An Indecent Affair
folder
Naruto AU/AR › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
35
Views:
2,353
Reviews:
150
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Naruto AU/AR › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
35
Views:
2,353
Reviews:
150
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 9
This chapter is dedicated to Soft_Touches whose kind words have been an inspiration.
Chapter 9
-~-~-~-~-
He hated to see her cry, but what made Neji feel even more guilt-ridden was knowing that he was the one responsible for her tears.
Ten-Ten searched inside her gold, sequined purse for a handkerchief, disturbing the organized environment she usually kept therin and Neji wanted to take his own dinner napkin and daub away at the damp streaks that cascaded along her cheeks, but he had to remain strong, firm, and resolute. He couldn’t break, couldn’t listen to the voices that screamed inside his head to apologize and tell her it was all a big, yet very cruel, joke. But it was no joke and he couldn’t lie to her…couldn’t continue to lie to her and tell her everything was okay when that was the farthest thing from the truth.
She finally found what she was looking for and mopped away at her face with a thin, white, kerchief, monogrammed with her initials in pink, Helvetica letters, a personification of just how dainty and fragile this girl really was. He was supposed to be her knight-in-shining-armor, he was supposed to be her hero, her savior, her Superman but instead, he ended up being the one destroying her.
It hadn’t been his intention, this was the last thing he would have ever imagined doing but she had kept calling him incessantly over the weekend and practically dragged him out of the solitude of his apartment this Sunday night just to go to dinner with her to help brighten his mood. She only had his best interests at heart and he knew she only meant well but the only thing she ended up doing was annoying him.
She kept trying to force him into a conversation when all he wanted to do was listen to silence. She kept asking him what was wrong when all he wanted to do was wallow in the cesspool of his depression, she kept insisting he eat his meal before it got cold but all he wanted to do was let his stomach consume itself but when she started chirping about how excited she was about their upcoming wedding, something inside him shut down and his spirit seemed to step out of his body and it was almost as if he were watching a drama unfold before his very eyes as his lips told her, in a voice, completely devoid of any emotion that he wanted to call the wedding off.
Ten-Ten stopped mid-sentence at his murmured interruption and just stared at him for what seemed like an eternity, not quite sure if she’d misunderstood him over her ramblings but the distant expression on his face and the sympathetic look in his eyes was enough to let her know what he meant even if he hadn’t said anything.
She was in denial; Neji was too, he still couldn’t believe that he’d said what he did and when she asked him if he was serious he could have retracted his statement, but he didn’t, and instead, he confirmed it with a deliberate nod of his head. What followed next was something Neji was not prepared for but he should have expected. She begged him to think it over, asked him to reconsider, wanted to know what she had to do, and, or say to make him change his mind and as much as he really wanted to, he didn’t.
“There’s someone else, isn’t there?” the girl sobbed quietly and as distressed as she was she didn’t want to disturb the other diners.
Technically, there was someone else that had come between them, but how could he even begin to explain the situation to her when he hadn’t even fully come to grips with it himself.
“Ten-Ten, how could you even think that?” he asked. “There’s no one else for me but you-”
“Then why, Neji?” she retorted and her voice squeaked as it rose a little higher. “Why are you doing this?”
He couldn’t give her a mild enough explanation so he only remained silent after that. It did serve his purpose in the long run because the girl didn’t believe him when he said he wasn’t cheating on her but when she got to her feet he seemed to realize his mistake and he started to panic, because he knew that the second she walked away and stepped out of those doors she would be gone from his life forever and he didn’t want that…did he.
Now he wasn’t even sure anymore.
“Ten-Ten, wait!”
He wanted to take it all back, suddenly wanted to pretend that he hadn’t said what he’d said and he reached out for her, to take her hand, to keep her here, with him, but she snatched it away and grabbed her glass of wine to toss the contents in his face in a rather clichéd manner.
Neji sputtered and wiped hot liquid from his eyes, but that didn’t make sense because the drink was cold.
They were suddenly made the center of attention as all eyes in the brightly lit room were on them and her last words, whispered with pained malice echoed in his ears and tore his heart straight down the middle.
“I hate you, Neji Hyuuga,” she whispered after a light sob. “I never want to see you or speak to you ever again.”
His world stopped spinning as he watched her turn on her heel and walk away and the clicking of her heels seemed to echo inside his head like loud gunshots, tearing through his soul and each more damaging than the last.
He didn’t know how long he stood there, staring at that door, wasn’t sure if he was even still alive. He felt empty, hollow, as if his very being no longer existed and his body was drawn so taut that he feared the slightest movement he made would shatter him like a porcelain statuette.
The whispers in his head grew louder and he would have screamed at those demons to shut up but he soon realized that it was the voices of the other diners, at their various tables debating among themselves the cause of such a scene. He was suddenly embarrassed and Neji’s face burned red with his public humiliation and he bowed his head to hide his profile from view.
Their maitre d’, a slim, middle-aged gentleman hustled over to him. “Is…is everything alright, Sir?”
Even a blind man could see that everything was not alright but he was flustered and just as uncomfortable and Neji could tell that this was the first time he’d ever been faced with such a situation.
The young man nodded once and his hair slipped over his shoulders to shield more of his face.
“Will you…be having your dessert now?” he asked cautiously but when Neji said or did nothing the gears in his head finally started again and he smartly suggested bringing the bill instead.
Ten-Ten was the one who had volunteered to pay for their entire meal even though Neji had offered to pay for his half but he was grateful that he’d still walked with his wallet but the amount was obviously much more than he had on him at the time so he was forced to write a cheque. He was sure his bank account was going to feel that on Monday when they went to cash it and his mind went into automatic overdrive as he calculated what other sacrifices he would be forced to make until his next paycheck.
Neji collected his coat and left the restaurant with what little dignity he had left and he half-expected to be met with a torrent of rain when he stepped outside, but much to his disappointment, the sky was clear, save for the occasional cloud that crept in front of the half-moon.
He had also hoped that she would still be here, maybe loitering outside, drying her tears while waiting for a taxi but she was gone and Neji knew that he would never see her again.
‘This wasn’t what you wanted, was it?’
He shook his head.
He’d wanted to postpone the wedding, at least until he was sure that he could go through with it and was positive that he’d gotten over Orochimaru. He wanted to put their relationship on hold until he was certain that he could hold her, touch her and kiss her without seeing his face, and even throughout dinner Neji found that he had a hard time maintaining eye-contact with her because he was afraid.
He didn’t want to be afraid of Ten-Ten, just the mere thought seemed preposterous, but he would always associate Orochimaru with pain and in his mind he was associating Ten-Ten with Orochimaru.
But why?
He didn’t have the answer to that, he’d tried analyzing it himself and no matter how small he dissected it he could never find the root of that problem.
He should have gone to a shrink and get his head checked by a real professional but he found it too humiliating to have to explain in detail the things that transpired between him and that man.
Maybe this was for the best. He knew he didn’t deserve her anyway and maybe now she would finally find someone who was worthy enough to have such a wonderful woman as his wife because Neji knew he would never be good enough for someone like that. He’d had his doubts about a marriage with her from day one and it wasn’t because he had a problem with commitment but he kept wondering how would he be able to keep her happy when she was used to a certain life-style and he was not? They were both willing to make sacrifices for each other because he refused to ‘mooch’ off of her parents and he supposed that would have been enough, but what if she eventually resented him for it?
The deterioration of their marriage would probably have been more painful than the break-up he’d managed to survive just now and he supposed that, in the long-run, he’d avoided another regret.
He stepped aside to let another happy couple enter the restaurant and they were so engrossed with each other that they didn’t even notice him and for some reason…it hurt a lot.
He walked away, unsure of his destination, but his feet knew the way home so he could trust them to take him there safely while his mind occupied itself with other things, like: What now?, What’s the next step?, What will be your new goal in life?
Now, he was going to concentrate on his job. His occupation was probably the only thing he had left as motivation to keep him going. He would have liked to turn to family, he had no friends and he’d just lost his loved one so the only person he had now was himself. It sounded like a lonely existence but Neji was never really a sociable person so he knew he would be fine on his own…
“Trouble in paradise?”
Neji’s spine stiffened and his breath caught in his throat when he heard that deep, gravelly voice come from behind him. Instinct told him to run as fast as his legs would carry him but fear kept him paralyzed to the ground and he couldn’t even turn around to face the other man, but he didn’t have to. Orochimaru walked around him and flashed him a wide grin, obviously amused by his plight.
“Wh-what do you want?” and Neji cursed his voice for shaking so much and when Orochimaru heard it he chuckled, deep within his chest.
The boy was still afraid of him…that was good. At least that blasted Sasuke hadn’t undone too much of his hard work.
“Just to offer you…comfort,” he breathed on a lust-filled voice and reached up a hand to cup his cheek while dipping his head to capture his lips in a ravenous kiss but Neji caught his intentions in time and managed to stagger backwards in time but he slammed into a hard, brick wall and continued to press himself against it as if he could somehow go through it.
“St-Stay away from me,” he yelled, his chest heaving with large gulps of breath. “I belong to Sasuke now, you can’t touch me!”
Orochimaru’s eyes widened before they drew into tight slits and just as quickly, his face morphed back into that amused expression.
So…he fancied himself Sasuke’s, huh?
Orochimaru’s laughter bubbled within his chest. Let him think that brat could protect him, let him think that son-of-a-bitch would be his shield. He would allow him to think that he was invincible now, that nothing would ever happen as long as he was with Sasuke and then…when he was lulled into a false sense of security, just when he thought he was finally safe, Orochimaru would strike and destroy him all over again.
He couldn’t hide that malevolent grin now and Neji feared the worst when he saw it but with his new plan in mind Orochimaru turned on his heel and walked away.
It was hard to believe that this man would just leave him untouched when he could have just dragged him into a nearby alley and rape him there but when his form became cocooned by the darkness Neji’s body sagged and his legs gave out, causing his back to slide against the wall until he slumped to the sidewalk.
‘It…it worked!’ he thought with alleviated pants while continually staring at the place he disappeared just in case he decided to return. Sasuke was right…he couldn’t touch him, Orochimaru couldn't hurt him as long as he…belonged…to Sasuke…
Realization suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks and Neji gasped when he remembered what he’d just said.
‘But, I didn’t mean it,’ he screamed inside his head in an attempt to convince himself and the other voices that resided there. He’d only said that dissuade the other man, to remind him that he could not lay a hand on him but the voices didn’t believe it, and more importantly, he didn’t either, because no matter how Sasuke tried to sugar-coat it for his benefit by saying he was just an employee, no matter how he tried to look at it, or even try to deny it, the truth was, he was Sasuke’s.
A strangled sob escaped his lips and the tears from before returned in full force, staining his cheeks and scalding his skin. Neji gathered his legs to his chest and raked anguished fingers through his hair as he thought about his wretched existence: to be the possession of one man to avoid being the victim of another.
Would he always have to depend on Sasuke to watch over him? Would Orochimaru continually seek him out? He couldn’t start a family like this, couldn’t even imagine what it would be like having to constantly look over his shoulder to make sure Orochimaru didn’t try anything whenever Sasuke wasn’t around, like just now. But how long would this go on? How long must this continue before he could rebuild his own life and start over again?
He must have looked rather pathetic in his current state because a sympathetic pedestrian tossed a few coins at his feet and the tinkling of the metal against the pavement brought him out of the mire of his thoughts and back into reality.
Neji may have been pitiable but he was not desperate and hated being a charity case even more so he ignored the money as he pushed himself to his feet.
Neji resumed his trek to his home but took another route to the one Orochimaru traversed. He was almost afraid to open his apartment door because he knew Orochimaru knew where he lived and he wondered why the man hadn’t waited in the darkness to ambush him when he came in, and as if expecting that possibility, he searched the apartment thoroughly, his heart wrapped with fine strings as he braced himself for a creature with glinting, yellow eyes to jump out of the darkness everytime he opened a door or looked inside a cupboard or under the bed.
After he was sure that it was just him he locked the main door, sealing himself inside like a vault but he felt no security in that so Neji locked all of his windows and turned on all of the lights. He couldn’t sleep and it was only at a quarter to one in the morning did he remind himself he had work later that day and after many failed attempts at hypnotizing himself his fatigue eventually kicked in and Neji passed out on his bed.
-~-~-~-~-
Really short chapter, I know, but Neji and Te-Ten breaks up and Orochimaru pops up so there’s not much to build on there although the break up scene could have been a little longer I suppose. I didn’t like how the previous chapter turned out so I hope this one makes up for it.
Yersi Fanel 2007-05-25 YES! You update this story, double YES!
Well, I have to say that this chapter is one of the most interesting until now, Itachi had show up and I like him already (well, I normally like Itachi, because he rocks, yay) and I love the way he freaked out Neji by being all nice to him yet with his normal spooky self is fun to see, also I noticed that he took a lot of interest in Neji too, well, everydoby has a thing for Neji here (jajaja) and I like it, lol.
Gaara and Naruto are, well, interesting. So, Itachi "owns" them? I think will be interesting to know more about the Uchiha brothers and their peculiar world.
Don't get so lost, I missed you! (no, really. It's hard to find good stories)
Ho, and I lost my Beta, she's so bussy she can help me now and I have the next two chapters of ADC un-betaed, *angst* and I'm starting aa new couple of stories (sweet, sweet inspiration) I'll ned to find some help...
Anyway, I hope to see reading more of you (hey, I don't lose a thing for dreaming, right?) Take care!!
ClaireBear: Neji is just so loveable, who wouldn’t have a thing for him…well…except Naruto. Naruto doesn’t like him but he can’t hate him forever, right? I luff Itachi too, OMG he’s so cool. I would really like to write an Itachi-centric fic but it might have to be AU because I REFUSE to pair him with Kisame or his brother.
I will touch on more on the Uchiha brothers and their peculiar world, heh don’t worry.
Sorry I was gone for so long but I do make little appearance here and there, just been caught up in other things (like my art) and stuff that happens irl.
I’m sorry to hear about your Beta? I wish I had someone to beta my fics but I guess it’s good practice for me with my English and stuff, but if I remember correctly, English is not your mother language, correct?
I hope to write some more and you take care as well.
Tyra 2007-05-26 Heheh. This chapter was cool also!
Itachi was nice.. should I say gentleman? Naruto and Gaara.. Well, I like them. :D
Really good chapter I must say.
It was so funny when Sasuke said that he had thrown Nejis shoes away. xD
At least Neji got new ones.
Bam Chicka Wah Wah! I hope you update soon again. I can't wait to read what happens next!
I absolutely love your fics! :D
I wuv you!
ClaireBear: Yeah. Deep down Itachi’s a nice guy, just don’t say that out loud or he’ll sic Naruto on you. I know Naruto and Gaara don’t seem favourable right now but they do have their purpose, (trust me, you’ll love it) I just haven’t introduced it yet, but to be honest I didn’t like the previous chapter, as I said earlier.
Sasuke is a bastard and I don’t know why he’s always messing with Neji’s stuff but I guess that’s part of his charm. And yes, see how nice Itachi is that he got Neji new shoes. There is a reason why these two brothers are so smitten with Neji as well but I haven’t gotten to that part either.
I hope to update soon too and I love you and everyone who enjoys this fic so much to leave reviews like yours.
dragonslayer1 2007-05-29 Hurray another new chapter I just love this story to death. I've read the whole thing three times today just because I thought it was sooooooo goood. As much as I would like this to be updated soon. oooh PLEASE PLEASE WORK ON THIS MORE so that it maybe done sooner!!! WAAAAAAAAAAA. Okay I"m cool I"m cool keep up the goood work please. I like more good quality work from you hurray!
ClaireBear: Wow! Three times? Even I haven’t read it that much, heh (which is funny since I’m the one writing it) but every time I go back to the Orochimaru rape scenes it freaks me out. O_O It’s like intentionally scaring myself.
Lol, I will try to work on this and finish it because I really like this fic too.
kaa-san 2007-05-30 I love your writing style, and I love this story! Sasuke being an ass and having a foot fetish is sooo funny! What are his other erotic fetishes?
Itachi as always...YUM! His 'pets' are cute, too.
Weak, angsty Neji is adorable, so much better than he is in the manga.
Orochimaru is just EWWW! Always has been, always will be. BTW, the person Neji looks like, is that who Orochimaru referred to as the dead person he kissed?
Keep up the good work, and update soon!
ClaireBear: Thanks. I’m glad you like my style. ^_^ *is happy*
Sasuke has other fetishes too, but I’m not going to tell you what they are, but you will find out later. Itachi is delicious isn’t he? *licks lips* His pets may seem annoying right now, sorry but they do have their purpose. I will try to write them better from now on.
Neji must suffer, I love to make him suffer. He maybe a high-level Jounin in the manga but in my fics he will always be Sasuke’s bitch. Muahh haa ha haaa. Take THAT Kishi.
I like writing Orochimaru. He’s creepy and it’s fun to write him that way, so he’s never out of character. The dead person that Orochimaru did kiss is the Neji look-alike but I won’t tell you who it is and if you do figure out who it is don’t ruin it for everyone else, ‘k? ^_^
soft_touches 2007-06-20 Hey hey hey, how you been? sorry for missing almost all of this story i've been hiding under a rock and living with insane room mates but some how were like family its great. Anyway, the story has a good plot to it and when you read it from start to end the chapters move smoothly together. lol getto-goth gaara, i was in tears with my imagination going wild trying to figure gaara wearing G-unit. I guess the big question is if sasuke's going to watch the tape? Oh, did he know about the tape or did Itachi just "find" it and wanted to show sasuke. Hn, i can wait for the next chapter so take your time because i'll be on every friday but i would appreciate it if you could e-mail me when you update any of your stories or if you want to cuss me out for some odd reason. I'll review for Inbred soon. peace.
~soft_touches~
ClaireBear: I want to give a special thank you to sot touches for her inspiration in helping me finish this chapter. Everyone give her a hug. I said hug her dammit >.<
I saved that email you sent me and I read it again this morning and after reading it I went to work on this chapter and it just flowed. I know it’s short because not much happens here but I am proud of how it turned out. Wow…thanks again.
Hey! I didn’t say you could stop hugging her!
Anonymouse 2007-06-23 *fapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfap*
MOAR, I NEED MOAR!
ClairBear: Uhh…yeah… Just make sure you don’t get any of that on Neji O_O;
Okay I updated the next chapter so I hope you enjoy it BUT NOT TOO MUCH! Lol
Until next time!
Chapter 9
-~-~-~-~-
He hated to see her cry, but what made Neji feel even more guilt-ridden was knowing that he was the one responsible for her tears.
Ten-Ten searched inside her gold, sequined purse for a handkerchief, disturbing the organized environment she usually kept therin and Neji wanted to take his own dinner napkin and daub away at the damp streaks that cascaded along her cheeks, but he had to remain strong, firm, and resolute. He couldn’t break, couldn’t listen to the voices that screamed inside his head to apologize and tell her it was all a big, yet very cruel, joke. But it was no joke and he couldn’t lie to her…couldn’t continue to lie to her and tell her everything was okay when that was the farthest thing from the truth.
She finally found what she was looking for and mopped away at her face with a thin, white, kerchief, monogrammed with her initials in pink, Helvetica letters, a personification of just how dainty and fragile this girl really was. He was supposed to be her knight-in-shining-armor, he was supposed to be her hero, her savior, her Superman but instead, he ended up being the one destroying her.
It hadn’t been his intention, this was the last thing he would have ever imagined doing but she had kept calling him incessantly over the weekend and practically dragged him out of the solitude of his apartment this Sunday night just to go to dinner with her to help brighten his mood. She only had his best interests at heart and he knew she only meant well but the only thing she ended up doing was annoying him.
She kept trying to force him into a conversation when all he wanted to do was listen to silence. She kept asking him what was wrong when all he wanted to do was wallow in the cesspool of his depression, she kept insisting he eat his meal before it got cold but all he wanted to do was let his stomach consume itself but when she started chirping about how excited she was about their upcoming wedding, something inside him shut down and his spirit seemed to step out of his body and it was almost as if he were watching a drama unfold before his very eyes as his lips told her, in a voice, completely devoid of any emotion that he wanted to call the wedding off.
Ten-Ten stopped mid-sentence at his murmured interruption and just stared at him for what seemed like an eternity, not quite sure if she’d misunderstood him over her ramblings but the distant expression on his face and the sympathetic look in his eyes was enough to let her know what he meant even if he hadn’t said anything.
She was in denial; Neji was too, he still couldn’t believe that he’d said what he did and when she asked him if he was serious he could have retracted his statement, but he didn’t, and instead, he confirmed it with a deliberate nod of his head. What followed next was something Neji was not prepared for but he should have expected. She begged him to think it over, asked him to reconsider, wanted to know what she had to do, and, or say to make him change his mind and as much as he really wanted to, he didn’t.
“There’s someone else, isn’t there?” the girl sobbed quietly and as distressed as she was she didn’t want to disturb the other diners.
Technically, there was someone else that had come between them, but how could he even begin to explain the situation to her when he hadn’t even fully come to grips with it himself.
“Ten-Ten, how could you even think that?” he asked. “There’s no one else for me but you-”
“Then why, Neji?” she retorted and her voice squeaked as it rose a little higher. “Why are you doing this?”
He couldn’t give her a mild enough explanation so he only remained silent after that. It did serve his purpose in the long run because the girl didn’t believe him when he said he wasn’t cheating on her but when she got to her feet he seemed to realize his mistake and he started to panic, because he knew that the second she walked away and stepped out of those doors she would be gone from his life forever and he didn’t want that…did he.
Now he wasn’t even sure anymore.
“Ten-Ten, wait!”
He wanted to take it all back, suddenly wanted to pretend that he hadn’t said what he’d said and he reached out for her, to take her hand, to keep her here, with him, but she snatched it away and grabbed her glass of wine to toss the contents in his face in a rather clichéd manner.
Neji sputtered and wiped hot liquid from his eyes, but that didn’t make sense because the drink was cold.
They were suddenly made the center of attention as all eyes in the brightly lit room were on them and her last words, whispered with pained malice echoed in his ears and tore his heart straight down the middle.
“I hate you, Neji Hyuuga,” she whispered after a light sob. “I never want to see you or speak to you ever again.”
His world stopped spinning as he watched her turn on her heel and walk away and the clicking of her heels seemed to echo inside his head like loud gunshots, tearing through his soul and each more damaging than the last.
He didn’t know how long he stood there, staring at that door, wasn’t sure if he was even still alive. He felt empty, hollow, as if his very being no longer existed and his body was drawn so taut that he feared the slightest movement he made would shatter him like a porcelain statuette.
The whispers in his head grew louder and he would have screamed at those demons to shut up but he soon realized that it was the voices of the other diners, at their various tables debating among themselves the cause of such a scene. He was suddenly embarrassed and Neji’s face burned red with his public humiliation and he bowed his head to hide his profile from view.
Their maitre d’, a slim, middle-aged gentleman hustled over to him. “Is…is everything alright, Sir?”
Even a blind man could see that everything was not alright but he was flustered and just as uncomfortable and Neji could tell that this was the first time he’d ever been faced with such a situation.
The young man nodded once and his hair slipped over his shoulders to shield more of his face.
“Will you…be having your dessert now?” he asked cautiously but when Neji said or did nothing the gears in his head finally started again and he smartly suggested bringing the bill instead.
Ten-Ten was the one who had volunteered to pay for their entire meal even though Neji had offered to pay for his half but he was grateful that he’d still walked with his wallet but the amount was obviously much more than he had on him at the time so he was forced to write a cheque. He was sure his bank account was going to feel that on Monday when they went to cash it and his mind went into automatic overdrive as he calculated what other sacrifices he would be forced to make until his next paycheck.
Neji collected his coat and left the restaurant with what little dignity he had left and he half-expected to be met with a torrent of rain when he stepped outside, but much to his disappointment, the sky was clear, save for the occasional cloud that crept in front of the half-moon.
He had also hoped that she would still be here, maybe loitering outside, drying her tears while waiting for a taxi but she was gone and Neji knew that he would never see her again.
‘This wasn’t what you wanted, was it?’
He shook his head.
He’d wanted to postpone the wedding, at least until he was sure that he could go through with it and was positive that he’d gotten over Orochimaru. He wanted to put their relationship on hold until he was certain that he could hold her, touch her and kiss her without seeing his face, and even throughout dinner Neji found that he had a hard time maintaining eye-contact with her because he was afraid.
He didn’t want to be afraid of Ten-Ten, just the mere thought seemed preposterous, but he would always associate Orochimaru with pain and in his mind he was associating Ten-Ten with Orochimaru.
But why?
He didn’t have the answer to that, he’d tried analyzing it himself and no matter how small he dissected it he could never find the root of that problem.
He should have gone to a shrink and get his head checked by a real professional but he found it too humiliating to have to explain in detail the things that transpired between him and that man.
Maybe this was for the best. He knew he didn’t deserve her anyway and maybe now she would finally find someone who was worthy enough to have such a wonderful woman as his wife because Neji knew he would never be good enough for someone like that. He’d had his doubts about a marriage with her from day one and it wasn’t because he had a problem with commitment but he kept wondering how would he be able to keep her happy when she was used to a certain life-style and he was not? They were both willing to make sacrifices for each other because he refused to ‘mooch’ off of her parents and he supposed that would have been enough, but what if she eventually resented him for it?
The deterioration of their marriage would probably have been more painful than the break-up he’d managed to survive just now and he supposed that, in the long-run, he’d avoided another regret.
He stepped aside to let another happy couple enter the restaurant and they were so engrossed with each other that they didn’t even notice him and for some reason…it hurt a lot.
He walked away, unsure of his destination, but his feet knew the way home so he could trust them to take him there safely while his mind occupied itself with other things, like: What now?, What’s the next step?, What will be your new goal in life?
Now, he was going to concentrate on his job. His occupation was probably the only thing he had left as motivation to keep him going. He would have liked to turn to family, he had no friends and he’d just lost his loved one so the only person he had now was himself. It sounded like a lonely existence but Neji was never really a sociable person so he knew he would be fine on his own…
“Trouble in paradise?”
Neji’s spine stiffened and his breath caught in his throat when he heard that deep, gravelly voice come from behind him. Instinct told him to run as fast as his legs would carry him but fear kept him paralyzed to the ground and he couldn’t even turn around to face the other man, but he didn’t have to. Orochimaru walked around him and flashed him a wide grin, obviously amused by his plight.
“Wh-what do you want?” and Neji cursed his voice for shaking so much and when Orochimaru heard it he chuckled, deep within his chest.
The boy was still afraid of him…that was good. At least that blasted Sasuke hadn’t undone too much of his hard work.
“Just to offer you…comfort,” he breathed on a lust-filled voice and reached up a hand to cup his cheek while dipping his head to capture his lips in a ravenous kiss but Neji caught his intentions in time and managed to stagger backwards in time but he slammed into a hard, brick wall and continued to press himself against it as if he could somehow go through it.
“St-Stay away from me,” he yelled, his chest heaving with large gulps of breath. “I belong to Sasuke now, you can’t touch me!”
Orochimaru’s eyes widened before they drew into tight slits and just as quickly, his face morphed back into that amused expression.
So…he fancied himself Sasuke’s, huh?
Orochimaru’s laughter bubbled within his chest. Let him think that brat could protect him, let him think that son-of-a-bitch would be his shield. He would allow him to think that he was invincible now, that nothing would ever happen as long as he was with Sasuke and then…when he was lulled into a false sense of security, just when he thought he was finally safe, Orochimaru would strike and destroy him all over again.
He couldn’t hide that malevolent grin now and Neji feared the worst when he saw it but with his new plan in mind Orochimaru turned on his heel and walked away.
It was hard to believe that this man would just leave him untouched when he could have just dragged him into a nearby alley and rape him there but when his form became cocooned by the darkness Neji’s body sagged and his legs gave out, causing his back to slide against the wall until he slumped to the sidewalk.
‘It…it worked!’ he thought with alleviated pants while continually staring at the place he disappeared just in case he decided to return. Sasuke was right…he couldn’t touch him, Orochimaru couldn't hurt him as long as he…belonged…to Sasuke…
Realization suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks and Neji gasped when he remembered what he’d just said.
‘But, I didn’t mean it,’ he screamed inside his head in an attempt to convince himself and the other voices that resided there. He’d only said that dissuade the other man, to remind him that he could not lay a hand on him but the voices didn’t believe it, and more importantly, he didn’t either, because no matter how Sasuke tried to sugar-coat it for his benefit by saying he was just an employee, no matter how he tried to look at it, or even try to deny it, the truth was, he was Sasuke’s.
A strangled sob escaped his lips and the tears from before returned in full force, staining his cheeks and scalding his skin. Neji gathered his legs to his chest and raked anguished fingers through his hair as he thought about his wretched existence: to be the possession of one man to avoid being the victim of another.
Would he always have to depend on Sasuke to watch over him? Would Orochimaru continually seek him out? He couldn’t start a family like this, couldn’t even imagine what it would be like having to constantly look over his shoulder to make sure Orochimaru didn’t try anything whenever Sasuke wasn’t around, like just now. But how long would this go on? How long must this continue before he could rebuild his own life and start over again?
He must have looked rather pathetic in his current state because a sympathetic pedestrian tossed a few coins at his feet and the tinkling of the metal against the pavement brought him out of the mire of his thoughts and back into reality.
Neji may have been pitiable but he was not desperate and hated being a charity case even more so he ignored the money as he pushed himself to his feet.
Neji resumed his trek to his home but took another route to the one Orochimaru traversed. He was almost afraid to open his apartment door because he knew Orochimaru knew where he lived and he wondered why the man hadn’t waited in the darkness to ambush him when he came in, and as if expecting that possibility, he searched the apartment thoroughly, his heart wrapped with fine strings as he braced himself for a creature with glinting, yellow eyes to jump out of the darkness everytime he opened a door or looked inside a cupboard or under the bed.
After he was sure that it was just him he locked the main door, sealing himself inside like a vault but he felt no security in that so Neji locked all of his windows and turned on all of the lights. He couldn’t sleep and it was only at a quarter to one in the morning did he remind himself he had work later that day and after many failed attempts at hypnotizing himself his fatigue eventually kicked in and Neji passed out on his bed.
-~-~-~-~-
Really short chapter, I know, but Neji and Te-Ten breaks up and Orochimaru pops up so there’s not much to build on there although the break up scene could have been a little longer I suppose. I didn’t like how the previous chapter turned out so I hope this one makes up for it.
Yersi Fanel 2007-05-25 YES! You update this story, double YES!
Well, I have to say that this chapter is one of the most interesting until now, Itachi had show up and I like him already (well, I normally like Itachi, because he rocks, yay) and I love the way he freaked out Neji by being all nice to him yet with his normal spooky self is fun to see, also I noticed that he took a lot of interest in Neji too, well, everydoby has a thing for Neji here (jajaja) and I like it, lol.
Gaara and Naruto are, well, interesting. So, Itachi "owns" them? I think will be interesting to know more about the Uchiha brothers and their peculiar world.
Don't get so lost, I missed you! (no, really. It's hard to find good stories)
Ho, and I lost my Beta, she's so bussy she can help me now and I have the next two chapters of ADC un-betaed, *angst* and I'm starting aa new couple of stories (sweet, sweet inspiration) I'll ned to find some help...
Anyway, I hope to see reading more of you (hey, I don't lose a thing for dreaming, right?) Take care!!
ClaireBear: Neji is just so loveable, who wouldn’t have a thing for him…well…except Naruto. Naruto doesn’t like him but he can’t hate him forever, right? I luff Itachi too, OMG he’s so cool. I would really like to write an Itachi-centric fic but it might have to be AU because I REFUSE to pair him with Kisame or his brother.
I will touch on more on the Uchiha brothers and their peculiar world, heh don’t worry.
Sorry I was gone for so long but I do make little appearance here and there, just been caught up in other things (like my art) and stuff that happens irl.
I’m sorry to hear about your Beta? I wish I had someone to beta my fics but I guess it’s good practice for me with my English and stuff, but if I remember correctly, English is not your mother language, correct?
I hope to write some more and you take care as well.
Tyra 2007-05-26 Heheh. This chapter was cool also!
Itachi was nice.. should I say gentleman? Naruto and Gaara.. Well, I like them. :D
Really good chapter I must say.
It was so funny when Sasuke said that he had thrown Nejis shoes away. xD
At least Neji got new ones.
Bam Chicka Wah Wah! I hope you update soon again. I can't wait to read what happens next!
I absolutely love your fics! :D
I wuv you!
ClaireBear: Yeah. Deep down Itachi’s a nice guy, just don’t say that out loud or he’ll sic Naruto on you. I know Naruto and Gaara don’t seem favourable right now but they do have their purpose, (trust me, you’ll love it) I just haven’t introduced it yet, but to be honest I didn’t like the previous chapter, as I said earlier.
Sasuke is a bastard and I don’t know why he’s always messing with Neji’s stuff but I guess that’s part of his charm. And yes, see how nice Itachi is that he got Neji new shoes. There is a reason why these two brothers are so smitten with Neji as well but I haven’t gotten to that part either.
I hope to update soon too and I love you and everyone who enjoys this fic so much to leave reviews like yours.
dragonslayer1 2007-05-29 Hurray another new chapter I just love this story to death. I've read the whole thing three times today just because I thought it was sooooooo goood. As much as I would like this to be updated soon. oooh PLEASE PLEASE WORK ON THIS MORE so that it maybe done sooner!!! WAAAAAAAAAAA. Okay I"m cool I"m cool keep up the goood work please. I like more good quality work from you hurray!
ClaireBear: Wow! Three times? Even I haven’t read it that much, heh (which is funny since I’m the one writing it) but every time I go back to the Orochimaru rape scenes it freaks me out. O_O It’s like intentionally scaring myself.
Lol, I will try to work on this and finish it because I really like this fic too.
kaa-san 2007-05-30 I love your writing style, and I love this story! Sasuke being an ass and having a foot fetish is sooo funny! What are his other erotic fetishes?
Itachi as always...YUM! His 'pets' are cute, too.
Weak, angsty Neji is adorable, so much better than he is in the manga.
Orochimaru is just EWWW! Always has been, always will be. BTW, the person Neji looks like, is that who Orochimaru referred to as the dead person he kissed?
Keep up the good work, and update soon!
ClaireBear: Thanks. I’m glad you like my style. ^_^ *is happy*
Sasuke has other fetishes too, but I’m not going to tell you what they are, but you will find out later. Itachi is delicious isn’t he? *licks lips* His pets may seem annoying right now, sorry but they do have their purpose. I will try to write them better from now on.
Neji must suffer, I love to make him suffer. He maybe a high-level Jounin in the manga but in my fics he will always be Sasuke’s bitch. Muahh haa ha haaa. Take THAT Kishi.
I like writing Orochimaru. He’s creepy and it’s fun to write him that way, so he’s never out of character. The dead person that Orochimaru did kiss is the Neji look-alike but I won’t tell you who it is and if you do figure out who it is don’t ruin it for everyone else, ‘k? ^_^
soft_touches 2007-06-20 Hey hey hey, how you been? sorry for missing almost all of this story i've been hiding under a rock and living with insane room mates but some how were like family its great. Anyway, the story has a good plot to it and when you read it from start to end the chapters move smoothly together. lol getto-goth gaara, i was in tears with my imagination going wild trying to figure gaara wearing G-unit. I guess the big question is if sasuke's going to watch the tape? Oh, did he know about the tape or did Itachi just "find" it and wanted to show sasuke. Hn, i can wait for the next chapter so take your time because i'll be on every friday but i would appreciate it if you could e-mail me when you update any of your stories or if you want to cuss me out for some odd reason. I'll review for Inbred soon. peace.
~soft_touches~
ClaireBear: I want to give a special thank you to sot touches for her inspiration in helping me finish this chapter. Everyone give her a hug. I said hug her dammit >.<
I saved that email you sent me and I read it again this morning and after reading it I went to work on this chapter and it just flowed. I know it’s short because not much happens here but I am proud of how it turned out. Wow…thanks again.
Hey! I didn’t say you could stop hugging her!
Anonymouse 2007-06-23 *fapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfap*
MOAR, I NEED MOAR!
ClairBear: Uhh…yeah… Just make sure you don’t get any of that on Neji O_O;
Okay I updated the next chapter so I hope you enjoy it BUT NOT TOO MUCH! Lol
Until next time!