A/N: Hey, look! an update!
Disclaimer: It's not mine! Well, the people aren't, but the story is.
Warnings: Language
Sasuke Uchiha paused, his fingers frozen over the midnight blue buttons on his shirt. He flicked his gaze toward the couch on which a shirtless and shoeless man was whimpering in his sleep. Face tight with concern, Sasuke crossed the room and sank down at his lover's side. Tentatively, he flexed his fingers, and reached over to brush damp golden hair from the other man's sweaty brow.
"You're having those dreams again, loser?" he whispered affectionately. Leaning forward, he pressed kisses along Naruto's jawline, from chin to temple, to soothe him. Opening his mouth wider, he began to sing the song he had written at the age of sixteen, determined to convince his then-clueless best friend to go out with him. Naruto's breathing instantly slowed and evened out. Finishing the verse, Sasuke pressed a soft kiss to the man's lips and stood. He quickly buttoned his shirt, exited his office, and closed the door firmly behind him. He patted himself, checking for phone, wallet, and keys. Satisfied that he had everything he needed, he turned to his left, toward the small room he allowed his personal secretary to use when she was working from his home.
He raised a hand, extended a knuckle, and rapped on the half-open oak door. "Karin?" he called, poking his face into the room.
The bespectacled, flame-haired woman leaped to her feet. "Mr. Uchiha!" she squealed ecstatically , then cleared her throat. "Mr. Uchiha, I finished sorting the files like you asked, and took the liberty of labeling the folders. Do you want them now, or may I serve them to you in your office?"
Hard, black eyes stared at her. "My office is off-limits; you know this. Leave the files here, and I'll get to them when I can. Inform the servants that Naruto is napping in my office and that he is not to be disturbed except in the event of an emergency. He's been working too hard again," Sasuke said, his voice softening. "In any case, it's a pleasant Saturday afternoon. Take the rest of the weekend off and enjoy yourself. I'll see you Monday at 7:30 A.M. Please do not be late, Karin."
"Yes, Mr. Uchiha, sir," the woman replied. "Will there be anything else I can do for you?"
Sasuke frowned at the loaded double-meaning behind that innocent-sounding question. "Have the garage prepare my Jag. I'm going out."
"Certainly sir. And you have a good weekend," Karin pouted, already moving toward the phone on her desk. Shaking his head, Sasuke plotted out the rest of his day, which included: Question Lee. Kill Neji. Kill Sakura. Kiss Naruto senseless. Have dinner. Burn the bodies. Kiss Naruto some more. Lock Naruto in closet to prevent him from going back to work. Ravish Naruto in said closet. He nodded to himself, wholeheartedly approving his plans.
He navigated the empty halls of Uchiha Manor with ease, slowing only when he passed the room where his parents had died many years ago. Reflexively, he curled his hands into fists, and shut his eyes. His jaw tightened when he passed his older brother's old room, and he made a mental note to tell the servants to burn it down. He reminded himself that his brother was dead and could not die again. He also told himself that he would feel better if Itachi coulddie again.
"Murdering bastard," he muttered.
He took the elevator down to the garage, where a team of attendants were wiping down his baby, a black Jaguar XKR-S convertible. He always felt a tad bit weak in the knees when he got close to his car; not quite as weak in the knees as he got when he was near Naruto, but close. He nodded to his employees, slipped into the vehicle, and threw the car into drive. The automatic door was raised just in time for him to speed up the driveway and veer wildly into the street.
Sasuke had a mission: a preemptive visit to a certain Sakura Haruno before she could cause problems for his friends. But first, he needed to see Lee and Neji and find out exactly what was going on. His face twitched when replayed the news his boyfriend had given him over the phone.
"Hey," Sasuke answered his ringing phone. He immediately shooed Karin out of his office so he could speak privately.
"Hey," Naruto responded. "We have a problem, and her name is Sakura."
"What are you talking about? More importantly, are you on your way over?"
"Yeah, I am. I just got in the car." Naruto yawned and Sasuke frowned at the noise.
"When did you last sleep?"
"Um.. I dunno. What day is it? I think Sakura said it's Saturday.."
"Naruto!"
"I'm fine!" Naruto snapped. "But you're not listening. Sakura is going to be a problem."
"What happened?"
"You know Neji's back, right?"
"Yes, I heard the Hyuuga was back in town. Something about the heirs needing to be more involved. I have a meeting with them on Monday. What about him?"
"You know Lee has been really down lately, right? Well, the girls took him out last night. Sakura went to Lee's house this morning, and Neji was there."
"So?"
"So, for one, Sakura didn't know we knew Neji. Two, Neji was parading around in a towel, and introduced himself as Lee's lover."
"WHAT? What is he thinking?"
"Anyway," Naruto rambled on, "Sakura's suspicious.. way more suspicious than she's ever been of us. Plus, Ino, Shikamaru, and even Lee told her to mind her own business."
"Crap." Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose. "What do you want me to do?"
"Order me ramen?"
"Naruto, be serious."
"I am! I'm starving! Sakura took me to THAT restaurant. Bastards still won't serve me."
"I'm sorry, babe. I'll get you some. I'll tell Karin right now."
"Good. I should be there in about six more minutes."
"Got it. And Naruto? I love you. I can't wait until we're alone again and I can hear that sound you make when I-"
"Not while I'm driving, bastard! Do you want me to crash?"
He chuckled. "Stop blushing and get here in one piece, okay?"
"..yeah."
Sasuke flung his car into a parking spot, set the brake, and turned off the engine. He stared up at Lee's apartment building. He had never told his friends that he owned the building, and that every cent Lee paid in rent went into an interest accruing account for him. He knew that Lee had not had the easiest time getting through college once he lost his track scholarship, and he knew that Lee was trying in vain to pay back all the loans he had to take out in order to finish school. Luckily, his hospital bills had been taken care of after the accident, even if the man who paid them turned out to be -
"Stop," Sasuke ordered himself. "This is not the time for this. Lee has been doing better, and he's finally getting over Gaara, so there's no sense in thinking about it." Thoroughly convinced, he exited the car, remembering to remove the keys, and shut the door. With a feeling of dread in his belly, he walked briskly to the front door, and let himself inside.
He bounded up the stairs two at a time and arrived in front of the apartment numbered "210" without a raven hair out of place. He gave it a quick pat down anyway, and then pressed the buzzer and waited.
And waited.
Annoyed, he was about to press the buzzer again, when the door opened. Instead of seeing the shaggy head of dark hair and black eyes he expected, there was a hair of long, brown hair and pale gray eyes staring at him. The two men smirked at the same time.
"Hyuuga," Sasuke spoke first, breaking the brief silence.
"Uchiha," Neji returned the greeting. "Lee's not home yet."
"No?"
"No. He went for a run hours ago and hasn't come back."
"Hn." Sasuke shoved his hands in his pockets and glanced up and down the hallway, as if hoping the missing man would suddenly appear.
"Hn," Neji agreed, fidgeting. Finally, he said, "Well, since you're here, you might as well come in." He stepped back to allow his old friend through the door. "You're just in time to taste test these cookies I made." He closed the door and turned sharply, his ponytail very nearly smacking Sasuke across the face.
The Uchiha male froze in the middle of the act of removing his shoe and almost fell over. "Cookies? What are you, a housewife?"
Neji fidgeted again, playing with the end of his hair. "I wanted to thank him for bringing me here last night instead of making me go home to my uncle." He walked the couch - green leather - and sank down on it. "Besides, he's helping me with a 'thing', so I wanted to give him something."
"Yeah, I heard about your 'thing', Neji," Sasuke said coldly. "Lovers? Seriously?"
"It's just for pretend; Lee knows that."
"Did he actually agree to that, or did you come up with the plan and drop it in his lap?"
Neji waved a hand dismissively. "We'll work out the details later."
Sasuke fought back a twitch. "Do you have any idea what he's been through since you left?"
"I saw an article..about the accident.. But he's fine, right? It doesn't seem to have been too bad."
"You have no idea what he's been through since you left," he repeated.
Neji frowned. "How did you know about the lovers thing? Would you happen to know an annoying pink-haired woman?"
"It's strawberry blond, and yes, I know her. We all went to college together. She and Naruto are better friends than she and I."
"Naruto, huh?" Neji smiled. "How's he doing?"
"Worse than I'd like him to be. He works too much, doesn't sleep enough, and eats more ramen now than he did in high school," Sasuke complained. He dropped down on the couch next to his friend and studied the other man carefully.
Neji's normally smooth, pale skin was dry, and hard lines were forming around his eyes and mouth. His hair had lost some shine, and he appeared to have lost weight in the years he had been gone. This observation elicited a frown from the Uchiha.
"How have you been? Where have you been? And why didn't you tell anyone you were leaving?" he quizzed the Hyuuga heir.
Neji leaned forward, loose strands of hair falling in his face. "I had to. I had to stop it."
Confused, Sasuke asked, "Stop what?"
The sound of rattling keys sent both of their heads spinning toward the door. A green pants leg slipped in, followed by a green windbreaker, and a mop of hair. Lee's eyebrows sprung up into his hair, and then settled back into place.
"Ah, Neji..you're still here," he said. His voice sounded alarmingly sad, and it set off warning signals in Sasuke's head. Before he could comment, Lee had continued. "Sasuke, dear friend and lover of my other dear friend! It has been a cold winter season without you and Naruto gracing my humble home! Er.." He looked around. "Is Naruto here?"
"No," Sasuke informed him. "He's at home, sleeping."
"I was unaware of the new living arrangements. Are congratulations in order?"
"Oh, no," Sasuke denied. "I meant, he's at my home. Stopped by to see me and conked out on my couch. That idiot has been forgoing sleep to finish his pet project. I told him I'd build him a lab, but he won't quit the university."
"Ah, Naruto! His passion moves my heart!" Lee was saying all the usual things, but Sasuke noticed that the warmth did not reach his eyes. Sasuke also noticed that Neji was studying Lee, as well, fidgeting the whole time.
"I made cookies," Neji interjected quietly. "Sasuke, can I interest you in one?"
"Nah, not for me. But maybe you can wrap some up for the idiot?"
"I'll do that." Neji rose from the couch. "Lee? Do you want anything?"
Lee shook his head. "I am going to take a shower. I was over-enthusiastic with my run this morning, and I must cleanse the sweat from my body."
Neji swallowed hard. "Getting cookies now," he stammered as he fled the room.
Sasuke stood and walked over to Lee. He slid an arm around his friend's shoulders and squeezed. "Are you okay?"
"I must admit that did not expect this," Lee admitted in a low tone, "but surely it is a joyous occasion when your best friend returns? I mean, when your lover returns? I mean-"
"I know it's not real, Lee. Neji told me. And Naruto spoke to Sakura, who thinks it's real but is very suspicious. You two will have to be very careful in public." Sasuke removed his arm, and slipped around to the front of his friend. "Are you sure you're okay with this?" He searched the green clad man's face for the truth.
Lee graced the Uchiha with what was dubbed his "nice guy" pose - a wide smile and a thumbs up sign - but once again, Sasuke noticed that his eyes did not match his words.
"I am excellent, my friend! Now, really, I must refresh myself under a relaxing spray of water before my sweat stains these clothes. This is my favorite running outfit, after all." It was only after Lee had disappeared from sight that Sasuke realized that the other man had shown no sign of sweat or exertion. He didn't run at all, Sasuke thought, and that saddened him.
Neji chose that moment to exit the kitchen and place a foil-wrapped mound into Sasuke's hands. "I was unable to locate a proper container, so this will have to do."
"Hn," Sasuke grunted. "I'm sure Naruto won't care either way." He turned and walked to the front door. "I need to go. I have more errands to run, and I want to be there when Naruto wakes up so he doesn't freak out too badly."
"He still has those nightmares?" Neji inquired, following the raven to the exit.
Sasuke gave Neji a hard look. "Once again, you have no idea what's been happening since you left." He slipped his feet into his shoes, and threw over his shoulder, "Watch your step, Hyuuga. People will be taking notes this time. I hope you know what you're doing."
"So do I," Neji admitted as he captured his bottom lip between his teeth. The two males regarded each other coolly; Sasuke ended the silent conversation first.
"Last chance, Hyuuga. Get it right this time." With that, the Uchiha male yanked open the door and stepped through. Neji closed the door and pressed his forehead against the painted wood.
"What am I going to do?"
Across town from the stand-off at Lee's apartment, Sakura Haruno angrily threw her pink cell phone at the wall and flopped down on her bed. She had exhausted her entire contact list digging for information on Lee Rock and Neji Hyuuga and no one would tell her anything. She suspected that, even after attending Konoha University for four years and working in Konoha for two more years after that, her friends still considered her an outsider. The way they were closing ranks and protecting Lee and Neji's alleged relationship was only making her more and more suspicious about the whole thing.
"It doesn't make sense!" she yelled at her stuffed animal collection. "Neji Hyuuga is a known player, but he waltzes back into town, claims Leeas his lover, and no one cares? Something has to be going on!"
A knock on her bedroom door halted her tirade. "What?" she snarled at the interruption.
"Excuse me, Ugly, but you are disturbing my reading," her housemate Sai casually informed her through the closed barrier.
"Don't call me ugly!" she screeched. A dim memory came to her, and she slid off the bed and ran for the door. Swinging it open, she took a deep breath, intending to yell after the strange man she lived with. "Sa-" she choked, for the deathly pale male was staring directly into her face.
He cocked his head to the side and smiled. "Yes?"
She shuddered. "Ugh. Don't smile like that. It's creepy." She reformed her thoughts and asked, "Hey, you went to high school with the rest of my friends, right?"
"Only for the last year," he reminded her.
"Right. Um. Do you remember Lee Rock? And Neji Hyuuga?"
"Yes."
"Do you remember anything about them?" she pressed.
"Why?"
"Just..because..see.." She sighed. "Supposedly, Neji Hyuuga has claimed Lee as his latest conquest, and no one I've talked to seems to find anything wrong with that."
"Is something wrong with it?"
"Oh, for- It's Lee! And a HYUUGA! A male Hyuuga!"
"Are you homophobic, or jealous because you're too ugly to get your own boyfriend?"
"I'm not jealous!" she cried. "And I'm not ugly! Focus!"
"What did everyone else tell you?"
"To mind my own business," Sakura mumbled, wondering how long she could afford to pay the entire monthly rent amount if she threw Sai out into the street.
"Then take their advice to heart," Sai said seriously. "There are some things that you are not meant to know."
"Why all this secrecy?" she demanded.
"Why all this concern?" he countered. "Are you truly worried about Lee's well-being?"
"Of-of course I am!" she sputtered. "He's my friend!"
"Then accept that there are things about your friend that you may not need to know." Sai turned on his heel and slipped away to his own room.
"UGH!" the female yelled, slamming her door. She flounced onto her bed, fuming. "Why won't they tell me anything?"