Shadows and Radiance

Sorryyyy.........
But yah. I'm back. See, first I went on vacation, the daddy extended it a litte. The I couldn't type cause of my hand. The drama galore pranced through my life.

But I'm back, and waaay late.

Chapter 2
-Ode to my Family-
.:The Cranberries:.
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I miss you
I miss
Cause I like it
Cause I liked it
When I was out there

Do you notice?
Do you know?
You did not find me
You did not find-
Dose anyone care?
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It was dark.

It was dark, and it was quiet, too quiet for me to be at home, or at my apartment.

Where the fuck am I?

I snorted. I still thought of that wretched place as home? Where the bad memories are so thick in the air you can taste them, run then over your tongue and gag at the choking, disgusting flavor?

That wasn’t home, that was hell.

I shook my head a little and blinked slowly.

So this brings me back to my original question: Where the fuck am I?

I sat slowly, as if one wrong move would make this illusion shatter and I would be falling, falling fast and hard and deep into the darkness, almost like the darkness that surrounded me now.

I tried sitting up.

Not exactly the best choice in the world, I mused, as I fell back onto the bed with a soft thump.

Huh. A bed. Well that was a clue. Seriously, what did I expect myself to be lying on?

Wait a second… my eyes are closed. No wonder it’s so dark. Yup, I really am a genius like they say.

I open my eyes slowly, carefully, looking around, scanning, taking in my surrounding gently. I groaned.

Well, shit.

Being a shinobi, I had been here enough to know what the inside of Konoha Hospital looked like.

I blinked and trailed one hand down my arm, stopping as it came into contact with something hard and plastic and tubular… oh. An IV.

I slid my hands up, up, until they touched my face, and I as I felt the familiar planes of my face, I realized something. Divine revelation, you may call it, or maybe just the fact I’m a dumbass whose thinking process was as slow as a three-toed sloth with no legs. Ah, but I digress.

Back to the point at which I had headed myself off of with illusions of a legless mammal of the Amazon Region.

I was still alive.

“You’re awake, I see.” A low drawl, it’s smoothness slithering out from the doorway where it’s owner stood and wrapping itself around me subtly, almost at subtly as the shadows which were doing just that.

Double shit.

((POV change. Woot.))

The cool wood of the doorway pressed into my back and for a moment I had a fleeting thought of the assload of splinters probably lodged there before I shoved myself off and walked over to the object of many sleepless nights and wet sheets and positioned myself in a chair conveniently placed close to the bed.

Said object was currently laying perfectly still, whether from exhaustion or the shadows currently holding him down I wasn’t sure, maybe a combination of both- but anyway, he was lying still, on a bed, half naked, eyes at half mast, being held down, and waiting for me to do or say whatever I wanted with him.

The situation would have been so erotic if not for the IV line currently stuck into his wrists.

Damn IV line.

Before my mind could launch itself into fantasies containing me, him, and this very bed, I opened my mouth to speak.

“What the fuck do you want?”

Damn. My visions of brunette angels were shattered as soon as he opened those pink lips and uttered an unexpectedly dirty word, except that same word taken in another context, hmmm…

Mind OUT the gutter, Shika! Moving on.

I opened my mouth again (having snapped it shut after Neji cut me to the chase) and found myself at a loss for words. No snarky comment or tone dripping with sarcasm came to mind, and for a moment I found my mind drifting in a haze.

That was, before I managed to pull it out of the clouds.

“What, no hello? I feel so unloved.” There. Cover your momentary daydreaming with a beautiful sarcastic comment.
A rather shabby comeback, I will admit, but it still got the point across.

Neji simply arched an eyebrow, before his face collapsed into sadness, partly hidden by shadows and a curtain of brown hair.

“So do I.”

Whoa now. We seem to be venturing into dangerous territory. Pull back! Make a sarcastic comment! Do not ask-

“Why?”

Troublesome.

And so, the proverbial shit hit the proverbial fan.

“What the fuck do you care??!! And what in fuck’s name are you doing here?!!”

Wow. That’s a lot of fucks- mind out of the gutter, mind out of the- screw it.

“I brought you here. You should thank me.”

I am a fucking IDIOT.

He brings one finger to his chin, tapping gently, his other hand playing with his hair.
From what I know of him, he is thinking. Really hard. Hard...hmm….
What a drag.

“What-“ He pauses, apparently trying to find a right way to phrase his question. He gives up. “-were you doing in my house to begin with?”

“Ah, touché.” I don’t answer his question, skirting around it, hoping he doesn’t notice.

He notices.
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He avoided my question. The bastard.

I heave a sigh and place my fingers to my temples, rubbing gentle circles. I’ll let it go.

For now.

“Neji.”

I heard it, but it was far off, muted, and dull. I blinked a little, wondering who was calling my name before shrugging it off.

“Neji!”

A little louder this time, a little more forceful. Whoever this is isn’t giving up yet. They are doubling their efforts, and so am I, trying so hard to block them out and think, to grab hold of one of my surging thoughts and focus.

I find one.
Shika is sexy when he smirks.
…
…
…
WHAT???!!!

“HYUUGA!!!!” I actually jumped, spinning around… and tripping over my IV line. With a… noise (I did not yelp, dammit! I don’t yelp!) I fell of the bed… right onto my ass.

Fantastic. Fan-fucking-tastic.

-----------------Sit back relax, sit back relapse-------------------

“Ever the drama queen.”
I laughed, just a little, leaning over the bed to see Neji fighting with his IV line.

Really, I haven’t seen anything this funny since Kiba got drunk and decided that he really was a dog and randomly started humping people’s legs.

And that was hilarious.

Eventually Neji gave up, deciding the IV line was too formidable an opponent and threw himself onto the floor with a huff.

“Shut up.” Neji folded his arms over his chest and pouted.

I grinned.

Neji blinked, and I stopped laughed, watching as Neji stretched, back arching, hospital shirt riding up to show a tantalizing piece of pale flesh. Then he turned to look at me, eyes wide, white clouds set into one of the most angelic face, practically sucking me into their snowy depths.

Maybe Neji’s eyes were the reason I loved him so much.

----------------------------&&&&&&&&&&&---------------------------------

It’s been five days since the hospital incident.

It’s been five days since I attempted suicide.

I sat, cross legged, in front of Tsunade.


It was hot, a little too hot for April.
The Hokage’s room did not have proper ventilation, so it was stuffy.

And I was bored.

Is she still talking? My God! When will she just shut up! Doesn’t she realize that I am pointedly NOT LISTENING? On the contrary, I’m staring out the window, and-

Oh. She’s calling me, I’d better reply with a smartass comment.

-----------My father, my father he liked me--------------------

The brat, he isn’t listening! Just…sigh.

“Neji!! Are you even listening to me?” Knowing this kid, I bet he’s probably going to reply with some smartass comment.

“No.” See? SEE??!! I really shouldn’t have to deal with this. I need some sake.

While I searched for something that I could simulate wringing his neck on, the insolent brat simply arched one of those perfectly plucked eyebrows and waited for me to wind it up.

Ah, there’s my sake! I popped open the bottle, took a swig, opened my mouth to speak, thought better of it, and took another swig before wiping my mouth of and turning to face the Hyuuga brat again.

“As I was saying,” This was punctuated with some wild hand gesture, that sake was really strong, “you have been temporarily suspended from ALL nin duties for two weeks, will only do D-and C-rank missions for the rest of the month, and will now live with and be accompanied at all times by Nara Shikamaru.”

Neji froze.

And blinked.

And blinked again.

“WHAT??!!!!”


I swear, this is what makes my job worth it.

I sighed, took a drink of sake and shrugged.

“It’s policy, Neji. Nothing I can do about it. You’re just going to have to suck it up, you drama queen.”

“Suck it up? Suck it up???? I can’t just suck it up!!! Can’t it be anyone other than him? Whenever he smiles I think I’m going to be molested in my sleep!!!” He seems to have missed part of my comment-wait, he’s not done, “And why does everyone keep calling me that????!!!!”

Aaah… I knew he wouldn’t let that drama queen comment slip by…

I simply raised one hand and pointed at the door. I migraine was already brewing, and everyone knows children are the cause of most of my migraines.

“Out. Now. I would change it if I could,” Seriously, I would! “But the council decided on this. And here.” I tossed a set of keys to Neji, who caught them on reflex. Good little ninja. “Theses are the keys to his apartment.”

Neji stood up and stomped to the door, stabbing the floor with every step as if it had done him some personal wrong.

“Oh and Neji?” One more jab at him wouldn’t hurt…

“Yes?” Neji hissed, slowly turning to face me.

“Shikamaru’s too lazy to molest you anyway.”
The only reply I got was an upraised middle finger and a slammed door.

I fanned myself and chuckled. He really was a drama queen.

-------------Yea he liked me, does anyone care?---------------

The sky was pink. The kind of pink that could only be produced if you fed your cat just the right amount of salmon cat food. Cat-vomit pink. It was actually not such a bad color, especially when mixed with the hues of red, purple and gold at sunset.

…For a genius, I really do freak myself out sometimes.

I sighed and lit a cigarette. Ah, sweet nicotine. I really needed it right now. I took a deep drag on the cigarette then pulled it out of my mouth, blowing the smoky tendrils out, watching them curl in the air for a few seconds.

I had been called to Tsunade’s office just a few hours prior, and after hearing what she said decided to delay going back to the apartment for another hour or so.

It had been four.

Sighing again in resignation, I dusted off my black slacks, ground out my cigarette under the heel of my shoe and headed for home. I dragged my feet, trying my hardest to delay going home.

It was funny how whenever you tried to slow time down, it sped up instead.

In no time at all I found myself before my apartment door. Tentatively, I slid the key into the lock, twisted it, and swung the door open, stepped over the threshold then closed it behind me.

And froze.

My first thought: I have a vacuum cleaner?
Second: Holy shit Neji’s hot.

There he was, in a black and white bandanna, matching short-short-short-shorts and a tank top, was Neji.

Daaaaaaaaayyyyuuuuuuuuummmm.
Baby got back.

---Unhappiness… was when I was young and we didn’t give a damn---

The door clicked behind me. Well, well, well. Judging by the silence, I’m going to assume he’s still standing in the doorway, staring at me.

Creepy.

Ah well. Since we’re living together, might as well.

I snorted, lifting one eyebrow even though I knew he couldn’t see it. “Need a bucket for your drool?”

Shikamaru snapped out of his supposedly lecherous thoughts and blinked.

“Hmm?”

Wow, how articulate.

I rolled my eyes before surveying the living room again. It looked ok, no, wait, I’m lying.

That shit sparkled.

I turned to look for the outlet the vacuum cleaner was plugged into.

Hold the phone…

Smirking, I bent over, deliberately wiggling my butt a little as I eased the plug out of the outlet.

There was a gasp. I could almost hear the sound of pants tightening.

This is going to be one hell of a ride.

I turned around slowly, to see Shikamaru hadn’t moved an inch from where he had been standing before.

Then he ran like hell. Down the hallway, third door on the left.

I giggled- no, wait, I don’t giggle. I gave a manly chuckle (much better) and walked into the kitchen.

It was the bathroom door.

-----------End Chapter 2---------

A little bit under (1 page) what I expected, but it's all good.
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