Chapter 6

The next day Sasuke had decided he would go to school anyhow. He got on the schoolyard and parked his bike. He wondered how long Neji would take before going to school again. And if he would be ok today. He probably would, Itachi promised to keep his eyes on him.

And there, waiting at where Sasuke was parking, stood Kabuto.

"I want to talk to you." He spat and walked towards Sasuke.

Sasuke swallowed. Shit. Where was Itachi?

"I don't wanna talk to you." Sasuke said, trying to keep his calm as he started walking away. Like hell he would stay here.

Kabuto growled now and grabbed Sasuke's collar, pulling Sasuke towards him.

"Where is Neji?!" He snarled, glaring furiously at Sasuke.

"Go away!" Sasuke said, sounding scared. He hadn't meant for it to sound like that...it just did. He tried to pull Kabuto's hands of his collar, but Kabuto was far stronger then him.

"You fucking tell me where Neji is!" Kabuto yelled now, grabbing Sasuke at his collar even stronger.

"I don't know where he is! Let me go!" Sasuke yelled back as he pulled at Kabuto's hands and then kicked his shin-bone.

"YOU BRAT!" Kabuto yelled as he hit Sasuke in the middle of his face. Hard. "YOU KNOW! TELL ME!"

At that moment, before anyone could even notice his entry, Itachi hit Kabuto in the face, as hard as possible. He glared at him furiously.

Sasuke grabbed to his face as Kabuto did the same. Sasuke quickly walked behind his brother. He really was a coward sometime, but Itachi told him to always stay behind him if he could.

Kabuto in the mean time growled. "How dare you!" He yelled at Itachi furious.

"How dare you to hurt my brother." Itachi growled, while he glared at Kabuto. "Leave him the fuck alone or I'll fucking kill you. I'll rip all the flesh off your body and break your bones into pieces if you even touch one of his hairs from now on. Leave him alone. You'll regret it when you do."

"Itachi calm down.." Sasuke said as he grabbed Itachi's arm. He felt good on the other hand. He always did when Itachi took his part. Kabuto growled.

"You tell that brat that he will have to tell me where Neji is, or he'll never see Neji again. Because I 'will' find him." Kabuto growled back at Itachi, but you could see he was scared.

"Go shit your pants." Itachi growled.

Kabuto gave another growl and then stared at Sasuke. "I'm not done with you." He snapped and then (quickly) walked away. Sasuke sighed.

Itachi looked after him angry, and then his face changed into one of worry.

"Are you OK?" He asked and checked Sasuke for any wounds.

"I'm fine Itachi...Thanks." Sasuke said and smiled at his brother slightly. He was glad he had a brother like Itachi.

"You're welcome." Itachi said. "..How dare that bastard hit you."

"That shouldn't be a surprise..." Sasuke said and rubbed his nose. Damn, it still hurt.

"Well, if he ever hurts you again, I'll be his worst nightmare." Itachi grumbled.

Sasuke laughed. "I know you will. And I'm glad you will be." He said, thankful. "Now calm down OK? Nothing happened."

"He did hit you." Itachi said. "I should go back to him and hit his nose in return."

"You can beat the crap out of him if he does something again. I don't want you to get in trouble." Sasuke said.

"I know." Itachi said. "But well, I'm going back into the building again to thank Deidara. He came to me and told me that Kabuto was waiting for you."

"Good. I'll thank him later too. I'll go back into the school too. You know..just in case." Sasuke said and started walking.

Itachi nodded while he moved an arm around Sasuke's shoulders.

"You'll be fine Sasuke." He said. "You'll be fine." Sasuke smiled.

The same morning, Neji woke up very late. He looked around and was confused for a moment. Then he realised that he was in Kurenai's house. That was true indeed... He got out of his bed and opened the door, to search some people.

Downstairs, two people were talking. One of them was obviously Kurenai. She was discussing something with the other person.

Neji put on the bathrobe he saw laying on a chair, and then he walked downstairs, towards the voices. Neji softly knocked on the door, not wanting to just walk in like that.

"Come in." Came Kurenai's voice. "Asuma I told you that you had to smoke outside. How many times do I have to repeat myself?" She then asked to the person in the room.

"But I opened the window." The voice of the other protested. Meanwhile, Neji softly opened the door and entered the room. He saw Kurenai sitting at the table, with a large man facing her. He was very muscular and he had a small beard. And a cigarette in his mouth. Was that.. her husband?

"Ah Neji, you're up." Kurenai said and smiled at Neji. She then turned to Asuma again. "I don't care if you opened a window. Now put that cigarette out, we've got a guest." She snapped.

"Sorry, sorry.." Asuma muttered while he put off his cigarette and then stood. He offered Neji his hand.

"Hey kid, I'm Sarutobi Asuma." He said.

Neji shook his hand.

"Hyuuga Neji." He said.

"Hyuuga?" Asuma asked. "...You're not the son of that Hiashi are you?"

"..Erm no, he's my uncle." Neji said, with a small frown. "Do you know him?"

"Oh he was the antisocial bastard on my high school." Asuma replied, shrugging. "Thought he was the most pretty guy in the world."

Neji snorted at this, almost smirking. He already saw his uncle parading around through a High school, with an arrogant smirk on his head.

Kurenai smiled. "Well, I see that runs in the family. Now Neji, what would you like to have for breakfast?" Kurenai asked, slapping her hands together softly.

"Are you offending me?" Neji asked with an eyebrow pulled up. He wasn't thinking that he was the most pretty guy in the world.

"Of course not, it's a compliment!" Kurenai said, obviously shocked as she put a hand to her mouth.

"...So you think that I think that I'm the most pretty guy in the world and that's a compliment?" Neji asked.

"He has a point." Asuma said.

"Nooo nooo, I don't mean it like that." Kurenai said. "I mean you are really pretty. So you 'should' think that."

"Oh OK.. thanks." Neji said and smiled.

"You're welcome. So now tell me what you wanna eat." Kurenai said and smiled at Neji lovingly.

"Some bread please." Neji said with a smile. "Should I help?"

"Just bread? Can't you use a little imagination. I could make you pancakes or eggs and bacon or waffles, anything you like and you want bread?" Kurenai asked, highly surprised.

"No thanks." Neji said, still with a small smile on his face.

"Why not?" Kurenai asked as she grabbed some bread, still shocked that Neji didn't want anything else to eat.

"I don't really like those special things in the morning." Neji said. "Is that so strange?" He shouldn't be so.. snappy. But he was still confused.

Kurenai said nothing. She was obviously disappointed by Neji's reaction and just started to put butter on some slices of bread.

"...I'm sorry, I'm not really thinking..." Neji softly said, ashamed by his own behaviour.

"That's OK." Kurenai simply said. "What do you want on your bread?" She asked, out of her mood.

"...Some jam please.." Neji softly said while he stared at the floor. He felt really bad about this. Perhaps he should just leave... He was only bothering them.

Kurenai started putting some jam on the slices and then put them on a plate. She smiled when she gave them to Neji. "Something to drink?" She asked.

Asuma looked at Kurenai now.

"..Hey, I should go to work, so.. you're staying here with the boy?" He asked.

"Some water please." Neji said, smiling a bit. Damn it, he was really bothering these people.

"Yes I took my day off. And don't call him the boy. Neji's got a name." Kurenai said and then gave Asuma a quick kiss on the lips before getting a glass of water.

"Yeah yeah." Asuma said. "See you tonight." He waved at her and Neji, and then left. Neji looked after him, before looking at the ground again.

"It's ok Neji. Here." Kurenai said and gave Neji his glass of water too before smiling.

"...Thank you.. I'm so ashamed by my behaviour, I'm really sorry.." Neji softly said, while looking at Kurenai thankfully. He accepted the glass and took a small sip.

"That's OK. I get you're still a little high on your toes." Kurenai said and sat down on a chair.

"Ok." Neji said, while he took a bite of his slice of bread. It tasted good. It felt like he hadn't eaten a few days.

"Did you sleep well?" Kurenai asked polite. She watched how Neji ate his bread.

"Yes I did." Neji said. "It's a really nice bed."

"It's brand new, so it'd better be." Kurenai said. "So what are you planning on doing today?"

"I don't really know.. I don't think I can go outside right?" Neji asked.

"That wouldn't be smart no. But we've got tons of things to do here." Kurenai said, still smiling.

"Like?" Neji asked, now smiling too. He looked at Kurenai while he took another bite. "Do you have instruments?"

"We've got a guitar. And a piano. And we've got video games, DVD's, board games, anything you'd like. And a pretty good yard too." Kurenai answered.

Neji smiled. "Could I use the piano?" He asked.

"Of course you can. You play?" Kurenai asked, happily surprised.

"Yeah, a bit." Neji said. "I sing with it. I like singing more then playing the piano, but doing both is even better." He smiled slightly. "Do you play the piano too?" He asked.

"Yeah, I started when I was very young and you? Why don't you play me something after you're done eating. I'd love to hear it." Kurenai said and smiled some more.

"I will." Neji said. "And well, I play sometimes. I have an old piano in my own house, that was my father's. He taught me some songs."

"We could play together sometime!" Kurenai squealed happily.

Neji laughed softly. "Yeah." Neji said. "Perhaps you could play and then I could sing."

"That would be great. What songs do you sing?" Kurenai asked.

"All kind of songs." Neji said, smiling.

"Name one and then we could play it." Kurenai said.

"Hmm.. strangers like me from Phil Collins?" Neji asked, looking at Kurenai.

"I know that one! Wonderful! We could play that once you're done." Kurenai said, overjoyed.

"Alright, we will then." Neji said, smiling. Then he took another sip of his water.

"Great!" Kurenai cheered. "And I think you should call Sasuke today too." She said and raised a finger while she spoke.

"....I guess." Neji muttered.

"Don't you want to call him?" Kurenai asked surprised.

"..I do.. but we had a little fight and well.." Neji muttered.

"And what? You don't wanna see him anymore because you had an argument?" Kurenai asked.

"No, that's not it, it's just that I.. well.. I don't know.." Neji muttered. "..I don't feel like sharing everything with him already."

"Well you don't have to. But you could call him and get to know him." Kurenai said. "It took some time before Asuma and me shared everything together too." She smiled.

"He already knows so much." Neji said with a frown. "It's a bit scary that I already care about him. I met him this Monday."

"That can happen. You just connect well I guess. It's nothing bad." Kurenai said.

Neji nodded. "..I'll call him." Neji said.

"Good boy. You should. I'm sure he wants to hear from you." Kurenai said and smiled. Then she stood up. "But first, we're gonna play that song."

Neji nodded while he stood too.

"I hope you won't hate my voice." Neji said and let out a small laugh.

"I'm sure I won't." Kurenai said and then started leading Neji towards the room. There stood a big, black piano to the side and Kurenai sat down.

"It's beautiful." Neji said, looking at the piano. "From what year is this one?"

"I think it's now...25 years old. And it still plays like it's new." Kurenai said and played a few notes.

"I can hear that." Neji said with a smile.

"Well just fill in once you need to." Kurenai said and smiled back. Then she started to play the song.

Neji smiled and then started singing with her. He loved to make music like this. Together with a nice person. Just forgetting everything around you. Making music.

Kurenai smiled as Neji started to sing. He was good. And she loved to have someone sing with her, while she played. That had been a long time ago since she had last done that.

After they had sung for some time, the song was ended.

"You can play well." Neji said with a smile.

"You can sing very, very well." Kurenai answered and smiled back at Neji as she stood from the piano stool.

"Thanks." Neji said with a smile. He wasn't that good, Kurenai was probably just being nice.

"Really Neji, you should do more with your voice. It sounds really great." Kurenai said.

"Really?" Neji asked surprised. "Aren't you just saying that?"

"No, of course not. I don't lie. You're just a great singer." Kurenai said and smiled at Neji again.

"Hmm.. I don't think of myself as a great singer, but thanks." Neji said, smiling again. Was he really that good?

"Well you should." Kurenai cheered. "We should play again soon. Maybe make it a habit."

"I'd love to." Neji said, nodding. "...I think I'm going to call Sasuke now. Is that OK?"

"Of course it is. Make sure you'll come down during lunch. I feel like cooking." Kurenai said and then hopped into the kitchen again.

Neji smiled. "I'll help then." He said. "I'll come downstairs once I'm done."

"Good boy!" Kurenai cheered from the kitchen as the clattering of pans and pots was heard.

Neji was silent for a moment and then he got his mobile phone out of his pocket and dialled Sasuke's number. It was break now on school, so...

After a while of waiting, Sasuke finally answered his cell phone. People's voices were heard on the back ground.

"Hello?" Came Sasuke's voice.

"Hey.. Neji here." Neji said. Shit, where should he start?

"Oh...Hey. How are you?" Sasuke asked as he walked out of the cafeteria, to some place more quiet.

"I'm fine, how are you?" Neji asked. "Kurenai is very nice, and her husband too."

"That's good. I'm fine." Sasuke simply said. Did he even wanna talk to Neji now?

"...Do you want to talk to me?" Neji asked. "..I'm really sorry for my behavior.."

"That's OK. I wasn't that nice either." Sasuke said as he sat down on a nearby bench.

"..It was just a bit strange." Neji said. "But do you want to talk or..?"

"Myeah. Depends on what you wanna talk about." Sasuke said and waited for Neji's answer. That could've sounded a little..rude.

Neji was silent for a moment.

"..Oh.." Neji said, a bit surprised. "..Well.. I um.. just wanted to know how you were doing.. or something.."

Sasuke sighed. "OK. Well, where's Kurenai's house? I could stop by." Sasuke said, trying to make up for his mistake of words. He could not just let Neji go.

"It's facing the supermarket at the south of Konoha..." Neji said, a bit uncertain. Did Sasuke wanted to see him or not?

"OK. I'll stop by then. If you want." Sasuke said and started fidgeting with his pants. He wondered how a visit with Neji would work out now.

"I'd like that." Neji said, while he smiled a little. Not that Sasuke could see that.

"OK good. I'll see you at three then and we'll talk further. I got class now." Sasuke said as he stood from the bench again.

"OK." Neji said. "Bye."

"Bye." Sasuke said and then hung up the phone to get to class. That afternoon would be interesting.

Neji hung up the phone too and walked downstairs, where the female police officer would be sitting. Neji opened the door and a smell of just baked pancakes greeted him. Neji looked into the kitchen and saw Kurenai baking some pancakes there. His nose never betrayed him.

As Kurenai turned around she spotted Neji and smiled at him. "Hey Neji! Do you want some pancakes?" She asked as she threw one into the air to turn it around.

"Hey." Neji said with a smile. "Gladly." As she turned around to focus her attention on the pancakes again, Neji stared out of the window, while leaning against a wall. How long would he have to stay inside this house?

"Why don't you sit down Neji. The pancakes will be done in a couple minutes." Kurenai said as she smiled at Neji again before returning to her pancakes.

Neji nodded. "Alright." He said, while he sat down. He had to search for proof, that Kabuto really had hurt him. Strange that Kabuto hadn't called again..

After a few minutes, Kurenai put a pile of pancakes in front of Neji and then put some jam, sugar and syrup on the table. "I hope you like them." Kurenai said as she grabbed two plates and handed one to Neji.

Neji accepted the plate and put it down, on the table.

"Thanks." He said. "I hope so too, but well, they look delicious. They have to taste like that too."

"Thank you. Just try one." Kurenai said as she got herself a pancake and then sat down.

Neji nodded and got a pancake too.

"Sasuke is coming at three." He said, just to inform her.

"Ah, good. He could stay for dinner." Kurenai said happily and put some jelly on her pancake.

"Alright." Neji said and gave Kurenai a soft smile, while he put some sugar on his pancake. Without really noticing it, he was humming a song while he was putting the sugar on his pancake. He was really lost in thought, but, strangely, felt happy for some reason.

"What's that song you're humming?" Kurenai asked after a while and then took a bit from her pancake.

Neji looked up to her and had to fight back a blush. Damn, why was he always embarrassing himself?

"..I don't really know." Neji said. "I don't think it exists."

"Really? It sounded good. You should be a songwriter. You could really do something with this Neji." Kurenai said. "And don't blush, it's nothing to be ashamed off."

"..Thanks." Neji said. "Perhaps I should do something with it indeed.."

"You should, I'm sure you could get a long way with it." Kurenai said. "Now eat your pancake silly."

Neji smiled at her and then focused his attention on his pancake, taking a bite of it. Damn, that really tasted good.

"So? How does it taste?" Kurenai asked anxious.

"It's good." Neji said, looking at her, still with the soft smile on his face. "You put something like cinnamon through it, didn't you?"

"Yes, how did you know!? That's my secret ingredient." Kurenai said and smiled broadly, cheering Neji on that he noticed.

"I always taste that kind of things." Neji said and then took a bite of his pancake again. It really was good.

"That's good. You'll taste a lot of it in this household, I love to cook weird things." Kurenai said as she ate her pancake too. They were silent for a while.

Neji finished his pancake now, and exactly on that moment, the bell rang. Neji frowned and looked at Kurenai. That couldn't be Sasuke already, it wasn't three 'o clock yet.

"Would you mind opening that Neji?" Kurenai asked polite. She figured it would be OK if Neji answered. He couldn't be sheltered from the entire world.

"..And what if it's Kabuto..?" Neji asked, frowning.

"I can see the front door from here, so I'll be able to see you." Kurenai said and smiled. "Go ahead, we get ringing doorbells more often Neji."

Neji nodded and then stood, walking towards the door. He opened it, and then looked in the face of.. Sasuke. Huh?

"...Hey." Neji said, a bit surprised.

"Hey. Half of my classes got cancelled so..." Sasuke said and shrugged as he looked back at Neji.

"Alright." Neji said, nodding. After he had looked at Sasuke for a few more seconds, he suddenly hugged him.

Sasuke was a little startled by it at first. He laid his hands on Neji's back surprised. "Why are you hugging me?" He asked. Not that he'd mind of course.

"...I felt like doing that..." Neji muttered, while he quickly let go of Sasuke. Damn it, why would Sasuke even like it if he did that? Neji sighed now. "..Come in." He said, while he walked towards the kitchen again.

Sasuke smiled and gave Neji a quick kiss on the cheek as he walked inside. What an idiot. "Thanks. So you've landed in a good house." Sasuke said as he looked around while he hung up his coat.

Neji looked at Sasuke. Did Sasuke just.. give him a kiss on the cheek? Did Sasuke actually.. like him? He knew that they had had sex already, but that had just been pure lust. This wasn't a sign of lust, right..?

"What?" Sasuke asked, as he noticed Neji staring. Neji looked really...stupid right now.

"..Oh, nothing." Neji said, as he snapped out of it. Jeez, he was acting like a young schoolgirl who had just seen her true love or something. Did he just think jeez? What was happening to the world? Or to him?

"Ah. Well are you going to show me around or are we just gonna stand here?" Sasuke said and smirked. Playing a little with Neji wouldn't hurt.

Neji snapped awake, again. Damn it.

"..Oh well, I have to tell Kurenai that you're here already." Neji said, while he walked into the room where Kurenai was sitting.

Kurenai smiled at him. "Be nice to your guest Neji and offer him some pancakes." She said. Sasuke followed Neji into the room and smiled at Kurenai before nodding. Kurenai returned it.

"Do you want some pancakes?" Neji asked. He knew he was sounding a bit strange. Why was he feeling so strange when Sasuke was around?

"Sure. I'd love to." Sasuke answered and looked at Neji. Neji was looking rather...uncomfortable. Did he do something wrong?

"Then sit down." Neji said, while he felt his face getting red. Shit. He should go to the bathroom or something.

"Yes sir." Sasuke said and sat down on a chair as Kurenai gave him a plate and a pancake. "Aren't you going to finish yours Neji?" Kurenai asked.

"Oh.. um.. yeah of course." Neji said, while he sat down too, ignoring Sasuke's comment.

"Is something wrong?" Sasuke asked Neji as he was putting some syrup on his pancake. Kurenai in the mean time quietly ate hers.

"...No, why?" Neji asked, after he noticed that Sasuke was talking to him.

"You seem a little distant." Sasuke said as he took his first bite. "Mmm...these are delicious." He told Kurenai, covering his mouth with his hand.

Neji frowned, while he quietly took another bite.

"You should finish your pancake Neji, so you can show Sasuke around." Kurenai said. She knew what was going on. But Sasuke obviously didn't as he slowly started eating his pancake, wondering if he should just leave.

Neji nodded, while he took a last few bites.

"...Are you done too?" Neji asked, looking at Sasuke.

Sasuke nodded as he took his last piece. "Yeah." He said shortly.

"Oh would you look at the time! I got to do groceries, you two have fun now. Goodbye! Oh and Neji, don't open the door to any strangers." Kurenai said and then quickly got up to grab her wallet and purse.

"Ok.. and I know." Neji said, smiling a bit to her.

Kurenai smiled back and then walked to the door, put on her coat and opened the door. "I'll see you in a couple hours. Bye!" She said and with that, walked out of the door and closed it behind her. Sasuke stayed silent.

"...So do you want to see the house?" Neji asked, after he had been quiet for a few seconds too.

"Sure." Sasuke said shrugging and stood up, not meeting Neji's eyes. He didn't look all too happy either.

"..Is something wrong?" Neji asked, with a frown. Was Sasuke angry?

"Nope. Everything's fine with me." Sasuke said, or rather, snapped. He just couldn't understand why Neji was being so distant with him. Maybe it was a mistake to come here after all.

"...Did I make you angry?" Neji asked with a frown, while he walked upstairs to show Sasuke his room.

Sasuke followed Neji, hands in his pocket. "No. You made me think I should just go now. You're obviously not very fond of the idea of having me over." Sasuke snapped.

"..I do want to have you here..." Neji said, as he arrived at his room. He sat down on his bed, looking at Sasuke.

"Well you sure as hell don't 'look' like you do. You've said like three words to me or something or you just don't respond." Sasuke snapped as he stood in the doorway and looked back at Neji annoyed.

"I feel confused." Neji said, looking away from Sasuke now. Could it be.. love?

"Because?" Sasuke asked as he leaned against the wall now, crossing his arms.

"..I don't know, I feel strange when I look at you.." Neji admitted honestly, looking into Sasuke's eyes now. He knew he looked vulnerable now, perhaps a bit too much. He was telling Sasuke his feelings, after all.

"Oh..Well that's just great." Sasuke snapped as he looked away. Nice. Now Neji felt strange around him. He should really just leave.

"..I really like you Sasuke." Neji said now. Could he be more obvious? Wouldn't Sasuke just understand?

"Well I like you too, but I'm not walking around like an idiot and not even answering you or being blunt to you." Sasuke snapped as he looked at Neji.

Neji looked away now, looking angry. He was too proud to show everything of himself to Sasuke like that. He knew he liked Sasuke more then just 'liking him'. He knew it was more.

"I should go." Sasuke said after a while of silence and then started walking down the stairs. Neji would never like him the way he did Neji. That was obvious now.

"..Please come back Sasuke." Neji softly said.

"For what? So you can ignore me?" Sasuke asked, who had still heard Neji, even when he was talking so soft. He was almost downstairs now.

"Sasuke I'm falling in love with you OK!" Neji yelled now, confused by it all.