Okay, I must warn all you people out there (and ESPECIALLY Surrain, when you come back from your trip...but I know you'll review like the good person you are XP) that this chapter contains EXTREME sappiness/corniness(is that a word?)/mushiness, so if you are the type that rather dislikes corny love stories, please do not read this chapter. Oh yes, and gifts are available for those who review.
Chapter 18: Reminiscence
He was floating in a large, empty sea of black. He looked around, and saw black as far as his eyes could strain. It was too black, in an extremely disturbing way; it wasn't dark, for he could see his hands in front of his face as clear as day, just black. And black without darkness scared the shit out of him. Looking down at his feet, he relaxed a little when the black at his feet seemed to ripple when he moved, but as soon as he stopped, it was just plain black.
He whipped his head to the side. For a moment, he could've sworn he heard whispers….but when he did a double take, the whispers were gone and once again he was alone. Then he heard it again. He was definitely correct—the whispers came and stayed—but where they came from, he did not know. The voices came closer, growing louder until they were but a murmur. He started to run. He ran and ran, never stopping, never growing tired, never knowing his destination, only knowing that he ran. And as he ran, the black took on a grayish tint, then lightened to form a large, glorious ball of white right smack in the middle of his direction.
Naruto smiled and started to run towards the glowing orb, a little perplexed when he found he wasn't getting any closer to the mysterious, elusive floating light. The light bobbed and swerved, hesitated, then split in two, coming to rest on the far right and left of his vision. The blond came to a halt, unsure of which path to take. The light looked the same and felt the same, yet there was something very different about them, each unique in its own special way. Slowly the balls warped, split, then came together to form two faces, those of the Uchiha and the Hyuuga. They didn't speak, not in the way normal humans would speak; rather, they communicated to the blond before them, each silently imploring him to turn, to run to them.
He didn't know which one to choose. He didn't know which one to run to, to accept, for it seemed that if he ran to one or the other, he was going to gain one at the cost of the other. He wanted both; he wanted both so badly, but the choice of both wasn't a choice at all, for he only had one body, and there was only one path to run to. Eventually their pleas stopped, and they both stared at him, a serene yet sad gaze in their eyes, though an urgent one; he hadn't much time to choose, and choosing one was absolutely crucial. Naruto swallowed. He didn't want to choose; he wanted it to stay as it was, but his subconscious warned him that he loved both of them, and was going to gain one at the cost of the other.
I don't want to choose, he thought. I don't want to choose. But in his heart, he knew that he must. Closing his eyes, he inhaled a deep, calming breath. And started to run.
Neji entered the intensive unit, a grave stare in his marble-chipped eyes. Walking up to the weary nurse at the front desk with an impassive look smeared on his countenance, he quickly checked in and slipped open the door to the ward, opening it just enough to fit his lean, lanky frame before quietly closing the door. The room was dark; he could barely make out the lump on the bed that was his cherished blond. Padding noiselessly over to Naruto's comatose figure, Neji knelt beside the bed, his features visibly softening. Two slim, white fingers reached out and began to lovingly stroke the three slashes on the blonde's face, caressing each one with the utmost gentleness. More to himself than anyone else, the Hyuuga spoke, his voice a mere whisper.
"You goddamn son of a bitch, what the hell came over your mind to make you jump off the building like that?" The softness of his voice completely contradicted the harsh meaning of the words. Neji's fingers absently drew over the blonde's features, so serene in their sleep, once in a while varying their stroke over the smooth, ivory skin.
"I truly admire you, servant of mine. You possessed a great hatred towards Sakura, yet you saved her life. Why you did will forever perplex me." Neji continued, smiling softly at the blond.
It calmed him to see the tranquil rise and fall of Naruto's chest. Shifting slightly into a more comfortable position (his knees didn't bode well to the blatant hardness of the floor), Neji drew his hand slowly down the milky-white skin of Naruto's neck, fingering it gently. The Hyuuga smiled. Even after all this time, Naruto's neck was one of the finest specimens he'd ever encountered before.
"In what manner of entity are you that you would entwine even the coldest of hearts around your little finger?" He asked, expecting no response. Heaving a deep sigh, the Hyuuga bent and slowly brushed his nose against the soft creamy skin of Naruto's neck. He nuzzled the blond gently, rubbing his nose back and forth in slow, pacific motions across the skin of his neck. When he spoke again, his tone was thoughtful.
"Each day you seem different, like a completely different person. Are there other sides to your personality that I do not know? You truly amaze me, Naruto. I congratulate you; you have managed to thoroughly enrapture one of the coldest beings that ever have graced this earth."
Impossibly long fingers slid their way across Naruto's torso and came to rest at his shoulder, clutching it in an embrace. Neji whimpered softly as he buried his whole face into the crook of Naruto's neck, reveling in the heat that radiated from the blond in waves. Parting his lips, he ran the length of the blonde's neck, planting slow, gentle butterfly kisses back and forth across the appendage. Opening his mouth a bit wider, he slid his tongue across the tantalizing skin, drawing a thin trail of saliva down Naruto's neck. Kissing the blond at the junction of his ear and jaw, Neji withdrew, his hair shielding his eyes from view. When he spoke once more, his words were glazed over with remorse.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. What I'm doing is wrong. After all, you haven't really sorted out your feelings, and it would be wrong of me to force myself upon you." He made a move to turn away, then slowly turned back to face the blond. When the Hyuuga spoke once more, his words were laced through and through with pure love. He knelt once more and bent so he was nose to nose with the blond. Slowly, ever so slowly, a single sphere of salty moisture rolled from his eyes and fell, coming to rest on Naruto's lashes.
"But I cannot help myself, my dear friend. I have long since acknowledged that you now hold my very soul in the palm of your hands. Though you don't know it, I am yours to command, yours to manipulate, yours to do with whatever you please. I care not if you destroy me; I suspect it would give me great joy to have the honor of being destroyed by you if I had no choice but to be destroyed. Naruto…I am terribly sorry. I think…I think I've fallen completely in love with you, past the point of hope."
Rather like a child knowing for sure it wouldn't be caught, Neji bent and lowered his lips to those of the blond, tentatively brushing them gently with a chaste, feathery kiss. Removing his mouth from Naruto's, he touched it over the blonde's nose, his forehead, his eyes, savoring every taste, every facet, every precious gem of an atom that made up Naruto's exsistence. His lips trailed down, hovering scant centimeters from Naruto's own mouth. Neji spoke once more, the words sliding through his mouth in a fevered whisper, his lips brushing the blond's as he spoke.
"Forgive me, Naruto."
No longer able to control his raging emotions, the Hyuuga bent and pressed his open mouth to Naruto's in a deep, devouring, draining kiss. He tore his lips away from the blond, exhaling in a ragged torrent of breath, and crushed them once again to Naruto's mouth in another passionate caress. Hungrily he sucked on the blond's lower lip, his teeth raking across the upper one before plunging into Naruto's mouth with a burning desire, his tongue sliding across every glorious crevice of the blonde's mouth. Slender hands roved over Naruto's neck, locking themselves behind his head to tilt his lips up further. Had he been more astute, he would've noticed that the blond's eyes were now open, gazing straight into his face with a mixture of wonder, bliss, and just the barest hint of lust.
Neji recoiled slightly when he felt the slight fingers brush his jawline, running its length. He tried to pull away with a combination of embarrassment and shame at being caught but was detained by Naruto's pressure on the back of his head. The blond reclosed his eyes and deeped the kiss, his tongue dancing dangerously with Neji's own, winning dominance and sliding over his canines with a sultry, almost seductive air. The Hyuuga made a sound much like a contented kitten's purr and wrapped his arms around Naruto, moulding his body to Naruto's and sliding his hips back and forth the blond's own counterpart, gently grinding them against Naruto in a slow, sensual motion. Naruto mewled, begging for more as he attacked Neji's neck, sucking lightly on his collarbone causing the Hyuuga to grip the blond almost painfully. After what seemed like an eternity, Naruto finally tore his lips from the Hyuuga, panting heavily.
"Let me breathe unless you wish to suffocate me." It took awhile for Neji to locate his voice.
"You….you were awake?" Naruto nodded and smiled.
"I am a light sleeper, I'll have you know." A blush tained the Hyuuga's ivory cheeks and he looked away.
"I am truly sorry…" he began, but was stopped by Naruto's stare.
"No need, my master. No need. I know how you feel. For if you haven't noticed yet, I didn't push you away." Naruto sighed and turned to the side.
"But no more now. I still need time to think." A troubled look crossed his face. Neji nodded slowly.
"I will grant you the time you request. Take as much as you like; the decision between me and the Uchiha is a crucial one, and well you know it." Naruto gasped slightly.
"How…how did you…" It was Neji's turn to smile.
"He looks at you with a gaze not unlike mine. And you know as well as we both do that should you decide to choose one over the other, the rejected one will not bear any ill wishes." Naruto huffed in irritation.
"It's so hard to decide though." Neji smiled wanly.
"I know, Naruto, I know. Take your time now. You have plenty of it."
"Not as much as you would think." A new voice cut through the air, instantly dropping the temperature in the room. Neji and Naruto whirled around, their eyes wide at the silhouette of Gaara outlined in the darkness. A blush stained both cheeks a crimson red.
"You…you were watching?" Gaara stood with all the smoothness of one skilled in stealth, a smirk on his face.
"I just had arrived, through the window in your bathroom." Though the remark was harmless, Gaara's voice still suggested wintery blizzards and other frosty subjects.
"As I was saying before, we don't have that much time for play. Sakura may have been a major drug-runner, but we have yet to capture the leader." The normally calm, indifferent expression in Gaara's malachite eyes took on a touch of murder and utter hatred, sending ominous shivers down the spines of the other occupants in the room.
"And I have yet to give this leader a nice little…reunion." Naruto and Neji exchanged glances. This leader the spy spoke of wasn't in for a nice chat over cups of tea anytime soon. Naruto spoke up.
"How do you know this leader?" Gaara scoffed, a nonchalant murderous tone lacing his voice.
"Sakura proved to be quite a….stubborn….subject, but we managed to extract a few crucial bits of information." He smiled a disturbing, feral smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Now if you will excuse me, I must ready myself for the ordeal." Neji looked up at the redhead, steadily matching his stare. Naruto inwardly marveled at the sheer impudence of his companion; not many survived more than three seconds when they locked eye contact with the spy.
"And will you do this mission alone? You realize if there is a leader, there are followers to boot." Gaara laughed, a short, humorless bark.
"Of course I know. And though I don't often do this, I extend my invitations for you to come along. Besides," he turned and gazed intently at Naruto, his mint-chips of eyes softening slightly. "Naruto would like the adventure. He can't help but cause havoc wherever he goes. It runs in his blood." Naruto grinned foxily.
"You and your assumptions." Gaara inclined his head.
"Thank you. We leave in three weeks, after Naruto's legs have healed. Naruto's well notorious for being a rather fast healer. And don't worry," Gaara smirked. "The members of this drug-ring assume Sakura to be biding her time at your mansion, Hyuuga, waiting for the chance to sneak her opium right past the unsuspecting noses of the police."
"How many people do you suspect are in this drug-ring?" Gaara turned the full power of his glare on the Uchiha. Sasuke had just entered the ward, soon enough to catch the last bits of conversation. The redhead's eyes flashed cold chips of fire, but nevertheless, he answered Sasuke's question.
"I do believe there are to be about ten, maybe twelve people altogether." Sasuke nodded.
"It would be wise to bring more than just yourself. Hyuuga, Uzumaki, Kabuto, and I shall accompany you."
Naruto inhaled sharply. No one ever gave Gaara advice, at least no one who valued his life. The temperature shot down to sub-zero degrees as the bloodlust in the redhead's eyes increased dangerously. Gaara was capable of controlling himself though.
"It will be as you wish." Turning, he flicked open the window above Naruto's bed andslid out the narrow frame with a fluidity that would rival liquid mercury. The blond smirked at Neji's mildly surprised expression.
"Being extremely skinny is an advantage if you want to be one skilled in the ways of stealth. Anyway, don't feel offended. Gaara never stays still for more than five minutes." Naruto grinned and lay back among the pillows, eyes at half-mast.
"I'm taking a nap. Healing oneself requires rest." Turning over on the pillows, Naruto closed his eyes, and was soon lightly dozing. Smiling softly at the blond, both the Uchiha and the Hyuuga quietly let themselves out.
One Day Before They Depart
Malachite eyes narrowed in bitter hate as Gaara surveyed the report before him. His eyes roved disdainfully over the information, coming to rest on a particular name. There they stayed transfixed on the single name, glaring holes into the paper. The redhead clenched his fists, digging his nails into the crude designs of scars on his hands, souvenier of his many missions as a spy. He whirled abruptly, his long cloak billowing in great brown folds around his lean, muscular frame. He paced back and forth hands clasped behind his back, a feral, murderous look on his finely chiseled countenance. Full-shaped lips were drawn into a scowl that would make twenty grown men quake in their boots.
Abruptly changing his course, Gaara took off his cloak and flicked it nonchalantly at the nearest coat-hanger. Clad in only a tight-fitting black t-shirt and a fishnet, the redhead stalked arrogantly to the bathroom, ready for a nice, cool shower. Stripping effortlessly, he stepped into the cold stall and deftly wrenched on the water, hissing slightly as the shock of the icy water streamed over each muscle of his lanky frame. Throwing back his head, Gaara closed his eyes and moved with the water in slow, sensual movements, letting out a low, throaty moan of content as the water soothed the troubled workings of his soul, flowing down onto the most intimate parts of his body.
He proceeded to thoroughly scrub every inch of himself with a rough sponge he'd found nearby in the stall. Lathering his shocking red locks with shampoo, he shook himself, arching his back to the flow of the water. Sliding his hands down his body with the sponge, he scraped away any existing dirt particles, giving himself an extra rinse before shutting off the water and placing one slender foot on the bathmat.
Drying himself off, he calmly pulled on his clothes, running both hands through his wet, matted hair. He sighed contentedly walking slowly out of the bathroom and collapsing on the couch, an impassive look on his finely sculpted features. Emerald eyes bored rather large holes in his ceiling as Gaara's face slowly contorted into a scowl. So he was part of the ring. That was remotely amusing; it gave the redhead a chance to talk to him again. And talk to him he would. He would talk to him. He'd give him a nice little chat. Right. Up. Close.
For all you people who were begging me to put Gaara in the picture, well, here he is, and it seems Naruto-tachi has another great adventure coming up. Cya in D next chappie!