Zero Hour!

A/N:
!!!Attention People. I don’t know if I ever gave Haku a last name since I could not find any references to which Kishimoto-sama had developed one for him. (if I did pick one then its changing) but for the purposes of this fic his last name is going to be Asano (which is the last name of the person who played his voice in the Japanese anime. Thank you.)
Disclaimer: I don’t know these Naruto characters
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Chapter XVII
Left to Live

Sasuke and Gaara were leaning over the side of the bridge desperately looking for the ones they loved. Sasuke climbed over the side, ready to jump in after his brother. He didn’t care anymore. The fact that Itachi had turned into a demon wasn’t bothering him more than the fact that his own brother was probably drowning at the bottom of a lake.
Gaara didn’t stop him, he was too busy searching the water himself. He heard Sasuke jump and he looked up.

“Sasuke! Sasuke!” Naruto ran over to the side and almost flung himself over but Haku was pulling him back, begging him to stay where it was safe.

“Gaara!”

The redhead leaned over farther and caught sight of Neji hanging on a ledge with one hand, trying to keep the sheet around him with the other. Gaara leaned down, the heart in his chest failing him, though he was relieved to see Neji alive and not in the water’s depths. Gaara reached but his arms were too short. Neji was further down than he could reach.

Still, he leaned and almost slipped but he wasn’t going to let Neji fall. He strained, almost there but missing his lover by just a few short inches.

“Let go of the sheet so you can reach for me.” Gaara called down to him. Neji looked below him at the dark water. He could honestly say he was afraid but alas, under the sheet he was wearing absolutely nothing.

“I’d like to survive with the pride I have intact.” Neji said, gripping the cloth tighter between his fingers. Gaara growled at him. Leave it to Neji to choose death over being embarrassed for a small second.

“Either you let go or I’ll lose you again.” Gaara frowned as he reached farther. Neji could feel his hand losing grip on the ledge now. He looked down as he dropped the sheet quickly and grabbed the ledge with his other hand. As he dangled there he tried to pull himself up just a little but he had no footing and his hands were sweaty.

He looked up at Gaara again, reaching for his extended hand. Gaara braced himself as he bent himself over the rail a bit more. He was almost there, he could feel the tips of Neji’s fingers but he slipped and had to back up.

‘Dammit.’ He stretched his arm farther, straining his muscles.

“This isn’t going to work. You’re too far away.” Neji said, all his hope in the bottom of his chest. Gaara still reached for him anyway. He was just about there when Neji took a chance. He leaned up and let go off the ledge, gripping the tips of Gaara’s fingers.

“Gaara…” Neji called, as their hands clasped. “Don’t let go.” He begged but Gaara was struggling to lift him up. He had to let go of the side and reached his other hand down. Neji’s caught his other hand and breathed easier. Gaara stepped back slowly and pulled as hard as he could.

Neji winced as his body slid against the rocky bridge but he found a place to step and helped to lift himself over the side. Haku watched from a few feet away. Wanting to help but fearing that if he let Naruto go the blond too would make a leap of faith after his lover.

“Itachi!” Sasuke was struggling to swim with his wounded arm. He made it on to the bank and threw himself on the muddy land. “Where are you?” He said lightly, looking around. The lake was crystal clear except for the ripples Sasuke himself had made. He raised his head to look up at Naruto. He was practically crying and his face was indescribable.

Neji fell onto the safety of the concrete above Gaara. He gasped for air and held Gaara tight. Gaara pushed him away quickly and tore off his own pants, throwing them at Neji so he could cover up, leaving himself to feel the cold in his boxers.

“Gaara don’t-“

“Shut up!” Gaara shouted. His eyes scanned over Neji as he laid on his back. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Gaara shook him by his shoulders –as if Neji hadn’t had a traumatic experience already. Neji felt a weakness overcome him as Gaara panicked. Neji placed a hand on the side of Gaara’s face and sat up but Gaara pushed him back down.

“I’m fine.” Neji whispered as he looked into the redhead’s eyes. “I just need to rest.” He closed his eyes slowly, feeling Gaara shake him gently. Neji felt light-headed and he just wanted to sleep for awhile.

“You should stay awake.” Gaara warned. “You’re exhausted I know…but if you go to sleep now, you might not wake up again.” Gaara laid his head on Neji’s chest and listened to his heartbeat. It was rapid and skipped a few beats every now and then.

“I’m fine.” Neji repeated with his eyes closed.

“Neji…” Gaara pushed his hair away and felt his forehead to feel a temperature growing. “Neji.” Gaara said again but the boy was gone, drifted into sleep from which Gaara didn’t know if he’d return.
He looked up just in time to see Naruto walking towards him with a soaked Sasuke and a worried Haku. There was no sign of Itachi and Gaara wondered if he’d gotten away or if he’d met his worth at the bottom of the lake.

“He needs a hospital. He’s not going to make it if we just take him home.” Gaara looked back down at the sleeping boy. He was fighting something in his sleep, for he was very restless. Everyone could hear the worry in Gaara’s voice and they didn’t have a choice but to visit a doctor since Sasuke was also injured.
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Neji's Dream

It was autumn, and probably around five in the morning. Neji wasn’t a stranger to the park at this hour. He often left Itachi home and came to sit on the bench, just to feel the air. But this morning, the air was particularly cool and reddened his nose.
He could feel the bench sort of weigh down next to him but Neji didn’t look over for an intruder.

“I’ve been dreaming of you a lot lately.” Neji said, smiling a little. “You’re haunting me, Gaara.” Neji turned his head to see that bright red hair and green eyes. Gaara turned away and looked off into the trees of the park, not really wanting to respond.

“I’m not real anymore so I can only reach you when you’re not real either. I wanted to see you again…before I left.”
Neji’s smile fell frail. “What do you mean?”
Gaara stood and Neji stood as well. The redhead seemed real enough to hold but when Neji tried to touch him his hands passed right through. Neji’s frown grew sad and he dropped his head.

“Neji…” Gaara somehow reached for him and managed to hug him tight. Neji thought for a second that he was never going to let go but Gaara’s skin was cold. His body held no heat at all and he didn’t feel…real. Neji backed away, feeling a bit like he was dying on the inside. He and Gaara were supposed to be together, that’s how it had always felt between them.

“You can let go now.” Gaara said, closing his eyes as he turned and began walking away. “We were over a long time ago, remember?” Gaara could feel Neji become angry behind him but there was little he could do about that now. Neji had made his choice and Gaara had made his.

“Don’t treat me as if I intended for you to do something so drastic.” He growled without realizing. “I thought you’d forgiven me already. I don’t want you to leave thinking that I meant to hurt you.”

“Whether it was on purpose or not, you did. Still, I don’t think about it much anymore. I’m not holding anything against you.” Gaara stopped talking and sighed. “He’s thinking about you now.” Gaara said. “You should go to him.” He folded his arms as the wind began to blow.

“Gaara.” Neji walked up behind him. “I still love you, I hope you know that.”

“That won’t bring me back Neji.” And then he was gone. Neji sat down on the bench and leaned back. He wondered if that would be the last time he ever saw Gaara again. It sure did feel like it.

End Dream
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“You should wake up.”

Neji raised his eyelids slowly and looked up at the ceiling of the room. He knew where he was this time and he worried about his visitor’s condition. Neji of course tried to sit up in the small hospital bed but he was connected to a heart monitor and an IV.

“How long have I been here?” Neji questioned. His head was throbbing and he felt sick. The soft beep of the heart monitor was annoying him now that he could actually hear it but his heart wasn’t skipping around to the voice next to him.

“Just a few hours.” The other answered. Neji could see the morning light shining through the window. He’d definitely been here a little longer than that. He sighed and closed his eyes again. He thought maybe Gaara would be around when he woke up finally but he was gone, just like in his dream.

“Where is he?” Neji asked, feeling a bit neglected. How many times had he been waiting patiently in the hospital for Gaara to wake up? And now the redhead didn’t even have the decency to be there for him. It was upsetting just as much as it was a let down.

“He went back to the bridge with Naruto.”

Neji’s heart skipped a few beats when he heard that. He’d assumed Gaara had gone home, or at least somewhere else. What could he possibly be doing back at the bridge? Everybody surely wanted to believe Itachi was gone, even Neji who had first hand seen him fall. Only, he didn’t know if Itachi had actually hit the water or not.

“Some part of me hopes he’s okay.” Neji said. Haku stared at him for a moment, not understanding exactly what he was saying. But the way Neji shifted let Haku know that he probably wasn’t referring to Gaara at all.

“He’s better off dead.” Haku said, not feeling guilty at all. As far as he was concerned, Itachi had gotten what he deserved. He’d attempted to kill three people and succeeded in one. He didn’t deserve life for what he had done. There was no such thing as a second chance for him.

“He’s still my friend.” Neji said turning to face the door.

“He raped you!” Haku pointed out by shouting. “He locked me in a room to die and he killed his ex boyfriend. Don’t you think there’s something wrong with that?! Why are you still feeling like he hasn’t done anything wrong?” Haku was standing now, arms at his sides with hurt in his eyes. How could anyone forgive Itachi after the crimes he committed? “Maybe I understand why Sasuke could forgive him, but Neji, you didn’t deserve any of the hell he put you through.” He tried not to cry this time.

“Yes I did.” He whispered, looking over at Haku. “I hurt someone I love too. Maybe it wasn’t in the same sense but I treated Gaara like he didn’t matter to me when he did. I’m not surprised he isn’t here right now.” He turned back to the door as it closed lightly.

Gaara looked at Neji as Neji looked back at him. Nothing was said between the two while they seemed to share a very intense stare. Haku quietly excused himself so they could talk, he’d seen Gaara come in, and the redhead had heard everything Neji had said about him.

Neji was the first to look away. His head turned and he looked back up at the ceiling. He hated people seeing him in such a weak state. He especially hated for Gaara to see him like this.

“I’ve been here the whole time.” Gaara said, “I didn’t go anywhere.” He’d left the room but decided he just needed some air and never got farther than the hospital’s parking lot. Neji didn’t look back over at him.

“You just let him do all those things to you?” Gaara asked. From the way Haku had described it, he made it seem like Neji had just given up. And as far as he was concerned, Neji had. Maybe he really believed Gaara had died.

“I had no choice.” Neji said. He didn’t really feel like talking about this right now. He would just rather forget the things that Itachi had done to him. He hadn’t liked it and he wished he could take it back but everything was said and done now. He would just have to live with what happened between him and his best friend.

“You just let him rape you when you were supposed to come back to me?” Gaara’s voice was a little on the angry side but Neji couldn’t tell by looking at him. Gaara knew Itachi had manipulated Neji but he still wished Neji had put up more of a fight.

“As far as I knew, you were dead. I had nothing left and he would have killed Haku. I took a chance.” He sighed. ‘…and regret it.’ Out of the corner of his eye Neji could see Gaara approach him.

“He’s gone. We can be together now.” Gaara looked sad even though Neji knew that was exactly what the two of them wanted more then anything. The passed couple of weeks had been so much hell. Neji really just wanted a vacation where the two of them could talk and settle down for awhile. But something still felt wrong.

“I don’t think he’s gone. It’s like I can still feel him hanging around somewhere. You’re underestimating him again. He’ll be back.” Neji turned away and tried to look out the small opening of the curtains. Gaara stood still. Something in his chest was telling him Neji was probably right. He just didn’t want to believe it.

“Maybe you’re starting to feel something for him.” Gaara commented, feeling guilty immediately after he made the assumption. He should slap himself. He never could say the right things around Neji when it counted. They’re arguments were his fault.

Neji’s eyes glowed in the room, even without the light. He wanted to sit up and have at it with Gaara but what did he care? He’d practically given himself up to Itachi. That’s probably the only thing Gaara was thinking about. Neji wouldn’t be able to calm him from his place on the bed.

“Can I leave soon?” Neji decided to ignore the entire situation and change the subject. After all, he really would prefer his own bed to the itchy sheets of the hospital’s.
________________________________________

After three small knocks Lee opened his front door to see Itachi standing on his porch soaking wet. His face was badly bruised and he definitely didn’t look too happy. But then again, when was Itachi ever seen with anything other than a scowl or a blank stare?

Lifting his sore arm Itachi grabbed Lee around his neck, catching him off guard. He lifted him the energetic boy off the ground and squeezed tight.

“You let him go and he foiled my plans. Some kind of accomplice you are.” He threw Lee on the ground and stepped into the house, knocking over anything in his path. Lee quickly got up and closed the door. He followed Itachi into the Living room before he even dared to ask what had happened.

“What has gone wrong? I released Gaara-kun be accident. I could not see the one I love suffer so much that he would pass to another world.” Lee remembered the sight of Gaara tied up to the pole. “What you have done to Gaara-kun is unforgivable,” He swallowed, “Maybe Neji is better off with someone he can trust.” Lee could see Itachi look up and glare.

“What was that?” Itachi removed his wet shirt and pants. He walked through Lee’s house completely naked, not caring that the other boy watched him. Lee blushed and turned away coughing loudly as Itachi ruffled through his laundry and pulled out a clean shirt and some pants.

He stared at Lee as he turned around almost calm-like. “Neji can trust me as much as he can trust the suicidal freak.” Itachi cracked his neck. “But if he doesn’t, I’ll just have to kill him as well.” He knew he would have trouble murdering the boy he loved but he would rather slit his own throat before he saw Neji back with Gaara.

“What are you going to do, Itachi? Surely Gaara-kun has alerted the cops by now. You will never get away.” Lee didn’t really care whether Itachi got away now. He just wanted the boy out of his house before he ended up like Zabuza…or worse.

“They haven’t told yet. They don’t even know that I’m alive. Going to the cops is going to be a mistake, especially if they’re framed for my murder.” Itachi fell on the couch and closed his eyes. It had been a long night and a long trip from the river he’d swam down to get to Lee’s house. He deserved some sleep.
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Two weeks passed. Two long and paranoid weeks for Neji and Gaara. They’d gone without contact to avoid anything else going wrong before they actually knew if Itachi was dead or not.

Neji and Haku left the city and stayed in a cabin in the mountains while Gaara and Sasuke were staying with Temari just outside of town. Sadly school was calling the four of them back.

Today was Monday, their first day back and Gaara was just as eager to see Neji as Neji was to see him, only Gaara showed it a lot less. He’d fallen back into his usual expressionless mode just as he stepped foot inside the halls of his unmissed school.

People were staring and whispering and gawking and laughing. ‘welcome back.’ Gaara said to himself as he looked around to see if Neji was waiting for him at his locker. He wasn’t. Only Haku stood there with his books wrapped in his arms and a small but sad smile on his face.

“He doesn’t look like he has good news.” Sasuke said, not really to Gaara but to himself. He saw Gaara shrug out the corner of his eye. The redhead seemed to be focused on only one thing today. Nothing was going to bring his mood down. He was going to finally see Neji and that was enough to help him ignore all the talk amongst his peers.

“Where is he?” Gaara wasted no time when he and Sasuke finally approached the Femi. Haku shook his head as he pulled a few strands of his silky hair. Gaara made no emotion to express his disappointment but everyone knew he was. The redhead turned to his left just in time to catch a glimpse of Lee walking passed him with his head low.
Sasuke also noted the usual energetic boy and went after him. Gaara turned to Haku but stayed silent. He had nothing to say. Haku wasn’t quite a friend but not an enemy either.

“You didn’t answer my question.” Gaara was trying not to growl. He was tired but of course he would rather not look like he was. Haku looked sad but he just shrugged and turned his back to Gaara.

“I don’t know. Gone. That’s what he told me to tell you.” Haku paused before reaching in his backpack. He pulled out a small card. Inside the card was a letter folded into fours. Gaara took it quickly and tried not to crunch it in his angry hands. It smelled like Neji did but he didn’t want to open it. Not in front of those disgusting people.

He walked down the hall and slipped into one of the supply closets which he knew to be unlocked. As he unfolded the paper his heart began to beat faster. He thought it might say,

Dear Gaara,
I cannot do this anymore. Being in love with you is too hard.
We must go our separate ways to find other people.
I am so sorry.
-Sincerely Hyuuga Neji

But that wasn’t what it said at all. Gaara read carefully the words that Neji wrote on the paper in red ink.

Gaara,
I cannot do this anymore. Being in love with you is too hard.
Last week I received a letter from Itachi with no return address.
He’s still alive out there and he’s looking for me.
I’m going to see him.
Don’t be angry.
I’ll be back for you, I promise.
-Hyuuga Neji

Gaara crumbled the letter in his hands. A burning sensation was growing behind his eyes. He slid down to the floor and threw his head back against an empty wall. Closing his eyes he tried to be more considerate to Neji’s needs but he was angry. How dare Neji run back to the damn monster, and without even consulting Gaara?

Gaara didn’t get up from his spot on the floor. He felt weak and sick, almost nauseous. He knew he should probably let Neji do this alone but he needed to find him. He wasn’t going to let that psychopath kill Neji. Gaara would die if he could never see Neji again.
________________________________________

Neji walked down the peer at the town lake. It was chilly out this particular day so Neji was wearing a wool jacket. As he stood at the edge of the peer he exhaled and saw his breath in front of him.
He thought about why he had come here and he shook at the thought of all the things that Itachi had done to him. Truthfully he needed to see Itachi so he could confront him and finally get some answers. He just wanted know why-

“Neji.”

The Hyuuga turned around with his back to the dark water.

“No one thinks you’re dead Itachi. We looked for you for hours after you fell.” He frowned as an eerie feeling passed over him. Itachi didn’t seem himself. Like he was different more now than a couple of weeks ago.

The Uchiha looked worn out, maybe sick and that was not a trait he owned. Itachi took a couple steps forward, reaching his hand towards Neji. His fingers shook and his heart pounded in his chest. He wanted so badly just to touch the other boy. If only he could get a whiff of his hair and hold him for a few moments then he would be able to feel better. But Neji slapped his hand away. The Hyuuga would have stepped back if he'd had any room.

Neji didn't have to say anything. The look on his face told Itachi he had better not get too close. So instead, Itachi sighed and tried to stand up straight. He righted his sleeve, which had slid down his arm, and cracked his neck before he cleared his throat.

"I see that our time apart still hasn't led you to believe that we belong together." Itachi knew he was angry but he would always have a soft spot for his best friend. He wanted more than anything for Neji to love him back and that meant at any cost.

"What makes you think that I want to be apart of you? You're a murderer Itachi." Neji folded his arms and looked off to his right. "I will never want to be with you the way you want me to. You're a man and so am I. We clash too much to be with each other. You like to be in charge, I like to be in charge." He sort of chuckled a little. "I can't believe we're even having this conversation. "You took pictures of me having sex with Haku and plastered them all over school. I mean, what the hell was wrong with you?"

Itachi stood blank and decided not to answer. He closed his eyes for a moment and tried to push away the urge to rub away the itching. Only when he opened his eyes again did Neji noticed how pale they looked. His black mysterious eyes were dull as Itachi partially squinted.

Finally noticing that Neji was staring at him quite intently Itachi closed his eyes and turned his head. "I know you cannot forgive me but I did what I had to do, Neji. You must understand. I want to be with you-"

"Well that's not up for discussion. I came here to say goodbye to you. Gaara and I have gotten back together. There is no room for you in my life anymore. You tried to kill me Itachi...I don't even know you anymore. We've been friends for so long. If you cared about me why didn't you just tell me?" Neji looked more angry than confused. He had a lot of time to think about all this while he and Haku had been away.

Itachi opened his eyes slowly. "If you won't have me then I don't want to see you breathing." Itachi spat at him. "You're dead to me Hyuuga." He reached for Neji again and succeeded in grasping the other boy. "I've given you chances to see that I've wanted you but you threw them all away for that bastardly redhead and the viral femi." He held Neji tight by his hair and the other could feel himself slipped off the dock.

"You just want someone to control. Truth is, you weren't even that good a fuck anyway." Unafraid, Neji leaned in and whispered, "Even Haku handled me better than you ever could." He laughed coy-like. Enraged Itachi kicked Neji into the water and held him under. He leaned over on the peer and watched Neji flop around trying to come up for air. Itachi waited until he felt he was ready and then pulled the boy back up.

"What was that? Need some air huh?" Itachi dunked Neji again and laughed out loud at the power he held. When he pulled Neji up again he felt a stinging behind his eyes but he ignored it. He pulled the wet boy out of the water and threw him against the wooden platform behind him. Neji didn't try to run away. He stumbled but he stood again, wringing out his long hair. Itachi took a deep breath and turned around to face the boy he loved so.

"What's going on with you?" Neji couldn't help but to reach out to his friend. Itachi's eyes were reddened and they looked puffy. Maybe it was from lack of sleep Neji thought but he pressed on hoping for some explanation. "You kissed me the other day and I, well I thought you were just feeling sick or something. I mean, I've always known you to be a harsh but mannerly person. What's with all this masculinity crap you're pulling lately?" Neji frowned.

"..."

"You...you raped me Itachi. I don't get you."

"I wasn't myself." He finally decided to say.

‘Damn straight.’ Neji thought. "And what's going on with your eyes? Are you tired?" Without a second thought Neji took a step closer to study Itachi's eyes. They were heavy and a bit dark around the edges. There were red in the corners and his irises had lost so much color. They were blank, empty. Neji was almost reaching up to touch Itachi's face when they both heard a familiar voice.

"Neji?"

The fog outside wasn't that thick and after a few moments they could both see Haku walking with his arms wrapped around himself. Of course he wasn't dressed quite appropriately for the weather.

Neji snatched his hand away from Itachi and looked relieved that Haku was around. Secretly he's hoped someone would come. But Haku wasn't alone. Behind him came Gaara and Sasuke and then Naruto. Everyone was looking for Neji and had thank Kami he was okay now that they could see him.

Anger swirled around Sasuke as he saw his brother but something was definitely not right with him. Sasuke looked a little closer to see the same thing Neji had just been looking at. Death looked like it was creeping into Itachi's body and Sasuke, for the first time, felt sadness about the situation.
Gaara balled his fists and stepped in front of Neji. "Aren't you dead yet?" He stood still staring at his enemy, ready to punch Itachi out when he felt Neji's hand on his shoulder.

"Gaara, this is my problem. I appreciate you guys coming here but I can take care of myself." He almost growled.

"Yeah, sure. That's not what you were saying the other night when he was raping your ass to pieces! Damn Uchiha bastard!" Naruto had the mind to go up and Punch Itachi out too but Sasuke held him back. The blond turned around to him almost glaring. "Don't you dare try and stop me. He shot you. I have a Kami given right to rough him up." Naruto voiced but Sasuke just shook his head. "Well fine, how about you tell your lover what's going on with those eyes of yours."

That was the first time Itachi had flinched violently. He turned only his eyes to Neji, who was simply a shape and some colors by now. He exhaled and wished for once that he hadn't done all this. Why on earth hadn't he just told Neji of his feelings?Maybe Neji would have taken pity on him in his illness and offered to take care of his friend.

‘No, I don't need his pity’. Itachi kept staring at Neji but he never answered.

"Well, what?" Neji asked.

"He's going blind. Aren't you?" Gaara said flat out.

"I'm betting he can't even see us right now." Naruto laughed. "That's what you get, bastard."

They all stared at Itachi. Neji stared the hardest. He thought maybe Gaara was lying. Or maybe Itachi was just coming down with something. There was no way he could actually be losing his sight. He was only a teenager. How the hell could his eyes be failing him?

Everyone froze when Itachi began to walk. Gaara didn't even shutter when the boy walked passed him. He looked so helpless and weak that none of them really wanted to do or say anything but Neji. He grabbed Itachi's sleeve and stopped him.

"You couldn't tell me this?" He asked, he almost forgot all the horrible things Itachi was doing to him, to them all.

"What difference does it make? I wanted you before I couldn't see you anymore. It's too late to change that now." He jerked away from Neji. "Too bad there’s so many of you. I would have killed you all." Then Itachi was gone. Disappeared into the dense fog.

"Just like that we're going to let him get away?" Naruto asked. "Are we all mad?"

"Where can he go?" Haku said, almost as if he was feeling sad for Itachi too. "He can't even see anymore, he's got his punishment." Haku walked over to Neji and rubbed his back. "You don't seem okay. Maybe we should skip school and you can go back tomorrow instead." In the midst of Haku talking Gaara cut in.

"Bull shit, I still want that bastard dead. I can't count the number of times he's hurt one of us."

"Yeah!" Naruto yelled. "He shot my Sasuke and he blew Gaara's head open. He raped Neji and paralyzed Haku. Thank God he didn't get to me but I’m still sorry for all you guys and Orochimaru is dead. Zabuza is barely walking around for God sake. I'm going after him."

"No you're not." Neji began, "Leave Itachi alone."

They all looked between one another in shock.
Neji sighed. "I know what he felt. While I cannot justify his actions I do know what its like to want someone you can't have."

Neji looked down at Gaara and shivered a bit. "Come home with me, I’m feeling a bit sick." He confessed. "The rest of you can find something else to do. Haku, go check on Zabuza. I don't want to hear anything else about Itachi today." He began walking away and Gaara silently followed, hoping to talk more about this later. Right now, he was just happy to be near his Neji again.

Later...

“Have you lost your mind?” Gaara asked Neji once they were almost never the Hyuuga’s residence. “You just let Itachi, the psychopath I might add, walk passed you and get away. You could have easily punched him or pushed him off the dock. Anything!”

“Gaara please just let it go. I have no intention of treating Itachi the way he treated me.” He looked over momentarily at Gaara. “I can’t believe you would call him a psychopath so easily. You tried to die for me, remember? He tried to kill for me. There’s not much difference there.”

“Not much difference?! I tried to take my own life, not my best friend’s or my ex boyfriend’s or anyone else in my way. How dare you be so bold?” Gaara crossed his arms and looked out the window of the car as they pulled into Neji’s driveway.

Neji said nothing as he turned off the car and got out. He walked up the porch way and disappeared in the house leaving Gaara to follow.

Inside Neji’s room Gaara found the other changing clothes rapidly. His skin was even more pale that usual and he was trembling from the cold of the lake. Gaara sighed and sat on the bed, trying not to stare too hard and Neji’s exposed skin.

After pulling a warm long sleeve shirt over his head and tying his hair Neji stood with his back to Gaara. “You’re right.” He huffed. “I should have done more than just let Itachi get away. I don’t trust him at all but I couldn’t very well punish someone with such a condition.” He turned around to Gaara but the redhead had his eyes closed.

“What did you expect me to do? Stab him? I don’t have it in me.” Neji let out.

“You’re not at all angry that he tied Haku up and made the boy watch you get raped.” Gaara stood up and poked Neji in the chest, hard. “How many times did you beg him to stop? How many times did you hear Haku whimpering in the corner? How many times do you think Haku pleaded with Itachi not to shoot him or throw his frail body into a dark room for three days?” Gaara glared and bared his teeth. He was angry and Neji knew whe was but the Hyuuga was nothing like Itachi. He didn’t want to see his friend hurting.

“Who are you?” Gaara asked. “I don’t know this Neji.” Gaara tapped him on the forehead. “You used to take care of yourself. You...”

“You don’t know anything! You don’t know what he did to me! Fuck you Gaara! Have you ever been raped, huh?” Neji pushed Gaara back a little; he just needed some breathing room. And for a moment Gaara felt a sharp pain burst in his chest.

“You’re afraid of him” Gaara stated, like it was so clear to him now. “That’s why you couldn’t do anything. You’re afraid of Itachi.” Gaara threw his hands in his pockets and walked towards the balcony.

“Gaara please-”

“I don’t believe this.”
________________________________________
Itachi had nowhere else to go and nowhere to hide so he retreated to his own apartment hoping he could find some rest for his body.

As he laid on his bed all his could think of was how he watched Neji fade away right before his eyes. His greatest fear was finally coming true. Neji didn’t want to be with him. Yes he regretted how he had taken Neji’s body and tortured him until he was unconscious but in his defense, he wasn’t in his right mind. He could see himself touching Neji but he couldn’t stop.

Itachi rolled over on his bed and remembered the last time Neji had been laying next to him begging for some attention. Now more than ever he wished he would have shared his true feelings with his friend.

With his eyes wide open Itachi laid in the darkness of his room. Guilt was like a sweat all over his skin. Now alone with nothing to do but think he was beginning to see the horror he had created. He had no one now. And in the moments that passed he wondered what he would have done if Neji had given in to him and accepted his love after the death of Haku.

Surely the Hyuuga would have been miserable without Haku around. People would have questioned where Orochimaru was, considering he was one of the popular star pupils. That went for Zabuza as well. And what if he had succeeded in killing Gaara? Would Lee have broken down and gone to the police?

Then there was Sasuke. ‘I shot him?’ Itachi thought about it like he hadn’t remembered. ‘All the years I sacrificed my childhood to take care of him and I shot him?’ Itachi rolled over again and sat up looking blinding-no pun intended- at the open door that led into the hallway. He felt a small breeze float passed him. He knew there were no windows open and he had locked the front door on the way in.

Standing, but too curious to realize Itachi felt the back of his head ache. He could only muster up the word throbbing before he felt the blood rush down the back of his neck. That was when he fell to his knees and an indistinct figure passed in front of him.

Itachi could only see the flicked of what he thought might be silver or metal. But he didn’t know as he reached behind his head and touched the dripping liquid. That was when he smiled. Someone was finally getting pay back.

“It’s about time.”

The sound that erupted after that was something familiar to bones breaking. Itachi didn’t whimper from the pain, though his jaw was probably out of place and he was probably missing some teeth. He couldn’t tell, there was just so much blood pouring from his mouth.
________________________________________
Neji woke up to a frightening sound. He put a hand to his head and sighed at the headache he had. But he didn’t acknowledge it for long when he realized his bed was cold and empty on the other side. He cautiously looked around his room in the early hours of the morning. The sun wasn’t quite up yet and he knew Gaara hadn’t sleep but he also knew Gaara was definitely not in that house.

Throwing the thin covers back Neji threw on some pants and a warm sweater and flew out the door. Running down the stairs Neji pulled out his phone and called Sasuke. He always had the boy’s number for emergencies and had forgotten to delete it when he and Gaara had broken up.

The Uchiha answered aggravated-like. “What Hyuuga?”

“Is Gaara with you?” Neji asked. His voice was almost frantic but he calmed himself so he could get the next few words out without choking up. “He’s disappeared.” Neji immediately felt responsibility for having let Itachi get away earlier.

“You lost him?” Sasuke spoke so loud he woke the sleeping blond next to him. Naruto rubbed his eyes and yawned.

“Sasuke who are you talking to? Its 4am. You’re supposed to make booty calls at like midnight. Hang up the phone and sleep. We have school today.” He was still groggy and slurring his words. Sasuke ignored his ignorance and took a deep breath.

“I haven’t heard from Gaara since I last saw the two of you yesterday.”

“We fought.” Neji confessed.

“What’s new about that?” Sasuke had already guessed that. Gaara wouldn’t have disappeared away from Neji without a reason. The damn Hyuuga must have done something to him. Especially since Gaara had been so excited to be with the other boy again. “He didn’t leave for nothing.” Sasuke honestly hated how much Gaara and Neji fought. It got so annoying even though Gaara never went to Sasuke with his problems the boy knew when something was wrong with Gaara and it was always Neji he was upset about.

“This time is different. Don’t patronize me Uchiha.” Neji growled. “When Gaara and I last talked he was angry but not towards me.” Neji began to wonder if Gaara had been taken or if he had left himself.
Sasuke sighed. “You know where he’s going Neji. Gaara is extremely rational. You of all people know that. If you led on in any way that you wanted him to do something you know he went to do it. It’s as simple as that.” Sasuke shook Naruto who had fallen asleep again. “Get up, we have to go."

“So then…”

“I’ll meet you there.” Sasuke hung up. He gathered all his clothes and pushed Naruto of the bed. “Get up, we have to go, now.
By the time Neji arrived at Itachi’s house Sasuke was just walking in the door with Naruto behind him. The front door had been left cracked open. They all tiptoed and Sasuke turned on all the lights as they went passed them.

The sound of someone groaning came from the back of the apartment, outside. Sasuke looked at Naruto and then at Neji. They could all honestly say they couldn’t distinguish who the sound was from. Sasuke took a deep breath as he approached his older brother’s room. Lightly pushing the door open he found the dark room empty. Sasuke was relieved and flipped the light switch on only to find blood absolutely everywhere.

“Oh my god, Gaara.” Naruto said out loud, even though there was so sign of his redhead friend anywhere. “Look…” Naruto pointed to the floor where the all saw a metal pipe. It was thick and bent slightly. Neji could feel his heart quicken. Flashbacks of the night he found Gaara almost dead started to flood back in. He prayed that the blood wasn’t Gaara’s. He couldn’t find him like that again.

Sasuke looked through his brother’s window that led out into the complex and there he saw his brother laying on the ground and Gaara standing over him. Sasuke’s eyes widened and without thinking he jumped out the window.

“Gaara no!” Sasuke pushed Gaara away with as much strength as he could. Itachi wasn’t moving. He was hardly breathing. Naruto and Neji came out through the patio door looking surprised.
Everyone stood still for a moment looking at Itachi. Neji turned to Gaara who was finally getting of the ground. Then he looked back at Itachi. The Uchiha was bleeding from his mouth, from the side of his head and his nose. His eyes were swollen shut and his chest looked like he was getting some bruises.

“Itachi…” Sasuke knelt down and tilted his brother’s head so he could look at him straight on. The older boy was beaten so bad that Sasuke barely recognized him. He wanted to turn away as he started to feel nauseous.

“Sasuke he needs a doctor.” Naruto walked over and knelt next to Sasuke. He tried to brush some of Itachi’s hair out of his face but Sasuke smacked his hand.

“Don’t. Touch. Him.”
Naruto looked up shocked. “I’m just trying to help him. He’ll die out here, Sasuke.” Naruto tried to move closer again but Sasuke shot him a glare so the blond backed away.

“He’ll die in the hospital.” Sasuke said. “His jaw is broken and even with one blow to the head he could have permanent brain damage.” He turned and looked at Gaara as he stood up. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Sasuke stepped up to Gaara but Neji got between them.

“I wouldn’t." Said Neji. He felt bad for Itachi but damn Sasuke if he thought Neji was just gonna stand around and let Gaara take a beating for protecting him.

“Don’t get in this Hyuuga. This is your entire fucking fault in the first place. Everyone’s life is a mess thanks to your ability to completely obliterate common sense.” Sasuke was angry but he still remained calm. He looked back at his half living brother. “Itachi is an asshole and he made mistakes but how dare you try to play Kami?” He pointed at Gaara. “How dare you even consider killing someone for that prick?” He shot a look at Neji.

“Sasuke calm down.” Naruto stepped up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re angry, let’s just cool off. Your brother needs your attention.” Naruto didn’t care too much for Itachi but a wave of sympathy passed over him as he saw the boy very near death.

As Sasuke succumbed to Naruto’s soft words he knelt down next to Itachi again. The older boy was shaking and coughing. He raised a hand to Sasuke and with two fingers he lightly tapped Sasuke on the forehead before his hand fell lifeless. Sasuke thought he might have smiled if he could have moved the muscles in his face.

“Be at peace, brother.” Sasuke said dropping his head and stood up.
The four boys stood in the cold darkness of the yard. They surrounded the late Itachi all with heavy hearts. Even Gaara didn’t know if he had really wanted to kill him. Regret grew in his body, not for Itachi but for Sasuke. The pity that Gaara held for Itachi was that he knew how the boy felt. To love Neji was a curse that no one could get away from.

Gaara had almost lost his life once behind the love of the Hyuuga but now at least Gaara could have what was rightfully his and at that moment the sense of remorse left him and peace found his mind.
________________________________________
End Chapter XVII
AN: Review.
I haven't written in forever so i just wanna know if anybody is still reading.
Thanks!
Ja Ne!
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