Zero Hour!

Disclaimer: I don’t own any Naruto characters

Chapter XIII
Awake! Un-paralyzed Kill-Bang

The walls were always white and clean. The door was purely maple wood and the windows were a beautiful strong glass. They shined even through the night. The house was always clean. Nothing was ever out of order and nothing ever went misplaced. It was such a peaceful place that no one ever dared to stir up trouble. Partly because no one ever visited since he preferred to be alone.

Haku was still sitting at his table staring at the letter in his hand. He was shaking and he was cold. He had no idea that anyone had it out for him so bad. He could think of a few people that didn’t like him but crushing his name and self imagine like this? Haku let the paper fall to the carpet as he head lowered. He wasn’t strong enough to deal with something like this, not after he had lost Neji.

He rubbed his eyes and started down at the paper on the floor. His tears fell down on to it and he sniffled. This was all happening because someone didn’t like the fact that he and Neji had been together? The only person he could think of that hated him for that was Gaara. And even the redhead had sort of forgiven him. He leaned his head on the table and slammed his hand down on the folder. He raised an eyebrow when he felt the shape of something else, something small and much more thick than paper. Haku opened the folder up and pulled out the smooth plastic.

((Flashback))

“Hey Itachi, what are all these?” Haku walked out of the boy's closet with a hand full of envelopes and some boxes.

“Bills?” He answered quickly.

“Oh yeah, for what?” He titled his head to the side and tried to read the writing on the front of the letters.

“Various things.” He answered again, still having not really turned around.

“Like?” Haku questioned, sitting on the bed with the boxes in his lap.

“You’re prying.” Itachi growled.

“You have two shoe boxes full of unpaid bills and I can’t pry? What are they for? You subscribing to porn online again?” Haku giggled as he tried to sift through the boxes but Itachi calmly walked over and took them from him. He turned into his closet and through them on the shelf.

“You’re beginning to annoy me.”

“Aww, why do you have to be so touchy.” Haku fell back on the floor as Itachi walked across the room again. Haku preferred to lay on the soft carpet of Itachi’s room. He turned his head and something under Itachi’s bed caught his eye. He reached over and pulled out a clear plastic sheet protector with a picture of Itachi and Neji in it. It was tapped closed at the top so he bit it open and carefully pulled the tape back. He eyed the picture and smiled. This was way before Haku had come along. Itachi didn’t look like such a grouch, he noted. The two boys were young, probably about twelve or so. Itachi was much shorter than Neji back then.

“You’re awfully quiet. What are you doing over there?” Itachi’s voice startled him. Haku quickly slid the tape back over the plastic and flung it under the bed.

“Nothing just thinking.” He wondered what happened to make Itachi stop smiling so much. Why was he so closed up and distant now?

“Since when do you ever ‘think’ about anything?” He asked, not really looking for any particular answer.

“I do live alone.” That gave Haku a lot of time to think about things. Even though he preferred that he had company, no one was allowed in his apartment so he did have nights where he sat and asked himself questions without answers.

“Must have slipped my mind.” Itachi’s voice was full of sarcasm.

Haku got off the floor and sat on the bed. Itachi was leaning up against the wall next to his window. Haku didn’t say anything for awhile. It seemed like everyone had been subconsciously snapping at him lately. He wondered if it was getting to Itachi too. Or maybe it was just him.

“Everyone seems to be upset that I was with Neji. Gaara, Zabuza, Orochimaru, practically everyone at school, even Neji regrets it. They’re all judging me, hating me.” Haku stood up and crossed the room. “Do you…feel that way…?” He frowned and put a hand on Itachi’s chest.

“I don’t feel anything.” Itachi pushed Haku’s hand down and turned to look out his window. “The choice was his…and yours. Even if I did hate you, I could never tell you. In this body I’m weak. I’m only strong when people can’t see me.” He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a very small piece of paper. “Fortune cookie I got two weeks ago said, ‘You may feel weak but love is just around the corner if you reach for it.’ I almost laughed, almost.” He turned back around. “I’m tired of reaching. It doesn’t work.”

Haku backed up. He hadn’t really thought about why Itachi was always in such a bad mood. Maybe he was tired of people playing with him. Maybe he felt left out. Haku pushed passed his sadness for the boy.

“Hey, you know you’re my best friend, right?” Haku titled his head and closed his eyes as he smiled. Itachi didn’t answer. Haku stepped forward and gave him a little push.

“Stop being so modest all the time.” He turned away. “It’s late, gotta run! Later!” He waved and walked out the door.

((End Flashback))

-----

The plastic sheet in Haku’s hand was similar to the one he’d found under Itachi’s bed. But unlike that one he found in the room, this one was empty. Haku held it up to the light coming from the kitchen. It looked like someone had been writing on the top of it. Haku got up and moved down the hall to his room. He fished through his backpack and pulled out a pencil and a piece of paper.

When he got back to the table he put the paper on top of the plastic and started shading over the page. He darkened his shading and found he was right. Words slowly started to appear on the paper quickly. There were a lot of letters jumbled up on the outer edges but in the center-

‘You may feel weak but love is just around the corner if you reach for it.’

Haku gasped and dropped the pencil. He lost balance and his chair fell back on the floor. He knocked his head on the tile in the kitchen but he sat up quickly. He slid himself to the wall next to him and held his knees to his chest. His eyes were wide with tears and he couldn’t bring himself to breathe properly.

‘It was him…all along? He took the p-pictures and he wrote that letter? What’s gotten into him? I thought…I thought he…’

-“I’m tired of reaching. It doesn’t work.”-

‘He…’ Haku stretched his legs out as his body fell limp and his shoulders lowered. His eyes grew big and he covered his mouth. ‘Does he love Neji?’ Haku couldn’t believe what was going on in his mind. He had to be getting all this wrong. He refused to believe that yet another person was in love with the Hyuuga. Confused and still shocked Haku got up and ran to his room. He pulled a jacket from his closet and then went back to the table for his keys. He pulled the door open quickly but a hand on his chest stopped him from going anywhere.

“Where you headed so late, Haku?”

The boy stumbled back into his living room as Itachi took a few steps forward. He closed the door behind him and then locked it. Haku had fallen and was backed up against the front of the couch, shaking.

“What are you talking about?” He gulped. ‘That’s it Haku. Just play stupid and he’ll leave.’ He dusted himself off and stood up, sitting down on the couch. “I’m pretty sure I can leave when I want. Maybe I felt like getting some food. I don’t have time to cook.” He flipped his hair and shrugged.

“So you weren’t about to go see Neji?” He stood in front of Haku with his arms crossed. “I have a feeling that’s where you might be going but maybe you should stay here with me for awhile. After all, I am your company.” He sat down next to Haku and put his arm around the boy’s neck. “You seem pretty tense. Aww, I thought we were best fiends. Why are you treating me like this? Hmm?” He combed through Haku’s hair with his fingers.

“Y-you just don’t know what you’re talking about. You always think you know everything.” Haku crossed his arms and looked away. If he could just keep talking then maybe he would be all right. Too bad he was actually running out of things to say. He bit on his lip while he tried to come up with something distracting enough to talk about.

“Tell me what you’re thinking about.” Itachi said quietly. He tapped Haku in the back of the head with something heavy. The boy froze and screwed his eyes shut. He really hoped that wasn't what he thought it was. Damn him for making conclusions about Itachi.

He laughed a bit and rubbed his arm. “I-I’m not thinking about a-anything. I just wanted to know why you came over so suddenly that’s all. You’ve actually never been inside my house. I guess it must be important.” Haku looked down at the floor. He was still looking away from Itachi, terrified to see what those calm eyes looked like now.

“I had to drop something off at a friends and I was in the neighborhood. I thought maybe I would come by and say hello to my best friend. Isn’t that okay with you?” He took a deep breath as he smelled Haku’s hair and ran the cold metal down Haku’s backside. “You’re the first you know.” Itachi turned him around and put his finger under Haku’s chin. Haku’s eyes began to water as he tried to turn his eyes away.

“First?” He asked trying to keep his voice stable. His hands were shaking in his lap and he kept trying to bite his lip.

“The first obstacle. You are what’s blocking my reach.” He had a cold look in his eyes but Haku missed it as he closed his own eyes and the tears finally fell. “Why are you crying? You’ve been whining about being loved for years. This is what you have. I love you so much that I’m going to get rid of you.” He kissed Haku’s cheek softly but the boy slapped him and jumped off the couch. He ran around it and went towards the door. Itachi cracked his neck and got up. He’d locked all the locks and it would take a second for Haku to unlatch them.

Itachi slowly made his way over to the door just as Haku got it open. Too slow, Haku was caught and pulled back. The door slammed closed and Itachi locked it again.

“You’ve lost your mind! Are you really going to kill me so you can be with him?! That’s insane! He’ll find out. You’ll die in prison. Then what are you going to do? Kill the entire planet to get to him?” He backed up but Itachi grabbed him by the hair and forced him to his knees. Haku shrieked in pain and began to cry.

“I would kill anyone for him.” Itachi said as he pointed the gun at Haku’s forehead. “That’s what love is, right? You could never understand what it’s like for me. I’ve known him my entire life. I was by his side longer than anyone was and yet…he chose you, he chose Gaara. He just needs to see that I’ll do anything for him. I won’t have to be bothered with any distractions once you’re gone.” He let go of Haku’s hair and kicked him back. Haku covered his mouth as his cries got louder. He didn’t know what else to do. Itachi stepped on his chest and pointed the gun down at him.

“Itachi don’t do this, please. I never meant to get in your way. I had no idea you had feelings for him. This isn’t right. You know he doesn’t love me. You don’t have to…kill me. We can work things out.” Haku tried to wipe the salty tears away but they just kept coming. Itachi’s facial expression didn’t change at all. He just looked cold and confused. His arm began to shake and he cocked the gun.

“After this, it would never be the same. You have to go, goodbye, Haku.” He steadied his hand and closed his eyes.

“This isn’t you, I know its not. You care about me. We were always close. I love you like a brother. How could…you?” He moved back but Itachi knelt down and aimed the gun at his chest.

“All because of this you got in my way.” He pointed the gun at Haku’s heart. “I tried to forgive you the first time you slept with him. I figured you were just helping to get that annoying redhead away from him. Then it kept happening. You betrayed me and you killed any chance I ever had with him. Why should I let you live?”

“Could you live knowing you killed me? I always looked up to you. I wanted to be as strong as you are. Everyone has seen me cry and I’m weak. I depend on everybody for protection and they all watched over me…but not you. You taught me to be my own person, to be something my mother could be proud of. But your always going to be someone I can’t. I envy you, Itachi. You really are my best friend. I can’t, I can’t lose you this way. Please…don’t.” He touched the side of Itachi’s face as his tears rolled down his face faster.

“A man is only as strong as his greatest sacrifice. I would kill my best friend for the one I love. You cannot stay here any longer. I will have no regrets about this. Farewell.”

Haku smiled for him as he continued to sob hopelessly. Itachi stood up and repositioned his gun. He pointed it carefully at Haku’s head and closed his eyes as he pulled the trigger.

-----

(A/N- If you need to...take a minute. I‘m crying myself.)

-----

((Two days later))

“Did you hear?”

“Yeah, it’s horrible.”

“They just found his body laying there like that?”

“Yeah, that’s what I heard.”

Students were walking in the cafeteria talking about how they’d heard of a fellow student’s death. Some people thought it was funny and deserving. Other’s thought it was a shame to lose such a close person.

“So who was it?”

“Nobody knows. They just said he was a student at Kage. Apparently his face was so messed up that they couldn’t identify him for a whole 24 hours.”

“What? You’re kidding.”

“Nope. I wonder who it was. He can’t be that popular if we haven’t noticed.”

“Guess you’re right.”

Neji was sitting at his lunch table next to Itachi when he heard the two passing students. He looked over at Gaara’s table. The redhead was still sitting alone doing something constructive that Neji couldn’t quite make out. He sighed and looked around the cafeteria for the millionth time.

“Something wrong?” Itachi asked. He was lazily flipping through the notes in his binder. He scanned every page and then slid to the next one. Neji looked over at him and frowned.

“You haven’t noticed?” He asked, looking around again. “Haku’s been out of school for two days.” He flipped his phone open and checked his inbox again. “Maybe I was a little too hard on him the other night.” He closed his phone and stuffed it back in his pocket. “He won’t answer my calls so I’m going to check on him after school. All this talk about a dead student isn’t making me worry any less.” He laid his head on his books. “Just something else to distract me when I should be talking to Gaara.” He yawned. “Remind me not to hang out with you so late again. I must have only slept for an hour last night.” He whined.

“So you ‘are’ going after him again.” Itachi could feel his heart pick up a few paces but he remained calm on the outside. “For someone who believes in destiny so much, you sure do escape fate a lot.” He didn’t look over at the boy. Neji nodded and then sat up and stared at him.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I shouldn’t waste my time?” Neji frowned at his own question. He was really getting sick of going back and forth with himself over this. First he wanted Gaara then he didn’t, then he did, and then he didn’t. Couldn’t he choose just one already?! Dammit!

“I’ve always supported your better judgement. It’s for you to decide, not me.” Itachi closed his notebook and pushed it in his backpack. The bell rang and people all over the room started packing up. Itachi threw his gym bag over his shoulder and put his backpack over the other.

“I’ve got plans later so I won’t be able to go with you. Give Haku my regards.” He stepped away and stood behind Neji. “We all have dreams Neji, but only through sacrifice do they become reality.” He started to move away. Neji thought hard about that. Itachi was always saying a lot of confusing things but most of the time he was always right. Was he telling Neji to sacrifice a relationship with Gaara for something better? He picked up his books and turned the opposite way.

“You know I don’t pay attention to that poetic stuff. If you could say it in English then that would help.” He started walking away too. “I hope you’re home later. I’ve got relatives visiting over my house for the weekend. I’m staying with you.” He threw up a hand. “Later.” He left through the back door and Itachi stood still as the students passed around him.

“Sure.” He said to no one in particular. What was he going to do now? With Haku out of the way this was becoming too easy. Why hadn’t he done this earlier? Neji still believed that Sasori was the cameraman and no one had found out about Haku yet. All that stood in his way now was-

Gaara got up from his table and started walking his way. Itachi didn’t move as the redhead made his way over to where the boy stood. He eyed Itachi with a hateful glare. He knew something was wrong but he just couldn’t put any answers to it. By nothing but pure luck and coincidence Gaara hadn’t been posted at the computer screens in the basement two days ago. He hadn’t even rewound the video to see if anything had been wrong. He was missing all kinds of hints since he couldn’t get Neji off his mind. He hadn’t seen what Haku had discovered and he hadn’t seen what had happen to him either.

Gaara walked passed Itachi and for a moment it seemed as if time had stopped. They stared at each other closely. Gaara kept walking but he turned his eyes to the boy. Itachi turned his head but inside he was smirking. Once they were passed each other Gaara didn’t hurry towards the back door. He had a really bad feeling that something was wrong and he was overlooking it. Too bad he didn’t have time to sit and think about it. He needed to find a way to sneak into the fifth period senior assembly going on.

Itachi wanted to skip the assembly and go down to the field but now he had a feeling he should really be there. He waited awhile and then left through the back door as well. Most of the seniors were taking the ramp down to east campus to the auditorium. Itachi walked alone but he kept an eye on Gaara. He knew for a fact that the redhead had class on west campus this period. He slowed his pace when he saw his brother pass by Gaara and slyly hand him something. Itachi narrowed his eyes as Sasuke dashed passed him and pulled Naruto down the ramp as well.

Just in front of Gaara -but not too close- Neji was walking with one hand in his pocket. He didn’t bother to look around much. He somehow figured Haku was probably not coming. Gaara saw his need to turn around so he walked off the ramp and started down towards the field. Sasuke and Naruto followed behind a few other students that were walking the same way. Itachi didn’t know who he wanted to follow. He could find a seat next to Neji in the auditorium or he could follow Gaara and find out why he and Sasuke were still talking to each other.

He wasn’t given enough time to decide and ended up choosing to head straight for the assembly hall. He would just have to follow Gaara around later. Right now he needed to pretend like he was just going to hear the seminar. If he wasn’t careful everyone was going to find out what he was doing and he’d come too far for that.

Gaara walked up the back stairs towards the bleachers and into the gym. He cut through the locker room and out the back door. That led him down a hall, which connected him to the backstage door of the auditorium. He opened the door quietly and stepped in the darkness. He could hear Tsunade talking to a few of the security guards but he slid passed them unnoticed. He stepped passed the curtain and walked down the back stairs to the underside of the stage. He felt his way along the way and then pushed a small door open that gave access to the west wing of the hall. He stepped out like he had been doing nothing wrong.

There were already a lot of people inside but Gaara was only looking for one. He sat down quickly in the seat closest to him. He looked away as he heard the small door open. Naruto’s voice made him cringe. They were entirely too close and someone was going to notice. Gaara remembered the piece of paper Sasuke gave him. He looked down and unfolded it as fast as he could.

-No one was there. The entire apartment was cleaned out and the cops had the place surrounded. I went through the window but there wasn’t even any furniture in there. Naruto went through the tapes from the last two days on the computers but there was nothing on them either. We spent the entire morning looking but he’s just gone. You’ll have to ask Neji what’s going on.-

Gaara turned around for a split second. “Follow me and sit behind me.” He said and then got up and walked down the isle to the front of the room. He scanned the crowd and found Neji walking in from one of the side doors. Gaara held tightly to his backpack and moved passed the people. He calmly followed Neji up towards the back of the room and into the sixth row before the last set of seats. Students were supposed to be filling every seat and that’s exactly what they were doing. There were four people in between Neji and Gaara when they sat down. Gaara growled that he hadn’t been faster.

“Make them move.” Naruto whispered but he was still loud. Gaara stood up and glared at the person next to him. The boy didn’t need another hint as he stood and switched spots with Gaara. The next person mysteriously disappeared when Sasuke and Naruto grabbed him. Naruto whistled and the next two people turned around.

“Get up.” Sasuke said. One of the people moved but the other one stayed put. Gaara stood next to him and stared. By now of course Neji had seen Gaara. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. He nudged the person next to him and the guy got up, cursing at both of them. Gaara finally sat down and stared straight ahead.

“What are you doing in here? This is for the seniors.” Neji whispered. He looked over at Gaara but the boy didn’t say anything. He turned to Neji and then looked around quickly to see if Itachi was anywhere nearby.

“He’s missing.” Gaara said with a little anger. Neji sat back in his chair and leaned over on the armrest. He had no idea what Gaara was talking about. First the boy snuck in to the auditorium and then he started saying things that didn’t make any sense. Neji hated guessing what people wanted him to know. Gaara could see the confusion on his face so he started again.

“Haven’t you noticed that Haku has been gone for two days? You and I both know that’s not like him. We also know that someone was after him. So I’ll say it again, he’s missing.” Gaara turned his body so he could look at Neji. The Hyuuga’s face had gone pale and he looked worried.

“This is a goodbye ceremony for the senior that passed right?” Gaara started again. “Doesn’t it seem strange that your friend -a senior- hasn’t been seen for two days? And that a body was found yesterday in the same complex as where Haku lives?” Gaara looked around before he continued. “I know you’re looking for the cameraman too. It’s possible that he’s crossing people off the list now.” He stared. Neji finally turned to him and blinked.

“How do you know I’m following him?” He asked. One of the people in front of them turned around for a second so Neji lowered his voice. “It’s all over school that me and Haku aren’t together anymore. What reason would that guy have for getting rid of him?” He watched Gaara for an answer but he didn’t get one. Gaara turned around in his chair and sat back.

“You don’t want to believe me, as always. You’ll have to see for yourself. Haku’s apartment has been cleaned out. There’s no furniture and the body the cops found is under strict records. They’re not giving out any names until the investigation is over.” Gaara exhaled. “I’m telling you because I don’t trust some of the people around you. You’re being careless and you’re bound to get yourself killed.” He said slowly. Then he closed his eyes and folded his arms.

“Are you…concerned about me?” Neji asked as he touched Gaara’s thigh. The redhead shot his eyes open and looked at Neji’s misplaced hand. He looked at the hand and then followed Neji’s arm up to his shoulder and then finally to his face. The boy’s face was a bit hopeful but he still looked like he couldn’t figure something out. Then there were his eyes. Gaara stared into his orbs. He hadn’t seen those soft eyes in a long time.

“I am.” Gaara said softly. “We’ve been through a lot. And despite our major set backs I still care for you.” He paused. “If you’re gone, I can’t love you again.”

Neji’s heart took a long pause. He lost control of his breathing and started coughing. He leaned over and grabbed his throat. The person on his other side patted his back to help him breathe but he could catch his breath. After a few moments he could inhale but it burned. His eyes watered and nose was slowly started to bleed. Neji looked over at Gaara but the boy was gone and someone else was in his seat. Neji stood up quickly and looked around but he couldn’t see him anywhere while he held his sleeve to his nose. He sighed and sat back down. It was beginning to bug him how he couldn’t tell dreams from reality.

-----

-In other local news, a 17-year-old student from Kage high was found shot dead in his apartment on Thursday morning. Police say his body was lying in his kitchen as a pot of boiling water was overflowing on the stove. Mysteriously all his belongings were missing. He had no furniture and his clothes smelled of gasoline. Details of his identity have not been released at this time but some are speculating that they know who he is.

The Japanese police are worried that more homicides are going to be committed so they are not giving out any information to the public at this time. If you, a family member or a friend think you can identify the victim as a missing person then you are urged to call the number at the-

“You still watching that stuff?” Itachi walked into his room to see Neji on the edge of his bed staring blindly at the screen. Neji turned the television off and took a deep breath. The more he heard about the story the more he thought it was Haku that had been murdered. He laid back on the bed and covered his eyes. He couldn’t bring himself to go over to Haku’s house earlier that day. He didn’t want to see if what Gaara had said was true. He didn’t know if he was strong enough to handle that.

“You worry about that kind of stuff too much and it’s going to kill you.” Itachi sat on the other side of the bed and leaned against his pillow. “I don’t think I could survive if it was just me and Haku.” He didn’t smile but Neji could hear his attempt at a joke. The Hyuuga sighed, he wasn’t really in the mood for jokes about Haku right now.

“Yeah that is if he isn’t dead.” Neji whispered but Itachi heard him. He sat up and leaned against the pillow next to Itachi. “You think its him? The guy on the news?” Neji asked. He put his hands behind his head and looked at Itachi. The Uchiha shrugged as he pulled his hair a loose.

“If Haku were dead the then cops would be all over you. You ‘were’ his last boyfriend. Then they would be all over me since I was the last one with him. He’s probably at home whining. I wouldn’t think too much about it.” He closed his eyes and tilted his head back. He had a point. The police would practically be surrounding them if Haku had actually been murdered and then identified. Neji took a deep breath and then copied Itachi position.

“I guess you’re right.” He half smiled. This was the first time that the two of them actually just sat back and relaxed. There was always something going on that made them run around everywhere. Neji couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually felt comfortable like this. He exhaled a satisfying moan as he slouched down and turned over on his stomach. Itachi’s stomach turned in knots as he peaked down at Neji. The boy’s hair was covering his face as he hugged the pillow. Itachi’s fists clenched as he tried to reframe himself from jumping on top of Neji.

He tried to do breathing exercises but that failed when he lifted a hand and reached over so he could just touch that silky hair. He was just a few inches away when-

“Hey, I wanna ask you something.” Neji spoke into the pillow. Itachi looked over at him as he snatched his hand back. Neji moved his hair and looked up at him. Itachi had his eyes closed by now but he was listening. Neji didn’t wait for a response. He knew Itachi wasn’t ignoring him. This was just how he was.

“Jiraiya brought you up last week. I must have forgotten to tell you.” Neji said as he sat up and then fell back down, grasping the pillow.

“That’s not surprising. You’re in counseling and I’m your best friend. Those types of things come up.” He answered without seeming like he really cared. Neji remembered the session. He told Jiraiya that Itachi would act like this if he didn’t want to hear any of what he had to say. Too bad he was really in the mood for some better answers.

“It was different this particular time.” Neji saw Itachi’s eyes crack open. “He asked how you were and I said you were the same as always. Never conversational always closed up. You never seem to talk about anything bothering you. Even after Orochimaru did all those things to you, you just kept quiet. You never smiled, not even once. Jiraiya asked if that bothered me.” Neji paused to get a good look at Itachi. “It does.” He said absently.

“Why should it? It’s not like any of us go around talking about what sort of problems we have. Yours surfaced on their own. Haku is the only one who runs his mouth. I prefer keep things to myself.”

“Why?”

“That’s not important.”

“I’m asking.”

“That doesn’t mean it deserves an answer. My feelings don’t matter, they never have.“

“Do you think I won’t care?”

“…”

“So you think I’m too busy for you.” Neji rolled over and put the pillow over his face. “Figures.” He mumbled. “You’re not the first.”

Itachi pulled the pillow from over Neji’s face and looked down at him. “I love him and I can’t tell him.” He said. He would have to find a way around Neji until he could actually sit him down and tell him it was him he was talking about. So he just pretended he was confessing to Neji.

“I’m pretty sure he still cares about you.”

“I know he does but it’s not the way I want him to. He wants to be close, be friends. I can’t just be his friend. I’ve loved him for a long time. He’s so busy with everyone else that he just doesn’t see me anymore.”

“You’re wrong. He knows you’re there. You just need to tell him. He’s probably waiting for you to say something. He thinks you’re the one who wants to be friends. He wouldn’t be trying to find comfort in someone else if you would just say something. For someone who gives such great relationship advice, you sure don’t take heed to your own words-“

Neji felt the bed sink next to him. Itachi was leaning over him on one hand. He moved slowly and turned his body over so he was laying above Neji. The Hyuuga looked to his left and then to his right. He was sure he had missed something.

“What are you doing?” Neji asked as he sat up on his elbows. Itachi lowered himself closer to Neji’s chest. Their faces aligned and Neji stayed completely still as Itachi’s nose touched his. The Uchiha’s lips partly slightly as he moved forward.

“Don’t you know I’ve been watching you?” Itachi wanted to kiss him. He wanted to but his lips were shaking. He didn’t know why he couldn’t bring himself to push against those lips in front of him. He was so close, all he had to do was move. Neji watched Itachi's lips. He was feeling weird but he could help but wonder how it would be if he-

Neji couldn’t stop himself from sliding forward and tasting the lips in front of him. He leaned back on one of his arms as he grabbed Itachi’s shirt and pulled him farther down. Itachi returned his kiss and pushed him into the mattress. His lips laid softly over Neji’s. His heart pounded and he backed away.

“Itachi…Itachi are you alive?”

The Uchiha shook his head and looked around the room. He was standing next to the window with his eyes closed. His chest was heaving and his hands were shaking. Had he been dreaming up all of that? Was he finally losing his control? He growled because he couldn’t control himself from having all those urges.

“What were you saying about still loving Orochimaru?” Neji was laying with his hand behind his head. Itachi looked over at him and kept his mouth closed. No matter how his dream played out, this situation was not going to be the same. Neji would probably never let him get that close. Not this soon anyway.

------

Gaara watched closely as Neji and Itachi had their conversation. He wanted to know more about Itachi but the Uchiha was always closed up. Gaara couldn’t really blame him. He’d known Itachi for a really long time. The things he and Sasuke had been through as children would make anyone act strange and closed off to the world. Gaara knew just how he felt. Itachi had grown up with the undivided attention from his father. Once the man had passed, Itachi only had one person other than Sasuke to look for comfort in. Neji was his way out, just like he was a way out for everyone.

Gaara was busy taking some Advil for his growing headache when Naruto ran in just about as terrified as his a small rabbit. Sasuke was walking coolly behind him like he didn’t want to catch Naruto’s excessive energy curse.

“Gaara! Look what Sasuke found in Itachi’s room!” Naruto was at Gaara’s side in seconds. He dropped two small boxes on the desk in front of Gaara and then a weird shaped key. Gaara looked at Naruto like the blond should just tell him what was in the boxes instead of him having to open them and then guess where the key fit. Naruto grunted and then pointed at the box. Gaara humored him and lifted the lid on top box. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The box was full of bullets for a 44 magnum. Gaara quickly closed the box and shoved it away. There was nothing he hated more than guns.

He opened the other box just because he wanted to know what he was probably dealing with. “Tranquilizers?” Gaara asked. “Why on earth would your brother need tranquilizer darts?” Gaara turned around in his chair and looked at Sasuke who was standing right behind Naruto.

“How should I know. I don’t even know why he needs the gun.” He sat in the chair next to Gaara and pulled the box with the magnum shells forward. “There are 6 bullets missing from this box and there are 3 tranquilizers missing from that one.” He pointed. “I found these this morning.” He pulled the key forward. “And this…this is a key to a mass storage facility outside of town. I found it in his sink. This is the copy I made after school. I called in the serial number and found out what it was for. He’s definitely hiding something.” Sasuke took a deep breath. “I didn’t find the gun, which I assume he’s caring around but the femi disappearing like that? His face blown off? All his furniture gone?”

“You don’t think he killed Haku and then moved all his stuff out, do you?” Naruto sat down after he was finished pacing the room like a mad man. Sasuke didn’t say anything. He stared at the computer monitor as his brother roamed around his room and barely said anything.

“We need to get to the storage. How far away is it?” Gaara asked and he stood. He pocketed the key and pushed the box of bullets away from him. He flipped off the computer screens and started walking away.

“Are you kidding? It’s hours from here. We’ll be driving all night if we leave now. I have a game tomorrow, I can’t leave.” Sasuke stood up. “Plus I have get this stuff back in his room before he finds it gone. If he is really the one who killed Haku then what do you think he’s going to do to me if he knows I know he did it? I’m not risking that. You can wait until Sunday to go up there.” Sasuke felt Naruto pull on his shirt.

“Sunday might be too late. What if he’s keeping Haku there? I heard the body they found was slightly…err...larger than Haku. He could die if we don’t go.” He said but Sasuke glared at him. “I mean…what are you talking about Gaara? Sasuke’s got a very important game tomorrow. Who cares about that damn femi anyway. Heh, heh.” Naruto rubbed the back of his neck and pretended to pay attention to the ceiling.

“We’re just jumping to conclusions.” Naruto decided to say something else. “Itachi shooting someone? Come on now, he doesn’t even have the decency to talk to people, let alone go in their homes and commit the perfect murder. Plus, wasn’t Haku like his best friend or something? He doesn’t really have a reason for taking him out. Not unless he’s got something against Haku for going out with Neji. Also!-” Naruto pointed his finger up to the ceiling. “-If he killed Haku then how come it’s not on the tape? And wait…how do we know Haku’s dead? And another wait…could you imagine Itachi taking pervy pictures of his two best friends? And one more wait…”

“Naruto…” Sasuke growled. “You just answered all your own questions. Think about it. My brother and Neji have been friends since they were very young. Here comes Haku getting in the way. Neji started hanging out less and less. My brother closed down. If he is Mr. X then he knows we were in your basement, he could have come down here and erased whatever he wanted while we were upstairs. As for taking the pictures, well Itachi’s no saint. He did date that snake for awhile.” Sasuke nodded to himself.

Gaara was actually listening to their debate over whether it was Itachi or not but then he remembered something. He pulled out his phone and flipped through the picture mail.
“You’re bother forgetting something.” He said. He held up the phone and showed them both the first cell picture. “Itachi was in the picture off to the side. He couldn’t have possibly taken it.” Gaara closed the phone and sat back down.

“So you’re saying we’re back to square one. Aww, man! We were so CLOSE!” Naruto huffed and slouched forward. He leaned his head on Sasuke’s shoulder. “Guess you’re not as smart as you thought.” He felt Sasuke tense and then push him away.

“No, “ Gaara stared. “-it just means he either has an accomplice or he didn’t actually take the first picture.” He turned around to the computers and turned the monitors back on. Neji was sleeping on the bed and Itachi wasn’t in the room.

“He’s going to slip up again, you’ll see.” Gaara narrowed his eyes and tapped the desk. “And when he does…”

-----

Itachi stood on the porch of a small house a few miles away from their school. He rang the doorbell once and waited. He mentally took a very deep breath as he waited. He just needed to keep his cool and he would be perfectly fine. No one was going to figure him out if he could just get rid of all the little spies trying to trail him, even if it was-

Orochimaru opened the door and stood shocked. “Itachi?” The boy looked around outside and then back at the Uchiha. “It’s almost midnight. What are you doing all the way over here?” He opened the door and let Itachi in. They walked into the living room and Itachi leaned up against the wall near the entrance.

“You’ve never complained before.” He said without any embarrassment at what he’d actually meant by that. “I wanted to ask you over sometime this weekend but Neji’s staying with me.” Itachi turned around and started walking through the house. “So I thought we could stay at your place and-“ He turned his head around and looked at Orochimaru. “-catch up.” He smirked and disappeared down the hall.

Orochimaru’s tongue must have fallen out of his mouth because he was drooling all over the floor –so to speak. He rolled up his sloppy muscle and followed Itachi. The Uchiha headed straight for his bedroom and sat on his extra big bed.

“You seem pretty sure of yourself. What if I’m not interested?” Orochimaru gripped the doorknob in his hand so he wouldn’t actually run over and jump on Itachi. The Uchiha stared at him for awhile. He was pretty damn sure. He grabbed the bottom of his shirt and lifted it off of him. He dropped it on the floor slowly and then laid back on the bed.

“Aren’t you?” Itachi closed his eyes. He couldn’t believe the things he had to go through to get what he wanted. But as an added bonus, at least his body wasn’t going to go hungry. He could feel Orochimaru walking closer. He gritted his teeth and prepared himself to go through this. He wanted to just sit up and take the guy out but he had unfinished business with him first.

Orochimaru crawled over him and his tongue accidentally fell out his mouth again. He marveled at how Itachi’s body had grown. He developed a little more over the last few months and he couldn’t wait to taste him.

“Why are you really here?” Orochimaru titled his head and looked down. He could feel himself reacting to their closeness but could hold out for just a little while. Itachi’s eyes opened and stared up at what had been his for a very long time. He didn’t miss the other though. Orochimaru deserved to be rightfully punished for what he’d done to Itachi.

“You haven’t forgiven me, I can tell. I distinctly remember you vowing to hate me for eternity. I also remember the knife you pulled on me the other day. So Itachi-“ Orochimaru rubbed his hips over the Uchiha’s. “-tell me why you’re here.” He pushed Itachi’s bangs away from his face and leaned down. He smiled when Itachi didn’t flinch or look away. Just how he remembered his lover. He kissed Itachi’s neck and then his chest.

“You won’t answer?” Orochimaru ran his thumb over Itachi’s smooth lips. That granted him a shiver from the Uchiha’s body. He smirked and bit the corner of Itachi’s bottom lip with his snake-ish fangs. The boy’s lip spotted with blood and Orochimaru licked it away as he kissed him. He forced his lengthy tongue down Itachi’s throat. The boy had no choice but to react now. He reached up and tangled his fingers in the others hair while he tried his best to keep from choking as his tongue lost a battle of strength to his ex lovers.

Orochimaru’s lean hands ran down Itachi’s sides and gripped his pants. One trailed between them and found its way to the bulge of excitement that Itachi was unsuccessfully trying to hide. Mr. Snake grabbed Itachi’s crotch and gave it a firm squeeze. Itachi raised his hips and tore his mouth away from their bond to look between them. He threw his head back and panted as his seme started to rub him harder.

“Will you always top me?” Itachi asked as he kept his eyes closed. He tried to pretend like this didn’t feel good but he was not doing such a good job. He kept groaning as he dug his darkly colored nails into that oddly pale skin that belong to his snake man.

“It’s what you always want.” Orochimaru grabbed his neck and squeezed. “I suppose I could let you have your way just this once, since you did willingly come back to me.” Orochimaru unzipped Itachi’s pants and snaked his way into them. (Pun?)

His warm hands grabbed a hold of Itachi’s manhood and pulled it from behind his boxers.

“Dammit.” Itachi whispered as the boy on top of him wrapped his tongue around his meat. His body jerked on its own impulse and he throbbed with the pain to be inside someone. He thought about Neji’s sleeping body on his bed. He would get his shot at being seme with Neji. He would show the boy that he could be a great lover and he could take care of him. He wanted to lay on top of him and caress his smooth hair as he bent him over. He could fuck him every night and never let him go. He WAS going to get what he wanted and he couldn’t wait until he spilled his seed passed those soft pink lips-

“Neji…”

Orochimaru stopped moving and Itachi looked at him quickly. Dammit! He did NOT just say that out loud. The boy above him growled loudly as he began to ball his fist and crawl back up Itachi’s body. The Uchiha’s face remained calm but he was pinned so he couldn’t defend himself if he had to. Orochimaru leaned over and wrapped both of his hands around Itachi’s neck.

“You said who?” He hissed. His teeth were bared and his eyes were so narrow that Itachi could hardly see their golden color. He didn’t move or try to pry Orochimaru’s tight grip away so he could breath again. He just needed a second to analyze the situation and then he would be able to get away before-

“Answer. Me-” Orochimaru released one hand to grab Itachi’s wrist. “-or I’ll break it.” He clenched his teeth and gripped the boy’s wrist tighter. Itachi looked away at his free hand. He could easily just reach for-

“Isn’t this why I left you in the first place? Hmm, Orochimaru?” Itachi would have chuckled if it had been one of his characteristics. “You heard me right. I said his name. I. Meant. To.” He turned his head around and looked at the anger that had surfaced on Orochimaru’s usual calm face. The hand that was holding Itachi’s wrist shook as he pulled it up and smashed Itachi’s in the face with it. The boy’s nose grew red and blood trickled down. Itachi wasn’t the same person he was a few months back and he didn’t take kindly to people beating up on him.

While Orochimaru laughed at him Itachi moved swiftly and grabbed the boy’s tongue. He yanked on it roughly and when Orochimaru whimpered in pain Itachi rolled them over and straddled him. He let go of the boy’s tongue and reached into the back of his pants. He pulled out his metal kill-bang and shoved it into the snake’s mouth.

“You rode me for quite awhile, didn’t you? You beat me and you cheated on me. Yet you cried like a bitch when I left. You’re pathetic. You never really wanted anything to do with me. I regret every minute I spent with you. You were an animal and I stayed with you because I had anyone else to go to.” He pulled the gun away and aimed it at Orochimaru’s chest.

“I should have known you would be psychotic. You can’t do it.” Orochimaru laughed evilly. “You’re too good. You still adore me and what I can do for you. You said it yourself. You’ve got no one to go to. You can’t kill something you need.” He tried to sit up but Itachi smashed the butt of the gun across his face. Orochimaru howled in pain and laid back as he grasped his jaw. Itachi leaned down and kissed the side of his mouth. Orochimaru moved his head to try and get away.

“Come on, kiss me Orochimaru. I miss those lips.” Itachi’s eyes lowered as his attitude calmed again. He twirled the gun around his finger and then caught it and cocked it. “I wanted to fuck you just once more before I sent you to hell. You blew it, didn’t you? Say hello to Haku for me.” He smiled for the boy. Orochimaru’s eyes grew wide as he put his arms in front of him to shield himself. Itachi laughed and just pointed the gun at his chest.

“Goodbye.” He squeezed the trigger slowly so he could see Orochimaru’s reaction before everything went black for him.

-----

“Where were you?” Neji stretched at about 4am when he heard Itachi try to sneak back in the house. He sat up and pulled his shirt off as Itachi fished through his closet for something. Neji pulled his belt off and tied his hair. He laid back down and started to drift back off without the covers.

“You’ve been gone for like seven hours. If I wanted to just sleep in your bed then I would have moved in. Weren’t we supposed to be hanging out?” He yawned and closed his eyes. Itachi took off his shoes and threw them in the closet. He stepped on a small step latter and rummaged on the shelf. He jumped down when he found the box he was looking for.

“You fell asleep.” He finally answered. He could hear Neji’s soft and peaceful snores. He wanted to get on the bed and hold him in his arms. Neji looked so content laying there on Itachi’s bed. Why couldn’t it always be that?

“I wasn’t sleeping. I was waiting for you to initiate some fun. I’m the guest.” His voice died at as he fell back into sleep again. Itachi sighed and moved around his room slowly. He sat on the side of his bed across from Neji and opened up a small folder. Something Neji had said earlier was still bothering him.

- “You never smiled, not even once.”-

Itachi flipped through the only photo album he had. Neji was right. He hadn’t been smiling for years. He looked over every page and not once did he show an ounce of happiness. Maybe it just wasn’t in him. He could remember being happy, he just never showed it on the outside. It almost made him feel like he was a weak person for showing such an emotion. He flipped passed all the pictures of him and Sasuke when they were younger. The album only had six pages of pictures. Itachi moved passed the empty pages. That’s pretty much how he felt….empty. He was almost done passing through the empty pages when he came upon a lonely picture in the back.

He pulled it out of the plastic and looked at it closely. It was him and Neji the day after his parents had passed away. He could remember that day like it was crystal clear. Sasuke and Gaara were standing off to the right with popsicles in their mouths. Itachi hadn’t wanted to take the picture but everyone insisted. Neji was all smiles as a child before his own father had died. That day when he hugged Itachi and told him to smile, Itachi smiled for him.

“What’s that?” Neji sat up and lightly smacked himself to wake up. He took the picture from Itachi and stared at it. “You keep stuff like this?” He turned over on his back and held it up in the light from the dresser. “Never thought I’d see this again. You should smile more often, it looks good on you.” He yawned and didn’t know what the hell he was saying. Itachi shifted uncomfortably. For the first time in forever he could feel himself blushing.

“Maybe if I play some video games with you you’ll smile for me.” Neji sat up and put the picture back in the book. “What do you say? Come on, for old times sake. I’ll kick your ass in Zelda.” He pushed Itachi playfully. Itachi looked at him and stared. He leaned subconsciously and kissed Neji on the cheek. The Hyuuga raised an eyebrow and stared helplessly. Itachi fought down his embarrassment and stared back. Neji put a hand on the back of his neck and grinned.

“I’ll just pretend you’ve been drinking.” He watched Itachi get off the bed and head over to the television.

“Thanks.” Itachi said. “By the way, Zelda isn’t two players.”

-----
End Chapter

Hey there! This is Mathis! Nik’s spacious lover and better half! Nik is very sick right now but he told me to tell everyone this. “I’ll hide you in my walls. Your body will never be found.” Ride the Wings of Pestilence anyone? Itachi’s head is a cave…cool huh?
–Mathis

PS…Nik will be better in a couple weeks. Send him your love because he sends his!