Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and therefore do not make any money from this stuff.

Chapter 6

            Neji’s eyes narrowed.

            “Between yourself and Naruto?” asked Neji, numbly. He was still dazed from the attack Naruto had launched at him only about fifteen minutes before. His body still thrummed and vibrated like a struck tuning bell. He continued to worry whether or not he should have gone after him, bouncing back and forth between regret and a sense of satisfied duty. But what would Neji have said to him if he had gone after him? Sorry you misunderstood; I do actually want you, so bad that I can barely move and the shame of wanting you makes me want to die sometimes Oh, by the way, I’m learning a jutsu to release the curse mark on Sasuke so Konoha can get him back and you can both live happily ever after with each other. What? Don’t worry about me, stupid, just take the fucking gift and live with it, because that’s what I’m giving you and that’s what you’ll get from me.

            He walked past the new man and into the cabin, still numb, but now more sullen brooding than his previous panicky shame, and began to prepare the fish to be eaten. Leaving the door open, he assumed that would be considered as a “Please, do come in and sit down and tell me what the hell you meant you goddamn bastard,” but when he turned back around, he saw that the man had apparently considered it beneath him to come in and sit down, and had also deigned it beneath him to say that he was leaving, presumably to go find Naruto.

            Neji’s chest clenched. What did he want with Naruto? Who was he? Did they know each other? Did they know know each other? For some reason Neji’s vision went red and his breathing sped up beyond his control. So what if the knife got stuck in the cutting board a few times while he was cutting up the damn fish which had interrupted the… What could he even call that? Make-out session? But what business was it of his if Naruto knew-knew anybody? It’s not like he had any true claim on the blond ninja. Quite the opposite, in fact. Why was he so angry, though? He could barely contain his fury, and the sense of downright unfairness at it all. If Naruto was with someone else then what point was there in Neji trying to help save Sasuke for Naruto? What point was there in him having done anything he’d done for the past two and a half years? Why had he lived for this purpose so blindly? Hadn’t he learned his lesson about things like that when he was still a genin?

            He just felt so incredibly stupid. It was not something he was accustomed to, and it rankled deep.

            But… A part of Neji resisted the pull to logically reason this out, a part that wanted to wallow in the self-pity and anguish that he felt rise like bile in his throat. He quashed it, angry at it being a part of him and being such a disgusting weakness. And so he used his logic.

            Was there really any reason to jump to conclusions? Who really knew what the guy wanted with Naruto, anyway? It could be anything, and it might not actually be the thing that Neji dreaded. And besides, Naruto had lots of friends who had become friends with him in much the same way Neji had. Neji flinched as he reminded himself yet again that he was nothing all that special in Naruto’s eyes; just another fucked up person who needed to be believed in, just like all the others. So, maybe the man was simply another Naruto fan, fucked up and in need, nothing special, just like Neji.

            And yet… The man had been so attractive.

            Neji slapped the fish on the griddle perhaps a little too hard, though he would deny any such claim, if ever brought to his attention, and began to cook it, teeth clenching.

            Naruto sat in the cave behind the waterfall, determined to sleep there and perhaps stay as long as he could without starving or dying of thirst. He truly felt that the only way he could leave the cave and return to the cabin anytime soon would have been if Neji came and got him and told him that things were alright. Or, if word came from Konoha that they could come home again.

            He was sure he didn’t deserve any sort of forgiveness at the moment, but maybe in a couple of days, if he still hadn’t come around, Neji would be feeling generous enough to let slide a little bit of ramen theft from the store room in the middle of the night. Other than that, he’d have to keep his distance. Neji was obviously shocked with him and who knew what else, and who wouldn’t be? Naruto had practically raped the guy, and only because he was being ignored. What the hell, right? Did he have no self-control whatsoever?

            Though, (and this thought really irked him) what else could he have done to get Neji to stop ignoring him? A thousand things ran through his mind that he could have done that had nothing remotely to do with jumping the Hyuuga. He began to think of a thousand things he would rather have done that would have gotten Neji to just, you know, knock it off. Over and over he wanted to be one of those super heroes that could turn back time or something and magically undo what he had done.

            And yet… It had been surprisingly nice to lie on top of Neji like that, feel him moving underneath him, responding to him. A wild thought of had it been Neji or had it been the fact that he’s male? and Naruto shoved the thought away as though it were a snake.

            There had been a moment or two, (could he be sure?) when Naruto was almost sure that Neji really could have gotten away if he had really tried, and Naruto hadn’t even held him down that hard. Did Neji want it? But then how to explain that noise Neji had made? It scared Naruto out of his senses.

            So, awesome results, right? He had done it in the first place to get Neji to react, anything would have done right then—a nice violent fight would have been the perfect salve, bruises and maybe even some bleeding and the possible broken bone—Naruto’s breath hitched at the thought of the sweet pain… and he rethought the notion.

            But Naruto could have dealt with (hell, would have rejoiced at) anything Neji threw at him, in any case, after Naruto had sufficiently riled him into a state of hostility or at least a state of being less of a bastard.

            Anything but that look of complete and utter shock, that stupid lost puppy look that should never ever be seen on Neji Hyuuga’s face for any reason whatsoever. It made him go silent inside, with this odd white noise that felt like pursuing waves of static flowing over him and drowning him so slowly that he was still breathing.

            He lay down on his back, breathing in the moist air, feeling his face glisten and his hair stick to his forehead and neck. The only problem with the cave, he mused, was that it was really wet. He hadn’t foreseen that. It probably didn’t help the whole panicky static wave thing.

            The light outside was dimming, and he could see the red glint of the setting sun filtering through the rush of the waterfall several yards away from his feet. He turned over on his side to watch the light dim with a heavy sigh…

            And he saw a silhouette against the water, shining through. Naruto choked back a scornful laugh at the rainbows that hovered around the rushing water. Some higher being or force was mocking him.

            “Naruto Uzumaki?” asked the muffled voice, still concealed by the white curtain of water.

            He jerked upright. That wasn’t Neji. For some reason he felt the wish to sink into himself and never be seen again.

            “Um… Who is it?” He replied, unsure.

            “My name is Hideki. I’m your therapist’s assistant,” the voice was deep and resonant.

            The man stepped into the cave, now soaking wet. Ah-ha, Naruto thought. So that’s what a sex god looks like. He plopped back down on his back, and stared up at the drippy ceiling of the cave.

            “Is that so?” he asked, a little breathless. “What the hell you doing here?” He was disappointed in himself that it held so little of his usual brazenness and just sounded pathetic and… tired.

            “I was ordered to come here every Friday evening and continue with your sessions. I apologize that the therapist you’ve been seeing is unable to make the journey, but I have been given your file, and as soon as you give me permission, I can take a look at it and we can continue with your therapy,” the man knelt down next to Naruto and leaned over him somewhat, to look him in the face.

            Naruto sighed. What a beautiful face, he thought. It somehow made him feel safe that it held little interest for him besides that of aesthetics. It was beautiful to look at, yes, but not to touch, not for Naruto. Not like he had done with Neji, and found himself wanting to do again. This was a beauty beyond Naruto’s reach, and he found himself quite accepting of it. The guy would probably be a pain in the ass anyway.

            “Quit talking to me like I’m a mission. I can’t stand that,” Naruto said, trying and failing yet again to be his usual blaring self. He sighed. Well, maybe tomorrow after he got some sleep.

            The man’s eyes widened, and he smiled, recovering quickly.

            “Alright. So, what do you think, Naruto?”

            “Read the file, whatever. I don’t care right now. But go away until next week. I’m not in a sharing mood tonight,” he put his arm over his eyes in a despairing sort of way and didn’t care that it made him look weak.

            “Hm. Have anything to do with that sweet looking guy you’ve got back at the cabin?” asked Hideki.

            Naruto thought the word “sweet” had never been said so heavily laden with sex before, and it momentarily stunned him.

            “What if it does?” muttered Naruto, suspicious and suddenly not liking Hideki at all.

            “Ooh, what tension,” replied Hideki laughingly. “It’s alright, I’m not going to steal him from you.” He sat back and crossed his legs Indian style, leaning back on his palms. The wet clothes he wore clung to him and showed erect, pert nipples, and Hideki obviously didn’t mind that they were visible, face twitching amusedly when Naruto’s eyes flicked towards them. Naruto felt an odd laughing angry feeling at the man’s blatant vanity. “He’s worried about you, you know.”

            “What?” Naruto choked. “How do you know??” He demanded, sitting up and looking at the intruder intensely.

            Hideki just laughed lightly again, as though he could see it all so clearly and oh, how fucking amusing it all was.

            “I don’t think I even need to read your file, kid. You wear everything you’ve got on your face.”

            Naruto’s first instinct was to get indignant and start yelling that I do not you freaking jerk-face and who are you calling a kid, but something in the way Hideki said it pervaded a kind of acceptance, like he didn’t care if Naruto did. It was alright.

            “Hmph,” said Naruto.

            “He is worried about you, you know. You should apologize. I’m pretty sure he’d forgive you without too much fuss.” There was that kind smile again. Perhaps it was something that was passed down from therapist to therapist in a sort of master-apprentice fashion. Whatever, it was… freeing, somehow.

            “You think so?” Naruto almost whispered, pretending not to care with as much bravado as he could muster, but belatedly regretting the crack his voice betrayed.

            “Yep,” replied Hideki, still smiling warmly.

            “Maybe I won’t have to sleep in the cave after all, then,” said Naruto, staring off at the fading orange light, and rising to his feet.

            “Well, good luck,” said Hideki. “I’m heading back home. See you next week, Naruto,” he gave a friendly mock salute, and disappeared through the rushing white curtain of water.

            “See you,” muttered Naruto, feeling a bit more hopeful that he wasn’t a gigantic screw-up.

            When he got back to the cabin, he found Neji washing dishes in the sink, a plate set on the table with the rest of the fish, some rice, and some pickled vegetables. The sun was completely down.

            “I already ate,” said Neji, as though he could see Naruto’s stare from the back of his head. He could, Naruto mused, and walked numbly over to the table. It looked good. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until he was desperately maneuvering the chopsticks to get the final grains of rice in his mouth. Finally sated, he noticed Neji sitting across from him, watching him eat with a carefully schooled expression.

            “Thank you,” said Naruto, grinning sheepishly.

            Neji nodded, stilling watching Naruto with that expressionless (wary?) stare.

            “And I’m sorry,” he said, averting his gaze. “You know, for before. I… didn’t know what I was doing.” He scratched the back of his head in obeisance, eyes still averted. “What can I say? I’m a fucked up person. I’m working on it. Just… don’t ignore me.” He found a surge of energy through the meal, and showed his meaning on his face, meeting Neji’s gaze. Naruto’s eyes were fierce and nearly feral in appearance. “Just don’t. I can’t stand it. I won’t.”

            Neji nodded again, his eyebrow quirking in a way that left Naruto unsure. Was that worry? Anger? Sympathy?

            “In that case, I’m sorry, too,” said Neji. He looked off to the side and crossed his arms. Was he pouting? Naruto wasn’t sure. “Just… don’t ask me why, alright?”

            Naruto nodded.

            So, thought Neji.

            So, thought Naruto.

            What now?

(Alrighty then, here’s chapter 6. Just posting it quickly in between homework assignments. I hope you liked it, y’all. Please, oh pretty please, review. It makes me feel that much better and then makes me want to write in spite of how many other things I have to do, and then probably another chapter will come out quicker, if that is indeed what you would like. (smile)

In reply to your review, BoyLoveCuteness, I would really prefer to think that neither is the seme, or as you put it the “masculine” one. I tend to rather dislike thinking about characters in such a restricting binary, i.e. masculine or feminine, way. They’re people to me, first and foremost, and they have human reactions to things. Does it really matter whether they act in the prescripts that mark a person as properly masculine or properly feminine? I tend not to think so. Anyway. Just a thought that your comment spurred, and there’s no problem whatsoever with spurring comments. Those are actually the reviews I like the most. Besides, I’m doing an independent study on Queer Gothic literature, so I’m sort of focused on that topic at the moment anyway. So! thanks for revieiwing! (smile) Until next chapter!

PS! to those who like the smut, definitely expect some in the next chapter! Yaaaaay!)