Disclaimer: The story of “Naruto” (just like its characters) is not mine.

Main parings: Sasuke x Neji, Itachi x Neji.

Rate: R to NC-17

Summary: (Sequel to “Because of you”) AU. Sasuke has an obsession with Neji, but if he has to fight against the past and his own ghosts to get closer to him, maybe then he would understand how much he’s hurting them both.

Notes: Just let met remain you all that English is not my mother language, I’m sorry about the mistakes.

Warnings: Graphic material.

“A Distant Cry”

By Yersi Fanel

(Beta, TenshiXXX)

Chapter 9: Outlaw

Itachi’s fingers traced Neji’s face softly, moving the hair from his face. He had been asleep for three whole days. A medical nin sent by the leader checked on him a couple of times. The report said that his chakra reserves were regenerating and his strength was slowly returning.

Itachi rested his open palm on Neji’s chest and sent a pulse of his own chakra into the boy, as he had been doing for the past three days to help him heal. Itachi couldn’t help but grin. Things were going his way and, after four years, he had finally gotten to keep the object of his inspiration with him.

“Itachi” called a voice from the door frame. The Uchiha looked over his shoulder; Kisame was waiting for him “We have to go”

“Yes” Itachi stood up and walked to the door. Both of them got out of the room, leaving Neji there and closed the door.

-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --

When Neji opened his eyes, he found that his vision was blurry. He moved his hands to reach his eyes, feeling very weak, and almost couldn’t do it. He moaned in pain and slowly removed the sheets covering him, then stopped when the wave of pain also reached his head.

“Easy there! You're still recovering from the other night” said a voice that he had never heard before “I wasn’t there but, boy! I heard it was impressive”

The unknown person helped him to sit on the bed and support his back against the headboard. Neji blinked a couple of times. He could see the room but everything was still blurry. The person besides him offered him a towel. When Neji took it found that it was moist. He used to rub his eyes and clean his face.

“Thanks…” Neji said to the unknown person and moved the cloth away from his face. It took a couple of more minutes to finally clear his vision.

“No problem” said the voice. Neji finally looked at the person. It was a man with black hair dressed in black ninja clothes. He was wearing a long black scarf, and his face was covered by an orange mask with single eye-hole covered in a swirl pattern. He could not be more than a couple of years his senior. “My name is Tobi. Nice to meet you” he introduced himself. Neji blinked slowly and reply with a nod.

“Neji…I am Neji” he said to the other boy. Tobi moved his head to his sides, watching Neji carefully.

“I bet you’re hungry. You were sleep for four days” He explained while standing up. He looked around the place and moved to the table at the other side of the large room.

Neji was watching him with a blank expression, not having any idea of what was going on. Tobi returned to his side with a bowl of soup and a cup of tea. “Itachi-san left yesterday for a mission. Zetsu-san suggested that I check up on you” he explained while placing the trail in Neji’s lap.

He offered him the bowl of miso soup and Neji accepted it. Tobi stayed with him sitting on a chair besides the bed. Neji ate some of the soup, but just a little.

“You are still not feeling well?” asked Tobi. Neji looked at him. In his face was marked a tired expression. He nodded “Let me see if I can do something about it”

Tobi extended hands against Neji’s chest and sent some chakra. Neji held his breath for a second but after that the feeling of weakness lowered a little.

“What did you do?” asked the Hyuuga, placing a hand on his chest. Tobi moved his head to his side and Neji heard a giggle. The masked boy pointed to himself.

“I was assigned to stay with you because I have some medical training” he explained happily. Neji blinked slowly. So far, Tobi was just an stranger to him, but a very talkative one. He didn’t look like a medical nin, though.

“You are a medical nin?” Neji took a sip of the soup after asking that and then took the tea cup Tobi offered him.

“Not exactly” he said “I do have medical training but I also have some other tricks up my sleeve” another giggle “What about you? Zetsu-san told me that you are at going to be with the organisation from now on. He also told me that you came with Itachi-san. Is he your master?”

Neji froze as Tobi said the word master, his eyes fixed in the cup of tea he was holding. He sighed and then lifted his eyes.

“You could say that…” he whispered “He is my mentor” he explained. Tobi had his elbows on the bed and his head supported on his hands, moving happily while listening “I am his subordinate within the organization”

“Nice. You are on the same level as me, in that case” Tobi moved his right hand to point at himself again “I’m Zetsu-san's subordinate, but I plan to become a full Akatsuki member when the opportunity comes” he told the Neji. They younger boy watched him with some curiosity.

“Why not now?” he asked to Tobi. The other boy looked at him.

“Well, there is no free spots. That’s why” he explained as if were something very easy to understand “Oh right! You don’t know too much about the organization, do you?” Neji shook his head “The Akatsuki only has 10 spots for official members” he said while extended his hands and moving his ten fingers.

“So, besides Itachi-san, Kisame-san, Sasori-san, Deidara-san and Zetsu-san, are another five members…” said Neji more to himself than Tobi. He had just seen four counting Itachi and he did not know Zetsu.

“Nope” answered the older boy. Neji looked at him quizzically “Only another four. Orochimaru used to be a member but he defected and he did not returned the ring”

“Ring?” Neji put the bowl of soup aside and shifted on the bed.

“Yep. Have you seen the ring Itachi-san wears?” Neji nodded “Each Akatsuki member, including Leader-sama, has a ring that they wear on a specific finger. It is part of something important that I have not been told of completely. So I can’t tell you the whole story. For now, I just know that you need the ring to be a full member. I think I’ll ask Zetsu-san or Deidara-san about it later”

Neji closed his eyes. He was thinking about the Akatsuki. He knew nothing about them and now he was living within their lair. He hoped that his life was not in too much danger at the moment. He remembered the ritual that was set to remove his cursed seal. It was quite impressive and frightening. He doubted that the ritual –or more specifically the demon statue— was just for remove his cursed seal.

“Hey, Neji!” Tobi wave his hand in front of the boy. The Hyuuga reacted then.

“I’m sorry” he apologised. His attention was now back on Tobi.

“I also got this for you” said the other boy and ran to the table. He took a large package that was on one of the chairs and returned to Neji, leaving the box on the bed “Some cloths, and stuff”

Neji got up the bed and opened the box. Inside he found different sets of cloths. Almost all of them were black. There were also some accessories, weapons and other things. He took a set of ninja cloths and looked at them carefully.

Black pants, short sleeve black shirt with fishnet on the top part of the chest, black sandals with white spine protectors, a long sleeved loose black jacket that reached above his hips, and a long black headband.

“I think you have Leader-sama’s approval. He gave me this for you” Tobi commented, handing him a black armband with a single red and white cloud.

Neji took the armband in his hands and looked at it with a sad smile. It was incredible how he fought for his family’s acknowledgement all his life, how much he fought against his own feelings to make things better. And here he was, with the attention of a powerful person he didn’t even know. It just had to be a bad joke.

The younger boy sighed and took the clothes, walking to the bathroom to take a shower and change into his new uniform while Tobi stayed on the room taking the rest of the things out of the box. He was saying something about training with him.

Neji left the bathroom’s door ajar and looked himself at the mirror. Itachi’s cloths were too big for him. Neji passed his hand through his hair and then placed it over Itachi’s silver necklace on his neck. He took off the necklace, put if on the sink and then stripped himself and entered the shower.

Under the shower spray he felt a bit better. His headache was getting better and his strength was returning. He embraced himself and closed his eyes.

“I wonder how long I can stand this…”

-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --

Tobi watched as Neji put on his new jacket and then tied the headband around his forehead. It was just a plain black cloth but it helped Neji to keep his hair out of his eyes. Opal eyes saw the armband on the table. Neji took the accessory with a trembling hand and tied it around this left arm.

He lifted his head and looked over Tobi, who clapped a couple of times and then gave him a thumbs up. Neji just blinked.

“Great, the clothes fit you well. I was afraid that I got a wrong size” he commented while crossing his arms and nodding to himself.

Neji lifted his right hand and pushed his hair behind his ear. Tobi was still talking when he opened the door and indicated that Neji should follow him. Neji did it. He was not listening to the other shinobi, because his mind was distracted.

“And this is the training area you can use” Tobi said. Neji looked up at him at that moment. He saw the training area. It was well equipped and big enough. “Will you spar with me a little? I’m bored” asked Tobi.

“…Okay”

-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --

Hinata opened his eyes very slowly. The first things he saw were the worried eyes of her little sister, Hanabi.

“Neesan, Neesan!” she said with tears in her eyes “Father, neesan is awake!” she shouted looking at the other side of the room. Then her eyes returned to Hinata “I was so afraid, neesan! Don’t ever do that again!”

Hanabi moved his hands to take the tears off her face, Hiashi walked to the bed and looked over Hinata with pure concern on his face. Hinata smiled weakly.

“Sorry I got you worried…” she said. Hiashi helped her to get into a sitting position. The Hyuuga Clan Head sat on a chair beside the bed and put his head in his hands “Father?”

“I almost lost you…” she said. Hanabi was on Hinata’s bed. She moved to hug her sister “I can’t believe that I almost lost you…”

Hinata embraced Hanabi and looked over his father, who got up and walked to the door. Hinata looked at Hanabi with confusion in her eyes, and her little sister sighed.

“He is sad, because he treated you badly all this time. Now that you are hurt, he realises that he was wrong” she said “I heard him saying that to Aunt Mikoto” Hanabi rested her head on Hinata’s chest and closed her eyes “He also said that you are very strong, but he was too blind to see it before” Hanabi opened her eyes “What does he mean by blind?”

Hinata smiled at her little sister. Hanabi was just a little kid after all. No matter how much her father wanted her to grow up fast, Hanabi was just a child. Hinata shifted her little sister’s hair and smiled.

“He means that, even with his eyes open, he couldn’t see” she explained “You will understand some day, Imouto. Right now it does not matter…”

Outside the room, Hiashi was lost in his mind. His daughter almost died out there, his nephew was lost and the future was unsure. He needed to change a lot of things.

“Hizashi, I need advice. Please help me brother…”

-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --

Sasuke kicked the dummy so hard that it broke and crumbled on the ground. Orochimaru watched this with a wide smile. He was still recovering from the previous events, but that didn’t matter too much right now, because Sasuke at least was under his guidance. He would train the boy, make him stronger, and that body would be his new vessel.

When the boy had arrived, he had said nothing. Orochimaru noticed that he had a black hitai-ate that did not belong to him hanging from his neck while his own has missing. The Sannin made no comments about it.

The young Uchiha wanted power. Orochimaru offer it to him and he took the offer, he wanted more than anything to kill his brother, he was going to avenge his clan and get revenge for losing Neji, in his mind there was no other objective.

After training, Sasuke went back to the room assigned as his bedroom and closed the door after him. He leaned against the door and lifted his eyes. On the desk was Neji’s hitai-ate, the metal plate giving a light shine against the candle lights. He remembered how Neji had looked at him at the moment he let go of the hitai-ate. How he had moved his lips, confessing that he did not want Sasuke to die.

He wondered what had happened between Itachi and Neji that night. He asked himself that question over and over until his mind couldn’t take it anymore. Before going with Orochimaru, he had read Itachi’s diary again. But the journal’s final date was a few days before the massacre and the entries before that did not say a word about Neji.

He remembered the last entry that made references to Neji. It was written a few days after Sasuke’s eighth birthday.

“The whole clan has taken away my patient, even Sasuke. He has affection towards Neji and I am sure Neji likes him back…I won’t let this continue. This clan is going to fall and I’ll take all that belongs to me with it’s ruin, including the object of my inspiration…”

What Itachi meant with those words, Sasuke couldn’t tell. It was something that just his brother knew and perhaps Neji. The Uchiha closed his eyes and let himself fall onto the floor. He put his head in his hands and clutched his teeth.

“Neji…”

-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --

It was very dark when Itachi and Kisame reached Akatsuki territory after a success mission. Both of them entered the lair after make sure no one was near to locate the area. The duo reported their mission, then Kisame took off and Itachi stayed upon Sir Leader’s command.

“I was watching your boy this morning” said the leader. Both of them were in a common room sitting around a table on the floor. Sir leader served some sake for Itachi and offer the cup to the Uchiha. He took it, and in return served another for the Leader, who took a sip of the cup and then looked at Itachi “Does he knows more than his family’s style?”

“The common shinobi arts” answered Itachi, looking at the liquid from his cup.

“He has potential and I want that potential to be explored, in every sense of the word” the Leader toom a swig out of his cup and smirked “You are going to train him, aren’t you?”

“Of course” assured Itachi “Do you have suggestions, Leader-san?”

“As matter of fact, I do” said the ginger haired man. He closed his eyes and drank the rest of the sake from his cup to then leave it on the table “When you see that he is more capable, bring him to me” Itachi served more sake for both of them. The leader took his cup and smirked “If he is going to be The Link, as we talked about, he is going to need special preparation”

Itachi stopped and for a second was about to choke with his sake. The Uchiha covered his reaction well enough to not get any kind of remarks from Sir Leader.

“As you wish…” was Itachi’s reply. The leader nodded to him. After that they finished their drinks in silence.

-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --

Tobi jumped to dodge Neji’s palm and threw a kick at the opal eyed shinobi to continue with their training. They had been doing this for almost three hours with some short breaks, since Neji was still recovering chakra.

The other boy had showed Neji that he was indeed a fighter. Neji had never seen his style before, even some of his weapons were new to him, and it was interesting.

“That was very nice, Neji” commented Tobi, referring to Neji’s last move. He clapped a couple of times and then lowered his arms, resting one hand on his hip “What’s the name again?”

“Jyuuken” answered the other shinobi. Tobi approached him, taking Neji’s hand, inspecting it to see if there were any injuries. He found none so he proceed to pulse some chakra into Neji to make the other boy’s recovering faster. Neji let Tobi do this, since he didn’t have too much of an option anyway.

“It is a good style but…” Tobi crossed his arms after he had fnished “Isn’t bad for you if your opponent is a long range type?” the other boy’s curiosity had a hint of concern. Neji wondered why.

“Yes it is. He’ll have to learn to overcome that inconvenience” said another voice. Tobi looked over his shoulder to see Zetsu and Itachi entering into the training area. The one who talked had been Itachi.

“As you have to overcome the fact that you are very bad controlling your Mokuhon Aku Kansou” said Zetsu’s black side. Tobi left his head fall “But you can summon it. It could be worse. Many cannot do such a thing” finished Zetsus’s white side. Tobi sighed.

Neji observed Zetsu. It was the first time he had seen the Grass Shinobi. Tobi had mentioned some things about him during the day, since he was his mentor. The masked shinobi told him that Zetsu was a very interesting person. He mentioned something about his mentor looking like a plant and having a double personality, but Neji didn’t think Tobi’s words were that literal.

“Neji” called Itachi. The opal eyed boy looked at him “Let’s go”

The boy nodded and walked behind Itachi, who was heading towards the exit of the large room. Tobi waved goodbye to him. Neji gave him a nod in respond and then his gaze returned to Itachi.

The Uchiha looked at Neji over his shoulder. His new uniform fitted him well, making him look good. It seemed that Zetsu’s subordinate was useful for some things after all. Itachi also noticed the armband with the single Akatsuki cloud. He blinked. The Leader was serous in his expectations towards Neji.

When they returned to the room. Itachi took off his cloak, leaving it on the couch. He looked at Neji. The boy was thinking deeply again.

“Neji” called Itachi, moving to get near him. Silver-white eyes watched him with almost no expression. Itachi raised his hand and caressed Neji’s cheek, moving to trace his lips, very slowly. Itachi lifted the boy’s head by his chin, looking at him into the eye. He got closer to him, his lips barely touching Neji’s.

Neji felt Itachi’s wet tongue tracing his lips almost in a delicate motion, the older boy’s other hand slowly moved to unzip Neji’s jacket. He finally took the boy into a kiss, moving his hand to move the jacket from Neji’s shoulders. It easily slipped from his loose arms and fell onto the floor. The boy allowed Itachi to explore his mouth. His eyes were closed, and he wasn’t moving.

Itachi stopped and looked at the boy. He narrowed his eyes and stayed still for a moment, until finally an idea came to him. He smiled lightly, embracing Neji to shortly after lift him up and take him to the bed.

Itachi was over him. He kissed the teen, his left hand tracing under his shirt while his right was caressing his thighs. Neji shifted softly under his touch. Itachi mentally smirked and continue his ministration. He moved from his mouth to his neck, sucking softly the smooth skin.

Neji moved his legs a little when Itachi touched him under his clothes, while his other hand lifted up his shirt almsot completely, tracing his chest. The teen's cheeks started to show a light flush that was increasing with every touch. He slowly moved his hands to place them against Itachi’s chest and closed his eyes, holding in a gasp when Itachi sucked his neck hard and closed his hand around him at the same time.

Itachi moved his hand from Neji’s crotch. He moved beside the teen, giving him the space to shift his clothes. Between strategic touches and kisses, Itachi gotten rid of Neji’s clothes as well as his own garments.

He looked at Neji. The boy’s face was flushed, his eyes were closed, and he was panting lightly. Neji’s right hand was near his neck. His index finger was curled around the silver necklace that Itachi did not remove and his left hand was over his belly. His silky dark brown hair was all over the pillow, cascading over his milky white smooth skin like a waterfall of melted chocolate. He looked absolutely stunning to Itachi’s eyes.

Neji half opened his eyes and moved his legs a little. After Itachi’s ministrations, he had found himself aroused. Itachi bend over him, taking the boy into his mouth. Neji moaned and then covered his mouth with his right hand while his other was placed over Itachi’s head.

The opal eyed teen was so confused at that moment. His body was responding to all of Itachi’s touches and he felt embarrassed by his reaction, but he couldn’t help it. He nearly whimpered when the older nin stopped his actions, not letting him find release.

“Kiss me Neji…” murmured Itachi into his ear. Neji moved his trembling hand to encircle Itachi’s neck and kissed the older nin, who kissed him back, now entirely satisfied with Neji’s disposition.

Neji felt his aroused body demanding release. On his face was an almost a painful expression. He moved one of his hands between his legs but Itachi took his wrist, stopping him. Neji whimpered.

“Nu-uh” Itachi shook his head a little. Neji bit his lip “Ask for it…”

Neji shook his head. His cheeks were completely red and the flush was covering almost all his body now while Itachi teased him, enjoying every second of it. Itachi rubbed himself against the smaller teen lightly, not giving him enough. He smirked while Neji moaned softly again.

When the smaller teen moved his legs, Itachi used his hand to keep them apart, his fingers barely touching him. Just teasing him while kissing his jaw, his eyes not missing a single expression that crossed Neji's flushed face.

Neji’s trembling lips moved “Please…”

That whisper was all Itachi needed. He extended his hand and took an small tube from the nightstand. He lifted up a little, taking the substance in his hand to coat his fingers, his eyes on Neji’s all the time.

Bending forwards, the teen pushed two fingers inside him. Neji gasped and tensed. Itachi rubbed his belly and instructed him to relax and kissed him. Itachi moved his fingers in scissor motion, stretching the younger body under him. Neji felt the fingers gone and soon Itachi pushed himself inside him. The smaller teen dug his nails in Itachi’s shoulders, while said nin supported his back, thrusting into him.

Neji felt al his senses react when Itachi pushed against a certain spot over and over, and then his mind was a mess. Itachi was moving inside of him and his hand encircled his erection, giving the demanded touch.

Itachi was in his own world. Neji’s moans and little sounds were almost intoxicating for him. He rested his head in the crook of the teen’s neck, feeling his climax approaching.

Neji cried out and finally found his release almost at the same time Itachi reached his peak. He opened his eyes, fixing his gaze on the ceiling. His breath was coming in hard and erratic gasps, the blush on his cheeks was very evident against his white skin and his whole body was trembling. When he was able to breath without so much effort, Itachi released the support of his back, placing him onto the mattress.

The smaller teen closed his eyes and curled up. Itachi smirked, pleased with the scenario and the act that had just ended. He lay beside Neji and place a possessive arm around the teen’s waist. He covered them both with the blanket and let himself drift off to sleep.

Neji felt Itachi getting him closer. His back was against Itachi’s chest and his hand around his waist. Neji closed his eyes. His breath was finally starting to become normal.

He did not want to think about what had just happen. His mind was still numb. A tiny sad smile adorned his lips as sleep took over him.

Neji dreamed of a boy with black hair running towards him, but even if Neji extended his hand to reach him, his fingers slipped from the other’s and he found himself alone. He stayed there, looking into the dark emptiness, waiting for the other boy to come back…

To be continue…

And here’s another chapter, with for some reason was a little difficult to write, I think that was mostly because I was in the middle of the final evaluations on the college…anyway, it’s over now, Alleluia!

Thanks everybody who reads this story for taking some of your time in doing it, I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Comments and questions, here I am!