AN: Special thanks to my lovely beta! Without them this chapter and previous chapter would be filled with grammatical errors and hilarious typos!
That evening, after the brief encounter with Itachi's father, Neji reluctantly returned to the Hyuuga compound. He was still thinking about how awkward his departure had been when he walked through the iron gates of his own personal hell. He could have called up one of his favorites and spent the night with them. Though, a night with any of them meant sex, alcohol, and drugs. While he was having a bit of trouble quitting Adderall, he no longer felt like sleeping around. It just didn't interest him anymore.
Neji blamed it on lack of excitement. Sleeping around wasn't as thrilling as it used to be. After the actor and his bodyguard, he'd had himself an STD scare. It wouldn't have been the first time he had been burned. Three months ago, he had purposefully given Hiashi chlamydia. The man had been so pissed. To avoid a scandal, he had paid to have the cure administered to them both in the privacy of his own home. The doctor had been paid handsomely to keep his mouth shut. Hiashi had called Neji every slut in creation.
"But you made me like this. If I'm a slut it's because you're a sick pedophile!"
That outburst had earned him a good beating. His uncle was slipping. At first, Hiashi would avoid leaving any marks on Neji's face or any other visible area. He was losing his touch. One day, the right person was going to catch him in the act, and Neji was going to sing like a little bird. Often times, he would wish that he had contracted something life threatening and incurable. That way, he could take the bastard down with him. His dreams used to be filled with ways to make Hiashi's life just as miserable as he made his. However, now, Neji just wanted to be free.
Itachi was constantly showing him that not all people were bad. Everyday, the older man unknowingly gave him a reason to keep fighting. In a couple of months, he would have that freedom. He wondered if Itachi would allow him to live with him until he left for college. If not Itachi, he would finally take Lee up on his offer and stay with him. Either way, he wasn't staying in the compound any longer than required by law.
Neji turned down the hall leading to his bedroom and his heart skipped a beat when he saw someone standing in front of his door. Was Hiashi waiting outside of his door now? Seriously, it was as if he wanted the entire compound to know, though he already suspected that the majority of the maids in the main house were aware.
He thought about turning on his heel and leaving until he realized who it was. "Tokuma?"
The man lifted his head. "Amari is out of town with her sister. Come on, you're staying with me tonight."
Tokuma looked terrible. There were dark bags under his eyes and his brown hair looked dull and was pulled into a low ponytail. His normally impeccable appearance was frazzled. And that alone worried Neji. His senpai had never looked so unkempt. "And where will I sleep? In the bed you share with...her?"
"My new home has a guest room and a large couch. You can sleep wherever you want, but you're not staying here."
"Your new home with your main house wife," he bitterly spat. "I heard her father has been spoiling you with all kinds of gifts. Lucky you."
"When are you going to stop punishing me?!" His voice rose and there were tears in his eyes. "You act as if I really had a choice in the matter. You're my best friend. Hell, you're my only friend, and I can't even turn to you for a shoulder to cry on! I've lost hours of sleep worrying about you. Every night, I have paced this hallway," his voice cracked, and he continued in a low, broken whisper. "I stand outside of your door every night like a guard dog because I don't want you to come home, and he's waiting here for you."
Neji wiped his own tears away. Tokuma had risked the wrath of Hiashi just for him?"I never asked you to do any of that."
"You're right. You never asked, but that's what it means to care about someone as much as I care about you, Neji. You never have to ask me to help you. I just do it because I can't stand the idea of you suffering. But you're too self-centered to see that!" He shook his head, laughing a little. "I can't keep doing this. It's obvious that you don't want my help anymore."
He could have stopped him. All he had to do was open his mouth, apologize for how he'd treated the man, and follow him to his house. Instead, Neji did nothing. He didn't say anything at all. He simply allowed Tokuma to slip away, again.
People were fickle, unreliable creatures. Neji would do well not to waste his time. All of his flaws, his inability to trust people and let them in, it all fell on his father. Hizashi only pretended to love him. The man used to tell Neji that he meant the world to him. His father promised him that he would always keep him safe. Then, one night, he hung himself in his bedroom. What was stopping Tokuma from deserting him as well?
Tokuma called him self-centered. And he was right. It was better for him to worry about himself than depend on someone else. When the man was no longer in sight, Neji walked into his bedroom.
"So, Tokuma knows about us?" Hiashi was sitting on the bed waiting for him. He'd been there long before Tokuma posted up outside of the door. "You're a mouthy little slut. Do I need to give you another lesson on obedience?"
Fear kept him rooted to that spot. He was too afraid to even call out for help. Tokuma couldn't be far, right? When Hiashi stood up from the bed and started to undress, Neji trembled in unadulterated terror.
"No matter what you do to me, I will never love you. Do you hear me, Hiashi? For as long as I live, I will hate you...even in death. I will hate you. So do what you want and get the fuck out of my room!"
It had been quick, as usual. Hizashi took it in silence. The last time he screamed didn't go so well. Besides, who would he call out to? His father? His mother? They both knew what was going on but ignored it. Everything was about the clan. Taiyou, the twins' father, cared only about the clan's image. Every scandal was swept under the rug. Rapes, murders, extortion, and every little dirty thing under the sun that the clan was involved in had been covered up by his father. The man was so accustomed to covering things up that he ignored the constant rape of one of his own sons.
But it was just his second son. Hizashi was a branch member regardless of who his parents were. And the branch was there to serve and protect the main house. If the future clan head wanted to sate his carnal lusts with his own brother, so what?
Hizashi hated them all.
When it was over, Hiashi attempted to cuddle the younger twin.
"Get out."
"I want to sleep in here with you." Hiashi reached out to pet his brother's hair but was swatted away. His eyes narrowed into slits. "I'm the only person that loves you, and you treat me like this? Father doesn't love you. Mother only pities you. But I...I love you, Hizashi." He rubbed Hizashi's hip and smiled when he wasn't immediately shoved away. His fingers traced the small scar there. When they were thirteen, he made sure his twin knew who he belonged to. He used a hot branding iron to cement their love.
"Hiashi."
"Yes?"
"Are you done using my body as your own private cum dump? If so, I'd like to wash your disgusting scent off of me."
Every single word hurt, causing him physical pain. It wasn't enough for him. Hiashi didn't just want his brother's body, he wanted his heart as well. He only wanted his brother to love him. Everyone else loved him, so why couldn't Hizashi? Silently, he slipped out of the bed and put his clothes back on. "What do I have to do for you to love me?" He asked before walking out of the door.
Not bothering to look in his direction, Hizashi got out of bed and headed for his private bathroom. "You can start by dying. Or maybe I'll be lucky and die before you. God, I hope so." He walked into his bathroom and slammed the door.
Summers in Konoha were always unbearably hot. The Hyuuga's first family had a beach house in Kamakura where they spent every summer. After a long, hot shower, Hizashi snuck out of the house and walked across the street to the beach. It was late, but he couldn't sleep unless he changed his sheets. Honestly, he didn't want to sleep in that bed for the remainder of the summer.
Hizashi often thought about killing them all in their sleep. He'd start with his parents. Then take his time torturing Hiashi before killing him as well. But, despite everything that had happened to him, he didn't have a murderous bone in his body. The abuse had been going on for so long, he didn't see a point in fighting anymore. Some people were just born unlucky.
"You're the last person I expected to see here."
At the sound of the voice, Hizashi turned his head to see another boy approaching. Realizing who it was, he playfully rolled his eyes. The last time he saw the boy was on that rooftop three months ago. "Did you follow me all the way to Kamakura? I'm flattered."
"Dream on," Fugaku laughed.
He took in the boy's appearance. "You look like you just came from a date." He took a seat on the cool sand. When Fugaku did the same, he turned his body to face him.
"I went out with a couple of friends. Then, when I got home, I heard my parents..." He visibly shuddered.
"Yuck." Hizashi pulled a face. "Old people sex is the worst."
"They're not that old!"
"True. I've had older." The last part was whispered, and the other teen didn't catch it. Thankfully. "Will you be here the entire summer?"
"Unfortunately. What about you?"
"Yeah."
They were quiet after that. Hizashi dimly remembered the first night they met, however, he could never forget about how he straddled the other boy. He had been so drunk that night. if Fugaku would have came half an hour earlier he would have learned one of the Hyuuga clan's dirty little secrets. Hiashi had himself a quickie before mingling with the other kids their age. Hizashi wanted to run downstairs and tell the entire ballroom that his twin brother had been raping him since they were twelve years old. But that would have only backfired on him.
What was the point anyway? Even if Hiashi did get arrested or sent away, in the end, it wouldn't really matter. Who in their right mind would want anything to do with him? He was damaged and beyond saving.
"Were you really going to jump that night?"
The random question didn't alarm him. It was a question that he'd often asked himself since that night. "I don't know. It's not like anyone would have given a fuck any—"
Fugaku punched him so hard his teeth rattled. The older boy straddled him. Grabbing his shirt in his hands, he yanked him up. "What in the hell is your problem? How can you say something like that?"
Flashing the boy a bloody smile, Hizashi laughed in his face. "Is this relationship going to be abusive? Because I've had my fair share of those." Quicker than the untrained eye could see, he freed himself from the boy's grasp and flipped them over so that he was on top. "You pack a mean punch." He turned his head and spat out blood.
"Did it knock some sense into you?"
"Was that what you were aiming for?"
He didn't answer. One of his fantasies was playing out in front of him and his young, inexperienced body couldn't handle it. "I couldn't stop thinking about you after that night," he confessed quietly.
"Well, I haven't thought about you at all. I actually don't remember your name." Hizashi tilted his head thoughtfully. "Fuyuko? Or was it Fukusaburu?"
Fugaku tried to shove the boy off of him. "Fuck you!" His pride had taken a major hit, and he wanted to go home and sulk. He didn't care if his parents were still screwing. He'd survive.
"I don't think you're ready for that, Fugaku. I told you that when we fuck, it will be the best night of your life. Didn't I?" He smiled.
"So you do remember..."
"Of course. But, if I recall correctly, you don't like boys," he felt the boy's stiffening erection under him. Teasingly, he rolled his hips. "Or have you changed your mind?"
Hizashi rolled his hips harder after the second question, and Fugaku's breath hitched. "Oh God..."
"Hizashi," he corrected. Lowering his face, he gazed into dark pools. "I'm the one that has you feeling this good. So you call on me." His hand moved to the buttons on the boy's pants.
When he felt a cool hand grab his erection, his body jerked. "Hizashi!"
"Hm, now that's what I like to hear."
After his first hand job from a boy, Fugaku started to really question his sexuality. Whenever he had fantasized about Hizashi over the past three months, he convinced himself that he admired the boy's bluntness and the way he carried himself. He told himself that it was only friendship he desired. A platonic relationship where they hung out and talked about how much they hated their clans. Something along those lines.
But friends didn't kiss like they had that night.
Fugaku initiated it. He'd been on cloud nine after his orgasm. It completely slipped his mind that Hizashi was a boy. He had never looked at any other boys like he looked at the Hyuuga teen. Was it possible to not be homosexual but have a strong attraction to one person of the same sex? Once, during a family gathering, Madara ranted about how gender was stupid. He said that true love didn't care about silly things like that. Granted, Madara was drunk as shit that night. But maybe the man had a point.
Was he in love with Hizashi? Fugaku didn't think so. He was only sixteen. He didn't know a damn thing about love.
"Still in denial?" Hizashi asked after their long make out session. He was breathing heavy, and his lips were swollen. The breeze from the ocean had his long hair blowing around his perfect face.
Dazed, Fugaku stared up at him. Hizashi was so beautiful. Not just because he was a Hyuuga. A clan that was so pretty that it hurt. No. Hizashi's beauty had more to do with his personality. He had a natural charm about him. Unconsciously, he reached up to stroke his cheek with his thumb. "I really don't like boys," he saw the flash of irritation on the boy's face, and he smiled. "But I like you."
Hizashi shook his head, a ghost of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Save yourself the trouble. There's a pretty Yamanaka girl staying here for the summer too." She actually had a crush on Hizashi. He wasn't interested. "She's a sweet girl. A little chatty, but that's not so bad." He moved to stand up.
Fugaku kept him in place. "You're not going to just have your way with me then suggest I hook up with some random chick. I just told you that I liked you!"
"And, just because you like me, I'm supposed to feel the same way? Have you ever heard of unrequited love?"
"That's not what I meant." He loosened his hold on the boy's wrists. "We kissed. You even—"
"Jacked you off."
"Yeah, yeah, that. You don't have to say it so nonchalantly." His face started to heat up. Looking away, he stared at the dark waves crashing against the rocks. "I thought you liked me too. I mean, that's not why I like you. I still have that lapel pin. I keep it under my pillow back home. I wanted to bring it, but I was afraid I would lose it."
It was the sappiest shit anyone had ever said to Hizashi. All of Hiashi's love confessions paled in comparison next to Fugaku's admittance to keeping something as insignificant as a lapel pin. His heart fluttered. The feeling was so foreign that he placed a hand over his chest. He frowned in confusion. "What do you like about me?" He needed to know.
Everything. That was what Fugaku wanted to say. Yet, it sounded like such a lackadaisical response. This was possibly his last chance to prove to Hizashi that his feelings were true. He couldn't screw things up.
"You're beautiful." Okay, perhaps he should have started with something more meaningful. Turning his head, he faced the boy, hoping eye contact would show how serious he was. "That's only a small part of it, though. I love how frank you are. I'm surrounded by people that get a kick out of lying to my face so it's refreshing to be around someone so painfully honest."
"Is that it?"
"There's more. I just can't put it into words."
"Hn."
"Maybe if we hang out more I can add more to the list..."
Hizashi moved off of him. "What do you have in mind? Want to meet here tomorrow night for another handjob? Or are you ready to graduate to blowjobs."
"As enjoyable as that would be," he sat up, "I was thinking more along the lines of a movie or the bowling alley."
"Like a date?"
"Yes."
Hizashi had never been on a date before. Hotel rooms and room service provided by wealthy, older men didn't count. For the first time ever, someone actually wanted to be seen with him in public. Someone other than his possessive twin brother. Even he couldn't hide his excitement.
"There's a theater here that shows old black and white gangster films during the day. They only charge 25 yen because that's how much movie tickets cost in the thirties. The popcorn there is the best, and extra butter is free. Well, for one squirt. Any more than that—" He was rambling. How embarrassing. "We can do something else if you think that's lame." Now his cheeks were blazing crimson.
"I'm not going to lie. I have never watched a black and white film. They always look so boring, but I want to learn more about you. So I would love to take you."
Hizashi smiled. "Really?"
"Sure. And, since I asked, it'll be my treat."
"Ooh. Big spender," he teased. "Don't get upset when I get three squirts of butter and a soda."
"Hizashi, you can have whatever you want." He was just happy that the boy agreed to give him a chance.
Itachi's back hit the mat with a loud thud. Lifting his head, he waved a hand in surrender to his older cousin. They had been at it all morning, starting with a run around the park. Now, they were in the upstairs gym in his penthouse sparring. Well, Shisui was really just kicking his ass. Over the phone, he'd expressed his desire to gain more muscle and get his old physique back. Shisui had been more than willing to get him back on track.
"Get up. We're not done." Shisui glanced at his wristwatch. "We have another ten minutes left."
Ten more minutes of having his ass handed to him. Great. Rolling to the side, Itachi jumped to his feet and barely dodged a kick to the head. This was what he had asked for. He had come to Shisui because he knew that his cousin wouldn't allow him to slack off. The onslaught of kicks and jabs continued for what felt like an hour instead of ten minutes.
Itachi spent majority of that time running around the small dōjō, blocking or dodging every hit that came his way instead of fighting back. He knew that if he was going to hit Shisui, he'd have to make it count, or, the next time the man hit him, he was going to make him regret it.
"I brought you some protein bars that'll help you put on some weight," Shisui explained when they were walking back to his penthouse. "But you'll need to continue to workout or you'll get chubby."
Itachi's lips quirked. "Is there something wrong with being chubby?" Of course, he already knew the answer to that.
"Not at all. You know I love a woman with some meat on her bones. It gives me more to love on."
"Like your ex-girlfriend."
Shisui dramatically clutched his heart. "That woman's curves were deadly. She was so soft. It felt like I was cuddling with a cloud." He had been so in love with the exchange student from Spain during his Junior year of college. They were together for two years before he had to end things. "She used to always pronounce my name wrong but I didn't give a damn!"
Itachi knew that despite the playful manner, Shisui wasn't really over his ex-girlfriend. "How are you liking your bride to be?" They stepped off of the elevator and removed their shoes in the foyer.
"I haven't met her yet. But her father acts like me and him are the ones engaged. He wants to know everything about me."
"He wants to get to know more about his future son-in-law. Isn't that a good thing?"
"Itachi, the guy asked me if I'd already sowed my wild oats."
Itachi laughed. Reaching in the fridge, he grabbed two bottles of water. "Did you tell him the truth?" He tossed one of the bottles to the other man.
"Fuck no. I told him that I was a virgin."
"Why did you lie?"
"I don't know. I was nervous. But he told me I needed to go out and live a little before marrying his daughter. Infidelity qualifies as a breach of contract." Shisui shook his head and took a sip of water.
Their union would solidify a major business alliance with one of their competitors in Suna. He could remember the day Fugaku had informed him of the marriage arrangement. Three days later, he had ended things with Amelia. She had slapped him so hard, sometimes, he could still feel it.
As much as he wanted to be with her, he owed Fugaku a great deal. When his parents died, the man took him in and treated him like a son. He even put him through college. After graduation, Shisui had a job waiting for him at Uchiha Industries' headquarters in Konoha. Like everyone else, he had worked his way to the top. It had taken him years to realize that the clan head didn't do anything for the hell of it. Fugaku was a smart man who knew how to make wise investments.
The man's goal was to have someone with unyielding loyalty to the clan in every major city. Shisui was in Suna. He was now grooming Sasuke to handle their business endeavors in Kiri. One day, Itachi would take over his position at their headquarters in Konoha. He wanted his eldest son close so he could also take his rightful seat as head of the clan.
All in all, Fugaku was trying to leave behind a legacy for his children and the rest of the clan. Shisui didn't mind doing what was necessary to help him achieve that goal.
Sitting down at one of the bar stools, Itachi stared at his hands in deep thought. Shisui wasn't the first person who'd had to break things off with someone they were in love with. It was to the point where a lot of the members of their clan didn't bother dating. Obito was probably the only one out of their group that had been allowed to marry his high school sweetheart. And that had been because he had broken all ties with the clan.
Years ago, Fugaku held a meeting where he informed the clan of the revised Senju Laws. He had made it very clear that, by law, they were allowed to live outside of the compound. However, the clan head made sure to explain all of the pros and cons of living outside of the compound. Majority of the members had chosen to stay. Those who had decided to leave were gone no longer than a month before they had returned.
His father had had every right to turn them away, but he hadn't. Obito was too stubborn to return. He was also madly in love with his wife, Nohara Rin. Last Itachi heard, they were expecting a baby in early November.
Honestly, the Uchiha compound wasn't as suffocating as one would think. The only reason why Itachi didn't want to take over the family business was because he was a pacifist, through and through. The Uchiha clan was one of the country's main source for weapons. When he was six, his father took him to one of their testing facilities and showed him the aftermath of one of their bombs.
The crater had been so large he had felt like he was standing on the edge of the world. He couldn't stop wondering how things would have looked if there were people or animals around. Then, when he was a few years older, he finally had his answer.
"Itachi, you're spacing out." Shisui's voice pulled him back to the present. "You okay?"
Nodding his head, Itachi wiped a single tear from his cheek. "I'm fine. I have a serious question to ask you."
He took a seat next to him. "What's on your mind?"
"Do you regret falling in love with Amelia? Even now, knowing that you two can't be together?"
"Not at all." The answer came as natural as breathing. To him, that was how their relationship had been. "Amelia taught me so much about life and myself. I think we met for a reason. I don't know what that reason was, but I can honestly say that I don't regret a thing. Was there a reason why you asked?"
"There's this...Person that—"
"Who is it? Male or Female? Non-binary? You know I'll support you either way. Come on, give me the details!"
All of the questions had him blinking rapidly. "Male," he smirked. "You know I don't kiss and tell."
Shisui snorted. "Well, you don't kiss at all, so—Holy shit! You kissed someone?" He patted him roughly on the back. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm telling you now."
"I mean, why didn't you tell me after it happened?"
"Do twenty-year-old men really call their friends after they experience their first kiss?"
"We're different. Besides, this is more than just your first kiss. I know how you are with your personal space, Itachi. This guy must be really special." Shisui crossed his arms over his chest. "What's his full name and address?"
Itachi chuckled. "I'm not telling you that. There isn't anything between us. We just kissed once, and he helps me out with a few things."
"What kinds of things? Does he help you relieve a little stress?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"No. It's a really long story."
"I've got time."
Itachi started at the beginning, not when they met at the magazine shoot, but their chance encounter on the sidewalk downtown. It was impossible to tell Shisui everything without mentioning Neji's name. Still, he kept out the details about the bruises he'd seen on the teen's neck. He had yet to figure out the source of the bruises and he didn't feel right mentioning it to anyone else. Shisui asked a million questions. Most of his inquiries went unanswered because Itachi didn't really have an answer. Lastly, he told him about the incident with his father two weeks ago.
"Have you talked to Neji since then?"
"Yes. He came over Monday to walk me to my appointment, but he didn't stay afterwards. He seemed kind of distant."
"Wait. Fugaku-sama told you not to see him again and you did so anyway?" Shisui seemed impressed by the small act of rebellion. "I'm actually proud of you for standing up for yourself. But do you have any idea why he doesn't want you hanging around him? From the sound of it, he seems like a positive influence on you. And it's good to know that you have someone here helping you."
"I don't know. Seriously, when has he ever needed a reason to force something on me?"
"True." Shisui stood up to throw his empty water bottle away. "You should call him."
"My father?"
"Neji."
"Why?"
"See if he wants to come over. If you only call him when you need something, he'll think you want things to remain platonic. You want more, right?"
It was another question he didn't know the answer to. There was no point denying it anymore. He did have a crush on Neji. But, he did not know if he wanted to explore that crush. "He's still in high school," he pointed out. "And he's a minor. It wouldn't be right for me to pursue him."
Throwing his head back, Shisui laughed. "In high school, I lost my virginity to a thirty-year-old married woman. I was only sixteen."
"She should be arrested for taking advantage of you."
"Who said she took advantage of me? I'm the one that pretended to be sad so she'd blow me."
"..."
"We both know I was a little shit in high school. Anyway, the age of consent is actually thirteen." He threw an oven mitt at the man. "Stay away from thirteen year olds, Itachi. That's a huge fucking no. Seventeen and up only."
Itachi suppressed an eye roll. "You know me better than that. Also, that only applies to Tokyo and Nagano. In Konoha, it's sixteen—Why are we talking about this again? I'm not interested in having sex with Neji. I just want to be in his presence and learn more about him."
"All of that is really cute. But what if Neji wants to have sex with you?"
Itachi's cheeks heated slightly at the question. Averting his gaze, he stared at a random corner in the kitchen. "I doubt he would be interested. Everything isn't about sex, Shisui."
"Just in case you change your mind. I'll leave you a couple of condoms."
"That is unnecessary."
"I insist."
The days when Hiashi was away on business were always the best. Neji didn't have to sit through Sunday brunch, and he could easily avoid his younger cousins. Hinata still asked him to train her, and Hanabi annoyed him constantly about being her sparring partner indefinitely.
He wanted nothing to do with any spawns of his rapist. Granted, they were unaware of their father's nightly activities. Still, Neji couldn't pretend like everything was fine. A small part of him knew it was wrong to hold them accountable for their father's actions. However, a larger part of him did not give a flying fuck about either of them.
Their request for him to join them for a picnic in the wisteria gardens was denied. Instead, he went to a place that he swore he would never step foot in. Neji had no idea why his old home was exactly how it was the day his father died. All of their furniture was even there, covered with white sheets. He needed a place to hide his suitcase, and some important documents. Oddly enough, his childhood home seemed like the safest place in the compound. There was nothing stopping him from getting the hell away from Hiashi the first chance he got.
So far, everything was going great. Graduation was in two weeks, and his eighteenth birthday was less than a month away. He had survived Hiashi for nine years. Another month wouldn't kill him.
Bypassing the living room, Neji walked up the dusty staircase. Anyone else probably would have been too frightened, or too traumatized to walk into the same room where their father killed himself. Not Neji.
Ghosts didn't scare him. It was real human beings that he had to watch out for.
Hizashi's bedroom seemed colder than the rest of the house. The place smelled of death and despair. He thought about leaving, yet something on the vanity dresser made him stay. Picking up the hairbrush, Neji frowned at all of the caked up dust. Maybe, if he gave it a good wash, he could use it. Sighing, he sat the brush down. He wanted nothing to do with the man.
The closet door was cracked open. Neji decided that it would be a good place to hide his suitcase. All of his father's clothes were still there on the hangers. Again, he wondered why no one had ever bothered to clean the place out.
Surely another family could move in. The house was still in great shape. It just needed some serious dusting. Lifting the suitcase, he attempted to hide it on the highest shelf of the closest. He almost had it in place when the floorboard gave out and his foot fell in.
Neji barely caught the suitcase before it hit him on the head. Apparently, the house wasn't as sturdy as he'd thought. Luckily, his foot wasn't stuck, still, there was now a hole in the floor. From his understanding, no one ever visited the house. Why would they? When he removed his foot, pale eyes fell on a journal.
Feeling a prickle on the back of his neck, he slowly glanced around the empty room. He felt as though an unseen force wanted him to find that journal. And he didn't believe in spirits or things of that nature, but even he was a little spooked now.
In the end, he knelt down and picked up the journal. It crossed his mind to search for anything else under the floorboards, but his stomach was in knots. He tucked his suitcase in the back of the closet, behind his father's clothes, and quickly left the bedroom.
. . .
Neji almost jumped out of his skin when his cellphone went off. He was still on edge after leaving his father's bedroom. Looking at his caller ID, he was surprised to see Itachi's name on the screen. Glancing around the courtyard, he checked to see if anyone was in hearing range before he answered.
"Hello?" There was a muffled voice in the background, and he had to strain his ear to hear clearly. "Itachi?"
"Ah. Yes. Hello."
He smiled. "Why do you sound so robotic?" The same muffled voice said something that he couldn't quite hear.
"Shisui, go away."
"So the infamous Shisui is in town."
"Yes. Only for another hour or so. I was calling because I wanted to know if...Could you hold on one moment?"
"Sure." Neji took a seat under the veranda, and placed his father's journal on his lap. Idly, he played with the leather strap while he listened to Itachi and Shisui argue in the background. Well, he couldn't hear exactly what they were saying, but what he did hear had him covering his mouth to stifle a snicker.
"I'm back. Sorry about that. I called to ask you if—"
"Yes, I would love to come over to hang out with you, as friends, that may kind of sort of like each other."
There was a long pause on the other end. "...You heard that?"
"Yep."
"That's embarrassing."
Neji was smiling so hard it was almost painful. "It's okay. I may kind of sort of like you too." A celebratory clap was heard loud and clear over the phone. It was obviously Shisui's doing.
"Can we talk when you get here?"
"Yeah. I'll be there in an hour." Neji ended the call with a bright smile on his face. The phone call had almost made him forget about the uneasiness he'd felt after leaving his old home.
It didn't take a genius to conclude that there was something fishy going on. Hiashi was the reason why Hizashi's bedroom was still the same. But why? What reason did he have to keep it like that? His uncle never spoke of his father. The clan head had a habit of calling him by his father's name when he took advantage of him. Still, that was only on rare occasions when he was drunk.
Neji picked up the journal. All of the answers to his questions could be in the pages of that journal. There was also the possibility that he would see something that he wouldn't like. He didn't know if he could actually handle reading what his father really thought of him.
Hiashi had once told a nine-year-old Neji that Neji had been the reason why his father had killed himself. He had been so young and fragile during those years. The information had had him crying for weeks. It was engraved in him now. He had spent so many years believing that to be true.
Now, he could possibly see for himself. He didn't know how much the journal covered, but anything could help him get a better insight on Hizashi. First, he needed to pack a small overnight bag. Hiashi would be returning later that afternoon, and he did not plan on being at the compound when he returned. Hopefully, Itachi would allow him to stay the night again. To be on the safe side, he'd take the journal with him. He knew that Hiashi searched his room whenever he wasn't home.
Itachi eyed the small duffle bag in Neji's hand. Raising an elegant brow, he crossed his arms over his chest. "Neji," he said.
Neji moved past the man and stepped into the large den. "I'll get up early for school like I did last time. Unless you don't want me to stay." He faced the man with a small pout on his face.
"Are you really giving me puppy dog eyes?"
"Is it working."
Yes, it actually was working. He sighed in defeat. "Did you tell someone that you were staying with a friend?" They didn't need to know that Itachi was the friend, but as long as they knew not to worry about the teen, he was fine.
"Everything is handled," he easily lied. "Now, we have the rest of the day to ourselves. What would you like to do?" Neji had a couple of ideas of his own. One of those ideas involved them both with their clothes off. Though, he doubted Itachi would be open to that.
"Before we do anything, we need to talk."
In his experience, whenever someone said they needed to talk to him, they always had bad news. He felt just like he had that day in the park, when Tokuma had announced his betrothal. He took a seat on the couch and waited for Itachi to sit next to him. "Is this the 'it's not you, it's me' talk?" he laughed nervously.
"No. Not really. I..." He took a moment to find the right words to say. "My father told me to cut all ties with you..."
Anger swiftly replaced his initial nervousness. The Uchiha clan head had no right to make such a demand. Neji had never even met the man until that brief encounter two weeks ago. Was Itachi really going to listen to him? Slowly, he began to build a mental wall between them. It was the same defense mechanism he used with every single person that let him down.
"...But I don't plan on doing that. Neji, I like having you around. Your candid personality, and fearless attitude, are two traits I wish I possessed. I love being in your presence, and you make me feel so...alive. Also, Dr. Shiho said that it was healthy to surround myself with positive influences. Because of you, I want to—" He glanced over at the teen. "Neji, why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?"
Shaking his head, he quickly wiped his face. "No one has ever stood up for me like that." He felt silly for crying over something so insignificant. It wasn't like Itachi had just declared his undying love for him. Though, that was what it felt like.
Itachi grabbed his hand and lightly traced the lines of his palm. "I lied earlier. When we were on the phone. I am more than positive that I like you," he confessed.
The day just kept on getting better. "Really?"
"Yes. I'm actually afraid."
"Of what?"
"Falling in love with you."
Neji opened his mouth, and then immediately closed it. He was speechless. What could he possibly say in response to that? For starters, he had his own fears. Falling in love sounded painful. There was something about the idea of falling that didn't sit so well with him. It seemed like an inconvenience. That was why he preferred one night stands and quickies with strangers.
"Who's to say that you will fall in love with me or vice versa?"
Itachi knew himself. He wouldn't have even mentioned Neji to Shisui if he didn't have strong feelings for him. Then again, he was depressed. He was in a state where he could become easily addicted to anyone or anything that made him feel good about himself. Not all addictions were bad, though. But, if Neji were to leave him...
"I know how this works, Itachi. One day, you'll have to take over as the head of your clan. You'll have to marry a woman of your father's choosing." He took both of Itachi's hands into his own. When he straddled Itachi, he derived pleasure from how much the simple action affected him. "However, now, you don't have that responsibility. I like you too. Let's see how far this goes before the curtain closes."
Their second kiss made the first kiss look like amateur hour. They both knew it was coming. A shy look was shared before their lips brushed. Not innocently, like a tease, but fiery and demanding. Itachi kept his hands firmly on Neji's hips, keeping him in place.
Which was kind of pointless because Neji didn't plan on going anywhere. He lead the kiss, but, much to his surprise, the older man didn't have a problem keeping up. His tongue met with his just as eagerly. Itachi was going to lose his mind soon if Neji continued to rock his hips like he was doing. What the teen was doing could be best described as dry humping.
In a daze, he slipped his hands under Neji's shirt. Running his palms over the smooth skin, he could feel his own pants tightening. Neji reached for his erection, gave it a light squeeze, and Itachi tightened his arms around him.
Wincing, Neji jerked away. There were large bruises on his back thanks to his loving uncle. Pulling his shirt down, he gave Itachi a sad, apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry. Was I too rough?"
"No, you did nothing wrong," he pecked him on the lips. "I do think we should stop." Neji wanted to scream. He definitely thought that they should never stop. Unfortunately, there were bruises on his back and thighs that he didn't want Itachi to see.
"You're right." He rested his forehead against Neji's and gathered some much needed oxygen.
Neji ran his fingers through Itachi's hair. He was pleased that the man had decided to wear his hair loose instead of in it's usual ponytail. "It's so long," he murmured. "You can't cut it, Itachi. It would be a crime against humanity."
"I'm not cutting it. You told me that it suited me, so I'm going to keep it like this." His mother nagged him constantly about cutting his hair, but he liked it long. Now that he knew Neji liked it as well, there was no way he was going to cut it.
Someone actually valued his opinion. Neji was so happy in that moment, he was terrified. Every measure of peace he'd obtained in the past, Hiashi had always managed to ruin it for him. If the man found out about Itachi, he would surely intervene. And, if Hiashi didn't ruin things, Neji's track record would. Did Itachi think he was a virgin? He knew from experience that most men avoided dating anyone that fell under the slut category. By definition, Neji was the biggest slut in Konoha.
He decided not to think about that. They had agreed that what they had wouldn't last anyway. It was just something to fill the time. Itachi needed to experience more out of life before he was tied to his clan forever. Once he had the service hours that he needed, he could break things off with Itachi and start a new life in a new city.
Of course, Neji knew all too well that things never went according to plan.
"This is going to be harder than I thought," Itachi confessed. "I never want this moment with you to end."
Neji hid his face on the man's chest as tears rolled down his face. "Me neither."