Title: Shades

Pairing: Gaa/Neji … and Naru/Sasu (if you squint very and I mean VERY hard.)

Genre: Angst/Romance.

Chapter Song: "Over My Head" by The Fray

Fair warning, I'm going way off tangent this time, whole different field. I'm shamelessly ripping off 'Shades Of Grey' the title, the actions, some of the plot, and all of the freaking hotness.

Disclaimer: I do not own "Naruto" or "Shades Of Grey". The honors go to Masashi Kishimoto and E.L. James respectively.

Warning: BDSM, sadism, drugs, alcohol, snark, kink and sex and lots of it. I will not be responsible if little kids get corrupted, just sayin'.

Summary: "I always wonder why some of Kohona's elite like you turn up on this particular side of the tracks…" a dark smoky voice materialized out of the gloom, "but then again you wouldn't believe how much of your kind ends up down here." Those were the first word Neji Hyuuga heard while squinting in the thick darkness. Pity he didn't know those words would change his life.

Chapter two: Picturesque

Sunday morning 9:00 a.m

The morning came with this: "I'd like to really know you. Would you meet me at the Evita's café at noon? It's completely safe and more importantly public….and you should probably wear jeans."

Neji stared at the message until his eyes started to water. Still completely stunned that Gaara had actually took him to task on the phone number thing and now he was asking for a …what exactly?

The restaurant, he knew, was an unconventional but quaint Italian restaurant, nestled in the edge of the waterfront section of Kohona. Known for its mouthwatering and delicate pastries and dishes.

After a solid two hours of debating with himself, he finally answered with a curt, "Yes."

Decision made he had dressed carefully and conservatively, long sleeved white linen shirt topped with a deep maroon sweater vest, acid washed jeans and pseudo biker boots. His hair was let loose as his customary thick cinnamon curtain down his back.

Upon arrival Neji paused at the door again, still debating with himself about meeting the man. Sure he defiantly owed the man who had basically saved his hide the night before but he was still reeling about the kiss.

Breathing deeply to steady his nerves he entered to find Gaara on the terrace, leaning on an iron railing and staring out at the sea. Neji paused, still uncertain.

Gaara was dressed in a short sleeved deep emerald green oxford shirt that did nothing to hide his fair muscles, and faded but artistic (and clearly hideously expensive) Tru Religions bootcut jeans stuffed into spotless biker boots.

He silently approached him.

Gaara didn't even turn, "Tell me, what do you like to do?"

Well that was a hell of a 'hello'.

Neji blinked in surprise but answered anyway, "Martial arts, especially my in house style 'juken'."

"Gentle fist." Gaara murmured still staring at the shoreline. "Any particular reason why?"

Neji couldn't believe he was going to admit this; "First of all its' kind of my obligation to follow my clan's tradition…." He paused, "…and second please don't laugh…" he squinted, "…growing up I wanted to be a ninja."

Gaara faced him then and quirked an eyebrow. "Really now…why?"

The Hyuuga shrugged, arms crossed over his chest. "Looking back it now, childhood fantasy. I just thought they were cool so I asked my uncle to teach me fighting techniques from I was about six years old."

Gaara snorted while shaking his head, "Please, come with me."

Neji turned and felt a soft hand rest on the small of his spine as the other man led him to a small table on the edge of the balcony.

The Sabaku sat gracefully and crossed his long legs. "You're still wondering why I asked you out."

Neji was immediately on his guard. "That was on my mind, yes."

Gaara leaned in trapping the Hyuuga with his unnerving gaze, "First of all, don't be so defensive, I will not hurt you, but I'm a curious son of a bitch, I just want to know you… you're different."

Neji blinked, "That's news to me because I think I'm the epitome of a sheltered snobbish rich kid."

A smirk, "Oh no, that's absolutely true," he agreed, fingers drumming on the table. "… but there's something else, isn't there….you're not exactly what you pretend to be."

Neji frowned slightly. "What is this, a psyche evaluation?"

"No."

"Than what exactly are you asking of me?" Neji asked quietly.

Gaara sighed, "I'm going with this all the wrong way, aren't I? I truly think there is more to you than most others see you as… and I'd like to see you discover it."

Neji paused to stare at him for a long second in slight apprehension. That statement was…surprisingly…accurate. How could this, a stranger come to that conclusion in under ten minutes when the majority of people he knew for years still took him at face value?

"And how do you propose to do that?"

Gaara leaned back eyes never wavering form Neji's, "First off all, just like I said, I'd like to know you."

A blink, "Why?"

"Because there is something, undefined about you that intrigues me."

That was simple enough, strange, but simple.

"Okay," he said, "What do you want to know?"

"Would you tell me about your parents?"

A sigh. Pale lids lowered over grey, moonlit eyes. Well there was no harm in telling him, was there? It wasn't like he was spilling clan secrets.

"My father died when I was a baby, my mother…" he paused delicately, "wasn't accepted by the clan and I was left at the mercy of my uncle." He paused, eyes shifting slightly to the left, "The Hyuuga clan has an ancient tradition, the first born of any woman is automatically placed in the main branch, and the second child is placed in the supporting or ancillary branch. My father was the youngest twin of my uncle so ita es vita…"

"So is life." Gaara translated softly.

Neji's eyes shot up, silently surprised that the other had accurately knew what he had just said.

"What about you?" he asked boldly.

Pale lips quirked, "I'm an orphan. My father disappeared when I was six and I got dumped in the system."

"Wow. That's harsh." Neji whispered looking away, he felt like Gaara's unnerving gaze was stripping him layer by layer.

"Would you like something to drink?"

The Hyuuga scion looked up, "Yes, actually. French coffee if they have it, extra milk and sugar."

Gaara smirked, "Raging sweet tooth, huh?"

"Low blood sugar, actually.(1) And what about you?"

"Green tea." Gaara gestured for the closest waiter and placed their order.

Neji tilted his head and allowed a tendril of cinnamon hair to overshadow his left eye. "I seriously suspect that an unofficial inquiry into my life wasn't the primary reason for this."

The redhead grinned, "You've seen right through me, haven't you. But you're absolutely right, I have something planned that is slightly…avant-garde…do you trust me enough to do it and not scar you?"

Neji hesitated for a minute, "I don't usually go out much, even less with strangers…but surprisingly…I trust you…just please don't make me regret it."

The refreshments arrived. Neji immediately palmed the Styrofoam cup and took a sip. Unconsciously the tip of Neji's tongue slipped out to lick at a stray droplet of coffee. He completely missed Gaara's eyes darken.

A beat.

"Why did you want me to wear jeans?" Neji blurted out.

The Sabaku smiled mysteriously while beckoning the waiter over and handing him a credit card, "What, can't a man have some mystery up his sleeve?"

Neji pinned the other with his gaze, "Sure. But if you're a serial killer I'm cutting the hell out."

Gaara snorted, "No worries, little Hyuuga, I'm not psycho…By the way how are you with horses."

The off-road jeep whisked them off to a section of the countryside Neji hadn't known existed. Long stretches of cultured and cultivated land met his virgin eyes, sporting farm crops like acres of corn and wild sugar cane. He saw glimpses of actual water wells, stacks of tumbleweed, and real pitchforks. Eventually they entered a road that on each side had stretches of carefully land, grass cut low with wide open ranges.

Through the trees Neji saw glimpses of wild horses feeding and roaming. Before he knew it Gaara pulled up under a huge, flushing Goshinbuku tree and parked.

"This ranch is owned by an old friend of mine." Gaara said, hopping out of the car, "And when I say 'old' you can take that extremely literally."

"Oh come on." Neji chided, "He can't be that old."

"Oh yeah…try Sarutobi Hiruzen."

Neji blinked and relented, "Okay, that is old."

Sautobi was one of the oldest member of the state legislate, and considering the fact that the board was made solely of the elders of the whole country that in itself said something.

Walking up to nearby stable and entering behind Gaara Neji was assaulted with the smell of fresh hay, tanned leather and deep musk. Three stalls faced him and in the closest one was an impressive chestnut horse, nose buried in a trough of hay.

"That is Achilles," Gaara said, "The fastest horse on this ranch."

"He's not going to throw me, is he?" Neji asked slightly apprehensive.

"Oh no." Gaara answered nodding to another stall. "That's the modus operandi of Thor."

Neji glanced up and spotted a coal black horse feeding nearby. One look at the animal's eyes reminded him of a certain pissed off Uchiha.

He shuddered.

Steeping up to Achilles he looked into the horses honey eyes, scratched his flared nose and got a head-butt to his chest for his efforts.

"I should tell you, I have no idea how to ride a horse." He admitted.

"No worries," Gaara assured, placing a blanket on the back of the animal before hoisting a soft leather saddle on top of it. "It just like riding a bike."

Neji shrugged, "Never rode one of those either."

Gaara stood shocked, "What the hell did you do as a kid?"

"Train, study, read, swim." Neji answered succinctly.

"Trust me, you were robbed of your childhood." Gaara snorted as he secured the saddle straps before leading the animal into the mild sun.

Neji shrugged while following, "You could say that, I'd disagree though."

"Well, up." Gaara ordered.

Placing one foot into the nearest stirrup Neji, like poetry in motion, gracefully swung his other leg over to securely sit in the hollow of the saddle. He glanced down to see Gaara staring at him with an unknown emotion in his eyes.

"What?" he asked slightly uncomfortable.

The Sabaku snapped out of it, "Nothing…it just looked like you were born to ride."

"Yeah, right." Neji dismissed.

"Oh." Gaara said, producing a pair of gloves from one of the saddle bags, "Wouldn't want to scar those delicate hands of yours."

At that Neji took offense, leaning down to stare into Gaara's eyes he whispered, "Take me to a dojo and we'll see how 'delicate' these hands are."

The redhead smirked, "Is that a threat little Hyuuga?"

"No." Neji replied, "It's a promise."

Snapping the reigns he took off. Achilles raced over the turf like there wasn't land under his feet. Neji immediately regretted banding back his hair but didn't currently give a damn. The wind whipping at him stirred something in the belly of his gut he didn't even knew existed.

It was like another world. The sudden rush of emotions that barraged him under five seconds was indescribable. A loony grin took over his face, he barely got glimpses of the scenery flying by him, so entranced with the smooth motion of the ride.

Dimly he heard the rhythmic clod of another horses hooves behind him and knew that Gaara was closing on him, fast. Leaning into the air stream he streamlined himself to allow the wind to smoothly pass over him while his hair billowed behind him like a curtain; insane adrenaline was ripping through his veins like lava.

It was exhilarating.

Coming to the border of the ranch he gently pulled back on the horse's reins, controlling the horse to a slow canter while completely assured that Gaara was right behind him.

"I thought you said you didn't know how to ride." Came the mild accusation.

"You'd be amazed how much you get from reading."

"Oh." The redhead concluded, "That I know. I haven't forgotten a thing read since I was seven."

Neji squinted while facing him, "You have a photographic memory?"

"Yes, and let me tell you, it's a curse." Gaara said shaking his head.

"I know people who would kill to have that." Neji admitted.

"Its' not that great, trust me." Gaara returned.

Neji checked his watch; it was three thirty-nine. He had to get back to the Hyuuga compound by five for the weekly clan assembly. "Gaara," he said softly, "I have to go soon."

The emerald-eyed man smiled knowingly, "Family obligations, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay," Gaara said redirecting his steed back to the ranch proper. "Let's turn back."

Sitting in Gaara's car, Neji breathed deeply and had to admit to himself, he had actually had….fun. When they reached the café Neji jumped out and headed for his parked car, completely aware of the similarities of the night before.

He unlocked the machine and turned to face a smirking Sabaku. Gaara leaned against his car door of the jeep, blood-red hair fluttering over mischievous eyes.

"So, did I pass your test?" he asked.

Neji snorted, "Who said I was testing you?"

"First of all, I don't have any missing limbs, there are no police officers waiting for me and you haven't cursed me to my face, so…"

Neji smiled slightly, "I'll give you this, you're…not…what I expected you to be."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Neji paused, the question in the back of his mind resurged with a passion.

"There's something else," Gaara said, "Isn't there?"

Gearing up the courage Neji faced the other and asked, "Why did you kiss me?"

The redhead smiled slightly while steeping up to the Hyuuga, eyes roaming over Neji's face, "You don't know, do you?"

Neji shifted nervously from foot to foot. "Know what?"

A hand reached up to tuck a stand of hair behind an ear. "You're gorgeous."

Neji felt his ears go red. "You're joking."

"NO, I'm not."

"Then you're defective." Neji replied succinctly, "….and you don't call boys 'gorgeous.'"

Gaara shrugged, "I call them like I see them, and I'm still surprised no girl hadn't snatched you up yet."

Neji went quiet.

"Or maybe you don't fancy girls? Think about it Neji."

Opening the door to his car Neji slightly turned and quietly said, "Goodbye Gaara."

"Oh no." Gaara refuted, "Two more dates and we'll call it even."

Neji blinked, so it was a date. "I have school tomorrow." Was the first thing that came out of his mouth.

"Weekend then." Gaara replied.

"…okay."

A/N: "Raging sweet tooth, huh?"- "Low blood sugar, actually.(1) -Okay I have an issue here. We writers have this bad habit of designating all our characters as invincible. We say we're writing about 'human' but they 99% of the time don't act human. If they are 'human'….ya'know figuratively, they should have human problems.

So what do ya'll think? Second chapter of "Drafted' is coming soon. Bear with me please, having a severely handicapped laptop has forced me to use a library console to type this. LIBRARY people. you don't know how mortally insulted i am.

Anyways, as usual, REVIEW DAMNIT!