going great between her and the Aburame. The more time she spent with him, the more she found herself feeling… in sync with him if that makes sense. Most would say she was just in the "honeymoon" phase… and maybe they were right but to be honest their opinions were irrelevant. She understood the risk; she didn't need to be reminded. She'd seen it first hand, during her parents' divorce. She saw how this thing called love could be that tender kiss goodnight one minute, then the monster lurking underneath your bed the next. Oh did she know. But where would the fun in life be if you always played on the safe side of the street.

The door opened and Suri shivered slightly at the cool breeze that danced across her skin. A scowling red head slipped in first, then a smirking raven after. Gaara's face seemed a bit flushed as he muttered unintelligibly to himself.

"What happened?" Suri asked curious.

"Nothing." the red head replied curtly.

"Gaara was flirting with Shikamaru and slipped on ice", Sasuke corrected. "You should have seen it, the look on his face was priceless." he chuckled.

"Shut up!" Gaara glared.

Sasuke merely stuck his tongue out at the other in response.

"Aw, don't be embarrassed." Suri giggled under her breath as she pulled the shift into reverse.

A few days later….

Neji Hyuga stood on the opposite side of the door, hand in midair, trying to gather the courage to knock on the stupid piece of wood in front of him.

"Why is this so nerve wracking?" he thought irritably. He ran his hands swiftly through his hair and let out a sigh. It had already been 4 weeks since the "incident" and things were still weird, and if didn't get fixed soon he was sure he was going to go crazy.

"You got to do this." he said firmly to himself, and with all the confidence he could muster he brought his down on the door with 3 swift knocks. He brought his hand back at his side and waited for a reply. Silence. Then some rustling inside and finally the raven haired beauty was standing in front of him. His silky black hair was pulled into a neat ponytail, he wore a black long sleeved t-shirt, and grey sweats. Itachi's eyes widened for a moment but then his features settled into uncharacteristic coldness. It was not hateful but more distant. As if he were trying to separate any personal feeling from the situation. Neji felt a pang in his heart but spoke up to break the silence.

"Can I come in?"

The Uchiha shifted, allowing Neji room to enter. He shrugged off his jacket, slugged over it his forearm, and then made his way to the living room to plop down on the sofa. He scanned the room, comfortably observing his surroundings. From what he had seen of the tiny apartment, the style of decoration screamed Itachi. Simple but classy. The kind of place that makes you feel at ease. In the next moment Itachi appeared, quietly taking a seat on a stool that was located on the other side of the room.

Silence.

"You can come closer you know… I won't bite." Neji joked sheepishly, trying to rid the awkward atmosphere.

Itachi didn't say a word, choosing rather to focus anywhere but Neji. Neji followed suit, not really knowing where to begin. What seemed like eternity passed before the pale-eyed teen couldn't take it anymore.

"Itachi…"

"Let's break up." Itachi interrupted. Time seemed to freeze at that second. The causality in the other's voice almost made Neji question if he had even said it, but there was no mistaken.

"But…" Neji began.

"It's what I want." Itachi interrupted once more. The Uchiha picked at his nails, refusing to meet Neji's gaze.

"How can you say it so calmly? Like…" the teen faltered. His chest felt tight and the back of his eyes were beginning to sting.

"I've had a lot of time to think, and I just don't see us going anywhere", Itachi said plainly.

"Oh really", Neji scoffed.

"Really", Itachi replied.

"Look, I'm sorry about my dad but…" Neji tried to explain but once again was interrupted.

"Don't make this harder than it has to be Hyuga."

"What are we, strangers now?"

Silence filled the room again and Neji's head was throbbing at the recent turn on events.

"I don't understand", he thought to himself. "He's done a complete 180 turn around." The stinging behind his eyes grew more intense as he studied Itachi's indifferent expression.

"Itachi… I love y…" Neji whispered, but faltered again.

"Enough Neji, please." Itachi countered. He closed his eyes, folded his arms across his chest, and sighed.

"Am I a burden to you?" the teen asked, heartbroken.

Itachi didn't reply, only stood up from the stool and went to stand against the wall.

"Why aren't you answering any of my questions?"

"…"

"Itachi." Neji demanded more firmly. "Aren't you being too cruel? I can't speak for anyone other than myself, but I love you Itachi. So fuckin' much. What we have between us is priceless to me, and I thought the feeling was mutual, so why are you acting like this towards me?"

A moment passed before Itachi decided to reply.

"Had." he corrected. "What we had between us."

Neji felt his heart drop down to the pit of his stomach and the tears he had been trying so hard to hold back, slide down his cheeks. He made no noise, only let the salty water continue to fall delicately into his lap.

"I think you should leave now." Itachi said from where he was standing. For the first time in almost an hour he looked over at Neji but immediately shifted his gazed back to anywhere else that wasn't the dejected teen not 5 feet away from him.

"Yeah." Neji said half-heartedly. He stood up from the couch, slipped on his jacket, and then headed for the front door, taking a second in between to dry his face with his sleeve.

Itachi stayed several steps behind him, quietly following. Neji, now at the door, grasped the knob and turned it gently, pulling it open. He took one step out, but then stopped and turned around. Now facing Itachi, he took 3 swift steps towards his former lover and placed one last, quick chaste kiss on the raven's lips.

"Thanks for everything... It was truly amazing while it lasted." he whispered sincerely. Then in one swift movement he turned on his heels and walked out of Itachi's apartment closing the door behind him.

Itachi stared at the door blankly.

"It was for the best", he tried to comfort himself. "...For the best. Damn-it... why couldn't he have just left...why'd he have to kiss me. I was doing so well..."

His body began to tremble and the stinging behind his eyes came full force at once.

"D-damn-it..." he cursed in a shaky voice. He bought a trembling finger to his lips where the feel of Neji still lingered. Tears had now begun to fall unwantedly from his eyes, and he swiped at them angrily with his sleeve.

"F-fuck", he cursed again. He wiped at his eyes again and again until they felt sore, but no matter how much he tried to rid them, they kept coming. Before he knew it, he was a broken, babbling mess on the floor. He brought his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them as he sobbed. He sobbed for his broken heart, he sobbed his worthlessness, he sobbed for his inability, he sobbed for his failure as a brother, friend, and lover, but most of all he sobbed for Neji. He sobbed for putting Neji through all this and he sobbed for wasting Neji's time. He curled deeper into his cocoon until it was nearly impossible to breathe, but it didn't matter. He'd been holding back ever since he'd first opened the door to see Neji on the other side. All he wanted right now was to cry himself into exhaustion or maybe a coma if he was lucky enough.

Suddenly he was pulled to his feet and into a warm, welcoming chest.

"Wha..." he gasped in surprise.

"Enough already, you're such as cry baby", a familiar voice chuckled.

Itachi looked up from the comfy chest, eyes wide and teary. "N-N-Neji?"

"Yeah, it's me. Just stop crying already. I hate to see you cry." he replied, grinning softly at the raven.

"N-Neji..." Itachi began but another sob ripped through his throat. Ashamed (from earlier), he tried to push the teen away, but Neji would have none of it. He pulled the raven back into his chest and rubbed soothing circles into his back with one hand. The care and gentleness in the touch only made Itachi cry harder.

"Did you really think I would give up that easy?" Neji teased, kissing the top of Itachi's head. "We're not called Hyuga's just for our good looks you know."

After a few minutes passed and Itachi's crying hadn't lessened, the Hyuga led him to the living room sofa. There, he lay down on his back and opened his arms inviting Itachi to join him. Instead Itachi clasped his hands in front of him and looked down at his feet.

"Babe", Neji urged softly. Itachi's eyes watered again at the "nickname", but he inched closer nonetheless. When he was in arms reach, Neji pulled the shorter male to lie on top of him. Snaking two toned arms around Itachi's waist, he pulled the other close to him. Itachi snuggled into the teen's chest, basking in the feeling he'd been craving for a few weeks now. Now only uneven hiccups and gasps emitted from him.

"Feeling better." Neji asked.

"S-s-sorry, N-Neji *hiccup* s-so s-s-orry." he mumbled into his chest.

"Sush now babe... You don't have to be sorry. I understand."

Itachi pushed himself up and was now straddling the Hyuga's lap. He looked down at his lover with red, puffy eyes, then began to fiddle with his fingers.

Neji sighed and used his elbows to push himself in an upright position (itachi is still on his lap)

"I love you Tachi." He lifted the others chin with his finger and placed a quick kiss on his lips.

"L-l-love you too Neji." said Itachi, closing his eyes and loosing himself in Neji's touch.

"But don't ever, and I mean ever break up with me again unless you mean it. Got it?" Neji gave him another kiss.

Itachi nodded his head, not trusting his voice.

"I wanna hear you say it." Neji demanded, squeezing his jaw ever so slightly.

"I got it"

Neji smiled and nuzzled the raven's neck. Itachi gasped, his hiccups all gone now. Neji distributed a few more sweet kisses to various exposed spots on the pale, slender neck. Then he moved up to his chin, on to his lips, the tip of his nose, then one for each puffy eyelid.

"Love you Neji" Itachi half moaned. It had been so long since he'd really kissed Neji. This was utter bliss.

"Love you too Itachi", Neji smiled genuinely. "You know we have a lot to talk about later, but for now..."

The teen licked teasingly at the elders' lower lip, and was immediately granted access. He explored the moist cavern with his tongue and found it pleasantly sweet. Itachi hesitantly probed his tongue into Neji's mouth, but eventually got into the feel of it. Itachi pulled their bodies closer, to Neji's pleasant surprise, deepening the kiss. The kiss grew more passionate, neither trying to gain dominance over the other, but more so working as one. When oxygen had become a necessity, the two parted, both flushed and panting.

"Neji."

"Yeah…"

"Do... you want to spend the night?"

"I'd love too."

2ndA/N: Don't hate Itachi please! You know that saying, "If you love something let it go." That's what Itachi was doing, but in the end Neji came back so everything's fine and dandy. Been thinking lately, and smut scene might be coming up soon. I'd like some opinions first though. Smut? Or No Smut? What do you think? You're free to interpret the ending however you'd like, it's pretty vague, but anyway I hope you enjoyed. Read and Review plz :)