Sway

He’d created a monster.

Truly, Neji hadn’t known at the time that showing Naruto how to please himself in his new body would invariably lead to this. Sighing internally, he ignored the prickly feeling at the base of his skull that wavered somewhere about his neck. If he took long enough, Naruto would be done and he wouldn’t have to confront the odd surge of emotion that gathered upon walking in on him.

Unfortunately, however, just missing the act was not a sure way to avoid the topic. Naruto was utterly fascinated by the turbulent storms of pleasure he could wreak along newly discovered sensitive planes. Even if Neji managed to escape the ‘show’, he would inevitably have to suffer through the retelling.

Some days, in order to spare himself the fatigue of listening to the many perversely inventive scenarios Naruto had concocted, he’d push his pace along the road. Walking in to find his partner at the height of ecstasy and – more often than not – breaking into orgasm the moment he appeared.

Were Neji thinking clearly, he may have noticed that it happened too often to be coincidence. Were he not so conflicted over his own strange desires, he’d perhaps take a moment to gather the instances. Stringing them together to form a coherent theory.

Perhaps, it was for the best that Neji was in fact, not thinking clearly. For surely, he would be undeniably outraged at the clear provocation. Naruto had to have found enjoyment in this…incessant torture of his person.

He had to. Because, if he didn’t, Neji didn’t know what to think.

Assured that it was all some frivolous game the blond was playing, Neji forced himself through the front door, senses immediately steeling for some trace of the blond. It was not directly obvious to Neji, that he looked forward to entering a home where Naruto awaited him. Nor was the fact that his body began to react mere feet from the door even remotely considered.

The villagers seemed to smile at them now. A secret sort of knowing gaze that Neji could feel from everywhere at once as he and Naruto strolled along together.

It had been his idea to go on more outings together. They’d needed to firmly re-establish their connections to one another, so the villagers could be at ease. Thus, they went on casual outings - trips to the market, visits to neighbors’ homes – simple things that made them appear more friendly, less threatening.

Not only were the villagers becoming more accepting of their presence, they were growing fond of the pair. In Neji’s mind, this was a key element to a perfect disguise. For, having the support of the community meant they would have the protection of the community should the need ever arise. And while Neji was aware only he and Naruto could truly defend themselves against attack, he was sure that if the time came, the villagers could vouch for them.

It would give them the time they needed to come up with a plan. Even if they had some in reserve, it never hurt to be well prepared.

Padding down the hall, Neji tried to steady his racing heart. Two weeks of constantly interrupting his partner’s enjoyment was putting him on edge. As far as he could tell, Naruto didn’t appear to be doing anything…strenuous at the least. Although it was eerie, how well Naruto was getting at concealing even the basest levels of his chakra resonance.

At first, Neji had been taken wholly unprepared. Startled, he’d been torn by indecision. In the single moment that divided into hours like a burst of brilliant, sparkling flames, Neji had been at a complete impasse.

On the one hand, the sudden unexpected sight of Naruto writhing sensuously upon the bed – when Neji was one hundred percent positive there were no sparks of life within a twenty meter radius – was embarrassing beyond compare. Mortification urged the frozen Hyuuga to thrust his entire being backward and demanded he walk away as firmly and calmly as possible.

Wagging the war – with a steady lead – was also a sudden lustful urge so intensely overwhelming, that he teetered imperceptibly. It coaxed him to move forward. To run trembling hands over smooth, quaking tanned skin. To prowl over to the bed, like a primitive beast, and take what was ripe for the taking.

The urge was so strong in fact, that it terrified him. Ineffectively giving him a push in the opposite direction. Mumbling a rushed apology was not something Hyuuga did, and so he’d simply closed the door and walked out.

His problems only went from bad to worse, as his body searched for solace in the only form it could understand this deep in lustful agony. Pain. Strength. Control. A surging, raging need to beat the ever loving crap out of the next hapless thing that crossed his path. It was all about dominance. Forcing his will over his deceitful, weak body. Shaping it with sharp dedication to his own way. A way of structure and honor. A state of being so above the average, there was no need for regret. There was only quick, smooth action. The peaceful rhythm of the cut and blow. His heart pounding in his ears, and his breath coming in rushed gasps, unmeasured by calm.

He had made it halfway through the village when he realized there would be no training. There would be no sparring. There would be none of the comforts of home that helped keep him stabilized. The cool, reflective Hyuuga of Konoha fame. The rookie genius who had grown through defeat and risen above his fate.

Yet, in this, he found one thing to be the same. Naruto. Naruto who drew his body into a new shape whenever he was near. Naruto, who forced Neji’s stubborn, quintessential sense of pride to ever bow to his quixotic nature. Straining against years of carefully honed indifference, in an attempt to appeal to the wild, vivacious essence of the blond.

Naruto was chaos itself. The personification of self imposed transgression. Of pure, unadulterated temptation. And an encompassing, blinding ray of clarity in the muggy haze of indifference and subjugation.

There was no escaping him. Of this, Neji was certain.

With a calming inhale, he reached for the doorknob, turning it with no small amount of hope and trepidation. His arm stretched out, the door arching wide in his wake. Opening fully, as he moved to step beyond the threshold.

Naruto was on the bed.

He was not pleasuring himself, nor did he appear to have recently done so. Frustrated with the sudden feeling of disappointment that erupted in his chest, Neji regrouped quickly and walked in. Naruto watched him slip off his juban, folding it and laying it aside. Angry with himself for expecting something, and angrier for not having gotten it, Neji dropped into the bed unceremoniously.

Hands clasping between his knees, he breathed in deeply. Eyes closed, to better focus on the calming act. As he exhaled, he felt the familiar warmth of Naruto approach, sure hands settling upon his bare shoulder blades. They rubbed gently, spreading soothing waves through his tortured system. Circular motions gave way to smooth strokes. Long caresses that followed the curve of his back, reaching the length of his waistband and lifting for several excruciating moments before returning for another pass.

Oddly, Neji could never recall someone stroking him as a way to calm him down. The protective feeling of fingertips against his spine. The gentle pressure that spoke assurance in secretive whispers. Naruto was strangely perceptive in the art of giving comfort. He knew as if on instinct where to touch. How much pressure to exert. When to stop.

Neji knew nothing of this. And he had been blessed with parents, short though their lives had been.

He wondered, not for the first time, whether Naruto’s defiant need to protect others was rooted in a past of being alone. Perhaps the blond knew pain and hardship so deeply; he felt the need to shield the world from it. Even the smallest acts of injustice were enough to bring out a fierce defensive quality that on average was seemingly non-existent.

He relaxed into the feeling, allowing Naruto this moment. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t stop it if he chose. However, he had the distinct feeling the blond derived a certain sense of pleasure in being in close contact with others beyond the clash of fists and the drawing of blood.

Somehow, before he became aware of the suggestion, he was being guided back, to lay against the bed. As his skin met the cool sheets, he realized how eager his body was for the touch as well. Skin burning with a fever he could not recall invoking.

He watched, as though entranced, as Naruto drew himself across him. Settling his weight upon bent legs that slid smoothly against Neji’s bare sides. The powerful shinobi could only blink as those same hands splayed across his pectorals, dragging down in wide, agonizing stripes.

His nerves shot off like the tail ends of exploding tags. Electricity shooting in every direction, numbing his ability to control his own functions. Through it all, Naruto’s eyes were upon his own, watching, patient...hopeful?

He caught the delicately disguised wrists, a question in his eyes.

Naruto smiled.

Had he the capability, Neji was sure he would be quite opposed to the idea. However, as Naruto’s upper body descended, bowing at the waist and pressing Kami-sama only knew what against his ribbed abdomen, Neji was oddly calm. Tantalizing lips hovered above his, golden hair flowing about his head, like sun spun silk.

Fingertips caressed the sensitive area just below his jaw.

His eyes darted between parted lips and the decisive gaze reflected in twin orbs of pearlescent azure. As the distance closed significantly, he was forced to meet the other’s eyes; his own perhaps a bit wide. Fingers trailed between their heated bodies, slipping beneath the waistband of his pants. Neji’s gut reaction moved him, his hands gripping Naruto high upon both arms.

Whatever new game this was, he wanted no part in it.

But the blonde simply curled knowing fingers about a straining shaft. Startled, Neji’s grip tightened. “Shhh…” whispered Naruto, voice wavering between the higher tone of Nanako and the husky timbre of his own. He opened his palm, sliding it down across Neji’s flesh. The steadfast Hyuuga couldn’t help the soft moan that forced his head to tip back appreciatively.

Naruto leaned in closer, head tipping sideways so that Neji could smell the floral scent of Nanako’s shampoo, and the underlying taunt of grass and sunshine, that was Naruto. It confused his senses almost immediately. Bringing to mind that this entire encounter was wrong.

Sitting up quickly, he shoved Naruto out of range. Or at least, he attempted to. His grip was firm, holding the blond captive. But, Naruto had a grip too. And if Neji didn’t want to lose something vital to his future, he couldn’t risk jerking him free.

As they stared at one another, Neji’s lust addled mind suddenly thrust forward a vital bit of information. The usual vulpine grin Naruto wore when up to no good was significantly absent. Instead, he gazed at Neji with a determined edge to his feminine encased features. Whatever he’d been plotting, Neji had the distinct feeling, he was intent to proceed. And a Naruto with a goal was a Naruto he could not hold off for long.

While his mind worked in a desperate attempt to make any sort of sense of their current situation, Naruto had begun to stroke him. Firm, steady strokes that brushed aside any feelings of doubt or disagreement he may have mustered.

The blond continued, slowly exerting more pressure until Neji’s hips rolled with his movements. The brunette clinging to the embarrassing throaty whines that bubbled up from his chest.

The grin slowly appeared as Neji conceded defeat, sinking back into the bed. Naruto adjusted above him, raising his hips to get a better range of movement. As Neji’s legs began to arch, feet pushing against the mattress, Naruto beamed at him in triumph. However, by then the Hyuuga was too firmly lost in the passionate response of his body to the one above him to notice.

He was vaguely aware of Naruto’s body traveling down the length of his, mind joyous in the new, welcome feel of someone else’s touch. Raised his hips as Naruto pulled his pants down to his knees.

Just when he thought he couldn’t be any further lost to the feeling, a hot, wet mouth descended over him. For a single moment, Neji lost all control. Gasping and arching, hands clasping in blonde hair. Twirling it about his fists and flexing against the skull beneath.

Naruto moaned appreciatively, the sound like a new center of gravity. Pulling all of Neji’s life force down toward it. Up, up into the other’s mouth. And eventually beyond, in an outpouring so intense, he swore his soul threatened escape.

As he panted in recovery, Naruto sat up. Hazy brown tinted eyes met blue, concealed in the fine, smooth lines of a woman’s face.

It was a moment. Two.

They both frowned.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


They hadn’t talked about it.

They hadn’t talked about it, and while initially it was what Neji wanted, now…now he wasn’t sure.

“Are you two having a fight?”

Neji looked beside him. This man…One of many who saw fit to amuse themselves with the petty nuances of his pretend life. This man, who truly seemed to care for his well being. This man…one of many….

“I’m not sure,” he replied, honestly.

“Well, what happened? Usually, you know when you’re in a fight with your wife.” He winked, holding up a forefinger as he added, “It’s what you did that’s hard to figure out.”

Neji indulged in a sigh, more for show than the actual need to do so. “I came home a week ago, and she…” He flushed – much to his embarrassment. “She was rather…forward with me.”

The man laughed.

Neji did not find it amusing, and let him know as such, his brow furrowing, eyes narrowing slightly.

“My dear boy,” he replied. “Your wife is young. She’s beautiful. And she wants to give you pleasure as much as you give her. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Neji frowned, causing his wise companion to pat his back reassuringly. “I suppose, you grew up in a wealthy family.” He smiled warmly as Neji met his gaze questioningly. “Ahh...Hayashi-san, it is written all over you. You may try and hide it, but some things in life, we can not shake.”

Sighing to himself, Neji nodded.

“And she was not, I take it.”

“No,” Neji replied. “…No, she wasn’t…She-” He paused, wondering whether he should divulge unnecessary information. But then, he surmised, it was only part of their greater story. He’d just let Naruto know of the added part later. “She’s an orphan.” He looked out toward the horizon, unsure why. “To be honest…I didn’t notice her for a good portion of her life. No one did.”

“Ahh…” the man replied with a nod. He exhaled a puff of smoke slowly, and set his pipe down. “Were her parents of ill lineage?”

“I don’t know.” He realized that it was true. He didn’t know who Naruto’s parents had been. Actually, if he thought about it, there was a lot he didn’t know about Naruto. If he didn’t have parents, for instance, who had raised him? And why had they not wanted to keep him when he was old enough to attend the academy? Why exactly did everyone treat him the way they did? Sure, Neji was aware why he had initially looked down on him. But, it was no different than how Neji had looked down on everyone else.

The village however, was another matter. They couldn’t all bear a grudge against him. Yes, he’d been a bit of a troublesome youth, with his childhood pranks and all, but that was no reason to treat him like dirt. If he thought back on it, was careful to focus, sift through his memory for it, Naruto had always been treated that way.

Maybe he really was a product of his environment. Maybe he was so optimistic because he didn’t know any way else to be. So hopeful, because it was all he’d ever had. So hungry for affection because…he’d never had it before.

And just as suddenly, Neji didn’t know who the hell this person was. This shinobi he’d been sent to protect. A long way from home, and a long way from the truth.

“Now you see, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Neji replied, standing slowly. “Thank you.”

The man simply nodded, blowing out another puff of smoke lazily. He watched Neji go, calling out to him only once. “Be considerate when you ask her. It may be too painful to speak of.”

In a rare act of sincere gratitude, Neji turned and gave the man a respectful bow. The man smiled back warmly, and shooed him. The disguised shinobi turning back around and heading down the road.

He’d speak to Naruto.

It was the only way he’d get answers.

Back straight, he continued, steadfastly ignoring the trickling ache in the back of his mind that warned him, he really didn’t want to know.