My Curse

On with it.---------

Naruto woke up and looked around his room. The sun was coming through the blinds and it looked to be a beautiful day. One he didn’t intend on spending in the hospital. He got up and stretched, then walked into the bathroom to relieve himself and wash his face. When that was done, he came out and pressed the button calling the nurse.

Ten minutes later the nurse still hadn’t shown. ’Good thing I wasn’t dying.’ he thought bitterly. Then he remembered that the two that had been with Sasuke had done something to his call bell.

Oh yeah.

Naruto puzzled for only a second before darting to the door and throwing it open. He ran directly into body. A very familiar body. A body that he knew with or without clothes on.

“Hello, Naruto.”

“N…Neji.” The blonde stammered, looking up at his former lover. There was a very subtle gentleness there, although his expression revealed nothing.

“Your aunt wanted me to come and spend some time with you.” Neji said, matter-of-factly.

“It’s alright.” Naruto said, finding it irritating that he couldn’t seem to keep eye contact with the older boy. “I am getting out of here.”

Neji blocked him easily from escaping. “I am aware of that, Naruto.” He said. “I am here to make sure you get home safe, and that you aren’t alone all day.”

“Tsunade is home.” Naruto argued. Then he remembered that she and Jiriaya were gone to Colorado Springs. “They left even though I am here?” Naruto said aloud, although he hadn’t meant to.

“Tsunade wasn’t going to.” Neji said. “But it could have cost her job, and Jiriaya put you in my care.” A very small smile ghosted across his lips.

“In your care?” Naruto said incredulously. I don’t believe this. He shook his head, then he remembered the reason he was leaving the room in the first place.

“Sasuke…”Naruto started.

“You mean Sasuke Uchiha?” Neji asked. “He checked out last night, Sakura said.”

Naruto sighed heavily and his body relaxed. He turned from Neji and began to get his things together. This consisted of one outfit and shoes.

“Why worried about Sasuke Uchiha for?” Neji asked from across the room. “A bit old to be a fan boy aren’t you?”

Naruto turned and bared his teeth giving him a very feral look, which made Neji swallow hard. “I am not a fan boy of that…that…”

Neji’s eyes narrowed a little. “Naruto, did something happen?”

“No!” Naruto yelled getting the rest of his things. “Let’s go.” He pushed past Neji and left the room.

In Neji’s mind, there was something nagging at him, although he couldn’t place a metaphorical finger on it.

********

Once they were back to Naruto’s house, the blonde turned to Neji and with a fairly awkward look said “Well, thanks for bringing me home.”

“Of course.”

“Erm…”Naruto said.

“I’m not leaving yet, Naruto.” Neji said, the look on his face told Naruto it wasn’t worth arguing about.

“You can’t argue with a Hyuuga.” Naruto said, coining the phrase that became popular at their school when Neji became state champion in debate.

“You’re right.” Neji said.

“Well, I guess we could watch a movie or something then.”

“Sounds good.”

“Are you hungry?” Naruto asked, somehow falling into a comfortableness with Neji.

“I could eat.” Neji said. “How about you?”

“No.” Naruto said, getting a little green just thinking about it. “My stomach is still not too great.” He finished, looking down.

“Ok.” Neji said. “Then I will just make a sandwich.”

After all the time they had been together, Neji was used to being around Naruto’s kitchen. There were all kinds of snacks there, unlike the Hyuuga home, which was a no nonsense health food prison. He quickly made himself a sandwich and a bowl of instant ramen and made his way back out to the living room where Naruto had picked out a movie. He sat on the floor to one side of Naruto.

“Pirates of the Alaskan Frontier huh?” Neji asked, looking at Naruto, who smiled a little, knowing Neji wouldn’t approve of his strange love of terrible movies.

“It is supposed to be pretty good.” Naruto said, laughing a bit.

“Mmhmm and so was When the Shadows Attack.”

“You will be glad that you watched that movie if your shadow ever attacks you.” Naruto said, looking at Neji seriously.

“That is such a Naruto thing to say.” Neji said. He took a bit of his sandwich and Naruto started the movie.

**********

After watching the pirate movie, and then one called Aliens in my Underwear. Neji was almost begging to stop.

“Naruto, can we just watch some regular television now?” He said, through gritted teeth.

“Sure.” Naruto said. “You just had to ask.” He looked over and grinned at the older boy, who narrowed his eyes and shot a glare.

“Your glares don’t faze me anymore.” Naruto said, mimicking the face back to Neji.

“Well if you weren’t just home from the hospital, I would show you just how much I mean this glare.”

Naruto just smiled and shook his head. He flipped the channel and it landed on a pop-culture news channel. Naruto dropped the remote as Sasuke’s face flooded the screen.

“Naruto, what is the matter?” Neji asked, turning to face the blonde. “What the hell happened with Sasuke Uchiha?”

“Nothing.” Naruto said, his teeth grinding together. “I saw him live the other night and he was a jerk to Shikamaru and me.”

Neji continued to look at him, but didn’t say anything else.

Naruto picked up the remote and flipped past the story. They settled on a comedy show featuring stand up. They were silent for a while, and then Neji spoke.

“I miss you.”

“You are right next to me, Neji.”

“You know what I mean, Naruto.”

Naruto sighed and turned to the older teen. “You don’t understand.”

“Only because you won’t tell me.”

“Because you still wouldn’t understand if I did.”

“Try me.” Neji said, his voice full of emotions that he very rarely showed. It was that emotion that made Naruto start. He put his hand out and grabbed Neji’s. The hand he found was cool, but held his firmly and laced their fingers.

“Neji…I…” Naruto said. “Please understand…”

At that moment, Neji moved forward and encased Naruto in a tight but extremely gentle hug. The blonde hadn’t been ready for it, but he accepted it readily because it was where he felt safe. He looked at Neji who was looking at him.

“Please tell me, Naruto.” He said.

Naruto blinked, trying to keep the tears from spilling over. He leaned in and his lips found Neji’s.

“I’m sorry Neji.” He said, breaking the kiss before it got too serious. “I am sorry that I hurt you before.”

“I already forgave you, or I wouldn’t be here.” Neji said. “Does that mean I can have you back?”

Naruto smiled and nodded. Neji captured his lips again, and it was a very soft and loving kiss, one that said what Neji wanted to say without embarrassing either of them.

Once they parted, Naruto looked at Neji, who was smiling slightly. Neji rarely smiled. He didn’t smile for anyone but Naruto, really. He seemed to see a completely different Neji than anyone else did. It was overwhelming how tender he could be. It was then that Naruto made up his mind. If he were going to keep Neji, he was going to have to be completely honest.

“Ok, Neji.” Naruto started, “I am going to tell you what happened.”

*************

Yeah. So nothing happened this chapter… but I HAD to get it out of the way.. sue me.. now that I got the My Curse writing bug back I may put another chap out tomorrow…we shall see..

-sk