Title: Shades

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

Genre: Angst/Romance.

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 Four: A Shot In The Dark

Wednesday, 5:46 pm, Neji's room.

"Okay," Sasuke growled, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Neji looked up from his calculus homework to stare into the glaring dark eyes of an annoyed Uchiha.

"What?" he asked.

Sasuke's pen swiftly met the table, "You, you dumb fuck, you've been shiftier than a recovering crack addict for the last three days, and I should know, my cousin Shisui is one."

Neji feigned amusement, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't fucking play with me Hyuuga, something has happened. Spit it out."

Feigning more nonchalance Neji said slowly, "Yes something has, you are under house arrest again because you had this brilliant idea of crashing another one of Itachi's cars."

Sasuke huffed, "And you're seeking your pound of flesh being my chaperone."

"Right in one Uchiha, now shut up and figure out this problem so Ibiki sensei won't go kamikaze on us tomorrow."

Sasuke snorted and delved back into the mess of mathematical figures before him. The truth was that Neji was really out of it. The encounter with Gaara was still replying itself in his mind and the promise for two more dates was looming ahead of him.

To say he was shifting from ambivalence to apprehension was saying they least. He was at a total loss defining the prevailing situation with the Sabaku.

Gaara's soul piercing eyes made him... nervous.

Friday night, 9:56 pm

"That was incredibly sloppy, Neji." Hiashi scolded." Rotation is fluid, honestly son, where is your head?"

Neji bowed his head before his uncle and said a low but clear apology while his teeth secretly bit into the insides of his cheeks. "My apologies, uncle."

Hiashi sighed, "It's late, and you should rest. Go."

Neji bowed again and left the room. They had been training from six, it was nearing ten pm and Neji was completely exhausted but he didn't dare show it.

Control.

Relentless.

Perfection.

Those were the maxim the Hyuuga clan lived by. Neji would be lying if he didn't say that sometimes he yearned to not only live up to those standards but to even surpass them. But there was one thing his uncle got right. His head wasn't anywhere near settled. The emotions toiling in his mind were numerous.

In his room Neji flopped on the bed, feeling extremely tired, both physically and mentally. The physical part was obvious but the mental weren't. There were times when he just wanted to forget it all. There were times when he just wanted to give up the pressure put on him for constant control. The press to watch every move he made.

He was acutely aware that he had to live up to the clan's reputation but damn it, he wanted to just be him. A normal seventeen year old teen with normal seventeen year old problems. Like grades, friends, college, careers, relationships, sex... not to constantly worry about portraying the image his family maintained.

And that wasn't it alone.

With all that stress, then came Gaara. He'd been topsy-turvy all week. With no idea what Gaara was planning to do this Saturday and it made him... edgy.

Gaara came off as totally unconventional. When he had agreed to meet him the Sunday, Neji had simply thought it was a casual meeting, just to say thank you. He hadn't even entertained the thought of horseback riding. What's next, he wondered while drifting off to oblivion.

Saturday, 3: 47 pm

Neji stared at the stretch of land pockmarked with red and blue targets dotted on the turf.

Archery.

His fingers tightened on the Easton beginning recurve mechanical bow.

"Nervous?" a voice behind him asked.

"Yes." Neji answered honestly trying to mentally reconcile one more left wing totally unconventional activity Gaara had cajoled him into doing.

Archery. Damn it, he was repeating himself.

"You don't know what to do, do you?"

A shake of mahogany hair," I know the basics, like the basic stand and such, but other than that, no."

Gaara approached him smiling slightly. With a negligent hand wave said, "Go ahead, let me see what you know."

Raising the bow to shoulder level, Neji shifted his right foot shoulder length apart and straightened his spine. His whole body went deadly stiff when Gaara's chest met his back. The musky, earthy scent of Gaara's cologne hit him like a boulder ball.

Pale hands shifted his hips a smidgen and then rose up to correct his grip on the bow. The heat emanating from the redhead's body was seeping through Neji's shirt and it made him disoriented.

"Do you know what eye dominance is?" a husky voice whispered in his ear.

Neji swallowed, hard, "... Yes..."

"Good," a shift, Gaara handed him an arrow and stepped back. "... let's see what you've got."

Slowly and seemingly calmly Neji raised the arrow and knocked it in the string. Concentrating solely on the target before him, he tightened his grip, pulled back, released his fingers and let the arrow fly.

It hit dead centre.

Neji breathed. He turned around to see the redhead smirking.

"What?" The Hyuuga asked slightly confused.

"Beginners luck." Gaara teased, "Do that again, I dare you."

Grey eyes narrowed, "Gaara, there is one thing about me that you should know by now, any challenges thrown at me, I crush them."

Emerald orbs glittered, "And you're challenging me... gear up little princeling, you're on."

Three hours later ...

"I still say you cheated." Neji huffed completely miffed while walking in the darkening dusk.

Gaara smirked, "And I still say that you're a sore loser."

"Cocky bastard." Neji groused, tugging at the end of his braided hair.

An arm was thrown around his shoulders, "Come on, I'll buy you a milkshake. Maybe it'll take the edge off."

Another huff. "Okay, make it soy though. I don't drink dairy." he said swiftly glancing at the older man who had a mysterious smile on his face.

Neji smelt that something foul was afoot. He stopped dead in the street, "You're planning something, what is it?"

A grin, "You'll see when we get there."

"Uh no." Neji refuted, "You tell me right now where we are going or –"

"Cirque du Soleil." Gaara answered.

Silence.

"You cannot tell me that you haven't ever seen Cirque du Soleil." Gaara accused.

Neji shrugged, "Believe it or not it's the truth."

Gaara grinned "Well I'm taking you to see one of my favorites. And by now you must be saying to yourself why I ever agreed to entertain this crazy bastard."

"Exactly." Neji answered turning around "... and what exactly is that?"

"Zumanity" Gaara replied, pulling out his keys to the jeep, "it's an exotic and erotic performance."

Wait. "Erotic...as in?"

Hopping in the car Gaara answered playfully, "Simulation of sex, yes."

Neji shifted in the seat beside him, "Are you sure that I'm old enough to see it?"

A snort while gunning the engine, "You're seventeen, you're old enough. And for the record, I'm going to stuff you with junk food."

Neji shrugged, "Make it chocolate covered and we have a deal." Neji stopped just as a though came to him, an immaculate eyebrow nearly at his hairline, "… wait…don't you have to get the tickets for that at least three months in advance?"

Another mysterious smile, "I know people."

Neji snorted, "Sure you do. But if they're scalp tickets and we get kicked out, I'm kicking your ass."

The light that sprung into Gaara's eyes with that simple comment made the opal eyed teen nervous.

"Well, are we going or not?"

With a courtly wave Gaara unlocked his jeep and gestured." As you wish milady."

A roll of exasperated eyes.

The ambience in the dark Rising Phoenix Hotel theatre located in the edges of the Kohona Arcade was quiet but you could sense a palatable anticipation.

Gaara grasped his hand and led him up to the balcony that contained a deep engulfing dark red dual sofa love seat, high above the stage and had the full force of the air conditioning. Neji regretted the fact that he hadn't worn a cashmere sweater, a thin lightweight linen covered his torso and was allowing every puff of freezing air to assault his body. Sighing he softly sat on the couch and was then surprised when a warm leather jacket was slipped over his shoulders and a bucket of chocolate covered hazelnuts handed to him.

".. Thank you." he said just as the redhead sat beside him.

A lopsided grin, "Just don't get hypothermic on me."

A noise announced the start of the show with a warms up act if you will, with two highly exotic dancers, twisting and bending in unimaginable positions. Ever move hinted to the rising carnality of the show. He settled down to watch.

...

45 minutes later

Neji felt like he was hypnotized. The characters were surreal to the point of ethereal mysticism. The acts were sensual to the barest edge of uncensored exhibitionism.

The performances made him speechless. The naiad like contortions in the water bowl, the death defying aerial chains performance, comet, the dizzying roue cyr iron circle act shrouded in blue strobe lighting and the acrobat covered with silver paint. It all condensed and made him painfully aware of all that had been passing him by all these years.

He was riveted, amazed and captivated until this:

Two men, their lanky, perfectly sculpted, and nearly naked 6-foot-2 frames stepped out on the stage.

Silence for a moment

The blond one in nothing but white shorts stood tall across from his complete antithesis, a sultry dark skinned man in dark briefs that blended with his velvet skin. They tiptoed in cautious circles, eyeing each other as suspiciously as enemy panthers about to pounce. Then, for five minutes, before a riveted audience, the pair lock arms, shove one another away,
embrace again, attack, push, cuddle, pull apart.

And then came a kiss.

A ferocious, lusty, lingering kiss, the explosive unexpected culmination and combination of all the varied emotions expressed in contrasting actions before for a moment before they slink together off the stage.

Neji was frozen in his seat. He couldn't believe the signals his eyes were sending him. A hand brushed against his forehead.

"Neji, are you okay? You're flushed. "

The Hyuuga closed his eyes but the images were still replaying in his mind. The level of sensuality that barraged him at that moment made him acutely aware of his innocence. It was spectacular how blind he had been to the world. Reaching up he calmly removes Gaara's hand from his forehead.

"I…I'm…fine." he assured but he knew his voice was extremely shaky.

A small quirk of lips, "I know... Just breathe… I promise," a gentle hand flitted over his cheek leaving a trail of tingling skin in its wake.

Neji leaned back in his seat, eyelids lowered over pale eyes, countenance pensive until the ninety minute show ended.

Outside in the darkening night Gaara stopped him a few meters away from the hotel's entrance. "I shouldn't have pushed you." Gaara murmured softly. "I'm sorry."

Neji shook his head, "Don't be, I've got to grow up someday."

"... You're a-"

"Virgin, yes.." Neji admitted, arms crossed over his chest, eyes defiantly diverted from the redhead, "... shameful, isn't it?"

He was abruptly spun around, green eyes piercing him.

"What the hell is wrong with you? No its not! Don't be a status quo suck up Neji. It's not a race to lose it. Your innocence is something to be cherished not flung away for something as stupid as social status."

The bitter tone the last words were grated out with made Neji sense something despicable. Raising a hand to the Sabaku face he stopped inches away from the face, "Gaara, you...weren't..."

A rueful smile crossed the redhead face, "I was raped when I was ten. That particular foster father had a taste for little boys."

Neji felt something in him shrivel and die. "Gaara..."

He was speechless.

The Sabaku sighed, a pale forehead met Neji's. "It was a long time ago, I've gotten over it."

"What kind of monster would do something like that?" Neji asked.

"You'd be surprised." Gaara replied softly. "The world is a ugly place Neji. I'm hoping that you never be a victim of it."

'Maybe I've already have' Neji thought.

Stopping under a street lamp Neji faced the other and asked after a prolonged stint of silence. "Gaara... are you gay?"

The other paused, "Would it matter to you if I was?"

"No."

Gaara sighed running a hand through his hair. "I don't classify myself as gay exactly. I do prefer men but I'm not..."

He trailed off, "…the typical stereotype." He finished with a deep sigh. ".. Did I scare you off?"

Neji shook his head, "Like I said, no. I'm pretty sure that there are some of my classmates that are gay but I don't care. Human is human."

"That's surprisingly...noble of you." Gaara murmured, placing a hand on the small of Neji's back.

Then his cell rang, for some reason Neji clicked the 'speaker' button, "What is it,Uchiha ?"

"Um shit, Neji did I disturb your special bath time? Cause I could always call back." The raven's snide voice sounded in the still air.

Neji rolled his eyes, "Get to the point Sasuke."

"Now I'm damn sure I've disturbed your jacking off time. And here I thought you didn't have a dick."

Neji gritted his teeth, "Ten seconds Uchiha, ten… nine..."

A huff, "Alright, I've been ordered to tell you that you're invited to dinner with the family, tomorrow night, eight pm sharp."

"Now was that so hard?"

"Actually yes," Sasuke snorted, "because I know you're just going to be fawning like a schoolgirl over Itachi."

Neji glanced at the patiently waiting Sabaku and nodded while starting to walk in the general direction of Gaara parked jeep; acutely aware of the soft guiding hand in the small of his back.

"And why would I goggle your genius brother who I might remind you is engaged to a beautiful woman."

A pause, "What the hell have you smoking Hyuuga? Karin is a bitch from hell with the muzzle to prove it."

Neji rolled his eyes. "Goodnight Uchiha. Try not to suffocate under all your sarcasm okay. I'd hate to have my contact to Itachi dead."

"Awww... love you too bastard." then he was gone.

Neji snorted and hung up.

"Seems like a... interesting friend."

"Interesting like a canker sore, yes." The opal eyed teen replied. Tilting his head up to the benign moon, Neji allowed the soft moonlight to play over his face, not realizing that the light playing off his alabaster skin had transformed him into a an otherworldly being.

Gaara stopped walking. Neji glanced at the redhead.

"Gaara?" He asked, "…something wrong?"

A pause, "No."

"Then why are you getting weird on me?" Neji asked.

Gaara snorted, "I'm always weird Neji. I probably should give you a handbook."

Neji wasn't buying it, stopping the other in his stride with a stern hand on the others chest he demanded, "What is it… tell me the truth."

A look that Neji couldn't define crossed the Sabaku's face. He shifted. "... Gaara?"

A puff of air then Gaara faced him, "I want to kiss you again."

Neji went still. A war raged in his mind.

"Bear in mind that you have a perfect right to tell me to fuck off." Gaara offered.

Neji paused,"... And what if I don't."

The air went dead still.

"... Are you...considering it?"

"...maybe."

A disbelieving smirk, "You've got to be shitting me. Neji, please don't go being a martyr for my sake. "

"So now you're psychic, huh?" Neji shot back a little annoyed.

Gaara back peddled. "Whoa Neji, I didn't mean to insult you, I just though that you wouldn't even w-"

"Gaara, allow me the dignity of deciding for myself..." Neji said, "…and... Believe it or not... yes. I do want to kiss you, under the fact that I just want to."

Silence. Then;

"Neji," Gaara murmured, fingertips caressing Neji's face, "You do realize that you will be freely kissing someone who could easily be a murderer."

Neji sniffed. "Please give me something that I cou-"

Lips met his. Neji felt something buckle in his knees. The kiss wasn't anything like the one before. It was deep, probing, intimate, careful and sinuous. A hand braced his neck, fingers digging into the roots of his hair. The nerve endings in his entire body tingled like they had been shocked with static energy.

It dragged on for infinite seconds. Neji eyes fluttered closed.

Gaara pulled back an inch. "…could remotely believe." he finished softly.

Neji released a tense, hitching breath, realizing that his back was braced against the iron street lamp. His legs were jelly. "...yes."

Green eyes glimmered. A warm mouth brushed his ear, "Believe me when I say, I want you, but I'm not going to force you. ... It's all up to you."

Neji froze.

Heavy silence reigned between them

Gaara stepped back, eyes clenched. "... I've fucked up, haven't I?"

He was about to turn away when Neji grabbed Gaara's arm and forced him to face him.

"No. You haven't." he assured,

A scoff. "Don't pretend that I've haven't crossed a line."

"Oh no," Neji answered swiftly grasping a chance to return Gaara words at him, "You certainly did, but there's more to you than what you portray. Isn't there."

Gaara grinned, "Devious minx, but I did cross a line...forgive me.

"Already done." Neji answered.

Looking up at the sky the Sabaku said," I'd better get you home before homeland security comes searching for me with sniper guns. "

"My clan isn't that insane." Neji retorted.

"Oh you poor innocent. But whatever. I'm not taking any chances." Gaara said unlocking the Jeep. "I'd like to keep my balls intact thank you very much."

Neji snickered, opting to ignore the butterflies in his stomach. "Drive on Macduff."

The Hyuuga Compund, 11:43 pm.

Secured in the sanctuary of his room Neji while brushing his hair out ran through the day. When he came to the kiss his fingers tightened on the brush.

Was he really attracted to Gaara? Was he really attracted to a man?

He bit his lower lip. Questions he didn't want to face sprung up in his mind. Shying away from them he got up, went to his closet and started going through the possible outfits for the dinner at the Uchiha mansion.

He would tackle the Gaara situation another time.

…

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