For all you people who read my fic(s) and/or my profile, and/or my author's notes (I know not many readmy notes before the chap);I don't know how many because only my close friends and one other person has reviewed so far, soIhonestly don't know whether this fic is being read or not by anyone (coughcoughsocouldyoupleasereviewsometimecough),you well know that I absolutely abhor Sakura, correct? Yes, there will be Sakura-bashing in this fic. A lot of Sakura bashing. So I'm warning you right now, all you Sakura fans out there, if you like sakura, then stay out of this fic. I will not tolerate any flames from people who like Sakura, do I make myself clear? If you decide to flame me anyway because there is Sakura bashing in this fic, I will ban you from reading this. Nuff zed. On with ficcie.
Oh yes, I owe a fair amount of gratitude to: Clow Angel:) (whoever you are), Fei-Sama, Yukishiroi, and Momochi Zabuza for reviewing so far. To the rest of you who are reading but are too lazy to review: Tsk tsk tsk. Updates will take less amounts of time if you do review.
Chapter 3: The One who Ensnared Him
Neji collapsed in his chair, completely exhausted from the blonde's incessant chattering. Naruto could be very talkative indeed when given the motivation. Sighing, he stared up at his ceiling, once more trying to sort out his thoughts. If things would have gone as planned, this whole day with Naruto would have been a mere act, just a façade to try to understand the boy. Although the time he spent with Naruto…could it be that he wasn't really acting? Did he actually want the boy to be joyful around him? And was it really just an act when he was kind to Naruto? Neji rubbed his temples in slow, circular motions. It was so confusing…and the way the boy acted. His speech was not of servant's dialect. In fact, Naruto's vocabulary was very massive indeed, matching if not surpassing his own. This boy was truly an enigma….
Naruto skipped happily to the servant's quarters, searching for a certain thick-eyebrowed boy. He located Lee in the west wing and walked up to him, asking a few questions about the behavior of his master.
"Lee," the other turned and smiled in greeting.
"Konban wa, Naruto. What brings you to these parts of the mansion? Don't you work as Neji's servant now?" Naruto nodded.
"That's what I want to ask you about. When you were Neji's personal servant…what did you do?" Lee thought for a while.
"Let's see…he basically stood in silence, pacing the room….he wasn't and still isn't one to talk much…and that's about it." Naruto twitched.
"You…you mean he didn't need your services whatsoever?" Lee nodded.
"Hiashi-sama chooses a personal servant for Neji every time he tires of the old one. Neji doesn't have any say in the matter, but that's only natural when dealing with a person bearing a dictatorial attitude such as Hiashi-sama." Naruto nodded again.
"So what did you do in your time as his servant that makes you come running to me for help?" Naruto smirked wryly.
"Neji is normally very quiet, is he not?" Lee nodded.
"I don't think he ever speaks more than ten words a day." Naruto laughed.
"He spoke at least fifty or more to me." Lee arched a fuzzy eyebrow, a rather comical sight.
"Really? Then he must take a liking to you. Which is rare, for never before has he ever given any consideration to we servants down here in the dumps." Naruto smiled.
"I see. Well, thank you Lee. You've been very helpful." Lee nodded.
"Anytime, Naruto, anytime." Naruto smiled and was about to skip away when he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh and by the way, this envelope came for you." Naruto happily accepted the package, ripping it open with eager fingers. A letter fell out as well as a little necklace.
Dear Naruto,
How are you finding life in the Hyuuga Estate? I hope you aren't getting into a lot of trouble, which is almost impossible for someone such as yourself. I'm doing well. Everything is fine, and I'm keeping your room tidy. I hope young master Neji isn't giving you too much trouble. Are you helping in the kitchens? I miss your cuisine…your cooking always had that extra spark of love for me. Anyhow I know this is short, but keep it up and do your best, alright?
Love,
Iruka
Naruto smiled affectionately and stashed the letter in his pocket, making a mental note to save it with all the other letters he'd gotten from his sensei. Iruka sounded so much like a worried mother; it unnerved the blonde somewhat, but that was Iruka. He couldn't do a thing about it. Sighing, he made his way down to the servant's quarters, then paused. Turning, he walked back to the kitchen, opened a nearby cupboard, and extracted a package, taking it back to the room he shared with Kiba. It was a very important package, and Naruto had to deliver it as soon as possible.
Opening the door, he found Kiba sprawled messily on the bed, playing with a renegade thread that had come loose from the sheets. Cocking an eyebrow in greeting, Naruto sat down next to the Inuzuka, peering curiously at Kiba. Hesitating, he made a brave stab at conversation.
"Hi Kiba." A nod was his reply. Naruto tried again.
"Uhm…anything interesting today?" Kiba shook his head, plucking lazily at the string.
"Well…what did you do?" A shrug was his reply. Naruto slowly brought the package out from behind his back.
"Here. Happy birthday."
The utterly priceless look of sheer shock and surprise that had pasted itself on Kiba's face was one Naruto would treasure for the rest of his life. Still dazed, Kiba opened the package to find a small chocolate cake nestled comfortably on a silver platter, with an ornately drawn puppy on the top. A single solitary candle was set in the middle and ringed with little balls of icing. Naruto grinned expectantly.
"So how do you like it?" Poor Kiba emitted a few squeaks and garbles before choking out his reply.
"It's…it's wonderful….simply wonderful…you did this yourself?" Naruto nodded.
A slow, shimmering sparkle started in Kiba's eyes, slowly made its way down to his mouth, then spread quickly throughout his whole body. The Inuzuka lifted his head and stared straight into Naruto's cerulean eyes, a slow grin making its way around his face. Naruto smiled hopefully at the other, only to experience a whirlwind of brown and a tackle that knocked the wind out of him for a good three minutes. Kiba had catapulted himself full-force onto Naruto, and was now hugging the boy like there was no tomorrow and was now snuggling the nightlights out of the poor blonde.
"Naruto…thank you thank you thank you…..no one's ever remembered my birthday before….thank you…..and you even made me a cake as well…." Naruto grinned and patted Kiba on the head.
"Anytime Kiba. Now could you please let go, I'm deprived of oxygen." Kiba let up, grinning embarrassingly at the other.
"Did you draw the dog on the cake yourself? Because that's really detailed." Naruto nodded.
"Iruka taught me how to draw." Kiba nodded and held out a piece of cake to Naruto.
"Here, you should eat some too." Naruto happily complied, and together the two ate the cake, relishing the sweet taste and joy of celebration.
The Next Morning
Naruto bounded down the many twisting and turning corridors of the Hyuuga mansion, making his way to the ornately embossed double doors at the end of the hallway. Knocking quietly, he waited for an answer, scratching his ankle with the back of his foot in anxiety. A servant passed by, then paused, noticing Naruto.
"You're Neji-sama's servant, aren't you?" Naruto nodded.
"His bedroom is down the hallway and to the left. That's his study." Naruto thanked her and followed her instructions, walking deeper into the intricate maze of passageways that snaked around in mind-boggling turns.
Coming to a stop at the end of another corridor, he knocked quietly on the door and let himself in. His eyes bulged and he could have sworn he heard a clunk as his jaw fell to the ground. Neji lived in such…such luxury. Rich mink carpeting lined the floor, complimented by two velveteen chairs in the corner and a fine ebony desk inlaid with mother-of-pearl near crystal clear windows framed by curtains of a deep rich red. A large wardrobe carved from the finest mahogany and engraved with gold stood with an almost regal air against a cream-colored wall. Bookshelves lined the walls of the room, containing within their shelves rare books from all countries and ethnicities. A bathroom was connected to the room, the floor tiles a rare marble, and a silver-framed mirror hung from the center of the washroom.
Gawking openly at the lush furnishings of Neji's room, Naruto let his eyes take in every intricate detail of finery. His eyes gazed hungrily at the upholstery, memorizing every minute detail, then roved over to Neji's bed. The Hyuuga's bed was unlike any other bed Naruto had ever seen before. White silk curtains spilled over the top of the canopy, and the blonde could make out pure white sheets covering the sleeping body within. Naruto gulped.
On an impulse, he quietly padded his way over to Neji's bed, careful not to make even the faintest of sounds. Thankfully, the mink carpeting muffled his footsteps as he made his way over to Neji's dormant form. He reached out to pull back the curtains, then hesitated. What would he do if Neji somehow woke up? Would the Hyuuga be mad, that he disturbed his rest? Naruto shook the thoughts from his head, a determined look on his face. Neji was his friend….somewhat. He wouldn't be mad, and even if he did, Naruto would just have to make up an excuse, saying he was just in to dust the mantelpiece. Yes, that was it. With that thought firmly implanted in his brain, Naruto took a deep breath and peeled back the wisps of curtain that shielded Neji from his view.
He inhaled sharply at the sight that lay before him. Neji had the covers down to his waist, exposing a finely chiseled torso that hinted at years of training. His arms were marvelously sculpted, and attached to broad yet sloping shoulders that lead down to a glorious chest and a thin waist. The Hyuuga's neck was long and sinuous, stretching up to connect to the jawline of his face. And his face…Naruto would treasure the memory of that face for as long as he lived. Neji looked so young and naïve, lying so still in the covers, his chest rising and falling with an air of tranquility. Naruto drank in every single facet of Neji's face, from the slender yet strong nose to the sloping forehead, flickering briefly over the long lashes that framed the Hyuuga's eyes. Neji looked every inch a god, with his hair splayed out on the pillows and cascading like a midnight waterfall over the edges of the bed. The blonde's fingers twitched with the sudden impulse to touch the hair, the face, the chest, the waist. His heart gave a painful wrench, and he felt the blood rush to his face and stain his cheeks a deep hue of scarlet.
The Hyuuga stirred, and a brief frown marred his peaceful features. Naruto drew back, then thought the better of it and dropped the curtain completely. He made his way out of the bedroom and quietly closed the door, leaning against it with obvious relief. His heart was beating so fast….why did he suddenly feel a rush of lightheadedness? Naruto perked up when he heard Neji stir in his room, then quickly decided to beat a hasty retreat before Neji discovered him eavesdropping. He dashed down the corridors and hid behind a marble pillar, chest heaving slightly.
He heard the quiet footfalls as Neji made his way down the corridor, and squished himself even further behind the pillar. Then thinking the better of it, he took a deep breath and walked bravely around the column only to walk straight into the Hyuuga himself. Neji caught him with ease and set him upright, his eyes scintillating with silent amusement.
"Perfect timing, Naruto." Naruto arranged his face in what he hoped was a look of surprise.
"Neji-san. I was just coming to see you." Neji lifted an elegant eyebrow.
"Oh? And why is that?" Naruto hastily thought up an excuse.
"I am your personal servant, remember? And I was just passing by." Neji nodded, though his eyes had a knowing look within their silvery-white depths that rather disconcerted the blonde.
"Very well then. What do you wish to do today?" Naruto looked up at Neji with an incredulous look in his eyes.
"But…but it isn't up to me to decide. You are, after all, the one of higher social status." Neji smirked.
"Such big words for a servant, don't you agree?" When he was met with silence, Neji laughed and curled a strong hand around Naruto's shoulders. The blonde stiffened out of reflex, then relaxed.
"Well…we could always explore the full extent of your gardens. I'm guessing you don't go out much?" Neji's eyebrow just about flew past his hairline.
"Why do you infer that and what evidence do you have to back it up?" It was Naruto's turn to smirk.
"Such big words for one of high class, don't you agree?" he mimicked mockingly before laughing and giving the Hyuuga a detailed explanation.
"First of all, the gardens are covered with all different varieties of flowers, and since it is spring, pollen should be flying helter-skelter around the gardens. Pollen is sticky, so naturally some of it would have come off on your clothes. I've had my share of doing the laundry, and believe me your clothes aren't the least bit dirtied. Second, there are bramble bushes scattered in random places with sticky briars that come off on your clothes whether you like it or not. Your clothes, as I've said before, aren't the least bit dirtied, so I assume you haven't been out very much." Neji nodded, very much impressed by the boy's fine skills of observation.
"Very well then. We shall tour my gardens." Naruto looked up at the Hyuuga.
"How is it that you manage to stay in shape then, when you don't go out much?" Neji sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"We have weaponry and a training hall in the east wing of the mansion." Naruto's eyes retained a wild, eager glint.
"Really?" Neji laughed.
"Yes we do. I will show you sometime." Naruto nodded and grinned.
"Kay!" Neji laughed again and steered Naruto out the doors that led to the gardens. Naruto squirmed out of his grasp and turned to face the Hyuuga.
"I'll race you to the river!"
Laughing childishly, Naruto turned and bounded madly towards the stream. Neji chuckled and followed, easily matching the blonde's short bursts of sprints with his own long, striding lope. Naruto growled playfully and tackled the Hyuuga, startling him and sending them both tumbling to the ground where Naruto wrestled with the other until he came out on top.
Panting slightly, Neji was about to scold the blonde about his sacrilegious behavior when he paused, suddenly aware of how close they were. Naruto's nose was scant centimeters away from his own, and his eyes still had a trace of the playful glimmer that shone in their deep blue irises. Neji felt his heart jolt almost painfully in his chest, but it was a nice kind of pain, a feeling he almost enjoyed. Gazing deeper into those limitless cornflower orbs, he felt himself beginning to wonder….to dream…
Naruto drew back slightly when he felt Neji draw closer. Scrambling hurriedly off the Hyuuga, he muttered an awkward apology and helped Neji to his feet. There was definitely something wrong with his head. He was gasping in short, shallow breaths, whether it was fully due to the running, he honestly couldn't tell, but in both cases, neither situation bode well. He turned to look at Neji. The other's cheeks were still flushed, and his eyes were glazed over with an emotion Naruto could've sworn was something more than just friendship.
"Naruto…?" His name was uttered with a whole deeper level of emotion. Naruto suddenly felt it was absolutely crucial not to answer the Hyuuga, for he somehow knew that if he did, he wouldn't know himself any longer. As an excuse, he hitched on a smile, albeit somewhat false, and came back to Neji.
"Come on, Neji, we have places to go." The Hyuuga nodded, also not wishing to discuss the situation, and was about to lead the blonde towards the rest of the gardens when he was stopped by a servant.
"Neji-sama, Hiashi-sama requests your presence." Neji glared at the servant who bowed and scuttled quickly from his view. Sighing, Neji steered his companion back inside the mansion.
"Isn't that just like him, calling for me at the most inconvenient times." Naruto laughed, more to ease the tension than anything, and readily followed the Hyuuga.
Hiashi looked up from his desk, his face more dead-looking than alive. Leaning back in his stiff, wooden chair, he addressed his nephew.
"You are familiar with the young Uchiha?" Neji arched a finely sculpted eyebrow.
"Young Uchiha? I have heard of his father, but…" He was interrupted by Hiashi with a condescending look to boot.
"Uchiha Sasuke. He will be taking a brief sojourn at our estate." Neji nodded.
"Why must he stay at our mansion?" Hiashi shot a glare at his nephew.
"It is only proper for us to show hospitality towards one of the same noble bearing. He will be staying here, is that clear?"
Neji nodded, turned, and whirled out of his uncle's study, Naruto in tow. The blonde jogged along to keep up with Neji's long, striding paces as they made their way back to his room.
"Who is this Uchiha?" Neji's lip curled in distaste.
"Also a rich aristocrat such as myself, though he uses it to his advantage." Naruto nodded.
"He'll be coming in how many days?"
"He's coming tomorrow." Neji sighed and looked away.
"Anyway, you can go now. I hear there's a problem in the kitchens." Naruto inclined his head and let himself out, making his way down to the servant's quarters.
The blonde found the Inuzuka tending to Shizune, who was lying feverishly in a nearby bed. Looking up at Naruto, Kiba held a finger to his lips and changed the cloth on Shizune's forehead. She stirred and moaned, muttering a few incoherent phrases. A young woman let herself in and began to inspect the other, feeling her cheeks and neck for the signs of fever. Naruto turned to the woman.
"Tsunade-baa-chan, how is Shizune-neechan?" Tsunade glared briefly at the "baachan", but dismissed it and cast a worried look at Shizune's still form.
"She has a raging fever. She won't be able to move from her bed for the next few days. This isn't good news, for now we lack a cook." Naruto stood, a determined glint in his eyes.
"I will cook in her place." Tsunade shot an incredulous look at the blonde and was about to retort when she was stopped by Kiba's hand on her arm.
"Let him cook. He's as good as, if not better than Shizune-san." The blonde woman reluctantly backed down, and Naruto gave her a reassuring grin.
"Don't worry. I'm used to cooking." Tsunade turned her sienna-hued gaze on the other, meeting his cerulean eyes.
"Very well then. But I warn you, whatever mess you make, you will clean up." She turned back to Shizune, sponging her face gently with a damp, cool cloth.
Naruto walked out of the room and into the corridor that led to Neji's bedroom. Finding the door ajar and the absence of the Hyuuga, he walked into the room and peered curiously at the bookshelves that lined Neji's walls. Choosing an old, dusty, leather-bound book, he dusted it off and opened the faded, worn pages, poring eagerly over the contents. It was there that Neji found him, lounging comfortably in one of the chairs with the book on his lap and a look of intense concentration in his eyes.
"What are you doing here, Naruto?" The blonde jumped and looked up at Neji with a startled gaze. Slamming the book shut, he quickly laid it on the desk and stood up, a guilty expression contorting his countenance.
"S-sorry, I was just…" Neji held up a hand.
"No need to apologize. You may read those books to your heart's content; Hiashi only set them up to enhance the feel of the room. I have read them already, and now have no use for them." He smiled and could practically feel his heart turn to liquid at the mixture of hope and gratefulness on Naruto's face.
"Really?" Neji nodded. Naruto bounded over to the Hyuuga and grasped him in an iron hold, locking his arms around the other's waist. He suddenly remembered that Neji didn't take well to large displays of emotions and quickly released the other, grinning awkwardly.
"Sorry. You mean I can keep them?" Neji gestured towards the book as an answer.
"Help yourself." Naruto let out something quite similar to a squeal and bounced off into the hallway, clutching the book eagerly. He paused in mid-stride and shot back to the Hyuuga.
"Oh and by the way, Shizune-nee-chan has fallen ill, so I'm cooking until she gets better, which means I won't be able to see you for a while." Neji quirked a quizzical eyebrow at the blonde.
"You can cook?" Naruto bobbed up and down on the balls of his feet, a cheeky grin on his features.
"Yeah, Shizune said I'm welcome to cook in case anything happens." Just then a servant called for the blonde.
"I'd better go. See you sometime, Neji." Naruto turned and ran off to the kitchens, hollering a reply to the servant who called.
Neji leaned against the doorway, watching the blonde's retreating form. The corner of his mouth tilted up just slightly as the images of Naruto full-clothed in a chef's hat and apron flashed across his mind. He'd have to pay a visit to the kitchens one of these days, that he would.