Magic

Disclaimer: Neither Acherona nor trulywicked have any claim on Naruto nor any characters or locations thereof. Neither of the authors obtains any money or goods from writing this. It is strictly for our own amusement.


Warning: Vampires, wizards, verbal abuse, racial tension, stalkerish investigative behavior, and strong language.


AN- This story is a collab between Trulywicked and myself, half this story is hers; it’s only posted here because we don’t have a joined account on this site. Trulywicked is amazing and make sure to check out her work if you haven’t.

Here’s the first chapter and Neji is introduced…You think these boys will work well together?

Please enjoy.

AGES:

Gaara - appears 28 but is over 500 years old
Neji - 28
Kisame - appears 30 is actually over a thousand years old
Sakura - 29


MAGIC


First Chapter.


Two nights and more security tapes than he ever wanted to go through again found Gaara at Midnight Secrets, his eyes narrowed on a figure on tape that had been there for every incident. A man, appearing to be in his mid to late twenties, with long dark brown hair held back in a loose braid, and, if Gaara wasn't mistaken, silver eyes. Whoever the man was he'd just gone right to the top of Gaara's suspect list.


The redhead straightened, glanced at the security screen, then shot to his feet to stalk downstairs. The unknown silver-eyed man was in the club and Gaara was not about to let the chance to question him slip out the door.


Pale silver eyes scanned the crowd at the club as he leaned against the wall in the corner, wanting to blend in with it. According to his calculations this was where the rogue wizard or witch would strike next. Neji was sent out by his family and the council to find and stop whoever it was doing this before the vampires would start an all out war against the wizard society.


Neji tensed when he saw a slender redhead approaching him. He knew this was a high ranking vampire but he didn't really want to deal with him. It didn't look as if he'd have a choice though. He straightened up and brushed some invisible lint off of his designer suit as he waited for the onslaught.


Gaara came to a stop right in front of the unknown man and let his gaze flow up, down, then back up the other's body, taking in every nuance of his appearance. He could smell the scent of vanilla and evergreen forest coming off his quarry and when he met the silver eyes he was taken aback by the sudden punch of lust he felt but didn't show it. "I'd like to speak with you Mr..."


"Hyuga, I'm Neji Hyuga." Neji replied as he met Gaara's green eyes, careful to keep his devoid of any emotion. The redhead was slender and slim, looking almost fragile but Neji knew that that was as far from the truth as you could come. The vampire was lethal and Neji really didn't want to get on his wrong side but he didn't want the vampire to get in his way either. Neji worked alone, that's the way he wanted things.


Gaara's eyes narrowed as he recognized the name of one of the oldest, most powerful wizard clans in Konoha. This man, as a member of that clan, would most definitely have the power to affect even Naruto's mind. Although there was some deeply buried part of himself that was denying that the exceptional specimen of male beauty in front of him had anything to do with the incidents Gaara's temper and logic easily drowned it out. "Mr. Hyuga, I'd like to discuss a problem the clubs are having with you." Gaara deliberately left it vague as to whether the clubs were having problems with Hyuga or whether he just wished to discuss the problems with the silver eyed male.


A slender brown eyebrow rose as he regarded the redheaded vampire. "A problem? Where would you like to discuss this then?" Neji mentally cursed, he didn't have time for this, he needed to track and find the rogue. "It's bit unfair that you know my name but haven't had the courtesy to give me yours." Neji added with a bit of an edge in his smooth voice.


Gaara's lips curved in a facsimile of a smile that was really more like watching a razor glint in the light. "Life isn't fair Mr. Hyuga but my name is Gaara Sabaku. Come with me, if you will."


"I don't have much of a choice do I?" Neji said more to himself than to Gaara as he followed the vampire across the floor and up a stairway. He filed the name away in his mind already knowing that he wouldn't forget it.


Gaara lead the Hyuga to the security alcove and gestured at one of the chairs. "Please have a seat." Once the man was sitting Gaara perched on the corner of the desk. "First I must ask if your clan is the Hyuga clan that is well known for its wizard and witch members."


Neji nodded shortly. "Magic runs strong in our blood, that is correct." He answered and looked at Gaara perched on the desk. "Why do I feel like I'm in some old cop movie?" Neji looked around the small room. "Really you must be able to do better than this..."


Gaara chuckled humorlessly. "I'm borrowing the space Mr. Hyuga. Now would you happen to be one of those in whom magic runs strong?"


"Why would that be relevant to your problem?" Neji asked and crossed his legs smoothly. He could not afford to lose his temper so he called on every calming technique he had been taught. A Hyuga always presented himself with dignity and calm, Neji was already the black sheep of the family, he didn't need to add to it by blowing up at a vampire.


The redhead flashed a little fang. "Because someone is casting spells on the human half of a mate bond and attempting to sever that bond. You, Mr. Hyuga, have been at every incident of these attempted severings. I'm certain you know that we are taking this very seriously, especially after the Master Vampire's own mate was affected."


It seemed he would have to cooperate after all, at least for the moment. Neji leaned back in the uncomfortable chair and looked at Gaara with unblinking pale eyes. "To answer your questions, yes magic run strong in me. Yes I'm aware of the rogue targeting the mates of vampires and yes I have been at the scenes trying to find out who the rogue is and stop him before you vampires decide to take out revenge on any wizard or witch unlucky enough to cross your path. There aren't many of us left, the last thing we need is a bloodbath."


If Gaara had any eyebrows one would have risen. "Noble of you." Sarcastic disbelief echoed in the vampire's tone.


"More self preservation than nobility." Neji corrected. "At first I didn't connect the dots, that it was one of us. The one doing this is very smart and gifted enough to erase his or hers signature completely. Believe it or not but we want the same thing here Mr. Sabaku, we both want this to end."


Gaara picked up a pencil and fiddled with it a bit. "Do we? Just how smart and gifted would you say you are Mr. Hyuga?"


One corner of Neji's mouth turned up in dry amusement. "I'm smarter and better than most people Mr. Sabaku. I'm most certainly smarter than to get caught on tape if I were the one with a vendetta against vamps."


"Or you're smart enough to not hide yourself assuming that those investigating would think that only a fool wouldn't conceal their presence." Gaara smirked. "That's the problem with being smarter than most people, the smart ones get arrogant and believe they can out think everyone or the investigators just can't believe them when they say things like that."


"I guess it's my word against yours then." Neji shrugged. This vampire with hair as bright as wildfire was starting to get on his nerves. "While you are keeping me here, wasting both our time the real culprit is out there somewhere, with free range to your mates."


"In the vampire community my word is superseded by only two others so I'd be careful with that challenge, so far the only one standing out is you. But I'm not holding you here against your will; I don't have the proof for that yet. You're certainly free to go...for now." Gaara gestured at the door. "But I will be keeping an eye on you Mr. Hyuga and I will find the truth and the wizard who is doing this."


Neji rose from the chair in a fluid motion, he needed to get out of there before he did something incredibly stupid...like slugging the vampire, or worse, grabbing him by that brilliant hair and kissing him. Neji straightened his suit again. "I expect no less Mr. Sabaku. I hope you do find the person responsible, just don't be surprised if I find him first." Neji tossed his braid over his shoulder and gave the vampire a superior smirk as he slipped out of the security alcove.


Vivid green eyes narrowed on the wizard's retreating form. Unbidden his gaze fell to the seat of the dark pants the other wore briefly admiring the very nice ass there before he shook his head and scowled. What the hell was the matter with him? That icy bastard was his main suspect and he was ogling his ass. Gaara growled softly and stalked out of the alcove to watch the club patrons from the second level and keep an eye on the Hyuga. If another mate lost their sense of self he wanted the long haired wizard in his sights.


Walking back downstairs Neji did his best to blend it with the wall again, casting a very faint disillusion spell around himself so that he wouldn't be bothered by some loser wanting to chat him up or dance, he wasn't here to socialize. Ever since the first time this happened Neji had tasted the magic in the air, he'd been searching for the one responsible for casting it even more. Yes Neji wanted to protect his people from the vampires revenge that was true but whoever it was who was doing this was skilled, skilled and powerful and Neji was vain enough to want to know who it was since he considered himself the best. It just wouldn't do to have unknown competition out there.


He leaned against the wall keeping all senses open, ignoring the way he could still feel the vampire's eyes on him. He was here to do a job and he would do it, gorgeous redheaded distractions or not.


Gaara noted the spell and noted that it didn't conceal the wizard's presence; it simply made others see him as uninteresting. A soft snort came from the vampire, that took talent he had to admit. A more interesting person than the Hyuga would be hard to find.


He shook his head and looked away from the brunette to scan the room. His suspect was right in view of a camera so he had no worries about missing any suspicious movements from Hyuga. Now it was time to look at the rest of the club and see if he could spot anyone else who'd been present at the other incidents. He had no intentions of letting Itachi down in this investigation, even if that meant taking the head off the most attractive specimen he'd seen in a long, long time.

oooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOooo


Gaara was snarling as he left the club after his prey. Another mate had gone berserk tonight and of course not only had Gaara briefly lost sight of the Hyuga just before it had happened but someone had blocked the camera's view of him just enough that no one could tell if the silver-eyed eel had been the one to cause it. He was pissed at himself for not keeping one solid eye on the damned wizard. Now he was following the long haired man's silver BMW Z8 on his crimson Ecosse Spirit ES1, the streetlights catching the paint job every few intervals so that the silvery ghost flames glittered.


Neji was not happy, not only had he not seen the wizard who had cast the spell on the poor human, now he was being followed by the vampire too. Pale eyes narrowed as he watched the motorcycle in his rear view mirror. The spell had hit the club like a sonic boom, it had bounced off the walls and ceiling making it impossible to make out where it had originated. Neji did not like to be outsmarted and he was starting to take this very personal. Neji would spend the morning brushing up on his studies; unfortunately his night wasn't over yet.


He drove in to the parking lot of Nocturne, it was a rather dingy, substandard blood club and normally Neji wouldn't set his foot here if he was paid for it but it was the next club on his list and he had to check it out. He didn't bother to check if his crimson shadow still followed him as he sneered at the bouncers and walked inside.


The vampire parked his cycle and gazed speculatively at the club. It was definitely a dive of a blood club, one in which Gaara wouldn't drink from their menu for anything. It also hadn't had any reports thus far of mate incidents. He went up to the bouncers and flicked a thumb at his bike. "So much as a scratch appears on the bike and I will rip out your intestines and choke you with them." He then let them get a good feel for just how much power he had, enough to have them blanching, and strode in. He quickly found the Hyuga, once again against a wall, a shroud of 'leave me the fuck alone' around him, and settled in to watch his quarry from a few meters away.


Neji barely resisted rolling his eyes as Gaara walked in the club and settled down to stare at him. It was amusing to see how the other vampires cleared the way and left a large empty circle around Mr. wildfire...oh yeah, Gaara did a great job of going unnoticed.


They had been at the club for about an hour when Neji felt the sonic boom again making his head pound with the echo from it. He looked around frantically but saw nothing out of the ordinary. A young bleached blond woman wearing the tiniest dress Neji had ever seen started to screech at vampire who Neji guessed was her mate. He moved away from the wall and made his way over to the couple and touched her shoulder, sending a sleeping spell her way. The woman's eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed into her mate's arms. She should be back to normal by the time she'd woke up, at least Neji hoped so.


With a sigh he walked back out to the parking lot, there was no reason to stay now, the wizard had done what he or she came to do and would not stick around to get caught. Besides Neji had spent an hour in that hellhole, he felt as if dirt and grime clung to him, he wanted to go home, shower for an hour or two and then get some sleep.


Gaara damn near ripped out the throat of the simpering idiot in front of him. The other vampire had been blitzed enough to ignore Gaara's dangerous aura and hit on the redhead, blocking his view of Hyuga just long enough for another mate to go off the rails. What was worse was that he knew Nocturne didn't have security cameras anywhere but over the bar till so he couldn't review that. In addition as soon as the woman began shrieking a mass exodus of mated couples and a few others had begun so Gaara had to fight his way out of the club, reminding himself the entire time that Itachi would not be pleased if he killed a bystander during this investigation.


He finally made it outside just to see the silver BMW accelerating away. He hopped on his bike and took off after the car but lost it on the highway, prompting another feral growl from his throat. This evening was not going well. It was close enough to dawn that he wouldn't be able to track down Hyuga and find a place to daysleep near enough to watch him before the sun rose. He turned his cycle towards his loft apartment and hit the automatic phone button on his helmet as he navigated the streets. "Call Kisame." It dialed the former enforcer turned private investigator's home number.


Kisame was busy kissing his way down his wife's flat pale stomach when his phone blared to life. Enter Sandman echoed through the room letting Kisame know that this was a call he couldn't ignore. Reluctantly he gave the smooth skin a last lick and rolled to the side of the bed, scrambling for the phone.


"Yo...This better be important Raccoon boy." He growled into the receiver.


Gaara never was one to beat around the bush so without preamble he said, "I need you to find out all you can about one Neji Hyuga. Address is urgent."


Kisame sighed heavily as he saw the plans he had had for the night fly out the window. "Fine, give me twenty minutes, I'll send the info to your phone. Oh and Gaara...you owe me for this."


A slight chuckle came from the redhead. "You know I always pay my debts. Give your Strawberry my best you old Mako."


"Yeah, yeah, talk to you soon." Kisame hung up the phone and turned apologetic eyes on his wife. "Sorry love...work's calling." He slid out of bed and pulled a pair of loose sweatpants over his naked frame. Kisame bent down to kiss his mate.


Sakura grabbed the back of his head and returned it just long enough to send his brain reeling then let him go. "What's Gaara needing?"


Licking his lips Kisame grinned at his beautiful woman, thanking the fates that he'd found her. "Info on one Neji Hyuga, address and the like." He went across the room to boot up his computer logging in to all the usual sited he'd hacked into starting to pull up everything he could find on his target.


The pink haired woman's brows lifted even as she admired the way the light and shadow played over her husband's dark skin. "Neji Hyuga? Hinata's cousin?" She rolled out of the bed and sauntered over to drape her arms around his neck and shoulders from behind, not bothering to slip into her robe, and peered at the computer screen. "He lives over in Lunar Place apartments; actually I think he owns them."


Kisame chuckled and turned around to nuzzle Sakura's neck. "Who needs computers when I have the best source of information right here before me?" He typed up the address quickly and sent it along with a map to Gaara's phone. "So what do you think raccoon boy wants with a Hyuga?" Kisame swiveled in his office chair, pulling Sakura down on his lap, when any luck they would be able to continue what they had been doing much faster than Kisame had thought.


Sakura's brows knit. "Didn't Sasuke call a couple nights ago and tell us that Gaara is investigating the mate incidents? He said something about it looking like a wizard or witch is responsible. I know Hinata's clan is full of sorcerers and if I remember correctly she said Neji has nearly disowned himself from the family." She turned her head and met the dark eyes of her mate in concern. "Could Neji be a suspect?"


"Gaara doesn't pull accusations out of thin air so if Neji is a suspect there's a good reason for it. Maybe you could contact Hinata tomorrow, see what she has to say about her cousin these days..." Kisame caressed Sakura's back with one large hand while he typed furiously with the other.


She leaned back into the stroke. "I hope he's not. Even when Neji hated her Hinata has always worried and cared about him, like he's her brother. I'd hate for him to be the one who's messing with the mates, it'll break her heart."


Kisame couldn't say he cared one way or another, he'd never met this Hyuga character but if it would upset his wife it upset him so he nodded in agreement as he finished the rest of what he had to report so far and sent it to Gaara. "Come on gorgeous, let's get back to bed...we'll worry about this tomorrow, for now we leave the grunt work to Gaara."

She looped her arms and legs around him, pushing the concern for her friend to the back of her mind in favor of the hard body of her husband. "Hmm sounds good. Now where were we before we were interrupted?"


Kisame carried her back to the bed and captured her lips. "I think we were just about here..."


She giggled into the kiss briefly before sensation carried her away.


oooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOooo


Gaara was just stepping into his loft when his phone chimed. He pulled it out and pursed his lips in surprise. That was fast work even for Kisame. He pulled up the information and scanned it while he got himself a bag of blood from the fridge. Once done sating his hunger he went to his computer station and went about securing an apartment for himself in Lunar Place so he could watch Hyuga closely. He was not going to let the silver-eyed eel keep slipping away from his sight damn it.


He typed up a quick report for Itachi and sent it to the Uchiha's e-mail before shutting down the electronics and going through his bedtime routine of a shower, a boring book, and turning on a white noise machine. Gaara was a rare vampire in that, while he certainly did succumb to day sleep, he never entered the almost coma like state the daysleep induced in his brethren. Instead he was a very light daysleeper, it was closer to human sleep than a true daysleep. He supposed it was a left over from a childhood in war-torn Suna when you had to wake at an instant's notice. Shaking his head he settled in to read a few extremely dull passages of philosophy before succumbing to his light sleep.


oooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOooo


Neji felt like banging his head against the table in frustration, he had spent the entire day looking through every record available but nothing helped him. First of all this spell used on the vampire mates shouldn't exist, that meant that the one casting it was even more powerful that Neji had believed, able to create and modify own spells. He turned away from his research with a disgusted glare and walked into his bedroom to change. Dusk was here and it was time to go out scouring the clubs again. Neji slipped into a pair of gray trousers and a white silk shirt before grabbing wallet, keys and phone and heading out towards Midnight Secrets. He couldn't help but wonder if he would see the redheaded vampire there, it certainly wouldn't surprise him.


Gaara finished moving the necessities for his long-term stake-out into place in the apartment across from Hyuga's and stepped out to see if the wizard was out and about. He smirked when he spotted the long hair heading for the staircase and hurried to his cycle, parked a few spaces away from the silver BMW. He didn't care if Hyuga knew he was watching him, matter of fact he wanted him to know, so he didn't bother to conceal his presence.


Well that answered his question Neji thought with a frown as he slid in to his car and turned the key. He stepped on the gas as he revved out of the parking lot, he may have to put up with the redhead following him but that didn't mean he had to make it easy for him. A wicked grin spread over his lips as he sped down the road, changing lanes and taking every backstreet he could think of just to annoy his shadow.


When he pulled into Midnight Secrets lot he was chuckling to himself, he could hear the roar of the bike so he knew that he hadn't lost the vampire but if he had managed to make the redhead feel even an ounce of irritation Neji would consider that a win.


The vampire was...surprised at himself. He wasn't the least bit put out by the chase Hyuga had lead him on. In fact he found himself glad of his helmet because he was grinning like an idiot. It wasn't often that he met with someone who could deliver a true challenge but the brunette was certainly beginning to prove that he could do so. He suppressed the grin and took his helmet off, a thrilled glint still in his eyes.


Neji watched him and felt his mouth go dry as Gaara removed the helmet and he could see the spark in those incredible green eyes. The vampire was the hottest thing Neji had seen since he couldn't remember when, unfortunately that didn't matter. Getting involved with someone who suspected him for being a rogue wizard was the height of stupidity and Neji wasn't stupid. He tore his eyes away from the other, swept his spell around him and walked inside the club.


Gaara shook his good humor off and followed, once again maneuvering so that he could watch the wizard. He was determined not to lose sight of the long haired man tonight and the deathly cast his aura took on made sure no one approached him, not even the drunkest idiot.


Clenching his teeth Neji did his best to ignore his vampire shadow, it didn't work all that well though since he was right there...smack in the middle of his line of vision. Neji sighed, why would anyone think he would do something with those green eyes locked on him every second. It unnerved him, how was he supposed to sense another magic wielder when all he could concentrate on was Gaara. This weird stalking thing had to stop. With effort he tore his eyes away from the redhead and tried to scan the crowd for someone with a magical signature.


Hidden deep in the crowd, helpfully concealed with a nullifying charm, was the wizard who'd been manipulating the human mates of the vampires. He noticed the Hyuga being watched by the powerful redheaded vampire. A glint formed in intelligent black eyes. He had planned to strike again tonight but perhaps he should change that plan. If the vampire investigator was looking at another wizard it could only help his cause by distracting the tattooed redhead from discovering him.


The hidden wizard nodded to himself. Yes he'd refrain from executing his plan tonight and let the vampire chase the silver eyed red-herring around a bit. He could use a bit of time to refine his methods and rest anyway. So many spells performed in such a small block of time was draining after all. Decision made, the unknown wizard slipped out of the club silently and headed for home.


Gaara tapped a finger on the table he sat at impatiently. He'd been staring at the Hyuga for two hours already yet nothing had happened. Usually, if an incident was going to occur it happened within an hour. He pulled out his cell phone and called up the security footage on the doors of all the clubs that had been targeted to continue scanning to see if he could spot anyone else aside from the silver eyed wizard that had been at the clubs for the incidents. Every few frames he'd pause and glance back up to make sure the Hyuga was still in sight then go back to the footage.


It looked as if this evening would be a bust, nothing out of the ordinary was happening and Neji was bored...frustrated and bored. These late nights out with nothing to show for it was starting to get to him. He looked down at his watch and then he looked around the club again but nothing had changed. Pushing away from the wall Neji started to move towards the exit, there was no reason for him to stay now. If nothing hadn't happened yet there was a good chance that it wouldn't happen tonight, at least not at this club. Neji cursed under his breath, he was so sure that he had cracked the other's pattern of where and when to strike but it seemed he was back to square one again. Neji ran his fingers through his loose hair as he stepped out from the club; he needed to come up with a new plan.


The redheaded vampire slipped out of his chair and continued with following his quarry. His head tilted in curiosity at the sight of the wizard running his hands through that long silken fall of rich chocolate brown in frustration. There were two possible reasons for that frustration. One, the wizard was telling the truth about his innocence or two, he hadn't been able to execute the spell with Gaara watching him so closely.


Neji drove back to his apartment in a much slower pace than what he had used to get to the club. He could see a lone headlight following behind him so he knew that Gaara hadn't given up on him. It was getting under Neji's skin, he needed to figure out a way to make the vampire stop, this whole thing was only hindering the both of them.


When he finally arrived at home he hurried inside and locked the door behind him, at least Gaara couldn't get to him here. Neji pulled off the shirt, wrinkling his nose at the smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol that seemed to cling to it, and tossed it aside before moving in to the living room where he sat down on his sand colored couch and pulled his books and notes close to him. There had to be some clue, somewhere on how to find this perp and Neji wouldn't give up until he found it.


Gaara sat in the window seat of his temporary apartment watching the glow of light coming from the Hyuga's and sipping his dinner. The earlier display of frustration from the wizard was sticking in his mind and he found himself hoping that the reason for the frustration was because Hyuga really was just investigating and tonight had yielded no results. The vampire scowled at his dinner. Why the hell did he want Hyuga to be telling the truth? It shouldn't matter to him at all. If the wizard was being honest as to why he was in the clubs during the incidents then it was all well and good to have another person looking for the culprit but Gaara shouldn't want so badly for that to be the case. Yet he did. He didn't want the silver eyed man to be the perpetrator and he just couldn't put his finger on why.


Neji woke up the next afternoon, feeling as tired as he had when he went to bed around dawn. His dreams were filled with Gaara and a faceless magic wielder, laughing at him for being so stupid. Neji had spent his entire life working towards becoming the best in everything that he did and he didn't like the feeling that he wasn't anymore. He still hadn't discovered a clue either and it was driving him crazy, cause he knew it was there. Maybe he needed a second set of eyes helping him look the books over but he didn't know who to ask.


Still grumbling Neji headed to the gym that was enclosed in the apartment building and available for its tenants figuring he could work some tension out before this night's stake out.


oooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOoooOOooo


Gaara cracked his eyes open and frowned as he tried to pinpoint what had woken him. A sudden barrage of thuds on his door answered that question and he got up off his futon to go answer the door in his drawstring sweatpants and little else. He opened the door and tilted his head at the sight that met him. An anger flushed Hyuga, not a bad sight to wake up to really. "Something you want Mr. Hyuga?"


It wasn't only anger that made Neji flush red, all that smooth pale skin on display caused a large amount of if. Gaara's lean body was a temptation anyone would have difficulties resisting. Trying to mentally roll the tongue back in his mouth Neji looked up from a chiseled chest to meet cool green eyes. "What the fuck is your problem? What are you doing at my home? I could live with you being practically glued to my ass at the clubs and on the roads but this is crossing the line. This is where I live...what would I do here anyway that you need to watch me for? Stroking my beard and plot to take over the world? Get a fucking grip and get out of my space!"


Gaara had to suppress the evil smile that tugged at his lips. So he'd finally gotten the cool and composed wizard to lose his temper. Call him an ass but he was quite pleased that he'd broken the long haired man's composure. His eyes glittering with an unholy glee, Gaara just raised his hand to cover a yawn. "I like to make things easy on myself whenever possible Mr. Hyuga. It's easier for me to just follow you from here to the clubs if I'm living in the same apartment complex."


Neji felt close to exploding, that fucking arrogant asshole. When Neji had found out that a Mr. Sabaku had rented an apartment in his building he had been angry but now, now he was beyond livid. "Easy, making me feel like some sort of fucking inmate is easy? Well then by all means, why don't you come stay with me...You can wipe my ass and hover over my bed like the overgrown bat you are. Fuck easy...I want you gone!" Neji clenched his fists.


Gaara leaned against the doorjamb. "I don't think I'll be leaving Mr. Hyuga and yes I'd say it's quite easy to make you feel hunted or imprisoned." Saying that the vampire flashed a brief fangy smile. "And by the way, vampires don't have the ability to shapeshift though I understand that a rare wizard or witch can take a secondary form if they're skilled enough."


Blue sparks danced around Neji's hands as he tried to calm down, to control himself. That jab of imprisonment had hit way too close to home. "That's just one more way we're superior to you then." He sneered. "Fuck you Sabaku, no wonder that you vamps have turned out to such easy pickings if the rest of them are as blind as you are."


The green eyes narrowed and sharpened as Gaara raised a hand and pretended to inspect his nails for dirt. "Now if we were easy pickings then it wouldn't be our human mates that get bespelled. As for being blind, I never said I'm not pursuing other avenues of investigation. You just happen to be the best avenue at the moment."


Taking several deep breath Neji struggled to keep his magic from lashing out, it took control wielding magic and that was something Neji had very little of at the moment. "Take out the mate, take out the vamp. It's simple logic even a child knows and the easy way to go about it...you like easy so you should know." Neji straightened up. "I'm trying to help...something you keep me from doing so from here on out I'll consider every future incident to be on your head." Neji knew he couldn't stay, power was already nipping at his skin, begging to be released so he just turned around and walked away.


"For someone who's trying to help you really aren't doing a very good job of it since all you've managed to do so far is make yourself the prime suspect." Gaara's voice called out after the wizard.


Neji lifted his hand over his shoulder and extended his middle finger as he kept on walking away.


Despite the small bit of irritation he felt over the silver eyed man's crack about easy pickings Gaara had to chuckle. Hyuga was fairly magnificent when he lost his temper, it made the vampire wonder just what the wizard was like when he lost control in bed. That thought had the redhead jerking back inside. "What the hell am I thinking? He's a suspect, not a potential bed partner."


He noticed that it was two hours until the sun set and sighed. There wasn't much point in trying to go back to sleep so he might as well get ready for another night of following the wizard and do some more investigation in those other avenues. He dialed the number of an antiquarian book collector who specialized in ancient spell texts. If he remembered right then this spell was similar to one from an old Suna text that had vanished a couple centuries ago. If it had surfaced any time soon the book collector would know. After that it was the evening routine of stalk Hyuga while scanning the security videos.

TBC…

AN – Yeah…Doesn’t look as if our boys will play all that nice in the sandbox together. So what do you think so far? Any ideas who the real villain is yet? Please if you have the time we would love to hear from you.